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Greenhouse is swept and clean, shop is ready and waiting, weekly seeding is all caught up ... so what is a bored gardener to do?
Just so happens that rain days are perfect for jotting down notes and plans in one's journal ... and catching up on laundry, too ; )
I start with a brand new, fresh journal book each fall. So, I shop around for months, looking at journals, notebooks, daytimers... till I find the look I want.
I love pretty covers and pretty pages, too. Coiled spines so the pages stay open with ease, and lines to keep me on the straight and narrow.
My garden journals run from September through August annually. Why start in fall? Well, because I use mine as a planner for the upcoming summer rather than a record of this years happenings. Therefore, having notes about the current garden helps me plan for the year ahead.
If you want a record of the annual garden happening, starting in January is a great idea. Make your journal your own, make it special to suit your needs. With time, over the year(s), your journal will evolve into your very own masterpiece.
This is what and how I tend to journal and capture my thoughts...
In fall
- I jot down my thoughts about the current garden. What grew well, what I really liked, what worked out nicely, what to replicate.
- Any special heirlooms (tomatoes, cukes, peppers) that I must grow again, and why I liked them.
- Colour combo's that caught my eye, whether my own or something I saw during my nosey travels.
- Ideas that others mention to me, or plants and seeds that they want me to bring in the following year.
- I mostly jot down positive things, what to do, rather than what not to do... however, will occasionally note any especially big bug or disease issues. Generally, it will be followed with a remedy.
catherinestudio.blogspot.comIn winter
I take notes on any new ideas, decor, potting soils, flower combo's, etc.. that I find in seed catalogues and gardening mags. I cut out pictures for inspiration and make simple drawings. Sadly, my drawings are not nearly as cute as the one you see above ; )
If you are really artistic, add your own paintings and drawings to your journal. Make your journal unique, a real piece of art, as well as a book of thoughts and plots. While I am not a painter, I can draw decently enough ... these lovely pictures inspire me to put more colour and love into my penned drawings.
In Spring
As winter comes to a close, the journal is all about seeds and plants, and what goes where ... lists of all the varieties I ordered on-line or purchased at shops, plus garden plans. I usually have my colour combo for the pots and baskets already figured out by now, so will spend time figuring out which plants I want to use to achieve that colour.
In Summer
What is growing where and how well it is doing there. Something not thriving? Amendments to that bed in fall. What do I really, really like? What to order for the nursery and greenhouse for the fall and winter garden season. Fall and winter garden thoughts.
Today, on this grey and rainy day, I am plotting out my garden beds for spring and summer 2016. I have 14 really big garden beds to fill annually, so it helps to have a bit of a plan prior to starting.
Eliot Coleman's 8 year Crop Rotation Chart
What to grow this year and where to put them? How do I decide? First of all, I make a list of all the things I want to grow ... tomatoes, peppers, onions, carrots, beans, peas, leeks, cabbage, etc...
Then I use two different tools. One is Eliot Coleman's crop rotation guide. While I do not follow it to a tee, I sure do like it, the reasoning makes sense to me.
For more information about this guide and why you might want to follow it, too, see HERE!
Planting flowers in and around your veggies is not only attractive to look at,
but is also using healthy companion planting practises!
The other tool I use a lot, as in always ... is a companion planting guide. I use it so much that I have a laminated chart in the greenhouse that I take out to the garden with me while I plant.
If I decide to switch things up last minute (which happens a lot), I want to make sure my goodies are growing with friends, not foes. Sometimes when one goes ahead and plants willy nilly, the plant fits the spot but ends up being a terrible companion to it's neighbours.
For example, last year I saw an empty pocket of space beside the celery, and filled it ... with carrots! Turns out that both of them attract the carrot rust fly.. thus it could have been a very bad idea. Luckily, we did not get carrot rust flies, but had they been around, that bed would have been absolute nirvana for them! Yikes!
My favourite companion planting guide to use? The one that I have laminated? See HERE!
More pretty drawings... not mine ; )
This cute one from kim the Ink Cat on Flickr
Other than plotting out your beds and yard, what else can you put into your journal?
- How about seeding ideas for the upcoming year?
What you want to grow, what seeds you need to pick up, plus your current seed inventory.
Prepare for the garden season ahead, map out a plan, check out what seeds you need, make a list to take with you as you shop for seeds.
- Or maybe you want to keep track of the weather?
How much (or little!) rain we got each month, snow falls, cold snaps, last frosts, first frosts and heat waves...
- Track your crops...
When you started your seeds, when they germinated, when you transplanted them, plus how much you harvested. When they bolted! This will help you plan for next year. If you started something too early (or too late) for them to thrive, keep notes!
- Keep track of your favourite varieties so that you can order more seeds in winter.
I love Dukat Dill but have now also added Diana Dill to the must grow list, too, after trialing it for the first time last year! So both dills made it onto my must grow list this year. My tomato must-grow list is huge! So many favourites.
- Items you want to add, build, or make.
Building plans for a birdhouse, bat house, potting bench, bug palace/hotel, planting crate.... draw pictures, cut out clippings, and write out plans.
- What to do with all that harvest.
How to store, can, process, or cook your harvested goodies. Recipes.
- Importantly, keep track of what you planted where - in both spring and fall.
You think you're going to remember, but after all is said and done, you will forget. One spring, not too long ago, I weeded out lots of pesky new growth, that turned out to be Breadseed Poppies. In my defense, poppy foliage kinda looks dandelion-ish and weedy ; )
Some of my inspiration for the upcoming year...
- Jot down ideas and draw pictures, take photos, press flowers, cut out clippings... of anything that captures your eye.
A garden journal for each year...
From ramblingrose.typepad.com
Make your garden journal uniquely yours and save each one, from year to year. Is lovely to look back on your thoughts over the years and the progression of your garden. When I look back on mine, am amazed to see that some of my original jots that were just ideas/trials to start with, have become common practise for me over the years.
From kim the Ink Cat at Flickr.com
Look forward to spring, but enjoy your late winter journaling time.
Journal, plan and enjoy our wet February.
... this rain is filling up the reservoirs ; )


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The D series is a compact, .380 ACP (9 mm Browning Short) caliber variants of the model A/B series of 1911-inspired Star pistols. It is apparently designed for commercial sales as a self-defense weapon. All D-series weapons seem to be of approximately the exact same external configuration, with the same length slide and gripframe, a semi-circular front sight and so on.
The alloy-framed DKI was in .32 (7.65 mm) caliber. Star's intentions with its compact pistols are not entirely clear when you compare the D and S series. The D seems to be simply a slightly smaller gun, but it is actually slightly heavier in weight and bulk, despite its reduced length. Also, the D has a full-legth guide rod, and a different (but still removable) barrel bushing. There are other detail differences in the design that would seem to have led to it being dropped at some point, but instead it was retained for reasons I cannot yet fathom. Since .32 was more common for European compact issue and defense weapons, it may have been intended for a specific export market.
The only visible variations I have seen are in grips, which could be wood, wood with medallions or checkered plastic with the Star logo. All pistols also have a sturdy lanyard loop integral with the frame. This is another unusual feature, for no apparent specific reason. Frames were made in alloy as well as steel, and
As dates of manufacture and other details are quite unclear, any information that you can share with me about your own model D pistol would be welcome. Date codes especially would be nice to gather, so I can determine when it was really made.
I do not have manuals for every pistol shown on this site. However, in many cases there is a related manual. Partly to make the series relationships clearer, and partly to assist with speed and accuracy of updating, all manuals can be found in one place, the manuals page. All manuals available are provided as downloadable PDFs, or you may purchase a printed copy of the entire set of handgun manuals.
All Classic series pistols strip in the same way. Do not the significant differences between older swinging-link and later "Super" variations.
A number of early Star compact pistols, even when derived from the A/B series, seem to have been produced for brief periods with a pocket pistol control layout before they moved to adopting the Colt style safety at the rear. A model D of this type was apparently made from 1922-32. While most of these models also had no slide lock, at the least a first model D produced around 1931 did have this, as well as the vest-pocket style safety lever.
The safety lever is behind the trigger, with a hinge under the left grip panel. Unlike on the other, smaller guns, with just a red dot to fire, this has F & S marks for each position. There is also a lanyard protruding from the left side, in the nature of many service pistols of this era. Note that the photo accompanying this description did not have the slide lock, safety lever or lanyard ring. I added these via photoshop, so take these details with a grain of salt. I am particularly suspicous of the safety lever, as the conventional style leaves a detent hole exposed. All other features, however, are accurate.
Also note the frame shape is more akin to other, older pistols, with a straight frontstrap (no bulge at the bottom) and a straight backstrap, without the bulge seen later. Sights are different with the round pin for retention, the slide lacks the takedown notches as there is no safety lever to engage them, and the hammer is of the two-piece style with the riveted center portion.
In 1928 the more conventional control configuration was re-introduced, with a rear-mounted thumb safety on the left side. This gun remained in production until probably 1983. See the "rebranded variants" section for more information on ways to encounter a model D pistol. Other changes generally brought the pistol up to current standards, with an arched backstrap, one-piece hammer, conventionally mounted sights, and so forth.
There appear to be two slight variations on this pistol, apparently without a suffix to indicate them. What I believe are the older guns had a slide with a rounded, smooth top, and a conventional butt where a flat magazine floorplate protruded slightly past the end of the butt. The later models, including all rebranded US imports had a slide with a stepped top and a sort of wide, flat rib, and the magazine interfaced with the butt of the pistol differently. The frame encompasses the magazine, and only a small portion is available for grabbing to remove, via protruding, grooved panels.
Reported by only one source is a Model D Super, made in 1950, or maybe from 1950 onward. If these exist, I suspect they are exactly as other Super series pistols, identical in most details to the others in the series, but with closed cam path unlocking and a takedown lever on the right side.
The DK version was an obvious step to take with the compact pistol when aluminum alloys became a real possibility in the 1950s. However, the rebranded versions discussed below all have steel frames, even when alternatively referred to as the "DK." This is not something I clearly understand just yet. The DKL and DKI have some internal modification from the basic DK, but L in this context means nothing I am aware of. I suffixes indicate a .32 caliber variant, as it does here.
All of these guns are mechanically identical to the Star branded DK models discussed above and differ only in the details mentioned below, and in their markings and marketing.
In the middle 1970s, Colt decided to offer a .380 auto, and chose to partner with Star instead of making their very own gun. The gun (to be called the Pony) was to be assembled in the US, presumably by Colt, from a Star DK slide & associated internals, with a U.S. made frame.
However, the fixed lanyard loop (to increase height of the gun) and the adjustable sights are typical of features added to get points for the 1968 Gun Control Act, which placed restrictions on importation of small handguns. This may indicate that the guns would be entirely made in Spain after all, and just imported with different markings.
For some reason, after this product was announced, the Colt/Star partnership was dissolved and very few Colt-branded guns seem to have been sold. Iver Johnson bought the U.S. manufacturing rights to the gun, and sold a number of them. Apparently quite a few frames were made in anticipation of the Colt deal, as all the early Johnson serial numbers start with "CPA" (Colt Pony Automatic). It is also possible that some slides were made in the U.S. by Iver Johnson (some manufacturing marks and methods vary), but all the small parts were Spanish imports by Star. Iver Johnson also made at least one commemorative edition based on the Model D Pony, for a US Border Patrol anniversary in 1994; these all have "USBP" serial number prefixes.
This gun was also sold under the Starfire name, though I am unclear if this was a pure Star pistol with the requisite modifications to be allowed under CGA '68 or was simply another brand under the Iver Johnson banner.
The Iver Johnson pistols have a slightly different frame shape, with a longer "beavertail" to keep the hammer from biting the shooter. The hammer is of the spur type, as a result of the guarding. The sights are smaller and the rear is micrometer adjustable, in contrast to the high visibility combat sights of the Star DK.
At some point, FI (Firearms International, not to be confused with FIE) acquired the rights and also sold the model D as an FI-made gun, with the model D designation. No Star branding or importation marks appear, so this may also be a related endeavour where an essentially Star pistol is sold under another name entirely. There are some reports of FI selling the import-marked version as the "Garcia Model 30" as well. This appears to be the same as the Iver Johnson guns, as far as manufacturing methods go, just marketed differently. It was still presumably largely made by Star and simply assembled on a US made frame.

subset: commoncrawl


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Central Bank of the Russian Federation Discourages Use of Bitcoin [crytocoins news]
The Central Bank of Russia has released their view on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. We have earlier argued that Russia may outlaw the use of Bitcoin due to its strict monetary policy. It seems our presumption was correct as the press release from the Central Bank of Russia is hostile against the use of Bitcoin and other digital currencies.
A Russian source has told us that the Central Bank's new stance on virtual currencies means that they have banned the use of it, affecting both their partners and customers. This will make it hard to operate both Bitcoin-exchanges and Bitcoin-businesses in Russia.A link to the full press release in Russian is provided in the link.


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Thursday, July 31, 2014
Miranda Kerr share stills from her Seven For All Mankind campaign.
Miranda Kerr is bitten on her tummy by handsome model Jon Kortajarena in sexy new image from her 7 For All Mankind campaign
Miranda Kerr goes topless and wears just a pair of jeans as she slips in between the sheets
Miranda Kerr goes topless and wears just a pair of jeans as she slips in between the sheets
Miranda Kerr shows off her pert derriere in the range of washed out jeans
Kelsey Zachow of Mt Clemens, Michigan,USA won the $66million lottery drawn on June 13,2014
She has decided to take a lump sum payment of about $27million, which she plans to spend on a new house, vacations and cars.
She also wants to spend the money on college tuition for her younger family members, including 7-month-old son Benjamin
Kelsey Zachow(24)single mother in Mt Clemens, Michigan has become America's newest millionaire after turning in her winning $66million lottery ticket.
Zachow says she has been buying lottery tickets two times a week for the past five years, spending an estimated $10,000 on tickets.
So as part of her usual habit, she stopped by the Sonny's Market in Mt Clemens on her way to work on June 13 and picked up four tickets with her regular numbers, and one easy pick. .
'Friday the 13th has always been a really lucky day for me,' she said. 'I went home that night and I'm like nothing really good happened. (I thought) that's weird.'
It wasn't until 11 days later, on June 24, that she realized she won.
She stopped back at the market and checked her numbers at the stand, but she was prompted to take the tickets to the teller.
The cashier then broke the news that Zachow 'won big'.
She couldn't believe it, so she ran back to her car, locked the door and checked her numbers on the phone.
Meriam Ibrahim returned to USA Thursday July 31,2014
Meriam and Daniel walked into the baggage area at 8pm with his brother Gabriel holding their son Martin, 21 months, and a friend holding baby Maya, who was born whilst Meriam was in prison.
A crowd of 30 people including a nun and a number of Sudanese women in traditional African dress turned out at welcome them home holding signs which read: 'Welcome home Ibrahim family - God bless you'.
Meriam who was imprisoned for apostasy after refusing to renounce her Christian faith, left Rome on Thursday July 31,2014 on a flight bound for Philadelphia, according to the campaigner who secured her release.
The mother-of-two, accompanied by husband Daniel, a U.S. citizen, and children Martin and Maya will then change planes to fly to New Hampshire, according to Antonella Napoli, director of Italians for Darfur.
The family of four will start afresh in America in Manchester, the hometown of Daniel's brother, Gabriel Wani.
They spent the previous week in Rome after being spirited out of Sudan in the dead of night on an Italian state aircraft.
Meriam and baby Maya, who was born while her mother as shackled in prison, were blessed by Pope Francis who thanked her for her courage and praised her 'courageous witness to faith'.
The brave mother said she was a little anxious about the new start.
Daniel, a trained chemist, lost his job while in Sudan supporting his wife through her ordeal in prison so they will be reliant on their extended family, at least at first.
The top ten tips for a happy life... according to the Pope
Pope Francis has issued his top ten tips for a happy life.
His advice includes turning off your television, not converting people to your religion and spending Sundays with family.
In an interview published in part in the Argentine weekly 'Viva' July 27, the unconventional pontiff, listed his lifestyle guide
1. 'Live and let live.' Everyone should be guided by this principle, he said, which has a similar expression in Rome with the saying, 'Move forward and let others do the same.'
2. Generosity. 'Be giving of yourself to others.' 'If you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.'
3. 'Proceed calmly' in life. The pope used an image from an Argentine novel by Ricardo Guiraldes, in which the protagonist -- gaucho Don Segundo Sombra - looks back on how he lived his life. 'He says that in his youth he was a stream full of rocks that he carried with him; as an adult, a rushing river; and in old age, he was still moving, but slowly, like a pool' of water, the pope said. He said he likes this latter image of a pool of water - to have 'the ability to move with kindness and humility, a calmness in life.'
4. Leisure. 'The pleasures of art, literature and playing together with children have been lost, he said. He suggests families must also turn off the TV when they sit down to eat - having it on during mealtime 'doesn't let you communicate' with each other.
5. Sundays. These should be holidays. Workers should have Sundays off because 'Sunday is for family,' he said.
6. Young people. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people. 'We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs' and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said.'It's not enough to give them food,' he said. 'Dignity is given to you when you can bring food home' from one's own labor.
7. Respect nature. Environmental ruination 'is one of the biggest challenges we have,' he said. 'I think a question that we're not asking ourselves is: 'Isn't humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?''
8. Positivity. 'Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, "I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,'' the pope said. 'Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy.'
9. Respect others' beliefs. 'We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: 'I am talking with you in order to persuade you,' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity.'
10. Peace. 'We are living in a time of many wars,' he said, and 'the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive' and dynamic.
Sierra Leone declares a public emergency over Ebola Thursday July 31,2014
Sierra Leone declares a public emergency over Ebola and orders troops to quarantine infected areas as doctors say the virus is 'absolutely out of control'
President Ernest Bai Koroma said the measures resembled a tough anti-Ebola package announced by neighbouring Liberia last night.
President Ernest Bai Koroma also announced he was cancelling a visit to Washington for a U.S.-Africa summit next week because of the crisis.
The president of Sierra Leone said the police and military would restrict movements to and from epicentres and provide support to health workers to do their work unhindered
The move came as world's premier health charity issued a grave warning about the likely spread of the deadly Ebola virus - an epidemic it fears 'can only get worse'.
Doctors Without Borders (aka Médecins Sans Frontières [MSF]) says the threat of the disease spreading beyond western Africa, where it was first detected in Guinea in February, is frighteningly real and said it was 'absolutely out of control'.
Of the 672 deaths, the highest number was in Guinea with 319, followed by Sierra Leone with 224 and Liberia with 129
Lady Gaga poses with her pup Asia on cover of Harper's Bazaar
Lady Gaga had the cutest accessory for her cover shoot for Harper's Bazar's September 2014 issue - her adorable French Bulldog Asia.
Dressed head-to-toe in Chanel, the 28-year-old pop diva clutched her pet pooch as she posed for former Vogue Paris editor Carine Roitfeld's project titled Icons.
Lady Gaga along with 18 other stars were photographed for the high-fashion feature, including Penelope Cruz, Linda Evangelista, Lara Stone, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer.
Heidi Klum and Zac Posen Promote Project Runway
Heidi Klum showed just how intimate she and Zac Posen have become - as she posed topless, with his hand over her bare breast for an Instagram snap.
The 41-year-old supermodel shared the image on Instagram on Thursday July 31,2014, just hours before their hit Lifetime reality competition series was set to air
Pankaj Singh(India)recorded the most expensive match figures by a Test debutant without a wicket
Having taken 0-146 from 37 overs in the first innings, Pankaj Singh's 0-33 from 10 overs in the second earned him the unwanted record of the worst Test figures by a debutant bowler
Pankaj Singh surpass the previous worst wicketless debut return of none for 164 by Pakistan's Sohail Khan against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 2009.
0-179 Pankaj Singh IND v ENG Southampton 2014
0-164 Sohail Khan PAK v SRI Karachi 2009
0-160 Aaqib Javed PAK v NZL Wellington 1989
0-149 Bryce McGain AUS v RSA Cape Town 2009
Sabine Lisicki hit the fastest record serve on the WTA tour
Sabine Lisicki(Germany) hit the fastest record serve on the WTA tour but it wasn't enough against in the first round of the Bank of the West Classic, while defending champion Dominika Cibulkova also lost on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Ivanovic won 7-6 (2), 6-1 against Lisicki, partially avenging her loss to the German in the previous meeting at Wimbledon.
Sabine Lisicki blasted a serve of 131 mph (211 kph) at 5-5. It wasn't an ace because Ivanovic got her racket on the ball but couldn't return it. The serve eclipsed Venus Williams' record of 129 mph (208 kph) in 2007.
US House of Representatives Pass Resolution To Sue President Brack Obama Wednesday July 30,2014
The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution to sue President Barack Obama for allegedly exceeding his constitutional powers.The 225-201 vote along party lines means House lawyers will now draft legal documents to launch a lawsuit.
Its supporters say Mr Obama exceeded his powers when he delayed an insurance deadline in his healthcare law.
The president himself has dismissed it as a waste of time. "Everyone sees this as a political stunt," he said.
"If they're not going to do anything, we'll do what we can on our own," the president added.
The Republican-led House of Representatives voted Wednesday July 30,2014 to sue President Barack Obama for allegedly overstepping his powers, a move swiftly denounced by his Democratic allies as a cynical election-year stunt.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (C) is joined by fellow Democrats at a news conference in the US Capitol July 30, 2014, after the House voted to sue President Barack Obama.
By a party-line vote of 225 to 201, the House voted to resort to the unprecedented move of taking the president to court for not having stringently followed the letter of the law while implementing his signature "Obamacare" health care reform bill.
Tiny Pacific island of Kiribati is celebrating a first Commonwealth Games medal
The tiny Pacific island of Kiribati is celebrating a first Commonwealth Games medal after David Katoatau won gold in weightlifting's 105kg Group A.
Some facts and figures about Kiribati
Where: A group of coral islands in the Central Pacific Ocean
Population: 103,500
Languages: English, Gilbertese
Size: 313 sq miles
Capital: South Tarawa
|Main exports: Seaweed, shark fins and coconuts
Liberia shuts schools to tackle outbreak
Liberia's government has announced that it is closing down all schools across the country to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
Non-essential government workers will be sent home for 30 days and the army deployed to enforce the measures.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)
- Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
- Fatality rate can reach 90%
- Incubation period is two to 21 days
- There is no vaccine or cure
- Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
- Fruit bats are considered to be virus' natural host
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
What is Ebola virus disease?
What is Ebola virus disease?
Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness, with a death rate of up to 90 per cent.The illness affects humans as well as primates, including monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees.How do people become infected with the virus?
Ebola is transmitted through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals.
In Africa infection in humans has happened as a result of contact with chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead in the rainforest.
Once a person becomes infected, the virus can spread through contact with a sufferer's blood, urine, saliva, stools and semen. A person can also become infected if broken skin comes into contact with a victim's soiled clothing, bed linen or used needles.Men who have recovered from the disease, can still spread the virus to their partner through their semen for seven weeks after recovery
The Ebola virus is fatal in 90 % of cases and there is no vaccine and no known cure
Who is most at risk?
Those at risk during an outbreak include:
- health workers
- family members or others in close contact with infected people
- mourners with direct contact with the bodies of deceased victims
- hunters in contact with dead animals
What are the typical signs and symptoms?
Sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. That is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function and internal and external bleeding.
The incubation period is between two and 21 days. A person will become contagious once they start to show symptoms.
When should you seek medical care?
If a person is in an area affected by the outbreak, or has been in contact with a person known or suspected to have Ebola, they should seek medical help immediately.What is the treatment?
Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. They need intravenous fluids to rehydrate them.
But there is currently no specific treatment for the disease. Some patients will recover with the appropriate care.Can Ebola be prevented?Currently there is no licensed vaccine for Ebola. Several are being tested but are not available for clinical use
There is no vaccine or cure for Ebola, which is spread by contact with infected blood or bodily fluids
The disease has swept through Western Africa, having first been detected in Guinea in February.
Since then victims have succumbed to the incurable illness, which starts with flu-like symptoms before evolving to cause catastrophic internal bleeding, in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
A number of patients have been discharged from Ebola treatment centres in Guinea after successfully beating the Ebola virus, says Médecins Sans Frontières
The outbreak has hit Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and has now killed a man in far more densely populated Nigeria. The outbreak is the deadliest ever of the terrifying disease as the death toll crept past 670
Deadly Landslide at Pune Village
Rescuers worked in rain Thursday July 31,2014 to dig through a remote village in western India where at least 21 people died as a landslide swept away scores of houses, possibly trapping many more people under debris
They had already worked through the night using floodlights mounted on jeeps and earthmoving vehicles to pull seven injured people out of the mud and twisted wreckage, Vitthal Banot, a disaster management official, said Thursday. They were taken to a nearby government-run hospital, but their injuries were not life threatening.
But continuing rains and bad roads were hampering rescue efforts in Ambegaon, a village in Pune district in Maharashtra state, said Alok Avasthy, a National Disaster Response Force commander.
Banot said 21 bodies __ 11 men and 10 women __ had been recovered from under mud, rocks, trees and other debris.
"Everything on the mountain came down," said Suresh Jadhav, a district official, describing how a cascade of mud, rocks and uprooted trees swamped the area.
But with 70 homes buried and reports of another 158 hit by the landslide, rescuers anticipated more dead in the village, home to 704 people in the foothills of the Sahyadri Mountains.
Landslides are common in the area during the monsoon season, which runs from June through September.
Pune district is about 150 kilometers (95 miles) southeast of Mumbai, India's commercial capital. The nearest medical center is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the village.
The area around the village has been deforested extensively, increasing its vulnerability to landslides.
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Book Review: Keep Your Friends Close
ashley | I picked up Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Daly a long time ago after being sent a copy, but it's taken me forever to read. I'm not sure why, I just keep getting distracted and this keeps getting pushed aside. I regret this, deeply, because this book is quite a ride.
I admired Natty and Paul. They have a demanding, busy lifestyle but they still managed to make the most of it, to care for their two girls, to maintain a relatively solid relationship. That is until their daughter falls ill abroad and Natty travels to be with her, leaving Paul home alone with her visiting friend Eve, who just exerts trouble and you know nothing good is going to come of this.
I always have a difficult time reading about infidelity and families being torn apart and Daly's writing is so emotional and so full that I personally felt Natty's pain; I felt it as if it were my own pain, making this a very emotional and powerful book. I think her descriptions of feelings and the character's reactions in this situation are very realistic and relatable and she has a deep understanding of the human response.
It's really easy in a book like this to make Natty perfect to offset Eve's evil doings. Poor Natty, she doesn't deserve any of this, everything is so unfair and she's clearly being framed. And Natty doesn't deserve this, not at all, but she doesn't have a squeaky clean past, some of her reactions could have been handled better, it's almost believable that it could all be in her head. She is the victim, but you can't help but feel she's almost making it worse for herself sometimes and can't help but understand why Paul might be so blind to what is really going on. It's a very thin line here and Daly straddles it perfectly.
I also enjoyed that Paul wasn't made out to be the bad guy, even though he was doing a horrible thing. There was anger and hatred and he wasn't thought of fondly, but his character didn't fully change into a monster and he still cared for his children and wanted what was best for Natty. And I enjoyed that Natty, at first, had the decency not to blame her friend Eve. Not entirely, anyway. Seeing that it was a choice Paul made. It was nice to read about a female who didn't jump right to blaming the other female instead of the man (even though in this case, she had every right to put the blame her).
The narration changes through the chapters from first person Natty to third person focusing on Eve and Joanne (the detective), all the while shining more and more light on the shadows of the past that come creeping back into their lives. But it all comes down to one thing, how much are you willing to fight for your family? What would you do when pushed to the limits? I think Daly has created a dark, but accurate example of how far a fierce and loyal mother will go to protect her family.
I really, really enjoyed this book and read it obsessively. I was right there with Natty through it all, sympathizing with all her actions, cheering for her as she started piecing things together. I don't know if things are taken too far, it does seem like things get a bit out of control, but I also feel as though, if pushed to the limit, I would do the exact same thing to protect my family. Natty is my hero and Keep Your Friends Close was easily one of my favourite summer reads.


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The Story of the Century Old Black Pine Tree
The century old pine gifted by Richard Yamasaki, who dedicated over 30 years to Seattle Japanese Garden.
Around the early 1920s, a gift arrived at the South Seattle home of landscaper Masagoro Yamasaki: a young Japanese black pine Pinus thumbergii. After planting it in his front yard, Mr. Yamasaki began training it in the Japanese style. As the pine grew, so did his two sons, who began to take part in its care as apprentices to their father's gardening business. Together, they maintained the cycle of fall pruning and spring candling of this pine, year after year. Then, the forced relocation of Japanese-Americans during World War II began.
"No matter how beautifully a garden is designed," Iida remarked, "all is lost without proper and timely care."
The elder Yamasaki was relocated immediately. Sometime later, his elder son Richard was sent away to another location. Masagoro Yamasaki would never return to his Seattle residence.
In 1945, as the Yamasaki family began to rebuild their disrupted lives, care for the neglected pine resumed. Richard, along with his new wife Fumiko, had returned to his childhood home.
A fateful turning point came for the tree and its second-generation owner in 1959, when the Yamasaki Landscape Company was selected as one of the contractors for the construction of Seattle Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum. The project brought Richard Yamasaki into contact with the garden's renowned designer, Professor Juki Iida, who'd come from Japan to supervise the installation. The early relationship was awkward, with each man still suffering from the lasting prejudices that World War II had instilled between Japanese nationals and Japanese-Americans. Eventually, in showing his eagerness to learn, Yamasaki built a bridge over their divide and won over Professor Iida.
"He taught us to take time, to 'sit on the stone' and observe before we acted"
With Mr. Iida as his sensei, Mr. Yamasaki greatly refined his art of pruning pines, which he continued to practice in the years following garden construction. As Jim Thomas, former Senior Gardener of the Seattle Japanese Garden writes, "Each visit to the garden reinforced the landscaping lessons he had learned from Professor Iida: the importance of the void or space between the objects, the contrast of form and mass, and the artful use and placement of stone."
At the end of their 15 year mentorship, in the mid-1970s, Mr. Iida imparted one last lesson to his dedicated student and caretaker of the only Japanese Garden he'd designed in North America. This was the vital importance of consistent maintenance. "No matter how beautifully a garden is designed," Iida remarked, "all is lost without proper and timely care."
The pine in the front yard of the South Seattle home continuously received proper and timely care by its second generation owner. Towards the end of his career, the maintenance of the Japanese Garden was turned over from the University of Washington to the Seattle Parks Department. Mr. Yamasaki, now assuming the role of sensei, taught all there was to Japanese Garden care to the gardeners like Thomas who were assigned to this duty. Thomas recalls, "He taught us to take time, to 'sit on the stone' and observe before we acted and then, once we undertook something, to follow it through to the end—and be consistent."
By the time Richard Yamasaki was ready to retire in 1989, the once-young tree in his front yard had developed into a magnificent specimen, reaching over seven-feet-tall, and eight-feet-wide, with a trunk fourteen inches in diameter. As the time devoted to carrying out the vision his sensei had for the Seattle Japanese Garden neared its end, Mr. Yamasaki decided it was time for another goodbye. The pine tree left its home and caretaker of sixty years to become an extraordinary gift: the new, oldest tree in Seattle Japanese Garden.
Richard Yamasaki passed away in February 2008. Now over 100 years old, the transferred pine has fully integrated into its not-so-new home, and is carefully and consistently maintained by gardeners and consultants who call Mr. Yamasaki their sensei. Its presence enhances the north hill by repeating the rounded form of the smaller pines that surround it.
The venerable black pine is a living witness to history. It is also a tribute to the man who came across the Pacific to impart his Japanese Garden design wisdom, and the man who, over many decades, dedicated himself to executing on it.
Rumi Tsuchihashi is the Stewardship and Events Coordinator at Seattle Japanese Garden, and the blog editor.
Jim Thomas, former Senior Gardener of Seattle Japanese Garden, contributed the referenced article The New, Old Pine Tree to the Arboretum Bulletin, Vol. 57, Spring 1994.


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NFL Restricts Churches from Super Bowl
Last week was pretty busy for me, so I wasn't paying attention when a church in Indianapolis made the news after they received a letter from the NFL telling them they would have to cancel their SuperBowl party. Evidently you can't show it to a group on a TV bigger than 55". (Uh oh...I hope they don't ban me from my living room). Also, you can't charge for the gathering. The church in Indy cancelled their plans.
We didn't cancel our party. And all day Friday, the phone was ringing from the local news stations wondering what we were going to do about the SuperBowl party planned for our high school students. They had a half-time band scheduled and would be showing the game on the...uh, well, rather large center screen. (Okay, it's bigger than 55" but there is no way it is bigger than 55 feet. I think). The message was left on the voice mail, "Is your church going to break the law or are you canceling your plans?" Wow. That's pretty black and white.
We were teaching workshops all day on Friday, so we didn't have time to consult attorneys or find out if there even is such a law that exists. It was new information to us and we weren't going to change plans on the basis of a media report. After all, they've been wrong before. (Remember when they said Gore won the elections?)
I called the reporter back at about 5pm on Friday. She asked a few questions, and unfortunately we weren't able to work out anything for her to get video of the big screen (and thus grab the attention of the NFL) or get me to say on TV that we were going to "intentionally break the law." It was a bummer, but life is just way too busy. You can read her final story here.
The next day (Saturday) we learned that the NFL had changed their policy and reissued a statement for churches. I'm guessing the church in Indy (and probably many other churches) were thrilled about scheduling, then canceling, then rescheduling their gatherings. I'm just glad we didn't lose sleep over the frenzy.


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CLUTCHING a letter in one hand and his brow in the other, Reggie Kray let out a loud, agonised moan.
"There's something wrong with Ron, there's something wrong with Ron," he repeated over and over again.
There was nothing in the letter from his twin brother Ron that sparked this anguish. He just knew something was up.
Reggie was banged up in Parkhurst jail, 14 years into a life sentence, while Ron was a patient at Broadmoor 70 miles away from his sibling. But despite the distance, Reggie's feeling of dread was acute.
Recalling that incident, Reggie's prison pal Steve Tully revealed: "We found out later that Ron was ill and had really severe headaches.
"Reg was always bang on the money if he felt Ron wasn't well, and vice versa. They were almost telepathic."
Steve also had a strong bond with the twins. He and Reggie became close friends while in Parkhurst and he remained friends with both the convicted gangsters for another 17 years after his release.
His friendship gave him a unique insight into the power they wielded.
Steve introduced himself to Reggie in Parkhurst in 1983, after being jailed for seven years for armed robbery. Reggie was around 50.
Reggie and Ronnie were serving life sentences for the murder of Jack "The Hat" McVitie. Ronnie was also convicted of the murder of George Cornell in an East London pub.
Steve, 57, from Shoreham, West Sussex, said: "I was in my twenties and wanted to be a face, someone known and respected.
"I first met Reggie in the chapel. He was in the hospital wing at the time having tried to slit his wrists with the glass from his spectacles a few months earlier.
"A month later he came to C-Wing, where I was, and I went and knocked on his cell door.
"I was very respectful, calling him Mr Kray, and he invited me in for a cup of tea. It was the worst cuppa I've ever had in my life, but of course I didn't tell him that!
"He was only about 5ft 7in but very muscular. He was very smart, with really well-manicured hands." Steve told Reggie what he wanted — lessons in crime.
He said: "Reggie said he wanted to think about it. But later he came to see me and said he'd had a dream about his mother, Violet — it wasn't long after she had died — and he took this to be a sign that he should help me."
For his first lesson, Reggie told Steve he must "dress down" in jeans and a plain jumper.
Steve said: "As Category A prisoners we were allowed to wear whatever we wanted. Reg normally wore cashmere jumpers and smart trousers but this time he wore plain clothes.
"Reg gave some prisoners a half ounce of tobacco. Some had a budgie and Reg would ask them all about their pet. He made them feel he was interested in their lives.
"As we left he told me, 'That's my first lesson to you. You meet the same people going up as you do going down. If you fall down they will cushion you'.
"He had an army of bodyguards on call but he could still look after himself. I saw a youngster take a poke at him once and Reg sent him flying with a left hook."
Steve got to enjoy the same perks as the gangster. He revealed: "A prisoner who used to be a chef had access to two ovens.
"Me and Reg would have gourmet dinner parties where we had roast pheasant, steak, rabbit, chicken curry or salmon, washed down with prison hooch.
"On a Friday night we would go to a cell of an IRA commanding officer. Other IRA men would come and we'd drink and listen as they sung rebel songs."
The prison guards turned a blind eye to Reggie's lavish lifestyle.
Steve says: "They just wanted peace and quiet and they knew that Reg was so well respected he kept everyone in check."
Reggie and Steve grew close during their time together. Steve says: "I think he would have liked to have had children if things had turned out different.
"He was a very fatherly figure in many ways.
"He treated me like his son. One Christmas morning he turned up at my cell dressed as Santa Claus. He had a red cloth on as a hat, a prison mop as a white beard and was carrying a sack.
"Inside were presents including a mouth organ and backgammon set.
"Just before I was released Reg had two tailors from the East End come into jail to fit me for three handmade suits."
Although prison seemed to have mellowed Reggie in some ways, he hadn't lost his legendary criminal power. Steve said: "Ron and Reggie were allowed any prison visits they wanted. Reg would use that to organise business on the outside."
Some famous faces would visit. Rock star Roger Daltrey, who was interested in making a film about the Krays, flew down in his helicopter, and childhood friend Laurie O'Leary, manager of The Who in the Sixties, would pop by.
Steve added: "In Parkhurst we also met Michael Stone, the Lin Russell killer. Reg and I befriended him for a short while."
After his release, Steve continued to write and visit Reggie and also became a friend of Ron's. Talking about the new film, Legend, in which Tom Hardy plays both twins, Steve says: "No one has ever managed to capture them on screen.
"In the trailer for Legend Ron is shown wearing boots, but he wouldn't have been seen dead in them. It was always expensive, classy shoes.
"The twins are always played like pantomime villains, loud and shouty. Reg and Ron were very quiet. Very subtle. They didn't need to shout and swear."
Steve believes Reggie, who died in 2000 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer and released from jail, would be glad at the way his life has turned out.
He said: "Reggie didn't want me to be a criminal. For years I did carry on with crime, robbing banks, selling fake passports.
"I did end up in prison again, where I was diagnosed as being severely psychopathic. I entered therapy and after being released in 2009 I have stayed straight.
"I now work helping youngsters stay away from crime, something I think Reg would be proud of. It's what he wanted to do.
"He had no regrets about his life — but he never wanted anyone to live the life he had."
—For more visit stevetully.co.uk
Their life behind bars
MAY 9, 1968: Krays arrested by a team led by Detective Chief Superintendent Leonard "Nipper" Read.
MARCH 5, 1969: Sentenced at the Old Bailey to life imprisonment for the murder of Jack "The Hat" McVitie. Ronnie was also convicted of murdering George Cornell.
MAY 16, 1969: Reggie is taken to Parkhurst, on the Isle of Wight, and Ronnie to Durham.
1970: Reggie transferred to Leicester Prison, Ronnie to Parkhurst.
1972: Reggie transferred to Parkhurst.
1979: Ronnie transferred to Broadmoor. Reggie is shifted around prisons every six months or so.
AUGUST 11, 1982: Allowed under tight security to attend the funeral of their mother Violet.
NOVEMBER 1989: Ronnie weds second wife Kate Howard, a former kissogram girl.
JULY 1997: Reggie weds wife No2 Roberta Jones.
MARCH 17, 1995: Ronnie dies aged 61 in Wexham Park Hospital, Berks, following a heart attack.
MARCH 29, 1995: Reggie, in 2000, is allowed to go to his twin's funeral in East London.
AUGUST 26, 2000: Reggie freed from Wayland Prison on compassionate grounds.
OCTOBER 1, 2000: Reggie dies aged 66.


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When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see a smile that you are proud to show to family and friends? Braces are an option if you don't like how your teeth look or if you need to get the teeth corrected due to health concerns.
Life After Braces
When the braces are removed, you will have teeth that are almost perfectly aligned. You will have a beautiful smile with white teeth that you should be proud to show to others. Straight teeth can give you the confidence that you didn't know you had. Whether you're a child who needs braces because of teeth that are in the proper alignment or an adult who wants braces to correct an overbite or close a gap, an orthodontist in Nashville can help. There are other benefits of wearing braces that don't necessarily involve the appearance of the teeth.
The Other Benefits
Braces will often make it easier to brush the teeth after they are removed. Since the brace will help close any gaps and pull the teeth together, then there won't be any places between teeth that overlap for plaque and germs to hide. Braces can also strengthen the gums. If the teeth are aligned correctly, then there isn't as much pressure in one area of the mouth as there is in another, making the gums stronger.
When you wear braces, you won't have to wear them for long. Most people only wear them for one or two years. Consider looking at Orthodontist Reviews to see what some people think about wearing braces. You will see the kinds of food that you can eat and what you should avoid as well as the proper way to take care of the valuable appliances.
Set Up a Consultation Today
Nothing is going to change about your smile until you take action. Visit http://www.drgluck.com/ to learn more about what the best orthodontist in Nashville TN can offer you. Enjoy the professional and inviting atmosphere at Gluck Orthodontics as you are welcomed into the office. Dr. Gluck and his staff will strive to make you comfortable and keep you well-informed about all of your orthodontic options. Remember that your choice to have orthodontic treatment will give you a boost of confidence and make your smile shine. You'll also be able to have better oral hygiene and avoid problems like TMJ disorders due to a poor bite or misalignment of your teeth. Dr. Gluck is here for you to bring out the best in your smile. Make your appointment today.
Gluck Orthodontics – Nashville Orthodontist
2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite A-200 Nashville, TN 37215
Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it
Related Posts
Dr. Joel Gluck has practiced orthodontics since 1983 when he opened his own office in Nashville. He earned his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and his dental degree at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Gluck then completed an orthodontic specialty residency at the University of Michigan, one of the top five orthodontic training residencies in the country. He also wrote an original thesis and received a Master of Science degree.


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The irony of where we installed our first well is that the village name, Tsipasi, means place of abundant water in the native language.
Until we installed our well in Tsipasi, they did not have access to clean water. Water was not only not abundant, it was non-existent. Together, though, we helped the village create a new reality. One in which their children don't have to walk long distances to retrieve contaminated water.
Although access to clean water is only one contributing factor to the cycle of poverty, we removed that factor and replaced it with a well that will serve the community and the surrounding area. From there, we will work with the village on sanitation, education, infrastructure, and on and on and on. We are not satisfied with dropping in a well and wishing them luck. We are in this for the long haul. We are in this to help the people of Tsipasi lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty.
Together, we are helping shape that reality for our neighbors in Ghana.
We aren't stopping there. We want to tell the story of empowerment, hope, and new realities that come with access to clean water.
Will you help us tell that story?


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Got one quick pic of what I was wearing today!
Why this is watermarked...I don't freakin know. But I needed to increase my chances for winning the big prize so NO time for changes ;]
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
Shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: Ross
Necklace: Amber necklace for the win
Go check out what all these other pretty ladies were wearing this week!


text: Don't settle for anything other than the original, authentic braided titanium necklace from Brett Bros. The Brett Brothers company is owned by former Major League Baseball superstar and hall of fame inductee, George Brett and his 3 brothers. The ionic braided necklace was made popular by Brett Bros and is 2nd to none in the marketplace. Brett Bros products are manufactured with high quality materials and they stand behind everything they make. Titanium emits negative ions, which is said to combat the positive ions which are natural in the environment. The ionic properties of titanium are believed to rejuvenate your body from physical activity and stress and also to relieve stiffness in the shoulders and neck, eventually stabilizing your whole body. The original, authentic braided necklace Worn by professional athletes worldwide Soft and comfortable feel Eases neck, shoulder and upper back pain Promotes recovery from sports fatigue Restores important ion balance Brett Bros stands behind this product Sizing Small: 17.5 inches Medium: 20 inches Large: 23.5 inches


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Midsummer Relays 26 June 2019
Children's Fun Run 26 June 2019
The results can be downloaded here.
Children's Fun Run 27 June 2018
60 girls and boys completed the 1 mile course on a summery evening. Many thanks to Hugh French for organising the event and to all parents, siblings and friends for cheering on everyone to great times! Max Reade was first finisher for the boys and Elena Oliphant first finisher for the girls.
The results can be downloaded here.
Midsummer Relays 27 June 2018
An amazing 87 teams started the Relays on a summery evening in Dulwich Park. Many thanks to the volunteers who made the event a success and to Ashleigh Johnson for presenting the prizes to the winning teams.
Men's Teams
Wayne United
Dulwich Runners Team 3
Women's Teams
Evergreen Elms
Beatles Belles
London City AC Team 5
Mixed Teams
Dulwich Runners Team 2
Peckham Rye Parkrun
You can download the final results here. Please note that this is an excel document.
Many thanks to Stephanie Burchill, Ebe Prill and Tom South for the photos!


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Instagram Bots May be Beneficial But Come With a Cost
Instagram bots is now a popular method of increasing followers on Instagram. After all, it is capable of boosting one's follower base without much effort. However, it also comes with disadvantages, that may put your account at risk.
Advantage: Effortless Propagation
With an Instagram bot, you can go to sleep and wake up with up to a hundred more followers. These take advantage of specific hashtags and similarities to add more followers. Although it is not perfect, it is still quite efficient for increasing your exposure to your intended audience. Furthermore, it does similar things as you would, except that you do not have to work yourself.
Disadvantage: Possible Ban
You are aware that nothing in this world is too good to be true. Well, Instagram bots are the perfect example for that, since you exchange the possibility of being banned for an effortless increase in followers. After all, automation violates the social media platform's Terms of Use. Instagram bots tend to access Instagram's API itself, without permission. And clearly, it is a strict violation, so if you get caught, expect yourself to be banned.
Advantage: Maximum Efficiency
Besides being effortless, an Instagram bot can perform tasks much faster than you can. To a busy entrepreneur, this may mean a lot as they prefer using their time for more productive work. As such, businesses can boom much faster with the efficient marketing via Instagram bots.
Disadvantage: Irrelevant Followers
Since the bot's algorithm is not perfect, you may end up with followers that are too far away or that belong to a different demographic. You may find yourself wondering how come a sports fan is suddenly a follower of your music business account. Well, numbers are the priority of the bot, and they only have hashtags to guide them, so you may have to work on deleting irrelevant followers.
Finding the Best Instagram Bot
If you are already aware of the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing Instagram bots, then you may have come up with a decision. A good must-read is https://trustadvisor.io/best-instagram-bot/ since it reviews the best Instagram bot that you can use.
Using Instagram bots is highly advantageous, although it may eventually bite your back at some point. Thus, it is best to exercise caution when utilizing them. Also, you may want to pick a decent Instagram bot, one that is worth your money. After all, you are risking your account when you choose to use them.


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As part of my series on creating databases with interesting characteristics for testing purposes, today we'll create a database containing a large number of tables, each with a large number of rows inserted.
Goal: Create a database with ONE BILLION ROWS. The database should contain 1,000 tables with each table containing 5 integer columns and 1,000,000 random rows of data.
1,000 tables x 1,000,000 rows/table = 1,000,000,000 rows of data
One billion rows? Really? Yes, 1 billion rows! And random data, please.
For this task, we can break it down into two steps. The first is to create the 1,000 tables, which we can easily accomplish through a TSQL script. The next part is to populate to the tables with data. For this task, we will leverage the Data Generation tool in Visual Studio 2010.
Task 1: Create 1,000 tables, each with 5 int columns
Create an empty database, open a new query connected to that database, and run the following TSQL script:
DECLARE @counter INT
DECLARE @tablename VARCHAR(100)
SET @counter = 0
WHILE @counter < 1000 -- change this parameter value to create the desired number of tables
SET @counter = @counter + 1
SELECT @tablename = 'table' + cast(@counter as CHAR)
EXEC('CREATE TABLE ' + @tablename + '(
[int1] [INT] NULL,
[int2] [INT] NULL,
[int3] [INT] NULL,
[int4] [INT] NULL,
[int5] [INT] NULL
Keep in mind that you can easily edit this script to change data types, table relationships, etc., based on your testing needs.
Task 2: Insert data into our tables with Visual Studio 2010's Data Generation feature
Launch Visual Studio 2010 and create a new project. (New Project -> Database -> SQL Server -> SQL Server 2008 Database Project)
In Solution Explorer, right click on the project name and "Import Database Objects and Settings"
Click on New Connection and supply the server name, authentication, and database name that you created in step 1.
Click Start to import the DB objects.
When finished, right-click in Solution Explorer on Data Generation Plans and Add -> New -> Data Generation Plan.
This will load the database schema into Visual Studio. The default for the data generation tool is to insert 50 rows into each table, but this completely configurable. You can set different values for the rows to insert, create related tables for PK/FK constraints, generate different data types or data bound values, and many other nice features.
For our exercise, we are going to modify the plan to generate 1,000,000 rows per table instead of the default of 50. To do this, save your plan and close it in VS. Right-click on the plan file in Solution Explorer and Open With -> Source Code (Text) Editor to get a text version making the replacement easier. Perform a Find and Replace to update the NumRows values to our desired value of 1,000,000.
Find: Name="NumRows" Value="50"
Replace with: Name="NumRows" Value="1000000"
Save and close the text view and double-click on the .dgen file again to open the standard view. Here you will see the Rows to Insert was updated to 1,000,000 for each table.
Now we're ready to perform the data generation. Click on Data -> Data Generator -> Generate Data from the toolbar. Select the database we just created in step 1 and click OK. A dialog will ask if you want to delete existing data in the tables before generating. Since our table is empty, we can say no. If you play around with the tool, you can use this feature to clean up the tables before inserting.
Generating 1 billion integer rows in this exercise requires roughly 28 GB of free space and 5-10 minutes of time, so make sure you plan accordingly.
Hope you enjoy,
Sam Lester (MSFT)


text: As the start of the year was rolling by, we rounded up the troops and headed out North. AM riders Brandon Begin, Mikey Tyra and Marcas Grubbs joined forces with Andrew Jackson and Raul Ruiz. Scott Mcmenamin was the dude behind the camera and the rest, as they say, is history.


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Before We Get Started
Resources and support
If you yourself are experiencing intimate partner violence and are in immediate danger, call 911, or for local support in Contra Costa County, please call STAND! for Families Free of Violence at 888-215-5555.
STAND! offers a complete spectrum of prevention, intervention, and treatment programs, enlisting the efforts of local residents, partners, and institutions, all of whom are striving with STAND! to stop domestic violence and child abuse. Contact STAND! at 888-215-5555, visit their website at http://www.standffov.org/ or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
If you live, or the person you are supporting lives in another area, visit WomensLaw.org to find advocates and shelters throughout the United States.
You may also call one of these national hotlines for support:
National Domestic Violence Hotline -- 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224
National Sexual Assault Hotline -- (800) 656-HOPE.
If someone you know is experiencing abuse or you think they might be experiencing abuse here are some things you can do (1).
What can you do?
Follow your instinct and if you feel like you should talk to them about what might be going on, do so. The worst that could happen is that they don't want to talk – and even then, they at least know that you care.
Be sure to approach them in a confidential manner, at a time and place without interruptions. When bringing up the topic of domestic violence, remember to be nonjudgmental. They may be embarrassed by the situation, and you might be the first person they are telling.
Consider starting with a simple comment and question like, "You seem a bit preoccupied and stressed. Do you want to talk about it?" Give them the space to share what they want to share with you. Don't pressure them.
If they do open up to you about the abuse, listen to what they have to say. Your role is not to fix the problem for them – sometimes, listening can be the most helpful. You might want to pass along some information to them. If it feels appropriate, pass on the number of The Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224.
If they give you permission, you can help them document the instances of domestic violence in their life. Take pictures of injuries, write down exact transcripts of interactions, make notes on a calendar of the dates that things happen. Documenting the abuse might help the victim to obtain legal aid later on.
If they been open with you about their situation, you can help them learn about their rights. Women's Law is an excellent resource for information on domestic violence laws and procedures. Browsing this website with them or giving them the link can provide them with crucial information.
If this is a coworker, introduce them to the security guard, or volunteer to meet the security guard with them if they'd like help. Keeping a security guard at the office in the loop can help deter your coworker's abuser from stopping by, make sure your coworker is escorted safely to and from the office space, and more.
Ask if they'd like to create a safety plan. If you're having trouble coming up with a safety plan on your own, call The Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224 for assistance.
Above all, remember that just supporting them, no matter what, can make a difference. Respect their decisions – you may not know all of the factors involved. They may not do what you want or expect them to do. Instead of focusing on being the one to solve the problem for them, focus on being supportive and trustworthy in their time of need.
WomensLaw.org - Advocates and Shelters. This resource allows you to enter your state in the drop-down menu to find a list of programs that can offer help/referrals throughout the state. They list shelters, local programs and programs that serve the whole state. Please remember that shelters often provide many other services besides shelter, such as support groups, crisis counseling, and safety planning assistance. Accessed at https://www.womenslaw.org/find-help/advocates-and-shelters
Building Your Case: How to Document Abuse. The National Domestic Violence Hotline. Accessed at http://www.thehotline.org/2014/05/12/building-your-case-how-to-document-abuse/. Click here to download this resource.


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Installation SummaryA closed loop design was switched for a Class V thermal exchange system which saved $600,000 in installation costs. Two Hydrotherm KN-6 boilers were installed to provide emergency backup heat while redundant well pumps and exchangers were provided as alternatives. 46 Carrier geothermal heat pumps were installed to heat and cool the multiple rounds in the four-story structure. A variable frequency drive controls the well pump based on main loop temperature and allows the pump to shut off if the loop is between 48 and 67°F. A separate variable frequency drive controls the condenser water loop according to temperature. The boiler temperature sensor is in the return water line and activates the boilers in case loop temperature drops low in heating mode.
Project OverviewYoung Women Christians Association (YWCA) in Canton Ohio is a four-story building has a cooling capacity of 100 tons, and an post construction electrical consumption budget of $54,000 per month. Inspired by a seminar conducted by National Ground Water Association (NGWA) on alternative geothermal methods, the designers opted for Class V thermal exchange system.
Project Goals
- Reduced first cost
- Reduced footprint (geothermal field)
- Elimination/reduction of combustion/electric resistance heating
- Longevity of HVAC system
- Energy savings and environmental comfort
Equipment'sThe following equipments were used for the project
- Hydrotherm KN-6 boilers
- 46 Carrier geothermal heat pumps
Project Benefits
- 1. Monthly electricity expenditure reduced to 1/4 th of pre-installation bill
- 2. No outdoor equipment
- 3. Storm proof (HVAC equipment wise)
- 4. HVAC system longevity
- 5. Boilers are no longer used
- 6. Noticeably superior comfort and heating and cooling modes
- 7. Remarkable system efficiency at standard equipment pricing
Project Team
- Geothermal HVAC consultant: EggGeothermal Consulting
- Mechanical Contractors: Yoder Geothermal and Finney Refrigeration
- Mechanical Engineer Josh Staley, PE
- Manufacturers Representative: Carrier Technologies
- Completed by: 2012


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Fish is food for the brain as well as good protein. Fish is a food of excellent nutritional value, providing high quality protein and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and D, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, and iodine in marine fish. Its protein - like that of meat - is easily digestible and favourably complements dietary protein provided by cereals and legumes that are typically consumed in many developing countries.
Experts agree that, even in small quantities, fish can have a significant positive impact in improving the quality of dietary protein by complementing the essential amino acids that are often present in low quantities in vegetable-based diets.
But recent research shows that fish is much more than just an alternative source of animal protein. Fish oils in fatty fish are the richest source of a type of fat that is vital to normal brain development in unborn babies and infants. Without adequate amounts of these fatty acids, normal brain development does not take place.
Closely spaced pregnancies, often seen in developing countries, can lead to the depletion of the mother's supply of essential fatty acids, leaving younger siblings deprived of this vital nutrient at a crucial stage in their growth. This makes fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel and sardine - all of which are commonly available in developing countries - a particularly good choice for the diet of pregnant and lactating women.
In general, people in developing countries are much more dependent on fish as part of their daily diets than those living in the developed world. Figures for 1995 show that while fish provide slightly over 7 percent of animal protein in North and Central America and more than 9 percent in Europe, in Africa they provide over 17 percent, in Asia over 26 percent, and in the low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs) including China they provide nearly 22 percent… read more


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Full Naturopathic Assessment $105
What is the "assessment"? The assessment consists of non-invasive pH testing, blood pressure study, and facial analysis. Acidity in your kidneys, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, and stomach influence their functionality. Through various pH tests (urinalysis and saliva), the Doctor of Naturopath learns about your absorption and digestion issues. Additionally, the Doctor of Naturopath records and observes your blood pressure, which serves as an indicator of imbalances in your body. Through facial analysis, additional information is gained to determine which of your organs are stressed. Our bodies are living, working machines, and when our organs are stressed, it can often be seen in our biggest organ—skin!
What happens in the review of the assessment? Depending on the findings, the Doctor of Naturopath makes tailored recommendations for you! This could range from simple suggestions like drinking more water and following a nutrition plan to more involved recommendations involving other modalities like supplementation, foot detox, massage, etc. Keep in mind that if you do need a specific meal plan for optimal health, our Doctor of Naturopath will coach you on how to make it adaptable to your life. If you are too busy, our Certified Chef can actually make the meals for you!
pH testing (basic) $25 (follow up check)
pH testing (advanced) $45
Ph testing is a very important test that can tell how your kidney, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and stomach is operating. It can also tell a lot about your absorption and digestion issues. The test is done by a urinalysis and saliva ph testing.
Ionic Foot Detox $35; set of 3 for $100
What is foot detox? The Ionic footbath detox is a non- invasive modality that can take the impurities, toxins, and metals out of your body through the pores of your feet. The Ionic cleanse involves soaking your feet in a saltwater bath while introducing a very small, imperceptible electrical charge. A ionic footbath will displace toxins out of the lymph, mostly through the immune system and the kidneys. However, some of these toxins will also come out in the bath water.
The detailed nature of the organic toxins that are liberated by the feet into the bath water will depend on the individual taking the bath, as well as on the various minerals that occur naturally in the starting water for the footbath.
Although it can happen that for some users, the bath water will change color during the bath, this color change is not as significant in the case of the Sea-Onic footbath.
Indeed, the surface properties of the Sea-Onic array have been carefully selected to optimize the functioning of the Sea-Onic concentrate in releasing the most toxins, independently of the color. Further, the concentrate positions the toxins to leave the body either directly into the footbath water, or into the immune system for disposal.
Here, the improvements that the Sea-Onic footbath offers will be observed by users who take regular footbaths, over a period of weeks and months, and will not show up in any special way in the footbath water color.
As toxins are pulled from your organs, the water changes colors based on the types of impurities being removed. The process takes 30 to 40 minutes.
Sauna Sessions (wet) $20 for 30min; set of 3 for $50
Creates a relaxing sense of well-being, relaxes and loosens muscles tissue, reducing daily buildup of tension and increasing muscle flexibility:
-boosts blood circulation, which helps aching and injured muscles to recover faster, because the stronger the flow of blood, the faster metabolic waste products are carried off.
-stimulates vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels, which relives pain and speeds healing of sprains and strains;
-speeds up the metabolic processes of vital organs and endocrine glands resulting in a calorie loss of between 200 and 450 in a 20 minute session.
"The sauna increases the eliminative, detoxifying and cleansing capacity of the skin by stimulation of sweat glands. A steam bath provides a mild cleansing process for the skin as certain body fluids are released through the skin. It also promotes healthy skin tone and texture due to increased blood circulation."
Sweat treatments can also be enjoyed on their own, as a workout for the cardiovascular system, a deep-cleansing treat for the body, an immune system booster, and a soothing and invigorating refreshment for the mind.
There are a few precautions to keep in mind. Because of the increase in cardiovascular activity caused by the high heat, sweat therapy is not recommended for people with heart disease or other cardiovascular problems. Individuals with high blood pressure should first consult their doctor.
In addition, the treatment is not advised for pregnant women, small children, or the elderly. Do not take a sweat treatment if you have a fever or an open wound. If you have been working out, be sure that your body has had time to cool down before exposing it to the heat of a sweat bath.
Limit treatment time to 10 to 15 minutes. Drink plenty of water of herbal tea before and after the sweat bath to replace fluids lost during the treatment. The sweat glands can secrete up to 30 grams of sweat per minute, or almost one pint per 15 minutes, so dehydration is a very real possibility, if you are not careful. Fatigue and other indications of dehydration can occur with as little as 1 to 2% loss in body weight.
The main thing to keep in mind is to enjoy the process. Do not push your body beyond its comfort level; the point is not to sweat it out the longest, but to allow your mind and body to luxuriate in this health-enhancing and invigorating miniature spa treatment.
Infrared Sauna Sessions (dry) $35 for 30min (min); $50 for 60min (max); set of 4 for $100
Start relieving stress & enjoying the many healthy benefits of an Infrared Sauna today. Infrared Saunas are the safe, effective and affordable way to relieve stress and improve health. The exclusive FAR heater technology emit ultra low levels of EMF; The difference between an infrared sauna and the traditional Finnish-style sauna is that the latter heats you from the outside in, similar to an oven. The infrared sauna heats you from the inside out. This unique heating process is a great method to detoxify and rid oneself of harmful chemicals and substances. Its warming effect increases the metabolic process of the body promoting weight loss while opening the pores for clearer skin.


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Welcome to the 4th of July installment of the BBQ Bonanza. This installment comes from the resourceful Vivian Boroff of Island Dreaming in Oklahoma. Postal delays didn't stop her from keeping to our schedule and only my unexpected travel kept this review from posting sooner. Thanks Vivian, and sorry. I hope your copy has arrived by now!
This sounds like a terrific marinade and a book worth checking out.
STEAK with FRIENDS At Home with Rick Tramonto
by Vivian Boroff
Barbecue is a way of life in our house. Generally we smoke our meats. A long slow smoked brisket is what we tend to favor. Still there is something to be said for a really great steak grilled to perfection. Rick Tramonto's Steak with Friends was such a refreshing change for me. I collect cookbooks, but I don't often buy books that revolve around barbecue or grilling.
As I perused this book I was pleasantly surprised by the spectrum of recipes, how the different cuts of meat were addressed, and the wonderful appetizers and sides. What really grabbed me were the sauces and marinades. Everything from the simple Balsamic Marinade, to a complex Bourdelaise Sauce. This is a book that will please anyone who has a sincere appetite for great food from the grill.
I love a great steak and found some lovely Sirloins at our local butcher. I decided to do this with the Balsamic Marinade. I normally leave matters involving the grill to my husband Cliff, and he has never failed to disappoint me. But this time around I was manning the flames. Unfortunately, our overcast weather drove me indoors to the Cast Iron Grill Pan. The original recipe tops this with an Au Poivre Sauce, but after I tasted the marinade, I thought that this would be better left on it's own. The steaks turned out absolutely perfect.
Grilled Steak with Balsamic Marinade
- 4 Top Sirloin Steaks 6 to 8 oz each and 1 1/2 inches thick
- Balsamic Marinade (recipe to follow)
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
In a shallow baking dish, cover the steaks with the marinade. Gently rub it into the meat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.
Prepare a clean, well oiled charcoal or gas grill so that the coals or heat element are medium -hot. Or heat the broiler (in my case the grill pan).
Lift the steaks from the marinade and let the marinade drip into the dish. Brush the steaks with the olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
Grill the steaks, turning once for a total of 12 - 14 minutes for rare meat or 16 - 18 minutes for medium rare. Let the steaks rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Balsamic Marinade
- 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 shallot minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 2 1/2 cups olive oil
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
In a glass, ceramic or other nonreactive mixing bowl, stir together the vinegar, orange zest and juice, garlic, shallot and thyme. Whisk in the olive oil until it comes together. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 3 days.
Other BBQ Bonanza Posts
- Adam Perry Lang's BBQ 25
- Cookbook, Music and Kansas City BBQ
- Mastering the Grill
- 300 Big and Bold Barbecue & Grilling Recipes
Tell us what you've been grilling. Favorite tip or recipe?


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Quantitative community management*
Session Audio
In this talk, you will learn the state of the art in community measurement, common mistakes made in surveying, and how to actively use data to improve activity within a project.
In recent years, communities as wide-ranging as Wikihow to Thunderbird have been surveying participants and using this information to improve the experiences of participants. A variety of open source projects are now tracking contributors to identify where people fall away, and to nudge them forward. In this talk, you will learn the state of the art in community measurement, common mistakes made in surveying, and how to actively use data to improve activity within a project.
This talk will cover the following issues in detail:
- How Wikipedia used A/B testing to improve contribution rejection messages
- Based on entrance/exit surveys from OpenHatch's Open Source Comes to Campus program, what do new contributors know?
- The impact of treating gender as a plain-text field, rather than a drop-down, on the answer rate
- How Ubuntu's Developer Advisory Team tracks, contacts, and nudges new contributors
- How motivations for Thunderbird contributors differ substantially from the FLOSSpols survey
- How to misread your survey data (and tips on avoiding that)
Upon leaving this talk, you will have a solid background in the current state of data collection within open source communities and how to apply those tools to your own project.
Speaking experience
I've presented at PyCon 2011 and PyCon 2012 about successful efforts to improve open source communities, including work I started in Debian to improve package review, and also on successful gender diversity outreach strategies for programming user groups. As discussed above, my interest in quantitative community management comes from my active participation in open source communities and my work in open source outreach.
To get a sense of my presentation style, I recommend these links:
* http://pyvideo.org/video/415/pycon-2011--get-new-contributors--and-diversity--
* http://pyvideo.org/video/719/diversity-in-practice-how-the-boston-python-user
I've also presented at OSCON 2008, OSCON 2010, OSCON 2012, a few US-based Linux and tech user groups.
Asheesh LaroiaOpenHatch
- Website: http://asheesh.org/
- Blog: http://asheesh.org/note/
- Twitter: asheeshlaroia
- Identi.ca: asheeshlaroia
- Favorites: View Asheesh's favorites
Asheesh loves growing camaraderie among geeks. He chaired the Johns Hopkins Association for Computing Machinery and taught Python classes at Noisebridge, San Francisco's hackerspace. He realizes that most of the work that makes projects successful is hidden underneath the surface.
He has volunteered his technical skills for the UN in Uganda, the EFF, and Students for Free Culture, and is a Developer in Debian. Today, he lives in San Francisco, working on OpenHatch.
- Title: Quantitative community management
- Track: Culture
- Room: B201
- Time: 4:45 – 5:30pm
In this talk, you will learn the state of the art in community measurement, common mistakes made in surveying, and how to actively use data to improve activity within a project.
- Speakers: Asheesh Laroia
- Title: Training the trainers
- Track: Cooking
- Room: B304
- Time: 10:00 – 11:45am
This long session is a tutorial, with exercises, on how to run welcoming, effective outreach events targeted at bringing newcomers into your communities.
- Speakers: Asheesh Laroia
- Title: PyLadies + OpenHatch: Make your first contribution to OSS!
- Track: BOF
- Room: B202/203
- Time: 7:00 – 8:30pm
Contribute with us! PyLadies PDX and OpenHatch are teaming up to host this drop-in session for those who want to contribute to open source, but don't know how to get started. Learn the basics and get set up with OpenHatch. Goal is to submit a patch by the end of the night!
- Speakers: PyLadies PDX, Asheesh Laroia
- Title: Diversity in open source: What's changed in 2012 and 2013
- Track: Culture
- Room: B202/203
- Time: 3:45 – 4:30pm
A few stories we will cover:
- 20% women attendees at PyCon US 2013
- 85% of JSConf attendees donated to women in open tech/culture
- The success of Black Girls Code
- Conferences with 100% white male speakers are now called out for not trying hard enough to find good speakers
- Mozilla's adoption of community guidelines that prevent advocacy of discrimination on Planet Mozilla and other Mozilla forums
- The rapid growth of PyLadies
- Speakers: Valerie Aurora, Sumana Harihareswara, Ashe Dryden, Liz Henry, Asheesh Laroia


text: If you suffer from severe depression, finding a real solution can be difficult. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non invasive, completely safe and 'side effect free' treatment that has proven very effective for depression . It works through a magnetic coil that target problem areas of your brain.The treatment is completely painless, in fact, you may not feel anything at all.


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Time for a new giveaway? HOORAY!
So far we've had a spectacular February. We made our 200th sale in our Etsy shop and we got our blog featured on the front page of Bloggers.com. We're thrilled that 2013 has made such a great start!
We'd like to share the love and say thanks to all our lovelie friends and followers for your support and couldn't think of a better way to do it than giving you the chance to win yourself a little treat too 🙂


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DryingBühler designs and manufactures customized solutions which meet the unique requirements of its customers. With each project, the focus is always "Perfection in Thermal Processing." Expertise in all fields of drying and thermal processing ensures a competitive edge for processors in a variety of market sectors.
Bühler's unique airflow system provides uniform heat and air delivery for breakfast cereals, snacks, sugar-infused fruits, nuts, potato products and other food products. Customer benefits include maximum product quality, color and moisture content. Energy savings is an additional benefit, thanks to the dryer's high thermal efficiency and balanced airflow design.
Petfood and Aquafeed
Bühler is a leading supplier of drying solutions for petfood and aquafeed. Innovations include multiple-pass and sequentially zoned dryers, advanced control systems and an oscillating feeder for consistent bed loading. Sanitation is a priority with all Bühler food and feed dryers. All dryer designs incorporate customer requirements for sanitation and cleaning. Examples include full interior access for inspection, cleaning and maintenance; elimination of debris collection points, fines management and clean-in-place systems.
Industrial Materials
In the processing of charcoal, polymers, synthetic rubber and other industrial products, Bühler dryers feature heavy-duty, robust construction capable of withstanding elevated temperatures and harsh conditions. Special design requirements may include precise conditions for airflow and temperature uniformity, special grades of steel and surface finishes for sanitation, or highly specific PLC based control systems for moisture regulation and monitoring.
Grains and oilseeds
Our patented drying solution assures a perfectly homogenous final moisture profile for all free flowing grains and oil seeds in order to reliably store or further process them. Flexibility and energy efficiency are given, thanks to the heat recovery and optimal configuration with a selection of different heating mediums. Ensuring that legal emission levels for dust are met, intuitive operation and clear process visualization are further advantages of the drying plant. Particularly for very moist corn the innovative solution scores cost reductions in fuel consumption of up to 20%.
Paddy rice
As number one in industrial rice processing Bühler offers exceptionally gentle drying solutions for Raw Paddy as well as Parboiled Paddy. The multi pass system, consisting of continuous flow column dryers and temper bins allows to react to fluctuating incoming moisture contents and delivers a completely homogenous drying result. Although, the most determining advantage is the minimal creation of breakage during the drying process which implicates highest rice quality and sustainable head rice yield.


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University of Georgia
Howard's Sugar Bowl performance fuels NFL aspirations
NEW ORLEANS – Even before Tuesday night's Sugar Bowl, Marcus Howard was doing something right, he figures.
"The NFL scouts must be seeing something because I got an NFL combine invite," Howard said.
Georgia's senior defensive end was named the Sugar Bowl's Most Outstanding Player early Wednesday morning after tying the BCS bowl record with three sacks in the No. 4 Bulldogs' 41-10 shellacking of No. 10 Hawaii in the Louisiana Superdome.
Howard had four tackles and also forced two fumbles, recovering one himself for a touchdown. He became the Sugar Bowl's first defensive MOP since Alabama linebacker Barry Krauss in 1979.
"He had a (heck) of a game, a (heck) of a game," linebacker Dannell Ellerbe said.
Ellerbe felt Howard would have a good game after watching film of the Warriors' offensive line, he said. Hawaii's tackles weren't quick enough to stay in front of the speedy Howard, Ellerbe said.
"I thought that all the defensive ends would have a big game against their tackles," Howard said. "We saw the Fresno State game (against Hawaii), and I think they had about three sacks in the first half. (Defensive ends coach Jon Fabris) asked what I thought about (Hawaii's) offensive line, and I said, 'Well, I don't think Fresno State's defensive line is nearly as good as our defensive line.'"
Howard's award was a small bit of vindication for Fabris, who still is upset defensive end Will Thompson wasn't named the most outstanding player in Georgia's Sugar Bowl victory over Florida State following the 2002 season.
"He was just happy," Howard said. "He just told me to soak it all in. I just want to tell him thank you for giving me the opportunity to play. He believed in me when some people didn't."
Howard, 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, was moved from linebacker to defensive end midway through his career. He had to wait until his senior season to receive significant playing time, a fact he passed on to fellow defensive end Jarius Wynn, a rising senior, this week in New Orleans in trying to encourage Wynn.
"It's not how you come in, it's how you leave," Howard said. "I had a great year. I just had a great game. Anybody can do anything in one year as long as you believe and play hard."
Howard was the third Bulldog to be named the game's most valuable player, joining Herschel Walker (1981) and Musa Smith (2003). Howard is close to signing with an agent, he indicated after the Sugar Bowl.
"I pretty much have an agent," he said.
Howard's big night gave him 79 tackles and 12 sacks for his career. He had 10.5 sacks this season, leading Georgia in that category.


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On November 15, Detroit Bikes! will host its second annual Java Junket bike ride with stops at Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes, the Detroit Welcome Center in Mexicantown, the Mercury Coffee Bar, Cafe 1923 andthe Woodbridge Pub.
Nice touch, finishing off at pub (with a huge bike rack, natch).
The rides starts at 9 a.m. in Grand Circus Park. It's a 15-miler.


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A High Court battle over plans for 5,150 new homes near Houghton Regis will cost Luton Borough Council more than £500,000, a parliamentary candidate has claimed.
Last month LBC was unsuccessful in its bid to halt the development which has been given outline permission by Central Beds Council.
Luton had argued that the approved plans won't provide enough affordable housing, but will include far too much retail provision – more than is necessary to serve the area.
It also claimed that Central Bedfordshire failed in its duty to cooperate as a neighbouring authority.
Justice David Holgate rejected all of LBC's grounds of challenge, branding several of them as "wholly unarguable".
He added that the council's case was "lacking in legal merit".
LBC is attempting to reignite the issue by asking the Court of Appeal to re-examine the case, but has delayed on releasing the cost of the affair.
In a letter to the Herald & Post, Luton South Conservative parliamentary candidate Katie Redmond claims the challenge will cost Luton taxpayers "in excess of £500,000".
She said: "Luton is now facing another year's delay for new homes, homes which the council admits the town desperately needs.
"Instead of lengthy litigation, Luton needs long term planning and co-operation with neighbouring councils, which will be essential for Luton's economic growth."
A Luton Labour spokesperson said the figure was a "grossly exaggerated claim".
A council spokesperson added: "We would not expect the costs to be anything like the sum suggested."