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Original Research ARTICLE
Effects of Alzheimer's Disease on Visual Target Detection: A "Peripheral Bias"
- 1Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- 2ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- 3University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- 4Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Department of Neurology and Clinical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- 5Private Hospital Wyss, Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland
Visual exploration is an omnipresent activity in everyday life, and might represent an important determinant of visual attention deficits in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The present study aimed at investigating visual search performance in AD patients, in particular target detection in the far periphery, in daily living scenes. Eighteen AD patients and 20 healthy controls participated in the study. They were asked to freely explore a hemispherical screen, covering ±90°, and to respond to targets presented at 10°, 30°, and 50° eccentricity, while their eye movements were recorded. Compared to healthy controls, AD patients recognized less targets appearing in the center. No difference was found in target detection in the periphery. This pattern was confirmed by the fixation distribution analysis. These results show a neglect for the central part of the visual field for AD patients and provide new insights by mean of a search task involving a larger field of view.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and refers to a progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by a decline in cognition, that influences the activities of daily living (Marshall et al., 2011). These activities rely on visual exploration, guiding our actions. For instance, during driving, the visual scene is constantly explored, in order to attend to relevant objects (Trick et al., 2004). Attending to relevant visual information in the extra-personal space relies on eye movements, an intact visual field, and on an appropriate level of performance for the action (Müri et al., 2005). Consequently, eye movement analysis, assessing saccades and fixations, has been often applied to reliably investigate visual exploration strategies (Zihl, 1995). Moreover, it has been shown that eye movements are also a valid physiological measure of the deployment of visual attention in space (Scinto et al., 1994). Other studies have also demonstrated that the cortical neural correlates of saccadic eye movements and visual attention shifting overlap, and that these two aspects are functionally related (Corbetta et al., 1998; Hoffman, 1998). Attention shifting and eye movements both rely upon a fronto-parietal network (Bisley, 2011) and, due to neurodegenerative processes in this network, impairments in the control of visuo-spatial attention may result (Cazzoli et al., 2015). In patients with AD, prominent deficits are present in the shifting of attention (Parasuraman and Haxby, 1993), in the inhibition of shifting to irrelevant but salient spatial locations (Danckert et al., 1998), in the shifting of the attentional focus between local and global features (Filoteo et al., 1992), and in the ability to select the focus of attention (Calderon et al., 2001).
This decline in the control of visual attention, also reflected in eye movement alterations, could be due to a less efficient visual search strategy when detecting targets. Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that visual processing is impaired in AD (Adlington et al., 2009; Bublak et al., 2011), and the pattern of eye movements of AD patients is less organized than the one of healthy controls (Lueck et al., 2000; Molitor et al., 2015). These differences in eye movement patterns have also been used for the validation of an assessment tool for dementia (Currie et al., 1991). Moreover, in the context of rehabilitation programs, neuro-visual trainings (e.g., saccadic and visual exploration trainings) have been applied in different populations of neurological patients (Kerkhoff, 2000). As a result of these rehabilitation programs, patients showed an overall amelioration of their saccadic eye movement patterns, with an increase of saccadic amplitudes, an increase of saccadic velocity, and a decrease of saccadic reaction times. Moreover, they could improve localization of fixations and saccadic eye movements, i.e., they could perform more precise saccades toward a given point, and could more easily perform saccades and pursuit eye movements in response to moving objects, as well as displaying a more organized search strategy. In order to develop a training with high ecological validity, a precise knowledge of the patterns of visual exploration of AD patients in a naturalistic environment is crucial.
In a study, where AD patients had to perform a simulated driving task and eye movements were recorded, Mapstone et al. (2001) showed that patients, as well as older healthy controls, focused their attention predominantly on the periphery, whereas younger healthy controls focused their attention predominantly on the central part of the visual scene. Analogously, Rösler et al. (2005) found that AD patients produced more peripheral fixations than healthy controls, and presented a deficit in disengaging attention from peripheral targets. These results have been obtained in experimental setups in which patients had to perform the task on a flat screen with search visual displays subtending a small visual angle. Critically, however, other studies have shown that wider visual angles and larger visual scene sizes can substantially influence the pattern of results, e.g., decreasing performances in healthy controls (Gibson, 2014), or increasing deficits in neurological patients with visuo-spatial attention impairments when attention has to be deployed over a large search array (Eglin et al., 1994).
An ecologically valid test of visual exploration is challenging to implement in laboratory conditions, especially when attempting to specifically assess peripheral target detection, which requires a setup with a large field of view. In the present study, we thus employed a setup composed of a hemispherical projection screen, which allows to present stimuli on a ±90° visual field. The aim of the present study was to better understand visual search performance, and the related visual search strategies, in AD patients compared to healthy subjects. In particular, we sought to apply a large visual angle for stimulus presentation, in order to assess the effects of the latter as a potential, crucial determinant of impaired visuo-spatial attention deployment during activities of daily living. To accomplish this goal, images of daily living were projected onto a hemispherical screen, and participants were free to move their eyes in order to locate targets within these images, while their eye movements were recorded.
Materials and Methods
Eighteen patients with AD, and 20 healthy controls with no indication of cognitive impairment, were recruited for the study. Patients eligible for the study were recruited from the Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic of the University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry in Bern, Switzerland, and were all previously diagnosed with probable AD, according to the criteria laid down in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. Patients were assessed with the German version of the CERAD neuropsychological battery (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease; Morris et al., 1989). Additional clinical scales were also administered for the evaluation of the activities of daily living: the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale (Bucks et al., 1996), and the Functional Activities Questionnaire (Pfeffer et al., 1982). Finally, the Geriatric Depression Scale (Parmelee and Katz, 1990) was administrated to verify the presence and severity of depressive symptoms. Structural MRI data were also examined for all patients, in order to exclude any other brain anomaly.
The control group was recruited from the Seniors University of Bern, Switzerland. Healthy controls were assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screening tool (Nasreddine et al., 2005). The corresponding inclusion criterion for the control group was a cut-off score above 26 in the MoCA.
Exclusion criteria for both groups were color blindness, glaucoma, cataract, visuomotor disturbance, and insufficient or insufficiently corrected visual acuity.
The experiment was carried out in accordance with the latest version of the Declaration of Helsinki, and was approved by the local Ethics Committee. All participants gave written informed consent prior to participation to the study.
Demographics and clinical characteristics of the participants are summarized in Table 1.
Experimental Setup and Procedure
The experiment consisted of a visual search task, where participants had to explore images presented on a hemispherical screen with a diameter of 60 cm (Octopus 900, Haag-Streit AG, Köniz, Switzerland). Participants were free to move their eyes, but were asked not to move their head, which was stabilized by means of a chin-and-head rest (Figure 1).
A custom developed mirror-projection system allowed to project images of everyday life (i.e., landscapes, streets, buildings, everyday objects) onto the hemispherical screen, covering ±90° field of view (Nef et al., 2014). Participants were instructed to press a response button whenever they located a target (a small gray star), and not to press the button when they located a distracter (a small gray triangle; of similar size, and of identical color and luminance with respect to the target shape). This design was thus similar to a classical Go–NoGo task. Targets and distracters were presented one at a time, at locations predetermined by a grid of concentric circles that was not visible to the participant (Figure 2). The grid determined the eccentricity of stimulus appearance, and comprised 36 possible positions. Every stimulus (target or distracter) remained on screen for 2 s. The inter-stimulus interval (ISI) was randomly varied between 0.5 and 2 s. Before the experiment proper, a practice run was carried out. The practice run was repeated as many times as needed, until the participants understood the task.
FIGURE 2. Image projected on the hemispherical screen, with a target (star shape). The grid of concentric circles, representing the three possible eccentricities for targets presentation, was not visible to the participants.
The responses to targets and distracters were recorded. The percentage of targets with a response (i.e., correct responses) for the eccentricities of 10°, 30°, and 50° was computed, as well as the mean reaction times to respond to targets at each of the three eccentricities. Moreover, the percentage of distracters with a response (i.e., incorrect responses) was computed for the eccentricities of 20° and 40°. By assigning distracters positions closer to the center and avoiding an overlap with targets positions, an enhanced distracter effect was intended without increasing the number of distracters (Honda, 2005). The positions of targets and distractors were based on the experimental set up by Gruber et al. (2014).
Eye movements were recorded by means of the integrated eye camera of the Octopus 900. The eye-tracking system was calibrated by means of a five-point-calibration procedure. Further details of the test setup are described in Gruber et al. (2014).
Data Analysis
Target Detection and Eye Movement Analysis
The responses to targets and distracters, as well as the corresponding reaction times, were analyzed using MATLAB (MathWorks Inc.). Eye movement analysis was also performed using MATLAB. In a first step, the pupil position was recorded, using the five-point-calibration and an offline algorithm (Zito et al., 2014). In a second step, these positions were transferred to a polar space, separated into distance and angle, and mapped onto the hemispherical screen. For each participant, we calculated the percentage of fixations in four eccentricity areas (0–20°, 20–40°, 40–60°, and >60°), the mean fixation time, and the mean distance between gaze position and target position at the time point of target onset.
Statistical Analyses
Statistical analyses were performed using SPSSv20 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA). A mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for group comparison with the percentage of target recognition and reaction time measured at three eccentricities (10°, 30°, and 50°) and percentage of fixations measured at four eccentricity areas (0–20°, 20–40°, 40–60°, and >60°). A mixed-model ANOVA was also used to assess potential differences in the percentage of responses to the distracters, with the within-subjects factor eccentricity (20° and 40°) and the between-subjects factor group (patients, controls). Post hoc comparisons were performed by means of Bonferroni-corrected t-tests. Pearson's r, the correlation coefficient served as effect size estimation of the group difference for target detection percentage at 10°, 30°, and 50°. A Greenhouse–Geisser correction was applied when the sphericity assumption was not met, as assessed by the Mauchly's test of sphericity.
The comparisons between the two groups concerning the mean fixation time, and the mean distance between gaze position and target position at the time point of target onset, were carried out using independent-samples t-tests.
The significance level was set α < 0.05 for all analyses.
Target Detection, Reaction Times, and Incorrect Responses to Distracters
Figure 3 shows group differences in target detection. The mixed-model ANOVA did not show a main effect of group [F(1,36) = 1.740, p = 0.05], but revealed a main effect of eccentricity [F(2,72) = 57.61, p < 0.001], indicating diminished performance with greater eccentricity, irrespective of the group. Crucially, this main effect was qualified by a significant interaction between eccentricity and group [F(2,72) = 8.07, p = 0.001], indicating that the profile of responses across the different eccentricities was different for patients and controls. Post hoc pairwise comparison showed that the percentage of detected targets was significantly lower for AD patients than for healthy controls at 10° eccentricity (p = 0.024), but no significant differences were found between the two groups at 30° (p = 0.273) or 50° eccentricity (p = 1.434). Additionally, the effect sizes of these group differences showed a decrease with increasing eccentricity (for 10°: r = 0.427; for 30°: r = 0.277; for 50°: r = 0.118).
FIGURE 3. Mean percentage of detected targets in the two groups, depending on the eccentricity. ∗∗p < 0.01 (based on the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons).
The mixed-model ANOVA on the reaction times revealed a main effect of group [F(1,36) = 10.765, p < 0.05] showing that patients were slower than healthy controls, as well as a main effect of eccentricity [F(2,72) = 30.95, p < 0.001], indicating slower reaction times at larger eccentricities. This effect was not qualified by an interaction between eccentricity and group [F(2,72) = 2.11, p > 0.05], indicating that this pattern was equally present in both groups (Figure 4).
FIGURE 4. Mean reaction times in the two groups, depending on the eccentricity. ∗∗∗p < 0.001 based on mixed-model ANOVA.
Regarding the incorrect responses to the distracters, the mixed-model ANOVA did not yield any significant main effect of group [F(1,36) = 2.264, p > 0.05) or of eccentricity [F(1,36) = 2.32, p > 0.05], nor any interaction between eccentricity and group [F(1,36) = 0.019, p > 0.05]. Hence, the percentage of incorrect responses to distracters was equivalent in healthy controls and AD patients, and was not influenced by eccentricity.
Gaze Position
Figure 5 depicts the percentage of fixations within the four eccentricity areas, for the two groups of participants. The mixed-model ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of eccentricity [F(3,34) = 27.806, p < 0.001], indicating lower fixation percentages at greater eccentricities, irrespective of the group. Crucially, this main effect was qualified by a significant interaction between eccentricity and group [F(3,34) = 6.426, p < 0.001], indicating that the pattern of fixations across the different areas of eccentricity was different for patients and controls. Post hoc pairwise comparisons revealed that patients produced significantly less fixations than healthy controls in the 0–20° eccentricity area, whereas they produced significantly more fixations than healthy controls in the 40–60° and in the >60° eccentricity areas.
FIGURE 5. Mean percentage of fixations in the four eccentricity areas of the hemisphere. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001 (based on the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons).
No significant differences between AD patients and healthy controls were found regarding the mean fixation time [Healthy controls: Mean (in seconds) = 0.42; SD = 0.26; AD Patients: Mean (in seconds) = 0.39; SD = 0.32; t(36) = 1.207, p > 0.05].
Concerning the mean distance between gaze position and target position at the time point of target onset, healthy controls showed a significantly shorter distance than AD patients (Healthy controls: Mean (in angle) = 43.79; SD = 34.05; Patients: Mean (in angle) = 57.03; SD = 38.49; t(36) = -4.544; p < 0.001).
The aim of the present study was to examine the target detection performance and the visual exploration behavior in AD patients compared to healthy subjects, using a visual search task on a hemispherical screen, covering an extended ±90° field of view. The results showed that AD patients detected less target than healthy controls in central positions, but no differences were found between the two groups at eccentricities of 30° and greater. This is consistent with previous results, showing that AD patients have decreased performance, as compared to healthy controls, in target detection in the central part of the field of view (Rösler et al., 2000). When eccentricity increased, the results indicated a diminished performance in healthy controls, confirming the findings of a recent study (Gruber et al., 2014). However, this pattern of performance was not present in AD patients. Peripheral cues attract attention automatically, and cause a faster allocation of attention, while central cues need voluntary attentional control, and require greater processing time to be interpreted (Müller and Rabbitt, 1989). According to Jonides (1981), the voluntary attentional control and the automatic reflexive orienting differ in their automaticity and processing resources. While voluntary orienting in response to central cues relies on selective attention and needs additional processing resources, automatic orienting to peripheral cues is driven by perceptual identification (Molenberghs et al., 2009). Additionally, because of the natural tendency to respond toward the source of stimulation when making keypress responses, Molenberghs et al. (2009) suggested that peripheral cues automatically activate corresponding responses to stimulus, whereas central cues still activate the voluntary attentional control. This interpretation is supported by findings concerning neuroanatomical correlates. In fact, responses to peripheral, automatic cues are subtended by the superior colliculus (Crick, 1984), whereas voluntary attentional responses to central cues presumably involve the inferotemporal cortex and the posterior parietal cortex (Serences and Yantis, 2006). This might explain the differences between the two groups in target detection performance, since the superior colliculus remains relatively spared until the very severe stages of the disease, while temporo-parietal areas are already affected from early-stage AD (Jobst et al., 1994; Perry and Hodges, 1999; Montez et al., 2009).
Alzheimer's disease patients needed significantly more time to detect targets and detected significantly less targets at 10° eccentricity. Thus, while healthy older individuals seem able to detect a target through peripheral vision, and immediately shift their attention upon it to process the available information, AD patients seem to have to explore for a longer period of time, until they attend to a point in space that is close to the target, and can finally detect the target, too. This hypothesis is in line with previous findings, showing that AD patients produce an increased number of fixations before fixating a given region of interest (Mosimann et al., 2004). This also relates to a higher response threshold, restricting covert attention shifting, and hampering the preparation of saccadic eye movements toward a target and, therefore, reducing search efficiency. In daily life, such a deficit put AD patients at risk to miss relevant information, resulting in inadequate reactions to the surrounding environment, such as, for instance, difficulties in finding items in a supermarket, using public transportation, or safely crossing a street.
Another explanation for the decreased target detection performance and the slower reaction times in AD patients relies in the impaired ability to move the eyes precisely and fast enough to explore the visual field. Although no significant differences were found concerning the mean fixation time, this explanation is still supported by the significant difference in distance at target onset between AD patients and healthy controls. Moreover, a larger distance to reach the next target onset could indicate that AD patients tend to focus their attention more on the periphery. In fact, the distance to reach the next target located in a peripheral area is larger if the participant's attention is already focused on an opposite peripheral area. Conversely, when the participant's attention is focused on a central area, the distance to reach the next target located in the periphery would be smaller. Indeed, behavioral results showed that AD patients have a different visual search strategy, focusing their search more toward the periphery, whereas healthy older controls focus their search more toward the center of the field of view. These results are partially in accordance with previous studies (Schlotterer et al., 1984; Mapstone et al., 2001), assessing the spatial allocation of visual attention in AD patients and in healthy controls. However, the present study, using a larger field of view, reveals a different pattern of results: what was considered as periphery in the previous studies, corresponds to paracentral areas in the present study. When patients have the possibility to explore a broad field of view, the center is neglected, creating a "peripheral bias". These findings are relevant for a considerable amount of activities of daily living, in which a large visual field has to be taken into account, such as, e.g., during driving. This might also influence the way in which the abilities of AD patients are actually assessed. For instance, several current assessment methods are based on cognitive tasks on computer screens subtending limited visual angles. Such approaches would thus not reflect the biases described in the present report, which are observable under conditions with large visual angles.
Concerning incorrect responses to the distracters, no group differences were found. This is in line with the extant literature, suggesting that AD patients are not impaired in Go/No Go tasks until a certain disease severity stage (Zhang et al., 2007). However, this may apply only to distracters that differ from the target in terms of a single feature, as it was the case in the present study. In fact, it has been shown that in feature conjunction search (i.e., including distracters that are similar to the target with respect to more than one feature), AD patients have impaired response inhibition (McLaughlin et al., 2010).
Importantly, the current study provides new insights by means of a search task entailing a larger field of view. This allowed to show that, when AD patients are free to move their eyes, their fixations, and consequently their attentional focus, is displaced toward 30° eccentricity or further, creating a disadvantage for the central part of the visual field. The allocation of attentional resources has a limited capacity, which is even reduced in AD patients (Ballard et al., 2001). In case of high task demands, the participants have to employ most of their attentional resources to find the target. In this case, AD patients tend to allocate more resources toward the periphery, at the detriment of the resources normally engaged for central attention. The decline of visuo-spatial attention capacities in AD leads to a bias of the distribution of attentional resources, increasing attentional processing in the peripheral visual field.
As suggested by Green et al. (1993), if patients are aware of their problems in attending to visual information, especially in an early stage, they might compensate by attending more to the periphery and neglecting the center. This information is crucial for the rehabilitative approaches aiming at ameliorating visual attention deployment in space in AD patients.
Future studies should consider examining this question in a larger sample, including the question of head movements, and their potential role in the compensation for the deficits in attentional shifting. In the current study, the head of the participants was stabilized during the task. However, the present study offered the possibility to assess the patterns of visual exploration in AD patients in a large field of view, and to gain important information for the development of ecologically valid rehabilitative approaches for visual attention allocation impairments.
Author Contributions
UM, RM, and TN contributed to the conception and organization of the research. LR, NG, and VV participated in the execution and data collection. VV, FF, and GZ designed the data analysis and statistical methods. VV executed the data analysis and statistical analysis. LR and DC contributed to the review and critique of the statistical analysis. VV wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors participated in the review and critique of the manuscript and approved the final manuscript.
This research was funded by the University of Bern, Switzerland.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The authors would like to acknowledge the Senior University of Bern, Switzerland, and the Memory Clinic of the University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry, Bern, Switzerland, for their help with recruitment. We also would like to thank Andrea Aeschimann for her support in data acquisition.
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Nef, T., Gruber, N., Zito, G. A., Nyffeler, T., Müri, R., and Mosimann, U. P. (2014). Development and evaluation of a new instrument to measure visual exploration behavior. Med. Eng. Phys. 36, 490–495. doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2013.09.011
Parasuraman, R., and Haxby, J. V. (1993). Attention and brain function in Alzheimer's disease: a review. Neuropsychology 7, 242–272. doi: 10.1037/0894-4126.96.36.199
Parmelee, P. A., and Katz, I. R. (1990). Geriatric depression scale. J. Am. Geriat. Soc. 38:1379.
Perry, R. J., and Hodges, J. R. (1999). Attention and executive deficits in Alzheimer's disease. Brain 122, 383–404. doi: 10.1093/brain/122.3.383
Pfeffer, R. I., Kurosaki, T. T., Harrah, C. H., Chance, J. M., and Filos, S. (1982). Measurement of functional activities in older adults in the community. J. Gerontol. 37, 323–329. doi: 10.1093/geronj/37.3.323
Rösler, A., Mapstone, M., Hays-Wicklund, A., Gitelman, D. R., and Weintraub, S. (2005). The "Zoom Lens" of focal attention in visual search: changes in aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Cortex 41, 512–519. doi: 10.1016/S0010-9452(08)70191-6
Rösler, A., Mapstone, M. E., Hays, A. K., Mesulam, M. M., Rademaker, A., Gitelman, D. R., et al. (2000). Alterations of visual search strategy in Alzheimer's disease and aging. Neuropsychology 14, 398–408. doi: 10.1037/0894-4188.8.131.528
Schlotterer, G., Moscovitch, M., and Crapper-Mclachlan, D. (1984). Visual processing deficits as assessed by spatial frequency contrast sensitivity and backward masking in normal ageing and Alzheimer's disease. Brain 107, 309–324. doi: 10.1093/brain/107.1.309
Scinto, L. M., Daffner, K. R., Castro, L., Weintraub, S., Vavrik, M., and Mesulam, M. (1994). Impairment of spatially directed attention in patients with probable alzheimer's disease as measured by eye movements. Arch. Neurol. 51, 682–688. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1994.00540190062016
Serences, J. T., and Yantis, S. (2006). Selective visual attention and perceptual coherence. Trends Cogn. Sci. 10, 38–45. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2005.11.008
Trick, L. M., Enns, J. T., Mills, J., and Vavrik, J. (2004). Paying attention behind the wheel: a framework for studying the role of attention in driving. Theor. Issues Ergon. Sci. 5, 385–424. doi: 10.1080/14639220412331298938
Zhang, Y., Han, B., Verhaeghen, P., and Nilsson, L.-G. (2007). Executive functioning in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: MCI has effects on planning, but not on inhibition. Neuropsychol. Dev. Cogn. B Aging Neuropsychol. Cogn. 14, 557–570. doi: 10.1080/13825580600788118
Zihl, J. (1995). Visual scanning behavior in patients with homonymous hemianopia. Neuropsychologia 33, 287–303. doi: 10.1016/0028-3932(94)00119-A
Zito, G. A., Müri, R., Mosimann, U. P., Nyffeler, T., and Nef, T. (2014). A new method to measure higher visual functions in an immersive environment. Biomed. Eng. Online 13:104. doi: 10.1186/1475-925X-13-104
Keywords: visual exploration, Alzheimer's disease, search strategy, target detection, eye movements, large hemispherical screen, visual attention
Citation: Vallejo V, Cazzoli D, Rampa L, Zito GA, Feuerstein F, Gruber N, Müri RM, Mosimann UP and Nef T (2016) Effects of Alzheimer's Disease on Visual Target Detection: A "Peripheral Bias". Front. Aging Neurosci. 8:200. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00200
Received: 20 April 2016; Accepted: 05 August 2016;
Published: 17 August 2016.
Edited by:Michael Hornberger, University of East Anglia, UK
Reviewed by:Francesca Morganti, University of Bergamo, Italy
Maxime Bertoux, Norwich Medical School, UK
Copyright © 2016 Vallejo, Cazzoli, Rampa, Zito, Feuerstein, Gruber, Müri, Mosimann and Nef. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Tobias Nef, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Doni Silver Simons - In Transit
Each day on shuttle
In Transit is a performative work taking place on a shuttle that transports visitors between More Art Here at the Barker Hangar and stARTup Art Fair throughout the weekend.
Inspired by her series, The Calm and the Chaos, in which Silver Simons has created drawings on airplanes and by her performances which document the passing of time, Transit memorializes movement, time and duration. Riders on the shuttle will participate at their seats during the 20 minute ride, deposit their work at the destination and receive a signed document commemorating their participation.
Silver Simons and her performers will also create works on the shuttle. The time/date, seat location, and performer will be noted on each of their works.

subset: commoncrawl


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These were on my desktop, I don't know why, but it makes me sad to see them.
It seems like I have forgotten how small the children once were.
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I hope your day is filled with goodness.
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Spring Colors
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A New Leaf
I have so much to say today... A lot has happened in the last little bit...I will start with the bad news first. I was pulled over on Wednesday AND I received a ticket. It was the first ticket I have been given in a very long time. The worst part about this particular ticket is that I was as guilty as the day is long. I won't go into the details, I'll just say out of the five consecutive laws I broke, the final straw being cutting off the undercover officer that eventually slapped me with this black mark on my otherwise clean record, I had not even a crutch to lean on. I just politely told the officer I understand I am guilty, now please just give me the damn ticket. The good news was that my bad luck came in three's... And as luck would have it, that ticket was number three of a very tiresome day.
So onto the good news... I don't know if I mentioned I had enrolled in real estate school. It has been a long time coming. In fact, a desire of mine for the last fifteen years. And I am very pleased to say that I finished all my classes. I took the state exam on Thursday, and apart from the sweating of bullets and the reading the same question five times in a row, I breezed through the whole thing. Although they don't give results... I am quite certain it was by the skin of my pretty, white teeth.
You know what that means ? I am a realtor! No more interior design. No more Jetblue. It is a funny thing how things in life just kind of happen the way they are suppose to. I will still have design, perhaps a little here and there, But I am completely done with Jetblue. I am sad about that part... I will admit, today in relief society it hit me like a ton of bricks... Gone are the days that I can't just pack up and go to New York on a whim. As I thought about it, my eyes watered a bit and I felt the ceiling crowding in on me... I thought I might suffocate. Indeed I really did dread the work of Jetblue, (I would spend more time trying to get out of my shift than I would had I just worked it...It really was that awful to me) It was a safety net and a comfort for me to know I had it... That safety net is gone and I have no other choice than to throw myself into the world of real estate. That part is scary but at the same time, kind of an exciting thought.
Real estate has always been such a passion for me, even when I wasn't in the market for houses I would still check out the MLS on a regular basis... Just to see what I was missing out on. I am so excited to help families find the homes that they were meant to have, investors find property they can make an income on... But I am mostly excited about walking through those fixer upper homes and helping my clients see all the potential those old bones hold. That part makes my blood pump a little bit faster. I think if I dedicate myself to this, I'll be good at it. I'll make enough money that I can just pay for my own ticket on Jetblue without having to play the standby game. I hope sooner than later I may even be saying "Jet who?"
So here it goes! Wish me luck :)
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Just Good Music
My brother and I were helping my dad build a good music list for his new Ipod. I was reminding him of all the songs he liked that I would play for him back when I was fourteen or so. The list included some 4 Non Blondes, Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, Pennywise, Dire Straits (actually, he got me into them) and this beauty... Soul Asylum's Runaway Train. We would watch all of these together on MTV (back when MTV actually played music). He would get such a kick out of our music. It only seemed fitting... He introduced me to some of the best bands from his time and I got to introduce him to some great bands of my time.
This song brings back so many good feelings and memories for me. It was great in 1993 and its still great in 2012.
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The girls and I wanted to get dressed up and have some pretty pictures taken
(ok, I wanted to)
. We had a lot of fun. Tom and the boys didn't want to be in the "Lame girl pictures". Of course Liam didn't have a choice, He 's only three. Tom and Garrett did join us for some casual pictures...... And they even kind of smiled!
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Love Your Neighbor Devotional – These 30 days of devotionals will inspire, instruct, make you laugh and maybe even bring a tear. They give a biblical foundation for the prayer, care, and share lifestyle.
Love Your Neighbor Field Guide – What could being a light in your neighborhood look like in practical terms? This Field Guide helps you know how to start, the common order things happen, trade secrets from a lifetime of experience, and more!
The Sending Project – The Sending Project is facilitating a city-wide alliance of pastors and church mission leaders from Kansas City area churches.
Saturate KC – We believe that we will see a greater fulfillment of the Great Commission in the KC metro and surrounding area that results in both a local and global impact as the citywide Church works together more strategically in connection with Jesus and His mission.
Citywide Prayer – The mission of the Citywide Prayer Movement is accomplished by helping pastors and leaders connect in friendship, unite in prayer, and partner in mission.
American Bible – American Bible Society has been getting God's Word into people's hands and hearts around the world for more than 200 years.
Love 2020 – We believe EVERY person in America should have the opportunity of being authentically loved by at least one committed follower of Jesus Christ within this decade.
Mission America – The Mission America Coalition (MAC) is an alliance of leaders in evangelism and discipleship who have prayerfully come together to mobilize the Church to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in deed and word.


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well my time to craft challenge this week is "furry friends", so who better to use than my cuddlybuddly stamps. here is charley with sal the puppy and twinkle the kitten, used quickutz revolution flower die, cut in pink vellum, and paper and ribbon from my stash!! added a bit of glitter!!
another day of homework yesterday!! think we will have a break today!!
hope you have a good day , take a break!! byeeeeeeeeeeeeee xx
Friday, 4 April 2008
my time to craft challenge
Labels: cuddlybuddly, quickutz
12 comments:
- fairymadjo said...
ahhhhhhhhhh its so pretty, well you have been busy making cards, jo x
- 4 April 2008 at 09:25
- Chrissy said...
Jo is right it is sooooo pretty, and I love the images :-)
- 4 April 2008 at 10:40
- Mee said...
FAB card, was gonna use Charley & Sal for my card too! Thanks for joining in with this weeks challenge :o) Jo x
- 4 April 2008 at 16:05
- Tina said...
that´s so cute! I love it!
- 4 April 2008 at 16:29
- Kari said...
Too cute!!!
- 4 April 2008 at 19:22
- Lesley said...
Aww lovely card Vanessa!! Thanks for taking part in our challenge this week xxx
- 4 April 2008 at 20:27
- Richelle said...
Another cute card Vanessa!
- 4 April 2008 at 21:47
- Angie C said...
Very, very pretty card and very cute too
- 4 April 2008 at 23:52
- Andrea, said...
Such a pretty card, great images and that cat is so cute
- 5 April 2008 at 22:46
- Vicki May said...
Pretty card, think I'm up to date on your site now, cor you've done sooooo many since I was last around big hugs oxo's
- 7 April 2008 at 06:39
- She said...
Love this! Well done you! :-) xxxx
- 7 April 2008 at 08:45
- My Time To Craft Challenge said...
Great work! thanks for taking part in this weeks challenge.
- 8 April 2008 at 18:27
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The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, in a previous world just hours from going on strike for the first time in 40 years, have reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Public Schools district to stay on the job uninterrupted for at least the next three years.
The April 18 ratification of the contract by the school board "represents a new era in our District's long and storied history: one which I hope will result in effective, positive changes for our students," said PPS board president Dr. Regina Holley.
A release from the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers read that its members voted "overwhelmingly" to ratify the three collective bargaining agreements with the District. "The professional unit contract was accepted by 90 percent of voting members, the paraprofessional unit contract was accepted by 77 percent of voting members, and the technical-clerical unit contract was accepted by 90 percent of voting members," the release said.
"There is no question that the negotiations were, at times, contentious," Dr. Holley said in an April 18 statement. "That is the nature of collective bargaining. But just as steel is forged through the intense heat of blast furnaces, our public schools will emerge stronger for the process. And we achieved a longstanding, structural framework that allows us to effect meaningful change that has eluded us for too long."
Dr. Holley's use of the word "contentious" may be an understatement. The Teachers Union had authorized a strike to occur as early as March 2, but a Pittsburgh Marathon-style negotiation took place on Feb. 27, with both sides hashing out the pros and cons, the gives and takes, and the do's and dont's for upwards of 14 hours before finally coming to some sort of agreement moments before the clock struck midnight.
By law, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) had to give 48 hours notice before they collectively walked out of the classroom. Wednesday, Feb. 28 would have been that day to officially start the clock, and the strike would have begun 48 hours later, Friday, March 2, if the two sides didn't come to a preliminary agreement late Feb. 27.
"As with any negotiation, there was give and take on both sides. Teachers will get a wage package that makes our District more competitive for new hires and in retaining talent, as well as a formidable health insurance and benefits plan. The new contract also addresses teachers' concerns with early childhood educators as much as possible given the limitations of this grant-funded program," superintendent of schools Anthony Hamlet, EdD, said in a prepared statement.
"I am pleased that our members overwhelmingly approved the three proposed agreements," added PFT president Nina Esposito-Visgitis in a separate statement. "Now we can focus more of our time and energy on projects such as expanding access to high-quality affordable early childhood education, promoting career and technical education, and improving professional development for all our educators."
Highlights of the new deal include a new 12-step pay scale, with a raise of 2 percent. New teachers' starting pay will be $46,000—for early education teachers, it is $42,000 (bachelor's degree), and $44,000 (master's degree). Also, the District's principals will be able to have more control in teacher schedules in K-5 schools.
Esposito-Visgitis, unafraid to go head-to-head with District officials, thanked the parents and community members that "had our backs…we felt the community support at the bargaining table, we saw the window signs around town, and we know that the community would have walked the picket line with us if we needed them."
"When we began this process so many months ago," Dr. Hamlet said, "we had different ideas on several details, yet shared a common goal: to create a contract that is fair to all—taxpayers, teachers, the District, the community—but, above all, places the students at the very top of that list. It took some time to get there, but this agreement does just that."
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Poem by Dominique Dobransky
Film by Elena Ciotta
Music: Victoria Pitz
Issue No. 19 • Spring 2018
Our paths are drawn out in cartographic lines,
Blueprints of motion navigating atmospheric traffic signs.
In the heavens there are invisible compasses many don't even know:
Flowing, crisscrossing colors that match our footfalls with an ever-shifting glow.
North, south, east, west -
Mapping our personal journeys on an everyday quest.
Yet spinning on its axis our Earth pulses with galaxies of travel,
Unspoken narratives of migration - can they stop the downward gazes at our own feet on the gravel?
Artists, dreamers - tell these stories and lift your gazes high;
We all dream under the same sky
As the darkness of nightfall quiets the rush of humanity's daily roam,
Flickers in the Milky Way reveal stars that persevere in a flight pattern to find home.
Light chasing refugees forced to rewrite their location in the solar system that we all share,
Narrowly trying to evade black holes of legalistic ignorance that destroy this map without a care.
There is a constellation of stories that must be given a voice,
Each person a light in this celestial dreamscape; deserving a dream, a chance, a choice.
Artists, can you present new telescopes of perspective to those who do not yet see -
That these shooting stars belong to the astronomical space we all wish upon, the collective "we"?
Artists, dreamers - tell these stories and lift your gazes high;
We all dream under the same sky
We paint by-number the places these migrating stars have journeyed to seek
We dance choreographies of light, illuminating realities some have not yet dared to speak
We compose melodies of hope in the atmosphere which we have heard
We document cinematic supernovas, freeing those caged by laws like a bird
We dream
We create
We dream
We advocate
We dream
We communicate
We dream
For those who only see the dusk, the end of day, the darkness of night,
Let us collectively create awareness to renew its light.
The universe is vast - "hereness" and "thereness" converge and all have a place,
In this cartography of luminescence that has been mapped in outer space.
Stars, you dreamers, here's to you I say -
Remember that your constellations deserve to stay.
Glow on. Lighter. Brighter. Illuminating the world to your cry.
We all dream under the same sky.


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The marina in Spain in the city of Ibiza has a complete range of services available to its customers, which include water, electricity and gas station.For those who would like to carry out maintenance work or need to repair their boat, the marina Marina Ibiza has a travelift for boats up to 10 tons. It is an ideal marina for super yacht size boats and has mooring for boats with a maximum length of 55.00 m and a maximum draught of 6.00 m.. The marina also has nautical services available. The personnel at the port will help you to moor your boat. It is worth pointing out the environmental policy of this marina, which has all of the necessary waste collection services. It was not in vain that it has been awarded the relevant environmental quality certification. The various sporting activities that are carried out at the marina facilities are available to its customers.
Harbour Master's Office
Fuel dispenser
Drinkable water
VHF Maritime channel 09
24h surveillance
Credit card
Weather information
Bar / Restaurant
Rent a car
First Aid
Crane 30t
Number of berths: 539
Deep water and safe approach in all weathers but uncomfortable inside in strong S to SE winds. 2 marinas Marina Botafoch and Puerto Deportivo Nueva (email email@example.com) with all the facilities needed. Length limitation 40m, depth 3.5-4m. Berths for visitors at Club Nautico de Ibiza
Facilities: Travel lifts to 100 tons, boatyards and full repair facilities; supermarket and shops close by; duty-paid fuel in both marinas; international airport 4M.
Very crowded in summer and the marina at Puerto de Santat Eulalia 5M to the N has very similar facilities and may have room. Santa Eulalia would be more convenient for a quick fuelling and shopping stop.
Another alternative is Formentera to the SE of Ibiza, with 2 small marinas.
Eivissa, Ibiza
City/Town: Ibiza
Postal Area Code: 07800
Telephone: 971 31 20 01
Fax: 971 31 35 23
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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There were photos of the accident with the son Shufrych
Also posted a video and the name of the pedestrian who was hit by the son of Nestor Shufrych to a Bentley. Became known the name of the downed son of Nestor Shufrych pedestrian. Also there are new details of the accident, videos and photos from the scene of the accident, which occurred in the center of Kiev on the night of 26 August


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Advisory: Except for the recipes, many of the links in this article are NSFW so be cautious when clicking.
It's that time of year. The shopping panic begins. What do you get everyone? Where do you find the perfect gift for the perfect price? It never ends. The stress can lead to the consumption of copious quantities of spiked eggnog and shortbread cookies as the mental breakdown inches ever closer. But you can relax as I am here to make your life a little easier with my advice on the perfect gift for your loved ones.
Edible Undies
These are a great gift if you think your lovemaking has become a little too serious of late. If you want to have a giggle in the bedroom they are ideal as I have it on good authority from a close friend that they are not all that sexy, but funny as hell. They seem taste like a cross between a fruit roll-up, plastic and chemicals (tasty) and are one size fits all … if you're a runway model. To quote my friend "…they kept sliding down a bit on Freddie. And not in a sexy, seductive way. In a silly and stupid way." So if you want to ratchet up the heat in the bedroom I'd say pass on these but if you are looking for a good chuckle they might be just the ticket. They are also reasonably priced as you can get them for less than $10. In my opinion, a better option would be the Edible Panties cocktail – 1 oz vodka, 1.5 oz cranberry juice and 1.5 oz of pink grapefruit juice. Yum. A few of those and you won't care how unattractive those edible undies are
Novelty Condoms
Another inexpensive stocking stuffer is condoms. Sure you can buy ridged, vibrating, neon, lubricated, thin, extra-larges at the drug store, but why go for the tried and true? Even if you are past the condom use point in your relationship they can add a little spice to that romantic interlude under the Christmas tree with Bing Crosby crooning White Christmas in the background. Oh wait, that's my fantasy. TMI, sorry. For New Year's Eve dress up the little (or not so little) man in a tuxedo or how about camo condoms for the soldier in all of us (IN all of us? Condoms? Get it? Sigh. Never mind.). There is the Christmas condom assortment and for those who play safe and use a condom for oral, how about whiskey flavoured condoms? Mmm mmm good.
Glass Dildos
I have to say that I think these really are beautiful works of art. As for their practical use? Not so much. The idea of something glass "down there" freaks me out. Glass is dangerous, glass can break, glass is ouchy. However aesthetically they are gorgeous. They would make a great mantle decoration. Imagine the following conversation this Christmas:
Mother-in-law – I see you have some new artwork on the mantle this year dear.
You – Yes, they were a gift.
Mother-in-law – What are they? Mushrooms?
You – snicker Yes, something like that.
Mother-in-law – They are really pretty, maybe I should get spinster Aunt Barbara some, she'd love those.
You– gigglesnort Yeah, I 'm sure she would. I'll give you the website. smirk
Thunk Thunk Thunk (The sound of your SO banging their head on the coffee table.)
They aren't cheap ($30 to $100 ) but they really are safe to use (so they say) and I think they would be a hit with any glass art (or dildo) lover.
Exotic Dildos
Okay, we've determined that perhaps not everyone is comfortable using breakables in an intimate manner but what about regular dildos? BORING! Sure they come in magical colours and flesh tones, smooth or rough, metal, silicone, and wood. However if you really want to surprise your lover this year, how about a dragon penis dildo that actually squirts dragon juice at the critical moment? How cool is that? Or for the Aussies among us (and you know who I mean) how about one shaped like a Wallaby penis? (I do NOT want to know how they got that mould.) For the fantasy lover in all of us, try something unique and different, and just plain perverse. No one will call you boring in the bedroom when you whip out the dolphin dildo. They may call you freaking weird, but never boring.
Bedroom Games
What about games you ask. Games are always a fun and popular gift. Sure, there are sexy board games and naughty charades or naked Twister. But maybe you want to try something a bit more challenging, something that will inspire your competitive spirit. Then the perfect game for you is anal ring toss! Take turns and see who gets the most points. Make it more challenging, try to score wink wink while your partner runs around the house or does a little shimmy and shake. The hours of enjoyment are endless, or so I imagine.
I hope I've given you some ideas to help reduce your shopping stress this year. There's something for everyone (or yourself) regardless of your budget or degree of refinement. Another advantage of my suggested gifts is that they can all be bought on-line (and arrive discretely wrapped in brown paper I'm sure) so you can avoid the hassle of the shops and just sit back and relax with a good book and some hot apple cider, mulled wine, or hot buttered rum (why not all three?) and wait for the fun to begin.
Happy shopping and have a super Christmas, Eid, Hanukkah, Solstice, Kwanza, Festivus or whatever you celebrate around this time of year. I wish all of the readers here many wonderful books to enjoy in 2010 and all of the authors much inspiration as we enter a new decade.


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I was talking to my sister the other day about tv shows that we like. I recommended Peaky Blinders to her, and she recommended The Walking Dead to me. We did find some common ground though in the fact that we both get strongly attached to our favorite characters.
Doesn't matter if it's a movie, tv show, or book, I get really emotionally invested with the story line and certain characters. I mean, I know that is the intent of artistic endeavors, but I think my attachment goes beyond what would be considered normal.
For example, I watched all five seasons of Merlin on Netflix. I did this two weeks ago and I'm still mourning the death of one of the main characters.
Seriously, this has me messed up! Randomly throughout my day, it will cross my mind, I'll get sad, analyze the entire story line and try to figure out a way in which he could have lived.
I got so upset with a book one time that I actually threw it across the room. I almost threw my computer this past season of Peaky Blinders.
Since the conversation with my sister, I've been mulling over why exactly this is. Why am I so drastically impacted by movies, shows and books? Here's what I came up with.
My idealistic nature. I am a die hard idealist – love conquers all, good always wins, etc., etc. Things are suppose to turn out a certain way for me. When it doesn't, my world gets thrown off track, and I have to reassembling everything to fit back into my warped sense of how I look at the world. (Wow, that felt deep writing that out. No wonder I'm depressed most of the time.)
I relate heavily to a certain character. If I can see myself in the character, then I become the character. So everything that happens to them, happens to me, and I feel it emotionally for days after I've finished watching or reading.
If that character is me, then I want them to have their shit together and get everything they deserve. If it doesn't happen, then I'm forced to start questioning things in my own life.
Why aren't these people real? These are people I would love to hang out with or have as friends. So when the movie/book is over, I'm upset that I won't be "seeing" them again or learning anything more about them. I need a grieving period to get through the loss.
The ultimate escape from reality. Sometimes, it's the environment or world created that gets to me. If it's somewhere better than where I am, I want to stay there.
Makes me feel something. You know how when you are in a specific mood, be it happy or sad, there is the perfect movie for that, right? So whatever emotion I'm feeling, I want to feel it deeply. Say I'm sad, and I just want to cry but I can't. Excuse me? Manchester By The Sea, help me out here!!
Makes me think. Okay, so I'm a little twisted, because I just said what an idealist I am, but I also appreciate it, on another level, when a movie doesn't turn out the way it should. After the initial shock, it feels more real and gritty to me.
Then I go into this over-analyzing mode where I'm examining every scene and situation, and trying to figure out what the author/director is trying to "say" about life in general. These trips of feeling super-intellectual can last for days.
So, can anyone relate to what I'm talking about? Are there any movies, shows or books that stay with you long after you're done watching or reading? Which ones and why? Leave a comment and share them with me.
If there are enough of you that can relate to this, I think a great future post would be a list of the top moments that really fucked me up.
I don't buy books, I adopt them.


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Phil Potter asks:
I recently read on about Penfolds' new G3 wine, which is a blend of three Grange vintages. Are there any other examples of this kind of vintage blending?
John Stimpfig replies:
The most obvious example is non-vintage Champagne, which is more accurately described as a multi-vintage blend. Then there are fortified wines such as Sherry and tawny Port, which are also blends of several vintages.
However, there are very few still wines which adopt this practice. The well-known exceptions to the rule include Chris Howell's Cain Cuvée (Napa), Vega Sicilia's Reserva Especial (Ribera del Duero) and Valdivieso's Caballo Loco (Chile).
But change may be afoot as more winemakers are starting to experiment with this multi-vintage concept. These include, in South Africa, Ryan Mostert's Smiley White. And there are others in Spain, California and Argentina.
Originally published in Decanter magazine. Look out for an article by Anthony Rose in Decanter's April issue which will report further on this topic.
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Abbeyfield House was built in 1992 and consists of eight single en-suite rooms on the ground floor plus one first floor flat - suitable for a couple and accessible by stair lift. All rooms have telephone and TV points and an alarm system.
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Kitchens are the bustling epicenter of the home, and with all that activity comes a lot of noise. Between the cacophony of busy lives, cooking, and cleaning, do you really need the additional sounds of dishes clanging in the sink and the echo of running water? Sound-dampening stainless steel kitchen sinks can be the answer you need.
The clash of pots and pans and the grinding of the garbage disposal can be very disruptive. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a good way to eliminate this problem - until recently. New sound-dampening technology reduces noise, which means a quieter, more peaceful kitchen, making prep and meal time a far more enjoyable experience.
Companies like Kohler and Kraus have their own patented noise-reducing technology, but they all have one thing in common: the pads.
A soundproof sink has small pads on the outside of the sink that are not visible to the user. These pads absorb the vibrations of running water as well as items thrown into the basin.
Kohler utilizes technology originally used by the automotive industry to quiet engines and rattling cars. Kohler's sound dampening pads reduce the vibrations from silverware, pots and pans and also minimize noise from the garbage disposal.
Meanwhile, the Dex stainless steel sinks from Kraus claim to be the quietest sinks on the market, incorporating extra-thick rubber sound dampening pads.
Moen's SoundSHIELD™ technology is a bit different. Moen sprays a special coating on the bottom of their sinks for noise reduction. This coating performs like noise reducing pads by absorbing the vibrations of clattering pots, pans and utensils.
You don't realize how beneficial a quiet kitchen sink is until you have one.
With sink noise reduction, you can wash dishes without waking up kids during naptime or a sleeping significant other. Meal prep time is also far less disruptive to the entire household.
These quiet sink kitchens reduce chaos in the kitchen, and, since they are stainless steel, they hold up to wear and tear. Plus, their shiny finish is perfect for contemporary kitchens.
If the sink you're looking at includes sound dampening technology, that's a definite plus.
There aren't any downsides to having a quieter sink, so if you're torn between a sink with noise reduction and one without, even if the price is different, opt for the quieter sink.
Get great information about top kitchen & bath brands, products and technology at your fingertips.
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Dear friends of Sustainably Organized,
I'm reaching out to share some news! My husband was offered a new job in the Seattle area and we've decided to transition up to Seattle in July. As you can imagine, this was a huge decision for our family! I plan to start Sustainably Organized in Seattle once we are settled. I want to thank you for being part of my journey to create Sustainably Organized in Portland. I feel so lucky to have had your trust, support and encouragement along the way.
If there is anything I can do to help you before we transition, please don't hesitate to reach out. I plan to visit Portland as often as I can.
Many thanks for all that you have each done to help build and grow Sustainably Organized. I couldn't have done it without you. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to do what I love with such a warm and caring group of people.
With much gratitude,
News from Sustainably Organized
Dear friends of Sustainably Organized,


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Polyester buttons with 4 holes to make sure they stay perfectly in place and a modern, square shape for extra pizazz. 1 cm square, in a choice of 7 colours. Sold in packs of 6.
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President Donald Trump The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington D.C. 20500; Public Comment Desk: (202) 456-1111. Web form, whitehouse.gov/contact.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R), B413 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510, (202) 224-4521. Phoenix office: 2200 East Camelback Road Suite 120 Phoenix, AZ. 85016. (602) 840-1891,
U.S. Sen. John McCain (R), 218 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510, (202) 224-2235. Phoenix office: 2201 E. Camelback Road, Suite 115 Phoenix, AZ. 85016; (602) 952-2410.
U.S. Rep. Tom O' Halleran (D-District 1), Cannon House Office Building 27 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20003; (202) 225-3361. Flagstaff District Office: 405 N. Beaver St., Suite 6, Flagstaff, AZ. 86001; (928) 213-9977.
Gov. Doug Ducey (R), 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ. 85007; (602) 542-4331; Website: azgovernor.gov.
District 6
Brenda Barton (R), Office No. 111, (602) 926-4129; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Bob Thorpe (R), Office No. 331, (602) 926-5219; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Sylvia Allen (R), Office No. 303, (602) 926-5409; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Write state legislators at Arizona State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007; main switchboard, (800) 352-8404.
Coconino County
Supervisor Matt Ryan, District 3: County Administrative Center, 219 E. Cherry Ave., Flagstaff, AZ. 86001, (928) 679-7163; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Town of Tusayan
Mayor Craig Sanderson, Vice Mayor Becky Wirth, council members David Chavez, Al Montoya and John Schoppmann. All members can be reached at Town of Tusayan, PO Box 709, 845 Mustang Drive, Tusayan, Arizona, 86023; (928) 638-9909.
Town Clerk: Bruce K. Northern, firstname.lastname@example.com
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All social care professionals in Dubai must obtain a professional license from the Community Development Authority (CDA). Social care professionals include social care workers, special education teachers, therapists and counsellors working in Dubai, including those operating from free zones in Dubai.
To obtain the license which is valid for two years, social care professionals must be graduates with at least one year experience in their specific social service field, while fresh graduates will also be considered for licensing if they have the adequate credentials. To get the license, applicants can submit the eService online request. Applicants will then be interviewed by the licensing committee and if approved, obtain a license which must be renewed after two years. Please note that the license is free for social care professionals.
The CDA is also authorized to license social clubs in Dubai as per Government of Dubai executive resolution No. (4) of 2011. Social clubs are non-profit organizations, groups and associations that demonstrate sustainability and are formed around a common interest to carry out activities such as social, athletic, cultural, artistic, entertainment and all other activities of similar nature that target the public benefit. A Dubai social club license or a renewal costs AED 2,000 and is valid for two years.
Information on social care professional licensing - CDALicensure application form for professionals working in the social service sector (PDF) - CDAApplication form for social club license or renewal- CDAProfessional & social club licensing guide - CDA


text: Welcome to my personal portfolio, you will find, all sorts of facts about me here. You will find that I am a very outgoing young lad that enjoys many things that range from driving, web development and spending time with my family to name a few. A lot of the skills I have today are mostly self-taught and that trend will continue as and when I need to learn new skills. My aim in life is to live it to the best of my ability, and I will do almost anything to make a dream come true.


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'Pupils behave extremely well and look forward to school' Ofsted 2007
At Bourne Abbey we aim to create a community in which everyone is safe and secure from any kind of threat, intimidation or harm. We regard bullying as particularly serious and we always take action against it.
Bullying is hurting, frightening or threatening someone deliberately. It can be verbal, physical or emotional, by a single person or group. It includes hitting people, saying unkind things, leaving people out or taking money or possessions.
People who watch bullying are condoning it and are part of bullying.
Bullying will not be tolerated at Bourne Abbey Church of England Primary Academy
Children, if you are being bullied:
- Tell someone straight away, take a friend with you if you like.
- Tell any one of the adults in school or someone at home.
- Keep telling until the bullying is stopped.
If you see someone being bullied:
- Tell someone straight away.
- Don't stay and watch - go and get help.
- Don't ignore it.
There is always someone around to help you.
- The support of parents is vital in preventing bullying.
- Watch out for any signs that your child might be a victim of bullying.
- Listen to your child and take reports of the bullying seriously.
If you think your child is being bullied:
Contact the school straight away. Speak to your child's class teacher, Phase Leader or Deputy Headteacher. The Headteacher will be informed of all reported cases. Work with the school and help us to make sure of the facts and support your child through the incident. It can take more than one attempt to stop bullying. Do not hesitate to contact us again if you think that it is continuing.


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Giving 110%...
A funny little opinion piece from this morning's SMH Online about language and sport.
Click here.
A funny little opinion piece from this morning's SMH Online about language and sport.
Click here.
Penned by Belly at 10:21 am 0 comments
Labels: Media
Try this link:
It basically work out how long it has been between two dates. I'm 9,219 days old and have been going out with Clare for a blissful 169,171,200 seconds.
Nerdy, yes. But brilliant if you're trying to work out how many days/minutes it's been since you were married, been travelling, or your last alcoholic drink…
Penned by Belly at 3:32 pm 3 comments
Labels: Random
Penned by Belly at 5:24 pm 2 comments
Labels: Politics (Asia), Politics (Australia), Politics (World)
At my last job working at a PR agency in Sydney, the 85% female workplace dominated conversation with topics ranging from the greatest ever Australian Idol moments, to some bloke called Max Factor and the benefits of fake tanning over sunbeds.
It's a little different here in Bangers - my slightly more multicultural and sexually balanced workplace discusses issues spanning the best place to buy Asian jelly dessert portions, how to avoid the ghosts of the tsunami whilst on holiday and each person's respective Chinese Zodiac animal, according to their birth year.
Apparently, I'm a pig. No doubt my sisters will have a field day with this.
I do find it hard to believe all of my contemporaries from 1983 can be homogenously classed into the above category, however with the Chinese set to take over the world midway through my generation, it's probably best not to complain.
"PIG: Pigs are tolerant and generous, virtuous and peaceful. They are well liked for their honesty and warm natures. They aim to find the best in people and allow others plenty of freedom of expression. They are often imbued with the energy of wealth and the support of others though they are not concerned with accumulating wealth. They can be content with modest means. They rarely criticise others and are not vengeful and thus have few enemies. The Pig accepts the existing richness of life and doesn't demand more. They enjoy simple and earthy pleasures. In relationships they give love and affection and trust that they will receive the same. They possess considerable determination and if they set their minds on something will pursue it and attain it. Good careers are in music, food, writing, social work, gardening and looking after others."
Years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007.
Penned by Belly at 3:08 pm 1 comments
Labels: Thailand (Culture)
Clare and I spent Christmas and Boxing Day with a couple of friends down south this year, my first away from home. We chose Khao Lak, a town on the Western (Andaman) coast of Thailand, roughly 90 minutes north of Phuket. Khao Lak was the area worst hit area in Thailand by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, with water reaching 4km inland, hundreds of people dead, and years of tourist development lost.
Previously famed for diving, at Christmas the area still had a distinct lack of tourists, except for a busload of Frenchies bunking down at a French-themed resort down the road. Many hotels are still slowly being developed, as tourist dollars drip back into the area.
Despite no one really being there, we still had a killer time. We stayed at a pimping resort with two swim-up bars (yes, Angus and Willis, TWO). Unfortunately there was no strict dresscode for 65-year old German female bathers, so Clare and I copped quite a saggy eyeful.
The resort had a whole heap of stuff for hire including a windsurfer (my first time, great fun), bikes, table tennis etc. It was a relaxing antidote to a very stressful last couple of months at work.
Left: Our friends Kate and Clint exhalt after remembering they were on holiday with Clare and I.
Penned by Belly at 3:02 pm 3 comments
Labels: Christmas, Khao Lak, Swim-up bar, Thailand (Travel), Travel
It's important to have pride in your appearance - to look sharp, if you will.
The lady who washes and irons our clothes evidently understands this importance and ensures that even my boardshorts are properly presented.
Penned by Belly at 1:51 pm 3 comments
Labels: Fashion, Thailand (Culture)
Back at work now – a picture of my surrounds.
Note my fish Nit Noi, who has been residing here whilst I was on holidays. We also keep the blinds closed because a lot of the Thai staff here dislike direct sunlight due to excessive sun-tanning (which is quietly considered too agrarian and lower-class). As you can see, I need all the sun I can get.
Also of note is my tie, a Bt 100 number from Silom Rd, which a mate of mine Dave also purchased when visiting recently, keeping the cross-continental Bangkok tie-wearing dream alive.
You may also notice a new book on my desk I'm about to start reading, 'The Diplomatic Dog of Barbados' by Winfred Peppindink, delightfully sent to me for Christmas by another mate of mine, and literary connoisseur, Willis. It's a tale of a diplomat's dog who makes good in the tough tropical sands of the Caribbean.
Just FYI.
Penned by Belly at 1:24 pm 2 comments
Labels: Books, Thailand (Culture), Work
Penned by Belly at 12:27 pm 4 comments
Labels: Books, Boozing, Cambodia, Concert/perfomance, Food, Malaysia, Moodie St, Politics (Asia), Rugby, Singapore, Sport, Surfing, Swim-up bar, Thailand (Culture), Travel, Travel (Adventure), UAE, Work