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Meditation is a practice that is surrounded in mystery for those not in the now. Many seem to be under the impression that it is a magical or religious exercise, or that those in the know believe it is going to bring them unusual abilities. While meditation is used in some religions however, it is also used by professionally trained therapists and other specialists and is a tool that anyone can use in their daily lives to find an inner sense of calm and to relax. There are many different forms of relaxation and the method you choose will be based on personal preference, and even the goals of meditation can vary and while some people will meditate to silence their 'inner voice', others will do it in order to focus more heavily on that voice.
For most people though the best type of meditation is that which takes them out of the daily grind and gives them a break from the 'constant chatter' which the majority of us experience in our minds 24/7. Normally we all have a voice in our head which 'narrates' what we are doing and how we feel. This voice is often the source of a lot of stress as it reminds us of what we are doing wrong, and of any problems in our life. When we try and relax, often the voice is still there and will be thinking about the washing that needs to be done, the phone calls that need to be made, and the day we are going to have tomorrow at work.
All these thoughts put stress on our body. They create stressors which our body treats as genuine threats to our safety, therefore speeding up our heart rate and flooding us with adrenaline. While this is a great response if we are facing a lion, over time if it is constant it can begin to take a serious toll on our body. At the same time all that 'background noise' can make it difficult to think clearly about the things we want to be focussed on. In meditation then we sit, we focus, and we forget the voice, and as a result we feel completely calm and relaxed – any problems we do have are forgotten, or we are at least taking a back seat and not 'engaging' with them. Regular massage has then been proven to have quantifiable benefits and to increase our health in a number of ways – lowering our cholesterol, improving things like coordination and even increasing recall and concentration. Meditation can be done by anyone anywhere, and can be achieved standing up, lying down or sitting in an arm chair.
Of course for someone who hasn't had any professional training this can be quite hard and the minute we know we are not allowed to think, it suddenly becomes impossible not to. You begin thinking things such as 'am I thinking anything at the moment?' and 'oh good I managed not to think anything!'. Similarly by knowing you are not allowed to move you often suddenly start itching and feeling uncomfortable. It is like trying not to think of a pink elephant – the minute you know about it you do.
Fortunately there are some simple tips you can learn that will help you to overcome these problems and to concentrate on 'nothing'. The first of these tips is not to place too much concern on straight away being able to achieve complete silence. This is something which many people train for years and not something you are going to be able to do immediately. Be happy to just sit and relax in the quiet of your room and to at least take a 'back seat' to your thoughts. Some distance is better than none and listening to your thoughts can have value too. In fact this is called 'mindfulness' where you observe where your thoughts go when you are not consciously trying to control them. Embrace this and see what is in your own mind – consider it an explorative journey. You can even 'meditate on' a subject, by sitting down somewhere quiet and devoting time to thinking about a problem you want to solve. Similarly you should not worry too much about keeping completely still, and you certainly do not need to be in the lotus position. Lie down somewhere comfortable on a couch, or sit up if you are worried about falling asleep (though this would not be the worst thing in the world) and if you need to scratch do. You will find you are suddenly a lot less itchy.
To help quieten that voice there are also some things you can do. The first and most important is to remove the stressful thoughts you have. While it can be okay to let your mind wander, you must not sit there worrying about how little time you have or you just will not be able to relax (which is the whole point here after all). To give yourself some mental 'space', take your concerns and agree to put them in a box where you can come back to them later after your meditation. They are not going to go anywhere, and if you are meditating now then they are not going to help you – so just forget about them until you can actually do something about it.
Then concentrate on a single space. You should have your eyes closed so this space will be a point you imagine in the black space. Normally people choose to focus on a point in the centre of their forehead between their eyes. This will help focus your thoughts and is a powerful tool to be able to focus your thoughts in daily life. At the same time try to listen to your breathing which will entertain your mind with something dull and meaningless. Breath however is comfortable to you, but just focus on this sound for a while. If you struggle with this then you can listen to 'meditation CD' of relaxing sounds and music which will help you to leave the world behind too. Listen to each individual instrument and its part and try just to 'hear' without analysing.
There are other visualisation techniques you can then use to become even more relaxed. For example, many people like to imagine a 'happy place' such as a calm island beach, or a quiet rain forest, or a log cabin in the snow. Again choose a scenario that works for you and wonder around and explore the cave. By visualising your happy place you can concentrate on creating images rather than your thoughts, and if you are meditating in order to relax then this is a great way to calm your heart rate and lessen your adrenaline.
Other visualisation techniques are more 'internal'. One popular favourite is to imagine a 'pleasant colour' such as a light blue. Start it in the centre of your forehead, and then slowly allow it to cover your face and your neck, your shoulders and your chest, your abs and spine, your biceps, your thighs and your buttocks, your calves and forearms, and finally your feet and hands. Let it completely wash over you and relax your muscles as you do.
Others like to blur the boundaries of their own body to completely 'forget' where and what they are in the universe. This might sound quite unsettling, but actually this is something which can occur anyway if you manage to shut down certain centres of your brain. To help achieve it, imagine a light in your abdomen that is 'you' and then slowly expand it outside of your physical restraints, into your room, out of your house and then out into the universe. This is a more advanced technique, but if you can focus on the experience without thought, then you can begin to feel 'body less' as well as 'thought less'.
Finally if none of these techniques work, then a great way to start is by listening to a meditation tape or CD in which a professional will talk you through the process. Be sure to shop around though (you can download many for free online) in order to find a speaker with a style that suites you.


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Danbury Fair (shopping mall)
|Danbury, CT, United States
|7 Backus Ave, Danbury, CT
|Opening date
|October 28, 1986
|Wilmorite Properties
|The Macerich Company
|No. of stores and services
|No. of anchor tenants
|Total retail floor area
|1,292,176 sq ft (120,047.1 m2)[1]
|No. of floors
|2 (3 in Macy's)
Danbury Fair Mall is an upscale shopping mall in Danbury, Connecticut.[2] As of 2011, it is the second largest shopping mall in Connecticut[3] as well as the fifth largest in New England.[4] It is located off of Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 7 opposite the Danbury Municipal Airport. The mall anchors are JCPenney, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Primark, and Sears. The junior anchors are Dick's Sporting Goods, Forever 21, The Cheesecake Factory, Brio Tuscan Grille, and L.L.Bean.
The mall was built by the Wilmorite Corporation on land formerly used for the Danbury Fair,[5] which paid $170,000 per acre, at that time the highest price ever paid for land in the Danbury area.[6] It opened in 1986, anchored by Sears and G. Fox (which became Filene's in 1993 and has since closed becoming an L.L.Bean). Macy's opened in October 1987 and JCPenney in March 1988. In 1991, Lord & Taylor and a parking garage were added. In 2005 the Wilmorite Corporation sold the mall to The Macerich Company. In 2010, Filene's broke up into Dick's Sporting Goods, Forever 21, Brio Tuscan Grille, The Cheesecake Factory, and L.L.Bean.[7][8] In 2015, Sears gave up its 2nd floor to Primark, but kept its 1st floor.[9]
During construction it emerged that two Wilmorite executives had paid Danbury's then-mayor, James Dyer, $60,000 in cash, sometimes concealed in newspapers. They claimed he demanded the money to assure his support for the mall. The allegations contributed to Dyer's defeat for re-election in 1987. He was acquitted of corruption charges in 1990; other charges were dismissed later. Lawyers for him and other city officials portrayed the executives as willing to do anything to get the mall built.[6]
There are 192 retailers and eateries, including the major department stores Macy's, Sears, Lord & Taylor and JCPenney. Filene's was in the mall until the 2006 Macy's consolidation. The mall is especially popular with kids, partly due to the double decker carousel in the food court and many youth-oriented events and activities the mall sponsors on a regular basis (such as "Family Fun Night"). Many of these events take place in the mall's center on the lower floor. This space changes throughout the year, and can be converted into a stage area for special events such as song and dance performances. The mall is decorated during the holidays.
Primark leases approximately 70,000 square feet on the upper level of the two-story Sears store, which the building was one of 235 properties spun off from Sears Holdings into Seritage Growth Properties in 2015.[10][11]
In January 2007, Danbury Fair began the process of an interior renovation, which was completed in spring 2008. The mall received new lighting fixtures which replaced the original globe bulb lighting, new stone style floors which replaced the original tan, brown, and green tile floors, soft seating areas throughout the mall, new stained wood accents, and new paint. The two areas that received the most changes were the food court and the center court. A newly renovated food court features a slightly curved panoramic view of the restaurant choices, which reduced the number of restaurants from 16 to 11. New banquet seating is featured in the food court. The center court includes the removal of the large scale fountains (which also doubled as event areas), and has been replaced with a Starbucks coffee bar, soft seating with tables, and a down-scaled water feature to reduce the noise level.
Every summer from June to July, a carnival opens, taking up one of the mall's parking areas. The mall refers to the event as the "Danbury City Fair" in a nod to the historic fair upon whose site the mall was built. When the mall changed companies in the mid-2000s, however, the carnival was cut back from a month-long event starting in June to just a two-week event, starting every Memorial Day weekend.
- JCPenney
- LL Bean
- Forever 21
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Brio Tuscan Grille
- Dick's Sporting Goods
- Lord and Taylor
- Macy's
- Sears
- Primark
- ^ "Leasing Opportunities". Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ "Mall Is Adding Seven Fashion And Lifestyle Stores -". newtownbee.com.
- ^ Emil Pocock. "Largest Connecticut Shopping Centers". Eastern Connecticut University. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.[better source needed]
- ^ "About Us". Ettractions.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
- ^ Ravo, Nick, "Country Fair Becomes Land of the Lava Lamp", New York Times, September 4, 1987
- ^ a b Glaberson, William (April 27, 1992). "As the Mall Thrives, Main Street Struggles to Survive". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ^ "Brio Tuscan Grille, The Cheesecake Factory Coming to Danbury Fair Mall". Danbury, CT Patch. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
- ^ Bissell, Jennifer (2012-06-28). "L.L. Bean coming to Danbury Fair Mall". Westfair Communications. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
- ^ February 19, Dirk Perrefort | on; 2015 (2015-02-20). "Danbury mall gets a new anchor". www.newstimes.com. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
- ^ "Danbury mall gets a new anchor".
- ^ http://www.seritage.com/retail/property/7-backus-ave-ex-3-rt-84/3312685/landing

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Need another one to do…
Priest Blog WOW
That is awesome! the pose for "That demon guy" is perfect.
Our one officer captioned it "Drinks? You ARE prepared!?!"
I have been looking for a signature for forums i visit. So could you make one?
Here's my armory http://eu.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Ahn'Qiraj&n=Moryxia I have no idea about the color schemes or anything but I'd like it kinda shadowy. Thank you.


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Results 1 to 7 of 29
1st September 2017, 02:22 PM #1
List your worst encounter with a kite(r)
As the other post about kiters got my blood pressure up again, I thought it would be educational to hear from others about their worst experience with a kite, or with the person connected to it, the infamous kiter.
For me it was quite some years ago on a sunny day with almost onshore winds. I was planning in a strait line and suddenly kite lines hit the top of my rig. I fall in and when I come up I see both the kite and the kiter lying in the water. He is shouting at me, and although I didn't understand much, it didn't sound too friendly. So I get up and sail away. While surfing in front of the beach I see the kiter collecting his kite and wade and swim ashore.
An hour later at my van I get confronted by the same kiter who asks in a loud voice why the f##k I didn't help him with his kite, and if I could pay for the repair of his ripped bladder and lines. I explain that he was at fault, that he didn't apologize, that he was in standing debt of water about 20m from the shore and that he didn't sound very nice at the time.
Every time since, when I think back on this episode I really wonder in what kind of universe the guy lived at the time.
And I personally don't have any really good experiences with kiters, although I know of some windsurfers who have been rescued by kiters over the years. So they do have their limited function, together with keeping the watersport retail chain afloat (although suppers are starting to compete strongly with them there ).49 years young @ 85kg.
WitchCraft Wave HDD 83l + K4 Stubby 14cm + K4 Ezzy 2º 12cm
WitchCraft Flextail HDD 95l + WC 15.5cm & 14cm side fins
RRD COTAN 7'11" Wide Classic
Witchcraft Slayer & Karma sails and masts from 3.3m to 5.2m - Tecnolimits XTR
1st September 2017, 03:54 PM #2
i'm surprised that so many people have had so many bad experiences with kiter,s i personally have never had any dangerous encounters with kiters maybe we have been a bit confused which way we are steering to avoid each other but not to the point we have crashed it is sometimes a bit of a shock if a kite smashes down reasonably close to you as it does make some noise
i wish i could say the same about windsurfers who have crashed into me with sometimes no warning at all and they could have avoided me
i do have a very good positive story about a kiter helping a windsurfer that saved her life !
at the Rhossy BWA event last year 2016 i was free sailing on one of the days and a ladies heat had just finished one of the sailors had become trapped under her sail and had basically drowned whilst trapped a kiter had spotted her in trouble alerted some other windsurfers who pulled her out and tried to revive her as she wasn't breathing mean while the kiter jumped back on his board from the way down wind beach and shot over to the beach by the houses shouted me over frantically giving me the details i then ran up to the judges who were sitting in a van grabbed a phone and dialed 999 to alert the emergency services (we had an ambulance and a helicopter attend ) but whilst this was going on a windsurfing fireman had heard all this he shot off waded the river to reach her fully clothed and started the CPR which eventually saved her life the kiter returned to the scene and helped through out and it's my opinion if he hadn't been such a quick thinker we may have lost a young windsurfer in tragic circumstances
she was apparently all fine after about 3 days and doesn't remember the event
Last edited by max111; 1st September 2017 at 04:18 PM.
1st September 2017, 04:09 PM #3
- Join Date
- Jul 2015
- Location
- Essex
- Posts
- 103
I haven't had any bad or dangerous experiences as such but when I was at Portland a couple of weeks ago I had one guy who saw I was a beginner and just kept coming really close. A couple of other kiters realised I was newish and actually adjusted their sailing away from me to give me some space which was nice but this one guy just kept coming close.
In the end I got annoyed and told him to f.off getting so close. I went in for a break and saw that he was also coming close and jumping quite near to where the kids were swimming near the beach. The wind was Offshore and blowing away from the beach but I still felt there was no need for that. There are weigh anchors everywhere and it is inevitable that some of those will find their way onto the sea
1st September 2017, 05:34 PM #4
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Posts
- 890
This summer I was just about to follow my wife out, I watched her sailing away from the beach. Upwind there was a fairly proficient kiter, he went into a fairly big jump, lost control of the kite and crashed hard. His kite then slammed into the path of my wife, it landed about 5foot in front of her and she had no time to react and kind of aborted her kit/crashed I to the kite itself.
Back in the car park his first comment was "that was funny", I think he saw the steam coming out of wetsuit and quickly apologised and changed his point of view a little.
Don't seem to realise how much space they need when it goes wonky as it very often does!!2017. Wave sessions 19 Bump Jump 14
2018 Wave sessions 2. V good though
1st September 2017, 06:31 PM #5
Their very existence is annoying but, much like Max, I've not had any major bad experiences with them and we all tend to get along. I suppose the worst I have witnessed is when they choose to launch / land far too close to bucket-and-spade beachgoers, which is the sort of idiotic behaviour that could have repercussions for us as well as them. That's only a small minority though. Other than that it's low-level annoyance / lack of consideration like them doing their twirlies in the launching / landing area (especially when there's shorebreak about) or choosing to lay out / leave their stuff in the way of the main route to the water.
Live and let live though. I help them launch and land if they need it and I've rescued a few of their tea trays over the years. As Max's story illustrates, next time it could be one of them rescuing me. It was kiters who saved Whitey's life wasn't it?Eeeh 'tis grim dahn Sarf.
1st September 2017, 07:02 PM #6
We and we generally get on ok, when I'm kiting pole boarders are irritating twats who you have to give space to, they are so stupid they don't realise the dangers of the top of their rig engaging with my lines, when I'm windsurfing kiters are a bloody nuisance jumping upwind and always underestimating the downwind drift landing point, irritating twats, it all used to be so much better when I was the only one out.
2nd September 2017, 08:18 AM #7
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
- Isle of Wight
- Posts
- 837
A t1t is a t1t, what ever they happen to be sailing. The worst I've had was a pole surfer (i to was windsurfing) jump over the back of the wave just as I was about to bottom turn in to a section. a second later & I would have eaten fin!
It is true that a t1t with a kite can effect more people though. As a rule i would say if your kite or lines hit any one or thing it's your fault.
Careful about wishing for segregation though. As so few windsurfers can wave sail it might be windsurfers that get chucked off the wave beaches!
Last edited by Paddy360; 2nd September 2017 at 08:21 AM.


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This PHP script allows to split a single Paypal payment between multiple receivers using the Paypal chained payments API. This script works simply as posting some variables to a PHP page using a simple html form. Are you reselling the products or services?, get your percentage of the sale without waitings with this script!!.
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V1.1 – Bugfix and improvements
* Minor bugfix * Updated documentation
V1.0 – Initial release
* Initial release


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Despite forecasts of foul weather all over the state, my buddy and I decided to go and try our luck for some big tiger trout.
The last time we visited this lake, we both left quite disappointed, vowing to return with a vengeance. Sunday was the day of reckoning and we arrived with one thing on our minds: big tigers.
We started by throwing spinners and nothing came to hand after at least an hour. Holdsworth stuck to his guns and I started throwing all the tackle I had. We'd also switched locations, and that seemed to help, as Holdsworth pulled in 2 smaller tigers within minutes of each other.
Even though they weren't large, they broke the silence of skunkiness that loomed over our heads from the previous week and that was more than welcome. Soon, it would be my turn.
After trying all the conventional methods, I ended up trying something weird. With a spinning rod, I threw out a heavy black sculpin pattern with a killer caddis dropper. It didn't fly very far, but I only needed to get out a few feet.
Surprisingly enough, a few slow retrievals later, I had my first fish and it was pretty nice.
It measured 22.5 inches and weighed 3lbs, 11oz. It took the dropper and nearly fought the hook straight, peeling off a good chunk of lip in the meantime. Finally! It felt good to have a nice tiger in my hands again.
Shortly after my catch, Holdsworth connected with something worth taking a picture of:
Nice pattern on that one.
The Blue Fox strikes again!
Using the same spin/fly setup, my second beast was on the line about 20 minutes later. Basically a twin of the first, this one took the sculpin and let me get some video footage of its fight, after round 1 was over, of course.
Another 3lb, 11oz tiger, just a hair shorter than the first.
A short while later, I had gone back to throwing hardware and hooked up with a smaller tiger on a chrome/orange kastmaster.
So with that, we'd had our fun at the lake and thought we'd check out one of the creeks on the way home.
The lower stretches of the creek were flowing over the banks and very muddy, flooding much of the surrounding area. No use trying to fish that, we figured, and continued up the canyon. Though the flows remained high, we eventually found some good clarity, several miles upstream.
Holdsworth had the lucky hand here and caught a few while I decorated some bushes with my favorite lures. Here's a video of him bringing in a brown.
Not bad for this creek. Nice way for him to end his fishing trip and I was still buzzing from the angry tigers.
Notice the hint of blue sky in that last shot? The weather was supposed to be awful, pretty much anywhere in the state of Utah, but we somehow managed to stay just outside of the storms. We only got sprinkled a couple of times with rain and some snow, but enjoyed comfortable temperatures and quite a bit of sunshine throughout the day.
Once again, we went home satisfied.
Happy Fishing, Humans.
Trip Report "Small Fish Of The Day" - *Went out this morning with my best fishing buddy Bruce Ristow. We always kid each other and comment about small trout of the day. We call it "Guppy" o...
48 minutes ago


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Toronto-based #paid has raised a $9 million Series A as the company looks to expand its influencer marketing platform.
The round was led by ScaleUP Ventures, with participation from Aitken Investments and Freycinet Investments.
Founded by Next Founders alumni Bryan Gold and Adam Rivietz, #paid launched in 2014 with the goal of connecting marketers with influencers for campaigns and content creation. Since then, it's built up a network of influencers with at least 5,000 Instagram followers, spanning wide-ranging industries from pet accounts, photographers, beauty bloggers, and bloggers with children.Read More


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Chemawa Indian School Natatorium
The mission of Chemawa Indian School is to maintain the highest academic standards and foster excellent educational opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Facility Assessment & Renovations
Assessment to the classroom facility combined with renovations to 750-seat Auditorium, Gymnasium, & Natatorium buildings. Chemawa Indian School is the oldest continuously operating Native American Boarding School in the United States. The school draws students from all across the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and the Southwest. In 1970 the school moved to the current location on the 400 acre site with new brick buildings. The current enrollment of over 400 students range from grade nine through grade twelve. The buildings were suffering from water infiltration and needed significant remediation. The Natatorium, Gymnasium and Auditorium buildings were the first to be revitalized in a series of building renovations to improve the campus as a whole.
- Date : 2014
- Client : Chemawa Indian School
- Status : Completed
- Location : Salem, Oregon


text:
The complete two-day workshop is now available online with three videos. Ashley Benson, PMI Certified, leads a group of four trainers in an hour-long workout. There are four parts: Cardio, Ballet/Barre, Gym Moves, and Pilates. Another video explains how to teach each exercise. The third focuses on tips, such as how to use music properly. In addition, there is a beautiful illustrated Manual that details all the exercises with photos.
Enjoy – this also now becomes part of our Continuing Education offerings. You can purchase the Fusion Package from our online store here for $125.00. Tye4® is available for $40.00 with purchase of the course.
Finally, for all of you who have asked about our Teacher Training Programs, Part I: Pilates Matwork will be ready in mid-September. Cost: $600.00.


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by Gregt
(North Vancouver, BC)
Hi. I live in what seems to be an incredibly rocky, clay-filled area (compared to the install videos on YouTube ... dragging a 2x4 with a level taped to it through my dirt is useless).
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Installing an Above Ground Pool.
by Don
I'm going to attempt to install another above ground pool this summer. (18x33 Tahaitian buttress free). I had one at the other house and have moved (Cantar, buttress free, 15x30).
Seeing how this isn't "my first rodeo", it should go smoother than the 2 months it took to set up the previous one. But that baby was nuts on level!
My question:
After the guy with the skid-steer leaves, should I rent a plate compactor to tamp the dirt down?
The soil here is sandy, and this will be three years after the house was built.
I rented one last time and it was kind of a mistake trying to level after the tamping. But the ground was so ripped up I thought that it needed to be done. After the tamping it was like concrete, extremely hard to set the side uprights with plates.
Thanks for your time. I enjoy your site and the posts from the pool forum. It's very generous of you to donate your time to people like myself and others who need a little help.
Thanks, Don
Hi Don. I would level the ground with shovels and then rake out smooth. Using a transit, or laser level, you should be able to get the entire pool area well within an inch of level.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Installing an Above Ground Pool.
by Glen
(Oklahoma )
Dennis, I have viewed many of your responses but here is my question anyway. I have purchased an 18x38 Doughboy AG. I want it sunk in the ground about 18" mainly due to the slope in my yard. But I live here in Oklahoma and the ground is rock hard dirt.
I have a tractor with front end loader & box blade and have dug out my area 3' over the total size of pool. OK, here is the question, can I build a 3"-4" crusher run / screenings base all the way around the perimeter for the post to set on? It would be easier to compact that than to level this ground. Then put the sand in to level the inside out? The ground is now within 3" of level.
Thanks, Glen
Hi Glen.
Crusher run makes and excellent base to work on. It packs well and is a lot easier to level than rock hard dirt. Be sure to extend this pad way beyond the pool area. It would not hurt at all to coat the entire area with crusher run. It would be so much easier to get a really smooth base before you add your sand. The sand should be an even two inches or so but not used to level rough ground.
Be sure to get the entire area down to within 1 inch, or better, before any construction is started. Sounds like you are off to a great start, good luck.
If you have not already be sure to check out my installation pages.
Above Ground Swimming Pool Installation
Above Ground Pool Liner Installation
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Installing an Above Ground Pool.
by Siever
(New Jersey)
Do I really need a transit to level my above ground pool? How much sand should I use for a 15' x 30'?
Hi Siever.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Installing an Above Ground Pool.
by Rick McComb
(Winnemucca NV)
I hope I did not do an oops on setting up my 30' x 52" pool. My ground was only 2" out of level over 30' so... I receded the high side so the 12"x12" patio block was at ground level and then set the low side block on the ground. I used wet sand and rented a compactor to compact all the sand to a real hard base.
I put blocks at every support and in-between every support but I did use compacted sand between the blocks. I will be installing the pool later but should I dig all the sand out from between the block and fill with filtered dirt? I will be using 2" of sand inside the pool wall when it goes up. I did not think that the pool could push the compacted sand out from between the blocks. I was going to back fill around the pool on the outside with landscape bricks and gravel.
Hi Rick. By backfilling around the outside of the pool with dirt you might be all right. The best thing, of course, would be to remove the sand and use dirt. The two inches of sand under the liner is just fine, just not under the pool frame.
Your biggest concern is the sand washing out from under the pool. If your outside the pool landscaping can guarantee this will not happen, and this is possible, it should work.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Installing an Above Ground Pool.
by Bill Austin
(Athens, Georgia)
This past weekend I purchased an Intex 15 X 4 ft Metal Frame Pool. I know is was stupid not to check beforehand to be sure, but I went ahead and setup the pool on what I believed was, for the most part level ground(maybe 1 to 2 inches off at most).
I began filling the pool with water and went off to run some errands. When I returned the pool was half full and noticed that there was a 6 inch difference in elevation between from front to back.
Being concerned about the integrity of the pool, I immediately shut off the water and began doing some research. I read your response to another person under the topic of "Unlevel Concrete Pool Location". So here is what I am thinking of doing.
The metal frame legs of the pool is basically 1.5 inch thin wall tube steel. I'm thinking about getting some heavy gauge galvanized metal pipe long enough to drive into the ground to slide the pool legs over (or inside of) this pipe which will also be set to correct the difference in elevation on the low side. My thinking is that this will provide stronger reinforced legs and level the metal pool frame from front to back and side to side. Then I was going to adjust the liner bottom such that it will sit on the sloped ground surface. Essentially, this will level the top of the pool (Frame) and will also result in having the pool bottom sloped with the ground slope to provide one side 6 inches deeper than the other side.
My question for you is, do you think this will work? Any other suggestions you have would be appreciated.
Thank You, Bill
Hi Bill. It sounds possible but I honestly can not tell you if it would work or not. The best thing would be to take the pool down, level the ground, and reinstall it.
My concern would be putting to much pressure on the liner in the low area. I don't see how you can raise the top without stressing the walls and base.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Installing an Above Ground Pool.


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He's been called America's movie critic. For more than four decades, Roger Ebert has guided our choices at the box office.
His syndicated newspaper column and trademark "thumbs up/thumbs down" routine with TV partner Gene Siskel were legendary.
But now that famous voice has been silenced.
"Do you remember what your last spoken words were?" asked Bowers.
"No, because I didn't know they would be my last words, or I would have written something great," Ebert replied.
For the past three years, Ebert has been talking via a computer voice that speaks what he types.
His lower jaw is gone, ravaged by cancer that nearly killed him.
"Are you able to talk in your dreams?" Bowers asked.
"Everything is fine in my dreams. I talk all I want. Life is normal," he said. "Sometimes in a dream I will remember that I can't speak, but then suddenly I can speak again."
Ebert could surely never have dreamed this storyline for his life when he began at the Chicago Sun-Times back in 1967. His elegant style and wit quickly made his movie reviews must-reads.
And what makes a movie great to Roger Ebert?
"I feel it," he replied. "It fills me with joy for its greatness. When I experience it, I sometimes even feel a tingle in my spine. Honestly, it's an almost spiritual feeling."
Ebert won a Pulitzer Prize in 1975 for film criticism. Soon, he tried his hand at television, teaming up with rival critic Gene Siskel from the Chicago Tribune.
"At first, we weren't on speaking terms," Ebert recalled. "Then we spoke, but we fought a lot. Our rivalry was very real. But all the time, we were becoming better and better friends. We were like brothers."
And they fought like brothers on-screen. Their bitter arguments and "thumbs up, thumbs down" rating system made them famous.
"I came up with the idea for the thumbs, which had never been used before to review movies," said Ebert. "We were the first. Trademarking them was Gene's idea."
Siskel and Ebert were a staple in homes across the country during the '80s and '90s. But in 1999 their partnership came to a sad end when Gene Siskel died of brain cancer.
"He taped his last show only a few weeks before his death," said Ebert. "He must have been in pain, but he never once complained."
"You miss him?" Bowers asked.
"I miss him terribly every day," he replied.
Only three years after Siskel died, Roger Ebert was given his own devastating diagnosis of thyroid and then salivary gland cancer.
He was fighting for his life. But he was not alone.
Attorney Chaz Ebert is Roger's wife. They found each other in the late 1980s and have been a team ever since.
"Sometimes I really think that it was kind of destiny that we were together," Chaz said.
"Throughout this illness you've had to learn a whole new language - what is that based on?" Bowers asked.
"I would say maybe it's the language of love," she replied.
"I was single for a long time," Roger said. "I met her and it just felt right. It still does. She is not an ordinary woman."
And what she's done for Roger is extraordinary.
Through the years of long hospital stays and near-fatal complications, Chaz has supported her husband even when it became so hard for them to go on.
"He went through times when he felt he didn't want to go on," Chaz said. "There were times that I had to not only fight for him, but fight with him to tell him why life was worth living."
But then, after doctors repeatedly tried and failed to rebuild his jaw, Ebert decided that was it - no more surgeries. He would spend the rest of his life unable to speak.
But all those years on TV gave technology a rare opportunity.
Graham Leary works for CereProc, a Scottish company that's creating a Roger Ebert "voice" using thousands of his own words.
"He has a large archive of recording material of his voice from when he had the ability to speak," said Leary. "And we are able to use that data to build a voice for him."
Ebert's been using a computer voice until his is finished.
We asked, when he hears the "Roger voice," what does he feel?
"It sounds like me. That feels great. But I have good comic timing and a very personal delivery, and no computer voice will ever be able to duplicate that. You can't tell a joke on a computer."
Bowers asked Chaz, "When you hear the computer talk to you in Roger's voice, what's that like?"
"The first time I heard it, it was overwhelming because I did not realize that I had missed his voice," she said.
"Chaz, I love you," Roger said.
"I love you, too."
It's been 43 years since Roger first walked into the Chicago Sun-Times fresh out of college. He isn't there much these days, but when he does go back, colleagues gather around to say hello. A touch to his heart shows his appreciation.
"People talk about him being the heart and soul of the paper," said publisher John Barron. "And that's kind of cliche, but in this case it is true."
But while he's back to visit, Roger's also there to work. Cancer-free and reenergized, the 68-year-old has millions of readers on his blog, and he's churning out new books - including one of rice cooker recipes, a gadget he discovered while trying to lose weight before getting sick.
Even though Roger receives food through a tube, he still loves to cook with Chaz. He says he's happiest beside her in the kitchen . . . and at the movies.
America's movie critic is back. He sees as many as ten films a week and debuts a new version of his TV show later this month. And instead of shying away from the public and the way he looks, Roger is embracing it.
"I said, 'The hell with it - this is how I look,'" he said. "People with problems like mine should get on with their lives and not hide because of it. I don't want to look this way, but I do, so please don't make it your problem."
Roger Ebert is a changed man. But still, there's one constant …
"We are on a mission together," he said of himself and Chaz. "To make each other happy."
Roger Ebert's 10 Best Films of 2010:
1. "The Social Network"
2. "The King's Speech"
3. "Black Swan"
4. "I Am Love"
5. "Winter's Bone"
6. "Inception"
7. "The Secret in Their Eyes"
8. "The American"
9. "The Kids Are All Right"
10. "The Ghost Writer"
For more info:
Roger Ebert's Blog
Roger Ebert's Ebertfest
Roger Ebert's Drawings
Roger Ebert on Twitter
Roger Ebert on Facebook
"The Pot and How to Use It" by Roger Ebert (Andrews McMeel)
"The Great Movies III" by Roger Ebert (Univ. of Chicago Press)


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I was looking forward to the discussion that the previous debate would spawn, and it didn't disappoint! Fallout is one of those series that has a huge amount of new and old fans, and witnessing them clash in the comments made tallying the votes even more exciting. Here are the results:
Just like recent debates with Golden Sun and Mass Effect, we've got another debate this week that's between a "series" of just two games. Before there was Mass Effect, BioWare was proving their worth with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. BioWare continually proves their relevance each generation, and the winner of this debate will most likely move on to do battle in an even grander BioWare bracket.
Which of the two K.O.T.O.R. games is better, and why? What sets your pick apart from the other game in the series? Sell me on the idea! Get me stoked to see it compete in the RPG tournament! Give it some serious thought, share your reasoning with all of us, and then check back next week to see how your game did!
Bonus Question: What's one thing you didn't like about the game you voted for?
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Last Thursday, I rode the high speed Eurostar train from London to Paris as a little birthday present to myself. Made it just in time for the Bastille Day (Night) celebration. Truly a shame what happened in Nice. :[ Thankfully, Paris was at peace.
Hotel concierge told me where to go to watch the fireworks over the Eiffel Tower. I didn't have time to get to the Trocadero, but my hotel was near l'Arc de Triomphe, and I figured this could be a decent spot to set up my tripod.
Scoped out a spot with the Arc on the left, Eiffel on right, moon in sight. This was suiting up to be a perfect 'long-exposure-double-famous-monument-fireworks-photo-phenomena'.
But, as soon as the show started, ALL the cars driving around the Place Charles de Gaulle circle just STOPPED. Right in the middle of the roundabout to watch the show. Completely blocked my view.
And then, people started popping up out of their sunroofs like Whack a Moles.
Photo phenomena fizzled. Packed up the tripod...plan B.
It's really tough finding a spot to watch fireworks when 90% are watching the show through the lens of their smartphones. You can imagine the looks on the French faces as this American is getting in the way of their precious iPhone videos. No poker faces in Paris -- if they don't like you, it'll be obvious.
I improvised and feel like I got a couple decent snaps. Of course, it would have been sweet to be closer, and get some long exposure goodness. But, just happy Paris was a peaceful place.
The show was pretty impressive, fireworks shooting out of the top of the Tower.
And it felt like there were 3 distinct finales. Love fireworks! (Especially when they're not at 7am, Cusco.)
So much more to say about my Parisian adventure...stay tuned...


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Despite the recent chilly temperatures and the holiday season, things are still cooking at Bonton Farms. Check out the short updates and links below: -An exciting development is the donation of 18 acres of land east of the current Bonton Farms. The details are still being worked out, but we are excited to cast vision for the future of the farm. The donation was a cover story in the Metro section of the Dallas Morning News this past Sunday, and you can read an online version by clicking here.
-Bonton Farms was recognized by both the Dallas Planning Council and Dallas City Councilwoman Tiffinni A. Young in the month of December. Check out the BridgeBuilders Blog about the awards by clicking here.
-This past weekend eager volunteers braved the cold to help provide yet another successful Restoration Saturday event. In addition to work at the farm, the City of Dallas provided assistance in cleaning up an alley in Bonton. Check out the pictures below.
-We are excited for two men who have recently joined to the Bonton Farms Discipleship Program. Welcome to the team!
-Our farm dog, Moses, got arrested. After getting out on New Year's Eve, Moses was picked up by animal services. After making bail, Moses returned home to the farm. You can see his mug shot on the Bonton Farms Facebook page.
-We have a new goat buck, Maximus.
For more information on Bonton Farms, visit bontonfarms.org.


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Posts Tagged 'Vatican'
Vatican: Gays aren't criminals, but must not have marriage rights
Vatican City – The Vatican's chief spokesman said Thursday that the Roman Catholic Church believes homosexuality must not be considered a crime, but added that initiatives aimed at "putting all forms of sexual orientation on the same level" are wrong. Father Federico Lombardi was commenting on controversy triggered by the Holy See's decision to oppose a proposal by France, backed by the 27-nation European Union, for a United Nations resolution calling governments to decriminalize homosexuality.
Lombardi said the Vatican opposed all forms of discrimination. But he added that the proposal, if accepted, could end up making those, like the Catholic Church, who oppose granting marriage rights to gays "guilty of infringing human rights."
"The Church is in favour of decriminalizing homosexuality," Lombardi said. But it opposes granting "parity of rights," such as marriage. According to Catholic teaching, only unions between a man and a woman can be accorded such parity.
Last week, the Holy See's envoy to the UN, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, described the French proposal as unacceptable. He argued it implied the possibility that nations which did not recognize same-sex unions as "matrimony" would face pressure to do so.
Gay rights groups in Italy and elsewhere have since staged demonstrations to protest what they say is the Vatican's apparent willingness to ally itself with those who treat gay people as criminals.
Homosexuality is currently punishable by law in more than 85 countries. It is punishable by death in a number of them, including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.
Protest Near Vatican Denounces Policy on Gays
|Protest near Vatican denounces policy on gays
|Sunday, December 07, 2008 10:28 [IST]
Rome : Gay rights proponents have denounced the Vatican's policy on homosexuals in a small protest near St Peter's Square.
About 200 people, including some Italian politicians, gathered just outside Vatican City's borders Saturday evening to protest the church's opposition to initiatives to decriminalise homosexuality in all countries.
The Vatican's envoy to the United Nations recently said that the Holy See opposes a proposed U. N. Declaration to decriminalise homosexuality.
The Vatican says unjust forms of discrimination must be avoided. But it is worried that any UN resolution against discrimination on gender could pressure countries to recognize same-sex marriages.
The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual activity is sinful.
Vatican attacked for opposing gay decriminalisation
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Gay rights groups and newspaper editorials on Tuesday condemned the Vatican for its decision to oppose a proposed U.N. resolution calling on governments worldwide to de-criminalise homosexuality.
The row erupted after the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations told a French Catholic news agency the Holy See would oppose the resolution, which France is due to propose later this month on behalf of the 27-member European Union.
Archbishop Celestino Migliore said the Vatican opposed the resolution because it would "add new categories of those protected from discrimination" and could lead to reverse discrimination against traditional heterosexual marriage.
"If adopted, they would create new and implacable discriminations," Migliore said. "For example, states which do not recognise same-sex unions as 'matrimony' will be pilloried and made an object of pressure," Migliore said.
A strongly worded editorial in Italy's mainstream La Stampa newspaper said the Vatican's reasoning was "grotesque."
Pointing out that homosexuality was still punishable by death in some Islamic countries, the editorial said what the Vatican really feared was a "chain reaction in favour of legally recognised homosexual unions in countries, like Italy, where there is currently no legislation."
Franco Grillini, founder and honorary president of Arcigay, Italy's leading gay rights group, said the Vatican's reasoning smacked of "total idiocy and madness."
"The French resolution, which is supported by all 27 members of the European Union, has nothing to do with gay marriage. It is about stopping jail and the death penalty for homosexuals," Grillini told Reuters.
The resolution is to be presented by Rama Yade, France's state secretary for human rights. On Tuesday the Paris government defended the resolution.
"France's initiative … is an initiative that is based on existing texts. The idea is not to create new rights. The idea is … to make decriminalisation possible," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said.
Human rights groups say homosexuality is still punishable by law in more than 85 countries and by death in a number of them, including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.
Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said "no one wants the death penalty or jail or fines for homosexuals" but defended Migliore's comments, adding that the Vatican was in the majority on the issue.
"It's not for nothing that fewer than 50 member states of the United Nations have adhered to the proposal in question while more than 150 have not adhered. The Holy See is not alone," Lombardi said.
An editorial in Rome's left-leaning La Repubblica newspaper said the Vatican's position "leaves one dumbstruck." Margherita Boniver, a leading member of the Italy's leftist Democratic Party, called it "alarmingly anachronistic."
Grillini, the gay rights activist, said he feared what he called another "Holy Alliance" between the Vatican and Islamic states at the United Nations to oppose the proposed resolution.
At a major U.N. conference on the family in Cairo in 1994, the Vatican teamed up with Islamic and Latin American countries to defeat an abortion rights proposal.The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are. But in October, a leading Vatican official called homosexuality "a deviation, an irregularity and a wound."


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A busy fall
I don't really think in "seasons" - given that with Small Wooden Shoe, I prefer to do things a bit different. But we've got a lot planned for the rest of 2012, and I wanted to let you know about it.
upcoming highlights
- Evan Webber's Antigone Dead People at the Tranzac with Maev Beaty, Philip Sheppard, Brendan Gall, Frank Cox-O'Connell, Liz Peterson, Antonio Cayonne, Lindsey Clark and Sky Gilbert.
- Small Wooden Shoe Reads Difficult Plays and Sings Simple Songs at Koerner Hall for Nuit Blanche.
- Jacob might try to tell you a story about J.B. McLachlan and even play guitar around Summerworks.
- And Upper Toronto continues to grow.
In order of happening
Perhaps in a Hundred Years in Montreal went super well. It was amazing to be a part of OFFTA in the midst of the FTA and the Cassarole. We met new friends and reconnected with old ones.Thanks to everyone who helped us get there. For those on Facebook - there's a great photo set here.
I have starting writing more at our blog, Minor Expletives and this is only going to increase with Leora Morris joining me to write, curate and edit. We've got some plans. You can subscribe with the RSS feed or by email
In August Small Wooden Shoe will be at Summerworks Live Art Series with a first tasting of Sedition: the J.B. McLachlan Story or "Kindness makes me cry like nothing else" - a solo show written and performed by Jacob Zimmer (yikes) with the assistance of Small Wooden Shoe Regulars.
[I will work on it in July, by the fire at the Caravan Farm Theatre while assisting Artistic Director Courtenay Dobbie on Sean Dixon's new play The Notorious Right Robert & His Robber Bride. There are horses and cars and actors. I'm very excited.]
Upper Toronto wrapped up a month of scenario planning with an amazing group of people. We'll be doing another in the fall. Look for events mid-to-late August.
Sign up for the Upper Toronto email list to keep informed and get in touch.
After a great success the first time,the second edition of Small Wooden Shoe Reads Difficult Plays and Sings Simple Songs will be August 20 - we'll email a couple weeks before to make tickets available. Location, play and performers are secret and seating is limited - that's how it goes. Difficult Plays is mostly curated by Leora with me helping out.
Then I'm thrilled to be part of Koerner Hall's program forNuit Blanche. We'll be performing the third edition of Small Wooden Shoe Reads Difficult Plays and Sings Simple Songs. Koerner Hall is a dream space, and we're looking forward to reading some Gertrude Stein and singing songs to be sung along with. We'll be doing a few hours throughout the night. We'll let you know when once we're closer.
And the big news
On October 18 & 19 we present a full prototype production of Antigone Dead People, a ghost story by the Dora-nominated playwright and long time Small Wooden Shoe collaborator, Evan Webber. Webber takes on our times through Sophocles and Small Wooden Shoe once again brings together some of Toronto's most exciting performers and artists to work on a project of international significance.
Maev Beaty as Antigone, Philip Sheppard as Creon with Brendan Gall, Frank Cox-O'Connell, Liz Peterson, Antonio Cayonne, Lindsey Clark and Sky Gilbert. With sound design by Chris Willes, costumes by Vanessa Fischer and scenography by our favourite Trevor Schwellnus. Leora Morris will associate direct. It's a staggering group of people and a great show. We're going to make it part of a great night at the Tranzac Club (like you've never seen it before), with concerts and conversations before and after the show. Save the date.
And to close the year, in the dark days between Christmas and New Years, the tradition continues as we return with the 4th 3 Penny Christmas Concert. Performed by our no-experience-required, all-fun choir led by the generous and talented Scott Maynard and joined by musician friends. Tickets, in fact, are three cents at the door (perfect for your soon-to-be-obsolete pennies.) As always we hope to fulfill the function of singing together, like in Elf, when it causes the "Spirit of Christmas" to fly Santa's sled, with no need to sugar-coat, nor accept, the darkness of the songs. They are beautiful and horrible songs and so are perfect for singing together with friends and accomplices.
Small Wooden Shoe gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Toronto Arts Council and all of the people like you who support our work.


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Pakistan producer, Lucky Cement, is planning to acquire a plant abroad and is also weighing potential options for organic growth (given the amount of free cash flows available).
One of the preferred destinations could be Sri Lanka. This was disclosed by the management of Lucky Cement in the analysts briefing sponsored by Arif Habib Limited (AHL).
Lucky is also attractive given the fact that it is one of the premier dividend payers in the cement industry. The signing of an agreement with HESCO has allowed Lucky to supply 20MW of electricity (could be improved to 49MW).
Published under Cement News


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New Video
Very excited and pleased to announce we have finalised an agreement with Provoke Films in Japan to make our next video....animation...cooool!!
Cant wait!
Comments Section
Hello. And Bye.
This message is posted here using XRumer + XEvil 4.0 XEvil 4.0 is a revolutionary application that can solve any anti-botnet CAPTCHA's. Captcha Solution Google (ReCaptcha-1, ReCaptcha-2), Facebook, BING, Hotmail, Yahoo, Yandex, VKontakte, Captcha Com - and over 8.4 million other types! You read this - it means it works! ;) Details on the official website of XEvil.Net, there is a free demo version. Check YouTube video "XEvil ReCaptcha2"


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By Carl Sternheim
Adapted By Steve Martin
Director - Daryl Cloran
Featuring - Evan Buliung, Holly Lewis, Kate Lynch, Brian Marler, Christopher Morris, Dylan Trowbridge and William Webster.
Set & Lighting Designer - Lorenzo Savoini
Costume Designer - Dana Osborne
Stage Manager - Monica Esteves.
Producer - Claire Sakaki
2004 – Theatrefront Production at Canadian Stage's Berkeley Street Theatre (Upstairs)


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A Child Of Mine is here to help and support anyone affected by the death of a child, in as many ways as we possibly can. Our website will always continue to be a main focus as a valuable resource for families after a child's death, but as time has moved on A Child Of Mine has grown too, and we now do much more work behind the scenes to improve bereavement care for parents and families who have lost a child.
Telephone helpline on 07803 751229 between 9am and 5pm
This service provider has not updated their information since 14/3/2019. Our target is that all service information should be no older than six months. You may wish to contact the provider to confirm the information before attending.
If you are the owner of the service, please update the details.
Helpline: 07803 751229 / Ofice: 01785 28
07803 751229
17 Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LZ
Minimum age: 10 Years
Service Details Confirmed
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service - formerly criminal records check) policy? No
All childcare and services should make reasonable adjustments to support disabled children and young people or those with additional needs. Below is a statement from this provider about their inclusive practice and levels of experience of supporting different needs
This provider has not given an inclusion statement. Please contact them for details of what adjustments they can make to support access to their service
Last updated: 14/3/2019
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Enter your postcode below to get directions to this service
Whilst the Family Information Service (FIS) works with service providers to try and ensure that the information contained within this directory is accurate and up to date, no warranty is given as to the accuracy of the information. The FIS does not accept any responsibility or liability for the information or links to information on websites supplied by providers or the service that is provided. FIS is an impartial service and does not recommend, support or endorse any services. It is the responsibility of families to choose services carefully and FIS has developed some guidelines to help you.
The FIS also reserves the right to refuse or delete publication of any organisation or information which it believes, or for which evidence has been provided, contravenes the laws of the UK. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use of data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of the Family Services Directory.


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Alternative Titles
English: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Battlefield of Pacifists
Synonyms: Shin Kidou Senki Gundam Wing: Battlefield of Pacifists
Japanese: 新機動戦記ガンダムW BATTLEFIELD OF PACIFISTS)
Type: Manga
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 5
Status: Finished
Published: 1997
Authors: Tokita, Kouichi (Art)
Serialization: None
Score: 7.011 (scored by 546 users)
1 indicates a weighted score. Please note that 'Not yet published' titles are excluded.
Ranked: #96432
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #8394
Members: 1,063
Favorites: 8


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There is something that needs to be said about the confidence, discipline, and courage it takes to try out for a school cheerleading team. These athletes gather their skills and apply them all in one setting and hope that they performed well enough to impress those that were grading them. Being on the side of the candidate, here's a little insight on what happens. You prep all week before. You learn the material, practice that material until you are practically doing it in your dreams. The words of the cheers and chants replace those of your favorite songs or the ones that play on the radio far too often. Your thighs are red with hand prints from cleaning as tightly as you can. Your voice is raspy because you're trying to yell from your diaphragm so mom stops picking on you. You know it is out of love so you bear with her and yell a little bit louder because it'll just make you a better cheerleader in the long run. The night before you lay out your things and try to get a good night's rest! School that day could not be any longer. The classes seem to drag on and every moment closer is a moment that you get more antsy and more nerves start to find their way in. When that happens, this is my suggestions to you!
For me, I went through all of the clinic material that I didn't know very well in my head. Whether it was my tumbling pass, what exactly I was going to say for my spiriting, or when I needed to remember to breathe so that I didn't choke up on my words during the cheer. I would start from the moment I walked into the tryout and play it in my head all the way to the end because I knew that if I could see it, then I could do it! That is my biggest tip to you when trying out because your mind HAS TO know that you are capable of your skills to assure your body of the same thing when your nerves kick in!
When you are standing outside waiting to go in and show your skills, find the person that you were paired with and go through the chant only a handful of times! You do NOT need to overwhelm yourself because I know that YOU know it better than you think that you do! Then while you wait, whether you're first, somewhere in the middle, or last, find the person you have the best time with and find silly things to talk and laugh about to ease your minds. Find anything other than cheer to occupy your minds!
Then lastly, when your number is called, take a deep breath. Tighten your hair, fix your bow and your number, and tell yourself OUT LOUD the one thing that you need to hear! "You know your stuff!" "You have these skills solid!" "I'm going to show them how badly I want this!" Then do EVERYTHING with the most confidence that you can because the judges don't know your material. The only way that they will know that you mess up is if your face shows it. So chin up and if you mess up, then mess up with confidence and keep going!
We, here at Sideline Spirit, have so much faith in your abilities! So go out there, have fun, and prove to yourself that you can do this!
Written by: Autumn-Rose Gregory


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Yesterday afternoon we left camp a little later than usual after our guests visited the SafariLive HQ and watched as the presenters went live to the world. It was great to meet the SafariLive guides and learn about this astonishing project and how it works. We headed out on drive and did not even have time to make a solid decision on our plans for the afternoon when we bumped into a leopard in the road. It was Xidulu female leopard, a new leopardess on the block who is looking to take Karula's old territory for her own. She was very relaxed.
She lay in the road for a while before heading into the bush where she spotted some Nyala in a thicket, and began stalking a young calf. This was fantastic to watch. She unfortunately gave away her position and the hunt ended uneventfully. We decided to leave the sighting as Xidulu was in a very think spot. As we drove in a loop away, we bumped into her once again walking down the road. Fantastic!
We followed her before she lay down in the road and groomed herself in the open, posing beautifully as everyone got some fantastic shots. She must have yawned 5 times and all our guests managed to capture this moment. Having spent most of the afternoon/evening with her, we headed to Sidney's dam for a late sun-downers where we saw two spotted hyenas while we celebrated the fantastic sighting we had just had. We then headed back to the lodge for a hearty dinner and fireside chats.
This morning we planned to find the Nkuhuma pride of lions. We soon found their tracks on the MMM boundary road but the lions ended up heading back over our Western boundary. Luckily for us, we had plenty of other tracks to follow up on including two sets of male leopard tracks. We followed up on these and soon caught up with Hukumuri Male Leopard, another new leopard on the block. He has taken over Tingana's territory.
He was very relaxed on territorial patrol, marking bushes as he walked up multiple roads. This allowed for all our guests to get walk-by shots which were fantastic. At one point, we had Hukumuri giving a full rasping territorial call right next the vehicles- a fantastic experience for our guests.
We left Hukumuri and headed into Torchwood for a coffee stop. On the way, we heard some Guinea fowl giving alarm calls and followed up. We arrived on the scene and found a Martial Eagle on a freshly killed Guinea fowl. The eagle flew to a nearby tree and allowed us to get some shots of it while it was mobbed by starlings and drongas. We left the eagle to its meal and stopped for coffee on First Rock (a stunning location) before heading back to the lodge for brunch.
Join us on #BigCatPhotoSafari in 2018!
Our 2018 dates and prices are live… Click here to learn more about joining us on our Big Cat Photo Safari or email email@example.com


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Everything You Need To Know - Finding The Perfect
Make-Up Artist
Planning the perfect wedding and making all the right choices can be a hard task! Let us talk you guide you through some of the tricky ones with over 100 years of combined experience from all over the world.
Here we interviewed the best and most experienced make-up artists in Australia to find out all the do's and don'ts of wedding day make up.
You have found venue, wedding gown and photographer - you made it (yay!) but before you pour a glass of wine and hang up your veil- see what Sydneys top make-up artists have to say about the perfect wedding day beauty!
First thing's first - How do I choose a bridal make up artist ?
Well they all agree that research is important! Liv Lundelius insists you check the artists previous brides and editorial work and 'choose and artist that reflects your style.' Jes O'Brien agrees- 'make sure you see real life brides and not studio retouched shots' and ask around, personal experiences can speak volumes!
Once I have an artist how do I decide on my wedding day look?
Sonia Allen suggests you don't stray too far from how your fiancé, friends and family are used to seeing you and 'avoid red lips for the ceremony so that you can safely kiss your husband!' You can always change a lip colour from the ceremony to reception.
What is your signature look?
Artists and designers have a certain ascetic to their work and it seems make-up artists are no different! Megan has a very 'Victoria Secrets' style to her makeup which tends to attract boho, classic and vintage brides, and a lot of ladies that don't wear a lot of makeup in general. Liv agrees that a subtle, natural make up with flawless, radiant skin is key and can be tailored to suit the personality of a bride.
Speaking of Personality…
This may seem like an odd suggestion, but weddings are often stressful occasions with time constraints and a million things happening at once. You don't want to spend a morning with someone who is loud and boisterous if that doesn't suit your personality advises Megan. Finding a make-up artist with a calming influence is something all these artists feel strongly about, Sonia insists it is important to find someone who 'really listens' to your ideas and suggestions. 'A good make up artist should touch base with you after the trial to get your feedback.'
Tell us more about make-up Trials, what should we expect?
It seems up to two trials is quite common and expect to book a good artist about a year in advance, with the first trial about eight weeks before the big day. Hot Tip: have your make up trial before a night out and see how the make up stays as the night goes on.
Should I bring pictures?
'Yes yes yes, always bring pictures if you can.' Jes suggests all makeup artists are visual creative people. A picture speaks a thousand words - also your definition of a smokey eye, compared to the next bride can be completely different. Pictures help clarify these details. All the top make-up artists we spoke to agreed that pictures of different features or choosing a celebrity who's look closely matches your own is a great idea.
Any common mistakes brides make?
The biggest one seems to be too much make up! A good artist can achieve a polished look with a light hand on the brush. Concentrating on one feature to enhance and avoiding any big statement colours that can date quickly. The best make-up artist will steer you clear of these sticking points!
Any other pieces of advice for a bride looking to perfect her wedding day make-up?
Liv Lundelius - Stay yourself and enhance your features and natural beauty.
Sonia Allen - Make a playlist and crack the champagne. It is girl time at its best!
Megan Vaughan- Consider investing in a shellac mani & pedi for the wedding day to avoid
painting nails on the morning of the wedding which can lead to smudged and chipped nails. It is perfect for special occasions and will ensure you all have perfect hands and feet for the wedding day and the honeymoon too.
Jes O'Brien - Choosing one feature to concentrate on is a lovely way to find balance in your makeup for daytime, and can build into night.
With endless experience in bridal make up from all around the world and working for some of the best known names in the industry, these ladies know their stuff! If you want to know more or book in for a day of pampering, their details are listed below:


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(218) 326-0351
1022 NW 4th St
| Grand Rapids,
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Bob Holmstrom
Bob purchased Mornes Marine in 1978, renaming it Grand Rapids Marine. Over the years he has grown the business and established many long time friendships with customers and employees. Now retired, Bob enjoys golfing with his wife Karen, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Mike Holmstrom
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Although he has a lifetime association with Grand Rapids Marine, Mike began full-time employment in 2002. Mike is a factory trained outboard and sterndrive technician, which really benefits customers who have technical questions about the boat or motor they purchase. In his free time, Mike enjoys spending time with his family and working on projects around the house.
Jim Stacklie
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Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Jim seems to know a good portion of the community from his years of playing hockey for the Grand Rapids Indians in the 70's - when Grand Rapids was a force to be reckoned with! Jim enjoys spending time with his family and being by the water at his Pokegama Lake home.
Marty Madsen
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He may be new to our sales staff, but he's no stranger to GRMC. Marty Madsen ran the parts department here for several years, through times of phenomenal growth. A Grand Rapids native, Marty has traveled the country extensively and lived in several other states for over 20 years - long enough to understand why people return here to "God's Country." Friendly and easygoing, Marty will make your buying experience a real pleasure.
Debbie Howg
Office Manager / Accounting
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Debbie joined Grand Rapids Marine in 2001. Debbie is always greeting new and current valued customers with a big smile. She and her family enjoy hunting, fishing and camping.
Russell Bruyere
Service Manager
Russ began his career with Grand Rapids Marine in 1993. A specialist in Mercury and MerCruiser motors, he has achieved the highest industry ratings in customer service. Russ particularly enjoys custom rigging of new boats.
Rick Doty
Service Technician
You'll have to look hard to find Rick! He'll be found inside a boat or working on his favorite Johnson/Evinrude outboard motor. Rick has over 30 years experience in outboard motor repair and has been a great asset to our service shop since 2001.
Red Gottschalk
Service Technician
It's hard to find a good marine technician these days; we sure got lucky when we were able to team up with Red who has over 30 years of experience! Red enjoys working on everything, but his specialty is Yamaha outboard motors. Red is a factory-trained Yamaha technician.
Luke Darlow
Service Technician
The newest member of our service team comes to us with several years of mechanical experience. While marine service is a new venture for him, he's stepped up to the challenge with the confidence that comes from knowing he's surrounded by and learning from some of the best.
Tom Lawson, Luke Giacomuzzi
Service Writers
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Before the talented techs at GRMC work their magic on your boat or watercraft, service writers schedule your appointment and prepare the repair order. From routine maintenance to engine rebuilds, estimates to insurance and warranty claims, Tom and Luke will guide you through the process from beginning to end.
Justin Meyer
Dock Manager
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Before wetting a line on the fishing opener, before the pontoon cruise on a languid summer evening, it's the crew behind the scenes who set up the scene for you. Under the leadership of manager Justin Meyer, who has been doing dock work in Itasca County for 17 years, the dock crew at GRMC assemble, install, and remove docks and lifts all over the area. Their familiarity with area lakes and the extra efficiency of our new hydraulic barge help them make swift work of your project.


text: Disclaimer Client testimonials are not reviewed nor approved by the Florida Bar. This page will include both past and present client testimonials. The circumstances surrounding any individual case may vary and differ from yours or others. Not all testimonials are presented here and these testimonials may not reflect each client's experience with our firm. I have read and understood the above mentioned disclaimer and would like to proceed and view Guerra Saenz, PL's testimonials.


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Ripple Grove Press author Lauri Fortino has a great blog that is dedicated to all things picture books including reviews, interviews, and picture book related content. She recently interviewed the illustrator of her own book, The Peddler's Bed, which hits shelves September 1, 2015.
Read Lauri's interview of Bong Redila here: Frog on a Blog
Also, check out Bong's own website here. He is a regular blogger and posts his amazing art and sketches.


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The only Master Plan is the NORWOOD master plan for downtown development. That is what this land exchange is all about. At the west end of the bridge, on either side, there will be apartments built and managed by Norwood. This property is currently owned by the city. To be traded for a trail space owned by Norwood behind the Park. One of the slides shows, on the west side, white pads left and right of the bridge. Those are building lots. [Kathleen] Kragen [city traffic engineer]/the City is deliberately combining the completion of the bridge with a requirement to trade the land. They should be two separate activities.
Showing 1-6 of 6


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September 15, 2015, meetup agenda - Security Frameworks
It's looking like the September meetup is going to be jam-packed month for the ColaSec user group. We will wrap-up BSides Augusta, talk about the October CTF, and have a presentation on security frameworks.
BSides Augusta is this Saturday, September 12, 2015, in Augusta Georgia. It is one of the best well run BSides events out there and I highly recommend the event. Did I mention I'll be speaking at the event? The event is sold out, but has a waiting list. They've recently released some tickets, so who knows.
We're planning a CTF event for October. We will have a Tuesday primer meetup followed up by a CTF competition on the following Saturday. If you would like to participate fill out this Google survey and let us know what weekend in October works best for you: http://goo.gl/forms/ULuA1Jt3im
Finally, we're planning on having a presentation on security frameworks for this months meetup. If you have to decide on a framework for your organization, which one is the best one for your organization?


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Photoshop CC 2013 Release
Earlier this year, Adobe announced its plans to make Photoshop CS6 the last in its Creative Suite (CS) bloodline, making room for the new Photoshop Creative Cloud (CC). Unlike its predecessors, the latest adaptation of the pro-level editing software is no longer purchasable as a one-off edition with an indefinite licence; instead, it requires a pay-monthly subscription. The advantage? Well, Adobe will now be able to create regular updates and additions to the software that'll be made available immediately without the need for the company to release an entirely new package every 12 to 18 months, as was the case with the CS format.
So far, this decision has sparked a wave of controversy across the photographic and design communities, with some users having mixed feelings towards the concept of 'renting' software rather than owning it outright. What's more, with Photoshop CS6 still available for purchase, are the latest additions to the software really enough to entice users to take the leap to CC, or should they hold fire and stick with the 'pay-once, use forever' version of the software? We got hold of a review copy of Photoshop CC to find out exactly that.
Despite the name 'Creative Cloud', Photoshop CC isn't strictly a 'cloud' based system; by which we mean it doesn't operate via an internet connection. The software is installed directly to your computer hard drive, just like the regular CS packages before it, and any files you create will also be saved locally, though, with your CC subscription you'll receive 20GB of free Cloud storage, should you wish to use it. However, in order for your subscription to continue each month, the software will require access to the web every 30 days.
Packaged along with Photoshop CC is Adobe's latest instalment of the Camera Raw plug-in, Adobe Camera Raw 8, which includes a handful of useful new tools and a few improvements from the previous 7.4 incarnation. The first of the additions is the Radial Filter tool; in essence this operates in the same manner as the Graduated Filter tool, but allows you to apply adjustments either inside or outside of an elliptical Selection. We found this particularly useful for making selective adjustments to an image including those to the White Balance, Exposure, Contrast and Sharpness.
Under the Lens Corrections tab, Adobe has added a set of Automatic Upright Corrections, which allow you to quickly fix perspective distortion within an image using a single click of the mouse; great news for architectural photographers as it makes short work of correcting converging verticals on shots of buildings.
The Spot Removal tool has also seen improvement; the brush can now be dragged along the canvas to 'paint' over imperfections, and make corrections to larger areas of the image, which was a welcome addition as it grants greater control and acts much more like the Healing Brush tool in the main Photoshop interface. A Visualize Spots tick box has also been added, which, when activated, overlays a black & white Mask on top of the pic that helps to identify any dirt spots present, making them much easier to locate and remove.
Within the main Photoshop interface, Adobe has put some work into improving the Sharpening filters, with the inclusion of a Shake Reduction filter that helps to remove the blurring effect created by camera shake. The Smart Sharpen filter has also been modified to further reduce the appearance of digital Noise that was often generated as an unwanted side effect in previous versions of the software.
Also new to the Filter menu is the Camera Raw filter; clicking this option will allow you to make creative adjustments to a Layer using the sliders found within the Camera Raw Interface – albeit without the same latitude that a native RAW file offers.
Resizing pics using the Image Size option has also seen some slight improvements with a new Preserve Details Resample option. This allowed us to retain an overall sharper image with greater amounts of detail when resampling low resolution shots to a larger scale, when compared to the regular Bicubic Smoother (enlargement) preset.
Graphic designers will be pleased to hear that shapes can now be modified more easily thanks to an enhanced Properties Panel that allows corners to be rounded after a shape has been created. Specific Layers can also now be singled out within the palette, thanks to the aptly named Isolate Layers option and this is particularly useful when working on complex composite or montage pictures.
Elsewhere, a brand-new Sync Settings mean that if you have Photoshop CC installed onto multiple computers with the same subscription licence, options such as Actions, Brushes and Tool Presets can be instantly matched-up between both versions of CC to ensure that changes and additions to common presets (such as Brushes and Actions) are kept consistent – though, this will only work if both computers have an active internet connection.
Interface & performance
If you were to open Photoshop CC and CS6 side-by-side, at first glance you'd struggle to tell one from the other. Very little has been changed in terms of the overall interface with the latest update, and by default the latest update features the same dark grey skin as its predecessor, though, just as before, this can be changed to the classic light grey look via Preferences.
All of the regular palettes and tools are located in the usual positions, and this isn't a bad thing as it allows anyone familiar with previous CS incarnations to start work straight off the bat without having to scour the layout for common functions.
During testing, filter effects and adjustments were applied rapidly and previews were displayed in real time, with more involved filters just needing a few seconds longer to take effect, such as Lens Blur. One gripe we did have, however, was with an unusual but consistent bug found when using Adjustment Layers. After creating an Adjustment Layer, like Levels for example, and altering any of the values, we found that using Edit Undo, or pressing Ctrl+Z to undo our previous adjustment would result in the on-screen preview taking effect but the values in the Adjustments palette appearing unaltered until the window is closed and re-opened. Although only a minor bug, it still managed to slow the pace of working. That said, with Adobe promoting the idea of releasing regular updates and patches for Photoshop CC via its in-software update system, hopefully issues like this will be resolved relatively quickly.
Value for money
Photoshop CC could be seen as being more expensive than CS as once the discounted rate of £8.78 per month (£105.36 per year) for users upgrading from CS3 or later has expired (eyes above for more details), it'll cost you £210.96 per year compared to the £170 you'd normally pay to upgrade to the latest CS package every 18 months (or £113 per year). To some, this subscription-based payment may be appealing, though, as it grants access to the most recent professional image editing software in affordable bite-size chunks, rather than having to fork out a hefty £650 in one lump sum. This is especially true to newcomers where it'll take about five years before a CC subscription becomes more expensive than the traditional buy-then-upgrade CS model (providing the CC rates don't inflate over time). That said, it's worth remembering that you'll never actually 'own' the software, so if you don't continue your subscription, access to the software will be cut off.
If you can't commit to CC's infinite monthly subscription, then CS6 is worth a look, as it's still available as a pay-once licence for around £650 and offers many of the features found in CC, including Adobe Camera Raw 8 with the latest update. Alternatively, Lightroom 5 (£102) and Elements 11 (£74) are two alternatives worth considering, as not only are they a fraction of the price, but together they'll cover most RAW conversion and image manipulation needs.
Adobe Camera Raw – New Upright Correction tools
Clicking on the Lens Corrections tab within the Camera Raw 8 interface reveals a total of four new automatic Upright Correction options. First in the list of presets is Auto mode, which will analyse the image and automatically apply balanced perspective corrections accordingly. Next there's 'Level', which, as the name suggests, automatically levels out the horizon line of the image – much like you would do manually using the Straighten Tool. Clicking the 'Vertical' option both levels the image and corrects the vertical perspectives. Finally, the 'Full' option will level the image, as well as making horizontal and vertical perspective corrections.
After a bit of trial and error, we managed to get the best results by using the Auto mode, and then making any further adjustments that were required manually using the regular sliders beneath.
With a conservative amount of new features, CS6 users would be justified by not making the immediate upgrade to CC. That said, it's still a fantastic piece of software, and for newcomers, CC's bite-size monthly fees make pro-level image editing more accessible than ever before.
- Street price: Discontinued (CC Release 2014 available on £8.57/mo Photography Plan)
- Visit: www.adobe.com/uk
This review was first published in the September 2013 issue of Digital Photo - download back issues here.


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Graft-versus-Host Disease
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can lead to permanent impairment of quality of life, and in many cases even to death. Patients with GVHD often require prolonged immunosuppressive treatment which increases the risks for infections, organ damage, secondary malignancies and other complications associated with these medications.
Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD) is a potentially lethal side effect that occurs in many allogeneic transplant patients. GVHD happens when mature transplanted donor T- cells recognize the patient's tissue as 'non-self' and start attacking the patient's body, causing skin damage, gastrointestinal tract malfunction, liver injury and other organ system impairment. Some patients who experience severe GVHD may even require tube feeding as their esophagus and mouth have been damaged beyond repair or a lung transplant is necessary as the lungs are too damaged by GVHD.
GVHD is not rare. Up to 70 percent of transplant recipients develop acute GVHD, which crops up within the first few months of treatment, and up to 40 percent get chronic GVHD, the form that appears more than 100 days post-transplant. The effects of GVHD can be seen throughout the body, affecting almost any organ and manifesting through rashes and skin thickening, joint pain and stiffness, eye dryness and irritation, diarrhea, jaundice, mouth sores and ulcers, and severe lung dysfunction. The mortality rate for GVHD with unrelated donor transplants is approximately 20%; for HLA-matched sibling transplants this is still as high as 17%.
How does GVHD develop?
The donated stem cells will contain some mature T-cells. These cells help fight infections, and attack and destroy cells they see as foreign and potentially harmful – for example bacteria and viruses. Normally, T-cells don't attack a person's body cells (thereby causing GVHD), as they recognize proteins on these cells called HLA (human leukocyte antigens), which are unique to each person. If the patient and donor have very similar HLA this lowers the chance of GVHD. However, the more differences there are between the patient's HLA and the donor's, the more likely the patient will develop GVHD. The GVHD may affect different areas of the body. Most commonly it affects the skin, digestive system (including the bowel and stomach) or the liver.
The pie charts show causes of death among patients who received a cell graft from an HLA-matched sibling or an unrelated donor. Data is from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants performed in 2012-13 (Pasquini MC, Zhu X. Current uses and outcomes of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: CIBMTR Summary Slides, 2015, available from: http://www.cibmtr.org)
Types of GVHD
GVHD can be grouped according to when it develops after the transplantation into acute and chronic GVHD. Symptoms in both acute and chronic GVHD range from mild to severe.
View pictures of GVHD here (WARNING: May contain some disturbing images. Viewer discretion advised!).
Acute GVHD
Acute GVHD generally starts within 100 days after transplantation, but it can sometimes happen after this time. It often starts with a rash on the ears or face or the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The rash may be itchy or painful. It may also affect the mouth, digestive system and liver. This can cause diarrhea, sickness, loss of appetite and yellowing of the skin. The severity of GVHD depends on the extent of genetic differences between patient and donor. Acute GVHD can occur soon after the transplantation, typically in the first one hundred days. It is graded from I (mildest) to IV (most severe). Grade III/IV acute GVHD is regarded as life-threatening.
Stages of acute GVHD
|Stage 1 (mild)
|a skin rash over less than 25% of the body
|Stage 2 (moderate)
|skin rash over a more than 25% of the body accompanied by mild liver or stomach and intestinal disorders
|Stage 3 (severe)
|redness of the skin, similar to a severe sunburn, and moderate liver, stomach and intestinal problems
|Stage 4 (life-threatening)
|blistering, peeling skin, and severe liver, stomach, and intestinal problems
Chronic GVHD
The incidence of cGVHD has continued to increase over time, and approximately 30-70 percent of post allogenic transplant patients will develop cGVHD (Arai et al., 2015; Grube et al., 2016). Chronic GVHD starts more than 100 days after transplantation. It is more likely to develop after acute GVHD, but it can also occur without previous development of acute GVHD. Like acute GVHD, it may affect the skin, digestive system, liver or mouth. But it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the eyes, lungs, vagina and joints. Chronic GVHD tends to manifest itself only as of the fourth month after a transplant. Chronic GVHD is more likely to occur in older patients, or in patients who previously had acute GVHD. Chronic GVHD is graded as mild, moderate or severe, can persistent for years and can be severely incapacitating and impact quality of life.
What are the signs and symptoms of GVHD?
Acute GVHD and chronic GVHD are distinct diseases. One common factor is that they both increase the patient's susceptibility to infection. The symptoms of GVHD can be difficult to cope with. In some cases, GVHD is a serious, even life threatening, problem.
|Acute GVHD
|Chronic GVHD
Current treatment of GVHD
Currently, multiple immunosuppressive agents are used to prevent GVHD, such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and sirolimus. Even with the use of these medications, the incidence of severe (grade III/IV) GVHD as a result of HSCT is approximately 30% (Jagasia et al., 2012). If GVHD develops, treatment relies on administrating glucocorticoids such as methylprednisolone or prednisone, antithymocyte globulin, monoclonal antibodies, mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus and oral nonabsorbable corticosteroids.
Treatment for patients who do develop GVHD depends on the severity of the disease. Mild cases with only skin involvement of acute GVHD may settle without treatment. More severe acute or chronic GVHD predisposes the patient to infection and overwhelming sepsis (blood poisoning) is the main cause of death in patients with GVHD.
Patients may need to continue taking such medications for many months or years after transplantation. GVHD does not always respond to these treatments and can still result in death, and many deaths related to GVHD occur as a consequence of opportunistic infections that develop in patients with suppressed immune systems.
Quality of life after GVHD
Quality of life is a multi-dimensional construct composed of several related domains including physical, emotional, social, and role functioning, as well as a person's overall evaluation of his or her well-being and ability to function. It has been shown that GVHD has an adverse impact on the quality of life compared to patients who did not develop GVHD.
Chronic GVHD requires continued, possibly life-long, immunosuppressive therapy plus other modifying agents. GVHD developed on the skin may result in severe rash and ulcers, open skin and damages as if the skin is suffering from constant severe burns. These patients may require continuous wound debridement and skin grafting. GVHD can also result in the inability to move joints due to the extreme stiffening of muscle and skin, resulting in surgical release of the contracted joint. These surgeries may have to be repeated throughout the patient's life.
Click here to read several patient stories:
Click here to watch several patient stories:
Additional information on GVHD:


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ooh, ooh, look what i just got! photos of the wedding ceremony from photograhers Elem & Elem of the wedding i officiated in friendship, maine. as you might remember, the wedding took place at a private residence with one of the most epic locations i've ever been to in maine. don't you just LOVE this wedding ceremony? i do!
all photos by elem & elem photography


text: Sherex Fastening Solutions, LLC is a global manufacturer with a unique market approach in engineered fastening solutions. Sherex combines fasteners, tooling, and automation to deliver the best possible solution at the lowest total installed cost. Sherex manufactures products for the Automotive, Aerospace and Defense, Agriculture and Construction Equipment, General Industrial and Heavy Truck markets.


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We are thrilled to announce that Heritage Lottery Fund has confirmed a grant of £1.32 million for 'Steam, Sewage and Semiconductors: Preserving the Industrial History of Cambridge'.
This ambitious project will transform the site into a vibrant attraction for local people and visitors to the City as well as delivering a full programme of events, learning activities and outreach into the community.
We are now actively fundraising a further £180,000 in matching funding before the grant from HLF can be released. Don't forget to support us in any way you can!
As well as donations, we have a business sponsorship programme perfect for local businesses and those further afield with a passion or interest in technology, industry and making these important exhibits accessible to all.
The full press release can be read here. For any enquiries regarding the HLF funding, the museum or our other activities please contact us.