text:
Bayer Healthcare (#9090)
At Pharmaceuticals, our largest segment in terms of sales, we focus on researching, developing and marketing specialty-focused innovative medicines that provide significant clinical benefit and value, primarily in the therapeutic areas of cardiology, oncology, gynecology, hematology and ophthalmology. In this way, we are addressing the growing requirements of patients, physicians, health care payers and regulatory agencies.
With our innovative products, we seek to achieve therapeutic benefit for patients, while at the same time satisfying the growing requirements of physicians and health insurers.
06/01/01 – 11/30/19
Magnevist Contrast Agent, Gadavist Contrast Agent, Ultravist Contrast Agent
Price Protection:
Shipping Terms:
FOB shipping point; freight prepaid on orders through McKesson Specialty Health
Payment Terms:
2% 30; net 31 days
Contract Notes:
Sub agreement required to access agreement
Click Here to View MAGNET GROUP Pricing
and Vendor Contact Information
To view pricing you must be logged in as a MAGNET GROUP Facility Member.
Not yet a MAGNET GROUP Facility Member? Not sure?
Complete and submit a simple, no obligation Participation Agreement (PA) Form.
Do you need MAGNET GROUP GPO Designation Form?
Download Designation Form (PDF)


text:
Advanced Search
Can infrastructure optimization (IO) cure IT complexity? Also in this issue: the 2008 Redmond Editors' Choice Awards; Google tries to undermine Microsoft with open source; readers review PowerPoint 2007; and much more!
With Service Pack 1 out, admins should know that there are a few tricks to updating clustered Exchange 2007 servers the right way. Here's a guide.
SmartArt and other new features clinch its spot as the must-have presentation tool.
While it soft pedals direct competition with Microsoft, the search giant quietly keeps working on open source projects designed to undermine its archrival.
Infrastructure Optimization is Microsoft's shot at an IT maturity model. It may not be a panacea, but it can help streamline IT operations.
Here are our selections for the products we believe you just can't live without.
Tired of your users blaming Citrix for connection problems? EdgeSight can help you get a handle on what's really going on.
Infrastructure optimization is more than just another way for Microsoft to pitch its products.
Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 targets the enterprise and broadens SoftGrid's availability.
Here's hoping that Microsoft doesn't fall for the bait.
Plus, readers share their thoughts on Microsoft's monolopy, Vista and pet peeves.
This month, more fun with group membership with Mr. Roboto's Group Reporter HTA.
Things fall apart before an admin's first security inspection.
Data security becomes an even bigger concern when users go mobile. Here are some ways to keep your mobile data safe.
Plus: SonicWALL exposes VPN; Microsoft kills 'kill switch'; ESPN sports bad code; more.
It'll be time to upgrade once Windows Server 2008 enters the picture.
Microsoft Learning Group continues popular program another three months.
Court oversight of Microsoft Corp.'s market power, which began in 2002 after a landmark antitrust settlement, has been extended by 18 months.
New APIs that will make security settings easier for developers, particularly for those writing code to run on Windows Server 2008, Vista and XP SP3.
Experts believe the rising number of exploits targeting Excel gives hackers incentive to continually exploit applications -- rather than operating systems -- for flaws.
Microsoft this week said it intends to redouble (or retriple) its commitment to education through its Partners in Learning program.
Microsoft and Citrix have banded together even more tightly in the virtualization space, hoping to take on industry leader VMware.
Microsoft's Learning Group closes beta testing on several new Windows Server 2008 exams, with release soon after the software launches next month.
Microsoft now says it will allow more versions of the desktop OS to be virtualized.
Browser-based attacks, bot vector incursions, targeted phishing, mobile hacking and insider espionage rank as top five security menaces for 2008.
Following reports that Microsoft released "Milestone 1" for Windows 7 to several partners, TG Daily reports that software will get released in late 2009.
ChangeWave says Apple's Leopard operating system gets high marks from consumers, with Vista editions trailing the pack.
Microsoft bids $1.2 billion for Norwegian search company to shore up search technology.
Despite slow acceptance, some say it's still too soon to write off the new Windows operating system as a failure.
'Green' data centers are budget- and earth-friendly, study finds.
Microsoft delivers a better, more administrator-friendly firewall with Windows Server 2008.
Sign up for our newsletter.
I agree to this site's Privacy Policy.
More Tech Library
More Webcasts

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Aadhar Card Password: Aadhar card is issued to the citizens of India by the Unique Identification Authority of India (under the Government of India) in 2009. This is a twelve digit verification number.
This card is one of the most vital documents of an Indian citizen so as to provide them with a universal identification number and so, this is linked to all the official documents of an Indian citizen. There is no age limit for getting an Aadhar Card – all people starting from a newborn to a senior citizen, everyone can avail the facilities of an Aadhar Card.
Not many people were comfortable with the data providing and data verification processes initially and there were certain technical issues as well. And Aadhar Card was manually handed over to the applicants back then – probably to the head of the particular household.
Aadhar Card Password (How To Open PDF File?)
But today, UIDAI has launched an E-Aadhar portal which provides the provision of downloading Aadhar card online after going through the registration process. This is a rather simple and effective measure, thus allowing easy access for the applicants.
Despite that, not many people are aware of the process of downloading their Aadhar cards, especially when it comes to entering the passport prior to accessing it.
So, here we will be giving you the steps to enter the password for your Aadhar Card.
You can access the Aadhar Card in a simple and free of cost manner by just following the steps mentioned below.
1. You have to first visit the official website of UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) and click the 'Download Aadhar' option. You will then be redirected to another page and you will reach the page.
2. Enter your Aadhar number or enrolment ID in the spaces provided for the same and click then click on 'Aadhar' next to 'I have' tick mark.
3. Then you have to enter the required details like Name, Pin Code and registered mobile number – which are the pre-requisites for any Aadhar card.
4. Then there is a Catcher Code which you have to fill.
5. Then you will get the option "Get One Time Password". After clicking on that, you will get an OTP on your registered mobile number. This is to validate your phone number.
6. Then you can enter the OTP in the box mentioned and then you can click on the option of 'Validate & Download'.
7. After you finish doing this, the Aadhar card will be shown on the computer screen. The card will be available for you in PDF format and it will be password protected as well.
8. In this case, the password is the Pin Code of your residential area which you mentioned in your Aadhar registration steps. So, it is mandatory that you know the PIN code properly.
9. Just ensure that your computer must contain the Adobe PDF Reader installed in it. Otherwise, you might not able to open or access the file due to lack of availability of a PDF Reader in your device.
This is how you can enter the password to access your Aadhar Card. (Aadhar Card Password)


text:
Dare County, NCHome Home Menu
2019 Holiday Closures
January 21 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
April 19 - Good Friday
May 27 - Memorial Day
July 4 - Independence Day
September 2 - Labor Day
November 11 - Veterans Day
November 28, 29 - Thanksgiving
December 25,25,26 - Christmas
Filter the events & activities calendar by category or department below.
- Date: 08/06/2019 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Location: Thomas A. Baum Center
300 Mustian Street
Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina 27949
Return to full list >>
Mahjong is similar to a card game, but instead of being played with cards it is played with small tiles. There are different suits in the game, which is similar to playing cards. These are bamboo, character and circle tiles. Each suit has number 1 to 9 and there are 4 of each tile in the game. Mahjong originated in China in the 1800's and is still one of the most popular games played today. Beginners are welcome!


text:
Snap away
The smartphone has brought photography to the mainstream.
You don't need to haul around a clunky DSLR or pack up three different lenses to get great photos.
However, the principles behind good photography haven't changed much since the days of silver halide film.
As good as smartphone camers and editing software are getting, you still need to pay attention to the key elements of good photography if you want a quality picture.
My journey can help. I knew zilch about taking good photos until I became addicted to mobile technology.
Coming away from a trip or a night out with great pictures thanks to my Pixel (one of many good phones out there) has fueled my desire to learn more.
If you're a total newbie like I was, or even a fairly experienced amateur, the following photos and advice should give you some inspiration and new ideas.
Get your camera ready
Whether it's a brand new phone or one you've had for a while, take a moment and get to know the key settings to the camera app.
For instance, I find HDR to be essential, and camera software continues to evolve well to take advantage of the capbilities.
I also like to turn on the grid because I'm pretty bad at getting the subject properly aligned without it.
It makes it easy to compose a shot using the rule of thirds.
The specific environmental settings (cloudy, sunny, etc.) can sometimes help under those conditions,
but I typically find a good HDR image in the right lighting will get the job done.
Use HDR
HDR is one of the most useful camera features on your phone. It stands for High Dynamic Range, and its goal is to balance exposure between bright and dark areas of a scene.
It combines different exposures into a single image, which is why you'll usually see a brief "thinking time" occur after you take the shot.
The image on the left did not use HDR. When the indoors is properly exposed, the bright outdoors is overexposed.
On the right, the photo is far more balanced, as the phone automatically combined a shot where the outdoors was exposed properly with one where the indoors was exposed properly.
It's not perfect (I'd opt for a little color and white balancing) but with HDR you can get a much better starting place. Especially for all the places those pesky cats can end up.
Focus, focus, focus
This image was highlighted on Twitter by the Pixel team, which curates some of the best images that are tagged with the #teampixel hashtag.
It illustrates another key principle: using focus to make a subject stand out.
This picture is great because one set of flowers really stands out, with the rest of the background slightly blurred.
On most phones, you can touch the screen to select a focal point. Try it out to see if you can get a similar effect.
You'll want to take a lot of pictures when trying this, as different cameras are better at keeping focused on the object than others.
The effect is more pronounced as you move closer to your subject, but get too close and you can lose focus entirely.
Color is your friend
A good picture uses color well. You're not always going to have a collection of colorful objects or a cute toddler available, but you get the picture.
The real lesson here is to look for original moments, as these are the type of images that are going to get lots of shares and likes on social media and be a real hit with the family.
The toddler's left hand is a little blurry, and in post-production I would typically brighten things up.
But it's presented here in raw form to give a more real-world example of the makings of a good shot.
Look for color, and think about how it can enhance the subject or if it can be too distracting.
Hold off on the flash
Just because it's dark doesn't mean you need to bust out the flash.
This picture uses the ambient light to give a good illustration of the colors in the grass and flooded back yard.
With flash, you're liable to wash out the foreground or create needless flare.
This is why if you know you don't want flash, you shouldn't just leave this option set to auto.
Sometimes the camera will use it when you don't want it, and the result won't turn out as mood-setting as this image.
Perspective can make for a great picture
The first time I learned about perspective was in a high school photography class.
That was my last formal training, at a time when we developed pictures in a dark room with lots of chemicals that young people probably shouldn't be allowed to handle.
This picture illustrates the concept, with the trail dominating the foreground and then going off into the background.
It's a nice way to capture a scene, as when you look up from the path you're treated to the majestic Bridalveil Fall.
Lighting matters here too—one could argue for brightening the image a little, and if the sun was cooperating you'd get even more of the falls in the picture.
White balance matters
White balance is an essential element of a good photo. Without it, things look too yellow or too blue, and not true-to-life,
as in this example taken from Ruth Asawa's San Francisco fountain mural (toy soldiers added by some clever visitor).
You can repair some of this with editing, but paying attention to light will also help prevent the effect.
As you'll see in the next slide, this image turned out far more brown and off-color than it looks in real life.
It's also a good reminder to use this as part of a mental checklist of what to look for after taking a picture,
so you don't walk away from the scene and put all the pressure on your photo editing app.
Depending on your camera app, there may be a color temperature setting you can adjust to make sure the white parts look, well, white.
After white balance
When you properly white balance your photos, everything looks better.
Notice how the subjects look more realistic, including the details in the sculpture, the mold that's creeped in, and those toy soldiers.
White balance is key, but if you don't get the right shot the first time, Google is here to help. Google Photos recently made this one of its available automatic tweaks with a recent update.
So while you'll want to pay attention to this feature, you can also lean on many of the automatic editing tricks found with Photos and other software.
Go for a little editing magic
With modern smartphones, quick and easy tools to edit your photos are built right in.
This picture from just outside Yosemite National Park was one of the "stylized photos" that appear from time to time in the Google Photos feed.
I was surprised to see how the background lights really glowed, giving this a rather picturesque effect.
Snow is always a good place to start when you're looking for great outdoor images,
so even if you follow good principles take time to learn the editing menu and see what's possible by taking a lot of shots from the same location.
Without the magic
The previous image was a compilation of these two and a series of other shots taken at the same time.
Google Photos will automatically create GIFs, panoramas, and other groupings to give you a little bit of photo magic.
The lights don't glow quite as well, although they're still shots that give you a particular atmosphere and mood that only comes about from after analyzing the picture.
Good uses of flash
Don't neglect flash even in instances where you think you may not need it.
For example, the flash brings out additoinal details of the flower in this photo, but it makes the leaves look sort of "flat."
Compare with the next image to see how the flower's details are lost, but the leaves look better.
The flash is useful when you have a subject with a light behind it, like someone standing in front of a christmas tree or a brightly lit landmark at night.
The camera will often expose for that bright light, leaving the face dark and featureless. If your subject is backlit, try using the flash to even things out.
Without flash
This picture was taken without flash. It's not necessarily bad, but you lose the detail in the flower and the green leaves of the plant tend to get lost with the rest of the background.
You could likely tweak some of this in editing, but you have more options if you better capture the foreground by putting in a burst of light.
Don't let the fact that it's light outside stop you from considering the flash.
Here comes the sun...
Usually when you think good photos, you tend to think of sunlight. However, it's a little trickier in practice.
Bright sun casts hard shadows that show the geometry of an object, but can also hide other details.
You'll see this in the next shot, which delivers a better quality than the one here. It's not bad,
but the birght sun causes the sky to be overexposed, as the camera tried to balance the exposure for the building.
capitol shadowsSee larger imageImage courtesy Derek Walter
...but it's not always the best
Putting the subject in the shade or waiting for a cloud can improve your final picture.
You're able to better focus on the elements of the capitol building without that harsh sun taking up the top half of the photo.
Bright lights and harsh shadows can mess up your photos, whether your subject is a human, plant, or building.
In particular, try to avoid taking photos of someone's face in bright direct sunglight.
You'll get hard shadows across their eyes and nose, ruining their features. Look for a shady spot.
Also Read: 10 Tips For Mobile Photography


text:
David Jones – Country Road
Roll out of Country Roads eye catching Fabric Lightbox displays
Melbourne Arts Centre
Use of LED Edgelit panels for effective displays
Telstra Store & Business Centre
Telstra's Store & Business Centre's new make over. Roll out of Fabric & Magnetic face Lightboxes throughout Australia.
Holden Stand
Holden's Melbourne and Sydney International motor show stand. Use's LEDs to show case products of this Iconic Australian Brand.
Have you been Paying Attention
Ferrari & Maserati Dealership
Enhancing one of the most famous brands in the world with large Fabric Light box features walls
Channel 10 – The Project
Setting the scene for one of Australia's most popular shows, Channel 10's - The Project, with lit up background features walls.
101 Australia
Taking visual impact to another level for one of Australia's most talked about Residential Towers with this 24m x 6m high curved feature wall.
Whoper Hospital – Stained Glass
LED backing solution resulting in a spectacular and even light distribution.
Telstra Store
Telstra Store Australia wide roll out for our custom made Snap Frame and Magnetic face lightboxes.
Various Lighting Projects
Examples of lighting solutions
Duty Free – Sydney International Airport
Taking POP to the next level, with high profile brands at Sydney'd Duty Free outlet.
Sony Store
Bringing the light to the Sony Store, creating an effective customer experience.
Honda Stand
Melbourne and Sydney International Motor show Honda Stand.
Using our LED OptiRay solutions to create an even and effective light feature.
Jewish Museum
Highlighting various important Jewish museum exhibits
Octane Store
Decking out the Octane store with our Lightboxes and signage solutions
Whoper Hospital 2
Backing lighting an animated wall feature bring light and humor to the surroundings
Hunter Douglas
Roll out of Double Sided Snap Frame Lightbox producing an effective realism for the project
JB HiFi Stores
Backing and Side lighting 3D signage, using LED strips
Customs House – Sydney
Installation of our versatile custom made magnetic face lightboxes with suspension fixings
Easy to use and install, Interchange Fabric lightbox display.


text:
|Publication Date
|OFR52 Results of Groundwater Flow Simulations In the East Dover Area, Delaware
|He, C., Andres, A.S.
|RI81 Characterization of Tidal Wetland Inundation in the Murderkill Estuary
|McKenna, T.E.
|SP28 Digital Elevation Model of Delaware
|Wang, L.T.
|B21B Hydrogeology of a Rapid Infiltration Basin System (RIBS) at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware
|Andres, A.S., Walther, E.F., Türkmen, M., He, C.
|B21C Groundwater Quality and Monitoring of Rapid Infiltration Basin Systems (RIBS), Theory and Field Experiments at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware
|Andres, A.S., Walther, E.F., Türkmen, M., He, C., Chirnside, A.E.M., Ritter, W.F.
|RI75 Stratigraphy and Correlation of the Oligocene to Pleistocene Section at Bethany Beach, Delaware
|McLaughlin, P.P., Miller, K.G., Browning, J.V., Ramsey, K.W., Benson, R.N., Tomlinson, J.L., Sugarman, P.J.
|RI74 Locating Ground-Water Discharge Areas in Rehoboth and Indian River Bays and Indian River, Delaware Using Landsat 7 Imagery
|Wang, L.T., McKenna, T.E., DeLiberty, T.L.
|RI65 Wellhead Protection Area Delineations for the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach Area, Delaware
|Duffy, C.A., Costas, E.M., Andres, A.S.
|RI52 Quality and Geochemistry of Ground Water in Southern New Castle County, Delaware
|Ferrari, M.J., Bachman, L.J.
|RI49 Results of the Coastal Sussex County, Delaware Ground-Water Quality Survey
|Andres, A.S.
|RI43 Estimate of Direct Discharge of Fresh Ground Water to Rehoboth and Indian River Bays
|Andres, A.S.
|B16 Ground-Water Resources of the Piney Point and Cheswold Aquifers in Central Delaware as Determined by a Flow Model
|Leahy, P.P.
|OFR18 A Numerical Indicator of Water Conditions for Northern Delaware
|Jordan, R.R., Woodruff, K.D.
|B15 Digital Model of the Unconfined Aquifer in Central and Southeastern Delaware
|Johnston, R.H.
|B8 Water Resources of Sussex County, Delaware
|Rasmussen, W.C., Wilkens, R.A., Beall, R.M.


text: On Ubuntu 12.04 I was able to keep unity panel (the thing at the top of the screen with the time, log out options, wireless connectivity, battery power details, etc) while not keeping the unity shell (side panel thing with the launchers) and having Cairo-Dock as my launcher of programs. In Ubuntu 12.10 I don't seem to be able to do this. I'm able to use Cairo-Dock without unity shell and panel no problem but I can't seem to get the unity panel from staying while the unity shell (side-panel with launchers and dash) is absent. basically I want you to tell me how I can re-accomplish that which is in the picture below on Ubuntu 12.10. (this pic from was 12.04)


text:
NATR is currently operating the following projects as part of our ongoing long-term commitment to the tsunami-affected people of the Koh Phratong region. Click on the links below to jump to the various projects.
|Kuraburi Information Center
|Vocational Training
|Community Conservation
|Waste Management
|Ban Talae Nok Community Center
|Long Term Scholarships
|Tung Nang Dam Pier
|For more detailed information about any of our projects, please e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Kuraburi Information Center (KIC)
To assist communities in creating a well connected and informed network in the region, NATR has opened the Kuraburi Information Centre. Conveniently located in the centre of town, the centre is a focal point for information sharing between locals, communities, businesses, and visitors to the area.
Connecting people: The centre has information about the variety of community activities that are happening in the region to help locals keep informed and up-to-date, including activities sponsored by NATR. There is an information board that people and organizations can use to display information that they think is relevant to the people of Kuraburi and the surrounding region. The KIC staff also organizes activities once a month for children in the area. Such activities have included a card-making day where children learned to design their own Valentine's cards in February (with the help of Su) and a plaster doll making activity in March. These activities so far have been met with great enthusiasm and create a chance for the youth of Kuraburi and the surrounding area to get to know each other and get involved, as well as to let their parents learn about KIC and how it might benefit them in the future.
Welcoming visitors and tourists: Visitors to the centre will see colorful displays, showing the variety of culture and points of interest in and around Kuraburi. The centre gives villagers the opportunity to tell others about their communities and the types of activities on offer. The centre also informs people about the beautiful waterfalls, hikes and nature trails all a short distance away. This information is provided through both a directory of local businesses, allowing tourists to find out what businesses are in the area and how to contact them if they need to, as well as a visitors guide to Kuraburi detailing all the interesting and beautiful spots to visit in the district.
Generating opportunities: The centre allows local tour operators to offer alternative tourist activities to their clients, not just trips to Surin National Park. Villagers benefit by coordinating with tour operators to encourage tourists to visit their village and participate in a community-based tour. The centre also lists information about accommodation and tour services to help tourists make the most of their time here.
Timeline: December 2006 to June 2007 with possibility of extension for high season 2008.
Community-Based Tourism (CBT) - Andaman Discoveries
As tourism becomes a more prominent economic force in the area, there is a danger of local communities being unprepared, both in terms of job skills and cultural resilience. Unless action is taken soon, this may lead to rapid community and resource degradation. Communities need to start building a broad-based economy that can successfully encompass increasing tourism levels without becoming over-dependent.
Sustainable Future
By recognizing the economic, social, and environmental value of protecting this unique part of Thailand; villagers, NATR, and partners are building a regional network that will generate a sustainable source of tourism revenue while protecting the region.
Andaman Discoveries has been set up by NATR to allow visitors to Thailand, as well as Thais from other regions to experience customized community-based tours in traditional villages just off the beaten track in the North Andaman, Southern Thailand.
As part of their post-tsunami recovery, villagers have opened up their homes and lives to allow tourists to experience their fascinating cultures and communities, in an authentic and non-intrusive way.
The aim of the program is to captivate tourists who wish to experience traditional ways of life and contribute to the conservation of this outstanding region, while at the same time assisting the villages of the tsunami devastated coast of Southern Thailand to generate a supplementary income.
Variety of activities
The CBT program involves a variety of soft adventure, community-based eco-tours, which include the following activities
- Cultural village tours
- Exploring mangroves via long-tail or row boat
- Hiking through virgin jungle
- Snorkeling in crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life
- Visiting tsunami-craft cooperatives (see NATR's handicrafts section)
- Fishing trips (night option available)
- Learning how to cook Thai food
- Relaxing on deserted palm-fringed beaches
- Learning to speak Thai with villagers
- Volunteering on a community-based project
Nature Trails Tung Nang Dam and Ban Talae Nok
NATR is sponsoring Noi and Cha, graduated ACE Experts from Tung Nang Dam and Ban Talae Nok respectively, in the construction of nature trails. Soon, tourists and other guests will have a chance to explore the forest around the villages while learning about the unique aspects of the jungle, and enjoying breathtaking views that can be seen from the top. In both cases, the projects utilized local labor and knowledge, building a sense of pride within the community. The nature trails also have a conservation value, as they provide an income from the forest that does not involve hunting animals or removing plants.
Noi has installed a rope at all the steep spots of the trail so that the trek is not too difficult, inviting less active explorers to join the tour. In order to make the trail accessible in the monsoon season, she has also built small bridges over parts of the inland marsh at the bottom of the mountain. In doing so, Noi has also identified several species of orchids and discovered a couple of new viewpoints. Cha has installed signs and information along the way so tourists can learn about the plant and animal life that thrives on the hills. Mindful of the steep slope, villagers also carved steps into the hillside. Both are beautiful, not-too-difficult hikes that add an adventurous aspect to the CBT program.
Mangrove Reforestation Project Tung Dap
There were about 74 homes in the village of Tung Dap on the island of Koh Phratong, the majority of which were completely destroyed by the tsunami. The destruction not only immediately affected their lives by taking or injuring loved ones, but also left massive amounts of rubble in the wake. Most of the debris was forced into the mangrove forests on the coastlines where it extensively damaged the ecosystem. It is extremely important to replant the area so that the mangrove forest can revive, crab and fish populations can regenerate, and the villagers can regain their livelihood.
However, replanting is not enough. Villagers have also identified the need to protect healthy areas of the mangrove forest. They have selected areas in which crab fishing will be prohibited during certain times fo the year. These areas will be enclosed by rope, and a volunteer montiring group has already been set up.
Unlike many mangrove reforestation efforts to date, which have relied heavily on highly paid scientists, the effort in Tung Dap will be led by community members. Village elders will advise on which areas to set aside for conservation, and which species to plant in different locations, and village youth will gather the seedlings.
This proposal was conceived and designed by Pin, a young woman from Tung Dap community - NATR has provided technical assistance and advice on implementation. Phase 1, already active, includes working with the school children of Tung Dap to gather seedlings of various species and survey planting areas. As a thank-you to the children, NATR is sponsoring school lunches and snacks during activities. Phase 2 will take place during the monsoon, with a crew of workers from the village planting the seedlings.
Timeline: January to June 2007
Tung Nang Dam Public Land Protection (Boundary Path)
The village of Tung Nang Dam is blessed with a pristine eight kilometer beach front. Sea turtles and the highly endangered dugong are found just off the shore. In addition to the scenic beauty and rare species, the beach area is utilized by villagers for fishing and community based tourism. In recent years developers have settled the land adjacent to the beach, with plans to build resorts and bungalows.
In Thailand, regulations prohibit construction of any private structures within 12 meters of the high-tide line. Despite this law, it is commonplace for developers to build right up to the shoreline, restricting local access to the land they have always relied on. In order to protect against illegal beachfront development in Tung Nang Dam, the local conservation committee has requested assistance in building a pathway along the legal boundary for development.
Many landowners have already agreed to the path in principle, but some are against it, and political obstacles remain. The chief reports that some landowners have already put boundary posts in on public land. Actions to be taken include:
- Forming a committee of villagers and landowners to decide on the details of the project
- Contact government departments for official support including Forestry, Navigation, Agriculture and Land Reform, and Marine and Coastal Resources.
- Petition the district authorities to declare the boundary area as village-controlled land.
There are many relevant stakeholders to contact, and the trail itself will be between four and seven kilometers long. Considering the enormous amount of work involved in the project, NATR has agreed to pay a stipend to two women spearheading the effort, and cover the costs of building the trail.
Timeline: February to June 2007
Handicrafts Income Generating Projects
Thanks very much to everyone who has supported Tsunami Crafts in the past, and welcome to those who are interested in supporting the groups in the future. The handicraft groups are now independent of NATR, a bold and necessary move for their future survival. NATR is, however, still providing external support with sales and assistance for marketing. Su, a former member of NATR staff, and a tsunami-affected villager from Bak Jok village, is the manager of the Tsunami Crafts endeavour, stretching her sales and marketing knowledge to encompass the boat, soap, and card groups. She has now moved away from the crutch of NATR to market and sell on her own.
Su is currently focusing on quality control to make sure that customers are satisfied with their purchase. Our products have seen some new and improved eco friendly packaging, and will hopefully experience continued growth in sales in the coming months. February saw a new sales record with a single soap order totaling 10,000 Baht! Perhaps less astounding but no less significant, progress continues in the domestic marketing of soaps, with high-end hotels in Phuket and Koh Samui recently requesting samples and considering installing sales displays such as the one at the Phuket Holiday Inn.
A spark of enthusiasm is sent through each handicraft group whenever they get an order from within Thailand or abroad. So pass on the website, www.tsunamicrafts.com, to anyone you think might be interested in buying soaps, boats, or cards.
Timeline: March 2005 to June 2007 and continuing independently
Waste Management - Laem Naew and Tung Dap
Waste problems in the North Andaman Coastal Communities of Thailand are obvious. All types of rubbish litter the village areas and shorelines, which is of particular concern for isolated communities that are not serviced by local Government garbage collection. Some of the garbage in the communities washes in with the tides from other sources. However, much of it comes from the locals themselves.
For isolated communities the main method of rubbish disposal is to make burning piles or throw items to sea in hope they'll be carried away by the tides. Much of the rubbish disposed of to the sea is washed in again with the next tide or else becomes hazardous to local aquatic life. This is by no means a fault of the Communities, but rather, a lack of access to knowledge and systems available to villagers for safe, economically viable, and minimal impact waste disposal.
In an effort to improve village sanitation, reduce resource use, and minimize pollution, NATR is sponsoring a community led effort to clean up the villages of Laem Naew and Tung Dap. The waste management effort has three goals: to clean up the existing litter in the village (short-term), to create better methods of disposal and separation of waste (mid-term), and to reduce the amount of waste being generated (long-term). Steps for the project will include construction of waste and recycling bins, a visit to a waste management facility, in-village training, village clean-up, and a continuing recycling program.
In Laem Naew, Gasom, one of NATR's ACE Expert graduates, is also building a public bathroom. As the villagers do not have running water, they must all use common wells. Currently, the only bathing areas in the village are in a public area - often causing discomfort among women and visitors wanting to shower in private.
In Tung Dap, the program focuses on involving youth in waste management. Every weekend, local children collect waste dropped on the ground as well as from bins provided throughout the village, separate and sell the recyclables, and leave the remainder to be burned by village volunteers in a safe location.
Timeline: October 2006 to June 2007 (Tung Dap), and January to June 2007 (Laem Naew)
Ban Talae Nok Community Learning Center
The Community Center in Ban Talae Nok has become central to village life. The center provides a myriad of services a meeting space, vocational training, aerobics, community-based tourism, handicraft production, and many more. Upcoming activities in the center include English lessons, summer camp for kids, and a waste management project. Through it all, the Soap Group continues to cook up wonderful smelling batches of herbal soap. They have used the community center as a production space for almost two years now, and have recently opened a small craft shop that also includes batik and other goods made in Ban Talae Nok.
After searching for over a year, NATR has found a well qualified manager for the center who is also a Ban Talae Nok Resident. Cha, one of NATRs graduated ACE Experts, maintains good relations with the other villagers to ensure the programs reflect their needs. Cha has a very clear vision for the center and is developing it into a community information and education center. This will include night classes for adults to obtain high-school diplomas and a display center for village enterprises, including soap, batik, and community-based tourism.
Cha has already sprung into action, hosting a community meeting in which the villagers requested training in homestay techniques, and giving a presentation to a room full of government officials and academics. When not busy with her other projects, Cha is also a guide for the community based tourism program, and has supervised the construction of two traditional wooden boats for use in the mangroves.
Timeline: March 2005 to December 2008
The goal of this project is to provide financial support for primary and secondary school education for a total of seven years (2005-2011). Our criteria for long-term scholarships includes: financial need, tsunami-affected status, motivation of the applicant, academic performance, community service, and the opinion of our village contacts. NATR interviewed all families, almost 300 children, interested in applying for long-term scholarships. 120 students were accepted into the program.
For poor families, the cost of sending their children to school has always been a challenge, and the loss of income as a result of the tsunami has made this an even greater challenge. For many families, their earning capacity was been reduced by half, and some are still without any form of sufficient income. Despite these obstacles, families place a high value in education as a means for opportunity.
NATR staff makes sure to keep in touch with our students, and regular monitoring includes a mandatory yearly interview with the child and parents. At this meeting, NATR gets an update on the child, how they are doing, and details on academic performance and community service. The child also provides a letter for his or her sponsor. NATR then transfers money for children to purchase their uniforms and school supplies for the first semester. After completing the first semester of each year, children are required to send a copy of their grades for the completed term and proof of registration for the second term of the school year. After this has been completed, the second semester funds are transferred.
NATR has partnered with several organizations in order to guarantee children's education for a long-term period. We are grateful to these sponsors, as they have agreed to fund a full seven years of education - providing a stable learning atmosphere for the recipients. Sponsors include Annika Linden Foundation, Tanglin Trust, Helen Doron Group, Rotary Club of Koh Samui, Tomas & Thisbe Ander Memorial Fund, Whatever Pte. Ltd., and many others.
Timeline: October 2005 to October 2011


text:
Thanks to a new technology, patients
will be able to do their physiotherapy
exercises in their own homes;
© Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
Though the skier glides skillfully across the snow-covered landscape, still he stumbles on an icy section of the piste and loses his balance, ending his well-earned winter break in a hospital bed. After the operation, physiotherapy is supposed to help restore mobility. This demands considerable patience and perseverance on the part of the patient. Many people with these sorts of injuries would find it easier to do the exercises at home rather than hanging around the rehabilitation clinic for weeks on end. It is also important that patients continue to exercise at home following a lengthy stay in hospital.
A new technology has been designed to give future patients added motivation to do their exercises, allowing them to perform physiotherapy exercises at home or when out and about – during breaks at work, for instance. Experts call this telerehabilitation. Underpinning this is a technology developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems FOKUS in Berlin, consisting of an exercise editor, a physio box and a mobile sensor unit that connects to a smartphone. The therapist uses the exercise editor to work up a training program tailored to the individual patient, increasing the intensity from week to week. The patient can then run the program at home using the physio box, a sort of mini-PC for televisions. The small computer boasts internet connectivity, a camera and a microphone. Exercise routines are displayed on the TV screen for the patient to copy. The physio box analyzes the data recorded by the camera as the patient does the exercises. Beforehand, software is used to map each patient's bodily characteristics in 3D and translate them into a biomechanical computer model. Once the data has been interpreted, the box sends it via the internet to the rehabilitation center, where the therapist sees how the patient is progressing and can adapt the exercises accordingly.
Alongside measurements of movements, therapists need to know their patients' vital signs – in other words pulse, oxygen saturation levels and, in some cases, readings from an electrocardiogram. This allows them not only to assess whether the patient is performing exercises correctly but also how much of a strain they are. This is particularly important when dealing with people who have a cardiovascular disease. "In light of this, we also developed a mobile unit," says Doctor Michael John. "Sensors placed in a chest strap, watch or walking stick measure vital signs like pulse, blood pressure or the quality of the patient's movement, sending the data to a smartphone." The therapist can set threshold values using the exercise editor; for example, if a patient's pulse reaches a level that exceeds the limit set for them, a warning signal is emitted.
On the one hand, the mobile unit serves to complement the physio box, but it is also supposed to help patients in future to do their exercises while on the move – out walking or during office breaks, perhaps. "We are working on how to get the mobile unit to analyze the patient's quality of movement as well. To do this, we're using motion tracking sensors that analyze limb movements in relation to each other and in terms of absolute position," explains John.
COMPAMED.de; Quelle: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft


text:
A couple of recent articles prompted me to start joining a few dots and realising that the vision for an internet enabled patient driven PCEHR may be a lot further away than the spruikers think.
First we had this:
More than 670,000 households fail to submit census correctly
August 10, 2011 - 3:49PM
More than 670,000 online census surveys failed to submit on Tuesday night due to users missing a crucial step.
Around the nation last night, Australians sat down to fill out their census forms but among those who opted for the internet option there has been a problem.
Paul Lowe, head of the Population Census Program, said many people completed all the questions but neglected to hit the all important send button.
"We have got over 670,000 households that have logged on but haven't hit that submit button. I encourage people to log back on and hit that submit button," he told reporters in Canberra.
In all other areas, the census officials are billing this five-yearly gathering of national data from 9.8 million households a rousing success.
Mr Lowe said more than 2 million households logged on to the online census form with more than 100 census submissions arriving every second at peak time.
Despite apprehensions that the online census system would be overwhelmed, Mr Lowe said it did not go anywhere near capacity.
He said there was still plenty of time for people to complete a paper or online form.
More here:
Then the same day this popped up.
Net too expensive for seniors: study
By AAP on August 10th, 2011
More than 40 per cent of older Australians say that the internet is too expensive, leaving them at risk of being shut off from health and other online services.
A new survey suggests that seniors, and particularly pensioners, risk being left behind as businesses and governments shift more services online.
Queensland University of Technology researcher Dr Sandra Haukka interviewed 149 seniors aged 50 or older across the nation.
Haukka found that 53 per cent of participants had a moderate or above interest in the internet, while 46 per cent put their interest as low or nil.
Two thirds of respondents rated their internet skills as very low, and more than 40 per cent said that cost is a barrier to using the internet.
One third said that the internet would improve their daily life.
Haukka's work included in-depth interviews with seniors who did not use, or rarely used, the internet, including those in urban, regional, rural and remote areas.
"With the government and private sector spending billions on the National Broadband Network [NBN], we have to make sure that the internet can be used by all those who need it the most," Haukka said.
She said that society's increasing reliance on the internet for commerce and services is leaving older Australians with low web skills unable to conduct business transactions, access services, find out about community events or use the internet to communicate with friends and family.
More here:
So what we have had here is a bit of a community internet IQ test - and a good few failed. We also have some evidence (and I acknowledge the small size if the study) that a key target demographic thinks that internet access is either not interesting or too expensive.
More evidence I would suggest for the build of national e-Health to address the providers first and then build out to consumers as costs fall (if you believe that might happen with the NBN) and more of the population are properly 'internet literate'.


text:
We only ship to addresses in the USA. Live somewhere else? Please order from our international distributor. Click Here
Product added to carts.
BK Blog Post
Posted by John Perkins.
John Perkins advises corporations, executives, and entrepreneurs on turning a Death Economy into a Life Economy (cleaning up pollution, recycling, and other technologies that create life-styles millennials want to inherit).
What motivated terrorists to attack Beirut, Paris, Mali, the West Bank, Nigeria, the Russian plane, and other locations last month? I believe that many of them are angry, violent, desperate people who are fighting against something they don't believe in more than that they are embracing the principles of ISIS. They follow fanatical leaders because they don't know where else to turn. ISIS is indiscriminate; it kills Muslims as well as Christians and Jews. Violence only begets more violence, so let's move forward and work on long-term solutions that involve empowering people and creating a world that is not just sustainable but also that regenerates devastated environments, offers all people dignity, and supports life in its many various forms.
In my book The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man (available for pre-order now), I suggest that when we look at things that happen to us as bearers of a message, we open doors of opportunity for action. The world's crises, whether they involve climate change, wandering homeless refugees, or acts of terror, are symptoms of a failed global system. It is a system that is based on destroying the very resources that drive the economy. Read my latest blog post for more of my take on Paris and other tragedies.
When I visited Ground Zero after 9/11, it drove me to write Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. I saw that I needed to expose what I knew about an economic and political system that had encouraged injustice. Hurricanes, flooding, and tornadoes force people to understand that climate change is real, and human beings probably play a significant role in it. Acts of terror should force us to admit that our economic and political systems are failing millions of people on this planet. We must wake up to the realization that we need to change how we operate and blaze a new trail.
I encourage you to join me in the new year on a retreat, at a workshop or summit, or virtually as we strive to bring about an environmentally regenerative, socially just world together. Let's make 2016 the year when we look deeper into the meaning behind messages the Living Earth and desperate people are sending us, and take actions to repair broken systems. Let's avoid the diversionary tactics aimed at instilling us with fear and into adopting policies that divide and conquer. Let's realize that we live on a fragile space station with no escape shuttles. Let's unite to navigate our planet through these times of crises and into a future our children and grandchildren will want to inherit.


text:
Catholic Dictionary
The act of resigning or giving up a legitimately held ecclesiastical office, dignity, or benefice. In principle every ecclesiastical office or rank may be resigned by the one who holds it. To be valid, however, the abdication must be totally voluntary and free from simony. Papal abdication can be made into the hands of the College of Cardinals, since they have the right to elect a successor. Six popes actually abdicated: Marcellus, Liberius, Benedict IX, Gregory VI, St. Celestine V, and Gregory XII. Pope Pius VII signed a conditional abdication in 1804 before he set out for France to crown Napoleon. The condition was that he would automatically resign the papacy if he were made a prisoner in France.


text:
A Secret Woman
by Rose Solari
A Secret Woman, a novel by Rose Solari
Louise Terry is the quintessential modern woman — a successful and independent artist, sexually confident and headstrong, she's determined to carve out a life for herself where her painting comes first and where she can avoid messy romantic entanglements. But when her estranged mother, Margaret, dies, leaving a box of documents, photos, and journals, Louise discovers in its contents a new and very different woman from the difficult and enigmatic one who raised her. This Margaret was admired by Catholic priests and Wiccan priestesses alike for her spiritual gifts and was working, at the time of her death, on the life story of a twelfth -century girl saint of revolutionary and dangerous ideas. Determined to solve the mystery of her mother's secret life, Louise travels to England, where she meets her mother's former lover, the acclaimed playwright Lawrence Ware, who first helps and then tries to derail Louise's search for the truth.
Blurring the boundaries between past and present, between the body and the spirit, between female and male, this page-turning mystery is a sexy romp through time and space, a profound meditation on the mother-daughter connection, and an enlightening exploration of what it means to make love, to make art, and to make a life worth living.
A Secret Woman is not only a pleasure to read, it is sneaky serious in a way I particularly like. Rose Solari explores the eternal literary theme of self — who we are, who are the ones we love, and how we invent and reinvent these people, trying always to paint ourselves into the vast canvas of life and history. A very promising fiction debut. — Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize winner, author of Perfume River and Severance
Related products
Difficult Weather$15.00
This new edition of the first full-length collection of poems by Rose Solari provides an important window into the origins and early influences of this now-established poet and novelist.Add to cart
The Last Girl$15.00
A shimmering girl who disappears in daylight. A boy who goes to war and comes back forever broken. New landscapes in which old ghosts appear, telling their stories. Such are the people, places, and images that fill Rose Solari's third collection of poetry.Add to cart
Orpheus in the Park$15.00
Rose Solari's second full-length collection of poems is made up of two compellingly different yet intertwining strands. In one, Solari explores a variety of myths, climbing beneath the skin of classical heroes and villains to offer contemporary perspectives on these characters and their tales.Add to cart


text:
Betty White petitioned to appear at Democratic National Convention
(CBS News) Some Democrats are hoping Betty White will make their day by speaking at the Democratic National Convention this week.
A petition on Change.org and a group on Facebook are calling for the actress to introduce President Barack Obama at the DNC, just as Clint Eastwood did for Mitt Romney at the Republican National Convention.
Pictures: Betty White
Complete Coverage: The Democratic National Convention
The petition, written by Peter Slutsky of Brooklyn, N.Y., says that Eastwood, 82, "gave a bad name to older Americans everywhere" with his "absurd and awkward-to-watch" speech at the GOP convention, which included him speaking to an imaginary Mr. Obama in an empty chair beside him on the stage.
"Governor Romney can have Clint Eastwood and his improvisational skills because President Obama has the one and only Betty White!" the petition continued. By 12:22 p.m. on Tuesday, 7,956 people had supported the cause.
On Facebook, a group called "Bring Betty White to the DNC" has more than 28,000 members as of Tuesday afternoon.
White, 90, endorsed Mr. Obama for reelection in May, telling the Associated Press that she "very, very much favors" the president and that she likes what he has done and "how he represents us." She also paid a visit to the White House in June, spending some time in the Oval Office with the president and walking on the South Lawn with the first dog, Bo.
Earlier this year, the president filmed a birthday greeting for White, joking that he didn't believe she was 90 and asking to see a copy of her birth certificate.
This is not he first time White has been the target of a Facebook campaign. She was guest host on "Saturday Night Live" in May of 2010 after more than half a million people joined a Facebook campaign to get her on the NBC show.
The Democratic National Convention kicks off Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to speak on Thursday.


text:
Call Us for a Free Quote: 1-800-433-4548
What are surges?
A surge is a random, high energy, short duration voltage event. Also referred to as transients, impulses or spikes, these random electrical disturbances can damage or destroy sensitive microprocessor-based equipment.
Sources of surges
Although external transient surges including lightning strikes, utility grid switching and equipment action at adjacent buildings are easily recognized high energy surge events, they only account for 20% of all surges faced by a facility. 80% of surges are the results of internal switching transients (turning on/off motors, transformers, photocopiers, etc.). Wiring, grounding errors and surges (also known as transient voltages) are among the most common power quality issues facing facilities today – resulting in safety concerns, equipment damage and costly downtime.
TVSS is not luxury. it's a necessity
In today's highly competitive markets, surge suppression is recognized as the key to solving transient related power quality problems. Small businesses, manufacturers, multinational corporations and defense research facilities worldwide have learned that their initial investments in surge suppression can be quickly returned by reducing equipment damage, decreasing maintenance costs and improving system uptime. Choosing a surge suppression manufacturer with a reputation for quality products and services is vital to ensure your investments in valuable systems, hardware and operations are safeguarded. Eaton is that manufacturer.
The System Shield Solution
System Shield is a proven, effective method for total facility protection. This layered approach protects all of your electrical and electronic equipment, from powerful motors to sophisticated lighting controls and sensitive computer-based controllers.
With System Shield, protection begins at the incoming power panels and extends to system distribution centers, panel breakers, points of use, and even individual equipment. This coordinated approach is supported by the Emerald Book (IEEE Std. 1100-2005), a definitive reference published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). This standard states "It is recommended that additional [SPDs] be applied to downstream electrical switchboards and panel boards if they support.
ANSI/IEEE C62.41-2002 separates a typical facility into three location categories, each characterized by differing exposure levels, transient wave shapes, voltage/current levels and transient sources. The category locations illustrated here (C, B & A) serve as the basis for a simplified explanation of the System Shield.
The Innovative Technology Protector series is a premier line of surge protective devices designed to provide excellent protection under the harshest electrical conditions. These UL 1449 and UL1283 listed products meet strict guidelines for durability and protection and are backed up by a 20-year free replacement warranty. Available in peak surge current capacities from 48 kA to 400 kA per phase and with the optional Power Event Monitor, Eaton has all your surge protection needs covered with the I.T. Protector!
|Symmetrical current distribution and high current density capability. Fault current tested at 200 kAIC and surge current tested to in excess of rated per mode peak surge current, per NEMA LS-1. Ultra-low junction impedance connection points. Up to 20-year warranty.
|Long term reliable solutions to transient problems
|Integrated design utilizes advanced computer modeling and circuit simulation for total coordination for all circuit elements.
|Assures balanced performance with low measured limiting voltage.
|ATN- Suppresses both switching generated ringing and high-energy impulse generating transients. Provides highest level of protection for critical and sensitive loads plus effective real world UL 1283 listed EMI/RFI filtering. Superior performance is independently tested and verified.
|Confidence that sensitive equipment will be protected from the corrosive effects of frequent transients.
|LED per phase diagnostics and dry relay contacts continuously monitor the SPD and electrical system. Optional S.M.A.R.T. diagnostics adds and audible alarm, surge counter and phase loss monitor.
|Quick assessment of TVSS functionality. Optional surge counter indicates transient activity that the TVSS has addressed. Instant indication of suppression circuit faults and circuit status.
|All-mode protection- Assures all possible transient paths to load equipment are covered. Provides highest level of load equipment protection.
|Confidence that all possible and probable paths are covered.
|NEMA 4 and 4X enclosure- Allows weatherproof installation in the most demanding industrial and commercial environments.
|Strength, versatility and wide array of installations.
Eaton has enhanced the protection provided by the Protector line of transient voltage surge suppressors (TVSS) with the Innovative Technology TVSS Power Event Monitor. While the TVSS protects the electrical distribution system from harmful transient voltages, the TVSS Power Event Monitor notifies the facility personnel of where and when such surges occur. The TVSS Power Event Monitor helps users gauge and monitor power surges, whether onsite or remotely via standard communication protocols, so you can take corrective action.
|Notifies the facility of where and when surges occur
|Allows for immediate corrective action
|Ethernet capabilities allow technicians to instantly access all monitoring and event data by using TVSS Power Event Monitor software
|Confidence that you can monitor your power system whether you're onsite or working remotely
|Works as an integrated device into Innovative Technology Protector series TVSS products (80, 160, 300, and 400 kA models)
|Enhances system capability without increasing footprint size
|Detects, monitors and reports a wide array of power quality events (including voltage sags, swells, and transients)
|Enables facility managers to pinpoint the source and location of harmful power events, both internal and external.
|Operates efficiently in a wide range of environments including military, marine, manufacturing and critical facility applications
|Strength, versatility and wide array of installations
|Manufactured by EATON's Innovative Technology group
|With over 20 years of TVSS manufacturing experience, Eaton's Innovative Technology group again raises the bar for transient protection with this innovative product feature.
I.T. Equalizer Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) provide high quality transient voltage surge suppression for industrial and commercial applications. Field proven with unsurpassed durability, reinforced by a ten-year free replacement warranty, the EQX line is available in a variety of configurations and current capacities from 40 kA – 160 kA per phase. The I.T. Equalizer is THE choice for cost-effective, high quality systems protection.
|High Energy Capable Surge Paths
|Unsurpassed durability
High frequency, high surge current printed circuit board design
|Rugged Steel Enclosure
|Threaded Conduit Fitting and Integral Mounting Feet
|Threshold Response Network
|Suppresses high energy impulse transients
Provides robust protection
Redundant MOVs
Peak Surge Current tested to NEMA LS-1
|Active Tracking Network (ATN) EMI/RFI Filter
|Suppresses switching generated ringing transients
Nanosecond response time
Filters disruptive noise
UL1283 listed
|Circuit Diagnostics
|Provides indication of system status
Dry relay contacts
LED Indicators
XT Series Protective Devices (SPD) provide high quality transient voltage surge suppression for light industrial, commercial, point of use and OEM applications. The XT Series is the industry's first UL1449 Third Edition listed product to achieve a best-in-class of 20,000 amp nominal discharge current. The XT series is available in a variety of configurations and surge current capacities of 50 and 100kA per phase.
Sensitive electronic products throughout a home are subjected to transients generated by home sources such as HVAC systems, garage door openers, laundry machines and other electrical loads as well as external sources such as lightning, outages and utility switching.
The Innovative Technology line of residential surge protection devices protect computers, large screen televisions, game consoles and other sensitive electronic devices from the effects of repetitive transients and lightning. Your Innovative Technology master distributor can help you choose the right protection for your home.


text:
On the eve of the 1st year anniversary of the March 2009 lows, we can't help but wonder what might derail this bull?
Oh sure, we know Fast Money Executive Producer wrote in his blog that if a bull can make it to 1 – it can, on average, make it to 4.
What? You didn't read it.
Melloy did some investigating and learned that the 13 bull markets since 1930 that have lasted more than a year have averaged, a total gain of 153% and a total length of 4.4 years, according to data from Bespoke Investment Group. (Click here to read Melloy's entire post.)
But we starting thinking - the past 18 months have been anything but average. The government okayed $800 billion in debt to fund an unprecedented stimulus.


text:
Curtiss-Wright's Defense Solutions division has a new licensing agreement with Réaltra, a division of Realtime Technologies Ltd.
The agreement enables Réaltra to complement existing activity undertaken by Curtiss-Wright's Aerospace Instrumentation facility in Dublin, Ireland. Under the agreement, Réaltra can market, manufacture, and deliver the Curtiss-Wright Acra KAM-500 range of Space COTS radiation tolerant products into space applications and address customer development choices that are not sufficiently aligned with Curtiss-Wright's product roadmap or available resources. Curtiss-Wright will continue to have first option on any identified opportunities and will continue to deliver space technology solutions to Curtiss-Wright customers. Danny Gleeson, a principal in Réaltra, will also continue to serve in his space market consultancy role for Curtiss-Wright.
The license agreement provides Curtiss-Wright with the opportunity to accelerate the growing use of its products in the space market by using Réaltra's resources. Réaltra, a new division of Realtime Technologies Ltd., is focused on providing cost effective electronic systems solutions for the space market. Realtime Technologies is a world-class manufacturer of high-end electronics based in Dublin and has manufactured electronic systems for the Curtiss-Wright Aerospace Instrumentation Dublin facility for more than 10 years.


text:
The One Show presenter was given a career boost when she was chosen to front BBC One's Live at Edinburgh Castle on Saturday night.
But she was blasted on social media for having a limited vocabulary, as she introduced performers such as hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks and Jessie J, 26.
Viewers pointed out that she kept describing acts as "brilliant" and struggled to find other words during the two-hour event.
She used the word seven times in 49 seconds. Among the artists Alex, 37, introduced was stand-up comic Bill Bailey, 50.
She said: "He isn't just brilliantly funny, he's brilliantly clever, brilliantly quick and brilliantly musical. If I was to sum him up in one word it would be beardy."
And she used the word again to introduce "the brilliant Rizzle Kicks" to the audience. Following their performance, Alex said: "Thanks guys you were brilliant.
"It's brilliant to see everyone get in to the dancing including our own brass section, there they are. They were like this, brilliant."
One irate viewer said: "If she says brilliant once more, I'm turning over. Will somebody tell her!!"
Another added: "Presenting and commentating is an art form, a skill that is honed. That is when it is brilliant…"
The show also featured the last leg of the Queen's Baton Relay on its way to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on Wednesday.


text:
Ballet dance steps require quick footwork, coordination and most importantly practice. The technique of ballet allows you to move with speed and energy, but even professional dancers have to practice to make the steps look like perfection.
The ultimate aim is for ballet steps to be light and controlled, so it is like no effort at all. This skill is hard to master and all part of the challenge for dancers.
Once you have grasped the basic technique of ballet, the ballet dance steps will gradually come with more ease.
Each and every step has an exact method of how to do it, so you will find ballet is actually very logical.
When you do the steps the right way, you are making it a lot easier for yourself.
Ballet is made up of many dance steps and it takes years to make the steps look so effortless. Ballet dancers aim to have quick and neat footwork, but it is a technique that only comes with practice.
In each classical ballet production, there will be familiar ballet steps you recognise. For example, pas de bourrée couru is known as a running step. It is used a lot for ballerinas on pointe and it is series of small steps with the feet close together.
The term 'Pas' is often used in ballet which literally means 'step', so it involves a transfer of weight and is a simple movement.
de chat is another ballet dance step, which is a leap in the air
where the legs pick up underneath you. The term is translated as the "Cat's
step" in French, so imagine you are like a cat leaping off the ground
with lots of energy.
For all the ballet steps, if you grasp the co ordination of the legs and the arms moving together, it makes you move easier and faster. Especially in jumps, the coordination can help you get higher off the floor.
There is a 'correct' way to do each step and if you don't do it right, it can ultimately weaken your technique. You have to follow a very pure technique and be disciplined in yourself.
For example, lets say you repeat battement tendus to the front and the leg is in the wrong alignment. Most likely, you won't be using your inside thigh muscles enough and therefore it won't be strengthening your key muscle for stability in the ankles.
You see what I mean about logic? Ballet does have a reason for being so strict and if you follow the rules, it will only make you better as a dancer.
Sometimes, it feels too easy to give up and do the steps the easier way. For example, in a pirouette from fifth position, it is really tempting to slip the fifth to make a better turn.
Even as a professional, I still find myself slipping into this bad habit. However, 'cheating' does not do you any good in the long run, so you have to be disciplined enough to do the steps the right way.
Especially for female ballet dancers, quick footwork is required because there is a lot of pointe work in performances. There are many intricate ballet steps in a performance and the dancers have to have many hours of rehearsal to perfect the steps.
If you focus on giving every step full value and commit to it, it will make your dancing look 100 times more precise. After all, that is what a ballet technique strives for - clarity and perfection.
It takes years of training to produce a dancer but once you are sculpted in the form of a dancer, the grace of moving is something that stays with you forever.
return from Ballet Dance Steps to Ballet Dancers Guide homepage or alternatively back to Ballet Terms
Search this site
e.g. For ballet guidance:
My Gift to You
"Seven Secrets to Success in Ballet"
Inspirational Quote of the day, with love from Odette:-
"7 Virtues You Need to Become a Professional Ballet Dancer".
By Odette!
"You have really inspired me to be MORE determined!"
"You are truly the best at giving dance advice."
"Thank you for bringing so much "heart" to the dance world."
Click here to see more feedback!
Artist and Ballet Dancer in the UK
See more ballet artwork here


text:
Sometimes, dear reader, as Sherlock Holmes might well have put it, it is the most negligible of paradoxes which illuminates the larger truth. In the curious case of the Ape & Bird Public House (phoney name, phoney gaff), the light of revelation was cast by a candle.
For an hour, a cloud of perplexity about this newish addition to the empire of foodie deity du jour Russell Norman had hovered over our lunch. Norman, whose television series The Restaurant Man recently finished a successful first run, is rightly acknowledged as the most gifted and influential of British restaurateurs of recent years. With Polpo, now mushrooming into what Norman is unwilling to call a chain (but which obviously is a chain), and its Soho stablemate Polpetto, he popularised the sharing of small plates, served with pleasing informality in cramped, buzzy spaces done out with artfully distressed walls and tin ceilings to lend that enticing salvage-yard vibe. He also blazed the trail for the no-bookings policy that will, one of these days, land him with a class action from middle-aged folk requiring knee and hip surgery after waiting untold hours for a table.
Revisiting Polpetto recently, I was reminded of its brilliance. Here is the perfect execution of a clearly defined idea – namely, to serve great food (Florence Knight is a ridiculously gifted young chef, and her bacon chop with walnut a creation of genius) at decent prices in an intimate, bustly atmosphere.
The Ape & Bird bears almost as little relation to the above as Norman does to your correspondent. Service is excellent in the traditional "Hey guys" style, and the walls and ceiling panels echo the other joints. The food, from a determinedly hearty modern British-type menu, is eminently so-whattish, though that need not be fatal.
What you cannot survive, I think, is an overpowering flavour of the ersatz – and what finally crystallised that irksome sense for us was the presence on each table of a lit candle, even as sunlight blazed through large windows overlooking Cambridge Circus. If Norman encountered such a profligate affectation while advising lesser mortals on his telly show, he would politely counsel them not to be so daft.
It may be another sign of his confusion about what to do with his new establishment that he styles it as "a pub for people who don't like pubs". Why people who don't like pubs would want to eat in a pub is as bemusing a conundrum as why anyone would waste candle-wax in conditions of retina-blasting sunshine.
Perfectionist attention to detail, as Russ knows infinitely better than me, is the sine qua non of the outstanding restaurateur. Yet when we sat down our menus were from the previous day. Meanwhile, although the staff assured us all three floors are rammed at night, this lunchtime there were a maximum of eight punters in our first-floor dining room.
The food hinted at why. Nothing was bad, and a few things were better than average. Yet it is never a good sign when the puddings are far and away the best dishes. You need not be a prodigy like Polpetto's Knight to delight the palate with chocolate, sugar and cream.
The use of pig's trotter as makeshift sausage meat in a Scotch egg seemed more a casual nod to fashion than a culinary masterstroke, with the delectable unctuousness of the trotter rendered pointless by an overpowering mustard mayonnaise. My starter of deep pink pigeon breast with crunchy bacon and a pear salad was more coherent – the fruit leavening the saltiness of the bacon and the gaminess of the pigeon – if none the less forgettable.
The main courses were equally patchy. Scottish mussels supposedly came in a cider marinade. All I could detect was salt water, while the mussels were such puny, tasteless little bleeders that I gave up after half a dozen. My friend's lamb came in two cuts, a chewy cutlet and a more tender square of shoulder, with a layered slab of pot-roasted potato and a feckless minty sauce. Chips were sub-McDonald's, and until the puddings – a fine chocolate brownie with trendy salted caramel and a milk sorbet, and a luscious strawberry jelly with a flapjack and a subtle mint ice cream – much the most delicious thing was a side dish of buttered spring cabbages.
We lingered to study a self-consciously surreal mural featuring local legends such as George Melly, Jeffrey Bernard and a devilishly horned Francis Bacon, as well as Marc Bolan and, for whatever reason, Tintin's mate, Captain Haddock. Since the twentysomething target audience is far too young to recognise such characters, the image inadvertently underlined the weirdly dated aura of this new venture from a man who has until now shown such a confident zeitgeisty touch.
Far from all the wines are available, as at Norman's previous triumphs, in 50cl carafes; and both the mishmash of decorative styles and the manager's iPod playlist were as arbitrary as the food. If the Ape & Bird feels like anything, it is a thoughtless attempt to feign vibrant individuality in a surprisingly clumsy misstep on the long and winding road to corporate branding. And one Russell Brand, you may well feel, is quite enough.
*142 Shaftesbury Avenue,London WC2H 8HJ, 020 7836 3119; apeandbird.com. Three courses with wine about £40 per head


text:
I: In a recent item at 3 Quarks Daily under the title The Problems of Philosophy, philosophers Scott F. Aikin and Robert B. Talisse lament that (according to them) contemporary professional philosophers are too worried about what's wrong with professional philosophy and pay too little attention to genuine philosophical problems.
II: My paper on cover songs, coauthored with Cristyn Magnus and Christy Mag Uidhir, was recently accepted at The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism.
III: I posted an updated version of my paper on Mill on natural kinds, in advance of giving a talk at Middlebury College tomorrow.
IV: I was an invited speaker last week at DIY Publishing and the University, an event held by the NorthEast Regional Computing Program.
V: My paper with Heather Douglas, "Why novel prediction matters", has now made it into the limbo of things published online, waiting in the queue to appear in print.
VI: Via Leiter, I was led to Gerald Dworkin's recent Kindle e-book Philosophy: A Commonplace Book.
VII: I wrote in a recent post that I like the kind of book review which "offers a critical view of the issue and situates the book in recent discussions" and which also "treats the book as a bit of philosophy worthy of criticism."
VIII: I just read Bradford Skow's "Are There Non-Causal Explanations (of Particular Events)?", which is due to be published in BJPS.
IX: I am puttering around today and thinking about scientific realism.
X: Today marks the end of this blog's year eight.
XI: I have written several papers recently which have turned out to be a bit under 3,000 words each.
XII: The hour is late, and it's time to review the year.
There was blog activity for every month this year, although this month was thin.
Extrapolating from this sample, this year has been about what I've been reading, what I've written, what I'm talking about.
[ add comment ] ( 1780 views ) | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink
Last year, I forgot to mark the blog-year until late November. This year, I wrote the blogiversary post ahead of time in June and dated it to appear today.
I did remember it in time, however, and so updated the post to say that the blog stands at 319 entries and 143,210 words just before this entry.
46 of those entries and 16,448 of those words were from the eighth year, which is quite an increase over the previous year. Many of the recent entries have been about the length of my papers and the size of the blog, and I refuse to guess what percentage of the words are on the topic word counts.
[ add comment ] ( 2882 views ) | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink
Some contemporary file systems wouldn't even allow a file to be that small. The campus network drive seems to be structured so that the minimum file size is 1 megabyte.
However, these blog entries would nearly fill four double-sided Apple ][ floppy disks.
They would fill three-and-a-half boxes of punch cards; cf. Munroe 2013.
By the standards of a bygone age, my output is prolific.
[ add comment ] ( 3589 views ) | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
I: Regarding the lengths of things that I've written, the manuscript for the unstably named book on natural kinds is about 75K words.
II: In summarizing his philosophical approach to the photographer Steve Pyke, David Lewis said...
III: I wrote my dissertation on the underdetermination of theory by data.
IV: [n/a]
V: I have completed the index for my forthcoming book, which is to appear in September.
VI: In a commencement address at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Neil Gaiman offers the following advice...
VII: Jim Holt, writing in the New York Times' philosophy blog The Stone, asks whether philosophy can be literature and answers yes.
VIII: My open access logic book, forall x, is going to be used this Fall for the first year logic course at Cambridge.
IX: In an epicycle of self-promotion, I am profiled by the UAlbany College of Arts and Sciences because my open access logic textbook was adopted at Cambridge.
X: In a post over at Crooked Timber, John Quiggin invokes the distinction between scholars who follow a K-strategy and those that follow an r-strategy.
XI: Consider the sentence, "Tautologists all agree."
XII: Via Brian Leiter and Mohan Matthen, I came across Alvin Plantinga's review in the New Republic of Thomas Nagel's newbook.
Despite my intention to blog a little each month, I posted nothing for April. I've managed to avoid such gaps since November 2008, when I was similarly silent. Other than the fact that 2008 was also a light year for blogging, I don't think there are any parallels worth noting.
Content from months where I did post looks to be about one half musings launched by something that I read on-line and one half me talking about my books. A light cocktail of non sequitur and horn tooting.
[ add comment ] ( 3925 views ) | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink
my practice to mark the date by tallying up the number of entries and words added to the blog in the course of the year. By subtracting out the entries I've written in the past month and half, I divine that year seven saw 29 new entries and 10,828 total words to end with a total of 273 entries and 126,862 words. That makes it the least productive year of blogging to date. Year eight is already off to a good start, however, including this here bit of puffery.
[ add comment ] ( 4156 views ) | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink
<<First <Back | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | Next> Last>>


text:
U.S. Videogame Sales Fall Despite New Consoles
Consumers dealt a disappointing blow to videogame companies as the holiday shopping season began in November, pushing game sales down and prompting questions about the industry's trajectory.
Sales of new games at U.S. retail shops fell 24%, compared with a year earlier, to $1.1 billion, according to industry researcher NPD Group. The decline came despite the release of new consoles by Microsoft and Sony that were expected to spur game sales.


text:
Recipe Name:
• Rose Kheer Recipe
• Dated: July 4th, 2017
• Chef Name: Chef Zarnak Sidhwa
• Show Name: Food Diaries – Masala TV
Enjoy the true essence and taste of "Rose Kheer" while cooking in your kitchen with such an ease and must-have ingredients in your kitchen. It is not just about a dish with usual taste but a treat to your taste buds with a little change in cooking by none other than "Chef Zarnak Sidhwa " that has given an entire new flavor, you ever came to taste. "Chef Zarnak Sidhwa " is a well-known Pakistani chef, hosting a cooking TV show on Hum Masala TV, the only cooking channel round the clock.
For more recipes, tips, and cooking technique, log onto:
• http://www.masala.tv/
• https://www.facebook.com/MasalaTv


text:
07 Dec Musical Chairs
Posted at 18:16h in 0 CommentsMia (Leah Pipes) is a beauty with a promising career as a professional ballroom dancer. Armando (EJ Bonilla), is the son of Puerto Rican immigrants who does menial work at a dance studio in exchange for lessons. One night, Armando and Mia share a heated moment on the dance floor; minutes later a car accident changes Mia's life forever. Despite her rebuffs, Armando dedicates himself to helping her overcome her tragedy by steering her into a wheelchair ballroom competition. At the heart of the film is a group of eclectic characters, each with his/her own story. As she demonstrates in "Desperately Seeking Susan," Seidelman has a special feel for New York City. Her film pulsates with energy and zest, embracing its characters, their conflicts and their courage.


text:
My hike to the Mount Everest Base camp was unplanned, which is also one of the most rewarding time of life.
I was on my 2-week hiking expedition in Uttarakhand. After reaching the summit of Pangarchulla Peak (4700m) give me an overwhelming experience and boosted my confidence like never. Soon after finishing my second trek, I took a flight to Kathmandu, and within an hour I was on the beautiful land of Nepal. I was composed enough with a notion of hiking EBC all by myself. But, a lot of friends recommended hiring a guide or Sherpa as I had plans of visiting Gokyo vi Chola pass.
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1334m.)
My first day stay was at famous Thamel Road. I grabbed some good food and beers, as I will not be able to have that privilege for the next 15 days during my hiking trip. I did spend some good time and the thrilling thoughts of the hike and mountains were dancing around in my head.
I was fortunate enough to get a friendly and enthusiastic guide for the next 15 days of my hiking trip. He also was helpful in getting all my permits and fight tickets to Lukla (often considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world)
Day 2: Flight to Lukla (2834m) (45 minutes) and trek to Phakding (2,652m.) 4-5 hours trekking/ 8km approx.
We took an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla the very next day and was in one of the smallest aircraft I have ever been. It was a 45-minute flight and trust me, it has been one of the most curious flight journeys of my life. Everyone in the fight had a window seat with a pleasuring view of mountains covered in clouds and snow.
The next stop after Lukla was Phakding and was also the start of my EBC trek. We had to walk for 8 km following Dudh Koshi River which is also called as "River of Milk". I spent that night at a Tea House in Phadking which were a new and delightful experience to me. The first day of the hike was easy as most of the time it was a descending hike.
I also met fellow hikers who were coming back from their trip. They seemed tired, but their faces were covered in warmth and happiness, with a sense of accomplishment which could is a rare scenario in our daily life. The same evening, I visited a small Thaktul Monastery which was damaged during the 2015 Nepal earthquake but was still holding up its grace.
Day 3: Trek to Namche Bazar (3,440m) 5-6 hours trekking/ 10 km approx.
We started early morning for our next day hike. 2 hours walk, and I crossed my first big hanging bridge (Suspension Bridge) of EBC trek, which every hiker dreams to cross at least once in a lifetime. I did cross-crossing strings of prayers flags, ancient Buddhist Chortens, and Mani Stones throughout my hike for this day.
It's was a challenging 5 to 6 hours hike on the second day because of consistent steep incline uphill. Had no option but to head up and keep moving.
Situated at 11,300 feet above sea level Namche Bazar is the commercial and social hub of Khumbu geography and Sherpa society. City shape looks like a half-moon and situated dramatically on a big rocky slope. Namche Bazar has been developed better in competition to host climber and trekker community. There are pretty lodges and tea houses across the town. You can enjoy free WIFI services also in a couple of tea houses on a bottle of beers.
It is strongly recommended for trekkers to have one acclimatization day at Namche Bazar. As I was already acclimatized quite well because of my last two hikes I decided to continue the hike on next day to Tengboche. In the evening I took a small hike to an upper helipad, Namche Monastery, and museum.
Later that day, my guide suggested me to stay at a tea house which was away from the main town. And it turned to be the good decision as I got a chance to stay at one of the oldest tea house and chance to interact with the women who started first tea House in Namche Bazar.
Namche also gives you the stunning view and huge backlit spike of Ama Dablam, just hidden behind Nuptse.
Note – Chorten (A Stupa): A religious monument, usually made of rock and often containing sacred relics.
Mani Stones – Small, flat rocks that have been meticulously carved with Sanskrit symbols denoting the Tibetan Buddhist invocation Om Mani Padme Hum
Day 4: Trek to Tengboche (3870m) 5-6 hours trekking/ 10 km approx.
Setting Tengboche as the destination, we started our trek on trial with few ups and downs which included the magnificent views of Himalayan ranges including Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt Nuptse, closeup of Thamserku and Mt. Amadablam. As you come close to Tengboche trail become narrow and less paved.
After 6 long hours of walking, we finally reach Tengboche-a holy place and the place of biggest and the most important Buddhist Monastery of the Khumbu region.
Tengboche is one of the best panoramic viewpoints in the Region.
As I reach there, the temperature was quite harsh on us. In the night temperature falls till 1 degree Celsius. Coping up with this drastic change in temperature was a challenging part.
Day 5: Trek to Dingboche (4360m) 5-6 hours trekking/ 8 km approx.
We started our 5th day at 5 O'clock in the morning with delicious Apple Pie from the World's highest bakery and a magnificent view of Tengboche. That day was a challenge of walking for 6 hours passing Pangboche village to Dingboche. On the 5th day of the trek, I was quite tired but thundering waterfalls, Blue Pines, Rhododendrons, enchanting boulders and burbling streams was pushing me towards our goal.
With 15kg bag on shoulder, 2kg tripod in left hand and DSLR in right hand, I fell into a kind of trance. It was quite a fun day with the downhill in the beginning.
Day 6: Trek to Lobuche (4940m.) 5-6 hours trekking/ 7 km approx.
The trek to Lobuche is about five hours, bringing us closer to our goal. I experienced the Khumbu Icefall for the first time, and it pushed me even harder to unearth the beauty that lies ahead. We passed frozen rivers where stone houses sit in an icy wilderness of stunning beauty. I was just one day away from witnessing the closest view of the tallest mountain in the world and notorious Khumbu Icefall.
Day 7: Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5170m.)- Everest Base Camp (5364 m.) and trek back to Gorak Shep (7-8 hours trekking. /15 km approx.
It was an ultimate Day to get to Everest Base Camp. It was a long day with 8 to 9 hours walk. We started early morning from Lobuche with the goal of reaching Gorakshep for an early lunch and then head towards Everest base camp. We reached to the lower end of Khumbu Glacier – A twelve-mile glacier which starts from the south flank of Everest. The route is slightly challenging with ups and down through the unsettled rock of glacier.
During the main climbing season, you will be able to see the encampments of expeditions from all over the world whose common aim is to make successful ascents of the world's highest mountain.
It was 5 PM in the evening, 7 days of walk and struggle and I was at the Everest Base Camp. It was a huge personal achievement for me. From a family of doctors and engineers, nobody ever had imagined that I will be attempting something like this. It was almost 7 days I didn't speak to anyone from my family. Decided to call my family first as soon as I get back to Gorakshep. After spending some time at basecamp and some insane poses for pictured we headed back down to Gorak Shep.
Day 8: Gorak Shep to Kala Pathar (5545m.) and trek to Dzongla (4846m.) 6-7 hours trek/ 15km trekking
Kalapathar was the highest point of our trek. Today, there is an opportunity to make the steady climb to the lofty summit of Kalapathar (5550m). Most people who are fit and have acclimatized without problems (generally at least half the group) make this ascent. The views of Mount Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and lot of other peaks from Kalapathar are breathtaking – far better than Basecamp itself.
I remember it was the coldest night of the week. Last night temperature fell down to -10 degrees Celsius. We had a plan to wake at 3 Am and start our climb to Kala Pathar. It took 2 hours for us to reach the summit point. It was one of the most memorable hike of my life. I still can't believe myself that I managed to reach on top in -10-degree temperature. We spend 1 good hour on the summit and experienced the unforgettable sunrise of my life.
It took halftime for us to walk down to Gorak Shep. Quick breakfast with lemon tea and we were ready to continue our journey toward Gokyo Lake. It was decent hike till Dzongla as weather were a clear and steady trail. It took 7 hours for us to reach Dzongla as it was the long hiking day. We stayed overnight in Tea House and went to bed early as next day was the most challenging day as we were to cross Chola Pass (One of the most dangerous and beautiful).
Day 9: Dzongla to Gokyo (4798m.) Via Chola Pass(5365m) (10-11 hours trekking/ 12 km approx.)
Ohhh Sahabji …. Ohhhh Sahabji…. Piche Bhago Piche Bhago……. he was running towards me and screaming like a hell. It took a couple of seconds for me to know that it was a landslide or avalanche. We both ran and hide below the big boulder. Even till this day, I get Goosebumps with those sounds resonating in my ear.
Never experienced the landslide or avalanche in my life so closely. I thought that it was our last day. It took one hour for us to come out of that trauma. Luckily weather got better, and we thought to start the journey again to reach our final destination Gokyo Lake. We stopped at Thangna for a lunch which is situated at the foot of Chola Pass. Descent from Chola pass was also challenging because of slippery rocks
It also taught me a good lesson that life is a journey filled with unexpected encounters and we have to be ready to face anything at any time.
That night was also cold. Next day, we started our hike at 4 am in the morning as we wanted to cross Chola pass before 12 pm as snow starts melting in afternoon and it makes difficult to cross the glacier. It was not our day; it was extremely cold with heavy snowfall and zero visibility. As we already had hiked for 5 hours we couldn't go back to the Dzongala. We had only one way and that was to cross the Chola Pass with Zero Visibility.
We were walking through glaciers and boulders in Chola Pass.
Note: You will not get any water resource on this pass so it's highly recommended to carry minimum 2 ltr of water. You need to stick to the route and follow your guide on this route.
As it was the snowy day we were not able to identify the route properly. There was no sign of any hikers that time. I was a bit slow on this day as walking through fresh snow exhausted all my energy and it was also new to me.
A couple of hours more walk and we were at Gokyo Lake. All the efforts, hard work, landslides were worth reaching this place. I was amazed by the beauty and serene view of that place.
From the top, you will see the largest glacier of Himalaya, Ngozumpa. It is also the best place to get a view of Gokyo Lake and Mount Everest. Decent to Gokyo and spend time on Lake.
Day 10: Gokyo to Gokyo Ri (5356m.) and back to Gokyo. Start Hike to Phortse Thanga (3657m.) Via Dole 11 to 12 hours trekking/ 15 km approx.
We were supposed to wake up in the morning to hike Gokyo Ri, but that night I was not in a position to wake up early morning and hike as last day was quite hectic for me. As next day we were supposed to walk for 12 to 13 hours again I dropped the plan to hike Gokyo RI.
They say when you walk on mountains you never walk alone, I met beautiful people on my journey and made a lot of friends. I met Alex and Anna from Canda at Gokyo Lake, 2 girls, 18 years old and were doing Gokyo lake trek alone, and that was fascinating for me. They had completed Annapurna Circuit by themselves before coming to Gokyo. We started together from Gokyo to Phortse Thanga.
It was the longest walk of my entire trek, but it was easy when compared to past days as there were no high assents. You will experience scenic view of high mountains and small lakes on the path.
Here, you will encounter dense rhododendron forests. And if you like rhododendrons then you will definitely enjoy this walk. You will see world's Sixth highest mountain Cho Oyu on the path.
Day 11: Phortse Thanga to Phakding (2652m) 10-11 hours trekking/ 18 km approx.
As I was short on my schedule we decided to cover maximum distance while going back. So instead of staying at Namche we stressed our self and decided to walk till Phakding. It was a long walk of 11 hours.
If I remember correctly it was a decent walk of 4 to 5 hours in beginning and assent for one hour till Namche Bazar.
After buying some souvenirs and lunch in Namche we started for Phakding. The path descends steeply down to the Dudh Kosi river which we cross via a high bridge. Through Jorsale and Monjo, where the national park entrance gate is, we walk for again 5 hours.
Day 12: Phakding to Lukla (2834m) 4-5 hours trekking/ 8 km approx.
It was a final walking day of our trekking. We took the liberty to sleep extra two hours on that day than usual days. We started trekking down to Lukla after our breakfast. It only takes 3-4 hours to reach Lukla. As I had a flight booking on next day I decided to stay in Lukla and enjoy the local market, where Alex and Anna continued their journey to next destination. My guide also decided to stay back at Lukla.
Day 13: Scenic Flight back to Kathmandu (45 minutes flight).
Today was my last day in Khumbu region. I got morning flight for Kathmandu. I had a whole day to Rome around and explore the Kathmandu City. I visited Pashupatinath & Monkey temple in afternoon. In the night I got to know that Indian movie Bahubali 2 got released 3 days back and it's running house-full all across Nepal, so decided to watch the movie on the same night. Chicken Biryani + Chilled beer + Bahubali 2, what better treat you can give yourself after these 12 days of extensive hiking.
Day 14: Departure – Kathmandu to Delhi to Hyderabad
It was an amazing journey and I had a great time in Nepal. Hiking in Nepal is completely different than hiking in India. Specially EBC and Annapurna Trails are more commercialized and developed well so you will have all the facilities all across the hike.
If I were to describe my trekking in Nepal, I would say it is the Holy Grail of Mother Earth.
Thank you, Nepal, for being so Beautiful.