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What Is This Site All About?
MWP (Michael Wiese Productions) is the world's leading publisher of books on screenwriting and filmmaking. It started in 1981 when Michael Wiese wrote and published the first book in what is now a line of over 150 books. Our goal is to provide information and inspiration on all aspects of filmmaking to students, emerging filmmakers and professionals through the brightest minds in the creative community.
Who are the authors?
Our authors and consultants come from the hard-knock school of production as well as America's esteemed film schools. They know what they are talking about because they write screenplays, they direct and they produce. They understand all elements of the moving picture. Some are working directors, cinematographers, editors, commercial and corporate producers, animators, film professors, screenplay writers, DVD producers, special effects supervisors, mythologists, psychologists, writing gurus, sound designers, script format software designers and game creators.
MWP authors have directed, edited, consulted on the script development or made major contributions to Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Rumble in the Bronx, The Lion King, Fight Club, Beauty and the Beast, War Games, Stakeout, Bird on a Wire, Romancing the Stone, Cast Away, Forrest Gump, Back to the Future, The Graduate, Cool Hand Luke, Chinatown and many others.
What Else Do Your Authors Do?
MWP authors write for the New York Times, Variety, Wired, Premiere, the Houston Examiner, Film Threat and Scr(i)pt Magazine. MWP authors teach at UCLA, USC, The American Film Institute, The New School, San Francisco State and at schools around the world.
MWP authors have won countless nominations and awards, including Emmys®, Oscars® and Director's Guild Awards. They've worked in all the Hollywood studios, in commercial and independent production companies and in post-production houses throughout the U. S. Their work includes studio and independent feature films, network television, digital movies, music videos and documentaries.
Collectively, they've written hundreds of produced TV scripts, screenplays and sold dozens — including two million dollar script sales to Steven Spielberg and Disney
One of Hollywoods Best Kept Secrets…(shhhh)
While it's one of Hollywood's best kept secrets, many top writers, directors and producers study with our authors to gain that competitive edge. They know that there is always more to learn, always another skill to sharpen. So, if you attend a workshop or seminar with an MWP author, you may find yourself sitting next to someone with major credits who is there to learn more. MWP authors have trained thousands of professionals through their seminars and workshops in the U.S. and throughout the world including Japan, Germany, Spain, England, Indonesia, Finland, Poland, Ireland, France and Italy. Their books are used in over 600 film courses worldwide.
All of this is to let you know – you are in good hands.
May you enjoy our books and the assistance of our authors, many of whom are available to consult with you on your projects. Onward and upward.
To see which of our authors consult, click here consulting authors


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- Teacher: Diann Back
- Teacher: Erin Payton
Internet/Web Fundamentals
This course introduces World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standard markup language and services of the Internet. Topics include creating web pages, search engines, FTP, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to deploy a hand-coded website created with mark-up language, and effectively use and understand the function of search engines.

subset: commoncrawl


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Went to see the super-brilliant Dolly Parton at the O2 in Dublin last night. The show was hugely enjoyable and Dolly spoke quite a bit about her early life in the Smokey Mountains and sang a fair few hits. Here you come again … ah, love that one.
This was one picture of a few I took before I was asked to stop taking photos with my "long lens".


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Earlier in 2016, I contributed a short video to a project entitled 'Treebank: A digital forest for the future.'
The premise was for hundreds of people to record and share memories of their favourite trees, creating a permanent online library. I've enjoyed swapping tree climbing stories with people from around the world - this old beech is hard to forget.
You can explore more of the Treebank here or contribute your own memory


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The 4K-capable Panasonic Lumix GH4 now has an Australian RRP, and it's very competitive.
Panasonic's GH series of Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens cameras have become popular amongst videographers thanks to their small design and high-quality output. While the body and overall layout of the GH4 feels similar to the older GH3, the new camera gets 4K video recording, a new AF system and better continuous shooting speeds.
The GH4 will be available in Australia in a number of different configurations. Body-only pricing will be AU$1999 which makes it incredibly competitive compared to other 4K-capable video cameras on the market — for example, the 4K-capable BlackMagic Production Camera is US$2999. In the US, the RRP of the GH4 is US$1699.
A single-lens kit complete with the 12-35mm f/2.8 lens will be AU$2999. A special interface unit adds other connectivity options such as XLR inputs and SDI control, as well as HDMI output for 4:2:2/10-bit video recording. This will cost AU$2649 on its own, or AU$3999 packaged with the GH4 body. All of the aforementioned configurations will be in Australia from early May 2014.
Also announced from Panasonic was a Leica Summilux 15mm f/1.7 Micro Four Thirds lens which is arriving in June for AU$799.


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Natural Tropical Blue
Jagua stains are created from the juice of the fruit from the Genipa americana tree. It grows in South America and has been used for centuries by the native cultures in the Amazon jungle. The unripe fruit is harvested, peeled, and juiced. The juice is pasteurized and mixed into a gel with body safe ingredients. This gel leaves a rich blue stain on the skin and lasts 1-3 weeks on average.
Henna Caravan is proud to stock Jagua Gel manufactured by the FreshJagua Company. We chose to work with FreshJagua due to their dedication to sourcing the highest quality product possible, supporting Native Amazon tribes, and the care and quality they put into the product. FreshJagua Gel is pasteurized and triple filtered resulting in a lovely texture that is easy to work with. The high quality and care they take in creating the final product is evident in the deep dark stains and quality ingredients. We believe that, like the ladies at Henna Caravan, you'll fall in love with the blue jagua stains! If you are allergic to tropical fruits such as strawberry, pineapple, kiwi, and papaya, you should avoid jagua.


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Like most new parents, we read everything we could. We were voracious.
I had a waterbirth, I nursed (not a drop of formula touched my sons lips). I grew my own food. When it came to vaccinations, Jon and I were uncertain. The research was confusing, and while the medical community was generally unwavering about vaccination, many people were doing delayed schedules, where you didn't give more than one on a given day. A supposed intention not to overwhelm the baby's system.
That seemed reasonable…appropriate…safe.
Even though some research suggested some vaccinations were related to Autism, we didn't think it was plausible. At that time, before revelations discredited research, there were so many weird and loosely scientific theories about Autism. As a Clinical Psychologist, I was surrounded by families doing all kinds of things to prevent or reverse or avoid it; treatments like chelation, dietary changes. I wont list them all.
The point is this: we were not crazy.
We felt like balanced, normal, modern, (now) middle-aged american adults. We felt aware and conscientious, and like many parents were finding our footing. We were blasted like cannons into parenthood and we took it on with passion and seriousness and so, we chose a delayed schedule. We discussed this with our Pediatrician and made that choice.
All was well until the end of January 2007, when Winslow was 1½. We had just returned from a blissful trip to Hawaii where he frolicked naked on the beach, and from my cousins beautiful wedding in New York where we all got rotavirus and gave it to the whole wedding party (I don't feel so bad anymore, they're divorced now). Then, in Mid-January, while Jon was at a medical school interview in Iowa, Winslow came down with a fever. I called the doctor numerous times over that 24 hours – he was listless and febrile. "Wait," she said. Wait.
By the time Jon came home, I was more worried. Shortly after, Winslow began vomiting every ten minutes on the clock. A quick visit to our pediatrician confirmed this was more than a routine illness. By the time we got to the hospital, he was limp and a spinal tap showed Pneumococcal Meningitis. Following the initial work-up, in the throws of concern and fear, our Pediatrician, after reviewing our records, confirmed we had not yet received the Pneumococcal vaccine.
I dropped to my knees. The aching pit of sorrow-filled recognition that opened-up within us…that this may have been preventable - was overwhelming. I remember screaming, "We are not hippies! I don't understand."
Winslow was hospitalized for two weeks. There were many days of second-guessing and rationalizing our choices. In between the worry, the visits from friends and family, the many hours of staring at him and not being able to help his body stave off this infection, we researched this new threat (and more importantly, understanding the role our choices played in this drama).
Not every strain is covered by the vaccine. Maybe the strain of bacteria wouldn't have been covered anyway. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered…Maybe we would feel less guilty if we knew that piece, if we knew that it was more random than it was appearing.
We almost lost him. In fact, we began to accept that we had been lucky to have 15 months with him and tried to find grace and gratefulness. Winslow survived. He has hearing loss, and that has been its own amazing cool journey and a story for another day. We never followed up with our Pediatrician to determine the microbiology. That seemed like an excuse.
But then there is this, "ANTI-VAXXERS ARE CRAZY!" And that statement? It makes my heart beat fast.
There is so much grey in life. So many opportunities to feel guilt, second-guess, and in hind-sight recognize a different choice would have been "better." And the child that gets vaccinated, may, later on suffer from some other of life's unknowns: the accident, the trauma, the shooting, the abuse, the other infections and cancers and unknowns that most of us believe will never happen to them. There are striking, and complicated arguments to be made for our communal and global well-being through vaccination. But it will likely continue to be a parent's prerogative. Jon and I do not believe that parent's would knowingly harm their children. We have some faith we all do the best we can, and make the choices we do based on the experience we have and the people we know.
The vast majority of new parents are trying to do their BEST. Maybe they have not all read the studies in medical journals and analyzed and critiqued the arguments (have you? Be honest.). But my default is to not write them off as crazy. There are always extremes, and often, they become powerful voices to shift the center toward something better than the status quo. But calling the extremes, "Crazy," is counterproductive. It serves no good to have write off the many smart, wonderful people that get lumped in with, "crazy." You are polarizing further a community who feels they are doing their best. You are making it harder to communicate…To understand…To discuss.
Did we vaccinate our daughter? Yes. Do I think people who don't vaccinate are stupid? Crazy? No. Do I want you to vaccinate? I wouldn't dictate my beliefs on anyone. That choice IS up to you, for now. But I am happy to have a conversation about it.
Meredith Larrabee is the mother of two children, one dog, 5 fish, one hamster and a Guinea Pig. She is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Asheville, North Carolina; and is married to an OB-Gyn who "caught" his own children at a birth center before serving women.


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What does a smart city look like? I don't mean the roads, buildings and bus stops; or even the sensors, beacons and base stations that allow data to be gathered and transmitted from every streetcorner. Instead, I'm asking: What does it mean to see all that data in a way that makes sense of the urban environment — that makes the connections between data the life of the city around us as plain and firm as the pavement beneath our feet?
That was the question posed by the Sense Your City Data Art Challenge. Artists were provided with an open data set drawn from DIY sensors deployed in seven cities across the world. Then they were asked to turn the raw numbers into interactive art projects and visualizations that could make the numbers tangible.
The resulting projects show a wide range of creative approaches, including interactive maps that layer animation and sound to represent sensor data, time-lapse videos with graph overlays, and colorful side-by-side comparisons that reveal the daily and seasonal patterns of the measured cities.
Sense Your City was organized by Data Canvas, a San Francisco organization that advocates for civic engagement through data. An international panel of judges reviewed 34 submissions and picked six winners, plus a number of other projects that will be exhibited in participating cities.
View all of the winning and featured projects at datacanvas.org/sense-your-city.
Related: Anatomy of a Smart City, Array of Things, Real-Time Wind Mapping, Real-World Data Acquisition and Visualization


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Female-led acts Wolkoff, Shara Lunon and DJ Ashlyn take the stage at IDIO Gallery this Saturday as part of the She/Folk exhibition currently on view! 7$ Suggested Donation benefits Planned Parenthood NYC! Come out, rock out for the cause - and check out the show on view!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: September 22Panel: Art & Feminism, Unpacking the All-Woman Show
Later Event: October 23CREEPS ANNUAL zine release


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CHICAGO -- A community center designed to end the violence, and develop leaders and entrepreneurs, opened on Wednesday in the city's Woodlawn neighborhood.
Project H.O.O.D.`s Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center opened at 63rd and King Drive.
Pastor Corey Brooks, with the support of Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and a host of business owners and CEOs, were on hand for the celebration.
Many hope the center will be a resource for the neighborhood and offer a training program for skilled trades, culinary programs, youth mentoring and entrepreneurship, and networking.
Brooks says no government or taxpayer dollars went into the new center. It's located in an abandoned Walgreens store.
41.780232 -87.615620


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Ever have that moment when something you've always accepted as true turns out to be purely a matter of perspective? I find these sorts of revelations both eye-opening and a little unnerving. But that's what's happened since I picked up Pamela Druckerman's Bringing Up Bebe.
While living in Paris as an American-ex pat with her British husband, Pamela starts to pay close attention to the way the French rear their children after she has her own baby. I so wish I'd read this book before I had mine. I love the philosophy she explains, which turns out to reflect not just a strategy for raising children, but a way of looking at life in general.
She starts with a topic that's of interest to every new parent: sleep. And what she finds is so markedly different than what every parent I know here has experienced, I just can't believe we all haven't read this book. Apparently the French begin very, very early to teach their babies to wait. New mothers don't immediately pick up their crying baby, but wait just a few minutes. During that waiting time, they listen. This does two things: 1) it gives the parent an opportunity to pay attention to the cry and to start to learn what the various sounds the baby makes mean (this concept sounds vaguely familiar to me, though I never could discern the different cries myself), and 2) it teaches the baby to tolerate a bit of frustration.
One huge reason to do this at night, she explains, is that babies, like adults, have two-hour sleep cycles, and if they learn to go back to sleep after they wake up between cycles, night waking ends much sooner. Shockingly, most French babies are "doing their nights" by 2-3 months. This just floors me. (And for anyone with a new baby, the window to work this magic apparently ends at 4 months. After that, bad sleeping habits have set in and you'll have to wait the "normal" amount of time for your baby to sleep through the night.)
And, the author makes it very clear that the French are not letting their babies do that thing many people here call "crying it out," but are instead allowing the baby time to settle itself down, if that's possible, and to begin to recognize that it won't get everything it wants immediately. There's science behind this particular bit about the sleep, so read the book for details. But this seemingly small concept of not immediately giving kids what they want pervades every aspect of French parenting. Children learn from it self-control, patience, and the concept of delayed gratification. Apparently French children aren't big whiners. Can you imagine? This is probably the biggest perspective shift for me: we Americans largely take for granted that kids behave badly and whine and throw fits because they're kids. The French do not.
The French are apparently coming at this parenting thing with the goal of raising children who are aware, "awakened," and have the self-control necessary to truly enjoy themselves. She talks about how they let children experience things slowly (e.g., letting them just play in the water from ages 2-5, rather than take an actual swim lesson) and how they teach them to enjoy the world around them (e.g., not much structure during the day for very young kids aside from eating and sleeping times). This is the part that speaks to me as an adult, rather than as a parent. I don't remember a lot of emphasis being placed on truly enjoying the little things when I was a child (no offense, parents). I love the idea of raising a human who will notice and appreciate what's around him and not simply put his head down and follow the Puritanical path to success.
(I apparently have my work cut out from me. Though he does adorable things like exclaim, What a beautiful Spring day! when he walks outside, he also says "I won, I really won." after a baseball game where no one kept score.)


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for soprano, viola and electronics
Duration: 6'
First performed at the Royal Northern College of Music 'Rosamond Prize' Concert in collaboration with the Manchester Writing School.
Winner of the Rosamond Prize 2016.
'Samson is a short piece based on the poem by the same name by Elisabeth Sennitt Clough. The voice takes on the role of a Biblical Delilah figure by acting as an alluring character at the outset with a growing intensity that leads to some more hostile moments later in the piece, as the motives of her actions become more apparent. The viola and electronics seek to create an underlying soundworld of the beautiful simplicity of the character at the beginning, which becomes tenser in accordance with the voice. The viola part is also present in the electronics to highlight the close relations between Samson and Delilah, which strays and converges.' ©G.E.M.2016
©Cover Image: 'SAMSON' by Grace-Evangeline Mason 2016


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'Fish of the Day: August 9, 2006/
- For-profit Giving. Selfish Giving is taken to task for Cause for Pause. (Philanthropybeat)
- On a Cycle of a Greater Good. Pan-Mass Challenge founder Billy Starr talks about his signature event and the billion dollar athletic fundraising industry. (Boston Globe)
- Strategies for Political Giving. How best to deploy your money to impact the political process. (WSJ)
- Charity Wins Deep Loyalty for Hezbollah. How do you say doing well and good in Arabic? (NY Times)
- Changing a Winning Ad Slogan for No Good Reason. Any successful brand got to be successful by standing for something in the mind. What do you stand for? (Ad Age)


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Montane Prism (2014)
Not content with making award-winning clothing and rucksacks, Montane has released a range of sleeping bags. Having gained a reputation for selling products designed to take the user to the top of the hill and back again in practical comfort, the brand has a lot to live up to – and a lot to lose if this new range falls short of expectations.
There are six models in the collection, from down-filled bags for polar expeditions to lightweight summer bags such as the Prism featured here. With a temperature rating of 0 deg C, this should be ideal for UK summer conditions. While the other five bags in the range use down insulation, the Prism harnesses the heat-retaining power of Primaloft Eco, a synthetic fibre that maintains performance when wet better than down, is lower in price than down, and is made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles so it's great for the planet. So while you could choose a Montane Minimus down-filled bag with a -2 deg C temperature rating for £375, you can walk away with plenty of change if you instead go for the Prism at just £175.
The drawback of course is the packed size and weight, as the Prism weighs in at 1216g, while the Minimus is just 867g. But compared to other synthetic bags the Prism is very respectable in terms of its price, although you can get lighter synthetic bags. However, check the detail and Montane's Prism is well worth a closer look.
Firstly the Prism uses Pertex Microlight outer fabric, which is very breathable so it won't feel clammy, and it's also fast-drying for when the bag gets damp. Meanwhile you get a comfortable synthetic lining inside.
Lightweight bags often skimp on the side zip, but on the Prism there is a long zip to the calf area and this has an exceptionally good anti-snag design; in fact I would say it is probably one of the best and least snaggable zips that I've ever seen on a sleeping bag. There is a decent baffle behind it as well, to prevent cold spots.
There is extra attention to detail at the foot, as you get a 'flipper' shape to allow a little more space for your toes. The hood is equally impressive and it's easily adjusted to form a wonderful cocoon around the head.
If you don't like having the hood fully battened down, then the most important feature of a sleeping bag is a good shoulder baffle to trap air around the body. Again this is a feature many lighter weight bags skimp on, but on the Montane Prism you get a well-insulated wide baffle that's ideal for keeping all that warm air inside the bag.
There are some 'nice-to-have' details too, which include an internal zip pocket and an internal mesh pocket for a water bottle. Plus you get silicone anti-slip patches on the base of the bag to reduce slippage on a sleeping mat or bivvy bag, and this did appear to be effective in my tests.
Price £175
Outer fabric Pertex Microlight
Inner fabric PEAQ synthetic
Insulation Primaloft Eco
Packed size 23x30cm
Weight 1216g (with stuffsack)
Lower comfort limit 0 deg C
Website www.montane.co.uk
Montane has done it again! The Prism is packed with practical features to make a night on the hills comfortable. Its weight and packed size are drawbacks, but at this price the Prism is a great summer bag.
Review by Graham Thompson
Published in Trail magazine July 2014


text: newmuseum: "The rats were huge! That's something I don't miss. They were rats as big as cats, so you had to walk in the middle of the street. Once you got to 8th Avenue, you were pretty safe, but 13th Street… Forget about it, it was a street run." —Dave Ortiz, owner of Dave's Warehouse, on his memories of the Meatpacking District in 1993 For "NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star," we turned every Manhattan pay phone into a geo-located time capsule from 1993! Call toll-free from any pay phone in Manhattan by dialing 1-855-FOR-1993 and hear real stories from '93 about the neighborhood you're in and, in many cases, the very corner you're standing on.Find the closest pay phone here: http://bit.ly/147HGcf Geo-located time capsules?! Why was I not informed of this sooner?! Man BartlettApril 4, 2013 Facebook0 Twitter LinkedIn0 Reddit Tumblr 0 Likes


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Out with a friend in Park City, Utah, not long ago, Marcia Cross was approached by a stranger who said, "I know you—you're on Ever-wood." Cross's response? "I was like, 'Yes!' It's time to shift away from Melrose Place."
Her relief is understandable. For much of the mid-'90s, as MP's deranged Dr. Kimberly Shaw, the actress was a touchstone of child-abducting, wigged-out evil. Millions tuned in to find out what horrors Kimberly would perpetrate next.
Now Cross, 41, a dedicated yoga fan, is in a mellower place—onscreen and off. She's doing a half-season stint on The WB drama Everwood, the saga of a widowed surgeon (Treat Williams) raising two kids in a Colorado town. Cross once again plays a physician, this time a sane one, Dr. Linda Abbott. "She's an embodiment of a lot of things I believe in," says Cross. "She's an acupuncturist into Eastern philosophy and very spiritual." Not too otherworldly to have a fling with Williams's character, though. "I told her you can't tell so much from the work she's done," says Williams, referring to MP, "but she's a great gal."
And a good student. Aside from a few guest shots on the likes of CSI and Ally McBeal, Cross disappeared from TV after Melrose in 1997. She was busy completing her master's degree in psychology at L.A.'s Antioch University. "I have always wanted to know what's going on under the surface," she says. She graduated in 2002, not long before she got the Everwood call. "I couldn't do an acting job just to be working," she says. "It really had to have some soul to it, which Everwood does."
Cross credits her father, Mark, 80, a retired personnel manager, and mom Janet, 69, a retired teacher, with her psychological bent. "I would ask my dad what he did, and he'd say, I listen to people's problems.' In some way what he did for a living is in my genes."
Why the acting bug bit is more of a mystery. Growing up in Marlborough, between sisters Susan Hett, now 43 and a teacher, and Ellen Cross, 37, a Web designer and musician, Cross's idea of fun was to form a club with her best friends in her basement, where, she says, "mostly we choreographed songs that we could lip-synch."
She graduated to high school plays but was confused about the next step. "The sophisticated girlfriend of my next-door neighbor said, 'Well, of course you're applying to Juilliard,' " Cross recalls. "I didn't even know what Juilliard was." She found out and won a half scholarship to the prestigious New York City arts school, paying the rest of the cost by working summers in a shoe factory and a drugstore.
After graduating, Cross tried her luck in LA. "Every day I would think, 'When am I going to move home?' " she says. "Then I met somebody in 1988 and stayed." The somebody was Harvard-educated actor Richard Jordan, 25 years her senior, who died of a brain tumor in 1993. Cross channeled her grief into her MP role, which she says was "the outlet for all my feelings." Though she isn't involved with anyone now, she says, "I'd like to be a wife and mother. I guess I'll know [Mr. Right] when I meet him."
While she's waiting, she's having a ball with the Everwood cast, settled in Park City near the Salt Lake City set. "Whenever anybody new comes on the scene," says Tom Amandes, who plays Cross's brother, "everybody scopes them out. Now she's one of the family." When she's not cozied up by the fireplace in her comfortable condo, Cross is often hiking in the nearby mountains. She says she feels "very blessed right now," but acting isn't the final prescription for her. She contemplates going back to school for postgraduate work after Everwood. "It's kind of ironic," she says with a smile, "that if I get my Ph.D., I'll be a real doctor."
J.D. Reed. Kwala Mandel in Los Angeles


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18 Fun Classes | Dog Bar | My Dog's Got Talent
Celebrity Judges | Egg & Spoon Relay | Over 40 Stands | Food & Drink Stalls
Chiswick House Dog Show is an opportunity for everyone who uses and loves this beautiful park to give something back through being part of a fun day out for all the family. Run by the community for the community, everyone's efforts raise monies to fund projects to maintain and constantly improve Chiswick House and Gardens - a wonderful, historic oasis in West London.
With classes ranging from Naughtiest Dog to Prettiest Bitch and from My Dog's Got Talent to Best Veteran, every dog is welcome – big, small, pedigree, mutt, young and old – it's a celebration of the canine world! This year's show will take place on Sunday 24th September 2017.
Each year it takes about 150 volunteers to make our show the event it is today. All that fun takes a lot of organising! If you can spare us 2 hours of your time we would love to
hear from you.


text: In Week #4 of TBT for 52 Weeks I talk about "Ray Roman HP Commercial". I copied what was done in the Jay-Z HP Commercial in attempt to see if I could recreate what was done in my own way to tell my story. Would you say this is stealing or copying? Subscribe and don't forget to leave a comment!


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"During the recent stormy weather a young motorist was lucky to escape when a tree came down on the car he was travelling in just outside of Bridgetown village," Mr Roche said. "This occurred on is regularly a busy road on a Saturday afternoon. It was a miracle that the young man wasn't seriously injured. The next time this happens we might not be so lucky. Two other local roads were blocked by fallen trees on the same day."
"Local Council workers need to be commended for the hard work they put in to clear these roads and they are doing everything in their power to keep the roads cut back and safe. The problem is that funding is not been made available by the powers that be to tackle this issue head on."
"Roadside trees and foliage that poses a threat to the public need to be identified and safely removed before a life is lost in a terrible accident. Everyone knows that money is tight but I would like to know exactly what cost will put on a life by our local Councillors?"


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We are Zeta Ventures Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom under company number 09680073 and with our registered office at 18 Spedan Close, London, NW3 7XF ("Pulp"). We operate the website www.pulp.wine (the "Website"). Pulp complies with applicable data protection legislation such as the Data Protection Act 1998. This regulates the processing of personal data relating to you and grants you various rights in respect of your personal data. The aim of this policy is to tell you how Pulp will use any personal data you provide through the Website. Please read it carefully before you use the Website or order Pulp products from us.
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Seb Beloe, partner and head of sustainability at specialist sustainability investors WHEB Asset Management, says change is in the air in mainstream finance, and critics who disregard environmentally or sustainability themed funds could end up eating their words.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Mahatma Gandhi
In a quote that will surely come back to haunt him in the not-too-distant future, Rex Tillerson the CEO of ExxonMobil told shareholders at the company's 2015 annual general meeting that his firm had not invested in renewable energy because "We [ExxonMobil] choose not to lose money on purpose". In a similar vein, though perhaps lacking quite the same bravado, in May 2014 Sergio Marchionne the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles took aim at Californian environmental rules that force the company to sell a US$32,500 battery-powered Fiat 500e. "I hope you don't buy it," he said, claiming the company loses US$14,000 on every vehicle sold.
Gandhi of course was not thinking about technological disruption in the oil and automotive industries when he made his comments (see title), but his quote nonetheless seems apposite to the oil and auto industries' views of these new technologies. Environmental- and sustainability-focused investment funds have received similar levels of opprobrium from the mainstream investment community. The first ethical fund in the UK, for example, was famously called a 'Brazil fund', because 'you'd have to be nuts to invest in it'!
Change is in the air
But change is clearly in the air. Within the power generation sector, for example, renewable energy now regularly features as the largest recipient of energy-related infrastructure investments. Bloomberg estimates that renewables will command 60 per cent of total new capacity and two-thirds of power investment globally over the next 25 years.
The electric vehicle industry is also approaching critical mass. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2014 every single major automotive business had a hybrid or electric vehicle on display. There are now more than 40 plug-in and electric models available on the market and while Fiat-Chrysler might be losing money on every electric car they sell, Tesla certainly isn't.
But much in the same way that Rex Tillerson has failed to see the advance of renewable energy, so the mainstream financial community has failed to see how sustainable investment funds have evolved.
The FP WHEB Sustainability Fund, for example, focuses on investing in companies that 'provide solutions to sustainability challenges' such as climate change, resource depletion and aging demographics. Perhaps unsurprisingly, companies that provide products and services that address these challenges are serving end markets that are growing more quickly than the market as a whole.
The 1200 companies in the WHEB investment universe have had average annual sales growth of more than 10 per cent over the last five years, compared with less than 8 per cent for the wider market (as measured by the MSCI World Index). Looking forward twelve months, the disparity gets even larger with sustainability-focused businesses expecting to grow at over 11 per cent. Meanwhile the MSCI World is expected to grow less than 5 per cent over this period.
For many mainstream actors whether in the automotive, financial or oil and gas sectors, environmental and sustainability-oriented businesses and technologies have been disparaged and in some cases actively undermined. At best they have been seen as niche, appealing only to a small, marginal community; uncompetitive with mainstream approaches and practice.
Investors often still see environmentally or sustainability themed funds as being primarily about 'doing good'. Increasingly though there is a recognition that by investing in this way, investors can also do well. Not only is sustainability not at odds with attractive financial return, but the two are increasingly positively correlated, in our view. It is precisely because of their positive environmental or societal impact that we expect our portfolio constituents to be able to deliver strong commercial returns. Rex Tillerson's laugher will, we believe, be short-lived.
Click here for information on Salt's upcoming Disrupting Finance event on 16 September 2015.
Photo credit: slack12 from Flickr


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The other day, while assembling pictures for this article, I was rummaging through all my clicks at the ISKCON Temple in Hyderabad (one of the hotels in Hyderabad and my spiritual cum worldly retreat for the trip I undertook in August 2013), I couldn't help but chuckle. It was not about the sights mind you, which made for wonderful memories by the way - it was about the color. Yes, the color was striking.
The color, though seemingly simple, flushed open a reverie of thoughts... magically ceasing the color pink to be a mere garb of paint instead became a metaphor that exposed a layer that was unique to this enigmatic city. A stark metaphorical facet to her outer persona that illumined the real beauty, within.
Pink. The color of love, beauty, smile and romance.
To understand my enchantment with the color, take with me a few steps back on the sands of time... Just before this visit (also my first!) to be precise. A time, when in all my stereotypical naivety, I was happy envisioning Hyderabad, with its iconic edifices of Charminar and Jama Masjid, in delicate hues of sepia. May be even in monochromatic hues of black and white... like dark cloudy skies. Like an old fashioned dignified vintage beauty. Of proven worth, an open heart and a radiant smile. Laid back in time, soaked in age-old traditions ... yet, adaptable to change.
This was then... Only till my heart got its hands on her enchanting story book later and took flight in its charismatic legends of yore…
Hyderabad... for me today, is a timeless love song.
Why song?
Because it's only a song that, to be truly appreciated, has to be felt. For most of everything else, eyes generally suffice. But, Hyderabad. Nah, she is different...
An eternal classic that was originally set in tune under the able-realm of the affable emperor poet Quli Qutub Shah. The same Emperor who apparently, was head over heals in love with His beautiful Empress Bhagmati who was a Hindu Courtesan. It was in their passionate love, that she was born. Time rolled by... kingdoms toppled, rulers changed... and with them changed stories of love affairs too. Some still loved loving, some... architecture and religion, some others loved learning and culture while there were even a few who loved hating. But, love was still the glue that kept her growing...
Love is a melody that tinkers all around in Hyderabad - not always seen - but sensed in the labrynthine corridors and colorless bystreets where she cleverly keeps it under wraps, released only languidly, for the chosen few - inquisitive and curious. It's a song that is way farther to the cliched boundaries of old and new, ancient or modern. It's a song that is eternal. A song that you have to hear till the very end. Otherwise, you stand a chance to be fooled by the scores of tragedy, disturbances, violence and all that chaotic mess strewn in between. It's in the entirety, that she reveals her charms... a charm that rises through and above everything to be where she is today...
This timeless love (I call it hyderabadi love!) that has been swirling in the environs… everywhere in this diamond city of Hyderabad, since ages and centuries ago, I instantly felt this energy at ISKCON.
Situated in the heart of the city at Nampally station road, Sri Sri Radha Madanmohan Mandir ISKCON Temple is sprawled in a spacious courtyard housing the temple, a guest house, the Govindas restaurant, souvenir shop and a library among others.
Situated in the heart of the city at Nampally station road, Sri Sri Radha Madanmohan Mandir ISKCON Temple is sprawled in a spacious courtyard housing the temple, a guest house, the Govindas restaurant, souvenir shop and a library among others.
STAY AT THE ISKCON TEMPLE GUEST HOUSE was a delight - the rooms are clean, peaceful, comfortable and the area pretty well managed. The window view is basic though, with short and tall buildings stretching in the distance but the temple makes it up for all that there is to explore within.
What I particularly love about my stay in ISKCON temples, besides the aarti of course, is the entire spiritual feel there is to the place. There is no T.V. to start with, wifi may or may not be there and the meals, called prasadams, are sattvic, pure vegetarian delicious meals prepared with a devotional intent as an offering for the God. The temple room wells up in spirituality too, no matter what time of the day where you can always take joy in the fascinating stories recited through the paintings and scenes of Lord Krishna and His pastimes from the Hindu mythology and Puranas,
Devouts flock from all around the town and beyond in good numbers either to sit peacefully in the temple hall and mediate or to catch the stunning glimpse of the main deities of the temple are Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Jagannatha Balabhadra Subhadra if the sanctum curtains are open.
The temple especially comes alive during the morning and evening aarti time which is an exquisite affair. Pivoted around the priest waving the huge divine lamp, bhaktas singing glories to the Lord Krishna and everyone trance-dancing in the holy nectar of devotion and rose petals being offered in the holy feet of the Lord, the aarti soon becomes a language of love...
A song, a frequency that is ungraspable in words and yet graspable by the heart…
... Very much like Hyderabad,
Very much like the color - Pink.
"Hyderabadi gentlemen still wore the fez,
dreamt about the rose and the nightingale,
and mourned the loss of Grenada."
Also, brushed and broomed the floors.
What else but love... that makes all this possible?
Tips for travelers:
- Both AC and Non AC double/triple bedrooms are available. Book your rooms at least a month in advance via e-mail or phone to avoid hassles and remember to ask for hot water facility.
- Life Members of ISKCON Temple may be required to pay a small amount as donation. Non members may be required to pay more.
- Check out time is 8 AM.
Address and Contact Numbers:
ISKCON Hyderabad.
Sri Sri Radha Madanmohan Mandir,
Hare Krishna Land,
Nampally Station Road,
Abids, Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh.
Contact: +91 81061-30279 / +91 (40) 66668333 / 24607089 (Extn: 27)
Email: email@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.com
The city offers a comprehensive choice for visitors when it comes to good hotels in Hyderabad. So, you will get everything from budget hotels in Hyderabad to hotels catering to corporates, from hotels near Hyderabad railway station to hotels most suited for families. Browse through all the available options and filter from among them based on your service requirements and travel budget. Once the options narrow down, try reading traveler reviews and blogs on the internet so that zeroing down on the best -fit-of-your-choice accommodation becomes easier.
Have you been to Hyderabad?
What were your impressions of the city?
Where did you stay? Any recommendations?


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How to cite this article: Mahesh M, Gowdar M, Venkatesh CR. A Study on Two Dose Regimens of Pralidoxime in the Management of Organophosphate Poisoning. Asia Pac J Med Toxicol 2013;2:121-5.
Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are widely used as insecticides and pesticides (1). In many developing countries including India, OP compounds are easily available and are common cause of both intentional and accidental poisonings (2-5). OP insecticides were responsible for 50% of all poisoning-related deaths in India in the past 25 years, accounted for 75% of all poisonings (1). The annual incidence of OP poisoning worldwide is about 3 million with 220,000 deaths (2,3). It is estimated that OP pesticide self-poisoning causes approximately 200,000 deaths annually worldwide, mostly in the Asia-Pacific region and the mortality rate varies from 10 to 20% (4).
In most developing countries, we are facing with shortage of trained personnel for poisoning care, and also diagnostic and treatment facilities (5). Self-poisoning with OP compounds is a serious health problem especially in agricultural areas of developing countries (2). Being predominantly an agricultural country, OP compounds are used abundantly for farming in India. Hence, access to these hazardous chemical substances is easy (5). OP pesticides inhibit carboxylic esterase enzymes including acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and plasma cholinesterase (PChE) through binding to the esteratic site on the AChE molecule, phosphorylating the enzyme. Binding to the esteratic site on the enzyme is stable and depending on the compound involved, it can last for hours or weeks (1). A phenomenon of enzyme aging occurs which involves cleavage of a free radical from the inhibited enzyme, making it resistant to reactivation. Restoration of AChE levels occurs by spontaneous or induced reactivation of the enzyme and also by new enzyme synthesis (5).
Two important agents used in the treatment of OP poisoned patients are atropine and pralidoxime. Atropine antagonizes the muscarinic effects of OP compounds. It is an established antidote and its use is indicated in OP poisoning. The other agent that has been used for four decades is pralidoxime, which acts by reactivating phosphorylated cholinesterase (1). It has been used as a complementary to atropine to treat features associated with stimulation of nicotinic receptors (7,8). Despite it has been used for decades, there is still controversy over the usefulness and dosage of pralidoxime (9-12). Reports of outstanding effectiveness of pralidoxime have been countered by studies showing disappointing results.
Currently, there is a wide disparity in the dosage of pralidoxime administered. Many centers do not use pralidoxime at all. The low dose regimen of 1g/day to 4-6g/day is the most widely used (and is also called standard regimen) (10). The dose regimen recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) includes 30 mg/kg bolus followed by 8 mg/kg/h infusion (9). In addition, a very high dose regimen of pralidoxime (1g/h infusion) has also been recommended in a randomized controlled trial conducted in India (13). Nevertheless, the WHO regimen has not really been evaluated in direct comparison with the standard regimen in clinical studies. This study was therefore, conducted to compare the efficacy of the WHO regimen and the commonly used standard regimen.
This was a randomized open labeled prospective study conducted at JSS Hospital, a tertiary care teaching hospital affiliated to JSS Medical College, JSS University. The study was done during a period of 51 months (November 2009 to January 2012). Patients presenting with history of OP poisoning were enrolled. The severity of poisoning in each patient was assessed with Peradeniya Organophosphorus Poisoning (POP) Scale (14). Exclusion criteria were (a) very severe poisoning (intubation required on admission or within two hours post-admission or POP score more than 7 at presentation) (b) poisoning with multiple toxic agents, (c) concurrent consumption of OP compounds with alcohol, (d) severe co-morbid conditions (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, severe anemia, asthma).
Ethical clearance was obtained from the JSS Medical College Institutional Ethical Committee (ethical code: JSS/MC/IEC/3086/2009-2010). Informed written consents were obtained from all patients or their legal entourage.
Patients were randomized to one of the two groups for pralidoxime therapy (Figure 1):
(a) Study group (WHO regimen); that received 2 g intravenous bolus pralidoxime followed by continuous infusion at 8 mg/kg/h for 5 days
(b) Control group (standard regimen); 2 g intravenous bolus pralidoxime followed by 1g/6 hourly bolus for 5 days.
The medication used was pralidoxime iodide manufactured by SK Pharmaceuticals, Hyderabad, India. All patients received 5 mg intravenous bolus atropine at presentation followed by 2-5 mg every 5-10 minutes until atropinisation, and subsequently continuous infusion to achieve control of secretions from trachea-bronchial tree and to maintain the heart rate at 80-100 beats/min.
Blood sample for measurement of PChE was taken at presentation and prior to initiation of treatment. PChE rather than AChE was measured due to lack of laboratory facilities in our center. PChE was measured by enzymatic method using butyrate and thiocholine as substrate (5).
The primary outcome parameter assessed was need for intubation. Secondary outcome parameters assessed were: (a) atropine requirement, (b) duration of ventilation, (c) development of intermediate syndrome, and (d) death.
Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Analysis included descriptive statistics, contingency coefficient analysis with independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test for non-normal data.
Figure 1. CONSORT diagram showing patient recruitments and exclusions in each arm of the study.
Demographic and clinical severity
Of the 126 patients enrolled, 32 patients were excluded and 12 patients refused to participate in the study. Of the remaining 82; thirty-seven patients were randomized into study group and 45 patients into control group. In total, 56 patients were men and 26 were women. There were more men than women in both groups (Table 1). The majority of subjects (42.7%) aged between 26 and 35 years. Regarding age and gender, there were no significant differences between two groups. All patients in both groups had moderate clinical severity (POP score between 4 and 7).
Table 1. Comparison of demographic features, treatments administered and outcome of study and control groups
Parameter (unit), report
Study group (n = 37)
Control group (n = 45)
P value
Age (years), mean (SD)
31.3 (8.9)
30.1 (7.3)
Male/Female, n
PChE (U/L), median (IQR)
1878 (4211)
2776 (3876.5)
Patients required mechanical ventilation, n (%)
12 (32.4)
22 (48.8)
Duration of mechanical ventilation (days), mean (SD)
4.1 (1.6)
6.6 (1.7)
Atropine (mg), mean (SD)
345.0 (90.6)
933.1 (162.3)
Intermediate syndrome, n (%)
0 (0)
15 (33.3)
< 0.001
Death, n (%)
4 (10.8)
10 (22.2)
Treatment and outcomes
Mean time interval between poisoning and the onset of pralidoxime administration in the study group was 5.1 hours and in the control group was 5.3 hours which was not significantly different between the groups.
The median (IQR) of PChE in the study group was 1878 (4211) and in the control group was 2776 (3876.5) which was not significantly different between the groups. Thirty-four patients (41.5%) required mechanical ventilation. Of these, fewer patients belonged to study group though the difference was not significant (Table 1). Mean time interval between poisoning and intubation in study group was 6.1 (1.6) hours and in controls was 6.7 (1.5) hours which was not significantly different between the groups. Nevertheless, mean duration of mechanical ventilation in the study group was significantly lower than controls (4.1 (1.6) vs. 6.6 (1.7) days; P = 0.01). In addition, mean dosage of atropine administered was significantly lower in the study group compared to the controls (345.0 (90.6) vs. 933.1 (162.3) mg; P = 0.001). Furthermore, 15 controls (33.3%) developed intermediate syndrome whereas no patient (0%) in the study group had such complication, which shows a significant difference (P < 0.001). Although the number of deaths was lower in study group, this does not show any significant difference (P = 0.172). No adverse events directly attributable to pralidoxime were noted.
To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the second one which exclusively compared the efficacy of WHO recommended dose regimen of pralidoxime with the standard regimen. Results of our study revealed that there was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the outcome measures of need for ventilation and mortality. However, significant differences in other outcome parameters, such as duration of ventilation, total dose of atropine requirement and development of intermediate syndrome were found which indicates that the WHO regimen is superior.
The only other study with a similar comparison was performed by Varghese et al., in which they found no statistically significant difference between the two regimens (15). In their study, patients who were partially treated with pralidoxime before arrival to their center were also included. This may affect their final results. The present study took up intact previously untreated cases only, and partially treated patients were excluded from the study. Moreover, the baseline characteristics of the two groups in the present study were similar.
There has always been controversy regarding the usefulness of pralidoxime in treatment of OP poisoned patients. It began when de Silva et al. found no benefit in a retrospective placebo controlled analysis (16). However, their study sample was small with only 43 patients who were treated with a low dose pralidoxime (4g bolus followed by 1 g/day). Subsequently, Johnson et al. compared 1g single bolus dose of pralidoxime with 12 g infusion over 4 days and found increased mortality rate and ventilation requirement in the infusion group (17). Cherian et al. compared placebo with 12 g infusion over 3 days in 110 patients and reported higher risk of death in the pralidoxime group. They concluded that there was no role for pralidoxime and it caused more harm than benefit (18). In another placebo controlled study by Cherian et al. pralidoxime doses of 4 g/day and 12 g infusion/day were compared with each other and with placebo. They found no difference with respect to mortality, ventilator requirement and atropine dosage (19). A meta-analysis by Peter et al. was not in favor of using pralidoxime for OP poisoning (11). They found that there was no effect of oxime treatment on mortality, ventilator requirement or intermediate syndrome .They even warned against use of oximes (11).
There are probable reasons for ineffectiveness of pralidoxime in the mentioned studies. Firstly, most of the studies were underpowered. Many studies did not include analysis of the nature of the OP compound, whether it was dimethyl or diethyl compound. In dimethyl OP poisoning, early aging of phosphorylated acetyl cholinesterase occurs making them resistant (8,15). Inclusion of more cases poisoned with the dimethyl group could have tilted the results against pralidoxime. Oximes are more useful when administered within 12 hours of poison ingestion; however, there were delays in pralidoxime therapy in some of the above-mentioned trials (17,18). In some trials, a low dose of pralidoxime were administered and the optimal therapeutic level of pralidoxime of 4 mg/ml may not have been achieved (17,18). Proponents of oximes, including the WHO, believe that the doses used in many trials were too low to be effective (20). In some studies pralidoxime was administered at a rapid rate (11,15). Rapid administration of oximes may induce tachycardia, laryngospasm, muscle rigidity, muscle weakness, neuromuscular blockade and central respiratory depression (25- 27). These adverse effects of pralidoxime might have resulted in poorer final outcomes.
Eddelston, in a recent randomized controlled trial of 235 patients, compared WHO regimen with placebo (19). Mortality was found to be non-significantly higher in pralidoxime group. Need for intubation was similar in both groups. There was no difference between chlorpyrifos and dimethoate. It was observed that in spite of clear reactivation of acetyl cholinesterase no clinical benefit could be achieved (19). They postulated that co-formulants in generic OP compounds could be a significant component of the toxicity which can detract from the efficacy of pralidoxime (19).
On the other hand, several earlier studies have shown favorable results of pralidoxime in treatment of OP poisoning. A study by Zheng et al. in which 46 patients were studied, revealed that higher doses of pralidoxime via infusion were superior with a lower mortality rate (20). Singh et al. in their study of 16 patients showed effectiveness of higher doses of pralidoxime (21). A Cochrane review by Eddelston et al. in 2002 questioned the validity of the methodology of earlier trials and stood out against pralidoxime therapy (10). On the other hand, a systematic review by Bairy et al. did not give a negative verdict on pralidoxime therapy. However, it was mentioned that the clinical benefits of pralidoxime were unclear (22). In addition, a systematic review by Buckley et al. concluded that available evidences were insufficient to indicate whether oximes are harmful or beneficial (23).
Further support for the effectiveness of pralidoxime has come from the study by Pawar et al. (13). They administered pralidoxime at a greatly higher dose than recommended by WHO for moderately sever poisoning (1 g continuous infusion every hour for 48 hours vs. 1 g bolus every 4 hours for 48 hours), and found significant benefit for the study group in terms of lower intubation rates, lower atropine requirement, shorter duration of ventilator support and lower mortality (13). The explanation for the excellent mortality rate and intubation outcomes for study group in the Pawar trial could be that their study was carried out in a professional center exclusively dealing with OP poisoned patients and mean time interval between admission to hospital and commencement of pralidoxime therapy was considerably short. Moreover, they included only moderately severe cases (13). Although Pawar's regimen has been proven effective, it is very expensive because it entails administration of very high doses of pralidoxime, a costly drug in most developing countries. Hence, a study comparing high dose regimen of Pawar et al.'s study with the WHO regimen is necessary to ascertain which of them is more cost-beneficial.
The value of findings of the present study was limited by following factors. The details of the OP pesticide type (dimethyl or diethyl) in several patients could not be identified. Hence, subgroup analysis on any subgroup of OP compounds to find which of them has a better response to pralidoxime therapy could not be performed. Serum concentration of OP compound, serum pralidoxime levels and AChE activity could not be measured due to lack of facilities, while results of these parameters would have helped in an improved evaluation of the efficacy of pralidoxime.
In this study, instead of pralidoxime chloride, pralidoxime iodide was used which is about 30% lower dose than its chloride salt. This may have affected the comparison between the two regimens.
In this study, there was no blinding and allocation concealment, though the groups were age and gender matched. Since a placebo arm was not part of this study, it was not possible to disregard conclusions on the possibility of unusefulness of pralidoxime.
Further large-scale studies specifically designed to investigate subgroups of OP poisons such as diethyl and dimethyl derivatives are required to identify responsiveness of specific OP compounds to pralidoxime. Studies evaluating other oximes such as obidoxime and trimedoxime are needed as well.
A dose regimen of pralidoxime consisting of 2 g pralidoxime bolus followed by 8mg/kg/h infusion reduces morbidity and mortality in moderate cases of OP poisoning. The WHO dose regimen had significantly better outcomes compared to standard dose regimen. However, since this study is constrained with several limitations, it lacks strong conclusive data pointing to superiority of WHO regimen. Further large-scale studies are required to evaluate the two regimens.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of unit chiefs of all medical units in JSS Hospital. We wish to thank Prof. Lancy D'Souza, University of Mysore for statistical analysis.
Conflict of interest: None to be declared.
Funding and support: None.


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Trinity Church volunteers fortified a crowd of over 350 diners for our November SOME mission in Washington, D.C., our last luncheon of 2016.
Held in memory of Sarah Sisk, a long time volunteer who faithfully washed our vegetables for 29 years, the Outreach effort brought several challenges but nothing was insurmountable for our seasoned crew.
One of the main ovens was not in working order, a typical occurrence. The special menu included country-fried chicken, a product that required extra baking time and more inspection from our resident "food police." SOME staff were diligent in making sure the product was cooked thoroughly. One of the mashed potato casseroles suffered a little spillage on the journey in, largely due to the absence of expert van packer, Tommy Breeden, still recovering from knee surgery.
Those potatoes however were in good hands once we reached the SOME kitchen as Becky Hoecker skillfully prepped them for the oven, adding melted butter and French fried onions for the finishing touch. One guest expressed great surprise and pleasure over being served real mashed potatoes, a rarity in the dining room.
The task of cooking the chicken fell largely on Ken Knapp and Jim Gemmer who managed to get out the finished product largely on schedule. Supervising the green beans, gravy and coleslaw were Bob Appenzeller and Len Shapiro, both veterans of food prep for the masses.
Organizing the desserts and bread trays were Carol Miller, Maggie New and Jennifer Youngman as well as Ann MacLeod, who presided over the entire team. Robin Keys greeted the guests and enjoyed conversations about our church and the community of Upperville, children and many other more sensitive topics.
No one seemed to miss preparing the rice casserole and instead stirred mashed potatoes and added onion powder, sour cream and cream cheese, as well as half and half. Thanks to Gina Hammond for a wonderful recipe that was our guide.
Also deserving much thanks were our other fine contributors including: Gar Royer, who dropped off his hot baked bread just as we were loading the van; Bunny Shick who made cookies, and the students at Foxcroft School who earlier made an abundance of brownies and froze them just for this occasion, among many others.
If approved by the Outreach Committee, our mission will continue for year 30 on Friday, January 20, 2017, inauguration day. We expect to return to our standard fish repast and will prepare the meal the day before, Thursday, January 19 in Cox Hall.
All told we were able to feed a hearty meal to over 2400 hungry individuals in 2016 at an average cost of under $2.50 per person. May God bless every one of you for your generous support.


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Jamie Gerardi is a New York native turned Midwest local. She has been riding horses since she was 4 years old, and has established herself in the Central Illinois community as one of it's best riding instructors. She owns a horse barn named J&S Farm, just outside of Champaign, Illinois, offering lessons for all ages, as well as coaching competitive equestrian teams. She is a model prairie woman for her self-driven success!
For more info on Jamie's equestrian services, visit her website.
Did you grow up on a horse farm?
I did not live on a horse farm when I was a kid, but horses have always been a big part of my life. My family lived in a residential area that was too developed for keeping horses, but my parents often drove me to a barn 30 minutes away so that I could learn to ride and to care for the animals.
What does a typical day look like for you?
During a typical day, I take care of my household, my daughter, and my business. When my daughter leaves for school, I spend time corresponding with customers to schedule lessons and personally address their concerns. With the time left over, I help with barn work such as cleaning the facility and turning horses out in the pasture. At night, I spend time with my daughter and often cook family-style meals for us and some of my employees. The rest of my time is spent teaching. On average, I teach 100 lessons a week. I also run a registered Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team, so I often travel to shows to coach them during the school year. My team is open to any junior high or high school age riders in the area, so it is always expanding. However, these riders take lessons in my regular program and learn horsemanship by helping out in the barn, so I am able to stick with my typical routine even as my business expands.
What is your favorite part about your job?
That is an easy question. My favorite part about teaching people to ride is watching the happiness on my riders' faces as they learn. I love to watch each rider's confidence grow as lessons progress. In my program, I stress teamwork, enjoyment, safety, inclusiveness, and understanding the psychology of riding. I have had many riders enter my program with shot confidence, but I found that encouraging these horsemanship practices is a sure fix.
What is the most difficult part about your job?
My favorite part of teaching riding is also the most difficult part. Instructing does not just involve explaining the right actions to take, but also talking people through many tough situations that they already know how to ride through. It is the safe overcoming of human fear in a student that can make or break an instructor—so while it is my favorite part of the job, it can also be high stakes.
If you could have lunch with one person, living or dead, who would it be?
If granted this opportunity, I would definitely choose to prepare a home-cooked meal with my (now deceased) grandmother. I used to spend weekends with her. She taught me one of the most important lessons in life—and it isn't something that you would take away from a business economics class. She allowed me to be myself. She taught me that being myself meant that I could love life and enjoy what I am doing even in the face of huge pressures and stress. Though horses were not a major part of the bond that I had with my grandmother, that particular life lesson of hers has allowed me to become a successful horsewoman more than any physical tenant of horsemanship that I have learned. Horses respond to the rider's and handler's state of mind just as much as they respond to physical cues. That means that when I am enjoying myself, my horses are too.
What or who would you say is your greatest inspiration?
My two greatest inspirations are my daughter and my horses. My horses always continue to inspire me because of their ability to teach. In many cases, one human speaking an infinite amount of words to another could not accomplish what a horse's actions can teach a rider in one moment. My daughter is also my inspiration, most definitely because of her free spirit. She is a born entertainer, and she can bring a smile to the face of the most stoic person I know. As a rider herself, she has helped me to foster an inclusive and supportive atmosphere for all of my riders, but most especially for my IEA team.


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Cupboard Doors
Cupboard doors are made from the same profiles as access doors.
We have made these doors for Boats, Trucks, Motor Homes, Caravans etc etc. Anywhere you may need a door to close off an opening, where you need a draught free water resistant door, these will do the trick.
We hinge them, stay them, strut them, make them in almost any shape and size and of course they can have mitred or radioed corners. Radius options are 76mm or 100mm cut out in the vessel.
Click on any of the images above or below to enlarge them.


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Sydney's North Shore has always housed passionate Gardeners however, unfortunately in recent years they have had nowhere to go. Mosman once housed the 'Itchy Palm' Garden centre, followed by 'The Mosman Gardener' until Honeysuckle Nurseries took over the site in 2010.
For 3 years we were lucky enough to have a great relationship with the Mosman community who welcomed the much needed Nursery. Unfortunately we were forced from that location due to apartment development.
After a long string of negotiations & a complicated development application we are ecstatic to return with our significantly larger and custom designed new Mosman store.
Cornering Military Rd and Hale Rd our new store boasts plenty of off street parking and is three times the size of our previous Mosman store and five times the size of Bondi Junction.
Opening in July 2015 we hope to become Sydney's premiere Nursery, servicing all the beautiful properties of the North Shore, Northern beaches, City & greater Sydney
500 Military Rd, Mosman, NSW, 2088
Phone: 9953 8361
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Opening Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 9:00am - 5:30pm Sunday: 9:00am - 5:00pm


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5 Reasons to Have a Home Inventory List
5 Benefits of Creating a Home Inventory
Every homeowner carries some form of homeowners insurance however 59% do not have a home inventory.
1. Stay Properly Insured
Most insurance holders do not realize they are under insured. Without a current home inventory of both the fixed assets and personal possessions, your insurance company does not have an accurate policy. Homeowners tend to make home improvements and buy more possessions in their home that increase the value but do not update their current policy.
The 10 year average of home improvements is $24,320 in completed kitchen remodels and bathroom remodels that are not documents with insurance companies. Rebuilding cost up per year is 7%, leaving homeowners under insured for rebuilding their home. 59% of people who have an inventory have not updated it with new possessions.
2. Receive Claim Reimbursement
Approximately $60 billion in property damage was incurred in 2012 due to disasters. Not having a home inventory outside of your home increases your risks when water damage occurs, wind, theft, fire, or other natural disasters. 370,000 home fires occur each year with an average of 1,040 homes each day.
3. Make Needed Maintenance and Repair
Taking a routine inventory of your home each year can help to remind of items that need repairs such as appliances, equipment, landscaping, and building materials. Typical annual maintenance costs can run 4% of your overall home value.
4. Moving List
Having a home inventory can also serve as your moving list if you relocate. Take photos and estimate values because it is important to account for these items before, during, and after your move.
5. Estate Planning
A home inventory list can also serve as your estate assets and distribution of them. It is important to account for not only the financial value of your items but the emotional value associated to family members.
Landlord Obligations: The Responsibilities of a Landlord
Becoming a landlord is a major deal and no one can simply get up and think, "well, yes I think I should be a landlord and rent out my flat." If you are thinking that you would like to be a landlord,... More
The Best Landlord Forums
Landlords and aspiring landlords, do not become as such, without guidance and advice. There is a lot that goes into being a landlord nowadays; in fact, there is so much to learn that it often confuses... More
The Biggest Landlord Problems and How to Fix Them
Renting out an apartment or a house can become a constant revenue source for landlords, but at the same time, it gives rise to several problems. It is a fact that high standards, a strict lease... More
Landlord Tenant Disputes
If you are currently thinking of becoming a landlord only because it helps you have a constant stream of income, you should think twice. It's not that you should not consider offering your property... More
List of Landlord and Rental Property Tax Deductions
When it comes to paying taxes, most individuals have no idea that they may be paying so much without needing to do so. The same goes for landlords. Why should you or any other landlord be paying more... More
How to Handle Tenants from Hell
For a landlord, it is of immense importance to ensure that they only let a qualified tenant to move in. It is however every landlord's nightmare when they get tenants from hell who make the tenancy... More
Explanation of Tenant at Sufferance
There are many terms and concepts used in the realms of landlording, and when it comes to learning everything in the property business, most aspiring property owners find them in trouble. Most... More
Handling a Tenant Breaking the Lease Agreement
Not all tenants are alike; some of them are good, others are from hell. That's why one should know the right way to deal with bad tenants. They can be troublesome in the sense that they can damage... More
Top 10 Landlord Tips and Tricks for 2013
Landlord Tips and Tricks for 2013 Landlord Tip #1 Your going to want to plan ahead for a rainy day when you have unexpected expenses that arise. Take the time to obtain a line of credit when cash flow... More
Laws and Rules for Renting Houses
If you're about to rent a house or an apartment, there are some things you need to know. Here is a short list of those things. There's a law against that. - Every state has a "Landlord-Tenant Act"... More


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Soy-Glazed Tofu Stir Fry (Vegan)
Tofu is marinated in soy sauce and bakes while the remainder of the stir fry comes together, so you can have a full meal in just 30 minutes! A rainbow of veggies - red cabbage, jalapeños, onions, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, and cilantro - packs a ton of flavor and nutrition into this quick dish.
I... I have a confession to make.
Despite my big talk of my 'consulting job' and 'salary' and 'great life in DC,' I have moved back home with my parents in the good ol 'burbs of Vienna, VA. Please be nicer to me than the Tinder boys are.
The thing is, I'm funemployed* until late March, and paying rent for the month of February was not going to do great things to my bank account. So I found a girl to take over my lease, packed my bags, and drove out to my parents' place. A month rent-free, without utilities, and with free groceries? What more could I ask for!
*Can autocorrect PLEASE stop changing this to 'Unemployed'? It sounds so much better when you add the 'fun'!
Upon my return home, my sweet mother immediately greeted me with a sink full of dirty dishes and a chair overrun with unfolded sheets. Okay, fair, I probably should do my part if they're letting me stay there at the ripe age of 23. I watched Corinne release the crazy on The Bachelor as a scrubbed and rinsed away, and then finally settled into my childhood bed with a very full mug** of wine. Three hours into living at home and I was already itching to throw in the towel and live on the streets.
**My parents also don't drink, and their vintage wine glasses have all developed a 30-year-old film that tastes like a combination of rat feces and dust mites. Mugs it is!
Fast forward to yesterday afternoon, when I was developing this recipe. I needed soy sauce. A very common condiment - there are 4 bottles of it back in my rowhouse - but nowhere to be found in the vast expanses of the fridge, the condiment cabinet, the upstairs pantry, the downstairs pantry... must I go on?
So I sought out mother (watching reruns of 'America's Got Talent' in her bedroom, softly crying 'they're so talented' into a knockoff designer handkerchief, staring wistfully at my 6th grade 'Best Singer' trophy) and asked her where she was hiding the goods.
Mom: We have those little packets!
J: Do you have not those little packets? Don't you guys ever make Asian food?
Mom: Oh honey, don't be silly, your dad and I don't cook!
Oy vey.
So, long story short, the only soy sauce I had available to make this stir fry was 3 packets. So I'm giving you measurements in packet form. Happy cooking, readers!
Soy-Glazed Tofu Stir Fry
To make this recipe, you will need:
Marinated Tofu
- 1 block extra firm tofu, drained and pressed for at least 1 hour
- 2 packets soy sauce
- 1 T olive oil
Stir Fry Sauce
- 1 packet soy sauce
- 3 T rice vinegar
- 1 T lime juice
- 1 T brown sugar
- 1.5 t cornstarch
Stir Fry
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/2 white onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno, seeds removed, diced
- 1 small can water chestnuts, halved
- 1 can bean sprouts
- 1/2 head red cabbage, chopped thinly
There's tofu in that purple hand towel, being pressed by the weight of my mother's 'Brain Books'
First up, the tofu! Whisk together your soy sauce and olive oil, dice your tofu up into bite-sized cubes, and combine. Preheat oven to 400F, and let the tofu marinate while the oven heats up.
Once the oven is ready, spread the tofu out on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and sprayed, and pop in the oven for 30 minutes. While the tofu is baking, get started on the stir fry!
In a small bowl, whisk together your lime juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and cornstarch, and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add your garlic, onion, jalapeño, and water chestnuts. Sauté until onions are translucent and water chestnuts are warmed through, then add the bean sprouts and sauté another 2 minutes. Transfer to a separate bowl and return skillet to stove.
Add your red cabbage to the skillet and let cook on medium for 6 minutes, stirring once every minute. Once your cabbage starts to get tender, add the stir fry sauce and bring it to a boil, stirring well to fully coat the cabbage.
Once the sauce has thickened and the cabbage is well-coated, add the bean sprout mixture and mix well. Add the tofu once it is done cooking, garnish with whatever you want - I chose cilantro and peanuts - and serve!
SOOOO GOOD, GUYS. Now, I'm off to the grocery store to buy a BOTTLE of soy sauce. Adulthood. Ta ta!


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Help for People of All Ages in Markham, Richmond Hill & Beyond
At Qualicare Vaughan, we provide homecare for individuals of all ages experiencing medical challenges. We carefully select each nurse-managed caregiver for our clients. This ensures consistent, high-quality homecare service in Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, and surrounding communities.
We provide our services in any hospital or residence! Call (289) 277-0485.


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1,000 Millihelens
1,000 Millihelens
For bright, even skin
Product Actions
Smooth on a generous layer of this antioxidant-rich mask to brighten, soothe and tone your skin. Detoxifying green tea and witch hazel have a mildly astringent effect for toned, taut skin, and fresh apple juice's natural alpha hydroxy acids gently dissolve away dryness for a lifted, glowing complexion. After giving your face this royal treatment, it just might launch a thousand ships!
How to use: Pinch off some jelly, work between dry hands to form a paste and apply on the skin. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse clean.
Fresh ingredients
Green Tea Infusion (Camellia Sinensis) Glycerine Propylene Glycol Kaolin Talc Fresh Apple Juice (Pyrus malus) (Pyrus Malus (Apple) Juice) Zeolite Clay Carrageenan Extract (Chondrus Crispus) Sicilian Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum) Neroli Oil (Citrus Aurantium amara) Brazilian Orange Oil (Citrus Sinensis) Witch Hazel Extract (Hamamelis virginiana) Water (Aqua) Geraniol *Limonene *Linalool Fragrance Chlorophyllin (Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex)
*Occurs naturally in essential oils
Natural ingredients
Safe synthetics


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Even though Ghana falls behind the USA with regards to organized Women's Football, it took Sidney Leroux's somewhat offside goal to cancel Elizabeth Cudjoe's world-class strike which put Ghana ahead by the 10th minute in their Group D opening game today.
The game could have gone either way, but he Americans had the better of the exchanges. At some point I kept wondering if this is the same Dynamic Damsels and Black Maidens I have known for some six now?
If you ask me, I will say the Princesses were uncoordinated and unproductive today. They could have done much better. As if losing possession easily was not bad enough, for one reason or the other, they chose to balloon the ball in any direction when they had it. This gave the Americans the opportunity to build up and pour torrents of attack on the defence of Ghana.
Kuku Dadzie may be in the run for Ghana's best defender of all time and is perhaps tempted to build a defensive team out of what used to be a free-scoring side. But, he ought to be reminded that tournament football is not only about defending. Our Black Princesses have always been a free-scoring side and the least he can do is to coach them to maintain their scoring touch. One could catch glimpses of how dangerous some of the girls can be in front of goal.
The team simply displayed too much weakness today. However, as this happens to be the first game, one can only hope that Kuku will work on the team's weaknesses, especially ball possession, team stamina and scoring.
Speaking of weaknesses, I cannot help but ask whether Edem Atovor is the same Edem I have known for close to five years. The first day I saw Edem Atovor play, I could have sworn that I had seen Gael Clichy, Patrice Evra and Eric Abidal put in one teenager. But the Edem I saw today seemed to have traded her characteristic stamina for a pound or two of flesh.
She was lethargic to say the least. She lost the ball anytime was passed to her. She was either nowhere near lateral defensive position or was always left for pace by the USA wingers. With such poor fitness, I am wondering how she made the team. If she is not going to contribute positively to the team, then she should be dropped before it is too late.
But it was not all negative for the Black Princesses. The quality of Florence Dadson, Elizabeth Addo and Patricia Mantey was clear today. During this tournament, just as in any tournament, there will come a time when teams will be separated by one magic moment of individual brilliance. When such a time comes, I have no doubt that one of these girls will show up.
Again, there were moments in this Ghana 1-1 USA game when the Princesses demonstrated their ability to string passes together, split and run at defences. This gives me the hope that they are not going down easily in this tournament.
So with a six points to glean from Switzerland and Korea Republic, all of Ghana is hopeful that Captain Mercy Myles will get fit faster to solidify Ghana's midfield. Then, if Kuku Dadzie fixes the left back position and sharpens the attack, all of Ghana can rest assured that Ghana will be on her way to dominate Women's U-20 as we did with the Men's U-20.
The Black Princesses have what it takes to win this tournament. Hopefully, someone will let them know and believe this self-evident truth.


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Correction: Major League Baseball saw 2 million downloads not page views.
A steroid scandal may have irreparably tarnished baseball's image but it sure generated plenty of page views.
Major League Baseball released a report Thursday on the prevalence of performance enhancing drugs in the game and a copy of the report was downloaded from the league's Web site more than 2 million times.
The number would have likely been higher had popular sports sites operated by Sports Illustrated, ESPN and others, not posted copies as well.
An investigation by former Senator George Mitchell implicated more than 80 past and present major leaguers with steroid use, including Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada, Andy Pettitte and Lenny Dykstra.


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Climb a tree near Oregon Caves Monument. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images )
The Oregon Caves National Monument (nps.gov/orca) sits at an elevation of 4,000 feet in the Siskiyou Mountains, 30 miles north of the California border. Hike one of four trails through the national park to explore caves and ancient forests, or tour the 1934 Chateau with its distinct architecture and handmade furnishings. Overnight accommodations are available at the Chateau and also at nearby hotels located in Cave Junction and along the Redwood Highway.
Stay in one of 23 guest rooms or suites at the Chateau at the Oregon Caves (oregoncaveschateau.com) to experience the park for an extended period of time. Open from May through September, the Chateau features deluxe rooms with one queen or two double beds, two-room family suites and economy and standard rooms. A dining room with local fare serves dinner nightly, and a coffee shop and deli are available for breakfast and lunch. Originally built in 1934, the six-story Chateau maintains many period details and has a large lobby with marble fireplace and a stream that runs through the dining room.
Reserve a small or large cabin with a fully equipped kitchen or one of five traditional motel rooms at the Country Hills Resort (countryhillsresort.com) in Cave Junction. Tent and RV sites also are available at the resort, which is 11 miles from the Oregon Caves. Large cabins at the resort feature dining areas and accommodate up to six guests, while small cabins have countertop eating spaces and are ideal for one or two guests. Motel guests have rooms with either two queens or one king bed and receive a complimentary breakfast each morning. Resort amenities include laundry facilities, a store, creek access, walking trails and basketball and volleyball courts.
Located in Kerby on the Redwood Highway, the Kerbyville Inn (bridgeviewwine.com/kerbyvilleinn) is 14 miles from the Oregon Caves Monument and is adjacent to Bridgeview Vineyard and Winery. Four guest suites are available at the inn, each with a private entrance and bathroom. Free wine tasting is available to guests of the inn, and breakfast is served each morning. Stroll through the inn's gardens or relax on the deck overlooking the winery's 75 acres of land. The Kerbyville Inn is located 27 miles south of Grants Pass, Oregon and 15 miles north of the California border.
For unique accommodations near the Oregon Caves Monument, reserve a treehouse at Vertical Horizons Treehouse Paradise (treehouseparadise.com). Choose from the Cottage Tree House with a sleeping loft and small refrigerator, the two-level Shiitake Tree House with a deck and loft, or the Calypso Tree House with a queen bed and full insulation. Barbecue areas are open to guests on the ground level, and showers are available in a main guest facility. A gourmet breakfast is served daily to treehouse guests. Activities on the property include tree climbing, volleyball, disc golf, croquet and fishing. Vertical Horizons is located in Cave Junction, 20 miles west of the Oregon Caves Monument.
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.


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There are some foods that are just classic. The kind of food that you know without fail will be at the family party. For me, this Green Jello Dessert is a Thanksgiving day classic, growing up, my grandma Aurora would make it each year. My children will grow up knowing the same Jello dessert, but now my Mom makes it each year. Of course, I had to mix it up and thought it would be the perfect dessert to share for St. Patrick's Day.
I love simple recipes with the fewest ingredients possible. This recipe calls for:
1 box Green Lime JELLO
1 small can of Pineapple Chunks
1 small pack of Walnuts (chopped)
1 small container of Sour Cream
1. Follow instructions on the box for making Jello, pour into baking dish and let sit in the refrigerator until almost set (1-2 hours).
2. Mix all ingredients (pineapple chunks, walnuts and sour cream) into the un-set JELLO.
3. Place back into the refrigerator for another hour or two or until it is more firm.
Serve and enjoy!
Easy right? I thought this was a family recipe only known to us, but as I was making the dessert my husband told me his aunt made it all the time when he was a kid. We then started to talk about the fact that JELLO was a classic dessert and so many recipes were made with JELLO in the 60's and 70's. This dessert may have been on the 1968 box of JELLO and I wouldn't know, times like this I wish my grandma Aurora was around to ask her where she got the recipe. She would probably tell me she made it up herself anyway.
Tell me: Have you ever had this classic JELLO dessert? Do you have a favorite JELLO dish?


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Here are just the few remaining pictures of the finished patio I've been telling you about over the last week.
The concrete is dry. The drain in front of the garage door appears to work (which is great since we've had lots of rain this week). The grill is in place (and chained down). And we love the curves along the edge of the patio by the grass (well, mostly dirt, but soon-to-be-grass).
So, what's next? Oh, so much! Here are just a few items to tackle…
And the good news is that we've actually gotten started on 3 of the items already!
- The pile of junk has been relocated to either behind the garage or the other side of the porch (for now).
- The whole grassy area beside the patio and porch has been dug up, re-graded, and re-seeded to match the level of the patio.
- Joey is in the process of building new cedar steps over the concrete ones.
Deets and pics to come!