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A product in Brightpearl is the record against which all the item details and inventory is stored.
Inventory is the quantity of a product in stock. Learn more about managing inventory
Creating and editing products
Products can be created and edited in several ways:
- Manually
Products can be entered or edited one-by-one. It is also possible to clone an existing product to a new product and to update multiple products in a batch.
- Importing
Importing a spreadsheet of products.
- Automatically (as a variant)
Products are automatically created when variants of an item are assigned. Editing one of the variants in the group will then update all other variants in the group.
- API and apps
Integrations with Shopify and BigCommerce allow products which exist on those platforms to be downloaded into Brightpearl. Once downloaded those items will need to be edited in both systems.
Types of product
In Brightpearl, there are different types of product, but each and every one will have its own product record:
- Simple products
A single unique product.
- Variants
These are items which come in different options, such as a t-shirt which comes in different colors and sizes. Each combination of variation has its own product record, for example, T-shirt (red, large), T-shirt (red, medium), T-shirt (red, small) is three products. These products are linked by product name and can also be managed as a group.
- Bundles
These are packs of multiple products which are sold together for a single price. The items contained within a bundle are simple products (or variants) with their own product record which are stocked individually and perhaps also sold individually. The bundle also has its own product record, but note that a bundle is always non-stock tracked and can only have a theoretical quantity based on the availability of the items within it.
Managing stock
A product in Brightpearl is considered either stock tracked or non-stock tracked:
- Stock tracked
These are items which have a quantity; an example might be a t-shirt or a pair of shoes. These are items which need to be received into stock and shipped out of stock. You need to know how many items are in stock and available to sell, as well as when stock is running low and a new order needs to be placed.
- Non-stock tracked
These are items for which a quantity is not needed. For example, a service or labor which might be added onto a sales order. This item does not have a quantity in stock, and does not need to be received into or shipped out of stock. Bundles are always non-stock tracked.
Product information
- Item name (required field)
Enter the name of the product. It is important that each simple product has a unique name. Products sharing the exact same name will automatically become linked as "sisters". Sister products share details such as brand, category, vendors (suppliers), descriptions and custom field data - any changes made to one product will override the other sisters. This is the intended functionality with variant products which must all share the same name.
- Product type (required field)
This will always be set to "Default" unless product types have been created. Product types relate to variants and should be fully understood before creating them.
- Brand (required field)
Brands can be created as required at Settings > Products / Inventory > Brands. They are useful for reporting on products.
- Category (required field)
A product must be assigned to at least one category and can be assigned to multiple by holding the Ctrl key on the keyboard when they are selected. Categories are useful for grouping products for reporting purposes. Note that these categories are for use in Brightpearl and are not connected to sales channels.
- SKU (required field)
A stock keeping unit is a unique identifier. They are used for linking items across sales channels (such as eBay, Amazon or eCommerce applications) as well as for matching items on data imports. SKUs can be random or may be structured in a way which allow people to identify the product easily from the SKU, for example, adding an "S" to indicate small, or "R" for the color red. A SKU can be automatically set by choosing to use a GTIN as the SKU.
- Featured
Additional settings include marking a product as "featured" which will display a "quick-add" button in EPOS.
- Status
The product status controls when and how the product can be used. A live product is considered current and can be added to new sales and purchases. An Archived product will be excluded from the default list of products, product searches and cannot be added to new sales and purchases. Learn more about product statuses & archiving
- Collection
Used for grouping products that belong to the same collection. These can be created as required at Settings > Products / Inventory > Collections.
- Season
When activated and created, it is possible to assign a product to one or more seasons to indicate what time of year items are sold. This can be useful for separating products for pre-season ordering, items which are now obsolete and belong in no season and preventing out of season items from being added to orders.
- Reporting season
A product can belong to multiple seasons within Brightpearl. Use this field to specify which season a product should be reported in.
- Reporting category and reporting subcategory
A product can belong to multiple categories which is not compatible with some reporting. Specify which category the product should be reported in where there can be only one.
Record the UPC number.
Record the ISBN.
Record the EAN or GTIN.
- Barcode
Record the product barcode in this field to allow items to be scanned through EPOS and print barcode labels. Learn more about barcodes and labels
- Condition
This is now only a reference field.
- Sales popup message
Any message recorded here will display within a sales order when the item is added.
Product stock level and location defaults
This is where a product is set to either stock tracked or non-stock tracked. Once inventory has been added against a product or it has been added onto orders (sales or purchases), it is no longer possible to switch it to non-stock tracked.
- Minimum stock level
Set per warehouse, this is the minimum quantity that is desired on hand at any time. Once the on hand inventory level falls below this quantity, the item will be shown on the low inventory report.
- Reorder quantity
Set per warehouse, this is batch size that must be ordered from the supplier. This quantity is used by the low inventory report to calculate how many items must be ordered.
- Default location
This is shown when warehouse locations have been activated. Only locations which have already been created can be selected. Start typing to search and select a location. Standard location mode - setting this field will place all in stock items in that location. It can be changed at any time to move stock from one location to another. Multi-concurrent location mode - setting this field only indicates what location is used by default when adding or receiving inventory. Changing this field will not move in stock items, this is done using a stock movement.
- Warehouse popup message
This is now obsolete.
Product size and volume
- Weight, height, width, length
Use these fields to record the relevant measurements of the item. Weight is shown on orders and can be used to calculate shipping charges on sales. You can change the unit settings for these fields via Settings > Products/Inventory > Inventory settings.
- Volume
This is an auto-calculated field, which is a multiplication of the height, width and length of the item (see above).
Product prices
Prices and volume discounts for buying and selling the product are recorded against price lists. Prices may be entered as tax inclusive or exclusive, depending on the price list setting. A net/gross calculator is provided for assistance.
Price breaks allow volume discounts to be entered on each price list:
1+ gives a price of £10.00
10+ gives a price of £9.50
20+ gives a price of £9.00
Learn more about prices and price lists
Product tax settings
The tax settings on products is dependent on the tax mode of the Brightpearl account.
- Product tax settings in VAT mode
For VAT, products generally rule the tax rate which is used so each item is allocated a specific tax code which will be applied to sales and purchases. This would then only be overridden if the customer or vendor (supplier) record has been assigned a tax code.
- Product tax settings in Sales Tax mode
In Sales Tax mode, tax is generally based on locations and so each product is set only as taxable or not taxable. When a product is set as taxable, the company default tax code is applied to sales and purchases, which can be found at Settings > Company > Accounting: Tax. This would then be overridden if the customer or vendor record has been assigned a tax code.
Product account codes
Each product is assigned a sales, purchases (i.e. cost of sales) and stock account code. These account codes are used for posting accounting when the products are purchased and sold.
The default codes assigned to products are defined at Settings > Company > Accounting: Account codes (nominal codes). Changing the default codes will only affect future products which are created.
The codes can be edited directly on products one-by-one or in bulk using the product import.
When creating a gift card product the sales account code can be set as a current liability to ensure revenue recognition is deferred when the item is sold. Set the "gift cards" code at Settings > Company > Accounting: Account codes (nominal codes). Learn more about selling and redeeming gift cards
Product descriptions
A product description is useful for providing more detail to users of Brightpearl back office and EPOS. They can also be used with the Magento and eBay integrations.
Product images
This is only for eBay images.
Product custom fields
Additional fields can be added for storing extra information on each product. This information can then be used for searching and reporting.
Product vendors/suppliers
Assigning one or more vendors (suppliers) enables drop-shipping and the ability to create purchase orders from the low inventory report. There should also be a price set on the price lists that are assigned to selected vendors (suppliers). If needed, you can also set a Primary Vendor/Supplier for your products.
This tab is used only when creating a bundle. All the items contained within the bundle are added here by searching for an existing product. Add up to 40 different SKUs to a bundle.
eBay listings
When the eBay app is turned on an additional tab will be displayed on products. Any eBay listings for the product will be listed. New listings can also be created from here (requires configuration).


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The IFSC Code of Punjab National Bank Sholapur, Dayanand College branch is PUNB0480700. The branch is located in Solapur district of Maharashtra. For address and phone numbers, scroll down.
PNB Sholapur, Dayanand College IFSC Code: PUNB0480700
Punjab National Bank Sholapur, Dayanand College MICR & Contact Info
Address, MICR code, branch contact number etc of PNB Sholapur, Dayanand College branch is given below. You may contact the branch or the Customer Care number of the bank information relating to your Punjab National Bank account.
|Branch Name
|Punjab National Bank Sholapur, Dayanand College
Dayanand Nagar, Asawa High School Compound, Bhawani Peth
City & District : Solapur
State : Maharashtra
|Branch Phone Number
|0217-2747402, 274740
|Customer Care Number
1800-180-2222, 1800-103-2222 - General
1800-180-2345 - Credit card
PNB branches in Solapur | PNB branches in Maharashtra
Along with your account number, account name and account type (ie., savings or current) the following information about the branch is to be provided for fund transfer:
Bank Name : Punjab National Bank
Branch Name : Sholapur, Dayanand College
IFSC Code : PUNB0480700
Location : Solapur, Maharashtra - View full address & contact number

subset: commoncrawl


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Anywhere Commerce
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What Makes Digital Mammography Superior to Other Forms of Mammography?
Digital mammography describes a mammography system wherein X-ray film is replaced with a solid-state detector which converts the X-rays into electrical signals. This technique is also known as full-field digital mammography. The detectors are comparable to the ones used in digital cameras. Moreover, the electrical signals are utilized for producing images of the breasts which can be visualized over the screen of a computer or printed on a unique film which is similar to traditional mammograms. From the point of view of a patient, having a digital mammogram is similar to a traditional film screen mammogram.
There are several distinct advantages of digital mammography. The digital format of mammograms increases the resolution and accuracy of the technique. Besides producing better images for screening as well as detection of breast cancer, the digital mammograms also provide an innovative tool to the doctors with this superior diagnostic imaging technology. Moreover, the diagnostic imaging centers are capable of integrating a medical examination into an inclusive and complete medical record which is matched with every individual patient. Therefore, the information is accessible to doctors across the world. The patients are also allowed more flexibility in the available treatment options.
During the treatment of a fatal disease like cancer, doctors, specialists as well as oncologists form teams for dealing with this complicated situation. Therefore, the incorporation of digital imaging with the electronic medical record of a patient remains an important resource for enhanced diagnostic imaging.
The other advantages of digital mammography include the creation of accessible, accurate patient records for improved diagnosis.


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|Other Cities
A typical international trip can easily take up to 30 or 40 hours of planning and finalizing, especially if it's to a country you have never been to before. Doing this research blindly with all the information (and dis-information) out there will definitely lead to second-guessing some of your ultimate decisions.
Why not let us do the grunt work for you? Let us come up with some suggested concepts including a variety of options (1 city versus 2 or 3 city trip for example).
Our suggested itineraries will take into consideration:
The delivered itineraries will include:
This service complements our city selector tool very well. While we will not do any of the bookings for you, we will provide suggested companies to actually process your bookings if needed. This is an email-based service. This service is offered at the introductory price of $49.99 (Normal price of $89.99).
Normally $89.99!
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Email us at: firstname.lastname@example.com
1) Your Profile - (Answer the 5 bullets to the left)
2) Your Key Plans - Cities, Date(s) (Anything you have decided on so far)
We will confirm receipt of your email. We may ask some additional questions to finalize our customized tinerary for you.
Make payment via the "Payment request" link in our e-mail
Payment can be made using:


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<< Επιστροφή
Insulin and human obesity
The prevalence of obesity among the modern communities increases dramatically and trends to achieve the characteristics of epidemic. Obesity is the result of sedentary life style and increased food intake, which characterises the Westernalized communities. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia and the very frequent combination of obesity and NIDDM is characterised as "Diabesity". The behaviour of man in seeking food and the amount of food consumption is a complicated situation, which is regulated by the CNS and especially in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus. A repertoire of neurohormonal actions, generated in peripheral tissues and integrated in the CNS, encompass many peptides with orexigenic and anorexigenic action. Two main hormones, insulin and leptin, accomplish the fine - tuning of these peptides action, at the critical level of body weight and energy control. The high prevalence of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia in obesity indicates a causative relationship between these two situations. It seams likely that insulin resistance of muscle cells is the primitive "defect" which renders individuals vulnerable to obesity. The high prevalence of insulin resistance, about 25 %, among otherwise healthy subjects indicates that this genetically determined "defect" may be the result of an evolutionary selection, which rendered man's kind capable to survive under long periods of famine, during his long journey from the hunter-gatherer period of his life to the present time of plenty.
Obesity is the new epidemic of the developed and developing countries all over the world as a result of increased food consumption and sedentary life style in the majority of the modern communities. According to the latest WHO data about 1 billion adults are overweight and about 300 million are obese1. The incidence of obesity is rapidly increasing the last two decades and there is no evidence to decline during the next decade. According to the data of the National Heath and Nutrition Examination Survey2 (NHANES) during the period 1999-2000, conducted in USA population, 65 % of adults are overweight (BMI = 25-29,9 Kg/m2) compared to 47 % during the period 1976-1980 (NHANES II). The prevalence of obesity (BMI ? 30 Kg/m2) in the same population increased from 15 to 31 %. Unfortunately the same disappointing results are obtained among children population. About 17,6 million children, under age five, are estimated to be overweight woldwide1. Comparing the results of NHANES (1999-2000) and NHANES III (1988-1994) an increasing rate of overweight was established between ages group as follow: 12-19 years old 15,5 %, 6-11 years old 15,3 %, 2-5 years old 10, 4 % compared to 10,5 %, 11,3 % and 7,2 % respectively3.
Obesity and overweight constitute major risk factors for serious chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and certain forms of cancer, such as colon, breast, endometrium and prostate. The financial burden of obesity upon the health care costs of the developed countries vary between 2,6 - 7 % annually, although it may be underestimated1.
Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. The combination of obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia and hypertension is referred to as "syndrome X", "deadly quartet" or "metabolic syndrome" and has been the subject of extensive investigation the last two decades, because of the violent influence upon the public health4,5,6.
The coexistence of obesity and insulin resistance or hyperinsulinemia is well recognized7 and suggests the possibility of a causal relationship between these two abnormalities. The question is whether this coexistence is incidental or genetically determined and what is exactly the primary disturbance: obesity or insulin resistance?
Pathogenesis of obesity
Obesity is the most common disturbance of metabolism in man and is recorded about 10.000 years before the development of agriculture. It is the result of increased food intake and decreased thermo genesis with a resultant increase of fat accumulation in adipocytes. The adipose tissue is the main store of energy in mammals, in the form of esterified fatty acids, accumulated during periods of nutritional abundance in order to survive during famine. It is well now recognized that the human organism possess mechanisms which regulate food intake and energy storage during periods of food access which helped man to survive during his long journey since the hunter-gatherer period of his life until now8,9. Obesity seems to be the result of an ineffective action of these mechanisms, which are unable to stop the excessive food intake, under conditions of plenty. From a teleological point of view it is possible that the mechanisms counteracting the excess food intake are blunted as a result of an evolutionary selection because the major threat for human surviving, thousands years ago, was starvation and not the bounty of a modern buffet10.
The energy balance and food intake in humans encompass a delicate network of neurohormonal actions generated in peripheral tissues and integrated in the central nervous system, mainly in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus, which regulate the behaviour to seek food and the metabolic pathways for the storage of energy excess9.
These actions are divided in two pathways: The short-term appetite regulation and the long-term weight regulation. The first one is responsible for the immediate regulation of the behaviour to seek food and the quantity of food consumption and the second one for energy storage and regulation of energy disposal.
The first pathway encompasses orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides as well as afferent vagal stimulation to the hypothalamus. Known peptides with orexigenic action are the agouti related protein (AgRP), the neuropeptide Y (NPY) and ghrelin (Ghr). The anorexigenic peptides are the α-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH), the Peptide YY3-36 (PYY) and the Cholecystokinin (CCK)9,11. (Table I).
AgRP antagonises the action of α-MSH at the level of its receptors (MC4-R and MC3-R). The NPY decreases the expression of gene encoding the synthesis of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), the precursor molecule of α-MSH. Ghr, which is produced by the oxyntic cells of stomach fundus, increases the production of NPY and AgRP at the level of hypothalamus. CCK is produced in the small intestine in response to dietary fat and slows the emptying of stomach, increases gallbladder contraction and produces a sense of fullness transmitted to the brain via afferent vagal stimulation. Peptide YY3-36, which is produced by the L cells of distal small bowel and colon, decreases gut motility and NPY expression and increases POMC expression in hypothalamic neurons.
The second pathway encompasses the α-MSH and its receptors, mainly the Melanocortin Receptors 4 and 3 (MC4-R, MC3-R), which regulate food intake and energy expenditure through interactions with orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides, at the level of hypothalamus, as well as with Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH)12,13. The action of α-MSH upon MC4-R is expressed as a decrease of food intake and an increase of energy production where as the stimulation of MC3-R is coupled mainly by energy disposition.
The action of these peptides is regulated, at the level of arcuate nucleus, by two hormones: Leptin and Insulin. (Figure: 1).
Leptin is the product of the ob gene of adipocytes14 and insulin the product of islet β-cells of pancreas. The blood levels of these two hormones are proportional to the size of the adipose mass, so that in instances of adipose mass expansion insulin and leptin levels increase and exert a catabolic effect, in the opposite situation insulin and leptin levels decrease and produce an anabolic effect in attempt to achieve effective energy balance15.
Insulin and leptin access the central nervous system crossing the blood brain barrier via specific, saturable, receptors at the level of capillary endothelial cells and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations parallel that of plasma. Intracerebral administration of insulin and leptin reduce food intake and body weight at a dose depended manner. Insulin and leptin exert their action via specific receptors, at the level of hypothalamus, which are expressed at the critical area of food intake and body weight regulation15.
Neurons that are primarily affected by the intracerebral action of insulin and leptin are the POMC, NPY and AgRP expressing neurons. Insulin inhibits the expression of NPY in arcuate nucleus and leptin inhibits expression of NPY and increases expression of POMC8. Experiments in laboratory animals showed that specific disruption of insulin receptor gene in CNS produces insulin resistance, hyperleptinemia, obesity and hypertriglyceridemia16.
The problem with these two hormones is that they are constantly increased in obesity and seems likely that obese individuals are not responsive to their action suggesting the presence of insulin and leptin resistance. Conversely if the obese individuals are deprived of the action of insulin and leptin, as it is truth during fasting, they exhibit an increase in food intake and energy accumulation. So we can infer that the action of these hormones is mainly to defend against fat and energy wasting.
Insulin resistance - Hyperinsulinemia
and Obesity
Since the first description of the resistance to insulin stimulated glucose uptake in the forearm of obese subjects, by Rabinowitz and Zierler in 196217, numerous epidemiological studies have established the close relation between diabetes and obesity. The term "diabesity" has recently adopted and is characterized by the combination of obesity and insulin resistance or hyper-secretion. The explosive emerge of "diabesity", the last two decades, tends to achieve the characteristics of global epidemic with a tremendous impact upon the health care systems18.
Insulin resistance is encountered in about 25 % of otherwise healthy subjects, and is characterised by a decrease in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and metabolism by the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and the inability to suppress hepatic glucose output. This defect of insulin action tends to increase blood glucose concentration and as a result the pancreatic β-cells increase insulin production in an attempt to compensate for insulin resistance. If hyperinsulinemia fails to overcome the resistance, of insulin sensitive tissues to glucose uptake, then diabetes is established19.
It has to be emphasized that insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are not exclusive features of obesity and obese individuals does not exhibit a unique feature of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Careful examination of the database of the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR) showed that about 10 % of lean, normotensive, individuals exhibited insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia compared to about 26 % of all obese subjects. The prevalence of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia rise dramatically in obesity, according to the BMI, from 19 % for individuals with BMI < 30 Kg/m2 to 34 % with BMI < 35 Kg/m2 and individuals with BMI > 35 Kg/m2 exhibited a 60 % prevalence of insulin resistance and 80 % of hyperinsulinemia20.
It is obvious that insulin resistance plays a key role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disturbances related to obesity and that obesity, per se, is capable to produce insulin resistance. Hence we have to consider the phenomenon of insulin resistance in more details and attempt to elucidate the defect(s), upon cellular level, which produce the defective insulin action.
Insulin exerts its metabolic action in glucose homeostasis upon the insulin sensitive tissues such as skeletal muscle, fat and liver. In skeletal muscle increases glucose uptake and storage in the form of muscle glycogen, in fat increases glucose uptake and formation of triglycerides and in liver decreases glucose output by inhibiting glycogen degradation. It is now known that under conditions of euglycemic clamp about 70 % of total glucose uptake occurs in skeletal muscle and only a little amount of glucose is up taken by fat tissue19. On the other hand adipocytes are the more sensitive cells to the action of insulin, which regulates almost all the aspects of their biology. Insulin promotes the differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes, increases the glucose uptake and triglycerides synthesis (lipogenesis) and inhibits lipolysis. The antilipolytic effect of insulin upon adipocytes is conserved even in case of insulin resistance, hence increasing the expansion of adipose stores. Insulin also increases the uptake of fatty acids, derived from circulating lipoproteins, by increasing the activity of lipoprotein lipase21.
The metabolic action of insulin is initiated by coupling of insulin molecule with specialized receptors at the cell surface. Insulin receptors belong to the large family of growth factor receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Beyond the classic insulin sensitive tissues insulin receptors are located in many cell types all over the human body including CNS.
The coupling of insulin with its receptor activates the intracellular portion of the receptor, which acts as a tyrosine kinase and produce phosphorylation of multiple tyrosine residues in insulin receptor substrates (IRSs). Although a lot of IRSs have been recognized until now it is evident that most of insulin actions are mediated via two main IRSs, the IRS1 and IRS2. The IRS1 controls body growth and peripheral insulin action, where as IRS2 controls brain growth, body weight, glucose homeostasis and female fertility22.
The IRS proteins act as docking proteins for subsequent recruitment and phosphorylation of many other cytoplasmic proteins, which serve as substrates in the cascade of intracellular propagation of insulin signalling pathway. One of the most important substrate of IRSs proteins is the Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase (PI-3K), which catalyses the production of PI-3Pi from membrane lipid bilayers as well as from endoplasmic reticulum membranes. The activation of PI-3K is necessary for the initiation of events for the translocation of glucose transporter GLUT-4 from the cytosol to the membrane surface of skeletal muscle cells and adipocytes23.
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, such as PTP-1B, catalyse the tyrosine dephosphorylation and inactivate insulin receptor substrates, disrupting the propagation of insulin signal upon the cell level. Experiments in laboratory animals showed that disruption of the PTP-1B gene rendered animals deficient of PTP-1B more sensitive to insulin action than the wild type and also more resistant to weight gain under high fat feeding conditions24.
It is obvious that any defect in the cascade of these intracellular events is capable to disrupt the insulin signal and produce insulin defective action including insulin resistance.
On the other hand abnormalities of lipid metabolism, which accompany obesity, are capable to induce insulin resistance. Experimental data from humans and animals show that infusion of free fatty acids (FFA) induce diminished glucose uptake by muscle cells, which is consisted with insulin resistance25, 26. The underlying mechanism of this action is that FFA induces diminished phosphorylation of IRS-1 and PI-3K, as a result of increased intracellular concentration of Diacylglycerol (DAG), which increases the activation of PKC-θ isoform, a known serine kinase. Increased activation of PKC-θ leads to IRS-1 Ser307 phosphorylation, which in turn I
Ιατρικά Χρονικά Β.Δ Ελλάδος
Νοέμβρης 2004 Τόμος 4 - Τεύχος 2
Efstathios Koulouridis, MD
Nephrology Department, General hospital of Corfu. Greece
Key words: insulin, leptin, obesity, energy balance.
Corresponding author:
Efstathios Koulouridis.
Spirou Rath 41 - TK 49100. Corfu, Greece.
Tel + Fax: (+) 26610-22660.
Email: email@example.com.
<< Επιστροφή


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"So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it".
—King James Bible Numbers 35:33.
Leanda de Lisle new book continues a trend of modern-day revisionist biographies of Charles I[1]. It is difficult to conceive of this book being written or having the considerable press coverage it has received had it been published thirty years ago.
The dominance of Whig and Marxist historiography of the English revolution would have prevented it or at least provided it with a bumpy ride.If historians like Lisle had dared to raise their head above the precipice, they would have had it shot off.
Another by-product of this revisionist assault has been the attempt to de-politicise the English revolution. A development that was highlighted by Martin Kettle no less when he reviewed the ongoing Charles I: King and Collector exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. Kettle makes the point "the 1640s battles between authority and liberty may not have produced another civil war. However, iterations of the divide have resonated down the centuries – from the Glorious Revolution of 1688-9, through the Whig-Tory rivalry of the 18th century, the advance of liberalism and reform in the 19th century, and of labourism and equalities in the 20th. It is not hard to see, in contrast between a privileged and dissipated political figure such as Boris Johnson and a puritanical one such as Jeremy Corbyn, that there are 17th-century echoes in our own binary times too.
He continues "most of those who enter the Royal Academy galleries over the next three months for its new exhibition, Charles I: King and Collector will be given no inkling of this. They will come to look at stunning pictures by Van Dyck, Holbein, Titian and Mantegna among many others. Civil war, however, is conspicuous by its almost total absence from the new show. Only the fact that we arrive with some knowledge of Charles I's notoriety and eventual execution ensures that this absence of politics is itself a huge and silent presence"[2].
While Lisle's book to date not been seriously challenged, the general dominance of revisionist historiography has been by a new set of historians that are partly influenced by Marxist methodology or in some cases Whig orthodoxy. There is still a long way to go. Historiography today is still dominated by a plethora of obscure revisionist books. A process aptly named by the historian Norah Carlin as Craftism.
White King
Many things will strike the reader when reading this book. My first impression is that Lisle believes that the 1640s English revolution was somehow an aberration and in the final reckoning an event that was not typically English.
The book is part of a tradition believes that "English history has developed by gradual evolution, without sudden or violent transformations, by process of compromise and co-existence".
Lisle's prose has a sedateness about it when she writes about Charles I. Compare that to how she writes about his enemies, they are usually described as rabble or a mob. Her use of the word Junto to describe the parliamentary opposition tries to portray them as something foreign.
As one reviewer put it "De Lisle's parliamentarians are an irascible group, resembling not so much freedom fighters as the tea party; on the other hand, the author's Charles often seems the voice of reason"[3].
It is safe to surmise that Lisle does not believe a revolution took place at all. However, the problem for Lisle is that facts are a stubborn thing. If a massive civil war, a kings head being chopped off, a republic and a commonwealth do not make a revolution, then what does.
Alternatively, as Norah Carlin eloquently points out "many attempts have been made to explain it away. The present favourite among English academics is that it was a result of a misunderstanding and miscalculation among a political elite. These men were not 'wild-eyed fanatics ... they were men of substance and wealth, men of broad acres with a stake in the country,' writes J.H. Hexter. They were 'for the most part deeply conservative men who sincerely believed they were defending ancient and traditional rights,' says another historian, R. Ashton"[4].
Lisle believes Charles I was "defending ancient and traditional rights" and that parliament was acting illegally against this. Any reader looking for an objective account of the war will have to look elsewhere. Cromwell only appears halfway through the book and is portrayed like many other parliamentary military figures as bloodthirsty maniacs. The treatment of the Levellers reduces them to a footnote of history.
Despite being an excellent narrative driven writer Lisle's approach can only take us so far in understanding the complex events of the English revolution.Her concentration on the narrative to the detriment of theory does not get us very far.
While it is essential to understand what went through the minds of the leading actors of the revolution such as Charles I, Olver Cromwell, Ireton, and Harrison to do so would only give us a partial understanding of why a king's head was cut off and a republic established. Lisle is free to adopt whatever theoretical approach she wants to portray historical events. However, historians such as Lisle's preoccupation with narrative is one-sided.
The rise of narrative history has been at the direct expense of Marxist historiography and has done untold damage to our understanding of the English revolution. While I am sure that Karl Marx was not on her reading list for this book, she could have done no worse than to take on board his understanding of the relationship between historical figures and their place in history.
Marx states that "the production of ideas, of conceptions, of consciousness, is at first directly interwoven with the material activity and the material intercourse of men, the language of real life. Conceiving, thinking, the mental intercourse of men, appear at this stage as the direct efflux of their material behaviour. The same applies to mental production as expressed in the language of politics, laws, morality, religion, metaphysics, etc., of people. Men are the producers of their conceptions, ideas, etc. – real, active men, as they are conditioned by a definite development of their productive forces and the intercourse corresponding to these, up to its furthest forms. Consciousness can never be anything else than conscious existence, and the existence of men is their actual life-process. If in all ideology men and their circumstances appear upside-down as in a camera obscura, this phenomenon arises just as much from their historical life-process as the inversion of objects on the retina does from their physical life-process"[5].
Lisle's book has been well received by the media. Not surprisingly the right-wing media have gone overboard with praise not commensurate with the actual importance of the book. The reason for this lies not so much in history but politics. In fact, the reviews tell us more about the state of modern-day politics than they do about seventeenth-century politics.
As a reviewer of her book puts it "Recent elections in Britain and the United States have produced surprisingly dysfunctional governments. De Lisle's fine, revisionist view of Charles may arouse nostalgia for a time when national leaders, elected or not, looked out for the zealous majority".
One review stands out, the basic premise of which is that we are passing through enormous change. Capitalism is in crisis. We have a growing threat of nuclear and social inequality is at levels not witnessed for nearly a century we need a strong leader to counter the growing threat of the mob.
The author of this review in the Evening Standard is Andrew Marr. His review entitled Basic civility and respect must prevail over the rule of the mob, according to him "The reign of Charles I shows that the 17th- century's version of angry social media led to bloody violence".
Marr continues "I have been reading a fascinating book on British politics which suggests that we really should worry. The bad news is that it shows a direct connection between angry and inflammatory language, and violence, up to and including murder. The better news, I suppose, is that it is about the 1620s and 1630s.
Leanda de Lisle's White King is a new biography of Charles I, which attempts to make a case for that arrogant, incompetent Stuart monarch who famously lost his head on Whitehall one cold January afternoon in January 1649.
She does a good job. Charles was a sensitive and thoughtful man, a great lover of art who believed himself to be doing the right thing and was a genuinely committed family man. In the end, I was not convinced, however: like so many other British rulers he became too entangled in continental European politics, trying to take this country to war with catastrophic results.
"I was shocked by the behaviour of Charles's opponents in the lead up to civil war. I had been taught they were parliamentary heroes, and yet they had deliberately fanned religious and ethnic hatreds to recruit to their cause, in the worst examples of populism. This propaganda still informs English culture, not least in popular memory of Charles's maligned queen, Henrietta Maria. Incidentally, she was called Queen Mary at the time (they considered calling her Queen Henry!), hence Maryland, which was named after her. I have stuck to Henrietta Maria, so not to confuse".
So what, you might ask, does any of this have to do with social media? The answer is that the breakdown in relations between Charles and various parliamentary factions, at least one of which was set on Civil War, was hugely influenced by the new media of the day, propaganda broadsheets and the very earliest newspapers".
The ruling elites answered to this problem in the 17th century is the same as in the 21st century, and that is to censor it. The use of the Star-chamber to kill dissent has chilling resonance with today's attempt by Google and Facebook to do the same. Marr' solution is that we must we "must hang together in adversity".
Lisle's book is not without merit. White King is exceptionally well written and researched. In places, Lisle writes like a novelist. She uses rare and entirely new archival sources. The book would be acceptable to both the general reader and the academic alike. As is usual with Chatos and Windus the book is beautifully bound with an abundance of colour photos.
The book is excellent if you want a read that does not require you to think too much. If you are happy with a book that verges on propaganda and should carry a government health warning, then this is your book. If not steer well clear.
[1] See my review Charles I: An Abbreviated Life by Mark Kishlansky 144 pages Publisher: Allen Lane (4 Dec 2014) ISBN-10: 0141979836 http://keith-perspective.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/a-review-charles-i-abbreviated-life-by.html
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/25/dont-mention-civil-war-english-still-fighting-charles-1-exhibition-royal-academy
[3] https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/leanda-de-lisle/the-white-king/9781610395601/
[4]Norah Carlin-The First English Revolution-(April 1983) https://www.marxists.org/history/etol/writers/carlin/1983/04/engrev.html
[5]Karl Marx. The German Ideology. 1845
-Part I: Feuerbach.Opposition of the Materialist and Idealist Outlook-A. Idealism and Materialism - https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/german-ideology/ch01a.htm


text: African-American heritage and history is personally lauded in a summer of stories told to Lea Mae by her great-grandmother Lea Mae, or 'Ma dear, for whom she is named. From her rocking chair on the front porch, 'Ma dear spins generational tales stretching back to slavery, when her ancestor was helped along the Underground Railroad by Harriet Tubman. Additional anecdotes hopscotch in time, to include the birth of Lea Mae's grandmother in a room without electricity, the adventures of her great-great-great-grandfather in the Civil War, and her own 'Ma dear's early days in New York City, surrounded by such musical luminaries as Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Pop Henry approaches a tone of preaching when he imparts the secret of life to Lea Mae, which is not to be bitter in the face of racism. This rosy memory piece paints a fond picture of intergenerational affection, cozily augmented with dappled watercolors; it's a sustaining, family-centered milieu, lovingly reflected in the misty-eyed, dreamy expressions on Lea Mae's and her relatives' faces. (Picture book. 5-8)


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I am hosting the Monday, April 19th gathering of Woollies. As I mentioned at Frank's I would like us to converse about friendship and friends. I like Charlie's idea of that as a topic. Come with any thoughts, readings, art, memories, etc. that represent friendship to you. I am including one of John O'Donohue's blessings.
We will gather here in our apartment party room. You've been here before. I'm including a map.
Let's celebrate our friendship.
P.S., Here are a couple thoughts to ponder:
Henri Nouwen:
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
Henry David Thoreau:
The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?


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We know it will be one of Leinster or Munster in the Final of the Guinness PRO14 at the Aviva Stadium on May 26th. We also know that the game will be finished in time to allow fans, and maybe even players take in Liverpool's appearance in the UEFA Champions' League Final that same evening.
In a change announced yesterday, after agreement with all four teams who might be involved and broadcast partners TG4 and Sky Sports, the game will now kick-off 30 minutes earlier at 6 pm on Saturday, May 26
"The first-ever Guinness PRO14 Final is going to be an occasion for hardcore supporters of both finalists, the wider rugby community and fans who have a passion for all sports," read a statement issued yesterday afternoon.
"Once the finalists for the Champions League were confirmed, PRO14 Rugby immediately set about working to change the kick-off time of the Guinness PRO14 Final."
"This decision was taken in order to accommodate fans in stadium or at home who wish to enjoy the drama and excitement of the Guinness PRO14 Final and also take in the Champions League Final afterwards."
"Supporters attending the game will be able to view the Champions League Final on a big screen at the Official Guinness PRO14 Dublin 7s Fanzone at Old Belvedere Rugby Club."
It's a smart move by the organisers and one which recognises both the appeal of Liverpool in Ireland but also the nature of Irish sports fans who are always as interested in one big event as another.
Fans travelling to Bilbao on Saturday for the European Champions' Cup Final between Leinster and Racing 92 will no doubt take comfort from the fact that the Eurovision Song Contest will be shown on Spanish TV and that the game will be over, and hopefully won, before Ryan O'Shaughnessy takes to the stage.
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Image Credit: Billy Stickland, Inpho Photography


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|Una, Finn McCool and Benandonner.
|The Scottish giant begging for his life. Photo taken by National Trust.
These big heads were made at the Beat Carnival last year for the Giant's Causeway visitor centre. I made Finn McCool, his wife Una. Stephen Bamford made Benandonner, the Scottish Giant. Legend has it
Finn McCool and the Scot's feud and stone throwing formed the Giant's Causeway!
I had great fun making Finn and Una! Referring to stills from a promotional video the faces finally took shape. The character heads have to be durable as well comfortable for the performer to wear so lots of things need to be taken into consideration in the design and making process. The costumes really finish the character and it was great to see them at the causeway in the proper setting for the story.


text: Retro games playable with your phone … Posted on 10. May 2014 by yodazhang Share this now! TweetI've just updated my retro-style online games, so you can play them with your phone or iPad. They feature touchscreen-buttons and a virtual joystick now. Take a trip to the past and discover the fun of the 80′s! Share this now! Tweet


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Project Name:Covey Dickerson (7225)
Location:Buena Park, CA
Contract Value:$ 1,000,000's
Project Summary:
Wet utility pipeline installation for construction of new homes.
Sewer Pipeline installation work includes 48" diameter manholes, over 1,800 LF of 8" PVC, Sewer cleanouts, slurry backfill, asphalt removal and base pave
Water Pipeline construction includes a hot taps, reducer, over 1,800 LF of 8" Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP), bends, thrust blocks and other fittings, gate valves, slurry backfill, fire hydrants, blow off assemblies, 1" water services, asphalt removal and base pave
Storm Drainage Systems include over 1,000 LF of reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) and corrugated polypropylene pipe ranging from 18"- 60", including double gasket polypropylene pipe for no leak manifold application, over 800 LF of 8" and 12" PVC pipe, storm drain cleanouts, catch basins, junction structures, a 60" ADS system, one pump station, curb drain, storm drain manifold, and several Modular Wetlands ™ Advanced Stormwater Biofiltration units in various sizes
This project contracted as the Covey-BP-Dickerson Offsites, also known as, "The Covey," and is located at the southwest corner of Ball Road and Bernadette Avenue at a former school site. Other images of this project available at our wet utility website as well as our facebook site.


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Isn't this the most unique Xmas card?? We got this in the mail and was instantly inspired. They are an engraving company so the card speaks a lot about their company; great way to market your company! . I thought it was one of the prettiest cards and of course had to share it with you on the blog.
I LOVE this site Czar Press. They sent me these samples, they are an awesome paper company and I can't wait to work with them. I have a few ideas in the making and might use these pretty papers in the future.


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When a man hears the word snatch he thinks two things….both of which lead him to excitement. But before you get carried away, I'm talking Guy Ritchie, not hairy axe wounds and beef curtains. And more specifically about the soundtrack that accompanies, the man who once had madonna on his rocks' masterpiece. Lets not forget, it's not just what you see on the screen, that gives the feel to a great movie, it's also what you hear. So from the Radar to the reader, here's a few classic tracks, all hand-picked by Hertfordshire man Mr Ritchie himself. Enjoy
Archive for November, 2010
Sound' as a poundPosted: November 30, 2010 in Music
Tags: Beef, Curtains, Guy Ritchie, Hairy Axe wound, Madonna, Snatch, Soundtrack
R.O.T.W 2Posted: November 30, 2010 in Rack of the Week
Tags: Chest Cushions, Family, Granny, modern, Motorboat, Rack, Sofia, Vergara, Week
This week Radar salutes Sofia Vergara. The busty beaut and star of ABC's hit sitcom Modern Family has got to be proud of these natural grown Colombian chest cushions. And we would most certainly drop our grannys from a fatal height for five minutes of motorboat mania! And they say chivalry is dead?! So feast your eyes on these bad boys. You can thank us later.
5 star Barca maul MadridPosted: November 30, 2010 in Football
Tags: Barcelona, Camp Nou, Cristiano, El Clasico, Football, Guardiola, Messi, Mourinho, Real Madrid, Ronaldo, Valencia, Xavi
"Men against boys" is an expression that springs to mind having witnessed what is undoubtedly the best performance of the season thus far, if not the decade. It's five Classico victories from five for Barcelona supremo Pep Guardiola, with his most recent triumph fantastically surpassing the four that have gone before – yes, even the 6-2 spanking in May of '09.
Superlatives are wasted in an effort to encapsulate the quality of Barcelona's performance, as quite frankly, a word to describe such an outstanding display of the beautiful game has yet to be concocted by Oxford's boffins. Messi & co. mesmerized Madrid with their meticulous passing and mazing runs from start to finish, and from front to back. As always, defending doggedly from the front on the very rare occasions they were lacking possession, Barca shut down their inferior opponents from the first whistle and tore Los Blancos' embarrassing offside trap to pieces on countless occasions like a hot knife through butter.
Driven by the irrepressible Lionel Messi, Guardiola's men dismantled Mourinho's war machine in devastating fashion. Although not on the score sheet himself, the world's finest footballer was instrumental in dictating proceedings and turned provider for his team mates on a number of occasions. His usual array of dazzling dribbling combined with a Xavi-esque trajectory ensured that the new age "Galacticos" had no way to halt his (and Barca's) relentless advances.
Messi epitomised everything that Barcelona were about last night. He was, as always, at his brilliant best. Unlike his main rival Cristiano Ronaldo who's lacklustre display personified Madrid as a whole. When can the "argument" be put to bed? The Argentinian wizard is as far ahead of his rival as Barcelona are ahead of Los Blancos. Light years.
Messi was certainly not alone in putting his arch rivals to the sword as the boys in blaugrana hardly put a toe out of place on a night where everything went right for the home side. The goals coming courtesy of midfield mastermind, Xavi Hernandez, Pedro Rodriquez and a brilliant brace from ex-Valencia hitman David Villa making his classico debut in front of a packed house in the Camp Nou ensured the result was a foregone conclusion before second-half substitute, Jeffren rubbed further salt in the wounds of the mortified Madristas.
Real Madrid were reduced to school yard bullying and heavy handed tactics long before the curtain came crashing down in Catalunya. Born out of the frustration stemming from possession starvation and the unsettling feeling of inadequacy in the face of Barcelona's "champagne" football, the men in white lost their cool and showed their blatant lack of class as they were utterly humiliated in the biggest game of the season. With a number of cautions, Mourinho's men were slightly fortunate to finish the game with ten men as Ricardo Carvahlo's deliberate handball in the 71st minute should have warranted a dismissal long before Sergio Ramos collected his second red card of the week for a vicious lunge on Messi, followed by altercations with both Xavi and Barcelona captain, Carles Puyol.
The match was never even a contest as the hosts imposed their beautiful brand of "Total Football" on their hapless opponents. Every player in the Barca colours performed admirably as they made Madrid look like a second tier outfit, a far cry from the table toppers of La Liga. Before an hour had even elapsed, the men in white were out on their feet, akin to a punch drunk prize fighter begging for the bell. The only member of the Madrid staff, both playing and coaching, to show any humility in defeat, was unusually, Jose Mourinho who will make no excuses for the thrashing his side received at the hands of their title rivals tonight. Being an individual who does not tolerate failure, the Portuguese prima donna will be under no illusions that his board of directors will show him any mercy following one of the most embarrassing evenings in the club's illustrious history.
Sour grapes leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many following the culmination of last night's events. But the sombre mood in Madrid would certainly not have been mirrored in Barcelona as the victors would have enjoyed a carnival atmosphere in Catalunya. With Valencia just around the corner for Los Blancos, Mourinho will be hoping his side can gather themselves and recover in time for what will be their second big test of this season's campaign against David Villa's former colleagues. Having surrendered their advantage in the title race, Real Madrid must navigate a tricky run of fixtures to ensure they don't lose touch with their mighty rivals, and the points gap becomes as vast as the gulf in class between the two sides.
The Dark KnightPosted: November 29, 2010 in Movies
Film's most revered superhero and fabled legacy appears on the radar tonight as we take a look at the "Caped Crusader" and the restoration of class to the biggest superhero movie franchise of them all……..Batman.
Oozing quality, from Tim Burton to Christopher Nolan, Michael Keaton to Christian Bale and of course, Jack Nicholson to the late Heath Ledger, a Batman project never fails to attract the biggest and best names in the movie biz.
Batman is once again backed up by a lethal cocktail of stellar casting, exquisite production and mesmeric performances that has ensured the legacy lives on and thrives under new direction. A necessary direction, following the two editions* between "Returns" and "Begins" that did their utmost to desecrate the legend that Keaton & co. laid the foundation for back in '89.
*Needless to say, the barren years between Burton and Bale that spawned the abysmal Batman Forever and utterly dreadful Batman & Robin (Alicia Silverstone in rubber aside) will get no further mention in this article.
Christopher Nolan has assumed control of the reins and driven the languid legend into the 21st Century with a thunderous bang. Recognising his target audience in this high octane world we find ourselves in, the gifted director has beefed up his Batman in every way imaginable, from gadgets and gizmos to brawn and brutality, all the while maintaining the fundamental essence that made Burton's efforts at the helm the classics they are.
Although Gotham cut a dark and dreary figure under the craftsmanship of Burton, it was never more than two steps away from comic book fantasy with its direction firmly aimed at a PG audience. Without being "R" rated, the newer installments have been transplanted into the adult world with a deeper, darker backbone than the originals. Nolan has abandoned the fairytale approach adopted by the eccentric Tim Burton on his way to overshadowing his predecessor, a feat which many (this write included) never thought imaginable, let alone possible.
Nolan states that his movies are "trying to find the reality in these fantastic stories". This is abundantly clear to his audience who are under no illusion as to the changes the franchise has undergone during his stewardship. He has excelled to a point no one thought possible with the subject at hand, as have his cast members under his supervision. Surpassing Burton's majesty in the only way Nolan knows how, hard hitting realism.
It is only fair to say that, although both efforts are naturally relevant to the times in which they were produced, Bale's Batman and Ledger's Joker surpass the performances of those who have come before them. A very difficult acceptance for this stubborn writer, who still clings nostalgically to the past glories of Nicholson and Keaton who blew us all away in 1989.
But the question must be asked, "Where the performances actually superior or were the actors given more liberation to enhance the roles due to Nolan's directorial style and the modern times?".
Burton's fantastical viewpoint constrained his leading characters in a manner in which Nolan's cast members never had to suffer, free to develop to the very extreme realms of possibility.Whether you lean toward Ledger or Nicholson as the ultimate arch enemy, both had very different parts to play whilst assuming the role of the same character. I am not disputing that Heath Ledger went further than Nicholson, that much is obvious, but Ledger's Joker would have been socially unacceptable in a comic book caper produced in the late 80's.
You need look no further than the "Disappearing Pencil" scene from The Dark Knight. A direct reference to the "Shocking Handshake" from the original Batman in which the Joker asserts his dominance. Although strikingly similar, Nolan's rendition is far more ruthless and to the point (so to speak). Gone is the comedic value for the adolescent audience and in its place is the ruthlessness that defines not only Ledger's character, but Nolan's movie as a whole. This scene encapsulates the differences that make the more recent offerings bigger and better than Burton's efforts, and Nolan makes sure we know it. It pinpoints the seriousness of the director to shake off the childish demeanor of Burton's movies and Batman Begins which was heavy on the action but lacking in the acting department.
It is the Dark Knight, and not Batman Begins that truly marks the rebirth of the "Caped Crusader" as our director has gotten to grips with the monster and our leading male finally fills the tights of the title character. In his first outing as Batman, Christian Bale was an idyllic Bruce Wayne, yet sadly, failed to convince as the millionaire playboy's alter-ego. The follow-up was an entirely different story.
Although in the shadow of Ledger's scintillating scar-faced psychopath, Bale blossomed in the role and became the Batman we all knew he could be. Maybe it was Ledger's performance that spurred him on, or maybe he, like Nolan, had a better understanding of what was expected of them in their respective roles. Either way, he got it right this time around. Blending action and acting perfectly, Bale disposes of the "plastic packaging" he wore throughout "Begins" to become the hero we all know and love.
We have plenty more to look forward to with confirmation of Nolan's third, and final, endeavor at the helm titled, "The Dark Knight Rises". Shooting is scheduled to begin in April 2011 as Christian Bale dons the mask for what shall be his swan song as Gotham's favourite son as he follows his director out the door once the curtain comes down on their trilogy of events. Nolan believes he has taken the legacy has far as he can in it's current vein and looks to conclude his portion of the saga with a thrilling culmination.
It remains to be seen if there is life after Ledger, but as Burton discovered to his detriment in "Returns", the Joker brings out the best in Batman – not just the character, but the entire production. It shall be utterly impossible for Nolan to top "The Dark Knight", had Ledger been present or not, but make no mistake, Bale has become Batman, Nolan is the best man for the job and the brand has returned with a bang to the silver screen, bigger, bolder and better than ever.
Blast from the pastPosted: November 26, 2010 in Music
Forget finding a fiver down the back of the couch, rediscovering Metallica's 1999 live recording S&M last week was better than finding a loaded gun on the set of fair city! The dust has been well and truly brushed off and it hasn't left the hi-fi since.
Possibly one of the most epic albums of all time, combining two of music's polar extremes. The top-hat and monocle scene that is classical symphony music and the ripped jeans and knuckle-duster scene that is heavy metal. You'd be forgivin for thinking Prince Charles in a mosh-pit, but you couldn't be further from the truth. The combination worked. Going hand in hand as well as salt & vinegar, Penn & Tellar, bacon & egg, Dalglish & Rush, Monica Lewinski & hide the sausage.
And with the late great Michael Kamen at the helm of the orchestra, it was never going to flop. Although the album is basicly an up-scale greatest hits, it's an absolute must have for all rock fans and horn blowers alike. (Lewinsky excluded) It also features two new metallica tracks, "-Human" and "No leaf clover", the later of the two, one of their greatest songs to date. So if you have it stowed under the bed, sandwiched between your "Playmate of the year" issue and an old tube of hand lotion, liberate that bitch! And just to get your ears refreshed, here's Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and "No leaf clover" Head-banging optional.
Movember 2010Posted: November 25, 2010 in Bant Bites
Just a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us so far during Movember 2010, the 10k run in the phoenix park was a success. It raised thousands of euro for the Irish Cancer Society. And there is still the guts of a week left to donate. It is a truly worthy cause. Prostate cancer will directly effect 1 in every 9 of us men. Those odds are as pleasing to the ear as Natalie Cassidy telling you that the baby is yours! So get the plastic out boys and girls, and give anything you can, you will be making a difference no matter what amount you give! Thanks again for all your generosity.
Here's a look at the action from the phoenix park….
Song of the dayPosted: November 23, 2010 in Music
Julian Casablancas: 11th Dimension: Phrazes for the young
Widely regarded as the stand-out track from the debut solo effort of The Strokes' frontman, Julian Casablancas. Through his exquisite lyrics, JC captures the sobering condition we find our world in but rather than dwell on the negatives he encourages rejoicement in the belief that we will come through the other side of this domineering storm cloud of depression. The combination of fantastic imagary and the intoxicatingly upbeat tempo transports the listener to another dimension and makes this song the ultimate monday morning blues beater!


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Latitude: 52.30099 | Longitude: 0.658962
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Icklingham Road,
West Stow,
Bury St Edmunds,
01284 728612
Fishery noted for Rainbow and Brown Trout fishing. Larkwood opened in 1985 after being designed and created by owner Allen Woods. Two lakes, West Stow and Glebe are both 3 acres, spring-fed and are up to 18 deep.
We are situated in a secluded area in scenic Suffolk countryside, with some parts of the fishery protected by trees making the lakes fishable even in windy weather.We have our own fish farm here from which we stock the lakes with top quality rainbow and brown trout two or three times a week.There is a lodge and tackle shop which can supply you with any tackle or flies you may need, or we can provide you with tackle for hire. Drinks and snacks can also be purchased.Permits are available from the lodge on site.Key Species:
Well stocked fishery, pleasant surroundings
Trout are taking on damsel and buzzers
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Bait / Tackle Shop
Food and Drink


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The Smok TFV8 Baby Tank is almost half the capacity of its older sibling, Smok's TFV8, but it still manages to retain that high-output that the Taste Furious family are well known for. The tank's 3ml capacity means its relatively small and compact, and it's new miniaturised coils have the same output as its bigger brother, but in a smaller size.The TFV8 Baby Tank is used in the Smoke Alien Kit.
The TFV8 Baby new baby beast engines include the V8 Baby-Q2 Dual Core, V8 Baby-T8 Octuple Core, V8 Baby X4 Quad Core, and a V8 Baby RBA for those that prefer building their own decks.
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- Thread: 510


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the use of the Internet and the Web to transact business b)
the digital enablement of transactions and processes within a firm c)
digitally enabled commercial transactions between and among organizations and individuals d)
both (a) and (c) Answer: (d) (see pages 6-7) 2. T/F: Price transparency refers to the ability of consumers to discover the actual costs merchants pay for products. Answer: False: (see page 12) 3. The following are all unique features of e-commerce technology: a)
interactivity, global reach, information asymmetry, personalization/customization b)
universal standards, richness, information density, interactivity c)
information density, universal standards, personalization/customization, sales force-driven d)
local/regional reach, interactivity, richness, personalization/customization Answer: (b) (see page 9, Table 1.1) 4. The ubiquitous nature of e-commerce reduces: a)
transaction costs b)
cognitive energy c)
both (a) and (b) d)
neither (a) nor (b) Answer: (c) (see page 10) 5. E-commerce technologies have changed the traditional tradeoff between the richness and reach of a marketing message. Prior to the development of the Web: a)
the smaller the audience reached, the less rich the message b)
the larger the audience reached, the less rich the message c)
richness equaled reach d)
none of the above Answer: (b) (see page 11) 6. T/F: The total amount of B2C e-commerce revenues in 2001 is less than that spent on B2B e-commerce. Answer: True: (see page 6) 7. T/F In 2006, the total amount of B2C e-commerce revenues is expected to be greater than the total amount of B2B e-commerce revenues. Answer: False (see page 6) 8. B2C e-commerce involves: a)
businesses selling to businesses over the Web b)
businesses selling to consumers over the Web c)
consumers selling to consumers over the Web d)
all of the above Answer: (b) (see page 13) 9. Which of the following cannot be considered a precursor to e-commerce? a)
Baxter Healthcare's remote order entry system
m-commerce c)
the French Minitel d)
EDI Answer: (b) (see pages 15, 19) 10. The E-commerce I era can be said to have begun in: a)
1998 b)
1983 c)
1995 d)
2001 Answer: (c) (see page 20) 11. Which of the following may limit the growth of B2C e-commerce? a)
wireless Web technology b)
peer-to-peer technology c)
inexpensive personal computers d)
complex software interface Answer: (d) (see page 23) 12. Which of the following was not a vision of e-commerce expressed during the E-commerce I period? a)
a perfect Bertrand market b)
friction-free commerce c)
persistence of information asymmetries d)
first mover advantage Answer: (c) (see pages 25- 26, 31) 13. Disintermediation refers to: a)
new opportunities for middlemen to aggregate content, products and services b)
the disappearance of market middlemen and the destruction of traditional distribution channels c)
hyper-competition d)
the fact that when everyone uses the same tool or product, all participants receive more value Answer: (b) (See page 26) 14. The crash in stock market values for E-commerce companies throughout 2000 can be attributed at least in part to: a)
a shortage in high-speed fiber optic telecommunications networks capacity b)
inflated stock market valuations of e-commerce companies c)
the fact that total e-commerce revenues in 2000 were less than they were in 1999 d)
all of the above Answer: (b) (see page 29) 15. E-commerce during the E-commerce I era has been: a)
a technological success and a mixed business success b)
a technological success and a business failure c)
a technological failure and a business success d)
a mixed technological and business success Answer: (a) (see page 30) 16. Which of the following will likely characterize the E-commerce II era? a)
predominance of...
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text: OZTRAIL UltraRig Tarps (⇐ Back to the main page) 1 of 2 Categories » Camping Gear » Tarps, Flys and AwningsOZTRAIL UltraRig Tarps $13.95 UltraRig are a heavy duty poly tarp with strong silver-coated 14x14 weave waterproof surface provides shade and reflects heat effectively. The UV stabilised high-density polyethylene has stainless steel welded D-rings on all corners and centres, all locked into place by a bar-tack stitch. The tarp perimeter is reinforced with rope welded into a double layer of fabric for support. features of the Ultrarig tarp: Patented UVTex® technology optimising UV resistance Silver surface to reflect heat Multi-layer patch attachment points with computer cross-stitch (minimum eight layers), incorporating unique super strong HDPE mega patch for ultimate strength UV-stable polypropylene webbing is inserted into the mega patch for ultimate strength, while D-rings are locked into place by a bar-tack stitch The tarp perimeter is reinforced with rope welded into a double layer of fabric for support and integrity Stainless steel welded D rings on all corners and centres and approximately 0.9m around the perimeter of the tarp priced from: $13.95 Brand: OZtrailOrder Code: UltraRig Tarps23rd November 2018Ask a Question« Previous | Next »


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If you are a huge fan of Xiaomi devices then you might have heard about the Mi 7 devices. Until now there is so many news out there that Xiaomi will probably unveil its new Mi 7 at MWC 2018. But there are some sources that claim Xiaomi will not showcase its upcoming flagship Mi 7 at this year Mobile World Congress.
Mobile World Congress is coming with the bunch of new flagship mobile phones which are going to showcase by the different mobile phone brands. With the different rumors, it is really hard to figure out what exactly will happen at this year's MWC. In between that, Xiaomi is now part of reports of issues. There are some changes and issues with the scheduling of Mobile World Congress and Xiaomi is part of it.
Well, Xiaomi is listed officially in the Mobile World Congress exhibitor list so it is confirmed that Xiaomi will definitely be present at the Barcelona venue. But we should remember that still, Xiaomi has not unveiled the full list of the gadgets of what they are going to showcase. However, there is a statement today given by the high-ranking company employee. He allegedly stated that there will be no major announcement involved.
With this statement, he left the hint. Probably he is drawing the attention on Xiaomi Mi 7 and Mi Max 3 that there will be no any of these devices showcased. There is another fresh tip also shows that Xiaomi is preparing their updated Mi Mix 2S Model and Surge S2 chipset to unveil at MWC 2018. So it is too much clear now that Xiaomi is really busy with some interesting stuff to launch in the future as well for their users.
We all know Samsung is planning to launch Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus in February so that is why we think Xiaomi has taken this step to launch their Mi 7 later in this year. As far as Mi 7 device specifications we have already covered up everything in the previous article. This link will re-direct you to there!


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After writing my entry on the Age of Worms, and Elder Evils, I began thinking about what an epic campaign based off of the Age of Worms campaign would look like. This idea took hold of me, and after some preliminary musings on the subject, a story began to take shape.
The following short story is a prologue that I plan to use for my own campaign. Many of you may recognize Marzena from Encounter at Blackwall Keep. After the unfortunate death of my own character, I decided the easiest way to get back into the campaign was to start playing Marzena, and by happy accident, she ultimately became the ruler of Alhaster.
The other character in the story is Torus. He is one of the other characters in our adventuring party, a dwarven paladin and Hammer of Moradin. He and Marzena developed a sort of bond during the campaign, when it was discovered that several of the rogues in our party had joined an assassin's guild. Not knowing whether the rogues had revealed any information to the wrong person about our party's role in preventing the Age of Worms from coming to pass, the two put together a strategy to arrest the rogues, and to convince them to atone for their crimes.
In any event, I hadn't initially intended to post this story, but since I missed the weekend deadline, I thought I'd put it up, along with the Introduction that I was planning to post.
Torus stroked his beard as he listened to the steady clop of the horse's hooves. Above him, the carriage driver made gentle clicking noises with his tongue as he snapped the reins against the horse's backs.
It was not an unpleasant ride. Through the trees, Torus could see the ocean, glimmering in the orange light of the evening sun; a sight that was almost soothing, even to a stodgy dwarf, like himself. Still, he felt uncomfortable sitting in the decadent carriage. It reminded him of the last time that he had ridden in such a carriage, on his way to the palace of Prince Zeech one year ago. Grimacing at the thought, he sniffed, and looked back down at the letter that he had received from his friend, Marzena.
Come to the palace, it said, in a florid script. It seemed uncharacteristic of the sorceress, whose language was usually so flowery and verbose. In some ways, it was a refreshing change. However, it concerned him, particularly when the driver indicated that he had been given special instructions to bring the dwarf in at night.
"Whoa!" the carriage driver said, bringing the carriage to a stop. Jumping down, the driver opened the carriage door for Torus.
"We'll stop here for a few hours and wait for nightfall." The driver said. "Come, I'll start us a fire."
Torus climbed down from the carriage, grumbling to himself about how the door was not made to accommodate dwarves. Outside, the driver was unwrapping some salted meat, and cheese, and was laying out various cookware.
"I was going to have some supper," he said, laying the food out on the ground. "You're welcome to some if you'd like." Torus nodded, and began helping the man collect wood from the side of the road. Before too long, the two had a rather cheerful fire going.
It was getting dark, and the calls of various night creatures could be heard off in the distance. Torus sat by the fire, cleaning his gear, while the driver fried the meat in an iron skillet. Spearing a piece with his fork, he placed it into a wooden bowl and handed it to Torus.
"For you."
Torus took it from him, and nodded. "Thank you."
For a few minutes, the two ate their meals in silence. Then, over the fire's popping cinders, Torus said, "We've been traveling together for half the day now. It would be nice to be able to call you by your name."
The man swallowed. "I'm sorry. I should have told you. My name is Karel. Karel Greenwood. I'm a servant in the lord's manor at Alhaster. I serve the lady, Marzena."
"Yes, I assumed that's where you came from. Can you tell me why your lady has sent for me, and why she has requested that I come in the middle of the night?"
The fire popped, and tiny embers, like fireflies, burst from the flames. "The lady did not say. She did, however, mention that it was a matter of great urgency."
Torus frowned. "Of that, I was already certain."
Karel smiled wryly, as he popped a piece of meat into his mouth with his fingers.
The two sat in silence for the rest of their meal, before packing up their things. Opening the door for Torus, Karel helped the dwarf clamber back into the carriage, before hopping up onto the seat above.
Karel lit a small lantern on the side of the carriage. "It should only be a couple of hours now before we reach the city. Hopefully, the lady will be able to answer your questions as soon as we arrive."
As the carriage drove on, Torus soon found himself dozing, the steady beat of the horse's hooves soothing. Slipping down upon the velvet cushions of the carriage, the dwarf soon sound himself fast asleep.
"Karel Greenwood, servant of Lady Marzena bids the soldiers of Alhaster to open the city gates!" Torus awoke to the announcement with a start. Outside, he could hear the sound of metal and wood groaning. He rubbed his eyes, and rubbed his face, trying to get his bearings.
The carriage started moving again. Turning to look out the window, he could see tall brick houses lining the streets. They must be in the city of Alhaster.
The carriage made its way down the main thoroughfare of the city. To his left, he could see the Scarlet Spire, Alhaster's temple dedicated to the god, Kelemvor. He could also see the newly christened Church of Pelor- formerly the Church of Hextor- with a large symbol of the sun emblazoned on its closed doors.
Fitting, thought Torus, that the gods of death and birth should have their temples sitting side by side.
It wasn't long before the carriage made its way through the gates of Zeech's Palace, now renamed the Lord's Manor. Passing through the gates, Torus couldn't help but notice that the many statues of the terrible prince had been removed from the gardens. Still, the sheer opulence of the palace and its gardens were enough to remind the dwarf of its former occupant.
The carriage stopped at the entrance to the palace, and a servant opened the carriage door. Clumsily, the dwarf stepped out.
"Her Lady has asked that you await her in the Main Hall," the servant said to him. Torus grimaced at this, but nodded in compliance. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small, gold purse and tossed it over his shoulder to the driver, Karel. Torus heard the coins jingle as the man caught it.
"Thank you!" Karel called out to him. Torus waved his hand absently, but never looked back.
Torus followed the servant as he led him through the palace to the Main Hall. Standing by the doors, the servant gestured for the dwarf to enter ahead of him. For a moment, Torus hesitated, then sniffing, he stepped into the room.
Inside, the lights were dimmed. The severed heads, and the many portraits of Zeech and Lashonna that had once lined the walls had thankfully been removed. Nevertheless, the mahogany table, and the stained glass dome above were all still there to remind the dwarf of his previous visit to the palace.
Torus turned as he heard the doors into the banquet hall shut behind him, the sound echoing through the near empty hall.
"I'm glad you've come," he heard a female voice say. Torus whirled around. Standing in the shadows, at the far end of the hall, was a woman, her hand pressed against the wall, as if for support. She was dressed in a long, silken gown, her head crowned by a crystal tiara.
For a moment, Torus just stood there, staring into the shadows at the figure. Then, almost apprehensively, he called out. "Marzena?"
"Yes," she said.
"Marzena, what is going on? Why did you send for me? Why the secrecy? Why all of the clandestine charades?"
"I assure you that they were all very necessary. I couldn't risk the citizens of Alhaster knowing that I had sent for you."
"Because they have already begun to suspect that I am not well. I fear that if they knew I had sent for a paladin, they would be even more suspicious of my current condition, and that it would cause them to sink into despair."
Torus took a step towards her. "What has happened?"
"I do not know. There are none here that I feel I can confide in, so I have had little opportunity or resources to investigate the matter. That is why I have called you here. I don't know who else I can turn to, but I need to tell someone what is happening."
Marzena stepped from the shadows, her body hunched as she made her way towards the chair at the head of the banquet table. Using the back of the chair for support, she found her way to the front of it before finally collapsing into the seat, exhausted from the effort.
Torus made his way toward her, watching the sorceress intently. Marzena looked up, smiling weakly as he approached.
"As you can see," she said, struggling to catch her breath, "I am not myself lately."
Torus took her hand. It felt frail, and cold to the touch.
"You are sick," he said to her.
"Yes," she said.
Bowing his head, he closed his eyes.
"May the blessing of Moradin be upon you," he said, "May his hand heal you of all sickness."
Marzena's body was bathed in a warm aura of light, and for a moment, she appeared as if at peace. Then, the light faded, and her face turned ashen white. Grimacing, as if in pain, she leaned over the chair, and retched. From her mouth, green worms spilled out onto the floor.
Torus recognized the worms instantly. They were the worms of the god, Kyuss. Quickly, he pulled out his hammer, and began smashing the deadly creatures on the floor. As soon as they were dead, he returned to Marzena's side.
"Are you all right?" he said to her. Slowly, Marzena raised her head.
"Yes," she said to him.
"Can you stand up?"
Bracing the arms of the chair, Marzena struggled to stand, but ultimately sunk back into the seat.
"Come," Torus said, "I'll help you."
Torus wrapped his arm around Marzena's frail body, but before he could lift her, she grabbed his wrist.
"Wait," she said, "I have not shown you everything."
Torus stared at her for a moment, almost as if he was afraid of what she would show him next. Then slowly, he laid her back in the chair.
Marzena closed her eyes. Raising her hands to her temples, she lifted her crystal tiara from her head. Almost immediately, her body began to wither. Her cheeks sank, her arms shriveled, and her skin stretched taut over her now skeletally thin frame. Opening her eyes, she looked up at Torus.
Torus took a step back. Where the irises of Marzena's eyes should have been, there was now nothing, except… Torus cocked his head. For a moment, he thought he had seen something; some living thing swimming in the black pools of her eyes. Leaning in closer, he squinted.
"You can see now," Marzena said, as the horror of what was behind her eyes began to dawn on Torus, "why I have such need for secrecy." In the black pools of her eyes, where the pupils should have been, two green worms, opened their maws menacingly. Gripping Torus's hand, she leaned in close, until he felt as if he were drowning in the dark nothingness of her eyes.
"I have seen it," she said, tears streaming down her face. "In my dreams, I have seen the dead rise, and the worms rain from the darkened skies. I have seen it. The prophecy… the prophecy is still unfolding. Even now, he draws power from her."
"Who?" Torus asked.
Marzena looked at him, almost as if not comprehending. Then she whispered. "Kyuss… Kyuss is still alive!"
Marzena fell forward, but Torus caught her in his arms. "Marzena," he said, leaning her back in the chair, "Marzena!"
Marzena opened her eyes.
"Who is Kyuss drawing power from?"
"Sha… Shalara."
"Who is Shalara? Who is Shalara!"
Marzena eyes fluttered for a moment. She tried to say something, but before she could, her head fell forward in a dead faint.
Torus reached for her crown, and replaced it, watching impatiently for the illusion to once again take effect. He then lifted Marzena into his arms. Bursting through the doors that he had come through, he saw the servant still standing there.
"What happened?" the servant screamed. "What's wrong with her?"
Torus didn't answer him. He just kept walking. He didn't know where he was going, or what he was doing. All he knew was that he needed to get her out of there. He needed to stop this thing that was happening to her.