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Here's a short post on my visit to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, when taking a detour of sorts on my way back to Detroit from northern Michigan. I'm a fan of U.S. presidential museums and homes, visiting many over the years.
I actually met Gerald Ford when he was president during a summer job as a student. I was working backstage at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, where he came to greet his campaign supporters right after his presidential debate with Jimmy Carter in 1976. Before taking the stage, he was nice enough to stop for a minute and say hello to me and two other colleagues, wishing us luck at the hotel which was previously in the news because of the "Legionnaires' Disease" outbreak. It was a thrilling moment for me!
The museum highlights Ford's life from childhood and college years as an exceptional student and athlete, attending Yale University Law School and his service in the U.S. Navy. And that of course was followed serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in leadership roles, as Vice President and then President.
Museum highlights include Ford's statue outside the building, his replica Oval Office, and the actual metal stairwell once atop the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, used to evacuate the building by helicopter after Ford ended the occupation in Vietnam.


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The Westminster Pool Table - Long Bay, Auckland
June 4, 2016
It's Back In Stock Now
The Westminster Pool Table has been sold out for about 6 weeks now but a fresh lot of stock arrived last week so we are now fulfilling our back orders. Long Bay is a new funky development on Auckland's North Shore. Most houses there have a second lounge and so our pool tab...
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subset: commoncrawl


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Do you have a loved one living with diminishing eyesight? Or do you work in a care home and yearn to share intriguing digital information with those in your charge? Thanks to entrepreneurs and developers within the health care space, there are an ever-increasing number of mobile apps being developed for those with sight challenges. Following are five terrific iOS Braille apps that might be of interest to those you know with reduced eyesight:
Available from the American Printing House for the Blind, the Visual Brailler app is another terrific tool for those learning Braille. With a 6-dot Braille keyboard and 40-cell data lines, this dazzling download lets you perform numerous functions including cut-and-paste data transfers. (itunes.apple.com/app/visual-brailler/id888739587)
Offered by Ethervision, the Braille Pad Student app offers numerous Braille inputs including UEB (Unified English Braille), un-contracted Grade 1 Braille, and contracted Grade 2 Braille. You can load files in a number of formats including DXB and can even send messages non-Braille messages to your friends and family. (itunes.apple.com/app/braille-pad-student/id551373276)
If you are just getting started with Braille, iEnable Technology's Braille Tutor app is a terrific download. Learn Unified English Braille through a variety of interactive lessons. This free iOS app works with both an on-screen keyboard or a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard. With text-to-speech inputs and sound playback, you'll be a Braille master in no time. (itunes.apple.com/app/braille-tutor/id878463116)
Thanks to the growing number of Braille apps, individuals with visual impairments no longer have to feel isolated or cut off from their digital devices. Whether your parent is living with macular degeneration or has failing eyesight due to diabetes or cataracts, mobile apps like those listed above can offer a tempting taste of texting freedom. How many of these awesome apps will you be sharing with your loved one?
want to request your appointment today?
770-719-7950 (Adult)
678-385-0377 (Pediatric)
678-323-1041 (Adult and Pediatric)
770-424-5669 (Adult)
770-422-4055 (Pediatric)
678-673-2340 (Adult and Pediatric)
404-255-2419 (Pediatric)


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Have you ever invested in technology stocks because you were confident they would perform well, despite truly understanding that technology? Do you binge eat junk food while watching Netflix because surely, by the time you are made ill by your bad eating habits there will be new technology to fix the problems your diet has caused? According to recent research from the University of Missouri, these seemingly harmless decisions could end up causing you unexpected troubles.
University of Missouri researcher Chris Robert says that "Technology has advanced to the extent that people may not understand how a particular technology works, but they do assume that it will work", meaning that this way of thinking can lead to people making important decisions based off the assumption that the technology will surely work. Robert asserts that because people unconsciously associate technology with success, that it influences things such as forecasts of business performance and financial decisions. This has been dubbed the "technology effect".
The University's research included three different studies. The first was the measurement of participants who unconsciously associated technology with success. They asked a second group to make business decisions based on new technology which they were either familiar or unfamiliar with. Lastly, they had a third group make decisions on technology related stocks. The results were that people heavily invested in technology, despite the fact that those particular stocks weren't projected to do any better than other options available.
Even more alarming is that the bias tends to occur more often when the technology is unfamiliar to a person. Roberts suggests seeking help from an expert in that specific technology prior to making important decisions-especially financial ones.
Robert said "People should be mindful that when they make decisions about many things in their lives, they might unconsciously be influenced by how much they think technology can affect the outcome. This belief could affect how governments make decisions about allocations of resources, how corporations make decisions about research and development, or how individuals make purchase and investment decisions."
Not only do people make financial and business decisions based on their trust in technology, but they also make personal decisions such as forgoing healthy eating because they depend that technology will find a way to cure whatever ails them. While medical technology has come a long way, it is never a guaranteed success.
Robert believes it is crucial for consumers as well as financial advisors and corporate decision makers to be aware of the technology effect and how it can impact decision making.
So be smart, do your due diligence before making any important decisions – especially when they affect your finances or health. It could save you a lot of money, as well as frustration.


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UKS and e-TQM ink deal
E-TQM College, the Dubai-based electronic college specialising in online programmes in total quality management, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universal Knowledge Solutions (UKS), a regional educational solutions provider.
E-TQM College, the Dubai-based electronic college specialising in online programmes in total quality management, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universal Knowledge Solutions (UKS), a regional educational solutions provider.
The MoU is aimed at opening up better opportunities in providing quality learning to all individuals aspiring to specialise in quality management as well as those associated with its implementation.
The MoU, which was signed by Dr. Mansour Al Awar, vice president of e-TQM College and Dr. Milad Sebaaly, CEO of Universal Knowledge Solutions, enhances mutual cooperation between both parties to provide e-learning programs to private and public organisations as well as individuals.
"The College is vigorously pursuing its drive to further awareness on the importance of adopting best quality practices among all members of society in the region. The MoU with UKS comes as a major boost to our efforts as it will significantly accelerate our pace towards disseminating quality principles to enhance knowledge and upgrade skills of students and professionals alike. We feel an immense need at the time being to keep pace with global rapid developments to sharpen the competitive edge of the different industries in the region," says Dr. Al Awar.
The areas of collaboration include assisting e-TQM college with building an adequate and updated virtual e-learning environment for the professional programs. In addition, e-TQM College and UKS will come together for content digitisation for theses programs and to provide expertise on issues relevant to online learning.
"It is a matter of pride to collaborate with a regional pioneer as e-TQM College. At UKS, we choose leading organisations that share with us same vision and objectives to partner with. We feel this MoU will go a long way in catering to the growing educational needs of the region and providing ideal e-learning opportunities to members of the student and business communities in the Middle East who wish to go further in TQM and implementation studies. We will join hands with the college in several areas including content development, technology deployment and marketing the newly created programs," says Dr. Milad Sebaaly. UKS will also help e-TQM College with market analysis that will be done on segmenting the market for these courses.


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ERASMUS+ evaluation and the plans for the future Erasmus programme
Recently, the European Commission presented its ideas for the future of ERAMUS+ in the bigger scheme of the EU budget for 2021-2027 during an evaluation. Last week, the European Parliament reacted to these ideas. Both parties have a corresponding ...Read more »


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20 February 2012
A pie of duck confit and Sarladaise potatoes
There are several ways to serve and eat confit de canard. The leg & thigh sections can be taken out of the duck fat and roasted on a rack in a hot oven. The fat drips away and the duck becomes brown and crispy. Slow-cooked duck legs done that way are often served with fried or sauteed potatoes.
Another way to serve the duck pieces is as part of a cassoulet of white beans, with sausages, cooked fresh pork, and other meats. You can put the duck pieces into the bean dish whole, or you can remove the duck skin and take the meat off the bones before putting just the chunks of meat into the cassoulet. (Make cracklings with the duck skin.)
Nowadays, a third popular method of using confit de canard is to make and kind of parmentier — a meat and potato pie — with it. Again, you take the skin off the duck pieces and pull the meat off the bones. Chop the meat coarsely. Saute some diced onions and mushrooms (or truffles) in duck fat with herbs, and then add in the chopped duck meat to make a hash. Put the hash in a baking dish, cover it with a layer of mashed potatoes, and cook it in the oven.
That was what I started to do last week with the three leg & thigh pieces of confit de canard I had left from December. (After cooking, the confit will keep for months in congealed duck fat in the refrigerator or a cold cellar.) I liked the idea of a meat and potato pie, but I wasn't sure I wanted to combine potatoes containing butter and milk (or cream) with the duck and duck fat. Duck isn't usually cooked in butter — at least not in the French southwest, where duck is a mainstay of the diet.
Instead, I decided to make sauteed potatoes, cooking them too in duck fat. Actually, the recipe for potatoes cooked in duck fat is a standard one down in the Dordogne and the town of Sarlat. They're called pommes de terre sarladaises. Slices of potato are first browned in the duck fat. Then they're left to cook with some garlic or even truffles on low heat in a covered pan. The potatoes are served soft and tender rather than crispy and crunchy.
So why not a combination of hachis parmentier (a kind of shepherd's pie) and confit de canard, made with pommes sarladaises? Rather than saute the sliced potatoes in a pan on the stove, I decided to cook them in the oven by arranging them on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking pad (parchment paper would work too) and brushing them with melted duck fat.
I made a hash of the duck meat while the potatoes cooked and browned in the oven. When the potatoes were done, I spread the hash in the bottom of a baking dish and arranged the potatoes over the top. You of course could eat it just like that, with crispy potatoes.
Or you can put the whole pan in a slow oven, cover it, and let it cook for another 20 to 30 minutes. The potatoes will soften up and continue cooking, taking on a texture that is closer to the texture of mashed potatoes than sauteed potatoes. And then you can cut wedges out of the pie and serve them the way you'd serve, well, a pie.
It's all about the texture you want. And you could use any chopped meat — beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, rabbit... — for the hash and do the same thing. Instead of duck fat, brush the potatoes with olive or vegetable oil, melted butter, or pork fat — whatever goes with the meat you're using.
By the way, pommes sarladaises are also really good served with a grilled duck breast filet cooked rare.
10 comments:
Confit de canard and fried potatoes are both wonderous things. Yum yum yum.ReplyDelete
Going along with the hash theme, I could see this dish with a fried egg on top. Yum, breakfast American style.ReplyDelete
- Lesley20 February, 2012 09:48
A couple of Canadians, living in the Dordogne, blogged about their cottage pie using duck meat. We agreed that it should be called 'canadian pie' in tribute to their nationality and the ubiquitous canard.ReplyDelete
Oh, wow! This is now on the top of my "Ken" recipes in my favorites file. I enjoy Sarlat enormously but I would never have thought about using the recipe this way. But I have to wait until our Aussie weather cools down to try it.ReplyDelete
oh my, that's the best idea for a shepherds pie everReplyDelete
Clever idea and nice looking also. Bet it was good.ReplyDelete
Oh my heavens. HEAVENS! That looks scrumptious. I visited Sarlat a number of years ago, and my memory of it is the color of those potatoes-- all of the buildings in la vieille ville seem to be of that "mellow honey- colored stone"ReplyDelete
I have eaten those potatoes in Sarlat and boy, oh, boy are they GOOD!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for all the comments, all of you. We finished the leftovers of the duck and potatoes yesterday — still good, they were.ReplyDelete
If any of your readers just want to open a tin - when they're back in the UK they can get it from my website Confit de Canard UK (www.confitdecanard.co.uk).ReplyDelete
I know it's not "making it" but it's the best gourmmet meal from a tin in the world and you get the fat for the potatoes.
Your hash looks fantastic by the way. I'm having some of that next time I open a tin...


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3069 ModernSherman Oaks, California, USA
This location is very unique as it is three separate house structures on one giant lot with a fantastic yard space in between the homes. The main house is Spanish style on the exterior and takes up the front of the lot. Private gate entrance leads to a good sized driveway and outdoor courtyard area with entertainment seating and a parked luxury RV that is also available for filming. The main house's interior is all modern with bright color pops as an accent. The two homes in the back of the lot are both modern with designer detail inside and out. The yard space features a large sparkling blue pool, manicured lawn areas, two patios with outdoor entertainment style seating (one at the main house and one across the lot attached to one of the smaller modern homes). The patio attached to the modern home has a fireplace and LED lighting which looks excellent at night. This patio also leads into the modern home via accordion door access which opens the wall up completely allowing the outside in. This location is also unique as it has direct access to the yard space via a separate private gate entrance and driveway that leads directly into the yard for easy access and loading.


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- This event has passed.
Highland Home Decorating Contest
December 4, 2019
Decorate your home for the holiday season and you could be eligible for prizes! Enter our contest and let the public vote on the best decorated home! This event is open to Highland homes only. Entry forms must be submitted to Lincoln Community Center by December 2. Voting takes place on highlandparks.org from 12/4 – 12/11. Winners announced 12/12.


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Does anyone know how to sweeten and dry coconut meat?
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
I have a couple of good books that I refer to when questions like this come up--How to Dry Foods by Deanna DeLong, HP Books and and Dehydration Made Simple by Mary Bell, Magic Mill. Here is a paraphrase:Coconuts are 51% water.
Start with a coconut that is heavy for its size and full of liquid. Poke holes in one of the "eyes" at one end and drain liquid. Crack shell with a hammer and steam for 1 min. to loosen meat from the shell. Use a stout knife to pry meat the rest of the way loose and to trim off brown rind from meat.
Grate or cut into 1/4 or 1/2 inch cubes or strips and dry at approx. 130 degrees F (55C) until leathery or dry and crunchy. To sweeten, sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar before drying.
Because of high oil content, dried coconut keeps best when stored in an air-tight container in the frig. or freezer until used. May turn ivory in color after drying. Have fun. Begonia
I break the shell of the coconut, peel the hard skin, slice and add sugar. Then I put it in the food processor. I add about 1 cup of water, blend till it's fine and drain with a muslin cloth. I use the milk for cooking chicken and prawns or veggie curry and the coconut I place on a baking tray and dry in the oven. When it's dry I store in containers and use for baking.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
How to dry and sweeten coconut meat?
Martin from N. Ft. Myers, FL


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Metro area students plan walkout as day of action
Royal Oak High student Elliot Widd will join hundreds of other students walking out of school Friday — the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre — and the 16-year-old believes the day will be different than walkouts held last month over school violence.
First, Friday's walkout will last for most of the day instead of 17 minutes. But more importantly, Widd says, students in several Metro Detroit districts are leaving their school campuses and converging on downtown Royal Oak for a rally, where they will call for an end to gun violence in schools through reform.
"This walkout is more political and about action instead of a memorial," Widd said. "Ever since we got 390 kids to walk out of school (in March), we have gained so much power. People see the support we have. We talk and people listen. It's an amazing feeling to have."
High school students from Royal Oak, Berkley, Bloomfield Hills and Ferndale Lake Shore public schools are headed to the city's Farmers Market at 316 E. 11 Mile, where students have organized their own National School Walkout Rally from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday's walkout is part of the more than 2,500 student-lead walkouts taking place across the nation. Across the state, Michigan has about 100 districts participating in walkouts, with more than 50 in Metro Detroit. Organizers are asking kids to walk out of school, wear orange and protest online and in communities.
Widd said Friday's walkout will address what needs to be done in the weeks and months ahead — forming student chapters of activists groups, getting teens to register to vote and calling for more town halls — to keep the issues in the forefront of national and local conversations.
"We are working on starting chapters for Student Demand Action as well as Engage 18 chapters here in Royal Oak and we'll work campaigning for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense this summer and into election season," Widd said.
Last month, students across the state and nation walked out of school for 17 minutes, one minute for every victims of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. .
Bloomfield Hill High school student Riya Doshi will be at the Royal Oak rally.
" ... Now we have four hours to convey our message to students from around the area," Doshi said. "For me this walkout is all about building upon the momentum we've created and keeping the conversation alive. Having a rally with students from all over the area instead of just our school is really going to provide students the opportunity to see just how many passionate students there are in our own community."
Speakers will include U.S. Rep. Sander Levin and Oakland County Commissioner Dave Woodward and support from groups like Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America and Engage18, a nonprofit organization founded by high school students.
Student organizers say they expect hundreds of students from each of the districts and possibly more. Students are planning to walk from their local schools to Royal Oak, while some are attempting to charter buses. Widd said students were able to raise enough money to cover the cost of renting the Farmer's Market.
National walkout organizers say they chose Friday to draw attention to what they say is a lack of gun reform since the Columbine attack, a 1999 school shooting which at the time was the first widely reported mass shooting committed by two students at a high school.
"Together, we will send a message that we won't tolerate any more inaction on this issue. And if cowardly politicians fail to act, young people will show them the consequences of letting so many Americans die by voting them out in November," reads a statement from indivisible.org, a website that has a searchable map for organized walkouts across the United States.
Adam Winkler is a UCLA School of Law professor who has written about gun reform and control for several decades. Winkler says while there has been no significant federal legislation in recent years or since Columbine, the gun control movement was reinvigorated with Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in 2012 at which 20 children were killed by a gunman.
"Newtown put the issue of gun control back on the top of the Democratic party's agenda and now it's become the most important issue for voters," Winkler said. "Parkland students are successful because they are building on the movement with new energy and new focus."
Those looking for evidence of change should not always focus on Congress, Winkler says. They should look at reforms in more than a dozen states where gun control has been restricted including in Florida, where just weeks after the Parkland shooting, the minimum age for all gun purchases was changed by lawmakers and the governor from 18 to 21.
"It's a small step but in Florida a major one," Winkler said.
Last month, several Parkland high school students met with Michigan lawmakers on Capitol Hill including Reps. Paul Mitchell, R-Dryden, and Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield.
Students walking out of school can bring change, Winkler said.
"To the extent they can contribute to a mobilization of gun control forces, that could have a huge impact on November election," he said.
Lindsay Warren, a volunteer for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Oakland/Macomb chapter, said local student turnout and activism has skyrocketed at her organization's meetings and events.
"The recent growth is students who want to form their own chapters. Just like the Parkland kids, they are concerned about student safety. They know this is happening every where, every day to white people to black people. They want their schools to be safe and as a country, we need to look at our policies and make everyone safer," Warren said.
Teacher and parent Alyce Howarth is taking a personal day to attend the Royal Oak rally where her son is among a group of Royal Oak student leaders at the event. Howarth is a social studies teacher for Southfield Public Schools.
"This is a very personal issue for me. I was teaching in another school district in suburban Denver in April 1999. Ever since then we have been doing lockdown drills. It really changed the tone when you have to take safety into consideration," Howarth said.
Howarth said students need the support of teachers on Friday and while many of them are too young to vote for now, they are taking action by petitioning school boards for support, protesting on student walkout days and using their constitutional right of freedom of assembly.
"We hear about how this generation is so irresponsible, but they are using these (social media) devices as these tools for tremendous outreach. This is really amazing," she said.
Several districts have issued letters to parents saying while they did support student-led walkouts last month, they are not supporting Friday's.
Lake Orion Community Schools and Farmington Public Schools have issued letters to parents informing them the districts do not support students walkouts because "they disrupt the school environment, interfere with student learning and create unique safety risks for students and staff."
Students who walk out will be marked as absent, unless they are excused by a parent, and students who participate in Friday's walkout will not be supervised by the district and will be "at his or her own risk," the letter says.
Kenneth Gutman, superintendent Walled Lake Consolidated School District, sent an email to parents that said "Unlike the events on March 14 which were organized to honor school shooting victims through 17 minute programs, the April 20 events are targeted at gun legislation and encourage students to miss a full day of school. The emphasis of the day also enters into a political debate that is not appropriate for a public school district to endorse, and rather requires neutrality."
Gutman encouraged parents to speak with children about the importance of remaining in school on Friday.
In Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, officials are allowing students to gather for a moment of silence at a designated location inside school, but not walk out.
"Should a student choose to participate in the walkout then all school attendance rules still apply. Our student code of conduct does not list a walkout as an excused absence. Should students be called in on this day, we would follow protocol and have students exit the campus. As with any unexcused absence, students may not be allowed to make up work, earn credit for work missed, or be given extended time for an assignment," an email to parents stated.
For students at Grand Blanc High School, school administrators are supporting student participation in the walkout on Friday. This comes after school officials there locked school doors on March 14 in response to a school threat, prohibiting students from joining thousands of others across the nation who did.
Michael Fray, school principal, said the students have been organizing for weeks and have presented a plan to school officials to hold a rally and have speakers.
"They are very excited. they have put a ton of effort into this. It's very impressive to see them trying to be thoughtful in what they want to accomplish," Fray said.
Friday evening, well after the walkouts are expected to be over, students and superintendents from multiple districts and spiritual leaders are gathering at the Muslim Unity Center in Bloomfield Hills at 6 p.m. for a community conversation to educate, raise awareness and increase involvement around building safe schools and communities.
Spiritual leaders are coming from Temple Beth El, Birmingham First Presbyterian, Christ Cranbrook and the Muslim Unity Center. Superintendents are expected from the Bloomfield Hills Schools, Birmingham Public Schools, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools and West Bloomfield Schools.
"May this event serve as an opportunity to join forces to ensure our kids and staff are safe in school," Daniel Nerad, superintendent of Birmingham Schools, said in an email statement. "These are complex issues that will require all of to do many things. May we have the courage to focus on what works and to do so in an ever present and ongoing manner."


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1. The Piknic Electronik: picnic, music and ecology
An ecological picnic with electronic music
The Piknic Electronik that is to be held in Barcelona every Sunday from 28 June to 20 September, is primarily an electronic music festival that reinvents the concept of picnic. The aim of this event is to bring together families and friends to enjoy a "green" picnic, listening to electronic music. The Piknic Electronik project was founded in Montreal in 2003 by four artists in love with electronic music and that sought to make it more accessible: this is why the Piknic Electronik Barcelona is an innovative event that brings electronic music and culture to everyone . And of course, since it is also an environmental and sustainable picnic, it transmits a source offriendly values to the environment. In 2012 the innovative concept of Piknic Electronik ventured beyond its borders to reach Barcelona.
A trendy Lineup
Many names of electronic music will be present at the Piknic Electronik Barcelona, among which are: James Holden, Paul Loraine, Andre Buljat, Pablo Bolivar, Puente & Rosch, DJ Koze, Ernesto Ferreyra, Dave Aju and DJ Sneak during July . In September you will see Masomenos, Sapphire, Timid Boy, Nerone and Nôze among others performing at the Antiguo parque de attracciones, Montjuïc (Joan Brossa Gardens).
Tickets an Timetable:
Concerts and activities of the Piknic Electronik take place between 01:00pm and 10:00pm and will last for 13 Sundays with an uninterrupted musical program.
The general price is 11 €. There are reduced tickets (before 15pm or if you have the Carnet Jove) for 9 €. The event is free for children under 12 years. There is a season pass for 30 €. Tickets can be purchased directly at the event.
2. Season Dinner with stars 2016, an astronomical observation and a suggestive gastronomic offer
The Observatori Fabra, one of the most unique observatori of Barcelona, starts its traditional Sopars amb estrellas. The activity takes place at the Fabra Observatory during the summer period and combines popular science and astronomical observation with a suggestive gastronomic offer. The Observatory and dinners want to offer you excellent views of the city of Barcelona. Ideal for an amazing dinner with your partner or friends.
The evening starts with a dinner served on the terrace. To finish dinner, a popularizing activity -a science conference- is proposed. Then it's time to visit the interior of the Observatory: the museum, the hall early twentieth century and the steps telescope. During this magical night, you can observe elements of distant constellations, stars and much of the solar system, with the telescope of 1904, one of the largest and oldest in Europe currently operating.
Five-star menus, ideal for the occasion
Schedule and fees
The arrival time at the Fabra Observatory is 20:30h.You can find the prices of the menus and more information on this page.
3. Festa Major del Poble Sec 2016
Some traditional activities of the Poble Sec Festa Major
Los Diablos del Poble Sec are organizing correfocs in the festival, leaving the Plaça del Sortidor. After the parade of fire, devils make a final show, followed by a concert of percussion.
Another tradition is that the section of grallers and drummers of the Castellers of Poble Sec organize a small festival (secasac) in which the instruments are protagonists. It all starts with a parade to Plaça de les Tres Xemeneies and then continue with concerts several specialized groups, with the wind and percussion.
In addition, the Giants and the Poble Sec Grallers organize a parade of giants parading in the avenue Parallel. One of the popular celebrations of the city of Barcelona liveliest. Not to be missed!
4. Eat paella in a beach bar overlooking the sea
If something Spain is knowm for something it's for its paellas. A native dish of the Valencia region, its preparation is very diverse since it can accept almost any ingredient.
Barcelona can boast of having a fantastic coastline with fresh fish, a fact that is reflected in the quality of its paellas, which are mainly prepared with plenty of fish and seafood. Discover here three different beach bars that allow you to enjoy some amazing paellas with a view over the sea.
Toc al Mar
This place is a real 'Xiringuito' with plastic sheeting and metal chairs, all housed in an old fishing cabin. At the foot of sand, in one of the most beautiful bays of the coast of Girona, Toc al Mar has its speciality, the fish grilled oak.
The kitchen snack bar only fish from the boats of local fishermen wild.
Bream, sea bass, snapper, bream, sea bass, scorpionfish, Dentex, authentic Red Lobsters Cape of Begur, Palamos prawns freshly caught … Only fresh produce. The Toc al Mar, paella is an inimitable square paella, which you can not miss, as well as rice with lobster and shrimp creamy rice …
Toc al Mar also offers summer concerts at your facility to accompany the meal. The snack bar is open from Easter until mid-October.
The Xiringuito Escribà
In the xiringuito-type Escribà snack bar you may eat all kinds of rice. The owners of this place are of the family of the renowned Catalan confectioner Escribà and have ventured to open a restaurant in seafront with a very interesting proposal.
The Xiringuito Escribà is located directly opposite to the beach Bogatell, a few meters from the Marina area, address Forum.
The desserts card of this snack bar is visual: the waiter brings a tray of different desserts of the day. Great success because on the one hand a picture is worth a thousand words and that by eating by sight, sure we ordered more than you really want to eat … It'll cost to decide which one to choose.
The Pez Vela
It is located on the promenade of Barceloneta and offers a cool completely open to the beach space. A new beach bar concept with a menu based on salads and rice dishes.
Here, it is necessary to forget the typical bars of plastic tables with people in bathing suits and drinking beer. In the Pez vela you'll find a casual restaurant but with exquisite decor and simple menus while taking care of all the details.
You can choose the type of rice you want to eat on the menu. We recommend these dishes concerning this snack bar you can not miss to try: black rice, the band with scampi, mushrooms and asparagus with sausage, grilled vegetables and rice squid, shrimp and clams. To lick your fingers!
As you can see, Barcelona, this full of life and very attractive city is not lacking any plan and activity to do. Come and spend an unforgettable summer and have fun while enjoying art, history, music and gastronomy.
If you missed the first part of the post: "What to do in Barcelona in July", check it out here. Enjoy the summer as you deserve 😉


text:
Romantic Marina Cruise Dinner
Secure your place in advance and save yourself the hassle of
booking once in Dubai with this evening
Dubai Marina cruise.
Relax with an air-conditioned transfer to the pier, and board the light-festooned 'dhow'
(Arabian wooden boat). Then, sail the marina's waters past the floodlit skyscrapers and
landmarks, savor a
buffet dinner, and enjoy the breezes and sights from the
open deck.
Live entertainment and a
return transfer are included if selected.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
City: Dubai
Country: United Arab Emirates
Average Rating:


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Sorting and Filtering
This is getting ridiculous. You have to stop forcing sorting and filtering settings on us and let the user decide. If I create a project with tasks, it should not automatically filter out or change the sorting order unless the user manually decides to. You are creating a terrible user experience by not allowing us to create a project with tasks and lock in the sorting order in EVERY VIEW and by filtering out information that we did not ask to have filtered out.
I have worked with our account manager on multiple calls and all I get are workarounds that cause more work and eventually just lead to more issues.
A few examples:
I want to create a project with tasks that stay in the order I enter them in. If I enter task 1, task 2, and task 3, it shouldn't show up in the order of task 3, task 2, task 1.
If I create it in a certain order or re-arrange it into a certain order, it shouldn't change in different views, it should be consistent. If I create something in excel, it doesn't re-sort or filter unless I tell it to, which is what Wrike should do as well.
There should never be any filters that are on by default. This just makes it harder to find what you are looking for because we have to remember to turn off a filter every project we enter every time we enter it. TURN OFF THE DEFAULT FILTERS.
Currently, in order for me to keep somewhat of a consistent sorting order, I have to type 01. 02. 03. (I can't type 1. 2. 3. because once I get to 10. 11. it ruins the sorting order) and here are the issues with this workaround: I have extra work to do, it makes things look messy, I now have a task number in timeline view and a different number associated to the task just to keep it in the right order, and it can still get mixed up if people have a different sorting order or move them. I also can't duplicate a template with a prefix so it would be really nice to have the ability to have the text put at the end of the task name.
Please hear me in this development team. I want to use Wrike and I want our company to use Wrike but the user experience is so frustrating with these issues that no one wants to use it because they feel when they enter work they have to do so much additional work after entering it.
Thank you!
10 comentarios
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
I absolutely agree! Sorting and filtering functionality would benefit tremendously from all of the changes you're describing here.
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
I agree as well!
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
I do agree and want you to hear us. Default filters make our work worse.
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
Same here... Filter is a real issue with Wrike functionality! Please have this sort out, so we can using this software...
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
I agree! Since my hours are billable, I am wasting time resetting filters every time I open a project. Let the users set their own defaults. The same goes for reports. Please let the users select which fields they want without having to whittle down fields that you supply. Thank you.
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
Hey guys, thanks so much for sharing your feedback here, it is passed to our Product team and I'll get back to you when I have news.
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
Filters and sorts should also be unique to each project or task list. Some lists need to be filtered and others need to be unfiltered. I find it annoying and counterproductive that when I change the filter on one list, it changes all the other lists as well!
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
Does anyone know if this has been addressed yet? We're considering Wrike but this might actually be a non-starter for us.
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
No, they have not addressed this issue and it is still a pain in the butt. We are not going to be renewing our membership due to this issue and others that have been unresolved for too long.
If Wrike can figure out how to solve these issues and others like it, I would be able to recommend it but I wouldn't at this point. I was a big supporter of implementing Wrike in our company, but when all these issues kept coming up, it really didn't make sense to use a program that took so much effort just to use.
Spot On! 👍 Innovative Approach 💡 Stellar Advice 💪
Hey everyone, apologies for the delay in response here.
The Product team is currently planning on releasing a feature in Labs called "Configurable Views". With this, default filtering will be disabled and you will be able to save different filters and sorting settings in each view. As soon as this is released in Labs, I'll be sure to keep you posted.
The team is also interested in researching sorting that affects other views, but there are currently no plans to add this to the short-term roadmap.
I hope this helps, and if you have any other questions, let me know.
Iniciar sesión para dejar un comentario.


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Taylor Hall recently signed with the Edmonton Oilers, ensuring he will play in NHL training camp this season. He should be the number one pick or close to it in any Keeper league at this point.
Although scouts claim he will not be a generational player like Steven Stamkos or John Tavares, the 18-year-old should prove himself to be an adequate scorer at the NHL level. His skill-set, size and pure dominance at the Junior level provide enough pedigree for us to give you the endorsement.
Look for a Dany Heatley type impact as his career progresses and 50-60 points as a main candidate for the Calder Trophy.
For quotes and more information on the signing, click here.


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Le Bristol Hotel hosts press conference to announce 'Nice au Coeur de Beyrouth' within 'Le Weekend Azuréen à Beyrouth'
Le Bristol Hotel hosted on September 27 a press conference announcing "Nice au Coeur de Beyrouth", an exclusive dinner scheduled to take place within 'Le Weekend Azuréen à Beyrouth', an initiative aimed at celebrating the centuries-old French-Lebanese friendship. Le Bristol Hotel, in collaboration with 'Mon Liban D'Azur' association, will be hosting four of France's most elite chefs. Michelin Star Chef Christian Plumail, member of the "Grand Cordon d'Or", Chef Jerome Rigaud, "Magical Pastry Cook" Chef Serge Serain Cappa, and last but not least, the man behind Mic Mac Macaron Chef Bruno Laffargue, Brigade des Etoiles de Mougins.
Joseph Coubat, GM of Le Bristol welcomed the audience and spoke of the long history of friendship and cooperation between France and Lebanon. Geraldine Ghostine President of 'Mon Liban D'Azur' introduced the new association created to promote relationships and exchanges between Lebanon and Côte d'Azur, and 'Le Weekend Azuréen à Beyrouth', exquisite weekend rich in events, taking place in Beirut.
Michelin Star Chef Christian Plumail and Sabine Géraudie, world-renowned painter from Nice, famous for her iconic La Chaise Bleue de SAB on the Promenade des Anglais, spoke about their excitement to be part of such an enriching experience where culture, ideas and the culinary art were under the spotlight. The attendees were all the guests of Le Bristol's CEO Marc Doumet that night. They enjoyed his gracious hospitality and a delicious dinner filled with cultural exchange and genuine laughter.
On September 28, a French delegation of politicians from Nice will attend the exclusive lunch at Villa Linda Sursock; Dominique Estrosi Sassone, Senator of Alpes Maritimes and Mr. Bertrand Gasiglia, collaborator of the President of the Department of Alpes-Maritimes, in the next municipal elections of March 2020 will grace Villa Linda Sursock with their presence.
The exquisite lunch will be followed by a dinner prepared by the renowned Chefs at the oldest ballroom in Beirut, the prestigious and authentic 'Golden Room' at Le Bristol.
Both events will be attended by key officials, VIPs, socialites, businesswomen and businessmen, in addition to prominent figures from the art scene to relish the exquisite cuisine, network and discuss economic, cultural and historical aspects and mutual actualities about Beirut and Nice.


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Epilogue – added in 2016: The following story resulted in triggering an investigation by the CDFA (Californian Department of Food and Agriculture) into PGR containing products that were being sold through Californian hydroponic retail stores in 2010/11. The investigation resulted in several bloom boosters being pulled off hydroponic store shelves in California and Oregon – among them were Dutchmaster Phosphoload aka Superbud (Alar and Paclobutrazol), Flower Dragon (Alar and Paclobutrazol), Top Load (Alar), Emerald Triangle Gravity and Emerald Triangle Bushmaster (Paclobutrazol). Further, Flower Dragon was removed from the UK market by Ikon Distribution who were knowingly selling a rebranded Super Bud which they had been forced to recall from the UK market in 2003.
Today, 5 years on, Dutchmaster (DM) – distributed through Transloc – has lost massive market share in the Californian market and now only has a few products registered there. Additionally, DMs market share in the U.S., in general, has dramatically dwindled.
Steve Berlow, the man behind Flower Dragon (ex Dutchmaster), released an ill-fated line of nutrients (Uber) after Flower Dragon was exposed as containing Alar and Paclobutrazol. Both Flower Dragon and Superbud continue to be sold illegally as under the counter products in many US stores.
Anyway, a bit of now infamous hydro industry history. "The Curious Case of the Flower Dragon". The story that finally exposed the PGR peddlers – sociopathic miscreants thinly disguised as business men.
The Curious Case of the Flower Dragon
Let's look at some industry products and the jargon that is used to promote them. I.e. a reality check.
First off the block: A product named Flower Dragon. I originally found this product on Ikon Internationals website – the largest hydro wholesaler/distributor in the UK. In the US it is being distributed via National Garden Wholesale (the largest wholesaler stateside – a division of Sunlight Supply Inc).
What sparked my interest was the awe-inspiring name and Ikons listing; "Flower Dragon MANUFACTURED BY (Not Specified)".
"Not Specified"? I wonder why?
The promo for the product:
"Flower Dragon is a new kind of flower booster. The easiest most powerful flower booster you have ever used. Simply use Flower Dragon at 3ml per litre during week 3 of flower. It's that easy!!! …Developed by leading plant physiologists, bio-chemists and plant performance researchers from around the world – Flower Dragon will leave you absolutely gob smacked!"
It did – I reasoned that "leading plant physiologists, bio-chemists and plantperformance researchers from around the world" would have better things to do for humanity than develop marijuana-growing products (call me a cynic).
Author's note for the US: "Gob smacked" is a British term. Its' definition first appeared in writing in the mid 1980's. 'Gob' is of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning beak or bill. Gob has long been used in Northern regions of Britain as a word for mouth. E.g. "Shut your gob". So to be gobsmacked is to be struck dumb as if by a smack in the mouth. MacMillan Dictionary defines "gobsmacked" as: adjective, British informal… surprised, shocked, amazed, speechless, astonished.
Linguistics aside, let's dig deeper.
On the (name withheld) Hydroponics website they advertise Flower Dragon with.
"Flower Dragon mineral base flowering supplement."
Not really. Its minerals are listed as 0- 0.15- 0.30.. Based on its NPK listing it's little more than water, at least at first glance.
It is important to note that under US standards, P is listed as P2O5 and K is listed as K20. Given this, Flower Dragon's elemental NPK ratio is 0- 0.0645- 0.249 or, 645ppm of P and 2,490ppm of K. This would deliver approx 7.47ppm of K and 1.9ppm of P when diluted at 3ml/L in solution. When you consider that tap water typically contains approx 1.6 – 2.0 ppm of P and 7- 40ppm of K, tap water contains more NPK than this $120.00 product.
They then go onto state: "A similar product to Rox or Superbud."
Intrigued, I fired off an email to (name withheld) Hydroponics to inquire further.
Their response;
"Flower dragon is a great product and the feed back we are getting bnack (sic) is nothing but good. Flower dragon however is a legal product."
Ok. I responded with:
"Thanks for the response, so what actives are listed??? What is the approval number??? Who is the manufacturer? Because on Ikon's site they specify "Not Specified" … Please explain!"
Their response… actually, it all went a bit quiet. Nothing! No response. Dead silence! Hmmm?
Not to be deterred, I then went to Flower Dragons homesite @ (now located as growenvy.com)
The site looked fantastic!! A fully animated/interactive Flash site with slick design but nothing there to indicate a manufacturers name, other than "Copyright Flower Dragon". They did, however note:
"We are a select group of industry leading experts and professionals who felt that there was a better way. A better way to research, a better way to develop and provide, "real" yield changing technologies that you can see, touch and feel…"Together we have over 100 cumulative years of industry specific expertise behind us."
[End Quote]
I for one was impressed: 100 years of experience (wow!) but who is the mysterious Flower Dragon?
On the site they also provide usage instructions for Flower Dragon; actually, several options. Among them:
Hydroponics: Use Flower Dragon for 1 week between weeks 2 and week 5 of flowering. Add Flower Dragon at the rate of 3ml to 5ml per litre of made up nutrient solution. Dump and replace your nutrients as you normally would at the end of that week.
The Power Sprint
Spend longer in Veg than most for a bigger, better structured plant (4 weeks minimum) Need to pick up some time and some size. Try this
Power Flower Method!
How it works: Add Flower Dragon to system after you have introduced your plants to flower at a rate of 6ml/gallon of nutrient/water for the first two weeks – then continue with regular nutrient feeding program.
The Double-Hitter
Size counts, but quality matters too. A combination of the two can be even more satisfying. Use this combo routine for maximal size and quality!
How it Works: Add Flower Dragon to system at week 4 for 1 week return to your regular feeding program and then reapply for 1 week when you are 2 weeks out from harvest. Finish as you normally do.
[End Quote]
Wow – "the double hitter" and "The Power Sprint"…. Sounds like a sports supplement.
Hmmmm …. To the experienced eye Flower Dragon is looking more and more like a PGR. Prohexadione (3,5-dioxo-4- propionylcyclohexanecarboxylate) perhaps? Without active ingredient listing, registration, and MSDS, which would be standard practice in the legitimate agricultural sector, it remains largely guesswork. Let's take a punt though – there's no harm in guessing. After all, they fail to list actives – guesswork is all we have.
Prohexadione acts in a similar way to Alar (Daminozide) and like Alar, before it was banned in 1989 for use on any consumable crop, Prohexadione, a new GA biosynthesis inhibitor (gibberellin inhibitor), is now being used as a PGR in the apple industry to reduce vertical growth (apical dominance) and regulate budset. Further, Prohexadione is being used in the grape industry and other areas of agriculture as an insecticide and/or PGR. The APVMA (Australia) list an approved and trialed Prohexadione product as having a 56-day (8 week) withholding period while the EPA list another Prohexadione product as having a 45-day (6.5 week) withholding period. Acylcyclohexanedione (the base to Prohexadione) is synthesized from 1,4 Cyclohaxandione (or Tetrahydraquinnone). 1,4 Cyclohaxandione is an organic intermediate used in the making of various actives in pharmaceuatical, herbicides and various organic products. 1,4 Cyclohaxandione is a diketone and has two carbonyl groups. Chemical jargon aside…
Bottom line – Prohexadione isn't suitable for use in a short-term deciduous crop (e.g. cannabis) and where PGRs are concerned this is about as good as it gets (re withholding periods).
FLower Dragon displays two products on their website. One, 'Bio Sorb PK' and the other, 'Phyto Mineral Mix', the latter being the impressive –albeit curious- Flower Dragon of which we speak. Their promo:
"Bio Sorb PK utilizes 3 cutting edge compounds – citrates, tartarates and phosphates – that when paired with soluable phosphorous – radically and immediately Bio Activates the plants supply of phosphorous…. This immediate increase in available energy results in a dramatic increase in your plants flowering potential and yields by unlocking the floodgates to the plants energy pool…. (The also note)
"Citrates and Tartarates: Increases phosphorous uptake potential by over 300%"" (Wow!!! 300% – is that even biochemically possible?)
Phyto Mineral Mix
"Giving Flower Dragon it's unique "Blood Red" colour This highly specialized mixture of selected rare earth elements and phyto nutrients supports your newly supplied bio available phosphorous by helping focus your plants internal energies into flowering, producing large abundant flowers, without the necessary lag…… a process commonly known as "Speed Shifting". To do this Flower Dragons harnesses the amazing natural power of Arginates and Rare Earth Elements (REE's). These unique phyto nutrients synergistically work with our micronutrients to allow your plants their most naturally rapid transition into flowering"… (Wow!)
OK , let's briefly touch on the jargon…
Citrates – they sound incredible but our mystery company is probably talking about citric acid that can act as a mild chelating agent, as a buffer, and as an acid to reduce pH (C Integral Hydroponics, Edition 4). Or they could be talking about sodium citrate. Or, they could be talking about potassium citrate as a source of K or ammonium citrate used as a buffer. One big question mark and some extravagant claims about a cheap to purchase and commonly used component when it all comes down to it.
Citric Acid is a sequestering (chelator) and stabilizing agent.
Citric Acid is a colourless crystalline organic compound and belongs to carboxylic acid family. It exists in all plants (especially in lemons and limes) and in many animal tissues and fluids. In biochemistry, it is involved in important metabolism of almost all living things; the Krebs cycle (also called citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid cycle), a part of the process by which living organisms (e.g. plants) convert food to energy. Citric acid works as a preservative (or as an antioxidant) and cleaning agent in nature. It is commercially obtained by fermentation process of glucose with the aid of the mold Aspergillus niger and can be obtained synthetically from acetone or glycerol.
The three carboxy groups lose protons in solution; resulting in the excellent pH control as a buffer in acidic solutions. Citric Acid also chelates metals (citrates chelate metal ions) and, for this reason, is an ideal organic chelator in nutrient formulations. C Integral Hydroponics, Ed 4 to see how it is used as a organic pH down agent.
Let's move on….
Tartarates – presumably they're talking about tartaric acid or potassium tartrate. Tartaric acid is a white crystalline diprotic organic acid – it occurs naturally in many plants. Other than this, it is one of the most common acids found in wine. Tartaric acid adds to the tart flavor of some wines, hence the term "tart". Tartaric acid (tartrate) also acts as a mild organic chelator and like citric acid is used in the biochemical process by the plant to chelate nutrients so they can move freely throughout the plant. I.e. Upon entering the plant the metal will immediately become chelated by organic acids such as citric acids, malonic acid, tartaric acid (tartrate), and some amino acids (e.g. glycine), which occur naturally within the plant. This biochemical chelation process will then enable the nutrients to move freely inside the plants to areas where they are needed. The addition of both tartaric acid and citric acid ("Krebs cycle metabolites" as one company would have you believe) may prove beneficial in some formulations where organic acid chelation is required (note: I've oversimplified the chemistry more than a lot because both acids may also prove pointless in situations where adequate chelation, via EDTA and DTPA, EDDHA, fulvic acid and an array of other chelators, is concerned).
Phosphates: This is where things go from the sublime to the "are you kidding?" A phosphate is an inorganic chemical. Inorganic phosphates are mined to produce phosphorous. Phosphorous is used in nutrient and additive formulation. Along with potassium, phosphorous is highly beneficial to flowering plants (e.g. cannabis). Innumerous flowering stimulants (e.g. PK 13-14 etc) contain phosphorous and potassium. Flower Dragon state, "…phosphates – that when paired with soluable phosphorous – radically and immediately Bio Activates the plants supply of phosphorous…."
What? Is this alien technology? Typos aside, this simply makes no sense at all.
ARGINATES: This mineral form is bound to the amino acid arginine. It is able to penetrate the cell and deliver the mineral specifically to the plasma and inner layer of the outer cell membrane (at least at a human physiological level). It's typically a term used in bioscience and/or medicine but isn't used with regards to plant physiology and mineral nutrition. Arganine is an amino acid found in plant and animal protein involved in the conversion of ammonia to urea. Unless there is a spelling error and they mean 'alginates' or 'aliginic acid' which is a polysacharide and is found in kelp and brown algae. 'Aliginic acid' is used as a thickener, usually as sodium alginate much like gums and agar. Again though we are left wondering.
Bottom Line: Impressive jargon that ultimately is little more than perplexing dribble when deconstructed at a chemical level.
OK – now for rare earth elements (REE). I've left the best to last.
REE first appeared in hydro stores via a South Australian company named Dutchmaster. Dutchnmaster have somewhat of a reputation for misleading consumers. They released a product named Superbud in about 2000 with:
"SUPERBUD is the most innovative & powerful flowering additive to hit the market EVER!
SUPERBUD utilizes a new technology which extracts unique isolates from coal derived humates. These Humatic Isolates are powerful rare earth elements that, when combined with Dutchmasters propriety Phospholipid Technology, unlocks the floodgates for a fast & powerful flowering response.
The unique combination of elements helps your plants finish the growing cycle extremely quickly without the usual lag that occurs when you turn your light cycle down to initiate flowering.
The Phospholipid Technology (first incorporated in Dutch Master Folitech) then increases or switches the flowering receptor sites on, which then allows these Humatic isolates to exert their powerful flowering effect.
[End Quote]
Indeed! However, what Dutchmaster failed to mention was Superbud's real secret lay in two chemical PGRs; one of which was paclobutrazol and the other of which was Alar – the latter of which was banned for use in any consumable crop in 1989 after a massive controversy in the US (The Alar Scare). We'll talk more about Superbud shortly (stay tuned).
For now…back to "Rare Earth Elements (REE)".
Wikipedia defines "rare earth elements" as:
"…rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a collection of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, namely scandium, yittrium, and the fifteen lanthanides. Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earths since they tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides and exhibit similar chemical properties.
The following abbreviations are often used:
- RE = rare earth
- REM = rare earth metals
- REE = rare earth elements (Hey there we go!)
- REO = rare earth oxides
- LREE = light rare earth elements (La-Sm)
- HREE = heavy rare earth elements (Eu-Lu)"
Impressive stuff but technically, at least from an agricultural perspective – pointless.
On the other hand, U.S. military technologies such as guided bombs and night vision rely heavily upon "Rare Earth Elements (REE)". Unfortunately the US military is having a hard time getting hold of "rare earth elements" (hence "rare") probably as a result of "leading plant physiologists, bio-chemists and plant performance researchers from around the world" sucking them all up for use in cannabis growing products (Call me 'sardonic' I,e, characterized by irony, mockery, or derision)
Let's move on…
Many rare earth elements are toxic and/or are heavy metals. Their chemical symbols: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu
However, I suspect (pray) what Flower Dragon are discussing is fulvic acid (a very common component that is used in many additives). Fulvic acid typically carries 70 or more minerals and trace elements as part of its molecular make up. Plants readily absorb high amounts of fulvic acid, and maintain it in their structure. Fulvic acid is an excellent chelator. , It forms four-point bonds with the elements it chelates, but unlike the synthetic agents it can be absorbed into the plant. This adds to the mobility of the nutrients. The nutrients chelated by fulvic acid can move more freely which prevents a number conditions like localized calcium deficiency that can happen due to low mobility of nutrients.
Fulvic acid is very impressive stuff and I know that I incorporate fulvic acid in many of my formulations (as do many nutrient formulators). But let's not be deceived —– "select rare earth elements"? ….C'mon!
Just some elements/minerals that are found in fulvic acid:
Calcium, Ruthenium, Thallium, Cobalt, Indium, Nickel, Samarium, Thorium, Barium, Copper, Iodine, Niobium, Scandium, Thulium, Beryllium, Dysprosium, Osmium, Selenium, Erbium, Iron, Palladium, Silicon, Titanium, Boron, Phosphorus, Silver Lead, Platinum, Vanadium, Gadolinium, Lithium, Potassium, Strontium, Ytterbium, Calcium, Gallium, Lutetium, Praseodymium, Sulfur, Yttrium, Cerium, Germanium, Manganese, Rhenium, Tantalum, Zinc, Cesium, Gold, Magnesium, Rhodium, Tellurium, Zirconium ……
But consider this. To hit optimum fulvic acid target ppm in solution you would use approximately 40ml of 8% fulvic acid concentrate added to 960ml of water. This would give you a 1L concentrate product (similar to something you buy in hydro stores) that would then be used at approximately 2ml/L in the nutrient tank/reservoir.
Next…consider this: many of these so called rare earth elements are at such low ppm levels in fulvic acid that their presence in a nutrient (given dilution) is negligible. E.g. Yittrium is a rare earth element that is found in fulvic acid… Yttrium exists at approx 0.1ppm (in concentrated fulvic acid). Hence, given our 1L concentrate + dilution rate = 0.0002pmm. I've oversimplified this for reasons of conjecture – this number is likely to be far lower, which is probably a very good thing. That is, Yittrium is likely to be a threat to the environment and public health. I.e. Yittrium has not been demonstrated to be an essential element for plants. It is, however, a contaminant/effluent around nuclear reactor sites, and research has demonstrated that some plants will uptake yittrium when it is present at approx 1ppm in solution/soils.
Other than yittrium, rare earth elements, namely lanthanum and cerium, have been studied for their benefits on plant growth. The findings:
"Conclusions: La and Ce did not enhance the growth of corn or mungbean, but decreased the growth, root function and consequently the nutritional status of mungbean at concentrations >0·2 µM in solution…. While La and Ce had similar effects on plant growth, Ce was more detrimental than La to the uptake of Ca and Na by corn." 1
[End Quote]
Bottom line: What we're left with, at best, is pure jargon; no substantial NPK ratio's or other substantial ingredient listings, no contact details for the manufacturer on their site, no MSDS, and no idea who these "leading plant physiologists, bio-chemists and plant performance researchers from around the world" are. Impressive… I for one am left "gob smacked!" (At least on this front, Flower Dragon aren't kidding)
Not to be deterred, I scoured the web for more information, this time looking for US suppliers. One store in Dayton, Ohio listed it as Atami Flower Dragon. Uh huh, I thought, so maybe Netherlands based Atami –fronted by Erwin Rossario- is behind the mysterious Flower Dragon.
I sent the store an email to confirm the new information:
"Hi, I'm just wanting to know more about Flower Dragon. I saw on a UK site that it's similar to Superbud. But the problem is that no one else seems to be saying this and I want to get hold of something that acts in a similar way to superbud (reduces height) but isn't so aggressive. Have you had any feedback on Flower Dragon yet? It says on your site that Atami makes it. Is this correct? I used to use their biostimulants years ago and they were great! There doesn't seem to be much on the internet about it but the Flower Dragon website looks fantastic…
Best regards
Their response:
Hello ..,
Yes Atami does make it. You may check out National Garden Wholesale (NGW) for more info. We have not sold a lot yet but the few that have got it have came back for more. Thats always a good sign.
(name withheld)
OK – so Atami makes it. Puzzle solved (or, at least I thought). I then went to NGW's website to confirm the information. Nothing about Atami and the promotional material contained the same information that I had read on the UK site. Confused, I shot back another email.
"Hello…, thank you for getting back to me. So I'm a bit confused – is Flower Dragon similar to Superbud in that it stops upward growth and promotes dense flowers? I looked at the NGW site but it didn't say much about what it actually does. I've also looked at the Flower Dragon site, which BTW is impressive. Nothing about Atami though on either NGW or the FD site. .
Best regards"
Their response:
I am not sure if it is similar to that product. I may have been misinformed about Atami. The bottle says manufactrued by Envy Plant Products Inc. in BC Canada. The bottle dosen't say much about the product either.
OK, this is getting confusing but at least I now have a company name – Envy Plant Products Inc, BC. The problem is I've never heard of them. I get 4 hits on google – all of them linked to Flower Dragon being sold online via hydroponic stores. A Canadian company search on the BC government company listing website does, however, tell me that Envy Plant Products Inc is a registered company in BC.
I then sent off an email to (name withheld hydroponics) in California to see if I could learn more.
Their response:
Hello (pseudonym)
Yes, Flower Dragon is similar to Superbud however when all is said and done it is more effective and user friendly. Unlike Superbud/Phosphoload, Flower Dragon does not contain paclobuzatrol (plant growth regulator in superbud/phosphoload known to cause cancer). This product is truly unique and I suspect you will be hearing alot about it over the next few years. You can order this product on our website if you want to give it a shot. If not feel free to stop by one of our three retail stores located in California.
(name withheld)
OK, so we now have two stores – one in the UK and one in the US- who are comparing Flower Dragon to Superbud (also known as Phosphoload in North America). I won't go into the implications of the paclobutrazol and cancer comments (other than to right a wrong and say that paclobutrazol is not known to be a human carcinogen – on the other hand, Alar is and it is Alar that makes up the bulk of Superbud as active).
I responded with:
"Thanks (name withheld). Is it organic? The only info they seem to provide is it is a mineral based product but it lists 0- 0.15- 0.30 which is really not a lot of minerals. Sorry to bother you but it is very expensive and I just want to be sure I'm getting my moneys worth.
Best regards"
Their response:
"Unfortunately flower dragon is not organic. If a product does not have a OMRI (organic materials reviews institute) label it is not certified organic according to international standards. These labels are difficult to find but can be found in the Organicare and Bio-Bizz nutrient lines as well as a few others.
As far as mineral content goes Flower Dragon is unique in that it contains a lot of micronutrients and heavy metals such as iron, molybdenum, copper, selenium, and zinc. Feel free to take a look at the following link for public information available on Flower Dragon. Don't be discouraged by the heavy metal content (eg. lead, nickel). If you take a closer look you will find that a lot of your favorite organic fertilizers contain more of these heavy metals than most products. Please take a look at your states nutrient regulations to find out more about mineral content. http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/is/fert/fert2.asp?ID=13642"
I took his advice and went to the link he had provided to look at the "mineral content".
What? "…it contains a lot of micronutrients and heavy metals such as iron, molybdenum, copper, selenium, and zinc. " he said. Let's analyze this for a moment.
Micro Nutrient (%)
Boron (B) Nil
Chlorine (Cl) Nil
Cobalt (Co) Nil
Copper (Cu) 0.001 (10ppm)
Iron (Fe) 0.001 (10ppm)
Manganese (Mn) Nil
Molybdenum (Mo) Nil
Sodium (Na) Nil
Zinc (Zn) 0.001 (10ppm)
Total Micros = 30ppm
Heavy Metals (ppm)
Arsenic (As) 7.7
Cadmium (Cd) 7.39
Cobalt (Co) 7.42
Copper (Cu) 32.7
Lead (Pb) 7.03
Mercury (Hg) 0.388
Total Heavy Metals = 62.628ppm
You must be kidding… right? There's technically nothing in it. 30ppm of micros (0.003%w/v) and 60.628ppm of heavy metals (0.0060628%w/v). At this point the author is left dumbfounded!
Bottom line: Flower Dragon is clearly not a "mineral base flowering supplement". We have a product that seemingly contains nothing (a bit of P and K, minute levels of three micros, and worryingly high levels of heavy metals – C note 1); it is also in breach of Californian labeling standards. I.e. the label states Flower Dragon is a "mineral base flowering supplement" which clearly it isn't. The label also states "Phytominerals" at its' base, which is a term typically associated to alternative therapies, skincare and pharmaceuticals. (C note 2)
We also have a retailer who clearly knows nothing about the products he's selling, and just as little about the chemistry of such products (to equate ppm from %w/v simply multiply by 10,000 – e.g. 0.001 x 10,000 = 10ppm) and another retailer that seems confused by who manufactures the product… "I may have been misinformed about Atami" – (I.e. two retailers who seem clueless).
Author's Notes:
#1. Flower Dragon has a total of 30ppm of microelements (nothing really) with a total of 62.6ppm of heavy metals (HM). I.e. double the heavy metals to micros. When one considers that a standard horticultural grade solid phosphate fertilizer contains on average 10ppm/Kg of heavy metals, Flower Dragon's HM numbers are extremely high (over 6 times more than you would expect to find in a component fertilizer used in manufacturing nutrients and additives)
#2. Phyto or Phytohormones are terms typically associated to botany/plants. Phyto is used before a noun when indicating a plant or vegetation (e.g. phytogenesis, phytotoxicity) so the use of phytomineral is acceptable (linguistics again). Of course, on this basis, phytomineral means the same thing as saying plant mineral, which is the same thing as saying "mineral base flowering supplement", which is the same thing -in this case- as saying nothing, if you take my point.
At this point, something about this was starting to sound all too familiar.
I.e. Pharmaceutical jargon attached to a, in all probability, PGR based product, advertising material that is truly nonsensical, a product which fails to list actives and, where actives are listed, are patently bogus; an, in all probability, PGR product that is being distributed by Ikon International (UK) and National Garden Wholesale (US) and on-sold to retailers who vis-a-vis are on selling a product that, at the very least, must raise suspicions (nevertheless, at $120USD for a 34 ounce (1L) bottle, who cares I guess)
Bullshit radar bleeping, I commissioned solicitors in BC to access a company listing of Envy Plant Products Inc with Director names. Other than this, I dropped an email to a contact in the Californian State Government Ag Department. Who is the mysterious Flower Dragon I pondered?
Not to give the game away, let's rewind this for a moment.
Superbud aka Superdud
In 2003 the shit hit the fan over a product called Superbud™. It was alleged, that Superbud™ contained carcinogenic (or potentially toxic) properties and that the manufacturers of Superbud™ (South Australian company, Dutchmaster/Transloc/Futchatech) had misled consumers by marketing Superbud as a safe and organic product that's secret lay in their "proprietary phospholipid technology and powerful rare earth elements known as humatic isolates".
Superbud™ was the most talked about product of ALL time – Dutchmaster's magic bullet (gold does grow on trees) and their juggernaut into International markets. No product had ever been talked about on forums to this extent before- nothing even came close. A major thread on www.overgrow.com, the worlds largest online grow community, started by 'Superbud SOG' expoused the virtues of Superbud with boasts of massive increases in yields and gold does grow on trees claims etc. What was never exposed on this thread was 'Superbud SOG' was a young Dutchmaster employee and was thus promoting his employers product to unsuspecting forum members – an example of how subversive marketing takes place via chat forums (whether cannabis specific or otherwise).
Then in 2003, some British industry members decided to go after Dutchmaster and Superbud™. To cut a long story short they used an Australian industry member to take the fall for them and by the time the affair was over Superbud had been slammed Internationally on just about every internet forum in the world. Like the formidable marketing of Superbud itself – nothing had been this big; it was by far the biggest shitfight in the history of cannabis forums. Once again Superbud was the most controversial and talked about product ever, only this time Dutchmasters reputation lay in ruins.
Superbud would be pulled from the British, Australian, US, Canadian and European markets (or at least they could no longer sell it openly) and Dutchmaster's reputation would be left in tatters. Their drive into the highly lucrative North American markets was over. Their flagship had been blown out of the water (Superbud –"Is it a bird? Is it a plane?"- given a dose of kryptonite). Dutch Master would pull out of Canada sometime in 2005 – 2006 (leaving Futchatech behind as their distributor) having lost their campaign for world domination.
Craig Gribble (owner and CEO of Dutchmaster) returned to South Australia with Steve Berlow (Craig Gribble's right hand man and largely the brains behind Dutchmasters product line and advertising) and built himself a multi million-dollar apartment in Adelaide.
Dutchmaster had released this memo to all Australian hydroponic stores in 2005 – 18 months after Superbud had been (apparently) removed from the market.
The Store Owner
Tuesday January 11, 2005
To whom it may concern,
It has come to our attention that there is a counterfeit Superbud being offered in the marketplace to unsuspecting stores. The product looks almost identical to Superbud but has an incorrect batch code number on the rear label (BN 031108). The counterfeit product also displays a distinct moiré pattern on the rear label (a checkerboard pattern of round dots).
The counterfeit product is not Superbud, was not manufactured by our company & has no association with our company. After laboratory testing of this counterfeit product it was confirmed that the counterfeit product does not contain the same ingredients as the genuine Superbud. As such this product will not perform the same as original Superbud & will only lead to frustration & anger from your customers should you purchase & sell this counterfeit product.
If you have been approached by companies or persons offering this counterfeit Superbud for sale, please contact myself on (08) 8447 1222 to report this matter. All information regarding this matter will remain in strictest confidence.
As the names "Dutch Master" & "Superbud" are registered trademarks; producing, selling or knowingly purchasing counterfeit product for sale is a breach of trademark law and can lead to substantial damages being awarded against those who partake in such activities. Our lawyers have instructed us to collate a list of those who continue to knowingly sell this counterfeit product for future actions.
I thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
Steve Berlow"
Author's note: Dutchmaster's highly acclaimed Plant Physiologist, Dr Deepak, resigned the company in 2003 citing two reasons for the resignation. One was his family were unhappy with him working in, what they perceived to be a shady (criminalized) industry, and the second reason was Dr Deepak (PhD) was unhappy with the direction of Dutchmasters product line. Presumably, this meant he had an ethical and moral crisis with marketing a probable carcinogenic, illegal/non compliant product (s?) as organic and safe to unsuspecting consumers.
Dr. Deepak – of Sri Lankan origin- was hired by Craig Gribble after applying for a job as a retail assistant at an Adelaide Dutchmaster owned store (Hydro Superstore). When the staff saw his CV they took it out to Craig Gribble, who immediately hired Deepak and used his PhD in plant physiology as a marketing tool for the company. Until then Dr Deepak had been selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door.
While 'Dr D' (PhD) was applauded as the innovator for the Dutchmaster nutrient line the true story is very different. In fact, it was Steven Berlow who was largely behind the Dutchmaster formulations and likely Steven Berlow who developed Superbud.
In 2009, Australian Federal Authorities raided hydroponic stores and wholesalers across Australia. Their target… non-compliant products, namely PGRs and more importantly Superbud. While details of the raids are sketchy, it seems apparent that the APVMA, in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police, seized numerous products, including the long banned Superbud.
Later the APVMA released this memo to hydro stores around Australia.
Excerpts thereof:
Important Regulatory Information for Hydroponic Retailers
If you sell chemical products to the commercial hydroponic industry or to the general public you need to be aware of the laws that govern the sale of such products. Under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code of each jurisdiction (collectively, the 'Agvet Codes'), it is an offence to advertise or supply unregistered agricultural chemical products. These offences carry fines of up to $33,000 for an individual or $165,000 for a company.
Selling plant growth regulators or other hydroponic chemicals in Australia
Agricultural chemical products that might typically be supplied by a hydroponics store and fall under the definition of an agricultural chemical product include: Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) or products that contain plant growth regulating chemicals, such products can also be described as nutrients, growth boosters, vitamins, hormones and bloom enhancers. These types of products generally require registration with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) as agricultural chemical products.
How do I know if a product is registered?
To check if a product is registered, you need to check the label on the product. Labels on registered products carry an APVMA or NRA approval number. This number is typically found at the base of the rear label panel on the main container. The approval number contains the product number, the pack size identifier and the month and year of initial registration. A typical example might be: APVMA (or NRA): 54321/1kg/0909.
What if I am selling unregistered agricultural chemical products?
It is important to note that as a hydroponic retailer, you have a responsibility to ensure that only registered agricultural chemical products are sold or supplied via your store. The fines and penalties for supplying unregistered agricultural chemical products are significant.
The supply of an unregistered chemical product is an offence under section 78 of the Agvet Codes.
Action that could be taken by the APVMA if a hydroponic store is found to be selling unregistered agricultural chemical products can include compulsory product recalls, compulsory stop supply notices and even criminal prosecution. Fines relating to the supply of an unregistered chemical product can be $165,000 for each offence."
[End Quote]
Fade to black….
The Recidivists
Let's compare some jargon for a moment.
Flower Dragon Phyto Mineral Mix
"Rare Earth Elements"
"Flower Dragon is a new kind of flower booster. The easiest most powerful flower booster you have ever used.
Flower Dragon Bio Sorb PK
"Unlocking the floodgates"
Dutchmaster Superbud
"Rare Earth Elements"
"Unlocking the floodgates"
"SUPERBUD is the most innovative & powerful flowering additive to hit the market EVER!
Could it be? No… Surely not…!!!???
The company listing information for Envy Plant Products Inc arrived June 20, 2010. On it:
Incorporated on May 13, 2009
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name:
Magowan, Susan Jane
Mailing Address:
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name:
Tagliafierro, Tammy Michelle
So who are these "leading plant physiologists, bio-chemists and plantperformance researchers from around the world " with "a combined 100 cumulative years of industry specific expertise" between them?
Well, to put it bluntly, I for one had never heard of them.
Not deterred, I Googled Tammy Tagliafierro.
From LinkedIn…
- Operations Manager at Florigen Research Laboratories Inc.
- Indoor Garden Division Manager at Commercial Lighting Products
Wow! Could this be it? It looked promising. Tammy Tagliafierro was the Division Manager of the indoor garden division at Commercial Lighting Products. It looked as if she was connected to the hydro industry. Now she was Operations manager at Florigen Reseacrh Laboratories Inc.
Florigen was, until recently, a mythological flowering hormone. The discovery of the molecular nature of florigen was a major scientific breakthrough in 2005.The discovery was made due to DNA technologies, combined with molecular biology/plant physiology research, whereby the florigen gene was isolated in flowering/fruiting plants. Florigen is probably a small protein called FT. FT is produced in the leaves and is transported via the phloem to the shoot apical meristem (SAM). FT acts like a molecular "alarm-clock", evoking a complex genetic scenario, which culminates in flower formation. The process seems to involve red, far-red, and blue light, the length of the night, and the plant's biochemical clock. There is still much to be understood about florigen and there is no single ubiquitous hormone that can be used to mimic the florigen response. Genetic research has succeeded, to some degree, in developing mutant hybrid strains of tomato whereby florigen levels were successfully manipulated (through select breeding), inducing early flowerset, and larger and sweeter fruit. This, however, needs to be done at a genetic level (I.e. breeding or through other mechanisms which are far too complex to go into). Put simply, there is no product in a bottle that can trigger ("speed shift") florigen in a plant. Now I'm seriously impressed! Perhaps Envy Plant Products Inc have done what DNA research is yet to come to terms with– perhaps they have cracked the Florigen code ('Florigen Dragon' , "speed shifting" your plants into overdrive…).
But seriously…
This aside, I then searched for Florigen Research Laboratories and found a BC company listing.
Business – Licences Approved During Period
From: Feb 01, 2010 To: Feb 28, 2010
Research and development of horticultural products
Bingo! The address matched that of Envy Plant Products Inc. Confirmation that Florigen Research Laboratories, Envy Plant Products and Flower Dragon were all one and the same thing.
OK – let's cut to the chase (this is getting old and Sherlock Holmes grows weary my dear Watson). Who is the mysterious Flower Dragon… really?
The answer/confirmation to the curious case of the Flower Dragon came on June 21 2010. That is, the name or, at least one of the names that I had been looking for from day one.
"…the person behind Flower Dragon is Stephen Berlow.
We met Mr. Berlow a couple of years ago when he worked for the BC
company Futchatech, which, at the time, was the North American
distributor for Dutch Master. A year or so ago Mr. Berlow and
Futchatech had a very rancorous falling out. At a later date, Dutch
Master and Futchatech fell out, and Futchatech is no longer the Dutch
Master distributor. It all begins to be a bit of soap opera." (I bet!)
[End Quote]
Could it be? Steve Berlow, AKA Dutchmaster, AKA Futchatech, AKA Transloc, AKA Superbud, AKA Phosphoload, AKA Florigen Research Laboratories Inc, AKA Envy Plant Products Inc, AKA the mysterious Flower Dragon…
Author's note: The author would like to express his regrets to Susan MacGowan and Tammy Tagliafierro, and thank Ms Tagliafierro for responding to an email with:
"…On a side note, in my opinion, your allegations and slander towards Mr. Berlow seem a bit harsh. If you know as much as you say you do, you should know that Mr. Gribble is known to manipulate and instill fear in those around him. I would not be so quick as to judge Steve or other ex-employees of the Gribbler's empire."
[End Quote]
Of course there were also a few colorful words thrown my way.
" I am informing you that if you choose to mention anything about myself, my partner, my products, my company, or make any suggestion or inference that either of us are associated with Steven Berlow, Craig Gribble, organized crime, or any bike gangs anywhere around the world, I will seek legal action against you"
[End Quote]
Ok, I'll be advised. On this note, the author has no idea whether Envy Plant Products Inc is linked to organized crime, bike gangs (from anywhere around the world) etc. Envy Plant Products, however, is linked to Steven Berlow, who is/was linked to Dutchmaster, 1 percenter OMCGs and organized crime.
To quote further:
"Steve left Futchatec/Transloc etc "for reasons that you can imagine, but won't get into…" Not much of a drama, Steve has been pretty quite (quiet) about the whole thing, as has Florigen Research Laboratories Inc. I can't imagine Craig would want to rustle Steve's feathers too much, after all, that much time with a company you gain a lot of confidential operational knowledge." (I bet!)
[End Quote]
So I'm confused? You seem to know so much about Steven Berlow and yet you threaten to sue me if you, your partner or, your company are linked to Steven Berlow, while linking your company to Steven Berlow (if you follow my drift).
Of course there was also this:
Perhaps it's true our copy is a little 'American-hype styled'.
[End Quote]
Well no, I didn't actually say this. I think I refer to your copy as "jargon","dribble", and subversive marketing. That's extremely tough on the Americans' (your consumers). You're a Canadian company connected to an Australian who clearly wrote your "copy" (which by definition is false marketing and not "hype").
"…we have been actively looking for a good copywriter to mellow it out and make it more suited for the average grower. I'm sure you can empathize with that since your writing style is also a bit too evolved for most people, with too much technical jargon and ramblings about biochemistry, plant physiology etc, couple with a tendency to stray off topic, and often lacking a point; perhaps that's why your book doesn't sell… just trying to help:-)"
[End Quote]
Aghhh – I'm gobsmacked! Too evolved? Ouch! Is that to say your consumers aren't evolved?
"I'm not an expert in the sciences myself, but I do work with certified plant physiologists, and biochemists, and they expressed to me some of their concerns of the formulas you have posted on your website. They have mentioned that the concentrations of some of the ingredients, along with the lack of proper processes to allow plants to metabolize certain ingredients could be quite toxic to animals & more importantly people. I recommend you have someone look at those formulas before someone gets sick."
[End Quote]
Someone has looked at the formulas Ms Tagliafierro. The APVMA in Australia, the EPA in North America and so on. The formulas of which you speak are PGRs (poisons thinly disguised as powerful "rare earth elements" etc). Hence the skull and crossbones featuring at the top of the page and the "Darkmaster Superbad" label on the sites hompage. You will also note warnings and "for demonstration purposes only". I think I make my views more than clear. PGRs are poisons!
One formula is based on Dutchmaster's (aka Steven Berlow's) Superbud (SB). The Paclobutrazol, Alar formula on my site has less Alar than the original, which was, if my memory serves me correctly, approximately 300 – 330g/L Alar (when the APVMA seized samples in 2003 and analyzed these samples).
The other formula is a two part (Paclobutrazol and Cycocel) – ppm for ppm to another PGR product that is sold in Australia and elsewhere. The formula is manufacturer direct and this particular product is sold widely through hydroponic stores in Australia and elsewhere. It is now registered for use with berries, so if you're growing berries it should be just fine. However, if you are growing a short-term deciduous crop (i.e. cannabis) it should be considered a toxin and given a wide berth. As you put it: "They have mentioned that the concentrations of some of the ingredients, along with the lack of proper processes to allow plants to metabolize certain ingredients could be quite toxic to animals and more importantly people."
It sounds like your people know a thing or two about PGRs… I agree completely!
Let's move on!
More Information on PGR definitions, classes, and regulations here…..


text:
First it was the Finance Committee that cast doubts on the funding of a renovation of the 1835 Town Hall. Now, with an architect hired and blueprints on the way, regional planners are �quite pessimistic.�
Vernon Gaw, chairman of the 1835 Town Hall Committee, told selectmen Wednesday night that officials from the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission have cast doubt on the town�s chances of securing a Community Development Block Grant. The application process for the grant runs through MRPC office.
The grant is in question, said Town Administrator Terri Ackerman, �because the regional projects are soaking up so much of the funding.� She said MRPC proposed that Sterling combine its grant application with another town undertaking a renovation in the hopes that they would qualify as a �regional� project. Grant applications are due in early December.
In his pitch at the May town meeting, Mr. Gaw said the grant could pay up to $800,000, which he characterized as the lion�s share of the cost. The Finance Committee had estimated that the project � reconstruction and handicapped accessibility � could total $2 million. Voters elected to authorize hiring an architect, although construction spending would require another vote.
Mr. Gaw said the project architect, Menders, Torrey and Spencer Inc. of Boston, has suggested several alternative grants the town could apply for, and he asked that selectmen hire a grant writer to pursue them.
� Michael J. Ballway


text:
The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) web presence exists primarily within the CCIU site. All programs, schools and divisions must work within the existing website framework and shall not establish separate external website locations. Some exceptions may be made for partnerships with external organizations, but permission must be requested through Communications.
Development of sections and pages within the CCIU site framework allows for the consistent implementation of branding elements including header images, navigation and footer information.
Website editors have been assigned within each CCIU division to assist in maintaining accurate and up-to-date information for each school, program and service. These trained editors have the ability to add and/or edit page content. The following should be considered, however, when adding content:
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For larger website changes, including section additions and restructuring or for help in identifying your division's assigned website editors, please contact Communications.


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Shafts material: pine, maple, linden, ash etc. Diameter 5/16″ and 11/32″.
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Leading feather differs in color.
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