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News & Notes
Great Outdoors Hong Kong Promotion ExtendedNov 19 (Tue ), 2013
This year's "Great Outdoors Hong Kong" promotional period has been extended from five weeks to about three and a half months to encourage more visitors to enjoy Hong Kong's alluring natural attractions.
From now until 21 February 2014, ten guided tours along six themed hiking trails will be available for visitors on various Saturdays and Sundays.
Also, and for the very first time, the HKTB has collaborated with a local cycling group to organise four guided cycling tours for visitors to enjoy Hong Kong's scenery in a new way.
These cycling tours will be held once every month between November 2013 and February 2014. The route will run from Shatin to Tai Po, spanning about 16km.
Schedules for the guided hiking and cycling tours:
10 November 2013 - Metropolitan Woodland - from Lugard Road to Pok Fu Lam Reservoir
16 November 2013 & 4 January 2014 - Farmland & Wetlands - from Nam San Wai to Ha Pak Nai
30 November 2013 & 18 January 2014 - Geological Landscapes - from High Island Reservoir East Dam to Sai Wan Pavilion
7 December 2013 & 15 February 2014 - Heritage Hike - from Tung Chung Town Centre to Tai O
14 December 2013 & 11 January 2014 - Hong Kong Panorama - from Shatin Pass Road to Kowloon Reservoir
28 December 2013 - Urban Getaway - from To Tei Wan to Tai Long Wan
Guided Cycling Tours - Hong Kong: From Shing Mun River to Tai Po Waterfront Park (Tolo Harbour Cycling Track) on:
22 November 2013
20 December 2013
24 January 2014
21 February 2014
In addition, the HKTB has published a brand new "Great Outdoors Hong Kong" activity guide, which features various hiking trails, cycling tracks and outlying islands in Hong Kong, and offers information on guided tours organised by the travel trade, allowing free independent travellers to fit green tours easily into their itineraries.
The activity guide will be available at major ports-of-entry and HKTB visitor centres, and from hotel concierges during the "Great Outdoors Hong Kong" promotional period.
Local residents can sign up for hiking tours organised by the AFCD. Each tour is for a maximum of 1,000 persons, available on a first-come, first-served basis.


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2013 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 to be TelevisedPosted in News on December 19, 2013
We all know how awesome off-road racing is, especially when you're talking about the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. This race is like the Super Bowl of the off-road racing world and every year it's growing in popularity. This year's Baja 1000 was one for the record books and saw many new changes as Roger Norman took over the reins as President of SCORE International after Sal Fish sold him the business after last year's 2012 Baja 1000. The high speed desert racing action is still alive and well and for those of us who couldn't make it out to this year's race, we're in for some real happy holidays thanks to the World of X-Games who went down to Baja and captured some of the most incredible video footage for us to enjoy from the comfort of our living room.
ESPN and ABC are going to be airing World of X-Games Travels to the Baja 1000, which will feature tons of high-speed whoop eating action from Trophy Trucks to Class 11s. You can rest assured you will see nothing but the wildest desert racing in some of the gnarliest terrain on the planet as the top drivers duke it out for bragging rights and glory.
Be sure to catch all the dusty action from the 2013 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 on Thursday, December 26 at 8 PM Eastern/ 5 PM Pacific on ESPN2 or catch it on Saturday, December 28 at 4 PM Eastern/ 2 PM Pacific on ABC.
Check out this awesome teaser video of what is in store from World of X-Games Travels to The Baja 1000!

subset: commoncrawl


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Jessica Alba is a Actress from United States. She was born in Pomona on April 28, 1981. She is listed on FreeOnes since 2001 and is currently ranked 1587th place. She currently has 68 gallery links in her own FreeOnes section.
Our records show that Jessica Alba is currently active which means she is still making movies, doing live shows and/or doing photo shoots.


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Push Firefox, Make CashNovember 11, 2005
Good news: Google will now pay you $1 every time you successfully refer someone to download and install Firefox (a version pre-loaded with the Google toolbar, of course). US-only for now, it seems.
Firefox has seen an amazing adoption rate, but it has been slowing down. This is a huge boost. Combine the cries of frustrated web designers and developers over the past few years, the plethora of anti-IE sites by designers for end users, the reach of people building web sites who are thoroughly and utterly sick of supporting IE6, and the lure of cash. Any bets on how many percentage points Firefox is about to jump?
Somehow this flew under my radar last week, but I don't see many people talking about it. It seems pretty important. Google has the pockets for this (scamming aside), and given the past year or so of rumbling in their direction from Microsoft, the motivation as well.
Perhaps you didn't see many people talking about it because of the circles you walk… I saw tons of coverage, but then again I follow a lot of Web Publishing / Advertising circles :)
Although, it's fair to note that the Kill Bill Browser site is new, and (no matter what they say) 100% for profit venture. Not saying it's bad, merely saying it doesn't belong with the others you mentioned.
Oh, and damn I wish I had thought of it!
am I the only one to find this sort of "endeavour"/strategy rather… disgusting?
Paying people to promote their browser of choice appears pretty weird to me. To me it seems to be even worse than the point system at spreadfirefox.
Or am I missing some important point? If so, please enlighten me.
"am I the only one to find this sort of "endeavour"/strategy rather… disgusting?"
No, you're not.
Huh? Paying content providers to include promotions for your product is called 'advertising'. How exactly is this worse than Amazon's referral program, for example?
"am I the only one to find this sort of "endeavour"/strategy rather… disgusting?"
Nope, even though I firmly believe Firefox deserves the attention.
It's a great idea (feelings aside), this is the only realistic way to push FF into the mainstream.
"am I the only one to find this sort of "endeavour"/strategy rather… disgusting?"
Well I'm sure there are others who f-e-e-l like you do, but then again we always have the profit-is-evil people with us.
Don't knock it, there should be an incentive of this sort…otherwise FF is doomed to be used only by 10%-15% max. I can see computer makers installing FF to get their cut…great stuff!
Okay, that makes three in a row without a dissenting voice, which makes me wonder if I'm missing something fundamental here. Is this, in fact, something different than Amazon's referral program? Or are you just bristling at the fact Google is advertising an open source product, as any major software company would advertise one of their in-house solutions?
Now's the time to disclose your bias, folks – if you're of the RMS "software should be free" camp and this is just an extension of that, fine, we don't have to continue this discussion. Otherwise help me understand what exactly makes this worse than a typical banner ad promotional campaign.
Stellaris: I think you are missing an important point. Google is promoting Web standards and making money at it (as Dave pointed out). I hope this "endeavour" will help break the IE monopoly so that developers can stop worrying about IE's "special" behavior.
Wait wait wait… Google's not just paying to promote free & open software? They might actually be trying to turn a profit? *gasp*
Wisen up kids. This isn't the land of sugar canes and fairytales. It's a real world. It's a money-driven world.
In the long run, this is the least intrusive and malcontent of pay-per-install campaigns. Most are trojan ad-delivering mechanisms installed through ActiveX.
If you find this campgin disgusting, you better rethink what the internet is about. (Hint: M _ _ _ Y)
you left out an underscore. I like to think the Internet is all about M O N K E Y :)
I perfectly agree with dragev: two or three years ago we thought that there wasn't (and there wouldn't be in the future) a "force" really able to tidy up years and years of bad web developement (caused by IE, Netscape, proprietary web standards and so on …). The web was a jungle of bad markup, bad structure and bad design. The major companies kept on developing software that produced bad code (for the happiness and comfort of lazy developers, bad race) and reduced the Internet to a descharge.
Now finally a young company, powered by people full of new ideas is trying to become "that" force, for the benefit of the User. I must agree! Firefox has been an enormous step towards a better web, Google too, and the spread of web standards too again.
Go on boys, the golden age is (almost) back. ;)
(Apologies for my english.)
Call me paranoid, but I think Google is pushing Firefox because of the tabbed browsing.
They want to turn as many people as they can into power browsers like probably most of the people reading this site.
Regular people go to a page, click one link at a time, read the page and hit back if they don't find what they were looking for, then click a second link, etc.
They really want us all to click open half a dozen links in different tabs, then read the tabs at leisure and close the pages we don't need without reading–but, crucially, after having opened them in a tab.
AdSense people, AdSense.
And the toolbar? Anyone read the "not the usual yada yada" recently?
[removes tin foil hat]
Tabbed browsing is the power of AdSense, yes ;) I always click on the AdSense of websites I like, because:
1) The tabs do not annoy me, also if they reach websites I don't care to (but then I always take a look).
2) It's a good way to support good websites.
I like the Google politic. :)
Now i know why everyone has a "Get FireFox" button on their sites.
There is nothing wrong with Google promoting Firefox, considering the competition forces their browser on clients since they incorporated it into the OS. I know many of you want to think that a grass roots effort to make the web IE-free is not only possible but the only way to go, however I think reality has finally caught up with all of us who were too busy dazed by early adoption numbers to realize the common user just doesn't care about their browser. Paying individuals to help promote the browser will help re-energize the base and allow Firefox to grow once more, and in the process make Google some money back (there is certainly no harm in that).
Lets stop looking through the Firefox/GPL/Opensource RDF for a moment and realize that it will take corporate backing, lots of money and marketing to undo what IE did to the web by promoting Firefox. I expect this to be the first of many corporate ventures supporting Firefox, and I welcome them all. The more market share Firefox and standards-based browsers take the less I have to hear from idiot clients who don't want to pay me a few hours extra to bullet-proof a layout to work on Firfox/Safari/et al and IE <= 5.5. I'm tired of clients who think IE 6 is the only browser out there, and the only way these people will come to understand that is not by their webmaster/designer/etc telling them they need to switch, but by a targeted marketing campaign. That takes money, and that takes a risk low enough that investors will see a return, or profit. If that keeps you up at night, then stock up on the Pepto, because without investors like Google the future of your designs will continue to bring stress and agony into your life.
This is advertising for Google, pure and simple - and it's damn good at that. By supporting open source browsers like FF, Google maintains it's brand identity, which is a value-added at best. But really what they're doing is pure, smart advertising.
The toolbar gives them a lot of relevant data, and the default homepage for Firefox is Google while the default homepage for IE is MSN. In other words, if Google can get you to switch to a browser that has Google set as the home page and has a Google search bar, there is a much higher liklihood you'll see Google ads.
I think Google also wants to win some mindshare from Microsoft.
I'm not complaining, and I'm glad to see Firefox gain marketshare. But this isn't just Google being nice to the community - there is some serious business here, and you can tell Google has Microsoft in it's sights.
Google has the money and people to be able to make their own browser loaded with toolbars, search boxes and adverts!
Why do you think they haven't just built their own?
Alan, people don't want a browser "loaded with toolbars, search boxes and adverts," which is perhaps why they haven't built one as such.
The other reason being, of course, that Google isn't in the browser market, and building a browser isn't as easy as some seem to think. (Hell, even Microsoft are -seemingly- incapable.) It would take years.
Firefox has the other slice of the marketshare, and is highly popular amongst web developers, who are the ones who use Adsense in the first place.
Am I the only one who had an "it's about time" reaction to this? As was stated above, to really push Firefox into the mainstream, someone's going to have to pour some large amounts of marketing cash into it.
I'm glad that it's happening now, because I think it's long overdue. And I'm glad it's a heavyweight like Google who's backing it. There's only so much that sites like spreadfirefox and others can do.
You know that regardless of what show your mind might be putting on for you, the larger amount of web designers don't care about what web browser the customer is using. However, if someone in their company stumbles upon the campaign, I figure it'll go down something like this.
"Hey Bill, guess what I found."
"Google's sponsoring some program, seems like if we get them downloads, they'll give us money!"
"Free money, woot! Add a link onto all of our sites."
Regardless of whether this is winning people over the right way or not, it's still winning people over.
This is all great news for the web, but if more and more people migrate over to Firefox, that means spyware programmers will also migrate over to Firefox. Well I guess you have to win a little and lose a little for this one.
This is actually just a consumer permutation of something Google has been doing for quite awhile now: paying to speed the distribution of their toolbar.
Google has deals with a small handful of significant companies (see RealNetworks) and they have been quietly paying them exactly $1 per toolbar download for over a year now. Basically, any company with any sort of wide distribution that is able to bundle the Google toolbar with their product is eligible to get in on this deal… albeit, these have been one-off, individual deals up until this point.
So what's happening here is that Google is just taking that program to the next level, to the consumer. It's an even better deal for Google in fact, because not only do they continue to get their new toolbar users, but they begin to push people away from IE and towards Firefox… a browser which quite possibly will be almost a *necessity* to use some of their upcoming offerings.
What do I think? Genius. Of course.
I'd disagree that this is a 'huge' boost. Huge means it's something that breaks out of the blogger/web-savvy culture, and FireFox has only started to scrape the edges of that frontier. It's taken a good chip out of IE's market share, but the distance it has to travel is still far, far greater than how far it has come to date. That said, it is indeed a boost, and there's no arguing that.
As for how I feel about the promotion, lots of websites and companies offer bonuses to people for successful referrals. Google is different in that it's putting a price tag on its bonus, and delivers it in cash. Referral promotions are always a 'string attached' sort of affair that exploit the good will between people to make a sale, or in this case acquire a download. It's just a fact of marketing, though not a savory one.
Related to Kill Bill's Browser is this how-to site:
Looks like it's trying to kick-start the phenomenon you're predicting– for all the web designers that are fed up…
I think this is a good thing for the web, regardless of who's making what money. Hey, we all promoted Firework to friends and family already, might as well make a tiny bit of cash out of it…
I'm wondering why they're actually doing this. Google have got Ben Goodger and four members of the orginial IE team on their payroll. Why promote a browser when you're building your own (we know they are… come on!). My take; they're gonna buy Firefox/Mozilla? It's already got popularity, why compete?
let me clarify my point-of-view, even if it's a little late in the game:
Of course I know that what Google is doing is what is generally termed "advertising" or "promotion", but that wasn't actually my point. Maybe I didn't make that clear enough, I was pretty psyched up at the moment I wrote the initial comment.
That Google's behaviour is apparently acceptable in the world of business is a no-brainer. Maybe I'm merely puzzled and a teensy bit revolted that the *users* will probably jump up on the bandwagon because of the payment. To me that's an extension/similar to the point system at spreadfirefox where you receive reputation by converting people to use Firefox. The more people use Firefox, the better. I totally agree. But I don't like the idea of offering the users incentives for spreading the word.
Since my comments were and are mostly based on a negative gut feeling I'm having with the whole affair, it's hard to actually discuss the matter I guess. But I know that I won't promote Firefox, because someone offers to pay me for doing so or awards silly points at some community site so I can ride the cool wave.
I'm glad that there were a few people who seemed to share my *feelings* about the topic, I did not intend to win anybody over.
This sounds like a great way to make some quick cash selling a great program so I signed up.Look forward to making a few bucks off Google and Firefox both are programs I use daily!!
Anyway I think it was better if Google directly paid Firefox developers :P
I can't understand why everything which matters is always "US Only"… or maybe, it still can be "US, Canada and Europe Only" but the point is nobody seem to care about Latinamerica. That's sad.
I'm all for it for about 100 reasons. That said, why is it odd that some folks might not be for it? You dont have to be a member of the GPL/open source world or be particularly paranoid to feel like google is sort of becoming big brother. not in the chummy greg brady sorta way.
Like I said, I'm all for it and think it's great news for lots of folks but seeing the google toolbar in every browser in the world is not exactly something I can get excited about.
It seems to be a wise decision both for google and the mozilla.org. Firefox will be spreadened even more and google will confirm its dominion in the search engine market.
May be it could be also a push for webstandards for the sake of better search engine results in the not-so-distant future.
It has the dim feeling that mozilla org could be compromised in some way by googles money @stellaris, but on the other hand, open source or free software costs a lot of time and money to develop.
The more people share the "firefox experience", the easier it will be to open up new personal or financial resources.
I like firefox and IE. I think that we need to be careful to not give any one company too much business or control when it comes to the internet. When one group controls it then it becomes much easier for them to limit users access/presence. I'm thinking to say pro-democracy sites or anti-Bush sites or whatever.
The internet is still the wild West anyone can plop on a website now about whatever they feel like. It should remain that way. And so should browsers.
trovster wrote::
"Why promote a browser when you're building your own"
Why build your own when there is a perfectly good one that is free to use? They can create their own (Googlised) version of it, and still keep up with the updates from the main source. Very smart, and still good for FF. Google likes to create win-win situations, let's hope this is another.
They have one of the main guys from Firefox, plus Hixie formerly of Opera, and they are usability testing the browser:
If they keep feeding this back to the main 'branch', it's all good :)
Read one more time…US only mean that only Us;)
It's all about standards folks. Google recognizes the need for this and hears the cries of web designers. Microsoft refuses to listen to the designers. I think Google is doing us all a favor. Let us rid ourselves of IE. If we want to be really brave, we can stop designing sites that are compatible with IE and force the download. Risky, yes, but if enough designers do it the phasing out of IE could be possible.
It seems like there is consesus among the people that responded that Firefox is a great product. Having said that, I *wish* we lived in a world where that was enough to get people using it. Unfortuately, there are still plenty of people out there who've either missed all the publicity surrounding FF lately or don't understand why it's better than IE. Hopefully seeing a few Get Firefox banners around will increase adoption.
As AlistairC pointed out, this seems win-win. Google gets their toolbar out there and FF gets some additional users subsidized by Google. In addition, the people who use FF get a chance to make a little extra money. It's not any different than AdSense displays on web sites except at least in this instance, the site owner has control over the product being advertised for.
It's sad that the web developers are still talking about what browser to promote. I don't think you'd feel the same way about MSIE if you were to put yourself in Bill's shoes. If you are business-minded why would you fix something which makes you profit? If you can't accept that MOZ-FF will not lead the browser wars in the next 5-10 years then just create something any smart developer would do, know thy audience and design something that wouldn't break as much. There are a lot of fancy tricks you can always resort to if it's really a big issue you know. Start coding and stop complaining… yes life is so unfair.
I'm just happy MOZ-FF is striving to be the greatest browser there is. Let's just hope we get to see the day that it wins over MSIE. I'm all for standards but sometimes, complaining doesn't do much.
"It's all about standards folks. Google recognizes the need for this and hears the cries of web designers."
Come on, it's all about the toolbar. Google recognizes that preinstalling their toolbar will make profit, way beyond the $1 they pay the referrer.
I read a comment over @ slashdot that said a Toolbar user is worth something like $50/yr to Google.
While I'm sure Google will profit immensely from this, it doesn't hurt Firefox either.
Sorry the address for the slashdot post:
Nothing wrong with a little bit of "advertising." As a FF user, having the google toolbar handy has been a great time saver for myself.
It's not just because wants to make more money and beat Microsoft and IE. Google also like to do good things and support some positive software projects. For example they spent at lest $12.4 million on the summer of code.
Am I the only one to see that the Google's aim with this initiative is not to promote Firefox, but to collect information? The Google toolbar sends important information to Google servers.
It may sound paranoic, but I see the new Micro$oft comming, big sharks hold GG now and they want more, more and more M _ _ _ Y. In long run the Firefox bundled with toolbar and Google Statistics will bring more harm than profit to site owners as GG will use the information collected to divert users flow from regular web sites.
I've been asking friends to download and use Firefox. Now, I'll be asking them to go to my site and click the link to download Firefox :)
Unfortunately this Firefox referral program is only available to publishers in the U.S.
But I guess they will soon add some more tabs in there (more Google products/service on affiliate marketing).
Its wondeful idea. Firefox works much better than IE. Now we can get money for that. Intresting What will make Microsoft for popularization IExplorer 7? It is bad, that this marketing politics operates only in the USA.:(
Whats wrong with google colecting data?
At least they are prety straightforward about that. I didn't see anyone in here complaining about the Alexa/MSN similar behaviour. Worse, they don´t talk about that and it comes with the SO. And who knows exactly what they collect… At least FF should have no direct access to other things in my PC.
About the "add browser"… Anyone remembers what happened to Opera when they did it?


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Share your experience with Magic and Rituals. All forms of Magic: Ritual Magic, Candle Magic, Green..etc. Discussions from creation of Rituals to casting of Circles. Newbies and veterans are all welcome.
A place to discuss celebrations and holidays throughout the year.
March 16th, 2019, 09:41 PM
This is an experimental forum for discussion of crafting your own spells. Tips and ideas can be shared but original thought should be included with each post. Each thread will require admin approval so don't worry if your thread doesn't show up right away. It'll be in the queue. We'll get to it.
May 6th, 2016, 03:28 PM
December 22nd, 2017, 10:07 PM
This forum is a directory of threads within the Magic & Rituals forum to make searching for a particular topic that much easier. Due to its nature, please do not post threads within the FAQ.
August 24th, 2008, 03:31 PM
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In the meanwhile,I roamed around the big web and found some lovely tutorials.These are some stuff which I hope to attempt some time in the future (??)
Have you ever tried embroidering buttons? I've not, but I do wish to make some somewhere down the line. Have a look at Katy's dropped a bag of french knots tutorial and see what she has come up with.I love that button on her skirt!!!
At crabapplehillstudio , you'll find a lovely wagon with pumpkins free pattern and tutorial for English daisies .
Everytime I see a stitched tote or a bag , I miss having a sewing machine. But when saw this handsewn coin purse and handbag from an old linen pant, I was excited. Have to try this one .
And finally, a very old tutorial on shadow applique which has caught my fancy. Ofcourse , I need to find a way to do it by hand . Can we try fabric glue instead of fusible webbing?
Let me leave you with a picture of an almost 1000 year old carving we came across while walking around the Thirparappu temple in Kanyakumari. Although there are lots of posts and pictures of the temple and the waterfall behind, I couldn't find this pic anywhere. Probably because most people miss it since it is on the pavement . Everyone expects the carvings and sculptures on the walls,right?
Thank us, coz we saved the world!!! :)))
That's all for now,
Love,luck and sunshine,


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ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Medical Management
Medical interventions and technology have vastly improved the quality of life for people with ALS by assisting with breathing, nutrition, mobility and communication. Proper management of symptoms, and proactive use of medical interventions and equipment can make a positive difference in day-to-day living, and potentially may lengthen survival.
Don't hesitate to discuss any medical or mental concern with your ALS doctor. "Beating" ALS means doing everything possible to cope with symptoms as they occur, if not before.
ALS Care Guidelines
In October 2009, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) released revised physician guidelines for medical management of ALS. To read them in summary and in full, see the ALS Care Guidelines. The guidelines include information about drug, nutritional and respiratory therapies, along with multidisciplinary care, symptom management and cognitive/behavioral impairment.
For more information about care in ALS, also see Everyday Life with ALS: A Practical Guide and the MDA ALS Caregiver's Guide.
The diaphragm is an arched muscle located just beneath the lungs, which moves up and down and allows air to come in and move out. The intercostals are muscles between the ribs that contract and relax and also assist with air movement. As the diaphragm and intercostal muscles weaken due to ALS, the act of breathing, which is entirely automatic for most people, becomes conscious and energy-consuming.
To preserve quality of life — and to prolong life itself in later stages of ALS — it will become necessary to introduce preventive measures. Such symptoms as the inability to cough, shortening of spoken sentences, daytime headaches and sleepiness, exhaustion and weight loss may indicate that breathing problems have advanced to the point where respiratory support will be valuable.
A pulmonologist and respiratory therapist typically are involved in managing the care of individuals with ALS. These professionals are usually available in or near each MDA clinic or MDA/ALS center.
Shortly after an ALS diagnosis is made, many specialists recommend a breathing test called a forced vital capacity (FVC) and other pulmonary function tests (PFTs). These tests give the clinic team baseline measures against which later tests of breathing can be compared.
The physician may recommend noninvasive ventilation to compensate for weakened muscles by assisting the movement of air in and out of the lungs. Generally, supplemental oxygen is not prescribed for individuals with ALS unless there are other medical conditions that require it. It may even do harm, so it should be used with caution, if at all.
Noninvasive ventilation comes in many forms, but usually consists of two basic elements: an "interface," such as a mask or nose inserts, and air delivered under pressure by a small, portable machine. Usually, there's one pressure for inhalation and another pressure for exhalation. This type of machine is often called a BiPAP (a registered trademark of Philips Respironics) for bilevel positive airway pressure.
The device does not necessarily require around the clock use. Pressures, masks and other aspects of the device can be changed by the medical team as needed. Ideally, the person with ALS should try several interface options (full-face masks, nasal pillows, etc.) and practice breathing through them to see which are the most comfortable.
The most permanent type of ventilation is the positive-pressure ventilator with a surgically created tracheostomy or trach. A ventilator is attached by a breathing hose to a tracheostomy tube, which delivers air through the neck into the trachea (windpipe) on a timed cycle.
Tracheostomy surgery (to create the opening into the trachea) is usually followed by several days or weeks of rehabilitation, during which caregivers learn how to clean and maintain the tracheostomy tube, change supplies and perform suctioning of mucus.
Many people on total ventilatory support can continue working, traveling, socializing and enjoying life. Today's vents are small, portable, relatively quiet and can be carried on a wheelchair. For those still able to generate speech, a speaking valve often can be added to the inflatable cuff at the end of the tracheostomy tube, allowing air to travel to the vocal cords and enable speech.
In addition, a tracheostomy can provide a great feeling of safety. Permanent vents have alarms to alert caregivers to congestion or a disconnected tube. And invasive ventilation can return some energy as it relieves the exhaustion of poor sleep, prolonged coughing and labored breathing.
In 2011, a different type of breathing assistance device called a diaphragm pacing system was approved for "humanitarian use" in ALS by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System (DPS), developed by Synapse Biomedical, rhythmically stimulates breathing through an external pacer unit attached to electrodes that are surgically implanted in the diaphragm. To qualify for the DPS, a patient must have adequate preservation of the diaphragm muscle and phrenic nerves (the nerves that stimulate the diaphragm). The DPS does not slow or stop the progression of ALS, but it may delay the need for a tracheostomy, and may improve sleep and quality of life. Further studies are being conducted of its effectiveness in ALS. "Humanitarian use" approval by the FDA reflects the agency's opinion that the device does not pose "an unreasonable or significant risk of illness or injury, and that the probable benefit to health outweighs the risk of injury or illness from its use."
Another aspect of respiratory care that's important in ALS is assisted coughing. As the coughing muscles weaken, it becomes harder to clear mucus from the airways and life-threatening mucus plugs can form. An assisted coughing device, which pushes air into the airways through a mask and then quickly reverses air flow, can help clear the airways and prevent infection. Doctors may recommend other methods to assist with coughing and clearing secretions from the airways.
Cognitive and behavior changes
Although ALS is considered a disease of the motor (movement) system, cognitive (thinking) and behavioral changes can also occur in this disease. Some changes may be in response to the devastating nature of the disease, while others appear to be neurological in origin and to be part of the disease process itself.
Many patients do experience alterations in thinking or behavior although in most instances, symptoms are minimal and may be more distressing to relatives and caregivers than to the affected person. Although the medical profession often refers to these changes as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which connotes memory loss (as in Alzheimer's disease), memory is generally well-preserved in ALS. Instead, the person with ALS may become unduly angry or irritable, or may be less considerate of others than one might expect him or her to be, or may exhibit poor judgment, apathy, ritualistic habits, new dietary preferences or other uncharacteristic behavior.
Some people with FTD symptoms lose insight into their actions and may not realize (even when it's pointed out to them) that they aren't thinking as clearly as before or that their behavior may be problematic.
Another phenomenon that sometimes occurs in ALS is known as pseudobulbar affect (PBA), in which the person experiences uncontrollable bouts of laughing or crying out of proportion to the situation. In 2010, the drug Nuedexta was approved to treat this symptom.
It's important for caregivers to know about possible cognitive symptoms in ALS, so that they can recognize the signs and not think that their loved one is simply "being difficult." Families can deal with the cognitive and behavioral changes associated with FTD by making modifications to the environment of the person with ALS that improve safety and organization; carefully describing symptoms to health care providers; helping their loved one make important decisions as early in the disease process as possible; and seeking support from others affected by ALS through online or in-person groups.
Speaking ability is lost when ALS affects the muscles of the mouth and throat that control speech and the muscles that help move air over the vocal cords.
For this reason, speech therapists and speech-language pathologists are vital members of the ALS care team. A speech therapist can teach the person with ALS special techniques for conserving energy and making speech more understandable. In some cases, a dentist can make a device called a palatal lift that can help compensate for certain types of weakness in the roof of the mouth.
In the early stages of ALS, speech therapists may suggest voice banking, which involves recording a number of common phrases that later can be programmed into a computer or communication device, enabling individuals with ALS to continue speaking in their own voice when they communicate via assistive technology.
Many therapists recommend being proactive about exploring communication options well before assistive technology is needed. A speech therapist can demonstrate how to use an alternative augmentative communication device, or AAC device.
Because learning to use such a device at later stages of ALS may be harder, individuals are encouraged to discuss options with their MDA clinic team and speech therapist early on, in order to proactively plan ways to stay in the conversation.
Cramps, twitches and spasticity
Muscle cramps, twitches and spasticity (tightness) are common in ALS.
The October 2009 American Academy of Neurology ALS Care Guidelines found insufficient data to support or refute any specific interventions for the treatment of these problems in ALS. However, the authors noted that in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, effective treatments for these problems include benzodiazepam, baclofen, dantrolene and tizanidine. These medications require a doctor's prescription.
Rest, repositioning, heat (such as from a microwaveable pad or warm bath) or gentle massage often are helpful in relieving the discomfort associated with muscle cramps, twitching and tightness.
Studies have estimated the prevalence of depression in people with ALS to be anywhere from 0 to 44 percent. However, when carefully structured interviews were used, the rate was consistently 9 to 11 percent.
According to the 2009 ALS Care Guidelines, there have been no controlled trials of treatment for depression in ALS, although there is consensus among experts that it should be treated. Many clinicians have found that antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication can have a positive effect.
Drooling, also known as sialorrhea, is common in ALS, because of weakness of the muscles of the mouth and throat. The October 2009 American Academy of Neurology ALS Care Guidelines say that the oral medicationamitriptyline may be helpful in drying up saliva (thereby reducing drooling), as may injections of botulinum toxin type A into the salivary glands.
Radiation of the salivary glands to reduce saliva production also has been used for treatment of this condition when other measures fail. However, the guidelines note that side effects included redness, sore throat and nausea.
Eating, drinking and nutrition
Recent evidence shows that maintaining one's weight may increase survival with ALS. Severe weight loss means muscle loss. Adequate fluid intake also is essential, for hydration, keeping saliva and mucus thin, and avoiding constipation.
Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) are a prime cause of weight loss. As the muscles involved in chewing, moving food toward the back of the mouth, and swallowing weaken in ALS, eating and drinking become less pleasurable and more hazardous and time-consuming. Mouth and throat weakness can lead to choking and aspiration (inhaling food or liquid into the lungs), which can cause respiratory infection.
Other challenges include arm/hand weakness that limits self-feeding, decreased appetite, constipation, shortness of breath and nausea after eating, or fatigue due to the long and tiring process of eating.
Speech-language pathologists or therapists are also specialists in swallowing, since these functions involve the same muscles as speech. Some therapists specialize more in speech and others more in swallowing. Early solutions involve changing the consistency of food and liquids — usually thickening the liquids and avoiding large pieces of food — as well as changing swallowing techniques. (For more tips, see Nutrition Issues in the MDA ALS Caregiver's Guide and Meals for Easy Swallowing.)
If swallowing becomes difficult or unsafe and/or if eating takes a great deal of time and energy, a feeding tube may be recommended, often called a gastrostomy tube, g tube or PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube. The term "gastrostomy" refers to making a small incision in the stomach. It's usually done percutaneously, which means "through the skin," with the help of an endoscope, a medical instrument.
An October 2009 American Academy of Neurology report (see ALS Care Guidelines) found no ALS-specific indications for the timing of feeding tube placement. However, the report said the risk of placement increased when respiratory function declined below 50 percent of normal, and suggested that those with swallowing difficulties will be exposed to less risk if a feeding tube is placed when respiratory function is above 50 percent of normal.
If it's still possible to swallow some foods or liquids safely, the person with ALS can continue to eat and drink by mouth even after placement of a feeding tube. But eating by mouth no longer has to be relied on as the only way to get adequate nutrition. This can be a relief to those who can't take in enough calories by mouth because they get too tired or are afraid of choking or aspirating food.
Although getting a feeding tube initially feels like "ALS is winning," those who get them find they regain time and energy, and reduce the strain on their caregivers.
Hand function
Occupational therapists specialize in helping people find and use tools to cope with progressive weakness in hand muscles. Special grips for writing and eating utensils, devices that fit over keys to make them easier to turn, zipper pulls and button hooks can help make weakening hands more functional, and help preserve independence in activities of daily living. Please consult with the occupational therapist on your MDA clinic team for more information.
Medical care
The AAN guidelines found that visiting a multidisciplinary ALS clinic (one with many types of health professionals, such as an MDA/ALS center) can help people with ALS get the best possible care. The evidence showed that people with ALS who get care at a multidisciplinary clinic live longer, and may have a better quality of life than those who don't.
The drug riluzole (Rilutek) has a modest effect on slowing disease progression and prolonging survival. Four clinical trials have shown the drug prolongs survival by two to three months. However, five other studies using large databases spanning five to 10 years have suggested that riluzole might be associated with a prolonged survival of six months or even longer.
The drug appears to be safe, but it is expensive, and can cause fatigue, nausea and liver damage. The manufacturer suggests that people taking riluzole should avoid excessive intake of alcohol to minimize the risk of liver damage.
The damage ALS causes to the nervous system can lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as cramps and muscle twitching. Also, the immobility that results from ALS may put stress on muscles and joints, causing what is known as secondary pain.
Physicians may prescribe medications to treat these symptoms, as well as other symptoms often associated with ALS — including drooling, anxiety and depression, constipation (the result of reduced mobility and/or weakened abdominal muscles), sleep difficulties and pain associated with prolonged immobility.
Vitamin supplements may be recommended if swallowing difficulties result in reduced intake of nutrients. Reasonable doses of antioxidant supplements, such as vitamins C and E, are thought to have beneficial effects on the nervous system and overall health. However, high doses can do more harm than good.
In 2010, a medication called Nuedexta was approved specifically for an aspect of ALS called pseudobulbar affect.
Talk with your MDA clinic physician about medications and/or vitamin supplements that may be beneficial, and discuss dosage levels of supplements.
Fatigue, falling and increased difficulty walking often are experienced as ALS progresses. Avoiding falls is of paramount importance and can prevent trauma that could accelerate ALS disease progression. In addition to using mobility equipment to avoid falls, be sure to move area rugs, install grab bars and eliminate clutter wherever possible. Carry a cell phone when walking alone, to call for help if necessary.
In the early stages of ALS, mobility equipment such as a cane, walker or a supportive brace (orthosis) provide help in getting around. Weakness of muscles controlling the foot make it hard to move the foot or toe at will, causing foot drop that can lead to trips and falls. A lightweight ankle-foot orthosis, or AFO, keeps the foot from dropping and adds steadiness when walking. It can be slipped into different styles of shoes and concealed by wearing a sock over the brace, but it's best worn with a supportive tie-up shoe.
When walking becomes difficult, riding in a manual wheelchair for long distances can conserve energy for short-distance walking, and also help prevent injury.
In later stages of the disease, a power wheelchair is usually the preferred means of mobility. When the time comes to use a power wheelchair full time, many with ALS find that they recover a large degree of independence.
Power chairs can be driven by a variety of means besides by hand, including by eyegaze and by "sip and puff" breath control. A "tilt-in-space" option on a wheelchair allows the seat to be positioned at a variety of angles, relieving pressure and helping prevent skin breakdown. Other valuable power chair options include elevating seats, chairs that turn into standers, motorized leg rests, custom seating and more.
Physical therapists, occupational therapists and equipment specialists have specialized knowledge about maintaining mobility and using equipment, and should be consulted prior to buying. Remember that insurance often will pay for only one mobility device during a set period of time, so it's important to consider upcoming needs before buying. If possible, it may be wise to borrow interim equipment, such as a mobility scooter or manual wheelchair, perhaps from your local MDA equipment program, and save insurance for big-ticket items like a power wheelchair.
Weakness in neck muscles also is associated with ALS. This results in difficulties in controlling or holding up the head, which leads to excessive fatigue and discomfort, not to mention frustration. Cervical collars may be recommended for support.
Very little research has been done on the subject of exercise and its role in ALS. In fact, it isn't known whether exercises are beneficial for increasing muscle strength for people with ALS.
However, it's widely accepted among physicians and therapists that specific kinds of exercise help prevent the development of painful contractures (the permanent tightening of muscles) and can decrease the spasticity(intermittent or constant muscle tightness or spasms) that's common in ALS.
Practicing the healthiest type of exercise for each stage of ALS will help maintain comfort and mobility. For some people, a moderate amount of daily walking in the early stages of ALS may be all that's advisable. As the disease advances, it's very important to do daily range-of-motion and stretching exercises, either independently or with the help of a caregiver. Consult a physical therapist for the best exercise regime.
For more information, see the following sections in Chapter 2 of the MDA ALS Caregiver's Guide:
- Equipment
- Exercises for people with ALS
- Lifts
- Range-of-motion (ROM) exercises
Planning early for the inevitable changes that occur over the course of ALS goes a long way toward maintaining function and independence for as long as possible and maintaining the highest possible quality of life. Such plans include addressing how home accessibility may be affected as the disease progresses. There are many ways to make adaptations or modifications that promote independence and safety in the home. A home visit by an occupational therapist to assess the environment is very helpful.
For more information, see your MDA clinic team.


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Cobalt processing, preparation of the metal for use in various products.
Below 417 °C (783 °F), cobalt (Co) has a stable hexagonal close-packed crystal structure. At higher temperatures up to the melting point of 1,495 °C (2,723 °F), the stable form is face-centred cubic. The metal has 12 radioactive isotopes, none of which occurs naturally. The best-known is cobalt-60, which has a half-life of 5.3 years and is used in medicine and industry.
Of the three common ferromagnetic metals (iron, nickel, and cobalt), cobalt has the highest Curie point (that is, the temperature above which its magnetic properties are weakened). It is unique in that, added in moderate amounts to iron, it raises that metal's saturation magnetization (the limit to which its magnetic properties can be raised). Magnetic alloys form the most important use of cobalt.
The second most important cobalt outlet is in the making of high-temperature alloys, in which it improves the high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance of alloys based on more common metals, especially nickel and chromium.
Ores containing cobalt have been used since antiquity as pigments to impart a blue colour to porcelain and glass. It was not until 1742, however, that a Swedish chemist, Georg Brandt, showed that the blue colour was due to a previously unidentified metal, cobalt.
In 1874 the output of cobalt from European deposits was surpassed by production in New Caledonia, and Canadian ores assumed the leadership about 1905. Congo (Kinshasa) has been a dominant world producer since 1920, but the country was surpassed as the leading producer by China in the early 21st century. Other important producers include Finland, Zambia, and Australia.
Prior to World War I most of the world's production of cobalt was consumed in the ceramic and glass industries. The cobalt, in the form of cobalt oxide, served as a colouring agent. Since that time, increasing amounts have been used in magnetic and high-temperature alloys and in other metallurgical applications; about 80 percent of the output is now employed in the metallic state.
Nearly all cobalt is found associated with ores of copper, nickel, or copper-nickel.
In the copper-cobalt ore bodies of central Africa and Russia, cobalt occurs as sulfides (carrollite, linnaeite, or siegenite), the oxide minerals heterogenite (hydrated cobalt oxide) and asbolite (a mixture of manganese and cobalt oxides), and the carbonate sphaerocobaltite. In the copper-nickel-iron sulfide mines of Canada, Australia, Russia, and other regions, cobalt is present in place of nickel in many minerals.
Cobalt arsenides, such as smaltite, safflorite, and skutterudite, with the sulfoarsenide cobaltite and the arsenate erythrite, are mined in Morocco and on a much smaller scale in many other countries. These are the only primary cobalt ores.
Huge nickel-containing deposits found in New Caledonia, Cuba, Celebes (Indonesia), and other regions contain a small quantity of cobalt in the form of oxide minerals, such as asbolite.
A few pyrite (iron disulfide) deposits mined for their sulfur content contain enough cobalt to warrant the extraction of the latter from the roasted residue. Cobalt sulfides occasionally occur in lead-zinc deposits in quantities sufficient to justify their recovery.
Mineral processing
The most important sulfide sources, the copper-cobalt ores of Congo (Kinshasa) and Zambia, are processed in the conventional manner to produce a copper-cobalt concentrate. This is then treated by flotation to separate a cobalt-rich concentrate for treatment in the cobalt circuit. Separation flotation utilizes pneumatic and mechanical agitation to produce air bubbles that carry the mineral particles to the surface. Different reagents are used to attract the cobalt minerals to the bubbles in preference to copper. Cobalt concentrates, which can contain as much as 15 percent cobalt, are then processed further, using either pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical extractive processes.
Extraction and refining
From copper and nickel processing
Cobalt contained in and smelted with copper concentrate is oxidized along with iron during the final conversion to blister copper. It then enters the slag layer, which can be treated separately, usually in an electric furnace, and the cobalt recovered by reduction with carbon to a copper-iron-cobalt alloy. In nickel smelting, most of the cobalt is recovered during electrolytic refining of the nickel by precipitation from solution, usually as a cobaltic hydroxide. But even in nickel smelting, cobalt starts to oxidize before the nickel and can be recovered from the final converter slag. In the ammonia pressure leaching of nickel, cobalt is recovered from solution by reduction with hydrogen under pressure. In refineries using a chloride leach for nickel matte, solvent extraction is used to remove cobalt directly from the pregnant solution. The resulting concentrated solution, after some purification, is suitable for the recovery of cobalt by electrowinning.
From ores
For copper-cobalt ores, a sulfide concentrate is roasted under controlled conditions to transform most of the cobalt sulfide to a soluble sulfate while minimizing the change of copper and iron to their water-soluble states. The product is leached, the resulting solution is treated to remove copper and iron, and the cobalt is finally recovered by electrolysis. If the copper and cobalt ores are in the oxidized state, copper can be removed by electrolysis in sulfuric acid solution and the cobalt precipitated from the spent electrolyte by adjustment of the acidity of the solution. Cobalt is again eventually obtained in the metallic state by electrolysis.
Cobalt concentrates from arsenide ores may be roasted in the same manner as sulfide concentrates in order to remove the arsenic as an impure arsenic trioxide. Alternatively, they can be leached and cobalt precipitated with hydrogen, as with nickel sulfide concentrates.
The metal and its alloys
Cemented carbides
In the production of a so-called cemented carbide, such as tungsten carbide, a briquetted mixture of tungsten carbide and cobalt powder is heated at a temperature above the melting point of cobalt. The latter melts and binds the hard carbides, giving them the toughness and shock resistance needed to make carbides of practical value for machine tools, drill bits, dies, and saws. Cobalt is the most satisfactory matrix metal for this purpose and may be present in amounts from 3 to 25 percent by weight.
A radioactive form of cobalt, cobalt-60, prepared by exposing cobalt to the radiations of an atomic pile, is useful in industry and medical science. Cobalt-60 is used in place of X-rays or radium in the inspection of materials to reveal internal structure, flaws, or foreign objects. It is used in cancer therapy and as a radioactive tracer in biology and industry. The advantages of cobalt-60 over radium lie in lower cost, more homogeneous gamma radiation and softer beta radiation, which can be easily filtered out in the absence of contamination, and its ability to be machined or shaped in any form before irradiation to fit special requirements.
Magnetic alloys
About 25 percent of the world's cobalt output goes into magnets. The best permanent magnets contain a substantial quantity of cobalt.
Cobalt steels, containing 2–40 percent cobalt, are used extensively as magnets. Iron-cobalt-vanadium alloys, such as the so-called Vicalloys, are employed for ductile permanent magnets, as are the Cunicos—i.e., alloys of copper, nickel, and cobalt. Another magnet alloy is iron-cobalt-molybdenum, typified by Remalloy or Comol.
Since 1930 it has been known that a series of alloys, the Alnicos, containing 6–12 percent aluminum, 14–30 percent nickel, 5–35 percent cobalt, and the balance largely iron, with small quantities of copper and titanium, make the best permanent magnets. Cobalt is also used in some soft magnetic alloys such as the Perminvar alloys of nickel-iron-cobalt, the Permendur alloys of iron-cobalt, and the cobalt ferrites. Nearly all these alloys are used in electrical equipment and electronic devices.
The alloying of rare-earth metals, in particular samarium and praseodymium, with 60–65 percent cobalt results in a range of high-coercivity, fine-powder magnets. These alloys are particularly suited for applications, such as electronics, that require small magnets with precise dimensions and characteristics.
High-temperature alloys
An important use for cobalt is in the field of high-temperature steel alloys. Required in gas turbines, jet engines, and similar applications, such alloys retain their strength above 650 °C (1,200 °F); these alloys contain from 5 to 65 percent cobalt.
Even higher operating temperatures in turbines have resulted in an increased use of cobalt-containing and cobalt-based alloys known generally as superalloys. These can withstand severe operating conditions and temperatures up to 1,150 °C (2,100 °F). Nimonic 90, for example, is a nickel-based alloy containing 18 percent cobalt, a similar amount of chromium, and some titanium. Waspaloy is another alloy of this type.
Cutting and wear-resistant alloys
The addition of 2–12 percent cobalt to tool steels enables them to be used more effectively on hard materials for which deep cuts and high speeds are required.
Cobalt improves the wear resistance of many alloys. Hard-facing materials contain 10–65 percent cobalt, and abrasion-resistant die steels usually have 0.4–4 percent cobalt.
Glass-to-metal sealing alloys
Alloys, such as Kovar and Fernico, containing 15–25 percent cobalt, are used extensively in glass-to-metal seals because they have expansion characteristics similar to those of certain glasses.
Dental and surgical alloys
Materials containing 28–68 percent cobalt, with chromium, nickel, and molybdenum, are used in dentistry and bone surgery. They have excellent resistance to tarnish and abrasion, compatibility with mouth tissues and body fluids, high strength and stiffness, good casting properties, and low cost in comparison with precious metals.
For certain applications requiring smooth, bright films that are hard but relatively ductile, an alloy of cobalt-nickel is deposited instead of the conventional nickel-plating. The plating alloy may contain 1–18 percent cobalt, and the electrolyte contains both cobalt and nickel salts.
Other alloys
Cobalt-based alloys having 40–50 percent cobalt are often used as springs. Beryllium copper, used for a multitude of applications besides springs, generally contains 0.1–2 percent cobalt.
An alloy of 54 percent cobalt, 9.5 percent chromium, and 36.5 percent iron changes dimensions very little with changes in temperature. Cobalt-based alloys of 56–63 percent cobalt, with iron and chromium or vanadium, have the advantage in certain applications of very little variation in elasticity regardless of temperature.
Another alloy, a stainless steel containing 18 percent nickel and 8 percent cobalt, also has some industrial applications.
Important cobalt compounds
Cobalt oxide
This substance, usually prepared by heating the cobaltic hydroxide that is precipitated from cobalt-containing solutions by sodium hypochlorite, has a number of important uses in the glass and ceramics industries.
Cobalt oxide additions of 140 to 4,500 grams (5 ounces to 10 pounds) per ton of glass are made to impart a blue colour to structural glass, bottles, and optical filter glasses. To neutralize the yellow tint of iron in plate and window glass, small quantities of cobalt oxide, 1 to 45 grams (0.04 to 1.6 ounces) per ton of glass, are added. In the proportion of about 454 grams (1 pound) per ton of dry clay, cobalt oxide is also employed to neutralize the iron colour in pottery, sanitary ware, and tiles, and in larger quantities to add blue colour. A rich blue is obtained by adding 5 percent cobalt oxide to a glaze of high lead content. Thenard's blue, a turquoise, is characteristic of cobalt aluminate, whereas cobalt silicate gives a unique violet-blue shade. Cobalt oxide in white enamels neutralizes yellow caused by iron; larger amounts give a blue or black colour. In quantities of 0.2–2 percent this compound, used in enamel coats on steel, promotes adherence of the enamel to the metal.
Cobalt salts
Cobalt salts are usually made by the action of the appropriate acid on cobalt metal or oxide. A number of cobalt salts, particularly organic compounds, are excellent driers of paints, varnishes, and inks. Cobalt linoleates, resinates, oleates, stearates, tallates, and naphthenates, containing 4–12 percent cobalt, are employed.
Cobalt, usually in the form of a cobalt-thoria-kieselguhr catalyst, is used in the synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons. Many other cobalt catalysts have been used for a wide variety of chemical reactions.
In many parts of the world, the content of cobalt in the soil and herbage is too low to maintain the health of cattle and sheep. The addition of a small quantity of a cobalt compound to the ration, water, salt lick, or fertilizer has become a well-established practice.
Vitamin B12 contains 4.3 percent cobalt; it is the only vitamin known to contain a heavy metal.Roland S. Young John Campbell Taylor
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
Pigment, any of a group of compounds that are intensely coloured and are used to colour other materials. Pigments are insoluble and are applied not as solutions…
Georg Brandt
Georg Brandt, Swedish chemist who, through his discovery and isolation of cobalt, became the first person to discover a metal unknown in ancient times. In 1727 Brandt was appointed director of the chemical laboratory of the Council of Mines, Stockholm, and…
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo, country located in central Africa. Officially known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country has a 25-mile (40-km) coastline on the Atlantic Ocean but is otherwise landlocked. It is the second largest country on the continent; only Algeria is larger. The capital, Kinshasa,…
Copper (Cu), chemical element, a reddish, extremely ductile metal of Group 11 (Ib) of the periodic table that is an unusually good conductor of electricity and heat. Copper is found in the free metallic state in nature. This native copper was first used ( c.8000 bce) as a substitute for…
CobaltCobalt (Co), chemical element, ferromagnetic metal of Group 9 (VIIIb) of the periodic table, used especially for heat-resistant and magnetic alloys. The metal was isolated (c. 1735) by Swedish chemist Georg Brandt, though cobalt compounds had been used for centuries to impart a blue colour to…


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Description of 1463 Wescott Road, Edisto Island, SC 29438
UNIQUE AND HARD TO FIND WATERFRONT PROPERTY WITH ACREAGE - This log cabin home is ideal for splitting life between town and country, or just having a quiet place full time. Located on 6.1 well laid out acres, this private retreat features: a gated entrance, 2 outbuildings, plenty of trees, an outdoor firepit and a short dock with floater that should yield 4-5' at low tide. (Buyer's to verify creek depths etc because getting out of the creek is likely not possible on a low tide, yet there is good water at the dock). This raised house features plenty of outdoor storage and a full front and back porch. As you enter you will find a welcoming foyer, and to the right a large kitchen with pantry, granite countertops, and an open concept into the connected dining room and large den with vaulted ceilings. The master bedroom is downstairs and offers a nice master suite. The upstairs offers two large bedrooms, and a hall bath with breezeway overlook to the den below. The wildlife is abundant! Enjoy beautiful sunsets from the back porch and load up on crabs every day on your short dock. Furniture is negotiable. COME QUICKLY AND CLAIM YOUR STAKE AS A WATERFRONT HOMEOWNER WITH SPACE TO ENJOY PEACE AND QUIET!
Property Features of 1463 Wescott Road, Edisto Island, SC 29438
Log Home
Single Family Detached
Edisto Island
|Elementary school: Jane Edwards
|Middle school: Baptist Hill
|High school: Baptist Hill
|Fireplace in family room
|Central air
|Off street parking
|Lot acreage is: 6.10
|Waterfront lot
|Marsh front
|Subdivision: None
|Wood floors
|Wall to wall carpeting
|Walk-in closet(s)
|Horses allowed
Rooms & Dimensions
|Family Room
|Laundry room
|Great Room


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Exercise your art chops!
Summer Solstice! What could be better after a full day's work (or sunning & surfing — hey, we're in San Diego!), or sight-seeing around San Diego, than hunkering down, and drawing pictures with other passionate story-tellers?
We'll do hands-on drawing-and-sharing, in class, in person, at the beautiful UCSD Extension campus in La Jolla, CA. Examine the latest picture books, plus a few timeless classics. And address aspects of the current children's book market.
Class: Children's Book Illustration – ART-40011
Instructor: Joy Chu
Dates: June 26 – August 21 (9 meetings)
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Extension, Room 128
Required books:
Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books (paperback) :: Uri Shulevitz ISBN: 9780823059355
Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals (paperback)
:: Ed Emberley ISBN: 9780316789790
Don't delay, sign up today!
Purchase textbooks @ UCSD Bookstore,
or at amazon.com
extension.ucsd.edu. Register now.
Ask about ART 40011
Fee: $250 / $275 after 6/10/13


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Ritz Theatre
804 Fair Oaks Avenue,
South Pasadena,
1 person favorited this theater
Although the nearby Rialto Theatre remains, the nearby Ritz Theatre has vanished after years as a district 2 Fox theatre. It was opened as the Colonial Theatre in 1917. By June 1938 it had been taken over by Fox West Coast Theatres and renamed Ritz Theatre. It was demolished in the late-1950's/early-1960's.
Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The Ritz Theatre was located just north of the Rialto theatre at 804 Fair Oaks.
When this theatre opened it was called the Colonial Theatre. Both the Colonial & Rialto theatre were operated in the early 30's by Circle Theatres. In the mid 30's Fox West Coast Theatres took over operations of both houses.
Here's another interesting puzzle. Southwest Contractor & Manufacturer issue of September 2nd, 1916, contains an announcement that architect Edward J. Borgmeyer had completed plans for a moving picture theatre at South Pasadena for a Mr. Edward N. Jarecki. The estimated cost is given as $25,000.
The same publication, in its issue of September 23rd, the same year, announced that a brick structure, one story, 3 rooms, would be built at a cost of $8500 at 804-806 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena, for Ella M. Jerecki.
Despite the variant spellings Jarecki/Jerecki, they must have been the same family, but were both of these buildings built? Was the second, smaller building built next door to the theatre, at 806? I remember seeing the Ritz back in the early 1950s, and the building was obviously a very old one- certainly older than the Rialto. It must have been the theatre referred to in the article.
There is a big red brick building there now, I believe it houses office space and a Papa John's Pizza on the first floor.Is this building part of the old theatre, or is this a newer retro type building?
The Ritz was demolished sometime in th elate 1950s or early 1960s. It was located in between an old brick building that was at the southeast corner of Fair Oaks and Hope, and Gus's Barbecue which is still at its long time location, 808 Fair Oaks. The site of the Ritz became a parking lot. If there is currently a building at 804 Fair Oaks, it is new. You can glimpse the vacant lot in the picture on the main page of the web site for Gus's:
Yeah, I was thinking of the building on the corner. The parking lot is there, where the Ritz used to be.
Sorry…it's a red brick building with a white brick facade that is on the corner. I guess the Ritz would have been between that and Gus's B-B-Q. I just came back from driving through Washington, Oregon, and Central California, and I took several pics of defunct theatres in mostly small towns, many in seedy and run-down areas.One town with two paticulary nice theatres was Lindsay, California. Every town in central CA has at least one theatre. Many have been turned into churches, storage areas or are just boarded up. In some cities, like Porterville, yuppies have moved in and are restoring the historic areas. In others, judging by the architecture and degree of decrepitude, they were probably by-passed by the railroad in the 20s and the theatres have been boarded-up since the 50s, just waiting for a rebirth at the hands of a dreamer, perhaps even someone who visits Cinema Treasures. You know,having spent years driving through California and the west I can say that without a doubt , there is no ugly or boring or uninspiring place around here.
Gus's BBQ has been sold and is now being completely gutted inside and will be remodeled, said to open in February 2008. I wonder what it will look like.
"Nothing Lasts."
—Ken Kesey
Here's a 2001 photo of where the Ritz was: View link
Here is an LA Times article dated 12/13/36:
SOUTH PASADENA – The Ritz Theater was held up last night by an armed bandit, who escaped with $53.10. Cashier Ruth Shroder and the doorman were threatened with a revolver.
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AARP Travel Center Verified Reviews
Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelOpulent, Italian-themed Las Vegas resort on lake
Popular property highlights
Fountains on the Strip
About 1,000 fountains dance to music and light in front of this European-style hotel set along the Las Vegas Strip, next to CityCenter and a tram ride away from Crystals Retail & Entertainment.
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil presents the aquatic-based O, with an adjacent show-inspired gallery hosting works by renowned artists.
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Bellagio guestrooms and suites feature leather headboards, pillowtop mattresses, and down comforters; bathrooms offer marble and wood vanities, bathrobes, scales, and phones.
Languages Spoken
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Hotel Amenities
The Bellagio offers multiple non-gaming facilities.
With a design based on Zen philosophy, the 65,000-square-foot Spa & Salon at Bellagio (surcharge) features travertine marble, granite, bleached walnut, onyx, reflecting pools, water walls, and illuminated aqua-colored glass. The spa has 54 treatment rooms, men's and women's saunas, steam rooms, and spa tubs of varying temperatures. A fitness center offers yoga, Pilates, and spinning classes.
Via Bellagio hosts such luxury boutiques as Prada, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, and Hermès. An ornate vault of glass and green wrought iron, the Conservatory shelters a seasonal flower garden. A Mediterranean garden with fruit trees houses five heated pools, three with oversize fountains.
A business center provides high-speed Internet access, printing, faxing, copying, shipping, and other services (surcharges).
This property charges a daily resort fee which includes property-wide high speed internet access (public spaces and in-room), unlimited local and toll free calls, airline boarding pass printing, notary service and fitness center access for guests 18 and up.
- Casino
- Express check-in
- Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
- Number of outdoor pools - 5
- Elevator/lift
- Number of bars/lounges - 5
- Fitness facilities
- Full-service spa
- 24-hour front desk
- Poolside bar
- Business center
- Conference space
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Porter/bellhop
- Express check-out
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Year Built 1998
- Coffee shop or café
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Free WiFi
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Steam room
- Sauna
- Health club
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Nightclub
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Spa services on site
- Luggage storage
- Hair salon
- ATM/banking
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Number of restaurants - 13
- Concierge services
- Conference space size (feet) - 200000
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Conference center
- Designated smoking areas
- Shopping on site
- Ballroom
- Banquet hall
- Spa tub
- Total number of rooms - 3933
- Number of floors - 36
- Wedding services
- Multilingual staff
Available in all rooms:
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Languages Spoken
- English
- Chinese
- French
- Japanese
- Spanish
Self parking (surcharge), Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- Pay movies
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Premium bedding
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Phone
- Minibar
- Turndown service
- Private bathroom
- Bathrobes
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Separate bathtub and shower
- Deep soaking bathtub
- Pillowtop mattress
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Flat-panel TV
- WiFi (surcharge)
- Number of bathrooms -
- Daily housekeeping
- Slippers
- Room service (24 hours)
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Wheelchair accessible
- iPod docking station
Where to Eat
Spago by Wolfgang Puck - Wolfgang Puck's re-imagined Spago combines warm, chic design, and stunning views of the Fountains of Bellagio to create an iconic new location for the chef's legendary, flagship restaurant. Enjoy California fare with market-driven menus featuring handmade pastas, wood-oven pizzas, fresh seafood, all-natural meats, prime steaks, handcrafted cocktails, as well as a robust wine list and dessert complements.
Picasso - Lakeside, fountain-view restaurant. Featuring original Picasso oil paintings and ceramics. Chef Julian Serrano offers French-Mediterranean cuisine. Open Wednesday–Monday. Dinner only.
Prime Steakhouse - Renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's lakeside, fountain-view steakhouse with 1930s-style speakeasy decor. Dinner only.
Le Cirque - Outpost of famed New York City French restaurant with intimate, jewel-box dining room under a draped-silk ceiling. Dinner only. Closed Monday.
Michael Mina - Namesake, seafood restaurant of celebrated chef. California and Mediterranean ingredients. Dinner only. Closed Wednesday.
Lago by Julian Serrano - Italian small plates, Bellagio fountain views, and exquisite decor.
Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar - Traditional and modern Japanese cuisine. Patio overlooks the hotel's lake and fountains. Open daily from early evening.
Jasmine - Chef Philip Lo's contemporary Hong Kong cuisine. Lake and garden views. Dinner only.
FIX - Classic American fare in dining room constructed almost entirely of Costa Rican padouk wood. Dinner and late-night dining.
Harvest - Health-conscious, market-inspired menu featuring fresh, creative dishes. Open daily for dinner.
Noodles - Pan-Asian noodle dishes and Hong Kong barbecue. Lunch, dinner, and late-night dining. Dim Sum Friday for brunch.
The Buffet - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets and weekend champagne brunch.
Bellagio Patisserie - European-style pastries, desserts, gelato, sandwiches, salads, crepes, espresso, and one of the world's largest chocolate fountains. Open from early morning to late night.
Petrossian Bar - A 24-hour wine bar serving Petrossian caviar, smoked salmon, champagne by the glass, and cigars.
Palio - Soups, sandwiches, light fare, and coffee. Pool-view tables. Open from early morning to late night.
Café Gelato - Italian ice creams, smoothies, and pastries. Open from early morning to late night.
The Pool Café - Seasonal outdoor café. Breakfast and lunch.
Pool Bar - Seasonal outdoor bar. Open from early morning to late evening.
Snacks - Fast-food spot in casino. Sandwiches and snack foods. Open from midmorning to late night.
Baccarat Bar - A 24-hour lounge with piano music.
The 89,000-square-foot casino includes a poker room, a plush high-limit room, video poker, slots, table games, and a race and sports book.
Displays by the Fountains at Bellagio attract thousands of sightseers. Located in eight-acre Lake Bellagio fronting the hotel, the lighted fountains erupt, sway, and dance to music ranging from Sinatra to Pavarotti.
Employing a stage rising from and falling into a 1.5-million-gallon pool, Cirque du Soleil presents the cycle-of-life show O (surcharge).
The opulent nightclub The Bank offers DJ music Thursday–Sunday. Hyde is an indoor-outdoor nightclub with a terrace that overlook's the famed Fountains of Bellagio.
The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is Las Vegas' premier exhibition space, committed to presenting intimate exhibitions featuring works by some of the world's most compelling artists. Organized in partnership with museums and foundations from around the world.
T-Mobile Arena is a 20,000-seat sports and entertainment venue that opened in April 2016 and is located just west of the Strip. The arena will host exciting, world-class events with something for everyone - from UFC, boxing, hockey, basketball, and bull riding to high-profile awards shows and top-name concerts.
The Park also opened in April 2016 and serves as the official gateway to T-Mobile Arena. It offers an eclectic blend of restaurants, bars, and entertainment with rich desert landscaping reminiscent of the Mojave.
Nearby Things to Do
A 9.5-acre Mediterranean garden with fruit trees and slender cypresses includes five heated pools, three with oversize fountains. The two largest pools, 180 feet and 150 feet long, are open year-round. The garden also houses four spacious spa tubs, sundecks, and rental cabanas with TVs, phones, refrigerators, sinks, dining sets, padded lounges, ceiling fans, and misting systems.
The Spa & Salon at Bellagio (surcharge) features a 6,000-square-foot fitness center with plasma TVs, cardio and weight machines, and free weights. Fitness classes such as yoga, Pilates, and spinning are available.
The South Seas-themed Bali Hai Golf Club is five miles away, and the 18-hole courses at Desert Pines Golf Club and Royal Links Golf Club are both within nine miles.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 23 miles away, provides rock climbing, biking and hiking trails, and scenic drives. The Lake Mead National Recreational Area, 31 miles away, offers fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking. Mount Charleston, 41.5 miles away, has biking and hiking trails, horseback riding, skiing, and snowboarding.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near the hotel; fees may apply.
- Pilates classes on site
- Snowboarding nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Downhill skiing nearby
- Yoga classes/instruction on site
Spa Services
The overall design of the luxurious 55,000-square-foot Spa Bellagio (surcharge) is Zen-influenced, balancing natural elements of earth, water, fire, and wind. The spa includes features of travertine marble, granite, bleached walnut, onyx, with reflecting pools, water walls, and illuminated aqua-colored glass.
The spa's 56 treatment rooms include 12 skincare rooms with private showers, 4 Ashiatsu and 2 Thai massage rooms, 2 Vichy rooms, 2 Hydrotherapy rooms, a Watsu room, and 4 couple's rooms. Men's and women's saunas, steam rooms, and spa tubs of varying temperatures are designed to restore, revive, and replenish.
Spa Bellagio offers massage therapies and body treatments, facial care, hydrotherapy, and beauty services. A fitness center provides state-of-the-art facilities and expert assessments. Classes in yoga, pilates, cycling, stretching and strength training are also offered.
- Couples treatment rooms
- Manicures and pedicures
- Body wraps
- Body treatments
- Body scrubs
- Facial treatments
- Aromatherapy treatments
- Hydrotherapy treatments
- Hot stone massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Spa tub in spa
- Reflexology
- Sports massage
- Massages
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-in time ends at midnight
Minimum check-in age is 21
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 50.0 per day.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 125.00 per accommodation, per night
- Dogs only
- Up to 40 lb
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property. The policies listed are provided by the property.
- Deposit: USD 150.00 per night
- Resort fee: USD 44.22 per accommodation, per night
- Fitness center access
- Internet access
- Phone calls
- Additional inclusions
Optional extras
- Breakfast fee: between USD 20 and USD 30 per person (approximately)
- Fee for in-room wireless Internet: USD 44.22 per night (rates may vary)
- Self parking fee: USD 18 per day
- Valet parking fee: USD 30 per day
- Pet fee: USD 125.00 per accommodation, per night
- Rollaway bed fee: USD 50.0 per day
Hotel Name
- Bellagio
- Bellagio Hotel
- Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas
- Bellagio Las Vegas
- Bellagio Vegas
- Bellagio Las Vegas Hotel Las Vegas
- Las Vegas Hotel Bellagio
- Bellagio Resort Las Vegas
- Bellagio Resort
- Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas
- Bellagio Vegas
- Las Vegas Hotel Bellagio
We should mention
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Awards & Affiliations
- The property is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.


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Bello needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 152 designs submitted by 42 freelance designers.
I'm a german used-car dealer and have no idea for a logo, that stands for reputable business, trustability and fairness. Of course a high recognition value would be nice :-)
Bellmann Automobile
I don't know how to create a logo for my corporate identity, maybe something with a car or a part of a car ...maybe abstract... not too much details....with a modern look, I really do not know
A logo, that stands for reputable business, trustability and fairness. Simply, with a good recognition value. I want to use it for my business paper, cards, Signs, stamps...
- not to much colors maybe 2 or 3 ?
- no cartoons
- several designers are not able to write my right name, BELLMANN (in Germany men ends with 2 n !)
- not only black-and-white, (as an option for stamps, of course)
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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"Your Hometown Energy Provider"
The City of Lumberton is your local hometown electricity provider. Our mission is to provide quality, cost-effective services to all our customers. We are one of 48 of the nations more than 2000 public power utilities in the nation to earn Reliable Public Power (RP3) recognition from the American Public Power Association (APPA). The RP3 designation recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, training and system improvement. The award was presented to the City of Lumberton in February 2007.
The Electric Utility Department provides numerous services. Some of these services include electrical installations and repair, electrical disconnects, tree trimming, tree removal, security lighting, and street lighting.
Emergency on-call personnel are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Normal office hours for the electric department are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. except for holidays. In case of a power outage please notify us at (910) 272-1348.


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The Hope College Wind Ensemble will perform on Monday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
The program will include "Awayday," by Adam Gorb; "Irish Tune from County Derry," by Percy Grainger; and "Sea Songs," by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The concert will also feature Brendan Bohnhorst, from the Holland Symphony Orchestra on tuba, playing Edward Gregson's "Tuba Concerto."
Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located at 277 College Ave., on College Avenue at 12th Street.


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Hi, It's Cathy Victor from "Me and My Mum Quilting" and I'm very pleased and excited to be posting my very first Moda Bake Shop tutorial. This tutorial is for all of you quilters who have been nervous about trying a Drunkard's Path quilt. I will show you an easy way to put together a layout that I call "Dancing Daisies."
I chose to use Moda layer cakes for my quilt, but charm packs could be used instead, or yardage of course.
I hope after seeing how easy it is to make this quilt, you'll make one for yourself or a loved one. Please feel free to ask any questions or leave me any comments. You can find me on my blog: meandmymumquilting.blogspot.ca
I'd also love to see any pictures of your own Drunkard's Path.
Quilt Top
1 Layer cake (or 4 charm packs) of Marmalade by Bonnie & Camille 55050LC
1 Layer cake (or 4 charm packs) of Bella Solids 9900LC-11
4 yards of 55052-17
1/2 yard of 55054-15
Grab your Marmalade Layer Cake and open it up. If you don't want to make the bonus pillow, you may remove 2 squares that are doubles or that you don't like. I stacked three at a time, lining them up perfectly, and cut them into four 5″ squares. Continue doing this until you have completed the stack. Leave these stacks them in 4 identical piles (you'll see why in a minute).
Grab your Bella Solids Layer Cake (or yardage), and do the exact same as above. Leave this in 4 piles, as well. You will have 40-42 squares in each pile.
Here are my piles:
4 piles of Bella Solid and
4 piles of Marmalade
Again, they measure 5″ square.
Grab 1 pile of your Marmalade squares and 1 pile of Bella solid squares and proceed to the next step…
Click on the Printer Friendly Version at the bottom of this post to download the template I used for tracing. I traced the pattern onto some rigid cardboard, so it wouldn't bend when I was tracing the shapes onto the fabric. You can use template plastic or just regular paper if you are careful. If you have an acrylic ruler or set of templates for Drunkard's Path, use those instead.
Place the "clam" template on the WRONG side of your Marmalade squares. I put the straight edges of the template aligned with the cut edges of the fabric.
I did piles of 3. I found more than that moved too much. Do as many as you are comfortable with.
Trace around the template with pen or pencil (that you can see) being careful not to disturb your fabric.
Next, place the "arch" template on the same pile of squares. Match the template to the opposite corner.
There is some fabric visible at each end of the arch and also a sliver between the line you drew previously.
Trace along the edge of the Template using a pen or pencil, being careful not to disturb the pile. You can pin the pile together in a few places to hold them together if you like.
Using scissors, I cut along the arch line, while holding the opposite end in your fingers. Again, do not disturb the alignment of your piles.
Then, cut the tabs of the ends.
Next pick up the "clam" piece and cut off the sliver. You can throw those extra pieces away.
Do this for all the Marmalade squares from your first pile.( 40-42 squares)
Do the exact same thing, to your pile of Bella solids. Throw the excess cut bits away.
You now have 4 piles:
40 solid "clams" & 40 Marmalade "arches"
40 Marmalade "clams" & 40 solid "arches".
I chose to do the Marmalade "clam" set first, but it doesn't matter how you do it.
With right sides together, place the pieces as illustrated. Pin.
Ease the pieces together so that they line up, every 1/2″ or so and pin.
Ease and pin…
Ease and pin every 1/2″ or so and pin until you reach the other end.
This is what the pieces should look like when pinned.
This is the other side of the same block.
Try doing some pinned and then try some without pinning and see which method you prefer. I don't pin mine, but do what works best for you.
Regardless of whether you pin or not they are sewn in the same way. Start with the corner illustrated and using a 1/4″ seam begin sewing around the curve.
With the needle in the lowered position, sew 5-7 stitches (1/2″) approx. then stop.
Needle down.
Lift your presser foot and line the fabrics up for the next bit.
Lower your foot and continue sewing around the curve 5-7 stitches at a time.
Stop with needle down.
Lift presser foot and align fabrics for the next bit.
Lower presser foot and continue sewing around the curve 5-7 stitches more.
Stop with needle down.
Continue doing this until you reach the end.
See how I swiveled the edges near the end so they line up. Make sure you do this.
It goes much faster than it sounds, but again, try pinning some and not pinning some and see which method you prefer.
Do the same for the other set of pieces ( solid "clams" and marmalade "arches". Again with Right sides together.)
I pressed the blocks toward the Marmalade pieces. They should measure 4.5″ at this point.
If the "clam" or the "arch" don't line up at the ends, you can square them up. Place your ruler onto the block and align the bottom left corner at the 4.5″ junction. Line up the arches at the 3.25″ line in both places, as illustrated, and if anything extends outside the upper right side of the ruler you can trim this off.
Yay! you just finished 80-84 blocks. Take a break!!!
When you are ready, grab your 2 piles of ironed blocks…
They are laid out in this position, so find a large open space to lay out your blocks.
Grab 2 of the Marmalade "Clam" blocks and place them in a diagonal position,starting in the upper left corner and the other in the bottom right position. Do this until all your "clam" blocks are laid out.
I tried to make sure that no 2 patterns or colors were in the same block.
Next, grab 2 of the Marmalade "Arches" and fill in the spaces left from the previous step.
Do this with all of the remaining "arches", until you have all the blocks the way you like. DO NOT CHANGE THE PLACEMENT OF THE BLOCKS THOUGH!!!
Double and triple check that all the pieces are in the right configuration.
When you have them all verified to look like the layout on the left, carefully transfer them to a ruler or other rigid surface.
Layer them all onto the ruler, and carry them to your sewing machine.
Sew them together, sewing first the top row and then the bottom row. You do not need to iron them yet.
Then grab the top row and the bottom row and nest the middle seam so the top is pointing up, and the bottom is facing down ( this way they won't get caught in the feed dogs.)
You can press the block now.
It should look like this…
and measure 8.5″ square.
Continue, sewing your blocks together, and pressing until the pile is done.
You now have 20 or 21 blocks completed to this stage.
So grab another set of 5″ squares and begin at the start, tracing, cutting sewing, etc; until that set is finished to the above stage.
Do this for the remaining sets of 5″ squares, until they are all complete to this stage.
* Note*: I sewed these in this manner so the drunkard's path blocks were a manageable amount and that they would be combined in an evenly random way. Also by doing them in smaller batches your body would be less fatigued.
If you've made it this far, the hardest part is over. Give yourself a huge pat on the back!! You deserve it!
Grab the first 20 blocks that you assembled earlier. They will be laid out in the daisy shape like the picture shows on the left. I tried not to have any 2 colors or patterns touching.
Continue making daisies until you have a row of 5 flowers. You may have to move them around a bit to find the layout you like the best.
Do the same with the rest of the blocks. Each pile will make a row of 5 daisies.
Continue until you have 4 columns of 5.
*If you opted to make all the blocks from the Layer Cakes you will have enough left over to make 1 flower block as a pillow.*
Begin sewing the blocks into rows.
Make sure that you pin every seam and match up the curves, and pin, pin, pin!!
Trust me, pins will be your friend.
Take the extra time and match your seams. You will be much happier with the results.
This picture shows that my blocks have been sewn into rows.
Next, sew those rows together until the quilt is assembled.
If you wanted to add borders, you would do that now, but I liked the way it looked without borders.
To make the backing: cut your 4 yd piece in half at 72″. Take your 2 pieces and cut the selvages off. Line up the edges right sides together along the selvage end(the 72″ long side) and sew.
Press the seam. You now have a piece that measures: 72″ x 84″.
Sandwich your backing, batting and quilt top together, and quilt and bind as desired. I cut my binding strips at 2″ and that gave me a 1/4″ binding.
Yay! you did it! One finished twin-sized quilt.
Next up, instructions for the bonus pillow sham….
Pillow Sham Bonus Instructions:
Lay out your remaining 4 blocks in the design shown in this picture.
Sew them together and press.
Don't forget to pin those seams where they meet!!!
Cut your border strips :
( I used the fabric I cut off the edges off my quilt after I finished quilting it.)
2- 2.5″ x 17″ and
2- 2.5″ x 21″.
Sew the 17″ strips down both sides of the pillow block, press and trim to square.
Sew the 21″ strips to the top and bottom of the block, press and trim to square it up.
Cut a 22″ x 22″ piece of fabric and batting to create a quilt sandwich.
Layer, and quilt as desired. Trim off excess batting and backing.
Take a 24″ piece of yardage and cut it into 2 pieces measuring: 24″ x 21″. Fold both of these pieces in half so they measure 12″ x 21″, and press the fold. Sew a 14″ along the pressed fold. Do this for both pieces.
Lay the first piece on top of the pillow with the fold in the middle and the raw edges matched up.
Pin in place and sew along the raw edges.
Do the same for the other side overlapping the folded seams, but still matching raw edges. Pin in place and sew along the raw edges. Trim any excess away.
Now, turn the pillow right side out. Make sure your points are crisp( I used a chopstick into each corner).
Press and pin so that the borders are laying flat and the back is smooth and has no puckers.
I hand-basted around the borders, so that when I sewed it on the machine, the fabric didn't pucker.
Sew in-the-ditch around the borders as demonstrated in the picture. Remove the hand-basting stitches.
You have now completed an accent pillow!! Just stuff it and it's ready to go.
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial, and that I've taken some of the fear out of tackling a Drunkard's Path quilt.
One twin-sized or throw quilt measuring approx. 64″x 80″ and one throw pillow measuring 20″x20″ ( fits a 16″ pillow).
Cathy Victor


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McCarthy: The 'road-show' president
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy is condemning President Barack Obama as a "road show president" ahead of the president's trip to Virginia to build support for a plan to avoid the $1.2 trillion in spending cuts.
"Road show, this is not the time to be out campaigning, it's the time to solve something," McCarthy said on Fox News' "On the Record with Greta van Susteren. "He's going on the road tomorrow, 150 miles away, to hype this up and try to scare the American public when he can go one mile down and talk to Harry Reid. You know, look, we're talking about $85 billion. We borrow $85 billion every 25 days."
Story Continued Below
He added, "He's never gotten off the campaign trail and that's what's wrong, that's why I call him the road show president. The saddest part about all of this, normally in divided government, you achieve big things. You can't achieve something if he's out campaigning."
( PHOTOS: What they're saying about sequestration)
The $85 billion cited by McCarthy is the amount of immediate cuts — an amount economists have warned could knock half a point off of GDP growth and send the country back into a recession. The sequester, scheduled to hit March 1, calls for $1.2 trillion in cuts over the next decade.
Obama's strategy during the fight over the sequester relies on the popularity gap between him and his Republican opponents. Obama hopes by highlighting the impact of the sequester — and the GOP's reluctance to raise taxes — he can create a public outcry that will force Republicans to back down and solve the sequester with a mixture of cuts and new revenue.
McCarthy said that wouldn't work. "No tax increase is coming out of this House," he said.
Obama on Tuesday will travel to Newport News, Va.