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Above Ground Solar Cover Reels
Solar covers for above ground pools are a wonderful invention for adding natural solar warmth to your pool, while retaining heat at night and eliminating evaporation. However, solar blankets can be cumbersome to remove and replace on an above ground pool.
Solar Pool Cover Reels are the answer; attach the solar cover to the pool cover roller with the included straps and clips. A hand crank on one end allows you to roll-up your solar blanket onto the pool cover reel, which can be moved by two people to a stored location.
Sure, above ground solar cover reels are convenient and functional, but did you know that they also protect your solar blanket from all types of calamity while it is removed from the pool?
Sun, wind, dirt, dogs, squirrels, birds, lawnmowers – there are many ways that a solar cover can be damaged when removed from the pool. Using a pool cover reel keeps your cover safely rolled up, and out of the way. Solar cover reels are also useful for long-term solar cover storage, during the hotter summer months or during winter.
- Powder coated aluminum or resin bases
- Aluminum tubes 2" - 4" dia., adjustable
- Ball bearing hand crank assembly
- Strap and Clip Kits included
- Lift and Pivot Feature
- 1-person removal and replacement of solar covers
- Safely stores your solar cover when off the pool
- Can triple the lifespan of your solar pool cover
- Mounts to top rail, pool deck or posts set in concrete
- 50" tube segments allow for custom fit on smaller pools
Selecting an Aboveground Solar Cover Reel:
Pool Size: Aboveground solar cover reels are ordered by pool width - up to 18', up to 24' and up to 28' wide. For added strength to the reel, for thicker or longer solar blankets, consider buying the next largest size. The 50" tube sections will have more internal overlap, increasing overall tube strength. A larger solar reel can be custom sized to fit any size (smaller) pool.
Solar Cover Thickness: We sell solar blankets in three thicknesses, 8 Mil, 12 Mil and 16 Mil. Like longer and wider solar covers, thicker solar covers are also heavier, and as such are more suited for heavy duty solar cover reels. Although bowing of the reel seldom causes damage, it can make operation more difficult. For this reason, for longer or thicker pool covers, considering using the next largest reel size, or just buy our most heavy duty reel, the 28' Aqua Splash Pro or the 28' GLI Whirlwind.
Installing an Aboveground Solar Cover Reel: Above ground solar reels are mounted to the pool top rail, over the widest part of the pool. For round pools, this is straight across the center, and for oval pools, install the base mounts at the point where the straight wall panel meets the curved panel. You can also set wood posts in concrete for mounting the reel, or for resting a pivoting reel, as shown in the left and right images below.
Most aboveground solar reels can be assembled and installed in under 2 hours. Complete pool cover reel instructions are included with pictures, and requires a power drill and basic hand tools. General assembly involves joining the tube sections and bolting the reel mounting plates to the top rail of the pool, or to an attached deck, or posts set in the ground.
Attaching a Solar Cover to a Solar Reel: You can do this while in the pool, with the cover folded on itself, so you can reach the tube, or spread across the driveway. Screw the cover straps to the tube as directed, then connect the straps to the solar blanket with the cover clips to pinch and hold the cover. Important: Because the cover is folded to connect the cover clips, this pulls it away from the ends of the pool by 1" - 3". As such, it is advised to attach the solar blanket to the reel before trimming it to fit the pool.
Moving the Solar Reel: After rolling up the solar blanket, some above ground solar cover reels pivot on one end, to store the reel along the top rail, like the AquaSplash and Tidal Wave reels. Other reels require two people to move the rolled-up solar blanket and reel to rest on the pool edge, laid on the ground next to the pool, or a post or rack can be installed to rest the cover and reel while off the pool.
Removing the Solar Blanket: Turn the crank to rotate the tube, which is connected to the solar cover by straps and clips. The pinched pool cover will begin to rise up, and follow the straps up and over the reel tube. Keep cranking until it is completely wound-up - the tube may bow on larger pool diameters. One person can (usually) operate a pivoting solar cover reel, or two people are needed for those that do not. A wet, rolled up solar blanket on a large pool can be heavy and awkward to move, so have a plan, and lift with your knees!
Replacing the Solar Blanket: Removing the solar cover is easier than replacing it, because the cover folds up on itself, and the sides sometimes stick together. The best way to replace an above ground solar blanket is to attach cover clips or grommets to the outside edge of the cover, on both sides, and attach a thin length of pool rope. Use the rope to pull each side of the cover gently to the edge, and the pool cover reel will rotate as you pull.


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Byrd's walk-off hit hands Mets second series win
Part-time outfielder slaps two-run single off Miami closer to cap rally
NEW YORK -- It is only natural for Marlon Byrd to accept his part-time job with the Mets, considering how desperate he once was for any job at all. Stuck in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico this winter, wondering "if any organization was going to take a flyer on me," Byrd signed with the Mets late in the offseason despite no clearly defined role.
In Queens, he has settled in as part of Terry Collins' mad outfield experiment, seeking harmony and playing time alongside five others. The motley family has somehow succeeded. Byrd hit a walk-off, two-run single in the ninth inning Sunday, giving the Mets a 4-3 win over the Marlins and further justifying this unorthodox outfield mix.
"We have no egos, no selfishness," Byrd said. "It's about getting better."
The Mets appear to be doing just that, opening the season with consecutive series wins for the first time since 2006. It all seemed unlikely until Marlins closer Steve Cishek plunked Ruben Tejada with a pitch in the ninth, giving the Mets some one-out life.
The next batter, pinch-hitter (and fellow part-time outfielder) Kirk Nieuwenhuis, poked a single in front of a no-doubles defense. Seeking to stay aggressive, Tejada scampered to third base, allowing Nieuwenhuis to advance to second as the potential winning run.
"He don't have a great arm," Tejada said of Marlins left fielder Juan Pierre. "That's why I took the chance."
His aggression proved critical. Byrd, who struck out in twice in key situations earlier in the game, stranding multiple runners in scoring position, grounded a Cishek sinker past a drawn-in infield, squirting it just inside the third-base bag for the game-winner.
"It was nice to finally come through in the end," Byrd said.
For most of the three-hour, 38-minute marathon, frustration was the prevailing emotion. Making his Major League debut at age 20, Marlins starter Jose Fernandez was electric, striking out six of the first 12 batters he faced. Though Fernandez remained perfect into the fourth, the Marlins pulled him after five innings and 80 pitches, having allowed nothing more than Anthony Recker's RBI double. In Marlins manager Mike Redmond's eyes, Fernandez "deserved to win the game."
Trouble surfaced immediately when Daniel Murphy greeted Miami's first reliever, A.J. Ramos, with a leadoff homer in the sixth. But despite putting the potential tying run in scoring position two innings in a row, the Mets could not convert until Byrd's hit in the ninth.
Credit the bullpen for creating all those chances. After spot starter Aaron Laffey coughed up 10 hits and three runs over 4 1/3 innings, Greg Burke wriggled out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth. Burke and four others combined on 4 2/3 scoreless innings, keeping the Mets close all afternoon.
"Fantastic job, everybody through and through," said Burke, who threw more breaking balls in an attempt to generate strikeouts, rather than relying always on ground balls. "We picked each other up."
That might as well be the mantra for New York's outfield, which absorbed criticism all winter from fans, the media, and even the club's own general manager. After the Mets missed out on acquiring veteran Michael Bourn early in February, they resigned themselves to an unimproved outfield alignment.
The only new face was Byrd, who shined in Mexico before reporting to Spring Training. In a daily jigsaw puzzle, Collins has mixed and matched Byrd with Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter, Collin Cowgill and Jordany Valdespin; the only constant has been Lucas Duda in left.
Collins believes that distributing starts among those outfielders has served to keep them all sharp, better preparing them for pinch-hit opportunities. Remember Nieuwenhuis' big hit in the ninth? That's the type of thing that Collins has envisioned.
"If you're on the bench one game, it doesn't have any meaning," Nieuwenhuis said. "As long as we're all contributing … that's all that matters."
It helps that all six players provide different skills, from Nieuwenhuis' defense to Baxter's patience to Valdespin's electricity to Cowgill's right-handed pop. It also helps that Byrd, the lone veteran of the group, has accepted his part-time role in Flushing. What's more, he seems to have embraced it, serving as a resource for his younger teammates
"I can answer any questions," Byrd said. "I've been everything from a multi-year deal, to a suspension, to outrighted, to designated for assignment, to traded. I ended up living in a lot of cities. I'm just a guy who can come in here and help."
Of course, nothing helps more than winning baseball, particularly early in the season while the team's schedule is soft. The Mets could have escaped their first homestand with a .500 record, winning three of their first six against the Padres and Marlins.
Instead, they took four of six in a late turn of events.
"If we hang around long enough," said Byrd, remnants of a whip-cream pie still in his hair, "we always have a fighting chance."

subset: commoncrawl


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Harold Davis
Harold Davis is an award-winning professional photographer and widely recognized as one of the leading contemporary photographers. He is the author of more than 30 books, including Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Worlds with Harold Davis (Focal Press), The Photoshop Darkroom 2: Creative Digital Transformations (Focal Press), The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-Processing (Focal Press), Creative Landscapes: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Lighting: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Portraits: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Black & White: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Composition: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), and Creative Close-Ups: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley)
Harold writes the popular Photoblog 2.0, and is a photography columnist for Photo.net.
Harold is a popular presenter on many digital photography topics. He is a gifted teacher, and his workshops are usually sold out well in advance.
Photographic adventures and assignments have taken him across the Brooks Range, the northernmost mountains in Alaska. He has photographed the World Trade Towers, hanging out of a small plane, followed in the footsteps of Seneca Ray Stoddard, a 19th-century photographer of the Adirondacks, and created human interest photo stories about the residents of Love Canal, an environmental disaster area. Harold's work has been published in books and magazines, and as posters and greeting cards. His prints are widely collected.
Harold brings a broad range of experience to his work as a professional photographer and author. He has worked as a software engineer, an enterprise technology consultant, and an Internet company executive.
Harold is well-known for his night photography and experimental ultra-long exposure techniques, use of vibrant, saturated colors in landscape compositions, and beautiful creative floral imagery. He is inspired by the flowers in his garden, hiking in the wilderness, and the work of great artists and photographers including Ansel Adams, M.C. Escher, Monet, van Gogh, and Edward Weston.
Harold frequently collaborates with his wife, Phyllis Davis, on book projects. They live in Berkeley, California with their four children.
Webcast: Photographing Kids, Family, and (other) Weird Things
Webcast: Secrets of Digital Night Photography
Webcast: Creative Flower Photography
"This book is a must have for those who are passionate about their online business and are willing to put the time and effort required to get the right kind of traffic to their site."
"This is a beautiful book with lots of technical goodies
for the avid photographer, and I would recommend it
for your library. "
"What we liked most were his photographs because virtually all of them included a nice description of what went into taking each one. This hands-on approach translates well into learning new lighting and exposure techniques."
"Highly recommended for fine art photographers; commercial photographers will benefit from Jack Neubart's Location Lighting Solutions , with its emphasis on advertising photography."
"Harold Davis is at the top of his game as a master photographer with this book. For the new photographer who wants to move up the quality of their work from the photograph category to the art category these are the most critical things to understand and this is one of the easiest to understand books on the subject."
"The photos offer lessons on applied techniques and this is a perfect choice for any library catering to pro or neo-pro digital photographers."
"The information presented is basic enough for a beginner to understand but not so simple as to bore a more experienced photographer. Detailed explanations and a well thought out scope make this book a must for every photographer's bookshelf."
"Davis offers a comprehensive guide to twisting your camera dial to "Manual" and learning how to get the most out of it. Furthermore, he has the photographic work to prove his expertise -- even if you never read a word of this book, Davis' photographic work will stun anyone who picks up the this book. "
"If you were once (like me) a fairly keen photographer who has let his standards slip, or if you just cant work out why your digital photography lacks that certain something, this is the perfect book to bring yourself up to scratch!"
"Each of [this book's] 176 pages are filled with stunning scenic photos ranging from macro images to tiny water worlds to vast circle of stars in the sky...Each topic is covered in a short but well developed paragraphs on nearly every page of the book. Davis's writing is not laborious. He knows how to break down topics in terse language, providing you just about as much as you need to know to understand the subject. Shorter chapters on macro and night photography are also included but they mainly in my view just wet your appetite on the subject.
"With a focus on light and exposure, two crucial concepts you need to understand and master if you are to truly capture the images you see, author and renowned fine art photographer Harold Davis presents his own images as examples and inspiration...Concise and to the point, Practical Artistry clearly demonstrates that photography, essentially, is writing with light, and that the type of images you produce depend on the many choices you have for using that skill. Harold Davis gives you an array of choices in full living color."
"This instructional book is richly illustrated with full color photographs from the author. The text is explained clearly and in detail with an accompanying photo to illustrate the effects of decisions made. Practical Artistry is a great book for anyone who wants to understand the traditional methods of photography within the realm of the digital age."
"This most excellent book aims to present the best practices of the craft of photography in the context of the digital era. But, more importantly, the author designed this book for you on a number of different levels."
"if you shoot digital and want a good introduction to the all-important basics then I strongly recommend reading Light and Exposure for Digital Photographers."
"If you buy only one photography technique book this year, make it Harold Davis's Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers."
"Overall, Google Advertising Tools is a good book to get if you are an AdSense or AdWords user. There is a little bit of fluff, but keep your eyes open and you'll find some gems. Whether your ads are currently making money or not, this book might pay for itself in short order if you use it wisely. "
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|Home >> Course Descriptions >> College of Arts and Sciences
|Three semester hours.
This course discusses discrete mathematical structures, especially the enumeration and the optimization problems related to them. Algorithmic (constructive) aspects will be emphasized. Course work involves computer programming projects. Topics include: basic tools of combinatorics, graphs and networks, relations, the counting problems, the existence problems, the combinatorial optimization. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and permission of instructor.
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text: Find this wine Find this wine Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Pin It Tweet 6 years ago by Marc D Vaillancourt More posts Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 4 years ago by Czakhary Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Oyster Bay New Zealand 2014 Grapefruit on the nose and palette . Effervescence. Mild miberality. 4 years ago by Flowjoesipad Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Oyster Bay New Zealand Great white wine. Not too sweet. Just right! 4 years ago by Scholmes Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Really good New Zealand Sauvignon blanc 5 years ago by Torgoley Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Oyster Bay New Zealand Best wine ever. OBI 5 years ago by Anna


text: If The Office has taught us anything, it's that no activity is more monotonous than actually producing on the job. For your colleagues who've exhausted Facebook and can't download solitaire, give them a set of Buckyballs. Modeled after the 1985 breakthrough discovery of the spherical cage of carbon atoms, this set comes with 216 magnetized balls that can be reconfigured into an endless variety of shapes and designs. They're like a Rubik's cube that doesn't make you feel like an idiot. Now if only the company's annual report could instill that same confidence. (getbuckyballs.com, $29.95)


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Item # CVN0012Item # CVN0012
What you need to keep rolling.
The Sliding Dropouts found on a Civilian Bicycle Co. steed have the derailleur hanger integrated. And if you're riding a Civilian how its builder intended, you're bound to tweak that hanger at sometime.
So, Mr. Hart thought ahead and made these droupouts available on their own. These sliders are made from 7075 T6 aluminum, and they offer a precise alignment of the derailleur for sure shifting. They'll fit the Luddite, Young Turk, Vive Le Roi, Le Roi Le Veut, and Corduroy Rebel.
Please note that these are sold individually as dropouts for the Single Speed Drive-side, Drive-side with Hanger, Non-drive with Disc Tabs, and Non-drive without Disc Tabs.
View more Drivetrain Small Parts
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Where can I get a Civilian bikes sliding...
Where can I get a Civilian bikes sliding dropout with the derailleur hanger?
I emailed Mr. Hart (the guy who made the bikes) and this is his reply to me... wish I could have written you sooner but HERE IS YO ANSWER!
will it fit ILL bike frame?
will it fit ILL bike frame?
Solid but feels surprisingly heavy for how small it is.
Does it's job
There is really not a lot to say about a derailleur hanger. It stays in place, and it does it's job. I did notice that the civilian dropouts in generally tend to be a little more flexible than you would think with as beefy as they are.


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Spinning wheels in the corner have been symbols of earlier times for the past 150 years. Although spinning wheels date back to medieval days, the ones found today are rarely more than 150years old. There are different types for spinning flax or wool. Because the style of the spinning wheel changed very little, it is often impossible to place an exact date on a wheel. John Wyatt and Lewis Paul patented the flyer-and-bobbin system for drawing wool and the Roller Spinning machine in 1738.
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You wish to find a rental in Ventersburg? Ventersburg is a charming city located in South-africa. With Roomlala, the inhabitants of Ventersburg are very happy to welcome you, whatever the reason for your rental (tourism, travel, business travel, internship, studies, etc.). The site is at your disposal to help you find a furnished rental in Ventersburg or a private room in Ventersburg. What's the difference? By renting a room with the inhabitant, you mainly rent a room, within the housing of the inhabitant in Ventersburg. Finding a furnished rental in Ventersburg is like renting a studio, an apartment or even a house in which the owner is also living in the property. In both cases, the rentals will have obligatory equipment that make each a "furnished rental". . Thanks to Roomlala you can also find a roommate or roommates in Ventersburg. If you have already found an accommodation (house, apartment), you can then simply publish a free ad to look for your future roommates with whom to share it with. If you have neither accommodation nor roommates yet, you can directly find a roommate in Ventersburg, or in a preferred borough of Ventersburg, for medium and long durations (room to rent at the month at the year). For shorter stays, our platform also allows you to search for a guest room in Ventersburg or a bed and breakfast in Ventersburg, near the tourist places of Ventersburg. On the occasion of a holiday rental in Ventersburg, you can visit its essential places and also stroll around the city. You will be able to walk along its most famous avenues and streets. Another possibility: you are looking for accommodation in exchange of services in Ventersburg? Roomlala offers you rentals for services such as childcare, help for the elderly, school support, home help, intergenerational housing, student help, babysitting, cleaning, etc.
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TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Republican Mitt Romney urged voters on Thursday to help him rebuild the U.S. economy and create millions of new jobs, asking them to overcome their disappointment in President Barack Obama and join him in restoring the promise of America.
In a high-stakes speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination, Romney said he would work to unify a divided country that believed Obama's lofty campaign promises but had lost hope they would be fulfilled.
"What is needed in our country today is not complicated or profound. It doesn't take a special government commission to tell us what America needs. What America needs is jobs. Lots of jobs," Romney said.
Earlier, theRepublican National Convention in Tampa heard from a series of Romney's friends and relatives who painted a picture of a humane, compassionate man - part of a three-day effort to humanize a candidate often accused of being cold and formal.
Romney's speech, which launches a two-month dash to the November 6 election, was seen by tens of millions of television viewers and gave some their first extended look at the former Massachusetts governor.
It could be a defining moment for Romney, who has struggled to win over conservatives and connect with independent voters in a campaign against Obama that has been dominated by the sluggish economy and lingering high unemployment.
Romney says his experience as a business executive is the cure for the ailing economy and he promised to create 12 million jobs. He drew a sharp comparison between the promise of Obama's election in 2008 and the results of the last four years.
"Today the time has come for us to put the disappointments of the last four years behind us, to put aside the divisiveness and the recriminations," he said. "Now is the time to restore the promise of America."
Romney said Americans wanted to believe in Obama but had suffered from his failures of leadership.
"Hope and change had a powerful appeal. But tonight I'd ask a simple question: If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn't you feel that way now that he's President Obama?"
"You know there's something wrong with the kind of job he's done as president when the best feeling you had, was the day you voted for him.
In an effort to inject a shot of Hollywood glamour into the convention, actorClint Eastwood spoke before Romney. His appearance fired up the crowd, although his long, rambling and sometimes incoherent blast at Obama frequently fell flat.
"When somebody does not do the job we've got to let them go," Eastwood said.
Democrats alternately portray Romney, 65, as a heartless corporate raider, wealthy elitist, tax evader and policy flip-flopper who should not be trusted with the keys to the White House.
To counter that image, the convention heard emotional testimonials about Romney's work as a Mormon leader that made many convention delegates in theTampa Bay Times Forum cry.
One couple talked of how Romney befriended and comforted their dying teenage son. A woman, Pam Finlayson, recalled how he prayed with her in hospital when her premature baby daughter was close to death.
"His eyes filled with tears and he reached down tenderly and stroked her tiny back," Finlayson said.
Romney also tried to show a softer side, describing his parents and family and defending his work atBain Capital, the private equity company that critics have accused of raiding companies and cutting jobs.
"That business we started with 10 people has now grown into a great American success story. Some of the companies we helped start are names you know," he said, naming Staples and Sports Authority.
Romney and Obama have been running close in polls ahead of the election, but the convention so far has given Romney a boost. The latest Reuters/Ipsos online poll showed him moving into a narrow lead over Obama -- 44 percent to 42 percent among likely voters. The Republican had entered the week trailing Obama by four percentage points.
(Additional reporting by Sam Youngman and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alistair Bell and Jim Loney)


text: July 27, 2014 at 10:06 PM Sights and sounds from Capitol Hill Block Party 2014 Posted by Paige Collins It was a beautiful weekend for Capitol Hill Block Party. But alas, all things must end. Our writer Mike Ramos (@Ram0s206) was there to catch all the hits and misses from the weekend. And photographer Maddie Meyer took in the sights. Reminisce, or see what you missed, with this collection of posts from Twitter… More Comments | More in Festivals | Topics: Capitol Hill Block Party, Capitol Hill Block Party 2014


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Let's be honest, we all tune in to award shows for the shocking moments and Twitter-friendly happenings as much as for the winners and losers.
And Sunday's Emmy ceremony provided much to discuss, ponder and marvel at (Will Arnett we're looking at you). Here are topics that are sure to be on everyone's lips Monday morning:
Will Ferrell's casual attire: The funny man and his children presented the night's big awards for best drama and best comedy series. But wait, it gets better. Looking more suited to a water park than a gala awards show, Ferrell appeared in dishevelled in baggy shorts, t-shirt and sport sandals. Ferrell explained his attire by joking he was a last minute substitute for Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith and that he couldn't get a sitter or even have the time to do his hair. Halway through his delivery he stopped to tell one of the kids to stop playing "Angry Birds" on his tablet. Genius.
U.S. & World
Shemar Moore's awkward, behind-the-scenes chats: Moore's job during the Emmys elecast appeared to be the promotion of upcoming segments in the show and CBS vehicles in general. But the cut-ins featuring him with other actors and actresses turned out to just be uncomfortable. One segment involved the former "Soul Train" host calling Anna Faris and Allison Janney "beautiful, sexy and vivacious." Another segment featured an "interview" with TV legend Bob Newhart, who looked like he'd rather be working on someone's taxes than speaking with Moore.
Kevin Spacey, from his seat: The hijinx of the "House of Cards" star was a show unto himself at the Emmys. He was hilariously "evil" in a scripted moment in the show's opening, but more curiously amusing in an unscripted moment later. The camera turned to him during an on-stage speech and the actor shooed it away with a piece of paper.
Elton John and Liberace: The legendary Brit singer and songwriter performed a new song, "Home Again," which was co-written with longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. John said he chose the song - which is featured on his upcoming album "The Diving Board" - because it reminded him of Liberace. For most viewers it just reminded them that John had a new album about to drop, and the sombre anthem did little to celebrate the showmanship and flare of the man who was once one of the most famous entertainers in the world.
Will Arnett's tan: Everyone appreciates Arnett's work on "30 Rock" and "Arrested Development" over the years, but his skin pigment at the Emmys made it appear he made a last minute stop at George Hamilton's tanning salon. This tweet summed it up best:
Will Arnett is the New Black. #swidt #Emmys — James (@mr_guigayoma) September 23, 2013
That choreography dance number: This segment showcased some of the best shows on television during the year and was a vehicle to reveal the winner of the best choreography Emmy ("Dancing With the Star's" Derek Hough took the statuette). Although the dancing was energetic and wardrobe selections were fitting, it felt disjointed. C'mon, a vignettes representing "Game of Thrones" and "American Horror Story"? Though the "Breaking Bad" breakdancers (we kid you not) may just have taken the cake.


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Saturday, March 5, 2016
Rhapsodia Laudunensis
Posted by Hans Georg Lundahl at 1:51 AM No comments:
Labels: duo/ensemble, guitar, TAB
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If any images* are impossible to see, protest against censorship! They are the main staple of this blog, like scanned music scores! If they are too big, try printing out from message or another computer, where size adapts. *Click to enlarge, then print out, pls - cliquez pour agrandir, puis imprimer, s v p
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"I am not talking about requiring anything from anyone. I am talking about hoping for a free remuneration: guitar box principle. X sings, Y passes by, Z listens without "paying", T throws a coin after listening, W throws a coin anyway, et c
In fact it is not registered musical performances, but sheet music I am offering. Scanned."
"The Nazis believed that medical research had been too abstract. They proposed instead to concentrate on more practical measures. They emphasized prevention of illness, as well as cure."
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare reform law will extend coverage to 2 million fewer uninsured Americans than expected only a few months ago, congressional researchers said on Tuesday.
A new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said 25 million people who currently lack insurance will obtain coverage through subsidized marketplaces or an expanded Medicaid program over the coming decade, down from a February CBO estimate of 27 million people.
The office attributed the drop to a change in administration policy that will exempt 500,000 to 1 million more people from the law's individual mandate, which levies a fine on those who fail to obtain health coverage beginning in 2014.
There are nearly 49 million uninsured people in the United States, according to the Census Bureau. The number of uninsured expected to gain coverage under the law has been declining since last June, when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to opt out of the Medicaid expansion.
The broader mandate exemption, and the accompanying reduction in revenue from fines, is one factor behind a $39 billion rise in the net cost of providing coverage under the law.
The law offers tax credits to help low-to-moderate income people pay premiums and rich subsidies to states that expand their Medicaid program for the poor. Coverage provisions are now expected to cost a net $1.36 trillion.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is due to take full effect on January 1. But the administration faces mounting political pressure from Republicans who want it repealed and Democrats who worry that implementation could fail just as the 2014 midterm congressional election campaign gets under way.
The new online marketplaces, or exchanges, and Medicaid are expected to provide coverage to 37 million people overall by 2023, including employees of small businesses and consumers who switch from plans in the individual market. The total includes about 1 million fewer exchange beneficiaries, with a roughly equal-size gain in Medicaid recipients.
With fewer people expected to pay fines for remaining uninsured, the CBO said mandate revenues will fall by $7 billion, to $45 billion, compared with February's estimates.
The agency also expects a $58 billion drop in excise tax revenue on private insurance plans and $10 billion less from penalties on employers, due in part to an expected increase in employment-based insurance.
Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Dan Grebler


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(Courtesy Oakland Police)
(Oakland Police Department)
OAKLAND — In the most horrific day in Oakland Police Department history, a parolee shot to death three police sergeants within two hours of one another Saturday afternoon.
When officers tracked down the suspect, a fourth officer was shot and was in critical condition Saturday night.
The three veteran officers killed were sergeants: Mark Dunakin, 40, of Tracy, a traffic officer with the department since 1991; Erv Romans, 43, of Danville, a 13-year veteran with the force; and Dan Sakai, 35, a nine-year veteran, police said.
Romans and Sakai were SWAT team members. It was the first time any sergeant in the department had been slain.
Officer John Hege, 41, of Concord, was on life support at Highland Hospital. A bullet grazed a fifth, unidentified officer. He was treated and released from the hospital.
The suspect was identified as Oakland resident Lovelle Mixon, 26. He was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon, police said. He had a no-bail warrant for his arrest on charges of violating parole. He had previous convictions in Alameda County for grand theft and possession of marijuana.
"I wouldn't wish this on any of my colleagues in the United States," said acting police Chief Howard Jordan during a news conference Saturday night. "This is very daunting for us, but we are very resilient. We are a big family and we rely on each other for support."
The first shooting happened in the 7400 block of MacArthur Boulevard about 1:16 p.m. when Dunakin and Hege were shot with a handgun during a traffic stop. What led to the shooting was not known.
A man, who did not want be identified, said he heard gunshots and saw the officers lying on the road.
"I went over to one officer and saw he was bleeding from his helmet pretty bad," he said. "The other officer was lying motionless."
He said the officer lying near a car was shot twice in the face. One bullet was lodged in his jaw and the other in his neck. The man said he performed CPR until other officers arrived.
Helicopters hovered for hours over the crime scene.
Dozens of Oakland police, Highway Patrol officers and Alameda County sheriff's deputies cordoned off stretches of blocks around 73rd and 74th avenues and MacArthur Boulevard.
Then they heard that the suspect was in an apartment around the corner on 74th Avenue.
Police surrounded the building and, after the Oakland SWAT team tried to communicate with the suspect, they entered the building.
Mixon opened fire with an assault weapon, police said.
Sakai and Romans were fatally wounded and another officer was grazed in the head. Other officers killed Mixon. No other occupants in the complex were injured.
As the evening wore on, city leaders held a news conference at the Police Department.
Joining Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums there were council members Larry Reid, Desley Brooks and state Attorney General Jerry Brown.
Dellums said there are no words to express "the shock, grief, sadness and sorrow we feel.
"Our hearts go out to the families, whose level of tragedy and loss is beyond any comprehension."
Never before had so many police officers been killed in the line duty on the same day in Oakland.
In honor of the officers, state Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff today, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said.
As news of the shootings reached the Oakland police community, officers showed up in droves at both Highland Hospital, where the officers were taken, and at the Eastmont Substation, a few blocks from the shooting scene.
Some officers were crying, others hugged one another. Dellums visited the Oakland Police Officers Association to offer condolences.
"This is just unbelievable; everyone is in shock," said an Oakland police sergeant.
A neighbor of Hege's in Concord said the officer was single and had no children.
"He didn't deserve what he got, that's for sure," said the neighbor, who gave only his first name, Peter.
He said the two were good friends, eating breakfast together almost every Sunday. Sometimes they talked about the risks of the job.
Three police officers were outside Dunakin's home in Tracy on Saturday night — including one apparently from the San Francisco Police Department.
The tidy two-story home is in the Red Bridge Housing Development, one of the city's more affluent subdivisions. It appeared that relatives and friends were entering and leaving the house. When approached, an officer requested that the family be left alone.
Dunakin was married and had three children.
The last time an officer was killed and another was shot on the same day in Oakland was in 1974 during a gang-involved robbery.
The last time an Oakland officer was killed was in 2004 when William Seuis, 39, died in a hit-and-run crash.
David Guider and Wendell Troyer were the last two officers to die on the same day in the line of duty, in a helicopter crash in 1974.
Before Saturday, 47 Oakland police officers had been killed in the line of duty since the department was formed in 1867.
Saturday's slaying were the first time since 1970 that four law-enforcement officers perished at one time in California.
That year, four Highway Patrol officers were killed in a shootout on a Newhall freeway offramp.
Staff writers Eric Louie, Thomas Peele and correspondent Aaron Morrison contributed to this story.


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How I reached body bliss
I finally grew up"If I ever hit 120, just shoot me!" I was a histrionic teen as I made this statement. An extra 2 pounds had put me perilously close to "failing" my drill team weigh-in, which would have prevented me from doing high kicks at Friday's football game. The dire number eventually came and went, as did other dreaded eventualities ("If I ever move to Queens, just shoot me!"). Yet disappointment over my weight lingered, until one day, as I was strolling in an outdoor market, it hit me: What could be wrong with a gloriously earthy potato, an egg fresh from the farm? How could a diet of denial and despair be right? This revelation led to others. I am curvy, not willowy—and it suits me. I live in Queens now, and I love it. I desire a gorgeous ripe tomato above all things. So shoot me. —JULIE POWELL
__I nixed the weigh-ins__I was a scale addict, stepping on first thing every day, and then some. I'd eat like a monk and still gain, then frustration would hit, followed by my cleaning out the fridge with a fork. Finally, I stepped off my scale. In the no-weighing year that followed, not tracking my pounds made about 20 of them disappear. I went shopping and was thrilled by my new size: 8, my happy number. Of course, 8 is also a way to measure myself, but it's forgiving. If my pants get snug, the blow doesn't devastate the way a 10-pound gain would. Instead, it's a nudge to which I respond with a clear head—no tears or self-loathing. —VALERIE FRANKEL
__I took my dog for a walk__My happy weight is 147 pounds. That's what I was at the end of my 15th summer, after two months of bussing tables at a summer camp. The food was good, and by the end of the season, I could carry a loaded tray and walk at the same time. This was fine until college, when I moved in with my boyfriend. He ate enough for four people, I ate enough for two; my happy weight seemed long gone. We split up. I was so disoriented, I kept losing things—my wallet, the car keys, 30 pounds. I stared into mirrors at the acute angles of my shoulders, the countable ribs, weighing myself twice a day. Then, one afternoon, as I was wondering if I should weigh myself before I ate, then after, to see if it made a difference, I realized my body was for doing things, not just looking at, which meant I didn't have to worry what it weighed, only if it worked. I was with my dog, so I did something: I turned away from the scale and took my dog for a walk. —JANE SMILEY
I fell in love with Paris
When I returned from living in Paris for a year, I'd put on 20 pounds. I hadn't noticed gaining while abroad. I was always standing before paintings or running or walking. I'd plot a route from the Metro to school based on the patisseries. Before class, I'd consume a pain au raisin, a chausson aux pommes and a palmier. Then I might have an éclair on the way home. I savor the memory, conjuring tastes, the sounds of quick voices calling out in bakeries. When I got back to the States, the weight came off, my life no longer accommodating daily pastry. I'm happy now, as then, that what I recall of Paris are the pear tarts, not the numbers. —SUSANNA SONNENBERG
__I thought of my daughters__As an adolescent, I was anorexic, and I have a long history of relapses. At 46, there is still no problem I don't want to solve with a diet. But, like a dry drunk, I have my behavior under control, due partly to psychotherapy but above all to my commitment to set an example for my children, especially my daughters. The idea that their life might be blighted as mine has been is enough so I suppress dissatisfaction with my weight. "Oh, you," a mother of one of my daughter's friends said one day. "I can tell you're one of those women who has never really worried about her weight." I smiled. That's it—that's the look I want. —KATHRYN HARRISON
__I watched tabloid TV__I've always liked my curvy hips. Sure, it would be nice if my thighs were slimmer, but overall, my body pleased me. Even when I gained 65 pounds while pregnant, I saw it as a sign my baby was healthy. Then I gave birth, my hormones went wild and I began augmenting my Mediterranean diet with ice cream and chips. At my checkup, I almost fainted to find I'd gained 15 pounds. My body image went into free-fall until I happened to catch a TV show on J.Lo and Jennifer Hudson, the camera flashing on the former's butt and the latter's bosom. Their bodies were gorgeous—and they looked more like mine than the skinny white models on the runway. After that, I started seeing my softer body as sensual, not heavy. I sometimes still struggle to love it, but thanks to a few beautiful trailblazers, I'm closer than ever. —REBECCA WALKER
Photo Credit: Stephanie Rausser


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|Andover, England
|High School:
|Peter Symonds College
|Chemistry and Physics
Junior (2011-12):
Did not see action in any matches.
Sophomore (2010-11):
Named second team All-Ivy League ... Finished tied for 47th at the Penn State Garret Open (Nov. 14) ... Went 2-1 at MIT Eric Sollee Invitational (Feb. 6) ... Owned a record of 8-5 and finished in a tie for eighth place at the Ivy League Championship (Feb. 12-13) ... Placed sixth at the Northeast Regionals (March 13).
Freshman (2009-10):
Finished in ninth at the NCAA Northeast Regionals ... First-team All-Ivy League … Boasted a 12-3 record at the Ivy League Championships … Took 32nd at Garret Penn State Open.
Before Harvard:
Has competed in the epee since 1999 … The Great Britain Under-16 champion and the GB cadet (U-17) champion … Member of the England U-16, the England cadet (U-17) and the England junior teams … Member of the Great Britain cadet and the GB junior (U-20) squads … Ranked as the No. 1 Great Britain cadet in 2006 and 2008, the No. 2 GB junior in 2009, the No. 8 European cadet in 2008, the No. 9 GB senior in 2008 and the No. 71 world junior in 2009 … Won one individual gold and one individual silver and helped his team to two team golds and one team silver at the UK School games from 2006-08 … Winner of the individual and team golds at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival … Won the bronze at the 2008 Gothenburg International Cadet Championship … Won the team silver at the 2009 Commonwealth Junior Fencing Championships … Finished ninth at the 2008 European Cadet Championships … Finished 25th at the 2009 World Junior Championships … Also competed for Great Britain at the World Cadet Championships.
Enjoys squash, music and sci-fi.


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Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the Wise Men to the Christ Child. It marks the end of the twelve days of Christmastide and, since the wise men arrived bearing gifts, is in some traditions the day that presents are exchanged.
Where Christmas day is considered the first of those twelve days, the Eve of Epiphany (January 5) is when "Twelfth Night," the last hurrah of Christmas, is celebrated, but where the twelve days begin on the day following December 25, the twelfth day is actually feast of the Epiphany.
Since I didn't grow up in either tradition, we've sort of made up our own in our house, and will celebrate our Twelfth Night this evening. Read More
Recipes and Stories
6 January 2018: Fish Fillets Baked with Orange, Ginger, and Sherry
Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the Wise Men to the Christ Child. It marks the end of the twelve days of Christmastide and, since the wise men arrived bearing gifts, is in some traditions the day that presents are exchanged.
10 December 2011: For the Love of Fruitcake
It may be hard for the jaded comedians of our day to believe, but there actually was a time when fruitcake was well-loved, and got all the respect it really deserved.
Rich with rare and expensive dried and glacéed fruits and nuts, heady with brandy, sherry, and rare spices, it was, until well into the nineteenth century, the ultimate celebration cake for virtually every occasion, even (and especially) weddings, where its fruit-packed crumb symbolized the hope that the marriage itself would be fruitful.
It was, however, at Christmastide that fruitcakes were prized the most. That was partly because their richness befit the exuberance of the season, and partly because they not only kept well, making them the perfect treat to have on hand for drop-in company, but actually got better with age: by Twelfth Night a properly aged fruitcake was even more moist, aromatic, and delicious than it had been on Christmas Day.
Part of the reason this lovely celebration cake was better appreciated back then was because its components were expensive and involved a lot of tedious back preparation. There were no seedless raisins and currants or ready-shelled nuts; commercially candied fruit was rare and precious when it could be had at all. Refined sugar came molded in cone-shaped loaves, and cinnamon and nutmeg were sold whole. In the larder, the butter was heavily salted as a preservative, and the contents of the flour bin was often questionable.
Raisins and currants had to be painstakingly plucked from their stems and stoned by hand, the nuts had to be shelled and picked, the orange peel cut from its fruit and candied at home, and the sugar and spices had to beaten to a powder and sifted. Butter had to be washed to rid it of excess salt and the flour had to be sifted (often to remove critters), aired, and sometimes even dried in the oven.
Then there was the care that had to be taken to properly hydrate and spike the fruit, blanch the nuts, cream the butter, and regulate the wood-fired oven so that all that work didn't go literally up in smoke. After all that, the cakes still had to be stored and aged in a way that protected them from pilfering varmints—not only of the two, but of the four- and six-legged kind.
Even if those fruitcakes had not been the heady ambrosia that they were, they would have been treasured at the very least for all the effort and expense that went into them.
Compare such a cake with the sad specimens that all too often occupy today's holiday table, with their luridly colored, achingly sweet, and yet surprisingly flavorless candied fruits, their hydrogenated fat, and dull, lifeless crumb. The wonder is less that they've become the target of comedic derision than that they still exist at all.
A really good fruitcake is still a lot of work, but happily not the work it was in the old days, thanks to the ready availability of commercially stoned and quality glacéed fruit, shelled nuts, fine granulated sugar, reliable flour, and unsalted butter that need only be softened. And its joys far outweigh the effort.
At the risk of sounding like a saccharin movie trailer, this holiday season, take a little time to rediscover the magic of a true holiday classic.
Classic Holiday Fruitcake
Makes 2 tube cakes or 4 9-inch loaf cakes
1 pound raisins
1 pound golden raisins
1 pound currants
1 pound dried dark cherries
1 pound crystallized orange peel
½ cup bourbon, plus more, for aging the cakes
1 pound (4 sticks or 2 cups) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 pound (2 cups) sugar
8 large fresh eggs, at room temperature
1 pound (about 3½ cups) Southern soft-wheat or pastry flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly-grated nutmeg
½ cup dry sherry
1 tablespoon homemade Bourbon Vanilla
1 pound blanched almonds (the original nut used in the old recipes) or pecans or walnuts
1. Put the raisins, currants, cherries and candied orange peel in a heat-proof, non-reactive metal or glass bowl. Bring a teakettle full of water to a boil and pour it over the fruit. Let it stand 10 minutes and thoroughly drain it. Pour the bourbon over the fruit and toss well. Let cool, then cover and set aside to macerate for at least an hour, overnight is better. The whiskey should be almost completely absorbed.
2. When you are ready to proceed, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325° F. Lightly grease 2 tube cake pans or 4 9-inch loaf pans and dust one lightly with flour, shake gently until it is evenly coated, then shake out the excess into the next pan and repeat until all the pans are coated.
3. Cream the butter and sugar well until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Sift together the flour and spices, then, alternating, gradually beat the flour and eggs into the butter and sugar. Beat well after each addition. Beat in the sherry and liquid flavorings.
4. Lightly sprinkle the fruit with flour and toss until it is coated. Fold the fruit and nuts into the cake batter until uniformly distributed. Spoon the batter into the loaf pans, then firmly tap each on the counter several times to force any air bubbles to the surface and help insure an even texture.
5. Bake in the center of the oven, making sure the pans don't touch one another, for about 1½ hours without opening the oven, then begin checking the cakes and continue baking until they are beginning to separate from the sides of the pan and a straw stuck into the center comes out clean. The tube cake will be done in about 2 hours; loaf cakes may take a little less time. Turn off the oven and let the cake cool in the oven. Let the cake cool completely before removing it from the pan.
6. Soak cheesecloth or clean, un-dyed muslin in bourbon, wring out thoroughly, and wrap them around the cakes, then drizzle a little more bourbon over them. Put them in airtight tins or wrap tightly with plastic wrap and let them age for at least 2 weeks before using them. Read More


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When it happens:
July 30 to Aug. 4
How it became a sport:
Swimming has been part of every modern Olympic Games, but the competitions weren't always held in a pool. The first few Games held swimming competitions in open water — at Paris' 1900 Games swimmers competed in the River Seine. In 1908 the rules were formalized, when the London Games organized the first Olympic Swimming competition to be held in a pool. Women's events were added in 1912 at the Stockholm Games. At London Games all eyes are on Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte who will compete head-to-head in up to six races.
What it takes:
Speed, strength and stamina are crucial in swimming. There are four types of swimming styles featured in the Olympic competition: Freestyle (front crawl), backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. All four strokes are featured in the individual medley and medley relay events.
U.S. & World
First, swimmers compete in heats determined by their seeding. (Higher seeded athletes get better placement—the center lanes are the most desirable and reserved for athletes with the best performances heading into each race.) For 50m, 100m and 200m events, the top 16 swimmers from the heats move on to the semi-finals, and the top eight from these compete in the final.
How you win:
For all events, getting a good start is vital. Events start differently, either by diving in or starting in the water. Good stroke technique can help win the event, as can making fast turns and a good finish. Swimmers should have all parts of their race technique down to perfection, including the changeovers in the relay events. A false start results in disqualification. Judges check to ensure that stroke and turning techniques are legal and that in the relay events each swimmer touches the end of the pool before his/her teammate leaves the starting blocks. Rule violations are reported to the chief referee, who decides on any penalty.
The lingo:
Long course – a 50m pool of the type used in Olympic competition, as opposed to a short course measuring 25m.
Medley – a combination event in which a swimmer or team swims separate legs of backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
Negative split – when an athlete swims the second half of a race faster than the first half.
Open turn – a type of turn in which swimmers must touch the end of the pool with their hands.
Tumble turn – an underwater roll at the end of a lap, which allows swimmers to push off from the end of the pool with their feet.
More Information:


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Thanks jash.
LAist: Actor Jason Bateman Cuts in Line for iPhone 4, Gets Booed
The Street: 5 Big Blemishes for the Apple iPhone 4
Vulture: Is a Shrek Toy Teaching Children Slang for Female Genitalia?
Shine: 9 Butler's Tips for Impeccable Table Manners
Movieline: Bachelor Jake Reportedly Threatens to Punch Vienna During Breakup Special
Gawker: 'Leave Me Alone': Last Words of Man Found Dead in Bedroom After Four Years (thanks jash)
LAist: Hollywood Bowl Launches iPhone & Android Apps
D-Listed:Jeremy London's Alleged Kidnapper Speaks
Dessert Darling: Macarons: Paulette
Sinosoul: Worst Dish of the Week: Shrimp "Papilloteâ€
Eater LA: The Shutter: The Great Pinkberry Melt Continues into Hollywood
27b/6: "yeah thats not what I was looking for at all." (thanks Malibu Judie!)


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Hi guys mt region in central Victoria Australia has just been hit by more bush fires this afternoon and evening. If everyone could get those good old PT prayers going it would be much appreciated, i have many friends with properties and animals in grave danger right this moment .
Rain dances, prayers, good vibes well anything is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I feel so helpless as no one is allowed to travel out in that direction, towns are being evacuated.


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Pictured: Kristina
Photo courtesy of Gil Talbot Photography.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Harvard women's water polo team closed out the home portion of the 2010 schedule with an 11-8 loss to No. 11 Hartwick. The Crimson sinks to 11-11 on the year and 1-2 in the CWPA Northern Division. Hartwick ups its overall record to 23-4 and 4-0 in the CWPA Northern Division.
The Hawks exploded out to a 4-1 lead after the first period. Harvard chipped away at the lead throughout the second quarter. Hartwick held onto a 7-5 lead at the end of the first half. The two teams traded goals in the second half and the Hawks were able to cling to the lead to claim the victory and the CWPA Northern Division regular-season title.
Kristina Bergquist and Monica Zdrojewski lead the balanced Crimson offense with two goals apiece. Lizzie Abbott, Devan Kennifer, Elise Molnar and Patricia Smith all tallied a goal in the game. Laurel McCarthy turned in a 15-save performance between the posts. Zdrojewski also added five steals in the contest.
Harvard returns to action tomorrow as it takes on Brown at Wheaton College to close out the regular season.


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Dr. Vijay Anand Reddy Palkonda
M.D (R.T)., Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology (ESMO)FUICC (UK), FNDM (USA), FUICC (AUS)
Director & Senior Consultant, Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyd
President, AROI (Association of Radiation Oncologists of India)
Dr. Reddy has always been empathetic towards the lesser fortunate section of our society. CURE Foundation is a spirited initiative to create consciousness on cancer prevention, early detection & rehabilitation especially for the needful. In addition to spreading awareness for the benefit of the society, the foundation has so far made available quality cancer treatment to several patients (particularly children) and engaged in numerous rehabilitation, research and education programs.
Visit Website
Dr. Reddy believes in extending support to cancer patients beyond medical boundaries.A celebration festival exemplifying the cancer survivors of the world, their story, their journey and their demonstration of flawless endurance. I Am A Survivor! will uncover stories of several extraordinary cancer survivors who live their lives wiuth the same intensity as others. Honor what they stand for and offer their tale as an example for those walking the same path. I Am A Survivor! is celebrated every year during the World Cancer Survivors' Day with a carnival, counselling sessions and an emotive movie screening.
View More...
As India's leading cancer specialist, Dr. Reddy firmly advocates cancer prevention and timely screenings among all levels of society. CCIC creates cancer awareness in the society through extensive participation from ace golfers, outstanding sports persons, celebrity figures and opinion leaders. A remarkable day as the leaders of the community set an impactful example through participation and declare support to this virtuous cause. CCIC is among the highest participated golf tournament with 220 golfers in 2014.
Dr. Reddy has delivered over 148 presentations in regard to Oncology across the globe.


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- Meet the Doctor
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Mary Beth Hardwicke, M.D.
I am honored to be writing this for the Seniors of Grand Traverse County. I wanted to start with a catchy name for my blog, but nothing brilliant popped into my head. I decided I should just start writing and see where it took us.
As background, I come to this area honestly and I believe I am only a partial "transplant" from downstate. I grew up in Grand Rapids and then went to college in Ann Arbor and to medical school in Detroit – which is where I ultimately settled for the past 33 years. Growing up, my family spent summers in Interlochen, helping my Grandmother run her seasonal gift shop. We also headed "Up North" every weekend we could during the winter months. My parents made Interlochen their permanent home more than 30 years ago and my love for the area continued throughout my medical training and career. I became a permanent Interlochen resident in September 2013.
My years as an Internal Medicine doctor, which included delivering primary care to patients, taught me much. Much was disturbing. My population of patients was diverse and sophisticated. Most were well-educated, well-informed, and well-read. Yet, I was constantly amazed at the questions I received on a daily basis – usually in the privacy of the exam room. It became clear to me that my patients were frequently unclear on why they were given a "new heart pill" by their cardiologist. Or they did not understand the treatment options given by the Oncologist. Or they misunderstood the careful instructions I had given orally (and in writing) on when and how to take their Warfarin. Or they struggled with their parent's dementia and didn't know how to talk with the Neurologist about it. It sometimes stopped me in my tracks as I thought, "what is wrong here". And if my patients (as sophisticated and motivated as they were) struggled with medical questions and confusion, what was happening with everyone else?
In the United States, around 4 Billion prescriptions are written every year. Over half those prescriptions are taken incorrectly or not taken at all. Poor compliance with medication instructions accounts for up to 40% of nursing home admissions. Compared with patients who follow medication instructions, those who do not follow directions have a risk for hospitalization and premature death that is 5.4 times higher if they have high blood pressure and 2.8 times higher if they have high cholesterol. In a study of 8400 Seniors enrolled in a health plan, only 1 in 3 of those who were begun on a blood pressure pill and a cholesterol pill at the same time were taking both medications as directed (or at all) at 6 months! It is estimated that poor compliance with medication instructions is costing the U.S. Healthcare system $290 Billion dollars each year. The question is "WHY".
I believe much of the answer is because patients and their doctors simply don't have enough time to understand one another. The growing shortage of primary care doctors along with declining reimbursement rates has led to those brave primary care doctors who remain having to struggle to see more and more patients each day. The obvious consequence is less and less time with each of those patients. I eventually learned in my own practice that when I could take the time to explain (sometimes over and over again) the "whys" of what I was prescribing and then could take the time to discover and assuage the "fear" my patient was having, the two of us enjoyed success and better health - better emotional health for me and better physical and mental health for my patient!
This circuitous rambling brings me to what I hope I can accomplish with this blog – bringing to your community a forum in which you can ask medical questions and receive simple and truthful answers. I will not incorporate sensationalism, truth varnishing, or scintillation into my answers. This should distinguish my blog from many of the medical stories I see in the print or electronic media as well as from the ridiculously (and, I fear, sometimes purposefully) misrepresented medical "facts" I often see on television. So, I think we will call this blog – "the unvarnished medical truth". Please send your medical questions or comments. I will be as plain-spoken and "unvarnished" as I can be in my responses.
Mary Beth Hardwicke, M.D.
This is a common complaint in most medical practices. When I hear it, I immediately remind myself to LISTEN, because the description of the dizziness determines the direction my assessment and treatment will take. Some dizziness is described as a "lightheaded" or "going to pass out" sensation. Some as a sense of "I'm going to fall as I am walking". Some is a simple – "I'm just dizzy". But a large number of patients describe a sense of spinning, tilting, or moving – either they are doing the spinning or the room is spinning around them. This is VERTIGO and will be the topic of this blog.
Vertigo is a symptom that arises when there is an asymmetry in the vestibular system – the system in our bodies that controls balance. The vestibular system is made up of the labyrinths (the inner ear organs that sense position), the vestibular nerve that carries information from the inner ear to the brain, and that portion of the brain that interprets this information. Damage or dysfunction of a labyrinth, the vestibular nerve, or the portion of the brain that receives vestibular information can cause vertigo symptoms.
Most of us have felt vertigo symptoms – it's what you felt as a child when you spun in circles and then suddenly stopped – that tilting/swaying/spinning feeling that kept going even after you weren't moving. In the majority of people, vertigo can be bothersome but not a serious problem. The most common causes of vertigo are inner ear problems. These include:
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – BPPV occurs when a small calcification develops in the inner ear. BPPV often presents itself upon awakening. The person will notice it when they sit or stand up from bed. If they hold still for a few minutes, the vertigo will disappear. But as soon as they move their head, the vertigo recurs. This can occur repetitively – hold still and the vertigo fades, move suddenly and it reappears. BPPV often resolves without any treatment. It can last a few hours or days. Doctors may prescribe medication (similar to what is used for sea-sickness) to decrease the vertigo sensation if it is incapacitating. There is also a repositioning maneuver that can be done by the doctor that causes the calcification to relocate itself and thereby stop the vertigo.
• Meniere Disease (also called Meniere's Disease) – Meniere Disease occurs when there is a build up of fluid (called endolymph) in the inner ear. The cause of this fluid build up is unknown. Meniere's manifests itself with repeated bouts of vertigo associated with tinnitus (buzzing, ringing, or hissing in the ear) and hearing loss (over time). There are many treatments that can be used for Meniere Disease, including avoidance of certain foods (typically salty, caffeinated, or MSG-containing), medication to help with the excess fluid in the ear, medication to treat the vertigo symptoms/nausea, and special physical therapies aimed at helping the brain to adapt its responses to the abnormal vestibular signals it is receiving.
• Vestibular neuritis (labyrinthitis) – Vestibular neuritis is likely due to a virus that causes swelling around the vestibular nerve. Patients who develop vestibular neuritis usually develop a very sudden and severe vertigo associated with vomiting and difficulty standing up. Like most viral illnesses, symptoms will usually go away after a few days. With vestibular neuritis, hearing is preserved. If there is a hearing loss associated with the symptoms, it is referred to as a "labyrinthitis".
Other less common causes of vertigo include certain head injuries, a specific type of migraine (vestibular migraine), and brain abnormalities such as bleeding, a stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Diagnosing and treating the underlying brain disorder is the key to treating the vertigo in these situations.
To recap, vertigo is a sensation of spinning/tilting/swaying (either you are the one moving or the room about you is doing the moving). Most cases of vertigo are benign and either fade away by themselves or can be managed by a physician. If you experience persistent vertigo without other severe symptoms, it warrants a phone call and visit to the doctor. However, if you experience vertigo associated with any of the following symptoms, you should seek immediate care. These symptoms that require emergent attention include sudden vertigo with: a high fever, or a severe headache, or a change in vision, hearing, or speech, or weakness on one side of the body, or severe nausea with refractory vomiting. These associated symptoms could be signs of a more severe problem. Their presence with vertigo warrants an immediate evaluation and possibly special imaging studies.
For more detailed information on vertigo (and other types of dizziness), the following website is very helpful:www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dizzinessandvertigo.html.
Mary Beth Hardwicke, MD.
NPR recently aired a three part series on the use of anti-psychotic medications (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine) in Nursing Homes. This is a class of drugs with potentially serious side effects. The series reported that these medications are often inappropriately used to control behavioral problems in "dementia" patients. The series also reported that Nursing Homes have worked to decrease their dispensing of anti-psychotics. Some of this work has been due to federal mandates requiring Nursing Homes to decrease the percentage of their patients on these drugs. Listening to this series brought to mind several "rules" I learned while caring for my elderly patients.
RULE # 1: A dramatic change in behavior or mental status frequently indicates an underlying problem. For example, Jack has been a pleasantly demented father living peacefully with his loving daughter. The daughter calls the office in tears because Jack suddenly believes she and her husband are criminals who are trying to kill him. A doctor's first thought is "what do I need to fix". The list of possible precipitators for Jack's behavioral change is long. It includes infections (especially urinary tract or pneumonia), metabolic abnormalities (altered sodium levels, abnormal sugars, dehydration), "brain" disorders (seizures, head injury, severe depression), unexpressed pain, and side effects from prescription or non-prescription drugs. These potentially treatable diagnoses must be sought and treated if present.
RULE # 2: Nursing Home placement is sometimes the only option for a patient – be it for short-term rehabilitation or for long-term care. I do not believe that all nursing homes are bad. I do believe that a patient's FAMILY has an obligation to find the best Nursing Home they can and to CONTINUE TO LOVE THEIR LOVED ONE. In short, visit the Nursing Home often. Be actively involved in the patient's care. Attend family meetings at the Nursing Home – all of them. Bring any changes in behavior to the attention of the staff. (No one knows mom as well as her family does.) Always be vigilant. If mom's behavior changes, don't be afraid to ask if she is on a new medication. Could she have a bladder infection? When she fell the other day, could she have bumped her head?
RULE # 3: Medications can be life-saving, life-altering, and life-enhancing. They can also be a great nuisance and wreak havoc. The art of prescribing medication is not readily taught. Busy medical practitioners often prescribe a pill when they should probably just sit quietly and listen instead. Managing medications in the elderly is particularly problematic, as aging can alter the distribution, metabolism, and elimination of medication – making toxicities and side effects more probable. Patients, their doctors, and their families should constantly be evaluating the necessity of each prescription taken.
RULE # 4: Your desires in life, especially for your later years, should be known. Putting your thoughts in an appropriate document can prevent great pain and sorrow later in life. I recently spoke with a life-loving woman I know. Her living will states "if I can't drink a glass of Chardonnay, eat popcorn or ice cream, or carry on a meaningful conversation with people I love, don't keep me alive". Although this may sound flippant, it actually says a lot. If she has dementia and no longer recognizes family or is confined to a Nursing Home, she does not want her life to be prolonged. This kind of knowledge is hugely helpful. One question families should ask, especially if their loved one is battling dementia, is "what medications are necessary". Does the high cholesterol really need to be treated at this point? Does the blood pressure really need three pills? When the goal becomes COMFORT and not prolongation of life, less is frequently more.
RULE # 5 (a corollary to rule # 3): Don't automatically reach for a prescription pad. If a patient is exhibiting problem behaviors and no treatable cause can be found, stop and think. There are many forms of therapy being used in an effort to avoid sedating drugs. Music therapy, pet therapy, aromatherapy, massage therapy, and exercise therapy have all been used with some success in the agitated dementia patient. Trying to understand or re-direct a behavior can be helpful. If mom was an executive who now yells incessantly that she needs to get to the office, perhaps a small desk with papers that can be "filed" might occupy her time and alleviate her agitation. My partner's family drove Up North to their cottage every weekend as she grew up. They always stopped on the way for ice cream. Later, whenever her elderly father became acutely agitated, a quick trip in the car "Up North" (which was really a ride to the nearest Dairy Queen) was all it took to soothe him. If mom's weekly shower (given by a male attendant) repeatedly precipitates agitation, perhaps a female family member can show her love and take over that particular job.
RULE # 6: Managing severe hallucinations or delirium can be REALLY difficult. These symptoms can be terrifying to the patient. They can truly believe someone is trying to kill them, that strangers are coming through the walls, or that their bed is filled with spiders. Prudence dictates that family, health care providers, and caregivers collaborate to find something treatable when this happens. Sometimes, though, there is no underlying disorder to treat and all non-medication therapies have failed to help. When this happens and the patient's symptoms are resulting in severe distress or harm, pharmacologic therapy may be necessary. Anti-psychotics are the only class of medication that has been found to be moderately effective at controlling severe agitation due to delirium/hallucinations in the dementia patient. They come with side effects that can include increased mortality. They contain an FDA black box warning. And they do not have formal FDA approval for treatment of behavioral problems in dementia patients. Sadly, however, there are times when treatment with medication is the only viable option for a patient's severe distress. Should a patient require use of an anti-psychotic, it should be started at as low a dose as possible and only continued if its benefits are apparent. Discontinuation should be attempted at regular intervals, always weighing the risk of recurrent frightening delusions/hallucinations versus the risk of adverse medication effects.
To summarize, as always, patients are unique individuals and the right treatment will be unique to each. Medications can be life-saving, but as we age and our goals for life change, our medication requirements can change. If your family and your doctor know what you want for yourself as you near the end of life, decisions regarding your care can be rational and focused on your beliefs and desires.
Here's to drinking Chardonnay and eating ice cream,
Mary Beth Hardwicke, M.D.
I am frequently asked if it is necessary to take vitamin supplements. It is an age-old question that has been partially answered. Here is the background. Vitamins are substances that cannot be synthesized by humans (the exception is Vitamin D) and therefore need to be ingested. They are involved in normal cell function, normal growth, and maintenance of health. Thirteen essential vitamins have been described. Four of these (vitamins A, D, E, and K) are "fat-soluble" – meaning they are absorbed by fat cells and can therefore accumulate in our bodies. The other essential vitamins are "water-soluble" - whatever ingested portion of these that is not used up will be excreted in our urine rather than accumulated. These water-soluble vitamins include eight "B" vitamins (thiamine (B1), riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine (B6), biotin, cobalamin (B12), and folate) as well as Vitamin C.
Most experts recommend we get our vitamins from food rather than from supplements. This is because eating foods that are rich in vitamins carries other health benefits. You can get your daily requirements for Vitamin C by taking a pill. Or you can meet your vitamin C requirement by eating an orange. Eating food to get your essential vitamins has the additional benefit of providing other nutrients such as fiber, phytochemicals, calcium, and so on. A balanced diet that would give a mature adult all the vitamins they need includes five servings of fruit/vegetables every day, three cups of fortified dairy products daily, 6 ounces of grain (predominantly "whole" grains) daily, and 5-6 ounces of lean meat products each day. In addition, to allow our skin to manufacture the vitamin D we need, 10-15 minutes of sunlight at least three times/week is needed. Someone who follows the above dietary regimen regularly and who gets sunlight several times/week does not likely need any vitamin supplements.
There are several scenarios, though, in which vitamin supplementation might be recommended. People with milk or lactose intolerance, with food allergies, or without the resources to buy fresh and whole grain foods might benefit from a supplement. Strict vegans can become B12 deficient as cobalamin (B12) is found predominantly in meat products. Women considering pregnancy may benefit from folate supplementation to prevent neural tube defects in their babies. Lack of sun exposure along with lack of D-supplemented foods may necessitate vitamin D supplementation. Patients with weight-loss surgeries, inflammatory bowel conditions, or pancreatic insufficiency can lack the ability to absorb vitamins and may benefit from specific supplements. There is also concern that the aging process can decrease B12 absorption and decrease vitamin D production, leading some experts to recommend a multivitamin that contains B12 (they pretty much all do) and vitamin D (at a dose of 800-1000 international units) to their elderly patients.
So, what is the answer? Should the average, healthy mature adult take a simple multivitamin daily? The technical answer is that there is no evidence to date to show that a multivitamin taken daily is beneficial. However, there is also no evidence to show that a daily multivitamin is harmful! I do take a multivitamin myself. I tell my patients there is no hard data to support doing so, but because I don't always eat as healthy a diet as I should and because I am getting older, I figure I will hedge my bets by taking something I know won't harm me and might be helpful. I shop for an inexpensive multivitamin that contains 50-100% of the recommended daily values of vitamins. I choose one that has 800 international units of vitamin D. I avoid buying "extras" – those "special" vitamins for heart health, with added coenzymes or extra amino acids, special herb supplements, etc. These "vitamin plus" supplements usually add extra cost to the multivitamin with no added benefit. If you choose to take a multivitamin supplement, keep it simple. And always let your doctor know what you are taking.
Here's to staying healthy.
Mary Beth Hardwicke, M.D.
I am frequently asked what a person's cholesterol numbers mean. I am also asked why doctors keep changing their minds about what cholesterol levels are acceptable. Recommendations have changed several times over the past twenty years. This has created some confusion in those patients who watch their numbers. The most recently published guidelines are recommending less reliance on the numbers and more on the individual patient's risk for vascular disease (blockage in the arteries). Tools used to assess an individual's vascular risk have been inconsistently validated, leaving doctors feeling somewhat confused as well.
Cholesterol is a substance found in our blood. It is essential for the production of many things necessary to good health. However, it can be problematic and lead to vascular blockages if it is present in excessive amounts. Vascular (blood vessel) blockage, depending on its location, can cause angina or heart attacks, transient ischemic attacks or strokes, and pain with walking (claudication).
There are several different types of cholesterol. Lab tests typically measure Total Cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the "bad" or Lousy one), HDL cholesterol (the "good" or Healthy one), and the non-HDL cholesterol (the Total cholesterol minus the HDL component). In addition, doctors often check Triglycerides. Triglycerides (although not part of the cholesterol family) are a type of fat in the blood that can increase risk for vascular disease if present in excessive amounts.
In general (and I do mean "general"), in people who have NO history of vascular disease and who have no significant risk for developing vascular disease, we like to see the Total Cholesterol under 200-240, the LDL under 130, the HDL above 50-60, the non-HDL under 160-180, and the triglycerides under 150-200. These "goals" can change as a person's risk for vascular disease increases. Your doctor can determine goal levels for you depending on your risk factors and your health needs.
A high cholesterol is not always a problem, especially if you are at a low-risk for developing vascular disease. The negative impact of high cholesterol on an individual's health increases as that person's risk for vascular blockage increases. Other risk factors for developing vascular disease include diabetes, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and increasing age. A history of vascular disease occurring in family members at a young age also increases your risk. Young is defined as a male relative (father/brother) having heart disease or stroke when younger than 55 or a female relative (mother/sister) when younger than 65. Being male increases risk as well. Although women can obviously have vascular problems, men are at a higher risk than are women of the same age.
There are circumstances where your doctor may not even have a cholesterol goal but simply WANTS you on a medicine called a statin – even if your numbers are good. This is often the case in people who have had a prior heart attack or stroke or who are diabetic. Diabetes is a VERY strong risk factor for vascular disease. Studies have shown that statins can and do save lives in these patients, no matter what their cholesterol level is.
Any patients having high cholesterol should be told to eat a healthy, lower saturated fat diet, to lose weight if needed, and to be more active. This is pretty standard advice for all of us who want to be healthy. Whether or not a patient should be put on a medication is a decision that must occur on an individual basis. Your doctor or health care provider should be able to discuss your cholesterol and triglyceride numbers with you, work with you to assess your overall risk for vascular disease, and make recommendations regarding medication use based on your individual situation. Certainly, if you already have diabetes or vascular disease or if you are determined to be at high risk for a stroke or heart attack, a statin will likely be recommended - for very good reason.
Here's to keeping your blood vessels healthy.
Mary Beth Hardwicke, M.D.
Diabetes – What is it? How do I treat it? What if I ignore it?
Here are the facts…
The prevalence of diabetes among adults in the US averages 8.5%. The many complications that occur with poorly controlled diabetes account for 15% of our health care expenditures. Diabetes is a condition that requires your doctor (or health care provider) and YOU to work as partners in keeping you healthy once the diagnosis is made.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the body's metabolism of glucose (sugar). Glucose is a main source of energy for our cells. It is moved from the bloodstream into our cells at the direction of Insulin (a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas). Type 1 diabetics (formerly called Juvenile diabetics) have very little or no insulin in their bodies due to autoimmune destruction of their beta cells. They require lifelong intensive insulin replacement therapy. Type 2 diabetics (adult onset diabetics) account for 90% of the diabetes diagnosed in this country. With type 2 Diabetes, the cells/tissues become resistant to insulin's effects and the patient needs more and more insulin. Over time, the pancreas becomes less able to keep up with demand.
There are well-known risk factors associated with developing type 2 Diabetes. These include:
1) being an overweight or obese adult
2) having "abdominal fat" distribution as opposed to "hip/thigh" fat
3) inactivity
4) positive family history (parent or sibling with type 2 Diabetes)
5) race/ethnicity (African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders have a higher incidence)
6) age (typically diagnosed after age 45)
7) "pre-diabetes" (having sugars that are higher than normal but not high enough to diagnose diabetes)
8) having had gestational diabetes (diabetes during a pregnancy)
9) delivering a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds
Symptoms of type 2 Diabetes develop slowly and frequently go unnoticed. They can include increased thirst and urination, increased hunger, weight loss, fatigue, dizziness, blurry vision, and slow wound healing. Unfortunately, many people do not have recognize they have developed type 2 diabetes until it has begun to cause damage. This is why health care providers try to begin screening for diabetes when a person hits their mid-forties or earlier if a person has significant risk factors for developing diabetes. Several screening tests are available to your doctor. Regardless of the test used, experts recommend the test be repeated and found to be abnormal twice before giving a person the diagnosis of diabetes.
Diagnostic tests for diabetes include any one of the following:
1) Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1c, glycated Hgb) – a positive test is a result greater than or equal to (≥) 6.5%. Normal is a level of 5.6 or less. Results of 5.7 – 6.4 are consistent with having pre-diabetes.
2) Fasting blood sugar (FBS) – positive value is ≥ 126 mg/dl. Normal fasting blood sugar (drawn after 8 hours of fasting from food, water intake will not affect the test) should be less than 100 mg/dl. FBS levels of 100-125 are diagnostic of a pre-diabetes state.
3) Random blood sugar (RBS) – a value of ≥ 200 mg/dl with associated symptoms of diabetes is diagnostic (if positive on at least two separate tests).
4) Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) – a glucose level of ≥ 200 mg/dl measured two hours after a 75 gm oral load of sugar (reproduced on two occasions) is diagnostic of diabetes.
Treatment of diabetes is an area of medical practice that must be individualized. The patient must embrace the treatment path they and their doctor choose. If not, success cannot occur. In general, the goal will be to keep a patient's A1C less than 7.0%. This goal is flexible and may be higher or lower in certain circumstances. Treatment plans will include medical nutrition therapy, a fancy term for a specific diet plan tailored to the individual patient. This is usually done in tandem with a dietitian's recommendations. If a patient is overweight, they will receive instruction in calorie restrictions aimed at promoting weight loss. In addition, increased vegetables and fruits, lean meats and other proteins, whole grains, healthy fats, and low-fat dairy products will be recommended. In addition to diet, diabetics are advised to become physically active. 30 minutes of activity most days of the week is recommended. Be sure to check with your doctor before embarking on a new exercise regimen. In addition to weight loss, improved diet, and increased physical activity, most newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics will be started on a biguanide (metformin). This is a well-tolerated medication that does not cause weight gain and will not cause sugars to drop below the normal range. Many patients will require additional medications or the use of insulin to achieve optimal glucose control. The list of medications available for treating diabetes is long. This is an area where the patient and their health care provider will work together to determine what medications, potential side effects, etc. are acceptable in striving to reach their goal.
So, why is it so darn important to have goals when treating diabetes? The answer is simple: diabetics are at a high risk of developing life-threatening complications. Happily, if they work with their doctor as a partner and strive to keep themselves healthy, the risk for developing the following diabetic complications drops precipitously. However, complications that can be expected if a diabetic does not manage their disease include:
1) Heart and vascular disease – heart attacks, strokes, peripheral artery disease.
2) Nerve damage (neuropathy) occurs in the feet and legs, hands, gut, and even the genitalia when the small blood vessels keeping those nerves alive are damaged by chronically elevated blood sugars.
3) Kidney damage and kidney failure – the filtering system of the kidneys is composed of clusters of small vessels that can be damaged and killed with chronically elevated sugars.
4) Eye damage – diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.
5) Foot damage – nerve and blood vessel damage can lead to ulcers, joint destruction, difficult to treat infections, and gangrene. The end result can be amputation of a toe, foot, or leg.
We've talked about what diabetes is, how it is treated, and what happens if it isn't treated optimally. What do you, the individual patient, need to do if you are diagnosed with diabetes? The answer is: don't panic. With today's knowledge base, patients do not have to end up in the hospital hooked up to a dialysis machine while losing their limbs and their eyesight. That being said, personal responsibility becomes REALLY important when treating diabetes. Believe me, taking that responsibility is worth it. Here is what all diabetic patients should do to manage their disease and partner with their health care provider.
- Commit to managing your diabetes. Learn all that you can.
- Eat Healthy and Be Active.
- Watch your ABC's (and take medications that are prescribed)
A1C goal should be discussed and you must work to achieve and maintain it (typical goal is ≤ 7%)
Blood pressure control – goal should be set and you must work to reach it (typically a systolic (top) number of 125-130).
Cholesterol - discuss your LDL goal (typically less than 100) and reach it. Know that most diabetics are advised to take a statin drug. This advice has sound science behind it.
4. Schedule regular visits with your primary doctor (and endocrinologist if you have one). Also keep regular ophthalmology appointments.
5. If you aren't taking a daily aspirin, ask your doctor if you should be.
6. Wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace.
7. Stay up to date with your regular health maintenance, including cancer screening and immunizations.
8. Check your feet DAILY. Your doctor can provide a handout on how this is done.
9. Keep your dental health appointments.
11. Drink alcohol responsibly.
12. Work with your health care provider – it IS your life. You'd like it to be a good one.
Helpful Resources:
American Diabetes Association 1-800-342-2383 or www.diabetes.org


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Everyone knows that blueberries, blackberries, black currants, acai, goji, raspberries and elderberries are very good for health. But few have heard of one of the greatest super fruit berries of them all, maqui. This amazing Maqui berry is 3 times stronger than the Brazilian Acai berry. The indigenous Mapuche indians harvest the berry in the Patagonia region of Chile, where the maqui berry grows profusely in the wild.
Maqui berry… Continue reading