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Home>>Europe Map>>UK Maps & Photos>>London Map>>London Tower Map
London Tower Map
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite.
The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.
The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II, a procession would be led from the Tower to Westminster Abbey on the coronation of a monarch. In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower is in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century the castle was the prison of the Princes in the Tower. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.
London Tourist Maps
The peak period of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I before she became queen, were held within its walls. This use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower". Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower before the World Wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period. In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many buildings empty. Anthony Salvin and John Taylor took the opportunity to restore the Tower to what was felt to be its medieval appearance, clearing out many of the vacant post-medieval structures.
London Tower
In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison, and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the wars, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired and the castle reopened to the public. Today the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. It is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.
The Tower was oriented with its strongest and most impressive defences overlooking Saxon London, which archaeologist Alan Vince suggests was deliberate. It would have visually dominated the surrounding area and stood out to traffic on the River Thames. The castle is made up of three "wards", or enclosures. The innermost ward contains the White Tower and is the earliest phase of the castle. Encircling it to the north, east, and west is the inner ward, built during the reign of Richard the Lionheart (1189¨C1199). Finally, there is the outer ward which encompasses the castle and was built under Edward I.
Tip:The Pegman can be dragged to the map for Street View
Although there were several phases of expansion after William the Conqueror founded the Tower of London, the general layout has remained the same since Edward I completed his rebuild in 1285. The castle encloses an area of almost 12 acres (4.9 ha) with a further 6 acres (2.4 ha) around the Tower of London constituting the Tower Liberties-land under the direct influence of the castle and cleared for military reasons. The precursor of the Liberties was laid out in the 13th century when Henry III ordered that a strip of land adjacent to the castle be kept clear. Despite popular fiction, the Tower of London never had a permanent torture chamber, although the basement of the White Tower housed a rack in later periods. Tower Wharf was built on the bank of the Thames under Edward I and was expanded to its current size during the reign of Richard II (1377-1399).
London Tourist Maps
The White Tower is a keep (also known as a donjon), which was often the strongest structure in a medieval castle, and contained lodgings suitable for the lordˇŞin this case the king or his representative.According to military historian Allen Brown, "The great tower [White Tower] was also, by virtue of its strength, majesty and lordly accommodation, the donjon par excellence".As one of the largest keeps in the Christian world, the White Tower has been described as "the most complete eleventh-century palace in Europe".
The White Tower, not including its projecting corner towers, measures 36 by 32 metres (118 by 105 ft) at the base, and rises to a height of 27 m (90 ft) at the southern battlements. The structure was originally three-storeys high, comprising a basement floor, an entrance level, and an upper floor. The entrance, as is usual in Norman keeps, was above ground, in this case on the south face, and accessed via a wooden staircase which could be removed in the event of an attack. During Henry II's reign (1154-1189), a forebuilding was added to the south side of the tower to provide extra defences to the entrance, but it has not survived. Each floor was divided into three chambers, the largest in the west, a smaller room in the north-east, and the chapel taking up the entrance and upper floors of the south-east. At the western corners of the building are square towers, while to the north-east a round tower houses a spiral staircase. At the south-east corner is a larger semi-circular projection which accommodates the apse of the chapel. As the building was intended to be a comfortable residence as well as a stronghold, latrines were built into the walls, and four fireplaces provided warmth.
London Tower
Maps of UK
The main building material is Kentish rag-stone, although some local mudstone was also used. Although little survives, Caen stone was imported from northern France to provide details in the Tower's facing, much of it replaced by Portland stone in the 17th and 18th centuries. As most of the Tower's windows were enlarged in the 18th century, only two original-albeit restored-examples remain, in the south wall at gallery level.
The tower was terraced into the side of a mound, so the northern side of the basement is partially below ground level.[13] As was typical of most keeps,the bottom floor was an undercroft used for storage. One of the rooms contained a well. Although the layout has remained the same since the tower's construction, the interior of the basement dates mostly from the 18th century when the floor was lowered and the pre-existing timber vaults were replaced with brick counterparts. The basement is lit through small slits.
Opening Times
Summer: 1 March - 31 October: Tues - Sat 09.00-18.00 / Sun - Mon 10.00-18.00. Last admission 17.00.
Winter: 1 November - 28 February: Tues - Sat 09.00-17.00 / Sun - Mon 10.00-17.00. Last admission 16.00
The Tower is closed 24-26 December (inclusive) and 1 January.
Address:Tower Hill London EC3N 4AB
Website: http://www.hrp.org.uk


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Booking flights is seldom fun, all the motivation to go on holiday can be quickly sapped away when you see huge prices for direct tickets with the only affordable option being to make a few stop overs on the way. Well fortunately all is not lost and there are a few simple tips that you'll be able to do in order to keep the prices low.
1. Go incognito
Definitely something that the majority of people overlook, when searching for any tickets whether you're travelling by train or by air you should always clear your cookies before searching and then move to an incognito browser as the engines/airlines will actually show you prices based off your recent searches so if they know you've got intent to go somewhere they will adjust the prices accordingly and these tend to rise the more often you go to the site in order to try and get you to make a snap decision. So when searching for flights make sure you put your browser on incognito mode in order to see the lowest prices that are currently available.
If you remain in this mode you don't need to worry about clearing your browsers cookies as every time you open up a new browser all of your cookies will be reset.
2. Don't book direct from the airlines
Another mistake that a lot of people seem to do, instead of looking at flight search engines they go directly to the airline and book from there which normally results in a higher price, its actually better to head to a renowned flight search engine such as Sky Scanner or Kayak, enter in the details of where you want to go and the dates that you want to go on and what it will do is pull up all of the flights available and list them in price order.
Now the way these search engines work is they take a cut from the airline which can sometimes result in different prices across the site, websites such as Expedia tend to charge the most so prices are typically more there. Its best to utilise a few different search engines in order to find the best price, but the one we've found to be consistently good is SkyScanner.
3. Work out the cheapest departure day
People have all sorts of theories when it comes to which day is the cheapest to fly on but really there isn't an exact date. The majority of the time it is cheapest to fly on a week day then it is on a weekend but this isn't always strictly true. As there are no exact best dates the best thing to do is plan a date you'd ideally want to leave on and then work out which days offer the cheapest departure and go from there. The great thing about using search engines is you can actually compile them into one month and it will list the cheapest day for you to fly.
To do this on SkyScanner you will need to do the following:
- Head over to the SkyScanner website and enter in the places you want to fly to.
- Choose the one way option as were just trying to work out the cheapest days to fly out on.
- Click on the depart button but don't enter in a date as we are trying to view the whole month and work out the cheapest option.
- Click on the search and take a look at which the cheapest date is, the prices will be under the date numbers.
If you're planning a return flight you can do the above but for your return journey instead.
You can even use google flights which uses a similar algorithm to sites like SkyScanner but you will be unable to actually book your flight through the engine.
4. Use Budget Airlines
Its in the name after all, but budget airlines will cost significantly less money than airlines such as Virgin, however choosing a budget airline will mean you have to sacrifice certain comforts such as how much leg room space you have and whether they will provide you with food/drink for free when you fly.
Which ever way you choose to fly is down to personal preference if you don't mind having restricted space/no free food then feel free to go budget, but if you're after maximum comfort then be prepared to pay a premium.
5. Research the cheapest destinations first
If you haven't already planned where you want to go on holiday but you've just got the holiday bug and you know for sure that you want to go away, by using flight search engines you are actually able to set where you will be departing from the date you want to leave but you can select Everywhere as your destination. What this will then do is list all of the countries for flights going out on your select day and put them in order of cheapest first. Meaning if you want to fly on a budget you may be able to find some great little holiday destinations for next to nothing prices.
Just looking at the prices today we can see that you're able to get a return flight to Norway for £18, you can even fly to Italy for a week for £81. So next time you've got the craving for a holiday but you don't think you can afford it try searching all countries and sorting it on price, you'll be surprised what you might find.
6. Go to a travel agents
Travel agents benefit from being able to get access to much cheaper rates than what are available for the public, they wont be able to beat the search engines on flight prices but what they can do is find a better package holiday for places such as Spain. Its worth going into a store and checking out whats on offer then go home and compare to see if you can get it cheaper online.
7. Take a look at lesser known Airlines
Search engines are a fantastic tool, they quickly find, list and compile flights in price order but they don't include all of the airlines the world has to offer. If you're flying to less popular area take a look on google and find out whether they have a local airline which flies from your airport. We did a bit of research and if you were to fly around South America then you can fly with an Airline called LADE Air which originates from Argentina and these offer ridiculously cheaper prices in comparison to others that are listed in the search engines.
Even if you do find a smaller airline listed in the search engine, try checking out their site first and see if they have any offers or if its generally just listed cheaper on there.
8. Dont sit and think about it just book
If you already know your destination and the dates you want to fly on then book it ASAP, people always sit around waiting to see if the prices will drop in a last minute sell off but this is seldom the case. The majority of flights tend to rise in price the closer it gets to the departure date. So once your mind is set book it straight away to take advantage of the lower price.
9. Is the £ the cheapest currency?
Before you up and pay for the flight take a look and see what the prices are in other currencies as some airlines will allow you to pay in different ones, its always good to reference a trusted currency conversion site such as XE and then compare back with the original price set in £'s. Remember though if you're paying by credit card to check that the card you're using doesn't have any foreign transaction fees that might be added to your card after purchase as this will raise the price considerably.
10. Be on the look out for pricing mistakes
The people who work at Airlines are humans, and humans make mistakes from time to time so be on the look out for any mess ups where they have put up a seriously discounted flight. There are a few reasons that may lead to this such as technical glitches, an error when converting the currency over and then of course there are human errors where they have just entered in the wrong price
11. Look for connecting flights
There is a hidden trick that travelling veterans know of, if you're looking for the cheapest flights then its better to sometimes look at flying to one city as a stop over then flying out of that to your destination instead of you flying straight to your holiday destination. This is an incredibly risky process as you will be relying on all the planes being on time and departing on time, you could also lose your luggage if you brought a suitcase that needed to go in the airplanes hold.
This is also a great way to travel round multiple cities in different countries for cheap allowing you to plan a 2 week holiday in different places for the cost of flying directly to one city and staying there. But remember use this at your own risk as there is more chance of something going wrong instead of flying directly to your destination.
12. Cash in air miles whenever you can
Do you have a credit card that gives you air miles when ever you spend? Well these can be a great way to get a whole holiday for free make sure you check to see how long they stay in date for though as a lot of cards have a set period of time in which they need to be used by. If you haven't got a card then you may want to see whats available to you.
And there you have it our 12 tips for getting cheaper flights when traveling abroad and remember if you're flight gets delayed at any point with in the EU get in touch with us and we will help you claim any flight delay compensation that you could be owed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Special counsel Robert Mueller's long-awaited report on Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election was released today—at least most of it.
The public version has been heavily redacted to conceal information related to confidential grand jury proceedings, classified intelligence material, ongoing investigations, and a few other categories. (A "limited number" of Congress members will be allowed to view a less-redacted version).
The final tally: 953 redacted sections in 448 pages.


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Hotel Encanto
Ready to Book?
Hotel Encanto is one of Acapulco's newest and most luxurious boutique hotels, located in the exclusive area of Brisas Marqués in the "Diamond Zone," convenient to the airport, beaches and upscale shopping options. The rooms have commanding views of the bay of Puerto Marqués and the Pacific Ocean beyond. It opened its doors on November 28, 2009. Designed by well-known Mexican architect, Miguel Ángel Aragones, as a "tribute to the sea," this 44-suite, contemporary structure creates a serene atmosphere and surrounds its guests with the utmost in personal services and amenities. Aragones is also part of the ownership and management of the property. Hotel Encanto is decorated throughout with custom-designed furniture, mainly in white, leaving to the lushly designed illumination the role of providing color and atmosphere, which is variable according to the guest's desires. Hotel Encanto is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH).
Hotel Information
Hotel Encanto's architecture was conceived for human comfort and pleasure, with care to provide privacy in some parts, and open spaces with marvelous views in others. The suites have terraces or balconies overlooking the sea, with background music and appealing illumination. Each suite is a large 61 square meters (almost 650 square feet). Some are much larger, up to 152 square meters (1600 square feet). Each has a full closet, security box, adjustable reading lamps, an LCD television with DVD player, iPod station, and mini-bar. All are air conditioned and have wireless Internet and a message center. They are tastefully decorated in a modern style, using Mexican artwork. King size beds are available. Some accommodations have a private pool.
El Lounge: The lounge at Hotel Encanto invites you to relax and enjoy the pleasant Acapulco evening in a refined atmosphere, capped off by a spectacular view of Acapulco's bay to one side and the Bay of Puerto Marqués on the other. Background music is chosen with care to include African rhythms, Brazilian touches and melodies popular in Europe. The lounge has a special menu with light fare designed to accompany well the fresh breezes that pass over Acapulco's nightfall. Open from 7 pm to 2am.
Flor de Mar 360°: Flor de Mar 360° is a fine dining establishment, overseen by award-winning Mexican chef, Monica Patiño. Many of the choices represent a fusion of traditional Mexican flavors with an addition of Asian accents and contrasting tastes. Appetizers, entrées, salads and deserts are designed to take advantage of each season's best and freshest ingredients. Guests may chose to dine on the open-air terrace, blessed with the Hotel Encanto's commanding view of the bays of Acapulco and Puerto Marqués. Breakfast is served from 7 to noon; lunch is from noon to 6 pm, and dinner from 7 to 11 at night. A separate sushi menu is offered, as well as a special selection of sweets and deserts.
The full service spa, Natura Bissé 2010, provides pampering treatments of all sorts, including massages, facials, salt rubs and all the other options one would expect from a world-class facility, provided by trained and skilled therapists. On the third floor, near the spa, guests can enjoy the fitness center, offering machines for running/walking, stair machines, recumbent bicycles, vertical bicycles, free weights and other equipment for cardiovascular and weight training. It is open from 6am to 10pm.
The concierge will gladly advise concerning nearby options, including some of Mexico's most beautiful and challenging golf courses. Equipment rental and transport can also be arranged.
The Hotel has a boutique for fashion items, necessaries and tasty sweets and snacks. Within a short driving distance guests will find the large and upscale shopping areas of Acapulco Diamante and Mundo Imperial.
High level business meetings can be hosted from within Hotel Encanto, using its high-tech auditorium with a capacity of up to 60 persons, providing privacy and luxury to the attendees.
The pool area is set within lush gardens and a large terrace, which can also serve for special events and gatherings. The water in the pool is climatized to match well the temperature of the air. Pool lanes are provided for those who wish to swim laps.
Hotel Elcanto will gladly host elegant weddings that take full advantage of the beautiful installations and panoramic views. Functions can vary from small and intimate to very large. The hotel deck is one option for a reception or banquet. Another is a beautiful seaside palapa in Brisas Marqués with a capacity for 700 guests. Four different menu packages have been especially designed by Chef Mónica Patiño.
- Cancellation policies vary according to the dates of the stay; 7 days' advance notice is required except for holidays and long weekends, when 21 days' notice is necessary. Late cancellation will result in a charge of one night.
- During Christmas/New Year (December 26-January 4), minimum stay is 4 nights, cancellation is required at least 60 days in advance, and late cancellation will result in a charge for the whole stay.
- Minors younger than 16 may not check-in unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
- Reservations must be guaranteed by credit card. A 50% deposit is required.


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Publications / Monographs
European Administrative Space: Spreading Standards, Building Capacities
Editor(s): Ivan Kopric, Polonca Kovac
Date: 2017
Publisher: NISPAcee Press
Price: 0 €(+ mailing costs)
Order contact: Hardcopy not available
The scientific monograph on European Administrative Space (EAS) offers in-depth analyses of the respective notions, such as those elaborated from systemic, methodological, geographical and contextual aspects. It includes 14 chapters from 21 prominent scholars and practitioners from different European countries (Belarus, Belgium, Croatia, Georgia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden) and international organizations, some of which are the salient papers from the NISPAcee annual conference held in 2016 in Zagreb. Authors address the EAS as a complex concept in progress, both theoretically and practically. It is considered to be an important tool in the absence of a formal European Union (EU) acquis in the field of public administration, which leads to the necessary integration of EU values, goals, activities and methods to enable the EU political and macroeconomic goals and an effective and equitable implementation of its legal order. Consequently, this book contributes, based on the administrative science framework, as an integrative discipline, to the further evolution of the EAS and good public governance with democratic and efficient public administration worldwide.


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I'm a medieval historian at St John's College, Oxford. I'm also Mummy to two wonderful little boys. I started this blog on my return to work after maternity leave, in order to remind myself of the importance of studying history. My aim is to use the challenges and dilemmas of the past to throw critical light on the present.
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
2 comments:
Hi Hannah,ReplyDelete
Thanks for your edifying blog entries.
I've added this entry to the 'Law,' wiki Subject - http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Law - at World University and School (which is like Wikipedia with MIT OCW), and which is planning, online, Creative Commons' licensed, (so free), MIT-centric, university degrees (bachelor, Ph.D., law, and M.D.) in many countries and languages, including Law Schools in all 204+ nation states (per the "Olympics") , and in their main languages. (Wikipedia is in 285 languages, by way of comparison).
Here's the beginning, online, Law School at WUaS, in English ... http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/World_University_Law_School ... In the spirit of the Magna Carta, I hope WUaS might extend free, accredited (if possible,) legal education toward law degrees, in all countries, plus more.
Would you like to start a Medieval History, wiki, subject at WUaS, in English (and perhaps in German eventually, too) - http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Subjects - and help focus it over time? We could then add this whole blog. :)
(I saw your posting about this in academia.edu).
Best regards,
This sounds great! I'm afraid that I can't take on any more commitments at the moment, as I need to stay committed to my students etc. - but I shall watch developments with much interest.ReplyDelete


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Early psychosocial neglect and developing brain networks
What effects do early psychosocial neglect and institutional rearing have on developing brain networks? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates (University of Pittsburgh) talks with Caterina Stamoulis (Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital) about findings from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP). Researchers demonstrated aberrantly connected task-independent brain networks in children that had been raised in Romanian institutions. These findings have profound implicaitons about the developmental and cognitive effects of early institutionalization.
Neuronal networks in the developing brain are adversely modulated by early psychosocial neglect
Catherine Stamoulis, Ross E. Vanderwert, Charles H. Zeanah, Nathan A. Fox, Charles A. Nelson
Journal of Neurophysiology, published online October 5, 2017. DOI: 10.1152/jn.00014.2017.


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Dorm Room
An overnight stay at the Grand Ferdinand is an exquisite experience. And a stay in one of our dorm rooms is no different. In a bunk bed made of reddish-brown high-gloss mahogany. Just like on the Orient Express.
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How to cook Thanksgiving with (gasp!) one oven
We developed our 2015 Epi Thanksgiving Menu to be cooked in just one oven. Because that's the kitchen we work in, and because we wanted to make your lives easier too. Check it out. But if you're planning your own menu that'll need to be cooked with just one oven, here's how to make it happen without any traffic jams or frustrated tears:
See Gallery
Related: Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Do Not Require an Oven
More from Epicurious:
8 Must-Know Tips for Every Thanksgiving Host
10 Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW to Prep For Thanksgiving
11 Recipes That Will Make You Go Vegetarian for Thanksgiving (Maybe)
11 Ingredients You Shouldn't Refrigerate


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Jess Jozwik
Program Manager
Despite being born and raised in Palos Park, Illinois, Jess has always been drawn to the oceans and is fascinated by the intersection of science, policy and culture that shape our relationship with the water. While majoring in Environmental Studies at Gettysburg College, Jess also discovered a passion for experiential education and working with youth. After teaching in Japan for a year, conducting geospatial analysis research with NASA, and facilitating backpacking and climbing trips with Outward Bound California, Jess joined World Ocean School in 2016 as a Deckhand Educator. She is excited to now serve as Program Manager and to create programs that help students grow, connect, and reach goals in an incredible and dynamic environment.
When she's not on the water, Jess spends a lot of her free time in the mountains, backpacking and rock climbing. She also loves attending live storytelling performances, discovering new podcasts, and working out.


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Looking for your next beach holiday? Why not consider one of the world's best kept holiday secrets.
If you've ever asked yourself 'Where is Okinawa?', you're probably not alone. Many international travellers know very little about Japan's southernmost prefecture. There are roughly 160 tropical islands that make up Okinawa, which is also known as the Ryukyu Islands. Okinawa has a very different look and feel from the rest of Japan, making it the perfect travel destination for those who love to discover and explore new places.
Here, we show you some of the top things to do when visiting Okinawa for the first time:
Zamani Island
While there are many islands to choose from, the lesser known Zamami Island is perfect if you're looking for some peace and quiet in the sun. Zamami Island is only a 90 minute ferry ride from the capital of Naha and is renonwed for its world-class scuba diving, with glorious clear seas and unspoilt reefs. Zamami Island is also littered with various camping sites, making it an ideal destination for outdoor-lovers.
Top tip: If you're visiting between January and March, make sure you check out some humpback whale spotting.
Visit your local Izakaya (Japanese Tavern)
Don't expect your typical Japanese sushi rolls or Yakitori sticks in Okinawa. The cuisine here is famous for its variety and unique flavours, as a direct result of its beachy location and history. Traditional dishes such as Goya Champuru, Okinawa Soba and taco rice are a must. Make sure you pair your meal with a glass of Awamori, Okinawa's indigenous liquor.
Okinawa Soba
Churaumi Aquarium
While most activities in Okinawa are outdoors, a visit to one of the world's largest aquariums is essential. The aquarium is spread out over three floors and offers an array of activities and things to do for the whole family, such as several outdoor pools where you can watch a free dolphin or sea turtle show. The highlight of the visit is the massive Kuroshio Tank, which houses a huge variety of species including twogiant whale sharks.
The Peace Memorial Museum
For history buffs, Okinawa does not disappoint. Like Hiroshima, Okinawa was the setting of one of World War 2's bloodiest battles.This tragic event has had a lasting impact on the area including the establishment of many monuments and museum. One of the most popular sites isThe Peace Memorial Museum which provides an in-depth look into The Battle Of Okinawa and the reconstruction that followed.
Top tip: Bring your passport or international I.D card as international visitor's receive a discount on their entry.
By: Francisco Torres


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Technical innovation is what makes Formula 1 so different from any other form of racing. The on track action is as much played out by the engineers and aerodynamicists as it is the drivers. We are here to admire, study, and discuss this beauty that exists on the ragged edge of what we think is possible, or at least what we thought was possible.
Discussions and questions are welcomed and encouraged in the comments section below. I try not to repeat thing's I've pointed out previously, but if you'd like to discuss something then go for it!
Mercedes W08
I haven't noticed the cuts in the W08's curvy strake before...
Mercedes more subtle version of their combine harvester compared with the previous year's W07.
W08 bargeboard detail.
W08 bargeboard detail.
Exposed DRS actuator and 3-element T-wing.
Mercedes running without wastegates in the Bahrain in-season test; wether those two rings count per the regulations, I do not know...
Also looks like they've implemented a centerline rear wing support that passes through the exhaust outlet.
Ferrari SF70H
New front wing on the Ferrari with the mainplane split in two, now 6 elements total.
A thanks should be given to the lower nose regulations and vanity covers for raising the font suspension damper element above the chassis so the engineers don't have to squeeze their hands through those carbon cutouts anymore.
Everybody's on the hydraulic heave damper train (save for Red Bull).
Larger cooling outlets for the Bahrain heat.
Note the simple wing after the air channeled by the bargeboards reaches the outside of the chassis.
heat-reflective gold coating on the SF70H's centerline rear wing supports.
Watch the Ferrari's floor as the next few races pass. There's some trickery going on, but I haven't heard exactly what they're doing; perhaps flexing.
Anyways, this is quite an interesting shot. Note the (tiny) upright strake of carbon on the trailing edge of the floor preceding the tire, the curvaceous winglet at the bottom of the brake duct, and vented winglet at the top of the brake duct with accompanying gurney flap.
Red Bull RB13
Ready to go!
Force India VJM10
Angled pitot tubes to correctly measure the airflow in the direction it's approaching the array (if their data is correct...).
New 10-element slotted bargeboards on the Force India.
...and 12-element slotted turning vanes. I'm just translating Albert's tweet, aren't I?
The right side obviously feeds the radiator that you can see, while the left channel of the sidepod inlet may goes to cool something else; remember Force India shares the Mercedes three-openings airbox inlet concept, as they share the same engine, so they don't utilize their sidepods for cooling anything in a similar fashion to the Ferrari, which is ducted like crazy.
Toro Rosso STR12
Tiny cuts in the front wing's Y250 section. This shot also shows the upper wishbone's arm attachment to the front wheel uprights, and idea Toro Rosso shares with Mercedes.
You can see here the exhaust flow conditioner that is also the centerline rear wing support inside the exhaust pipe.
McLaren MCL32
Coat hanger T-wing.
Some horizontal strakes underneath the McLaren chassis that look awfully like the Mercedes International Harvester.
Renault RS17
Setting up some front wing aero correlation tests on the Renault.
Renault testing a blown front axle during the Bahrain in-season test.
Sauber C36
Sauber joining the gang of cars with winglets attached to the side of the chassis to guide the clean air flowing over the front suspension down into the sidepod inlets.
Downwards-guiding array of winglets on the C36's bargeboard.


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Living on Mars - Making Clean Water on Mars. Living on Mars - The Water We Drink There's something missing here...
NASA has recently announced evidence of liquid water on Mars. Sounds great! That just makes it easier to live there, right? Not so fast... There may be flowing water, at least during the warmer seasons, but could you actually drink it? Unfortunately - no. The water on Mars is so full of salts, called perchlorates, that it wold be highly toxic to humans and plants. Think of it this way: Water on Mars. An artist's impression of what ancient Mars may have looked like, based on geological data.
Almost all water on Mars today exists as ice, though it also exists in small quantities as vapor in the atmosphere[1] and occasionally as low-volume liquid brines in shallow Martian soil.[2][3] The only place where water ice is visible at the surface is at the north polar ice cap.[4] Abundant water ice is also present beneath the permanent carbon dioxide ice cap at the Martian south pole and in the shallow subsurface at more temperate latitudes.[5][6][7][8] More than five million cubic kilometers of ice have been identified at or near the surface of modern Mars, enough to cover the whole planet to a depth of 35 meters (115 ft).[9] Even more ice is likely to be locked away in the deep subsurface.[10] Historical background[edit] The notion of water on Mars preceded the space age by hundreds of years. Mariner 4 acquired this image showing a barren planet (1965) Evidence from rocks and minerals[edit]
MARS: How to Survive on Mars. New Desalination Method 'Shocks' the Salt Out. Wouldn't you know it ...
Recently, we published an article on the methods and means of making clean, potable water for a large settlements on Mars. And then this happens. A team at MIT has come up with an innovative approach for desalinating water that is cheaper, faster, and produces more clean water than anything seen before. Martin Bazant Unlike most traditional desalination systems, this new desalination method does not separate ions or water molecules with filters, which can become clogged, or boiling, which consumes great amounts of energy. Instead, the system uses an electrically driven shockwave within a stream of flowing water, which pushes salty water to one side of the flow and fresh water to the other. This allows easy separation of the two streams. ...fundamentally new and different...
This approach is "a fundamentally new and different separation system," Bazant says. As Bazant says: It generates a very strong gradient. As Bazant says. The breakthrough here is the engineering. Water On Mars: Discovery Of Boron Suggests The Planet Once Had Habitable Groundwater. NASA's Curiosity rover has unearthed fresh evidence that Mars once had plentiful water on its surface.
The rover, using its laser-shooting Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument, has detected boron on the surface of the red planet. On Earth, boron, which is a water-soluble element, is a signature of evaporated water, and is thus found in sites like California's Death Valley. "If the boron that we found in calcium sulphate mineral veins on Mars is similar to what we see on Earth, it would indicate that the groundwater of ancient Mars that formed these veins would have been 0-60 degrees Celsius [32-140 degrees Fahrenheit] and neutral-to-alkaline pH," Patrick Gasda, a postdoctoral researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, which was involved in the development of the ChemCam instrument, said in a statement last week.
"No prior mission to Mars has found boron." We already know that Mars, currently a dusty and barren wasteland, was not always so. Enormous Water Ice Deposit Could Help Us Survive on Mars. Martian Water As A Future Resource: Analyses Reveal A Deposit More Extensive In Area Than The State Of New Mexico. Frozen beneath a region of cracked and pitted plains on Mars lies about as much water as what's in Lake Superior, largest of the Great Lakes, researchers using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have determined.
Scientists examined part of Mars' Utopia Planitia region, in the mid-northern latitudes, with the orbiter's ground-penetrating Shallow Radar (SHARAD) instrument. Analyses of data from more than 600 overhead passes with the onboard radar instrument reveal a deposit more extensive in area than the state of New Mexico. The deposit ranges in thickness from about 260 feet (80 meters) to about 560 feet (170 meters), with a composition that's 50 to 85 percent water ice, mixed with dust or larger rocky particles.
At the latitude of this deposit -- about halfway from the equator to the pole -- water ice cannot persist on the surface of Mars today. It sublimes into water vapor in the planet's thin, dry atmosphere. Water on Mars / New Mars Forums. UA-CEAC Prototype Lunar Greenhouse.


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Medical treatment is used to keep growth hormone and IGF-1 levels within the normal range, and to prevent growth hormone exerting its effect on the body. They may also reduce the size of your pituitary tumour, although this is not their main effect.
Medications may be used before surgery to help manage your symptoms or instead of surgery.
When used after surgery the aim is to reduce growth hormone and IGF-1 levels further, and also to control your symptoms.
Occasionally, surgery may not be suitable for some people or they may not want to have surgery at all.
There are three groups of medicines used to treat acromegaly: somatostatin analogues, dopamine agonists, and a growth hormone receptor antagonist.
Somatostatin analogues are synthetic versions of somatostatin, which reduce the release of growth hormone. They are given via subcutaneous injection, deep subcutaneous injection or intramuscular injection, depending on the drug administered.
Dopamine agonists can also help to reduce the release of growth hormone in the body. These are given as tablets at least once a week but more usually on several days each week.
There is only one growth hormone receptor antagonist available at present. It is given by subcutaneous injection and works by preventing growth hormone from having an effect on the body by reducing the production of IGF-1 by the liver.
Somatostatin analogues, dopamine agonists, and a growth hormone receptor antagonist are generally used alone but sometimes they can be used together, although such an approach is not always allowed in every country.
How these drugs are given and how frequently they are given depends on the type of drug your doctor prescribes to you and how long its effects in the body will last (known as the duration of action).
Please remember that medical treatment for acromegaly may vary from country to country. A healthcare professional will be able to advise you on the drug classes that are available in your country.
Types of injection
Visit the practical tips section for some advice on how to make injections easier for you.
All medicines have side effects, some of which may wear off with time.
It is important to read the patient information leaflet inside the medicine pack at your treatment is started and also from time to time while being treated to check that you understand how it works and the possible side effects that may occur.
It is also important that you report any side effects you experience to the healthcare professional who prescribed your treatment in case your treatments needs to be revised. He or she may also need to pass on this information to the manufacturer of the medicine and local health authority if necessary.
The most common side effects of somatostatin analogues are diarrhoea, abdominal pain and feeling sick (nausea).
In addition, other common side effects may include wind (flatulence), bloating, and feeling pain at the site of injection.
Higher than normal blood glucose levels may also occur with newer somatostatin analogues when given as a long-acting injection.
Feeling sick (nausea) is a common side effect of treatment with a dopamine agonist.
Other side effects include feeling 'light headed', drowsiness, constipation and headache, although all are uncommon.
The most common side effects with a growth hormone receptor antagonist are injection site reactions, sweating, headache, muscle weakness and increases in liver enzymes. Your doctor will check your blood at intervals to check that your liver enzymes remain within normal limits during your treatment.
Speak to your endocrinologist or other member of your healthcare team if you would like more information about the medications to treat acromegaly and their specific side effects. Patient organisations also often produce information booklets that outline the various treatment choices available in your country.
Read and hear answers to some common questions that patients with acromegaly have asked
Find an acromegaly patient support group in your country to find out about local activities and events that you may be able to attend
Information about the emotional, physical and social challenges of living with acromegaly


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Chelsea vs Leicester: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview
Chelsea host Leicester City in their final match before Christmas on Saturday as they aim to further cement their place in the top four.
Maurizio Sarri's side were boosted by their qualification for the Carabao Cup semi-finals in midweek, with a late goal from Eden Hazard enough to see off Bournemouth in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Blues bounced back from the disappointment of an away loss to Wolves earlier this month by winning their last two league encounters against Manchester City and Brighton.
Editors' Picks
- Willian to Arsenal? The pros and cons as Gunners close in on Chelsea star
- Ighalo, Mata & more can deliver Solskjaer's first trophy - but Man Utd stars must be spared Europa League strain
- Who is Said Benrahma? Brentford's wing wizard on Chelsea's transfer radar
- Brenden Aaronson: The 'U.S. Havertz' set to swap MLS for Europe's top leagues
Leicester were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, however, after losing to Pep Guardiola's Man City on penalties.
The Foxes have failed to win any of their last three league matches and fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace last weekend, a result which saw them slip to 12th in the table.
The last Premier League encounter between these two sides at Stamford Bridge ended in a 0-0 draw last January.
|Chelsea vs Leicester
|Saturday, December 22
|3:00pm GMT / 10:00am ET
|Stream (US)
|fubo TV (7-day free trial)
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
|US TV channel
|Online stream
|fubo TV (7-day free trial)
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will not be shown live as it will be played during the blackout period.
|UK TV channel
|Online stream
Squads & Team News
|Chelsea players
|Arrizabalaga, Caballero, Green
|Azpilicueta, Zappacosta, Rudiger, Luiz, Cahill, Ampadu, Emerson
|Fabregas, Jorginho, Drinkwater, Kante, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic
|Willian, Pedro, Hazard, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Morata
Eden Hazard continues in a central striking role for Chelsea after picking up one goal and three assists in his last two appearances in that position.
Centre-back Andreas Christensen was forced off with a hamstring injury against Bournemouth and Maurizio Sarri instead picks David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger at centre-back.
Alvaro Morata has returned to training after recovering from a twisted knee, but he is not even on the bench.
Possible Chelsea starting XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic; Pedro, Hazard, Willian. Subs: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Fabregas, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Giroud.
|Leicester players
|Schmeichel, Ward, Jakupovic
|Simpson, Pereira, Morgan, Soyuncu, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Fuchs
|Iborra, Silva, Mendy, Ndidi, Choudhury, Albrighton, Maddison, Diabate, Gray, Ghezzal
|Vardy, Okazaki, Ihenacho
Jamie Vardy returns to the Leicester XI having been rested against Manchester City in midweek.
There had been concerns over the fitness of Ben Chilwell and Wilfred Ndidi, who are both struggling with knee injuries and are likely to face late fitness tests, but both are deemed fit to start.
Matty James and Daniel Amartey remain out.
Possible Leicester starting XI: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Choudhury, Mendy, Ndidi, Albrighton; Maddison; Vardy. Subs: Ward, Fuchs, Evans, Iborra, Gray, Okazaki, Iheanacho.
Betting & Match Odds
Chelsea's odds of winning are priced at 1/3 according to bet 365, while a draw is available at 9/2. A win for Leicester is priced at 10/1.
Click here to see all of bet 365's offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.
Match Preview
A win for Chelsea here would see them leapfog Spurs into third place for at least a day, with Mauricio Pochettino's side not playing until Sunday.
It would also be a great boost for Sarri's side to cement their spot in the top four for Christmas, with the race to qualify for next season's Champions League set to intensify during the second half of the season.
There are also signs that star man Hazard is approaching his best form again after various injury issues in recent weeks.
When asked whether he felt playing the Belgian as a forward could be a long-term solution, Sarri said: "I don't know. I was sure about City in that position we could do a good match. Against Brighton I started to see this situation in different matches.
"Now I want to see it against a team very compact, in low density. We have to see."
Claude Puel will know that his side must pick up some positive results over the festive period to avoid speculation over his own future at the club.
It's been a difficult season for the Foxes on and off the pitch, but with just one win in their last eight matches, Leicester will know that points on the board are a must over the coming weeks.


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In our research group, we design and synthesize large molecules (called polymers) with potentially interesting and useful properties. For example, we have worked on making compostable plastics, polymers that luminesce, and plastics that exhibit permanent porosity. Students in the group learn a lot about the synthesis and characterization of organic molecules.
Watch a video mash-up of chemistry and biology students while they work and play to see what your summer research experience in Professor Haaf's lab might look like.


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IronE.GLE wrote:That does sound good. However I'd like to keep it to 16 games at a time if possible.
Yes, 32 is a bit much at 1 time. Maybe split it in 2 or 3, so first start 11 or 16 games, 1 week later start another 11 or 16 etc.
And the best 6 to the final, with keeping your points of round 1 and the same set-up as round 1.


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Free U.S. Shipping on Orders Over $30
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Softly buff on your makeup with the MŌDA® Metallics 4PC Blended Beauty Kit. These three brushes feature metallic, textured handles that are waterproof and make a statement. Use the studded zip pouch for storage or travel.


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Barleymow Passage
- South out of Long Lane to Cloth Fair at No.45 (P.O. Directory).First mention: Horwood, 1799.Formerly called : " Cloth Fair " (Rocque, 1746).Named after a tavern of that sign. There is still a public house called " Barley Mow " at No.50 Long Lane.
A Dictionary of London. Henry A Harben. 1918.


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She's my soulmate, whom I love – Jay Z speaks on why he fought for his marriage
By Rita Chioma,
Music star, JAY-Z has opened up about how he fought for his marriage after his infidelity scandal that almost ended his marriage to Beyonce.
The 48-year old dad of 3 opened up about his unfaithfulness to his wife Beyonce while making an appearance on The Van Jones Show on CNN.
He maintained that it's all about who his heart beats for, his soulmate, and someone he loves dearly, which is no other than his wife.
He said: "You can love someone but if you haven't experienced love, and you don't understand it and you don't have the tools to move forward, then you're going to have complications and you can either address it or you can pretend until until it blows up at some point. For us, we chose to fight for our love. For our family. To give our kids a different outcome. To break that cycle for black men and women…We were never a celebrity couple, we were a couple that happened to be celebrities. We are real people. It's my soul mate, it's the person I love."
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This is an archived set of posts from another blog that I have. I'm going to put all of them into this one page, separated by the days that I worked on the dress. If you want to skip forward to a different day, use control+f to search for the next day. Enjoy!
Sewing an evening dress, a 9 day adventure.
Day 1:
Today was officially the beginning of my work on an evening dress. I will be wearing my dress on January 14, to Colorado Springs when I will be eating with a few of my friends from high school. Originally, I hadn't planned on making this dress for any special occasion, but because I wanted a black dress. Then, an occasion arose and what better time to start, especially because I received a sewing machine (my first, I might add) for Christmas this year. I've also added a title to this blog. The first title. Ever. Epic, right? Maybe not so much, but its working toward redoing the blog. Anyway, from here on out, you can look forward to seeing the steps for my dress as I work through it, pictures and all.
Here is my working station (and the floor surrounding..I tend to work better on the floor ANYWAY). Its small, but it fits my purpose just fine. This is my new sewing machine as well (thanks Mom and Dad).
I'll be using 2 different patterns to create my dress. The reason I began making clothes was because I couldn't ever find anything that fit my figure well, so now that I found something, I prefer to stick to it. I'll be using McCalls pattern M6030 for the bodice top. I opted for a sweetheart neckline because I think its not only really pretty, but I'm putting an overlay halter over it.
This is McCall's pattern M5292. This is the pattern I used to make my first dress, and I really like the fitted midriff. It accentuates that area, without clinging to my hips, so I'll be using the bodice and skirt from this pattern.
This is the material I'm using for the dress. I think its a toned down enough pattern that I can use it on the whole thing (I'm pattern shy). It's a basic calico.
This is the material for the lining of the dress. Its going to be fully lined, just because I feel that its better that way.
This is the tulle that will be poking out of the bottom of my dress. I'm going to sew it in between the lining and the outer skirt, but only the few inches that will be seen, which saves time and money (versus sewing a whole skirt of it).
And this is what I'm using for the overlay. Relatively cheap, and I got it for half price. It was a last minute idea, but I believe it will look nice. Its not in either of the patterns, and I have a separate other pattern that shows something similar, but I don't know if I will need to use it. All I'll have to do is gather it at the base, then sew it in between the bodice and midriff. Sounds simple enough, right? I'll be honest..I have no clue what this material is called.
This is the combination of all 4 fabrics, even though you won't actually be SEEING the lining. Nice, right?
These are all the cut out pieces of the patterns. 1-4 are from 6030 and 4 and 5 are from 5292. The patterns are a little small for my liking (they would probably fit EXACTLY to where they need to be), so when I cut them I extended 3, 4, and 5 a few inches just so I have some wiggle room. This allows me to better tailor the pattern to my body for that one of a kind fit. They are pinned into place over once folded calico.
And this is the finished cut out pieces. There are two of each, and I probably could have shown what they look like separated, but at the moment I was completely happy NOT separating them from the pattern pieces. In the meantime, I already pinned them all together to make the bodice, and tried it on for size to make sure I was on the right track. Everything fit nicely, and tomorrow I don't go into work until 4:30 so I'll have some time to perhaps do this exact same thing on the lining, which I'm not going to post in the blog..since the only large difference is that it is a different type/color of material. Then I suppose I'll start the actual sewing.
Day 2:
Worked on my dress again this evening. I didn't necessarily feel like it, but I only have so much time to churn this thing out. The pictures are a sign of this, as they are more artsy than actually portraying what I did tonight. I figured that would be more entertaining, considering I only cut out the front of the skirt and the lining of the whole dress. I need to go back to Joanne's tomorrow to get more fabric for the rest of the skirt because I cut out the small parts first, and didn't have enough room to cut out the big parts.
Cutting out the front of my skirt.
The front of my skirt, cut out, and in front of me as if I am wearing it.
Pinning the front of the skirt to the lining of the front of the skirt so I'm able to cut them out the same size. The lining fabric is extremely slippery, so I had to use tons of pins.
Pining all done.
And then I pricked my finger.
But life goes on. This is a great place to keep pins when you need to use your hands.
This has no real relevance to anything. Maybe to show how many pins I have to use to keep the lining fabric from moving (and I probably could have used a couple more). The only reason I took this picture is because it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland meets Nightmare Before Christmas, and I really liked it.
This looks really cool to me, and not like what it actually is. This is the level of scraps from the pattern and material after day 2. Its not a whole lot, but a bit.
And this is a dress makers wheel, and apparently you use it to mark where you need to cut, but I've yet to figure out how it actually works. If you know, pray tell, because I'd love to use it.
And thats that. Got something done, but not a whole lot. I don't know if I will have a chance to get anything done tomorrow before or after work, but I will hopefully get the majority of my sewing done on Friday when I have my day off.
Day 3:
My computer just crapped out on me. Internet froze and then I tried to fix it and then of course my attempt failed, so now I have to rewrite the part of this blog I had pllreng pictures to facebookthe middle of uploading pictures to facebook because apparently there is a monthly limit for how many pictures one can upload onto Xanga, and I usd up all of them within the last 4 days. Thats how many days its been since I began working on my dress.
I only have 2 more days off of work before the debut of my dress, so hopefully I can get most of it done on my day off tomorrow, because the next day I have off is the day before the day of the debut and that is cutting it awfully close.
So other than that, I have a little story. When cutting pieces of whatever it is one chooses to make, its always best to start with the largest pieces, and the cut the smaller pieces from the remnants. This way, the amount of fabric can be maximized, the waste minimized, and you can save money by not having to s lazy and didn'unt of fabric. Well, I was lazy and didn't want to cut my skirt out first beceuse it required special attention: I needed to make it not only longer, but bigger around. I didn't feel like doing that right off the bat, so I cut the bodice and midriff out first (the bodice is the part over the boobs, and the midriff is the waist…just to put to rest any confusion). Last night I ran out of not only lining fabric, but the part that you actually see. This wouldn't be an issue, but when I purchased the fabric originally, there were only a couple small pieces left. Hoping that there would be enough to cut out the back pieces of the skirt, I went to Joanne's today before work. There was the exact amount that I needed, but I had to use the remnants from two bolts. Had there not been enough, I have no idea what I would have done to remedy the situation and finish the dress. Anyway..alls well that ends well.
Tonight I finished cutting out the remaining pieces of the lining and the dress, with many breaks in between, as you will easily see.
The white road map that tells me where to cut when I add length or width to a pattern. I added about 4 inches to the length of the skirt, which is likely unnecssary because it seems very long when I hold it up to my waist. I also added about 12 inches to the waist so that Ihave some wiggle room to make sure I can tailor it to fit me. I feel uneasy when the pattern seems to fit exactly right, because then I can't make it any larger, and because the argest size of this pattern has smaller measurements that mine, I say better safe than sorry.
This convenient little tool could have came to great use to me and much it for. For some reason I had n could use it for. For some reason I had no idea what I would ever need this for, then all of a sudden it just hit me. DUH.
I got the fabric of the skirt cut out, and have it laying here on top of the lining. Because I changed the dimensions of the skirt, it is easier to cut it out like this, rather than trying to estimate the measurements of the changed skirt. Its especially important they match up, just because it can be a huge hasle to fix it.
Then I realized, after being off work for at least 2 hours, I was still wearing my tag. For some reason, I never remember to take it off.
Then I got bored, and I think my pen for marking dark fabric is kind of neat, so I fooled around with it. This just happens to be one of my favorite sayings/mottos/inspirations, etc. By the way…these pictures might be random sizes because I have to manually size change them. Thats all.
And then I got REALLY bored. And I got tired of cutting and pinning, etc.
Then I heard my phone vibrate and I got really excited because I thought Nathan texted me back. Turns out it was the refridgerator. Sad day.
Hooded ninja!
More boredom. But hey, you have to take a break somehow.
But I eventually got everything done. These are all the pieces of the dress, and add that to the same amount of identical pieces of lining. The bodice is 7 pieces, the midriff is 3, the skirt is 4 pieces. Those are the materials I have used up until this point.
I don't know why this photo is so blurry…kind of irritating but its too late at night to take more pictures. These are the materials I've used. From left to right and top to bottom there is a measurement tool, pins (and the loose ones are only from making the midriff and lining), scissors, dress makers tool, dress marker for dark fabric, and the two patterns I'm combining for this dress.
This is the scraps after today. We about doubled it since yesterday and that doesn't include the remnants that are large enough to potentially use for other projects.
Tomorrow I'll begin the actual sewing of the bodice and the bodice lining. Hopefully I'll be able to add some videos as well, especially since nothing I've done this far has been very exciting or video worthy. I now officially have 7 days to complete this dress. May there be a muse out there to help me with my journey.
Day 4:
So I've decided to break this up into parts, just because if I don't, it will be super long. This is also a good place to stop because I have finished about 1/3 of the entire dress. I would like to say 1/2 but not only do I have the skirt left, I have the zipper. The zipper was my nightmare on my last dress, so I'm not looking forward to it.
Anyway, I finished quite a bit. Got the lining of the bodice and the midriff sewn, as wel as the bodice and the midriff. They are sewn together and completely finished, other than the ironing part. I need to do that, but not only do I not have an iron…but I don't like ironing in the first place. As a side note, I completely wrote and finished this blog once before, but my computer froze and I lost everything.
I wish I could remember what I had said previously, but I can't, so I'm rewriting it. You'll also notice that there are more ed and taking a break pictre me getting bored and taking a break pictures. I still hope you enjoy some of them as much as I do.
This was the first time I've sewn with this machine, so I had to put the bobbin inand figure out all the settings before I could do anything. This is the bobbin mechanism under the stage. The bobbin fits on that small peg in the center. As innocent as it looks, I had a hell of a time getting the bobbin onto it. There are two removable pieces in there, and they both kept falling out. It was difficult to get them back in there because they only fit one specific way, and I couldn't e the t it to go in like that without tilting the machine backward.
This is the holder the bobbin fits into, which fits into the mechanism in the picture before this one. I wound the bake a picfew days ago, and didn't think to take a picture or video of that, but thats it there on the right hand side. Its wound with black all-purpose thread. I believe its synthetic thread, but I can't remember for sure.
It fits in, like so. In order to keep the bobbin in the holder you have to hold onto this little lever just right, or it will fall out and disaster ensues. You can't see it because my thumb is covering it, but once you place the bobbin in, you let go and it clicks. Then, its nice and happy and you can start sewing.
Then I thread the needle with the upper thread, from front to back. This is one of my favorite parts of sewing, for some reason. It could be because it is very difficult for some reason, and I'm pro. Who knows?
Next I had to draw the lower thread up through the stage using the upper thread. This usually isn't difficult, but this is about the time the bobbin mechanism started to fall apart again. I finally got it to work. As weird as it sounds, this reminds me of a stage on which ballet is performed.
At this point, I realized just how dark it was in my sewing area, so I moved my bedside lamp above where I was working. It worked wonders, better than I had imagined.
This is the dial and the corresponding chart to change the desired stitch length. Stitches 6-10 are a standard straight stitch of varying lengths, with the needle centered in the presser foot. Stitch 11 is also a standard straight stitch, but the needle is on the left of the presser foot. I used stitch number 7 to sew permanent stitching and stitch 10 to baste (temporary stitching/guide stitches), along with the gathering used on the bodice.
This is the first seam I finished. It is the seam between the bodice front and the bodice side front.
This is the back of the stitch below. I used a different one from the previous picture because the bodice has necessary puckering, so the stitches don't look as smooth.
This is the front of the previous seam. I always love the look of something right after its sewn together.
This is the sewn together bodice. It has 7 pieces total.
This is the dial do adjust the thread tension. If the tension on the thread is too great, the thread will snap. If it is too low, the thread will loop and easily be pulled undone. I adjusted it to about 2.5 for the cotton calico used for the dress, and 0 for the lining of the dress.
This is the bodice front and bodice side pieces sewn together. This is an example of clipping the edges. When a rounded area needs to be sewn, the edges need to be clipped in this fashion so that the fold will not pucked to do this, The first time I needed to do this, it didn't go very well, but subsequent times continued to get better.
This is an example of cutting notches outward. I didn't do this on my first dress, and it actually makes things a lot easier. The point of cutting these outward little triangles is to match pieces of the pattern together.
This is the finished lining. Shiny fabric!
I went to sew the lining to the bodice, but for some reason I couldn't wrap my head around it, so my first attempt gave me pieces that were upside down to each other. I don't think that will work very well.
So I finally got the pieces matched up after my moment of stupidity. Everything is pinning and read to sew.
This little white dot represents the pivot area for sewing the upper seam. Pivots allow you tu turn corners without making them rounded.
I sewed all the way from one edge of the bodice to the pivot, then stopped with the needle in the lowest position.
Next I lifted up the presser foot, and because the needle is down through the fabric, the fabric won't move. Once the presser foot is up, I turned the fabric to sew the other direction. I had another moment of stupidity when I started sewing in the direction, but it was only 1 stitch, so I corrected it easily.
You can see the 1 stitch I messed up on over the white dot. The point of this picture is not that, however, bthe clipped edge over the dot. This is so that when I turn the bodice right side out, there won't be any bunching.
Here is the "finished" bodice. I still had to add a little something at this point, but here is the sweetheart neckline that I was after.
Here is the fabric that I'm using to make the overlay of the bodice. Its sheer, as you can see. I cut this piece in half, and shortened it by about 5 inches.
And here is the rough copy of what that looks like. Obviously its not attached to the midriff, and it needs a lot of tweaking, but this is the general idea.
This is sewing the midriff pieces together (I think…whatever it says in the video is what I'm sewing…). I chose something really simple, because the location of the camera is between me and the sewing machine, making it difficult to navigate.
Here is the almost final version. I still need to tweak it where the pins are, and iron it of course, but you get what I'm doing now. Yay for halter top I never have to tie. It's a little snug, but I'll make it work one way or another.
This is what I'm wearing in that picture laid out on the floor. I did a quadruple twist of the overlap to make it snugger, hide some of the edges, and give it a little pizazz.
This is the entire finished bodice. You can't see the overlay because its hanging down, and it still needs ironed, but now the lining is there. The next step is to attach the skirt to this, but I have to sew the skirt togehter first.
This is everything I've done so far. I've spent at least the last 3 hours trying to put this blog up, and now I don't know if I want to start the skirt, or if I just want to go to bed.
Day 5:
I worked a little amount on my dress tonight, finished the skirt minus the zipper, of course. I also sewed the pieces of the skirt lining back together. I only have 4 days to finish it, and on the 4th day I have to wear it. Here is to working my ass off the next 2 days!! Ha, I really don't think it will be hard to finish. I don't work until 5:30 tomorrow and the next day, and Thursday (the day before the debut) I don't work at all, so I doubt I'll have any trouble. On a note completely unrelated to dress making, Hana and Dustin will be moving out this weekend and my friend Anton will be moving in. That means I get to have a kitty! I'm excited, but I will definitely miss living with Hana…love her!
This is the long road of pins. I definitely needed all the pins I could get on the lining though – even just keeping it flat was difficult in itself. I remembered to adjust the thread tension before I sewed the two back pieces of the lining together, but unfortunately I had to restart anyway because it didn't like the idea of being sewn.
This is the skirt of the dress and probably the best seam I've sewn so far. Its very even, very straight, and I kept a very good pace on the sewing machine.
This is the outside of the seam, without being pressed or anything, of course. When I sewed together the front piece to the two back pieces, I forgot to re adjust the thread tension, but I didn't realize until I finished the seam so I had to go back and re sew the entire seam. It really isn't as much work as I make it out to be, but it all costs time.
I did get the skirt finished tonight…or "finished" I should say. The 3 pieces are sewn together, but nothing is hemmed because I won't do that until the very end. Its pretty long, so I'll have to hem it a good deal, and its big in the waist, but I imagine that will just give me a more ample gathering. Now I couldn't decide what to do with the tulle that will be sticking out of the bottom until just now. Originally I was going to make an entire skirt out of it, but the lady who was cutting fabric at Joanne's talking me out of that (it didn't take a lot of persuading, really). Then I was going to sew it in between the skirt and lining..but I think that will make it very stiff looking. What I'm ACTUALLY going to do is sew the skirt and the lining separately, then attach the tulle to the lining, so when I move the tulle and the skirt move independently..which is what I'm looking for.
This, my friend, is the "finished" skirt laid out onto the floor. The seam you can see in the back is where the zipper will be going. I'm getting close, and I'm excited. Now, I will likely work on this tomorrow as well, but I doubt there will be as many pictures…in case you couldn't tell the numbers are dwindling. I've basically shown pictures of everything sewing, and now all I have to show is the pieces put together.
I think I mentioned it already, but only 4 more days. I got this!
Day 6:
I didn't do a whole hell of a lot on my dress tonight, but I did finish sewing together the pieces for the lining of the skirt of the dress. I also tacked together the lining to the skirt, and clipped the edges so that the zipper can be places in between the lining and the skirt. That is what you are looking at in the top two pictures. That and the fact that the lining is now attached to the skirt via basting. I didn't do any basting on my last dress, and I'll say it is helpful, but irritating and a slow process.
I finished the skirt, and here is a side view. It was still too big to fit my waist, so I gathered it to make it work. In this picture, it is sitting lower than it will when I wear the dress. Its sitting on my hips (the only thing holding it up) but it will sit at my natural waist when I attach it to the bodice. I put the bodice/midriff on for a test run, and I'm very excited.
One concern I have been having, was that the raw edge of the overlay would ravel. I thought about it for a while tonight, and came to the conclusion that I might try using a flame. In seamless clothing, they cut it with a laser, which not only cuts the fabric in the desired pattern, but also burns the edges so the item doesn't fray. Because this is a synthetic fabric, it would make sense that the edge would melt to resist fraying. Well, I tried it (pictured below) and it seemed to work. In this picture, the top portion is burned, and the bottom portion is not. The edge will be hidden on the dress, so you won't see it anyway.
And this is the dreaded next step…ish. On my to do list: attach skirt to midriff/bodice, hem skirt, add zipper, adjust fit.
This picture (and the ones that follow) are the accessories I bought to wear with this dress.
Shoes: Rouge, originally priced at $24.99, purchased at 5-7-9 for $7.00
Clutch: Icings by Claires, originally priced at $22.00, purchased as "out of stock" for $0.01
Hairpiece: Icings by Claires, $6.50
Card holder: Icing's by Claires, $8.00
3 days left!!!
Day 7:
Its almost time to wrap it all up. I only have tomorrow and a little bit of time on Friday to finish, but the good news is all I have to do is hem it, add the tulle, do the zipper, and do a little finishing touches here and there.
This is the zipper I bought from Joannes today. It was about 4 dollars, and is a 22 inch long invisible zipper. I used an invisible zipper on my last dress, and I liked the way it turned out, so I opted for the same. I'll have to shorten it by about 4 or 5 inches, but thats a normal thing to do.
On a side note, I'm watching an episode of the X-files, and I've decided that one of the actors is one of my favorite. I've seen 2 or 3 movies he plays in, but the most rememberable is in Identity. He plays the character with multiple identities, and his eyes are crazy and move back and forth.
Back to sewing…
Hana helping me hem the lining of my dress. The lining, for some reason, had uneven edges…so I wasn't able to just adjust the hem myself. I needed her help to pull it up high enough so you can't see it poking out from under my skirt. I haven't sewn it yet, but I'm sure she did a fine job.
It doesn't look even, and its funny shaped, but this is it before I sew. Obviously I'll cut the excess and it won't look like this once I'm finished.
And, to make it allllllllllll full of awesomeness, I'm almost out of thread. I don't have money to buy thread. I don't think I have enough thread to even finish one hem, so I'll have to go get some more tomorrow. I was hoping to finish the hemming tonight, but I had issues with the sewing machine. The tension was off, and I couldn't fix it with just the adjuster wheel, so I had to manually change it on the bobbin. Once that was fixed, I did have to adjust it with the wheel. This was all after I started sewing the hem on the skirt. I got half way through and noticed something wasn't right, and then realized that it was looping, so I had to remove the entire seam.
I guess this isn't all of what I did today. I sewed the skirt to the bodice today, which was a nice advancement. I messed up the first time, but realized it half way through so I was able to go back and correct it. I also pinned up the entire hem on the skirt, and bought the zipper of course. I tried it on and it fits well, so I clipped some excess edges to make the zipper easier.
I also decided to go back to Icing's and exchange the card holder I bought for another one. The first one was purple, and I chose that because I thought it would be nice and subtle with the black, but once I bought the red pumps and the red flower for my hair, I realized the purple would clash. This one is a little fatter, so it will hold more cash if need be, but they were the same price.
Wish me luck! I have 2 days to go, one full day off tomorrow, and I'm determined to finish it. Its gonna be a looonnnngggg day, but I got this. Then I'm going to take a few days off, and I believe my next project will be making a nightie. I don't have to start my next piece until March 1, so that will give me a good month and a half off. Then, I believe I will work on Hana's wedding dress come May. It won't be the ACTUAL wedding dress, but an identical test run to make sure I'm able to even accomplish the task.
Now, I believe I will take the chance to go to bed early. Goodnight.
Day 8:
I'm basically done with my dress. All I need to do now is finish adjusting the hemline of the lining, and make some minor adjustments on the overlay, but other than that its done. I did a test run of the tulle sticking out the bottom, and I decided I didn't want to add it. That was the only step I had left. I also don't really have many pictures tonight, partially because I'm so ready to be completely done with it and partially because I didn't work on it very much or do anything extremely exciting.
I bought an ironing board and iron today at target. I couldn't wear my dress unless it was ironed, and that is what I'm doing here…obviously. Then I put it on and sat on the couch watching TV…and it got wrinkled again, so I'm going to iron it once more before I go to Springs tomorrow.
On a side note…my roommate just woke up and is basically sleep eating as I write this. It reminds me of my mother, because she always wakes up and sleep eats. Hopefully Hana doesn't wake up tomorrow morning surrounded in whatever she was eating.
Other than the fact that this picture has awful quality…while I was ironing, the water from inside the iron dripped onto my foot. It was extremely hot, and started to burn my foot so I yanked my sock off and proceeded to scream ow repeatedly.
And this…is my dress. Two views via mirror for you. I hate taking mirror pictures, but with no better way to take them so late at night, this is what I have to do.
I only have one more set of pictures to post before I conclude this article of clothing. I'll try to post those tomorrow morning or early afternoon..they will be of the dress in its debut with accessories, before I leave to Springs.
Only a short while longer!
Day 9 [The Final Dress]:
So its been a week and a day since I've finished my dress…even though it feels like its been about a month. I've also been extremely busy with school, work, and my social life which is suddenly booming. That aside, I got an evening off tonight all by myself so other than doing dishes, a little organizing, and some laundry..I decided I would put in some time on the blog and finish this so I wouldn't have t think about it and feel obligated to finish.
I've never been fond of mirror pictures. In all actuality I extremely despise them, but I was running late to dinner and there was a chance that these would be the only pictures I had.
I took a series…a little different angle here, a little bigger there. You know.
Before I left the house and the wind or cold or just life attacked me and ruined the look. Notice the big scary looking thing in the upper right hand corner. :S
I'm almost done with season 4 of the X-Files. I won't finish tonight, but maybe tomorrow!!!
Here are my lovely shoes with my toe nails painted. I get my large ankles from my mom. Thanks mom, haha.
Here is a last minute accessory choice. I bought this ring at my store right around the time I started working there. It was the first big ring I purchased.
And this is my hair in the hair piece I bought. I just pulled up one side and used the flower to clip it.
And I don't like full body pictures of myself either. But…here is the back of the dress. My lovely boss Jenny took these pictures for me when I went in to work to show her and Hana.
Here is the drive to Denver. I got stuck in rush hour on my way to Colorado Springs.
Here is my clutch, with accessories inside. Notice safety pins, eye shadow, Music=Life pomegranate chapstick, eyeliner, cell phone, and card holder.
And here is another awful picture of me. But…there is the dress! Ta-da! Its a little big at the hem between the midriff and skirt, but thats easily dealt with. Once I get up some more will power I'll fix that.
And I really like how it looks with my pea coat on.
I hope you enjoyed this installment of my sewing blog thing whatever (thats the technical term, by the way). I do post updates about a ton of things, so please check back. In no more than a month and a half I will begin my next article of clothing, so stay tuned for that. Otherwise….


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Home › Mens › Digital › Casio › Casio Collection Digital Chronograph Stainless Steel Bracelet Mens Watch A168WA-1YES
The Collection A168WA-1YES from Casio is a unisex casual watch with a stainless steel bracelet. The A168WA-1YES has a a digital Lcd display and a day & date display. The case of the Casio A168WA-1YES has a width of 35mm, excluding the crown, and has a thickness of 9mm. The case of the A168WA-1YES is made from stainless steel and has a chrome finish. The Casio A168WA-1YES has a stainless steel bracelet and fastens with a three-fold clasp. The A168WA-1YES is rated 30m water resistant (3 atmospheres) and suitable for light bathing but not swimming or diving. The Casio A168WA-1YES also features; alarm function with hourly chime, digital stopwatch, auto calendar, 12/24 hour time display, push-button light, . All of our watches are supplied in the manufacturer's packaging and with a full manufacturer's warranty.
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*We deliver to Germany, France**, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Denmark and Spain.
** Continental France only, does not include French territories outside of mainland Europe.


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Make Club Discussions available on the Strava App
Trying to work out best way of communicating with my club about weekly rides. We currently have a weekly email which has mixed success. I've tried linking the email to strava this week to get people to discuss availability on the club page. It works ok, 60% of readers have posted on the discussion thread, but it's so short in functionality I don't think people will keep using it. It should at least have the option to add photos I think.
Are there any improvements planned for Discussions? Would also be really useful to have integrated into mobile apps as that's what most people use on a day to day basis.


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"It was the poet William Butler Yeats who suggested that Synge come to these islands. 'Go to Aran'."
This photograph was taken on Inis Meáin, Aran Islands on the path to Synge's Chair by Andy Haslam for The New York Times.
The New York Times published a fantastic and honest article on the Aran experience written by now travel writer and actor Andrew McCarthy . There are many quotes that stand out in is article but this one stands out the most to us "Part of the considerable allure of Aran lies in what it lacks."
You can view the full article HERE. Doolin Ferry travels to the Aran Islands daily from March to October, come write your own story.


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The Eastern Visayas is rich in mineral resources such as bauxite, nickel, uranium(in Samar), gold, silver, manganese, magnesium, bronze, clay, coal, limestone, chromite, limestone, pyrite and sand, gravel.
About Eastern Visayas, From Wikipedia
Eastern Visayas is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region VIII. It consists of three main islands, Samar, Leyte and Biliran. The region has six provinces, one independent city and one highly urbanized city namely, Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc and Tacloban. The highly urbanized city of Tacloban is the Eastern Visayas Regional Center (EVRC). These provinces and cities occupy the easternmost islands of the Visayas group of islands.
We are one of the biggest manufacturers in Aggregate Processing Machinery for the sand & gravel, quarry, mining, construction and recycling industries. Equipments include crusher, mobile crusher, complete crusher, feeding & conveying, screening & washing, track mounted mobile crusher, beneficiation equipment, grinding equipment, crushing equipment, jaw crusher, cone crusher, impact crusher, complete quarry plant, complete grinding plant. We provide personalized services to users in the Philippines.
If you would like to find ore crushing equipment or aggregate equipment in Eastern Visayas, please contact us and we can offer you complete ore crushing line.
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Every circulated coin has a grading level at which serious rarity kicks in and for us that's the point at which a collectible becomes an investment piece. The point at which rarity kicks in for the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is Extremely Fine or higher.
To highlight the extreme scarcity of quality '55 Sovereigns we make the point that the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign in the upper quality levels (Extremely Fine and above) is about four times as scarce as the 1852 Adelaide Pound in a comparable quality level.
And it's a fair comparison, the 1855 Sovereign is the nation's first gold sovereign officially sanctioned by the British Government, the 1852 Adelaide Pound is the nation's first gold coin struck as an interim measure to resolve a currency crisis in South Australia.
And yet the price levels are comparable. That's an anomaly that has to be addressed and in our view, coins such as this 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign have the potential to double in price.
At Coinworks we have a very deep respect for history and this is clearly evident in the style of coins that we offer. Highly historical coins have a relevance beyond the industry. They are pieces that appeal to the widest possible buying audience which is why at Coinworks, they are always our preference. And it is history that underpins demand and fosters price growth.
The 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is history that you can hold in your hand. It is history that can be passed to the next generation. Its status as Australia's first sovereign ensures that it will never be forgotten. As time passes, its historical value can only increase.
© Copyright: Coinworks


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India beat Italy by 3-0 and qualify for Quarter final
Ray of joy for Indian Hockey Lover's as India Women Hockey team crushed Italy by 3-0 and reached quarter Final. World No 10 India produced a good all-round display. Check the highlights below: Quarter 1: With the whistle from referee first quarter begins and Indian queens looked aggressive from the start and dominate the ball


text: The Belleville Middle School staff acknowledged its Students-of-the-Month for December in an assembly in the commons on December 20th. Their nominating teachers recognized them with a certificate. The students also received a Catty Shack buck to use at the school store and had the opportunity to add their hand prints to the wall in the Middle School Commons. Congratulations to this great group of Wildcats!


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Dementia Awareness
Who should attend:
This course is aimed at health and social care workers who work with people with dementia.
The course will include:
- What is Dementia?
- Caring for someone with dementia
- Activities
- Communication
- Eating and drinking
- Dressing and personal care
- Washing and dressing
- Using the toilet and continence problems
- Managing unusual/difficult/aggressive behaviour
Course duration and assessment:
This training course is available in a full day or half day format, both.


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i wish that was something i aimed for as a writer. it's hoped for, we all secretly long to be understood / to have an audience / to be known as that person when specific creative aspects are discussed (in a positive manner!)
from the time we pick up a pen until we lay it down and all times in between. we have them / it's okay for us to admit.
but when you know in your heart that you are meant to make heavy, laborious words float as lubraciously as possible / knowing full well that a kink for the densely populated poem is not a favored classroom subject / then you equally avow yourself to invisibility. to anonymity / full eclipse. you worship hermitage – so buck up, it comes with the territory.
yet still, you study the works of others who write of similar themes / a popular others / you see the accessibility in their approach, their skill. you see both the formula and the craft desired by peers (if not "the people")… and yet…
maybe it's because you come from a stubborn people / your penchant for a certain amount of hardheadedness / you blame it on Ali being the patron saint of your city… going against the grain with your dance / hoping, at last, for the grain to yield.
to float like a bee.
to sting like / a butterfly in flames.
and this is how i lose you.
well, shit. we all can't fit in the parade. someone, afterwards, must always sweep the streets / keeping track of the precious remnants found in trash / be the apparition for an imperfect memory.
i was charged, once, to write of snow;
i wrote of winter / on the surface of the sun / of drinking rum from a glamorous woman's boot (and replacing it to heel before she awoke) / (or was she clamorous?) / (( i can't recall )) … whichever, i'm forever in my own head / forever dawn of the dead in dialogue
but these brains are sour. dear zombie.
okay, that's weird… poet goes for introspection and a writing prompt shows up. what was i to expect, this deprived of sleep? that's what brought me here…
but what is your excuse? well… we can wallow as one if you like, just please keep your hands to yourself. and don't watch me. and don't you dare utter a single solitary word. unless you hum.
blink to me in morse code a shared song.


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Contact: Kris Shewmake, M.D., Operation New Life, 501-351-4329, email@example.com; Jim Phillips, Director, Operation New Life, 501-374-8477, email@example.com; Caryn Sabes Hacker, DCSW, Freelance Writer, 239-404-5820, firstname.lastname@example.com, www.carynsolutions.com; Written by: Caryn Sabes Hacker, Freelance Writer
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Dec. 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- They moved, in single file, through the crowded hospital lobby filled with hundreds of Honduran poor. The injured and sick; the somber and emotional; the old and the young waited in long lines, as they did each day, and hoped to receive a precious appointment at one of the various hospital clinics. White lab coats fluttered like the wings of angels as the medical teams, led by Little Rock surgeons, Kris Shewmake, M.D. and Barry Sorrells, M.D., moved into position and prepared for another day of free life-changing surgeries for the poor at Hospital Escuela and DIME Hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The twenty-seven member team consisted of nine American doctors including four surgeons, one radiologist, one pathologist, two operating-room nurses, one physical therapist and two medical company distributors. Additional participants offered the benefit of prayer for patients and families. Organized by Operation New Life, this Christian interfaith group is intent on elevating healthcare in Honduras through teaching, lecturing and performing surgeries at no cost and in partnership with local physicians. Since its conception in 2001, nine different teams have traveled to Honduras to work with that nation's impoverished inhabitants to improve housing, dental and medical services.
Honduras, the poorest country in the western hemisphere (second only to Haiti) has a population of 7.5 million. Average monthly family income ranges between $3,000.00 (upper class) to $150.00 (lower class). 40% of the population is impoverished and the average life span is 60 years. Plastic Surgeon and Craniofacial Specialist, Dr. Kris Shewmake, co-created this group with Jim Phillips from the Love Truth Care (LTC) Ministries, a multi-denominational group and additional surgeons. Following a Christian Mission trip to Honduras in 2000, Shewmake felt a call to serve. "I had never seen such stark poverty before. I had been exposed to poverty but not like this" Shewmake remarked. "Additionally, I fell in love with this gracious, gentle people and I wanted to make a difference here." The quality of available medical care is antiquated and seriously substandard, at best, and present medical technology is equivalent to that of the United States forty years ago. Medical equipment is often in disrepair and unable to be useful in patient care. This is particularly true in the over-crowded public hospitals, such as Hospital Escuela. DIME, a private hospital, offers improved care in a newer facility and is attempting to relieve some pressure for needed medical treatment for the country's large poor population. "We are trying to address the doctor's complaints of lack of knowledge and lack of equipment by working with Operation New Life," states DIME Hospital's General Manager, Claudia Arevalo-Mays. "Ventilators, ultrasounds, electro-surgical units and diagnostic equipment require parts and trained repair technicians" remarked Richard Eckerd, team member and CEO of BioMedical Solutions. Eckerd assisted the team by repairing equipment necessary for surgical success and improved patient care. His goal is to offer training to Honduran technicians by creating special internships with his company. Radiologist and Arkansas native, Jana Crain, M.D., traveled from San Francisco to lend her skills to the group. "They need basic radiology equipment. Even their X-ray machines are outdated or broken. Hospital Escuela, with its 1800 beds, does not even have an MRI machine" she stated.
Dr. Shewmake performed cleft lip, cleft palate and several more complex pediatric congenital facial deformity repairs during the group's eight day trip. "At home, there are 1,000 other surgeons that can repair a cleft lip but in Honduras, that surgery may never happen at all. There is a need and a desire for physicians to fill that gap. The fit is perfect." Additionally, the group performed arthroscopic and joint replacement surgeries prior to their trip back to Little Rock on December 9, 2007. Orthopedist Dr. Barry Sorrells, who performed knee and hip replacement surgeries alongside colleague Dr. Fred Buechel, Sr., stated that he was attracted to this opportunity because of his love of teaching and instruction. "This is a chance to partner with and pass on information and skills to the Honduran surgeons, so that after our team departs, they will have these new skills to use with their patients, even in our absence." Buechel, the developer of mobile-bearing knee replacement and co-owner of Endotec Orthopedic Device Company commented that "the strong spirit of the Honduran patients and their extreme gratitude for our efforts to help them make our presence in Honduras particularly worthwhile. The donation of time and surgical skills benefits both doctor and patient." "The Honduran doctors are limited by their resources" added Dr. Robert McGinley, "not by their commitment to their patients or by their abilities. They need more and better equipment." Dr. McGinley performed ten arthroscopic procedures during the weeklong experience. He is creating a residency program for Honduran doctors in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
With donated equipment from international companies Endotec, DePuy and Synthes, this group performed twenty-two surgeries in seven days. Additionally, a Learning Center was held at DIME Hospital as live surgery was broadcast to a conference room where local surgeons were able to learn new skills through lecture and demonstration. Through this educational approach, Ms. Arevalo-Mays hopes the public "will have a better opportunity for improved quality medical care." LTC Ministries' Director, Jim Phillips, stated that "It is very gratifying to see the poor receiving medical care, medical personnel receiving training and equipment and team member's lives being transformed. As additional surgeons volunteer and needed supplies are donated, we plan to bring medical teams to this poor country each month."
"Everyone in this team is an eagle," stated scrub nurse Donnie Valley. "That's the difference between eagles and other birds. Eagles soar. They spread their wings and soar."
For additional information regarding volunteering or donating supplies, please contact Jim Phillips at firstname.lastname@example.com or 501-374-8477. Speakers bureau also available.