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When I started practising Iyengar yoga 6 years ago, it was to placate my good friend Kim who urged me to join him at yoga classes and to get some physical benefit from the asanas (postures). How that journey has changed. It quietly evolved into a pursuit of wholeness and oneness with the self and the world around me.
The trip to India has accelerated this pursuit. Attending the yoganusasanam (akin to a convention) in December in Pune, India, was an experience to hold onto forever. To go back to the source of Iyengar yoga was a privilege. We were taught by the late BKS Iyengar's daughter Geeta Iyengar who is a world renowned figure in the yoga fraternity. Out of respect, I will refer to Geeta as Geetaji. She was assisted by many very experienced teachers, particularly her niece, Abhijata Iyengar.
Every morning, before we began with the long-held asanas, we chanted the sacred sound of om (aum) and said the invocation to Patanjali (below; he is regarded as the propounder of yoga philosophy), as is the case with classes back home. It is a very powerful but calming sound to hear over 1 200 practitioners from every inch of the earth chant and say the invocation in unison. It was as if peace reigned supreme and the world was whole. Yoga does indeed unite.
Yoga has 8 limbs as written about by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras and who lived in India around the 5th century before common time. Geetaji in the main focused on the limb of asanas, then towards the end of the yoganusasanam, pranayama (breathing) and for a brief session on the final day, dhyana (meditation) holding true to the belief that meditation cannot be taught. That is not to say that the other limbs are not important, but the foundation of asanas is critical and without it, many of the limbs that follow including the 2 that precede it, cannot be successfully understood or followed.
The asanas each day followed a theme. In true Iyengar yoga fashion, we did not know beforehand what the themes were, as practitioners are taught not to anticipate. The focus on the present applies and what happened the day before or what could happen the next, is not to be dwelled on. One's body and mind differ each day; to expect them to fear as they did the day before in an asana or to excel in an asana is not constructive. What matters is today and how we practice yoga today.
The first day, we focused on gruelling standing asanas. Whilst we may not have done many variations, those that we did do, were done with intensity. My legs started to shake once we got to the inverted asanas, being sirsasana (headstand) and sarvangasana (shoulder stand). The equipment or props included a new longer type of foam (which we used mainly for sarvangasana) and by the end of the week my neck bones were red and numb because the foams were so hard. With Geetaji, heard with her heavy Hindi accent and Sanskrit words pronounced with grace, guiding us from the stage, and with her numerous helpers and teachers on the floor, it was not hard to find the inner courage to push oneself although I am sure she would not be happy to hear this, as often it is her Western practitioners who start to practise with the mind i. e. the ego.
Every day included standing asanas and inversions. There was not much time after classes for shavasana (corpse pose) and we had to do this during one of the two breaks. The themes for the other days included supine asanas, lateral twists, foreward bends and back bends. Whatever the theme for the day, we always included uttanasana, tadasana, adho mukha svanasana and inverted asanas. Geetaji went into the benefits of the asanas, for the mind, body and soul. We were not just focusing on the benefits to the inner organic body – we were enriched with memories she shared of her father's teachings and of yoga philosophy. She filled us with thoughts such as "yoga is a terrestrial system which reaches the celestial".
Since the venue was on the edge of the city, it was wise to pre-book lunch. Each day, our food was cooked outside by an efficient team that clearly knows how to cater for large functions (think Indian weddings and Bollywood bashes). Apart from one day, the food was always Indian. It was guesswork for me because I did not know my idli from my dosa, paratha, uttapam, pav-bhaji or aloo tikki. I made uneducated guesses when dishing-up. I have probably overdosed on hydrogenated vegetable oil, refined white flour, turmeric, channa (chickpeas) and mustard seeds but all in the good name of traveling.
After lunch, we could shop or exchange currency behind the yoga venue (no Know Your Client FICA formalities and the rupee notes for exchange were kept in a rucksack) or buy a fresh coconut from a skinny fruit merchant. I bought yoga clothes and yoga philosophy books. There was also chai tea for sale and a desk with Ayurvedic doctors on hand to help with ailments. Thankfully I did not need to chat to them. I saw different coloured powders being dished-out to ailling practitioners.
Afternoons were spent on lectures covering yoga props, yoga philosophy, a question and answer session (as questions during class are forbidden) and discussing a videoed class given by Guruji some years back when woman wore leotards and men with hairy chests did yoga with no tops on. All very odd to me in that at the yoganusasanam we were encouraged to be fairly covered-up by not wearing spaghetti-strap tops although shorts were allowed. I am proud to say, I finally bought a pair of yoga bloomer shorts and wore them. My maternal grandmother must have worn these as inner garments (as they say in India) in her day.
When Geetaji began the pranayama part, it was pure bliss. By then, I was able to understand her accent better. For example, I now knew that the reference to an "armpa" was to "armpit"; what a breakthrough! Her consistently calm and even-toned voice helped me to focus on the various breathing techniques. When doing seated pranayama, it can be hard to sit in one asana for long but this is part of the path to dhyana, as this (meditation) requires the body and mind to be still. Mastering the breath helps with this. I confess to having nodded-off a few times when doing pranayama lying down. I was relieved to hear that others had too. Not an ideal response to capturing prana which also means energy and life force!
We finished classes on the Sunday. I felt very relaxed and also relieved. I had been worried that I would not be able to keep-up with the other practitioners and that Geetaji could have spotted me with her eagle eyes, and called me on stage to demonstrate how not to do an asana, poking me with her long stick. Instead, I did not fear her (I was not spotted); Geetaji was a motherly and magestic presence. She imparted her wisdom with ease and humility, together with a dose of good humour.
I feel truly blessed to have been at the yoganusasanam. Considering the general daily city chaos outside the venue, the event was organised to near perfection, including providing us with an information pamphlet instructing us to not have late nights, to cut our finger nails and not to eat spicey foods. Disobedient practitioners were called "the mob" by Geetaji.
As I type this blog, I long for another opportunity to go back to the source of Iyengar yoga and fall back into the deep-end of the energy that flows through India.
My next blog will be on Varanasi and posted in a new year which I hope will be filled with light and harmony for all.


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Author: Stephen Nemeth
During homecoming weekend last semester, on top of a coffee table at an off-campus house, a rapper by the name of Quez introduced himself to the Occidental community by spitting lyrics to a crowd of college students with the same energy as when he stands on a stage rapping to thousands of concert-goers.
Quez, a 20-year-old Southern California rapper, has frequented house parties around the college this school year. Keaton Shiffman (sophmore), a personal friend of Quez, invited him to campus last semester — and since then, Quez's name has become well-known among Occidental students. Outside of Oxy, the rapper is making more connections with other artists.
Three years ago, Quez lost his chance of competing athletically at the college level after dislocating his knee, tearing his ACL and breaking his tibia during his senior year of high school. As a result of this setback, he took a chance on music — something that he had only tried to do once before.
"I used to get made fun of for making music. I mean, who makes fun of people for following their dreams?" Quez said.
But despite the initial setback, he persisted.
"Everything happens for a reason, you got to have a positive outlook on life or else it'll eat you alive. Because there is always going to be those setbacks," he said.
Quez started out simple — rapping into his MacBook to record songs. Eventually he began rapping in public, debuting his talent at the Velvet Jones in Santa Barbara. He performed with a raspy voice due to a sickness at the time, and a level of nervousness he couldn't have previously imagined. It was an eye-opening point in his life.
"It was insane, it was like a movie, it didn't even feel real," he said. "That's a better high than anything I can get in life."
Although Quez enjoys the sounds of other professional artists, he minimizes his exposure to their music in order to better cultivate his own unique sound.
"I just feel like, as an artist, to really be able to grow, it's okay to have your idols, but you can't just constantly be listening to people," Quez said. "Listen to yourself whenever you can, because the more you listen to yourself, the more you know yourself. Because in reality, all rap is your subconscious talking."
Quez now raps alongside LftdVu and LftdMike in a group called Lftd. Quez is a recent addition to that group, established in 2011, and feels that both men compliment him artistically. Lftd follows a tight schedule to ensure that they continue to produce new songs weekly.
"I am just a rapper, so I got to do everything I can to try and outwit that person, outwit the next dude," he said. "Or not just the next dude, but find the next trend before the first dude does. It's all about trendsetting in this game."
Quez's experiences from his time in Eugene, Oregon, where he says he gained significant popularity, have also heavily influenced how he approaches his music. According to him, he aimed to be humble about his success, but instead gloated and lost his work ethic in the party lifestyle.
"There is so much shit that can make you happy, it's just you have to put the time and effort in to find it," Quez said. "And not a lot of people want to do that because they want to watch other people take the time and effort to find it, via social media. Basically, what is wrong with America today is we think we are following our dreams, but we're just liking other people's."
In the end, he moved back to Southern California to restart. He makes a distinction between fame and recognition, the former of which he shuns, and the latter he strives for.
"Recognition is more important than fame," Quez said. "Fame is temporary, recognition is forever."
Currently Quez divides his time between working at the studio, working on cars and hanging out with friends such as Shiffman here at Occidental.
For Shiffman, who has seen Quez perform both on stage and in houses around Eagle Rock, it speaks to Quez's character that he does not change up his performance to match a venue.
"His performance itself doesn't vary. When he is on stage, or when he has got a mike in his hand, he is 100 percent Quez all the time. He's going to rap whether he's in front, you know, opening for a big name artist, or if he is performing for a house party."
Alton Luke (sophomore), a student who has produced his own mixtape, appreciates Quez's sincerity in his message and his image. He believes that Quez — also a friend — has a refreshing and vibrant product that makes him unique from other rappers trying to operate in the music industry.
"He's very confident in himself, and he is very confident in his artistic vision, which is why he is so comfortable with experimenting, which is why he is so comfortable with coming to OMA and getting on a table, and so comfortable collaborating with so many different artists," Luke said.
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subset: commoncrawl


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It's not entirely a tour-de-force, but he's a talented guy working with talented people making some very fun music. His band changes up a fair bit, but he's usually got a trumpet/flugelhorn section floating around, a sousaphone for the bass, an accordian and the standard keys, drum and guitar. I highly recommend "There is Not a Snake" as a song, and the other contender on this album is Disneyland, IMO. Raccoons is a favourite of mine for comepletely unrelated reasons (mostly that I've never really gotten into any of the recordings he's done for it).
It's hard for me to describe his music, because I have very little taste and I'm not widely read (for lack of a better word) with bands to compare him to. He's a bit of a crooner who constructs these fantastic surreal vignettes in his writing, but you can tell he's still just playing around and having fun with what he does, although this is so much more apparent live. He's a terrible ham IRL and it definitelycomes through in his music. I'm not going to name band names and instead let you guys judge him yourselves.
Here's his soundcloud with the full album on it: http://soundcloud.com/nick-teehan
and here's the bio from his website:
What does everyone think?Originally Posted by Biography


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A Giver of Love pendant (available on Etsy) given as a gift – and the recipient was so touched! Continue reading Giver of Love Pendant
Tag: pendants
Giver of Love Pendant
Giver of Love is a fav piece and I love this Giver of Love pendant! Wearing it with a Dyed4you silk called Beauty for Ashes which matches it BEAUTIFULLY! Continue reading Giver of Love Pendant
Gifted Dragon Slayer Pendant
We know our Inspired Flow Art pendants and keychains make amazing and encouraging gifts, but it's always fun to hear the details when they are received. Naudia shares her story about giving away one of our Dragon Slayer pendants. Continue reading Gifted Dragon Slayer Pendant
Dusk Scarf and other Goodies
A die-hard Inspired Flow Art fan (as my mom though I suppose she's a bit obliged to be LOL!) showing off her beautiful Dusk scarf from Vida a new addition to her Inspired Flow Art collection and her Murky Waters pendant. 🙂 Also the promo and overview videos of the scarf are below. Continue reading Dusk Scarf and other Goodies
Light Birthing Pendants
Mary has the Light Birthing pendant in both acrylic and alcohol ink (Recreating explains why we remade our acrylics in alcohol ink). She loves them both and bought several to share with others. She shared this comment when she received her alcohol ink Light Birthing pendant: Continue reading Light Birthing Pendants
Promise Pendant
Carolyn ordered a "surprise me" pendant from our Etsy store and included a note that she'd like the bronze-tone metal. She loved the one we sent her! Here's what she said: Continue reading Promise Pendant
Bead-Drop Pendant
This sweet birthday girl got a bead-drop Noble pendant as a gift and she loved it!
Remaining Promises Pendant
It's been hard to resist the temptation to add one of every piece to my pendant collection – LOL – but I am enjoying the ones I have added and love getting compliments on them (as well as staring at them throughout the day). They're a great reminder of the Colorful Encouragement words that go with them! All that to say, I am loving my Remaining Promises pendant (available on Etsy)! Continue reading Remaining Promises Pendant
Narrow Golden Majesty Pendant
Miss Brianna loved her narrow Golden Majesty pendant. And it was just a happy coincidence that it matched what she was wearing. 🙂 Continue reading Narrow Golden Majesty Pendant
Explosive Passion Pendant with Beaded Drop
This recipient got her unique Explosive Passion pendant with a beaded drop as a gift. When she read the Colorful Encouragement that came with it she cried because it was such confirmation and encouragement. She absolutely adored it – the letter, the pendant, and most importantly the tangible reminder it represented. Such a fun gift! (Our regular Explosive Passions pendants are available on Etsy) Continue reading Explosive Passion Pendant with Beaded Drop


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One summer day in Arden, North Carolina, the Lafferty family made a dismaying discovery. The engines of their Honda Odyssey minivan and Toyota Corolla sedan roared! The noise was a tell-tale sign. The vehicles' catalytic converters had been stolen. "It sounds like you're driving a Harley-Davidson with no muffler," Patrick Lafferty says.
The three Lafferty kids were angry. Injustice had been done. They hoped to solve "the mystery of the stolen catalytic converters."
The neighborhood is near a Christian camp and conference center. It's a quiet area with little traffic. "We even leave our doors unlocked sometimes," says mom Christy. So when about a dozen cars in the neighborhood were hit, it was a shock.
About six weeks later, the catalytic converter of the family RV was stolen too—from inside a nearby storage facility. Thieves had cut through the fence.
The Laffertys aren't alone. There's been a nationwide surge in thefts of catalytic converters over the past two years.
What's the appeal of the small device attached to the underside of your family's car? A catalytic converter changes harmful substances in a car's exhaust to less harmful products like carbon dioxide and water vapor. For those chemical reactions, it needs a catalyst. Usually, the catalyst is a precious metal such as platinum, palladium, or rhodium.
The coronavirus pandemic disrupted the supply chains for many industries. With a smaller supply, prices for many things—including those metals—have skyrocketed. Thieves can net anywhere from $50 to $300 if they sell a converter to a scrap yard, which then sells it to recycling facilities to reclaim the precious metals inside.
In response, states across the country have toughened penalties for the thefts. They've also imposed new requirements for scrap metal dealers who buy the converters. Ten states enacted new laws in 2021. Arkansas, South Carolina, and Texas require buyers of used converters to maintain records of purchases, including proof of ownership, vehicle identification numbers, the seller's home address, and driver's license numbers. In North Carolina, a new law makes catalytic converter thefts a Class I felony. A similar bill proposed in Virginia would presume that anyone in possession of one has obtained it illegally unless the person has a receipt.
Human laws can help curb sin. (1 Peter 2:13-14) Fear of punishment may keep would-be thieves from stealing. Laws can't do much about the sin within the human heart, though. But God has the power both to forgive heart sin and restrain us from acting on it.
As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. — Luke 6:31
Why? Humans make laws in an attempt to bring justice. Those laws can restrain evil in our communities. But only God can guarantee true justice.
Pray: Pray that God will change the hearts of those who turn to theft. (Ephesians 4:28) And pray that He will turn your heart away from sin as well.


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A Quick and Easy-to-Get Loan Solution for Real Estate Investors
Don't qualify for a conventional loan? Need a quick, short-term financial solution? Hard money loans may be the answer to your financial needs. Many people utilize hard money loans as a way to quickly borrow money for the short term and are particularly popular with borrowers like real estate investors. However, any borrower can take out a hard money loan as long as they have assets in their portfolio.
Interested in getting a hard money loan? Here are all the things you need to know about it before you get one:
What exactly is a hard money loan?
Hard money loans are sometimes referred to as bridge loans or short-term loans. They are commonly used by residential investors who need quick money to renovate the properties they want to sell for extra cash.
The providers of said hard money loans are from hard money lenders. These lenders are generally not tied to a traditional bank or a credit union that lends to other people. They also fund the hard money loans and utilize equity or real estate as collateral.
Why should I get a hard money loan?
There are a few reasons to get a hard money loan. A person may pursue a hard money loan if they do not qualify for a traditional loan. Also, a person may want access to quick money, something which conventional loans will generally fall short in doing.
In other words, if you need quick access to money or need money but do not qualify for conventional loans, hard money loans are a unique source of money you can try.
What are the advantages of hard money loans?
The advantages of hard money loans are also the same reasons people get the loan in the first place.
The first advantage of hard money loans is the fact that the funds provided are given quickly. Traditional loans take weeks or even months to process at a time. On the other hand, hard money loans can be processed within a few short days. In the world of investment, speed is generally the name of the game when closing the deal, and hard money loans can provide the speed they need to close deals successfully.
The second advantage of hard money loans is the fact that one does not need a good credit history to qualify for one. This is because hard money lenders focus on things like a house or a building as collateral. However, there is a catch here. The lender will also take the time to learn of the new value after the property has been renovated to understand how much they should be loaning away.
All in all, if you have real estate and need a speedy loan that does not consider your credit history as much, a hard money loan is a perfect loan to get. You can get it quickly and easily, so long as you have real estate you are willing to use as collateral. That being said, different lenders have different requirements and are willing to lend different amounts. Always be sure to weigh out your options by reaching out to various lenders. This way, you can pick the perfect loan to fit your needs, ensuring you maximize your financial goals while minimizing costs in the process.
DFW Investor Lending is an investor-owned lending corporation that offers unparalleled expertise to assist individuals in meeting their real estate needs. If you are looking for a hard money lender in Dallas, contact us today!


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Automated pastures and the digital divide: how agricultural technologies are shaping labour and rural communities
Rotz, Sarah, Gravely, Evan, Mosby, Ian, Duncan, Emily, Finnis, Elizabeth, Horgan, Mervyn, LeBlanc, Joseph, Martin, Ralph, Neufeld, Hannah Tait, Nixon, Andrew, Pant, Laxmi, Shalla, Vivian and Fraser, Evan (2019) Automated pastures and the digital divide: how agricultural technologies are shaping labour and rural communities. Journal of Rural Studies, 68. pp. 112-122. ISSN 0743-0167 (doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.01.023)
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A "digital revolution" in agriculture is underway. Advanced technologies like sensors, artificial intelligence, and robotics are increasingly being promoted as a means to increase food production efficiency while minimizing resource use. In the process, agricultural digitalization raises critical social questions about the implications for diverse agricultural labourers and rural spaces as digitalization evolves. In this paper, we use literature and field data to outline some key trends being observed at the nexus of agricultural production, technology, and labour in North America, with a particular focus on the Canadian context. Using the data, we highlight three key tensions observed: rising land costs and automation; the development of a high-skill/low-skilled bifurcated labour market; and issues around the control of digital data. With these tensions in mind, we use a social justice lens to consider the potential implications of digital agricultural technologies for farm labour and rural communities, which directs our attention to racial exploitation in agricultural labour specifically. In exploring these tensions, we argue that policy and research must further examine how to shift the trajectory of digitalization in ways that support food production as well as marginalized agricultural labourers, while pointing to key areas for future research—which is lacking to date. We emphasize that the current enthusiasm for digital agriculture should not blind us to the specific ways that new technologies intensify exploitation and deepen both labour and spatial marginalization.
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|digital agriculture, North America, automation, migrant labour, rural development, critical theory
|H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
|Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:
|Faculty of Engineering & Science
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Livelihoods & Institutions Department
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|17 Jan 2020 16:23
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Whole house painting – Cabinet Refinishing
Mid-sized elegant open concept dark wood floor family room photo in St Louis with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv
white brick with colored shelves- how would it look with white shelves? – webuser_77230502
Alta Dr., Beverly Hills, CA
Inspiration for a timeless medium tone wood floor family room library remodel in Los Angeles with a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv
like the 4 chair and round table configuration; have 4 chairs and a table; chairs would need some work (dings and possibly new fabric) – jrmunn
2013 Green Dream Home
Builder: Rocky DiGiacomo, DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation, Inc.
Interior Designer: Gigi DiGiacomo, DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation, Inc.
Architect: Ryan Fish, AIA
Photographer: Susan Gilmore
"Roycroft Mist Gray" by Sherwin Williams. – cynthiajonsmom
Prairie Style
Inspiration for a timeless family room remodel in Chicago with white walls
Note mantel as though tv floating just above. – mpc105
Shaker Door – White, 1+2 panel
The Shaker door design gives the doors a clean, traditional style that will complement any decor. The doors are durable, made of solid Pine, with a MDF face for a smooth clean finish. The doors are easy to install. Our Shaker doors are primed and can be painted to match your decor. The doors are constructed from solid pine from environmentally-friendly, sustainable yield forests.
Love the shaker door. – mundymornings
Billy Cunningham Photography & Austin Patterson Disston Architects, Southport CT
Large elegant enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor family room library photo in New York
the way the ceiling is lit up from the top of the bookshelves is really cool – meganbarroll
Living Room
Example of a mid-sized classic enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor family room design in Atlanta with beige walls
Sine I refuse to purchase another recliner. We would like a coffee table/ottoman that we can set up like this. – ekanouse
High-end Keeping Room
Huge elegant open concept medium tone wood floor family room photo in Atlanta with beige walls, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv
treatment on TV matcing fireplace – webuser_646206208
Vacationing at Home in Naperville
Two story family room with overlook from second floor hallway. Gorgeous built-in bookcases house favorite books, family photos and of course, a large TV!
Marina Storm – Picture Perfect House
dvds, cds around tv as part of entertainment center – maureenagaffney
British Colonial
Photographed by: Julie Soefer Photography
Elegant dark wood floor family room photo in Houston with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace
Shades windows in living area looking out to pool? – debshapiro100
GILLON | family room
Example of a classic open concept medium tone wood floor family room design in Dallas with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace
Stain color for bookcases, kitchen window frame, island – webuser_325530400
Mediterranean Style Custom Home in Fort Worth
Family room – mid-sized traditional open concept dark wood floor family room idea in Dallas with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a stone fireplace
the overall openness and how the family room flows into the kitchen – sarkars
Sports Lounge – Crystal Cove New Construction
Sports Lounge – Crystal Cove New Construction. Upscale Sports Lounge w/ Dual TV Screens and Generous Bar – Art Deco Antique Pool Table. Venetian Plaster Walls, Cozy Leather Club Chairs, Painting by Sandra Jones Campbell.
Like the paneling and lighting is cozy – hoohay
River Oaks Federal Colonial
River Oaks, 2014 – Remodel and Additions
Huge elegant loft-style dark wood floor and brown floor family room library photo in Houston with brown walls and a standard fireplace
Sunroom: floor to ceiling window/bookshelf/window/bookshelf alternating w/library ladder. ONE of the vertical columns to be re-furbished 1900 fireplace w/gas insert. – webuser_989382858
Custom Media & Entertainment Centers
Custom Built In Entertainment Center in white finish
C&L Design Specialists exclusive photo
Large elegant terra-cotta tile family room photo in Los Angeles with no fireplace and a media wall
I like the lit cabinets and how it is smaller closer to the window, we need to do that too – corey_young5
The Chatham Project Family Room
Example of a classic dark wood floor family room design in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv
The peaked ceilings with woodwork, love the sconces above the fireplace and the fireplace, and lots of windows. Also, like the hanging light fixture. – smithbe4
Wainscoting in Dublin
Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers
Inspiration for a large timeless dark wood floor family room remodel in Columbus with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace
Dark banister with metal ballisters with knuckles. – mariloudmyers
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Companies like GE, Wal-Mart, and Procter & Gamble have found it difficult at times to get their customers and distributors to go along with their green initiatives, Fortune reports.
Look at Coke. The company has invested $40 million in research and testing and organized a coalition of companies that sell cold drinks and ice cream, including Unilever, McDonald's and PepsiCo, in order to get rid of conventional and inefficient vending machines and commercial coolers and create a HFC-free, super-efficient vending machine. About 8,000 of the new machines have been deployed.
That only leaves about 10 million to go, according to the article.
The problem Coke is facing is that independent bottlers don't want to pay extra for HFC-free units and manufacturers don't want to spend the necessary money to retool production lines in order to produce them in bulk.
To change the industry Coke needs to get other buyers involved, as well as compressor manufacturers, component manufacturers, and system integrators. All of these companies are heavily invested in HFC technology.


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I am getting married on the 14th of February in Puerto Gallera, Philippines and my makep/hair artist just cancelled on me!! I cant believe it…I am so beggining to stress out!!
I am also Australian so have western skin tones and blonde hair so I need someone who has done western colouring before. Also on a tight wedding budget so need to be reasonable priced aswell
thanks x


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Columbia Trail, NJ
40 Vernoy Road, Califon, NJ 07830
Pet Friendly
The Columbia Trail is a shady rail-trail that runs along the Raritan River and through scenic Ken Lockwood Gorge. It passes woods, farms, backyards and a few towns.
Extremely family friendly and rarely crowded, the entire 6 mile section from Long Valley into Califon is mostly flat, with only one challenging hill.
The diversity of wildlife along the trail is abundant and provides a natural corridor for the animals to move about. The trail's natural surface makes it easy to observe willdlife footprints.
The Columbia Line offers an excellent view of Lake Solitude and provides a sanctuary for various waterfowl including Common and Hooded Mergansers. Another bird seen in the area is the allusive Pileated Woodpecker.
The trail is open year round but in the Summer it is quite buggy so be sure to bring insect repellent.
Note: Most of the trail is Handicap Accessible.
Fun Fact: At the 1 mile mark you will see a rock cairn mile-marker, a popular place for geocachers.
Learn more: Columbia Trail


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Awake Travel raises USD 500K, showing that the travel industry is still a viable investment
Although the travel industry will be amongst the most hard-hit in Latin America, VCs are investing in startups in anticipation for the day when travel restrictions are lifted. Awake Travel, a platform that allows travelers to book eco-friendly trips and experiences in Colombia, recently raised a seed investment of US$500,000. The round was led by Colombian organizations, Bancolombia Foundation and Fondo Acción.
As a result of COVID-19, travelers will stay away from crowded metropolitan cities; and instead they will search for local outdoor destinations, like those that Awake Travel offers. Awake's platform allows travelers to find unique destinations and small communities in Colombia, where risks of disease are lower than in large cities.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that major economies in Latin America will see significant falls in GDP due to their reliance on the hospitality business; with Mexico estimated to fall 15.5% and Brazil 7.7%.
Awake's investment, however, shows that there is still confidence in the travel industry, especially for secluded locations; and perhaps it is time to restructure the travel industry as a whole.


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Another one! Sorry, all I keep hearing in my head right now is DJ Khaled. "Another one!"
Three years ago this coming November, in November 2016, Prince Harry launched what I called a Love Shield, a written defence of his then-girlfriend Meghan Markle, admonishing certain British media outlets for their racist coverage. This was, you'll recall, after several weeks of reporting on Meghan's mother's "dreadlocks", and calling Meghan "Straight Outta Compton". That article, by the way, is still up on the Daily Mail's website:
As you know, over the last several months, many of those same UK publications have been aggressively targeting Harry and Meghan, but mostly Meghan, and in my posts about the situation, if you're a regular visitor to this site, you know that even though the Sussexes haven't been the only royals making headlines this summer (picture Prince Andrew waving at you with his "chubby fingers"), there's been an imbalance in the weight of the coverage, specifically with the shouty opinion pieces and morning show segments over in England.
So today Prince Harry launched another Love Shield. You can read Harry's letter here. Meghan of House Sussex is suing the Daily Mail and its parent company "over the misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018". They are paying for the lawsuit themselves. Should they win in court, proceeds from the lawsuit will be donated to anti-bullying charities.
There is a LOT to unpack here. And we'll get to more of that tomorrow. Today, let's focus on the timing. Because the timing is AMAZING.
The Sussexes are currently on tour!
Harry and Meghan have been apart for the last few days but they're reuniting tonight and tomorrow they're stepping out together for several appearances in Johannesburg. And what's crazy is that… there are reporters from the Daily Mail who are part of the royal rota! Like Rebecca English! They've been covering the Sussex tour of southern Africa for over a week now. There are also reporters from The Sun, another publication that has posted some f-cksh-t about Meghan over the last year. And Harry decided to drop this on their asses TODAY…
Knowing that they still have to face him, be around him, for at least another 24 hours!
So far, as we've seen, coverage of the Sussexes' tour has been largely positive, even from the Daily Mail and The Sun. Mostly because it's been a flawless trip and Harry and Meghan have delivered a flawless performance, but also partly because, well, if you're working for the Daily Mail and The Sun, of course you don't want to be up to your usual f-cksh-t when you're face-to-face with the targets of your f-cksh-t.
The Sussexes, however, clearly don't give a sh-t about having to look these people in the face. It would seem like…they almost want to. They could have waited until Friday, until next week, after the tour. When everyone's gone home and there are no more photo opportunities, no more stops, no occasions for them to be in the same place at the same time. But they deliberately chose to do it now, while they're all still travelling together. So it would seem that the Sussexes aren't worried about any awkwardness – and that's the position they're ostensibly taking: why should we be the ones feeling awkward?
This, then, was a surprise offensive. NOBODY was expecting this. The Daily Mail had no idea. For months Harry and Meghan have been working on this lawsuit – MONTHS! – and there wasn't a leak, not a hint, not any kind of tip-off. They kept it so tight and timed it so well that it would make for the most aggressive impact, prime detonation: the day before the last day of the tour.
Imagine the press pack right now, especially the ones who've been called out for their racism and bias. I can tell you that they're shell-shocked, reeling. And some of them are already defiant.
But if this is war, and it certainly looks like it's war, Harry, in launching his Love Shield 2019, drew first blood, turning defence into offence. Against an enemy that was totally unprepared. All eyes then on Johannesburg tomorrow when Harry and Meghan emerge from behind that Love Shield and look across the battlefield at their opponents, a few steps ahead. What the f-ck happens now?
More on this tomorrow!


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|Molecular Vision 2005;
11:665-676 <http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v11/a79/>
Received 15 June 2005 | Accepted 19 July 2005 | Published 30 August 2005
Stargardt-like macular dystrophy protein ELOVL4 exerts a dominant negative effect by recruiting wild-type protein into aggresomes
Vidyullatha Vasireddy,1
Camasamudram Vijayasarathy,2
Jibiao Huang,1 Xiaofei F. Wang,3
Monica M. Jablonski,3
Howard R. Petty,1
Paul A. Sieving,2,4
Radha Ayyagari1
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; 2National Eye Institute and 4National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; 3University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Hamilton Eye Institute, Memphis, TN
Correspondence to: Radha Ayyagari, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, The University of Michigan, 1000 Wall Street, Room number 325, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105; Phone: (734) 647-6345; FAX: (734) 936-7321; email: email@example.com
Purpose: Mutations in the gene Elongation of very long-chain fatty acids-4 (ELOVL4) have been shown to be associated with autosomal dominant Stargardt-like macular dystrophy (STGD3). ELOVL4 is expressed in photoreceptors and encodes a putative transmembrane protein of 314 amino acids with an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal. A 5 bp deletion in exon 6 of ELOVL4 observed in some STGD3 patients results in the truncation of the protein and loss of the ER retention signal. To understand the disease mechanism underlying STGD3 we studied the intracellular trafficking of the wild-type and a 5 bp deletion mutant of ELOVL4.
Methods: Wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins with the N-terminal GFP/V5 tags were expressed in COS-7 cells. Expression and the intracellular localization of the wild-type and mutant proteins were characterized by immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis using tag- and organelle-specific antibodies. Interaction between the wild-type and mutant proteins was studied by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis.
Results: The mutant ELOVL4 protein exerted a dominant negative effect when the wild-type and 5 bp deletion mutant ELOVL4 proteins were co-expressed in COS-7 cells. Immunocytochemical analysis, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and FRET revealed that the mutant ELOVL4 interacts with the wild-type protein, forming higher molecular mass complexes that accumulate in aggresomes.
Conclusions: In the presence of mutant ELOVL4 protein, the wild-type protein was recruited into perinuclear cytoplasmic inclusions that resemble aggresomes. The interaction between the wild-type and mutant forms of ELOVL4 and the resultant alteration in the trafficking of the wild-type ELOVL4 protein suggest a mechanism for the pathogenicity observed in patients with autosomal dominant STGD3.
Stargardt-like autosomal dominant macular dystrophy is characterized by progressive macular degeneration leading to central macular and peripapillary retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy and accumulation of flecks. The onset of the disease is during the teenage years [1,2]. For these macular degenerations, two loci, one on chromosome 6q (STGD3) and the other on chromosome 13 (STGD2), have been mapped. Mutations in the elongation of very long chain fatty acids-4 gene (ELOVL4) have been identified in families linked to the locus on the 6q [3,4]. The ELOVL4 protein has sequence and structural similarities with the ELO family of proteins described in yeast [5]. ELOVL4 encodes a protein with 314 aminoacids with a dilysine motif (KXKXX) at the C-terminus that is thought to signal ER retention. Three different mutations have been identified in the ELOVL4 gene associated with Stargardt-like macular degeneration: (1) a 5 bp deletion mutation in exon 6 of ELOVL4, which causes a frameshift leading to the loss of 51 amino acids; (2) a two-base-deletion, which also results in the loss of 51 terminal amino acids; and (3) a nonsense mutation at codon 270. All three mutations result in premature termination of protein translation and loss of the ER retention signal [3,4,6]. We previously demonstrated that the dilysine ER-retention signal at the C-terminal end of the ELOVL4 protein is functional, and its loss results in misrouting of the protein [7]. However, the mechanism underlying the degeneration process due to the mutations in the ELOVL4 gene is not known. Mutations present in the heterozygous state could cause disease either due to haploinsufficiency or a dominant negative effect exerted by the mutant protein. Expression of the ELOVL4 mutant protein in COS-7 cells indicated that the mutant protein is localized to cytosolic juxtanuclear compartments [7]. Several neurodegenerative diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa due to mutations in the rhodopsin gene, are found to result from the dominant negative effect of the misfolded mutant proteins [8-10]. In order to evaluate whether the mutant ELOVL4 exerts similar dominant negative effect, we studied the cellular fate of the wild-type and 5 bp deletion mutant ELOVL4 proteins following their co-expression in COS-7 cells. Our studies suggest that the mutant protein interacted with the wild-type protein to form higher molecular weight aggregates. These aggregates were localized to perinuclear inclusions that have the characteristic features of aggresomes. Interaction of the wild-type and mutant proteins, and the alteration in their cellular trafficking may explain the molecular pathology underlying the degeneration process due to mutations in the ELOVL4 gene.
Reagents and antibodies
The following antibodies and chemicals were used in this study. Antibodies: mouse monoclonal anti-vimentin (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc., St. Louis, MO, dilution 1:100), mouse monoclonal anti-γ-tubulin (Sigma-Aldrich, dilution 1:500), rabbit polyclonal anti-V5 (Sigma-Aldrich, dilution 2 μg/ml), mouse monoclonal anti-V5 (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, CA, dilution 1:500), mouse monoclonal anti-GFP (Covance, Berkeley, CA, dilution 1:10,000), mouse monoclonal anti-golgin-97 (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR, concentration 1 μg/ml), mouse monoclonal anti-trans Golgi network-38 (TGN-38, Abcam, MA, dilution 1:1000).
Secondary antibodies: Alexa fluor-555 conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (Molecular probes, Eugene, OR, concentration 8 μg/ml), mouse monoclonal anti-rabbit IgG (Pierce Biotechnology, Rockford, IL, dilution 1:7500), goat monolclonal anti-mouse IgG (Pierce Biotechnology, IL, dilution 1:7500). Chemicals: proteasome inhibitor MG-132 and nocodozole were purchased from Calbiochem, San Diego, CA. Fetal bovine serum was obtained from ATCC (Manassas, VA) and the other chemicals were obtained form Sigma-Aldrich, Inc.
Cloning of ELOVL4 into GFP tagged and V5 tagged expression vectors
Preparation of EGFP-ELOVL4 wild-type (GFP-Ewt) and EGFP-ELOVL4 5 bp deletion mutant (GFP-Emut) constructs was reported earlier [7]. The V5-tagged ELOVL4 wild-type (V5-Ewt) and V5 tagged ELOVL4 mutant (V5-Emut) constructs were prepared by standard two-step method using Gateway cloning technology (Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad, CA). Gateway is a universal cloning technology that takes advantage of the site specific recombination properties of bacteriophage lambda to provide a rapid and highly efficient method to move the gene of interest into multiple vector systems.
The complete cDNA sequence for ELOVL4 was amplified from human brain cDNA library, using gene specific primers carrying BamHI cohesive ends using the forward (5'-CTC GGA TCC GCG ATG GGG CTC CTG GAC-3') and reverse (5'-GCG GAT CCC AGT TCA ATT TAA TCT CCT TTT GCT TTT CC-3') primers and Pfx DNA polymerase. wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 cDNAs were first cloned into the pENTER-directional-TOPO entry vectors. These TOPO entry clones were used for recombination reactions and thereby directional cloning into the Gateway pcDNA 3.1/nV5 DEST mammalian expression vector carrying a V5 tag. Sequencing confirmed that the resulting clone, pcDNA 3.1/nV5 DEST-ELOVL4, contained the complete ELOVL4 wild-type or the mutant sequence in frame and the N-terminal V5 extension.
Cell culture
COS-7 cells were cultured in DMEM with glutamine and 10% fetal bovine serum with an atmosphere of 10% CO2 at 37 °C. The cells were seeded and grown to 80-90% of confluence. After 24 h, the cells were transfected with expression constructs or control vectors using Lipofectamine Plus (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The effects of proteasomal inhibition and Golgi disruption were studied by treating the cells 48 h after transfection with 10 μM MG-132 for 12 h and 10 μg/ml nocodazole for 1 h, respectively, at 37 °C and then washed with PBS and immunolabeled.
Immunofluorescence analysis of transfected COS-7 cells by confocal microscopy
Cells were washed with cold PBS 48 h after transfection and fixed in absolute methanol at -10 °C for 15 min. Fixed cells were blocked for 1 h with goat serum in PBS, incubated for 1 h with primary antibody followed by washing with PBS, and further incubation with secondary antibody. Subsequently, washed cells were mounted with Vectashield anti-fade mounting medium containing DAPI. Immunofluorescence was visualized with a Zeiss LSM 510 laser scanning confocal microscope.
Preparation of cell extracts and western blotting
Cells transfected with the EGFP or V5 tagged ELOVL4 constructs were lysed with buffer containing 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 1% (w/v) SDS, 1 mM DTT, glycerol, and protease inhibitor cocktail (Sigma-Aldrich). Cell lysates were separated by 10% SDS-PAGE and blotted onto nitrocellulose membrane for western analysis. The blot was developed by the chemiluminescent method using ECL reagents according to the manufacturer's instructions (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ).
Colorless native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (CN-PAGE)
CN-PAGE was employed to determine whether ELOVL4 exists as a higher molecular mass oligomeric complex and was carried out essentially as described earlier with slight modifications [8-10]. CN-PAGE is identical to Blue-Native PAGE (BN-PAGE) but Coomassie dye is omitted from sample and cathode buffer and sodium taurodeoxycholate is used to induce the charge shift, which facilitates the migration of protein complexes according to their molecular mass on a nondenaturing gel. The whole cell lysates derived from cells transfected with GFP and/or V5 tagged ELOVL4 constructs, containing about 25 μg of protein were loaded onto the 6-13% native gel. The samples were electrophoresed at 80 V for 1 h and 200 V (current not exceeding 15 mA) for 2 h at 4 °C. The relative migration rates of standards on native gel were visualized by staining the first dimension native gel with Simply Blue safe stain (Invitrogen). The oligomeric complexes separated initially by CN-PAGE were further resolved into individual polypeptide components in second dimension on a 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel, and the protein components were identified by immunoblot analysis using epitope-specific (anti-GFP or anti-V5) antibodies according to standard protocols [9].
FRET analysis to study the interaction between Ewt and Emut proteins
The interaction of wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins was explored by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), in which molecular proximity is determined by the energy transfer from a fluorescent donor to an acceptor. COS-7 cells were transfected with GFP-Ewt and GFP-Emut, V5-Ewt and GFP-Emut, GFP-Ewt and V5-Ewt, or GFP-Emut, and V5-Emut constructs. After 24 h of transfection, cells were fixed with 2% paraformaldehyde, permeabilized with 1% Brij-58, and fixed again with 2% paraformaldehyde for 20 min at room temperature [11]. These cells were labeled with Alexa fluor 555-conjugated anti-V5 antibodies, and were washed for 1 h with Hank's Balanced Salt solution with constant shaking at room temperature.
Emission spectrophotometry
Energy transfer was examined by means of a microscope spectrophotometer apparatus [12,13]. Fluorescence emission spectra were collected from single cells by a Peltier-cooled IMAX camera with a liquid nitrogen cooled intensifier (Princeton Instruments, Princeton, NJ) attached to a modified Zeiss Axiovert fluorescence microscope. Microspectrophotometry used a 485/22-nm narrow band pass discriminating filter for excitation, a 510 nm longpass dichroic mirror, and a 520 nm long-pass emission filter. The emission spectrum was monitored between 400-800 nm. Winspec software (Princeton Instruments) was used to analyze spectrophotometric data. The excitation and emission wavelength pairs used for EGFP and Alexa fluor labeled anti-V5-antibody are 490 nm, 509 nm, and 555 nm, 565 nm, respectively.
Analysis of wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 expressed in COS-7 cells
To express wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins in COS-7 cells, mammalian expression constructs carrying EGFP-ELOVL4 wild-type and mutant, and V5-tagged ELOVL4 wild-type and mutant constructs were generated as described earlier [7]. COS-7 cells were transfected or co-transfected with the following constructs: (1) GFP-Ewt, (2) GFP-Emut, (3) GFP-Ewt and GFP-Emut, (4) V5-E wt, (5) V5-E mut, (6) GFP-Ewt and V5-E mut, (7) V5-E wt and GFP-Emut, (8) GFP vector, and (9) mock transfection with transfection reagents only. Cell lysates were analyzed on SDS-PAGE followed by western blot analysis with appropriate antibodies to determine the expression of ELOVL4 fusion proteins. The GFP antibody detected a prominent band migrating at about 64 kDa in the lysates (Figure 1) of cells expressing the GFP-Ewt protein (lane 2), and GFP-Emut protein (lane 3). Cells co-expressing GFP-Ewt and GFP-Emut protein (lane 4), GFP-Ewt and V5-Emut protein (lane 7), and V5-Ewt and GFP-Emut protein (lane 8) also showed a signal at about 64 kDa. The band size was consistent with the expected molecular mass of 67 kDa (ELOVL4 contributing 37 kDa and GFP contributing 30 kDa) for wild-type protein and 63 kDa for mutant protein (ELOVL4 contributing a mass of 33 kDa and GFP contributing a mass of 30 kDa). A 30 kDa band was detected in control GFP vector transfected cell lysate (lane 9). No specific signal was detected in lysates of cells transfected with V5-Ewt (lane 5), V5-Emut (lane 6) or mock-transfected cells (lane 10).
When these cell lysates were analyzed with the V5 antibody, a specific signal at a molecular mass of about 41 kDa (ELOVL4 contributes a mass of 37 kDa and V5 a mass of 4 kDa, summing to an expected mass about 41 kDa, Figure 2) was detected in cells expressing V5-Ewt protein (lane 5). A polypeptide of about 37 kDa band was detected in lysates of cells expressing V5-Emut (lane 6, ELOVL4 contributing 33 and V5 contributing 4 kDa) and in lysates of cells co-expressing GFP-Ewt and V5-Emut (lane 7), V5-Ewt and GFP-Emut (lane 8). There was no specific band in mock transfected cell lysates (lane 9), or cells transfected with GFP-Ewt protein (lane 2), GFP-Emut protein (lane 3), or GFP-Ewt and GFP-Emut protein (lane 4). In summary, these results suggest that the COS-7 cells transfected with wild-type and/or mutant ELOVL4 constructs carrying a GFP or V5 tag expressed ELOVL4 fusion proteins of the expected sizes (Figure 2, Figure 3, Table 1).
Intracellular misrouting of Ewt in presence of Emut protein
To determine the subcellular localization of the wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins in cells expressing both these proteins, COS-7 cells were transfected with constructs encoding ELOVL4 in four combinations: (1)GFP-Ewt and GFP-Emut, (2) V5-E wt and V5-E mut, (3) V5-E wt and GFP-Emut, and (4) GFP-Ewt and V5-E mut. In addition, COS-7 cells were transfected separately and individually with the GFP-Ewt, GFP-Emut, V5-E wt, or V5-E mut construct. Mock transfections were performed with transfection reagents only. Transfected cells were labeled with Alexa flour 555 conjugated anti-V5 antibody, then observed using laser confocal microscopy (Figure 3B,E). In cells expressing the wild-type ELOVL4 fusion protein, the ER localization of ELOVL4 is consistent with its In vivo localization in photoreceptors [7]. The localization of mutant protein to the juxtanuclear region was consistent with our previous report (data not shown) [7]. However, in the cells co-transfected with both wild-type and mutant ELOVL4, both proteins were localized to cytoplasmic aggregates in the perinuclear region (Figure 3). In these cells, localization of the wild-type ELOVL4 protein was indistinguishable from the distribution of mutant protein by confocal microscopy (Figure 3C,F). Furthermore, the wild-type protein did not co-localize with ER-specific marker protein disulfide isomerase (PDI; data not shown). This suggests that in the presence of mutant protein, the wild-type protein also was misrouted to cytoplasmic juxtanuclear aggregates along with the mutant protein.
Mutant ELOVL4 oligomerizes with wild-type ELOVL4
A combination of CN-PAGE and SDS-PAGE in a two-dimensional approach was used to determine the interaction between wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins when they are co-expressed. Immunoblotting of the second dimension gel either with anti-GFP or anti-V5 identified the migration pattern of ELOVL4 fusion proteins (Figure 4). Under the conditions employed, the monomeric forms of proteins migrate towards the extreme right end of the second dimension gel while high molecular mass proteins or complexes remain on the left side of the gel. The GFP (Figure 4A), GFP-Ewt (Figure 4B), and V5-Ewt (Figure 4G) proteins appeared toward the right side of the second dimension blot and migrated in accordance with their expected monomeric molecular weight indicating that these proteins exist as monomers. Lysates of cells co-transfected with wild-type and mutant forms of ELOVL4 constructs showed the presence of ELOVL4 protein on the left side of the gel (Figure 4D-F,H), suggesting that these proteins are components of higher molecular mass oligomeric complexes. The mutant ELOVL4 in lysates from cells transfected with GFP-Emut construct also formed similar high molecular mass complexes on the left side of the gel (Figure 4C). When co-expressed, both the wild-type and mutant forms of ELOVL4 showed a much broader distribution in molecular weight of ELOVL4 protein (about 60-200 kDa) in both horizontal and vertical directions (Figure 4D-F,H). This is indicative of the protein being present both as a monomeric species and as a higher molecular mass oligomeric complex (Figure 4D-F). Thus, these results suggested that when expressed together, the wild-type ELOVL4 and its mutant form tend to aggregate and form higher molecular mass oligomeric complexes.
Interaction of wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins
Physical interaction of wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins was determined by FRET. This energy transfer between the donor and acceptor takes place through a nonradiative, dipole-dipole interaction. The transfer of energy depends upon the distance and the orientation between the two fluorophores, occurring over a donor to acceptor separation range of about 10-100 Å. Energy transfer in the nanometer scale makes the FRET an ideal technique to study the wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 protein interaction in intact cells. In our studies we used EGFP as the donor and Alexa 555 as the acceptor. When the two fluorophores are within a range of about 10-100 Å, the energy of the donor (EGFP) will transfer to the acceptor that leads to two peaks in the emission spectrum with one peak originating from EGFP at 485 nm and a second peak from Alexa 555 at 565 nm. We assessed the proximity of GFP-Ewt and V5-Emut (Figure 5A-C) in cells co-expressing wild-type and mutant proteins, and the emission spectra of the two molecules are shown in Figure 5A,B, respectively. FRET between these molecules was detected (Figure 5C). Similar results were observed in cells co-expressing V5-Ewt and GFP-Emut (Figure 5D-F), and FRET was also detected between V5-Ewt and GFP-Emut (Figure 5F). As a negative control, GFP-Ewt and V5-Ewt co-expressing cells were labeled with Alexa 555-conjugated anti-V5 antibodies, and emission spectra are shown in Figure 5G-I. There was no FRET between the two wild-type proteins (Figure 5I). However, as a positive control, FRET (Figure 5L) was observed on GFP-Emut and V5-Emut co-expressing cells (Figure 5J-L). Thus, these results provide evidence that the wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 are in close proximity in cells co-expressing both of them. The close proximity, as indicated by FRET signals, suggested that a mutant and wild-type polypeptide must be immediately adjacent to each other, implying that the two types of polypeptides are together in a complex or aggregate.
ELOVL4 aggresomes are associated with the microtubule organizing center (MTOC)
COS-7 cells expressing either the mutant ELOVL4 alone or co-expressing the wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins appeared to form intracellular, perinuclear inclusions that have characteristics of aggresomes. Aggresomes are pericentriolar membrane-free, cytoplasmic ubiquitinated inclusion bodies formed at the microtubule organizing center (MTOC), and ensheathed in a cage of intermediate filaments [14,15]. It is well established that misfolded and aggregated proteins are sequestered into aggresomes [14,15]. To test whether the wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 complex is associated with aggresomes [14,15], localization of the mutant and wild-type ELOVL4 was compared with that of γ-tubulin, a centrosomal protein (Figure 6). The wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 protein complex was found to be co-localized with γ-tubulin (Figure 6G-I). Similar co-localization of ELOVL4 with γ-tubulin was also observed in cells expressing the mutant ELOVL4 protein alone (Figure 6D-F), whereas the wild-type ELOVL4 protein (Figure 6A-C) did not co-localize with γ-tubulin when it was expressed independently (Figure 6A-C). The γ-tubulin distribution was found to be similar in cells transfected with ELOVL4 fusion constructs or mock transfected cells (Figure 6J-L).
Reorganization of vimentin distribution in cells with ELOVL4 aggresomes
We have tested the localization and nature of intermediate filament network protein, vimentin, in relation to the distribution of the perinuclear inclusions that contained GFP-Ewt and GFP-Emut (Figure 7). Staining the cells with antibody specific to vimentin showed a typical dispersed distribution of vimentin as a long cytoplasmic filamentous network, in wild-type ELOVL4 expressed cells and mock transfected cells (Figure 7B,K). In contrast to its normal reticular distribution throughout the cell, vimentin showed juxtanuclear localization in cells co-expressing wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins (Figure 7H). This altered distribution pattern of vimentin was reported to be associated with the formation of aggresomes [16]. Similar altered distribution of vimentin was observed in cells expressing the mutant ELOVL4 protein alone (Figure 7D-F), but the distribution of vimentin did not change in cells expressing the wild-type ELOVL4 protein alone (Figure 7G-I).
To further evaluate the association of co-expressed mutant and wild-type ELOVL4 proteins with aggresomes, cells transfected with the GFP-Ewt and GFP-Emut constructs were treated with MG-132, a low molecular weight proteasome inhibitor [17]. The localization of ELOVL4 proteins was examined in comparison to the localization of vimentin in these cells (data not shown). In cells co-expressing the wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins, vimentin was found to be completely redistributed from its normal reticular pattern to a juxtanuclear region (data not shown). Though redistribution of vimentin was observed in cells expressing the wild-type ELOVL4 protein, the extent of vimentin redistribution was significantly different from the pattern of vimentin distribution observed in cells expressing mutant and mutant and wild-type ELOVL4 proteins (data not shown). This suggests a possible impairment of proteasomal degradative pathway in cells co-expressing wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins. However additional analysis is needed to establish these observations.
ELOVL4 aggregates are distinct from Golgi
The juxtanuclear localization of aggregates formed in cells expressing mutant ELOVL4 protein alone or co-expressing GFP-Ewt and GFP-Emut proteins resembled the localization of Golgi. To determine their specific localization, COS-7 cells expressing mutant ELOVL4 protein alone and cells co-expressing both wild-type and mutant proteins were labeled for the Golgi markers, golgin-97 and TGN-38. Confocal microscopy revealed a clear distinction between the localization of co-expressed Ewt and Emut proteins and the distribution of golgin-97 (Figure 8D-F) and TGN-38 (Figure 8J-L). A similar difference in distribution was observed in the cells expressing the mutant protein alone (Figure 8A-C). golgin-97 signal in these cells was not completely co-localized with the GFP fluorescence instead there was a partial co-localization of golgin-97 signal with mutant ELOVL4 (Figure 8A-C).
To further evaluate the localization of ELOVL4 cytoplasmic juxtanuclear inclusions in comparison to Golgi, cells expressing either the wild-type or mutant ELOVL4 or co-expressing wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins were incubated with nocodazole and immunostained with antibody to golgin-97 or TGN-38 (Figure 9). As nocodazole is a microtubule disrupting agent, and intact microtubules are required to form and maintain aggresomes and the Golgi apparatus, treatment with nocodazole disrupts both the aggresome and the Golgi [14]. Immunolabeling of nocodazole-treated cells with Golgi specific antibodies will distinguish disrupted Golgi from aggresomes. As reported previously [7], following nocodazole treatment, the GFP fluorescence of GFP-Emut did not co-localize with either golgin-97 (Figure 9A-F) or TGN-38 (Figure 9G-I), and appeared as spots at multiple places in the cytoplasm, instead of a large, juxtanuclear aggregate. This suggests that the perinuclear inclusions containing mutant ELOVL4 protein alone (Figure 8A-C) or co-expressed wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins (Figure 8D-L) were associated with microtubules of the centrosome and were probably distinct from Golgi.
We have reported that the mutant ELOVL4 protein, which lacks an ER retention signal, is misrouted into the perinuclar region [7]. Previously, we speculated that the 5 bp deletion in ELOVL4 observed in families with autosomal dominant macular degeneration (STGD3) exerts a dominant negative effect operating at the protein level [7]. Here we demonstrate that the mutant ELOVL4 protein altered the trafficking of the wild-type protein by direct physical interactions using three independent approaches. Immunocytochemical analysis showed the co-localization of the wild-type ELOVL4 protein with the mutant ELOVL4 protein as cytoplasmic perinuclear aggregates. When co-expressed, wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins were detected as high molecular weight aggregates as shown by a combination of CN-PAGE and SDS-PAGE in a two-dimensional electrophoretic approach. These findings and the results of FRET analysis suggested a direct physical interaction between the wild-type and mutant forms of ELOVL4 proteins. Presently, it is not known whether this interaction involves other proteins.
Although COS cells are distinct from highly specialized photoreceptor cells, they are useful tools in understanding the basic biochemical mechanisms that underlie the mutations linked to diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. It is known that when overexpressed in heterologous systems, proteins tend to aggregate; however, in this study overexpression of wild-type ELOVL4 alone in COS-7 cells did not cause aggregation, a finding that validated the specificity of the observations. The juxtanuclear location of aggregates containing wild-type and mutant ELOVL4 proteins, the co-localization of centrosome components with these aggregates, the redistribution of intermediate filaments (IF), and the acceleration of ELOVL4 clustering in response to proteasome inhibition indicated that these aggregates were sequestered in aggresomes [18]. The altered trafficking of the wild-type ELOVL4 protein in the presence of mutant ELOVL4 and their accumulation in the perinuclear region suggested that this physical interaction underlies macular degeneration in patients with STGD3.
Formation and accumulation of aggresomes were shown to result in adverse biochemical events that involve the proteasomal system and apoptosis [19]. The degeneration of retina observed in patients with ELOVL4 mutations is progressive with onset in the second decade of life [1]. Recruitment of the wild-type protein by the mutant protein may result in the loss of functional ELOVL4. However, it is likely that a residual amount of wild-type ELOVL4 protein escapes the interaction with mutant ELOVL4, to reach its target site in the ER. This residual amount of functional ELOVL4 may be sufficient for the normal development and maintenance of retina in early stages of life. However, accumulation of the wild-type protein with the mutant protein in aggresomes may cause a cumulative effect leading to degeneration of ELOVL4 expressing photoreceptors over time, as observed in patients with STGD3. Alternatively, the degeneration observed in these patients could be due to the lack of sufficient functional ELOVL4 later in life, as normal adult mouse retinal tissue shows higher levels of ELOVL4 expression with maturation indicating greater demand for this protein in older age [20].
Hetero-oligomerization of mutant protein with wild-type protein, their misrouting and formation of aggresomes has been found to be a common feature observed in many neurodegenerative disorders including retinitis pigmentosa [21-23]. The possible mechanism of protein aggregation in these cells could be the inability of cells to process misfolded and aggregated proteins. The mechanism by which the ER retention signals present in the wild-type ELOVL4 of the aggregates are overridden, resulting in altered trafficking of the complexes, remains to be elucidated. This may provide important clues towards understanding the degenerative process and in developing therapeutic strategies to treat protein trafficking diseases. In this regard, further evaluation of aggresome formation in cells co-expressing mutant and wild-type ELOVL4 may serve as a model system for studying the cellular fate of mutant proteins and their disease mechanism.
We thank Bruce Donohoe (University of Michigan) for helping in the operation of the confocal microscope, Austra Liepa and Regina Belaney (University of Michigan) for assistance in manuscript preparation, and Swaroop Mahaveer Bhojani (University of Michigan) for helpful discussions. This work is supported by grants to RA from NIH (R01EY13198) and the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a research grant to RA and an unrestricted grant to the Department of Ophthalmology, UTHSC from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., and a NIH core grant to UTHSC (P30EY13080) and two core grants to the University of Michigan, Department of Ophthalmology (P30EY007003) and Vision Research (P30EY07060). This work was presented, in part, at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting, May 2005, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1. Griesinger IB, Sieving PA, Ayyagari R. Autosomal dominant macular atrophy at 6q14 excludes CORD7 and MCDR1/PBCRA loci. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2000; 41:248-55.
2. Stone EM, Nichols BE, Kimura AE, Weingeist TA, Drack A, Sheffield VC. Clinical features of a Stargardt-like dominant progressive macular dystrophy with genetic linkage to chromosome 6q. Arch Ophthalmol 1994; 112:765-72.
3. Bernstein PS, Tammur J, Singh N, Hutchinson A, Dixon M, Pappas CM, Zabriskie NA, Zhang K, Petrukhin K, Leppert M, Allikmets R. Diverse macular dystrophy phenotype caused by a novel complex mutation in the ELOVL4 gene. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2001; 42:3331-6.
4. Zhang K, Kniazeva M, Han M, Li W, Yu Z, Yang Z, Li Y, Metzker ML, Allikmets R, Zack DJ, Kakuk LE, Lagali PS, Wong PW, MacDonald IM, Sieving PA, Figueroa DJ, Austin CP, Gould RJ, Ayyagari R, Petrukhin K. A 5-bp deletion in ELOVL4 is associated with two related forms of autosomal dominant macular dystrophy. Nat Genet 2001; 27:89-93.
5. Oh CS, Toke DA, Mandala S, Martin CE. ELO2 and ELO3, homologues of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ELO1 gene, function in fatty acid elongation and are required for sphingolipid formation. J Biol Chem 1997; 272:17376-84.
6. Maugeri A, Meire F, Hoyng CB, Vink C, Van Regemorter N, Karan G, Yang Z, Cremers FP, Zhang K. A novel mutation in the ELOVL4 gene causes autosomal dominant Stargardt-like macular dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004; 45:4263-7.
7. Ambasudhan R, Wang X, Jablonski MM, Thompson DA, Lagali PS, Wong PW, Sieving PA, Ayyagari R. Atrophic macular degeneration mutations in ELOVL4 result in the intracellular misrouting of the protein. Genomics 2004; 83:615-25.
8. Camacho-Carvajal MM, Wollscheid B, Aebersold R, Steimle V, Schamel WW. Two-dimensional Blue native/SDS gel electrophoresis of multi-protein complexes from whole cellular lysates: a proteomics approach. Mol Cell Proteomics 2004; 3:176-82.
9. Schagger H, Cramer WA, von Jagow G. Analysis of molecular masses and oligomeric states of protein complexes by blue native electrophoresis and isolation of membrane protein complexes by two-dimensional native electrophoresis. Anal Biochem 1994; 217:220-30.
10. Vijayasarathy C, Damle S, Lenka N, Avadhani NG. Tissue variant effects of heme inhibitors on the mouse cytochrome c oxidase gene expression and catalytic activity of the enzyme complex. Eur J Biochem 1999; 266:191-200.
11. Pedley KC, Jones GE, Magnani M, Rist RJ, Naftalin RJ. Direct observation of hexokinase translocation in stimulated macrophages. Biochem J 1993; 291:515-22.
12. Petty HR, Worth RG, Kindzelskii AL. Imaging sustained dissipative patterns in the metabolism of individual living cells. Phys Rev Lett 2000; 84:2754-7.
13. Kindzelskii AL, Yang Z, Nabel GJ, Todd RF 3rd, Petty HR. Ebola virus secretory glycoprotein (sGP) diminishes Fc gamma RIIIB-to-CR3 proximity on neutrophils. J Immunol 2000; 164:953-8.
14. Johnston JA, Ward CL, Kopito RR. Aggresomes: a cellular response to misfolded proteins. J Cell Biol 1998; 143:1883-98.
15. Riley NE, Bardag-Gorce F, Montgomery RO, Li J, Lungo W, Lue YH, French SW. Microtubules are required for cytokeratin aggresome (Mallory body) formation in hepatocytes: an in vitro study. Exp Mol Pathol 2003; 74:173-9.
16. Kopito RR, Sitia R. Aggresomes and Russell bodies. Symptoms of cellular indigestion? EMBO Rep 2000; 1:225-31.
17. Tawa NE Jr, Odessey R, Goldberg AL. Inhibitors of the proteasome reduce the accelerated proteolysis in atrophying rat skeletal muscles. J Clin Invest 1997; 100:197-203.
18. Wigley WC, Fabunmi RP, Lee MG, Marino CR, Muallem S, DeMartino GN, Thomas PJ. Dynamic association of proteasomal machinery with the centrosome. J Cell Biol 1999; 145:481-90.
19. Bence NF, Sampat RM, Kopito RR. Impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system by protein aggregation. Science 2001; 292:1552-5.
20. Mandal MN, Ambasudhan R, Wong PW, Gage PJ, Sieving PA, Ayyagari R. Characterization of mouse orthologue of ELOVL4: genomic organization and spatial and temporal expression. Genomics 2004; 83:626-35.
21. Ross CA, Poirier MA. Protein aggregation and neurodegenerative disease. Nat Med 2004; 10 Suppl:S10-7.
22. Junn E, Lee SS, Suhr UT, Mouradian MM. Parkin accumulation in aggresomes due to proteasome impairment. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:47870-7.
23. Tanaka M, Kim YM, Lee G, Junn E, Iwatsubo T, Mouradian MM. Aggresomes formed by alpha-synuclein and synphilin-1 are cytoprotective. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:4625-31.


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Location and style
Our B&B is located in lush, quiet countryside, in a location with a spectacular view nearby Collina. "B&B Ca' Dal Busc" is a residence with unique, original style.
Travellers staying with us will be able to taste the typical local products thanks to the food and wine tours, wander amid the scents and sounds of the area's many gardens.
Near our facility you can find ski resorts for winter sports fans.
Our residence is the perfect location for families who want to stay in a home from home, thanks to games and pastimes arranged for your children, for conferences and business travel, for a romantic getaway that makes you feel like a couple again, if you love the peace and quiet of nature, far from the bustle of the city.
Accommodation features
We offer our customers en-suite bathroom in each room, free Wi-Fi, heated environment, freedom to return at leisure, a landscaped garden, kitchenette, large terrace.
Why not try some of these activities while you're here: trekking, cycling/mountain-biking.
Our rooms
The rooms include hair dryer, child bed (on request), mirror with luggage rack.
We can accommodate up to 4 travellers in:
1 room "Camera Doppia" will accommodate 2 people
1 room "Matrimoniale" will accommodate 2 people
You can bring your four-legged friends along with you.
The hosts speak fluent Italian, English, French.
Free cancellation within 1 days before check-in
romantic bedroom,blu sky,provencal style,with desk,balcony overlooking forest and mountain,possibility 3rd bed
double blue, antique furniture, balconies and views of the woods and mountains Possibility 'of a third bed
Casa Del Bosco-Piazza Santa Caterina, 4 - Sostegno (BI) - Directions


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Does your Estate Plan Include a Formula Funding Clause?
T&E Chat
05.13.19 | T&E Chat
The gift and estate tax exemption is higher than it's ever been, thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which temporarily doubled the exemption to an inflation-adjusted $10 million ($20 million for married couples who design their estate plans properly). This year, the exemption amount is $11.4 million ($22.8 million for married couples).
If you're married and you executed your estate planning documents years ago, when the exemption was substantially lower, review your plan to ensure that the increased exemption doesn't trigger unintended results. It's not unusual for older estate planning documents to include a "formula funding clause," which splits assets between a credit shelter trust and the surviving spouse — either outright or in a marital trust.
Formula Funding Clause in Action
Although the precise language may vary, a typical clause funds the credit shelter trust with "the greatest amount of property that may pass to others free of federal estate tax," with the balance going to the surviving spouse or marital trust. Generally, credit shelter trusts are designed to preserve wealth for one's children and grandchildren (from an existing or previous marriage), with limited benefits for the surviving spouse.
A formula clause works well when an estate is substantially larger than the exemption amount — but, if that's no longer the case, it can lead to undesirable results, including inadvertent disinheritance of one's spouse.
For example, Clara and Mike, a married couple, each own $10 million in assets, and their estate plan contains a formula funding clause. If Clara died in 2017, when the estate tax exemption was $5.49 million, that amount would have gone into a credit shelter trust and the remaining $4.51 million would have gone to a marital trust for Mike's benefit. But if Clara dies in 2019, when the exemption has increased to $11.4 million, her entire estate will pass to the credit shelter trust, leaving nothing for the marital trust.
Exemption Amount Heading up and then Down
With the TCJA temporarily doubling the gift and estate tax exemption amount, unexpected results may occur if you don't review and revise your plan accordingly. This is especially true if your plan includes a formula funding clause.
Also, be aware that, even though the exemption amount will continue to be adjusted annually for inflation, it expires after 2025. Without further legislation, the exemption will return to an inflation-adjusted $5 million in 2026. We'd be pleased to help review your plan and determine if changes are needed. You can reach me at firstname.lastname@example.com or contact to your Berdon advisor.
Scott T. Ditman, a tax partner and Chair, Personal Wealth Services at Berdon LLP, advises high net worth individuals and family/owner-managed business clients on building, preserving, and transferring wealth, estate and income tax issues, and succession and financial planning.


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There's no question that the strength of your roof is important to protect your Colorado home. But, did you know that your attic also plays an important role in the condition of not only your roofing system, but your entire home? Homeowners need a well-insulated and ventilated attic as part of an effective roofing system. Insulation and ventilation serve to protect your home against the harsh outdoor elements.
Here, we'll explore how attic insulation and ventilation can protect your Lakewood residential roofers system against temperature fluctuations, excess moisture, and more.
Insulation can be found in multiple components of a home's structure, including the attic. Blown-in, spray foam, and batts are the most common types of insulation. Blow-in insulation can be made of either fiberglass or cellulose, and it's blown into the area with a large hose. Spray foam insulation comes in two varieties, open-cell and closed-cell. Batts are big pieces of insulation consisting of fibers (either cotton or fiberglass) woven together.
Here at All Seasons Exteriors, we offer blown-in insulation for homes in Lakewood and throughout Colorado. Blown-in insulation is highly efficient and an excellent investment in your home.
Over time, poor insulation can lead to damage to the structure of your home. Heat and condensation that leak into homes without adequate insulation will break down roof shingles and decking. A lack of attic insulation can also promote mold growth, which can lead to long-term damage to the structure of your home.
The energy that your heating and cooling system requires to keep your home comfortable most likely makes up the majority of your utility bill each month. Attic insulation plays a large role in keeping the energy required by your HVAC system to a minimum. If your home is under-insulated, air will leak in and out of your home. This will force your HVAC system to work harder to achieve the same level of cooling or heating. With insulation, however, you prevent air leakage so that your heating and cooling systems don't require as much energy to function properly.
Insulation helps prevent dirt, dust, and mold from getting into your home. When these impurities diminish your home's air quality, it can lead to allergic reactions among members of your household.
The purpose of attic ventilation is to promote airflow so that air doesn't become stagnant in your attic. When air can flow through your attic, rather than sitting in it, your home's heating and cooling system can more effectively maintain a comfortable temperature in your living spaces. Your roof also needs ventilation to diffuse the air that enters through the eaves and soffits. The ventilation systems of both your roof and your attic work together to keep your home comfortable and in good condition.
Many Lakewood roofs are under-ventilated, making it difficult for homeowners to recognize when they need additional ventilation. But, when the roof and attic are under-ventilated, many negative effects could result, including:
Without ventilation, air can't effectively flow through your roofing system and attic. In warm weather, the heat caused by trapped air can force your roofing shingles to swell and crack. This significantly lessens the lifespan of the shingles, potentially leading to a premature Lakewood roof replacement. To protect the lifespan of your shingles and ensure that your roofing system lasts for as long as possible, roof and attic insulation are essential.
Trapped air due to a lack of ventilation can make your attic extremely hot, especially during the hottest summer days here in Lakewood. This heat will seep into your home, making your living spaces uncomfortable hot and forcing your air conditioner to work harder than is necessary.
Excess heat in your attic can, over time, lead to warped walls and wood framing. This damage can become severe if left unrepaired for a prolonged period.
Contact All Seasons Exteriors today to learn more about attic insulation and ventilation for your Lakewood home.
Contact us at All Seasons Exteriors or submit a question below.Contact Us


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The International Herald Tribune is reporting that Japan's Mao Asada may be leaving her coach, Rafael Arutunian, and that she recently appeared at an event without him.
Additionally, Asada is expected to be training in Japan until the world Championships. She had been training in the United States with Arutunian since 2006.
Asada is ranked number 1 by the International Skating Union. She won the silver medal at last year's world championships and will be competing in this year's championships in Sweden next month.


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* Your list is public by default.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Sword Story
Japanese: 刀語
More titles
English: Katanagatari
Type: TV
Episodes: 12
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jan 26, 2010 to Dec 11, 2010
Premiered: Winter 2010
Broadcast: Tuesdays at 01:10 (JST)
Licensors: NIS America, Inc.
Studios: White Fox
Source: Light novel
Themes: HistoricalHistorical, Martial ArtsMartial Arts
Duration: 50 min. per ep.
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Score: 8.311 (scored by 210532210,532 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #2372
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #378
Members: 550,800
Favorites: 10,834
Available At


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Why Standing Poses?
Unlike any species in the animal kingdom, humankind has been given the ability to stand erect as our fundamental posture. According to anthropologists and other scientists , this has allowed the human brain to develop at an accelerated rate.
In honor of this gift of evolution (or of our creator ), we practice Tadasana which is the basic standing pose. With almost prayer-like reverence we study the precision of the placement and action of our feet, legs, hips, chest , etc.
The proper study and practice of Tadasana brings spinal elasticity, lightness of being and an agile mind.
We also honor our exceptional ability to stand by studying and practicing the full gamut of yoga standing poses as well.
Looking from another perspective , we can see how our language uses "stand" to signify certain attitudes in life. For example: "stand on your own two feet;" "where do you stand on this issue; "I can't stand tuna fish ", etc.
Taking this a little further we have the word "understand" which basically means "to stand under". This is of particular interest because to truly understand a person, ideology, event or thing, one needs the humility and quietness of mind to "stand under it". Yet one must also have the poise, stability and strength to "with"stand the challenge of understanding. This is especially true when we work at understanding ourselves.
Thus, I feel it important to include standing poses in just about every class- not only because of the way they excavate and liberate compressed, depressed and oppressed areas of our consciousness, but also to honor humankind's ability to stand and understand.


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Looks like the Empire is hard up for cash and is looking to create its next Death Star. A Craigslist ad has appeared for the crashed Imperial Star Destroyer from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer. The owner of the ship says they want it off of their property, but as far as we can tell the Empire is looking to make some cash.
Here is the ad on Craigslist:
"Selling a slightly used Imperial II-class Star Destroyer.
Previously (slightly) owned by a navigator of a spice freighter, this vessel has been sitting on my moisture farm and needs to be removed before next year's harvest. I just haven't had time to give this classic the attention it deserves and my loss is some-one else's gain!
1,600 meters in length this bad boy has a maximum atmospheric speed of 975 km/h and an acceleration of >2,300 g. It's got a Class 2 hyper-drive system still in working order with a backup Class 8. SFS I-a2b solar ionization reactor is in good to excellent shape. KDY Destroyer-I ion engine turns over on the first try but may need a new serpentine belt.
As you can see by the picture provided, the deflector shield generator domes are intact. That is a state of the art ISD-72x.
Fully equipped with LeGrange targeting computers, heavy ion cannons, Phylon Q7 tractor beam projectors, leather bucket seats, and a 15 disc cd changer.
36,000 tons of cargo capacity, this beauty was ran with a crew of 37,085 but you can pull it off with a minimum of 5,000 leaving you plenty of room to pack in a few extra AT-AT walkers, TIE starfighters, prefabricated garrison bases, Lambda-class shuttles, yards of soil, spool after spool of pipe, and jet skis.
This superstructure is perfect for long road trips with the family, discovering new galaxies, picking up girls for dates, and general destruction of your enemies. Have you ever seen what a Star Destroyer can do to the surface of an unshielded planet? Stones run like water and sand turns to glass. With just a little TLC, this baby can be good as new.
Brand new this beauty of the skies runs at about 145,670,000 credits, but do to some carbon scoring I can be flexible on the price. Realistically, I just need it removed from my property, so all offers or trades will be considered. Make me an offer, no mind tricks.
First come, first serve basis. You are responsible for towing."


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The wall-mounted enclosure 9/MRD is a rectangular neopor body with a lower and an upper half shell. The half shells are plugged together with the help of tongue and groove. The wall-mounted enclosure 9/MRD is inserted into the outer wall with a slope so that water, rain or condensation can drain off. There is a 160 mm hole in the centre for later insertion of the round duct 9/R-160.
When installing the 9/MRD, it must be ensured that the housing is installed flush with the brickwork.


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Records of the Council of the British (later Royal) College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists including agenda, circulated papers, and minutes of Council meetings (1963-2009), bound and indexed Council minute books (1929-2008), and papers and correspondence of College founders, William Blair-Bell and William Fletcher Shaw relating to the formation of Council (1925-1929) and of the College Honorary Secretary (1945-1959), together with Council attendance books (1929-2005), records of sub-committees and working parties on the constitution of Council (1973-1985), papers relating to Council elections (1973-1985), and working papers (1971-1980). A sample of the Council papers held by President, Sir Anthony Alment for 1978-1980 are also included in these records.
Records of the RCOG Council
- For more information, email the repository
- Advice on accessing these materials
- Cite this description
- Bookmark:http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb1538-rcog/a/rcog/a2
- This material is held at
- ReferenceGB 1538 RCOG/A2
- Dates of Creation1925-2009
- Name of Creator
- Language of MaterialEnglish
- Physical Description83 boxes and 46 volumes
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
The RCOG Council was established by the Articles of Association of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to manage the affairs of the College. The first Council meeting was held on September 25 1929; the full Council comprised of the President, Treasurer and Honorary Secretary of the College, plus 18 Fellows and Members. Council's specific duties as set out in the 1927 Articles of Association were to be as follows: to elect Fellows and Members, to acquire property, to appoint and remove examiners, officers, clerks and agents, to nominate trustees, to give security by way of indemnity, to delegate power to committees, to make and repeal byelaws, to borrow money, to pay expenses, to act for the College, and to publish literature.
College Council has continued to govern the College in a similar fashion, although over the years its composition has altered. In 2007 it consisted of thirty members elected on a geographical basis from the United Kingdom and Ireland (19 Fellows and 11 Members) and one co-opted member. Co-opted members were usually chairmen of College standing committees. Representatives from related organisations such as the Royal College of Midwives and the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, also attended by invitation. By this date Council was meeting six times a year on Saturdays and frequently on the Friday before as business demanded.
Access Information
Permission from RCOG Senior Management is required for external access to College records less than twenty years old.
Other Finding Aids
Some of the original index pages to the Council minutes books have been listed; these lists are available through the College Archivist.
Alternative Form Available
Microfilm copies of précis of Council minutes for 1935-1948 and 1949-1952 are at RCOG/MR/6 and RCOG/MR/10 respectively.
The minute books for 1929-1977 have been microfilmed and the films are referenced as RCOG/MR/27-30 (1929-1968) and RCOG/MR/35-36 (1968-1977)
Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements
Some of the older minute books require careful handling.
Conditions Governing Use
Records are copyright of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and reproductions are available at the discretion of the College Archivist.
Custodial History
The majority of records have been transferred from the College Secretary's Office which acts as secretariat to the Council.
Routine accruals are expected.


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We can't stand when something doesn't work, so we make sure it does, and deliver our customers products that work.
Our success is driven by customer's success. Delivering the products that get the job done. No caveats!
A paramount skill to conduct business that we possess. Effective communicators will make your product a reality.


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Jonathan Nelsons preps for the release of a new album 'Declarations'
Renown and award winning recording gospel artistes Jonathan Nelson prepares for the release of his new project titled 'Declarations' this summer.
The stellar-award winner, songwriter and worship leader took to his Instagram page today to unveil the official LP cover and release date.
Releasing via Entertainment One Music (eOne Music), Declarations is expected to arrive on September 14th, 2018 – with lead single 'I Agree' available now as an instant grat track. Pre-Order Here!
Track Listing
- Our God (Medley)
- He's a Great God
- I Agree (feat. Gene Hoskins)
- Jesus I Love You
- The Blood (feat. Jalisa Faye)
- Redeemed
- In God's Presence (Brokenness) [feat. Na'Asia Barnes]
- It's Not Enough
- Jesus You Are Lord (feat. Anaysha Figueroa Cooper)
- Because You Are (feat. BeBe Winans)
- Because You Are (Reprise)
- Great and Mighty
I Agree – Youtube Mouth