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by CUGC HQ
Brandon Mitchell
Maineville, OH USA
What Citrix technologies are most important to your work?
I work for a large, traditional grocer in the United States and use Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (not to be confused with citrus in our produce department). We deliver a productivity desktop to our retail locations and various other line of business applications to our business units. I've worked at my current employer for over 13 years and have seen the environment grow from a couple hundred physical servers we managed individually to over a thousand virtual servers managed with Citrix Provisioning Services. Because of the size of the environment, Citrix Provisioning Services is my favorite tool in the tool chest. I've also grown fond of PowerShell and am using it for simple tasks from querying for user sessions to automating complex tasks.
What are the biggest technology challenges you deal with and how do Citrix technologies help resolve them?
We have thousands of retail locations with limited bandwidth, making traditional PC management difficult. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops allows us to deploy applications/desktops and updates promptly without negatively impacting the WAN. Citrix Provisioning Services enable us to deploy image updates quickly–we're able to rollout (or rollback) image updates with a simple reboot.
Login times are vital to us–the more time our associates can be on the store floor selling instead of in the back office on a computer is critical. Our users will have a handful of short sessions a day and need to return to the floor. The quicker the logon time, the better. We measure login duration with Citrix Director. We use the metrics from Citrix Director to identify opportunities for improvement. We're preparing to implement Citrix WEM to improve login times by reducing GPO processing and login script by moving both to WEM.
Tell us about leading the Cincinnati CUGC and what makes a great meeting.
I co-lead the Cincinnati CUGC with Eduardo Molina (CTP) and Chad King, and have been involved since the beginning. I've been working with Citrix technologies for over 20 years and know several others in the area with similar backgrounds and always wanted to form a local user group. CUGC made it possible to for Eduardo, Chad, and myself to build the local group for like-minded individuals to share their experiences. It took us a few meetings to figure out the best locations, time of day, and relevant content to attract attendees. We have had a bunch of successful meetings and have had presentations from Carl Webster, Ron Oglesby, Patrick Coble, and Martin Zugec. Some of the best meetings have been when we've been able to have an open dialog, and members share where they have challenges and what they've done to overcome those challenges.
You're also on the team planning the upcoming Midwest XL. What are you most excited about?
I'm excited to be involved with the Midwest XL this year. If you haven't been to an XL event and have the opportunity to go, I highly recommend fitting it into your schedule. The XL event is like a mini Synergy packed into one day with some of the best content you can absorb. If you've been to Synergy, you'll know that some of the best presentations are those by CTP/CTA community members. We have some outstanding presenters scheduled including Daniel Feller (CTA), Shane Kleinert (CTP), Steve Greenberg (CTP Fellow), Patrick Coble (CTP), Benjamin Crill (CTA) & Scott Bowling. I've seen many of these presenters before, and they are top-notch. Last year, the event was in Indianapolis, and this year we've moved the event to the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. We're just over a month out, and I'm looking forward to interacting with my peers in the CUGC community.
What's the best advice you've received in work or life?
To stay relevant, the world we live in is ever-evolving, especially in the technology space. The jobs or processes we do today become obsolete or irrelevant quickly. I previously worked for a company that printed paper forms, the world changed around them, and they failed to stay relevant and are no longer doing business. In your career, keep your skills current, continue reading and studying, learn something new. If your employer is behind on the latest technologies, don't let them hold you back, maintain a home lab, learn PowerShell. It's not necessarily technical, but it's a quick read: I recommend reading "Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" by Dr. Spencer Johnson.
Finally, outside of work and CUGC, what do you do for fun?
I'm a husband of 20+ years, and we have three kids, ages 17, 10, 6. Outside work, my wife and I balance our time supporting our kids in their activities. Our son, the oldest, is a high school senior this year, and he is involved in football and hockey. Our middle will be entering fifth grade, and our youngest will be entering first grade–both girls and are involved with ballet and gymnastics. I've been a long-time hockey fan but didn't play growing up. I got my son involved in hockey at an early age, starting him in skating lessons at three. I quickly learned that it would be easier to teach him if I learned too, so we learned together. And for almost fifteen years, I've been playing men's league ice hockey. I'm lucky enough to share the passion of hockey with my son, and during his off season, we're able to play hockey together on the same men's league team. I'm also a life-long Tom Petty fan and was lucky enough to see him in concert 18 times including a couple of front row shows at Red Rocks and Nashville.


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User Identity & Access Tokens for Programmable Video
An Access Token controls Participant identity and Room permissions in your Programmable Video application. Read below to learn more.
- About Access Tokens
- Limit Room Access
- Time-To-Live (ttl)
- Generating Access Tokens
- Using Access Tokens
About Access Tokens
Access Tokens are JSON Web Tokens (JWTs). They are short-lived credentials that are signed with a Twilio API Key Secret and contain grants that govern the actions the client holding the token is permitted to perform.
End-users require an Access Token to join a Twilio Video Room. Below is the general workflow that your application will need to generate Access Tokens and allow end-users to connect to Twilio Video Rooms.
All Twilio Access Tokens must include the following information:
- A Twilio Account SID, which is the public identifier of the Twilio account associated with the Access Token.
- An API Key SID, which is the public identifier of the key used to sign the token.
- An Identity grant, which sets the Twilio user identifier for the client holding the token.
- The API Key Secret associated with the API Key SID is used to sign the Access Token and verify that it is associated with your Twilio account.
API Key Region
The API Key you use to create Access Tokens must be in the United States (US1) region. Access Tokens that are generated with API Keys in other regions outside of US1 will not work and will not connect to Video Rooms.
You can select the key's region when you create the API key.
To see a list of your API keys in the United States (US1) region, select that region from the dropdown in the top right side of the page in the Auth Token and API Keys section of the Twilio Console.
Programmable Video Access Tokens also include the following information:
- A mandatory Video grant, which indicates the holder of the Access Token can access Programmable Video services.
- Optionally, a Room grant (contained within the Video grant) for a specific Room name or SID, which indicates the holder of the Access Token may only connect to the indicated Room.
Limit Room Access
The Room grant allows you to scope a Participant's access to a single Room. When a Participant connects with a token that contains a Room grant, the value is compared against:
- The Room's
- The Room's
For example, if the Access Token contains a Room grant for
DailyStandup, the client holding this Access Token will only be allowed to connect to the Room with the
UniqueName property
See below for working examples.
Time-To-Live (ttl)
Access Tokens must be valid while joining a Room and when reconnecting to a Room due to network disruption or handoff. We recommend that you set the
ttl to the maximum allowed session length, which is currently 86,400 seconds (24 hours).
Generating Access Tokens
You can generate Access Tokens using either a Twilio CLI plugin or a Twilio Helper Library. The Twilio CLI Plugin is a useful tool for creating individual Access Tokens for testing or getting started with Twilio Video. You should use the Twilio Helper Libraries to generate Access Tokens in your application's server.
Use the Twilio CLI plugin
The Twilio CLI has a plugin for generating Access Tokens from the command line. This can be useful for testing Access Tokens when you are starting to develop your application.
First, you will need to install the Twilio CLI and log in to your Twilio account from the command line; see the CLI Quickstart for instructions. Then, you can install the plugin with the following command:
twilio plugins:install @twilio-labs/plugin-token
To generate an Access Token, run the following command.
--identity is a required argument and should be a string that represents the user identity for this Access Token.
twilio token:video --identity=<identity>
You can add other arguments to the command, such as TTL and room name. To see the list of options, use the
--help flag:
twilio token:video --help
Use a Twilio helper library
Use a Twilio server-side helper library to generate an Access Token in your back-end server. See below for examples of creating an Access Token for a particular user to enter a specific Video Room.
Access Token Server Sample Applications
These sample applications demonstrate the generation of Access Tokens in different programming languages.
- Access Token Server Sample Application - PHP
- Access Token Server Sample Application - Node
- Access Token Server Sample Application - Python
- Access Token Server Sample Application - Ruby
- Access Token Server Sample Application - Java
- Access Token Server Sample Application - C#
If you do not want to host your own server to create Access Tokens, you can use a serverless Twilio Function to create an Access Token server hosted in Twilio's cloud. See an example of how to generate Access Tokens without a server or an example of creating a serverless video application in the Twilio Blog.
Generate tokens without a Twilio helper library
Using a Twilio helper library is the easiest way to create an Access Token. Twilio's helper libraries have code that generate the Access Tokens in the correct format. However, it is possible to write your own code to do this if you are not using a helper library.
Access Tokens are standard JSON Web Tokens that use the HS256 signing algorithm. The signing key is your API Key Secret. You can review all the elements included in the Access Token in the Access Token API documentation.
To ensure that you are creating a token with the correct format and grants, you can generate a single token using the Twilio CLI or Twilio helper libraries and decode its payload to verify you are generating your own tokens with the same format. You can decode a JWT token at https://jwt.io.
You can also use the source code for Twilio's helper libraries as a reference to see how a particular library generates Access Tokens.
You can find the code for each helper library in GitHub:
Using Access Tokens
After you have generated an Access Token on the server-side of your application (or generated an Access Token via the Twilio CLI), you can use it to connect to a Programmable Video Room in a client-side application. You can learn more about how to connect to a Video Room using an Access Token in the Getting Started guides for JavaScript, Android, and iOS.
Below are examples for connecting to a Twilio Video Room using an Access Token.
const { connect } = require('twilio-video');
connect('$TOKEN', { name:'my-new-room' }).then(room => {
console.log(`Successfully joined a Room: ${room}`);
room.on('participantConnected', participant => {
console.log(`A remote Participant connected: ${participant}`);
}, error => {
console.error(`Unable to connect to Room: ${error.message}`);
private Room.Listener roomListener() {
return new Room.Listener() {
public void onConnected(Room room) {
Log.d(TAG,"Connected to " + room.getName());
public void connectToRoom(String roomName) {
ConnectOptions connectOptions = new ConnectOptions.Builder(accessToken)
room = Video.connect(context, connectOptions, roomListener);
@IBAction func createARoom(sender: AnyObject) {
let connectOptions = ConnectOptions(token: accessToken) { (builder) in
builder.roomName = "my-room"
room = TwilioVideoSDK.connect(options: connectOptions, delegate: self)
// MARK: RoomDelegate
func roomDidConnect(room: Room) {
print("Did connect to Room")
if let localParticipant = room.localParticipant {
print("Local identity \(localParticipant.identity)")
// Set the delegate of the local particiant to receive callbacks
localParticipant.delegate = self
Need some help?
We all do sometimes; code is hard. Get help now from our support team, or lean on the wisdom of the crowd by visiting Twilio's Stack Overflow Collective or browsing the Twilio tag on Stack Overflow.

subset: commoncrawl


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I have provided flamethrowers for events, movies, television shows and documentary productions. My policy is to provide a complete service with redundant back up systems and spare units, so that reliable working units are ready instantly. I utilize a complete service depot, multiple units and repair parts for service on the spot. Flamethrowers and backups are always ready with no time lost for refillings.
I usually have a minimum of three flamethrowers available and have agreements with private collectors to borrow different models on an "as needed basis". I have the following units ready to fire and ship next day:
- US WWII M1 (both the M1 and M1-A1)
- US WWII M2 (three)
- US Vietnam Era M9-7 (two)
- Japanese WWII M100 (the only working one in existence)
- US WWII Armour Vehicle M3
- German WWII Paratrooper M42
I do require that for my reputation and character, that we use the correct flamethrower model for that period and tactical situation. There is no reason to use the wrong model or "FARBY" flamethrower when a correct model is available.
Cost is calculated on the number of units needed, accessories and support are not charged for. Additional support personel may be needed, and they will be charged for. Travel costs and time are charged, along with shipping of material. The cost will be decided in advance with open end billing optional for addition time on a daily basis. I will work with you to make the support process efficient and cost effective for your crew.
Daily rental includes:
- Multiple flamethrowers, serviced and ready to go, for rapid back up and retake firings.
- Complete USGI service kits and hydrostatic test cerifications provided.
- Replacement parts serviced and ready to go on site. Spares include: regulators, pressure bottles, ignition systems, and all seals.
- A complete operator training program very similar to the USGI and including upgrade Safety Rules. Rules include: operator safety training, no gasoline (non volatile only), redundant pressure relief with alarm, lower operating pressure, current hydro and leak testing, Nitrogen instead of compressed air, and internal pressure monitored by safety instruction. Site Safety Program with documentation to satisfy regulatory agencies and insurance companies.


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Two Parliamentary Parties Join Outcry against National Child Strategy
Two parliamentary parties have joined the public outcry against the proposed National Strategy for the Child 2019-2030. Volya and VMRO presented their objections on Wednesday following almost three months of protests by political parties, parent and family associations, and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Protesters have said that the draft strategy curtails parents' rights, downplays the role of the family and gives social services excessive powers. On Tuesday, Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov said the strategy will be redrafted to make it acceptable to all stakeholders.
Volya told a news briefing on Wednesday that the strategy should be urgently rewritten and made more concrete. "This is just another administrative, empty-worded document which lacks any
concreteness and clarity," the party's Boryana Georgieva said. "We are opposed to any hint in the strategy that children can be easily separated from their parents in pursuance of vaguely formulated provisions in the strategy."
The party noted that the proposed strategy identifies the same problems that were spelled out in the previous one, adopted in 2008. "It turns out that the strategy has produced no results for 11 years," Georgieva commented.
Volya called for allocating more funding for lone mothers rather than foster families. "We want the bulk of the money to go to the real families of the children," Georgieva insisted.
Administrators who promote alien ideologies should be punished (for example, with a fine equivalent to a month's wage), the party said. Such transgressions include advocacy for "a third gender" and using the terms "parent one" and "parent two" instead of "mother" and "father" in kindergarten admission applications.
Each month, one homeroom session at school should be devoted to the suppression of aggressive behaviour among children, Volya suggested.
Meanwhile, VMRO issued a written statement in which they wondered why the State Agency for Child Protection refused to publish the list of NGOs with which it had discussed the National Strategy for the Child.
VMRO said the draft strategy seeks to impose the view that the government knows what is best for a child. "There is no way that a civil servant knows better than the parent what the best interests of a child are," the party argued.
"The so-called National Strategy for the Child aims to push through the 'Istanbul-style' assumption that the whole Bulgarian nation consists of abusers and criminals who should be placed under surveillance and control for every step they make," VMRO said. The reference was to the Istanbul Convention (formally: the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence), which Bulgaria has refused to ratify.


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I can't help but wonder if there was any smooching going on in this old Ford in its day. What do y ou think?
(I have never understood how to get the link to be contained in the thumbnail for the blog, so I have to link it all up in this old fashioned way. Maybe one day I will figure it out.)


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Damon Allen 1980 Lincoln vs Kearny at Mesa College football field, San Diego. San Diego Historical S
When we started this project, we knew reader response would be a key.
After last week's first installment of the all-time high school top 10 by position, we asked for your input. And you came through like champs.
I had a spirited exchange of emails with Jerry Powell.
The 1967 San Diego Section Player of the Year, Powell led Lincoln High to a section championship, earning all-state and All-America honors along the way. Those are tremendous credentials.
For better or worse, we set the criteria as "body of work," counting high school and post-high school accomplishments equally. Powell didn't play beyond high school.
His argument is that if we're choosing an all-time high school top 10, the criteria should be what a player accomplished in high school.
That's a valid argument, but the decision had been made weeks before, and players had been chosen on "body of work."
No question, had the criteria been based just on high school accomplishments, Jerry Powell would have been at the top of the list.
Finally, we agreed to disagree.
I heard from Cliff Bryan in Carlsbad, who played against both Wayne Sevier and Ezell Singleton and thought we should have chosen Singleton as the best drop-back quarterback before 1960.
Pleased to say Singleton was chosen as the best multi-dimensional QB before 1960.
Bryan's email showed we got those two players right.
George Mitrovich, one of the movers and shakers in San Diego County, asked why we didn't have Mark Malone on our drop-back QB list.
Malone was a three-sport star in high school, so we shifted him to this week's multi-dimensional list.
Bob Johnston also questioned why Malone was left off. Johnston also asked why Dennis Shaw was left off, then corrected himself. Shaw was a star at San Diego State, but played high school football at Pomona Catholic.
Patti O'Leary checked in, saying Don Norcross, the QB who took Kearny to the 1973 section title, shouldn't be forgotten. Norcross was a good QB on a great team. He helped us put these lists together and said he didn't belong.
O'Leary also said we shouldn't forget Wally Henry, Willie Buchanon, Ed Imo, Darnay Scott, Dokie Williams, Darren Carrington and Anthony Johnson.
Most of those players were already on our lists. We'll check out the ones who aren't.
Shon King was an OK receiver at Patrick Henry, but blossomed at San Diego Mesa and Wayne State before playing in the Arena League. He wanted to make sure he wasn't forgotten.
I appreciate his input and invite others who think they might be overlooked to check in. While I can't say King will make the receivers list, I guarantee he has put himself on our radar.
Next week's list will be defensive linemen, followed by offensive linemen, then tight ends.
Please let us know what you think and email me your thoughts.
Second in a series featuring the San Diego Section's all-time top 10 football players by position. The criteria is "body of work" with a player's high school and post-high school careers counting equally. Players are listed in alphabetical order. Send comments to email@example.com
Multi-dimensional quarterbacks
Damon Allen, Lincoln: A 1980 high school graduate, Lincoln was 22-2 in his two years as a starter. Allen went on to play at
Sal Aunese,
Billy Bolden, Kearny: The 1964 CIF Player of the Year, Bolden went on to play at
Anthony Lawrence, Grossmont: An all-state player as a senior in 2013, Lawrence threw for 9,079 yards (No. 1 all-time in San Diego at the time), rushed for 750 yards, had 9,829 yards total offense, competed 691 passes and threw for 96 TDs in his prep career. Plus, he was a four-year starter on the basketball team. His college career isn't complete, but he has had two big-time seasons at USD, going 434 for 659 with 5,390 yards and 48 TDs.
Teddy Lawrence, Morse: The 1990 CIF Player of the Year, was a do-everything player for the Tigers, leading Morse to an unbeaten season and a 28-13 win over Orange Glen in the 3A championship game. Lawrence had a 99-yard kickoff return in that game. He averaged 13.79 yards rushing on 101 carries as a senior. Lawrence went on to play at UCLA where he played 46 games in the defensive secondary. He had seven career interceptions, returning one for a TD in 1993 to beat Washington.
Mark Malone,
Abraham Muheize, El Cajon Valley: After a magical 2005 senior season in which he led the
Joe Paopao,
Dave Roberts, Rancho Buena Vista: Bouncing back from a broken leg suffered during his junior year, Roberts was the engineer of the 1989 Longhorns team that featured a pair of 2,000-yard rushers .... Markeith Ross and O.J. Hall. Recruited by the likes of Air Force and Oklahoma as an option QB, Roberts chose to play baseball at UCLA. In four seasons with the Bruins, he left as the university's all-time stolen-base leader. A 28th-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers in 1994, Roberts played 10 years in the big leagues. In 832 games, he hit .266 and had 243 stolen bases, including one in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees that propelled the
Jeff Van Raaphorst, Grossmont: A standout run-and-shoot quarterback at Grossmont in 1983, Van Raaphorst went on to play at Arizona State. He played 30 games for the Sun Devils, throwing for 6,443 yards, leading the team in passing three years in a row. He was the MVP of the 1987
Best player before 1960
Ezell Singleton, San Diego: A three-sport star - football, basketball and baseball - at San Diego High, Singleton graduated in 1959. He went on to play at UCLA when the Bruins were employing a single-wing offense. In three seasons at UCLA, he rushed 153 times for 338 yards and completed 20 off 44 passes for 219 yards. He also played baseball for the Bruins. Singleton passed away in 2012.
Tag(s): Football


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Jay Cutler Autographed 8x10 (Blue)
Jay Cutler Autographed 8x10 (Blue)
Sale Sold out
Regular price $20.00 USD
Regular priceUnit price per
Sale price
*Add-On Option: Custom plaque & nameplate for your photo $32
*Add-On Option: Deluxe plaque & nameplate for your photo $49
*Add-On Option: Click to see our other available framing options
Jay Cutler autographed 8x10 Denver Broncos photo. This photo is officially NFL licensed. Every photo comes with Latitude Sports Marketing's Certificate of Authenticity and hologram. Cutler played college football at Vanderbilt and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, for whom he played for three seasons. Jay Cutler went on to play a total of 12 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Chicago Bears.


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Happy Birthday To Me And Some Useful Advice For Men
It's almost my birthday. Ever since I was a kid, my birthday always felt special. Maybe I am one of the lucky ones. Fortunately, even with almost 34, the trend continues.
This year I didn't have time to think about the upcoming event. Stuff keeps on piling up from the first week of 2018 and I don't see it any differently in the near future. So, except for a little celebration on Saturday, I forgot I was supposed to feel special.
Enter Alin.
After a long day in London, we had dinner like adults, at the kitchen table, not in front of the TV. Every time we see us in the evening, we have so much to tell each other, that I keep thinking about that joke with the two women who, after being released from the same prison cell, they spend another few hours in front of the prison gates to discuss things. It's the same with us when we spend one single day apart after a weekend together.
We finally finish discussing everything, go to bed, I resume my Candy Crush few rounds before bed and then …
Alin: "How about you close your eyes?"
Me: "What? Why? Should I open my mouth?" (Semi-dirty joke. Why only "semi"? Because it's half food-related and half … you know)
Alin: "No, come on!"
I go on and squeeze my eyes shut.
A rustle.
I open my eyes and there it is. A little wooden box. I know it very well. It's from Afsaneh. So many times I have drooled at Froozandeh's amazing jewelry. I promise I will soon write about her. Until then, Afsaneh is Froozandeh's brand, this amazing woman who has a little shop in our little town. You might remember I am one for tribal jewelry.
Back to the little box. I am also one for trinkets. Afsaneh sells these handmade and decorated things that are a gem in themselves. But surprise surprise, it's more to it. There is a necklace inside.
Now, I don't know how to say this. You might think "she likes jewelry, what a shocker!".
For me jewelry is not something that you wear on a fashion whim. Jewelry, much like perfume, is an extension of myself.
It might sound stupid, but I don't conceive of wearing something I don't feel a connection with. And man oh man, more like with people, I do know when I have a connection with a pair of earrings or a ring or … a necklace.
It's the same with this native American design necklace. I saw it at Afsaneh some months back and I just knew. Of course, like with any other courtship ritual, we needed time to adjust to one another. I was determined to go back and buy it at some point, but I was waiting for the right time. Alin got there before me.
And here is where my piece of advice for men comes into place.
Dudes, don't ever wonder "what should I get her for her birthday?" You already know. Don't go for fancy and expensive. If she is one for fancy and expensive, chances are she is superficial and well … maybe you should get yourself another girlfriend for her birthday. 🙂 Beautiful gifts don't cost much and show that you pay attention to her; that you care enough to remember.
PS — Photo taken from Afsaneh Facebook page, shows the amazing and caring Froozandeh.


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Tesco in Hinckley has appointed a new community champion who will be on hand to help schools, clubs and community groups benefit the area.
Daniel Swain has spent the past two years in a similar role at Leicester's Narborough store, building links with the community and offering support with time, fundraising and donations from the supermarket giant.
The store receives a charity budget every year and it is Mr Swain who will decide how that money can best be used to support good causes in the area.
He said: "Having this role in Hinckley is fantastic because I know so many people having been brought up here and living here for the last
"I am committed in making an impact to our local community and I would like to encourage any charity, organisation or anyone who wants to speak to us about how we can help them or for them to tell us what matters to them."
Mr Swain is usually in store between 9am and 5pm on Wednesdays but is looking forward to getting out and about in the community.
To find out how Mr Swain could help your cause give him a call on Hinckley 265466.


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LINCOLN, Neb., (May 4, 2020) – Swanson Russell has been selected as creative agency for national workwear brand, Walls Outdoor Goods. Known as a go-to brand for workers who earn a living outdoors, Walls products are built to keep workers safe, warm and dry. The agency will handle Walls' creative needs including brand development and seasonal campaign work, and focus on building deeper connection with professional tradesmen who are wired to be outdoors.
"We couldn't be more excited about our partnership with Walls Outdoor Goods," said Brent Schott, President of Swanson Russell. "It's a brand with a strong American work heritage. We see an opportunity to give it the swagger and attitude it has earned. It shares a core belief that people who work outdoors for a living are a different breed with a unique sense of self confidence."
Walls Outdoor Goods built its foundation in workwear back in 1938 selling overalls and coveralls in Dallas, Texas. Over the next 80 years, Walls has become a preferred insulated workwear choice for workers who are passionately committed to their outdoor DNA. In 2017, Walls continued its growth and became a part of the VF Corporation. As a part of this family of brands, the core values are to focus on retooling the workforce for the future amid the decline of traditional trades and the resulting skills gap. For more information about the company, visit https://www.walls.com/home
"The team at Swanson Russell possess that rare ability to pair keen creative talent, with thoughtful strategic insight to serve as the basis for building meaningful brands," said Brad Bromstead VP Marketing, Merchandising, & Design. "We are excited to partner with Swanson Russell as we begin the next leg of the journey in establishing Walls Outdoor Goods as the brand of choice for Outdoor Work."
Founded in 1962, Swanson Russell is a Nebraska-based marketing communications firm with offices in Lincoln and Omaha. In addition to working with local and regional clients, the full-service agency is nationally recognized for expertise in agriculture, health care, outdoor recreation, construction and the green industry. For more information about Swanson Russell's Real Connection™ approach to advertising, public relations, digital and branding services, visit www.swansonrussell.com.


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Getting older video games to run on newer consoles may seem like a simple idea: the new boxes are faster, so older, weaker games should just work, right? Things never quite work out that way, especially when architecture changes dramatically between console generations, which is why we've been fascinated by Team Xbox's focus on "backward compatibility."
Microsoft's engineering team has already gotten hundreds of past-gen games to work on the Xbox One family (and beyond). Now, the engineers have broken ground on a completely different vision for backward compatibility: making games from the past, particularly the wimpy base Xbox One, render more fluidly on Series X/S. This new feature, dubbed "FPS Boost," is particularly interesting because it requires zero code updates injected into older games.
Not remasters; more like ReShades
Unfortunately, Microsoft's announcement about the feature on Wednesday fails to explain exactly how it works. Instead, it leaves the storytelling duties to the frame analysts at Digital Foundry, who got exclusive dibs on the story. In a Wednesday video breaking down how the feature works, John Linneman confirms that Xbox Series consoles, while processing older games' code, can "send data back from Direct3D [a longstanding API used in both Xbox consoles and Windows games] to the game faster than the original [consoles] did."
As a result, all internal game logic continues to render at its original target frame rate, yet the crucial stuff for 3D frame-rate performance, from animations to camera movement, can get a frame-rate boost without breaking the underlying game. Linneman reports that this happens with neither game-code modifications nor INI adjustments. During the broadcast, Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter chimes in to compare this to the PC-gaming ecosystem of mods, particularly popular post-processing injector mods like ReShade that fans often apply to PC versions left unattended by their creators (cough, cough, NieR: Automata).
Digital Foundry's video joins us at Ars Technica in raising a serious eyebrow at how this feature is rolling out: in the form of five relatively low-profile games, all from the Xbox One generation. The below listed boosts apply to both Series X and Series S consoles.
- UFC 4 (boosting from 30fps to 60fps)
- New Super Lucky's Tale (from 60fps to 120fps)
- Far Cry 4 (from 30fps to 60fps)
- Watch Dogs 2 (from 30fps to 60fps)
- Sniper Elite 4 (from 30fps to 60fps)
Three of the listed games never received an Xbox One X-compatibility patch, and FPS Boost does not affect resolution. Thus, games like Watch Dogs 2 and Far Cry 4 continue to operate at base Xbox One resolutions while getting a boost in frame rate. Still, the results are impressive in terms of a set-it-and-forget-it patch to boost fluidity for older games (and keeping those boosted frame rates locked and steady) without breaking anything.
(UFC 4 is a bit more confusing in terms of its boosts, so I'll quickly clarify: its existing version offered a lower-resolution 60fps mode on Xbox One X and was locked to 30fps on base Xbox One. Now, both Series X/S can access 60fps modes, while Series X can get up to 1800p resolution at that frame rate.)
Also, none of the above games is formally published by Microsoft, which may be a power play to impress upon fans that these patches might soon show up for any older game, long left unpatched by original publishers—though Linneman confirms that Microsoft has testing to do on a game-by-game basis in terms of glitches introduced by this injection process. Still, if the $299 Series S is poised to benefit from such boosts at lower rendering resolutions, a larger FPS Boost ecosystem will make its value proposition all the greater for anyone less interested in pixels and more interested in sheer performance-per-dollar.
These updates are set to roll out today across Xbox Series consoles, while new per-game series of visual toggles will roll out "this Spring" according to Microsoft. This menu will include FPS Boost, Auto-HDR, and, according to Linneman, perhaps other options like anisotropic filtering.
As Linneman and Leadbetter point out, Microsoft had already teased plans to update frame rates for existing software, particularly Fallout 4 (a game that Microsoft now technically owns publishing rights to, thanks to that Zenimax/Bethesda acquisition). But FO4 didn't appear in today's presentation, and it's unclear whether its frame rate plans require a full code rewrite or if Microsoft will leverage this clever FPS Boost trickery. Exactly how many more games might see upgrades remains unclear, beyond a promise of "revealing more FPS Boost games soon," and we've yet to hear any pledges about FPS Boost possibly coming to Xbox 360 or OG Xbox games.
But it's hard to imagine Microsoft building system-level teases about such upgrades and then only upgrading, say, a dozen older games. So we look forward to more frame rate updates to come.


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This year's lecture will be presented by Dr. Mark Boyce, professor of Ecology at the University of Alberta. Mark will offer AWA a thought provoking and inspiring lecture: United Community for wilderness Protection.
AWA Wilderness Defenders Awards are dedicated to individuals who have inspired us with their love of Alberta's wild lands, wild rivers and wildlife, and their efforts and achievements for conservation. This year the awards will be presented to:
Jill and Basil Seaton
Dr. Mark Boyce
AWA's Wilderness and Wildlife Trust Lecture and Awards
AWA's Annual Wilderness and Wildlife Lecture is an opportunity to present the ideas of researchers in a field related to conservation of wilderness that will inspire and challenge AWA to seek new directions and ways to increase its effectiveness. AWA is proud to present these lectures in pursuit of its mission "Defending Wild Alberta through Awareness and Action." Martha Kostuch was an expert in consensus-based decision making her work helped join groups that traditionally might not have worked together. She sought ways to make the system work so we could move forward. AWA has honoured her legacy and her memory by naming our annual lecture the Martha Kostuch Annual Wilderness and Wildlife Lecture.
Wine and Hors D'oeuvres Reception - 6pm • Lecture and Awards - 7pm
Members $50 • Non-Members $75


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Last summer, we learned that there would be a great opportunity to see meteors in our area. That is if we would look at the right time and at the right direction. And provided that we would have a clear sky.
The event is the Perseid meteor shower, a stream of debris associated with the Swift-Tuttle comet. This is an annual event, and they said that in a clear night sky you can potentially see 100 falling stars in an hour. A hundred falling stars in an hour? That's a proposition that was just too hard to resist.
Even though I spent half of my life in Manila (can't see much stars in a big city), I have seen meteors several times in the past. The first time was when I was in grade school during our school's camping in Batangas. The last time was not too long ago when I was driving home one night here in Iowa and it streaked down the sky. Perhaps I am lucky to see falling stars a few times, or perhaps I'm just looking at the night sky an awful lot of times.
My wife who have not seen a falling star ever, except maybe Kris Aquino falling off the stage on live TV some decades ago, so she was really determined to see this event.
So one night last August, we went outside to watch for falling stars.
We live in a country side, which was a decision we made years ago, where our dark night sky still shows the stars shining brightly and not blurred by the city lights. However in the past 13 years we have lived out here, the city has been creeping closer and closer to us. The cornfields and open prairies that we used to pass by is steadily being gobbled up by construction of housing developments and commercial establishments. I am not sure if I would like to call that "progress."
It was close to 11 o'clock at night when we went out, a time that ordinarily I would already be snoring. We stood in our deck and looked out in our backyard sky towards northeast, the direction we read it would be. After close to half an hour outside, we still have not seen any falling stars. Not even a single one! And they promised 100 stars an hour?
We were also getting cold, for even though it was summer, it was seasonably cooler than usual that night. Our necks were getting strained as well from looking up. We should have placed a mat in our lawn and lay there under the stars with our blankets. At least we would be comfortable while we eagerly wait and while we listen to the 'sweet nothing' whispers in our ears. I'm referring to the pesky mosquitoes buzzing around our heads.
After a long while, as I was looking at the sky in the direction we thought the meteors would appear, I believed I saw a light streaked in my peripheral field of vision. So I told my wife that perhaps we were looking at the wrong direction. So we trained our gaze to a different direction in the sky.
Sure enough, in less than a minute, we saw a bright star flashed across the sky and disappeared in the dark. Not much later, another one did. And another one.
Isn't it like many times in life, what we're searching for has been there all along, we just have not realized it, or we just have not looked the right way. Like your lost keys. Or the love that you're waiting for. Or the happiness that you're chasing.
Satisfied, my wife suggested that we can go back inside the house, knowing also that the right direction where we can look was in the full view of our bedroom window. So we pulled out a sleeping mat and placed it near the window, and there we laid for the night instead of our bed, and watch for more shooting stars.
They said that you should make a wish when you see a shooting star. Of course I did. That wish was already been granted: lying down here beside me.
Happy Anniversary my dear. It has been 23 years of happy moments and fulfilled wishes.
(*photo taken in Mohonk Mountain House, New York)
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HZB Photon School 2020
11 of October, 2019
The HZB Photon School 2020, will be held in the Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen-Campus (Berlin-Adlershof) from 9th to 20th March, 2020.
This school is primarily aimed at master students and early stage researchers in physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, life or environmental sciences. Students will be introduced to synchrotron and laboratory-based methods that probe the molecular structure, function and dynamics of complex material systems.
The two-week program consists of basic and specialized lectures including exercises, given by experienced teachers, who are HZB scientists or BESSY II super-users from our partner universities and research centers. The second week is dedicated to hands-on training at several BESSY II experimental stations and X-ray laboratories. Participants will get a vivid experience by joining up to two experiments to work in small groups. The second week's activities will teach participants how to collect, analyze, interpret and present own data amongst peers and specialists.
Deadline for application is the 22nd of November 2019. We will notify the acceptance for participation by 10th of December.


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By Jeremy Miles
Imagine the talentless secret love child of the Rev William Spooner and Mrs Malaprop misguidedly following a career in mid 20th century light entertainment.
Add a drink problem and the onset of dementia and you're getting close to the shambolic nightmare that is self-styled showbiz legend Count Arthur Strong.
That Steve Delaney's extraordinary creation is a work of near comic genius is without doubt. A long-time favourite at the Edinburgh Fringe and the subject of an award-winning BBC Radio 4 show, Strong is a superb piece of characterisation.
A deluded raconteur, convinced that his career has been hijacked by idiots, Strong is intent on reminding his audience of what could and should have been.
At times this latest show proves painfully funny as he stumbles through his past, mangling meanings and memories along the way. "They tried to make me a goat-scrape" he wails.
In Strong's befuddled world Pam Ayres goes beserk over being fobbed off in the hospitality room with half a Fray Bentos pie, The South Bank Show is presented by Melvyn Hayes and Melvyn Bragg was in "Summer Holocaust" with Cliff and Una. Meanwhile "Sir Laurence of Olivier" is taking notes from Dora Bryan.
Inspired certainly, but also a little scary. I've actually met people like this.
Jeremy Miles


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Muktinath is a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists located in Muktinath Valley at an altitude of 3,710 meters at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass (part of the Himalayas) in Mustang, Nepal. The site is close to the village of Ranipauwa, which is sometimes mistakenly called Muktinath as well.
Jomsom Muktinath Tour
Muktinath is a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists located in Muktinath Valley at an altitude of 3,710 meters at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass (part of the Himalayas) in Mustang, Nepal. The site is close to the village of Ranipauwa, which is sometimes mistakenly called Muktinath as well.
Within Hinduism, it is called Mukti Kshetra, which literally means the "place of liberation or moksha". This temple is considered to be the 106th among the available 108 Divya Desam, which are considered sacred by the Sri Vaishnava sect. The ancient name of this place in Sri Vaishnava literature, before Buddhist origin[clarification needed, is Thiru Saligramam. This houses the Saligrama shila, considered to be the naturally available form of Sriman Narayana the Hindu Godhead. It is also one of the 51 Shakti peethams. The Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means "Hundred Waters". Although the temple has a Vaishnava origin, it is also revered in Buddhism. For Tibetan Buddhists, Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa is a very important place of Dakinis, goddesses known as Sky Dancers, and one of the 24 Tantric places. They understand the murti to be a manifestation of Avalokitesvara.
Muktinath is the most famous temple as well as important pilgrimage site for both Buddhist and Hindu. There is white painted wall complex, as entrance gate is Tibetan style linked by prayer wheels. In this compound, main point is 108 sacred brass water spouts. The number 108 is sacred number in both religious. And another interesting thing is the Goddess of fire, in local language known as "Jwalamai", it is a monastery. Inside the building, holy and nature gas flame behind a grill just above running water, which is holy water as well, pours through a cow's mouth spewing out.
If you have flexible time,you can hike to Jhong where villages and monasteries on the north bank of Jhong khola/stream. It is a traditionally part of Mustang. And until several years before to visit this side was limited, it is permitted to visit the Chorming village of Jhang.
It is yours choice to how to start the tour, first you can drive all the way to Muktinath by local buses or private vehicle then fly back from Jomsom to Pokhara. And second option is flying to Jomsom then drive round trip. In this tour, drive along the Kaligandaki and seen the mountains view either during fly or drive as well touch yours heart by Upper Mustang landscape. It is rough/grabble rod not black top road.
Trip Itinerary
Day01. Arrival at Tribhuvan International airport Kathmandu
Day02. Basic information about the trip and preparation or Kathmandu valley sightseeing
Day03. Drive to Pokhara by tourist bus or flight
Day04. Drive to Tato pani/hot spring
Day05. Drive to Marpha, the king land of Apple
Day06. Drive to Kagbeni
Day07. Drive to Muktinath
Day08. Drive back to Jomsom
Day09. Early morning flight to Pokhara, and sightseeing around
Day10. Back to KathmanduDay11. On time board to onward destination


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Bushido: The Soul of Japan (Penguin Great Ideas) (Paperback)
List Price: $13.00
Our Price: $11.70
(Save: $1.30 10%)
Backordered at least 2 weeks or possibly unavailable.
One of the best early explorations of Japanese culture and samurai ethics written in the English language
Inazo Nitobe's book, the most influential ever written on Bushido, or the samurai Way of the Warrior, argues that the philosophy of Bushido is the true key to understanding "the soul of Japan."
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives--and upended them. Now Penguin brings you a new set of the acclaimed Great Ideas, a curated library of selections from the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
About the Author
Inazo Nitobe (1862 - 1933) was a Japanese economist, diplomat and writer. He was a major actor in the League of Nations, and served in the Japanese parliament. His important work Bushido: The Soul of Japan is one of the best early explorations of Japanese culture and samurai ethics written in the English language.


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entitled to recover from the trustees, who refuse to act, what would be their lawful compensation if the trustees had acted. As to T. P. Branch, -who, with James 1\.. Simmons, most wrongfully, if the allegations of the bill are true, sold out and betrayed the rights of which they came into control,-he holds $100,000 in his proper person, to which he has no title whatever; and while the Central Railroad & Banking Company, and the parties who acted for it, may not be able to recover what they have wrongfully paid to him, he holds the sum he received as a trustee for the plaintiffs and other persons in interest who may be entitled to it, and who represent-in part, at least-the franchises and property of the Short-Line Company; and as the case now appears he should be he has received for the compelled to make restitution of the sum benefit of the trust which he attempted to defeat, and for the legal beneficiaries of that trust. It would seem that the court has ample power to compel this; and the decision of the court is that the injunction prayed for against all the parties against whom it is prayed shall be granted, and that a receiver be appointed to take charge of the assets of the Savannah,Dublin & Short-Line Railway Company and of the United States Construction & Improvement Company, so far as they are within the control of either of the defendants, or otherwise in the jurisdiction of the court; and to recover, in sU:Jh manner as may be deemed most effective, from T. P. Branch and the persons acting with him, the sum unll:\wfully paid to him by E. P. Alexander for the franchises,stocks, shares; and other property of the Savannah, Dublin & Western Railway Company, and that the case proceed regularly, as is usual in equity.
HIDDEN tl. KRETZSCHMAR
. ,'(Ck"rcuit Oourt, D. Minnesota. February 21, 1889.)
It is competent for the mortgagor to waive by parol the conditions specified in a written agreement, limiting the use of a mortgage. given to .ecure advances. and to cOllsent to its assignment as collateral security fOl a loan.
In Equity. Bill to foreclose mortgage. On final hearing. Kerr &and Pierce &- Wilkinson, for complainant. Leo &- George and John M. Boyle, for defendants.
NELSON, J. This suit is brought to foreclose a mortgage executed by the defendant Carl Kretzschmar to T. S. Coffin, to secure the payment of his note for the sum of $10,000. The note and mortgage were assigned as collateral security for the payment of a note of $5,000, executed on the 14th day of June, 1884, at Boston, Mass., by the Red Lake Milling & Lumber Company, fl. corporation of the state of Minnesota, to the complainl\nt, Hidden, a..citizen of the state of Maine, and payable v.371<'.no.l0-30
Alpm24, 1885. At the' time of the execution of the note andmortgaga for'UO,OOO,an agreement in writing was entered into between the defendantearl Kretzschmar. and T.S. Coffin, the mortgagee, specifying the conditions upon which it was executed, and the.considerations influencing the mortgagor. This instrument was on' record in the same of.fiee in which the mortgage was recorded, and, I think, was notice to the complainant of the exact facts therein stated, and for what purpose the mortgage.was given. I Although T. S. Coffin, the mortgagee, held this mortgage to secure any advances, made by him to the corporation, and for.sel'v:ices rendered in the past, and to be rendered in the future, the evidenceissatisfactory that the defendant Carl Kretzschmar consented that T. S. Coffin might use it, as he did, to secure a loan of $5,000 to the corporation,-at that time being in need of money, and in avery embarrassing financial condition. It was entirely competent for the mortgagor ,to waive by parol the conditions mentioned in the agreement upon whi¢h the mortgage was executed, and assent to the use: of the mortgage need for money. The assignfor the purpose of meeting the ment of the inortgage as collateral security for the Joan of 85,000 from the complainant appears from .the evidence to have been made with the knowledge and consent of the defendant Carl Kretzschmar. True, in .his testimony there are indications of remonstrance to such a use of the mortF;age, and. some suspicious circumstances are apparent, but no fair · inference from the whole evidence would warrant me in denying the re.lief asked.. ' The evidence of the witnesses introduced by theoomplainant, who are unimpeached, entitle him to a decree. for a foreclosure to satisfy the amount due. No argument has been made or filed by the counsel of defendants, and they appear to have abandoned the case. The interest of defendant Anna Kretzschmar in the property accrued since the mortgage lien and the note for 85,000. Decree will be entered due: PriuC'!pal, $5,000; interest in favor of complainant. (6 per cent per annum) from June 14, 1884, to February 21, 1889, 81,507; insurance paid, $225; protest, $2.04j attorneys' fees, 8}M-
ARMSTRONG 11. CHElUCAL NAT. BAH.
(OW"uit Oourt, 8. D. New York. February il,1889.)
.' T o a bill for an accounting for the surplus of securities pledged for ad. ;-ances thereafter to be Made, averments in the allswer of facts such. as the prior s.tate of the parties' accounts,are needless since these facts may be · proved IJnder. any other a,verment.
Averments referring to facts entitling defendant to affirmatlve relief are only prcperfor a cross-bill, and may be expunged from an answer. .
.' .


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2019 government shutdown climbs historical charts
Current partial shutdown already ranks among longest
Updated 1/8/19 | Democratic congressional leaders left a meeting at the White House on Friday with little hope for an end to the ongoing standoff over federal appropriations.
"We told the president we needed the government open," said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer. "He resisted. In fact, he said he'd keep the government closed for a very long period of time, months or even years."
A short while later, President Donald Trump confirmed Schumer's allegation.
"I did say that. Absolutely, I said that," Trump said.
It won't take long for this partial government shutdown to become the longest in America's history. The current stalemate is already just days away from that title.
While there have been numerous lapses in appropriations over the years, they have only resulted in actual shutdowns since 1978, when President Jimmy Carter's attorney general, Benjamin Civiletti, released a legal opinion that most government work must cease until Congress has appropriated the necessary funds.
The nation's longest shutdown was in December 1995, when President Bill Clinton faced off against Republicans led by Speaker Newt Gingrich, who had taken power at the start of the year and was demanding cuts in entitlement and other non-defense spending. That shutdown lasted 21 full days, was capped by a snowstorm, and was long enough to be credited with a baby boomlet of "furlough babies" later that year.
Watch: What really happens during a government shutdown, explained


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Shares of Senseonics (SENS), a vital competitor to DexCom (DXCM) has seen it's shares surge 240% this month. However, there is no news released by the company that would warrant a surge of 16% at the opening bell. Here's a few reasons why I think SENS stock surged today.
We first covered Senseonics for our readers when it was $1.58 per share, that's a whopping 100% increase so it pays to listen!
Senseonics (SENS) technology is far superior to DexCom (DXCM)
The way that Senseonics' Eversense CGM system works is that it is an implantable procedure that takes less than 10 minutes. The Eversense censor is implanted under the skin, you're freely able to take off the transmitter which is laid above the skin over the sensor. Unlike DexCom's CGM there is no sticking or dragging of the skin and you're freely able to move as stated previously.
You can easily take off and put back on the transmitter and resume daily activities as usual.
Wear time
With the DexCom CGM you only wear it for 10 days and need to go back to get it re-inserted, with how the transmitter is designed, it can easily get out of place if you decide to stretch and then you'll need to get it re-inserted.
However, with Eversense by Senseonics you can wear it for 90 days before going back and getting a new censor inserted. Now keep in mind Senseonics is currently developing a 180-day device and a 365-day device awaiting FDA approval. This is a complete game changer and with the transmitter under the skin you can stretch freely and not worry about the censor getting out of place.
Less invasive
- Eversense vibrates instead of audible alarms.
- Eversense is easily attachable adhesive, can detach and attach without waiting anything but adhesive.
- No need to carry inserters for Eversense.
- Encouraged to calibrate Eversense often with fingerstick tests (Senseonics is currently getting this down to 1 test per week)
Bottom line
While DexCom continues to be the market leader in continuous glucose monitoring systems, I predict that once Senseonics' Eversense get enough market visibility, SENS stock will grab a big chunk of market share.
I read some reviews about this product and many who used DexCom would stay on Senseonics' Eversense system. That tells me nothing but growth ahead for the future of Senseonics.


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Business growth across Asia is driving demand for finance and accounting professionals. But that doesn't mean you can afford to sit on your laurels and assume landing a great role will simply happen.
Some business analyst skills are more highly sought-after than others and developing your business analytics skillset can pay dividends.
In an increasingly globalised workplace, knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is essential. However the growing importance of big data and the way it can be managed and used by companies is driving high demand in the market for accounting professionals with exceptional business analyst skills.
Insights from business analytics used to be regarded as nice-to-have but not essential pieces of business intelligence. That's all changed. These days, the ability of finance and accounting professionals to lead the way with business analytics is critical to support strategic decisions.
Interestingly, over one in three business leaders across Asia acknowledge this need – a figure that rises to 44% of CFOs in Shanghai. The Robert Half Japan 2016 Salary Guide notes business analytics as the functional area most difficult to recruit suitably skilled candidates. It makes business analyst skills, such as business intelligence and data mining, something worth acquiring by aspiring accounting and finance professionals.
As businesses become more reliant on their finance teams to deliver strategic advice, strong business analytics skills will become more important for finance professionals. Organisations with larger accounting systems may have specialised analytical software, such as MicroStrategy, IBM's Cognos Business Intelligence and Oracle's Hyperion. Each of these advanced accounting tools harvest data with the aim of identifying opportunities to be pursued and problems to be solved.
Knowledge of business analytics can be the key for accounting and finance professionals in Asia to climbing the career ladder. Organisations need candidates with advanced business analyst skills, including:
- Business intelligence. Business analytics requires a deep understanding of the systems used to gather information. This is putting pressure on finance professionals to hone their business intelligence skills, and even a basic understanding of how information systems are structured can make it easier to collaborate with IT teams and intelligence analysts.
- Data mining. Turning raw data into actionable insights is at the core of business analytics. Data mining often requires strong mathematical skills, placing finance professionals with a background in statistics at an advantage.
- Data-driven decision making. One of the key challenges of big data is knowing how to make decisions based on the available information. This sort of strategic responsibility is increasingly falling to finance departments. It means team members must be able to react quickly to new insights and use business analytics to assist stakeholders across the organisation to understand their findings and make strategic decisions.
Sharpening your business analytics skills
Business analytics skills are crucial in today's data-driven world, but they aren't the only attributes in high demand.
The Robert Half Japan 2016 Salary Guide notes that along with excellent technical skills and knowledge of systems like Oracle and SAP, candidates with the CPA designation have an edge in the market. In an increasingly global commercial market, the ability to communicate with stakeholders in English can give candidates a considerable advantage.
If you're already working full-time with little time to devote to honing your business analytics or other skills, your employer may be more willing to help. The serious shortage of talent with business analytics skills in Japan is seeing many companies work to develop the skills of their current employees. So speak to your manager about additional training and education opportunities they can provide. Or consider volunteering for projects that will help you gain business analytics and other skills. It could make the difference between success and failure in the future.


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Discover the rich French winemaking tradition of Limoux. Explore a winery that dates back to the 16th century. Taste 3 premium wines after exploring the vineyards, vat house, and barrel cellar.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
- Reserve now & pay later
- Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
- Covid-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
- Duration 1 hour
- Check availability to see starting times.
- Live tour guide
- French, English
- Wheelchair accessible
- Private group
Select participants and date
To find the Domaine de Baronarques vineyard, make your way to the town of Limoux. When in Limoux you may then enter the name of the property into your GPS, and it will bring you directly to the property.Open in Google Maps ⟶


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TWICE Revealed Unfortunate Ways People Misunderstand Them When They Wear Glasses
Not all members of TWICE wear glasses, but those who do can relate to the difficulties that arise when they wear it. In a past live broadcast, Dahyun, Sana, and Nayeon shared past experiences of being misunderstood because of their glasses.
Sana started by revealing that she has a hard time practicing with glasses on. "When I practice dancing with my glasses, my glasses get thrown away. It's hard."
For Nayeon, she notices that she looks more serious and tends to feel more drowsy.
Until I put on contacts, I feel down. I feel drowsy. I guess I look down when I don't wear contact lenses.
— Nayeon
Similarly, Dahyun described how people tend to think she's in a bad mood because she squints whenever she can't see, which makes it look like she's frowning. "Some people misunderstood that. I've experienced that before since I frown to see better."
Dahyun isn't the only member who is misunderstood by others because of that reason. Nayeon shared that her mom and friends used to think she was ignoring them when they walked by each other, but she simply couldn't see them!
My mother misunderstood that before, and my friends did so too. 'Why did you ignore me even after you saw me? You passed by me even though you saw me.'
— Nayeon
Upon hearing that, Sana remembered the times she used to fear passing by senior artists whenever she wasn't wearing glasses.
I was so scared of being with senior artists. When they're there…I can't see clearly. I can't tell who they are. It might be staff members. Sometimes, I can't tell whether there is a person. I was worried that someone would blame me for not bowing properly.
— Sana
To top it all off, Nayeon and Dahyun shared stories of when people they know didn't recognize them at all because they were wearing glasses.
Read about the hilarious stories below!
TWICE's Nayeon And Dahyun Were Once Mistaken As Staff Members—Here's Why
Hawk-Eyed Netizens Spot Mina's Hilarious "Strike" In TWICE's "Alcohol-Free" Choreography
TWICE's Sana Gains Praise For Her "Princess" Visuals At Prada
ENHYPEN And TWICE's Sana Interact With Top Hollywood A-Listers At The Recent Prada Fashion Show
TWICE's Sana Reveals The Extreme Diet She "Survived" On To Lose Weight As A Trainee


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How To Develop Interest In The Piano
Any kid can develop interest in the piano if you are willing to wait for the moment when they take over. Then kids can move forward under their own steam. They are willing to sit through all the fumbling and uncertainty as they scale the Himalyan peak that is the piano. Failure is fairly certain if you don't tailor the curriculum to each child.
The worst mistake piano teachers make is to adopt the "one-size-fits-all" method. Teachers use these ancient piano methods (Faber, Alfred, Hal Leonard, Mel Bay, Bastien, John Thompson) because they were taught this way, and can think of nothing else to stimulate their students.
Piano Is Easy
Standard Methods Alone Don't Work
I can guarantee you that these books will do nothing to develop your child's interest in the piano. There is, after all nothing new in piano teaching, right? If I as a piano teacher cannot develop a child's interest in the piano then I am a failure. But it is so easy to succeed! All you have to do is lower the bar until you find the child's "comfort zone" and then proceed slowly into the normal curriculum as the child's abilities and interest dictate.
Isn't it a better outcome to have kids try music at the piano and like it? These same kids, when taught by the old methods, would run screaming from the room. They are branded "failures" by their disciplinarian, dogmatic piano teachers.
Let Each Child Find Their Own Way
Let each child enjoy playing according to their abilities. Yet the piano teaching establishment is very quick to brand most kids "failures" at the piano, and run them out the door. They will never enjoy the instrument and never even want to try again.
The children's reaction is understandable given the humiliation that most kids suffer at the hands of the dogmatists. There is a great moment waiting for you if you are patient enough with a child. This is the moment they come to you and say, "I want to play that song that goes..."
The Child Under Their Own Steam
From that moment on, you have an avid student. If you allow them to develop interest at their own pace, you will have a future hobbyist who will enjoy tinkering with tunes their entire life. Isn't that we are really after? The world doesn't want any more piano virtuosi. There are no major classical radio stations, no artist's careers and no record companies or record deals to support them.
The classical piano music business is as dead as John Kennedy. America has become the province of Nintendo, Disney and Las Vegas. These corporations could care less what interest your child takes in anything except their products. Surely you can be patient enough to wait for your child to say, "I want to play that song that goes..."


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This article was posted by CrystalWind.ca.
Pleiadians : The Truth About the Pleiadians
Category: Cosmic Neighbours
Ever since the mid 1970's, the term "Pleiadians" has been circulated and used in the UFO community. The term Pleiadians was first used in the Billy Meier UFO contacts. During Billy's first contact with Semjase, she explained that she came from the Pleiades and from that moment forward, people all over the world called these beings Pleiadians.
From Billy's contacts with Semjase, Ptaah, Quetzal and many other alien visitors, we have learned that the Pleiadians are distant descendants of another group of extraterrestrials who come from an area of our sky in the Lyra constellation. Therefore they are referred to as Lyrans.
The Pleiadians offered Billy the opportunity to obtain physical evidence of their existence which included UFO pictures, spacecraft sound recordings, metal samples and eyewitness accounts just to name a few. The Billy Meier contacts have remained the best documented UFO contact case in the world. From the time of Billy's first contact with Semjase until the present day, many people all over the world have claimed to be in contact with the Pleiadians. Some have claimed physical contact and others have claimed telepathic contact. It seemed that after Billy released his spectacular UFO pictures, people were coming "out of the woodwork" and claiming to have contacts with the Pleiadians. One only needs to perform an internet search to discover how prolific these claims are. So, for 20 years, we have all been under the impression that these beings are Pleiadians who come from the Pleiades. However, in reality this is completely false.
During the 251st contact on February 3, 1995, we were informed that these "Pleiadians" are really not Pleiadians but are in truth Plejaren. In their own language they call themselves by the identical name as their star cluster Plejaren, which is beyond the Pleiades by about 80 light years. The location of the Plejaren is in another space-time configuration which deviates from our space-time configuration by a fraction of a second.
Actually, this explanation is completely logical because our terrestrial observations can also tell us some things about the Pleiades. The Pleiades [M45], also known as the Seven Sisters, is an open star cluster in the constellation of Taurus. The Pleiades cluster contains several hundred stars and is located about 420 light years from the earth. The Pleiades are relatively young and very hot and therefore are incapable of supporting any type of life. This fact was confirmed by Ptaah during the 251st contact:
Billy: Another question regarding the Pleiades. You mentioned previously that they are still very young. Aren't there any inhabitable planets?
Ptaah: No. Although there is a planetary formation around some of the Pleiadian celestial bodies, they are in as young a state as the stars themselves, which is only natural, of course; when the stars are young, the planets must also be young. However, on the few planets in the Pleiades star cluster no life exists whatever at this time, and the question remains, whether or not any life will ever develop there.
Additionally, the contact notes explain that their origin was 500 light years away and not 420 light years which is where the Pleiades exist.
In hindsight, it is clear to see that the Plejaren knew that frauds would use the name Pleiadians and therefore kept their true name and origin a secret until their withdraw from earth in 1995. The Plejaren have always had the policy of contacting only one person on a planet. There are several reasons for this but the most important reason can be summed up in an old cliché, "Too many cooks spoil the broth". And over the years, the Plejaren have always said they have only contacted Billy Meier and no one else. Here are two excerpts:
From the 232nd Contact on November 17, 1989
Ptaah: "... It still must be clarified that no other human beings or spirit forms or other powers of our allies in the Federation maintain contacts with humans on earth, accidentally, unconsciously or consciously; therefore neither in physical nor telepathic nor in any other form. Claims to the contrary by some human beings of earth, no matter from which region throughout the world, are nothing but conscious or unconscious lies, deceit and fraudulent actions; or they are simply activities to make a profit through dishonesty by liars, deceivers, delusional people, profit seekers, busy-bodies or those who consciously falsify the truth through their own fanaticism and hatred…"
From the 251st Contact on February 3, 1995
Ptaah: Now that we have withdrawn from Earth, I want to reiterate the issue, once again, that neither we Plejarans nor any of the allies within our federation are maintaining any contacts whatsoever with terrestrial human beings; neither in a physical nor a telepathic form.
All of the people who claim to be in contact with Pleiadians should be ashamed of themselves.
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Lunch on the way from Barcelona to Carcassonne
With help from a suggestion from a new friend who owns a B&B near Leon, we stopped in the delightful seaside town of Begur, Spain today where we found lunch at the wonderful hotel and restaurant "Galena," located on the edge of the village but with a wonderful view of the rolling landscape to the west. We enjoyed a lazy drive up the coast until we turned inland for Carcasonne, our home for the next two nights on this Grand Adventure of Spain and (mostly) France.
Posted in Spain Tours, Undiscovered Places and tagged begur, spain.


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NEW DROP: Trick-or-Treat Sampler with candy-slaying Cocofloss Minis
If caring for your kid's teeth feels like wrestling an adorable alligator, we get you. Wee ones (even those of dentists) often fight flossing and brushing with all their mini might. This could be because the part of their brain that can help them delay gratification, stay focused, be logical, fight impulses, and basically cooperate — the prefrontal cortex — isn't fully developed until they're about age 25!
But before the thought of brushing your college-aged kid's teeth sends you into a panic, don't despair. Brushing and flossing doesn't have to be a twice-daily battle for years to come. Instead, you can harness the power of play to turn what can feel like torture into a chance to giggle and dance. Taking a broader view of oral health care that includes nutrition can also help.
In honor of National Children's Dental Health Month this February, here are 10+ tips for keeping kids' teeth shining as bright as their sunshiney smiles.
Even the cute gummy grins of newborns need gentle care. Begin by wetting a soft washcloth or gauze and wiping down your baby's gums twice a day. Then after the first pearly whites pop up, you can use an extra-soft child's toothbrush to gently massage the teeth and gums.
To help prevent cavities, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends using a rice-grain–sized smear of fluoride toothpaste on a kid-friendly toothbrush until your tot can reliably swish and spit — typically around age 3. Once they get the hang of spitting out toothpaste instead of swallowing it, you can upgrade to a pea-sized dollop.
Toothbrushing is more important than toothpaste for beginning brushers. So if that yummy-flavored fluoride toothpaste tempts your toddler to suck on the brush, skip it for now. Starting with a fluoride-free toothpaste is also a good option.
When to start flossing? Parents magazine suggests this simple test: "If you can't see a space or see the gums between a pair of teeth, slide a piece of floss between them. If it sticks a little you know the teeth are touching and it's time to floss."
Put on some catchy music (be it "Baby Shark" or the Beatles) and throw a floss party! Nimble floss picks can come in handy at this stage and having your child lie down on your lap can make it easier to reach the back molars, once they come through.
Until your kids are around 6 to 8 years old, you'll need to brush and floss your nippers' gnashers for them. Their little fingers don't have the dexterity yet to reliably and gently clean all their teeth.
To keep your kiddo's teeth on track for a lifetime of bright smiles, take your baby to the dentist after the first tooth appears or by the time you light that lone first birthday candle. Just try to avoid scheduling the appointment during naptime, and help prepare your tyke by reading related books. Find a kid-friendly or pediatric dentist, who will have lots of clever tricks up her clinical-jacket sleeves to keep squirmy kids calm. An end-of-visit "treasure chest" full of cheap toys can work wonders.
Simple games and dramatic stories can help turn toothbrushing and flossing time into one of the day's silliest moments. Go on a safari in your little adventurer's mouth, and use the toothbrush to seek out lions, gorillas, and hippos, complete with sound effects. Or perhaps for two minutes your child morphs into a superhero that cleans out the "bad guys" that are hiding between two molars with her magical, lasso-like floss. Get creative and wacky, and follow your kid's imaginative lead.
Good tunes and a little hip-shakin' can turn just about any task into a treat (hence the "Cleaning the House" playlist). Whether your tiny toothbrusher digs Elmo's "Brushy Brush" video, with cameos by Bruno Mars and Nicole Kidman, or something more old-school, like "Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley, you can use music to help motivate her to complete a full two minutes of tooth cleaning. Check out our post on raising floss fanatics for more song suggestions for ears (and teeth) of all ages.
When kids are first learning to brush and floss, they're going to miss quite a few spots. While you might have them first practice on a stuffie or doll before they "graduate" to their own teeth, don't get too hung up on perfect technique. It's more important that dental hygiene becomes a regular habit.
Follow up your child's effort with a quick "check" to see if there are any "sugar bugs," "molar monsters," or "tooth trolls" (or simply "food" or whatever term is most friendly for your kid) still lurking in their mouths. That's when you do some actual brushing and flossing to remove cavity-causing bacteria.
Some parents then allow their children to become pretend half-pint dentists and have a turn brushing "mommy's" or "daddy's" teeth. (Just be sure not to use the same toothbrush for this. You don't want to pass on any cavity- or gum disease-causing bacteria from your mouth.)
Even after they've started brushing and flossing solo, your fledglings might enjoy the routine more if you care for your own teeth with them. The time together gives you a chance to demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques and peep their chompers to make sure they're following your lead. Bonus: a house full of people with healthy teeth and gums!
Tape a chart to the bathroom mirror or wall and mark each day they brush and floss with a fun stamp or sticker. You can draw a chart yourself or your dentist might have copies of one you can use. You can also find printable brushing and flossing charts online. We're particularly fond of this 21-day tracker. 😊 (Psst — mom and dad, our 21-Day Floss Challenge may be just what you need to solidify your own floss habit.)
Every time they brush and floss, shower your tots with praise and give them a little, non-candy treat, like an extra story at bedtime or — you guessed it — another sticker. (Anything more elaborate may be hard to sustain over the coming months or years of rewards.)
Though it may be years until your youngsters lose their first tooth (usually around age 5 or 6), the magical tooth fairy can be a major motivator for tiny ones to keep teeth clean. Afterall, the tooth fairy wants clean, pearly whites to build her castle.
According to the ADA, the tooth fairy tells kids, "My assistant Dr. Floss gives me daily reports to let me know if you are brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and that you are eating healthy foods. I also have a little fairy helper named Sparkle. She's so small that you can't see her, but she works with Dr. Floss and they report to me if you have been taking care of your teeth."
The glorious no-spill sippy cup may seem like a sanity-saver — afterall, it was invented in 1988 by a mechanical engineer dad who was tired of cleaning up his son's endless beverage accidents. Unfortunately, sippy cups may cause more problems than they prevent in the long run, as they are responsible for thousands of injuries each year, help cause tooth decay due constant consumption of sweet drinks, and may get in the way of oral motor development.
The ADA now recommends that parents transition their tykes from breast- or bottle-feeding to training cups that donot feature a no-spill valve. That will allow the child to actually learn how to sip, rather than suck (as most sippy cups require), and will help develop a "mature swallow pattern," an important step in learning how to use that sweet rosebud mouth for more than drinking milk.
By the way, if your child does carry around a cup most of the day, make sure it's filled with water rather than any other naturally sweet drink, including juice or milk. That will keep tooth decay from having a 24-hour heyday, and will also make sure your snack-sized connoisseur is hungry for more nutritious food at mealtimes.
Another convenient baby-feeding invention is now drawing fire: food pouches. As reported in The New York Times: "The pouches' entry into the baby food market is so recent that there isn't yet published research on their impact, but they are enough of a departure from traditional baby foods that they raise several theoretical concerns, including delaying motor development, diluting nutritional quality, and increasing picky eating and cavities in young kids."
The main problems seem to happen when parents become too reliant on baby food pouches for multiple meals. That's when children don't have a chance to practice regular chewing, which could keep the jaw from developing normally. Kids also need to be exposed to the sensory experiences of eating to help them from becoming overly selective later on. So sealed food that comes in just one texture — mushy — limits the wonderful world of food to what can easily be squeezed out of 4-ounce plastic pouch (which, BTW, isn't easily recyclable).
Looking for an alternative? Consider baby-led weaning, where new-to-solids eaters skip purées all together and go right from breastmilk or formula to easy-to-grab finger foods, such as steamed broccoli trees. Research has shown that if done right, baby-led weaning is as safe as feeding with a spoon. It's also a hot mess of cuteness.
Few things get kids more excited than getting to be the decider. Let your tiny tastemaker flex some executive decision-making power in the oral care aisle. These days, children's toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss all come in a range of fun flavors and styles.
May we recommend our Cocofloss 4-Piece Set? With this variety pack, your future CEO can look forward to choosing between Delicious Mint, Fresh Coconut, Cara Cara Orange, and Pure Strawberry every night. Yum!
You can also let your floss boss baby help you design a CocoBox, filled with a six-month supply of the floss preferred by 9 out of 10 tooth fairies (or so we imagine). You'll never run out of Cocofloss, you'll save up to 20%, and your children will love regularly receiving a package full of their favorite scrumptious fragrances. You can even sync the delivery to around a birthday and half birthday to promote pride in your wee flosser's success at keeping her teeth clean as she grows.
Building that LEGO set may take dozens of steps, but working on it with your child is worth it to see that sparkling smile. Building a CocoBox is much easier, and it will keep that heart-tugging grin going for months to come. Fill yours with a six-month supply of kid-friendly varieties — such as Delicious Mint, Fresh Coconut, Cara Cara Orange, and Pure Strawberry — and for a limited time, Dark Chocolate. 🍫❤


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Facebook's Internet.org Now Offering Free Connectivity to Millions in India
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Internet.org is now available in India, Facebook said late Monday, potentially bringing Internet access to tens of millions of new users for the first time.
In a blog post, Facebook said the app, which it developed in conjunction with Reliance Communications, will bring the Internet to millions of people in the world's second-most populous country. It will also offer 38 different initial services, including a range of news, music, sports, search (from Microsoft's Bing), pregnancy information, weather, Internet basics, health, and more.
"Reliance customers in six Indian states (Tamil Nadu, Mahararashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, and Telangana) will now have access to more than three dozen services," Facebook wrote, "ranging from news, maternal health, travel, local jobs, sports, communication, and local government information….This is a big step forward in our efforts to connect everyone to the internet, and to help people share their ideas and creativity with the entire world. We'll continue to improve the experience and roll it out to other parts of the world."
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a post late Monday, wrote that, "Over the last year we've rolled out Internet.org free basic services to countries with more than 150 million people total across Africa and Latin America. More than 6 million people are already connected to the internet who previously weren't, and we've started hearing incredible stories about how the internet is changing lives and communities. But to continue connecting the world, we have to connect India. More than a billion people in India don't have access to the internet. That means they can't enjoy the same opportunities many of us take for granted, and the entire world is robbed of their ideas and creativity."
Source: VentureBeat (link opens in a new window)
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- Health Care, Technology


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The Truth About Antioxidants
You hear a lot about antioxidants these days. Many people like to taut their benefits. But what are they? How do they work? Where do they come from? Should you be including them in your diet?
What is an antioxidant?
Here's the dictionary definition:
That's pretty clear, right? You take antioxidants, and you won't be damaged by oxidizing agents, whatever that means. Let's dive a little deeper.
According to eatwell.org, "our bodies are battlegrounds against infection and diseases. Normal body functions such as breathing or physical activity and other lifestyle habits such as smoking produce substances called free radicals that attack healthy cells. When these healthy cells are weakened, they are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers. Antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E and carotenoids, which include beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein, help protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals."
So it seems like if we want to know more about antioxidants, we need to know more about free radicals. And we're not talking James Dean here.
What is a free radical?
According to rice.edu, free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs.
Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. Sometimes the body's immune system?s cells purposefully create them to neutralize viruses and bacteria. However, environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also spawn free radicals. Check out the graphic below for some sources of free radicals.
One other surprising source of free radicals is exercise. Exercise, because it requires increased oxygen consumption, also increases the production of free radicals.
So what you need to know is that free radicals come from internal and external sources and that they are unstable. Generally, free radicals attack the nearest stable molecule, "stealing" its electron. When the "attacked" molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process is started, it can cascade, finally resulting in the disruption of a living cell.
How do these disruptions surface in our bodies? Free radicals disturb the action of cellular DNA, which directs key cellular activities. Cells with damaged DNA stagnate and are prone to developing cancer and growths. This kind of damage also accelerates the aging process, directly causing wrinkles and age spots and severely taxing the immune system. Other diseases such as heart disease, atherosclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, inflammatory joint disease and degenerative eye disease to name a few are also attributed to free radicals (source: purenewyou.com).
Antioxidants to the rescue
Sounds pretty bad, all of these free radicals roaming our bodies causing cell damage and disease. How can they be stopped? That's where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating one of their own electrons, ending the electron-"stealing" reaction. The antioxidant nutrients themselves don't become free radicals by donating an electron because they are stable in either form They act as scavengers, helping to prevent cell and tissue damage that could lead to cellular damage and disease (source: healthchecksystems.com).
Doesn't that sound wonderful? These altruistic antioxidants donate their electrons to disable the menacing free radicals. How do I get my hands (or body) on these wonder nutrients?
Sources of antioxidants
The table below shows 20 common foods that are great sources of antioxidants (source: WebMD).
You'll notice that we're talking about beans, fruits and vegetables in this list. Another plug for healthy eating!
What about antioxidant supplements? Do I really need to eat all of this healthy food? In a word, yes. Most sources I looked at gave the same story - all of the supplements and foods that have been enriched with antioxidants can interfere with the normal metabolism of nutrients within the body, primarily because they contain a high concentration of antioxidants. So stick to natural sources for best results.
Too good to be true?
If you've read this far, great! Now you'll hear the deeper, darker side of the story, why free radical's aren't so bad and how antioxidants aren't always so great.
I mentioned earlier that exercise produces more free radicals. For this reason, it was suggested that athletes take antioxidant supplements in the form of Vitamins C and E. But studies over the past 10 years on rats have shown that free radicals, when produced through exercise, actually had jump-started a process that over time would allow the rats' muscles to adapt to exercise. Suppressing the production of free radicals had, they concluded, prevented the ''activation of important signaling pathways'' and altered the muscles' ability to adapt to exercise. As a result, they wrote, ''the practice of taking antioxidants'' to ward off the presumed free-radical damage caused by exercise ''may have to be re-evaluated.'' (source: nytimes.com) These results were also verified in human tests, to the point where although supplements didn't physically harm athletes, their own antioxidant defense systems weren't as strong and their insulin response was weaker.
Can free radicals be beneficial to our health?
Scientists agree that overall their role is destructive, and contribute to skin wrinkling, cancer progression and neurodegenerative diseases (source: Discovery.com). But in an interesting study published in PLoS Biology, worms that were treated with a free-radical-producing herbicide actually lived longer than normal worms. What's more, when the longer-lived mutant worms were given antioxidants, the effects were reversed, and the worms had a conventional worm lifespan. The finding flies in the face of the idea that antioxidants battle the effects of aging. According to study author Siegfried Hekimi of McGill University in Montreal and others, what is emerging from this and other experiments is a view of free radicals -- or, more precisely, reactive oxygen species -- as a normal part of the body's stress response, with beneficial effects at certain (low) levels. Hekimi and others point out that part of exercise's benefit may be because exercise causes mild increases in the levels of reactive oxygen species that are actually good for us.
Can antioxidants be bad for our health?
While antioxidants confer many benefits, taking too much of one or a few antioxidants at once or taking high doses over a long period can lead to problems. A meta-analysis of studies done by Cleveland Clinic found that beta-carotene supplements raised the risk of mortality significantly and slightly raised the risk of cardiovascular disease (source: livestrong.com). Another well-studied antioxidant that may cause harm when consumed in excess is vitamin E. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, doses above 150 IU per day began to raise the risk of death, with the risk rising along with the dose. Doses of 50 to 400 IU per day have been linked to an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Also on a side note, when my son was going through chemotherapy for a cancerous tumor, we were told not to give him any antioxidant-containing food. Why? Because the point of chemotherapy is to destroy cells, much like free radicals do. So antioxidants would combat the effects of chemotherapy.
What about reducing sources of free radicals?
With all of the emphasis on how great antioxidants are in combating the evil free radicals, it seems like we are missing one key point. There are many sources of free radicals, like UV rays from the Sun, air pollution, radiation, smoking and inflammation caused by eating poorly. Although it's great to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants, it is just as important to try and reduce sources of free radicals (rather than combat them with antioxidants). It is silly to smoke a cigarette and then eat some blueberries to combat its effects. So wear sunscreen, try not to breath pollution, and avoid poor food choices that cause inflammation (like sugar and refined carbohydrates). And yes, exercise.
Bottom line
The body is an amazing machine. It has brilliant defense mechanisms against disease that can help you as long as you treat it correctly.
Once again, my friends, it comes down to eating right and exercising. No pill or enhanced food can make you healthy if you're not willing to treat your body right.
6/16/2015 03:09:46 pm
Wow I have found huge information about antioxidant. This is really need to our body for good health. Finally I have found the perfect place to read about the antioxidant. Thanks for sharing.
6/17/2015 05:44:50 am
Glad that you found the information useful! Thanks for the comment.
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