text:
1.1 English Heritage welcomes the opportunity
to submit a memorandum to the Environment Sub-committee expressing
our views on cemeteries. Our comments are restricted to England
although many of the general observations we make apply more widely.
The heritage value of cemeteries is enormous. The issues they
raise are wide-ranging and complex and involve ethical and religious
considerations, respect for our ancestors, archaeological, architectural,
historic and wildlife importance, open space, tourism and amenity
value. Most of these issues and the management decisions that
result from them are best dealt with at local level. It is in
local cemeteries in the main that local people's loved ones, relations
and ancestors lie and where they too will lie in time (as inhumations
or cremations). It is also local communities that benefit most
directly from the amenity value that cemeteries provide. But the
future of cemeteries is not solely a local issue. Genealogists
and descendants of buried people have an interest, even though
they may now live far away from the cemetery in which their families
lie. And national bodies have a responsibility to identify the
most significant cemeteries when judged against national scales
of importance, and participate in discussions about their future.
1.2 English Heritage's concerns and responsibilities,
as the lead body within the historic environment sector, revolve
primarily around the following: the evaluation of the historical
and landscape significance of cemeteries and the individual components
within them (such as cemetery chapels or memorials); the archaeological
importance of the human remains they contain; the provision of
guidance on evaluating historical and archaeological significance;
providing advice on repair, maintenance and management; and the
disbursement of grants for repair within available resources and
our statutory remit. English Heritage also has a well-respected
education service which, among other activities, actively encourages
teachers and tutors to make effective curriculum use of the historic
2.1 Cemeteries have wide appeal. In the
main they are public (or at least publicly accessible) open spaces
with great amenity potential and are a diverse historical resource
with tremendous educational potential. Taken together, cemeteries
contain one of the nation's most significant collections of memorial
sculpture and funerary buildings. Many have great significance
in terms of historic landscaping and planting and often provide
the most mature amenity landscape in many localities. At their
best, they contribute significantly to the visual excitement of
many towns and cities by combining landscape, architecture and
monumental art. They also frequently form important natural habitatsrefuges
from the pressures of urban life for humans and wildlife alike.
We understand that English Nature is also presenting a memorandum
to the Sub-committee which concentrates on the wildlife issues.
2.2 Definition and numbers. A cemetery is
a piece of ground set aside and enclosed for the burial of the
dead and/or the reception of cremated remains and is distinguished
from a churchyard by not being attached to a place of regular
worship. We have information and views about the latter that we
would gladly bring before the Sub-committee if requested to do
so, but for the purposes of this memorandum we are working within
the above definition. While the majority are Christian (of various
denominations), there are also significant numbers of Jewish burial
grounds and, more recently, places dedicated to the reception
of the remains of those belonging to other religions. It is not
known for certain how many cemeteries there are in England. However,
best estimates suggest that they number around 2,250, ranging
from the grand 19th-century set-pieces to the more modest grounds
set out in many rural parishes in more recent years. [28]
Local people may attach greater value to the latter than the former.
English Heritage's primary role is to identify cemeteries (and
structures within them) of national importance. But we are also
committed to provide guidance for the evaluation of historical
significance and the good management of those that are more locally
prized and where final decisions best lie wholly with local communities
and planning authorities.
2.3 A very brief overview of the development
of cemeteries may be of help. Burials have taken place within
the shadow of churches since the early medieval period, and parish
churchyards now constitute a remarkably enduring burial tradition
at the heart of local communities. The earliest cemeteries in
England date from the mid-17th century and reflect the rise of
Non-conformity and the arrival of immigrant groups (the Jewish
Sephardi community opened their first cemetery in London's East
End in 1657). The growth of cities in the 18th century obliged
churches to open new suburban burial grounds, but the situation
became intolerable by the late 1820s. Fears over public health
and the romantic cult of sensibility led to the opening of new,
commercially operated garden cemeteries in the 1830s. Kensal Green
cemetery in West London opened in 1831. In the 1850s most urban
graveyards were closed on health grounds, and municipal authorities
were empowered to open public cemeteries through the rates.
3.1 There are a number of procedures designed
to protect and enhance the significance and amenity value of cemeteries
of special historic interest.
3.2 Listing. Individual historic cemetery
structures of "special architectural or historic interest"
may be added to the statutory lists by the Secretary of State
for Culture, Media and Sport. This is normally done on the advice
of English Heritage as the government's statutory advisor in this
area. Listing requires the owner of a listed building or structure
to seek consent before carrying out works that might alter its
character. There are 2,286 listed items situated within cemeteries
in England (less than 1 per cent of the national total). Of these,
73 are listed in grade I and 136 in grade II*.
3.3 Listing is a key way of flagging highly
significant monuments which require special attention but it is
likely that many cemetery structures of listable quality remain
unprotected, a matter that English Heritage is currently addressing.
Listing surveys of a number of outstanding cemeteries have already
been carried out (for instance at Kensal Green, Hampstead, West
Norwood, Highgate and Mill Road, Cambridge) but more are needed.
Published guidelines explaining the listing criteria for cemetery
structures, especially monuments, will be prepared by English
Heritage over the next 12 months. These will enable greater and
better-informed public involvement in the process of identification
through the process of "spot-listing". Listing, however,
is not designed to address the wider issue of overall cemetery
design and landscaping. While a cluster of listed monuments may
indicate a cemetery of more than local importance, cemeteries
whose special historic character derives from the careful laying-out
of pathways and planting may well not be picked up through the
listing process.
3.4 The Parks and Gardens Register. The
National Heritage Act of 1983 recognised that historic parks and
gardens are a fragile and finite resource and enabled English
Heritage to compile a Register of Parks and Gardens of Special
Historic Interest in England. The Register is designed to encourage
owners and local authorities to take special care of registered
items. The existence of a park or garden on the Register is a
material consideration when determining any planning application
or when preparing development plans that might affect them. Planning
authorities are required to consult English Heritage on planning
applications concerning grade I and II* registered sites (about
40 per cent of the total) and the Garden History Society on all
sites. There are 1,365 registered parks and gardens of which 25
are cemeteries (plus a number of memorial gardens and gardens
of remembrance). Six of the cemeteries are graded II*, the rest
at grade II. In the light of work completed for us by Dr Chris
Brooks (already cited) and other systematic reviews, it is estimated
that a further 75 or more cemeteries might be eligible for registration
either as a whole or in part. If these were added to the Register
they would represent 7 per cent of the total stock of registered
parks and gardens.
3.5 Registration of a cemetery as an historic
park or garden helps focus attention on the whole (as well as
the individual components), especially the landscaping and historic
planting which is often of the greatest importance, especially
with cemeteries of the 19th century. English Heritage considers
the assessment of historic cemeteries to be a priority within
the Parks and Gardens registration programme and, if resources
permit, will complete its work in this area within two years.
It is worth mentioning here that the potential registration of
a park or garden involves consultation with owners and others
responsible for its management. In the case of the majority of
cemeteries this would be the local planning authority, private
cemetery company and other bodies such as Friends of cemeteries.
3.6 Conservation Areas. As the Sub-committee's
press notice of 7 November inviting memoranda from interested
parties makes clear, the significance of cemeteries to local communities
is a very important consideration. Local planning authorities
have the power to designate cemeteries as Conservation Areas and
many are already so designated or fall within larger Conservation
Areas. Numbers for these are not available. Conservation Area
status brings with it a combination of controls and obligations
to enhance the historic environment and new designations normally
involve a character assessment and formal consultation with the
local community. As such, it has considerable potential for enabling
local people to express their views and become engaged in the
longer-term management of the historic cemetery in question. English
Heritage has produced guidance for the character assessment and
management of Conservation Areas and is concerned to strengthen
controls where appropriate to safeguard smaller items within characterful
areas where they contribute to the quality of the whole. At present,
because of de minimis rules, individual small memorials
are not protected under the Conservation Area legislation.
3.7 The archaeology of cemeteries. By definition,
cemeteries are more than meet the eye. There is no reliable estimate
as to how many people lie buried in English cemeteries. A conservative
estimate of those buried in cemeteries and burial grounds laid
out between 1600 and 1900 in the London metropolis alone is round
6 million. Only a minority of these will lie within cemeteries
that are still in use. Leaving aside for a moment the ethical
considerations of removing human remains, and bearing in mind
that the Home Office, which issues exhumation licences, clearly
distinguishes between the sensitivity of burials over and under
100 years old, older human remains and their treatment has become
a subject almost exclusively delegated to the archaeologist. About
one-third of cemeteries post-date the First World War. This means
that the majority of cemeteries contain burials that lie outside
the Home Office's parameters of acute sensitivity. The removal
of post-1830s burials, often of considerable archaeological value,
is carried out almost by default by specialist removal companies.
Increasingly, methods of removal are being questioned on ethical
and historical grounds although new protocols are currently being
developed with the industry. It is increasingly important to bear
the archaeological dimension in mind when considering the long-term
future of 19th-century cemeteries. We return to this later when
we consider the management of cemeteries.
4.1 Cemeteries are under increasing pressure
from increased demand for burial space or to re-use redundant
cemetery space for other purposes. Many cemeteries are full. Records
are poor (or at least uneven across the board) and legal responsibility
for the upkeep of graves is often forgotten. This is especially
true where the majority of local people are in-comers and where
the tradition of tending graves has broken down. Some historic
cemeteries are (and have always been) undercapitalised. There
is frequently a backlog of maintenance and increasing concerns
about health and public safety. Consequently there is pressure
to reduce both public liability risks and the costs of maintenance.
Additional room for burials in active cemeteries is often found
by clearing the ground of tombstones, sometimes by stacking them
against walls, lying them flat as paving or breaking them up for
crazy paving. Areas are banked up to create new levels for interments
and new burials often encroach upon paths. Sweeping away monuments
blights the historic ensemble irrevocably. Even partial clearance
is damaging in that it erodes the character of the whole and subjects
the spared tombs to damage from mechanical grave digging. Exhuming
bodies raises serious ethical issues, is expensive and unpopular,
and levelling "abandoned" memorials and slotting new
interments in between the old is a common policy for re-use. But
areas suitable for clearance with less impact on what is important
can often by found (at Nunhead, for instance, a new section for
Muslims has been identified). It involves survey work (understanding
what is there), imagination and a realistic conservation and management
plan (for which see below, paragraphs 4.8-4.9).
4.2 In the absence of a systematic condition
survey of English historic cemeteries, it is difficult to be certain
how many of them are poorly maintained. Of the nine cemeteries
in London considered by English Heritage to be most at risk from
neglect, disrepair, theft and vandalism, three are in fair condition,
five are poor and one very bad. If these figures were extrapolated
to suggest the national picture it might be that two-thirds of
England's most vulnerable historic cemeteries are in poor or very
bad condition. Using English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register,
it is likely that around 6-9 per cent of listed cemetery structures
are at risk.
4.3 A recent report on burial needs in London
indicates the scale of the challenge. [29]
In Inner London, 20,000 burial spaces will still be required every
year despite the fact that 70 per cent of people now opt for cremation.
Inner London is now on the point of running out of burial space.
However, even by 2016, it is estimated that 12,000 burial spaces
will still be required. Even if London represents one extreme
of the spectrum, the situation nation-wide is still a challenging
one, especially where cemeteries are of historic, archaeological,
natural or amenity value. In order to alleviate the situation,
the report went on to recommend that the depth of new graves should
be increased to accommodate new interments; that exclusive burial
rights should be limited to 50 years; that the choice of cremation
be further promoted; and that the selective re-use of graves over
100 years be considered.
4.4 This has significant implications for
the heritage and amenity value of historic cemeteries, both for
local communities and nationally. English Heritage would like
to see a number of initiatives and procedures adopted or developed
which we believe would safeguard the historic and amenity character
of cemeteries for the benefit of all.
4.5 Understanding the cultural values attached
to cemeteries. The recently published historic environment review
carried out by English Heritage on behalf of the heritage sector
at the request of the government, [30]
recognises the variety of responses to historic things and places
and the significance that people attach to them. While very important
indeed, the view of national bodies and specialists is not the
sole measure of what is significant, and local values and expectations
need to be integrated more fully into the appraisal and management
of the historic resource. Cemeteries are particularly complex
in this respect, involving sentimental, imaginative and emotional
responses that are by definition intangible and not easily subject
to planning or regulation. This diversity of values should always
be kept in mind when considering the future of cemeteries and
the need to understand them written into any conservation, planning
or management brief. English Heritage has, for some years, encouraged
schools to record grave memorials[31]
and some schools have chosen cemeteries for the Schools Adopt
Monuments project which English Heritage Education has been organising
across the country.
4.6 National significance. It is important
to identify the most significant historic cemeteries as seen in
a national context. English Heritage must continue to take the
lead here. As stated in paragraph 3.4 we propose to complete our
assessment of nationally important cemeteries as part of the Parks
and Gardens Register programme and this will involve consultation
with the principal local stakeholders. (This will be along the
lines of the work we are currently undertaking on Urban Parks
for which £80,000 has been allocated over a two-year period.)
Systematic listing surveys will be carried out from time to time
over the next two years to address the lack of adequate protection
for important monuments or groups of monuments in the key historic
cemeteries. Additions to the lists will also be made using "spot-listing"
procedures along the lines outlined above in paragraph 3.3.
4.7 While substantial numbers of historic
cemeteries are important wholly or in part, many, including probably
the bulk of those dating from after the First World War, are of
little or no historic interest in national terms, although they
may be significant wildlife habitats and be held in high esteem
and affection by local people. It may also be the case that local
people feel dissatisfied with conventional cemeteries and seek
more fitting and relevant ways of disposal. Many find cemeteries,
especially derelict or poorly managed ones, repugnant and alienating.
The full range of values attached to a cemetery needs to be established
before long-term management programmes are agreed.
4.8 Conservation and management plans are
the best vehicle for achieving this. Only on the basis of a secure
appreciation of the significance of the site, can decisions be
made about what needs to be kept and enhanced, altered or cleared,
and potential conflicts between different prioritiesoperational
requirements, historic building conservation, the needs of wild
animals and flora, amenity and accesscan be identified
and reconciled. As well as identifying areas of historic importance,
they can also help identify areas where clearance and new burials
might take place.
4.9 The pre-requisite for a successful conservation
and management plan is to ensure that access to the relevant technical
guidance and expertise is available, and that the principal stakeholders
are involved from the outset. For cemeteries this would normally
include some local community participation. Hitherto, there has
often been a failure on the part of cemetery owners, including
local authorities, to approach cemetery management in strategic
terms and take the full range of social, educational and environmental
issues into account. Plans for managing the ecological resource
have been around for quite some time, but comprehensive approaches
that take historic as well as the ecological factors into account
are still few and far between. This is the case with some of the
major historic examplesKensal Green Cemetery (London),
for example, which has received considerable public funding, still
lacks a unified management plan. But exemplary approaches can
also be cited including, for instance, Land Use Consultants' long-term
ecological and historic environmental plan for West Norwood (on
behalf of Lambeth Council). Heritage Lottery Fund rules now require
full conservation plans when considering applications for substantial
grant aid.
4.10 English Heritage has had considerable
involvement in the repair of cemetery structures (via our regional
offices) and the development of conservation plans. An English
Heritage guidance note specifically concerned with the conservation
of historic cemeteries is in preparation, using our national overview
to help support and inform local management. In addition to this
holistic approach, we are preparing a Technical Advisory Note
(due to be published in September 2001) on churchyard tombstone
repair and conservation, which will have direct relevance to cemetery
monuments as well as to war memorials (about which an English
Heritage sponsored conference is to be held on 31 January 2001),
where interim guidance will be available). These documents will
complement other agencies' advice such as The Council for the
Care of Churches whose revised Churchyards Handbook is
due to be published soon.
4.11 The drawing-up of a full conservation
appraisal or plan is now normally required before grant aid is
made available (and other conditions are met). English Heritage
grants range from the very large (as for instance grants or offers
of over £200,000 made respectively to the repair or important
structures in Highgate and Kensal Green cemeteries) to more modest
contributions as part of Conservation Area grant schemes, especially
where grant aid can bring about the regeneration and revitalisation
of run-down or derelict localities. Other bodies, such as the
Heritage Lottery Fund also disperse substantial funds.
4.12 Archaeological advice. English Heritage's
views on best practice regarding the treatment of buried human
remains have been published recently. [32]
The main focus of concern for us lies with ancient burial grounds
(many of which went out of operation in the early-nineteenth century
and were part of the justification for the new generation of private
and municipal cemeteries) and burials below or around parish churches.
Home Office guidance, however, may place burials of the nineteenth
and early-twentieth century under threat, including those in cemeteries
still in use and under pressure of space. It is unlikely that
there will often be compelling reasons to carry out scientific
and archaeological examination of human remains in Victorian cemeteries,
but this should not be taken for granted. Our advice is to address
the issue of archaeological potential prior to disturbing human
remains. Ideally, such an (initially desktop) evaluation would
form part of the conservation and management plan.
English Heritage welcomes the interest that
the Sub-committee is showing in this matter. We recognise that
this is an issue that needs addressing quickly at a national level,
and one that will remain a sensitive and challenging one. We also
recognise that there are potentially competing interests herethe
need to find new burial space, promoting bio-diversity, respecting
the historical landscapeand we look forward to playing
a constructive role with the other leading bodies, both nationally
and locally. Cemeteries remain a little-studied area in historical
terms. We still need to learn more about them in order to ensure
that they are managed sensitively and sustainably. Historic cemeteries
cannot be allowed unthinkingly either to fall into "pleasing
decay" or become subject to drastic clearance or intensive
December 2000
J Dunk and J Rugg, The Management of Old Cemetery Land: Now
and Future. A Report of the University of York Cemetery Research
Group (1994). Back
Power and Place. The future of the historic environment,
published 14 December 2000. Back
God's Acre. Nature conservation in the churchyard. English
Heritage Video 1993. Back
Jez Reeve, "The Archaeology of Crypts and Burial Grounds",
BCD Special Report on Ecclesiastical Buildings, (1997). David
Miles, "Burials and archaeology. Care and treatment of
exhumed human remains", Conservation Bulletin (37), March
2000, pp 14-15. Back


text:
NC Homeless Shelter and Housing Resources
We have compiled a state-wide contact list of emergency shelters, transitional facilities, and permanent supportive housing.
Emergency shelter: Any facility with overnight sleeping accommodations, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of homeless persons. The length of stay can range from one night up to as much as three months.
Transitional housing: HUD defines transitional housing as a project that is designed to provide housing and appropriate support services to homeless persons to facilitate movement to independent living within 24 months.
Permanent supportive housing: Long-term community-based housing and supportive services for homeless persons with disabilities.
There is a comprehensive list, as well as separate tabs for each category. Facilities are listed alphabetically by county and then provider name.
Click this link for the Excel spreadsheet.
Source: NCCEH
Jennifer Spellmeyer

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hi guys, welcome to Book Munchies' Musing about Things: A Discussion (Post). Inspired by memes such as Books and a Beat's Musing Monday & Caffeinated Book Reviewer's Caffeinated Confessions (etc.), this is a Book Munchies discussion post, where I'll be rambling about (mostly) book-related things and hopefully you guys will join in on the fun too (:
So today's topic is: Do you read those really highly anticipated you were super excited about the year before?!
Hey so it's already December and that always means year end lists! Doing the Top Ten is one of my favourite things to do. And of course, usually the week long posts always end with a "Top Ten Most Anticipated Reads" of next year.
I was looking at my last year's list and I was thinking "Hey! Did I even read those books that I was so crazy excited for?" Out of the ten 2016 anticipated books, I managed to read 8 of them!
Which I'm actually kind of of surprised about (because two of them have been out for months and months and I only read them a couple weeks ago so it easily could have been 6).
So I've been doing the Top Ten list for a few years now and here are my stats:
2016 anticipated books read: 8/10
2015 anticipated books read: 6/10
2014 anticipated books read: 8/10
2013 anticipated books read: 6/10
Apparently I'm either a read almost all of them, or a read just over half. I'd say I'm fairly successful, but not as successful as I thought I would be, haha.
I find that the books I'm crazy excited for I either:
- Read right away as soon it comes out (i.e A Gathering of Shadows)
- Lose interest in it as newer books are introduce to me, or reviews may sway my vote (i.e Wink Poppy Midnight – I still love the gorgeous cover though!).
- Just keep forever on my TBR, even thought I have every intention of reading it (i.e. The Impostor Queen)
- Finally work up the courage to pick it said books (excitement and expectations can play a big role)! And I think to myself, well dang, what took so long (i.e. The Forbidden Wish and Rebel of the Sand which came out Feb/March and I read in end of Nov).
So how about you guys, do you usually get around to reading a lot of your anticipated reads?
Do some of them just get lost in the wind as new books come to your realization, are some just forgotten about?
Do you sometimes feel sad that you don't get around to them all? (I know I do sometimes, but such is life and it's always too many books, not enough time).
Author: Cyn
a bum OT, procrastinator. reader. eater. sleeper. music listen-er. movie go-er. Loves food too much.


text:
Willis and Towers Watson have merged. Visit willistowerswatson.com
View our solutions by
The first reaction of organizations considering opportunities presented by the evolving global economy is generally one of excitement. The second is often one of concern, because regardless of where they are located or what they do, operations outside a client's home country all share a common characteristic: exposure to risk.
Though the advantages of expansion usually outweigh the risks, risk management issues associated with international business activities must be carefully considered. Whether you're taking your first step on the road to becoming a multinational concern, expanding a thriving international business to new locales or simply seeking ways to improve your existing insurance program, the Willis Global Network Practice is ready to assist you in making a smooth transition. Our unique structure, state-of-the-art communications and years of experience in the global marketplace make Willis the ideal partner for addressing your global business concerns.
In an increasingly complex world, the Willis Global Network Practice can help you make the risk management process simpler.
Country Information
What We Can Do for You
Where We Are Located
Who Can Benefit from Our Services
All International Contacts


text:
All the boys from One Direction are taking a couple...
A Miracle
- by Hazza Lover ♥
- Rating:
- Published: 28 Nov 2012
- Updated: 1 Feb 2013
- Status: In Progress
Layla Henderson is just a normal girl. Lives on a normal street, living a normal life. Until she realizes that Liam Payne lives on her road, in fact right next to her house. Better still, Harry visits Liam often- does this mean romance for Layla?
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
Loading ...


text:
Subcutaneous Injection instructions available by clicking here
Folistem Pen instructions available by clicking here
Gonal F Pen instructions available by clicking here
Menopur instructions available by clicking here
Intramuscular Injection instructions available by clicking here
Early Menopause May Occur In Women with BRCA Gene, New Study Finds - click here to read about the first controlled study to explore the association between BRCA1 and BRCA 2 and the age at onset of menopause.
Cancer and Infertility: Dodging the 'Double Blow' – click here to read the stories of three women (and their doctors) who refused to allow a cancer diagnosis to interfere with a successful pregnancy.
No proven IVF and cancer link – click here to read coverage of this important study.
UCSF Study Shows Greater Impact of Chemotherapy on Fertility – click here to read coverage of this important study by Dr. Mitchell Rosen and his fertililty preservation team.
Treatment may protect young women with breast cancer from early menopause – click here to read the LA Times For the Booster Shots blog, July 19, 2011
Fertility Preservation For Young Adults Affected By Cancer - click here to read article.
A Hope to Prolong Fertility: Ovarian Transplants - click here to read Time Magazine article.
Scene Magazine, spring issue 2011, offers extensive coverage of the fertility preservation work of Dr. Mitchell Rosen (click here to download a PDF of the article)
Dreaming the Impossible, Fertility Treatments Give Couples Hope in Building Families, Mitchell Rosen MD, Bay Area Parent Magazine, Summer 2011 (click here to download a PDF of the article)
Reproductive Concerns and Cancer Treatment: what you need to know, Mitchell Rosen, MD, Women & Cancer, Summer 2008 (click here to download a PDF of the article)
Infertility, Mitchell Rosen, MD from cancersupportivecare.com (click here to download a PDF of the article)
Options for Preserving Fertility Key for CA Patients: click here to read a recent research article
Preserving Fertility of Women with Cancer Is Often Neglected: click here to read an article on cancer survivors and infertility
Bay Area Young Survivors, a support and action group for young women in the San Francisco Bay Area living with breast cancer: www.baysnet.org
Livestrong, a foundation dedicated to helping individuals with cancer: www.livestrong.org
Living Beyond Breast Cancer, on this website access cutting-edge breast cancer news, read our guides to understanding breast cancer, learn how to participate in clinical trials and meet the members of our medical advisory board: http://www.lbbc.org/Understanding-Breast-Cancer
CancerCare, a national nonprofit organization that provides free, professional support services for anyone affected by cancer, and publisher of Cancer Care Magazine: www.cancercare.org
Breastcancer.org, breast cancer treatment information and pictures: http://www.breastcancer.org/
Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy: How Cancer Is Diagnosed, Treated and Managed Day to Day, Andrew H. Ko, Malin Dollinger, Ernest H. Rosenbaum
April 2013 Podcast on Lynch Syndrome and Fertility Preservation, click here to listen to a specialist speak with UCSF Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility nurse coordinator Audra Katz, RN about Lynch Syndrome and Fertility Preservation.
|The UCSF Center for Reproductive Health, located in Northern California's San Francisco Bay Area offers a comprehensive array of infertility evaluation and treatment options for both men and women. Our services include: Infertility Evaluation, Male Reproductive Health, Fertility Preservation, Reproductive Surgery, Tubal Reversal Surgery, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Ovulation Induction, Donor Sperm Insemination, Egg Donor Program for Donors, Egg Donor Program for Recipients, Embryo Donation Program for Donors, Embryo Donation Program for Recipients, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Gestational Surrogacy, Genetic Screening and Counseling Psychological Support.
© 2010 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use / Privacy Policy


text:
Steve on CHICAGO SPORTS LIVE takes issue with the Chicago White Sox' selection of former players to honor with statues at
On his list of players more deserving -- topping it, in fact -- is Ray Schalk.
Schalk, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame on this date 53 years ago, receives short shrift because of his low .253 batting average. Some "experts" don't look past that to consider his other attributes, starting with his defense, his hustle and his handling of pitchers (and, some might say, umpires).
Schalk is in the Hall of Fame and he doesn't need me to make his case. But he caught more than 100 games a year (when the seasons were 140-154 games) for 11 straight years. While being a workhorse, he suffered numerous broken fingers, bruises, etc., and kept at it. Playing hurt that often can't help one's batting average.
Anyway, considering how Schalk is so often overlooked, it is nice to see that Steve remembers.
I would add to his list Ted Lyons and Red Faber, still No. 1 and No. 2 on the Sox' all-time victories list.


text:
I would suggest to all, posting and reading here,that the "fun thing" that WE should do today is to actively seek a replacement for Supervisor Sherbeyn. Another "fun thing" to do is; start raising money now to replace the entire Fauquier BoS.
Take Mr. Sherbyns' suggestion, now go out and have some fun!


text:
Bay View Room
Take in the uplifting views over the glistening South China Sea and the iconic Marina Bay from the luxurious Bay View Room. Offering corner floor-to-ceiling windows, the room features modern furnishings complemented by earthy shades of cream and brown.
- Air Conditioning
- Flat Screen Television
- In-room safe
- Mini bar
- Phone


text:
Cancer PSA features scientists
Grammy-winning singer Jennifer Hudson and Genentech scientist Shiva Malik have teamed up in a StandUp2Cancer PSA that kicks off this month. The digital, print, broadcast and radio push is titled "Two Worlds. One Dream." The focus is to show how a group effort can help fight cancer, as well as highlight the scientists behind potentially life-saving discoveries.
"I'm proud to join Genentech and Stand Up To Cancer on this PSA campaign, which showcases cancer researchers as the rock stars they really are and highlights the importance of supporting their work" Hudson said in a statement.
Stand Up To Cancer raises money for cancer research and works to raise cancer awareness. It is also supported by organizations including Major League Baseball, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Pfizer and Amgen.


text:
The perfect way to enjoy Christmas and New Year with friends and family at Rixos the Palm Dubai
We have also written about the new Shisha Lounge at The Rixos on The Palm.
December has to be my favourite month of the year, there is so much going on in the UAE and the weather is absolutely sublime! It is the perfect chance to catch up with friends and dress up without worrying about how hot it is. There are few cities in the world that do Christmas and New Year quite like Dubai, here we have a month of superb parties, gatherings and events.
Where you plan on spending your Christmas and New Year is a very personal choice, maybe you plan on having a quiet time in with your family, or are looking for an extravagant 5-course menu, or maybe you are a party person planning on dancing the festive season away. Well Dubai has every possible option you can think of.
We at Dine in the City would like to recommend that you visit the Rixos Hotel on The Palm; they have a little something special for everyone.
Christmas time, Mistletoe and Wine…
Christmas is the time to spend with loved ones, whether family or friends. I personally love going out to a restaurant where I am guaranteed good food and a jovial atmosphere, all the extra bells and whistles don't tend to make a difference…. although I am partial to a good bit of tinsel and some crackers.
The Rixos is offering the perfect Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals for all the family. For the 24th of December you can choose between a cozy evening at A La Turca, with an unlimited buffet and drinks, this is great for a really sociable and conversation filled night. Or head over to L'Olivo for a spectacular poultry and truffle menu at AED 280 with soft drinks or sumptuous seafood menu with wine pairing for AED 430 per person.
Maybe you would like a bit of romance on your Christmas Eve, then dinner under the stars at the Aegean is a great choice; with their brand new seafood menu and a cool Dubai breeze this is a nice relaxing way to spend the night before the excitement of Christmas morning!
Being from England Christmas Day is always the main event, waking up early to see if Santa has visited, opening presents and having a lovely cup of tea and minced pie with the family. All before heading out to a raucous and enjoyable Dubai brunch. Could there be anything better?
So what does the Rixos have to offer? Firstly, there is the A La Turca brunch, featuring live cooking stations, seriously good food and live music, this is sure to be a fun and lively way to while away the day. You can either choose between the unlimited beverages package including sparkling wine for AED 480 per person or if you feel like a real treat opt for the champagne choice at only AED 630 per person. Come on spoil yourself, it is Christmas after all!
Or maybe you would like to spend the afternoon on the peaceful Aegean terrace, a delicious set menu of seasonal delights is the order of the day, you can choose between the soft drinks and set menu package for AED 300 or the wine pairing menu for AED 450 per person. Celebrate in style outside in the stunning setting of the Rixos the Palm Dubai hotel; this is a lovely option for families looking to fully take advantage of a warmer climate for the festive season.
Which ever you choose Dine in the City wishes you a merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!!
There are 3 choices for how you can spend New Year's Eve at the Rixos.
Starting with a New Year's gala party under the stars at the Aegean, put on your best dress and suit up, be prepared for a glamorous cocktail evening, with a luxurious beach buffet, delectable canapés and unlimited drinks. Dance the night away to classic live bands, a pop act, Broadway show and a DJ! For the children there is even a flying Santa show, we don't want to spoil the surprise but it is pretty magical. Of course there is the obligatory fireworks display at midnight, made even more amazing by the location of the hotel itself, overlooking the serenity of the Palm to the twinkling lights of the city. Romantic, entertaining and the perfect way to ring in the New Year.
If a sit down buffet inside appeals more then pop over to A La Turca, the Rixos' stunning Turkish restaurant. For those regular readers you will know that we have previously reviewed this restaurant and are pretty confident that Executive Chef Nurettin Celik won't fail to deliver something mind blowing. There will be a plethora of well-crafted and surprising foods on offer, including a live pop band and belly dancer to spice up the evening!
So whether or not you choose the indoor or outdoor options we are certain this will be a fantastic way to celebrate the end of 2016.
To cheer up the January Blues!
Don't worry if you are in mourning for the festive period then the Rixos has a little something to cheer you up, their celebrations keep going until the 7th of January!
There is something on pretty much every evening, from a Walkman party to a circus night. There are a number of music events including the incredibly talented DJ Mahmut Orhan on the 5th January, hailing from Turkey this will be a night to remember, as he plays a mixture of Deep House and Indie Dance. Placed next to the spectacular view of the Palm and the Dubai skyline, you should be in for a pretty good time!
So check out their brochure and see what appeals to you.


text:
Here is an awesome poem written by a young member of the Diamonds of Islam Youth Group at the 2013 Struggle to Submit (Part 2) sisters event. Very wise, deep and inspiring for someone her age tabarakallah!
Struggling to Submit
By Sara (11 years old)
Trouble arises in our community.
There is a struggle.
To submit.
To Allah.
On the day of their birth, a child, is innocent, pure and clean,
Sadly, years later, their goodness, is unseen.
Something's happening, that's changing us from good to bad,
There are muslims that aren't praying,
But it's not a passing fad,
Their faces are plastered in colours and lines,
Speeding in cars, receiving fines,
They say they're trying to be Muslim…that they're just struggling a bit ….this, oh youth is the struggle to submit,
Temptations too close at hand,
Earphones, which once played the Qur'aan,
Now shouts the sound of music, which calls them to haraam,
Our youth is slipping and sliding, our foundations are crumbling away.
What is happening to our youth?
What is distracting them away?
We want them to be believe, not to be guided astray,
We want them to be believe, not to be guided astray,
Their once faithful hearts are turning to black,
Is it belief that they lack?
Trying to fill,
False promises of happiness
Have they gone too far?
Can we bring them back?
Can we bring them back?
Are they too far away from the righteous track?
Have they let go of the rope of Allah?
Are they too distracted by this life's hardship?
Are they too distracted by this life's hardship?
There are so many challenges that we have to face in this its as if you're on an Obstacle Course.
The path you're following is bumpy,
and sometimes there are roads, that lead to the bad side, there's rocks that you have to jump over,
and sometimes you're going to get cut,
there's stairs that you'll have to climb, and sometimes you're going to fall off.
Sometimes you're going to collapse, into millions of pieces-
sometimes you feel like screaming, because it's hard…to stay on this path, when we're bombarded with continuous indecency.
What's going to happen? I don't know.
Youth is focused on now, and making their hearts full of fleeting happiness, youth wants to find something, youth wants to be the first, the best.
The happiness they're looking for is in Islam,
The hadith, the prayer, and in the Qur'aan!
They don't listen. They don't bother.
I'm scared of the struggles that await me,
I haven't faced so many challenges yet,
I don't know what to expect,
I'm worried, anxious, as I nervously wait,
For my challenges to come,
I don't know if I'm going to pass,
Or if I'm going to get lost too,
But this is why I'm telling you,
All these reminders, this whole poem,
I don't want you to get lost either,
We never know what's coming,
We never know what's coming,
We may be excellent muslims now,
But our futures may be different,
And as we journey through the obstacles in life
We will all face trouble and strife,
It is the help of Allah we must remember to seek, not that of a song, or a celebrity's tweet.
Just remember at the times you struggle and grieve, after the hardship, always comes ease.


text:
We have been cruising since 1998 when I won a cruise. We have been on 35 cruises and have three booked. We enjoy introducing new people to the cruising world. Our second passion in life is attending and working at Renaissance Festivals.
Cruise Lines: Carnival Cruise Lines / Princess Cruises
Ships: Carnival Freedom
Destinations: Caribbean
Ports: Oranjestad, Aruba / Willemstad, Curacao
3rd annual Renaissance Festival
Take 2 Birthday cruise
Sweet Dream
We spent the night prior to boarding in New Orleans. Highly recommend this experience. The transportation to the hotel/port is a bit expensive, but providers are within $10 of each other. The next morning it was a $20 (including tip) to the port. The embarkation process was smooth with Carnival personnel stationed everywhere to give directions (a nice change from our last port). NOLA boards the VIFP card holders slightly differently than we have experienced before. First the wedding party (this is the same), then milestone and diamond and then platinum. We have not seen the diamond and platinum separated before and some platinum card holders were a bit upset.
The ship is going into dry dock on Jan. 29th, yet she still was clean and well maintained by the staff. Folks were always cleaning the stairways, hallways and chrome. Newcomers in our group who have sailed another cruise line remarked favorably on this. There was also some preliminary work for dry dock done on the balconies (sanding of rust spots and area primer added).
Our room steward, Linda was very attentive and asked if we want morning, evening or both room cleaning. She was already marking both before we could answer. She made sure we had robes and ice when we needed it. She gave us our new towel animal in the morning (a nice twist).
We were delayed in leaving because the loading was not done until almost 6PM. I am not sure why this happened. We did have a beautiful sunset for our sail-away.
Jase, the cruise director was energetic and humorous. His staff was always busy. The game "CLUE" was offered and while it was fun, I prefer the "Murder Mystery" that was offered before.
Sea days had "Oceanside BBQ" on the Lanai. This is very tasty. I do not know if this will still be available after dry dock since "Guy's BBQ is to be added to the dining offerings on this ship. The last day that was to have the "chocolate extravaganza". I somehow missed it or they didn't do it (it was scheduled).
Smoking was in the usual places on the starboard side of the ship...except on the Lanai where the had it on the port side. This was weird. We have managed to "train" ourselves to avoid the smoking areas, but were caught off guard on the Lanai. The casino did not do a good job of separating the smoking and non-smoking machines.
Montego Bay: We had planned to shop in the terminal building that was also had duty free shopping two years ago (our last visit there). But there is no longer any shopping in the terminal building and only some local vendors off to the side of the building. It would be wise to book a tour or use an authorized taxi.
Grand Cayman: We booked the Amphibious bus land & sea tour. It was all we had hoped, it is a big yellow bus that drives around town with a guide informing you about points of interest. Then it takes a turn onto a ramp into the Caribbean sea and becomes a boat. There are underwater cameras and you have a TV screen showing what you are "driving" over. Again your guide explains what you are seeing. The adventure is capped off with a 20-30 minute stay on seven mile beach.
Cozumel: Having visited here more than most places we decide to do another land and sea. but this time it was in two separate vehicles. We toured the Mayan Cacao Company where we learned about the making of chocolate. Yes, there were samples of both the raw product (no very tasty) and the completed delightful product. Items were for sale. We also visited a "tequileria" where we learned the process of making tequila. Samples were given and purchases were made. We the proceeded to the "semi-sub" which is submerged 4 feet with "windows" to view the coral formations and fish. The boat made sure both sides saw things by turning around when necessary. It was a bit rocky and some passengers had to go up-top. All in all a fun excursion.
The transit is a "must do"
Went to LA the day before and stayed on the Queen Mary over night. It was a great start for a cruise as it took us back to the beginning of cruising in luxury. The history included famous people who sailed on her, her role during the war and more. You get a self-guided audio tour with the booking and it is fascinating all the things the Queen Mary has been through. They were still working on parts of the ship. Evidentially she had slipped into some disrepair, but she is now looking like an old lady with stories to tell. Highly recommend these accommodations.
We took a cab to San Pedro to board the Island Princess and arrived within our slotted time. Embarkation went smoothly with our cabin available for carry-on drop off. We promptly went to the Horizons on Lido Deck for lunch. The Horizons is in the front of the ship so we were always a bit disoriented as we are used to the buffet being in the aft. The food selection was good and tasty. I enjoyed this part of the ship as it seemed so open even when crowded. It did get busy for the transit, with folks saving their place at the front at 4:00 AM.
We expected the passengers to be an older crowd and we were right. There were only about 2 dozen (or so) 50 and under. The disadvantage to this was the scheduling for Early Dining…. It was overbooked and a real disaster when the Any Time diners tried to get into the MDR. We skipped the MDR the 3rd night due this mess but figured out a "work-around" after that. We were impressed that they were able to have a varied menu for 15 days. The food was good and the presentations very appealing. They are also very accommodating for people with special diet needs (be sure to let them know ahead of time). We were slightly disappointed in the more casual dress on formal night than the last time we sailed on a Princess ship (2 years ago). That said, they did enforce the dress code as posted daily in the "Princess Patter" and at the entrance to the dining room.
The balcony cabin was smaller than we anticipated and the shower was tiny (kept hitting my elbows). We felt that a balcony was a must because we had no idea how much rail space would be available for the transit. I would recommend deck 9 (Emerald Deck) because it is closer to the water and better for measuring the rise and fall of the ship. Sadly there was a leak in the plumbing on decks 9 & 11 and they were frequently turning off the water for hours at a time and there was a musty odor in the corridors. She is, after all, an older ship and age takes a toll on us all.
Our room steward, Glenn, was the best we have had in many years (reminded us of the ones back in the beginning of our cruising history). He watched the cabins to see when his passengers left to eat and promptly cleaned the cabin. There was no need to pick when you wanted your cabin cleaned as it was morning and evening (with chocolates every night). We asked for a sheet because the duvet was too hot for sleeping under and he had it ready that very evening. He always asked if there was anything else we needed and seemed happy to fix whatever problem arose. He was always smiling and remembered our names.
There were only a few smokers on this cruise (mostly the younger folks), so the casino was relatively smoke free. They would go to Churchill's to smoke or the one outdoor area (I think there was only one). No one seemed unhappy on either side of the issue.
If you have sailed the Island Princess in the past and expect deck 7 to go around the ship, that is no longer true. Many folks did a daily walk on this deck, but either turned around or walked through the ship for their laps. This is more shaded than deck 15 where others went for the daily laps. Yes, there is a gym on board, but I have no idea what it looks like.
We had a "destination specialist on board that gave presentations for each port of call and information about the area in general. These were wonderful and very informative. If you have a chance to hear any presentation from Humberto Neto, go and enjoy.
Halloween on the Miracle
We flew to LAX the same day as our sailing (usually go out a day ahead) and we purchased our transfers from Carnival. Our plane had a fog delay (not common in Colorado) but we arrived in plenty of time to board the ship in time for lunch. The Carnival representatives at LAX were on the look-out for us and the 6 others arriving at about the same time. We had to wait 20 minutes for out bus, but we did not wait for a full bus to head to the the port.
The VIFP lounge seemed disorganized, priority guests were processed along with contractors and it seemed 2 of the 3 representatives were taking care of contractors not guests. Finally another person came into the lounge and took care of the guests. The signage for the next step was poor and we asked were we were to proceed and were told the far door on the right. That was fine, but once we went through the door we had to ask again. It was as if they expected the guest to know how to get to the next point. They need better signage.
Went to our cabin as soon as we boarded to drop off our luggage. The cabin still had the couch made into a bed with the bolsters under the regular bed. There were no robes. We hoped this was not an indication of thing to come. Went to lunch on the Lido and where we had a nice variety of choices. We went back to the cabin and found our room steward, Mauricio. He asked if we wanted morning or evening service to the cabin. We requested both and he said, no problem. We asked for ice, robes and to have the couch restored to a couch. The next time we went to the cabin, all was right. He was very friendly and happy to do whatever we needed.
We were a party of six with YTD. The first night we were given a table at the back of the ship near the windows and had a spectacular sunset. Our wait staff, headed by Darell, was outstanding. We requested them throughout the cruise. Only one night were they not available when we went to dinner (had time off for our late departure in Puerto Vallarta). We took whoever was available. I'll just say not all wait staff are created equal... Darell and his crew worked hard to get us our food and dessert quickly, so we could go to the early show. The hostess, Chongchong, made sure our table was not filled by others before we arrived. So if you have YTD try to get table 385...you will have most excellent service.
Unfortunately the menu posted on the TV did not match the menu we got each night. I am not sure if that was because this was the short cruise to get the ship on it's "normal" 7 day schedule or not. Just a little nit-noy of a problem.
We had the same comedians for the whole cruise. They both did a good job with the family version and the adult version. Very funny guys. Adam, the CD, was excellent and Alex, the assistant CD, should be moving up to his own ship as he was terrific. The shows were well done and we enjoyed them a great deal. We did get a wonderful show from a large group of dolphins on our last sea day during lunch. They were on both side of the ship and were doing flips, jumps and all sorts of antics; this lasted about 10 minutes (sorry no photos we were too involved in the show).
Many passengers dress for Halloween and so did the crew. It was "cruise elegant" night and we were invited to either dress in costume or our cruise elegant attire. and both were present in the dining room.
If you were bored on this ship it would be your own fault. Activities all over the ship all of the time. There is no way one could do it all.
Entered the bean bag toss (lost) and watched the bocce ball. Several trivia contests throughout the ship daily/ Mini-golf was open 24 hrs... found nighttime mini-golf very challenging. Much more was going on, but these were the ones we chose to do.
We arrived back in Long Beach in heavy fog. We heard the fog horn starting about 5AM and did safely dock about 8AM. The debarkation was delayed and no one was off the ship until about 9:30 AM. Most people seemed to do self assisted debarkation so it was very slow in the beginning.
The ship is beginning to show her age with minor cosmetic problems. But if you like the Spirit class of ship, this is a fun one to sail.
The Pink Ship
When we told folks we would be on the Splendor, they said,"OH! the pink ship. So of course I started calling it MY ship. I was expecting neon pink and other bright shades of pink. Well, it has a lot of pink but an equal amount of oranges. After the fist day, one hardly notices. So you will not be overwhelmed by the colors.
We had a group of 18 people and many first timers. this was a good itinerary for so many people: history, beach and shopping in equal amounts.
We chose assigned seating in the dining room and two adjacent tables one for 8 and one for 10. Our wait staff was very understanding as we switched places almost every night. The service was excellent. The food was good both in the MDR and on the Lido deck. Be sure to check out the upstairs dining areas for the Lido dining.
Our room steward was one of the best we have had. The other experienced travelers said the same about their room stewards.
The ship was originally built to be a Costa ship and has the same deck plan as the Costa Concordia. I rather liked it.
The big theater production were still the main entertainment. We were very happy about this as we are slightly disappointed in the newer shows. The comedy club was packed every night and there was a good rotation of comedians.
The newbies had such a good time and are bitten by the cruising bug. The experienced cruisers want to go again as soon as possible. (Note: we are on the Dream this coming Jan.)
We would repeat this cruise with no problem, either with a large group or just the two of us.
Regal Princess first non-Carnival cruise
To be honest we booked this cruise because Princess was having 2for1 sale and we wanted to see the "sky-walk". We decided on this ship because it was new and the timing was perfect.
We booked a balcony and we were surprised how much smaller it was compared to those we were familiar with on Carnival.
The ship seemed to vibrate continuously no matter where you were on the ship .
YTD was not done well. If you ordered early, the early seating was still served before YTD. The service was extremely slow and the food mediocre.
The food on the buffet line was great. This area was very open and a lot a variety. There were hand washing stations as you entered the area, a nice touch.
The Atrium was open and beautiful. Demonstrations,entertainment, dancing and fashion shows were held there.
The serenity area was costly to use, free to walk through.
The sky-walk was all we hoped it would be. The opposite side of the ship also had a glass bottom, but was a bar with a daily show.
Princess uses their lifeboats as tenders, which we found refreshing.
The horn plays the theme from the "Love Boat" and was fun when we sailed just before the Royal Princess as they serenaded each other.
We would probably sail on this ship again.
Ecstacy November 2014
We took this cruise because we had a friend going for the first time who really wanted us to go with them. We had been on this same ship and itinerary years ago...but agreed anyway. It was as much fun as the last time. We did not plan to board with them, but there was no line and they got through almost as fast as we did. The mini golf was fun, even if I lost every time. The food was good and YTD worked well. We did our own walking tour of Key West and we took different shore tours in Cozumel. I highly recommend the tequila factory tour.
Lunch on Lido
Key West and first time cruiser
Atrium on cruise elegant night (chose to wear formal) with a Miami Vice each
Mini golf


text:
High-precision arithmetic in mathematical physics
For many scientific calculations, particularly those involving empirical data, IEEE 32-bit floating-point arithmetic produces results of sufficient accuracy, while for other applications IEEE 64-bit floating-point is more appropriate. But for some very demanding applications, even higher levels of precision are often required. Furthermore, this article discusses the challenge of high-precision computation, in the context of mathematical physics, and highlights what facilities are required to support future computation, in light of emerging developments in computer architecture.
- Authors:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., CA (United States); Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
- Univ. of Newcastle, Callaghan (Australia)
- Publication Date:
- Grant/Contract Number:
- Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Mathematics
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 3; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2227-7390
- Publisher:
- Research Org:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org:
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING; high-precision arithmetic; numerical integration; PSLQ algorithm; Ising integrals; Poisson equation
- 1212153


text:
This episode features my newest strategy on short term food storage. I also answer a caller's questions about the Shemetah.
People often think you can't live a self sufficient life style if you have a small amount of land or small spaces. Joe interviews Thumper Lane on this subject. You'll hear a lot of good information in this episode, for sure. Links and Show Notes: Thumperlane.com Thumper Lane Facebook Page


text:
As many of you have experienced, your Minecraft, robotics, Lego, science, or other maker program is mainly attended by boys. As our nation becomes more digital, we know that it is vital for young ladies to consider these careers so we provided a maker camp for middle to high school aged girls. Rowdy Girls Maker Camp was a four-week camp that ran from 1-3pm. The themes included video game creation, LEDs, simple machines, and soldering. We have never done anything like this before and we were a bit worried if any girls would come. We do several crafting programs which are overwhelmingly attended by girls. Crafting is making, you say? Why yes it is, but our crafting programs usually focus on design. So that got us thinking, if we market Rowdy Girls as design and engineering (STEAM) perhaps we'll get some attendance. We did! The attendance was low but it was good considering this was our first venture.
Week 1: Video Game Creation
We used the Floors app from Pixel Press. As of now, you can only create on an iPad but you can play games on phones. With Floors, you use a grid sheet to design/draw your game and then you scan your design into the app. After it is scanned, you can change your hero and your background. Floors focuses on designing and not coding. Just like real game designers, teens must play their game, find the problems, and redesign. Potential design problems could be that the game is too easy or too difficult. Teens test each other's games and provide constructive criticism and it's back to the drawing board.
- Pixel Press provides printable lesson plans.
- Pixel Press has short instructional videos on Vimeo.
- If you have Apple TV, you can show the videos in the front of the class.
- It's free.
- All you need is the app, the printable grid, a pencil, a ruler, and an eraser.
- It takes a long time to design, test and redesign.
- Our program was 2 hours. After the overview, the lesson plan, and watching videos we had about 1.5 hours left and we ran out of time to redesign.
- I suggest having the teens make a simple video game for the first two fioors and increase the difficulty for the third floor. It took my teens about 45 minutes to design because they wanted to put every obstacle available on each floor.
- Our program was 2 hours. After the overview, the lesson plan, and watching videos we had about 1.5 hours left and we ran out of time to redesign.
- The game won't work if the lines aren't dark and straight.
- Although I told them this and told them to use a ruler, they didn't listen and after they uploaded their game, it didn't translate in the app.
- Encourage teens to only do a couple of obstacles and to use a ruler. You can draw in the app without paper and you can edit your paper design in the app but it's clunky.
- Although I told them this and told them to use a ruler, they didn't listen and after they uploaded their game, it didn't translate in the app.
- Scanning
- Scanning designs in the app can be difficult. It's like a QR code but tougher. We found that having one person balance the dot in the middle of the screen and having another person position the paper under the iPad was the most effective method.
Overall I highly recommend this app. The girls had fun and they were excited to see something they designed on paper come to life as a real game that everyone could play.
Week 2: LED Duct Tape Belts
LEDs are everywhere and teens use them everyday but most of them don't know what they are. LEDs are cheap and exciting way to teach teens about positive and negative battery charges.
Once again to attract girls, we used design by way of duct tape belts. We begin this camp with a quick lesson on LEDs and how they are used. We gave the girls a battery and LEDs to let them explore. We purchased the batteries and LEDs from adafruit.com.
After exploring, we had teens design a duct tape belt. I purposely purchased plain duct tape so that they wouldn't rely on patterned tape.
- Pick duct tape colors and LED colors.
- Measure your waist to make sure your belt is long enough and make sure it's thin enough to fit through the belt loops.
- Make the belt.
- Put on the belt to decide where you want to put the LEDs. Have a friend make a dot with a Sharpie to indicate the placement of the LEDs.
- Use a push pin to start the hole then use a screwdriver to make the hole bigger.
- Place the LEDs in desired spots and secure the batteries with duct tape.
Click here to see a video on how to make a LED duct tape belt.
Week 3: Castles
This week was a lesson of simple machines. We began with a quick lesson on the invention of catapults and lesson on simple machines how we use them everyday. We had the girls make and design castle out of a shoe box and paper towel rolls. Assign each person a different color. Then they all made the same catapult. You can Google a catapult instruction or use the book, Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction. Each teen also received an equal number of marshmallows. Marshmallows should be color coded. (We got the idea of catapults and marshmallows from the Arlington Heights Public Library).
Teens then find a place on the floor, equal distances apart and they launch marshmallows. The goal is to get marshmallows in other's castles. Tip: Let the marshmallows get stale a week before the program. Fresh marshmallows can ruin carpet.
Let the teens launch their marshmallows and when all are launched, they count to see how many marshmallows they landed.
After the first launch, have a discussion about their observances. Have teens evaluate their catapults-did the marshmallow fly straight and/or far, was the arc too high or too low? Provide more popsicle sticks and rubber bands and allow teens to redesign and practice launch their marshmallows for 10 minutes. (For the redesign, teens may use as many sticks and rubber bands as the need.)
Have a second launch and recount marshmallows. Repeat the discussion within the time allowed.
Week 4: Soldering
Soldering can be scary to teens and librarians. We had never seen a soldering iron and we were scared to use it and to let teens touch it. We had one of our teens who took jewelry making in high school teach us how. I'll explain the beginning and Tomani will show you the soldering part.
- Soldering Iron-I purchased ours from adafruit.com
- Flux-I purchased it from Ace Hardware
- Solder-Purchased from Hobby Lobby.
- Sandpaper
- Tweezers
- Wire cutters
- Ceramic bowl of water
- Rub sandpaper on the metals you plan to solder. This rids the metal of the oils from your fingers.
- Cut a piece of solder with the wire cutters
- Using tweezers to hold the piece of metal (ring) you plan to solder and add flux.
- Use tweezers to put the solder on the ring and add more flux.
- Use the tweezers to add the second piece of metal you plan to fuse. We used a jump ring in the video.
- Add more flux
- Solder the metals.
- Place the newly soldered jewelry in the bowl of water to cool. They took turns soldering a jump ring to a ring to get them used to the soldering iron. We then laid out materials to make jewelry and let the teens create.
As I stated before, we had low attendance and the most attended was soldering. Many of the attendees came to 2 or more meetings.
Girls between grades 5-12 attended Rowdy Girls.


text: Each year the number of Singing Valentines delivered gets larger with no end in sight. And each year the number of participating quartets grows. A record 180 deliveries were made in 2016 and a goal of 300 is within reach. The uniqueness of the idea and the enjoyment had by all, giving and receiving, is what makes the Singing Valentine an easy 'sell'. If you're not part of a Singing Valentine quartet you need to join one because until you do you won't know what it's like to bring so much joy to people. And if you've witnessed the singing of two love songs to an unsuspecting recipient you know what it's like to see so many happy people sharing an emotional moment. Orders are taken online at .www.valentinequartet.com Deliveries are made at home, at work, at a restaurant, in a park, or anywhere. Say "I Love You" with a song and you'll have created a memory that outlasts all other gifts.


text:
SMALL or MIXED VETERINARIAN to join our growing mixed animal practice in central CA. We're looking for someone who is passionate about veterinary practice, loves animals and equally cares about clients. We are proud of what we do - we provide quality, state of the art medicine to our community while striving to create a safe environment where our team members can grow together. And while we are passionate about our profession, we are equally concerned about the quality of personal life that our co-workers need and want, and we work very hard to provide a solid work/life balance.
If our vision of practice speaks to you, we'd love to chat. Please feel free to contact us at anytime!


text:
Reasons to Choose Congo Gold Effective search gold results will always reveal that investments on gold are the best. Although since 1971, coins in circulation are not linked to gold, major central banks consider investing in gold as the last refuge in case of economic crisis and thus retain their gold reserves and gold coins. read more
Recent Posts
- Buy Congo Gold From a Kinshasha gold dealer
- Cheap African Gold Stocks From The Best Dealers
- Most Wanted Mineral To Buy Cheaply From Nairobi
- Selling Gold That You Bought Cheaply From Us
- Gold Heaps For Sale At Lowest Prices In Kampala
- Cheapest Congo Gold To Buy – Come To Kampala Today
- Buying Low Priced Gold From The Best Gold Dealers
- 24 karat gold
- african gold
- African gold facts
- best gold traders
- Best mining gold companies
- best website
- buy gold in africa
- cheapest gold
- Congo Gold smuggling
- gold
- gold bars
- Gold dust
- High Demand Of Gold
- high quality Congo gold
- investment gold
- Kampala gold
- Nairobi gold
- online gold
- physical gold
- raw gold
- risk free gold
- selling gold
- Uncategorized
TAGS24 karat congo gold 24 karat gold african gold african gold for investment best gold prices best gold traders buy african gold buy cheap gold buy congo gold buy gold buy gold cheaply buy gold from africa buy gold from nairobi buy gold from the best gold traders buy gold from us buy gold in africa buy gold in Nairobi buy gold online Buy gold today buy high quality gold buying african gold cheap African gold cheapest gold cheap gold cheap gold to buy Congo gold congo gold to buy Congo gold traders gold gold bars gold dust gold in Africa article gold in big quantities gold in Nairobi high quality congo gold High Quality Gold low priced gold nairobi gold pure african gold pure gold purest gold purest gold to buy real gold to buy the best gold dealers the best gold traders


text:
The good old birth control pill is still the most popular contraceptive in this country, especially for women in their 20s and 30s, and stays a safe choice for healthy women into their 40s if they don't smoke.
The hormones in the pill work by preventing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus and thinning the lining of the uterus. Many women benefit from positive side effects such as less cramping, lighter periods and some formulations that can help reduce acne. But not all side effects are good ones: some pill users complain of breast tenderness, headaches and nausea or vomiting usually within the first few months of taking the pill. It can also be a slightly less effective option for women who are overweight - when you have a higher body mass and blood volume the amount of hormone might not be concentrated enough for you.
The pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken at the same time daily. Most women can get pregnant as soon as they stop taking the pill or within a few months. The time frame depends on how quickly you start to ovulate again. .
There are more than 50 brands of birth control pill on the market, some generic, which makes them less expensive. It could take a few tries before you find the one that best suits your lifestyle and has the least negative side effects.
The pill comes in three types of formulations:
?Combination pills, the most used and most effective form, contain the hormones estrogen and progestin. One pill is taken daily for 28 days with a period occurring sometime in the last week (this is when you're taking placebo pills with no hormones in them). For some women they can help protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer. Estrogen is not recommended for women who smoke and can increase the risk of complications from diabetes or high blood pressure; in migraines with auras estrogen can increase the risk of blood clots, leading to a heart attack or stroke. It's also not ideal for breastfeeding moms since estrogen can reduce milk supply.
?Continuous dosing pills require you to take one pill for 84 days, then take 7 days off during which time you will get your period. It's a good option for women who only want to deal with the side effects of menstruation 4 times a year. Eventually, most women who take these types of pills will not get periods at all, but breakthrough bleeding is common when first starting this type of pill.
?Progestin-only pills, or minipills, have no estrogen, which makes them an option for women who might not be able to take the combination form, although they are considered a less effective form. You should ask your doctor if progestin-only pills are an option for you. Pills come in packs of 28 active pills and a period happens in the last week of the pack. Some women complain this type of pill causes acne, weight gain, excess hair growth and depression.