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Bastian Pastoors talked about his approach to artistically modified virtual environments. Nice take on lighting, materials and mesh design.
Bastian Pastoors talked about his approach to artistically modified virtual environments. Nice take on lighting, materials and mesh design.
Hi, my name is Bastian Pastoors. I am a 3d Artist from Germany with a focus on environment work. After a year in London I am now based in Berlin again, where I currently work with Wooga.
In London, I have been supporting the great environment team at Sony London Studio on VRWorlds. Before that, I had the pleasure of being a part (and sometimes the sole member) of the 3d art team at Happy Tuesday – a self-funded indie studio in Berlin for about 4 years. Our main project there was Hero Defense.
Dentist Environment
When I was looking for a new private project I came across this photo of an empty and slightly run down bay room that I had saved a very long time ago and decided to create something based on this – a reverse image search turned up nothing, so unfortunately, I can't credit the original source. As the space in the photo already had a certain uneasiness to it and I wanted to add an interesting hero prop as the focal point in the center while staying in the real world instead of going for sci-fi or fantasy, a dentist chair seemed like a good fit.
No one feels comfortable at the dentist's really.
To take a more interesting angle on this scene that is mostly going for eeriness and uncomfortableness in its subject matter, I thought it would be fun to clash it with a cartoony, casual, almost cute treatment to the models. This juxtaposition became the main theme for the piece. Initially, I planned to also do the texturing in a more toony/hand-painted look, but after some experimentation I decided the realistic materials were a fitting continuation for the overall appeal of the scene.
Mesh Production
The first step when creating anything is always to go out – or in my case more often than not to google – and collect reference. I like using Pureref to collect and arrange my reference images because it allows me to very easily arrange, scale and crop my images without the overhead that this kind of ref sheet creation would have in Photoshop.
With most objects, like the chair for example, I prefer to not just use one specific object to recreate, but select a few with a similar appeal and basis in time and culture etc. This way I can first of all reality-check my preconceived notions of what this object I am creating actually looks like and find what these different examples have in common. Finding and taking note of the most important features to recognize an object is especially important if you want to create a stylized representation. You want to highlight the more iconic bits and downplay areas that conflict with your interpretation of the object and the attitude you want its shape to convey. It is a bit like drawing a caricature of someone in the way that you push and pull on the shapes to highlight what is already there and hinted at in the original.
The process itself for me is purely 3d and very traditional in the approach. I start with a very rough low poly blockout of the main masses by laying in primitives or drawing out shapes with the Pen tool.
When I am happy with the basic shape, I turn to looking at the references and refining the model and adding more detail while making sure not to hurt the readability and flow of the main forms.
I often use sub-d meshes as my high polys to later bake from, they allow me to easily define my shapes with just a few edges and let the pc do the hard work of turning them into nicely flowing forms. Since the goal is not to create perfect sub-d meshes, but to get surfaces that will be baked down to lowpoly meshes later, it is fine to be a bit more relaxed about "clean" topology and intersections etc. Especially, if you consider the size some of the details will have in the texture and how few pixel will be displaying a pinching that you can spend hours getting rid of.
This very liberal approach to the highpoly unfortunately means that I don't have my almost finished lowpoly ready like I would with some other workflows. But in this case with the style I was going for here, this was a tradeoff I was willing to make.
I use Farfarer's Vertex Normal Toolkit in Modo in which I can very conveniently work with the face weighted normals workflow using its Area Weighting feature – beveling the hard edges and tweaking the vertex normals to sit perpendicular to the main face instead of being averaged between it and the bevel.
Since this was just a personal for fun project without a deadline and budget, I had the luxury of just seeing were the scene would take me after the initial basic reference and idea of the space and the main focal point.
I recreated the room layout based on my reference and added and arranged my hero props – the chair, the sink and the lamp. I did this first layout with my blockout meshes in Modo before I had even decided that I would eventually move the scene into UE4 for the rendering. After I had created the lowpoly meshes and textures and a rough style for these elements, I started setting it all up in Unreal with materials and a first lighting pass.
Then I started filling in the surrounding areas with secondary props like the wooden floorboards and the cupboards and just layered smaller elements to add this extra bit of detail. Similar to the creation of a single asset, when filling in the space in the environment it is, in my opinion, important to create a structured hierarchy of importance for objects and to not just dump details everywhere, but create a rhythm of empty resting places for the viewer's eyes and busier areas to explore.
I have built my texturing pipeline for this project around DDD. I decided import my lowpoly mesh and normal and AO maps that I baked in Modo and let 3DO take care of the other maps to easily have them how DDD expects. Using Quixel's materials as a base I layered them and changed the masking until I got to a look that fit in with the style I was going for: right in middle between stylization and realism. This meant going into every single material, in some cases combining layers of different materials and a lot of fine tuning in the masks.
The adjustments were mostly about lowering the texture intensity and finding a good scale to have a lot less noise in the material and rather opting for bolder, larger shapes. I saved these tweaked materials as presets for easy reuse of other assets. This was especially helpful with grime and dust. Reapplying these presets to my various props gave them the appearance of having aged in the same surroundings and for the same time, unifying the scene.
The walls started with my base meshes that I created to block out the space. I had this plan to use reduced high poly meshes with tiling textures, so I took them into zBrush to give them a quick and dirty sculpting pass, just converting my meshes into dynamesh and digging into them with a combination of clay tubes and trim dynamic. I didn't add too much detail and didn't take too much care since this sculpt really was just a step to get an interestingly shaped low poly mesh without having to carefully model it myself.
When I was happy with the sculpts, I crunched them down to a reasonable vertex count with decimation master and some manual cleanup of areas that got too artifacted from the reduction. I now had my wall building blocks. I used the Area Weighting again in the Vertex Normal Toolkit to get cleaner shading without the lowpoly look of hard edges and the destroyed areas muddying up shading of the flat areas of the wall.
I then created a vertex color blended material in UE4 – blending between the painted plaster and the concrete/brick. With this material I was able to add enough variation in the wall's appearance by not only painting in the destroyed areas but also blending some damage into the rest of the wall, so that – together with the props and lighting – I could just mirror the same meshes over to reuse them on both sides.
For the tiling materials themselves I created sculpts in zBrush: some very subtle plaster, rougher concrete and a brick that I then build a brick wall out of in Modo to combine with the concrete. I then baked these in Modo again and used ddo to create textures out of them. Additionally, I baked height maps as well that I combined and tweaked a bit to get a mask to drive the blend material.
The rubble bits had a similar a approach as the walls, only that I did not take the detour through zBrush, but only used Modo's noise falloff to create a few shapes that I then poly-crunched again and textured with the same tiling material as the walls.
Soft Skin and the White Painted Wood
I think I have to give most of the credit for the nice soft shading to UE4. I added a lot of reflection spheres around the scene to get more specific reflections for the individual objects. I think that these together with the screen space reflections really help to get a nice level of realism into how surfaces interact with light and their surroundings.
Additionally, on the cupboard for example, I think that the face weighted normals workflow really helps with giving you nice soft bevels without the broken gradient over flat faces look.
I had a close look at what the arch-vis-guys are doing and how they are tweaking their lightmap render settings to get great bounce light results for interior lighting, similar to what you get from offline renders.
The light setup I built up isn't really that complex then in the end. It is just one strong directional light that is spilling in through the windows supported by Lightmass Portals as well as an HDRI skylight from a Marmoset Pano Pack. On top of that there are only the two point lights at the light bulbs, adding an extra touch of warmth and highlighting to the main area of the scene.
Overall it is a very reality driven lighting setup without additional fill lights or bouncers. Just letting the light that comes through the windows bounce around gives me a very soft and natural result. Here I also found it important to adjust the exposure level – for my actually very dark environment – instead of adding more lights to the scene, taking advantage of the hdr rendering pipeline.
For the cleanness and detail in the lighting, it probably also helped that I created a rather small and contained scene and was able to crank up the lightmap resolution more and place more reflection spheres then you would be able to afford in the production of a whole game.
Of course, I also added color correction on top of that with a custom Color Lookup Table that I created by taking a few screenshots of my lit scene into Photoshop and tweaking the final look there with a few adjustment layers.
Unfortunately, I can't really say how much production time went into this, because the work on my personal projects is often spread out over longer periods of time with me trying out a few things here and there and taking longer breaks as well. So I never really took note of how long things took in this.
From a technical point of view, I don't see any reason why it should not be possible to do a bigger project or a whole game in this style. You would probably have to reduce the number of reflection spheres and lightmap resolution a bit, but that shouldn't break the visual aesthetic.


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The study of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is about reading and writing--and much more. Students major in English at UNL to better understand the world that we live in, to develop critical thinking and analytic skills, and to write in ways appropriate to multiple contexts and audiences.
English majors study literature, but also history, popular culture, digital media, and film. They engage with these texts imaginatively, studying genre and craft in order to write novels, essays, poetry, memoirs, or film scripts. Or they might engage with these texts for the purpose of social critique, to discover the ways culture impacts our understanding of ourselves and others so that we can motivate social and political change.
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Kenneth is an English major in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He likes to do undergraduate research and hopes to be a professor some day.
Hannah is an English major in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Someday, she would like a career in the publishing industry. She was an intern with the University of Nebraska Press.
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subset: commoncrawl


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This patio area with veneer stone fire pit and seat wall is yet one more way to enjoy this lush Ankeny backyard setting. Up above, there is a Trex Transcend deck and screen porch for elevated open air or enclosed spaces for enjoying the views. Or a cup of coffee with the morning paper or a good book.
Go Outside and Play! Decks, porches, patios and more by Archadeck of Central Iowa.


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Bills wrap-up training camp still working through quarterback competition
Josh Allen, once again, works with the second-team offense
Pittsford, NY (WGR) - Training camp for the Buffalo Bills ended exactly the way it started: on a hot, sunny day on the grass field at St. John Fisher College, and no closer to knowing who will be the starting quarterback Week 1 at the Baltimore Ravens.
All of the questions we had about the position back on July 26, when the team opened camp, still remain exactly 20 days later.
The only thing that's changed is that Josh Allen ended camp by primarily working with the second-team offense. He started with the third-team. Allen, once again, was the second quarterback in on Wednesday, the last practice before the team's preseason game against the Browns, which is a good indication that he will see the field with that group Friday night in Cleveland.
Nathan Peterman and A.J. McCarron, once again, rotated with the first- and third-team offenses. Wednesday, it was McCarron's turn with the first unit.
There were a few other interesting personnel developments Wednesday:
- Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin only took one rep to begin practice in 11-on-11, then did not see the field the rest of the day. He stood on the sidelines with his helmet off watching.
- Linebacker Keenan Robinson saw time with the first unit, rotating in on the weakside with Matt Milano.
- Rookie cornerback Taron Johnson also rotated first team reps at the nickel spot with Philip Gaines.
- Several players sat out due to ailments, including defensive end Trent Murphy (groin), defensive tackle Marquavius Lewis (ankle), and wide receiver Brandon Reilly (ribs). Wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud (undisclosed) wore a red non-contact jersey.
The team will head back to Orchard Park Wednesday afternoon, then fly to Cleveland on Thursday and play the Browns Friday night. They'll be off on Saturday and back on the practice field Sunday at 2:15 p.m. All practices are now back at One Bills Drive and closed to the public.
Follow me on Twitter @SalSports


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This is probably old news, but these are In-n-Out's secret menu items!
Is that it? Not quite.
2×4 - A "2×4″ is a burger with two beef patties and four slices of cheese. You can also order a "3×3," a "4×2″ or any other meat/cheese combo your little heart desires. In-N-Out changed their policy and now a 4×4 is as large as you can get.
2xMeat - (Also known as a "Double Meat") Two beef patties, no cheese. You can order any n-by-Meat, where n is an integer less than or equal to 4. Triple the meat, triple the pleasure.
Animal Style - A mustard-cooked beef patty with additional pickles, cheese, spread and grilled onions diced up and mixed together on the grill before getting dumped on your burger.
Cut-In-Half - No big trick here. Ask for any burger to be cut in half, and it will be.
Flying Dutchman - Two beef patties, two slices of cheese. That's it. No lettuce. No onions. No bun. No nuthin'. Word on the street is that this item was created for people to feed to their dogs at one of the original In-N-Out's with walk-up service.
Grilled Cheese - A cheeseburger without the "burger."
Mustard Grilled - They paint your burger with mustard before grilling just like with Animal Style. They just don't dump the rest of the stuff on top. Pretty tasty if you like mustard.
Protein Style - Any burger you want wrapped in lettuce instead of that carbohydrate-laden bun. Great if you're doing Adkins.
Veggie Burger - Just like the Grilled Cheese, except with no cheese. Also known as a "Wish Burger" — presumably a reference to a song from 1957 by the Chips.
Extra Toast - Leaves your bread on the grill a tad longer resulting in "crispy buns," which is not as dirty as it sounds. Can be ordered with any burger. You can also get the bun lightly toasted or untoasted. Not a good idea though. They toast the buns so that they have some rigidity and don't get soggy by the condiments.
Animal Style Fries - All the same great stuff that's on an Animal Style Burger, dumped on an order of fries instead.
Cheese Fries - Fries with cheese on top. I assume this is why they call it "cheese fries."
Fries Light - Fries not cooked as long as regular. For that great "I'm eating a raw potato" taste. Not my favorite, but hey, different strokes for different folks.
Fries Well-Done - You know those delicious little brown crispy fries that you find in the bottom of the bag sometimes? Wouldn't it be great if you could get an entire order of them? Your welcome.
Neapolitan Shake - All three shake flavors in one delicious cup. Because shakes are so thick, the flavors stay separated. Surprisingly good..
Choco-Vanilla Swirl - "Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony…"
Root-Beer Float - Even old hands at the secret menu are often surprised when you order this item and actually receive it. Great summer treat.
Tea-Aid - Half tea, half lemonade. Yes, we know this is an "Arnold Palmer." Stop telling us. I suspect In-N-Out is also aware this is an Arnold Palmer. I also suspect you would need to pay Mr. Palmer money to call it that, so In-N-Out chooses not to.
Lemon-Up - Half lemonade, half 7-up or Sprite. Not all suicides are created equal, and this one tastes pretty good.
The In-N-Out version of a "secret sauce." It's a bit like Thousand Islands dressing, but there are other things in there, too. You can get a big extra packet of it just by asking.
Grilled Onions - You can get them "whole" (one big slice) or chopped.
Peppers - You can ask for a packet, or get them diced on the bottom of your burger by asking for "chopped chilis." Several sites refer to them as jalapeños. They look like banana peppers to me.
Extra tomatoes, extra lettuce, extra onion - Do I really need to explain this? I mean really?
No Salt - You can order both your burger and fries with no salt added. This makes them taste worse, but they are marginally better for you. If you are really worried about your health, you're in the wrong restaurant.
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In-n-Out secret menu
Posted 28 November 2010 - 10:24 AM
Posted 28 November 2010 - 05:15 PM
Whoa! I've heard of some of those (like to get animal style fries every once in a while), but there's a lot of secret stuff! Thanks!
Click here to tell your friends and family about the Sacramento, CA Online Community!
Posted 14 February 2011 - 11:57 AM
Awesome, I didn't know they would honor some of these requests.
Alley Heating and Air Staff
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John Quincy Adams, on his birthday
History - American
Released - Jul 03, 2017
July 11 is John Quincy Adams' birthday. That's John QUINCY Adams, sixth president of the United States, and son of John Adams, second president of the United States.
It's the exceptional leader who foresees coming events and foretells the likely outcome. John Quincy Adams was one of these rare individuals. His sterling character is portrayed in the movie AMISTAD. More about that in a moment.
As early as March 1820, as secretary of state under President James Monroe, Adams told his cabinet colleagues, in connection with the passage of the Missouri Compromise, that slavery was inconsistent with the Declaration of Independence. Adams was not ready to say so publicly, but that night he wrote in his diary: "If slavery be the destined sword in the hand of the destroying angel which is to sever the ties of this Union, the same sword will cut in sunder the bonds of slavery itself." As "calamitous" as a civil war would be, "so glorious would be its final issue, that, as God shall judge me, I dare not say that it is not to be desired."
After the cabinet meeting ended, Adams walked home with Secretary of War John Calhoun, the Yale educated former congressman from South Carolina and fierce slavery advocate. Adams later recorded what Calhoun had said to him, "that the principles which I had avowed were just and noble; but that in the Southern country . . . they were always understood as applying only to white men." Manual labor was "the proper work of slaves," Calhoun said. "No white person could descend to that." Adams, however, said he "could not see things in the same light. It is, in truth, all perverted sentiment—mistaking labor for slavery, and dominion for freedom."
The Missouri Compromise made a decided impression on Adams' thinking. He realized the Constitution's bargain between freedom and slavery "is morally and politically vicious, inconsistent with the principles upon which alone our Revolution can be justified; cruel and oppressive." By treating slaves not as persons "to be represented themselves" but as a reason to award "their masters . . . nearly a double share of representation" in Congress, the bargain ensured "that this slave representation has governed the Union."
During the 1830s and 1840s, after Adams' four years as president, he argued that the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution, was the nation's founding document—"the ark of your covenant," as he told his fellow citizens in a famous 1839 speech. Abraham Lincoln after him would arrive at the same conclusion.
That same year, speaking before the Supreme Court, Adams cited the Declaration of Independence once again, arguing for the freedom of 39 African captives liberated from the slave ship Le Amistad. The scene is featured in the 1997 motion picture, AMISTAD. It's a powerful drama that underscores the cruel and inhuman acts of converting innocent free men and women into slaves. The movie features the courtroom drama that freed the captives, and the key role played by Adams. It's a case of noblesse oblige at its very best—men of high station helping those caught up in a living nightmare—of disinfecting a monstrous miscarriage of justice before the judicious light of truth. In one of the most moving scenes of American cinema, Adams points to the Declaration of Independence on the wall inside the courtroom as his clients' greatest defense, in particular the phrase, "All men are created equal." In a unanimous decision, the Court agreed, and the African captives were freed at last. The cast is special: Morgan Freeman, Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, and the perfectly cast Anthony Hopkins as the wise and discerning John Quincy Adams.
Happy Fourth of July.
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Copyright © 2012-2020 Richard Nisley - All Rights Reserved.


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30 May Increase in Minimum Wage
Posted at 03:08h in Uncategorized 0 Comments
America's lowest-paid workers will get a $2.10 raise, if the keep their jobs, by Congress mandating an increase in the federal minimum wage. Despite the well-known harmful loss in employment by teens and the lowest skilled workers,President Bush was expected to sign the bill quickly, and workers who now make $5.15 an hour will see their paychecks go up by 70 cents per hour before the end of the summer. Another 70 cents will be added next year, and by summer 2009, all minimum-wage jobs will pay no less than $7.25 an hour.
see: http://www.TaxEsq.com


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Welcome to the October homepage edition of i2P - Information to Pharmacists.
Well it seems that change in pharmacy will be continuous and will come from unexpected quarters each time it strikes.
The only way pharmacy can survive this continuous change is to either embrace it with a strong new business plan, sell out or amalgamate with partners who see strength in a strategic partnership.
And while many pharmacists are finding the key to successfully selling clinical services, the lead time to bring a single service on line may be too long to make a suitable financial contribution.
Coupled with the fact that the AMA will fight tooth and nail to prevent pharmacy making any inroads whatsoever, the time has come to take them on.
Vaccination services could be the first disputed service as the AMA has already voiced strong opposition to the possibility of pharmacists providing these services.
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Professional Pharmacists Australia Spokesperson: Professional Pharmacists Pay Tribute to Carol Bennett | open full screen
Regular weekly updates that supplement the regular monthly homepage edition of i2P.
Access and click on the title links that are illustrated
The birth of the first drugstore in 1929 in the USA represented a big revolution for that time: an innovative store design, a new concept of retail store, fair pricing and a wide exposition of products. 84 years have passed by and nothing has changed in the today's American pharmacies, with the exception of the most important factor: the customers!In fact, while the new technologies, the computers and the smart phones have created far more attentive, curious, and informed customers, the drugstores and the American pharmacies remained the same: big, wide exposition of products in low gondola shelving without any customer service or help during the buy.
That pharmacy is in need of a renewal process is not in dispute.
That every man and his dog become instant pharmacy experts when a debate on pharmacy is opened is an expected phenomenon.
And when it is perceived that the "experts" have little knowledge of pharmacy but want to reduce pharmacists' incomes (already and constantly under siege), without engaging the range of aspirations pharmacists already hold, they wonder why it suddenly becomes a non-event.
If a discussion paper emerged that had genuine pharmacist input I would think that most pharmacists would participate in discussion of it.
In other words don't insult our intelligence by placing us in a pecking order that is uninspiring or menial in its approach.
But do approach us with intelligent conversation that has no hidden agendas and is honest in its approach, and do not try to impose your view of the pharmacist's role from your limited perspective.
Then we can all get on with some form of positive collaboration.
The Consumer Health Forum has responded to a recent i2P article on the resignation of Carol Bennett.
The article can be found at:
Approximately two weeks ago a Dr David Smith published an opinion piece in an online medical publication that was very derogatory towards pharmacy's professionalism.
It is one of many articles that seem to be "planted" in unison with other articles or events.
For example, the release of a Grattan Institute paper titled "Access All Areas", hinting at an expanded role for pharmacists in primary health care.
The article was authored by Dr David Smith who describes himself as "a GP and a consultant in clinical and corporate ethics".
Smith's comments are certainly a bit rich when you consider that pharmacy has always been involved with primary health care and when you further consider his client base he loses all credibility.
In a submission to the Australian National Audit Office review of the 5th Community Pharmacy Agreement, Pharmacist and PR Consultant Rollo Manning has advocated for a "new way" of supplying Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines and services to Australian Taxpayers that will:
Editor's Note: Judy Wilyman is a dedicated researcher working her way towards a doctorate in science.
Her research concerns vaccinations but mention the word vaccination, and suddenly the board lights up with what I call "the Skeptic Lunatic Fringe" who spring into action and attack anything that detracts from their "party line".
They will throw out statements like "proven to be discredited" and "not evidence-based"like confetti in the breeze.
The irony of their efforts is that their own statements are not evidence-based, nor are the people involved qualified in any medical discipline. Some statements border on defamation, while others are just outright lies.
One critic making comment on i2P calls himself a doctor.
He is entitled to do, but he is not a medical doctor, having earned his doctorate in another discipline.
Add deception for the lunatic fringe as well.
i2P would like to congratulate Judy on receiving funding to present her current research at the 3rd World Congress on Cancer Science and Therapy to be held in San Franciso in October 2013.
It may prove to be an important wake up call to governments (including the Australian government) who promote and subsidise this form of treatment.
There is an increasing awakening among business owners - big, small and micro - that the consequences of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), the end of the capital expenditure mining boom and the debt dilemmas of Europe have included unintended, undocumented and non defined changes in business cultures, philosophies, policies and practices.
Customer service standards, relationships and instances of referrals have all been adversely affected
One of the major reasons why you start and build or buy a business is to be able to sell it at some time in the future for a profit.
What are the factors that will maximise your selling price?
It's really important to understand this early so that you can put in place the necessary systems to ensure that you build a business that is saleable.
Most of us experience low back pain (LBP). When it persists, we look for ways to alleviate it. In Australia, back problems are the most frequently seen musculoskeletal condition by General Practitioners (GPs) and the seventh most common reason for seeking care. National guidelines from the UK suggest that patients should try acupuncture, manual therapy or an exercise program. A range of medical devices are promoted for pain relief. Are they all placebo treatments or do some work?Comments: 1
My name is Mark Neuenschwander. I have been a patient and I am a consultant in the field of pharmacy automation.
It was 27 years ago that Wrigley's opened the door by putting a barcode on a pack of chewing gum. It was really a statement of faith because grocery stores and drugstores didn't have scanners. But their faith was not in vain. Within a decade, virtually every item on the shelves of those drugstores and supermarkets had a barcode, and the vast majority of checkout stands were equipped with scanners to read them.
I've always been a city boy – I can't even coax a weed to grow.
But I discovered a national treasure, practically in my own back yard, which makes me wish my thumbs were greener.
It was predictable that Steve Hambledon, AMA president, would be negative to the primary health care solutions as proposed in the Grattan Report published recently.
In my response to the paper Access All Areas co-authored by Stephen Duckett, I pointed out that having pharmacists involved in areas of diagnosis and prescribing produces an extreme response from the AMA plus inferred derogatory comments relating to pharmacy.
As I said in my response, pharmacists are fed up with the medical profession.
Editor's Note: Recently, in my own home town, the Cancer Council organisation decided to change location to a new office approximately 45 minutes away. The office was well fitted out with quality furniture and computer equipment, plus miscellaneous office items that included filing cabinets, shredders and photocopiers.
The surprised incoming tenant (an allied health professional) was told that she was now the proud owner of all these assets free of charge so that the Cancer Council could avoid the problems and costs of cartage and storage of the above items.
The value of all the items was estimated at around $25,000.
Needless to say the offer was gratefully accepted but I personally, no longer donate to Cancer Council charity programs.
It seems that in different forms, this phenomenon may be global.
OHMS Newsletter October 11, 2013.
Commentary by Ralph Campbell M.D.
Recently, our local paper promoted a 3K walk/run for "a cure for heart disease" with photos of participants of all sizes and shapes.
For enjoying the camaraderie and the feeling of sacrifice for a good cause, the participants paid a $25 entry fee that went to the American Heart Association (AHA) to promote awareness.
Pharmacy could be on the verge of a very exciting and rewarding professional pathway with some useful research being conducted in Scotland where 3D printing technology is being married up with stem cells and genomics to produce your own tissue for personalised drug testing and then modifying your drug to create a smooth journey through any lifestyle disorder anticipated in your genes.
The printing technology is cheap.
To create a professional business opportunity, all you are required to do is prepare yourself over the next five years by absorbing suitable education and plotting some medium term investment.
i2P believes that this technology is so important that pharmacy leadership groups should begin immediately to seize the high ground for this issue and not let the opportunities slip away to other health practitioners.
It will be one of the best opportunities to have a "hands-on" participation at the centre of primary health services.
Editor's Note: We have previously highlighted Covad Health Insurance as a product pharmacists should consider supporting.
Health insurance has always had a natural fit with pharmacy and there is no doubt that if pharmacists get behind this product, it will be a major success.
The income stream available as commissions on premiums would be a welcome addition in these times of difficulty in achieving financial stability and well-being.
i2P believes that this could also represent an opportunity for a health insurance business to advocate for, and champion, pharmacy clinical services and develop a real working partnership.
That might represent a promising future for both sides of the relationship equation.
Kay Dunkley - BPharm, Grad Dip Hosp Pharm, Grad Dip Health Admin, MPS, MSHPA
Editor's Note: It is becoming quite noticeable that business confidence has depleted in pharmacy ranks since economic environments have become tougher.
Poor leadership has also made a contribution.
As conditions for pharmacy employers and employees tighten, stress-related illness begins to emerge as everyone adjusts to the new economic uncertainties.
Depression is the outcome of prolonged stress and anxiety.
Recently, newspaper reports have surfaced relating to an incident involving the chiropractic treatment of a young child.
It was reported that a four-month-old Melbourne baby sustained a fracture to the upper cervical vertebra following an adjustment
In both Sydney and Melbourne papers, an allegation was made that a Chiropractor broke the baby's neck. The CAA issued a release to all media outlets in all States within hours of the publication rejecting the allegation.
The allegation was subsequently investigated by AHPRA. No finding of inappropriate treatment was made. No finding was made that any treatment performed by the Chiropractor caused a fracture as alleged.
Professional Pharmacists Australia Spokesperson
Professional Pharmacists Australia today congratulated Carol Bennett on her time as the CEO of the Community Health Forum, wishing her all the best in her future endeavours.
It's not easy implementing a clinical service program and success is related as to how close the service offered is to traditional dispensing and counselllng services.
Also how long a pharmacist has personally known a patient and how trusted the relationship is with that particular patient.
It shows how much pharmacists have collectively fallen down, because I have found strong relationships are sparse in my own world, and those of my colleagues.
Any attempt to fast-track a relationship is viewed with suspicion and apparent mistrust.
So it's the long haul that has to be put in place first and forward pharmacy has to be implemented and seen to be in place, well before a new service is able to be sold.
Editor's Comment: What pharmacy leadership organisation has the role of actually driving pharmacy practice?
The number of real opportunities (including that of 3D printing as illustrated in the following article) are multiplying as new disruptive technologies emerge.
3D printing represents the ultimate in drug compounding and pharmacy needs to be front and centre here.
How can these technologies be harnessed and absorbed into some form of future pharmacy strategy
that could really advance the profession of pharmacy instead of perpetually "running on the spot"?
Surely there is some sort of practice research going on?
University of Adelaide researchers have developed a process for turning waste plastic bags into a high-tech nanomaterial.
The innovative nanotechnology uses non-biodegradable plastic grocery bags to make 'carbon nanotube membranes' ? highly sophisticated and expensive materials with a variety of potential advanced applications including filtration, sensing, energy storage and a range of biomedical innovations.
A new Australian-based research study into sweet sorghum has shown the huge potential of the crop as a single source of energy, food and animal feed.
Sweet sorghum is receiving significant global interest because of its potential as a multi-product crop, however there has been minimal research under Australian growing conditions or using Australian processing facilities, until now.
Pharmacists have always been notorious for their penchant for leaving "sticky" notes attached to dispensing benches, cash registers and various other places. While efficient for the moment, long-term display of old notes looks very untidy and eventually deteriorates to inefficiency.
The cloud-based productivity tool, Evernote, (which I believe is a pharmacy essential) has extended its reach into another important branch of note-taking through a partnership with the classic 3M Post-It Notes. In a move similar to the Evernote Moleskine notebook, which was released last year, the note-taking and organization software company is blurring the line between digital and analog again, enabling users to preserve their real-world jottings and access them from anywhere.
Purpose of App Review
* to review the utility of Common Symptom Guide App for a clinician
* to evaluate the medical evidence this App uses
Editor's Note:
The world's legislator's are finally waking up and discovering a very useful and economic health worker called a pharmacist.
Continually overlooked because of medical lobbying, it looks as though medicos are finally pricing themselves out of business.
Initiated in California, a new bill allowing a wider scope of practice in primary health care has been passed and is likely to spread throughout the US and most western economies.
I have often commented in i2P that pharmacists started to become invisible in primary health care around the year2000, and despite energetic lobbying by pharmacy leadership groups, the debate seemed to be consigned to oblivion.
The wheel is turning finally and we may yet see an energetic and useful health system evolve from pharmacy ranks.
As a sometimes controversial figure to some leadership segments of pharmacy, Carol Bennett attempted to inflict change upon pharmacy that was not always well-founded.
She co-opted two other partner organisations to assist, both known to be anti-pharmacy in sentiment.
A petition was organised by the CHF to promote their point of view, but it was a dismal failure beside the Pharmacy Guild petition promoting a somewhat opposite view (over 1 million signatures).
On top of this, early enquiries by pharmacists wishing to join the CHF uncovered the fact that the CHF was not a representative forum for individual consumers at all, but an aggregate of large associations and businesses whose interests would not necessarily reflect those of individual consumers.
By Suzanne Newman
SHPA is sad to learn that Carol Bennett has resigned as CEO of the Consumers Health Forum.
SHPA has enjoyed a good working relationship with Carol and has valued her leadership and advocacy for health consumers.
With social media reaching into every aspect of Australian lives, the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) has secured international expert Jye Smith to present key insights on "Social Media and the Healthcare Consumer" at its annual conference in Sydney on Thursday 14 November.
The systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of vitamin D supplements on bone mineral density conducted by the University of Auckland should not discourage Australians from taking a preventative approach to osteoporosis, the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) said today.
Consumers can continue to have confidence in the quality and safety of complementary medicines (herbal medicines, nutritional and dietary supplements) that are legally sold in Australia, the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) has today advised.
The Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) will leverage the international experience of pharmacist and licenced naturopathic practitioner Michael Smith at this year's conference to explore the evolving role of complementary medicines in preventative health.
In Australia, vitamins, mineral and supplements (known as complementary medicines) represent the largest and fastest growing segment in the non-prescription sector, with two-thirds of Australians taking them regularly to optimise their health and wellbeing.1
Editor's Comment: What pharmacy leadership organisation has the role of actually driving pharmacy practice?
The number of real opportunities (including that of 3D printing as illustrated in the following article) are multiplying as new disruptive technologies emerge.
3D printing represents the ultimate in drug compounding and pharmacy needs to be front and centre here.
How can these technologies be harnessed and absorbed into some form of future pharmacy strategy
that could really advance the profession of pharmacy instead of perpetually "running on the spot"?
Surely there is some sort of practice research going on?
Editor's Note:
Pharmacy leaders, academics and education providers have suddenly become alert and attentive to a paper recently released by the Grattan Institute.
Although I personally remain cynical as to where the recommendations within that paper (titled Access All Areas ) will take pharmacy, nonetheless it has created a spark of activity across an otherwise bleak landscape.
Governments have long squandered opportunities that have been available to them through the profession of pharmacy.
This has probably come about because of the top heavy list of advisers drawn from the medical profession over a long period of time.
Could this be a signal that policies may finally be changing to embrace the potential that pharmacists could be unleashed over the primary health care community.
I have asked Mark Coleman to comment on the following Pharmacy News media report item that contains a response from both the PSA and the PGA.
Neil Johnston
Introducing current ideas, perspectives and issues, to the profession of pharmacy
Editor's Note:
Pharmacy leaders, academics and education providers have suddenly become alert and attentive to a paper recently released by the Grattan Institute.
Although I personally remain cynical as to where the recommendations within that paper (titled Access All Areas ) will take pharmacy, nonetheless it has created a spark of activity across an otherwise bleak landscape.
Governments have long squandered opportunities that have been available to them through the profession of pharmacy.
This has probably come about because of the top heavy list of advisers drawn from the medical profession over a long period of time.
Could this be a signal that policies may finally be changing to embrace the potential that pharmacists could be unleashed over the primary health care community.
I have asked Mark Coleman to comment on the following Pharmacy News media report item that contains a response from both the PSA and the PGA.
Editor's Note:
1 October, 2013 Pharmacy News staff
Pharmacy News presents a round-up of comments from the PSA and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in response to the Grattan Institute report, released late on Sunday.
Pharmacists welcome report highlighting need to better utilise their skills and knowledge
A report by the Grattan Institute which highlights the critical and immediate role that pharmacists can play in relieving rural doctor shortages has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
The report, Access all areas: New solutions for GP shortages in rural Australia, authored by Stephen Duckett and Peter Breadon, says the number of GP services per person in the lowest-access rural areas is less than half that of the major cities in Australia.
"When people can't see a GP, they get sick with conditions that could be prevented," the report says.
It goes on to state: "By using pharmacists' skills better, and by introducing physician assistants, the primary care gap in the lowest-access rural areas can be filled in only five years."
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
More at this link
Community pharmacy ready to step up
The Guild welcomes the release today of the Grattan Institute's report "Access all areas: new solutions for GP shortages in rural Australia." It is the first report of its kind to acknowledge the need for an expanded professional role for community pharmacy as well as specifically stating a viable, cost effective remuneration model to accompany such new services.
A key proposition in the report, which we support wholeheartedly, is this: "The first step is to make much better use of pharmacists' skills. Pharmacists are highly trained, have deep expertise in medicines, and are located in communities throughout Australia. But their role is far more limited in Australia than in many other countries."
The report does not propose any new professional service for pharmacists that does not already exist in other jurisdictions across the world
The National President of the Pharmacy Guild, Kos Sclavos, said: "The Guild welcomes the proposal to establish MBS items for these new services as well as utilising the infrastructure of the existing community pharmacy network."
The report highlights rural and regional deficiencies yet community pharmacy services are the most easily accessed of all health services in these regions.
The Guild particularly welcomes the acknowledgement that pharmacists should play an expanded role in immunisation. Currently Australia is one of the few Western jurisdictions that does not have a program for pharmacists to play this role. The proposed professional reimbursement via the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) would ensure that not only is the service conducted in a professional environment with all the appropriate risk issues addressed but also such a paid fee would ensure that pharmacists record such information on the health record of the patient.
Importantly, the report addresses some of the traditional arguments used against such an expanded role for pharmacists. For example, the issue of conflict of interest with the pharmacist being both the prescriber and dispenser is addressed by the proposed expansion of the existing continued dispensing provisions, rather than proposing full independent pharmacist prescribing.
More at this link
Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Mark Coleman
Well there certainly has been a range of comment generated from the publishing of the Grattan Report Access all Areas.
While the editor remains cautious about the motivation and direction of this report
( See Access all Areas - Is This a Positive for Pharmacy?)
he does so because of the previous unwarranted attacks that have been made on pharmacy from a number of quarters, going right back to the establishment of the PBS in 1952 where regulations were commonly formulated as "pharmacists will…" while "doctors may….".
These derogatory forms of regulation have always existed and this simply represents the medical profession looking down from a lofty height on all health professions.
Education and understanding has improved across all health professions and with the explosion of health needs spread over our ageing population, most of us can see how to fill some level of those needs inexpensively and efficiently.
While i2P writers will still continue to highlight inequities, in the interest of professional unity and development we certainly support any positive or progressive movement.
Hopefully the Grattan Report will ultimately prove to be a positive, and with that being said, I know all the writers of i2P will give it the impetus it may need at appropriate times.
One quandary that has existed for some time is the fact that most new clinical services in community pharmacy will be delivered directly by non-pharmacy owners, mainly because the management of a pharmacy is now quite complex and time consuming and owners do not have the time.
So if pharmacy owners can play their part by delivering infrastructure support to clinical pharmacists (non-owners) it is possible to create an equitable division of interests through a fee-splitting approach, much like GP's in a group practice who pay around 30% of their fees to provide practice management.
Pharmacies already do this in the sense that they delegate their marketing to franchisor providers. This frees up a lot of management time and the time required for research, and so becomes workable.
The Grattan Report has had an immediate positive in the alignment of consultant pharmacists.
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia has announced that two major players (Debbie Rigby and Peter Tenni) in the consultant pharmacist space have joined the SHPA consultant pharmacist reference group.
This is a positive provided it morphs into a group that can give positive direction for consultant and other clinical services.
Quoting Debbie Rigby:
"Accredited pharmacists need a voice to influence the future direction and sustainability of medication reviews.
It is a critical time in the evolution of these services, to identify how consumers and GPs can achieve best value from HMRs and RMMRs. The purpose of this group within SHPA is to support and advocate for members in a collaborative fashion with all stakeholders. In addition, I believe SHPA membership has many benefits for accredited pharmacists, with high quality relevant education, access to full text journals, online CPD recording and other resources."
And Peter Tenni, one of the largest Australian providers of HMR's, said:
SHPA provides a wide range of clinical resources and relevant online and face-to-face education programs. I expect that the formation of the Reference Group will result in an expansion of these services as well as development of new activities for the benefit of pharmacists. I encourage all consultant pharmacists to explore the option of joining SHPA as a way of supporting their practice."
SHPA also provides education to the Professional Pharmacists Association which is an organised group of non-owner pharmacists providing industrial services.
I congratulate Debbie and Peter in stepping in to provide leadership, and all i2P writers send their best wishes as well.
The potential alliances that can result from these linkages are such that I can confidently forecast that a "balancing up" can now occur internally within the profession that can temper some of the imbalances created by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Let us hope that all of pharmacy can now look forward to a future where a united front will push back all those detractors from outside of our profession and we can all enjoy the profession that we all hold dearly.
The new alliance also holds out the possibility that pharmacist interns can get a good clinical grounding within the public hospital system and that "refresher options" can be made available for all pharmacists in a hospital setting.
This would at least balance of some of the disadvantages experienced with pharmacist training because of the lack of "hands on" experience with a range of complex patients.
But we also need to add to the curriculum the matters of differential diagnosis, independent prescribing and the giving of drugs parenterally, including vaccines.
Nurses are also seeking this type of training, including the distribution and sale of drugs.
If both nurses and pharmacists become qualified in those particular areas we could see pressure taken off in the shortage of GP's, because that is artificially induced as GP's to convert to specialists as soon as they can, and practice in urban environments.
That is a waste of taxpayer health dollars.
It's too early to get excited, but the lid that has held down pharmacy services development may be about to be lifted – even if only cautiously.
Staff Researcher: Research shows huge potential of sweet sorghum as a multi-product crop | open full screen
Kay Dunkley - BPharm, Grad Dip Hosp Pharm, Grad Dip Health Admin, MPS, MSHPA: Mental Health Week – pharmacists looking after pharmacists | open full screen
Marie Kelly-Davies: International digital media expert Jye Smith to guide industry on navigating social media at ASMI's 2013 Conference | open full screen
Marie Kelly-Davies: Herbal medicines sold legally in Australia assured of high quality | open full screen
Marie Kelly-Davies: Advancing Complementary Medicines in Australia: International regulatory expert Michael Smith to share insights at ASMI Conferen | open full screen
Staff Researcher: Electronic Biometrics Devices Could Assist Pharmacy Clinical Services | open full screen
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A lively discussion about ambiguity has ensued on my Facebook posting where I had asked for feedback on my Assignment 2 rework. Although the discussion mainly involved the merits of ambiguity I thought I would do a little more research into what ambiguity is in photography. I always find it is better to create a solid base of understanding and then move on from there.
I came across a very informative article by Mien Thein that explained this very well, which I will summarise briefly. Thein states that photographs can be divided into two groups: a) literal and b) ambiguous. "The defining characteristic of a photograph (is that) it is a recognisable and relatively linear representation of reality, both in spatial arrangement and luminosity" (Thein, 2015). According to Thein there are three items that need to be considered when trying to make a photograph ambiguous:
- Resolving power: by using size, light and depth of field, one can render a subject small and insignificant so that one will not realise it is not noticeable; if it is dark, e.g. silhouette, one will not be able to discern any details; if it is out of focus our brain will have insufficient details to discern the object.
- Spatial arrangement: the edges of a photographic frame imply a limitation to the composition of the photograph. One is, therefore, forced to consider only what lies within the frame. "It is the spatial relationship between not just the elements within the frame but the frame itself that has implications on causality and story: forced empty space in the center of the frame suggests deliberate avoidance; proximity suggests collaboration" (Thein, 2015).
- Conscious exclusion: look around the frame and see what can be removed. Go for a minimal approach. "The fewer distractions there are from your main subject, the more attention your audience puts on your intended focus" (Thein, 2014).
Images benefit from having several layers. Apart from the aesthetics of the image, there should be a obvious message to interest the viewer and also a more subtle one that is revealed through more intense study. If we provide too much information, then only one interpretation will be forthcoming. There is a very fine line between being "vague enough" and "too vague". The ideal is to have the viewer engage with his/her imagination and keep them guessing.
Reference List
Thein, Ming (2015) Ambiguity [online] Ming Thein | Photographer. Available at: https://blog.mingthein.com/2015/11/11/ambiguity/ [Accessed 10 December, 2016]
Thein, Ming (20145) Conscious exclusion[online] Ming Thein | Photographer. Available at: https://blog.mingthein.com/2014/07/19/conscious-exclusion/ [Accessed 11 December, 2016]


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I spent a good chunk of this last weekend inside a box. But not just any box…
Play Expo took place this weekend in Manchester, at EventCity. As the venue's official description itself reads:
'EventCity is a box. A very large box. But it's the magic that happens inside that really counts.'
I'm happy to say that both these facts are true. Yes it is essentially just a very large box, but yes, it did have that exciting magical atmosphere; the sort that you can only find at cool games conventions like Play Expo.
To move aside from all this talk of large magical boxes for one moment though, Play Expo was really good. The event was, as you might guess, about games, games, games; in all their glorious shapes and sizes, bits and bytes and bleeps and bloops.
The catalogue of games available to play was exhaustively comprehensive; going from the earliest pinball and arcade machines at the birth of gaming, right up to cutting edge PS4 games in all their shiny 1080p glory. It's not often you can say this, but there really was something for every gamer here – even the cardboard varieties – no matter what your preferred gaming style and era.
Speaking of cardboard, I personally knew that once I saw the giant Abe and Alf cardboard cutouts and crates packed full of classic Sega Mega Drive cartridge cases, I was certainly in for a good time.
In addition, there was an immense number of Cosplayers happily wandering around, all dressed up in some painstakingly made and intricate costumes. The variety and detail of their outfits was pretty staggeringly awesome to be honest.
I managed to get some choice shots of these most ardent of fans, but there were so many that, unfortunately, unlike a true Pokémon hunter, I couldn't catch them all. Oh snap…Pokémon Snap that is…
Anyway, whilst I mull over whichever cheesily-awful Pokémon gag to use next, let me recap; I was there at Play Expo snapping away with the camera on Saturday 11th October, so I thought I'd share my visual depictions on here. So, once again, feel free to click on the following thumbnails to see what I got up to, and the various games characters who pointed their guns/swords at me.


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Adams appeals to Leo Varadkar to behave like a Taoiseach in his dealings on the North
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has challenged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to explain the purpose behind government briefings to the media last week regarding the ongoing talks to restore the Executive in the North.
Teachta Adams also accused the government of trying to undermine Sinn Féin leader in the North, Michelle O'Neill MLA.
Speaking during directly to the Taoiseach at Leaders Questions this afternoon, Teachta Adams said;
"Last week, press reports attributed to briefings from the Irish government said Sinn Féin's leader in the North Michelle O'Neill did a deal with the DUP to restore the Executive but that she was blocked by senior members of the party.
"These briefings, on the part of your government, were untruthful, malicious and shameful.
"These claimed that there was a basis for a deal, that this was rejected by our leadership, and that Michelle O'Neill and Conor Murphy had been hung-out to dry. None of this is true.
"Let me say it again for the record, Sinn Féin's endeavour is to have the institutions re-established and functioning properly, as quickly as possible.
"The talks are essentially about implementing existing agreements which have been broken. Issues of equality, identity and rights are central to this.
"These are rights which citizens are entitled to everywhere else on these islands. These are rights which are contained in the Good Friday and subsequent agreements.
"Perhaps, you would advise me on which of these rights citizens in the North should give up?"
Addressing the accusation that Sinn Féin is more focussed on preparing for direct rule, Mr Adams added;
"I am particularly concerned about this accusation because I wrote to you almost a fortnight ago about your government's responsibility to prevent British direct rule in keeping with a longstanding agreement with the British. I have yet to get a reply to that letter. But the briefing followed on from it."
Concluding, Teachta Adams stated;
"You must fulfil your responsibilities, your obligations, and your duty to the people of the entire island, and in particular you must deal with the British Prime Minister as an equal, and ensure that both governments honour their obligations."


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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (Movie Trailer)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows
June 3, 2016
Starring: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Pete Ploszek, Jeremy Howard, Stephen Amell, Tyler Perry, Brian Tee, Laura Linney, Sheamus, and Gary Anthony Williams. Posted By Persist
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Since I started getting into makeup, I've tried so many items it's seriously ridiculous. After a lot of hits and misses, I finally found some items that I truly love and I wouldn't trade them for anything. I have dry skin so I had to learn what was good on me and what didn't. Which was hard because there were some popular items that just didn't fit me, I'm looking at you Tarte Amazonian Clay foundation. But from what I have tried, I am going to share my top 10 absolute favorites!Here are the top 10 beauty items you need! Click To Tweet
Affiliate links ahead
- Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Lipstick – Okay, this list is in no particular order but this needed to be on top either way. Absolutely nothing stays on my lips for long and this did! It's so hard to get off, which is good, and I've worn it all day and the color still looks vibrant and in touch. I've eaten, brushed my teeth, drank water, you name it, and it stays. So good. Officially my favorite lip product.
- Too Faced Born This Way Foundation – I really love trying out foundations for some reason and I knew I needed this because everyone kept talking about it. It's so dewy and blends out so beautifully. It's one of my favorites!
- Too Faced Sun Bunny Bronzer – I guess I really love Too Faced. I actually have two other bronzers by them that I love but this one if my ultimate favorite. I'm not a fan of tans but I know I need some color so the Sun Bunny is perfect because it has a dual lighter shade and darker shade with shimmer. It blends out so pretty. Always my go to!
- Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation – As I said, I have dry skin so it's hard to find a good foundation that won't cling to the dry spots. One of the girls at Sephora put this on me and I instantly fell in love. The argan oil is so hydrating and it's so smooth. I find it really lightweight so it's extra perfect for the hot weather.
- Tarte Amazonian 12 Hour Blush – I have the horrible habit of rubbing my face, so any blush never stays on my cheeks. Tarte is usually hit or miss for me, but these blushes are amazing! I already have two and will plan to buy more. The color stays vibrant for hours and even if it starts coming off it fades out well.
- Becca Shimmering Skin Highlight – So after noticing I look blah, one of the girls at Sephora suggested I try some highlight and gave me Becca's pressed highlight in moonstone. I love that it gives a nice shine without being too over the top! Easy to go from a simple look to a glam one.
- Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips – So I must admit that I never focused on skincare and I had no idea what I was doing but my skin was a mess so I had to step it up. These are pretty inexpensive and dig deep to get the junk out.
- Anastasia Brow Whiz – I feel like most everyone loves Anastasia for brows and I am no exception. I have the dip brow pomade and I like it but I find the brow whiz to be my go to! I have thick eyebrows already so this is super easy to just fill in the sparse spots.
- Naked Skin One and Done – This is amazing! It's not a full foundation, more on the BB cream side but it gives so much coverage and it's so lightweight. It's also so easy to put on so it's perfect for those lazy days when you need something quick.
- Caudalie Instant Detox Mask – I've been looking for a good mask and I actually got this as part of the 500 point reward at Sephora and I love it! It's so gentle and although it feels tight, you can wash it off not like a peel. It's so refreshing and it's part of a whole regiment in case you want to get a deeper routine.
What are some of your favorite beauty items?


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In 2014 I was trying to establish a business that could focus on the construction and development industry. At the time I was involved with land and building Development Company that has been punching far over how heavy it is in the marketplace following the dimensions of the operation vs. the scale and scope from the projects we had arrived successfully developing. This scenario created a double-edge sword, which offered both opportunity and exhaustion.
It was during one of the 'exhaustion' periods that I began trying to build a business that could both exploit existing knowledge inside the construction and development industry, yet afford relative freedom to govern my environment and destiny. To that end, my search for that Holy Grail (I stress 'quest' and never success) has led me indirectly to Korea, a country to which I have formed an indelible bond.
Throughout my tenure doing business in Korea, I have arrived at admiring their fascinating history, their courageous and warm people along with their surprising entrepreneurial spirit. As you may arrive at learning through these humble experiences, undertaking business in Korea is not at all whatever you might imagine as well as in some ways (as the saying goes), it becomes an enigma engrossed in a dichotomy, which in turn offers many surprises, challenges, and opportunities.
To appreciate how it came to our little company consummated a lucrative agreement using a solid Korean manufacturing company (if we really had no right in the sport and truthfully had almost no experience internationally), is often a proof of each party perseverance, including our advanced of advanced preparation and research in conjunction with the Koreans entrepreneurial spirit and capacity to recognize opportunities outside their immediate world.
During the entire year of 2014, I had reconnected which has a friend and through …


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LECHEROUS NOCTURNE: 'Behold Almighty Doctrine' Artwork Unveiled
South Carolina-based extreme metal band LECHEROUS NOCTURNE has set "Behold Almighty Doctrine" as the title of its third album, due later in the year via Unique Leader Records. The CD was recorded at SoundLab Studio in Lexington, South Carolina with longtime engineer Bob Moore.
The "Behold Almighty Doctrine" artwork can be seen below.
LECHEROUS NOCTURNE recently announced the addition of vocalist Brett Bentley to the group's ranks. The band states, "Brett is a beast front man and we are glad to have him in the fold!"
Vocalist Jason Hohenstein announced his departure from LECHEROUS NOCTURNE in July 2011, telling BLABBERMOUTH.NET in a statement, "I was writing/arranging in preparation of the new record when I was asked to leave." He added, "I did not quit! I want to make that perfectly clear."
LECHEROUS NOCTURNE's second album, "The Age of Miracles Has Passed", was released in October 2008 via Unique Leader Records.


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watch 02:32
The Loop (Games)
Do you like this video?
Real-life Events Edit
- 1997
- Books released:
- 2010
- Books released:
Classic World of Darkness Events Edit
- 1997
- Doissetep explodes, causing a shock wave affecting everything connected to it, including the Digital Web, which experiences the Great Crash. The entire Web goes offline for three seconds, killing many, injuring others for weeks or months, and any sector that wasn't permanently erased is damaged.[1][2][3]
- 2003
Chronicles of Darkness Events Edit
- 1979
- A train with dangerous chemical compounds explodes near Mississauga, Ontario, to cover up the fact that the whole city has been empty for two days, with no clue where the inhabitants could be.[5]
Reference Edit
- ↑ MTAs: Digital Web 2.0, p. 21
- ↑ MTAs: Digital Web 2.0, p. 65
- ↑ MTAs: Digital Web 2.0, p. 77
- ↑ CofD: Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras, p. 244
|November 9
|November 11
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Celtic Rugby and the South African Rugby Union have today confirmed what has been all but common knowledge in recent weeks: that the Toyota Cheetahs (wasn't that Munster?) and the Southern Kings will join an expanded Guinness PRO14 tournament
At the risk of bloating the competition to worse effect than drinking fifteen pints of the black stuff, a long-term agreement has been signed allowing the participation of the two South African franchises in the renamed Guinness PRO14 Championship in time for the upcoming 2017/18 season.
Yes, the one that starts in a month or so.
The agreement means that the Championship will take place across the northern and southern hemispheres and marks "the first phase of expansion as the Guinness PRO14 becomes a truly global
tournament". Who needs the World Cup? We can live the dream every Friday night.
Oh and if that phrase "first phase of expansion" didn't send shivers down your spine, you haven't been watching Game of Thrones.
Still, perhaps this is why the SRU is looking to boost the semi-pro level of the game in Scotland. If this grand experiment implodes, the game may need to become self-sufficient in the Celtic nations sooner rather than later. Add the pro-teams into it and we could have an 8 team professional league where 2 teams dominate every season. That would go down well in Scotland, right?
From the official announcement, "this move will contribute to the drive for ever higher standards that we demand across the tournament and provide greater resources to our clubs who will compete in the most testing environment the Championship has ever created." In other words, these teams are not coming to make up the numbers but here's a big pile of cash in case you get beaten.
The addition of the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings will require the Championship to introduce a new Conference format, as the current league format can't support 14 teams in the timeframe available.
The Guinness PRO14 will adopt a two-conference model which will allow the new clubs to be added without the need to add extra rounds in 2017/18.
Conference A
- Munster (IRFU)
- Ospreys (WRU)
- Glasgow Warriors (SRU)
- Cardiff Blues (WRU)
- Connacht (IRFU)
- Zebre Rugby Club (FIR)
- Toyota Cheetahs (SA Rugby)
Conference B
- Scarlets (WRU)
- Leinster (IRFU)
- Ulster (IRFU)
- Edinburgh (SRU)
- Benetton Rugby (FIR)
- Dragons (WRU)
- Southern Kings (SA Rugby)
There are an equal number of teams from each union in both 7 team conferences (2 Irish teams; 2 Welsh; 1 Italian; 1 Scottish, 1 South African). Groupings have been decided based on the previous season's final placings that feed into union rankings; for the entrance of the South African teams their Super Rugby final placings were used for ranking.
- Each conference will contain 7 teams with an equal split of teams from each union
- Every team plays 21 regular season games
- Every team to play each other at least once
- All Home & Away "Derby" fixtures will remain in place
- Italian, Scottish and South African teams will play an additional Derby fixture to even out the schedule (e.g. Edinburgh will play Glasgow Warriors three times)
- The Guinness PRO14 Final Series will now include Quarter-Finals allowing six clubs to reach the knock-out stages (teams 1-3 from each Conference)
- The top 3 clubs from each conference will qualify for the Champions Cup while the team with the highest points total outside of those six teams across both conferences will claim the final Champions Cup place
- South African clubs will not be eligible to qualify for EPCR tournaments at present
- To maintain competitive balance the Conferences will be reset each season based upon rankings from the previous campaign.
The fixture list has been drafted for all 21 rounds and these will be confirmed next week after the TV powers and clubs have been consulted.
As it stands there, Glasgow will probably fancy their chances of hitting the top three in their group having avoided the Scarlets, Leinster and Ulster. On the other hand Conference B contains Edinburrgh, Treviso and the (non-Newport Gwent) Dragons so the top three with more fixtures against weaker teams at the top of that will be focusing on racking up the points home and away. The 7th European place could come out of that conference. But of course, this will be the year Edinburgh bounce back!
Another perhaps interesting side effect could be increased visibility for Scottish-qualified southern hemisphere players to play in front of the Scottish coaches. Obviously residency players would still need to be playing in Scotland, but your Huw Jones type guys plying their trade in South Africa who already qualify for Scotland suddenly have a shop window available without uprooting everything first.
It's the PRO12 Jim, but not as we know it…


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Congratulations to the Strawberry Festival King Clayton Akers and Queen Caitlin Crisp who were crowned Saturday. Prince Patrick Gonzales and Princess Naomi Jo Ybanez and the Dukes John Nicholas Cervantez, Zachary Mancha and Raul Adam Ybarra and Duchesses Amber Nicole Rodriguez, Charity Keeling and Selena Richardson will represent Poteet during the festival and throughout the year. Presbyterian Church celebrates 100 years
The First Presbyterian Church of Pleasanton invites current and former members to celebrate their 100th year this Saturday, March 15 with a potluck dinner.
Bring your favorite dish to share at the Fellowship Hall from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Bulky/Brush pickup
The next city-wide clean up for Pleasanton starts Monday, March 17.
You may set your bulk/ brush out starting now.
The City of Pleasanton appreciates the cooperation of our residents and businesses in keeping Pleasanton beautiful.
The city will be divided into three areas and three weeks, with each week focusing on one area.
•Week One will run March 17-21.
•Week Two- March 24-28.
•Week Three- March 31- April 4. Election Guide
City and School candidates for the Poteet city and school elections are encouraged to participate in the Pleasanton Express Election Guide. This free guide will be published on April 16, 2014.
The deadline is Thursday, March 27 and candidates are asked to send in their statement (150 word limit) and a photo to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Attention BBQ
The fourth annual Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce and Western Premium BBQ Products Turnn Burn barbeque cook-off will once again need judges to come out on Saturday, March 22 to help choose the best cooks around. It all takes place at the Atascosa County Showbarn grounds. Please visit their website, www.pleasantoncofc.com or call the office at 830-569- 2163.
In addition to the cookoff, there will be a team roping on Saturday morning. Books open at 8 a.m. and the roping begins at 9 a.m.
Friday night entertainment will be Rick Trevino and Gabe Garcia with $10 admission. On Saturday, Pleasanton's own Rodney Hayden and Earl Thomas Conley will entertain. Admission is $20.
SUE BROWN is the Editor of the Pleasanton Express. Contact her at 830-281-2341 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Translating Raw Pings Into Meaningful Stream of Events Provides Insight into 100 Million More Daily Visit Events
NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unacast, the leading transparent and contextualized location data platform, today announced new products and features that offer marketers, researchers, and other location-focused businesses access to increased scale and unprecedented transparency into device behavior while maintaining high quality, thanks to major advancements to its location data algorithm.
The new product, Uncontextualized Visits, translates raw pings into a meaningful stream of events representing where a device rested during the day, unlocking insight into 75 to 100 million visit events and 17 to 20 million daily active users. Meanwhile, new features, including Maximum Dwell Time, update Unacast's core Visits product and further increase the available scale.
"In an industry that requires both scale and quality, we're constantly working toward technical innovations that meet - and exceed - both needs," said Thomas Walle, CEO and co-founder of Unacast. "For location data and insights to offer true value, they need to provide transparent, uniform measurement, ensuring that businesses can use and trust the data. Whether it's the advertising industry, city planning, or academic researchers, a clean, clear location signal will help shape future understanding of how people move around the real world. Our latest products allow us to dig even deeper into that understanding."
Maximum Dwell Time is designed to overcome the difficulties associated with the cadence of location data collection from cell phones by providing a consistent view into device activity. A device's Maximum Dwell Time is the maximum duration that device could have been in one location based on the activity immediately preceding and following a location visit. Unacast's platform continuously monitors this data feed for signals that indicate a device couldn't have spent enough time to actually visit a location (such as a device driving by the point of measurement), and will filter those results out of the feed. Altogether, Maximum Dwell Time will provide Unacast clients with access to nearly 55 million more visit events per day, with additional features made possible by Maximum Dwell Time delivering another 40 million visits.
In addition, the company has expanded its data coverage to the European Union, offering data from the UK, Germany and France, with more countries on the way, bringing the total current global monthly active users (MAUs) to 291 million. Founded in Norway and headquartered in New York City, Unacast enters the European market with full GDPR compliance, offering European customers the same trust and transparency that the company has built its reputation on in the U.S. market.
About Unacast
Unacast is the only contextualized location data platform that offers full transparency into its products and insights. As a trailblazer in the transparency, quality and ethics of the location data industry, Unacast provides companies and individuals with the most accurate understanding of human activity in the physical world through the Real World Graph®. The company also hosts the leading conference on transparency and accuracy in location data; Real World Talks.
Unacast, founded in Oslo, Norway by Thomas Walle and Kjartan Slette and now headquartered in NYC, has garnered multiple awards for its platform, campaigns and for its company culture, including Best Company at the Nordic Startup Awards. Inc. Magazine has called Unacast "The Startup That Just Might Threaten Google."
Media Contact:
WIT Strategy, for Unacast
Kendall Allen
New York, UNITED STATES
unacast-logo-black-dot_uc_orange-rgb.pngLOGO URL | Copy the link below
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If you happen to be looking for a top-quality dumpster rental company in Rensselaer, IN you should call 844-244-0580 to gather plenty of info on how Dumpsters 4 Cheap can serve you. We have been providing Rensselaer with rental solutions for many years and have developed a distinction for high quality service.
You are sure you are going to get a roll off dumpster which is in exceptional condition and you will be able to work with a staff that is polite and knowledgeable when it comes to industry guidelines for our products. At Dumpsters 4 Cheap we invite customers to call and ask plenty of questions about our services, particularly if you are renting from us for the first time. We'll be more than willing to speak to you about the nature of your undertaking and help you discover the ideal unit to meet your needs.
It isn't always easy to obtain fair roll off containers fees. If you're searching for some of the most affordable rates in Indiana, give Dumpsters 4 Cheap a ring. We'll provide a list of services and fees so you know exactly what you are buying. We don't believe in shocking our customers with excessive or useless costs. The best rates, honest pricing, and top notch customer care are what set us apart from other rental companies.
There are many various dumpster rental units available in Rensselaer so that you can identify the right container that can meet the requirements of your project.
The dumpster rentals provided by Dumpsters 4 Cheap are made in the regular dimensions found in Indiana so that you can quickly anticipate what you may need. Debris container measurements are calculated by storage space instead of length and width. So, for example, a little 10 foot rental will be 10 square feet of storage area, not a 10×10.
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Hiring a dumpster in Rensselaer incurs some accountability. Numerous things normally connected with construction jobs are not permitted to be thrown in a dumpster. Rensselaer has explicit regulations regarding problematic materials , to be sure they are disposed of safely. Dumpsters 4 Cheap at 844-244-0580 can give you all the guidelines about what is and is not permitted in their units . For additional information, take a look at a lot of our service areas: Bartow dumpster rental.
There could be further restrictions unique to Rensselaer, IN that are more restrictive than other state rules . Certain districts of the city may be subject to tougher guidelines due to their environmental standing. It is important to tell Dumpsters 4 Cheap where the work will be located so we can inform you of any relevant restrictions which may apply before the unit is provided .
Rensselaer bans people from disposing of hazardous things in a dumpster which might cause injury or illness.
You could be liable to a fine if any of the banned materials are discovered in the dumpster, regardless of who put them there. more rules regarding dangerous materials allowed on the project site in Rensselaer could apply, it is therefore advisable to check with the contractor to ensure your plans meet with the regulations. If you are not permitted to dispose of certain materials in the dumpster , enquire what is required in order to dispose of it correctly .
There are restrictions stopping some large items from being put in dumpsters in Indiana.
Consult with Rensselaer officials regarding what may be prohibited for legal or health reasons. If you have doubts whether particular materials are permitted to be put in the dumpster or roll-off, check before throwing them in the dumpster. Anything that will make it too heavy for Dumpsters 4 Cheap to drive away with your dumpster is not allowed as well, so bare those sorts of restrictions in mind.
In some areas of Indiana there are limitations on these and similar materials, so be sure what is permitted in your district before you start throwing things away.
Indiana holds a extensive list of materials that must be disposed of in a secure manner. Make sure you obtain a copy of this information before you begin the building project so there is no question about what you can put in the rental dumpster. Failing to do so may see you having to take out wrongfully tossed items in order to dodge being fined.
If you need more information or have any questions regarding dumpster leasing in Indiana, contact Dumpsters 4 Cheap on 844-244-0580. Also, you should take a peek at various other areas for example, dumpster rental Overland, MO to find out if this site provides services in your area.


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It's just not often you locate a story that touches you so deeply that you truly weep on its internet pages. But remember, not all crying is distress. This book takes you from lives of your Royal And also it is truly so profound that you are lost in its pages. You'll find yourself holding your breath, crying for joy and sobbing for the losses you're. You truly become one with guide is designed to and to promote is written with such profoundness in order to cannot help but feel every ounce of emotion involved typically the story.
During the evaluation and hiring process, make sure that you really listen to what the Architect says. When he speaks, is he saying me, me, and people? Or is he listening to you when you speak regarding your needs and desires and discussing to be able to bring the particular life?
First thing you've visit realize an individual have are hit by a Gardeners Block is that nothing has changed since the sun came up. What I mean by in which that the skills you had yesterday didn't disappear overnite. Your love for gardens holds there Architectural Firms Brisbane exactly like your admiration for a blooming flower. Green is still your favorite color. Basically doesn't assume that way - temporarily.
National-stadium-bukit-jalilThe stadium has the ability of 100,000. It is found in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia. It was constructed to host the 1998 Commonwealth Games. The stadium took precisely twelve months and was completed a few months sooner than schedule. It's thought of by several to function as most effective structure in Malaya. In 2011, the football club Arsenal beat a tour match against a Malaya XI when it reaches this stadium of Malaysia.
Stop on this popular Forest Service campground, which holds a horse camping facility. Will probably have accommodates equestrian users by featuring tie racks, double wide camping spurs and uncomplicated access for the trails.
School records keeping: This concept according to NTI (2000:12) is a brief history of the institution kept carefully. This means that the systematic regarding the school at various points quickly need to be thoroughly recorded and kept by school administrators. it can be the authentic register of instruments of officials accounts of transaction or accurance which are preserved planet schools office (Olanrewaju 200S).
Sealed Attic Construction: Using either Biobased water-blown healthy foam insulation sprayed onto the underside with the roof deck, or a structural insulated panel roof (such as HPRS), any sealed, conditioned attic space, keeping heat, dust, moisture, pests and wind to choose from. Attic temperatures are reduced from common 130 to 140 degrees F to 80 to 85 degrees of severity. Now the attic is dry, cool, usable storing. This saves on A/C costs, improves indoor air quality, and helps protect the rooftop in high winds.
This implies that we have got to know the value of keeping records and with truthful and complete information Publish will have more enable our schools with regard to up up to now and deal with any question or fill any form about our school without difficulties.
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July 2019


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AuthorHaile, Astatke
Issue Date1981
KeywordsEcological surveys -- Arizona -- Santa Rita Experimental Range.
Desert ecology -- Arizona.
Santa Rita Experimental Range (Ariz.)
AdvisorOgden, Phil R.
MetadataShow full item record
PublisherThe University of Arizona.
RightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
AbstractStudies were conducted on the dynamics of live, standing recent dead, and standing old dead herbage for a desert grassland site in the southwestern United States. Data were collected at eleven sample dates from August 24, 1979 to October 18, 1980. Coefficients of variation for biomass data for most species exceeded 400% with only the most abundant species sampled with coefficients of variation less than 100%. Coefficients of variation generally were less than 80% for the perennial grasses as a group. The mean rate of transfer of biomass from live herbage to standing recent dead herbage was 0.21% per day for 203 days when expressed as a percentage of the peak live herbage. A rate of transfer of 0.53% per day of live herbage to standing dead for 109 days for perennial grasses in the desert grassland was found during early vegetative growth. A high proportion of leaves to culms was present during this period as compared to the summer growing season. Heavy precipitation in the early part of September accelerated growth of live herbage, and also accounted for losses of standing recent dead and standing old dead herbage to the surface litter component. The loss of dry leaves from standing grass culms due to rainfall impact contributes to an underestimate of net primary production. Standing old dead biomass accumulated following the depression in September. Transformation of the recent dead herbage to an appearance of old dead late in the summer also contributed to underestimating of current year production based on peak crop method due to the identification of recent dead herbage as the old dead component. Summation of growth increments by sample periods provided the highest estimate of aboveground net primary productivity when compared to estimates based on peak standing crop, summation of species peaks, and summation of significant growth increments by sample periods. Estimates of net productivity were 186% of the estimate at peak standing crop. Estimates of net production based on significant growth increments by sample periods yield the lowest value for net production, because poor precision of samples restricted data to few significant values. Based on the peak periods for standing biomass of lifeform groups, a minimum of four sample dates are recommended to estimate aboveground net primary production for semidesert grassland in southeastern Arizona. These sample dates include: (1) late April to sample spring peaks by perennial grasses, annual forbs and annual grasses; (2) late June to capture the spring trough; (3) late September to sample peak crops of perennial forbs, and half-shrubs; and (4) mid to late October to sample the fall peak for perennial grasses. Net production estimates by the peak crop method for perennial grasses varied from 18.7 g/m² in 1979 to 86.1 g/m² in 1980. This variability was attributed to the differences in the amount of rainfall in 1979 and 1980. This factor, therefore, largely influenced the repeatability of biomass estimates from one year to another. The large amount of time (approximately 644 man-hours) needed to sample and separate live and dead components by species for 20 quadrats at each harvest date, together with the year-to-year variability and the need for a minimum of four sample dates to effectively sample the desert grassland community, makes biomass data impractical for general use as a data base in land-use planning. However, this effort should be looked at from the standpoint of research studies describing the dynamics of range systems based on temporal characteristics and transfer functions to provide data which can help design management strategies for these range ecosystems.
Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic)
Degree NamePh.D.
Degree Leveldoctoral
Degree ProgramGraduate College
Renewable Natural Resources


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Currntly there are no homes for sale, or spaces for mobile homes, but we will post any as soon as they become available.
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Compliance Confidence
Failing to Provide Summary Plan Descriptions to Participants Can be Costly
Failing to Provide Summary Plan Descriptions to Participants Can be Costly
Employers will want to take note that they are meeting their ERISA fiduciary duties.
A recent case out of the Northern District of Iowa, Snitselaar v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, et al., involving a claim for dependent life insurance benefits, emphasizes the importance of communicating the terms of employee benefits plans by providing plan documentation to plan participants.
The plaintiff was an employee of Mount Mercy University and participated in Mount Mercy's group life insurance plan. The plaintiff was provided dependent life insurance benefits for her spouse, totaling $60,000. Per the terms of the plan, dependent coverage ends on "the date of divorce or annulment," at which time, the dependent has the opportunity to convert coverage to an individual life policy. The policy required the application for conversion within 31 days after loss of eligibility. Plaintiff and her husband subsequently divorced, and shortly thereafter, he passed away. The plaintiff submitted a claim for dependent life insurance benefits, and Unum, the carrier, denied the claim asserting that he was not covered.
The plaintiff brought claims against Unum and her employer, Mount Mercy. Notable was the plaintiff's claim against her employer. The plaintiff asserted a breach of fiduciary claim, under ERISA, against Mount Mercy.
She asserted that she was not aware of the termination and conversion language of the policy because her employer failed to provide her with a summary plan description (SPD) and/or certificate of insurance. Neither she nor her husband were even informed either in writing or verbally of their rights to convert the policy.
Mount Mercy did not dispute its failure in providing plan documentation prior to the ex-husband's death. Additionally, the life insurance premiums continued to be deducted from the plaintiff's paychecks after the divorce and even after her ex-spouse's death. The court agreed with the plaintiff and found that Mount Mercy did breach its fiduciary duty by failing to provide the SPD and/or certificate of insurance as required by ERISA. Mount Mercy's failure to provide the plaintiff with an SPD caused her harm because she had no notice that her husband would not be covered if they divorced and she had no notice regarding his conversion rights. The court ultimately awarded the plaintiff the $60,000 she would have received under the policy, and possibly, attorney's fees and costs upon proper motion.
ERISA requires nearly every employee benefit plan to have an SPD and to provide copies to each individual entitled to receive such. According to the Department of Labor, "the SPD is the primary vehicle for informing participants and beneficiaries about their rights and benefits under the employee benefit plans in which they participate."
Notably, the SPD is required to contain information about the plan's eligibility for participants and benefits, including the circumstances which may result in ineligibility or denial of benefits. The SPD needs to be provided to plan participants automatically within 90 days of the participant becoming eligible for the plan.
If you have questions regarding your ERISA compliance, please contact your OneDigital consultant.