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In the last 20 years the IT industry has driven technology into businesses of every shape and size. How many companies do you come across these days who do not use IT in some form? Even the most modest shop has an internet presence and even small community groups and schools use internet payment services for fundraising and paying for events. In 1999 Bill Gates said –
"If the 1980's were about quality, the 1990's were about re-engineering the 2000's will be about velocity. How quickly the nature of business will change. About how quickly business will be transacted. About how information access will alter the lifestyle of consumers and their expectation of business."[1]
Your opinion on Bill Gates is neither here nor there, he was right. Modern business is obsessed with speed. How fast can we get it to market? How fast can we get the order be processed?…
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When a Lower Unemployment Rate is Bad News
Posted by Erin Weir under labour market, media, StatCan.
October 11th, 2013
Comments: 4
Today, Statistics Canada reported an unemployment rate of 6.9% for September. One might have expected Canada's unemployment rate falling below 7% for the first time since 2008 to be cause for celebration.
But as Statistics Canada noted, the decline in official unemployment reflected youth dropping out of the job market rather than any notable increase in employment. Of course, one would expect many young people to leave the job market as they return to school in September.
However, Statistics Canada adjusts the figures to factor out such routine changes. Today's seasonally adjusted figures indicate that 21,000 more young Canadians dropped out of the job market than normally would have in September.
One of the reasons young workers may be discouraged is that, since the recession, Canadian employers have added barely enough jobs to keep pace with population growth. The employment rate – the proportion of working-age people with jobs – remains stuck between 61 and 62 per cent, where it was during the worst of the recession in 2009.
Employment changes by industry in September provided a caricature of recent economic trends. The only significant job growth was in finance and resource extraction, offset by a substantial drop in manufacturing employment.
The positive news was a shift from self-employment to positions actually paid by an employer and a shift from part-time to full-time employment in September. That bucked a longer-term trend toward more part-time work. Over the past year, the number of hours worked rose by only two-thirds as much as the number of people employed, with employers expanding part-time employment faster than full-time employment.
UPDATE (October 12): I was interviewed on last night's CTV National News and am quoted in today's Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator, Saskatchewan newspapers, and several other newspapers via Canadian Press.
Comment from Ken Howe
Time: October 12, 2013, 10:59 am
Good post–I think the word caricature (ridiculously exaggerated reproduction) isn't right. Maybe "were a continuation of"?
Comment from Erin Weir
Time: October 12, 2013, 12:00 pm
Thanks for the feedback. I used "caricature†because yesterday's sectoral shifts did look like an exaggerated, almost stylized version of what has been happening incrementally. But perhaps it is not the best word to describe actual data.
Comment from Darwin O'Connor
Time: October 12, 2013, 1:24 pm
So, in other words, somewhat more young people started school then usual.
Comment from Rick Goldman
Time: October 12, 2013, 1:33 pm
Great post, Erin, as always!
How about "snapshot"?
Write a comment
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subset: commoncrawl


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All images in this blog are copyrighted. Please do not use them without requesting permission from me. THANKS!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Large strobe or is it?
For a portraitist, a large light source that throws dispersed light is heaven! When this kind of light falls on the skin of the subject, it brings out a soft skin texture which is attractive and soothing to view. Now, what if your light source is fairly large and it is controlled to be somewhat directional? You get a dramatic angled light. If drama is what you want, you've got it. My room has no other light except the light jumping off the LCD monitor of my computer. I asked the subject to stand in front of it and I positioned it lower than his eye level and tilt it slightly upwards. This was what I got: dramatic and soft.
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Klamath Falls has a general population of 19,462 and an overall student population of 5,200. Approximately 3,915 of Klamath Falls's students are enrolled in schools that offer ultrasound technician programs.
Oregon Institute of Technology is the largest ultrasound technician school in Klamath Falls, based on student population. In 2010, Oregon Institute of Technology graduated approximately 59 students with credentials in ultrasound technology.
A total of 59 students graduated with credentials in ultrasound technology from ultrasound technician schools in Klamath Falls in 2010. If you decide to attend one of Klamath Falls's ultrasound technician schools, you can expect to pay an average of $18,285 per year in instate tuition and $29,805 per year in out of state tuition.
In addition to tuition costs, you should plan on spending an average of $1,000 for books and supplies each year, while enrolled in a ultrasound technician program in Klamath Falls. And if you live on campus at one of the Klamath Falls-based ultrasound technician schools, you will have an added expense of $8,245 per year, on average, for room and board. Students who live at home can cut this cost down to approximately $9,970.
After graduating with your credentials in ultrasound technology, if you decide to work as an ultrasound technician in Klamath Falls, your job prospects are good. In 2010, there were 450 ultrasound technicians in Oregon. Of these ultrasound technicians, 40 were working in the greater Klamath Falls area. The government projects that the number of ultrasound technicians in Klamath Falls will increase by 23% by the year 2018. This projected change is faster than the projected nationwide trend for ultrasound technicians.
The average salary you can expect to earn as an ultrasound technician in Klamath Falls is $70,400 per year. This is lower than the state-wide average salary for ultrasound technicians.
3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601-8801
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Less than 1 year certificate
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|The Argory via wikipedia
Built in the 1820s this Neo-classical Irish gentry country house has remained completely unchanged since the beginning of the 20th century thus evoking the family's Edwardian taste.
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Northern Ireland
60 comments:
Dear Rosmary,ReplyDelete
This is a most interesting post about the O'neill home in northern Ireland.
The O'Neill clan live here in Lisbon. One of their large homes , they sold to America..it is now the American Embassy in Lisbon.
My youngest son went to school with one of the O'Neill's.. They are very very well known here in Portugal amongst the aristocracy .. The History of the clan is so so interesting.
maybe another post about them.. they are very very Royal.
How i would love to make a visit to Ireland. I was there to see family when i was 2 ):
happy wednesday
Dear Val - I think that you mentioned that you have Irish blood in you from one of your parents?Delete
I do not know a great deal about the O'Neill clan, only what I learnt whilst in Northern Ireland.
Perhaps you will have the opportunity to visit sometime there is so much to see there that I am sure you would enjoy it.
Hello Rosemary, I was stunned by these photos, especially the one of the tall trees, with its range of colors and textures. Rowallane Garden is magnificent--the view down the walkway was particularly appealing; it was grown-in the exact right amount. It looks lush and comfortable without being either too spare and formal or too overgrown.ReplyDelete
The picture with the square tower was atmospheric and intriguing, with its look of age and the other buildings mostly hidden in the greenery. I enjoyed the Argory, although I was not very fond of the yellow-mustard color of the marbleized walls--perhaps in person it looks different.
--Road to ParnassusReplies
Dear Jim - I am pleased that you enjoyed the photos, I was actually unsure of them, they were taken in the rain with large drips landing on me whilst I sheltered under the trees!!! The gardens were spectacular, but the weather not suited to photographs.Delete
Yes, I would definitely not like the marbleised walls in my own home. However, in this Edwardian home, which I felt had a very masculine entrance hallway, I thought it suited the ambience.
I only hope to travel sometime in Ireland ... Beautiful gardens, stunning green everywhere ... Thank you for sharing, Rosemary !ReplyDelete
Travelling through the coasts of England, South & North Iralnd and Scotland sounds like something we ( R & I ) would love to do!ReplyDelete
We have been to Dublin years ago, and practically fell in love with the city, it's people, everything!
The Argory is full of interesting corners and details and history. A beautiful place!
It looks like your trip took you not only to Ireland but also back in time Rosemary. Wonderful pictures. Must be great wandering around in such an old house where everything is just as it was more than a century ago.ReplyDelete
Dear Rosemary,ReplyDelete
Your photos are beautiful and I enjoyed looking at every single one of them. I've been wanting to visit Ireland for years, maybe one day. The husband has been to Dublin but that was a long time ago.
What a treat for the eyes! So much green and manmade beauty too. Must have been a delightful time, apart from the weather.ReplyDelete
I'm thoroughly enjoying the comforts of armchair traveling through your posts! Thank you for taking the time to share your gleanings with your blogging friends! Amazing gardens, architecture, history and more!ReplyDelete
Hello Rosemary:ReplyDelete
What a packed programme for your week away! Rowallane Garden looks to be exactly our kind of place. Ireland has such a wonderful gardening heritage and, of course, the climate is conducive to the creation of great gardens. We first saw Rhodochiton growing at Sissinghurst and fell in love at first sight. However, it never worked for us no matter how hard we tried!
The Agory would be a perfect choice for us as we are fascinated by this period [indeed, we sometimes wonder if we still live in this era!!] and it all looks to have been so wonderfully well presented. One can almost imagine that the 'family' has just stepped out for a while to allow the visitors to pass through the rooms!Replies
Hello Jane and Lance - I am sure that spells disaster for me too with the Rhodochiton. However, I have an old packet of unopened seeds so I will give them a try.Delete
I can see your straw panama hat nonchalantly hanging in the grand hall Lance, I think that you would be very much at home in the Argory.
All the photos are amazing ! I would like to be in the gardens and I liked the photoReplyDelete
of stairs and the wall with so many paintings ! I would like to see them !
Dear Rosemary,ReplyDelete
Your photographs are lovely. I think you have the 'eye' for taking them. I like the one you took of the stone gateway leading into what I am guessing is another part of the garden? I would like something like that in a garden one day. I also like the photo you took through the wisteria covered window - at least I think it is wisteria.
I have not been to Northern Ireland myself or much of Ireland at all for that matter - only Dublin and Glendalough. I hope that you will post some more photographs of your trip there!
Bye for now
Dear Kirk - that is very generous of you. I was, in fact, not very happy with the photos due to the rain, it made it very difficult.Delete
You are right, it is wisteria covering the window. If it was over my window, I would have to trim it back, but in that house it added to the atmosphere.
Yes, I will post more. Some of the places we visited were extremely special, and they are yet to come!!!
Dear Rosemary,Delete
I think that we always look at our own work with a very critical eye and I know rain can spoil the effect we want to achieve but I really do think your photos are great. So I look forward to the rest.
Yes I don't mind seeing the wisteria on someone else's window looking all ethereal but I would trim it on my own too!
With your own work often the expectations are higher than the results.Delete
We had better weather for the rest of the trip which also helps.
Dear Rosemary -ReplyDelete
I'm sure you enjoyed looking at all the exotic plants, and I'll bet you got some good ideas for your own garden, too!
I enjoyed getting a peek into The Argory — so much of the furnishings look to be mid-19th century. I like that more and more museums are now creating displays that give a lived-in look. I heard recently of an art gallery that displayed Dutch still lifes of food in a roon set with a dining table that would have been typical of the same period. I love it!Replies
Dear Mark - The eclectic interior of The Argory evokes the family's tastes and interests which for me was very appealing.Delete
Most of the rooms lay under dust sheets for forty years before it was finally handed over to the National Trust in 1979.
beautiful, Rosemary! i think (at least as a foreigner to the British Isles) that Northern Ireland is forgotten in favour of England, Scotland, Wales and Southern Ireland when planning holidays. It's nice to see that there is just as much history to be seen there! When I eventually make it to Ireland, I'll make sure to visit both parts!ReplyDeleteReplies
I suspect Roanna that it has mainly been neglected because of the troubles in Belfast and the surrounding area. It is now very much on the up and up, and is fast becoming a tourist destination. It has lots of interests to offer - beautiful countryside, history, and a warm welcome.Delete
Hi Rosemary, what a gorgeous place. The art and mirrors are stunning. We nearly booked a trip to Ireland in 09 but changed our minds. Perhaps one day. OliveReplyDelete
A very special house. Some of the rooms are very impressive.ReplyDelete
A wonderful trip & inspiring photos. Am I the only person to wonder what is peeking out from under the nightshirt on photo 12...?ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Nilly and yes, you are the only one.Delete
I wondered if it might invite any curiosity, you have sharp eyes. It is a rat, a toy rat I might add. There are rats in each room to encourage little visitors to look carefully around and see how many they can spot.
As much as the rain is not fun to walk around in, it adds just the right atmosphere to pictures of old stone and gardens, especially in your fifth photo. I love the Rodochiton, their colour and shape are quite exotic looking, as if they belong in an Amazon forest rather than the UK!ReplyDeleteReplies
The Rhodochiton is very exotic looking and apparently it comes from the forests of Mexico, so it does seem surprising that it grows here. It needs to be in a glass house and only goes out for the summer. You can grow them from seed so as I already have a packet I shall give it a try and see how I get on.Delete
The rain on our first day was disappointing, but luckily after that it picked up.
Well I can honestly say, I had noticed the beast, peeking out from the night shirt...but Nilly has beaten me to asking about it.ReplyDelete
Ireland is full of amazing places to visit, and this looks like a real gem. Somehow rain in Ireland is always acceptable. I too, know the south quite well, but have yet to venture north of the border....it is on the must do soon list. A lovely post Rosemary. J.Replies
We all found ourselves collecting rats and pointing them out on the visit although there were no children with us!!!Delete
We were very impressed with northern Ireland. Belfast is a fine city with some good Victorian and contemporary architecture, lots of green spaces, and surrounded by hills.
Some of the special things we saw there I shall show in the next few days.
Hallo Rosemary!My desire is to visit Ireland one day! All your photos are amazing! Very professional!I traveled with you today on these unique places !Wish you a great October month!ReplyDelete
Hello RosemaryReplyDelete
Your Rowallane House and Garden visit, despite the rain, which has even enhanced your images, looks like the perfect day. From the ochre marbelized walls and brass stair rails to the selection of etchings framed uniformly all is beautifully preserved.
Thank you for sharing this special visit
Dear Helen - fortunately the rain eased off for the rest of our visit and we even had some lovely blue skies later in the week. I loved the hallway and stairs in The Argory, the beautiful cantilevered stairway simmering with brass, and the black and white chequered board tiled floor.Delete
Pleased that you enjoyed seeing it.
We do love Ireland but have only been to Kerry and Dublin. Northern Ireland looks lovely too. Those gas lamps look amazing. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.ReplyDelete
Sarah xReplies
Dear Sarah - as I mentioned we had only been to the south previously, but we were very pleasantly surprised by the north. Lots of places of interest to visit and lovely countryside. In Belfast they are delighted with the turn around in tourist visits, and are pleased to welcome people from far and wide. Apparently Cruise ships have even started stopping for a visit there now, and especially since the Titanic exhibition opened.Delete
Dear Rosemary,ReplyDelete
I am in sweet awe of your pictures; stunning and elegant. Ireland is an amazing country and your post has revealed a corner of it I have not had the pleasure of visiting yet. Thank you.
I'm off to visit you forthwith!
Dear Stephanie - how very strange, I was just looking at millefeuiles for the first time and wondering how I could follow you when your message came in.Delete
I do not know how you find the time to make those entrancing hares, and you have a young family too.
Looking forward to keeping in touch.
I will put you on my sidebar.
Dear Rosemary,ReplyDelete
What a wonderful treat to be transported to these lovely sites! I love the photos of the Argory, with the rooms set as though for the family living there....such charm and humanity. I especially liked the shot of the bedroom with the hot water bottle next to the pillow. Snug and beautiful. Inspired, I'm already thinking ahead to next year's garden improvements. Thank you!
Warm regards,
p.s. It's probably too late to post a comment on your wendy house post, but I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed it!Replies
Dear Erika - I actually ended up doing the Wendy House post as a result of a comment made by Mark. I showed a post on thatched English cottages and he said he recalled the Queen being gifted a thatched wendy house as a child - so it is thanks to him that I did the post.Delete
I am pleased that you enjoyed your visit to The Argory - a special Edwardian atmosphere pervades the house.
Your photos are lovely.ReplyDelete
What gorgeous photos, Rosemary. I've been to Northern Ireland a couple of times, but always for family events. One day I must visit to see it properly and your post makes me want to so this. :-)ReplyDeleteReplies
Dear Perpetua - does this mean that your Broadband is fixed?Delete
By the time I have finished showing you more of Northern Ireland you will be very keen to return and see it for yourself. It is rapidly gaining a reputation as a destination 'hotspot'.
We very much hope so, Rosemary - at least, it's working well at the moment. :-)Delete
Good, pleased to learn that.Delete
Great house !ReplyDelete
Thanks to share this gorgeous pictures...
Best regards from Paris,
What a wonderful way to reveal some of the ancient and beautiful 'secrets' spots in Northern Ireland: amazing pictures, interesting descriptions and also a bit of rain... You haven't missed anything out, Rosemary! … There is nothing left for us, except the pleasure to give you a couple of suggestions for your next visit: Antrim Castle Gardens (Co. Antrim), an absolute gem and you will find nothing like these 400 year old gardens anywhere else! Springhill (Co. Derry/Londonderry) with its beguiling spirit will definitely capture your heart. Described as 'one of the prettiest houses in Ulster', its welcoming charm reveals a family home with portraits, furniture and decorative arts that bring to life the many generations of Lenox-Conynghams who lived here from 1680. Would that be your cup of tea? :) We hope to read about those and other incredible places in your next post regarding Ireland! ;)ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you - I am so pleased that you are happy with the posts I have done on Northern Ireland. We were very pleased to see how lovely the whole area is. Several of my followers have also been sufficiently impressed to consider giving Northern Ireland a visit.Delete
I have a couple more posts still to show - one on the Giant's Causeway and one on Mount Steward and the surrounding area.
I've never been to Ireland....definitely on my list. Brilliant photos, once again! I love the interior shot looking out the window. Are those wisteria vines? I don't know your starting location, but I'm surprised it took so long (?) to reach N. Ireland. Hope you are doing well and enjoying your garden.
Dear Loi - we certainly made a longwinded journey out of getting to Ireland. We set off from the Cotswolds and travelled to Holyhead in Wales. There we caught a ferry to Dublin in the south of Ireland, and travelled up to Belfast in the north. On our return we took the ferry from Belfast to Stranraer, Scotland, and travelled back down to England and eventually home.Delete
Yes, you are right it is Wisteria growing over the window.
❖PLEASE NOTE❖ Comments made by those who hide their identity will be deleted
"You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you - you have to go to them sometimes"
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh


text:
- Methodology article
- Open Access
A new spreadsheet method for the analysis of bivariate flow cytometric data
- George Tzircotis1,
- Rick F Thorne1 and
- Clare M Isacke1Email author
© Tzircotis et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2004
- Received: 19 December 2003
- Accepted: 22 March 2004
- Published: 22 March 2004
A useful application of flow cytometry is the investigation of cell receptor-ligand interactions. However such analyses are often compromised due to problems interpreting changes in ligand binding where the receptor expression is not constant. Commonly, problems are encountered due to cell treatments resulting in altered receptor expression levels, or when cell lines expressing a transfected receptor with variable expression are being compared. To overcome this limitation we have developed a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that aims to automatically and effectively simplify flow cytometric data and perform statistical tests in order to provide a clearer graphical representation of results.
To demonstrate the use and advantages of this new spreadsheet method we have investigated the binding of the transmembrane adhesion receptor CD44 to its ligand hyaluronan. In the first example, phorbol ester treatment of cells results in both increased CD44 expression and increased hyaluronan binding. By applying the spreadsheet method we effectively demonstrate that this increased ligand binding results from receptor activation. In the second example we have compared AKR1 cells transfected either with wild type CD44 (WT CD44) or a mutant with a truncated cytoplasmic domain (CD44-T). These two populations do not have equivalent receptor expression levels but by using the spreadsheet method hyaluronan binding could be compared without the need to generate single cell clones or FACS sorting the cells for matching CD44 expression. By this method it was demonstrated that hyaluronan binding requires a threshold expression of CD44 and that this threshold is higher for CD44-T. However, at high CD44-T expression, binding was equivalent to WT CD44 indicating that the cytoplasmic domain has a role in presenting the receptor at the cell surface in a form required for efficient hyaluronan binding rather than modulating receptor activity.
Using the attached spreadsheets and instructions, a simple post-acquisition method for analysing bivariate flow cytometry data is provided. This method constitutes a straightforward improvement over the standard graphical output of flow cytometric data and has the significant advantage that ligand binding can be compared between cell populations irrespective of receptor expression levels.
- Hyaluronan
- Fluorescence Activate Cell Sorting
- Flow Cytometry Data
- CD44 Expression Level
- Flow Cytometric Data
The investigation of receptor-ligand interactions by flow cytometry is a technique commonly employed in immunology and cell biology primarily due to the ability to rapidly analyse populations of cells. This, however, results in the generation of large data sets, the further analysis of which is inherently problematic. With existing software, alterations in ligand binding in response to stimuli or as a result of receptor manipulation are difficult to dissect. Particularly problematic is the comparison of different transfected cell populations, which frequently have variable protein expression, or when treatment of cells causes a shift in receptor expression. To date two main approaches have been taken to overcome these issues. First, different populations of cells can be matched for receptor expression levels either by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) (e.g. [1]) or by selecting single cell clones (e.g. [2]). The main disadvantage of this approach is that expression levels in the different populations/clones have to be constantly monitored. This can become costly in terms of FACS usage, tissue culture expenses and time, and impractical when dealing with multiple transfectants especially if multiple clones for each transfectant have to be maintained. The second approach has been to post-analyse flow cytometric data. For this, a series of cell subpopulations are assigned based on the level of receptor expression to a set of fluorescence channel ranges (e.g. [3, 4]). The corresponding mean fluorescence intensity for ligand binding is then calculated allowing the data set to be presented as a line graph of receptor expression versus ligand binding. This method has the advantage of allowing receptor:ligand interactions to be studied over a wide range of receptor expression levels.
Consequently, binding of ligand to different transfected cell populations can be compared. The main problem is that the method of data analysis is entirely manual and therefore dividing the population into a large series of data points becomes unmanageable. Building upon this concept, we have developed an automated spreadsheet-based method to post-analyse flow cytometry data. Using commonly available computer software, this spreadsheet enables the analysis of two-colour flow cytometric data by calculating the average fluorescence intensity value of the variable parameter for all cells lying within a single fluorescence channel of a constant parameter. This provides the correlation of data at the highest level of accuracy. To demonstrate the use and advantages of this new method, two worked examples of the interaction of the adhesion receptor CD44 with its ligand hyaluronan are reported here.
Results and discussion
CD44 is a transmembrane adhesion receptor and part of the hyaladherin protein family whose common ligand is the extracellular glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan [5, 6]. Two-colour flow cytometry has been widely used to characterise this receptor-ligand interaction using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated hyaluronan and anti-CD44 antibodies, either directly conjugated or detected with a second layer antibody. By this approach, the binding capacity of CD44 mutants or the activation of hyaluronan-binding activity following various treatments has been investigated. However, as FITC-hyaluronan binding is strictly dependent on CD44 expression levels, the analysis is compromised where expression levels are not matched. As described in the background, two main approaches have been taken to overcome this problem. Cells have been FACS sorted or single cell cloned to generate starting populations with equivalent levels of CD44 expression [1, 2]. Alternatively flow cytometry data has been analysed manually to assess levels of hyaluronan binding relative to receptor expression [3, 4]. The following examples demonstrate how the spreadsheet method can be used to overcome these problems.
Example 1: Monitoring receptor:ligand interactions after cellular treatment
The mouse T-cell lymphoma cell line BW5147 expresses CD44 and constitutively binds hyaluronan. This binding is known to be increased by long-term phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) treatment [7]. However it has been difficult to determine whether this increase in hyaluronan binding results from an increased binding activity of CD44, that is receptor activation, or increased CD44 expression. To assess whether the spreadsheet method could resolve this issue the following experiment was undertaken.
The flow cytometry data was exported and analysed using the spreadsheet method as described in the Methods section. Briefly, the mean FITC-hyaluronan fluorescence intensity was calculated for each of the 1024 PE-CD44 channels and the resulting points were plotted (Fig. 1C). It was empirically determined that more than 4 cells were required to provide an adequate average fluorescence intensity value for any particular channel and therefore channels with 3 cells or fewer were rejected from the analysis and are shown as a 0 value on the y axis. The plots clearly demonstrate that across the entire range of CD44 expression, no appreciable differences were observed between untreated and 1 h PMA treated cells. In contrast, long term PMA treatment results in increased FITC-hyaluronan binding relative to untreated cells at all CD44 expression levels. Therefore it can be concluded that long-term PMA treatment results in an activation of CD44 which enhances its binding capacity.
Given that this increased receptor activity is only observed after long-term PMA treatment it is likely that this reflects the induction by PMA of a newly synthesised modified CD44 population with altered binding properties. To date, the best characterized post-translational modification of CD44 which might result in altered ligand binding is a change in receptor glycosylation [8].
Example 2: Comparing receptor:ligand interactions in two transfected cell populations
The CD44 negative murine T-lymphoma cell line AKR1 has commonly been used as a transfection model to study CD44 function [9]. Expression of human or mouse wild type CD44 (WT CD44) in these cells confers to them the ability to bind hyaluronan [1, 4]. In these studies it was demonstrated that FITC-hyaluronan binding is dependent on the level of CD44 expression and is typically only seen after a threshold level of CD44 expression is reached. These studies also reported that CD44 mutants in which the cytoplasmic domain has been removed (CD44-T) have a hyaluronan binding defect; although this mutant receptor binds hyaluronan, the threshold expression level required for hyaluronan binding is greater than that observed for WT CD44. Here we have investigated whether the spreadsheet method can be used to compare the hyaluronan binding capacity of two CD44 constructs with unmatched expression levels without the need to generate matched populations by FACS sorting or single cell cloning.
Using the spreadsheet, the average hyaluronan binding for cells lying in each PE-CD44 channel is calculated, providing visually simplified dot plots presented as overlays. The plots generated by the spreadsheet clearly demonstrate that the threshold level of hyaluronan binding by WT CD44 is reached at approximately 450 fluorescence units while the threshold for the CD44-T transfected cells is reached at approximately 600 fluorescence units. However, once this threshold has been reached, the CD44-T highest expressing cells reach binding levels similar to those of WT CD44.
In addition, a Student's t-test can be applied to the data to identify regions of the plot where FITC-hyaluronan binding is significantly different between WT and mutant CD44. This statistic is only calculated for CD44 channels where 4 cells or more are counted for both cell lines. If the FITC-hyaluronan binding between two cell lines counted in a particular CD44 channel is found be significantly different at the 99.9% level, a point is plotted at position 980 on the y-axis for that particular channel. If there is no significant difference, a point is not plotted (see Fig. 2C). Using this analysis, the region between 450 and 800 fluorescence units displays the most robust area of statistical significance.
This second example illustrates the problems of comparing ligand binding in two cell populations transfected with different receptor constructs. In the case of hyaluronan binding by WT CD44 and CD44-T, the problem is acute as it is difficult to achieve transfected populations with similar expression profiles possibly because the CD44-T mutant has a significantly reduced half-life compared to WT CD44 [10]. With the spreadsheet method a direct comparison has been made between these two non-identical transfected populations. The demonstration that CD44-T can bind hyaluronan with high efficiency provided it is expressed at sufficiently high levels provides important clues as to how ligand binding by CD44 might be regulated. One explanation for the data presented here is that CD44 needs to be stabilised at the plasma membrane, for example by clustering or association with the cytoskeleton, and that this is only achieved at threshold levels of receptor expression [11]. The higher threshold of CD44-T expression required for ligand binding may reflect a requirement for the cytoplasmic domain in stabilising the receptor at the cell surface but that this requirement can be overcome if sufficiently high levels of the mutant receptor are expressed due to the enforced close proximity of receptors.
The spreadsheet method demonstrated here is applied to the problem of CD44-hyaluronan binding but is also generally applicable to the study of other receptor-ligand interactions or where two dependent parameters are being compared using flow cytometry. The large data sets acquired by flow cytometry are intrinsically complex and problematic to analyse. Previous workers have attempted to mathematically model flow cytometric curves of cell populations [12] but the complex nature of these curves has been a barrier to further analysis. Roederer and colleagues [13] developed a test they have termed 'probability binning analysis' to determine whether a test distribution of flow cytometry data is different from a control distribution. This was done by dividing data into a series of bins each containing an equal number of cells and applying a variant of the chi-squared statistic. This method estimates the probability that the two distributions are significantly different and although powerful, this approach is relatively difficult to implement. The spreadsheet method provides a considerable advantage over previous techniques in that it utilises commonly available programs to simplify flow cytometric data. This constitutes a straightforward improvement upon the standard form of graphical output of flow cytometric data generating a representation of areas of statistical significance. In addition, this method provides the first step for further manipulation of the data, for example to calculate affinity constants or to perform more complex statistical analyses, using advanced mathematical packages.
Cell lines and flow cytometry
The mouse T-cell lymphoma cell lines BW5147 and AKR1 were maintained as previously described [9, 10]. Populations of AKR1 cells transfected with WT CD44 and the cytoplasmic tail truncation mutant CD44-T constructs in the pSRα eukaryotic expression vector were established and selected as previously described [1].
For binding assays, 2 × 106 cells were washed twice, incubated for 1 h with 250 microlitres of 10 micrograms/ml FITC-hyaluronan at 37°C before washing twice more. All dilutions and washes were done in Hanks Balanced Salts Solution (HBSS; Life Technologies) supplemented with 1% foetal calf serum (FCS; Life Technologies). In some experiments, FITC-bovine serum albumin (Molecular Probes) was used at 10 micrograms/ml as a negative control. BW5147 cells were subsequently stained with 1 micrograms/ml biotinylated anti-CD44 mAb IM7 (Caltag Medsystems) followed by 0.5 micrograms/ml PE-streptavidin (Pharmingen, Becton-Dickinson) and AKR1 cells stained with 1 microgram/ml anti-CD44 mAb E1/2 followed by 25 micrograms/ml PE-conjugated rabbit anti-mouse Ig F(ab)2 (DAKO Cytomation). Cells were washed twice and resuspended in 0.3 micromolar TO-PRO-3 (Molecular Probes) diluted in phosphate buffered saline. A Becton-Dickinson FACSCalibur analyser running CellQuest V3.2 software (Becton-Dickinson) was used to read cell fluorescence values. The population of cells with low TO-PRO-3 fluorescence was selected and the phycoerythrin (PE)-CD44 and FITC-hyaluronan fluorescence values of 60,000 cells were read.
Data was collected with compensation adjusted for FITC (FL-1 = FL-1 – 0.3% FL-2) and PE (FL-2 = FL-2 – 27% FL-1). In our application, we have found that compensation settings have little overall effect on the data provided that the flow cytometer photomultiplier (PMT) voltages are set up so that fluorescence is detected well within the available range (data not shown). This minimises the chance of compensation moving data into an area where the detection range becomes non-linear (usually at the borders of detection) or even outside detection thus giving a skewed result. However, it is strongly suggested that the use of alternative fluorochromes or different instrumentation will require optimisation of the compensation levels.
Analysis of data using the spreadsheet method
Excel Formulae used in spreadsheet analysis
Formula A (average)
Formula B (cell count)
Formula C (standard deviation)
Formula D (variance)
Formula E (99.9% confidence interval)
Formula F (paired students t-test)
Formula G (degrees of freedom)
Formula H (critical t value 99.9%)
Formula I (Significance at 99.9%)
Instructions for use
Data was extracted from the Becton-Dickinson format using the program FCS Assistant version 1.1 http://www.fcspress.com (©R. Hicks, UK) although other programs which are capable of extracting raw data from flow cytometry files (for example WinList (Verity Software House, ME, USA) or FlowJo (Tree Star Inc. CA, USA)) can also be used. Each CellQuest data file to be analysed was opened in FCS Assistant and flow cytometric data exported as raw tabular text from the FILE menu. The resulting raw tabular text files (*.rtt) were opened in Microsoft Excel and the appropriate FL columns for the "Constant" and "Variable" values were selected, copied and pasted into the corresponding calculation sheet columns. The "Constant" column (FL-2/CD44) corresponds to the x-axis coordinate and the "Variable" column (FL-1/FITC-hyaluronan) corresponds to the y-axis coordinate. The data transfer was repeated for each cell line or treatment to be analysed. A macro was prepared to start spreadsheet calculations in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet calculation was initiated by pressing the "Calculate spreadsheet" button in the "DATA" sheet window of the workbook. Spreadsheet files have been prepared and tested on Windows 2000/XP using Microsoft Office 2000 Professional and on Apple Macintosh OS 9.2 using Microsoft Office 2001. The graphical output is automatically generated in the "Chart" worksheet.
This work was supported by the Association of International Cancer Research, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research. We wish to thank Ian Titley for his help with the FACS analysis.
Authors' Affiliations
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- Perschl A, Lesley J, English N, Trowbridge I, Hyman R: Role of CD44 cytoplasmic domain in hyaluronan binding. Eur J Immunol. 1995, 25: 495-501.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Day AJ, Prestwich GD: Hyaluronan-binding proteins: tying up the giant. J Biol Chem. 2002, 277: 4585-4588. 10.1074/jbc.R100036200.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Ponta H, Sherman L, Herrlich PA: CD44: from adhesion molecules to signalling regulators. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2003, 4: 33-45. 10.1038/nrm1004.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Liu D, Zhang D, Mori H, Sy MS: Binding of CD44 to hyaluronic acid can be induced by multiple signals and requires the CD44 cytoplasmic domain. Cell Immunol. 1996, 174: 73-83. 10.1006/cimm.1996.0295.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lesley J, Hyman R, English N, Catterall JB, Turner GA: CD44 in inflammation and metastasis. Glycoconj J. 1997, 14: 611-622. 10.1023/A:1018540610858.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lesley J, He Q, Miyake K, Hamann A, Hyman R, Kincade PW: Requirements for hyaluronic acid binding by CD44: a role for the cytoplasmic domain and activation by antibody. J Exp Med. 1992, 175: 257-266.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Neame SJ, Isacke CM: The cytoplasmic tail of CD44 is required for basolateral localization in epithelial MDCK cells but does not mediate association with the detergent-insoluble cytoskeleton of fibroblasts. J Cell Biol. 1993, 121: 1299-1310.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Thorne RF, Legg JW, Isacke CM: The role of the CD44 transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains in co-ordinating adhesive and signalling events. J Cell Sci. 2004, 117: 373-380. 10.1242/jcs.00954.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lampariello F, Aiello A: Complete mathematical modeling method for the analysis of immunofluorescence distributions composed of negative and weakly positive cells. Cytometry. 1998, 32: 241-254. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0320(19980701)32:3<241::AID-CYTO11>3.0.CO;2-N.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
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This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.


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No. 97-1874
In the Supreme Court of the United States
Solicitor General
Counsel of Record
Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
(202) 514-2217
Deputy Solicitor for
National Operations
Associate Solicitor
Deputy Associate Solicitor
Department of Labor
Washington, D.C. 20210
Whether a truck driver who spends approximately five percent of his time performing tasks essential to the loading and unloading of vessels is engaged in maritime employment and is therefore a covered "employee" under Section 2(3) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. 902(3).
In the Supreme Court of the United States
No. 97-1874
The judgment order of the court of appeals (Pet. App. 1a-2a) is unpublished, but the decision is noted at 142 F.3d 428 (Table). The decision and order of the Benefits Review Board (Pet. App. 3a-8a) is unreported. The decision and order of the administrative law judge (Pet. App. 9a-18a) is reported at 30 Ben. Rev. Bd. Serv. (MB) 294 (ALJ).
The court of appeals entered its judgment on February 23, 1998. The petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on May 21, 1998. The jurisdiction of this Court is invoked under 28 U.S.C. 1254(1).
1. The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA or Act), 33 U.S.C. 901 et seq., provides compensation to covered employees for work-related injuries that result in disability, and to survivors if the injury causes death. Compensation under the Act is available only if the injury occurs on a maritime "situs," i.e., on navigable waters and certain adjoining land areas. 33 U.S.C. 903(a). The worker must also satisfy a "status" requirement- i.e., he must be an "employee," defined by the Act as a person engaged in "maritime employment." 33 U.S.C. 902(3); see Northeast Marine Terminal Co. v. Caputo, 432 U.S. 249, 265 (1977). The LHWCA does not define the term "maritime employment." It states, however, that an "employee" "includ[es] any longshoreman or other person engaged in longshoring operations, and any harbor-worker including a ship repairman, shipbuilder, and ship-breaker." 33 U.S.C. 902(3); see also 33 U.S.C. 902(3)(A)-(H) (specific exclusions from "employee" definition).
2. Respondent Bernard Keifer was employed as a truck driver by petitioner Holt Cargo Systems. Pet. App. 11a. During the course of his employment, on June 16, 1993, respondent Keifer was injured at petitioner's marine terminal when a piece of steel pipe he was helping to load onto his trailer fell on his finger. Id. at 4a, 12a. While in petitioner's employ, respondent Keifer spent 95% of his time transporting cargo from petitioner's terminals to other piers and warehouses and picking up empty containers and returning them to the terminals. Id. at 5a-6a, 11a-12a. He also transported equipment used in the ship loading and unloading process around the terminals to and from repair areas. Id. at 6a, 12a; see also Pet. 4. Respondent Keifer testified at the hearing in this case that he transported such equipment as often as four to six times a month, or as rarely as once a month, and he estimated that during the six months preceding his injury he had performed such work approximately 20 times. Pet. App. 6a, 17a. In addition, "at least some of the time, [petitioner's] supervisors directed [c]laimant to * * * [drive equipment on and off the trailer] or were aware that he was doing it." Id. at 17a. On other occasions, he voluntarily "assisted other employees in loading the trailer." Id. at 16a.
3. Respondent Keifer sought benefits under the LHWCA for disability arising out of the injury to his finger. The parties stipulated that Keifer was injured on a covered situs, see p. 2, supra; that he had suffered a period of temporary disability because of his injury; and that he had sustained a permanent disability in the form of a 17.5% loss of the use of his finger. Pet. App. 10a-11a. The claim was referred for hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). The sole issue in dispute was whether Keifer was an "employee" within the meaning of 33 U.S.C. 902(3). Pet. App. 11a.
The ALJ held that Keifer was not a covered employee and accordingly denied his claim for benefits. Pet. App. 9a-18a. The ALJ stated that "as the question is whether [c]laimant, overall, was a longshore employee or a non-longshore employee, the nature of the duties he was performing at the specific time he was injured is all but irrelevant." Id. at 15a-16a. The ALJ therefore declined to consider Keifer's contention that he "was actively participating in the loading of the cargo from the vessel at the time his injuries were sustained." Id. at 15a. The ALJ concluded that Keifer's primary work activity of hauling cargo to and from the terminal, which occupied 95% of his work time, was not covered activity. Id. at 16a. The ALJ rejected Keifer's argument that his maritime "status" was established by his duties transporting equipment, used in the loading and unloading of cargo, around the terminal to and from a repair shop. The ALJ agreed with Keifer that such activity was covered longshore work. Id. at 17a (citing Chesapeake & O. Ry. v. Schwalb, 493 U.S. 40 (1989)). He concluded, however, that because those activities constituted "at the very most" five percent of Keifer's work, they were "not an essential part of his job duties and [were] proportionally too minor to allow him to be considered an employee under Section 2(3) of the Act." Pet. App. 17a, 18a.
4. The Benefits Review Board (Board) reversed. Pet. App. 3a-8a. It stated that "[a] claimant's time need not be spent primarily in longshoring operations if the time spent is more than episodic or momentary." Id. at 5a. The Board noted that petitioner had not challenged the ALJ's finding that Keifer spent five percent of his time in activity essential to the loading and unloading process. Id. at 8a. It held that Keifer had thereby established his entitlement to benefits under the LHWCA, and it remanded for entry of an award of permanent partial disability benefits. Ibid.1
5. Petitioner sought review in the court of appeals. The court of appeals issued a judgment order, without opinion, affirming the Board's decision. Pet. App. 1a-2a.
The Benefits Review Board applied the correct legal standard in resolving this case. The court of appeals' unpublished ruling affirming the Board's decision does not conflict with any decision of this Court or any other court of appeals. Further review is not warranted.
1. The court of appeals affirmed by judgment order the Benefits Review Board's ruling that an employee satisfies the LHWCA's status requirement if he is regularly engaged in maritime employment for some portion of his work time. The Board correctly recognized that a worker may come within the LHWCA's definition of "employee" even though his duties are not primarily maritime in nature, so long as his maritime activities are more than "momentary" or "episodic." Pet. App. 5a. That approach finds direct support in Northeast Marine Terminal Co. v. Caputo, 432 U.S. 249 (1977), in which this Court observed that "when Congress said it wanted to cover 'longshoremen,' it had in mind persons whose employment is such that they spend at least some of their time in indisputably longshoring operations." Id. at 273 (emphasis added).2 See also Chesapeake & O. Ry. v. Schwalb, 493 U.S. 40, 46 (1989) ("the LHWCA, as amended, cover[s] all those on the situs involved in the essential or integral elements of the loading or unloading process") (emphasis added).
The LHWCA broadly defines "employee" to include "any person engaged in maritime employment," 33 U.S.C. 902(3), a definition that calls for an "expansive view" of LHWCA coverage. Northeast Marine Terminal, 432 U.S. at 265, 268. The decision in this case is consistent with the statutory text and promotes Congress's purpose of covering those workers on an LHWCA situs who perform some portion of the process of moving cargo from a ship to land transportation. See P. C. Pfeiffer Co. v. Ford, 444 U.S. 69, 82-84 (1979). Accordingly, those courts of appeals that have considered the question have ruled, based on Northeast Marine Terminal, that a claimant satisfies the LHWCA's status test if he is regularly engaged for some portion of his time in maritime employment. See Boudloche v. Howard Trucking Co., 632 F.2d 1346, 1347-1348 (5th Cir. 1980) (truck driver who spent 2.5 to 5% of his time loading or unloading vessels at unequipped piers, and some additional time assisting in loading and unloading at equipped piers, is covered), cert. denied, 452 U.S. 915 (1981); Schwabenland v. Sanger Boats, 683 F.2d 309, 311-312 (9th Cir. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1170 (1983); Graziano v. General Dynamics Corp., 663 F.2d 340, 343-344 (1st Cir. 1981).
Contrary to petitioner's suggestion (Pet. 6-8), the legislative history of the 1972 amendments to the LHWCA does not cast doubt on the legal standard employed by the Board in this case. The Committee Reports accompanying those amendments indicate that the Act should not be construed to cover workers who are injured on a covered situs but who are "not engaged in the overall process of loading and unloading vessels." Northeast Marine Terminal, 432 U.S. at 267; see also id. at 266 n.27 ("employees whose responsibility is only to pick up stored cargo for further trans-shipment would not be covered") (emphasis added). The Reports do not suggest that a worker must be primarily engaged in maritime activities in order to come within the Act's coverage.
Although the ALJ's findings are ambiguous on this point, see Pet. App. 17a-18a & n.3, the Board understood the ALJ to have found that respondent Keifer spent five percent of his time in covered activity, id. at 7a. Petitioner appears to accept that view of the evidence. See Pet. 3 ("95% of Keifer's time in the employment of Petitioner was involved in non maritime land based transportation of cargo"), 4-5. We agree with the Board that a worker who is regularly assigned maritime duties that take up five percent of his time is an "employee" within the meaning of the Act, and that such a level of regular activity cannot be deemed "episodic," "momentary," or de minimis for purposes of the LHWCA status inquiry.3
2. The decision below does not conflict with any decision of another court of appeals. As we explain above, see pp. 6-7, supra, those courts of appeals that have addressed the quantum of maritime duties that workers must perform in order to meet the LHWCA status test have adopted the "some of their time" formulation employed by the Benefits Review Board in this case.
Contrary to petitioner's assertion (Pet. 11), the court of appeals' disposition of this case does not conflict with the decision of the Ninth Circuit in Dorris v. Director, OWCP, 808 F.2d 1362 (1987).4 The court in Dorris observed that "[t]he status requirement is satisfied where a person spends 'at least some of [his] time in indisputably longshoring operations.'" Id. at 1364 (quoting Northeast Marine Terminal, 432 U.S. at 273). Its holding that Dorris failed to satisfy the Act's status requirement was based on the ALJ's factual finding that "if Dorris engaged in any longshoring type of work it was only on an episodic basis." Ibid.
The court in Dorris did not suggest that a worker must be primarily engaged in maritime duties in order to qualify for LHWCA benefits. To the contrary, it recognized that the Fifth Circuit in Boudlouche had found the status requirement to be satisfied where a worker spent 2.5 to 5% of his time in maritime activities. 808 F.2d at 1365. The Dorris court did not express disagreement with the Fifth Circuit's resolution of that case; it simply explained that Dorris, unlike Boudlouche, "was neither expected to nor assigned to perform longshoring work." Ibid. Nothing in Dorris is inconsistent with the Third Circuit's determination that respondent Keifer, whose regularly assigned duties included maritime activity that occupied approximately 5% of his time, was an "employee" within the meaning of the LHWCA.
The petition for a writ of certiorari should be denied.
Respectfully submitted.
Solicitor General
Deputy Solicitor for
National Operations
Associate Solicitor
Deputy Associate Solicitor
Department of Labor
1 We note that a sentence from the Board's opinion is not fully reproduced in the appendix to the petition for a writ of certiorari. The italicized words are omitted from the final sentence at Pet. App. 7a, which should read: "Thus, although claimant's work duties in this regard were infrequent, those duties were a regular part of claimant's assigned overall duties and cannot be said to have been discretionary or extraordinary." (emphasis added).
2 The full quotation in Northeast Marine Terminal states that "when Congress said it wanted to cover 'longshoremen,' it had in mind persons whose employment is such that they spend at least some of their time in indisputably longshoring operations and who, without the 1972 Amendments, would be covered only for part of their activity." 432 U.S. at 273. Because only injuries on navigable waters were covered by the LHWCA before the 1972 amendments, that statement might be read to suggest that Congress's expansion of coverage in 1972 was designed to bring within the Act's reach only those workers who perform some of their duties on navigable waters. That view, however, was rejected in P. C. Pfeiffer Co. v. Ford, 444 U.S. 69 (1979), which held that the Act's coverage is not limited to workers who "could have been assigned" to work over navigable waters. Id. at 77-78. Thus, a worker meets the LHWCA status requirement if he spends some of his time in longshoring operations, even if that time is spent solely on the land areas adjoining navigable waters falling within the LHWCA situs definition.
3 The maritime status of a worker can be based either upon his activity at the moment of injury or upon his maritime occupation as a whole. See generally Northeast Marine Terminal, 432 U.S. at 271 (resolving a claimant's status based on activities at time of injury), 272-274 (reserving question of whether another claimant's activity at time of injury was covered activity, and resolving the claimant's status based on his potential overall tasks); Chesapeake & O. Ry., 493 U.S. at 43, 47 (finding coverage of employee on basis of activity at time of injury), 49 (Blackmun, J., concurring) (noting that claimants need not have been engaged at time of injury in covered activity; crucial factor is activity to which they "may be assigned"). Although the petition appears to assume that respondent Keifer was engaged in non-maritime activities at the time of his injury, see Pet. i, 10, Keifer has taken the contrary position, see Pet. App. 15a, and the ALJ declined to resolve that dispute, see id. at 15a-16a. In our view, the ALJ erred in treating as irrelevant the nature of the activities in which Keifer was engaged at the time of his injury. That error did not affect the ultimate disposition of the case, however, in light of the Board's conclusion that Keifer was covered on the basis of his overall duties, which include regular maritime activity.
4 Petitioner also argues (Pet. 11) that the decision below conflicts with the Third Circuit's own decision in Sea-Land Service, Inc. v. Rock, 953 F.2d 56 (1992). Even if that contention were correct, an intra-circuit conflict would not warrant this Court's review. "It is primarily the task of a Court of Appeals to reconcile its internal difficulties." Wisniewski v. United States, 353 U.S. 901, 902 (1957). In any event, no conflict exists. The court in Sea-Land held that the claimant's driving of a courtesy van for visitors, executives, and crew members at a marine terminal was insufficiently related to loading and unloading of vessels to be considered maritime employment. 953 F.2d at 60-67. The court also ruled that the claimant's occasional transport of longshoremen, who were normally transported by a separate bus and whose transport was not included in the claimant's job description, was "infrequent activity undertaken by the employee" that did not provide a basis for coverage. Id. at 67; see also id. at 61 ("neither the Court nor Congress intended to expand coverage to those wholly uninvolved with ship-building or loading or unloading cargo"). Nothing in Sea-Land suggests that coverage under the LHWCA is limited to workers who are primarily assigned to maritime duties.


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If you took my advice for ending the year with the ultimate cured-meats orgy, perhaps you're now among the many who want to give meat (and animal products in general) a break in 2016. Yes, I'm talking about veganism—or, if you're turned off by that term, a plant-based diet. We all know such regimes are better for our bodies, the planet and the animals. But vegan food can be boring and bland to the uninitiated. As chef and author Tal Ronnen explains, however, it doesn't have to be.
While Ronnen's not a Las Vegas resident, the Valley arguably has no greater expert on vegan cuisine. The already renowned chef was recruited by Steve Wynn four years ago to consult on vegan menus for every restaurant in Wynn and Encore. Ronnen has prepared the meals for Oprah's 21-day vegan cleanse, catered Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's vegan wedding and prepared the first vegan dinner served to the U.S. Senate. And his Melrose Avenue vegan restaurant Crossroads has become an L.A. hot spot. So the guy knows how to make sophisticated, delicious food without relying on animal products, and he's sharing his knowledge in his second book Crossroads: Extraordinary Recipes From the Restaurant That Is Reinventing Vegan Cuisine. In the spirit of a healthier new year, I asked Ronnen to talk about how a vegan diet can move beyond vegetables, rice, soy and seitan.
"Cooking this way for 14 years, you constantly have to come up with new ideas. I always like re-creating foods that people can't imagine you'd have in a plant-based diet. Whether it's heavy creams [made] by soaking raw cashews and making your own 'milk,' shaving raw walnuts and seasoning them to give the texture and flavor of raw Parmesan cheese, making really great stocks [using] butter substitutes or coconut oils—there's really a way to replace every animal product."
"We created a whole tower with 'prosciutto' made out of shitakes, 'calamari' made from hearts of palms and a 'crab Louis' salad. And everybody gave it rave reviews." – Chef Tal Ronnen.
"The big thing in L.A. this year was seafood and shellfish towers," he continues by way of example. "And we thought, 'How can we do a vegan seafood tower at the restaurant?' So we got these beautiful lobster mushrooms from Oregon; they smell and have the texture of lobster. We created a whole tower with 'prosciutto' made out of shitakes, 'calamari' made from hearts of palms and a 'crab Louis' salad. And everybody gave it rave reviews."
Flip through the book and you'll be amazed by some of the dishes he offers. I was pretty surprised to see a take on spinach and artichoke dip, which is usually loaded with sour cream and cream cheese. He substitutes kale for spinach for a peppery kick, cashew cream for a creamy texture and uses non-dairy Earth Balance brand "butter" sticks. Other recipes in the book include much more sophisticated dishes, such as acorn squash ravioli with black garlic butter sauce and oven-roasted Romanesco (a relative of broccoli) with onion agrodolce (sweet and sour) sauce and grappa.
Of course, if you don't want to cook at home and you're not up for a trip to L.A., there are plenty of opportunities to sample Ronnen's inspirations on the Strip. When Wynn converted to veganism, he decreed that all of his restaurants offer vegan menus. Four years into consulting with the properties on those programs, Ronnen says it has been well received by the resorts' customers and chefs.
"We were kind of ahead of the game," Ronnen says. "With anything new, you have a lot of skeptics. But in the first year, we turned a lot of people's minds. And now, it almost seems normal that when a new venue opens on property or we do a seasonal menu change, everybody always looks forward to it. The chefs on the properties are the best at their game. And all throughout the year I'll get texts from them with ideas. People have embraced what they're doing. It's [no longer] such a strange thing."
If 2016 is your year to try veganism, it's never been easier to put down the lobster and pick up the lobster mushrooms.


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Can you believe I am actually blogging as promised?! That's because Daddy and JJ are playing downstairs while I upload photos and write! Must be quick here. Here are the results from Friday's wedding cake test run. This is a cake I'm making for a friend's wedding in July, and we had the tasting on Friday afternoon. I did a vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream and lemon curd, and chocolate cake with chocolate ganache. Both flavours turned out great, and we decided to use chocolate buttercream instead of ganache for a lighter textured cake.
Kate was deciding between two styles, both Martha Stewart designs, for her Fourth of July wedding. She loved the berry basket cake, which would look great as a whole but would be potentially disastrous when cut into (can you imagine putting a knife through all that fruit? I'm picturing berries rolling everywhere and bleeding juices). The daisy cake, on the other hand, would cut much better, and looks pretty and fresh. And more wedding-y, if you ask me. That's what we're going with. But I did mock-ups in both.
Some minor disasters didn't stop me from making my deadline, although I did have to recruit help from Daddy after my buttercream decided to curdle. Daddy made the accompanying strawberry sauce, which was delicious, fresh, and a lovely bright red.
Let's have a look at my handiwork:
There are about 55 daisies on this little 6" cake! I'll have to make hundreds and hundreds for the real thing, but at least I have 3 weeks to get the decorations done. I usually do two layers of petals for daisies, but with this many flowers on the cake, luckily it's unnecessary. (second of all, it would be the end of me to make hundreds of double daisies. I would have to cut out a THOUSAND to get the number I needed). Daisy-making will commence this week.
The actual top tier will be an inch taller and more densely covered in daisies like the photo. We might even make a 4-tier cake depending on the total number of guests, but it's possible we stick with 3-tiers and just do a few smaller cakes on the side.
Here's the basket cake, which did look beautiful. The weave is done with a leaf tip, which I thought was a nice innovation. It didn't look as stuffy and old-fashioned as a traditional basket weave, and it also didn't matter if my lines weren't piped perfectly. Unfortunately, this was a mess to cut if we didn't scoop the berries off first, which I doubt the banquet servers would be willing to do on a 130-person cake. Pretty though, eh?
I'm a little nervous about having the responsibility of making someone's wedding cake, but I'm sure it will be fine. Let's just hope it isn't the hottest day of the year that day, and that everything goes smoothly with the transportation. My fridge is going to be filled with nothing but cake that weekend, so Daddy and I are going to have to be creative about what to eat for dinners!


text: Not the most entertaining video, but still very interesting from a technical point of view. This HD video shows in detail (no cut) the complete start up procedure of a rafale with the different systems check (well, we can only see the external one like the control surfaces and break checks of course...). Besides, it allows us to admire the nice paint scheme of the aircraft :)


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Monthly Archives: February 2011
Dutch hair
One thing you might notice about Dutch men is that, aside from being tall and good looking, many of them… need a haircut. I haven't quite figured out why, but many Dutch blokes, especially young university students, have this very … Continue reading
My mouth actually bled this morning when brushing my teeth because I burned the roof of my mouth the other night when eating bitterballen. Each time I eat them, I burn my mouth, but they are so good I keep … Continue reading
Grocery shopping of the future
Do you remember the Jetsons? Well, its futuristic vision has arrived… at our local grocery store. It's the wave of the future, in the milk aisle. And I love it. Last week at work it was my department's turn to go down … Continue reading
Jobs with benefits
So last week this random guy I've never seen before shows up at the office and, throughout the day, starts approaching people individually to meet with them one-on-one in the back meeting room. I just assumed he was some sort of … Continue reading
Boekwinkels / Lesbian Literature
One thing I love about Holland is the plethora of independent bookstores. In our town, Utrecht, there are loads, each one with its own specialty. In our neighbourhood alone, there is a travel bookstore, a children's bookstore, a used bookstore, … Continue reading
Surinaamse Broodjes
This is another "exotic" cuisine I've been itching to try out since coming to Holland. If you aren't Dutch and you didn't know a country named Suriname exists, then I won't blame you, seeing as it is the smallest state on … Continue reading
I thought doughnuts were an American thing, until I ate great ones in Germany, Holland, and even Tunisia. Likewise, if you think apple pie is American, then I hate to break it to you, but… the Dutch do it even … Continue reading


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Jon realized that his style was nothing like Maya's, who is an interior designer with specific style preferences. While he played it off to her like he wasn't ready (i.e. "Why the rush?), we accessed her Pinterest to create a gold and white themed wedding proposal. That evening, Jon invited Maya to a Cirque du Soleil show. Before the show, he claimed that he had to do a quick site check for a commercial space.
Just like her Pinterest, there was a white sheer arch with hanging orbs and photos was a backdrop. In front sat a table with clear Louis chairs. A sparkling sequined runner cascaded off the table, leading to a circle of floating candles. While Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" played softly in the background, Maya burst into tears of disbelief when Jon asked her to be his wife. Needless to say, he was ready.
"I had a fantastic experience with Luxe Proposals. They listened to what I had in mind, while being friendly and very responsive. It was a very easy process and my fiancée couldn't be happier. She noticed all the fine details and we will never forget that moment. They seriously nailed it.
Couldn't have pulled this perfect wedding proposal off without them!" – Jon P.
Proposal Planning – Luxe Proposals
Photography – Christine Pienaar
Florals – Flower Factory
Decor Rentals – Taffete Designs
Venue – The Pipe Shop Shipyards in North Vancouver


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I played a follow on Meeting Engagement of Tank on Tank: Eastfront against my daughter this morning, with a German Kampfruppe of Panthers, a Tiger and armoured infantry with artillery support, against a Soviet armoured force of KV85's and a single Katyusha battery. The end result was a total defeat for the Soviets and a virtual walkover for the Germans, who lost a couple of Panthers late in the game but wiped out the Soviets in short order, using a combination of artillery fire and Panthers hidden in the woods and town hexes. I was completely out manoeuvred by a nine year old but will get my own back in the next encounter!
Welcome to my 'Beer and Pretzels' style lead and paint free wargaming blog. I prefer a nice cuppa and a decent doorstep sarnie with my wargaming, so it's time to get a brew on! This blog will follow my occasional adventures in low complexity, one brain cell, not too serious hex and counter, 'off the shelf' miniature and 'print and play' paper wargaming.
Airfix Battles (5) Ancient Fleets (4) Aquitaine (1) Atlantic Fleet (7) Battle for Britain (1) Battlecars (2) Blood Sweat and Cheers (1) Blue Max (1) Captains Bold (1) Close Combat (2) Command and Colours (1) Cry Havoc (1) Dungeon Crawl (5) Dungeon! (1) Escape from Colditz (4) Exploding Kittens (1) Fleets in Profile (1) Le Temps de As (1) Ludus Gladiatorius (1) Micro Fleet Napoleonic Naval (3) Midgard (1) Mr Jack (1) MTB (4) No Honor In Surrender (1) Rifles in the Ardennes (1) Sails and Powder (3) Samurai Blades (2) Star Wars: Empire vs Rebellion (1) Table Air Combat (35) Tacship (4) Tank on Tank (22) Tanks (2) The King is Dead (1) Victory at Sea (3) Wings of War (4) X Wing (11) Zombies (4)
Thursday, 20 April 2017
Tank on Tank: Eastfront - Soviet Smash
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I am a patriot and proud of what America is supposed to be, but horribly saddened and disappointed by what my country has become. My father fought in the Vietnam War, my brother just finished his third tour of duty in Iraq, and I was once a proud law enforcement officer – I fought our nation's War on Drugs from 1990 to 1998. Since then, I have realized the error of my ways and no longer do police work. You and I know that it is an unreasonable invasion of privacy to search or arrest anybody for marijuana, yet our courts and government do nothing to protect citizens from law enforcement abuse. Police do not believe that you, as a suspected law-breaker, have any rights. There was no training in constitutional law for me as a police officer. We were constantly brainwashed with the "greater good" argument when it came to discussing suspects' rights: "It is acceptable to violate civil rights if it leads to a drug seizure because the 'greater good' of saving our children from drugs is more important than those rights – rights that are being misused to protect criminals, anyway." Of course, I now know this argument is flawed and leads to dangerous mindsets. It's bad government policy in the form of drug prohibition that is causing death and destruction.
Of the total 2,245,000 people in the US prison population (in 2006) approximately 55,000 were incarcerated in state and federal prisons for marijuana, and up to 1,100,000 for drug offenses of all other kinds. Over a million people are locked up for drugs in the so-called "land of the free", where our Declaration of Independence says that "liberty" and "the pursuit of happiness" are inalienable, fundamental, the basis upon which all other laws and rights proceed. Yet sixteen percent of all life sentences in America today – one in six – are for "drug offenses", and Americans can even qualify for the death penalty if convicted of producing or trafficking more than 132,000 pounds (60,000 kilograms) of marijuana. (If Marc Emery were an American he would face the death penalty, because the DEA is holding him responsible for 1,100,000 pounds of cannabis – even though he sold only seeds!) Not only do people die behind bars, lives are also ruined outside prison facilities as a result of this mass imprisonment. I can recall the horrified faces of children after I smashed into their homes to arrest their parents for marijuana; the kids were herded away to foster homes and government agencies while their parents were sent to jail. If the government didn't take the house and assets, lawyers would drain the parents of whatever money they had. The Drug War has imprisoned hundreds of thousands of parents, leaving a staggering number of children without a mother and/or father. Those young people are missing an extremely important influence in the household, and that often leads troubled youth to seek leadership elsewhere, perhaps getting them involved with gangs and committing a crime, and ultimately landing them in the prison system – maybe with children of their own on the outside, perpetuating the vicious cycle. Did you know there are even families living together in prisons, as babies are born to incarcerated mothers? I'm not sure if that's better or worse than completely breaking up families, but if anything it's a symbol of our perverted prison industry and justice system.
When I think of my own children growing up in this world, I am concerned about their freedoms and rights and appalled at the system I was once part of. As such, I'm determined to undo as much harm as possible – and for me that means fully confessing my sins and offering insight into what police do to get you to incriminate yourself and play right into their hands… or handcuffs! Bobby Mims, a very skilled defense attorney, explained my goals best: "Barry is trying to keep people out of jail, not prepare them for the courtroom!"
There were two things I did regularly as a narcotics officer to manipulate people's 4th Amendment right of protection against unreasonable search and seizure. I will share those tactics to demonstrate how little respect police have for the 4th Amendment, and also provide tips on how to counter such police abuse. These manipulative tactics were not formally taught in classes, but were shared amongst officers in the privacy of police station hallways and patrol cars. The scenario is written as though I were still a narcotics instructor outlining to a new recruit how to effectively make drug seizures.
MISSION: To manipulate citizens into giving consent to search their homes. TACTIC: You can only raid a home if a credible informant saw or purchased drugs from the location. Mere suspicion and an anonymous tip – such as Crime Stoppers – is not legally enough to obtain a search warrant. Because we cannot get permission from a judge to force entry, simply knock on the door of the suspected house and engage in a conversation. These are called "Knock and Talks" or "Tap and Raps." When they open the door, be very friendly as you explain why you're there.
Officer: Hello, I'm Investigator Cooper with the Permian Basin Drug Task Force. Is the owner of the house present? (Establish ownership.)
Suspect: I'm the owner. (They are always nervous after hearing you're a drug cop, so use this to your advantage.)
Officer: I'm here because I heard there are drugs in your house, and instead of taking the time to get a search warrant to have 20 of us raid your home tonight, I thought it would be better for your kids if you just told me what you have, and we will go from there. (At this point they usually admit to their crime and show you their stash. If not, the reply is usually…)
Suspect: But I don't have any drugs, officer. (The more polite or understanding they seem, the more suspicious you should be. A truly innocent person shows anger when being accused of something they haven't done. Criminals often side with
police by trying to appear as law abiding.)
Officer: Then I can search your house? (Say this boldly, and don't be ashamed to do what you are doing.)
Suspect: Ah, well, umm… I'd rather not! (Remember, any hesitation or wavering while answering this question – we call it a 'bobble' or 'bobbling' – are a sign they are likely hiding something.)
Officer: Okay, I'm going to get on my radio and call for backup while I obtain a search warrant, because I smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside your home. You can just go ahead and let me search really quickly, or put me through the process of obtaining a warrant and everybody goes to jail and we will seize your home. In fact, I suggest you go ahead and show me your stash now, because I can tell you're lying and trying to hide something. (I've never had a person challenge me and declare I must go and get a warrant; they have always given me their stash or allowed me to search. My largest bust on a 'knock and talk' was 235 pounds of pot! Note: threatening to bring drug dogs doesn't work at households the same way as it does with vehicles, because courts have ruled a K-9 alert on a house is not probable cause for a search.)
I'll never forget the first NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) member I encountered during one of these unfair tap and raps. Upon opening the door, the suspect stepped onto his porch and locked the door behind him; his action was alarming to me since I had never seen it before, and by locking the door he was communicating that he did not want me in the house. That meant he was certainly hiding something, so by claiming I smelled marijuana when he opened the door, and then threatening him with a search warrant, I soon talked him into giving me his stash. An attorney with good intentions had written the pamphlet I found on his dresser next to his half-ounce of pot; unfortunately, that attorney was not present to intimidate or argue with me, and therefore did not help him. At the time, I had never heard of NORML (I now support NORML and am currently a member of the Dallas, Texas Chapter), but years after leaving law enforcement I learned that the "lock the door behind you" technique was being taught to reformers. Having been part of the police gang, however, I know that a number of attorney tips work only on paper and not in the field. NORML didn't worry me as a police officer – it's the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) that makes cops nervous! They have a huge team of lawyers and are always watching, and suing, the police.
It is a much better idea to never, ever open the door to police. NEVER! I cannot stress this enough. You can answer the door just don't open it. How? I suggest you converse with the cops through the door or a nearby locked window; if this is uncomfortable for you, ask for a police dispatcher to call your phone so the cop can express what he wants. (This advice is much more thoroughly explained in my previous article "Protect Your Stash At Home", CC #68 – order a back issue on page 94!) If you open the door, a cop can use the "I smell marijuana" trick, which can lead to a genuine search warrant. If they already have a warrant, ask them to slip it under the door, and if they don't have a warrant, you don't have to let them in. I even advise that if a cop slides a search warrant under your door, read it, stand back, and advise them to force entry! Never open the door to a cop. It is not safe. Citizens are under no legal obligation to let law enforcement into their home. While a 911 call gives the officer a "right to be there", it does not give them the right to enter your house. If the officer gathers clues telling him a person's safety is at risk – such as hearing screams, seeing physical signs of violence or an assault, or not seeing the person who called in a panic – having the "right to be there" because of the call, he may force entry. But a simple 911 hang-up with no answer at the door, or a calm person at the residence assuring everything is okay, means the officer must leave. In the US, police have no other legal choice.
In Canada, however, police will insist on entering the home to search around after any accidental or supposed 911 calls. I say 'supposed' because Canadian police have been known to claim that "a 911 call came from this house, we have to ensure everyone is safe" and gain entry. Over 200 busts have been done that way since 2002! The worst part is that Canadian courts have upheld busts made by police when they invent an emergency 911 call that was, in fact, never made. Another scam in Canada appears to be police bartering with lowlife criminals arrested in some dubious marijuana or drug related charge. The police pry for information about where marijuana is being grown, which mysteriously leads to a call allegedly coming to police "from neighbors" that a home burglary is in progress. Police then enter the "burglarized" premises where they find a grow garden or dried marijuana, and can make a conviction and arrest without the need or use of a warrant. It is also very common for police in Canada to get a warrant over the phone after the fact, meaning they illegally enter, find contraband, then call in to the pliant Justice of the Peace – who, incredibly, does not tell the police that a warrant after the fact is illegal and unconstitutional and recommend they withdraw, but instead gives them the warrant!
MISSION: To manipulate the citizen into giving you consent to search their vehicle. TACTIC: The first thing to remember is you can search any vehicle you choose… and I mean any vehicle. Hundreds of seizures are made that way! There are easy ways to get suspects to give in to a search, especially if they're in possession.
Officer: Good evening sir. The reason I stopped you is because I noticed you failed to maintain a single marked lane. (Whether they did or not, this is a perfect probable cause to use for initiating a traffic stop. If you feel uncomfortable lying about the swerving, then just follow the car long enough until it does wobble – which is usually from nervousness because they're being followed by police.)
Suspect: Oh, I'm sorry officer, I thought I was driving pretty straight.
Officer: Nope. You weaved over the highway marker back there. Maybe you're just tired or something; but no problem, just let me see your driver's license and insurance from the glove box, and you'll be on your way with a warning. (Make sure to scan the glove box for evidence as they open it. The motorist should become happy at this point because he believes a simple review of his driver's license and insurance will result in his quick release and no ticket. This helps the suspect relax and calm fears that would otherwise cause him to get defensive and prepare for a lengthy police encounter. Always issue the warning citation before asking for consent, because the courts have ruled the motorist is actually free to leave after being issued the citation, and granting consent to search while free to leave is proof he was not coerced.)
Officer: Sign here, please. This is only a warning, and doesn't cost you anything. We're mainly out here looking for contraband such as drugs, drug money, and weapons. Do you have anything like that with you today? (If the suspect replies with any answer other than a sharp "No," be suspicious. If he bobbles or seems unsure, be suspicious.)
Suspect: Ah, well, no – of course not. (Suspect bobbled and was unsure, so he's hiding something.)
Officer: Then you won't mind if I take a look through your car? (Same as above. If the answer is anything but a determined "no" or if they bobble before giving you permission, be suspicious.)
Suspect: Well, actually, I'm kind of in a hurry to get home… my wife is feeling sick. (These are the two top reasons drug couriers give as an excuse to decline the consent. If a motorist ever mentions being in a hurry, or someone is sick, be highly suspicious.)
Officer: I won't take long, and you have the right to refuse consent. But I have the right to walk my drug dog around your car – and let me tell you, he doesn't miss anything! In fact, if you have as much as one marijuana seed in your car, he'll alert and then we'll have to search your car without your permission. Now, do you have anything in there I should know about, or are you going to put me through all that trouble? (Say this in a manner that communicates you can turn into an asshole really quickly if they don't give in to your demands. This strategy also sets up the idea that the motorist can choose whether the dog or cop makes the search. The motorists in possession will always choose a cop search because cops are human and dogs are superhuman. We know the dog will not alert on one tiny seed, but the motorist doesn't. Perception to them is reality.)
Suspect: Oh no, Officer, I didn't mean it that way – of course you can search. And, by the way, I understand you officers have a hard job, and I don't want to make it harder. (You now have consent and a motorist understanding what you are doing. Be suspicious of the "sticky sweet" motorist like this, as it's a sign of trying to get along with you because they are hiding something. Generally, the motorist who displays agitation and is pissed off at your actions is innocent.)
When a drug cop asks for permission to search your auto, there are only two options: Give permission to search or deny permission to search. This has always been a hotly contested issue! The "rule of thumb" has been to always exercise your 4th Amendment right and refuse consent to search. This has been mandated by the reformers and preached by their attorneys: always refuse to
consent, in every situation. But I have a problem with that inflexible advice, and hope to convince you that refusals are not the only viable option to these types of police encounters. When I was a cop and pulling people over, motorists who casually and politely gave permission to search as though there was absolutely nothing to hide would get a quick look-over and let go, because they were considered an unexciting, fruitless exercise (from a police perspective). I would be brief with them in order to get back on the road making busts… which was much more likely with suspects who refused consent to search!
We must begin changing our strategy in regards to how we deal with law enforcement, and more importantly, how we teach others to deal with law enforcement. Although refusing does work in some instances, it rarely stops the police from searching you. In eight years of policing, I never allowed a motorist to leave after they refused to consent to a search. NEVER. To cops, that represents allowing the suspect to disobey authority and get away with it. As a police officer, I was never punished for holding up a suspect who refused consent, nor did I ever lose evidence in a suppression hearing due to illegal searches. The unfortunate truth is that courts do very little to uphold the 4th Amendment and rarely suppress evidence gained through circumventions of citizen rights. In my experience, very few suspects beat their case on being searched illegally; refusal to search most often does not offer protection, especially in this modern-day Police State of America. I really believe that consenting to a search when you've been smart in hiding your stash can offer much more protection than refusal to search ever can. When I first released my "Never Get Busted: Traffic Stops" DVD, I explained that advice clearly: if a person has a small amount hidden really well in their automobile, it is a better idea to give police permission to search than to refuse – for the same reasons I explain here. Some reformers and attorneys who steadfastly endorse refusing all searches really got upset with me, claiming I had given the worst advice possible and could not be trusted by anyone. The problem is that a lot of those people learn all about rights, laws, and rules meant to protect citizens… but forget that our police and government don't care about rights, and control the laws. We all know that the Drug War certainly doesn't play by any rules. Thankfully, I have met more reformers and attorneys who regard my advice as prudent in certain circumstances. They realize refusing consent only triggers more prying, more searching officers arriving on scene and guaranteed K-9 sniff searches, leaving very little chance of your stash going undetected.
Jeff Steinborn, one of NORML's board members and drug attorney for 40-plus years, says, "I see where Barry's point is valid in the sense that the problem with dogs is they are a way for an unscrupulous officer to completely circumvent the 4th Amendment and the judicial scrutiny it demands. The phrase in America 'No, you can't search my car' doesn't always mean you won't get searched." In his decades of defending pot people, Steinborn has seen every scenario and trick, and realizes refusing consent is sometimes meaningless because of the huge powers given to K-9 teams (thoroughly covered in my article "Understanding Drug Dogs" in CC #67). Steinborn does insist that he has won at least a dozen cases in the past four years based on cops searching when told not to do so. "In many, if not most, cases it gives your lawyer a better chance of winning on down the road if you refuse consent," he claims, which I never saw in my personal record-making drug seizure history. But he does concede I have a point: "Nevertheless, there are clearly times you have to use your judgment and decide if it is better to resist or cooperate."
Here's a non-controversial (and somewhat entertaining, though possibly a little costly) tactic I think should be employed more often by Americans. If you are pulled over and not carrying any contraband, act suspicious and refuse when asked for consent to search. If the cops use claims or K-9s to manipulate their way into your car and find nothing (drug dog alerts are often false, as covered thoroughly in CC #67), you can sue them for an illegal search – although litigation can be expensive, time-consuming and emotionally draining. But trust me: cops are highly allergic to lawsuits, and avoid them at all costs. I believe jamming our federal courts with litigation against the police is one of the most highly overlooked weapons hidden deep in the war chests of Americans. A large volume of lawsuits complaining of police misconduct – specifically, searches and arrests for non-violent drug offenses – would cause alarm bells to ring in police insurance companies, state legislatures, the US Congress, the Federal judiciary, and the Justice Department. My next column will detail the behind-the-scenes effect lawsuits have on the police, and will also explain how a US citizen can file a lawsuit in Federal Court in less than a week and for only $350! It really works – I did it myself, and can't wait to teach you how and why!


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Health Insurance can be termed as the insurance, which cover all the medical costs involved in the treatment of illness or disease. At sometimes fixed contingencies have to be made in advance to overcome future mishap and thus, the need of health insurance arise. It's always beneficial to have a Health Insurance Policy so as to avoid hefty treatment and medication costs.
Health insurance is just securing your future towards safe health but its also a major necessity in today's modern life too.
Depending on the type of policy availed, either insured person pays the cost of treatment and get reimbursement later or the insurer makes payment on the behalf of the insured person. The policyholders get avail lots of health benefits depending upon the kind os health insurance policy one has opted for.
Presently, there are numerous health insurance companies in India, but to select the best one is really a difficult task. To solve this problem, here is the list of Top 10 Health Insurance Companies in India.
10. Star Health and Allied Insurance
Star Health and Allied Insurance offers Health Insurance Plans under the name of "Star Shri Individual Care" and "Star Shri Family Care".
This company has secured the tenth position in the list of Top 10 Health Insurance Companies in India.
9. National Insurance Company
National Insurance Company (NIC) came into existence in the year 1906 and provides a complete insurance solution in the form of Health Insurance, Car Insurance, Accidental Insurance, Home Insurance, etc. Mediclaim Policy and Parivaar Mediclaim are the Health Insurance Plans offered by this company.
8. HDFC Ergo
HDFC ERGO occupies the sixth position in the list of top 10 best health insurance companies in India. Multiple Award Winner, HDFC ERGO was founded in the year 2002 when HDFC Ltd and ERGO International AG came together.
Some of the health insurance plans offered by HDFC ERGO include Health Suraksha, Health Suraksha Top Up, Critical Illness and Health Suraksha Gold.
7. Bajaj Allianz
Next on this list is Bajaj Allianz, an insurance company, which was established in the year 2001, when Bajaj Finserv Limited and Allianz SE came together. Headquartered in Pune, Bajaj Allianz is a fast growing insurance company that offers Health Insurance, Home Insurance, Travel Insurance and Motor Insurance.
Bajaj Allianz offers Health Plans for Individuals and Family, which are packed with features like Cashless Treatment, Ambulance Charges, Pre and Post Hospitalization Charges and Medical Check Up.
6. SBI health Insurance
SBI Life Insurance offers Health Plans under the name of "Smart Health Insurance", which is packed with features like Lump Sum Payout, Pre-Hospitalization Charges and Post Hospitalization Charges.
SBI Life Insurance Company is an Insurance Company, which came into existence in the year 2001, when State Bank of India (SBI) and BNP Paribas came together. SBI is a leader in Banking Sector, same is the case with SBI Life Insurance, which has made a remarkable position in the insurance sector.
5. Max Bupa
Headquartered in New Delhi, Max Bupa offers Health Insurance Plans under the name of "Heartbeat". Winner of "IT Leadership Award", Max Bupa offers excellent health services through its health plans and offers treatment in more than 3500 hospitals in the country.
Max India Limited and Bupa, a UK-based Healthcare Group came together to form a health insurance company, what we know today as Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited. Some of the features offered by Max Bupa in its Health Insurance Plans include Direct Claim Settlement, Cashless Facility and Pre & Post Hospitalization Medical Expenses.
4. ICICI Lombard
ICICI Bank and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited came together in the year 2001 to form a new company, what we know today as ICICI Lombard.
ICICI Lombard offers Health Insurance Policy under the name of "iHealth Plan". ICICI Lombard has received the award of "The Most Recommended Company" in the year 2013 for providing quality Health Insurance in the country. ICICI Lombard offers cashless treatment at more than 3000 hospitals across the country.
3. Apollo Munich
A joint venture between Apollo Hospitals Group and Munich Health gave rise to Apollo Munich in the year 2007.
Since its inception, Apollo Munich has continuously provided the best of features and benefits in their policies and in the year 2014, Apollo Munich received the award of "Health Insurance Company of the Year".
"Optima Restore" is the newly launched Health Insurance Policy by Apollo Munich. Under this policy, the company offers cashless treatment in more than 4000 hospitals across the country. Some other health policies of Apollo Munich are Optima Cash, Easy Health, Optima Super and Energy.
2. Reliance General Insurance
Reliance General Insurance is next on this list, which is a leading Insurance Company in India, known for offering features packed Plans and Policies. HealthGain, HealthWise and Wellness are the Health Insurance Plans offered by this company.
1. Religare Health Insurance
Religare Health Insurance Company Limited is the leader in providing the best health insurance policies in India. Religare Enterprises Limited, Corporation Bank and Union Bank of India are the three shareholders of this company. Religare Health Insurance offers Health Insurance Policy under the brand name of "Care".
Religare Health Insurance Company was started in the year 2012 and within a short period of time it has earned trust of people by offering policies packed with great features. It offers a facility of treatment at more than 4000 hospitals in the country. Apart from Health Insurance policy, Travel Insurance, Accident Insurance and Critical Illness Plan is also offered by the company.