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Updated: Best antivirus: 14 home security suites reviewed and rated
It's a dangerous world, and every PC needs antivirus software to keep threats at bay: it's an absolute essential.
Don't assume that Microsoft's free tools are enough, either. Microsoft Security Essentials is compact and easy to use, but independent testing labs such as AV-Comparatives also report that it offers very poor protection.
This doesn't have to be a problem if you're short of cash. There are plenty of quality free alternatives around, as we highlighted in our best free antivirus software feature.
Of course, the free antivirus tools don't offer quite as much functionality as their more costly cousins. And independent testing also reveals that commercial packages will often (although not always) deliver the best protection. If you're looking for the maximum security then you should at least consider a paid package.
Here we've found 14 of the best home antivirus tools available for you to buy, listed in price order.
1. BullGuard Antivirus
£24.95 (1 PC, 1 year); £39.95 (1 PC, 2 years)
If your inbox is always overflowing with junk, then BullGuard Antivirus 2014's bundled spam filter will probably appeal. And while our tests show it's not as accurate as some of the specialist competition, it's better than we normally see in security suites, and is a welcome and worthwhile extra.
It's a similar story with BullGuard's browsing protection. Accuracy is only average, but the program does highlight dangerous links in several places (Google, Bing, Yahoo, even Facebook) and again it's a feature well worth having.
The core antivirus engine is BullGuard's real highlight, though. It delivered strong all-round results for us, while the independent testing labs consistently give it high marks (BullGuard was one of AV-Comparatives Products of the Year for 2013), also reporting that the program has only a very minimal impact on your system performance.
There are a few small issues here. It's not quite as configurable as some of the competition, for example. And the interface displays large buttons for features which aren't actually included with BullGuard Antivirus (Firewall, Parental Controls, Backup), along with "Upgrade Now" buttons. That kind of ad might be acceptable in freeware, but not in a commercial product.
For the most part, though, BullGuard Antivirus is a solid and reliable product, effective and easy to use.
Score: 4/5
2. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
£24.95 (1 PC, 1 year); £54.95 (3 PCs, 2 years)
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is a little trickier to install than some of the competition, as you're forced to remove anything that Bitdefender considers as "incompatible". This might be a good thing − at least you'll avoid most conflicts − but is still worth considering if you're hoping to run it with other security tools.
Once the program finally appears, its sleek black interface gives Bitdefender Antivirus Plus a somewhat forbidding look, but don't be put off − it's all very straightforward. To check your system, for instance, you just click Scan Now, choose your preferred scan type, then wait as the program hunts down and eliminates any malware.
You can be very confident that Bitdefender Antivirus Plus will detect any dangers, too. Independent testing consistently rates Bitdefender products as amongst the best for eliminating known and brand new viruses, and blocking phishing sites, while having only very minimal effect on your system performance.
There are also useful bonus tools to protect your online transactions, manage your passwords, securely delete confidential files and more. But don't worry, this has no real impact on the price: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is one of the best value packages in this group.
Score: 4.5/5
3. F-Secure ANTI-VIRUS
£25 (1 PC, 1 year); £50 (3 PCs, 2 years)
While most security companies make it as easy as possible to test their products, F-Secure ANTI-VIRUS is a little different. You're forced to register in advance, providing your name, country, email address and more, before you're finally given a download link.
Once the trial is installed, though, life gets much easier. An exceptionally straightforward interface gives speedy access to the program's various scanning features, a capable and versatile scheduler helps you configure future scans to run automatically, and there's really nothing else to do at all.
Part of the reason for this simplicity is that F-Secure ANTI-VIRUS is a pure antivirus product, with none of the extras you'll find in other tools: banking, URL-related browsing and social network protection are all reserved for F-Secure Internet Security. (Web-based malware should still get blocked, but this happens by scanning the download, not preventing you from reaching the malicious site in the first place.)
It's the core antivirus engine which really matters, though, and here F-Secure ANTI-VIRUS does very well, with the program's protection consistently rated very highly by independent testing labs. There are some possible problems − an AV-Comparatives "Real World" test found F-Secure raised a high number of false positives − but on balance F-Secure ANTI-VIRUS provides solid, capable protection for a very reasonable price.
Score: 4/5
4. Avira Antivirus Suite
£25.99 (1 user, 1 year); £38.99 (1 user, 2 years); £51.99 (1 user, 3 years)
Avira's new Antivirus Suite offers great value, as it's licensed by user rather than device. Protecting your PC, laptop, Android phone and tablet costs a mere £51.99 for 3 years − a fraction of what you could spend elsewhere (and you get 5GB of online backup space thrown in, too).
The innovations haven't stretched to Avira's interface, unfortunately, which still looks dated − it's a cluttered mass of options which could put off novice users right away. Browsing protection hasn't been updated either. It still requires you to install a variation on the Ask browser toolbar, and doesn't deliver particularly accurate or reliable results.
Once you've found your way around Avira Antivirus Suite, though, it's easy enough to use. Email scanning and cloud-based technologies mean it performs better than Avira's free tool. The core antivirus technology has scored very well with the independent testing labs, too, with AV-Comparatives giving it the highest Advanced+ rating in their last Real World Protection report. (AV-Test scored it lower for protection, but the package still did well overall.)
The limited browsing protection is an issue, but Avira Antivirus Suite can perform well in some situations, and there's no doubt it's good value for money. If you're a fan of the company then it's worth a try.
Score: 3.5/5
5. Emsisoft Anti-Malware 8.1
£26 (1 PC, 1 year); £80 (3 PCs, 2 years)
Emsisoft Anti-Malware 8.1 is a solid antivirus package which provides the three layers of protection you need. Browsing protection blocks access to dangerous links, dual scanning engines detect known threats as you download or run them, and behaviour monitoring watches running programs for suspicious actions, helping to block even the very latest threats.
Independent testing shows largely positive results, with the program gaining particularly high marks at AV-Comparatives (although it doesn't do badly at AV Test and VB100, either). It's relatively lightweight, too, and should have little effect on your PC's performance.
Perhaps the real highlight is Anti-Malware's configurability. Play with the scheduler, for instance, and you can run scans at a certain time (9pm), fixed intervals (every 90 minutes), between other times (every 30 minutes between 7pm and 10pm, say), or maybe every two hours on Saturday and Sunday. You have great control over how modules like the browsing protection work. And if you want a trusted program to do something suspicious − change the HOSTS file, say − then you can create an application rule to make it happen.
Emsisoft Anti-Malware still doesn't have quite the protective power of the leading antivirus tools, and it's also a little expensive if you need to protect several PCs. But if you need an antivirus tool which can be tweaked and customised then it could be a good choice.
Score: 3.5/5
6. G Data AntiVirus 2014
£29.95 (1 PC, 1 year); £74.95 (3 PCs, 2 years)
If you're looking for a lightweight security package then G Data AntiVirus 2014 may disappoint, at least initially. The trial download is a chunky 338MB; the interface is cluttered, and relatively complex; downloading the first updates for both engines took a while, and our system performance was notably reduced as all this happened.
Don't let these hassles put you off, though. G Data doesn't always get great results from the independent testing labs (it typically doesn't make the top 5 at AV-Comparatives), but some rate the engine highly (AV-Test, VB100), and it worked well for us.
Performance is reasonable, too, once the setup process is complete. G Data AntiVirus 2014 isn't the most lightweight of packages, but it's unlikely to have any significant effect on your system speed. And even if there are any issues, a convenient "Optimise" setting will tweak the program to improve speeds (Settings > General > Security/performance).
The feature set is a little mixed; there's not the same browsing protection you'll see elsewhere, but you do get a tool to control your startup programs. This isn't anything too sophisticated − it's essentially a less powerful variation of the freeware Startup Delayer − but it's easy to use, and can help improve boot performance.
G Data AntiVirus isn't the leader it used to be, then, but the program delivers a good level of protection, and if you're a fan of the company then it's still worth a look.
Score: 3.5/5
7. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2014
£29.99 (1 PC, 1 year); £69.99 (3 PCs, 2 years)
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2014 is a likeable product, easy to use, with a clean and simple interface that ensures all of its key functions (Scan, Updates, Reports, Quarantine) are available at a click.
The program is also very configurable. You can set up separate schedules for full and quick scans; you're able to run scans from a different user account; scans may be optionally launched when your system is idle, and the program can back off if you're using other applications, reducing or eliminating any performance problems.
You get plenty of extras. Browsing protection displays an icon next to your search engine results, helping you spot malicious sites before you click. A vulnerability scan highlights risky Windows and browser settings, while further tools clean your recent PC and internet history, detect and repair Windows issues, and create a rescue disk to help remove particularly stubborn infections.
Best of all, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2014 is just very good at its job. Kaspersky's technology scores highly with all the independent testing labs, the company won AV-Comparatives "Product of the Year" for 2013, and 2014 looks like it could be even better.
Score: 4.5/5
8. AVG AntiVirus 2014
£29.99 1 PC 1 year
Launch AVG AntiVirus 2014 and you'll be presented with an appealing, Windows 8-like interface, groups of flat buttons providing speedy access to the program's various features. It looks great and works well.
Assessing the program's effectiveness is more difficult. The independent testing labs can't quite decide (AV-Comparatives results aren't so good, AV Test rates it higher), although they'll typically place it in the top 10 for most tests. Our own view is that it offers marginally above-average protection, but there are better tools around.
What you do get with AVG is a vast array of tweaks and configuration options. There are a huge number of ways to customise your scans, when they can run and how the program behaves, excellent news if you like to tune your antivirus package, for performance, compatibility, or anything else.
There's plenty to like here, then, but the main problem for AVG is that it gives a basic version of its product away for free. And this makes it its own biggest competitor, because even if you like AVG, there's probably not quite enough in this version to justify the extra cost.
Score: 3/5
9. ESET NOD32 Antivirus 7
£29.99 (1 PC, 1 year); £69.99 (3 PCs, 2 years)
ESET may not make as many headlines as some of the competition, but it's still worth paying close attention to what the company is doing. Their products come packed with features and functionality, even the "bottom of the range" ESET NOD32 Antivirus 7.
A new "Device Control" module, for instance, allows you to define which devices your PC users can access. Don't want your kids to plug in an infected USB drive? Block them in Device Control − maybe CDs and DVDs, too − and you'll be a little safer.
ESET SysInspector is a powerful tool for inspecting your PC's innards and highlighting potential problems. There are modules to watch file system activity, or check running processes for suspect files. You get antiphishing, cloud-based scanning, a HIPS. And the latest edition has a stack of new features: a memory scanner improves detection of malware, an exploit blocker protects vulnerable apps, the mail plugin now finally works with Office 2013 and Windows Live Mail, and enhanced Windows 8 compatibility sees security notifications now displayed on the Start screen.
All this functionality is based around a solid core, too. ESET products rate highly with independent labs; they were one of AV-Comparatives top seven "Products of the Year" for 2013. The program scores particularly highly for usability, being unlikely to raise false positives, block legitimate programs and generally get in your way, and if that's high on your list of priorities then you might want to give NOD32 Antivirus 7 a try.
Score: 4.5/5
10. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus
£29.99 (1 PC, 1 year); £64.99 (3 PCs, 2 years)
Security vendors love to claim their products are "lightweight", but Webroot is one of the few who actually deliver. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus arrived on our system as a 744KB executable, didn't present us with any complex setup options, and just set itself up in a couple of minutes: we didn't even have to reboot.
Webroot's cloud-based technologies mean there's no need for regular bulky virus definition updates, and scans are extremely quick; our initial health check took around six minutes − perhaps six times faster than a standard antivirus tool − while further scans in the same session were barely more than a minute.
How effective is it? That's more difficult to evaluate, because SecureAnywhere AntiVirus focuses its efforts on blocking malware which is running, or about to run, then reversing its actions. This works well, too, but unfortunately it's not so good at just detecting malware tucked away in a random file somewhere, which means it doesn't get good ratings with the independent testing labs. (They're reportedly working on new tests to provide a more realistic measure of SecureAnywhere's abilities, though, so this might change soon.)
On balance SecureAnywhere AntiVirus does a good job of blocking and removing even brand new malware, and can often undo its changes. Browsing protection is good, too (sites are evaluated in real time, no need for outdated URL databases), and the program is easy to use. If you're looking for a super-lightweight tool then download the trial build, and prepare to be impressed.
Score: 4/5
11. Avast Pro Antivirus 2014
£29.99 1 PC 1 year, £59.99 3 PCs 2 years
Avast Pro Antivirus 2014 makes an excellent first impression, thanks to a redesigned interface which looks great, is easy to use, and doesn't get in your way. All the program's core functions are easy to find, and accessible with the absolute minimum of clicks.
There are plenty of bonus features here, too. "Rescue Disk" creates a bootable CD or USB to help remove stubborn threats; "Sandbox" runs programs in an isolated environment where they can't harm your PC; "Browser Cleanup" highlights dubious browser toolbars and helps to remove them; "AccessAnywhere" allows you to remotely access a PC across the web; and most useful of all, "Software Updater" highlights missing updates for commonly exploited software (browsers, Adobe Reader, Java and more).
It's not all good news. When we first tested Avast 2014 it conflicted with a few other applications. Internet Explorer crashed whenever we searched Google, for instance, a problem which disappeared when we disabled the Avast browser add-on. Various patches and updates have helped, but a few users are still reporting issues.
The independent testing labs can't agree on Avast, either: AV-Comparatives rate it highly, but AV Test and VB100 say it's just mid-range.
In our view, Avast Pro Antivirus 2014 delivers good protection, though, and its interface and lengthy feature list mean the program is well worth a try.
Score: 3.5/5
12. Panda Antivirus Pro 2014
£31.99 (1 PC, 1 year); £71.99 (3 PCs, 2 years)
Panda's latest antivirus offering, Antivirus Pro 2014, catches the eye immediately, its bright Windows 8-inspired interface making it easy to locate and access the program's features.
There are plenty of features here, too. Click Scan, say, and you'll find Quick, Full and Custom scan options, a Cloud Cleaner link and scheduler. A vulnerability scanner checks for missing updates and security patches, and you get options to create a rescue disc and install a rescue boot mode (a startup option which can repair your PC even when Windows doesn't launch).
And just in case this isn't enough, you also get USB drive vaccination, a virtual browser (surf the web in a virtual environment, isolated from your main system), even a firewall. There isn't the same level of browser protection as you'll sometimes see elsewhere − you don't get warning icons on your search engine results, say − but the program is still more like a security suite than a standard antivirus tool.
Our tests found the program gave good results, and with independent labs generally scoring Panda's technology very highly, Panda Antivirus Pro 2014 seems to be a solid and appealing package.
Score: 4/5
13. Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus Plus
£39.95 (1 PC, 1 year); £69.99 (3 PCs, 2 years)
As you'll guess from its name, Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus Plus is another tool which goes beyond the usual antivirus basics. A spam filter does a good job of protecting your inbox, and the program is excellent at preventing you from reaching dangerous links, by checking them as they appear in your search engine results, social network streams, emails, instant messages and more.
This extra functionality isn't obvious from the interface, though. If anything, it's far simpler than most of the competition. Click the 'Scan' button on the console, say, and you're not taken into a complex dialog with a host of options to consider: it just launches a quick scan. Other scans can be launched with one further click. And even if you delve more into its settings, the program remains relatively straightforward.
Protection is above average, too. Titanium Antivirus Plus blocked everything we threw at it, and Trend Micro products generally score well with independent testing labs.
One potential down side is that, much like Norton AntiVirus, Titanium Antivirus Plus can sometimes raise alerts over programs which are entirely safe (you can ignore these, but they may still become annoying). Price is another issue, particularly the single PC licence, but it's probably worth it: Titanium Antivirus Plus will keep you safe from a wide range of threats.
Score: 4.5/5
14. Norton AntiVirus
£39.99 (3 PCs, 1 year); £64.99 (3 PCs, 2 years)
Detecting and removing malware is important, but a good antivirus tool will focus first on preventing any initial infection, and Norton AntiVirus is better than most at making this happen. Risky sites are highlighted in your search engine results, and the program does a great job of blocking access to malicious URLs, as well as highlighting dangerous downloads.
There have been some disagreements over the tool's effectiveness. Some independent testing labs have given it relatively low scores for file detection rates, while Symantec has questioned the validity of these figures, saying these tests don't take all the product's components into account. The dispute means Norton products are no longer submitted for AV-Comparatives Real World test, making them harder to compare with others.
As well as its core technologies, Norton AntiVirus also comes with some very useful extras. Identity Safe is a powerful password manager; a capable intrusion detection system blocks network attacks; performance monitoring highlights resource-hogging programs; there's a bootable recovery disc, extra "deep cleaning" tools, convenient links to other Symantec services, and more.
Norton AntiVirus is a capable product, and has worked well for us. It's a pity that Symantec and the testing labs can't agree on how to assess it, though: we'd like to see it properly compared to the competition.


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Three of the five Academy Award nominees for best feature-length documentary movie take viewers to distant places and troubled times.
The other two come out of the arts, and it wouldn't be surprising if a popular, feel-good-ish favorite, "20 Feet From Stardom," about a generation of female backup singers, wins the Oscar statuette.
But those foreign affairs movies bear watching. Indeed, they ought to be watched and contemplated by Americans. (Each is streaming on Netflix now or may otherwise be available in the digital universe.)
"The Square," the first-ever Egyptian-made movie in Oscar competition, puts a poignant human face on the last few years of upheaval. It follows the lives of several Egyptians who made Cairo's Tahrir Square a populist symbol and then a place of tragedy as the unintended consequences of the uprising's first achievement -- the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak -- led to military and police-state crackdowns.
The movie, like Egypt itself right now, ends in a political limbo, but makes you aware of what real lives are like on that roller-coaster of hope and despair.
Another nominee, "The Act of Killing," vividly recounts a mid-1960s period of brutality in Indonesia, when a strongman government killed a million or more suspected communists. The move bears a producing imprint of the noted German filmmaker Werner Herzog, which might very well carry Oscar weight.
The third, "Dirty Wars," speaks more directly to America's current foreign policy and its role in the world -- and the picture is not pretty. Longtime war correspondent Jeremy Scahill first recounts a night-time raid by American troops in a dangerous region of Afghanistan. In the village of Gardez, in 2010, a local police official and two pregnant women are among the fatalities, apparently shot in cold blood.
The more Scahill asks American authorities questions about what happened in Gardez and why, the more he's rebuffed. Over the next few years he connects the dots, which outline the off-the-grid activities of the Joint Special Operations Command. This is the mostly secret network of military units that conduct the war on terror by stealth and assassination and at the command of President Barack Obama. JSOC produced the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, and it launched a drone attack that killed an American citizen turned Al Qaeda leader, Anwar al-Awlaki, and his teen-aged son in Yemen.
As becomes clear in this movie, directed by Richard Rowley, and from other recent reports, U.S. special operations have taken place in scores of nations around the world. Americans need the opportunity to weigh what is being done in our name, and how far the anti-terror campaign can go before it puts into question real American values
"Dirty Wars" may be a little too hot for Oscar to handle, but as an act of fearless journalism -- Scahill also produced a book by the same name -- it deserves a serious look.

subset: commoncrawl


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Collaborative project improves CO2 storage understanding
28 August 2014A new book which provides a detailed account of the CO2CRC's Otway Project, Australia's first demonstration of deep geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2), was launched at Parliament House by Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane.
Crowds rock in for Open Day
26 August 2014The 2014 Geoscience Australia Open Day has again proved to be a pinnacle National Science Week event, welcoming the community in to learn more about our work and hopefully inspiring some of our younger visitors to become tomorrow's geoscientists.
Improving access to Geoscience Australia's spatial data
26 August 2014Geoscience Australia's ability to provide data in useable formats for stakeholders and the public is key to maximising the uptake and use of our data.
New atlas of Southern Ocean marine life
25 August 2014A new marine biodiversity atlas that provides the most thorough audit ever of marine life in the Southern Ocean has distinct Australian links.
New apps explore geological time
21 August 2014Geoscience Australia is entering the world of mobile apps with the release of two new apps that explore geological time.
Canberra's annual exploration into the world of geoscience is upon us
18 August 2014The opportunity to mingle with the country's top geoscientists, sieve for sapphires, blow up a volcano and even bump into a dinosaur is all on offer this coming weekend at Geoscience Australia's annual Open Day.
Online visitors to explore the world of geoscience
14 August 2014The opportunity to experience a virtual meeting with the country's top geoscientists, learn about life working in Antarctica, and get the facts on dinosaurs, is available to all Australians via Geoscience Australia's virtual Open Day.
GovHack winners announced
11 August 2014The GovHack 2014 winners have been announced, with this year's competition receiving almost 40 entries in the Best Science Hack category and 14 entries for the Best Geoscience Hack.
Compendium of airborne survey data released
06 August 2014The latest index of airborne geophysical surveys from across Australia has been released.
Open access to Geoscience Australia's data
30 July 2014Geoscience Australia is a leader in the provision of open spatial data, enabling clients to discover and use these data for a broad range of scientific, government, industry and community purposes.
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How do an I add an alias email address to my mailbox?
1. Login to your Ozhosting Control Panel –https://my.ozhosting.com
2. select from the subscription dropdown box (top right of screen) the email subscription that has the mailbox.
3. Then select the Exchange tab – this will show all the mailboxes within this particular email subscription.
4. Then select the particular mailbox by clicking on it's Display Name.
5. Then, from the second row of tabs, select Email Addresses – this will show the current email addresses and in this screen you can
6. add additional email addresses – if you have several enabled more than one domain for the email subscription they can be selected from the dropdown box of domains after you have entered the alias.
7. Note, the primary email address is the one that will be visible in the "Sent" when sending an email.
8. The attached image shows the final screen with a breadcrumb view of the screens you go through to add the alias.
How do an I add an alias email address to my mailbox?


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Love hot and cold packs, but feel that the size is too bulky for everyday use? Don't bother with a bag of ice or heated towel: now when common injuries occur, you can reach for a Core hot/cold Comfort Pack. The soft, "frost-free" surface helps protect your skin while still allowing therapeutic temperatures to penetrate, and the non-toxic, biodegradable gel holds therapeutic temperatures longer.
This cold/hot pack comes in a 3x5 size, perfect for everyday bumps and common injuries such as strains, sprains and tendonitis; its compact size is especially good for wrists and elbows. The pack is also very easy to use: just store it in the freezer until needed. For heat therapy, simply heat in the microwave or use a hot towel cabinet.
Precautions: If you have questions about the use of this hot/cold pack, consult your doctor. Do not use on broken skin. Individuals with circulation problems, the disabled and children should use these products only with supervision of a doctor.
Freezing Instructions: For best results, store the packs in your freezer. Store flat. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours to chill.
Heating Instructions: To heat, place flat in your microwave. Heat 15 seconds on high heat, knead, then knead again at 5 second intervals until desired temperature.
Based on initial pack temperature below 75F (24C).
Knead after each heating. Microwave ovens vary; use care when heating and removing pack from microwave. Overheating pack may cause pack to rupture and/or leak. Carefully check the pack with the palm of your hand before applying. Discard pack if punctured or broken.
***The contents of the Stromgren-Store.com website are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Stromgren-Store.com website. Read Full Disclaimer***
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- Home
- The Park
- Membership
- News & Events
- Photos & Videos
- Resources
- Share Shaggy
To join or visit Shaggy Pines Dog Park, just bring your dog in to the Shaggy Pines Club House during our office hours. Please remember to bring all required Veterinarian information or simply have your pet's Veterinarian fax them directly to our offices at (616) 676-9467.
Clubhouse Office Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tue, Wed, Fri: 2pm – 6pm
Thursday: 10am – 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Required current vaccinations:
– Bordetella vaccination
– Rabies vaccination
– Negative fecal exams (every 6 months)
– Distemper vaccination
For your convenience you can download our Membership Application and fill it out before you come in (OR) click here to apply online. When you arrive at Shaggy Pines, we will review your paperwork and your dog will be temperament tested.
Once you become a member you will receive a membership packet and key card.
You and your dog can now enjoy Shaggy Pines Dog Park! Your Dog's very own
Come let your dog test drive Shaggy Pines for FREE during normal business hours. *Please bring all necessary vet records (for first time visitors only).


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Whenever you hear a smarmy politician berate the Democrats, frivolous lawsuits, and the trial lawyer lobby — just remember that good old J&J is using its own corporate legal department, supplemented by outside counsel that will be funded in part by government tax breaks and corporate welfare, to sue The Red Cross.
The Red f-ing Cross!!
Next up:
Coke sues local pizza chain when I ask for a "Coke" and they truly serve me Pepsi.Turns out that already happened. I don't know my Coke history.
- Kleenex sues my grandmother when I ask for a Kleenex and she really gives me an off-brand tissue.
You can contact J&J here if you want to express your point of view.


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With insider business deals, conflict of interest concerns and questionable bylaw changes swirling around Manatee Rural Health Services, the nonprofit organization must establish strong ethical standards to restore its damaged credibility.
Board members, agency employees and family members are reaping fat profits from contracts with the agency, which provides comprehensive medical services to hundreds of indigent, uninsured and under-insured people in Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties, and ranks as the largest community health agency in Florida.
By receiving millions of dollars from Medicare and Medicaid annually, Manatee Rural Health must be held to high standards.
The messy ethical entanglements came to light in a Bradenton Herald investigation by reporter Duane Marsteller, with the first in-depth report Aug. 22 and another Sept. 5.
In the wake of the initial revelations, Walter "Mickey" Presha Sr., the chief executive officer of Manatee Rural Health, announced several positive steps aimed at reforming the organization. But those measures fall short of a complete ethical overhaul.
In that first report, Manatee Rural Health board members shrugged off conflict of interest charges with an unsettling ease. Marsteller examined the agency's tax returns filed since 2004 and found some $2 million steered to businesses owned by agency officers, board members, employees or their relatives.
Canceling some contracts
Two recipients received more than $500,000 apiece over that time span. John Lewis, a board member, received $558,121 for optometry services. The Pinnacle Group of West Coast Florida Inc. pocketed $536,591 for construction, maintenance and repair work. One of its principals is Trina Presha-Rosier, the chief executive's daughter.
The two blatant examples of conflict of interest involve agency employees who also hold contracts with the organization to provide work they oversee at Rural Health.
Wardell Jackson, the agency's vice president of support services, is a principal in The Lawn Authority of Manatee County Inc., which was paid $344,766 for lawn care at the agency's facilities.
Chris Mullinex, Manatee Rural Health's facilities director, owns A to Z Complete Property Management Inc., which received $387,673 for janitorial cleaning and maintenance services.
Presha plans to cancel those agency contracts once a procurement officer is hired to supervise major purchases and deals. Still, that raises the question about a corporate culture that found these two arrangements acceptable in the first place.
The hiring of a procurement officer will remove department heads and a board committee from the approval process, now ripe with abuse since those individuals routinely authorized agency contracts with one another.
Manatee Rural Health board members are required to sign a conflict of interest statement that prohibits such agency business dealings. Family members are also banned from engaging in business with the nonprofit.
Thanks to a loophole the size of some of those contracts, the board can wave off conflict of interest considerations by following this agency policy: "Unless it has been determined by the board, on the basis of full disclosure of facts, that such interest does not give rise to a conflict of interest."
Board members defend the loophole by citing full disclose and competitive bids as the reasons for accepting insider business deals. That rationale ignores the potential for a quid pro quo among board votes.
Then in 2006 the board changed the agency's bylaws to eliminate term limits, thus maintaining the cozy business relationships and furthering the impression of an ethical lapse.
Board members had been restricted to three consecutive three-year terms with a two-year lapse before members could rejoin. Two board members have been seated for more than two decades each.
The National Association of Community Health Centers encourages agencies to steer clear of business connections with insiders over conflict of interest concerns. Marsteller also discovered other Florida agencies follow such a strict policy.
Manatee Rural Health should end these all-too-cozy business relationships, strike that loophole from board policy, re-establish term limits and adopt strong ethical standards in line with national and state codes of conduct.
CEO salary exorbitant?
Is Manatee Rural Health CEO Presha's salary excessive? At $433,000 annually, which ranks as the highest among the state's community health agencies, that's certainly debatable. But Presha directs Florida's biggest federally qualified community health agency, one with 400 employees and $45 million in annual revenues.
Marsteller's in-depth report also compared Presha's salary with hospital chief executives through the Southeast through a study by the Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service. Last year's average pay stood at $362,000.
The Manatee Rural Health board reviews and approves the chief executive's salary annually, and members applaud his job performance and management skills in such a large and complex organization.
While Presha's compensation does not appear to be out of line, the problem here is the agency's chief financial officer comes up with the compensation survey used to determine his supervisor's salary, an untenable situation. Presha plans to recommend to the board that an outside consultant perform that survey, a positive change.


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As I was filtering through my Facebook feed, I noticed a posting from my good friend, Dr. Brian Ray, of the National Home Education Research Institute (NEHRI). I often share his posts because they always reflect the reality of homeschooling, good and not so good. I have always known Dr. Ray to present homeschooling in a truthful and unbiased light, even though he has home schooled his own children and believes in parent led education as a viable form of schooling. I find it amazing that our society can be so brainwashed into such narrow thought.
The article, in SFGate, features a formerly homeschooled student from Kansas who is now attending Penn State. It was titled, Homeschooling Presents Opportunities, Challenges.
Read the rest of the post on Politichicks.tv


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So, what exactly IS a healthy diet?(52 Posts)
I'm confused.
NHS says the age old low calorie, low fat, plenty of fruit and veg and starchy carbs (the eat well plate etc).
I've heard sports nutritionists say high protein, low starchy carbs (but plenty of fruit carbs and grains), low fat is the way forward.
Then there's the John Briffa stuff, which I do find convincing tbh and he appears to back it up with evidence. This WOE says that fruit is too high in sugars, but certain veg ok. Pulses etc only occasionally.
Then there's the other low carbing diets (IPD, Dukan etc)
that include fairly high levels of fat, claiming that it's not actually fat that causes heart problems and that the evidence has been misunderstood.
And then there's the thing about restricted eating plans which send me fecking bananas for whatever is forbidden. I can low carb up to a point and then I go completely psycho for pasta and toast. So Susie Orbach suggests learning to eat mindfully, eating in tune with hunger but whatever your body is craving for as your body knows what it needs (to paraphrase).
So, what do you think?
I think I'm best when I'm balanced. Lots of veg, bit of protein/carbs/fruit and so on. The less processed stuff the better.I try and eat in a varied way-I find it very easy to slip into the same breakfast and lunch and a stock 7 dinners that rotate!
I felt very unwell on low carbs and find slimming world/weightwatchers and so too complicated. I just like the 'eat less, move more, eat mainly veg'-which may be a combination of 2 people's quotes!
For me it's low carb AND low fat. The only way of eating that keeps me at my goal weight without feeling deprived.
Mostly protein (fish and lean meat), eggs and heaps of vegetables. With nuts, berries and seeds. Some yogurt and cheese. I don't like sugary fruit so can easily avoid.
Lots of water.
And gin.
I've just been put on a plan by my hospital and it's been very easy to stick to. I agree with what's been said about Ww, Sw & going carb free. Breakfast is 2 small handfuls of cereal & skimmed milk or 1 piece of brown toast with diabetic Jam & a tiny piece of reduced fat Halloumi. Lunch & dinner, fill your plate half full of veg first then small handful of lean protein and even smaller of a simple starch. You can have one piece of fruit, a yogurt and an additional 50 cal snack to this and a couple of meals per week can be changed to home made veg soup to speed up weight loss. I'm finding less fruit and choc hard so my snack is a couple of dark choc covered almonds or a glass of freshly squeezed OJ. Milk must be skimmed ( but yog can be 3%) and no additional salt or sugar.
I am a Briffa convert. Since adopting this WOE (diet sounds like a weight loss plan only) I am thin, happy, impervious to the PMS that previously blighted my life and did I mention thin?
I have tried low fat/calorie controlling/exercise over the years and failed at all of them. Not this time.
I truly believe there is no need to eat wheat or refined sugar and I feel all the better for not doing so. I am not claiming an allergy or intolerance either.
Low fat/high sugar diets are just plain bad for you.
NHS says the age old low calorie, low fat, plenty of fruit and veg and starchy carbs (the eat well plate etc).
It's NOT age old - our obsession with low fat/high carb/high (fruit) sugar/low protein diet as being the desirable, healthy norm is actually very recent - started post WW2 and really only took of as the official healthy diet much later than that, c1980's. People eat far more "fake" foods (low fat and highly processed), and think it's fine because the label says low fat... these foods tend to be very high GI and mess our metabolic processes.
At the same time, people have got fatter, and less healthy, type 1 and type 2 diabetes have both increased markedly in line with the average amount of grain/carb consumption in the population.
So what ever else may be healthy, the diet we are recommended to eat, is certainly is not healthy - it bares no relation at all to the diet humans evolved to eat!
IMO - a healthy diet for the human animal is a diet rich in the foods humans would have hunted and gathered before agrarian societies formed - so lots of seafoods, eggs, poultry and meat, lots of herbs (salads and leaves), plant stalks and roots (tubers), fungi and some honey and fruits in season.
NO dairy, no grains (certainly no modern grains, they are very inflammatory)...
I do eat this way for most of the time (Paleo), but do have limited amounts of heavy cream and butter and cheese, raw where possible, and the occasional small portion of white rice.
Whoops BUNNY, your post reminds me, I forgot nuts and seeds...
<and the gin, but I prefer vodka>
Sorry, when I say"age old" I just mean, the diet my generation (I'm 38) have grown up with as 'healthy'.
I don't think I've ever had a diet which has made me feel good. I've felt tired, lazy and sluggish forever. I usually trust NHS advice, but on this one I'm not sure.
What everyone else is saying above - much less carb, more protein, eggs, fish, meat, lots of veg.
It was when we made fat the enemy in the last 40 years that we ruined the health of the planet, upped the sugar and fructose and started the obesity and diabetes epidemics. Model your eating on how we ate for 2 million years.
In fact it's really simple - if man made it, don't eat it.
Yes, have you read "In Defence of Food?" A really interesting look at the history behind nutritional advice, and a good unpicking of the science (or lack of) behind it. The author says not to eat it if your great grandmother would not have eaten it, so no processed food at all.
It make sense.
I'm with the majority - lower carb, higher fat, moderate protein. Unprocessed foods as much as possible, cooked from scratch and with imagination. Alcohol as a treat, not a habit. Oily fish a couple of times a week. A wide variety of meats and (mostly green, leafy) vegetables. Occasional legumes. The aforementioned nuts and seeds. Seasonal berries and other wild foods (wild garlic and other hedgerow greens, maybe some seaweed, nettles etc.). Some (high fat) dairy, but not to excess.
If I eat this way, I feel a lot better than I do when I'm eating so-called 'normally'.
For me 'healthy' means everything in moderation. Unless you have particular health issues, I don't think there's any need to give up particular food types or follow a special diet.
Well, I don't eat meat/fish, but that's more personal preference than because I think it's more healthy.
The Mediterranean Diet is a meant to be a good one - lots of veg, low on processed carbs.
low fat means less fat, not low-fat variations of fatty foods. These are stuffed with sugar to make them taste half decent.
all the low-carb 'converts' go on about how the diet works 'every time' - which means it doesn't work at all, and usually turn out to have guzzling biscuits, cakes etc. So they stop eating those and miraculously lose weight.
I eat NHS style, and believe me I love my food. I've never been on a diet in my life, if my clothes get tight that means I go for longer tougher walks.
no money to be made in this though, which is why messrs Dukan, Atkins etc don't peddle it.
Med good too as again it is how we always ate - whole real food, not processed. I think arguments over whether you can have brown rice and a slice of brown bread or a cup of milk are tiny tinkering around the edges. Whether you include those tyupes of products,b it of dairy, small amount of carb but ost of your diet is healthy whole foods it will not really much matter. If you have virtual door steps of bread at every meal and then massive baked potatoes it is still probably a lot better for you than the crispy creme donuts but you're not likely to lose weight, whereas steak or sardines are not something you are likely to over eat.
specialsubject - I've never had a sweet tooth, and even when I wasn't eating lower carb, I never ate cakes or biscuits, or chocolate (I really don't like it) , or sweets of any type. My 'sins' were pizzas, curries, mashed potatoes and toast, really. Low carb is in the process of working for the second time in 10 years for me. The first time it worked for 3 years, and then I stopped working it (rather than the other way round). This is the second time, and I'm down 4 stone since August. QED - it works.
It was when we made fat the enemy in the last 40 years that we ruined the health of the planet, upped the sugar and fructose and started the obesity and diabetes epidemics. Model your eating on how we ate for 2 million years.
YY to this comment, however to your later comments about grain consumption, we may be better off ditching grain foods... I think this is a complex area, grains wouldn't have formed any part of the human diet before we developed fire and tools, to be edible at all to us, grains need to be processed to some degree, and cooked, and even then they are not very nutrient dense (calorie dense but not nutrient dense). Older (ancient varieties) of grains, and rice are a little less inflammatory but the predominant varieties used now (semi dwarf wheat) are very toxic. The role of wheat in inflammatory and immune disease is well known, but we are esentially being encouraged to base our diets on wheat in one form or another (bread, cereal and pasta)!
Yes, I know. I don't often have grains but I've concluded if everyone moved to wholefood whether they keep their bread and rice or not they would still be much much better off than the standard English diet. I think for some people saying ditch diary/bread is too drastic for them but they can still eat pretty well and get most benefits even if they keep a bit in. The problem is that so many people make those carbs their main foods.
I think if you just stick to 'real' food and cut out snacking then that's a healthy diet. Check portion size to lose weight.
I just cannot do these low carb diets and feel ill on them.
If you do slimming world green days then you can eat all the carbs you want (not wheat and without fat) and still lose weight. I'd rather do that but prefer a more balanced approach.
A lot of people think the med approach is the right way but that diet is still rich in grains too. I live in Cy and even on my hospital regime there was wheat of some kind with every meal almost.But I have stopped that but not cut it completely. I agree with what you say as I don't want to cut carbs but I do want to make the best choices possible and I think variety is key too. Also perhaps looking at carbs with the best GI might be the way to go? But I do still have the odd dilemma. Eg. If I was to have a main meal of a piece of fish with a massive pile of veg I'd still crave a carb of some sort and wouldn't feel full no matter how much veg I ate. But if I add a handful of brown rice or eat a banana afterwards I would feel satisfied so what's the best option there?
In that case have the handful of brown rice, although what you write is unusual as most people feel very full with a lot of fat and protein and it is those eating just the carbs who tend to feel hungry more quickly. Much better to have your small amount of rice with meals than be eating biscuits between meals.
If we could get everyone in the UK eating along the lines of - "if man made it don't eat it" that is a very simple message. I would also suggest particularly if you're short of money just drinking tap water. Lotso f juice is not good for adults or children and so many people think a huge glass of orange juice is some kind of health food!
I agree Xenia, the carbs may give you a temporary feeling of fullness or maybe the spike in blood sugar levels that we often crave but it is the fat and protein that will give you that feeling of fullness for longer. A low carb diet can make you feel poorly while you body is transitioning between carb burning and fat burning but it often doesn't last more than a few days and then you should feel really good.
I tried the low carb and felt very ill (and its very hard to do as a veggie) and hungry constantly. Did it religiously for 30 days and maybe lost 8 pounds which would happen on any diet. I now eat spelt wheat bread for breakfast and am full till lunchtime. Then Dhal and rice for lunch, beans (as a chilli) with veg for tea.
No sugar. Plenty of butter, yogurt and some cheese for protein. And I feel much better. It was shop bread causing terrible acid reflux and lethargy. Home made spelt/kamut has no effects on my tummy at all.
I rarely eat fruit as it triggers the acid and drink water and tea.
I think focussing on real food, nothing processed, focus on lean meat and veg etc and just less of meals concentrated around carbs. Eggs or fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, rather than toast. Soup rather than sandwiches for lunch. Nothing particularly low cal or low fat, butjust less emphasis on bread and sugary cereals for meals.
Look at the Japanese diet - loads of fish and veg etc. As a country they have one of the longest life expectancies in the world.
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