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Booby Traps are everywhere — from your OB's office, to your pediatrician, your mom or best friend, and even cell phone apps. The Institute of Medicine released new report which makes recommendations that, when combined with grassroots efforts like our own, in addition to other government aspirations like the Surgeon General's Call To Action, may mean we're finally pointed in the right direction to be able to change things. The Institute of Medicine's recommendations specifically tackle some Institutional Booby Traps that affect many, many Babes.
In addition to the ever-repeated nothing but breastmilk before 6 months, and continuation of breastfeeding in addition to complementary foods until at least one year recommendation from the AAP, they also want hospitals to follow AAP policy recommendations and to aim to qualify as Baby-Friendly. They also discourage health professionals from giving out formula, and want advertising of the products to the public to cease, in an attempt to really start encouraging our country to adhere to the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
They also urge better access to quality lactation assistance in both hospital and health care settings. The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding highlighted some of the severe lack of access to quality lactation care for women.
Studies have identified major deficits relevant to breastfeeding in hospital policies and clinical practices, including a low priority given to support for breastfeeding and education about it, inappropriate routines and provision of care, fragmented care, and inadequate hospital facilities for women who are breastfeeding.
Hopefully with the acknowledgement from multiple sources that we are failing the 75% of moms who start out trying to breastfeed, we may be able to really start making changes. For example, putting more emphasis on the importance of breastfeeding consultation from experts could result in partial or even complete coverage by insurance companies for lactation consultants and equipment, maybe even via Medicaid programs, who often cover some of the women least likely to be successful in their breastfeeding attempts. They specifically recommend that there be no cost-sharing on lactation services. Whoo!
As long as recommendations like these go from paper to action, we might really have a chance at stopping some Institutional Booby Traps in their tracks. Do you think the IOM's recommendations will be put into practice?
Image credit MuddyBootsPhoto via Flickr
Brought to you by A Mother's Boutique and Hot Mama Gowns!
Christie Haskell is a coffee and tea-addicted wife to Kyle and mother of two wee beasties — Rowan (7) and Aurora the Destroyer (2). She's a true geek at heart and spends too much time playing video games and reading fantasy novels when she's not typing her fingers off for CafeMom's The Stir or her personal blog-love, DailyMomtra.


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Description of 1317 Sea Elder Court, Kiawah Island, SC 29455
This Fairway Oaks villa is situated close to the main gate of Charleston's most sought after gated barrier island. Kiawah Island boasts five golf courses, tennis courts, walking/biking trails, restaurants, hotels and more. This particular property is an end unit with a reverse floor plan that highlights panoramic views of the newly reconstructed Cougar Point golf course. A short walk away from Kiawah's award winning 10-mile beach. Located also next to the Property Owners Center and pool. The master bedroom is on the first floor and the entire upstairs is filled with natural light...including a good size deck perfect for that morning coffee. (Kiawah was host to the 1991 Ryder Cup, 1997 World Cup of Golf, 2007 Senior PGA Championship, 2012 PGA Championship, and will soon host the 2021 PGA)
Property Features of 1317 Sea Elder Court, Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Condo Regime,Villa
Single Family Attached
Kiawah Island
|Elementary school: Mt. Zion
|Middle school: Haut Gap
|High school: St. Johns
|Central air
|Heat pump
|Off street parking
|Wood exterior
|Lot on golf course
|Subdivision: Kiawah Island
|Ceramic tile flooring
|Wall to wall carpeting
|Living and dining room combo
|Asphalt shingle roof
|Community clubhouse(s)
|Gated community
|Community tennis court(s)
Rooms & Dimensions
|Family Room
|Laundry room

subset: commoncrawl


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Window Bird House - Nest Box
I created a video on what I did to build a Bird House with a clear plexiglass window on the back of the house. This was a fun and quick project to do on a weekend. Check out the video below or read more about it over at woodlogger.com Here is the end result


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Texas Rangers on the trail to find Tom Brady's stolen Super Bowl jersey
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking the Texas Rangers to assist the Houston Police Department in tracking down New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's Super Bowl jersey.
The jersey went missing from the Patriot's locker room at NRG Stadium in Houston after Brady led the Patriots to a come-from-behind overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
"In Texas we place a very high value on hospitality and football," Patrick said. "Tom Brady's jersey has great historical value and is already being called 'the most valuable NFL collectible ever.' It will likely go into the Hall of Fame one day.
"It is important that history does not record that it was stolen in Texas," Patrick added.
And, just in case you doubt Patrick's support for Texas' professional football teams, think again.
"I'm a Texans and Cowboys fan first, but the unquestionable success of the Super Bowl in Houston last night was a big win for our entire state and I don't want anything to mar that victory," Patrick said.
"Whoever took this jersey should turn it in. The Texas Rangers are on the trail."


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product description
Related Products:
Anders, David, M.S.
Carbon Steel
Fixed Blade Knives
Work by Mastersmiths
Blade Shape - Drop Point
Carbon Steel - 5160
Distal Taper
Finish - Bead Blasted
Integral Guard
Utility and Fruit Knives
Kitchen Knives
Maker: David Anders, M.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 83798
Blade length: 4.00 in.Total length: 8.75 in.Blade height (at heel): 1.26 in.Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.19 in.Item weight: 3.60 oz.Blade: Hand forged 5160 carbon steelBolster: IntegralHandle: African blackwood
Description: Mastersmith David Anders created this exceptional utility knife. The knife has a gentle rocking motion that is excellent for chopping, but the shorter profile results in less friction while slicing through food. The blade, bolster, and tang are all forged from a single piece of 5160 carbon steel round bar. Creating integral knives is particularly hard and shows a tremendous amount of skill. The blade was forged to shape and distal tapered for optimal balance. A differentially heat treatment results in a softer, supportive spine, with a super-hard, long lasting, razor sharp edge. The bead blasted finish makes food less likely to stick to the sides of the knife while cutting. The African blackwood handle swells gently into the palm for a sure grip that continues to feel comfortable after hours of work. Excellent fit and finish throughout.
Availability: Not currently available


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Contact: email@example.com
Phone: 269-471-3348
Andrews University's faculty and staff were joined by the Board of Trustees for their annual faculty and staff service awards presentation followed by a reception in the Howard Performing Arts Center on Monday, March 3. The evening centered around the presentation of the Daniel A. Augsburger Excellence in Teaching Award, the Spiritual Life Award, the Staff Excellence in Service Awards and Years of Service Awards. Each award was presented following a short slideshow presentation highlighting the qualifying attributes of each recipient.
Six faculty members were honored with the Daniel A. Augsburger Excellence in Teaching Award. This award recognizes faculty whose teaching reflects the high standards of excellence modeled by Dr. Augsburger in his 60 years of teaching at Andrews University. Augsburger's leadership, academic rigor, breadth of knowledge, teacher-scholar role, along with care and concern for students, exemplify the best of faculty endeavors. Faculty from each school nominates and chooses their individual candidates. This year's recipients were: Richard Davidson, professor of Old Testament interpretation and chair of the Old Testament Department; Stephen Thorman, professor of computer science and physics; Gary Gifford, associate professor of leadership and educational administration; Armand Poblete, instructor of information systems; Margarita Mattingly, professor and chair of the Department of Physics; and Carlos Flores, professor of music and chair of the Department of Music.
The Spiritual Life Award was presented to Jane Sabes, professor of political science. Described by her nominators as an ever-strong spiritual influence on student and colleagues alike, Sabes, who was surprised by the announcement, said, "I thought I was coming tonight to help pass out brochures!"
The Spiritual Life Award is bestowed upon any employee, faculty or staff member who has made a significant contribution to the spiritual life of the campus. Nominees are considered and voted upon by the Spiritual Life Committee. This award was instituted in 2005.
Three staff members were recognized with the Staff Excellence in Service Award. Recipients of this award are hourly or salaried full- or part-time staff who have served for at least three consecutive years, and have not previously received the award. The award is given "in recognition of outstanding service to the university, the church, and the community, and for demonstrating, by precept and example, a Christ-centered life." This year's recipients were: Lori Guerrero, dispatch supervisor for the Department of Public Safety; Jillian Panigot, an administrative assistant in the Physical Therapy Department; and Shelly Erhard, guest relations coordinator for the Office of Enrollment Management.
Erhard, who was affectionately referred to as Director of First Impressions in a video tribute, says her word creed is, "To be the first friendly face that makes someone feel welcome when they come to Andrews University."
Greg Offenback was given special recognition for his 30 years of continuous service with Andrews University. Offenback says nearly his entire career has been working for the University. "I spent the first 14½ years in the farm and dairy, and the last 15+ years in plant services. I plan on retiring from there some day," he says.
The awards portion of the evening concluded with recognition of employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service with the University.
5 Years: Carmen Infante, Jillian Panigot, John Lau, Wanda Poole, Ildiko Gyeresi, Shanna Leak, Michelle Guild, Karen Reiner, Nereida Vargas, Stephanie Wylie
10 Years: Shelly Erhard, Carolyn Hurst, Esther Lonto, Gorden Doss, Cynthia Small, Rebecca Wright, Elizabeth Kohltfarber, Carala Willis, Glenice Kaping, Alfredo Ruiz, Constance Gane
15 Years: Tamara Condon, Kathleen Ekkens, Cheryl Kean, Mencia Shelley, Bruce Bauer, Millie Das, Najeeb Nakhle, Dennis Grzybowski, Maxwell Jardine, Ray Ostrander, Renee Skeete
20 Years: Gerard Damsteegt, Bernard Helms, Dorothy Show, Richard Show, Herbert Helm, Mildred McGrath
25 Years: Michael Harrington, Susan Murray
The evening also included various musical selections performed by Justin Jeffery, Juan Carlos-Rodriguez, Chenoa Jimenez, and the University Singers conducted by Stephen Zork.


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Combined Family Medicine/Psychiatry Residency Training Program
The Combined Family Medicine/Psychiatry Residency Training Program at UC Davis is one of the oldest combined family medicine/psychiatry residency training programs in the nation. Starting in 1995, the goal of the program has been to develop a unique training experience for residents who are interested in dual board certification. The curriculum of the five-year program follows guidelines published jointly by the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology but also includes unique curriculum that integrates the two fields.
The objective of our combined training in family medicine and psychiatry is to produce physicians with broad-based training in both specialties and also to accommodate our individual residents' specific interests within these two fields. As such, residents focus on outpatient community-based care of acute and chronic primary care and psychiatric illnesses from postpartum depression and attention deficit disorder to diabetes mellitus and somatoform disorders. They also become comfortable with inpatient medical care, inpatient psychiatric care, and emergency care in both fields. At the conclusion of training, graduates are eligible to sit for the board examinations of family and community medicine as well as psychiatry. Graduates of combined training may be expected to develop practices which take advantage of the joint-training experience, serve as consultants in liaison psychiatry or family practice, develop a career in international medicine or rural medicine, practice addiction medicine or be actively involved in research or administration in family medicine and psychiatry.
The combined program is a 60 month (five-year) experience coordinated jointly by the Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Both are fully accredited residency programs at UC Davis. The combined program has been endorsed by the institutional Graduate Medical Education Committee and the Boards of Family Practice and Psychiatry and Neurology. Shannon Suo, M.D. is the training director in coordination with Kay Nelsen, M.D., training director of the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program.
If you are interested in an elective rotation to explore a possible career in integrated family and community medicine and psychiatry we offer a four-week elective rotation for fourth year medical students. If you are interested in learning more about our program, please feel free to contact us for details.
Shannon Suo, M.D.
Training Director
Combined Family Medicine/Psychiatry Residency Program
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Rachel Robitz, M.D.
Associate Training Director
Combined Family Medicine/Psychiatry Residency Program
E-mail: email@example.com
James Nuovo, M.D.
Residency Training Director and Curriculum Director
Family and Community Medicine


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While the Georgia High School Association forces the state's football teams to wait to begin practice, the rules never say anything about how early on the first day the schools can start.
That is why the official start of JCCHS Panthers' football practice is at 12:01 a.m., Friday, August 1.
Coach Billy Kirk is taking advantage of every minute of practice he can get for the Panthers.
"As far as I know we are only one of three schools to pull this off," said Kirk.
The Panthers, shown here during spring practice, are ready to get the season underway. Photo by Justin Poole
JCCHS football holding midnight practice, earliest start allowed
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By David Roth
We've assembled some of our favorite baseball writers from around the country to contribute to Sports on Earth each day throughout the postseason.
During the first inning of Monday's early game between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals, just a few minutes before the generally agreed-upon first minutes of happy hour, I lost the broadcast. The other channels, mysteriously, were fine -- one click up was "The Mentalist," wearing a vest and smirking over a corpse as usual; one click in the other direction and one Real Housewife of New York fumed that another Real Housewife of New York was present at some nightmarish Chardonnay-mouthed daytime gathering or other. The only thing I couldn't watch was baseball.
I left my apartment and circled the block, looking in on two bars. One, which has a few dozen televisions and inflates goofy balloon mascots outside on weekends -- a grinning Syracuse Orangeman on Saturday, an outsized inflatable child-like cartoon in a Jets uniform on Sunday -- was showing what looked like a rebroadcast of a MMA fight. The other, a bar-of-the-damned establishment named Phil Hughes -- like the Yankees pitcher, but with embalmed-looking drunks slumped on barstools from noon until close instead of arm trouble -- was showing horseracing simulcasts, because that is all it ever shows. I came home and the cable was working again. Dick Stockton was barking his way, enthusiastically and in some weird free-jazz cadence that could not possibly be intentional, through a promo for reruns of "The Big Bang Theory." This was our Monday of baseball, at least at the start: slack, flubby and played at an achingly slow pace at an odd time of day, in long shadows and generally not terribly well. That was not, thankfully, how it ended.
* * *
Neither starter pitched well in the first game. Jaime Garcia, who needed 51 pitches to get six outs but allowed only one run, left early because of shoulder stiffness; Jordan Zimmerman lasted longer and pitched notably worse. By the time the fifth inning started, the game was more than two hours old, the Undertaker-style eye black Bryce Harper wore at the start of the game had been washed off entirely, and the Cardinals were staked to a 7-1 lead that would never be in serious doubt.
After that, the game locked into a closed, strange loop, the way lopsided games can. The ball is forever rocketing off some Nationals player or other, or a Nationals player is picking the ball up off the ground and gloomily popping it into his glove. Daniel Descalso hits a home run. The Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty, when interviewed during the fourth inning, is as aghast and weary as a distraught family member in an episode of Hoarders. The whole game may be haunted.
When Jon Jay makes a brilliant leaping catch in center field on a blast by Danny Espinosa in the top of the sixth, his full-tilt collision with the wall sees him land next to a scowling image of Tony La Russa. La Russa's glowering shade might well have been visible even if the Cardinals hadn't seen fit to put him up there in tribute--a peevish ghost impatiently reminding us that Cardinal wins can be even slower than this, that there's no such thing as too scrappy, that even this level of petulant grousing over each and every called strike is nothing, nothing, compared to what it could be.
The game slows down. Dick Stockton seems to be awakening with a start, terrified, with every dramatic call he makes. He says Daniel Descalso's name differently every inning, which is his prerogative to the extent that he knows he's doing it, and which is great -- it's David Descalso, it's Descosso, it may be Descoslow in one instance (DVR replays are inconclusive on this) and is almost certainly Pete Kozma a half-dozen times. The words "ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex" in the Viagra ads that run at every commercial break start to seem poignant, like "is your heart strong enough, or is the hurt of past disappointments still too pointed, too real, too much."
A half hour passes, or maybe an hour. Matt Holliday delivers himself a grimacing, mucho-gusto lawn dart of a throw in from left field in the top of the seventh. Carlos Beltran air-mails a throw to second base from short right by a margin of roughly two-and-a-half Descalsos. This is the winning team, now. The Nats miss opportunities, and Michael Morse handles the ball in left field as if it is a buttered hand grenade. And then it's over, 12-4 Cardinals, and the series is tied at one and headed back to Washington, and Matt Winer and Shane Victorino riff creakily about a Slimer-shaped smear of precipitation green that jabs back and forth over Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, again and again, on the Doppler Radar. The Yankees and Orioles are in a rain delay, again. This is not, thankfully, how the evening ends.
* * *
For fans at Busch Stadium half-expecting another implacable miracle march toward another World Series dog pile -- and who could tell them not to expect that? -- the Cards' win no doubt felt like old times, and happily so. But for everyone else, it was unmistakable as anything but what it was: sleepy, keep-flipping-over-to-"Storage Wars" mid-July baseball played in brisk October temperatures, albeit with tons of micro-managerial double-switchery and in front of a hyped-up crowd that sang like soccer fans. This sort of baseball is still preferable to the absence of baseball, of course, but Cards/Nats was not the sort of baseball that we associate with October. The Yankees and Orioles, on the other hand, was tense and weird and rich in counterpoint and generally everything that was absent during the five hours and 51 minutes (I should probably double-check that) of baseball that preceded it.
Which isn't to say that Baltimore's 3-2 win was especially virtuosic, or that it needed to be. But as each team created and squandered opportunities -- Wei-Yin Chen and Andy Pettitte wandered into and sauntered out of various jams, alternately guided into and out of them by their teammates -- and things continued to come together and screw down tighter and tighter in the way these sorts of games do, it all sort of started to feel the way it was supposed to feel. Which is to say, familiar, in that the innings passed in ways we'd seen before, in other games in other seasons. But which is also to say that it was fun and fraught and loud and generally turning maniacal cartwheels on a knife's edge in the way that good postseason baseball does.
This was not really a playoff game you'll ever tell a grandchild about, or really even reminisce about unless you are seriously into reminiscing or named Wei-Yin Chen. But also, and finally, it was awesome.
Yes, there is the matter of contrast with the first game, and to reiterate: This was hardly an all-time great of a game. Chen was implausibly unflappable and amusingly expressionless over his 6 1/3 innings, like some sort of heroic android whose fastball had a phantom few miles an hour of velocity on it that no radar gun was sophisticated enough to catch. Pettitte was only slightly less good, and no less admirable in his steadiness; his amazingness is easy to miss because he's Andy Pettitte and we're used to it, but he 1) is 40 years old and 2) was worth 2.2 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), according to Baseball Reference, in 12 starts as a 40-year-old. Neither pitcher was perfect, both were great. Ho-hum, and not.
The most memorable play in the game -- Ichiro's dazzling, graceful-goofy Parkour-style scramble around a pair of flailing Matt Wieters tags at home plate -- came in the top of the first inning, and didn't impact the outcome. J.J. Hardy made a silly error and a mistake on the base paths that probably cost his team a run -- and which did, hilariously and predictably and what-the-hell-also-greatly, lead TBS' announcing team to credit Derek Jeter with a Savvy Pro Deke-Move for making an uncredited error on a routine-ish groundball that he alligator-armed into left field -- and never quite got punishment or redemption for either. The Yankees never threatened in the bottom of the ninth, and the on-field response to the final out was nothing but a pair of Mickelson-ian fist pumps from Wieters and closer Jim Johnson; the heroically loud Camden Yards crowd sounded like it was trying to sing along to "Orioles Magic" and mostly failing.
Which is fair: It's an old and silly song, and it has been a long time since anyone sung it and meant it. And then everyone left and the series was tied heading to New York and there you go. No huge narrative payoff, really, and no win-or-go-home narrative stakes or some all-caps Bayless-discussed RIVALRY to amplify any of it. Just an average, wonderful postseason baseball game of the sort we'll see a dozen or so times more before this is all over, probably.
So, about the norm, then, and just about perfect in its ordinary way.
* * *
Roth is a co-founder and editor of The Classical, the co-author of the Wall Street Journal's "Daily Fix" blog-column, the sole author of Vice's "Mercy Rule" column and a writer of things at GQ, New York Magazine, The Awl and some other places when there's time. He lives in New York, and is on Twitter.


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huntpat necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 66 diseños de 17 diseñadores freelance.
****UPDATE**** Client has given us a new logo: http://www.emergencyresident.com/ph…r/logo.jpg
We are in need of a website design (template only, no code) for the recently opened Palmetto Health Simulation Center.
The name of the website will be Palmetto Health Simulation Center, and the URL will be http://www.phsim.com or http://www.phsimcenter.com.
IMPORTANT: Please read the full contest description for all the details.
Palmetto Health Simulation Center - http://www.phsimcenter.com
Desired Color Scheme:
See information in the Full Design Description
Desired Style:
Simple, classy, clean design with a professional feel. After we get a few initial entries, we will be able to provide feedback that will help you better understand what we are looking for.
Accepted File Formats:
Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff); Font files for non-standard fonts. Original stock photopgraphy if used.
We are in need of a website design (template only, no code) for the recently opened Palmetto Health Simulation Center.
The name of the website will be Palmetto Health Simulation Center, and the URL will be http://www.phsim.com or http://www.phsimcenter.com.
To get an idea about what a Simulation Center is, you can visit the following websites. These are sites for existing Sim Centers at other hospitals or universities.
The above websites should give you a general idea of the content that we will be putting in our new website, and also maybe a general idea for how the layout for our site should look.
We would like to see both a home page design and a content page design.
We want the site to have a clean, professional feel. It needs to be very easy to navigate and to find information.
On the content page design, please add in some common design elements (such as buttons, lists, tables with header, sub header, and regular cells, etc.).
You can use some stock-photography for the design if you feel it is appropriate. We plan to take some good photos of the actual Simulation Center to use in the design, but for now you can just fill in with stock photos.
During a design meeting that we had with the client, we came up with a few guidelines for the basic layout of the site. Please keep these in mind when creating your design.
1. For the header of the site, we want to have the logo near or at the top. Logo can be found here: http://www.emergencyresident.com/ph…r/logo.jpg
1b. I realize this logo is pretty plain and boring. If you want, feel free to include a modified logo in your design. Maybe the client will like it and we won't be stuck with the other logo. :)
2. We want a horizontal menu near the top of the design that will serve as the main navigation for the site. This will be a drop-down menu. Top level items should include: Home, About Us, Course Information, Calendar, Contact Us, Our Facility, Equipment.
3. We will want to put a search box somewhere in the design.
4. On the homepage of the site, we plan to include some type of Flash-based image rotator that will show some of the photos that we take of the sim center. For now, you can just put a static stock-photo into your design in the place that you think the flash should fit.
5. In the body content of the homepage, we want to have some basic Mission/Vision statement text, Latest News section, Upcoming Events, etc.
6. We would like to have a couple of main buttons on the side that will link to main features of the site (i.e. "Start Building Your Simulation Activity" and "Access the Simulation Center").
7. Also in the body content (maybe at the bottom), we want to have a couple of main navigation links for "Learn More About Medical Simulation" and "How Do I Build Curriculum". These will be links to slideshow presentations.
The Content Page will be very similar to the Home Page. It probably will not have the main Flash-based image banner, but maybe a smaller stock photo instead or something like that. It might also have a side menu for links to related pages on the site.
Legal Requirements: All submissions must be 100% your own original work. The winning submission includes transfer of ownership for work submittals and all design materials. We check submitted material for copyright violations. The design can be used in your portfolio. We reserve the right to end the contest without a winner if no winning entry can be decided upon.
Thanks in advance for your work on this contest. We're looking forward to seeing all the entries!
Desired Color Scheme: The logo for Sim Center includes a blue/green graphic for Palmetto Health and also a reddish colored graphic for the University of South Carolina. We would prefer the color of the website to somehow tie in with 1 or both of those graphics, but please make sure it still looks clean and professional. We are probably partial to using a shade of blue as the main color. Also, please use a white or light colored background for the site.


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Portable Oscilloscopes engineered for harsh environments
Fluke Corporation produces the ScopeMeter 190 Series II handheld portable oscilloscopes, the first four-channel scopes designed for harsh industrial environments.
These portable scopes are the first safety rated for CAT III 1000 V / CAT IV 600 V environments. The four input channels are fully isolated from each other to perform differential floating measurements, a critical consideration for troubleshooting fixed-installation three-phase power electronic devices like variable speed motor drives.
The Fluke ScopeMeter chassis is sealed from the environment with no cooling slots or fans to expose the instrument. It carries the International Protection (IP) -51 dust and drip proof rating so it's reportedly tough enough to use—safely—on the factory floor and in the field. According to Fluke, the most high-performance oscilloscopes are not designed to withstand dirty, harsh environments, the ScopeMeter is built to deliver accurate results where ordinary portable oscilloscopes dare not go.
The Fluke 190 Series II oscilloscope meets the growing need for four-channel portable oscilloscopes in industrial environments. Power electronics are used increasingly in solar and wind energy generation and to maximize efficiency or reduce power consumption especially in heavy-duty electro-mechanical applications. With the new Fluke 190 Series II ScopeMeter, users can see more and fix more using all four channels.
Their fast sampling rate, up to 2.5 GS/sec and 400 pico second resolution, helps users capture electrical noise and other disturbances to diagnose exactly what is going on. With100 MHz and 200 MHz models, they deliver the bandwidth needed to cover both today's needs, and tomorrow's. With four channels, users can inspect input signals, output signals, feedback loops, or safety interlocks simultaneously to solve problems like:
- Signal amplitude or shape variations, induced noise or disturbances across critical circuit nodes.
- Signal timing measurements and synchronization issues.
- Attenuation, fluctuation, drift as a result of impedance issues or environmental impacts.
Four channels are indispensable in testing variable speed motor drives and inverter power electronic technology used in green energy generation and transportation applications. Users can:
- View and measure harmonics, transients, and loads in three-phase power systems.
- Troubleshoot dc to ac converters for faulty insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and control circuits.
- View and measure pulse width modulated waveforms (PWM) for reflections and transients.
High-performance Li-ion battery technology keeps the Series II ScopeMeter on the job for up to seven hours. An external charger and easy-access battery door makes it simple to swap batteries and extend usage. Two USB ports, electrically isolated from measurement input circuits, make it easy to capture and share waveforms. Users can conveniently store data to a USB memory device or easily connect to a PC via the USB port and transfer waveforms or screen images for data analysis or archive.
Fluke ScopeMeter series videos
Fluke Corporation
– Edited by Gust Gianos, CFE Media, Plant Engineering, www.plantengineering.com


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Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the air passageways in the lungs to become blocked or narrowed, making it more difficult to move air into and out of the lungs. Inflammation causes the airway tubes to swell, limiting the available space for air to move through. If you have asthma, you have it all the time but your symptoms may vary from none at all to mild breathing impairment to extreme difficulty breathing, as happens during a severe "asthma attack." When symptoms occur, treatment may be required to restore normal breathing.
An estimated 20 million adults and children in America have asthma. It is the most common chronic childhood disease and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one in every five pediatric emergency room visits is related to asthma.
An asthma attack (or "episode") occurs when something bothers the lung airways, and makes asthma symptoms worse than usual. The airways of the lungs are like tree branches, starting out with a big diameter in the throat and near the entrance to lungs but subdividing into numerous smaller tubes as they progress deeper into the lungs. Near the ends of these airways, the smallest branches (called bronchioles) end in cul-de-sacs called alveoli and this is where air is exchanged with the blood. When the airways become irritated, muscles that surround each bronchiole tighten, narrowing the pathway for air flow and making it difficult to get fresh air into the alveoli. Irritation of the airways also causes increased inflammation, which makes the bronchiole tissue swell and release mucus, making it even more difficult to get air into the lungs. When the airways become very narrow and inflamed like this, it results in the symptoms of an asthma attack: coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Some people report that an asthma attack feels like trying to breathe though a very narrow straw.
Asthma attacks are not all the same. A mild attack may cause some discomfort and may resolve over time or go away after treatment with a fast-acting inhaler. A severe asthma attack can cause the airways to close to a point where there is not enough oxygen getting into the lungs to supply the body's vital organs. A severe asthma attack is a medical emergency that can result in death without treatment.
There are two basic types of asthma: allergic (extrinsic) asthma and non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma. While the two types have similar symptoms, their triggers are different.
Allergic asthma is caused by an allergic reaction in the lungs. An allergic reaction involves the inappropriate activation of the immune system toward a substance that does not normally cause disease (called an allergen). This common form of asthma is often triggered by inhaling an airborne allergen, such as mold or pollen, which causes the immune system of the lung airways to react, making the tissue swollen and inflamed. In people with allergic asthma, allergens cause the release of several natural chemicals (such as histamine) in the cells of the lung airways. These constrict the air passageways which results in the wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath that accompany an asthma attack. Some common allergic asthma triggers include both inhaled and ingested substances such as:
-- Tree and plant pollen
-- Animal dander
-- Dust mites
-- Mold spores
-- Foods, such as peanuts, milk, and shellfish
Non-allergic asthma causes symptoms very similar to allergic asthma, but the triggers are different. Instead of inhaled allergens causing an inappropriate activation of the immune system, in non-allergic asthma something in the environment triggers inflammation that does not involve the immune system. The airways become inflamed, swell, and release mucus, obstructing air flow and leading to similar symptoms of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Some common triggers for non-allergic asthma include:
-- Environmental irritants, such as smoke, smog, perfumes, gasoline, and household cleaners
-- Respiratory infections, such as colds, flu, and sinus infections
-- Changes in breathing including exercise or laughter
-- Weather, such as dry wind or cold air
-- Strong emotions like anger, fear, stress, and excitement
-- Certain medications like aspirin
-- Pregnancy
People with asthma have chronic inflammation of their lung airways, which may noticeably affect their breathing all the time or it may only become noticeable during an asthma attack.
Asthma is marked by hypersensitivity of the lung airways to irritants. During an asthma attack, an irritant causes three major changes to the lung airways: swelling of the airway lining, release of mucus that impedes air flow, and bronchoconstriction, a tightening of the muscles that surround the airways of the lungs. These symptoms all narrow the airways and obstruct the flow of air into and out of the lungs, making it harder to breathe. The result is the symptoms of asthma: coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
A severe asthma attack can cause the airways to close to a point where there is not enough oxygen getting into the lungs to supply the body's vital organs; without treatment it can lead to death. During a severe asthma attack, symptoms often may not respond to medication. The symptoms of a severe asthma attack include:
-- Severe wheezing, when breathing both in and out
-- Using neck and /or chest muscles to assist breathing
-- Coughing that just doesn't stop
-- Severe chest tightness or pressure
-- Shortness of breath
-- Feeling anxious or panicky
-- Blue skin coloration (cyanosis)
Researchers have uncovered a lot about what occurs during an asthma attack. Unfortunately, the exact reason why one person gets asthma while another does not remains unknown. One thing is certain: genetics play a big role. Like allergies, asthma tends to run in families. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, if only one parent has asthma, the chances are nearly 1 in 3 that their child will have asthma. If both parents have asthma, the chances of their child having asthma increase to 7 in 10. However, the genes involved in developing asthma remain mostly unknown.
While genetics are a factor, it is clear that they are not the whole story. The genes involved likely confer a susceptibility to developing asthma instead of causing the disease directly. Many people who have asthma also have allergies and it is thought that certain genes may cause susceptibility to both diseases. Even so, just having the genes is not enough. In addition, you also need to come into contact with the right allergens or irritants that trigger a reaction in your lungs. Also, several environmental factors are known to increase the likelihood of developing asthma, including poor air quality, exposure to irritants, childhood exposure to secondhand smoke, and others.
In the United States, nearly half of the people who have been diagnosed with asthma are children. Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children. Although asthma can develop at any age, it most often starts in childhood. Recently, the prevalence of asthma in American adults and children has been increasing for unknown reasons. Interestingly, asthma is more common in boys than in girls, but after about age 20 it becomes more common in women than men.
Several studies have demonstrated that the time of gestation (i.e. during pregnancy) and the first few years of a child's life are critical to determining whether or not a person will develop asthma in childhood. Premature birth or low birth weight both make an infant more susceptible to respiratory problems and increase the likelihood of developing asthma. Frequent respiratory infections in the early years can also make asthma more likely. Exposure to secondhand smoke also appears to increase asthma risk.
When asthma is diagnosed for the first time in someone older than 20, it is known as adult-onset asthma. Women are more likely than men to develop asthma as adults. A person can develop asthma at any time during life. Exposure to irritants on a long-term basis, such as secondhand smoke in the home, is a major risk factor for developing asthma later in life. Other factors include exposure to things like household chemicals and air pollution.
To summarize, the main risk factors for developing asthma include:
-- Family history of asthma or allergies
-- Having allergies yourself
-- Frequent respiratory infections in childhood or certain other illnesses in adulthood
-- African American or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity
-- Growing up in a low-income environment
-- Living in a large urban area
-- Women who are pregnant or are experiencing menopause
-- Obesity
-- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
-- Exposure to tobacco smoke before birth, in childhood, or as an adult
-- Exposure to environmental irritants, mold, dust, feather beds, or perfume
-- Exposure to occupational triggers, such as chemicals used in manufacturing
Some people only experience their asthma symptoms during or after exercise. However, exercise-induced asthma / bronchospasm should be anticipated in all asthmatics as exercise might trigger asthma symptoms in all sensitive people. If you suspect that you have exercise-related asthma you should discuss this and your symptoms with your doctor.
If you notice that you have trouble breathing periodically or you find yourself wheezing, especially at night or in the early morning, you may want to be tested for asthma. Since asthma occurs frequently in children, if you are a parent you should look for signs of breathing problems in your child and tell your doctor if they occur. You should be especially concerned if you or your child has risk factors for asthma like allergies or a family history of asthma. The symptoms of asthma can be scary. See a doctor as soon as possible if you or your child has an episode of difficult breathing that lasts more than a few minutes.
Asthma symptoms are often brought on or made worse by a "trigger." A trigger can be an allergen (a substance you are allergic to) if you have allergies or some other factor like smoke, chemicals, stress, cold weather, or even (for women) menstrual cycles. If you notice that it becomes more difficult to breathe when you are exposed to certain triggers, you may want to see a doctor to be tested for asthma.
If you experience difficulty breathing or other asthma symptoms such as those mentioned above it is important to see a doctor. However, symptoms alone are not enough to diagnose asthma. Only a doctor can confirm that you have asthma and rule out other problems. An asthma diagnosis usually involves the following steps:
During your visit, the doctor will first ask you detailed questions about your health history, your family's medical history and your symptoms. Then you will be given a physical exam. This will most likely involve listening to your lungs with a stethoscope and examining your nose and throat for signs of inflammation. The doctor may also ask to examine your body for signs of allergic conditions (such as eczema) on your skin.
If your exam does not rule out asthma, the doctor will likely perform tests of your lung function. You cannot be diagnosed with asthma without showing signs of reduced lung function on one or more of these tests. Most lung function tests are non-invasive and can be performed in the doctor's office using a medical instrument called a spirometer. Spirometry findings that indicate asthma are needed to make a definitive diagnosis of asthma. The spirometer records the amount of air you exhale and is used for two key lung function measurements:
-- Forced vital capacity (FVC) is the maximum amount of air you can exhale after inhaling as deeply as possible. This is a measure of the total usable capacity of your lungs.
-- Forced expiratory volume (FEV-1) is the maximum amount of air you can exhale in one second. This measures how well you can move air out of your lungs.
Your results on these tests will be compared to the expected values for someone of your age, height, and sex. If these numbers are lower than normal, there is reason to suspect you have asthma. Even so, your doctor may have you repeat the lung function tests after having you inhale a small amount of a drug that improves lung function in asthmatics by dilating the bronchioles. If your lung function numbers improve after inhaling the drug, you likely have asthma.
Even if your lung function tests are initially normal, the doctor may ask you to inhale a common trigger substance that tends to bring on asthma attacks in many asthmatics and then repeat the spirometry measurements. This is called a challenge test and if your lung function values decline after the challenge, it is likely that you have asthma.
If your asthma symptoms occur only during exercise, your doctor may decide to give you an exercise challenge test (where you perform lung function tests at 5 minutes intervals while exercising in between) to make the diagnosis. If you do have exercise-induced bronchospasm, it shouldn't interfere with your ability to be active and participate in vigorous exercise if you a have good asthma action plan.
If your lung function tests indicate that you have reduced lung function, the doctor may want to do a few more tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms as asthma. Some of these include: pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tumors, congestive heart failure, and bronchitis. The tests to exclude these and other conditions may include a chest X-ray or CT scan of the lungs, a complete blood count (CBC), and an examination of respiratory mucus (sputum).
If your doctor concludes that you do indeed have asthma, he or she may refer you to an allergy specialist to be tested for allergies. More than half of asthma cases are caused by allergic reactions in the lung airways, so allergy testing can help you determine the things that may trigger or worsen your asthma symptoms so you can avoid them in the future.
Based on the results from your tests, the doctor may give you a diagnosis of asthma with a specific classification. The classification is based on how severe and persistent your symptoms are. It can also help you better prepare for the symptoms you are likely to experience and provide a guide for treatment. The four main classifications of untreated asthma:
-- Intermittent asthma is the mildest form of asthma, with symptoms up to twice a week.
-- Mild persistent asthma is accompanied by symptoms more than twice a week, but no more than once in a single day.
-- Moderate persistent asthma symptoms occur once a day.
-- Severe persistent asthma is the most severe form, causing symptoms throughout the day on most days.
The classification of asthma is presently undergoing changes in the clinical and research communities. There is a new school of thought that asthma severity should be based on how severe the asthma is when it is controlled, or how much medical treatment it takes to control the symptoms. One new classification scheme from the Global Institute for Asthma uses the following classification of how well-controlled your symptoms are with medications:
-- Controlled asthma means there are no daytime or nighttime symptoms, infrequent need for quick-relief medicines (no more than twice a week) and peak flow is normal with no asthma attacks.
-- Partly controlled asthma involves daytime symptoms more than twice a week and sometimes at night with use of quick-relief medicine more than twice a week. Peak flow rate is less than 80 percent of your normal and asthma attacks occur at least once a year but not weekly.
-- Uncontrolled asthma is when you have three or more of the features of partially controlled asthma at least 3 times a week, and asthma attacks are occurring weekly.
If you have asthma, controlling your asthma requires you to consider three basic aspects of care. These are:
1. Education about your condition and participation in your own care so that you can monitor your asthma symptoms more effectively;
2. Proper medication;
3. Controlling or managing environmental or other health factors (e.g. obesity, infections, stress) which affect your asthma. There is no cure for asthma, but several treatments are available to alleviate asthma symptoms. The most effective treatment is avoiding asthma triggers, but when that is not enough several types of medications may help.
Together with your doctor you can develop an asthma action plan with appropriate treatments. Developing an asthma action plan should be a collaborative effort between the asthma sufferer and a doctor or other health care professional (those with young children that have asthma should participate in the plan for their child). Ask questions of your doctor when the plan is being designed and make sure your concerns are addressed. Your input is important for a successful plan. The plan should include:
-- Recommended doses and frequencies of daily medications
-- How to monitor symptoms
-- How to adjust medicines at home in response to particular signs, symptoms, and peak flow measurements that indicate worsening asthma
-- Patient peak flow levels, including their personal best and calculated zones based on personal best that can indicate when reductions require treatment
-- Symptoms to watch out for that may require use or fast-acting medications
-- Conditions or symptoms that warrant seeking more urgent medical care
-- Telephone numbers for the doctor, emergency, and family/friends for support
-- List of asthma triggers to avoid and how to cut down the risks of exposure to them
-- Daily lifestyle modifications that can improve your symptoms
You can also learn self-management skills necessary to control your asthma. Self-management education improves your quality of life while living with asthma by reducing your need for of urgent care visits, hospitalizations, and limitations on activities and it can also save you time, money and worry in the long-run.
As an asthma patient or the parent of a child with asthma, you should have the doctor or another health care professional instruct you on how to use an inhaler. There are different types of inhaled medications that are used under different circumstances so be sure that you know how to use each of them and what the differences are among them. The doctor should have you demonstrate your technique before you attempt to use the medication on your own. The doctor should also instruct you how to use other medical devices you are prescribed including spacers, nebulizers, and peak flow meters.
If you are thinking about using alternative therapies such as herbs or homeopathic remedies, most doctors will be able to educate you on safe use of these as well. Many of these alternative therapies have limited medical evidence to indicate whether they work or not, but most doctors can tell you about their experiences with these treatments and if they are considered safe for you in combination with your other treatments.
You can also learn about how best to identify your asthma triggers. The doctor may refer you for allergy testing, which can help you determine some of your triggers and he or she can educate you about avoiding environmental exposures that may worsen your asthma such as tobacco smoke, cold air, and other irritants.
One of the most important things you can educate yourself about is how to monitor your own asthma symptoms. This helps you assess how controlled your asthma really is, helps you determine when to use fast-acting medications or when to limit your activity, and will also allow you to recognize the warning signs of an impending asthma attack.
You can effectively monitor your own asthma symptoms using an inexpensive handheld medical device called a peak flow meter. A peak flow meter measures the maximum airflow you can generate during a quick forced exhalation (a fast blast) and this can be compared to your normal peak flow rate. This measurement is a reasonably accurate indicator of how well air can flow through your lung airways. Changes in your peak flow rate indicate changes in your airways: a lower peak flow rate means the bronchioles are constricted and can foretell asthma symptoms.
Monitoring your peak flow can help you determine how well your medications are working and may help you identify the triggers of your asthma. It can even signal an impending asthma attack: reduction in your peak flow can often be measured before you notice any asthma symptoms and can be a sign to implement your asthma action plan which likely includes taking fast-acting medications for asthma attacks.
Medications for asthma can be placed into two general classes: long-term control medication and quick-relief medication. Most people use a combination of both to control their asthma.
These medications are taken on a daily basis to improve lung function and reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.
Corticosteroids are some of the most powerful and effective medications for asthma. However, inhaled corticosteroids do not appear to alter the progression or underlying severity of the disease in children. Corticosteroids are hormones normally released in the body by glands called the adrenal gland to help you manage stress. Synthetic versions of these hormones can be taken daily to help control asthma symptoms. They have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, meaning they can reduce or prevent inflammation and stop mucus from building up in the lungs. Inhaling corticosteroids delivers a small, targeted dose directly to the sites where they are needed: the lung airways. Inhalation also reduces the amount of these hormones that gets into the bloodstream and lowers the incidence of side effects. Examples of some inhaled corticosteroids include budesonide (Pulmicort), fluticasone (Flovent), and triamcinolone (Azmacort).
The side effects of inhaled corticosteroids can include voice hoarseness and infections of the mouth and throat caused by the anti-inflammatory effects, which reduce the ability of the immune system to fight infections.
The LABAs are bronchodilators, meaning they help keep the smallest branches of the lung airways (the bronchioles) open. The body normally produces chemicals called beta-2 agonists that signal the smooth muscles surrounding the bronchioles to relax and open wide. These natural signals are released in times of stress and allow you to bring more air into your lungs when necessary. In asthmatics, an asthma attack causes the smooth muscle surrounding the bronchioles to contract and narrow their diameter, overwhelming the natural signal to keep them open. LABAs are synthetic versions of beta-2 agonists and taking them regularly can help tip the scales away from bronchoconstriction and toward open airways. These drugs are taken daily using an inhaler. LABAs should not be used alone to treat asthma; they are used in combination with inhaled corticosteroids for long-term control and prevention of symptoms in moderate or severe persistent asthma. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an advisory stating that the LABAs may increase the risk of severe asthma attacks and possibly death from such an attack. Examples of LABAs include Serevent (salmeterol) and Foradil (formoterol).
Combination drugs that include both an LABA and an inhaled corticosteroid are becoming more popular. Examples include Advair (combination fluticasone/salmeterol) and Symbicort (combination budesonide/formoterol)
These drugs work by either blocking the production of or preventing the action of natural body molecules called leukotrienes. These molecules are released during an asthma attack and cause the cells that line the lung airways to become inflamed. Leukotriene modifiers block this effect. These drugs are taken orally once or twice daily and are usually not as effective as corticosteroids at preventing asthma attacks. Side effects of these medications include gastrointestinal problems and sleep disorders. Examples of leukotriene modifiers include montelukast (Singulair) and zafirlukast (Accolate).
Cromolyn sodium and nedocromil are medications that stabilize cells called "mast" cells which release inflammatory substances. They can be used in addition to other medications to control asthma and they can also be used as preventative treatment before exercise or exposure to known allergens.
Theophylline is a type of drug called a methylxanthine that is similar in structure and function to caffeine. One of its effects is bronchodilation, which opens airways and improves breathing, but its other effects include rapid heartbeat, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and nervousness. It is taken daily in pill form. Theophylline is rarely prescribed anymore due to its side effects. If you are prescribed this medication a blood test to monitor serum theophylline concentration must be performed regularly.
Many asthmatics have allergic asthma; their symptoms are caused by allergic reactions in the lung airways. Treating their allergies can help improve their asthma symptoms. Examples of allergy treatments include allergy-desensitization shots (immunotherapy) in which you are given small doses of allergens that trigger your asthma symptoms and over time you become less sensitive to them. In addition, medication containing anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies such as omalizumab (Xolair) may reduce the number of asthma attacks you experience by blocking the action of IgE antibodies, which cause allergies. Allergy treatments can only be administered in a physician's office or hospital with facilities and trained personnel available to treat any life-threatening reactions that occur. These severe reactions are rare but they do happen.
While the long-term control medications aim to prevent asthma attacks, they are not effective in rapidly relieving symptoms of an asthma attack when one does occur. Several quick-acting medications can be taken at the onset of an asthma episode to shorten the attack and lessen its symptoms. These medicines work by dilating the bronchioles and improving air flow to the lungs.
Like the long acting version (LABAs), these drugs work by activating the system that normally signals the smooth muscles surrounding the bronchioles to relax and open wide. During an asthma attack, the smooth muscle surrounding the bronchioles contract and narrow their diameter, overwhelming the natural signal to keep them open. When inhaled, the short-acting beta- 2 agonists reverse this effect within minutes and allow breathing to return to normal, but they do not prevent further attacks from occurring. SABAs are the preferred treatment for the relief of acute symptoms and prevention of exercise-induced asthma/ bronchospasm. Side effects may include tremor, palpitations, and headache. Examples include Salbutamol (albuterol) and Xopenex (levalbuterol).
Daily or chronic use of SABAs is not recommended. Increasing use of SABA treatment often means that the patient's asthma is not under good control. If you find yourself using SABAs more than your doctor recommends, you should make an appointment so he or she can reevaluate your long-term anti-inflammatory therapy.
These drugs work by blocking body signals that cause the bronchioles to constrict and release mucus. The body has a system to naturally constrict bronchioles in order to direct fresh air to other bronchioles that need it. During as asthma attack, this system is no longer adaptive and so anticholinergic drugs block this effect from occurring. When inhaled, these drugs will open bronchioles and restore breathing, but they will not prevent future attacks. Side effects can include headache, dizziness, dry mouth, cough, nausea, upset stomach, and blurred vision. Examples of anticholinergics include ipratropium (Atrovent) and tiotrpium (Spiriva).
These corticosteroids work in the same manner as the inhaled version mentioned above: by preventing inflammation. However, taken orally or by I.V., corticosteroids may help treat acute asthma attacks. They tend to take a little longer to work than a fast-acting inhaler, up to a few hours or days to be fully effective. Also, because oral or I.V. administration delivers these steroids to the entire body, the risk of side effects is greater than with inhaled corticosteroids. Long-term use can cause cataracts, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, decreased resistance to infection, high blood pressure, and thinning of the skin. Examples of these medications include prednisone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone.
Depending on the severity of your asthma symptoms, you may need to take only one type of drug or a combination of several. Many doctors will prescribe both a long-acting medication for control of asthma symptoms and a quick-acting medication for rapid relief during an asthma attack. If at a follow-up appointment your asthma seems well controlled, your doctor may prescribe fewer medicines or lower doses.
A person can develop asthma at any age and there is no way of knowing for sure who will get it. There are risk factors for asthma that you cannot control and some that you can. If you are a prospective parent or if you have children already, there are some additional things you can do to reduce the risk of your children developing asthma.
As an adult, you can reduce your risk of developing asthma by limiting the risk factors that you have control over. This is especially important if you have any of the non-controllable risk factors such as a family history of asthma or allergies, having allergies yourself, African American or Puerto Rican ancestry, or low birth weight. The known risk factors that you may be able to control include: obesity; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); exposure to tobacco smoke, environmental irritants, mold, dust, feather beds, or perfume; and occupational triggers, such as chemicals used in manufacturing. Losing weight if you are obese is a good way to reduce risk. If you have GERD, losing weight may actually alleviate your GERD symptoms as well. Avoiding all possible irritants is difficult, but limiting your exposure, especially long-term exposure, as much as possible can help reduce your risk for developing asthma.
If you have children or plan on starting a family, you can reduce the risk of your children developing asthma by limiting their asthma risk factors. This is especially important if you or another close relative has asthma or allergies because this means your children are already at increased risk. Risk factors that you may or not be able to control include low birth weight, frequent respiratory infections in childhood, growing up in a low-income environment, and living in a large urban area. The risk factors that you can control include: exposure to tobacco smoke before birth or as an infant and exposure to environmental irritants, mold, dust, feather beds, or perfume.
If you already have asthma, there is no cure, but there are steps you can take to prevent asthma attacks.
The best way to prevent asthma attacks is to identify your asthma triggers and do your very best to avoid them. If you have allergic asthma, you can get tested for allergies and find out what substances provoke the biggest reactions for you, and then try to avoid them. Whether you have allergic asthma or not, certain allergens and irritants tend to worsen asthma symptoms in most asthma patients and you can do your best to avoid them. These include:
-- Tobacco smoke
-- Cockroaches
-- Dust mites
-- Mold spores
-- Pet dander
-- Pollen
-- Irritating fumes
-- Cold air
For some people with asthma, avoiding allergens and irritants may be sufficient to keep most of their symptoms at bay. For most asthma sufferers, other steps are needed. Seeing your doctor regularly is the best way to determine an asthma action plan that is right for you. This means going back for regular checkups to make sure the plan you are using is still optimal. Doctors are very knowledgeable but they cannot always predict how each individual patient will react to medications or how their symptoms will change over time. The doctor may need to make adjustments to your plan several times before the two of you discover an optimal management plan for your disease. Even then, things can change so it is important to keep the lines of communication with your doctor open.
Your asthma action plan will include key elements like a medication regimen for both long-acting and quick-relief medications and on methods you can use to avoid exposure to triggers. It will also include methods to help you anticipate asthma attacks and, over time, you may be able to feel subtle changes in your breathing that warn of an impending asthma attack. The sooner you administer quick-relief medications such as your fast-acting inhaler, the sooner you will start relief and the less severe the attack will be. When the peak flow meter indicates an attack is beginning, take your medications as soon as possible and, if it's possible, remove yourself from the environment that caused the attack.
If your asthma symptoms occur only during exercise (exercise-induced asthma / bronchospasm), you should have an asthma action plan for managing your symptoms. This plan may primarily consist of medications that you use before beginning to exercise (e.g. SABAs or LABAs) or it may include long term control therapy if your symptoms are frequent or severe. A warm-up period prior to exercising may also help to reduce your symptoms and a mask or scarf over the mouth may lessen cold-induced exercise-related asthma attacks.
If you have asthma, some events may carry a higher risk of complications for you than for those who do not have asthma. Two examples are pregnancy and surgery, which are discussed below.
Pregnancy causes major changes in hormone levels and it can cause changes to your asthma symptoms. However, pregnancy does not affect all women with allergies in the same way. About one third of women with asthma experience improvement of their symptoms while they are pregnant, about one third have their symptoms get worse, and the other third stay about the same. If your asthma is mild to begin with and it is well- controlled during pregnancy, there is a good chance you will not have any attacks while you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about your pregnancy to discuss any changes that will be necessary to your medications or other aspects of your treatment. In general, inhaled drugs may be used during pregnancy, whereas you may have to stop taking pills or other treatments that could cross the placenta.
The danger in pregnancy is that if your symptoms are not well controlled, the amount of oxygen you can breathe in is reduced. Pregnant women have about 50% more blood than normal and all that blood needs to be oxygenated. Less oxygen and more blood means reduced oxygen supply to the developing baby and may result in serious problems. Talk with your doctor and take all necessary steps to control your asthma while you are pregnant to limit the chance that your asthma will affect your unborn child.
If you have moderate or severe asthma, you are at higher risk of developing problems during and after having surgery than people who do not have asthma. If you have asthma and are planning to have surgery, talk with your doctor about preparations you can take to avoid asthma problems during and after the surgery. Make sure your symptoms are well controlled leading up to the surgery and tell your doctor if they are not. You may need to take some additional medication such as corticosteroids for a short time to improve lung function before surgery and prevent complications.
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Talk:Compatibility Matrix for Unified CCE
From DocWiki
When will the ICM/UCCS 9.0 Compatibility Matrix be posted? The UCC Optimization team is charged with making long-term software recommendation; we already have some customers who want to move to CVP 9.0 but we don't know which versions of ICM, UCM, CUIC, etc. will be required. Thanks for the help.


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Undergraduate Programs
Civil & Environmental Engineering - Undergraduate Programs
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers B.S. degrees in both programs, and numerous minors and professional concentrations designed to maximize the potential of our students.
There are currently over 400 undergraduate students in our program. Our students are able to choose their focus and pursue what interests them and they have the support and leadership of outstanding faculty throughout the process.
As a CEE major, you'll be grounded in the fundamentals you'll need for a successful career in one of the civil and environmental engineering disciplines. You'll also benefit from a rich learning environment that extends well beyond the classroom. Each year of undergraduate study includes classes with laboratory components and hands-on design experiences. You'll find learning through these venues can be applied to "real life" in fun and meaningful ways. Students notice this link particularly as they participate in design competitions or interact with visiting industry professionals who share their experiences and knowledge with them.
Finally, you'll be encouraged to take advantage of opportunities for faculty-guided research projects in the lab and in the field.
Kyle List '11
Civil Engineering
East Falmouth, Mass.
Senior Kyle List might not have known which major to choose when he first came to Clarkson, but he found himself quickly enjoying all that civil engineering has to offer.
Read more about Kyle's experience.
Design Credits from Professional Electives (.pdf 14.4 KB)
Options for professional concentrations:
Architectural Engineering
Construction Engineering Management
Environmental Engineering
Structural Engineering
Options for Minors:
Environmental Health Sciences
Minors and Concentrations


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Mark Zuckerberg Jumps the Couch
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Oprah share one goal: They want to know what you're feeling. Zuckerberg prefers you tell him via computer, though, so why's he going on her show tomorrow?
In past interviews, whenever Zuckerberg was greeted by a personal question, he usually returned it with a blank stare. Why are you wasting my time? was the unspoken thought. But Brad Stone reports on Bits that Zuckerberg's parents will be in the audience for tomorrow's broadcast — so it seems like family questions will be on the agenda. This could be the best Oprah trainwreck since Tom Cruise jumped the couch.
Of course, Oprah being Oprah, Oprah will also be on the agenda. She's almost certainly going to plug her new Facebook page, one of the first to adopt an advertising-friendly redesign. So after some awkward banter, we expect the pair will get down to the real business at hand: mutual self-promotion.


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Ross wrote:I don't understand the (for want of a better word) "argument" put forth that if we had Amsterdam style segregated cycleways then we could do away with helmets. Is there some high-tech force field installed on these that somehow prevent crashes? How does it work? There would still be sticks, rocks, other cyclists of varying abilities and speeds and likely to be the odd pedestrian and stray animals as well, which can cause crashes.
Didn't you know? Accidents only happen to other people, and if you don't personally know them, it has no significance.
IMO, the whole anti-MHL thing has nothing to do with increasing cycling participation, it's about individuals wanting to be able to do whatever they want in public.
PS - The seven year old currently has his arm in a sling, the frame of the glasses was able to be straightened, and I'm very thankful that the front of the helmet kept his face off the concrete. The cost of avoiding extra pain & suffering in this specific case was $25 at BigW.


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Reaching a student who might need that extra bit of encouragement or academic push and seeing that person achieve his or her goals in the classroom are factors that drive each of this year's Faculty Excellence Award winners from Lone Star College–Tomball.
This year's recipients -- Thomas Rogers, Katherine Sanchez, Melinda Coleman and David Birch -- teach courses in the primary core academic areas. These core courses sometimes present obstacles to students, especially the many non-traditional students who are making their way into the classrooms of today's community colleges.
For Rogers, who holds degrees from Texas Christian University in business and a master's degree and teaching certificate from England, it is a love of history and a love of teaching that makes working at the community college level so worthwhile. He is 20 year teaching veteran including seven years as an adjunct instructor at LSC-Tomball and 10 years as a full time professor of history at LSC-Tomball.
Developing a student's interest in history can be a challenge, but Rogers said he tries to make the subject something both interesting and intriguing. Rogers said he is something of a social historian which allows him to help students better understand how the past and present are interconnected through the study of history.
He also tries to generate interest in a more in-depth history study that goes beyond the traditional American history class. Rogers has developed a curriculum for a special American history class, the American West, that is offered approximately every third semester.
"There is a joy when you see the light come on," he said of teaching at the community college. "At the university level, publish or perish is still very much alive. For the people that want to do that, it's fine. But, our main mission at the community college level is to teach. They want us to teach, and teach some more and that is what I like.
Sanchez, who began her own educational career at a junior college in Corpus Christi, has a special affinity for the community college student. She holds degrees in English from Corpus Christi State University (now Texas A&M Corpus Christi) and Texas A&M (College Station.) and is also working on her doctorate at the College Station campus.
She began her teaching career as an adjunct instructor at LSC-Tomball in 1996 and spent several years teaching dual credit English at Waller High School while continuing as an adjunct at LSC-Tomball. Sanchez joined the LSC-Tomball English faculty full-time in 1999. She also currently serves as department chair in addition to her classroom and online teaching duties.
Her personal experience as a community college student played an important role in Sanchez' decision to teach at the community college level.
"In most ways, I would have been considered an at-risk student," said Sanchez of her own educational experience. "I was raised by a single mother. I went to school on a Pell Grant. I was a first generation college student and I'm Mexican-American. However, I never considered any of these as barriers. After reaching my original goal of a graduate degree in English, I just knew I needed to reach back to that student I was.
"My proudest moments are when I see the students who think they can't succeed, push through their fears and really become comfortable writers and readers," she added.
Coleman, who currently teaches developmental math classes along with algebra and math for elementary school teachers, has been an educator for 21 years beginning at the junior high school level. Her teaching career also includes the high school level and stints as adjunct instructors at LSC-North Harris and LSC–Montgomery before joining the LSC-Tomball faculty full-time eight years ago. She holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics from Sam Houston State University.
This mathematics professor found she enjoyed working with students at the community college level because they are often very committed to their education and truly want to learn despite any obstacles that may stand in their way.
Patience, she said, is an important factor, in working with the community college student, especially those in the development math classes.
Coleman, too, sees her share of non-traditional students. Some students may be older and returning to school after many years away from formal schooling, while others may be those who were told they were not college material and did not receive the math background necessary to succeed at the college level.
"In any case, these students really want to succeed," she said. "They often need to be retrained in mathematics, but more importantly, need to have their confidence built. I enjoy seeing the success on these students' faces, often for the first time in their math career."
Birch, who holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and a master's degree from the University of Maryland, is a 23-year veteran educator with six years of that time at LSC–Tomball.
In his Introduction to American Government and Politics classes he illuminates the ideals of citizenship and participation in the political process as well as helping students understand how the political process of this nation works and why it is of critical importance to the individual.
By teaching in the community college setting, Birch said he is able to engage those ideas more directly and critically with his students than would possible in an introductory political science class of 300 students.
"I think to be effective, you have to love what you do and show a vital interest in the subject matter," he said. "Instructors set the tone for the learning environment."
While Birch holds no expectation that each of his students will suddenly become a political science major, he promises that those students will never see a lack of enthusiasm on his part for the subject of government and politics in his classroom.
Birch and his fellow Faculty Excellence Award recipients will be recognized at the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development conference in May.
Lone Star College System consists of five colleges, including CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball, six centers and Lone Star College-University Center. With 49,250 students, LCSC is the third largest community college district in Texas. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.


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|Ronnie Polidoro / Rock Center with Brian Williams:
|Josh Tyrangiel / Business Week:
|Tim Culpan / Bloomberg:
|Neil Hughes / AppleInsider:
|Brad Molen / Engadget:
|Kevin Fitchard / GigaOM:
|Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
|Ellis Hamburger / The Verge:
|Harrison Weber / The Next Web:
|Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
|Robert McMillan / Wired:
|Jessica E. Lessin / Wall Street Journal:
|Philip Elmer-DeWitt / Fortune:
|Nicholas Carlson / Business Insider:
|Gabe Rivera / Techmeme News:
|Michael Arrington / TechCrunch:
|Stephen Shankland / CNET:
|Ken Yeung / The Next Web:
|Drew Olanoff / TechCrunch:
|Arik Hesseldahl / AllThingsD:
|Drew Olanoff / TechCrunch:
|Kevin C. Tofel / GigaOM:
|Emil Protalinski / The Next Web:
|Dennis Schaal / Skift:
|Matthew Panzarino / The Next Web:
|Moira Burke / Facebook:
This is a Techmeme archive page. It shows how the site appeared at 5:20 PM ET, December 6, 2012.
The most current version of the site as always is available at our home page. To view an earlier snapshot click here and then modify the date indicated.
|Josh Ong / The Next Web:
|Lucian Parfeni / Softpedia News:
|Rip Empson / TechCrunch:
|Paul Sawers / The Next Web:
|Ian King / Bloomberg:
|John Cook / GeekWire:
|Lindsay Fortado / Bloomberg:
|T.C. Sottek / The Verge:
|Jeff Blagdon / The Verge:
|Shara Tibken / CNET:
|Janko Roettgers / GigaOM:
|Lee Chyen Yee / Reuters:


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Craven Community College students have much to be thankful for thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters. Many students have applied and received scholarships that are allowing them to pursue an education.
Craven Community College students have much to be thankful for thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters. Many students have applied and received scholarships that are allowing them to pursue an education.
Their success stories are powerful and heartwarming, and are celebrated each year at the College Foundation�s annual scholarship dinner. Recently, 200 students, their families and guests, college faculty, staff and administrators and, most importantly, the benefactors gathered for this celebration. At the dinner, the students shared their educational journeys firsthand with their specific scholarship donors, many meeting each other for the first time. Scholarship recipients can be traditional students, recent high school graduates, or non-traditional, an adult learner who is attending college for the first time or is back in to continue her or his pursuit of a degree.
According to Dr. Daryl Minus, the executive vice president for learning and student success and keynote speaker at the event, in 2012-13, there are approximately $89,000 in scholarship dollars available. To date, approximately $59,000 have been awarded, to 127 students, many who are enrolled at the college for this fall semester.
Barry Wallace and Nicole Mena, two scholarship recipients, also spoke at the celebration. Both stressed the vital role this funding has played in their academic careers at Craven. First of all, both receive a student ambassador scholarship. This pays for tuition and books, and they spend required hours doing community outreach on behalf of the college. Wallace is pursuing a degree in psychology and will transfer to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill next year. His goal is to eventually pursue a doctorate degree.
Mena is majoring in elementary education, and looks forward to teaching kindergarten or elementary school students. Their scholarships have allowed them to study full-time without the worrying about holding down an additional job.
The Craven Community College Foundation actively seeks gifts from individuals, corporations, civic groups and foundations for scholarships, instructional programs, equipment, facilities and other college priorities. The Foundation awards scholarships to qualified students. They generally do not have to be repaid; however, there is an application process.
The criteria for scholarships vary. Some are based partly on financial need, while others are based on a student�s interest in a specific field or his or her interest in further education and scholastic achievement. Students are required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine their eligibility for financial aid. If they qualify, students then fill out the college�s General scholarship application form. The Foundation provides students with more than 70 scholarships opportunities that can be found on the college�s website at cravencc.edu/financialaid/forms/CCC-General-Scholarship-Handbook--12-13.pdf.
In addition, there are also grant funded scholarships including the college�s new National Science Foundation Scholars in Engineering and Science program. This is for students who are interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math, otherwise known as STEM programs.
To find out more about scholarships at CCC, contact the Foundation Office at 638-7351 or the Financial Aid Office at 638-7216.
Judy Eurich is the director of marketing, communications and development liaison at Craven Community College. She can be reached at 252-638-7210 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Saturday 19 April 2014
Gentle Stretch
Apr 19th 11:00am - 12:00pm
Cannon Beach Yoga ArtsSee Full Schedule & Sign-Up Here
This class will be primarily on the floor to accommodate deep stretching. Class focus will rotate between hips, twists, shoulders, backbends, and forward bends. Beginners and returning students welcome.
$10 drop-in, class passes also available.


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Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Abolish The NSA And Give Snowden A Parade
from the taking-a-stand dept
Well, you know it's illegal to lie to Congress, but everyone lies to Congress. As soon as they raise their right hand, watch out! Clapper should be held responsible, but he won't be, because that's the condition we're in right now. In a just world, Snowden, we'd be having ticker tape parades for him. But that's not what's going to happen.There have been a lot of strong words about all of this coming from some members of Congress, but these may be the strongest yet.
[....] We have the CIA, the FBI, a dozen other intelligence infrastructures. Frankly -- and I'm saying this with a lifetime's experience in government here -- it's time to punch the NSA's ticket here. They've ruined the brand. They've destroyed the idea of privacy. We need some kind of symbolic and profound approach here, that says, 'look, you've violated something that's very dear to the American people -- you don't get to do that.' We talk about the death penalty for individuals, which I oppose, but I think there needs to be for government agencies that so broadly betray the public interest, there needs to be a measure of responsibility. And if they go beyond the pale, which the NSA has, they just ought to be abolished. We don't need the spying.


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All the boys from One Direction are taking a couple...
Midnight Memories
- by Feleciavelez
- Rating:
- Published: 16 Aug 2014
- Updated: 15 Sep 2014
- Status: In Progress
Life was perfect for Avery , until her mom died from a car crash . Then it didn't seem like there was a reason for her to stay alive . Her dad got a drug addition , got drunk every night and tried killing her whenever he could . Will Avery get away and start a new life with a Prince Charming or will she live a living Hell ?
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
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|2008-09-23, 14:47
|Link #801
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: In the Mix
Age: 36
At the time that police questioned the shooter the only the videos of him shooting at the shooting range had been found. So legally confiscating the weapon would have been borderline impossible. As far as youtube is concerned there are quite a number of videos of someone shooting at shooting range. Determining their nationalities and how big of a threat they pose is again very difficult. To my knowledge posting shooting videos isn't very common among Finns but does happen, and mostly they're just harmless documentations of one's hobbies.
Hunting is fairly common in Finland, but so far legal weapons purchased for hunting have been used very rarely in criminal activities, at least to my knowledge. Though running around in urban areas with a .12 shotgun does have a tendency to draw attention and it's hugely illegal. Getting permits for handguns for hunting purposes is borderline impossible. Hunting actually is more regulated than sport shooting for some reason.
The real question is, IMO, who the hell gives out the weapon permits? Within a year, two very similar cases and both with a legal weapon.
"Sorry you seem to be mentally unstable. We can't give you a permit for .45, have .22 instead."
I'm quite sure that legislation about granting weapon permits and owning firearms is going to change. And the regulation of smaller caliber weapons for sporting uses is going to be seriously tightened. Don't know what can be done for already granted permits though.
|2008-09-23, 15:02
|Link #802
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
I dunno if anyone here surfs to /b/, but I saw a thread there made by anon about planning to execute this plan. I saw and read that thread around 1 AM Pacific time.
EDIT: I saw that thread 1 AM Pacific time September 23.
Last edited by mg1942; 2008-09-23 at 16:31.
|2008-09-23, 16:19
|Link #803
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: In the Mix
Age: 36
|2008-09-23, 16:32
|Link #804
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
|2008-09-25, 17:21
|Link #805
cho~ kakkoii
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 3rd Planet
Congratulation to China for another successful launch. I sincerely hope the Chinese astronaut will have a successful "space-walk". We need more competition other than US and Russia so the space age can come quick.
|2008-09-25, 23:55
|Link #807
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 61
White Rabbit candy halts sales, as products under scrutiny for melamine contamination
We often have "White Rabbit" brand candy in our snack trays..... well, oops.
Probably ought to read this before your next run for asian sweets.
|2008-09-26, 00:15
|Link #809
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 61
The Chinese leadership had *better* get a grip on this problem --- you want to piss off "the people"? Don't do anything about threats to their *one* child you limited them to.
The earthquakes revealed the shoddy corrupt building practices permitted by local officials; the central government tried to hush it.... now they have this melamine crisis on their hands. Each time people are going to get more angry and once they lose their one child -- they really have nothing to lose by going ballistic. Playing with fire....
|2008-09-26, 00:23
|Link #812
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
|2008-09-26, 00:33
|Link #813
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
I just ate one stick today.
I'm so gonna die!
|2008-09-26, 16:51
|Link #817
Love Yourself
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Northeast USA
Age: 33
How is this the fault of the government? It shows that they need to put some regulations into place along with agencies to enforce them, but the government wasn't the entity that decided it would be great to add melamine to milk. I believe it was Hu Jintao, the president of the PRC, who was quoted as saying that the dairy companies were "heartless" and I'm afraid I'd have to agree. This was a rotten business decision. It's the government's duty to protect the people from things like this and the government certainly failed here, but I don't believe that businessmen should be forgiven for lacking ethics just because of their profession.
|2008-09-26, 17:00
|Link #818
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
|2008-09-26, 17:08
|Link #819
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Age: 36
I heard about pirates seizing civilian cargoships in south east asia, but this is impressive, Somalia's pirates seize 33 tanks (BBC)
|2008-09-26, 17:15
|Link #820
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 61
Government (or "the baron of the land") has an implied contract with the people ("serfs") to provide some modicum of protection in exchange for the right to rule ("see possible lynch mob"). If the people are threatened by bandits ("companies with vile idiots in charge") and the government does nothing or, worse, tries to shut anyone up who complains --- it often doesn't go well after that.
Its always a rotten long-term business decision to kill/hurt your customers.... but it comes from the decision-makers in the company just looking at their own personal interests.
I'd like to think the PRC government is learning after the earthquake nonsense... but more likely its just a different set of agencies more on the ball.
|current affairs, discussion, international, news
|Thread Tools


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Putnam�s downtown is having a good week thanks to the Empty Spaces Project.
Tonight, Putnam will play a stop on musician Derek Nicholetto�s �Just Panic and Get It Over With� tour, and one of its empty storefronts, 156 Main Street, has found a new tenant � another art-inspired business.
�We do have a lot of momentum going right now,� said Paul Toussaint, owner of The Gallery on Main Street and one of the driving forces behind Empty Spaces, which fills empty downtown storefronts with art exhibits and is sponsoring the show.
Nicholetto opened his world tour in New York City in July. Nicholetto invites artists to interpret any of the six songs on his EP, �Just Panic and Get it Over With,� and create works based upon the music. Putnam is his second stop.
The art show opens at 5 p.m. at 114 Main St. � Toussaint�s gallery, which has been expanded only for the show. Nicholetto performs at The Stomping Ground at 7 p.m. A number of local artists have contributed artwork to the show, and downtown restaurants are using the music to inspire food and drink specials.
�The beauty of this project is witnessing how various artists interpret the same song through their own visual medium,� Nicholetto said. �For example, in July�s NYC show, the song �Mother Numb It� inspired a four-foot chandelier, two sculptures, a few paintings and a photograph. And now, I�ve gotten to preview the �Mother Numb It� piece by Paul Toussaint for the Connecticut event, as well as some other works from the Putnam-area artists. It�s thrilling to see the variety of art that emerges from cities big and small on each stop of the tour.�
Toussaint said events like the Nicholetto opening have drawn people to downtown Putnam, and that helped to find interested tenants for 156 Main St. A couple from Hampton has rented the spot and opened an art-inspired business, which will be called The Shattered Pallette Art Gallery.
Delpha Very, economic and community development director for Putnam, said Empty Spaces has helped the town market itself in new ways.
�It�s an additional niche for revitalizing the the downtown area,� Very said. �It brings people in, and people spend their money in our shops and restaurants.�
Mayor Peter Place said the arts have helped revitalize downtown Putnam in just a few short years.
�People are finding we have a lot of cultural things to offer,� Place said. �We are offering entertainment on a 12-month basis now.�


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Manchester United striker Robin Van Persie has been named the Premier League player of the month for December.
The Old Trafford forward hit five goals in six games for Sir Alex Ferguson's side during the month, as Manchester United extended their lead over Manchester City to seven points.
The Red Devils won five, drew one and lost one during December, scoring 17 goals over the course of the month. Van Persie proved to be the match winner on several occasions, scoring critical goals against Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion.
And speaking to manutd.com, Van Persie revealed his delight at scooping the award.
"It was a big month for us," he told the club's official website. "You have certain periods during a season when it goes your way and December was one of those periods."
The Holland international joined United from Arsenal in a £24m transfer last August, and has settled into his new surroundings quickly, hitting 20 goals in just 26 appearances. He leads the race for the Golden Boot with 16 league goals already this season - Van Persie won the award last year with 30 goals.
The Premier League pace-setters face a crunch fixture on Sunday, as they take on Liverpool at Old Trafford. Title rivals Manchester City face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The defending champions slipped to a 1-0 defeat to the Gunners on their last visit, a loss which looked at that stage to have cost them the chance to win their first Premier League title. But they recovered to snatch glory away from United on the final day of the season.


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Domestic Violence Program Applications Open
Child's Play is pleased to announced the launch of our Domestic Violence program. The DV program was created to assist children in domestic violence shelters and advocacy centers through video games and the power of interactive play. These resources can be powerful tools in engaging and entertaining children who have experienced trauma, creating and reinforcing social bonds, and empowering children in a difficult time. As with each of Child's Play's endeavors, the DV program is supported by the charitable generosity of the video game industry and its community.
It's crucial for our program to provide games that will be entertaining and relevant for the kids, but that will also be appropriate for both their age and the sensitive nature of their circumstances. Each game has been reviewed for suitability with the unique needs and desires of domestic violence facilities kept in mind. Feedback is both welcome and encouraged.
The Domestic Violence Program will open annually for applications each spring, which will stay open for approximately two months. After applications close, accepted facilities will be notified, and we will prepare a shipment of game carts, televisions, and games to be delivered in time for the holiday season. Once accepted into the program, facilities will receive annual game support to supplement the original donation.
Applications are open now until until July 30, 2014: Domestic Violence Program Application Please feel free to share this form with the shelter or advocacy center in your area. If you have any questions, please email email@example.com.


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posted by Eugenia Loli on Tue 30th Mar 2004 19:13 UTC
This is a reminder for our 'Xandros Business Desktop 2.0 competition'. We only had 8 entries so far, so there is a huge chance that you will be able to win this prize (valued at $129 USD). The competition ends on Wednesday night (PST time), so if you would like to get so close on winning an online competition as never before, read here on how to enter the competition.


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Your Karate sensei might urge you to try your best.
It is important to keep in mind that you should try your best, not someone else's best. You should try to be the best you can be. If you try to be a good as another student, you might accomplish this goal. However, you might find that his or her level was far below your potential. You should strive for your best without reference to others.
Jigoro Kano, the founder of modern Judo, said that what's important is not that you are better than others, but that you are better than yesterday. Constant improvement should be your goal. Even if you improve only a little bit, over time it will add up.
Some students learn very quickly. They often quit quickly too. The best teacher is usually someone who had to struggle to learn. Such a teacher understands how hard it is for some students. In addition, learning slowly gives you a better understanding of each technique and the progression of training. Sometimes we say that quick learners learn "shallow" while slower learners learn "deep".
Karate requires a lifetime of effort. It is not something to learn in a few years or months. The finest sensei always say that they are still learning.
Try your best in your Karate practice. Also try your best in everything that you do. Try your best without reference to others. Improve each day.
Charles C. Goodin
On Effort
Your Karate sensei might urge you to try your best.
Posted by Charles C. Goodin on Tuesday, February 21, 2006