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I'm not sure whether or not I have HIV, which is why Dave is with me at the free clinic in Harlem.
No. Scratch that. Not the HIV part. But the truth is, I'm not sure why Dave is with me. We stand in front of the clinic, a drab cinder-block box where linoleum passes for interior design and infomercials about STD awareness pass as waiting-room entertainment.
He puts his hand on my shoulder and starts rubbing my back. He's always very deliberate about touching me. "We're going to be fine, whatever happens," he says. I start crying, staring straight ahead, and he stares straight ahead, too, his hand still on my shoulder. I look at his face. His eyelids flinch.
It is January of this year, the snowy morning of Dave's 25th birthday, and almost a year since we met each other, improbably, at a Super Bowl party. But there is much improbability in our relationship. The Cliffs Notes: Dave is straight and I am gay. And I've fallen in love with him—ah, but there's the rub: in love, just not with him. We are still great friends, despite the weirdness of our (read: my) feelings. We spent Christmas morning together, alone in the city, listening to the radio. He got sick on New Year's and I brought him soup, felt his forehead pseudo-authoritatively, and we went through the newspaper together. We have fought, him trembling, me crying. I've stayed at his place until dawn, and he at my place until just as late, talking about how we feel about each other. It's very explicit and very confusing, foreign territory for us both—for most people. Unrequited love is usually dropped, not handled cooperatively.
Our relationship, like most, is built on shared interests, mutual respect, all of that vanilla bullshit that makes friendships sound like Venn diagrams drawn by Dr. Phil. We have survived each other's lies and hurtful attacks and many of the worst parts of our personalities. So it's odd that the greatest threat has been perhaps the best part of the human experience: love.
How do friendships survive a subtle infusion of love? And what's to become of a friendship hampered by one-way romance? In every relationship, I think, one loves the other "more," but the gestalt wonderland of togetherness seems always to overwhelm any discrepancies. A starry night made better by a full moon.
But when there's no reciprocation, when there's such a gnawing, abject incompleteness, nobody could advise me. There's a difference between unrequited love and impossible love. It is impossible for Dave to love me because I am a man. That impossibility is not a factor in most relationships. So, looking for answers and finding none among friends, daytime talk shows or late-night Web sites, bookworm that I am, I thumbed through the library. Surely someone sometime somewhere was fool enough to get into a situation similar to my own—and then exhibitionist enough to write about it in some cathartic act of roman à clef vanity.
What I found hit a bit too close to home. Not only was my situation not a stranger to the world, it was not a stranger to the college campus I was on. During the late 1940s at Columbia University, Allen Ginsberg was a star English student. He hung out with his buddy Jack Kerouac, who was furiously writing "The Town and The City" in a local bar. Jack introduced Allen to Neal Cassady. Allen instantly fell in love. Neal, a horny, charming grifter from Denver, was enchanted with Ivy intellectualism, and with a group of people for whom manual labor meant poring over character development or poetic syntax while clinking pints of beer with pals.
Neal would leave New York frequently but was devout in his correspondence with Allen. It's a collection of these letters, published after his death by Neal's wife, that I stumbled upon.
The correspondence starts in 1947, largely with Neal asking Allen for a lot of favors: send clothes, send money, hook me up with publishers. Neal longed for Allen, but also felt a conflicted love. "I am above feeling envy of you, and don't fall into a sort of loving admiration, rather, I have a sort of confused sense of loss when I think of you," wrote Neal, whom Allen had nicknamed L'Enfant. "But, By God, L'enfant or no, whether you think its mad or not, whether 'its not as we feel or I want to feel' to quote you. I still love (what a weak word) you." Now, some of this robust emotion is the con man greasing the wheels. After all, it's followed by "P.S. Speaking of overcoats, don't try and sell them, we'll wait until this fall and get more out of them then."
Part of the problem, as with Dave and me, is the excessive explication. "I, almost unconsciously, think of a picture in which everything is just slightly overdone," Neal wrote to Allen. "The lines are a little thick, the paint is a little heavy, everything is distorted and yet the distortion is so slight that one must really look to know that it is exaggerated." Though Neal would indulge in imagery and bloviating rants about Big Ideas, he also would be tenderly stern: "In reality, Allen, I'm a simple, straight guy, and in thinking of what I want for the next year I know that without you I'd be lost. I feel a normal brotherly need emotionally for you, just as with Jack or Hal or my own brothers, in fact, my emotional needs are not too strong." Indeed, Neal hardly spent any time with Hal Chase, another Columbia buddy who was his best friend in Denver. "I'm pretty independent that way," Neal went on in the same letter. "On one hand it bothers me to think I'm unable to be affected emotionally as much as other people seem to be, on the other hand, this objectivity of emotionality, has, in my life, enabled me to move freely in each groove as it came." Neal and Allen had a fundamental difference not in how much they cared for each other, but how they showed it—Allen being far more obvious (and far more pained) with his affection.
It made my skin crawl. The serifs of the text like barbs. It was all too familiar: the inability to understand each other, the end-nowhere go-nowhere discussion, the deception—the inherent deception in leading each other on, tricking each other into thinking this was normal and workable. And, most painfully, Allen's submission, his desperation, his hopelessness as my own.
"I do not know how I can hope for any love for you because my own love is one compounded of hostility & submission," he wrote to Neal. "I don't understand and can't, your own emotions, even when explained only because my drive is so blind that I cannot comprehend even intellectually the possible realism of your statements." He goes on, desperately offering Neal money, academic lessons, anything and everything. It strikes me, because I am similarly eager to make Dave happy, that these hyperbolic attempts are really a reaction to the incompleteness at work. If unrequited love is doomed to a limbo of 50 percent full, then by God, what an amazing 50 percent it will be. But all along, despite this optimism and eagerness, there is the ghost of what Allen describes as his own "self-pity that is not self pity but knowledge of tragedy."
The limbo became too tortured, and Allen fell into a clumsy, clinical tone. "I think, I guess, probably, surely, I have enough 'nonsexual' human rapport, or love, with you for us still to address & communicate, if not, as I hope, with 'straightness of will,' at least with sincerest impulses of mutual respect."
Neal responded sharply: "Let us stop corresponding—I'm not the N.C. you knew I'm not N.C. anymore."
Allen received that letter in his student apartment in the spring of 1948, two floors above a student apartment I used to have. By his own recount, he had just finished masturbating and was trying to bury himself in reading "St. John of the Cross." He was alone and, worse, he was lonely. William Burroughs was in Mexico. Kerouac had become a Long Island hermit.
"We'd had a big tender lovers' understanding," Allen said of Neal in a 1966 interview with The Paris Review. "But I guess it got too much for him ... I got a letter from him saying, Now, Allen, we gotta move on to new territory. So I felt this is like a great mortal blow to all of my tenderest hopes. And I figured I'd never find any sort of psycho-spiritual sexo-cock jewel fulfillment in my existence! So I went into—like I felt cut off from what I'd idealized romantically. And I was also graduating from school and had nowhere to go and the difficulty of getting a job. So finally there was nothing for me to do except to eat vegetables and live in Harlem. In an apartment I'd rented from someone. Sublet."
I read that in the Harlem studio I sublet, eating ramen noodles, which perhaps involved pulverized vegetables in the flavor packet. I threw the book across the room: "Fuck Ginsberg." I read on, though, and watched the relationship decay, eroded by decades-long onslaughts of corrosive LSD and peyote. But still, after Neal was locked up for possessing two marijuana joints, when he'd scrawl letters in the pitch-black darkness of his San Quentin cell, he wrote to Allen.
Neal married, had children, moved on. Even after Neal's drunken death in 1968, his wife Carolyn remained cordial with Allen until his death in 1997. In an interview Carolyn conducted with American Legends, she was asked if Neal ever felt obliged to try to be gay for Allen's sake. Indeed, Neal did allow some sexual dimension to creep into his intimacy with Allen. But, replied Carolyn, "It wasn't that Neal felt obliged. What a funny idea. It was his great compassion; he felt so sorry for Allen's suffering, he hoped he could alleviate it somewhat… Neal told him that he didn't like 'penises,' and I am sure he was never the aggressor. Next question."
Exactly. I realized that part of my problem in going to Allen for advice was that he was kind of a letch. He wanted to own Neal, conquer him, have him—not be with him, not love him. I needed an exemplary role model who was a little less horny.
I needed Brits.
Fifty years before the Beats of New York and San Francisco, there was the Bloomsbury Group of London, Victorians who lived entire lives without any sexo-cock jewel fulfillment whatsoever.
Dora Carrington—who went by "Carrington"—was a painter. Lytton Strachey was a writer. Carrington was straight and Lytton (rhymes with "kitten") was gay—and older, 35 to her 22 when they met. She was wholly devoted to him, to the point that she dropped all suitors and eventually married only because Lytton himself had fallen in love with the same man. Depending on the biographer, they eked out a largely sexless existence in either a ménage à trois, ménage à quatre, or more, in reclusive cottages outside of towns with names such as Pangborne and Hungerford.
They were unquestionably the loves of each other's lives, living together for 15 years. They would hunt down Voltaire in second-hand bookstores. She would nurse him through shingles or the flu. When he was away, he would send her short letters to soothe the nightmares she'd suffer. One read: "This is only to give you a kiss. No time for anything more." They maintained so frenzied a correspondence as to rival e-mail addiction. She'd rip leaves from children's writing-exercise books and scribble her unpunctuated, misspelled letters on foolscap paper.
There was tension, of course, but unlike Neal and Allen, who at times became too self-conscious for their own good, Lytton and Carrington had a Victorian sense of emotional discipline. When her chief suitor, upon being dumped, threw in her face that Lytton loved him in a way that Lytton would never love her, she replied flatly: "One always has to put up with something, pain or discomfort, to get anything from any human being."
But Lytton was comfortable in Carrington's gamble on love. When Virginia Woolf, who had attempted a marriage with Lytton, asked about Carrington, he said he'd never marry her.
"But if she's in love with you?" Woolf asked.
"Well, then she must take her chance," replied Lytton. "Ah, but the future is dark," he added in later correspondence with Woolf. "I must be free. I shall want to go off."
And if Carrington leaves you? Woolf countered. Lytton had no answer. The truth was that he and Carrington relied on each other. Not with neediness, but in comfort of being free with each other, enabling a kind of want that was intimate without being too evident. This was incomplete love executed properly, rigorously. Perhaps too rigorously.
Their love for each other, unlike with Neal and Allen, was no secret. Routinely, their relationship found itself recast in varying degrees of transparency by Bloomsbury writers. In D.H. Lawrence's "Women In Love," for example, Lytton becomes the dandy Julius Halliday. Lawrence's pseudonym for Carrington is less imaginative: Minette Darrington.
When Carrington finally married a man named Ralph (whom Lytton promptly and dutifully renamed "Rex"), she wrote a letter to Lytton. He replied immediately. These two letters are seen by many biographers as near-pure distillations of their relationship.
"I have known all along that my life with you was limited," Carrington wrote. "I could never hope for it to become permanent. After all Lytton, you are the only person who I have ever had an absorbing passion for. I shall never have another. I couldn't now. I had one of the most self abasing loves that a person can have. You could throw me into transports of happiness and dash me into deluges of tears and despair, all by a few words. But these aren't reproaches—these years when we were quite alone will always be the happiest I ever spent. And I've such a store of good things which I've saved up, that I feel I could never be lonely again now… I cried last night Lytton, whilst Ralph slept by my side sleeping happily—I cried to think of a savage cynical fate which had made it impossible for my love ever to be used by you.
"You never knew, or never will know the very big and devastating love I had for you… Say you will remember it, that it wasn't all lost and that you'll forgive me for this outburst, and always be my friend… You gave me a much longer life than I ever deserved or hoped for and I love you for it terribly. I only cried last night at realizing that I never could have my Moon, that sometimes I must pain you, and often bore you. You who I would have given the world to have made happier than any person could be... But I keep on crying, if I stop and think about you. Outside the sun is baking and they all chatter and laugh. It's cynical, this world in its opposites. Once you said to me, that Wednesday afternoon in the sitting room, you loved me as a friend. Could you tell it to me again?"
The letter took six days to reach Lytton. He wrote back immediately:
"I hope that in any case you never doubted my love for you. Do you know how difficult I find it to express my feelings either in letters or talk? It is sometimes terrible—and I don't understand why it should be so; and sometimes it seems to me that you underrate what I feel. You realize that I have varying moods, but my fundamental feelings you perhaps don't realize so well. Probably it is my fault. It is perhaps much easier to show one's peevishness than one's affection and admiration! Oh my dear, do you really want me to tell you that I 'love you as a friend'!—But of course that is absurd, and you do know very well that I love you as something more than a friend, you angelic creature, whose goodness to me has made me happy for years, and whose presence in my life has been and always will be, one of the most important things in it. Your letter made me cry... Remember that I too have never had my moon! We are all helpless in these things—dreadfully helpless... You seemed in your letter to suggest that my love for you has diminished as time has gone on; that is not so. I am sure it has increased. It is true that the first excitement, which I always (and I suppose most people) have at the beginning of an affair, has gone off; but something much deeper has grown up instead."
This "androgynous enlargement of experience," as it is called by Lytton's chief biographer, Michael Holroyd, sustained them. "She knew that there must always be limits to their relationship," says Holroyd. "But it was a satisfaction simply to be with him whenever that was possible; and when it was not, to receive and memorize his marvelous letters. She believed that she understood him, inexplicable as he was, better than anyone."
In Harlem, in the clinic, I look at Dave in the uncomfortable stiff black plastic chair next to mine. I look at him and feel like I don't understand him at all. We're so alien to each other. I in my jeans and hooded college sweatshirt and he in his purple dress shirt and sleek black tie. I get lost in odd minutia, noticing, for example, that our hands are the same size despite the fact that he's six inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than I am. I look at him and I don't know him. Don't know why he's here, why he says painfully sweet things like, "I want to go in with you when they call you." And, truth be told, I don't know who I am either—except that, this morning on his 25th birthday, I'm "Patient B." Dave pipes up, recounting a story he's reading in The Week about a 48-year-old Frenchman who lived in caves for 35 days, subsisting off a diet of underground water, clay and rotting wood. I laugh—well, I smile. I wish I knew what we had between us.
Sometimes, though, maybe you don't need to know. Some of life's best moments are unknown. How do we know when to look at each other during a movie? How do we know from a simple "hey" when the other has had a bad day, or is in a bad mood? We just do. And who are we to say that such ignorance is incomplete or inadequate or unsatisfying? It is intimacy and friendship and devotion and kindness and gentleness and patience and joy. So what if it's not love. If it's not called that. Thinking of it as "enough" means adopting a quantitative measure that just doesn't work. What would be enough love? Enough care? Enough intimacy? Fuck "enough."
Dave isn't allowed in with me when I see the doctor, but he stays right outside the door. Not in the waiting room, but by some idle chair in the hallway outside the doctor's office. I don't know him. And can't imagine what went through his mind when I disappeared behind the old wooden door with its cobbled frosted glass. It's one thing for friends to share a life. Quite something else to share a death sentence.
I step out and he looks up at me. God, such eyes. Such a liquid look—reassuring but wide and wondering at the same time. I hope I never see that look again. "They're 97 percent sure I'm clean." That's as good as it gets: 97 percent security.
We hug, half-holding each other. But half has never felt so full.


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Of course, you'd want to work intently together with your agent and/or TPA to verify all of the i's are crossed and the t's dotted. David Nace – vice president and medical director of health IT agency McKesson – has been named to the board of administrators of the Affected person-Centered Primary Care Collaborative, a coalition of employers, customers and well being care teams that advocate for the medical dwelling model. Ryan beforehand served as Well being Companies Administrator for Corizon Health in Battle Creek, Mich.
LONDON The variety of new medication authorised for sale in United States and Europe has bounced again this year, suggesting a marked slowdown in 2016 was an aberration moderately than an indication of flagging analysis and development productivity. However a number of operations later, Dugdale's knee nonetheless wasn't up to snuff; even worse he'd lost his medical health insurance after shedding his job at Wilson Trailer.Dugdale had one last operation on the IowaCare public health plan, where the docs tried to sever a nerve to cease his constant pain.
Our Mission has at all times been and will always be committing ourselves to providing extraordinary care to sufferers, serving the community, and reaching robust partnership with different care suppliers. The advice says that if the SCR is inaccurate or out-of-date the accountability lies with the one that made the report – although a health professional can be expected to be alert to potential inconsistencies.
Lawmakers are attempting to reach settlement on a $seven-hundred billion plan to bail out failing financial institutions, and Democrats are attempting to place collectively a stimulus bundle to help average residents get by the current economic crisis. There was some large leaps towards setting the stage the place new ideas in primary well being care redesign will be put to the take a look at.
Maricopa County's Correctional Well being Providers department has failed for years on that fundamental normal of gathering and managing medical data. We identified our service lines and crafted an motion plan for knowledge collection that can help information us with our design course of. So our mission is to essentially make the general public conscious, to allow them to make extra knowledgeable selections about their health care. Read more

subset: commoncrawl


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A lecturer at the University of Oxford has called on the driver of a white van who knocked him off his bike and drove away, leaving him lying in the road, to turn himself into police.
Dr James McMullen's bicycle helmet was smashed in the incident, leading the academic to believe that had he not been wearing it, he would have suffered serious head injuries.
The 70-year-old victim, who is semi-retired and lectures in Japanese history at the university, was cycling along Woodstock Road in the north of the city on his way to the university's Oriental Institute on Monday when he was clipped by the van shortly after passing the junction with Beechcroft Road.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Dr McMullen said: "I am shocked that the driver did not stop; I can't get my mind round it. There was quite a jolt when the van hit me so the driver must have felt the impact."
He continued: "How did the driver know he had not killed me? I am baffled by his behaviour and would urge him to contact the police as soon as possible.
"My cycle helmet was broken in the accident – a large chunk came out of it – and it saved me from a serious head injury," Dr McMullen continued, saying "I was very lucky not to break any bones and I was left very shocked by what happened – I can hardly walk."
Dr McMullen conceded that the driver could have been temporarily blinded by the sun but added, "he needs to contact the police because it is possible some lessons could be learned from this accident."
His wife expressed gratitude that Dr McMullen had been wearing protective headgear, saying: "The cycle helmet might have saved my husband's life."
The stretch of road where Dr McMullen was hit can be particularly hazardous for cyclists traveling towards the city centre. It comes at a point where southbound traffic merges from two lanes, one of which is reserved for buses and bicycles, into one, and traffic islands in the middle of the road can cause drivers to cut across cyclists on their inside as they overtake them.
Dr McMullen, who underwent treatment at the city's John Radcliffe Hospital after the accident, said he appreciated the help given to him passers-by as well as members of the emergency services who attended the scene.
"I want to thank the paramedics and the police who got there very quickly after the accident," he said. "Another van driver did pull over and stop to help me and a number of passers-by came to my rescue and phoned for help. The ambulance crew were very thorough. This sort of thing must happen every day, but you never think it is going to happen to you."
An appeal has been issued to help track down the driver of the vehicle, which is thought to be a white Mercedes sprinter van, or similar model, with red lettering on the side panel and anyone who has information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505.
Born in Scotland, Simon moved to London aged seven and now lives in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with his miniature schnauzer, Elodie. He fell in love with cycling one Saturday morning in 1994 while living in Italy when Milan-San Remo went past his front door. A daily cycle commuter in London back before riding to work started to boom, he's been news editor at road.cc since 2009. Handily for work, he speaks French and Italian. He doesn't get to ride his Colnago as often as he'd like, and freely admits he's much more adept at cooking than fettling with bikes.


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The weather-beaten life-size image of the crucified Christ looks over Eugene Lee's wonderfully ugly set for "Crime and Punishment" like a disappointed parent, witnessing the slow breakdown of Scott Parkinson's remorseful Raskolnikov. Dostoevsky's dour, electric narrative of conscience and dreadful necessity isn't the most obvious choice for a 90-minute thriller, but the Chicago-based Writers' Theater has produced a sad clown car of a play, unpacking more characters and clever tricks than it should logically be able to hold.
"Crime and Punishment" isn't exactly a traditional murder mystery — it's pretty clear whodunit from the word "go" — but in order to structure the novel for the stage, adaptors Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus have centered the play on the visits Raskolnikov pays to curious cop Porfiry (John Judd), Raskolnikov's pursuer and, in an odd way, his friend. Between these visits (and sometimes during them), Raskolnikov flashes back to the events of the case and visits his friend Sonia (Susan Bennett), a prostitute who's just lost her alcoholic father.
The play's flashy structural mechanics are a high wire act, but they're not empty posturing. Reflecting the novel's interiority, the play is set almost entirely in Raskolnikov's head, and the writers and director Michael Halberstam have come up with a number of ways for Raskolnikov's conscience to sucker punch him.
Everywhere he turns, our hero is dogged by highly theatrical guilt, whether it's simply a lighting change, or a door that opens onto darkness and a voice rasping "Murderer!" Whenever his mind lapses toward thoughts of his crime, the other characters exit the stage quickly using Lee's rotating walls, but they don't go away.
The people who prey on Raskolnikov's every thought show up in multiple editions, whether it's Sonia's father (also Judd) or Raskolnikov's victim (also Bennett). The cast doubling takes on a horrifying dimension when we see the young man commit the crime of the title — and the actress he attacks also plays his love and his mother.
Quite a few Russian writers have had something to say about the Angry Young Intellectual, and Dostoevsky is no different. Where Chekhov pokes gentle, complicated fun (at Treplev in "The Seagull," for example), Dostoevsky goes for the kill, using the young man's fiery ideology to blind him to his crime and leave him confused. Raskolnikov's ideas were so good, and yet he still feels as guilty as, well, sin.
"Do you believe in God?" asks Sonia, but Raskolnikov wonders if such a thing even matters.
"It might," she replies.
For a play as steeped in religious ardor as an adaptation of "Crime and Punishment" is bound to be, the Writers' Theater is appropriately humble, even tentative about judging Raskolnikov. He may be bad, but if Dostoevsky's Christianity is correct, isn't everyone guilty of murder? If so, can anyone be redeemed? It's a question that literally hangs over the play in the form of the giant crucifix, and Raskolnikov's final opportunity to atone is both difficult and unattractive. Does he take it? Can he take it?
Things go dark before we can know.


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shelly zeimet - PRESIDENT
Shelly is the mother of a child with autism. Shelly began early intervention for him at the age of 14 months. With continuous therapies like Applied Behavioral Analysis, her son is learning many important communication and life skills. Shelly's goal for her son is that he be the happiest and healthiest he can be.
Sarah Hammonds - treasurer
Sarah believes in being an advocate for autistic individuals and wants to spread autism awareness. There are many people that she loves that are on the spectrum and her goal is to help as many people as she can to understand ASD.
Mary Jo Hammonds - Secretary
I live in Marion Iowa, after having moved here from south Louisiana. I have always been an active community volunteer; now that I have an empty nest I find I have time on my hands that can be spent helping others. Having a family member diagnosed has increased my awareness and desire to help others. I look forward to being an asset to our local group by working to increase ASD awareness.
Mandy Ward Koch - Support and Advocacy Officer
Mandy's son Carter, 12, was diagnosed with autism at age 3. He has made remarkable progress in the last 6 years, with the help of numerous therapies and interventions. He currently attends school until noon each day, and ABA therapy every afternoon. She feels as though the "stars aligned" for Carter to gain access to the therapies that continue to help him reach his potential, and be as happy, healthy, and safe as possible. The obstacles that she faced included getting him a diagnosis, learning about available services, obtaining funding, gaining admission, and arranging transportation for services. Mandy hopes to help other families navigate these important challenges, as well as foster friendships for support among families living with autism spectrum disorders.
Kevin Huls - Grant Officer
My son Payton 6 (non-verbal) was diagnosed at age 3. He started with Early ACCESS program with Grant Wood at 18 months old. Payton has worked with a variety of therapies including : ABA, Speech, and Occupational Therapy as he strives to learn and grow into a happy and meaningful life. I continue to advocate to find new resources and tools to help Payton continue with his development. I am passionate to help advocate for awareness and acceptance within our community.
Jaclyn Lussenhop - Subcommittee
Jaclyn Lussenhop, lives in Marion, Iowa with her husband Pat. Jaclyn works as a school counselor at the Springville School District in the elementary, and works at Foundations 2 on occasional weekends working with juveniles in the court system. With the type of jobs that Jaclyn has worked she has encountered children with autism all over the spectrum and wants to be able to do more to help these children in school.
Leila Hussein - Subcommittee
Leila Hussein lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband and their three children. She is a mom, a busy professional, and community advocate. She is excited to be a part of the East Central Iowa Autism Society Board of Directors so that she can help champion the rights of individuals with autism and improve the resources available to them and their families.


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The quest to create the finest marijuana extract is and endless one, but in the last few years we've achieved a new pinnacle of excellence in the form of what we call "live resin." Live resin has steadily been gaining traction amongst dispensaries and extract enthusiasts (as well as quite a bit of attention from the various cannabis competitions this year), but what sets live resin apart from other high-grade extracts?
What Is Live Resin?
Put simply, live resin contains far more terpenes than your usual "cured nug-run" concentrate— as much as 5 times more by weight. If you'll recall from our previous article on terpenes, these compounds are responsible for the incredible flavors and aromas found in marijuana and exhibit beneficial medicinal properties; live resin offers a massive terpene profile previously unavailable through traditional extraction methods and patients are taking notice of the vibrant flavors and terpene-mediated effects.
Processing and Extraction
The key to achieving such a high terpene profile is a special processing and handling of raw plant material before and during the extraction process. Since terpenes are volatile compounds (meaning they evaporate at room temperature), the total terpene concentration in a given marijuana plant steadily decreases once the plant has been cut; research shows that a plant can lose as much as 60% of its total terpene content during the drying and curing process.
live resin, entire fresh plants (not just the nice buds) are frozen immediately after being cut which both partially dries the plant and dramatically slows the loss of terpenes over time. Since frozen trichomes are very brittle, plant material must be handled carefully to prevent trichome heads from being lost. The fresh-frozen plant material has a much higher water content than traditionally dried buds and must therefore be extracted at very cold temperatures (sometimes sub-zero temperatures with the help of what's called a "dewaxing column") to reduce the number of impurities and lipids that make their way into the collection chamber (remember chemistry fans, butane is slightly water soluble at room conditions… by bringing the temperature down water solubility becomes essentially 0 and waxes precipitate out of solution).
Worth It
The result is a much lighter yield than you might expect from extracting an equivalent amount of dried buds but the end product tends to be both lighter in color, less stable (more gooey) and absolutely more flavorful. To be clear, live resin isn't any more potent than regular nug-run shatter. In fact, most live resins should theoretically be slightly less THC-rich than regular shatter— but with the high THC concentrations both products offer, it would take the most discerning of tolerances to be able to tell the difference. No, the notable difference between regular shatter and live resin is the incredible, floral, aromatic flavor.
Next time you're in a dispensary shopping for concentrate and wondering whether its worth a little extra to pick up some live resin, remember it takes extra effort to produce a lower yield than traditional shatter… maybe give it a try and see what the future of cannabis is all about! We don't think you'll be disappointed.


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The Film Guide 2017: Top Releases, Awards Fever and why Liverpool is a Big Screen Favourite
New year, New…movies and Golden Globes fever is in full swing!
We're barely a fortnight in and 2017 is already promising to be a fantastic year for the movie lovers of Liverpool as we bring you The Film Guide 2017. Jimmy Fallon is gearing up to host the 74th annual Golden Globes in LA, while our own fair city is preparing to host a knock-out year on the big screen.
With 25 awards ranging from Best Motion Picture, to Best Screen Play and of course the leading lady and man, the 2017 awards will be watched by millions around the world. There is talk that host, Jimmy Fallon has some antics up his sleeve to liven up proceedings and we'll be tuning in to see who wins, who has the most convincing 'gutted' face and of course who is wearing what! Click here for a full run down of the 25 awards and nominees direct from the Golden Globes official website.
Click here for all the live action from the red carpet as it happens from E!
The Film Guide 2017: Liverpool on the Big Screen
Following a hugely successful year in the film industry in 2016, Liverpool itself will again host some famous faces on location in the coming months, with a whopping 80% of producers returning to the city for its unique locations and venues (and our irresistible charm of course).
From the historic St George's Hall making a cameo alongside Eddie Redmayne on the big screen in 'Fantastic Beasts and where to find them' to our beloved Cavern showcasing the talents of Sheridan Smith on the small screen during her portrayal as the young Cilla Black, our city has so much to offer and directors the world over can't get enough of it!
From spine-tingling thrillers to live action remakes of classic Disney films, in 2017, we can have it all and where better to see these films than at our local cinemas and special screening events across the city (with a big old bucket of popcorn of course!)
Liverpool is bursting with independent cinema's and screening venues that add a bit of nostalgia to a night at the pictures, here's The Film Guide 2017 top 5 picture houses across Merseyside:
1 – Small Cinema Liverpool
Liverpool Small Cinema, nestled on Victoria Street is flying the flag for independent, thought provoking and award-winning movies including Palme D'or winner, I, Daniel Blake: Pay What I Can Afford, directed by Ken Loach (January 14th). Having just hosted a David Bowie celebration day, the Liverpool Small Cinema mailing list is a must if you have eclectic taste and a love of cinema. Click here to join.
2 – Woolton Picture House
Liverpool's oldest independent cinema (established in 1927) is a jewel in the South Liverpool crown. Rolling with the times they offer a surprising amount of brilliant extras with their low ticket prices and free nostalgia! Booking is now open for a special screening of 50 Shades Darker which includes a Butler in the Buff! Click here to find out what other blockbusters are now showing.
3 – The Plaza Community Cinema, Crosby
People living in north Liverpool absolutely rave about this cinema! Loved for its community feel, cheaper ticket prices and sweet treats that don't break the bank, Plaza Community Cinema, Crosby is a firm favourite with families, couples and mates alike. Adult tickets are priced at a tiny £4.90, you can hire the cinema for parties (with your name up in lights) and Plaza Wednesdays offers some seats for just £2.60! Seriously, why haven't you been yet? Click here to find out more!
4 – The Philharmonic Hall
The Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street might not be your first port of call when you think of movie venues, but the Phil have a hidden gem in the shape of a hugely talented orchestra that allows you to not only watch iconic films on the big screen, but also feel them! Ask anyone who saw E.T. on New Years Day with the orchestra playing the film score live, from the stage, right into your bones! Stunning! Find our more by clicking here.
FACT is the king of alternative movie's and loves nothing more than expanding our horizons with foreign, independent and blockbusters alike. Becoming a member at FACT should be on the 2017 goals list of every movie lover as the benefits list is HUGE! Free films to enjoy at home, discounts on tickets and food partners and much more awaits. Click here to find out more.
Don't forget to check back for announcements of summer screenings across the city in the coming months from the likes of Independent Liverpool, The Victoria Gallery and Liverpool Guild cinema as well as these fabulous independent venues.
Now you know where to watch them, here's The Film Guide 2017 top 10 film releases we're seriously excited about!
1 – Split
UK Release Date: 20th January 2017. This M. Night Shyamalan thriller is already receiving rave reviews by film critics, ahead of its release. James McAvoy takes the lead, starring as a man with a split personality disorder, 23 different personalities to be exact. But when a 24th one starts to emerge, it proves to be less harmless than the rest. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers then Split should be top of your 2017 list, McAvoy promises to bring an extraordinary performance and who doesn't love a good scare?
2 – Trainspotting 2
Trainspotting 2 finally hits our screens on January 27th, two decades after the first, iconic film was released. Danny Boyle's eagerly anticipated sequel, brings together its original cast for what it sure to be an epic story. Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) travels back to Scotland to make amends with his friends (Ewen Bremner and Johnny Lee Miller) whilst avoiding the psychopathic 'Franco' (Robert Carlyle). We absolutely can't wait to see it!
3 – Beauty And The Beast
We've got to wait until March for this Disney remake that's had social media in meltdown every time a teaser film has been released. Staring Emma Watson and Ewan McGregor (he's had a busy year already) this classic tale has the potential to smash the box office sales out of the park and fans of all ages queue to get their fairy tale fix.
4 – Logan
Another March release see's Hugh Jackman reprising his role of Wolverine for the last time (sob). Based in the near future, an ageing Wolverine must protect a young female clone from an evil organisation with only the help of Professor X. Good old fashioned good v evil is what fans of this iconic franchise love to see, and we reckon Logan will do Marvel proud.
5 – Pirates Of The Caribbean – Salazar's Revenge
Spring time brings a new addition to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. This is the fifth instalment of the series that follows the drunk yet loveable pirate Captain Jack Sparrow as he embarks on many crazy adventures across the sea. The plot sees Sparrow pursued by an old rival – Captain Salazar – who is now determined to kill every pirate at sea. Orlando Bloom reprises his role as Will Turner, yay!
6 – Star Wars Episode VIII
Pre Christmas cinema treat anyone? After the success of The Force Awakens, Star Wars fans will join together again for Episode 8 of this action packed franchise. While producers are keeping the plot close to their chest, we're safe in the knowledge it'll be an epic action-packed story, allowing us to remember our beloved princess with another instalment of this iconic franchise. Book your tickets in advance!
7 – Dunkirk
Legendary director, Christopher Nolan has brought countless cinematic marvels, and Dunkirk is going to join that list. Depicting the real life WW2 evacuation that saw more 300 thousand allied soldiers rescued in only eight days, this is sure to be a harrowing, heart wrencher of a movie. With a star-studded cast and a award winning director, it already has the ingredients to be a hit this summer.
8 – Spiderman: Homecoming
Tom Holland is starring as a brand new Peter Parker in this Spiderman revamp, which will see the web-shooting hero learn how to deal with his newfound spidery powers as well as get through normal teenage day to day life. Holland depicts the youngest Spiderman we've seen so far, and we're hopeful he's the best! The story picks up after the much rehashed spider bite, as Spidey takes on Vulture with the help of his millionaire mentor Tony Stark (so expect a lot of witty banter).
9 – Jumanji
Kids of the 90's have been waiting for this remake for what feels like decades (oh wait)! July 2017 sees the UK release of Jumanji, and following the loss of Hollywood legend, Robin Williams, the film will hold a lot of childhood memories for audiences across the country. Starring Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson,Kevin Hart and Doctor Who's Karen Gillian, the story follows four teenagers as they are sucked into Jumanji's world, playing as characters from the game to survive, the movie also includes a tribute to Robin Williams.
10 – Lion
Beat the January blues with one of the first releases of the new year, Lion. Based on the incredible true story of Saroo Brierley, the street boy adopted by an Tasmanian couple played by Nicole Kidman and David Wenham, who years later decides to trace is family using Google Earth. Starring Slumdog Millionaire actor, Dev Patel, and Rooney Mara, this story looks like it will definitely be a tear jerker.
We'd love to hear from movie lovers around the North West for our next update of The Film Guide 2017. Drop us a line with your Oscar predictions and reactions to the 2017 Golden Globes on Twitter, tweet us @TheGuideLpool or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Definitely giving this a try!
You'll never look at your ice cube tray the same way ever again.
You'll want to know this before cookout season begins!
Say so long to those traditional methods.
But it's just as messy as you'd think.
You'll fit two weeks' worth of outfits in one carry-on.
We'll never cook, clean, decorate, or organize the same way again.


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Being properly insured for WWOOFing activities is part of your commitments when you join the association. It is your responsibility to check with your insurance the guarantees and exclusions of your policy. WWOOF France membership does not include insurance.
- If you live in France: you must have a liability insurance. This insurance covers damage or injury to a third party during your WWOOFing activities because WWOOFing is defined as a self-employed activity, just like volunteering or agricultural mutual support.
We know that MATMUT, MMA, AXA, MAIF offers liable insurance.
- If you come from Europe or elsewhere: we recommend that you take a travel insurance. If you are looking for adequate insurance as part of your WWOOFing experience, you can have a look at WorldNomads that can cover you during your volunteering. They offer many plans, but note that with the basic one, activities will have to remain on land (i.e. without using motorized vehicles).
On their side hosts also have insurance to cover their farms and farm equipment.


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When I was younger, I remember playing this game where my sisters were the bad guys. And they would meet in their evil lair for their mastermind meeting on world domination. Never did I imagine that I would actually be living that out as an adult!
Okay, okay. I'm no villain and I'm certainly not planning world domination but I'll tell you a secret. I do have a mastermind group. And we are making big things happen all the time. Because that's what a mastermind is all about.
Which leads me to this big truth.
Friend, you need a mastermind!
There. I said it. I told you before that I didn't want to keep telling you want you need but seriously. This is true. You do need a mastermind.
Now before you give me the side eye and think I'm trying to lure you into some evil plot, let me explain. Contrary to my childhood beliefs, a mastermind is simply a group of people that come together to help each other grow, both personally and professionally.
I know. You already know this. But I love talking about it so just grant me the simple pleasure of spelling it out! And even though you may already know what they are, have you considered joining one?
Ah, gotcha! If you're not in a mastermind, now is the time to make that happen!
There are a lot of masterminds out there. Some come with courses, some are paid after an application. I don't favor those. Instead, I opt to recommend creating your own mastermind group. And doing so is as easy as eating softened ice cream on a summer day.
Step One : Recognize that you don't want to do it alone.
This sounds silly but it's the truth. Being a solopreneur can make you crazy! Absolutely bonkers because you end up so close to your business that it becomes difficult to actually make the progress that you want.
Not to mention that we as people are programmed to socialize a bit. When you're ready to admit that you need a close group of people to learn from and help support, you are ready to jump into the world of masterminds.
Pro Tip : You're ready. Just do it.
Step Two : Identify what you want from a mastermind group.
This is an excellent time to become clear on your goals for the group as a whole. And to get you started, here are some questions to ask.
- How much time will you be able to contribute to the group?
- How many members will you be inviting?
- When will the group meet up?
- How will members stay in communication in between meetings?
- Will the meetings be structured or more free flowing?
I'm aware that can be overwhelming to think about but it's important to go into this with clarity so that you can truly make the most of it. But I'm not just going to scoot you away without any semblance of guidance.
Truth be told, your time invested is up to you! The more you put it, the more you'll get in return but this shouldn't be where all of your time is spent. Keeping your member count low encourages a deeper bond between the members, which is vital to growth. And meeting up is a no brainer. I meet with my mastermind via Google Hangouts once a month and I've coached fabulous women that meet once a week with their mastermind members.
This is definitely where you can and should be true to yourself and your needs through and through!
Step Three : Determine who you'd like to be in a mastermind with!
This is the fun part! When you actually get to ask people to join a mastermind! Yep, you actually have to put yourself out there. But here's the deal. You can just do it all willy nilly. You need to actually know who you're inviting.
Start taking a closer look at the people you interact with. Maybe they're people in Facebook groups or maybe they're fellow course mates. Take a look at their interactions. Is there someone that is always encouraging or wonderful to talk to? Someone that you feel naturally comfortable with online? Those are the people that you're going to want to really hone in on.
Before reaching out, there are a few other factors that come into play.
- Are they on a similar business level as you? You want to make sure this is an even-ish group of people that are at the same level as you. This ensures that everyone is pulling their weight and not relying on that one person with a huge audience for support.
- Is their target market similar? This sounds strange but working with someone that has the same market as you will make it easier for you to support one another. You don't have to be working the same niche or anything, just the same market.
Step Four : Send out those invites!
Ready for the big scary step? It's time to actually send those invites. The people that you honed in on and are excited to work with? Send them an email. Or a message. Or call them. However you are able to get ahold of them, do so. And let them know you're interested in having them join a mastermind group.
Explain exactly what you're looking for, all the way down to meetings and structure so that they can tell if it's a good fit for them. And once you've said your piece, if they don't say yes immediately, let them know that you'd love for them to consider it and that you'll follow up.
Giving them the promise of a follow up allows them to take the time they need to decide and if it's not for them, they can email you back without it being a weird break up phone call, right?
And if it's not for them, you move along! No harm, no foul!
Step Five : Implement!
This is the last step, I promise. Once you have your members, actually implement the structure you outlined before you invited people!
Schedule those meetings, have those conversations and make it happen!
See? Super easy!
But why do we do all of this? Why is this better than just joining a Facebook group? I could give you a million reasons but I'll narrow down to my top three.
Working towards goals for yourself can be a challenge when you have no boss. Having a group of people that are eager to see you succeed will help you maintain accountability. They'll be the people that want to know why you didn't accomplish something and will help you brainstorm solutions.
Honest Feedback.
Ever ask a friends opinion on something and have them respond with that blank look and a "It's great!" And you know it's not great. Ahem. Yeah. You won't get that with a good mastermind group.
Your group will give you honest feedback, which in turn, will help you grow.
Sure, there are a million communities online but a mastermind is a much more intimate experience. You'll laugh and cry with these people. You'll share triumphs and glorious failures.
The connection you make will far outweigh anything you have in a Facebook group.
So there it is. My secret weapon. Masterminds.
Do you have a group of biz besties? How has it helped you in your business?


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Leadership Team
Jeffrey Wlodarczak
Principal and Senior Analyst - Entertainment/Interactive Subscription Services
Wlodarczak founded Pivotal Research Group in January 2010, after a 15 year career in sell side institutional equity research exclusively covering the media and communications space. Wlodarczak is known for his deep understanding of the media & communications industry, ability to consistently predict the key investment themes for the sectors well before his peers, strong stock selection ability and excellent relationships with media & communication industry senior executives.
Wlodarczak started his career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette as part of a top ranked media & communications research team and then went on to senior analyst positions at CIBC World Markets and Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) where he was consistently ranked among the top analysts at both firms.
Wlodarczak has won Forbes Best Media analyst on Wall Street award, won the Wall Street Journal award for stock picking, ranked number one on Wall Street in media earnings accuracy by StarMine, finished among the top cable & satellite analysts on Wall Street in the Institutional Investor survey and participates in industry conferences as a media & communications expert. In 2018, he received an award as a top media sector earnings forecaster from Thomson Reuters StarMine.
Wlodarczak's current equity coverage is focused on the global cable sector, the U.S. satellite sector, and Liberty Media related companies. Wlodarczak received his undergraduate degree in History & Economics from Virginia Tech and his MBA in Finance from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Wlodarczak lives in New York City with his wife and two sons. In his spare time he coaches both of his sons' baseball teams.
Jeff can be reached at email@example.com.
Timothy Ramey
Senior Analyst - Food/Beverage/Nutrition
Mr. Ramey is a Senior Analyst at Pivotal and focuses on the Food, Beverage & Nutrition sectors. His expertise was honed over 26 years as a "Sell-Side" Food and Beverage Industry analyst for D.A. Davidson & Co., Deutsche Bank, NatWest, and Kidder, Peabody & Co. His industry experience includes Vice President Strategy and Corporate Development for Sara Lee Corporation as well Director of Strategic Ventures for Post Holdings.
Tim has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal five times in their "Best on the Street" survey of top industry analysts and in 2009 was recognized by Forbes Magazine as the top Wall Street analyst, across all sectors. In 2013, Starmine named Tim as the #2 analyst of all U.S. based Wall Street analysts in all sectors for his stock selection performance. In early 2016, Tim was recognized by Business Insider as one the top 10 analysts on Wall Street for successful stock selection performance for 2015. Tim is based in Salem, Oregon where he owns and operates Zenith Vineyard – a significant vineyard in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
Tim can be reached at email@example.com
Ajay Jain
Senior Analyst – Supermarkets/Drug Stores/Food Distribution
Mr. Jain is a Senior Analyst at Pivotal Research Group focused on the Supermarkets, Drug Stores and Food Distribution sectors. He brings to Pivotal a wealth of experience (15 years focused on food/drug retail) providing invaluable perspective/expertise/knowledge, a demonstrated track record of success at stock selection, in-depth corporate and industry relationships, and a willingness to make aggressive and differentiated fundamental stock/industry calls. Ajay was recently recognized as among the Top 100 for 2018 performance by TipRanks.
Ajay previously served as Managing Director at Cantor Fitzgerald, where he was responsible for coverage of consumer and retail stocks. Prior to that, he was a Senior Equity Analyst at UBS for 7+ years where his coverage included supermarkets, drug stores, hardline retailers, and food distributors. Additionally, his background includes hands-on experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, most notably at Polaroid and Gillette. Ajay holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA in Economics from the University of Massachusetts.
Ajay can be reached at email@example.com
Mitch Kummetz, CFA
Senior Analyst – Footwear/Apparel Vendors and Retailers
Mr. Kummetz is a Senior Analyst at Pivotal Research Group focused on the Footwear/Apparel Vendors and Retailers. He has 20+ years of sell-side research experience, having previously worked for B. Riley, R.W. Baird, D.A. Davidson, Wedbush Morgan and A.G. Edwards.
Mitch is known for his in-depth and differentiated industry/company analysis, as well as his proprietary retail surveys which are based on his extensive industry knowledge and contacts. Mitch has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Starmine for his stocking picking ability, most recently in 2016 by Starmine as the #3 Specialty Retail stock picker. Mitch holds an MS in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS in Quantitative Economics and Decision Sciences from the University of California-San Diego. Mitch is based in Denver, CO and is an avid skier, hiker and cyclist.
Mitch can be reached at email@example.com.
Michael Levine
Senior Analyst – Internet & Media
Mr. Levine is a Senior Research Analyst focused on the Internet and Media sectors. Prior to joining Pivotal, Mr. Levine spent 10 years working on the buyside focusing on the global Technology, Media, and Telecommunications sectors at Fortress Investment Group, Corabel Capital, AO Asset Management and Trioaks Capital Management. Prior to investing, Mr. Levine spent 9 years working in senior management in the Internet industry, specializing in consumer Internet and SAAS, including at Yahoo as Director of Strategic Alliances and he led the launch of the Strategic Services division at Coremetrics, a leading web analytics vendor purchased by IBM.
Mr. Levine has an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley Haas School of Business and a BA from the University of California at Berkeley in Economics and Asian Studies. He is fluent in Japanese, is an avid surfer, plays guitar in a band, and lives on the Upper East Side with his wife and their children.
Michael can be reached at email@example.com
Jeff Shelton, CFA
CFO & COO, Chief Compliance Officer
Mr. Shelton has been with Pivotal Research Group since its inception in 2010 and currently serves as the firm's CFO & COO as well as Chief Compliance Officer.
Previously, he spent 12+ years as a sell-side research analyst covering TMT, starting his career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette before moving to Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutsche Bank and Natixis Bleichroeder. Jeff received his B.S. in Industrial Management from Carnegie Mellon University and his MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business double majoring in Finance and Information Systems.
Jeff can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com
Philippe Crampe
Head of Business Development
Mr. Crampe joined Pivotal in 2018 and currently serves as the firm's Head of Business Development.
Mr. Crampe began his career in 1999 as an investment banker with Morgan Stanley, where he advised financial institutions and worked in the firm's Mergers, Acquisitions & Restructuring Division. He then transitioned to the buy-side as a founding partner with the Silvertree Group, a generalist long/short investment management and consultancy firm in the Bay Area. Thereafter, Mr. Crampe joined SAC Capital Advisors LP and CR Intrinsic Investors LLC in Stamford, CT as an Analyst & Senior Analyst from 2003 to 2011, where he also helped coordinate research across the firm's TMT portfolios. In 2012, Mr. Crampe joined Surveyor Capital, an affiliate of Citadel, in New York. Prior to joining Pivotal, he was a Director and Portfolio Manager at UBS O'Connor, where he oversaw a global, beta neutral, and factor neutral portfolio. Mr. Crampe graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, where he received a BSE in Civil Engineering & Operations Research. He speaks French and Japanese with native fluency.
Philippe can be reached at email@example.com
Kelly Hensley
Director of Public Relations/Marketing
Kelly Hensley is the Director of Public Relations & Marketing for Pivotal Research Group and had been with the firm since it was founded. Kelly brings over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, crisis management and media relations to the firm. Prior to joining Pivotal, Kelly worked in senior roles for two of the Washington, DC area's top 20 public relations firms as well as Hill & Knowlton NYC providing counsel to a wide variety of clients. Ms. Hensley received her B.S. from Vanderbilt University.
Kelly can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2019 Pivotal Research Legal and Compliance


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I wrote about physios and band wagons a few years ago here and discussed how we love to jump on to popular ideas without thinking enough and tend to get carried away, and as expected this is still happening. There is now a new band wagon which many therapists are jumping on to and which is causing me some angst and frustration, and you may be surprised to hear me defending it. This band wagon is the increasing number of therapists criticising orthopaedic surgery.
Challenging and criticising orthopaedic surgery has gained some serious momentum over the last few months in light of some online social media campaigns as well as some research that has demonstrated no difference between some orthopaedic surgeries and placebo. Things such as arthroscopy for knee osteoarthritis (ref) or meniscal debridement (ref), spinal surgery for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (ref), and a very recent study published in BJSM on shoulder labrum repairs (ref) and another soon to be published on shoulder acromion decompressions (ref).
Damn you…
Now don't misunderstand me this research is important to discuss and promote and asks a lot of difficult questions about orthopaedic surgery, and a lot of orthopaedic surgery does need to take a good long hard look at what it does and how it does it, and damn you all to hell for making me write this post defending it. However, I need to get a few things cleared up about the increasing criticism directed towards orthopaedic surgery and the surgeons who perform it due to some ridiculous remarks made by some idiots out there.
Firstly, there have been some claims that ALL elective orthopaedic surgery is placebo. This is complete and utter nonsense. There is no evidence of this at all. As mentioned there is 'growing' evidence that 'some' orthopaedic surgery has no significant difference in outcomes when compared to sham surgery. But this is not generalizable to all other surgery. It also isn't infallible or conclusive evidence, these intriguing studies need to be reproduced before we can conclude with any certainty and conviction that there is no difference.
I do believe that there is likely to be very strong placebo effects with these orthopaedic trimming, shaving, suturing, and repairing procedures, but there are undoubtedly times when it does do more than placebo to bring two pieces of broken anatomy closer together, or even move them further apart and allow natural history to do the rest.
Surgery doesn't work!
The next ridiculous claim being made is that orthopaedic surgery doesn't work. What complete and utter nonsense this is again. Yes it's not perfect, yes there are failures, but to say orthopaedic surgery doesn't work is hogwash and often said by those who have misinterpreted the research. Even the placebo surgery trials show that orthopaedic surgery works, just not for the reasons originally thought. Why people get better after placebo surgery just as well as those that have 'true' surgery is intriguing and due to many factors and is for a completely different blog or three!
However, watching some therapists using these placebo surgery studies with glee to demonstrate how surgery is 'ONLY' a placebo need to be very careful about throwing stones in glass houses. All the therapies, including physiotherapy, have shockingly little to no placebo controlled studies to compare how much of what /we do is 'ONLY' a placebo. As much as I am an advocate for physios giving simple advice, education, and increasing exercise and activity in all we see, I have no doubt that people get better despite our interventions. It's called natural history and regression to the mean. Deal with it!
Finally, the last point I want to discuss is the most worrying and annoying one. I have seen an increasing amount of accusations and negative comments directed towards orthopaedic surgeons in light of these studies. I have seen some comments that surgeons do these operations too soon, too easily, and for ulterior or self-motivated reasons only. Now, this may be true in some rare isolated cases. But despite common belief orthopaedic surgeons are not ruthless, soulless, money grabbing, knife welding megalomaniacs intent on screwing over their patients at any given opportunity.
Can't cut pain out!
I work closely with many orthopaedic surgeons and I can assure you that these intelligent, hard working, dedicated people will try everything not to operate on patients. Many of my orthopaedic colleagues ensure patients are well aware that surgery is often only to be used as the last resort, and that it's not guaranteed to help, and doesn't come without risks. I hear them using terms like "We can't cut the pain out" or "There is no pain that my surgery can not make worse", and have found myself using these sayings often as well.
Thinking that surgeons alone decide when to operate is also nonsense. Most of the surgeons I know get informed consent for any intervention far better than most therapists I know. Surgical patients are often given the full list of pros/cons, risks/rewards, and time frames of what to expect and most don't enter into surgery without fully understanding these.
So when a patient has exhausted all other options, when they feel they have no other options left, when they think an operation will help, when there is a clear surgical 'target' to address, why not operate? Yes, some operations are done too quickly, without giving enough time or other options a good enough go. But, and this is a big but, we can not blame surgeons and patients for wanting operations when they 'fail' other options such as physiotherapy.
The unfortunate truth for us therapists is that if we and our interventions were any better at managing these issues many patients would not seek surgery. Now I know a lot of therapists do great jobs and many are in difficult positions, pushed for time, resources, and patients don't always want to do what we ask of them, but as I said we have to recognise our limitations as well as those of our surgical colleagues
So in summary, some orthopaedic surgery is coming under the spot light in how it works and this is a good thing. But seeing some jump onto the 'all orthopaedic surgery is bad' band wagon is not a good thing. Finally, it's repugnant to see and hear some of the accusations and claims made about our orthopaedic colleagues. This just needs to stop, it's only harmful to future collaborations and progress. There is no surgery OR therapy, there is no surgeon OR therapist, there is no us OR them, there is just us!
As always thanks for reading


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Many of our clients come to us at the early stages of planning their kitchen extension, normally shortly after planning permission is granted. In this way we can work with you from day one to make sure that your kitchen is exactly how you want it and not an afterthought. Sometimes the simplest change in the planning phase can make a big difference to the end result of your kitchen and it helps to have your kitchen designer on board from the start. See our guide to planning a kitchen extension here.
"We can't recommend Herringbone Kitchens highly enough, the whole quality of service and the kitchen we now have is fantastic, we love spending our time in it.
We spoke with William at the point we had our plans drawn up for our kitchen extension, which was great to start realising how we could best utilise the space and make the most of it within the budget we had. William came up with great ideas, taking on board how we envisaged using the room and was patient whilst we refined the design to something that he made sure met all our requirements. His particular attention to detail was welcomed and we felt that nothing was too much trouble, which carried through to his fitter Leroy, and this has shown in the quality of the instal. Even during this time, William made time to oversee the fitting and be on hand to ensure everything was going smoothly.
We are thrilled with our new kitchen, the whole process from concept to completion has been excellently managed by William and our kitchen as a result is simply stunning, it has transformed our family home."


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Burning the Midnight Oil ... WIP Demons/
Dungeons & Dragons – It's rare that a job takes me this long, I think the combinations of a lack of deadline, huge pile of work and wanting to make these perfect is what's causing this to take so long. (Huh rereading that it almost looks like I'm making excuses...)
Anyway I've made some pretty decent progress on the large Netherlord, spiked red version. This is not an easy model to paint, the location of the spikes make holding it awkward and the curves are tricky to get the highlights right on.
The base turned out pretty cool and I'm happy with the effect. It won't be ling and this will be wrapped up and shipped off to the client.


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Just like the good ol' USA, NASCAR Nation has its polarizing issues. Instead of Obamacare and taxes, one debate among NASCAR fans has to do with racing on the superspeedways, also known as the "restrictor plate tracks." The metal devices that resemble a slice of Swiss cheese, restrict airflow and limit speed- this coming after Bobby Allison's car took out a section of fencing at Talladega in 1987 and injured several fans with flying parts.
The upshot of the move has resulted in racing in what Greg Biffle described as a "parking lot." For yours truly, it is reminiscent of the 120 bypass connecting Interstate 5 to Highway 99 in northern California, a stretch of road also dubiously known as "Death Alley." It's bumper-to-bumper traffic going 75 miles per hour plus at 6 a.m., and with one false move, you have a massive, and I mean massive pile-up. The two-car car involving Casey Mears and Austin Dillon was nothing compared to what has been seen over the years.
Critics say "That's not racing." When Mark Martin was making his run at Jimmie Johnson in 2009, he called Talladega a lottery. Restrictor plate racing has produced its share of "specialists" (in less polite circles, "one trick ponies.") Four of Jamie McMurray's wins have come on restrictor plate tracks, David Ragan's two career Cup victories have come at superspeedways, and all four of Michael Waltrip's career victories came at either Daytona of Talladega-just to name a few.
At one time, the races produced "two car tangos." 2013 has marked the return of "freight train" and "parade" racing. The "Big One" that commentators and fans seem a little too eager for was not seen at the Camping World RV Sales 500 Sunday.
So why would anyone enjoy this kind of racing?
Plate track racing is intense. Even though the "Big One" never happened, it darn near did more than once. Watching 3,500 pound machines darting around in packs is a rush, especially when your favorite track master is passing some neophyte or a driver with a bad reputation.
To this observer, there's something about the song of an engine revving up around nine thousand RPMs. Those 43 drivers, running flat out, are doing something we can only dream about- legally flying low at over 200 miles per hour.
Then there's strategy. Yes, it is both a blessing and a curse; Kasey Kahne will no doubt agree. Somewhere along the line, you may have to draft with a guy you don't like. There's also the question of what to do with your pit stops: most stops, you're only going to need two, but sometimes four might be needed. When do you pull out of line? Matt Kenseth got killed at the end, thinking SOMEBODY might make a run, and that lower line never really formed. Sometimes it does. There's also the question of do you hang back and make your move at the end? Or do you do rush up front and lead the parade from flag to flag?
Restrictor plate racing has produced some riveting finishes: Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin in the 2007 Daytona 500, what about the racing between Jamie McMurray and Kyle Busch later that summer? Let's not forget Travor Bayne's thrilling finish in the 2011 Daytona 500.
Speaking of drivers like Bayne, restrictor plate racing is fun, because you never know who might win it- especially at Talladega. A Bayne, a Ragan, a McMurray has a shot if they can endure until the end.
These races are wild cards, and they truly are just that. Who really saw Jamie McMurray coming? You can call it dumb luck, but the Joplin, Missouri native has gotten lucky four times on restrictor plate tracks. He may be lucky, but remember, luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Unlike the mile and a half tracks where the super teams dominate, anything (or sometimes even nothing) happens. There's a place for a few dates like that on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule.


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The beginning of a new year prompts many of us to start thinking about a personal-finance tuneup, but if you're 50 or older — a time when those vague retirement dreams are starting to coalesce into a hoped-for reality — it's crucial to take time to assess your finances. See full story.
New Mercedes C-class takes after big brother
Mercedes-Benz has revealed its fourth-generation 2015 C-class sedan in a series of photographs ahead of a planned public unveiling for the new car at the Detroit auto show this month. From Autoweek, here's a peek at the new C-class. See full story.
U.S. stock fund and ETF styles for your 2014 buy list
It's understandable to think that U.S. stocks are due for a breather after a stunning 2013. Maybe, but that doesn't mean stock-fund and ETF investors won't do well in 2014, writes Jonathan Burton. See full story.
How to lose money in the market in a hurry
Last year's top performers will likely lag the market in 2014 — if not lose a lot of money, writes Mark Hulbert. See full story.
CES: Not just about gizmos and gadgets
The Consumer Electronics Show, which kicks off in Las Vegas next week, has evolved into more than just about gizmos and gadgets as software, services and social media play bigger roles in tech. See full story.
Arends: Wall Street's asset managers remain bullish on stock markets that have already had big run-ups. Here's how to bet against them. See full story.


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I had gathered the ingredients for this dish prior to the snow because, I had planned on making these during the snow. Something about snow always makes me want to have something sweet and warm. A pastry or a cookie but when I saw the mascarpone on sale, I knew it had to be. Unfortunately, we lost power from Wednesday - Saturday and I had no use of my oven. By the time we got it back, the snow was pretty well melted by then. No worries, these tasted just as good without snow.
I think you could play around with these a lot, try half and apple instead of a quarter, different spices & cheeses, and I'm looking forward to replacing the apple with a peach in the summer. Eat alone or top with another dollop of mascarpone and let the warm pastry melt it, a serving of ice cream or fresh cream would do as well.
Recipe (Makes 8 dumplings)
Apples - 2, I used a sweet small, pink-fleshed apple
Mascarpone - About 1/3 a container (5-6 TB)
Sugar - scant 1/2 cup
Flour - 1TB
Cinnamon - 1tsp
Cloves - 1/4tsp
Vanilla extract - 3/4tsp
Anise extract - 1/2tsp (optional or try almond)
Pastry ingredients
Flour - about 11/4cup (I used a heaped 1cup) (I used all purp but pastry might have been better)
Sugar - a tablespoon or two - just a small fingerful
Salt - a small pinch
Butter - 1 stick very cold cold. If you can leave this is the freezer awhile, even better.
Water - ice cold water in a two cup measuring pyrex
Egg wash - beat together an egg white mixed with a splash of cream or milk.
Fill a two cup measuring pyrex (or do this in a bowl) with ice and water. We want this to sit, let the ice start to melt, to get very cold water. The key to good pastry is not letting the butter melt until it is in the oven. Shift together the flour, sugar, & salt for the pastry. Cut your butter into smallish cubes. Toss in the flower and work in with your finger tips. You want the mixture to look coarse but about the sizes of peas; work quickly. Now you will start adding in the ice water (strained from the ice). Add the water slowly, mixing the water/flour together as you go. You want to keep adding water until the mixture just comes together. You don't want it too wet and sticky. You should be able to press it into a ball - it is ok if there are some dry spots. Form into a ball and wrap in plastic. Place in your fridge for half an hour at least. It will keep in the fridge for a day or two.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking sheet. Toss together the sugar, 1TB flour, cinnamon, & cloves. Place your marscapone in a small bowl and beat in (with the back of a spoon) the extracts. Slice you apples into quarters. Hollowing out a little bowl in the center of each apple wedge, to hold the mascarpone. Toss each wedge into the sugar/spice mixture - flipping to coat. Then take a generous teaspoon of the mascarpone/extract mixture and place into the shallow bowl on the apple wedge. Adding more mascarpone if there is leftover after all 8 wedges.
Take out your pastry dough and cut into 8 wedges. Working quickly, roll the wedge into a ball and roll into a disc on a floured surface. You want the size to be just big enough to wrap around an apple quarter. Mine were just a bit smaller than the size of my hand. Place a apple quarter with mascarpone on the dough disc, facing down. Sprinkling with more of the sugar/spice mixture and then wrap the pastry up, kind of like a burrito. Repeat with all 8. Place, spacing evenly, on a baking sheet. Brush on eggwash, top with more sugar/spice mixture or course sugar and bake until golden - about 30 minutes.
Serve and top with more mascarpone, cream, or ice cream.


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Cacao, Chai & Quinoa Energy Bites
Chocolate, Spice, and Protein So Nice
Some days I can't decide if I want an entire bar of dark chocolate, a full-fat vanilla chai latte, or maybe just a jar of peanut butter to myself. Anyone else?
Normally I can settle for a dark chocolate, peanut butter protein bar or even a few scoops of Halo Top, but if you're an avid bar/healthy ice cream buyer, you know how expensive that can get! I will say, Halo Top has come down in price around here (and hopefully for you too) and I'm wondering if it's because of other brands putting out the same concept? *hint hint Breyers I see you. Well it's a win win for everyone, more ice cream = lower prices, and all is good for some late night indulgences.
BUT (let's focus here Hanna), buying healthy snacks, bars, and treats can definitely rack up some dollars and hide some pretty unhealthy ingredients. Sometimes I think back to the protein bars that I used to eat and just shake my head. I had no idea that most of the synthetic protein bars are filled with preservatives, chemicals, and sugar substitutes that can cause some major problems for both your digestive system and endocrine system (hormones). The past is the past and I am happy to say that every protein bar I eat is completely free of any toxins and totally beneficial for my body. But again, they can get very expensive, very quick!
After moving out/quitting my job/working with a budget, I had to start coming up with a better solution. I remember always seeing "energy" or bliss balls all over Instagram and in every coffee shop in LA, but never anywhere in my hometown of Ohio. With my food processor in hand, I decided to get creative and start making my own batches of energy, protein, and bliss balls! These were some of my first recipes: Brain Happy Energy Balls, Green Cacao Energy Balls, Simple Sprouted Crunch Balls, and my latest Almond Cacao Energy Balls. I love them all equally!
As I was getting things ready for our trip to Nashville and planning snacks/food to bring, I knew I had to test out some new ball recipes! They are the perfect bite sized snack that packs a ton of naturalproteins, heart healthy fats, and even hormone happy adaptogens. I went with a spread of different flavors so that each was very different from the next. Chad even suggested a flavor that turned out to be our favorite! I hope you enjoy this type of multi-recipe post & be sure to let me know if you give these a try by using the hashtag #thehealthiestme!
Chad's Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Bites
The perfect balance between sweet & salty
What You Will Need
10 pitted dates, 1 cup almonds, 1/4 cup cacao nibs, 2 tbsp. cocoa powder, 1 tbsp. maple syrup, and 1/2 tsp. sea salt
{ This recipe makes 18-19 one-inch balls, around 95 calories each (5g Fat, 12g Carbohydrates, 3g Fiber, 9g sugar, and 2g protein) }
Place all of your ingredients into a food processor and blend on high until the dough comes away from the sides. Roll into 18-19 one-inch balls and enjoy!
Vanilla Chai & Maca Truffles
Warm & spicy with a powerful hint of maca's magic
What You Will Need
5 pitted dates, 1 and 1/4 cup cashews, 1 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. vanilla extract, 1/2 tbsp. cinnamon, 2 tbsp. maca root powder, and 1 scoop vanilla protein
Optional Toppings: cinnamon and coconut sugar
{ This recipe makes 17-19 one-inch balls, around 85 calories each (4g Fat, 7g carbs, 5g sugar, and 5g protein) }
Add everything to your food processor and blend on high for 1-2 minutes. The batter will completely come away from the sides of the blender and will be very smooth and soft in texture. Roll into balls, add additional toppings, and then place in the refrigerator to set and cool.
Toasted Quinoa & Nut Butter Bites
Nutty, crunchy, and packed with protein!
What You Will Need
1 cup roasted quinoa, 10 dates, 1/4 cup nut butter, 1/4 cup almonds, and 1 scoop vanilla protein
{ This recipe makes 22-24 one-inch balls, around 88 calories each, (3g Fat, 13g Carbs, 2g Fiber, 7g Sugar, and 3g Protein) }
Start by roasting your quinoa over medium heat in a greased non-stick pan for 5-7 minutes. You will see a slight change in color (darker), and begin to smell a "nutty" aroma when the quinoa is ready. Take off heat and let cool while you're starting your batter
Next, add all of your ingredients into a food processor and blend on high. Once you have reached a stick consistency and the dough comes away form the sides, it is ready to go! Carefully fold the roasted quinoa into the date mixture and completely combine. Roll into 22-24 one-inch balls and let cool!


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Rossmoor Farmers' Market will open Friday May 15th, and remain open Fridays 9:30am to 1pm through October 31.
The farmers' market is at the Gateway Clubhouse parking lot on the corner of Golden Rain Road and Tice Creek Drive.
This farmers' market is open only to Rossmoor residents and their guests. We apologize for any inconvenience.


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Naked Mind is a practice of meditation and breath. We take off our daily costume as a preparatory gesture for undressing the mind, revealing an inner world as infinite in potential as the world outside.
In the classical tradition, the physical practice is meant to cleanse and balance the body as preparation for the rigors of the mental practices. With increasing subtlety, the breath, senses, mind and intellect are brought into alignment, eventually leading to an all-encompassing state of being. Many say this a practice that will span lifetimes, but others argue that enlightenment is not a quest, rather it's available in every moment.
Your sights don't need to be set so high for you to enjoy the benefits of these practices. Deep states of relaxation are available to you now, as are direct experiences of subtle energies and profound feelings of connection with yourself and others. The breath is the key.
These practices are accessible for everyone. Once you've begun, you may want to explore what happens when you share these practices with someone else. In our experience, a deep level of connection is felt, which by-passes obstacles presented by cultural convention and the neurochemical responses to a stranger. Partnering techniques include synchronized breathing and eye-gazing. Shared practice can also increase the energetic experience, which we explore through various meditation postures.
You can purchase your session here, and one of our certified instructors will contact you to schedule your appointment.
If you'd like to contact us prior to purchase, please complete the Contact form. We'd be happy to answer your questions and schedule your appointment prior to purchase; however, all appointments must be confirmed by completing your purchase through this site.


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Don, Tom, Richie, Mike and Steve spent months planning the perfect 10 day backwoods elk hunting trip. Two days before the group is to leave, Richie's wife, Renee, puts her foot down and tells him he isn't going. Don, Tom, Mike and Steve are very upset that he can't go, but what can they do?
Two days later, they get to elk camp.... only to find Richie sitting there with a tent set up; firewood gathered; and steaks cooking on the fire. "Damn, Richie, how long have you been here, and how did you talk Renee into letting you come?"
"Well, I've been here since early this morning. Yesterday evening, I was sitting in my chair. Renee came up behind me; put her hands over my eyes; and said, 'guess who?'
I pulled her hands off....... then noticed she was wearing a brand-new, see-through nightie. She took my hand and led me to our bedroom. The room had two dozen candles and rose pedals all over. On the bed, there were handcuffs and ropes! She told me to tie and cuff her to the bed.... So I did. Then she said: 'Do whatever you want!'
So here I am.
News, Views, & Blogs > Laugh > more jokes >


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Why Maximus, what are you so excited about?
And Gawain, what is it that you could care less about?
Wait a minute, I know! It's time to announce the winner of the Buddy Fruits Giveaway!
Well, yesterday, I compiled all eleven entries. Then I headed over to Random.org and entered the number range.
And who might lucky number 2 be?
It's our old friend Kaleb Rogers. Congratulations Kaleb! I have contacted the company and asked them to send the sample out to you. I will let you know when I hear from them so you can look out for it. Also, I will see if Kaleb can't take some pictures of he and his family enjoying the Buddy Fruits and then I will share them with you!
That's all for today folks, hope you are having a great week and I will be back with regular posts tomorrow!


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Bret Nielsen
When it comes to propelling your next project forward, Fueled Creative is your high octane formula for success.
Specializing in corporate cool, high impact music videos, and inspiring independent shorts, Fueled Creative has been blazing Northwest production since 2000. Armed with the latest in digital technology, client credibility, and process know-how, we enable you to initiate and capture your vision.
Fueled Creative offers savvy project development, Social Media Strategy, and Web Development. Our secret is symbiotic high-caliber cinematography, cutting edge post solutions, and digital strategies. Our production packages are individualistic and always delivers unparalleled results.
We are a Seattle-based film production company that has been producing engaging content for nearly two decades. Fueled Creative puts concept and seasoned process together with effective industry know-how. Our methods are proven and our work speaks for itself. If that is not enough, we can back it up with nearly two decades of experience, award winning content, and an impressive client history that includes Social Media excellence, impactful music videos, two Super Bowl commercials, three international extreme sports videos, and several independent films that have swept awards at the festivals.
Fueled Creative is your one stop, full-service, production team, that specializes in brand development, broadcast commercial production, social media strategy, web design/development, 3D rendering and visual effects. Out team helps you to translate and communicate your goals, engage your options, and mold your ideas to life.
- CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT: We help translate your goals, engage your options, and mold your vision to life.
- DESIGN: Our award-winning staff are highly skilled with access to the best tools in the trade.
- PRE-PRODUCTION: Our highly organized team helps structure your creative needs on time and on budget.
- POST SOLUTIONS: Our artists and editors truly love what they do, and it shows in our work.
- DELIVERY: Our producers communicate realistic goals and set the standard for delivering projects on time.
Fueled Creative understands the delicacy of professional relationships in today's world. We take pride in taking care of our clients, their big picture, and the details which make our productions an exceptional experience. Our follow through, attention to detail, and client interaction is why we continue to work with amazing companies and personalities.
You bring the spark, we add the fuel.


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Steve Meister has extensive experience, on both the defense side and prosecution side, and are known throughout Los Angeles County and beyond as a tough, hard-charging, professional and tireless felony criminal defense attorney. He has conducted trials in virtually every felony known to the Penal Code, including death penalty cases, murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, all sexual crimes, rape, child molestation and sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery, residential burglary, commercial burglary, carjacking, identity theft, workers' compensation fraud, insurance fraud, drug possession, drug sales, possession for sale, torture, mayhem, special circumstances, gang allegations, firearms and weapons offenses.
Clients Are Able To Avoid Being Charged With A Crime
It is critical that you arm yourself with the best weapon you have – an excellent defense lawyer – the minute you learn you are under investigation.
Don't wait until the cuffs are on, or the arrest warrant is served, or you are hauled into court, to get a lawyer. At the Meister Law Offices, we have years of success and experience helping clients get "rejects" from prosecutors, that is, clients are able to avoid being charged with a crime altogether. But it doesn't happen by itself; it takes smart and disciplined work by your defense lawyer and you to reach out to the police immediately, build a rapport with the detective and prosecutor investigating your case, know what suspicion and evidence they have, build a defense case, and persuade the authorities to leave you alone. Remember: The presumption of innocence only applies, in the eyes of the law, if you're actually charged with a crime. Often, the very best time to fight is before you're ever charged, when the prosecutor and detective are contemplating things but haven't made up their minds. That's the time for you and your lawyer to strike.
And if you are already charged? How do you ensure that you'll be released on your own recognizance or admitted to a reasonable, non-excessive, bail? How do you ensure that a prosecutor's office doesn't overcharge you, or try to scare you into pleading guilty against flimsy, vulnerable evidence? How do you know you are mounting the very best fight in court, and what alternatives might there be to fighting, that don't require capitulation or loss of liberty or livelihood? How do you tell your side of the story, and get justice? How do you maneuver effectively through the court system, when each time in court it feels like you're stuck in an overseas airport with no flight information and no one who speaks your language? How do you make sure this turns out right for you?
This is how clients feel, these are their questions, when they are charged with serious felonies and brought before the justice system. At the Meister Law Offices, we will explain it all, because knowledge is power. We will protect you in court, and will be your bulwark against the onslaught of government resources and official accusation hurled at you. We will never let you become a prosecutor's piñata, and we will fight to obtain for you the very best, optimum result, bringing all the resources we can and all the tools the law offers, on your behalf.
Protect Yourself Against A Government Juggernaut
Meister Law, Experienced Defense Counsel
If you are charged with a crime, or are under any kind of investigation by any law enforcement agency, don't take a chance on your future or your safety and freedom! Contact a felony criminal defense attorney from the Meister Law Offices, the minute you learn you are the subject of police interest, to protect yourself and those you care about from dangerous felony charges and their grave potential consequences.


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PM Solutions Ltd needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 75 designs submitted by 24 freelance designers.
Be a Superstar
Provide education for teenagers
Empowering Youth Through Project Management (slogan)
The logo should have five stars
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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OTTAWA, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's leaders are playing in the sand to make a better life for the next generation. In an effort to raise awareness about The Sandbox Project, several Canadian MPs, media personalities, NGOs and business leaders were building sand castles in the world's largest sandbox on Sparks Street in Ottawa on Wednesday.
"With a specific focus on injury prevention, mental health, growing healthy bodies and the environment, The Sandbox Project is working hard to improve child and youth health in Canada," says Dr. Christine Hampson, President & CEO of The Sandbox Project. "We are facing an unprecedented future where our children have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Quite simply, this is unacceptable."
The Sandbox Project was created to implement the recommendations from a 2008 report Reaching for the Top: A report by the Advisor on Healthy Children & Youth. The goal of the World's Largest Sandbox event is to raise awareness of the importance of investing and focusing on the health and wellbeing of our youngest citizens.
Christine was joined in the sandbox for a sandcastle building competition by Ottawa-area elementary school children, a number of representatives of the media and child and youth health charities, and by Parliamentarians including:
- Hon. James Moore
- Hon. Peter MacKay
- Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch
- Hon. Leona Aglukkaq
- Hon. Tim Uppal
- M.P Stella Ambler
- M.P James Bezan
- Senator Nancy Green Raine
- M.P Sean Casey
- M.P Elizabeth May
- M.P Mike Wallace
This year, The Sandbox Project is honoured to be the recipient of a $25,000 donation from Interac — with a similar $25,000 donation to the Abilities Centre in Whitby — made in the name of the late Hon. Jim Flaherty, former Finance Minister of Canada who passed away in April.
Photos of the event are available online through Twitter using the hashtag #OTTsandbox.
About The Sandbox Project
The vision of The Sandbox Project is to make Canada the healthiest place in the world for children and youth to grow up. It is focused on improving children and youth health outcomes with respect to injury prevention, growing healthy bodies, mental health and the environment. www.sandboxproject.ca


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I hope to have descriptions of these projects up soon. E-mail me with questions If you are curious to know sooner.
Some projects are rather big and were only up for a short period of time. If you have a place where I could install a project for a few weeks to document it and work on the electronics, please contact me!


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Stocks staged another huge rally on Thursday as the S&P 500 moved into the green for the year ahead of Friday's big December jobs report.
First, the scoreboard:
- Dow: 17,907.9, +323, (+1.8%)
- Nasdaq: 4,736.2, +85.7, (+1.8%)
And now, the top stories on Thursday:
1. Stocks rallied again. The Dow gained nearly 300 points on Thursday, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained more than 1.6%, erasing the early losses the indexes suffered to start this year and moving into the green for 2015. As the NYSE's Rich Barry said in his afternoon email on Thursday: "Make no mistake; this is a very powerful rally we're seeing today." Oil prices bounced around but traded around $48.50 a barrel while long-date Treasury yields backed up some, with the 10-year yield moving back above 2% and the 30-year rising to 2.59%.
2. Ahead of Friday's jobs report, we got some labor data from the weekly report on initial jobless claims, which fell slightly from last week to 294,000 from 298,000. This was higher than the 290,000 expected by economists, though the four-week moving average of claims did tick lower, and Ian Shepherdson at Pantheon Macro said the trend is claims is consistent with "very big payroll gains."
3. The December jobs report is set for release on Friday morning, with Wall Street expecting payrolls grew by 240,000 while the unemployment rate ticked lower to 5.7%. Brian Jones at Societe Generale is the most bullish analyst, expecting payrolls grew by 305,000 in December, while David Mericle at Goldman Sachs takes a more measured approach, looking for a 230,000 print.
4. The decline in oil prices has been the biggest story in markets, and as prices remain at multi-year lows, the impacts will begin to make their way into the broader economy. The most prominent area where this impact is expected to show up is inflation, and in a note on Thursday, BNP Paribas economist Laura Rosner said that headline inflation, which includes food and gas, will likely be negative in the first half of 2015. Excluding food and gas, however, inflation is expected to run at around 1.7%-1.8%.
5. Deutsche Bank economist Torsten Slok circulated a new housing slide deck on Thursday, and a series of slides highlighted by Business Insider's Andy Kiersz shows that Canada's housing market and financial system could be facing some tough times ahead.
6. In stock news, one of the big stories on Thursday was news that activist hedge fund Starboard Value sent a letter to Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer warning that were Mayer to pursue a large acquisition, it "would be a clear indication to us that significant leadership change is required at Yahoo." Yahoo shares gained almost 3% on Thursday.
Don't Miss: Here's Where The Options Market Thinks The S&P 500 Could Go In 2015 »