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After all the colors in the previous level, the 100 Rooms level 29 seems like a breath of fresh air – but it still is a difficult level to complete and I am sure you will find a walkthrough for this room extremely useful. So let's see what to do to complete this new room and let's check out together the 100 Rooms level 29 walkthrough below!
First, you have to pick up a knife from the floor, under the big wheel.
Then, go right and pick up the big hammer.
Go right again and pick up the bucket. Use it in your inventory with the water to fill it.
Go once again to the right and pick up the TV and the coat. Double tap the TV in the inventory and use the hammer on it to get the screen frame.
Next, in your inventory, double tap the coat and use the knife on it to get a rag. Double tap the screen frame in the inventory and use it with the rag.
Now use the rag with the aquarium and put the water inside. Tap the water remaining in the rag and you will get some gold (Wow, too bad we can't keep that!)
Go back and twice to the left and use the gold pile with the machine there, then after placing the gold in the hole, use the hammer on it.
Take the coin and use it on the room to open it!
And this is it! The 100 Rooms Level 29 walkthrough is here and I hope you had a great time completing this level (and you're not too sorry that you couldn't keep the gold!). Don't forget that we have a 100 Rooms Level 28 walkthrough live on the site already and you can now check out the level 30 walkthrough!


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Westside Gallery Lofts vs. Artscape Triangle Lofts
It's a Toronto apartment throwdown! Back in November I took a tour of the newly opened Artscape Triangle Lofts, which are located in the same structure that houses the Westside Gallery Lofts. To keep the costs down for the Artscape tenants, their portion of the building -- which comprises 68 units -- is accessed via a separate entrance and lacks some the luxury amenities enjoyed by the other tenants (e.g. a pool, fitness centre, rooftop waterfall and hot tub).
As a result of this more no-frills approach (along with other subsidies), the units on the Artscape side are considerably less expensive. This whole segregation thing (that probably makes it sound worse than it is), however, has continued to intrigue me. And, as a result of the plethora of comments on the first post that criticized the abundance of exposed concrete on display in the unit I visited, my curiosity as to what the apartments/condos on the other side might look like has remained pronounced.
No longer. After some searching, I finally came across a decent set of photos of a one-bedroom from the Westside Gallery Lofts to which the originally featured apartment can be compared. Although each apartment looks to be the same size, there are a few significant differences over and above the added amenities. The floors of the first unit depicted below have been given a wood finish (though not all of the Westside Lofts have this), the kitchen is decked out in stainless steel appliances, the bedroom area is fully enclosed, the ceilings appear to be a foot higher, and there's a (much) better view.
But what about the price? The subsidized Artscape rental costs $740 a month while the Westside Gallery Loft is listed at $1450 on Craigslist and Kijiji. Of course not everyone has the option of taking up residence in a subsidized apartment, but just to play around for a moment (and to offer something of a response to the comments on the first post), my question is this: taking into consideration the differences in amenities, appearance and price, which apartment would you rather rent?
Westside Gallery Lofts
Artscape Triangle Lofts
Note: Due to a request from the real estate agent representing the owner of the apartment originally featured from the Westside Gallery Lofts, we replaced images depicting that building.
Join the conversation Load comments

subset: commoncrawl


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Katie Pavlich has the details on this wonderful contribution to Western civilization.
A new online video game is taking political discourse to a whole new level. We already reported the death threats being received by NRA executives and now, a video game which allows users to shoot NRA President David Keene in the head, has been released. The creator of the game identified as gizmo01942 Ediot says, "Share this everywhere, especially gun-nut and anti-game websites. Also see if you can't send it in to the NRA somehow, like through the feedback on their website or something." Gizmo also provides screen shots to viewers, which can be seen below.
The graphics Katie posted show pretty clearly that the only point of the game is to murder NRA President David Keene.
For whatever it's worth, the NRA is the nation's premier gun safety organization. Safety, not irresponsibility, is their thing.
This isn't the first time anti-gun activists have proposed murder as a recourse for dealing with the supporters of the Second Amendment. On January 8, Daily Beast columnist Buzz Bissinger appeared on the Piers Morgan show on CNN and high-lariously suggested that Morgan should shoot Alex Jones.
And these anti-gun-nuts wonder why some Second Amendment supporters are so intent on keeping their firearms.


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Rech Joe in Montgomery - AL, 36117
Listing Details
250 Winton M Blount Loop, Montgomery, AL, 36117
Joe Rech
(334) 590-7653
Reviews (0)As a client or visitor of Rech Joe in Montgomery - AL, 36117 , you can write, submit & share your experience and opinions about their services, prices, etc. Your review will become a very useful information for other visitors. All reviews will be verified by moderators at Law-Firms.Co.


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The results have been amazing and I am in better shape as I approach 50 than I have ever been in my life. Josh makes the work outs challenging but fun. I actually look forward to going now. Josh treats you like family and really care about your progress. For all of you out there who want to make any sort of transformation (big or small), Josh gets my highest recommendation. I have worked with various online trainers, nutrition programs, joined gyms with live trainers, taken nutrition classes, and read books. I know what I SHOULD be doing to get the body I want, but that is easier said than done. Josh's program is so different because he truly cares. If you have a question, message him and he will respond personally. If he doesn't hear from you in a day or two, he will message you to check on you to make sure you are good. The things about Josh's program that have helped me when other programs didn't are 1) Josh forms small groups and gets everyone involved and accountable. You meet new friends from different places with a goal in common. We share successes and struggles. We are a team bettering each other. Josh really is involved with the group and it keeps it fun. 2) Josh has only 3 rules, because if you try to do everything at once it is overwhelming. He has asked us to focus on these 3 main rules and we will see results. They work! 3) Josh is very connected with me and the group. We have a private Facebook page and he does Facebook lives just for us so we get to know him and he can offer encouragement, education, information, and support. He makes sure we are accountable, and when you have someone checking in on you all the time, you don't want to let them down. Bottom line is Josh truly cares and wants me to succeed, so I want to succeed. I'm very happy with this program and highly recommend it. Josh truly cares about people! He has dedicated his entire adult life to helping others. Be it serving and protecting total strangers when he was with the PD, or helping to push you out of your comfort zone in the gym and into a healthier version of yourself. Josh will be challenging you to set realistic goals and to work hard to achieve them, you can trust him to put you in winning situations and you can trust that he cares about you and your success! We all know where we'd like to be in terms of health and fitness and he is super knowledgeable and energetic. Josh will give you the keys to your success, the road map to get to where you want to be, and he will keep you motivated to get to your destination. Best of all, he will be your partner through the entire journey because nobody likes to take a road trip solo! 🤣 It's 2019! Look better and live longer! It's a no brainer. Call Josh @ Josh Strong! As an added bonus, he's pretty darn funny in the process, so this will not be another lame ole' "trainer" experience. 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If you've never made homemade apple cider then you need to stop what you are doing and go make it now. Seriously, it's that good!
This spiced apple cider recipe is so delicious and it makes the whole house smell pretty amazing. It's also a pretty simple recipe to make. Perfect for all those upcoming holiday parties.
Spiced Apple Cider Recipe
This traditional recipe is a favorite during the holidays. You can also use your crockpot to make this homemade apple cider.
Cider Ingredients:
12 assorted small-medium apples
1 small orange
1 C brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2-3 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
water to cover
Cider Directions:
-Wash and chop whole apples and orange (no need to remove peels, seeds, or stems)
-Put all into a large pot. Add spices.
-Cover with water bringing to a boil. Continue to boil uncovered for 1 hour.
-Cover. Simmering for 2 hours.
-Using a potato masher roughly mash all ingredients.
-Continue to simmer until cider is dark tasting sweet and spicy. Allow to cool.
-Strain everything into a large pot.
Store in a refrigerator.
If you want to put a fun twist on this recipe try some of the options below to really make this apple cider your own.
Poison Apple
Poison Apple Ingredients:
4 oz apple cider
4 oz Cranberry juice
Poison Caramel Apple Cider
Poison Caramel Apple Cider Ingredients:
8 oz apple cider
1 tbsp. caramel sauce
Serve warm
As you can see you can really do just about anything with this recipe. I've even seen people do a pumpkin spiced apple cider recipe. I haven't personally tried it, but I hear that it's pretty tasty!
What are your favorite apple cider combinations? Tell me in the comments!
[mailerlite_form form_id=6]
If you enjoyed this post make sure to check out some of my other popular posts.


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GIRLilla Warfare's "Teen Expert" Debby Shulman advises parents to start NOW with selfie-awareness: Are you placing TOO much scholastic pressure on your to kid achieve YOUR dream?
Get ready, Parents! Not only are your college graduates jobless, depressed and nostalgic, but also many are returning HOME. GW's Jessica Jaksich has 4 pieces of advice for you …
The party invite said: College Attire Only/School Spirit Mandatory. Put it this way: The '80s never looked better.
Sometimes in life there is gain from pain. GW's editorial assistant talks about her own parents' divorce, and how she has found beauty in the "ugly."


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U.S. natural gas prices recently reached a 14-year high, as we're hit with ongoing inflation and the war in Ukraine. As these catalysts are not likely to subside any time soon, natural gas prices could remain elevated at levels not seen since 2008. Here are three stocks related to natural gas exploration, production and distribution, and also pay high dividends to shareholders.
The No. 1: ONE Gas
ONE Gas Inc. (OGS) is one of the largest publicly traded natural gas utilities in the United States. The company provides natural gas distribution services to approximately 2.2 million customers. ONE Gas is the largest natural gas distributor in Oklahoma (with 88% market share) and Kansas (with 72% market share), and the third-largest in Texas (with 13% market share). Its customers are residential, commercial, and transportation-related in all three states. The company generates around $1.8 billion in annual revenues and is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The company is performing well in 2022, thanks in large part to strong rate activity. In the most recent quarter, revenues came in at $429 million, 35.9% higher year-over-year. Once again, demand for natural gas remained elevated while the company achieved customer growth, which, along with higher rates, resulted in improved performance.
Operating income came in at $58.6 million versus $51.1 million in the comparable period last year due to a $14.4 million increase in rates and an increase of $1.5 million in residential sales due to net customer growth in Oklahoma and Texas. These increases were offset partially by an increase of $5.8 million in outside service costs. Accordingly, EPS came in slightly stronger, growing from $0.56 to $0.59 year-over-year.
Management sees its ongoing positive momentum lasting through this year. The company reiterated the previous outlook, which projects fiscal 2022 EPS between $3.96 and $4.20.
With a projected dividend payout ratio of approximately 61% for 2022, the dividend looks highly secure. The company has rapidly grown its dividend since initiating quarterly payments in 2014. Management targets annual dividend growth between 6% and 8% through 2025. Shares currently yield 3.0%.
A Garden of Opportunity: Kinder Morgan
Kinder Morgan (KMI) is among the largest energy companies in the U.S. It is engaged in storage and transportation of oil and gas, and other products. It owns an interest in or operates approximately 83,000 miles of pipelines and 144 terminals. Its pipelines transport natural gas, refined petroleum products, crude oil, carbon dioxide (CO2) and more. Kinder Morgan's transportation assets operate like a toll road, whereby the company receives a fee for its services, which generally avoids commodity price risk. Approximately 90% of Kinder Morgan's cash flow is fee-based.
Kinder Morgan has significant network and economies of scale competitive advantages as one of the largest energy companies in the U.S. and the largest natural gas transporter, moving approximately 40% of the natural gas used in the U.S.
In the 2022 second quarter, net income attributable to KMI stood at $635 million, compared to $757 million net loss in the year-ago period. Distributable cash flow increased to $1.18 billion from $1.03 billion in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings increased to $621 million from $516 million year-over-year. Revenue increased significantly by 63.5% to $5.15 billion year-over-year.
For fiscal 2022, Kinder Morgan continues to expect a net income attributable to KMI of $2.5 billion and declare dividends of $1.11 per share, distributable cash flow of $4.7 billion, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $7.2 billion and aims to end 2022 with a 4.3-times net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio.
Kinder Morgan's biggest growth catalysts for the future are new pipeline and terminals projects. Natural gas is rapidly replacing coal, which gives Kinder Morgan a major advantage. The company plans to continue investing in growth projects and joint ventures in 2022 and expects to fully fund it with internally generated cash flow without the need to access capital markets.
The current dividend payout level seems to be secure. Kinder Morgan has been deleveraging and the company received a credit rating upgrade from Standard & Poor's and Moody's. The company grew its dividend by 1.9% in 2021 and analysts expect a $1.11 per share dividend in 2022. Shares currently yield 5.8%.
A Salute to National Fuel Gas
National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG) is a diversified energy company that operates in five business segments: exploration & production, pipeline & storage, gathering, utility, and energy marketing. The company's largest segment is exploration & production.
In the most recent quarter, revenue of $502.6 million increased by 27% year-over-year. Adjusted earnings-per-share came to $1.17 for the quarter, up 24% year-over-year. Management expects full-year adjusted EPS to be in the range of $5.85 to $5.95 per share. Full-year fiscal 2023 adjusted EPS is expected in a range of $7.25 to $7.75 per share, which represents an increase of 27% from fiscal 2022.
The company pursues growth by growing its natural gas production and expanding its pipeline network. Thanks to record production and a multi-year high price of natural gas, the company posted record earnings in 2021 and thus it has now grown its earnings-per-share at a 5.6% average annual rate over the last decade. Even better, thanks to a continued rally in the price of natural gas, the company is poised to post record earnings in 2022.
National Fuel Gas' competitive advantage is its combination of regulated and stable businesses (like pipelines and utilities) with cyclical and potentially higher-growth sectors (like exploration & production).
With 51 years of consecutive dividend increases, National Fuel Gas qualifies to be a Dividend King. The current dividend is safe with a 2022 expected payout ratio of just ~30%, which leaves plenty of room for the company's long dividend increase streak to continue. Shares currently yield 2.5%.


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Sony Kapoor on the rise of Goldman Sachs and the need to democratize the economy
Story Transcript
PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay. And we're talking to Sony Kapoor. Sony is the managing director of Re-Define, Rethinking Development, Finance & Environment, international think tank. Used to work for Lehman Brothers and some of the other institutions on Wall Street. Thanks for joining us again, Sony.
SONY KAPOOR, MANAGING DIRECTOR, RE-DEFINE: Thank you for having me.
JAY: Our conversation has brought us to the big G, Goldman Sachs, which is becoming such a massive entity unto itself. It's really, especially out of this most recent crisis, emerged no longer one of many financial institutions but clearly more than the gorilla on the block. Goldman not only controls—or its people are allies, the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve. But it's a ridiculous thing even to talk about insider trading when you talk to Goldman. They have people connected to them, probably, on every important board of most of the major companies in the world. They have board-level information when they decide what to trade and not to trade. Talk about the rise of Goldman and what that means in terms of the democratization of the economy.
KAPOOR: Well, there are two aspects to this. One, there was this perception, even before the crisis actually happened, that Goldman was somehow first amongst equals. One reason behind that was, unlike most of its other competitors, such as Lehman, etc., Goldman stayed having a partnership structure for much longer. It was only recently—I think it's in the past decade or so—that the partnership was dissolved and it became a public holding company. What that meant was that it was much more closely knit than other financial institutions. What it also probably did was it helped Goldman weather the crisis better than the other financial institutions, because if you're a partnership, your capital and money's tied up with everybody else's, and you stand to lose personally, which employees of Lehman and some of the other banks didn't. The worst that would happen to them would be that they wouldn't get their salary or bonus—they didn't actually actively lose any money. And what that meant was that the risk-management practices within Goldman, where everybody was peeking over everybody else's shoulder, still had some residual footprint from those partnership days, even though the structure had changed. And I think it helped Goldman be more vigilant going into the crisis. The second aspect is—.
JAY: Let me just interrupt for a sec. But that vigilance also meant they were betting against their own advice to their own clients. As we know, they were insuring with AIG on investment properties on the downside that they were selling to their clients without disclosing this, so that risk management had very little to do with any kind of responsibility to anything other than their own quick profit.
KAPOOR: That is true. And I think there's shades of gray between what is legally permissible and what is ethical or not. And to my judgment, this was all above board and legal, but not necessarily ethical. The important thing is that in many of these big banks—there were parts of Lehman Brothers which seriously recognized the gravity of the situation and which were asking the management of the firm to get out of this real estate business and to try and reduce their exposure and to try and buy insurance the way Goldman did. But there were other parts of Lehman Brothers which were making so much money out of this that they wanted the party to continue. And we know which side won. And I think that this aspect of thinking of these big financial institutions as one cohesive-whole entity is a little bit mistaken. So it is quite possible, actually, that different parts of Goldman were pulling in different directions. And it's not to say that the people dealing with the customers and selling them those products were not aware of what the other side was doing.
JAY: Sony, you worked with these people on Wall Street. This idea of "too big to fail", that if this whole house of cards comes falling down, that the state is going to have to come in and bail us out, were they betting on that all along?
KAPOOR: Not explicitly, especially if you look at the institutions that failed. The two institutions, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, they were actually out of the big Wall Street banks, the institutions which had the highest amount of employee ownership. So if you look at it from the incentive perspective, that these are the people who are running the bank who actually own 50 percent or 40 percent of the bank, they knew that in the event of any failure it's the bondholders who mostly get bailed out, but the shareholders mostly were going to lose a lot of money, and they were aware of that.
JAY: But Lehman must have been in shock that they didn't get bailed out. I mean, Paulson and others were trying to get the Brits to bail out Lehman. They must have been a little surprised, in fact. But it's an ex-Goldman guy that kind of decides whether they live or die. I mean, Goldman must have been betting they weren't going to go down.
KAPOOR: At one level, perhaps. But, again, if you look at the individual employees, the calculations they make are very simple. So if you're an employee of Lehman Brothers and you own maybe, you know, 0.5 percent of Lehman Brothers or something, if you're a senior employee, but the amount of bonuses that you can get by betting the bank every year, year after year, are probably significantly higher than the amount you would lose if the whole bank failed. So, from an individual perspective, it is still rational to bet the bank without counting on government bailouts. But collectively it's disastrous, and what you had is a failure of this decision-making. So, yes, the awareness that these banks would be bailed out was really important. And the way it works is that these banks would not have been able to raise the financing through bonds that they did at fairly cheap rates if the bondholders who were investing in these banks, who were lending these banks money, did not think that these banks would be bailed out. So it's not within the institution that this decision-making happens, but it's the awareness of the possibility or the likelihood of bailout means that these institutions can take much more risks than they would otherwise be able to do, 'cause otherwise bondholders would penalize them.
JAY: Right. Now, there's two kind of proposals that have been talked about as possible reforms. One is, if it's too big to fail, break it up into something smaller. Is breaking up of Goldman—I know it's not being seriously talked about, but is it something that should be being talked about?
KAPOOR: I think absolutely, yes. If you look back in the United States to when, for example, Standard Oil was broken up, there was a lot of controversy at that point of time about whether this was the right thing to do, and this was a successful business, etc. But in retrospect it proved to be a good decision, and the sum of parts was greater than the whole. And I think that if Goldman and some of the other big, large, too-big-to-fail banks were broken down, either by geography or, more likely, by function, what you would have is a sounder financial system, a financial system where the society will not be forced to bear the risks of profits being privatized by these institutions, where they would be politically less powerful. And even investors in these institutions would benefit, because the sum of parts would be bigger than the whole.
JAY: Now, the other option, or maybe an option that goes with this, is—the logic goes like this: if the public option is necessary and useful for keeping the health-insurance business in line, then why not the public option for the finance sector?
KAPOOR: There is a possible role for the public sector. And in the United States, what you have is already a significant public-sector presence, for example Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. And in many developing countries, you have development banks. And there was a tradition for that here: you had banks dedicated to agricultural lending, dedicated to small and medium sector. The most important thing we need to think about is to build up a diverse financial system and a competitive financial system. What we had was increasing uniformity in the financial system, where every bank was chasing the exact same kind of investments, lending to the exact same people, and not lending to the exact same group. A good bank is one which lends to someone that nobody else lends to, but does not lend to someone that everybody else is lending to. And what we've had over the years is exact reversal of this doctrine, where those who have a good credit score, for example, get twenty envelopes through their door offering them credit, and those who actually need the credit are not able to access it. What you need to do is integrate this social goal of providing credit, enabling financial services which allow people to participate in society and grow, and combine that with the idea of having diverse financial institutions fulfilling real sector needs. And this combination is more stable.
JAY: And what we're seeing is probably the opposite. We're seeing increased concentration of ownership on Wall Street, the rise of the monolith, Goldman, and in the public sector we're seeing the strengthening of the role of the Federal Reserve, which also strengthens the hand of the big banks. So we're not seeing more diversity; we're seeing more concentration of control.
KAPOOR: Absolutely. And this is why when we're discussing the changes we need to do. We need to not just reverse what has happened in the past one or two years of this increasing concentration, but go much further than that, in actively fostering diversity, in actively imposing a more competitive landscape. And that is why breaking up these too-big-to-fail institutions is extremely crucial to this idea of building up a stable financial system and a prosperous society.
JAY: So maybe one thing people watching might do when they choose who they're going to vote for is vote for people who aren't getting any money from the finance sector. They might be a little more likely to have a little backbone on these issues, 'cause most people in Congress are getting some kind of money from the finance sector, and certainly President Obama was one of the more bigger recipients of that.
KAPOOR: I'm not familiar enough with the landscape, but I think that the whole concept of lobbying and of campaign contributions from the sector that you are being elected to regulate and oversee is a flawed concept, and there might need to be a broader governance reform around public funding of election campaigns on much smaller budgets.
JAY: And you also might want to have some rules about people stepping out of Goldman right into public office. There could at least be, like, a five-year moratorium or something between going back and forth between so-called private sector and public sector.
KAPOOR: Absolutely. This whole revolving-door concept is—you know, it begs questions around possible conflicts of interest. That's a very serious problem.
JAY: So I guess what we're really saying, to all of us, we'd better understand this stuff—it isn't that complicated—because we're being taken to the cleaners in the name—this looks so complicated you can't really take a stand on it. But once you dig into it, it isn't rocket science. It's fairly Ponzi scheme-ish.
KAPOOR: Absolutely. The whole concept where, throughout the years, the banks, the bankers, and the regulators, everybody said this is too complicated and this is rocket science, you won't understand it, don't tinker with it or the whole system, the whole financial system, will go bust. And the fact of the matter is we actually haven't touched it, and it's gone bust anyways. And it's really, really, really not complicated. And this complexity was used as an example to reduce accountability. What we need to do as individual citizens, as unions, as consumer associations, as civil society, is to understand that this is not rocket science, make an effort to participate in the reforms and try and get our voice heard. The only voices you're hearing in the financial regulation discussion are the big investment banks, the big commercial banks, some hedge funds, and some private equity voices. It's not just that the individuals, the consumers, are missing from the debate and the taxpayers are missing from the debate, but also the big pension funds, the big reinsurance firms, the savings banks, the community banks, all these parts of the financial sector.
JAY: Well, that's a whole 'nother story, because why the union pension funds, which are enormous and big, big players in the economy, why the unions don't use the clout of their pension funds is beyond me, but they don't.
KAPOOR: This is one of those problems we've revisited this interview series of collective action. Now, if you're an individual pension fund, CalPERS [California Public Employees' Retirement System] or one of the others, you need to make a decision: okay, how much realistic return can I expect on my investment? Most US pension funds have been factoring in returns of 9 or 10 percent. Now, if you're a small investor in a big economy growing at 2 percent, you can generate 9 or 10 percent year after year. But if you're the whole financial system, if you're a big pension fund, if you are the financial system, you cannot generate returns of 10 percent or 9 percent. And we need to recognize that that is not a sustainable thing to do. And the way these pension funds have been thinking is that, well, we think we're smarter than the others and we will be able to choose the right hedge fund investments, the right private equity investments, the right derivatives or commodity investments which will earn us a higher return. Individually everybody is thinking this, but collectively it's impossible. That is why there is a very important need for the unions and the pension funds and the bigger investment community and the government to start this honest discussion of what is possible and what isn't. We actually have a massive pension black hole, and it's time to recognize that and take that into account in the discussions on reforming the financial system.
JAY: Thank you again, Sony, for joining us. Sony Kapoor from Re-Define. And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network. And don't forget our financial reform, which is the donate button. It's here. I'm pointing here. Or there. Somewhere on this page is a donate button. And if you want us to keep doing economic news—and, I think, uncompromisingly—then you got to hit "donate". Thanks for joining us on The Real News Network.
Please note that TRNN transcripts are typed from a recording of the program; The Real News Network cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.


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This page is about how to lace a bicycle wheel using rims that don't have holes in the floor through which you'd insert nipples. The advantage of such a rim is that you don't need rim tape. Ever. The disadvantage is that it takes slightly longer to build the wheel. I set out to determine exactly how much longer, and this page documents that effort -- while showing how it's done.
The rim has only one hole (for the valve stem) through which all the nipples have to be inserted. The easiest way to get them into place is with a magnet, but since neither brass nor aluminum nipples are magnetic you need to get steel bolts with the same thread and screw them into the nipples. Then you drop them into the hole, turn the rim to let gravity pull them close to a nipple hole, and use the magnet to pull them through. To keep them in place until you're ready to insert a spoke you can use a bolt with a larger head or a tight-fitting O-ring. I've tried both, and prefer the latter.
Spoiler: it took exactly 19 minutes and 25 seconds to prepare the rim for lacing. Once that's done building the wheel is basically the same as if you had holes (so it's not covered here.)
What follows are some photos and a video showing the process.
Raw materials are 32 nipples, 32 bolts with the same thread ("2-56") as the nipples, and 32 O-rings exactly the right size to fit snugly on the nipples. I got them from McMaster/Carr. Links are in the notes below.
Now the magnetic bolts are screwed into the nipples and the O-rings are all on a spoke. The spoke is to make it easy to slide the O-rings onto the nipples. As you'll see below, when I remove the bolt from the nipple after the magnet pulls it into place I screw in the spoke and slide an O-ring onto the nipple.
This video shows the process of dropping nipples into a rim and pulling them into place using a magnet, then holding them there with an O-ring. It's simple enough to describe, but useful to see just how easy and fast the process is.
Under 20 minutes to have a wheel that for life requires no rim strip. And no trying to figure out whether those mystery leaks are due to a problem with the rim strip. For me it's an easy decision (though finding rims that offer the no-holes option is harder. Mine came from Light Bicycle, and are carbon. I hope to find something in aluminum soon for my next rim-brake wheel.)


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For many women, nothing could be more painful than losing a child. But that's exactly what happened to Dr. Sharon Ingram, a board-certified OBGYN in Florida. She was in medical school when her four-month-old son passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at a local daycare center.
She lost her first-born nearly 20 years ago, but it's a day she'll never forget. "I dropped out of medical school because I thought that I should have been not studying," Ingram said to ABC this week. "I thought I should have been with him because maybe I could have made a difference, although I know now that you cannot."
Ingram's story spotlights a common trend in the U.S. Black babies are around twice as likely to die than their white counterparts during the first few years of life. The CDC estimates that around 20,000 infants die every year from a range of issues, including disorders related to low gestation, congenital deformities, and everyday accidents.
To highlight the problem, April 11th to the 17th is now known as Black Maternal Health Week in the U.S. The event was founded by the Black Mamas Matter Coalition (BMMC) as a way of deepening our understanding of these problems, so we can work towards a more equitable future where mothers don't have to worry about losing their children unexpectedly.
Saying Goodbye to Her Son
Alton Jr., or A.J. as the family called him, died just before his first birthday. Looking back on his death, Ingram now realizes her baby faced a higher risk of infant mortality simply because he was black.
"A.J. wasn't sleeping on his belly, I had prenatal care, he wasn't low birth rate, but there were still some risk factors that we overlooked," she said. "One, I was black, two, I had a son, and, three, he passed away in December, in a cold climate."
Ingram remembers being shocked when her race was listed as a risk factor for infant mortality.
It's a trend that has persisted in the U.S. for years.
"If we look at the last five years, we are doing a good job at decreasing the infant mortality rate in general but the gap [between black and white babies] is still there, so though the overall rate is going down, the gap is still double," Ingram said. "It makes you step back and say, 'Why is this happening?'"
The Office on Minority Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that black babies are four times as likely to develop complications due to low birth rate and are over twice as likely to die from SIDS compared to non-Hispanic whites.
Why Black Babies Are More at Risk
Ingram sees implicit bias and institutional racism as part of the problem. Black women are less likely to receive prenatal care than their white counterparts. The CDC says black women are more than twice as likely to die during childbirth or during the months after than white, Asian, and Latina women. This trend holds true across education and income levels.
Studies show black women have a 70% greater risk of severe maternal morbidity during pregnancy after adjusting for co-factors.
Stress, discrimination, and healthcare inequalities all contribute to the problem. Even if a black woman is healthy, her baby may still be at risk.
Rachel R. Hardeman, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and founding director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity, spoke about how racism can affect the mother's physical health.
"What we know is that the stress and the cumulative disadvantage of racism throughout the life course brings black women into pregnancy at less than optimal health. It's literally sort of the wear and tear on the body, a chronic stress that's taking a toll on the body and prompting these biological changes in many women that then affect their health and the health of their babies," she said.
Hardeman adds that implicit bias among providers only makes the situation worse. "And not only that, but then they come into a health care system that historically has not provided equitable care to black people."
Supporting Black Families
The BMMC created Black Maternal Health Week four years ago to help address these issues. This week, the organization got its wish when the White House officially marked the event on the calendar via a presidential proclamation.
Vice-President Kamala Harris was on hand to honor the occasion.
"Over the years, I've heard many stories. Stories of women who are experiencing postpartum depression, only to be dismissed. Stories of women telling their doctors they were experiencing pain, only to be ignored. Stories of women who could not hold their newborn baby because that child had to be on life support or receive a blood transfusion after blood transfusion after blood transfusion," she said during a roundtable with community organizers.
"Black women deserve to be heard. Their voices deserve to be respected, and like all people, they must be treated with dignity," Harris added, while describing the situation as a "maternal health crisis."
The Biden Administration plans to invest $200 million in racial bias training among healthcare providers as part of the American Rescue Package, which was signed into law last month.
Hardeman published a landmark study last year that found black newborns' in-hospital death rate was 58% lower when black newborns were cared for by black physicians rather than white physicians, but still remained higher than that of white newborns.
"We're not talking about individual racist physicians who are doing bad things to black infants. That's not at all what we're seeing here," Hardeman added. "What I think we're seeing are health care delivery systems where racism is baked into all aspects of the system."
Increasing diversity and training providers to be sensitive to implicit bias should help reduce these disparities. "We have to be willing to reimagine what care should look like for black birthing people and for everyone," Hardeman said. "I think there's a real opportunity to rethink how we're doing things versus sort of plugging the holes or stopping the bleeding."


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Everyday Mom sweeps at home.
Well, some Mothers have schedule to sweep the floor, not everyday. At times, Mothers do call maid for help to clean.
Some mother prefers to use vacuum cleaner instead.
However, broom is the most effective and a faster tool to clean the floor. Cheaper and faster tool to clean.
In business, we do have to do 'cleaning' too.
Some issues need to be addressed properly.
This includes issues in Finance, Operation and the most complicated one is Human Resource.
Bank accounts reconciliation, meetings and appraisals are some 'tools' used in business management for 'cleaning' purposes.
Sweeping them under the carpet will cause disaster which you could not imagine!


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Asphalt Sealcoating in Jacksonville
The hot Jacksonville climate takes a serious toll on asphalt parking lots. No matter how well you pave the surface, strong UV rays damage the binder and cause asphalt to crumble. If you add weather elements and chemical reactions, the asphalt pavement may need extensive repair in just a few months.
That's where sealcoating comes in. As the leading sealcoating company in Jacksonville, we know the importance of timely sealcoating. Our experts are always available to give your asphalt extra protection for a reasonable price.
Why do you need Asphalt Sealcoating in Jacksonville?
A sealcoat is an extra layer of protection that keeps your asphalt strong for many years. If you don't want to repave your parking lot every couple of years, we suggest you apply a sealcoat right after paving it.
The main benefits of sealcoating include:
- Integrity – asphalt is durable but soft. It's highly prone to weather elements, chemicals, and oil spills. If you don't protect it with a sealcoat, these elements will lead to cracks and damage your pavement from the inside. In Jacksonville, the intense heat can make asphalt vulnerable and weak.
- Appearance – high-quality fresh asphalt has a very rich color. With time it fades and becomes grey, ruining your property's curb appeal. If you want to maintain the color for many months, apply a sealcoat. Every time you reapply the sealcoat, the rich color comes back.
- Cost-efficiency – the cost of paving asphalt is more than 10 times higher than the cost of sealcoating. For a reasonable price, you can provide top-notch protection that will allow your asphalt pavement to last for 20 years and beyond. With sealcoating, you can save thousands of dollars on repaving.
- Easier cleaning – one of the most important aspects of asphalt maintenance is timely cleaning. The smooth and protected surface is much easier to clean than asphalt pavement with its cracks and holes.
Overall, sealcoating is highly beneficial for both your parking lot and your wallet. Avoiding it simply doesn't make sense.
At ABC Paving and Sealcoating, we recommend sealing the asphalt right after paving it. The resealing frequency depends on how heavily you use the parking lot. Our experts are always happy to inspect your parking lot and give recommendations about resealing.
Choosing a Jacksonville Sealcoating Company
When you are choosing a sealcoating company in Jacksonville, you need to pay attention to the following factors:
- Residential and commercial services – depending on the services you need, you have to make sure the company handles them. ABC Paving and Sealcoating focuses on commercial clients. We work with malls, shopping centers, office buildings, and more.
- Insurance – the company you work with should be fully insured. Liability insurance is mandatory. ABC Paving and Sealcoating is fully insured and licensed to do business in Florida.
- Experience – to be sure you are getting high-quality services, the company you choose should be in business for at least several years. ABC Paving and Sealcoating has years of experience with asphalt parking lots.
- Convenience– many reliable sealcoating companies have small teams, which are busy all year round. Choose a company that can find the time to sealcoat your driveway when it's convenient for your business. At ABC Paving and Sealcoating, we are always happy to adjust your schedule to yours.
Before choosing the sealcoating company, check what other clients have to say about it. With our 100% satisfaction guaranteed approach, we have almost a 100% retention rate.
Leading Sealcoating Contractors in Jacksonville
ABC Paving and Sealcoating is the leading sealcoating contractor in Jacksonville and the rest of South Florida. Our team of paving and sealcoating professionals works hard to keep all clients satisfied regardless of the project's complexity.
We care for the quality, durability, and integrity of your asphalt. Let us take care of your parking lot so it can take care of you.
Other Helpful Tips
Once your asphalt has been resurfaced, be sure to ask your ABC Paving and Sealcoating paving contractor about other ways to protect your investment and to keep your parking area looking its best including:
This protective material stops weather damage, prevents oxidation, beautifies pavement...
Stay in code compliance with properly marked stall lines, handicapped spaces and fire lanes.
Traffic signs, U-channel posts, round posts, and all safety devices will protect your business...


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fix articles 67528, exit registration system
The Long Ordeal of Sami Al-Arian - Civil and Human Rights Advocate and Political Prisoner (tags)
Sami Al-Arian's long struggle for justice
Stand With Our Immigrant Brothers on January 10 (tags)
Protest at the downtown INS offices, Friday, January 10th, starting at noon. Say "No! to registration and detention."
Next INS deadline Jan 10, 2003--- (tags)
January 10, 2003 is the next deadline imposed by the INS for registration, fingerprinting and interviews for so-called "visitors" from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, or Yemen.
INS Dragnet: Only Muslims need apply? (tags)
INS deadline (anyone even heard about it?) to register is today, December 16th, 2002. Do your best to take ABSOLUTELY no notice of the glaring ommision of Saudi Arabia...


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NSR0281AW Porsche 997 Vaillant Livery No.5.
NSR0281AW Porsche 997 Vaillant Livery No.5.
Includes : Adjustable front axle ride height - Lightweight drilled aluminum setscrew wheels all around - All metal setscrew mount super smooth gearing - Heat treated axles - Machined bronze self lubricating bushings - Adjustable suspension motor pod - Clear coat finish for better durability and gloss
Tires that fit : Quick Slicks CB57, CB58, CB59


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Honda celebrates International Cat Day with bizarre cat choir spot
While a number of brands have sent out a tweet or two to celebrate International Cat Day, Honda is going all out for the holiday this year with a "catvertising" campaign complete with a short video, GIFs and memes.
Created by RPA, the campaign includes a 30-second video called 'Meow is the Moment' that features a number of cats who begin to sing a rendition of The Go-Go's 1984 hit 'Head over Heels' when they lay eyes on the 2016 Honda CR-V.
The social campaign is an extension of Honda's summer clearance campaign, which is called 'Now is the Moment,' and will live on Honda's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Tumblr channels.
According to the agency, "every kitten that came to set was a rescue, director Jared Eberhardt is a cat whisperer, our cat vocalists include a human voice actor, and we ironically couldn't play the track on set or the cats would lose focus."
The campaign comes as cats continue to take the internet by storm. Last year, Pew found that 45 percent of people who post videos online are posting footage of a cat or other animal, while a separate study found that people who watch cat videos feel more energetic and positive afterwards.
EVP, CCO: Joe Baratelli
SVP, ECD: Jason Sperling
Associate Creative Director/Art: Scott McDonald
Copywriter: Joshua Hepburn
Art Director: Craig Nelson
Copywriter: David Bassine
SVP, Chief Production Officer: Gary Paticoff
VP, Executive Producer: Isadora Chesler
Producer: Faye Armstrong
VP, Director of Business Affairs: Maria DelHomme
Executive Digital Producer: Linda Kim
Digital Producer: Connor Gomez
Digital Production Coordinator: Jackie Fuhrman
VP, Associate Director, Digital Marketing: Aaron Dodez
Manager, Digital Strategy: Mike Dossett
Sr. Specialist, Digital Content Strategy: Tyler Sweeney
Specialist, Digital Content Strategy: Joe Cole
EVP, Management Account Director: Brett Bender
SVP, Group Account Director: Fern McCaffrey
VP, Management Supervisor: Adam Levitt
Account Supervisor: Lauren Ellis
Account Executive: Kira Sullivan
Account Coordinator: Ashley Hartwell
Product Information Manager: Marco Fantone
Product Information Coordinator: Marius Stelly
Production Company: Partizan
Director: Jared Eberhardt
Executive Producer: Lisa Tauscher
Head of Production: Molly Griffin
Line Producer: Bridget Blake-Wilson
Director of Photography: Simon Thirlaway
Editorial/Post FX: Bo's House of Visual Arts
Editor: Will Gabriel
Post Producer: Eddie Granado
Post Producer: Alex Johnson
Visual Effects Artist: Christopher Doulgeris
Colorist: Robert Curreri
Music: HUM
Executive Producer: Debbi Landon
Producer: Caroline O'Sullivan
Executive Creative Director: Jeff Koz
Creative Director: Scott Glenn
Arranger: Gabe Sokoloff
Arranger: Josh Loucka
Engineer: Daniel Hart
Mix: Lime Studios
Re-Recording Mixer: Dave Wagg
Assistant Re-Recording Mixer: Adam Primack
Executive Producer: Susie Boyajan


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On Wednesday, June 20, 2018, Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 851 into law as Act 38 of 2018 ("Act 38"). Act 38 amends the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, act of July 7, 1947 (P.L. 1368, No. 542) ("RETSL") to, in large part, address a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court decision, Commonwealth v. Sprock, 795 A.2d 1100 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2002).
The Sprocks acquired a property in Central City Borough, Somerset County. After failing to pay the taxes, the Somerset County Tax Claim Bureau exposed the property at an Upset Tax Sale in the fall of 1987. When no bids were received, the Bureau simply held onto the property. When the Borough cited the Sprocks under the Borough's property maintenance code, the Sprocks argued that the property was in the trusteeship of the Bureau, and therefore the Sprocks were not responsible for the citations. The Commonwealth Court determined that the Sprocks were not the "owners" of the property when the citations were issued. Instead, the Court held that if there are no bids received on a property at an Upset Tax Sale, the County Tax Claim Bureau thereafter holds such property as trustee. Quite obviously, this adds a wrinkle to any County Tax Claim Bureau's Upset Tax Sale procedures.
The Amendment, however, clarifies that the Tax Claim Bureau is a trustee of the property only for the purposes "as may be necessary or implied in order to convey the property or otherwise further the purposes of [RETSL]." Instead, legal title to the property remains vested in the delinquent property owner until a deed is signed to transfer the title to the property, and that delinquent property owner remains liable for any property maintenance or nuisance remediation. Moreover, the Amendment provides that neither the County nor the Tax Claim Bureau shall be responsible for any maintenance or nuisance remediation of such properties unless the County purchases the same.
Also of note, the Amendment modifies the method by which a delinquent property owner can pay the delinquent taxes after the property was exposed at the Upset Tax Sale but before the property is exposed at the Judicial Tax Sale. The delinquent property owner must pay all delinquent taxes that have been returned to the Tax Claim Bureau, plus all costs, penalties, and interest due at the time the payment is made. No partial payments or payment plans may be accepted.


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Best treatment for male infertility
Now get the best in-class treatment for male infertility at the specialised center of The Life Plus Hospital and treat problems like Premature Ejaculation, Low Sperm Count, and other sexual problems.
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Best treatment for male infertility
Now get the best in-class treatment for male infertility at the specialised center of The Life Plus Hospital and treat problems like Premature Ejaculation, Low Sperm Count, and other sexual problems.
THE LIFE PLUS HOSPITAL is COVID 19 Safe
- Our Hospital premises are COVID safe
- Regular sanitization of clinic & hospital premises
- Immediate medical assistance through Online Consultation
What is Male Infertility?
Male infertility is any health issue in a man that lowers the chances of his female partner getting pregnant.
About 13 out of 100 couples can't get pregnant with unprotected sex. There are many causes for infertility in men and women. In over a third of infertility cases, the problem is with the man. This is most often due to problems with his sperm production or with sperm delivery.
The incapacity of the male partner to impregnate his fertile female partner is defined as male infertility. It is quite a common and stressful condition for males that requires proper medical attention. Infertility affects nearly 7% of all men. There can be numerous causes to it such as poor quality of semen, low sperm production, erectile dysfunction, etc.
Let's Schedule Your Appointment
The diagnosis of male infertility is based on symptoms. It can be analyzed with the help of a physical examination and medical history of the patient by the doctors and by a discussion of the symptoms occurring thereof. Furthermore, there are quite a number of tests available that may indicate the accurate diagnosis: Physical examination and medical history of the patient
- Analysis of Semen
- Ultrasound of scrotum
- Post-ejaculation urinalysis
- Evaluation of Hormones
- Testicular biopsy
Our Doctors
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The Life Plus Hospital is COVID-19 safe
Your safety is taken care of by thermal screening, social distancing, sanitized clinics, and hospital rooms, sterilized surgical equipment, and mandatory PPE kits during surgery.
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Our Doctors spend a lot of time with you to diagnose your condition. You are assisted in all pre-assisted Hospitalisation process. We offer advanced laser and laparoscopic surgical treatment. Our procedures are USFDA approved.
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A dedicated Medical Coordinator assists you throughout the surgery journey from insurance paperwork, to free commute from home to hospital & back and admission-discharge process at the hospital.
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We offer free follow-up consultations and instructions including dietary tips as well as exercises to every patient to ensure they have a smooth recovery to their daily routines.
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Healthy IVF Babies
What Happens Under Normal Conditions?
The man's body makes tiny cells called sperm. During sex, ejaculation normally delivers the sperm into the woman's body.
The male reproductive system makes, stores, and transports sperm. Chemicals in your body called hormones control this. Sperm and male sex hormone (testosterone) are made in the 2 testicles. The testicles are in the scrotum, a sac of skin below the penis. When the sperm leave the testicles, they go into a tube behind each testicle. This tube is called the epididymis.
Just before ejaculation, the sperm go from the epididymis into another set of tubes. These tubes are called the vas deferens. Each vas deferens leads from the epididymis to behind your bladder in the pelvis. There each vas deferens joins the ejaculatory duct from the seminal vesicle. When you ejaculate, the sperm mix with fluid from the prostate and seminal vesicles. This forms semen. Semen then travels through the urethra and out of the penis.
Male fertility depends on your body making normal sperm and delivering them. The sperm go into the female partner's vagina. The sperm travel through her cervix into her uterus to her fallopian tubes. There, if a sperm and egg meet, fertilization happens.
The system only works when genes, hormone levels and environmental conditions are right.
Making mature, healthy sperm that can travel depends on many things. Problems can stop cells from growing into sperm. Problems can keep the sperm from reaching the egg. Even the temperature of the scrotum may affect fertility. These are the main causes of male infertility:
- Sperm Disorders
- Varicoceles
- Retrograde Ejaculation
- Immunonologic Infertility
- Obstruction
- Hormones
- Medication
Sperm Disorders
The most common problems are with making and growing sperm. Sperm may:
- not grow fully
- be oddly shaped
- not move the right way
- be made in very low numbers (oligospermia)
- not be made at all (azoospermia)
Sperm problems can be from traits you're born with. Lifestyle choices can lower sperm numbers. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking certain medications can lower sperm numbers. Other causes of low sperm numbers include long-term sickness (such as kidney failure), childhood infections (such as mumps), and chromosome or hormone problems (such as low testosterone).
Damage to the reproductive system can cause low or no sperm. About 4 out of every 10 men with total lack of sperm (azoospermia) have an obstruction (blockage) within the tubes the sperm travel through. A birth defect or a problem such as an infection can cause a blockage.
Varicoceles are swollen veins in the scrotum. They're found in 16 out of 100 of all men. They are more common in infertile men (40 out of 100). They harm sperm growth by blocking proper blood drainage. It may be that varicoceles cause blood to flow back into your scrotum from your belly. The testicles are then too warm for making sperm. This can cause low sperm numbers.
For more information please refer to the Varicoceles information page.
Retrograde Ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation is when semen goes backwards in the body. They go into your bladder instead of out the penis. This happens when nerves and muscles in your bladder don't close during orgasm (climax). Semen may have normal sperm, but the semen is not released from the penis, so it cannot reach the vagina.
Retrograde ejaculation can be caused by surgery, medications or health problems of the nervous system. Signs are cloudy urine after ejaculation and less fluid or "dry" ejaculation.
Immunologic Infertility
Sometimes a man's body makes antibodies that attack his own sperm. Antibodies are most often made because of injury, surgery or infection. They keep sperm from moving and working normally. We don't know yet exactly how antibodies lower fertility. We do know they can make it hard for sperm to swim to the fallopian tube and enter an egg. This is not a common cause of male infertility.
Sometimes the tubes through which sperm travel can be blocked. Repeated infections, surgery (such as vasectomy), swelling or developmental defects can cause blockage. Any part of the male reproductive tract can be blocked. With a blockage, sperm from the testicles can't leave the body during ejaculation.
Hormones made by the pituitary gland tell the testicles to make sperm. Very low hormone levels cause poor sperm growth.
Sperm carry half of the DNA to the egg. Changes in the number and structure of chromosomes can affect fertility. For example, the male Y chromosome may be missing parts.
Certain medications can change sperm production, function and delivery. These medications are most often given to treat health problems like:
- arthritis
- depression
- digestive problems
- anxiety or depression
- infections
- high blood pressure
- cancer
Causes of male fertility can be hard to diagnose. The problems are most often with sperm production or delivery. Diagnosis starts with a full history and physical exam. Your health care provider may also want to do blood work and semen tests.
Men should plan to see a doctor after one year of trying to conceive or if any of the following apply:
- erectile dysfunction (ED)
- problems with ejaculation, such as delayed ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation
- low sex drive
- pain or swelling in the genital area
- having undergone a previous surgery in the genital area
Your doctor will first take your medical history. During this time, they'll ask about your overall health, your sexual history, and factors that could affect your fertility. They'll also perform a physical examination where they check your genitals for any structural abnormalities or lumps.
A semen analysis will likely then be performed. Your doctor will ask you to provide a sample of semen. This sample will then be checked in a laboratory to see how many sperm are present and whether the sperm are shaped normally and moving properly.
Depending on the results of your initial exam and semen analysis, your doctor may want to perform additional tests.
These tests may include:
- hormone testing
- genital ultrasound
- genetic testing
History and Physical Exam
Your health care provider will take your health and surgical histories. Your provider will want to know about anything that might lower your fertility. These might include defects in your reproductive system, low hormone levels, sickness or accidents.
Your provider will ask about childhood illnesses, current health problems, or medications that might harm sperm production. Such things as mumps, diabetes and steroids may affect fertility. Your provider will also ask about your use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other recreational drugs. He or she will ask if you've been exposed to radiation, heavy metals or pesticides. Heavy metals are an exposure issue (e.g. mercury, lead arsenic). All of these can affect fertility.
Your health care provider will learn how your body works during sex. He or she will want to know about you and your partner's efforts to get pregnant. For example, your healthcare provider may ask if you've had trouble with erections.
The physical exam will look for problems in your penis, epididymis, vas deferens, and testicles. Your doctor will look for varicoceles. They can be found easily with a physical exam.
Semen Analysis
Semen analysis is a routine lab test. It helps show the level of sperm production and whether sperm are functioning well (e.g., are moving, measured as sperm motility). The test is most often done at least twice, if sperm numbers are abnormal. Semen is collected by having you masturbate into a sterile cup. The semen sample is studied. It can be checked for things that help or hurt conception (fertilization).
Your health care provider will study your sperm volume, count, concentration, movement ("motility"), and structure. The results of the semen analysis tests tells about your ability to conceive (start a pregnancy).
Even if the semen test shows low sperm numbers or no sperm, it may not mean you are permanently infertile. It may just show there's a problem with the growth or delivery of sperm. More testing may be needed. Even if no sperm are seen on a semen analysis, then treatment may be possible.
Transrectal Ultrasound
Your health care provider may order a transrectal ultrasound. Ultrasound uses sound waves bouncing off an organ to get a picture of the organ. A probe is placed in the rectum. It beams sound waves to the nearby ejaculatory ducts. The health care provider can see if structures such as the ejaculatory duct or seminal vesicles are poorly formed or blocked.
Testicular Biopsy
If a semen test shows a very low number of sperm or no sperm you may need a testicular biopsy. This test can be done with general or local anesthesia. A small cut is made in the scrotum. It can also be done in a clinic using, a needle through the numbed scrotal skin. In either case, a small piece of tissue from each testicle is removed and studied under a microscope. The biopsy serves 2 purposes. It helps find the cause of infertility and it can collect sperm for use in assisted reproduction (such as in vitro fertilization; IVF).
Hormonal Profile
The health care provider may check your hormones. This is to learn how well your testicles make sperm. It can also rule out major health problems. For example, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is the pituitary hormone that tells the testicles to make sperm. High levels may mean your pituitary gland is trying to get the testicles to make sperm, but they won't.
Treatment depends on what's causing infertility. Many problems can be fixed with drugs or surgery. This would allow conception through normal sex. The treatments below are broken into 3 categories:
- Non-surgical therapy for Male Infertility
- Surgical Therapy for Male Infertility
- Treatment for Unknown Causes of Male Infertility
Many male fertility problems can be treated without surgery.
Anejaculation (dry ejaculate)
Anejaculation is when there's no semen fluid released with a man's sexual climax. It's not common, but can be caused by:
- spinal cord injury
- prior surgery
- diabetes
- multiple sclerosis
- abnormalities present at birth
- other mental, emotional or unknown problems
Drugs are often tried first to treat this condition. If they fail, there are several option. Penile vibratory stimulation (PVS)
or Rectal probe electroejaculation (RPE, better known as electroejaculation or EEJ) may induce ejaculation.
Rectal probe electroejaculation is most often done under anesthesia. This is true except in men with a damaged spinal cord. RPE retrieves sperm in 90 out of 100 men who have it done. Many sperm are collected with this method. But sperm movement and shape may still lower fertility.
Penile vibratory stimulation vibrates the tip and shaft of the penis to help get a natural climax. While non-invasive, it doesn't work as well as RPE. This is especially true in severe cases.
Assisted reproductive techniques like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are of great value to men with anejaculation because sperm may be weak in men with impaired sperm (cells) and semen (fluid) transport out of the body, the underlying problem with anejaculation.
Genital Tract Infection
Genital tract infection is rarely linked to infertility. It's only found in about 2 out of 100 men with fertility problems. In those cases, the problem is often diagnosed from a semen test. In the test, white blood cells are found. White blood cells make too much "reactive oxygen species" (ROS). This can damage sperm, lowering the chances of sperm being able to fertilize an egg. For example, a severe infection of the epididymis and testes may cause testicular shrinking and epididymal duct blockage. The infection doesn't have to be sudden to cause problems.
Antibiotics are often given for full-blown infections. But they're not used for lesser inflammations. Some antibiotics can occasionally harm sperm production or function. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen) are often used instead.
Inflammation from causes other than infection can also affect fertility. For example, chronic prostatitis, in rare cases, can also block the ejaculatory ducts.
Hyperprolactinemia is when the pituitary gland makes too much of the hormone prolactin. It's a factor in infertility and erectile dysfunction. Treatment depends on what's causing the increase. Drugs or less commonly surgery may be used to treat tumors in the pituitary if present.
Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is when the testicles don't make sperm due to poor stimulation by the pituitary hormones. This is due to a problem in the pituitary or hypothalamus. It's the cause of a small percentage of infertility in men. It can exist from birth,typically being apparent when the young man is supposed to go through puberty ("congenital"). Or it can show up later ("acquired").
The congenital form, known also as Kallmann's syndrome, is caused by lower amounts of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH is a hormone made by the hypothalamus. The acquired form can be triggered by other health issues such as:
- pituitary tumors
- head trauma
- anabolic steroid use.
If hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is suspected, your health care provider may want you to have an MRI. This will show a picture of your pituitary gland. You will also have a blood test to check prolactin levels. Together, an MRI and blood test can evaluate for pituitary tumors. If there are high levels of prolactin but no tumor on the pituitary gland, your provider may try to lower your prolactin first. Gonadotropin replacement therapy would be the next step. During treatment, blood testosterone levels and semen will be checked. Chances for pregnancy are very good. The sperm resulting from this treatment are normal.
Genetic Conditions
Some men are born with a genetic condition that may be new (not present in other family members) or hereditary (passed from mother and/or father), showing up first in the affected patient. The known causes of genetic abnormalities are most commonly detected in men with no sperm in the ejaculate (azoospermia), where the condition affects sperm production (e.g., Klinefelter syndrome – where an extra chromosome is present in the man, or Y chromosome microdeletions – where a small segment of genetic tissue is missing.). Genetic conditions can also affect the development of the male tract that carries sperm, resulting in failure of formation of the tubes that are supposed to carry sperm.
Retrograde Ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation, semen flowing back instead of going out the penis, has many causes. It can be caused by:
- prostate or bladder surgeries
- diabetes
- spinal cord injury
- anti-depressants
- certain anti-hypertensives
- medications used to treat prostate enlargement (BPH)
Retrograde ejaculation is found by checking your urine for sperm. This is done under a microscope right after ejaculation. Drugs can be used to correct retrograde ejaculation.
It is often treated first with over-the-counter medications like Sudafed®. If medications don't work and you need assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs), your health care provider may try to collect sperm from your bladder after ejaculation.
Surgical Therapy for Male Infertility
Varicocele Treatments
Varicoceles can be fixed with minor outpatient surgery called varicocelectomy. Fixing these swollen veins helps sperm movement, numbers, and structure. For more information on varicocele treatments please refer to our Varicoceles page.
Azoospermia Treatments
If your semen lacks sperm (azoospermia) because of a blockage, there are many surgical choices.
Even men who have low sperm production as a cause of no sperm in the ejaculate can be treated with surgery to find sperm, together with assisted reproduction, since several million sperm have to be made in the testicles before sperm survive to make it into the semen.
Microsurgical Vasovasostomy
Vasovasostomy is used to undo a vasectomy. It uses microsurgery to join the 2 cut parts of the vas deferens in each testicle. For more information on this treatment please refer to our Vasectomy Reversal page.
Vasoepididymostomy joins the upper end of the vas deferens to the epididymis. It's the most common microsurgical method to treat epididymal blocks.
Transurethral Resection of the Ejaculatory Duct (TURED)
Ejaculatory duct blockage can be treated surgically. A cystoscope is passed into the urethra (the tube inside the penis) and a small incision is made in the ejaculatory duct. This gets sperm into the semen in about 65 out of 100 men. But there can be problems. Blockages could come back. Incontinence and retrograde ejaculation from bladder damage are other possible but rare problems. Also, only 1 in 4 couples get pregnant naturally after this treatment.
Treatment for Unknown Causes of Male Infertility
Sometimes it's hard to tell the cause of male infertility. This is called "idiopathic" male infertility. Your health care provider may uses experience to help figure out what works. This is called "empiric therapy." Because infertility problems are often due to hormones, empiric therapy might balance hormone levels. It's not easy to tell how well empiric treatments will work. Each case is different.
Assisted Reproductive Techniques
If infertility treatment fails or isn't available, there are ways to get pregnant without sex. These methods are called assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). Based on the specific type of infertility and the cause, your health care provider may suggest:
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). For IUI, your health care provider places the sperm into the female partner's uterus through a tube. IUI is often good for low sperm count and movement problems, retrograde ejaculation, and other causes of infertility.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IVF is when the egg of a female partner or donor is joined with sperm in a lab Petri dish. For IVF, the ovaries must be stimulated to produce multiple eggs (ova). This is often done with drugs given as daily injections. It allows many mature eggs to be retrieved. After 3 to 5 days of growth, the fertilized egg (embryo) is put back into the uterus. IVF can be used to treat many hormone conditions in women, for women with blocked tubes, or idiopathic infertility (where there is no cause that explains the fertility problem). But it's being used more and more in cases where the man has very severe and untreatable oligospermia (low sperm count).
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). ICSI is a variation of IVF. It has revolutionized treatment of severe male infertility. It lets couples thought infertile get pregnant. A single sperm is injected into the egg with a tiny needle. Once the egg is fertilized, it's put in the female partner's uterus. Your health care provider may use ICSI if you have very poor semen quality. It is also used if you have no sperm in the semen caused by a block or testicular failure that can't be fixed. Sperm may also be taken from the testicles or epididymis by surgery for this method.
Sperm Retrieval for ART.
Many microsurgical methods can remove sperm blocked by obstructive azoospermia (no sperm). The goal is to get the best quality and number of cells. This is done while trying not to harm the reproductive tract. These methods include:
Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE). This is a common technique used to diagnose the cause of azoospermia. It also gets enough tissue for sperm extraction. The sperm taken from the testicle can be used fresh or frozen ("cryopreserved"). One or many small biopsies are done, often in the office. A more refined form of this procedure is microTESE, where an operating microscope is used to identify small areas of sperm production in the testicles of men who have such low sperm production that no sperm survive to make it into semen.
Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration (TFNA). TFNA was first used to diagnose azoospermia. It is now sometimes used to collect sperm from the testicles. A needle and syringe puncture the scrotal skin to pull sperm from the testicle.
Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA).. PESA may be performed under local or general anesthesia. The urologist sticks a needle attached to a syringe into the epididymis. Then he or she gently withdraws fluid. Sperm may not always be gotten this way. You may still need open surgery.
Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA). With MESA, sperm are also retrieved from the epididymal tubes. This method uses a surgical microscope. MESA yields high amounts of motile sperm. They can be frozen and thawed later for IVF treatments. This method limits harm to the epididymis.
After Treatment
Male infertility can often be fixed with an outpatient procedure. These are done under general anesthesia or IV sedation. While pain after surgery is usually mild, recovery and follow-up vary. After varicocele repair, your health care provider should do a physical exam. This is to see if the vein is completely gone. Often the veins stay enlarged since they are not removed during surgery but only closed off to prevent abnormal blood flow. Semen should be tested about every 3 months for at least a year, or until pregnancy. If your varicocele returns, or you stay infertile, ask your health care provider about ARTs.
Vasectomy reversals cause only mild pain after surgery. But expect an out-of-work recovery of 4 to 7 days. The chance of pregnancy depends on many things. It mostly depends on the age and fertility of your female partner. The number of years between your vasectomy and reversal also affects success. The longer you wait, the less likely the reversal will be a success.
- Semen Analysis: INR.500.00
- Semen Freezing : INR. 5000.00( for 1 year)
- Semen Analysis Retrograde ejaculation: INR 1000.00
Male Wellness investigation Package: INR. 3000.00 includes
- Semen Analysis
- Serology( HIV, HBsAg, VDRL, HCV)
- Blood Grouping
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Male Infertility Faq's
Many health problems–from kidney disease to testicular cancer–can result in male infertility. "Whole-body" health problems and metabolic disorders, and ordinary fevers and infections can harm sperm growth. Diseases passed through sex can lead to blocks and scars in the reproductive tract.
Genetic health problems, such as cystic fibrosis can cause the vas deferens or seminal vesicles to be absent leading to no sperm in the semen. Many illnesses can cause infertility. It's important that you and your partner tell your family and personal health histories to your health care provider.
Yes. Research shows that routine smoking affects sperm in many ways. It causes sperm cells to be smaller and slower. It harms their DNA. Smoking can also affect the seminal fluid ejaculated with sperm.
Yes. Steroids taken by mouth or shot can cause your body to stop making the hormones needed to make sperm.
Not necessarily. For most couples seeking fertility treatment, the risk of conceiving a child with a birth defect is the same as for the general population. Some problems (chiefly genetic problems) that cause infertility may also cause a greater risk of conceiving a child with birth defects. So couples need thorough exams and advice before beginning some forms of ARTs.
Infertility is not your or your partner's fault. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) estimates that in about a third of infertility cases it is due to the male. Another third is the female.
In the last third of infertile couples, the problem is caused by either a combination of reasons, or, in 20 out of 100 cases, it can't be explained.
In men, few or no sperm is the biggest problem. In women, the common problems are ovulation problems and blocked tubes. But today, technology and surgical tools exist to address many of these problems.
ARTs are high-tech methods to join sperm and egg when sex can't do it. Your health care provider may suggest one or more ARTs if pregnancy doesn't happen even though sperm are in your semen.
If I have obstruction causing no sperm in the ejaculate (obstructive azoospermia), when should my partner and I consider sperm retrieval with an assisted reproductive technique (ART) rather than surgery?
Often, microsurgical correction removes the need for ART. However, if that is not successful, sperm can be removed from the testicle or epididymis and injected into your partner's eggs using ICSI, even after surgery to fix the blockage. ICSI is used because the number of motile sperm is often small and they don't move well.
There are many methods for retrieving sperm cells. The choice will be up to you and your urologist. Sperm retrieval can be done before or at the same time as your partner's egg retrieval and IVF.
Many reproductive centers like to use "fresh" sperm retrieved on the same day as egg retrieval. Others favor sperm harvested earlier and frozen. Sperm can be retrieved by needle aspiration or microsurgery.
If I have a varicocele, when should my partner and I consider an assisted reproductive technique (ART) rather than surgery?
If you and your partner both have fertility problems and she can't get pregnant naturally, then one of the ARTs may help rather than surgery. But the choice isn't always clear. You and your health care provider will want to consider:
- the female partner's age and ovarian function, and whether ART may be needed even if varicocele repair is done
- the chance that a varicocele repair may not definitely fix your fertility
- the fact that ART is needed for each try at pregnancy if the varicocele is not repaired
- data showing that a varicocele repair may help IUI and IVF results
Varicocele repair should be preferred if you don't have ideal semen but your partner is fertile. On the other hand, IVF, with or without ICSI, should be the first choice when there's a special need for such methods to treat a woman's infertility.
There are a number of things that can harm the production of sperm, so it's best to avoid:
- Smoking cigarettes
- Drinking excess alcohol
- Catching sexually transmitted infections
- Heat stress from tight-fitting underwear
- Anabolic steroids taken for body building or sporting purposes.
If you work somewhere that may affect your fertility, it's important to wear protective clothing and to follow all occupational health and safety guidelines. We also recommended that couples trying to conceive stay away from harmful chemicals.
Because of the possible effects on fertility, it's important to tell your doctor if you have had hormone treatment, or had surgery as a child to fix undescended testes.


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