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Hydroxyapatite filament
A substantially pure hydroxyapatite filament provides the reinforcement for composite materials used for bone replacement and repair. Its biocompatibility and high strength reveal opportunities for strong, tough and biocompatible composites to replace diseased, fractured or missing areas of bone. One such opportunity is a hydroxyapatite fiber reinforced hydroxyapatite matrix composite. This composite has higher strength and toughness than sintered hydroxyapatite yet has excellent biocompatibilty and mechanical properties which can be tailored to mimic replaced bone. Methods for filament fabrication include low temperature extrusion of a precursor gel filament reinforced with hydroxyapatite whiskers, high temperature sinter-extrusion and high temperature glass filament formation followed by reconversion to hydroxyapatite by intermediate temperature heat treatment.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application number 60/002,807 filed on Aug. 25, 1995, now abandoned.
2. Field of the Invention
This invention resides in the field of orthopedic and dental biomaterials and it specifically relates to materials and structures designed to replace missing or diseased areas of bone. 3. Prior Art
Calcium phosphate based materials such as hydroxyapatite and .alpha. and .beta. tricalcium phosphate have been used as bone replacement materials in dental and orthopedic applications. These materials are completely biocompatible. Their bioresorbability or the rate at which they degrade and become absorbed when implanted into the body is dependent on constituent composition, crystal structure and porosity. The mineral content of bones and teeth is primarily hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite is a crystalline material with the chemical formula Ca.sub.10 (PO.sub.4).sub.6 (OH).sub.2 having the Ca/P molar ratio of 1.67. Living host bone will form chemical bonds to hydroxyapatite so it has received a great deal of attention for bone replacement applications. Its synthetic form is often used to fill defects or build bone areas by allowing bone ingrowth into implanted hydroxyapatite particles and slurries. In dental applications it has been used to build up the alveolar ridge and fill areas of non-structural missing bone. Hydroxyapatite sintered from a microcrystalline powder has been used for small implants with low mechanical loading such as small bone implants for the ear. In still another application, plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite is used to coat titanium hip implants for better fixation at their interface with the femur. Thus far, however, sintered hydroxyapatite has not been used for high load bearing applications with complex stress states such as joint replacement prostheses because its current forms do not have the necessary strength and toughness to support high cyclic loads especially in tension and shear. It is also brittle and hence its strength is sensitive to internal and surface flaws.
In bone replacement applications where high strength and toughness is required, metals or combinations of metals, ceramics, and high density plastics are used. Joint replacement prostheses, for example, are fabricated from cobalt chrome alloys, titanium, stainless steel, monolithic ceramics or other relatively inert material. While they initially have sufficient strength, these materials have moduli or stiffnesses which are an order of magnitude higher than the bone they are replacing. They are also mechanically isotropic, that is, they have the same properties in all directions within the material. Bone is a low modulus, anisotropic composite material whose reinforcement is tailored to support the loads it experiences. When bone is replaced with these high modulus materials the interfacing host bone tissues are shielded from experiencing naturally occurring stress distributions. This stress shielding causes living bone tissue to resorb or become weaker and less dense. This further complicates fixation of the implant for long periods.
In joint replacement applications metal components often form a bearing surface with a plastic component on the opposite side of the joint. Wear at this bearing surface releases particles which can cause inflammatory reactions in the surrounding tissue. These problems and the continued cyclic load environment limit the long term effectiveness of the joint replacement. Hence these joint replacements are usually performed only on older patients. Joint replacement surgery in younger patients must typically be repeated after a period of time to repair damaged tissues and replace components. These added surgeries are usually higher risk and more difficult to perform.
Several U.S. patents describe applications of hydroxyapatite, mainly as a coating material for strong substrate materials. Coating methods are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,279,831, 5,188,670, 5,128,169, and others. The incentive to use hydroxyapatite coatings is that the hydroxyapatite enhances the growth of dense bone in its neighborhood and further that it bonds chemically to this new bone tissue. Coating a structural material with hydroxyapatite takes advantage of these positive characteristics even though the hydroxyapatite itself, in prior art forms, does not have the strength or toughness to be used as the load bearing structure of an implant. Coatings, however, are typically very thin interfaces which are subject to flaking, chipping and the like. In addition, they only provide a two-dimensional interface upon which bone can attach limiting the strength and toughness of this attachment.
Tagai, et al in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,735,857 and 4,820,573 describe a calcium phosphate glass fiber with a Ca/P molar ratio between 0.2 and 0.6. The use of this fiber in a cotton-like staple form or cloth form is described as a bone defect filler to encourage bone growth into the defect; however, the patents do not reveal the fiber's tensile strength or rate of resorption after implantation. A similar cotton-like product is described by Fuji in U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,617. These fiber forms may be useful in bone filling applications but in many cases the removal of diseased bone or repair of broken bones requires fixation with structures which are strong, tough and completely biocompatible. Unlike pure crystalline hydroxyapatite which has been shown to be totally biocompatible, these prior art glass fibers are comprised of mixtures of several different materials at least in part to aid in processing into fiber. These mixtures will have varying biocompatibility, resorption, and strength and hence their application to long term bone replacement components supporting high mechanical loads will be limited.OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
It is the object of this invention to provide a high strength hydroxyapatite filament as a mechanical building block for a class of strong, tough biomaterials. More particularly, the objects and advantages of the present invention are:
(a) to provide strong hydroxyapatite filaments to reinforce a hydroxyapatite matrix material resulting in a composite material which displays excellent biocompatibility and durability when implanted as a bone replacement component or prosthesis. The mechanical properties of this composite material can be tailored to mimic the mechanical properties of the replaced bone thereby eliminating the stress shielding which occurs with currently used high modulus materials. This composite will also exhibit the necessary toughness and strength to support high mechanical loads in the area of the replaced bone. When implanted, sintered hydroxyapatite has a very high ability to enhance formation of dense, new bone around it and it has a very low rate of resorption. Unlike prior art materials, the hydroxyapatite fiber reinforced hydroxyapatite matrix composite will be stable for long periods of time when implanted and, if wear particles are released from this composite, they will not cause the inflammatory response of the metals, ceramics and plastics currently used. The active fiber interface between this composite and the living bone tissue can be woven such that voids between filament bundles allow bone ingrowth to provide life-long fixation of an implant. Mechanically and biologically, this composite will be as close to living bone tissue as possible.
(b) to provide strong hydroxyapatite filaments in woven two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and multi-dimensional reinforced shapes which act as scaffolds for bone ingrowth while preserving needed strength during the bone growth process. A specific application for a hydroxyapatite fabric would be a dam to prevent the growth of epithelial cells into a hydroxyapatite slurry injected below the gum line to build up the bone structures supporting teeth. The current practice uses a rubber dam to block epithelial cell growth into the implanted slurry to give bone the time to grow into the slurry. This rubber dam has to be removed surgically whereas a hydroxyapatite fabric dam could remain in place. The hydroxyapatite fabric dam would therefore eliminate this additional surgery with its cost, lost time and discomfort to the patient.
(c) to provide significant improvements in fixation of current metal implants by weaving hydroxyapatite filaments into the metal implant surface yielding a strong, three-dimensional interface for bone ingrowth. This three-dimensional interface will be formed by hydroxyapatite filament loops extending outward from the metal surface. Prior art methods use a hydroxyapatite coating which can break off, chip or flake reducing the bone-implant interface strength and causing loosening of the implant.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a hydroxyapatite fiber reinforced composite material whose matrix is designed to resorb in a controlled manner. This will allow living tissue to grow into the implant to anchor it or perhaps eventually completely replace the matrix of a fiber reinforced composite implant. The living bone tissue is then capable of growth and remodeling to suit changing mechanical and physiological conditions. A gradient in the rate of resorption and hence rate of living bone intrusion into the matrix might also be provided by using several matrix materials having different rates of resorption. These materials could be deposited in layers from the inside of the implanted composite to its outer, bone-interface surface.DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic of a three dimensionally woven cylinder.
FIG. 2 shows a three dimensionally woven silica fiber reinforced silica composite cylinder.
FIG. 3 shows hydroxyapatite whiskers.
FIG. 4 shows a piston and cylinder extruding a gel containing hydroxyapatite into a dilute acid bath to form a precursor fiber.
FIG. 5 shows a furnace and die arrangement extruding a hydroxyapatite filament at high temperature.SUMMARY
In summary, bone replacement materials currently being used to replace highly loaded areas of bone like joint replacements are not well suited for this task because of their high stiffness and lack of complete biocompatibility. This invention starts with the most biocompatible material available, hydroxyapatite, and provides a strong form of this material, a filament. This filament can then be used to build an entire set of bone replacement materials and structures. These materials and structures will provide lifetime bone replacement components used in dental, maxillofacial and orthopedic reconstruction.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a hydroxyapatite filament and applications of the filament useful in bone replacement and repair. One such useful form is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a cylinder 1 which is comprised of interwoven axial 2, radial 3, and circumferential 4 fiber bundles. Typical inside diameter 8, outside diameter 6 and length 10 dimensions are given in millimeters. Diameter dimensions are typical of those which might be required in replacing a section of long, highly loaded area of bone. In another embodiment, orientation of fiber bundles can be changed to suit a particular loading requirement of a bone section to be replaced. For example, to give cylinder 1 higher torsional stiffness, fiber bundles 2 currently shown in the axial direction could be oriented at an angle relative to the cylinder axis. The technology exists to weave these orthogonally reinforced cylinders. FIG. 2 shows a silica fiber reinforced silica matrix cylinder 12 whose dimensions approximate the values given for cylinder 1. The preform or woven fiber network of this cylinder can be obtained from Techniweave, Inc. in Rochester, N.H., U.S.A.
The technology to weave such a cylinder was developed by the aerospace industry. Multidirectionally woven filament bundles, or preforms, are the reinforcing skeletons for silica fiber reinforced silica antenna windows and carbon fiber reinforced carbon missile nosetips and rocket nozzles. These combinations of fiber and matrix are instructive since high strength fibers combine with brittle matrices to yield composites which are strong, tough, and damage tolerant. For example, a steel nail can be hammered through a multidirectionally reinforced carbon-carbon composite--a composite material with a brittle fiber reinforcing a brittle matrix. This characteristic is due to the network of microcracks in the composite allowing multiple failure paths and local yielding of the composite material in the area of high stresses. The aerospace industry is clearly distinct from the field of the invention and the constituent fibers and matrices of these aerospace composites do not have the biocompatibility and bone growth enhancing features of hydroxyapatite. However, if combined with a strong hydroxyapatite filament, the multidirectional weaving technology could be useful to fabricate woven shapes whose mechanical properties mimic those of replaced bone. Bone itself is a composite material with complex reinforcement orientations within it and the better the mechanical property simulation of replaced bone tissue, the better a bone replacement implant will perform.
Three-dimensional woven shapes, two-dimensional woven fabrics, chopped fiber mats, and random fiber felts are all examples of fiber forms which can be combined with a matrix to yield a composite material for bone replacement and repair. One combination of constituent fiber and matrix which would result in an excellent bone replacement material is hydroxyapatite fiber reinforced hydroxyapatite. Such a composite with a strong hydroxyapatite fiber reinforcing a brittle hydroxyapatite matrix would yield a strong, tough, biocompatible, and mechanically tailorable bone replacement material. The hydroxyapatite filament reinforcement of these composites could be random or oriented and the composite could have either continuous or discontinuous hydroxyapatite filaments. Another embodiment would use the same hydroxyapatite fiber but a different matrix such as tricalcium phosphate, collagen, or polymerizable proteins. These would have controlled resorption so that living host bone would grow into the fiber shape as the matrix resorbs and recedes from the bone/implant interface.
Unimpregnated preforms or free standing continuous filament woven shapes without any matrix have sufficient strength and post-weaving formability to be useful as a scaffold for bone ingrowth. Unlike the prior art cotton-like bone filling fibers, however, these preforms would provide significant mechanical integrity to a weakened area before and during the bone ingrowth and healing process. Bundles of hydroxyapatite filaments woven into these three-dimensional shapes would provide excellent biocompatibility, controlled porosity and mechanical strength. Bundle sizes in the woven shape could be in the range of 3000 to 12000 hydroxyapatite filaments.
What is needed to take advantage of this composite technology for bone replacement applications is a strong hydroxyapatite filament to provide the reinforcement. Filament diameters useful for the reinforcing applications mentioned are between 5 and 100 microns. A tensile strength in excess of 140 MPa would be useful but preferably the tensile strength should be above 300 MPa. The modulus of the fiber need not be high since bone itself has a rather low modulus. A modulus range of 40-500 GPa would be acceptable with the preferable range of 80-200 GPa.
Three methods are given for fabricating such a hydroxyapatite filament.Method 1
The first method uses hydroxyapatite whiskers 14 shown in FIG. 3. Whiskers of other materials such as silicon carbide are routinely used to reinforce ceramics, metals, and plastics due to their high strength. Hydroxyapatite whiskers are needle-like crystals of hydroxyapatite. They are typically 8-20 microns long and the largest lateral dimension is less than 1 micron. Whiskers 14 are precipitated and grow like flowers in a solution. The hydroxyapatite whiskers are used to reinforce a hydroxyapatite filament along the axis of the filament giving the filament preferential strength along its axis.
The process to make the whiskers uses a solution of calcium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelate and phosphoric acid. This process is given as follows:
1. Make 250 ml of a 0.1 molar Calcium EDTA solution by combining 7.31 g of EDTA and 2.50 g of CaCO.sub.3 with 200 ml of deionized water. Adjust the solution pH with NH.sub.4 OH until the solids dissolve. Final solution pH should be 7. Fill to the volumetric flask line with deionized water.
2. Make 100 ml of 0.3 molar H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 by placing 3.46 g H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 (85%) in a 100 ml volumetric flask. Fill the flask to the line with deionized water.
3. Mix 5 ml of Ca EDTA solution with 5 ml of the phosphoric acid solution and adjust the solution pH to 7. This requires the addition of NH.sub.4 OH which increases the volume by about 1 ml.
4. Place the solution in a stainless steel tube whose volume is twice the volume of the solution, seal the tube, and heat to 250.degree. C. for 1 hour. Quench the tube in a water bath to reduce the temperature very rapidly and remove the liquid/whisker mixture inside by pouting it into a beaker. Flush the tube with deionized water to wash whiskers along the walls of the tube into the beaker. Allow the whiskers to settle to the bottom of the beaker and pour off the liquid until most is removed. Wash the whiskers with deionized water repeatedly until clean and store in the beaker under the water until ready for use in the process. The chelate reagent can also be recovered from the decanted solution.
The reaction occurs by thermal dissociation of Ca(EDTA).sup.2- according to the following equations:
Ca(EDTA).sup.2- .fwdarw.Ca.sup.2+ +EDTA.sup.4- (1)
5Ca.sup.2+ +3PO.sub.4.sup.3- +OH.sup.- .fwdarw.Ca.sub.5 (PO.sub.4).sub.3 OH(2)
There are occupational health issues associated with the manufacture and handling of whiskers if they become airborne. Hydroxyapatite whiskers should either be in a fluid medium or encapsulated in a matrix at all times. Once encapsulated the whiskers pose no problem even if the composite is machined. Resulting dust particles do not have the whisker shape and are handled in routine ways. Silicon carbide whiskers are similar in size to hydroxyapatite whiskers and guidelines for handling these are given in ASTM E 1437-91.
The next step in this method 1 process is to break the whiskers off their "flowers" so that they can be suspended as individual whiskers in a liquid medium such as water or alcohol. This is done by ball milling the whiskers with plastic balls. If ceramic media are used to mill the whiskers the ceramic media will grind the whiskers into powder. The plastic balls will break the whiskers off the "flowers" and allow them to be suspended in the water. Fill a small plastic bottle halfway with 6.33 mm diameter plastic balls such as Delrin balls available from Hoover Precision Products in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Fill the remainder of the bottle with the whisker and water mixture and place on a jar mill for 3 hrs. Remove the mixture and separate from the balls by washing with deionized water. Store the whiskers in the deionized water.
The next step is the formation of a precursor gel filament with whiskers imbedded in it. To make this precursor filament from the mixture of water and whiskers, ammonium alginate is added to this mixture to thicken it and form the gel filament. The ammonium alginate can be obtained from Kelco, a division of Merck & Co., in San Diego. This mixture is then extruded through a small orifice, approximately 0.3 mm in diameter, into a dilute acid such as 0.3M phosphoric acid. The process of extrusion through an orifice aligns the whiskers with the direction of fluid flow. The ammonium alginate then gels as soon as it is exposed to the acid effectively freezing the whisker alignment in the gel fiber.
The hydroxyapatite filament is formed by drying the gel fiber for 24 hrs at room temperature and then heat treating it in air at 1100.degree.-1200.degree. C. for three hours. The ammonium alginate gel oxidizes completely leaving no ash residue in the hydroxyapatite filament.
In another embodiment of this method the whiskers are mixed with a microcrystalline hydroxyapatite powder before the ammonium alginate is added. The powder eventually acts to bind the whiskers together in the filament. The volume fraction of whiskers-to-powder can range from 3 volume percent to 60 volume percent. When whiskers and powder are mixed, the powder particle diameter must be smaller than the typical whisker cross section. Otherwise, the process is like trying to mix pencils with basketballs. A small powder particle size prevents separation of the powder from the whiskers during mixing and ensures high density packing of whiskers within the powder. Also, it will allow the laminar flow of the fluid medium to orient the whiskers more easily during extrusion of the alginate mixture. Most of the particles of a sinterable hydroxyapatite powder are less than 60 microns in size. These particles are made up of loosely agglomerated microcrystals about 0.01 microns in size. When milled in deionized water these particles break up easily to form a colloidal suspension. The whiskers are mixed into this suspension with a ball mill or mixer. Finally, the ammonium alginate is added and mixed. A suitable microcrystalline hydroxyapatite powder is available from CAM Implants in Leiden, The Netherlands.
The extrusion of this mixture is the same as discussed previously for forming the gel fiber with whiskers only. The process is shown in FIG. 4. A mixture of water, ammonium alginate, hydroxyapatite whiskers, and hydroxyapatite powder 16 is placed in tube 22. Piston 24 pushes the mixture through a necked down region 20 in the glass tube. The ammonium alginate in the mixture gels as soon as it is exposed to acid 26. Gel fiber 18 is thus formed.
The gel fiber is then dried once again at room temperature for 24 hours and heated to the sintering temperature of hydroxyapatite--between 1100.degree. and 1200.degree. C. The hydroxyapatite whisker reinforced hydroxyapatite filament is formed as the ammonium alginate oxidizes and the powder and whiskers sinter.
Another variation of method 1 extrudes the mixture onto a porous surface allowing the liquid medium to be sucked away leaving the whisker or whisker/powder combination at the surface. Glycerine can be substituted for water as the solvent for this variation. This process densities or consolidates the solid constituents of the mixture before heat treatment. Suitable porous media include membranes available from Millipore Corporation in Bedford, Mass.Method 2
Method 2 is a high temperature sinter-extrusion process. The microcrystalline hydroxyapatite powder or powder/whisker mixture is heated to the sintering temperature of 1200.degree. C. and forced through an orifice to create the filament. FIG. 5 shows a schematic of this method. Powder mixture 34 is surrounded by die 32 which is supported by base 38. Furnace coils 30 contained within furnace boundary 36 heat the assembly to the desired temperature. At the sintering temperature a piston 28 pushes downward on the powder mixture forcing it through an orifice to form filament 40.
In a process called sinter-forging, known in the art, hydroxyapatite powder can be deformed under high pressure at its sintering temperature. High temperature extrusion of submicron diameter ceramic powders has also been done using area ratios of piston-to-extruded shape of 5 to 10. High temperature extrusion is aided if the hydroxyapatite powder has submicron diameter particles and a small amount of additive such as a glass is used as a lubricant at the sintering temperature.Method 3
Method 3 forms the hydroxyapatite filament in much the same way glass filaments are formed commercially. The hydroxyapatite powder is heated to a temperature in excess of 1400.degree. C. until it forms a glass in a viscosity range which can be pulled through one or more orifices and cooled. The furnace arrangement is similar to FIG. 5. The range of orifice sizes for this method is 0.5-3 mm in diameter. As the molten glass filament is pulled through each orifice it forms a meniscus or necks down to a diameter between the desired 5-100 microns. It is cooled rapidly, a coating or sizing is added to protect the filament surfaces and the filaments are then wound on a take up spool. This process is well known in the art. At this point, however, the filament is no longer the crystalline hydroxyapatite, having lost its crystalline structure and its hydroxyl (OH) groups during the high temperature processing. The filament is a metaphosphate glass. This glass filament can then be reconverted to a hydroxyapatite filament by heat treating it in air at 600.degree. C. for 1 to 3 hours.
A variation of method 3 includes formation of the glass filament by means other than extrusion through a hole. These means include dropping the glass onto a spinning disk or blowing air into a molten glass pool to fiberize the glass. These methods, also known in the art, would provide the glass filament precursor to the hydroxyapatite filament.CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
Thus the hydroxyapatite filament of the current invention provides a biocompatible building block from which many materials for bone replacement and repair are possible. As a reinforcement fiber for composite bone replacement implants it provides the needed toughness and strength. Due to its high temperature stability and inertness it can be processed with many matrix materials. These matrix materials may be stable in vivo, resorb in a controlled manner, provide timed release of medication, or provide other necessary functions. Bundles, yards or tows of hydroxyapatite filaments woven into two-dimensional, three dimensional, or multidimensional forms can provide a stable scaffold for bone ingrowth while retaining tailored mechanical properties while the ingrowth occurs.
While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Other variations are possible. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
1. A hydroxyapatite filament comprised of a mixture of hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite whiskers.
2. The hydroxyapatite filament of claim 1 having a tensile strength greater than 140 MPa.
3. The hydroxyapatite filament of claim 1 having a tensile modulus greater than 40 GPa.
4. The hydroxyapatite filament of claim 1 whose largest lateral dimension is greater than 5 microns and whose length is greater than 1 millimeter.
|March 5, 1985
|November 14, 1989
|November 6, 1990
|Tormala et al.
|July 13, 1993
|Yoshimura et al.
- Yoshimura et al, Processing and Mechanical Properties of Hydroxyapatite (HAP) reinforced with HAP Whiskers; 1996, pp. 1715-1723.
Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 20, 1996
Date of Patent: Jul 29, 1997
Inventor: John N. Pepin (Greenville, ME)
Primary Examiner: Newton Edwards
Application Number: 8/709,440
International Classification: D02G 300; C01B 1516;


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Travel Diary: Interesting and Enjoyable Things to Do While in Idaho
Parashar Joshi
Nov 30, 2019
Tucked away in a corner of the US, the state of Idaho is famous for ski resorts, state parks, Hell's canyon, etc. Here is a quick guide on the things to do in Idaho.
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The north-western state of Idaho, fondly referred to as the
Gem State
, is truly a tourist's paradise. Blessed with a great deal of geographical diversity, it offers something for every traveler.
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Along with a predominantly mountainous terrain, it also has vast expanses of green pastures, forests, and farmland. It has some of the cleanest rivers and freshwater lakes, and is considered to be one of the least polluted states in the U.S.
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Idaho is a state that is well in tune with modern times and yet at the same time, has successfully managed to retain its age-old traditional culture. A good example being the quaint little small towns that dot the landscape between numerous well-developed urban cities.
Well-developed roads and smooth speedways make the idea of a family road trip through the heart of this state very appealing. In fact, if a short four-day getaway is what you have in mind, then you should just buckle up, sit back, and let the natural beauty take you away on a journey of discovery.
Thrill-seekers will love the fact that there are plenty of things to do as far as adventure sports is concerned. Families, honeymooners, spring break vacationers, college groups, etc., would thoroughly enjoy the wide variety of attractions on offer. Here are some of the most popular tourist attractions.
Ski Resorts
Idaho outscores every other American state when it comes to skiing and other snow sports. Magnificent snow-capped peaks along with a long list of ski slopes and snowboarding resorts ensure that these high-energy winter sports are not relegated to just the winter.
The Sun Valley resort, along with the Brundage, Schweitzer, Silver Mountain, and Basin Mountain resorts, are some of the most popular ski resorts.
Balanced Rock
A definite must-see, the 'Balanced Rock' is a 15,000 years old geological wonder.
It is located in the vicinity of the Twin Falls and is an odd-shaped rock structure consisting of a 40 ton, 50 ft solid rock that stands balanced upon a midget-sized rock pedestal. It has been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records and it attracts many visitors on a daily basis.
Potato Museum
As amusing as it sounds, the potato museum is a famous landmark. The museum provides detailed information on the process of potato production, growing, harvesting, exports, etc. There is a lot of educational material and trivia on display that could be of interest to kids and teenagers.
Hell's Canyon
Very few people know that Hell's Canyon is the deepest canyon in the US. Characterized by dusty landscapes, jagged rock edges, and the Snake river flowing below, Hell's Canyon is a haven for kayaking and whitewater rafting.
State Parks
Blessed with abundant natural resources, this state houses a large number of state parks, wildlife parks, botanical gardens, etc. Visitors can enjoy through nature trails, hiking expeditions, camping trips, wildlife safaris, hot air balloon rides, etc.
Quite a few of these parks are situated alongside crystal clear lakes and rivers. Tourists can indulge in fishing, rowing, boating, canoeing, and a host of other water sports.
In addition to the mentioned places, there are plenty of amusement parks, art centers, natural hot water springs, and wineries all over Idaho that cater to the people of all ages and interests.
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Devin Knox joined our Cagle Carpenter Hazlewood Austin office in March 2018 and is licensed to practice in the State of Texas. Prior to joining the Firm, Devin practiced real estate and ad valorem tax litigation.
Devin is a native of Lubbock, Texas. He attended The University of Texas School of Law, and received a Bachelor of Arts in both Government and European Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. While attending The University of Texas School of Law, Devin was a Staff Editor on the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law.
In his spare time, Devin enjoys attending Texas Longhorns sporting events and spending time with his wife, Pippa, and his dog, Luna.


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The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM A is definitely one of the very sharpest 50mm lenses we ever tested, with a totally outstanding performance at full aperture (see the "Optical performance" section further down). This makes it very useful for portrait photography or documentary images in low light. But it's remarkable not only in terms of sharpness – the color correction is good and Sigma has managed to keep both distortion and vignetting at a minimum.
The lens is also very well built and has an elegant design with a body partly made of metal. The "A" in the model name stands for "Art", which is Sigma's name of their luxury series of lenses. The only real drawbacks of the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM A is the abscense of weather seals. And the size and weight.
With a length of 10 cm and weighing 815 grams, this is indeed an unusally large and heavy nomal lens. But looking at the complex optical construction, it's easy to see why. Sigma has put together 13 lens-elements in 8 groups, a lot more than the 7 elements used in the typical Planar construction found in most normal lenses.
The autofocus is powered by an ultrasonic motor which is rather silent. It focused perfectly with the camera used for this review (a Canon EOS 6D). But buyers who may experience focus errors can purchase Sigma's USB Dock. A small gadget that fits on the lens and connects to a computer with a USB cable, making it possible to upgrade the lens firmware and calibrate the autofocus.
Sigma has not only built one of the world's best normal lenses, with a retail price of around 950 USD it's also surpricingly cheap. The Zeiss Otus Distagon 55mm f/1.4 APO and the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH, which we also consider to be in the same league, cost about four times as much. Nice work Sigma!
**Reference Class**
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM A
Image circle: 24 x 36 mm (full frame)
Angle of view, horisontal: 40° (full frame)/27° (APS-C)
Filter thread: 77 mm
Minimum focus: 40 cm
Minimum aperture: 16
Dimensions: Length 10 cm, diameter 8,5 cm
Weight: 815 g
Other features: Ultrasonic motor (HSM). Aperture with nine blades. Lens hood and padded lens bag included. Compatible with the Sigma USB Dock. Available for Canon, Nikon, Sony and Sigma.
Visit Sigma's product page for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM A. Click here.
Optical performance
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM A
Measured focal length:
49 mm
For easier comparison with other tested lenses, we first present an MTF chart showing the result at both full aperture and at f/8. The chart below it show MTF at f/2.8.
With full frame:
Very good sharpness across most part of the image already at full aperture. The contrast decreases slightly towards the edges but it's still an impressive result. Reducing the aperture a couple of stops to f/2.8 gives a quiete clear imrovement of the result. The contrast increases in the image edges and really small and fine details are reproduced more distinctly. This is particularly noticable with image sensors with very high resolution and no low pass filter. Stopping down further gradually increases the impression of sharpness and brilliance until you reach f/8. Here the lens is phenomenally sharp!
With APS-C:
Very good sharpness from center to corner already at full aperture but it still increases notably when the lens is stopped down to f/2.8. At f/5.6 and f/8 Sigma's 50mm Art lens performs incredibly well, with very high contrast and detail (resolution) all the way to the corners.
With full frame:
Clearly noticable vignetting at f/1.4, low at f/2.0 and prctically gone at f/2.8.
With APS-C:
The vignetting is only barely visible at full aperture. After stopping down to f/2.0 it completely disappears.
With full frame:
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Member Advocate (Call Center Customer Service Rep)
Apply for Job
Date: Nov 17, 2019
Location: Napa, CA, US
Company: The Doctors Management Company
The Doctors Company Underwriting Group is focused on offering coverage to the medical malpractice insurance industry's most complex risks. We are a cohesive and dynamic team that applies creative and flexible underwriting solutions to meet all challenges presented by the changing healthcare environment. Our underwriting appetite includes primary and/or excess coverage, loss-sensitive programs with multi-state capabilities on an admitted basis, and more.
We welcome self-motivated, creative, innovative, high-energy, effective communicators with in-depth knowledge of large account medical malpractice coverage. The right candidate possesses solid interpersonal and collaboration skills, and is comfortable communicating at all levels of an organization and with brokers and insured's. Your experience and talent will provide a fresh perspective as we fulfill the company's strategic growth goals in the large complex account arena.
Member Advocate (Customer Service Representative- Call Center)
The Doctors Company Underwriting team is looking for a customer-service oriented Member Advocate to join our team in Napa, CA. We are looking for both full time and part-time employees!
- One to three (1-3) years of related customer service experience
- One to two (1-2) years of Insurance or Health Care Industry Experience strongly preferred
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- Knowledge of Underwriting and Accounting principles preferred
- Proficiency and aptitude in use of computer information systems with knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel preferred
- Excellent phone and written communication skills
- Proficiency in use of phone systems
- Ability to accurately type a minimum of 40 WPM
Member Experience (Quality)
- Provide superior customer service, as the initial point of contact for the insured
- Proactively anticipate callers needs, ask probing questions to ensure understanding of call content and to minimize any need for follow up
- Proactively follow through on customer commitments
Collaboration & Support
- Effectively collaborate and support peers to bring resolution to stakeholders needs or needed process improvement
- Maintain professional, tactful, respectful relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Personal & Professional Development
- Demonstrate initiative to identify and communicate areas for personal development and training
- Complete assigned training and demonstrate mastery of concepts presented
- Use skills learned in training to increase professional performance in the areas addressed in the training
Process & Support Efficiency
- Ensure all processing activities are accurately completed
- Leverage appropriate internal resources to assist with problem-solving before escalating. Provide recommendations if escalation is necessary.
- Adhere to assigned schedule and proactively communicate any modifications needed to management
- Proactively follow through on customer commitments
Continuous Improvement Support
- Provide process recommendations to management to continuously improve and support implementation of new workflows
- Embrace change initiatives by supporting changing processes, procedures, organizational initiatives, etc.
Other duties as assigned
- Perform other assignments as requested and directed by management
- Positively impact company and department effectiveness through actively engaging in such activities as team projects, administrative duties, etc.
We offer competitive compensation, incentive bonus plans, outstanding career opportunities, an exceptional work environment, and an impressive benefits package, which starts with medical, family and bereavement leave; same-sex domestic partner benefits; short- and long-term disability programs; and an employee assistance program. There's more:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Health and dependent care tax-free spending accounts with a company match
- 401(k) and Roth IRA with company match, as well as catch-up plans for both
- 10 paid vacation days, 6 paid sick days, and 6 paid personal days each calendar year (with vacation increases based on length of service)
- 10 paid holidays each calendar year
- Life and travel insurance
- Tax-free commuter benefits
- In-person and online learning opportunities
- Cross-function career opportunities
- Business casual work environment
- Time off to volunteer
- Matching donations to qualifying nonprofit organizations
- Company-sponsored participation at non-profit events
At The Doctors Company, we are fiercely committed to our mission of advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine. Our employees are integral to our success as the nation's largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer—and reflect our core values of service and professionalism. Employees also make a difference in their communities through volunteer work and donations. In the last five years, employees have worked more than 5,000 hours for local community organizations and donated more than $500,000, in conjunction with a company matching funds program.
The Doctors Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Nearest Major Market: Napa
Job Segment: Call Center, Underwriter, Customer Service Representative, Medical, Customer Service, Insurance, Healthcare


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SABA restaurants and SABA to Go have been announced as official partners of the Irish Women's Senior Hockey Team.
Following their incredible success at the Hockey World Cup in 2018, the Irish women's senior squad have teamed up with the award-winning restaurant chain.
With over 13 years of success in the restaurant industry, SABA has said they are delighted to be offering support to the Irish women's senior hockey team.
The SABA team are working alongside Hockey Ireland to come up with meals and nutrition for the players during training sessions and games as the team prepare for upcoming competitions and qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Saba's Owner Paul Cadden said about the partnership: 'We are very proud to partner Hockey Ireland for the upcoming years and support this inspiring group of players.'
'They have had an amazing year reaching the World Cup Finals, a first for any Irish team and also winning multiple awards including RTE Sports Team of the Year and Graham Shaw winning Manager of the Year.'
'This team are very ambitious, and we are delighted to play our part to help them achieve their goals and inspire the next generation of players.'
'In a game where small margins can improve performance, we hope Saba's food gives them that extra 1%, fuelling the Green Army towards the Olympics in Tokyo 2020.'
Hockey Ireland's CEO Jerome Pels added: 'We are delighted to have Saba Restaurants and Saba To Go come on board as an Official Partner.'
'Saba offers high quality, nutritious meals that are ideal for our senior women's team while they prepare to compete on the world stage.'
'Saba chefs have been working closely with our management and nutritional staff to ensure the Green Army will be fuelled to the highest standard. We very much look forward to working together over the coming years.'


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But first, Ms. Marcotte's reaction to the incident in question:
http://t.co/1YWyA0vZJR I really wish people would stop acting like it's cute when teenage boys sexually harass older women.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) April 21, 2014
This is in response to 18-year old Pennsylvania high school student Patrick Farves asking reigning Miss America Nina Davuluri to prom.
Because there have been noteworthy instances of celebs accepting invites to prom (e.g. Chely Wright, Mila Kunis, Michelle Beadle, etc.), it may have served to embolden other high school students like young Patrick. But that hardly makes it "sexual harassment." After all, most incidents of that nature occur when the person doing the harassing is in a position of authority or power over someone subject to the harassment. Definitely not the case here.
When several people on Twitter pointed out that Ms. Marcotte was being a bit hyperbolic, she doubled downed on her idiocy.
@VerstandskiesK @DrNerdLove Pestering someone with unwanted sexual requests for the purpose of making them uncomfortable is harassment.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) April 21, 2014
Does Marcotte honestly believe that Mr. Farves was requesting to have sex with Ms. Davuluri?!?! Seriously?!?! Well, Ms. Davuluri certainly didn't feel that way, going so far as to say she was "flattered" by Farves's gesture as well as asking school administrators to "reconsider" their decision to suspend the young man.
Now the ironic part of Ms. Marcotte shrieking "ZOMG! SEXUAL HARASSMENT?" Her swooning over the sexual harasser-in chief.
Bill Clinton could absorb your attention all night. http://t.co/2sj0qCKY
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) September 6, 2012


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Home Page › Blog › Italian Comics Style Icons Part 1 – Diabolik & Lady Eva Kant
Created in 1962 by Angela & Giuliana Giussani this antihero pocket size comic noir has been and still is one of the most iconic in Italy. I am still, every time I go back to Italy, having to buy as many copies as I can find in the edicola!!!
Diabolik and Eva Kant, the main characters, are the most captivating and sexy couple in the criminal underworld of comics to date – extremely adventurous and highly intelligent, they are the most high tech and scientific thieves and assassins (they steal only from other criminals) par excellence. They have a sophisticated education and knowledge, especially about art and various precious objects and jewellery , they are great pilots and weapon master , they can transform themselves into whoever by wearing human face masks and imitating the selected victim, they are athletic and able to fight at the highest level, they can use Morse code and are multilingual ….this is just to mention some of their skills and their utter geniality!
But of course, the fact that both Diabolik and Eva Kant are also extremely attractive, does not go unnoticed!! Diabolik wears a black and super sexy skintight body suit that leaves only his eyes and eyebrows (very distinctive) on show and displays very unmistakably his masculine athletic muscular body , he drives a 1961 black E-Type Jaguar , has green eyes and dark hair and he's a very attentive and passionate lover to Eva – what's not to love????? Eva Kant is exquisitely beautiful, of slender frame , agile, has cat shaped green eyes and thick long blond hair which she mostly wears in a bun .Her trademark look is a trench coat and black cat suit ( so Parisienne!!) she is classy, chic and aloof, she is an heroine and a beauty Icon, and as Franca Sozzani, Vogue Italia, once said in her blog " most sophisticated heroine of our times" – oh yeah!!!


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Last Saturday, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and leader of UTM party Dr. Saulos Chilima rattled Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members when he said he helped them win the 2014 general elections in which he ran together with Professor Peter Mutharika. Chilima was working as a Managing Director of Airtel Malawi before quitting early 2014 to join politics after Peter Mutharika chose him as his running mate.
After having huge differences on how the country is being managed, Chilima and many other former DPP members founded the United Transformation Movement which has just been registered as UTM party.
Despite Chilima thanking Peter Mutharika many times for choosing him as his running mate, DPP members say Chilima is not grateful and should always thank Mutharika and DPP for giving him an opportunity to be Vice President. DPP members talk like being a running mate is just an election legal requirement and does not contribute anything to political strategy. This is far from the truth.
A running mate by definition is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. Running mates may be chosen, by custom or by law, to balance the ticket geographically, ideologically or in terms of personality. The main objective is to create a more widespread appeal for the ticket. Presidential candidates usually chose someone who they believe will assist them and their parties to appeal to a larger base of people.
Malawi law requires presidential candidates to have a running mate. Presidential candidates are free to choose anyone from their party or outside the party. The running mate name and that of the presidential candidate are written on the ballot paper. The only difference is that the presidential candidate's face is also on the ballot paper. According to law, the President is elected together with the Vice President.
In Malawi, where many people vote on regional or tribal lines, presidential candidates usually try to choose a running mate from a different region from their own. This is done to amass votes from their region and that of the running mate.
DPP lost power in 2012 due to the death, in office, of President Bingu Wa Mutharika, two years before the end of his second term. At that time, DPP was at it's lowest point in terms of popularity since it's formation. The then Vice President, Joyce Banda, and her newly formed People's Party took over power and instantly fell out of favor with Malawians because of the infamous Cashgate financial scandal. Joyce Banda sealed her fate with her choice of a mediocre running mate who was a laughing stock.
Malawians had to look back to DPP and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for salvation. MCP had new leadership from the world outside mainstream politics. DPP's Mutharika, a proven failure in different portfolios that he was given by his older brother Bingu, would have to compete with Lazarous Chakwera, who presented a totally new beginning to MCP and a new face in Malawian politics, albeit with just church leadership experience.
DPP was desperate for a new face and someone from the central region to help the party win elections. They searched within the party and found nobody. They needed someone young enough to appeal to the youth vote, yet accomplished enough to convince voters. They found none within the party. They looked for someone within the party who had no skeletons in the closet and found none that possessed the other qualities . They had to look outside the party and settled for a brilliant and highly successful young man in the corporate world. That man was Saulos Chilima.
Mutharika took a lot of time to think about his running mate because he had to be careful to select a person who would help him win. Such was the care taken that he convinced Chilima to be his running mate just three months before the election. Many people were surprised how Saulos Chilima could leave his comfortable job to join politics on an opposition party ticket. They believed he was just fine with his job as the top boss for Airtel Malawi. That was true and it took four visits by DPP gurus to his office to persuade him to leave his job and be Mutharika's running mate.
Whoever helped Mutharika make the decision to find a running mate outside the party and outside the existing politicians saw that the party could not win with a team comprised of old timers. If the running mate position was not important for DPP to win as some DPP members and apologists want us to believe, they could have just selected anybody within the party to be Mutharika's running mate. They could have chosen Ben Phiri, Nicholas Dausi, Goodall Gondwe or any of the blue painted cadets as running mate and still win.
Chilima presented a fresh start. Unveiling Chilima, an accomplished economist, businessman and manager at a press briefing in Blantyre after presenting his nomination papers at Comesa hall, Mutharika said, "my running mate is a successful career man with huge experience in running business affairs as evidenced by the way he has turned around business at Airtel Malawi. It is that track record that has convinced me to appoint him as a running mate."
Chilima vigorously campaigned with Peter Mutharika. They criss-crossed the country convincing all possible voters to vote for DPP. Surely, the voters did not only hear Mutharika's voice. They also heard Chilima's voice. It's obvious that this team working together convinced the millions of voters that voted for DPP. It's also obvious that the strategy to chose a running mate with Chilima's qualities worked for DPP. Without a running mate like Chilima, Mutharika would not have won.
Those who point at similar voting patterns to previous elections as reason for DPP to say Chilima did not help them win elections are just deluded. Similar voting patterns do not mean same people voting for the same party for the same reasons. One might have voted for DPP in 2009 because of liking something about Bingu Wa Mutharika but voted for DPP in 2014 because of another reason, like Saulos Chilima's track record and brilliance.
After using Chilima to get votes in 2014, DPP should not change the tune now that Chilima is leading UTM, a party that has completely changed the political landscape. DPP and it's paid apologists can only fool themselves as Malawians embrace Chilima and UTM, the only hope for meaningful change in Malawi. Just like Chilima helped to sell Mutharika and DPP, he with the whole UTM membership are promoting the UTM brand like never seen before. Everyday, the talk is about Chilima and UTM. Chilima helped DPP win and now he is going to help UTM win.


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Get the latest tips & apps for your Smartphone
60 years of the Queen's Christmas speeches turned into free ebook for Kindle
The Verge Vlad Savov Dec 22, 2011
The Verge Dec 22, 2011
Vlad Savov Dec 22, 2011 Read Source
Dec 22, 2011
The Queen's Christmas speech is a long-held tradition in the UK and the Commonwealth, a chance for the realm's leader to assess the year that passed and send along some happy vibes for the one to come. It's broadcast on British television, radio, and over the internet on Christmas Day, and now Amazon's joining in its distribution by promising to make the transcript available to download as a free ebook on Kindles. If you're feeling impatient, Amazon has already compiled the previous 59 years of speeches into an ebook dubbed The Queen's Christmas Speeches (1952 - 2010) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II — a compendium that's sure to expand by one after this weekend. So, if you want to take a walk through the past half century via the...


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When I was younger, fishing was all about catching more fish. In recent years my perspective has changed pretty significantly. Just being out there and enjoying the environment is now my main focus – catching a few fish is just a bonus.
This past season I was fortunate to visit and explore some of Cape Cod's most scenic and peaceful places. Some of these spots were hard to get to and well off the beaten path. Others were easier to access.
Either way they are all awesome to experience.
I usually visit Mashpee's South Cape Beach early in the Cape Cod fishing season, when the bluefish are running.
On a calm day, nearby Waquoit Bay can look like a giant mirror or pane of blue glass.
Numerous paths cut through the dunes and woods, with most leading back to the beach. The forest extends right to the water here, because this area has been protected from development.
If the fishing is slow I will sit in the dunes in a spot that overlooks Waquoit Bay. If the timing and weather is right, the setting sun reflects perfectly off the bronze dunes and surrounding environment.
Provincetown can be a bit busy during the summer season, which is why I most like visiting the Province Lands during the off-season.
When I am here I find it impossible to remain on edge, or stressed. Those feelings float away when I am surrounded by waves of sand dunes and a rolling green forest.
Unlike most of Cape Cod the Province Lands are growing. Sediment and sand is pushed ashore here by the currents of Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
It's taken thousands of years to build the sand dunes that border the Province Land's ORV routes, bike trails and walking paths.
Provincetown's beaches are a world renowned place to surfcast for striped bass and bluefish.
From May through October you may even catch glimpse of the silhouette of a fisherman, casting a line into the cool waters of the Atlantic.
I feel most at the edge of Cape Cod, when I am standing beneath the cliffs of Wellfleet and Truro. The stretch of shoreline from Marconi Beach…
…to Ballston Beach is one of my favorites.
The landscape here is immense and not as permanent as it may appear. Powerful surf, high winds and sweeping currents change the environment each day.
One of the best ways to explore this area is by hiking the Pamet Area Trail System at Ballston Beach.
The trails meander through dunes and woodlands and past cranberry bogs and thickets. Wildflowers dot the landscape and provide some color against the blue backdrop of the sky and ocean.
Towards the end of the hike the trail climbs upward and brings you to the crest of a dune.
After climbing down the other side of the dune you will be greeted by the mighty expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Miles of sand extend to the north and south for as far as the eye can see.
The cliffs of Truro and Wellfleet can be serene and peaceful at any time of the day, during any season.
For an almost surreal experience, visit this area on a crisp, clear night, under a bright full moon.
Sandy Neck beach is beautiful, but the dune lands behind Sandy Neck beach are nothing short of breathtaking.
Interspersed throughout the dunes are small cottages and shacks.
Deer, fox and coyotes can be seen throughout this 7 mile long barrier beach.
At times the landscape is so foreign that it can feel as if you are walking on a different planet.
One of my favorite things to do here is eat fresh cranberries from the wild cranberry bogs.
I can't think of many other places on Cape Cod where you can do that! LOL
The air was thick with a calm and tranquil feeling as I stepped off the ferry and onto Cuttyhunk Island.
That peaceful easy feeling strengthened as I hiked Cuttyhunk's southwestern shoreline, en route to the Gosnold Monument.
Above the rocky shoreline I found an abandoned road, which weaved through woodlands, shrubbery and dunes.
The road led me to West End Pond and there, in the middle of the pond, stood the Gosnold Monument.
The monument was constructed in 1903 to commemorate Bartholomew Gosnold, who is credited with leading the first English expedition to Cape Cod in 1602.
I can only imagine how quiet and wild Cape Cod must have been during Gosnold's time.
As I stood near the Gosnold monument I realized that some places on the Cape are still wild.
You just have to do a little searching in order to find them.
Where do you find peace and quiet on Cape Cod? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
CapeCodToday.com welcomes thoughtful comments and the varied opinions of our readers. We are in no way obligated to post or allow comments that our moderators deem inappropriate. We reserve the right to delete comments we perceive as profane, vulgar, threatening, offensive, racially-biased, homophobic, slanderous, hateful or just plain rude. Commenters may not attack or insult other commenters, readers or writers. Commenters who persist in posting inappropriate comments will be banned from commenting on CapeCodToday.com.


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Adjustable silver bracelet with sliding ball clasp, on a beautiful box chain. These make perfect gifts as one size fits all! If you'd like an initial stamped on to the triangle, just let us know in the notes section when you check out!
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Basically the same issues that plagued him in Minnesota:
He lacked control and command Thursday, falling behind early in counts, leading to either walks or hard contact off the bats of Seattle hitters. Meyer possesses a high-90s fastball and a big curveball, but he has abandoned his changeup completely, leaving the tall righty with a repertoire probably better suited for the bullpen.
With Skaggs and Richards out, it will be interesting to see if Meyer gets a long-term opportunity here, and what comes of it. The Angels are not brimming with options, but they are still in the contention mix.
Edited by spycake, 05 May 2017 - 05:44 AM.


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All the way back in 1888, an entrepreneur named Mr. French founded Maui Soda & Ice works. As part of the effort to eradicate the plague of 1900, they burned down their Kahalui facility and moved to the present Wailuku location. The company was a community icon supplying the island with locally produced ice and Coca Cola soda products when long-time company manager Manuel Nobriga took over in the 1940's. Manuel, who made his start by delivering ice to Kahului homes from a horse and wagon, always stressed the importance of ohana (family) in the workplace. For well over 100 years, Maui Soda & Ice Works continues to grow and serve the Maui community.
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From the beaches of California and Hawaii, Malibu Shirts proudly brings to you our unique collection of authentic vintage style apparel. Rooted in the history of surf and beach culture, our shirts are focused on the people, places, businesses and events, that have shaped an entire lifestyle. We invite you to shop around, reminisce, and find your new favorite shirt!
Copyright © 2018 Malibu Shirts


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Fact Fridays – Episode 14: Getting Involved on Campus
At U of G, we believe that getting involved on campus sets the stage for making a difference in the world, which is why there are so many opportunities to get involved both on and off campus. We're breaking SOME of these down today.
Fact #1: We've got clubs and student organizations galore!
We know it's important for you to find friends with similar interests in university. Luckily we have a club or student organization for many different interests, philanthropic causes and academic programs.
There are too many clubs and student organizations to list so we recommend checking out the CSA website to discover them! If there is something specific you are looking for you can also search keywords or browse by category on the Gryph Life website.
Fact #2: You can get involved with Student Government
Maybe you're looking to carry your student government interests from high school into university, or maybe you'd like to break into a leadership role. Either way, we've got you covered with various on-campus student governments.
- The Central Student Association (CSA) is the official undergraduate student union. They look after your student bus pass, your dental and health plans, concerts, shows, speakers and more
- Interhall Council represents students in residence and organizes various residence events
- Academic Student Governments are affiliated with each college. Each government has clubs for their majors, and hosts events and activities all year long
Fact #3: Community involvement is encouraged
When you come to U of G, you are part of a community. Whether you want to mentor youth in an afterschool program or support other students on campus, Student Life will help you find experiences that fit your interests, availability and goals!
Fact #4: Intramural sports are our JAM
We offer over 20 intramural sports a year and you can try as many as you like! Join a team with a group from residence or class; or join solo to meet some new friends.
We've also got over 20 sports clubs and more than 30 classes and certifications to dabble in. There truly is something for everyone in the world of athletics at Guelph.
Fact #5: We've got over 4000 on-campus jobs available
Interested in getting involved on campus while earning some cash? There are over 4000 employment opportunities right on campus.
From being a tour guide or lifeguarding to taking on a work-study position or co-op placement, we've got it all!
Check out the Student Financial Services website for work-study jobs on campus and visit Recruit Guelph to discover local job opportunities.
Future Gryphons, these are just SOME of the many ways to be actively involved in the campus community. Talk to people, do some research and find your own ways to Improve Life once you're here. We can't wait to see the difference you'll make in the world!


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The Bracknell Town youth football tournament is open for entries for all age groups from U7 through U14. The redesigned format has been a roaring success and the feedback from previous years has been overwhelmingly positive, ultimately, we try to offer something a little different to others:
– Played on our 3G pitch at the redeveloped Larges Lane stadium it offers a very unique tournament experience for children to enjoy.
– The event is hosted over 2 weekends May 19th/20th & June 9th/10th
– All age groups are competitive & is Invite only
– For teams playing U8 this season we are offering a tournament at 7 aside
– For teams playing U10 this season we are offering a tournament at 9 aside.
– Recognising the hard work coaches/managers put in, we also don't charge for the coach or manager entry/car parking on the day.
– We offer returning teams a discount, reflecting the fact that without them our tournament wouldn't be quite so great.
– If that is not enough from today until Sunday 18th February we are offering £5 off the entry price for most age groups Please note Spaces are limited,
Dates & prices (price is applicable until Sunday 18 Feb and includes above mentioned discount)
May 19
AM – U7 – 5 aside. £25 per team, PM – U8 – 7 aside. £30 per new team & £25 per returning team (limited spaces)
May 20
AM – U9 – 7 aside. £30 per new team & £25 per returning team (limited spaces), PM – U10 – 9 aside. £40 per team (V limited spaces)
Jun 9
AM – U11 – 9 aside. £50 per team (V limited spaces), PM – U14 – 6 aside. £30 per new team & £20 per returning team
Jun 10
AM – U12 – 9 aside. £50 per team (limited spaces), PM – U13 – 6 aside. £30 per new team & £20 per returning team
A booking form and a Reg form are attached, we look forward to welcoming you to the lane soon.
Yours in Sport
Marcus Glazebrook & Colin Penton
Bracknell Town Youth Football tournament organisers.
07939 859966


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
ResponsibilitiesThe Building Inspection Department is responsible for issuing permits and performing inspections for new construction, additions and remodeling projects for residential, commercial and industrial properties.
The Building Inspection Department enforces the building code, electrical code, plumbing code, mechanical code, fuel gas code, energy code, zoning ordinance and certain state statutes relating to construction.
The City of Haslet follows the codes below:
2015 International Building Code 2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code
2015 International Residential Code 2015 International Mechanical Code
2015 International Plumbing Code 2015 International Energy Conservation Code
2014 National Electrical Code 2015 International Fuel Gas Code
2015 International Fire Code
View a complete list of available permit applications.
When is a Permit Required?
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Apuntob White Cotton Trousers
The Apuntob white cotton trouser is a great summer pant. Made of a crisp and breezy white cotton these pants will carry you through the hottest day. Christie is 5'10" and wears the size small.
Apuntob is a beautifully designed collection from Italy by Barbara Garofalo. Using all natural materials the company makes exquisite pieces from high quality fabrics.


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Friday, 26 November 2010
How to scare your parcel postie without really trying….
One day this week I decided to do some crafting before I got showered and dressed. Needed to get some sanding and painting done, so pulled a sweatshirt over my pjs and got to work. The work took longer than I had thought, thus, when the doorbell rang just after 2 p.m. I was – shame on me!! – still not properly dressed.
Before I reveal more, I wanted to say that I have a good friend B. And she recently gave me a sort of miner's light, with a stretchy band to fix it round my head. As I have had a lot of eye operations, I don't see very well, and need a good source of light directed exactly there where I am working.
So far so good.
I was dressed in my grey and white striped pjs, with pink mice on the top, a bright red sweatshirt with alpine embroidery, my grey and white animal slippers – always a pretty sight! And my head-mounted spotlight. Oh, and sage green fingers from painting, and the foam brush held firmly in my left hand. Not really looking my best.
OK, I pressed the intercom, and a voice asked me if I could accept a parcel for a neighbour who wasn't home. Sure, I said! The Postie staggered up the stairs carrying a giant parcel, and stared at me as if I was an apparition from Mars.
*You been looking for something?* he asked.
*No, why?*
*You've got a spotlight on your head.*
*I was just painting.*
*Really?* he said rather doubtfully.
Hmm, I had forgotten it was switched on. No problem. Pressed the switch, and asked,
He grinned all over his face.
*Now you're on blink modus, Lady. Better be careful, we're near the airport. A plane might land on the house!*
With that he gave me the thing to sign, dumped the parcel, and disappeared with leaps and bounds down the stairs.
Then I went and looked at myself in the mirror.
PS: Another parcel came today, this time for me. He didn't ring my bell, but gave it to the lady downstairs.
And the moral of the story?
There isn't one. At my age, and especially at home, I can wear what I like, when I like. If the Postie doesn't like it, that's his problem!
PPS: The doorbell just sounded. I'M BUSY!!!
13 comments:
Lol, Bless you Val you have just brightened my day!ReplyDelete
hugs Alyson x
Thanks, Alyson, lots of sparkles for you to brighten your day still more!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFriday, November 26, 2010
Oh dear, you have been up to mischief again!! Your poor postman!! Hugs, SarahReplyDelete
ROFL - can just imagine the sight!ReplyDelete
Sue xx
p.s. my postie is used to similar sights - never even blinks!
Thanks Sue and Sarah. I think Posties must be used to lots of such things!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFriday, November 26, 2010
Oh Val, what a hoot! This really made me giggle, wish there were more people like you out there, like Alyson says, reading this has really made my day too, just brilliant! lol! xxxReplyDelete
PS. sorry I've not been around much and on the forum, still major building work going on with our house, it's just been and still is completely hectic, but I can finally see light at the end of the long tunnel, we now have a few walls again, yippeeeeee! the end is in sight! Think we may be back in by mid Jan, and then hopefully things might start getting back to normal, can't wait! xxx :)
Hi Sue, glad it gave you a giggle. Hope your building site is soon history! Lots of sparkles!ReplyDelete
Oh Valerie, that did give me a giggle. I kept thinking, "well, that doesn't sound like too bad a sight" until you got to the bit about the miner's lamp, at which point I had to admit that you probably did look a bit bonkers, lol. Love the fact that he didn't even bring up your parcel today but left it downstairs, the poor man will be off work with stress at this rate, he he. Thanks for the laugh - and please get dressed properly before you go out and check in the mirror that you've taken off your blinking headlight!! CoBReplyDelete
Don't worry Carole, I do get dressed before going out, it's too cold out there for PJs!!ReplyDelete
LOL, brilliant post Val. We are just so alike, but without the light, and am I bovered...no I couldn't give a fig.....Enjoy the weekend. Hugs Annette xReplyDelete
Well, some of us have seen the light Netty....My postie has now, too!!ReplyDelete
LOL oh Val that did make me giggle I too like to wear whatever I feel comfy in at home, hugs almaxReplyDelete
Thanks Alma! I think we all have a right to be comfy at home!!ReplyDelete
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David Wolfe works as a public lawyer (QC) at Matrix. Until April 2013, he was also a Commissioner (non-executive director) at the Legal Services Commission and a Board Member of the Legal Services Board. Until July 2008, he was a part-time Chair of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
David also trains lawyers and others, particularly in education and public law. He contributes regularly to general and specialist publications and radio broadcasts on legal issues. David believes passionately that public bodies should act in a fair and open way, and that the law and lawyers have a key role in ensuring that happens. David's blog www.acanofworms.org.uk is for people concerned about academies/free schools and the law. As a public lawyer, David specialises in "judicial review" challenges to the decisions of, among others, government, regulators (including environmental and professional regulators), local authorities, schools and health bodies. David has particular expertise in:
- environmental law,
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David's clients include:
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- bodies such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
David is regularly identified by the legal directories as a "leading" barrister in the areas in which he practices. He enjoys working as part of a close and relatively informal team with clients and those instructing him. He is flexible in how he applies his skill and experience, including as a lawyer, to meet his clients' needs and will make sure that 'reasonable adjustments' are made as needed.
David accepts instructions under the Bar Council Standard Contractual Terms, details of which can be found here.


text: Strength Techniques and Strategies Print The 6 Best Resistance Bands of 2019 Work your whole body with this low-impact favorite Reviewed by Reviewed by Tara Laferrara, CPT on July 01, 2019 Tara Laferrara is a certified NASM personal trainer, yoga teacher, and fitness coach. She also created her own online training program, the TL Method. Learn about our Wellness Board Tara Laferrara, CPT Written by Erinne Magee Updated on October 30, 2019 More in Strength Techniques and Strategies Beginners Injury Prevention Reducing Fat Strength Training Total Body Workouts Programs for Sports Abs Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. 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A couple of nights back, I watched a fascinating special about the science of running marathons. Months before the Boston Marathon, Novaput together a marathon team representing a regular, old, cross-segment of society. Of the 13 members of the team, most are over-weight or have a very high BMI. Nova wanted to see if these regular people could achieve most folks scoff off as impossible: running the Boston Marathon. The 13 members of Team Nova, were followed through nine months of training. (For more about the show: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/marathon/)
Different athletes have different physiques that allow them to excel at their sports. Football players have large upper bodies with bulky muscles for short bursts of power (fast-twitch). Futbol players have sinewy muscles, that may look scrawny, but are actually much more efficient at carrying oxygen to the muscles over long distances (slow-twitch). So what did the "normal" people need to do in order to become marathoners?
VO2max is the most important aspect to a person's strength endurance sports. It is also a good gauge of overall cardiovascular health. VO2max is the "volume of oxygen a person can consume in one minute as they exercise at maximum exertion." In endurance sports, you rely on oxygen to convert the polysaccharides (sugars) into energy for your muscles, so your efficiency at dispersing oxygen through your body is critical during long distance runs, such as, let's say, the Boston Marathon. Elite endurance athletes can consume huge amounts of oxygen when they compete. Some of their VO2max scores are twice as high as most of us mortals. For example: Lance Armstrong once measured in at 83.8 ml/kg/min, while the average man at his age would only get between 40 and 50. We are all born with a genetic range for a certain VO2max, and this is why most of us will never become champion runners, but despite the importance of genetics, we can improve our VO2 through exercise.
Given that VO2max is a measure of oxygen consumption, most people believe that lung capacity, "the volume of air a person can inhale in a single breath," is an important factor. Not so, as lung size is not a limiting factor and most people inhale more than they can ever use anyway. From the lungs, oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream. Then, it attaches to the iron-based protein hemoglobin on red blood cells, which carry the oxygen to the multitude of cells requiring energy. Naturally, smoking and diseases like anemia will decrease your oxygen carrying ability. Runners also create high numbers of red blood cells for transporting oxygen. Training at high altitudes where the air is thin can create more red blood cells. Exercise creates new capillaries, tiny blood vessels that supply oxygen to the muscles. Exercise can also make the blood vessels everywhere less stiff, improving blood flow and reduces clogs in veins and arteries.
The greatest input to VO2max scores is cardiac output, "the amount of oxygen-rich blood your heart can send throughout your body in a single minute." Through exercise are hearts actually increase in size, bettering our cardiac output, which is "the product of heart rate (the number of beats per minute) times stroke volume (how much blood the heart ejects with each contraction)."
A person's ability to grow slow- or fast-twitch muscle is mainly genetic, but by training in ways to strengthen a specific type of muscle we can gain each one in turn. The key to efficient energy production are mitochondria, tiny cell organelles that act as power plants. Mitochondria combine oxygen with glucose to make ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which powers cellular work. In muscle cells, ATP is essential for muscle contraction and therefore motion. Slow-twitch fibers hold more mitochondria than fast-twitch. Exercise, again, increases the number of mitochondria and makes mitochondria larger and more metabolically active. In order to contract and relax, the muscle protein, actin, will use ATP to "shuffle" or "walk" up and down the other protein, myosin. "Better," mitochondria also lower muscle fatigue. Sore muscles during exercise are linked to a buildup of lactic acid, which is a byproduct of anaerobic respiration, where glucose is converted to 2 ATP molecules without oxygen, this is much less efficient, and produces the burning lactic acid. Aerobic respiration, by comparison, produces 36 ATP molecules with oxygen. Glucose is converted to pyruvate through glycolysis in the cell. The pyruvate is then moved into the mitochondria where it is stripped of its H+ ions in the Krebs Cycle. These will pass through the mitochondria membrane creating a proton gradient, a difference in electrical charge. When the ions pass back through the membrane they go agains the gradient, producing energy to combine a phosphate to ADP (phosphorylation), in order to produce ATP, the energy molecule. (http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/cellresp.htm)
A Diagram of Cellular Respiration
There is a runner in all of us and it just takes some hard work to achieve that.


text: Welcome to the 37th part in our series of troubleshooting articles dedicated to the HTC One M8. Once the flagship model of the Taiwanese company, this model is still one of the best Android phones out in the market today despite being released a year ago. This model was initially released running on KitKat and


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Events in Rockland County
The best days in Rockland County start with a fun event! Find it here – festivals, parades, concerts and shows, art exhibits, sporting events, holiday celebrations, special tours and more.
- This event has passed.
The Bruce Show "Unplugged" at Torne Valley Vineyards
January 18 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Bruce Show "Unplugged" is an acoustic tribute to the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Tickets $15 door; limited seating