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Design Considerations for Metal Stamping
Stamping, also known as pressing, is a process in which metals are formed into a desired shape. Stamping includes a variety of metal forming processes such as blanking, embossing, bending, flanging, and coining. Stamping is an economical way to form metal components with a variety of characteristics including strength, durability, and wear resistance. In this article, we look at the elements that are taken into consideration during the stamping process.
Material Selection
Examples of various types of metals (Picture source: www.garudapromo.com)
Ferrous metals are the most widely used material for general stamping and is known for having low carbon content which ranges between 0.05 and 0.20%. The low carbon content also makes this category of materials the least expensive to be used in stamping. Non-ferrous metals are metals such as magnesium, zinc, and titanium. Non-metallic materials are commonly used in blanking and piercing processes. Examples of materials in this category are fiber boards, papers, leathers, rubber and wood-based composition board. Various types of plastics are also subjected to this category of materials.
Example of a burred edge on a metal (Picture source: www.fourwheeler.com)
Burrs are produced as a by-product of the stamping process. In the manufacturing of plastic products, burrs are referred to as parting lines. In common manufacturing principles, burrs are not acceptable. This is usually due to safety reasons, either for handling of the product during manufacturing/assembly or for product safety. It is important to observe the difference between the two sides of a blanked or sheared metal sheet. This will help manufacturers decide the face over sharp edge needed and on which side the rounded or pulled down edge is to be made. The sharp edge of the metal sheet should be handled with extreme caution to avoid damage it cause to the other parts through its sharp edges. Generally, bent edges should be provided so keep the burr side on the interior of the bend.
In terms of aesthetics, burrs can cause discoloration and unevenness on the surface of the material that is being stamped. Hence, it is important for materials with burrs to go through another step called the de-burring process. In this process, the material goes through mass finishing processes or secondary operations to smoothen out the burred area.
Narrow Sections
Long, narrow projections must be avoided as narrow sections can cause the die punch to be thin and fragile. Besides that, narrow sections make it easier for the metal to be distorted, thus reducing product quality.
Formed Parts
To save cost, the designer should recommend shapes that can be produced using standard existing universal bending dies. Creating new dies is not only difficult but is also a very time-consuming and expensive procedure.
Using connectors such as springs and other flexible sections, snap-fit elements, folding tabs, and press fixable designs can be incorporated into the design of the product to eliminate the need for other parts to assemble the metal, including separate screw fasteners or other fasteners. Other than that, welding methods such a projection welding and spot welding can be implemented to reduce the number of parts in an assembly and make the stamped metal itself easy to assemble. This will save cost and save time during the assembly process.
Sharp Corners
Figure showing sharp edge of a metal (Picture source: www.worldofsteel.com)
Presence of sharp external corners in punching tools or dies can often lead to premature breakage, causing larger burrs or rougher edges of the material. Furthermore, sharp interior corners of punches and dies are the point of stress-concentration. Higher points of stress-concentration can potentially cause cracking and failure due to heat treatment or through usage (wear and tear). This can lead to low quality standards and short product life, which is why both internal and external sharp corners must be avoided as much as possible.
Example of a punching tool that is used to inject holes onto the metal sheet (Picture source: www.thefabricator.com)
Many parts require holes, slots, or indentations for assembly purposes or sometimes, aesthetic purposes. In order to achieve this, the stamping process usually involves driving a sharpened punching tool through the sheet or strip material and into a die cavity. The holes that are pierced on the metal should be done in the same operation. This step is vital as it ensures hole-to-hole tolerance and part repeatability. The diameter of hole should not be less than the stock thickness of the metal used. The spacing between the holes should be a minimum of two times (x2) the stock thickness. The minimum distance from the edge of a hole to the adjacent edge of the blank should be at least equal to the stock thickness of the metal. If the spacing is too small, bulges will be resulted in the edge area adjacent to the hole. If this minimum distance is not observed, distortion of the hole will occur. A non-functional opening, either square or rectangular shaped, is pierced directly beneath the desired hole, if the design requires the lowest edge of the hole to be closer than the recommended minimum. Round holes are recommended as irregular shaped holes will incur additional costs due to the tooling cost.
In order to take a desired shape, the materials will need to go through a bending process so that it can be angled. However, in certain cases, distortion may occur during this stage. The material on the interior of the bend is compressed, while the material on the exterior of the bend is stretched. On thicker materials and bends with relatively small interior bend radii (x2 the metal thickness or less), thinning of material may occur from the result of the bending process. In addition to that, the compression the metal goes through during the bending process forces excess materials to exit at either end of the bend radius, creating what is called bend bulges. In a similar situation, when two adjacent sides of the metal are folded upwards (as in forming a box), some form of relief is needed at the base of the bend to avoid "pinched" corners. Usually, this would be in the form of a round hole placed at the convergence point of the sides. However, the bulges can be removed through contouring.
Tooling Considerations
During the stamping process, the metal will be placed under extreme impact forces on the body of the punch. The punch tooling can fail if there is not enough cross section area to support this force. Hence, it is best to design the perforations with a cross-section area to allow the force to dissipate equally rather than being concentrated at one particular area.
Hence, when engineers and designers converge to manufacture a product, the thought-processes should not only be considered upon the aesthetics of the product but also the practicality and functionality of the product. This will make the manufacturing process easier while providing consumers a 2-in-1 benefit – a product with good looks and a purposeful function.
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Complete Your Guard Card Training in a Classroom
You can complete the Guard Card training classes be attending a class taught in a physical classroom as well as online. The class must be taught be an approved and licensed Guard Card Training Provider. These Training Providers have PPO, firearm training or other training licenses.
Benefits of Going to Guard Card Classes in a Classroom
- You can can ask the instructor questions.
- You might be able to take the courses on site at your work location.
Drawbacks of Taking Your Guard Card Training in a Classroom
- You can't go at your pace.
- You may have to take time off work to go to a class held at another location.
- If you live in a rural area, you may have to drive to an urban area to complete your Guard Card course requirements. The price of gas keeps rising, so saving some money by staying at home or work to take your security guard classes can save you money.
Recommended & BSIS Approved Classroom Guard Card Courses
We won't be able to review classroom based training do to costs and logistics. Ask your employer if they offer security guard training. If not, we recommend completing your Guard Card training online.
Tips for Choosing a Classroom-based Training Provider
- Check and verify the training provider's BSIS Guard Card Training License number. You can validate the license number online with the BSIS.
- Check if there is a training location near where you live or work.
- Check if the company is offering training on the days you can go to class.
- Verify that the training provider maintains a record that you've completed the training in case you lose your Guard Card Training Completion Certificate.
What should You Read Next?
- For more about additional training requirements after you become a security guard, read Guard Card Refresher Course.
- For the general steps for getting a Guard Card, read How to Get a Guard Card.

subset: commoncrawl


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Trained in the best Institutes of the country and abroad, Neoretina boasts of a team of doctors with outstanding credentials, unmatched skills and years of experience.
Raja Rami Reddy P., MD FRCS(Glasgow)
Chief Retina Surgeon,
Founder, Medical Director
MBBS (1992-1997): All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
MD (Jan 1998 - Dec 2000): All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
Senior Residency in Vitreo-Retina (2001-2003): All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
Special Interests: Surgical retina including complicated vitreo-retinal surgeries for retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, advanced diabetic retinopathy, macular holes and epiretinal membranes.
Abhilasha Baharani, DNB FRCS(Glasgow) FICO Uvea & Cataract Specialist
MBBS (2000-2006): Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
DNB (2006-2009): Aravind Eye Hospital, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.
Fellowship in Uveitis & Ocular Inflammation (2010): Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Fellowship in Ocular Inflammatory Disease in Vitreoretinal Disorders (2011): Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Special Interests: Uveitis & Ocular Immunology- Management of ocular tuberculosis, Immunosuppressive therapy for non-infectious uveitis & scleritis, Phacoemulsification in small pupil complicated cataracts. Ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.
Anuj Sharma, MS FVRS
Vitreo-Retina Surgeon
MBBS (2006-2011): Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun
MS (2012-2015): Government Medical College, Chandigarh Vitreo-Retina Surgical Fellowship (2016-2018): Aravind Eye Hospital, Tirunelveli.
Special Interests: Retinopathy of Prematurity, Retinal Detachment surgery and Diabetic Retinopathy
Swapnali Sabhapandit, MS FLVPEI Cornea Specialist
MBBS (1998-2003): Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, Assam
MS (2004-2007): Regional Institute of Ophthalmology Guwahati, Assam
Fellowship in Cornea & Anterior Segment (2008-2010): LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad
Special Interests: Cornea & Keratorefractive Surgery
Shilpa Basile. MS FMRF Glaucoma Specialist
MBBS (1990-1995): Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry
MS (1996-1999): Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry
Fellowship in General Ophthalmology & Glaucoma (1999- 2000): Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai
Special Interests: Medical & Surgical Management of Glaucoma
Vanita Pathak-Ray, FRCS (Edinburgh, UK) FRCOphth (London, UK) Glaucoma Specialist
MBBS (1985-1990): Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata
FRCS (Ophthalmology) Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh:1997
FRCOphth, Royal College of Ophthalmology, London (UK): 2006
Glaucoma Fellowship at the University of Toronto, ON, Canada: 2004
Special Interests: Refractory Glaucoma, Glaucoma Valve Implants
S L Prabhavathi, MS, FVRS, Vitreo-Retina Surgeon
MBBS (2006-2011): Siddartha Medical College Vijayawada(AP)
MS (2013-2016): PGIMER, Chandigarh
FVRS(2016-2018) LVPEI, Bhubaneshwar
Special Interests: Retinopathy of Prematurity, Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Dystrophies, Pediatric Retina.
"I was highly impressed by the over all management of large number of patients properly guided and investigated very effectively. Staff at the reception and all management levels well trained and helpfully caring hardworking. My salute to all involved for starting proper management of large number of patients."
"The staff was very much kind and the clinic setup was very beautiful. Very nicely managed. I definitely would like to recommmed this clinic to my near and dear ones. Thanks once again for taking care of me!"
"Excellent in all respects. Very clean and has well maintained toilets. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Overall extremely satisfying experience."
"My dad had a retinal detachment which was found overnight and he had to undergo retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) within 7days. He flew down to Hyderabad and directly to Raja Ram Reddy. He suggested to go for surgery the very next day. It was a successful surgery and my dad got discharged in the evening. He is very cordial and really nice in speaking. He is calm cool minded. A perfect doctor to consult."
"I'm very happy with the drs approach and very patiently examined I have great confidence in Dr reddy its been three years that I come to Dr reddy all the way from Kolkata wish we have doctors like him at Kolkata too."
"Best..Wonderful clinic with very helpful staff and well experienced and caring doctors like Dr.Srinivas and Dr.R.R.Reddy... I took my father who is diabetic and heart patient also for his eye surgery and the doctors guided us v.nicely to take care of him b4 & after surgery and my father's eyes r perfect...mashallah...thanks to God and then the neoretina team...Well done...keep spreading the light of vision in the life of others too. "
"I know her from since 3 years she diagnosed the retina detachment in my left eye and explained about the treatment. She works for NEORETINA eye care institute which is located in the nampally hyderabad. She clarifies each and every doubt of the patient patiently without any irritation. I mean some doctors gets irritated when the patient asks more questions but that's not the case with alka Rani madam. I suggest to all who are suffering from eye disorders to visit neoretina for timely treatment and speedy recovery."
"Excellent attention to my eye problem doctor Abhilasha Baharani at Neo Retina Eye Care Institute was very cooperative she is very echo friendly clear voice n determined i will in sha Allah refer to all of my near n dear to visit her if any one having eye problems i appreciate thanks a lot."
"Dr. Raja is one of the foremost experts in retina issues. He is very approachable at the same time gives you valuable advice."


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Fishery groups receive state project funding- Times Standard
19 Humboldt County projects receive CDFW funding
By Natalya Estrada, nestrada@times- standard.com, @natedoge4412 on Twitter
Friday, March 17, 2017
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Wednesday selected 19 Humboldt County projects to receive funding for the restoration, enhancement and protection for salmonid habitat.
One of those projects is the second phase of the Hoopa Valley Tribe's Supply Creek Restoration Project, which was granted $730,000.
"Specifically this restoration will significantly increase coho salmon habitat," Mike Orcutt, the tribe's fisheries department director, said.
In total, Orcutt said, the tribe has received more than $2 million in funding for Supply Creek.
"In Phase I, we removed artificial levees and built habitats important for coho salmon, such as an off-channel pond and wetland complex," Orcutt said. "… This award is for Phase II of the project and will fully restore the entire length of salmon bearing stream."
The state fish and wildlife department granted a total of $15 million to 43 watershed projects, including the 19 in Humboldt County.
Department director Charlton Bonham said in a statement that restoring the ecological function of critical fish habitat was an ongoing priority within the state.
"Our successes happen when the entire restoration community works together, and we are so fortunate to have stakeholders in California committed to this goal," Bonham said.
The Salmon Creek project, according to Orcutt, was selected based on significant potential benefits to species recovery and the tribe's positive track record in restoring habitat throughout the basin.
Orcutt said although the project's goal is to increase habitat for coho salmon, other species including Chinook, steelhead and Pacific lamprey will also benefit from the improvements.
"These tributaries get used by juvenile coho salmon migrating downstream from throughout the Trinity Basin that need cold water refuge in the summer and areas of slow water in the winter," Orcutt said
He said the project will remove a levee built from cars and concrete after the 1964 flood, allowing for more natural stream processes and improve the conditions of the creek for fish.
The Whitethorn-based Sanctuary Forest — the only Humboldt County project categorized under water conservation — received around $85,000.
Sanctuary Forest Water Program Director Tasha McKee said the Mattole Storage and Forbearance project stores of up to 50,000 gallons of water using installed water tanks.
"Ever since the project's been in place, (the Mattole) hasn't dried up in the summer," McKee said. "The project focused on having enough water in stream for the summertime."
The watershed grant would allow for the project, which has been in place since 2007, to continue until 2020.
McKee said that after 2020 Sanctuary Forest would apply for more funding to help young juvenile fish and their habitats through better flow systems.
"We're very grateful for the department's award because it makes a big impact to the fisheries here," she said.
Natalya Estrada can be reached at 707-441-0510.
The list of funded and contingency projects can be found at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Grants/FRGP/Funded


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Boy refused to attend access over his father's Mass visits, court told
Mother suggests if father 'stops all the religious stuff' their teenaged son might see him
"The teenager's mother told Judge Dermot Simms that the father had "a religious way of going on". Photograph: Alan Betson
A teenager has resisted access visits because his father was bringing him to Mass all the time, a mother told the Dublin District Family Court on Thursday.
The boy's mother told Judge Dermot Simms the father had "a religious way of going on". He would bring the boy into a church in town and on one occasion the boy said he was ill and wanted to go home, but his father said no, he would bring him to the church and a priest would bless him. The father also told the boy, in his mid-teens, that his mother was going to burn in hell and they would live together on an island, the mother said.
She said the father had access to their son on Sundays in the past, but had stopped attending.
"He stopped coming for two years," she said.
"Then he called [their son] and said, 'Sorry for not collecting you, I had a chest infection', and my son said, 'A chest infection for two years?'"
She said she believed a boy should see his father, but he was refusing to go and she did not know how to make him.
"Maybe if he stops all the religious stuff...," she said. She asked the judge to speak to the boy, who was outside court.
'Absolutely heartbroken'
The solicitor for the father said his client was not disputing he had faith, but he was not forcing that on his son. He denied he had said the boy's mother would burn in hell. He said the father was seeking to change access, which was inconsistent, and have overnight access with his son.
Giving evidence, the father said he was "absolutely heartbroken over the child".
He said he had tried to phone him and contact him through Facebook, but he was blocked. They used to have a very loving bond, he said. He stopped attending access with the boy for a time because he had a chest infection and also because he wanted a break after the boy had misbehaved. He had bought his son 7 Up, he said, and "the fizz got into his system" and he had to restrain him.
He told the judge he only brought the boy to Mass on five to 10 occasions and to Eucharistic Adoration on seven. He said he did not want his son brought into court as he believed the child had been influenced by his mother. He also offered the judge three character references, two from religious organisations and one from a priest.
'Good character'
The judge said he did not need the references as he accepted the father was of "very good character". He also said he was reluctant to talk to the boy in the absence of the father's agreement.
It was clear both parents wanted the best for the boy, the judge said, but he was growing up and parental control was diminishing. He suggested family counselling might be a route toward access. He declined to make a new access order and discharged the previous order as it was "unenforceable". The penalty on the mother for breaching it was a fine or prison, and "should not be there" in the case of a "wilful" boy of his age.
In a separate case, the judge doubled the maintenance to a mother for her two children, from €50 a week to €100. The father, who was self-employed, had said he could not afford the increase.
"I can manage €70, your honour, I can't manage the hundred," the father said.
Examining his statement of means and bank statement, the judge said the bank account details showed the father only earned €76 a week, while he had said he earned €177.
"So you earn less than you're telling me?" the judge said.
"It's tough out there," the father responded.
"I don't believe you," the judge said. He told the father he could appeal the increase in maintenance if he wished. The father said he would not appeal, but would bring things further.
"Do I apply here to speak to a social worker?" he asked, before leaving the court.


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Jimmy Gautier 11 2
Laboratoire Adaptation Perceptivo-Motrice et Apprentissage, Universit Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Laboratoire dArodynamique et de Biomcanique du Mouvement, Universit de la Mditerrane, Marseille, France Received: 29 August 2003 / Accepted: 19 May 2004 / Published (online): 01 June 2004 ABSTRACTFinswimming is a sport of speed practiced on the surface or underwater, in which performance is based on whole-body oscillations. The present study investigated the undulatory motion performed by finswimmers at the surface. This study aiming to analyze the influence of the interaction of gender, practice level, and race distance on selected kinematic parameters. Six elite and six novices finswimmers equipped with joints markers (wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle) were recorded in the sagittal plane. The position of these anatomical marks was digitized at 50 Hz. An automated motion analysis software yielded velocity, vertical amplitude, frequency, and angular position. Results showed that stroke frequency decreased whereas the mean amplitude of all joints increased with increasing race distance (p < 0.01). Mean joint amplitude for the upper limbs (wrist, elbow and shoulder) was smaller for experts than for novices. Whereas that of the ankle was larger, so that the oscillation amplitude increased from shoulder to ankle. Elite male finswimmers were pitching more acutely than female. Moreover, elite male finswimmers showed a smaller knee bending than novices and than elite females (p < 0.01). This indicated that elite male finswimmers attempt to reduce drag forces thanks to a weak knee bending and a low upper limbs pitch. To sum up, gender, expertise, and race distance affect the performance and its kinematics in terms frontal drag. Expertise in finswimming requires taking advantage of the mechanical constraints pertaining to hydrodynamic constraints in order to optimize performance. KEY WORDS: Swimming, undulations, technique, movement
INTRODUCTIONFinswimming is a speed competition sport practiced at the surface or underwater with different monofins of variable rigidity. Alike the motion of dolphins (Videler, 1981), propulsion bears on the vertical displacement of the whole body. The use of the upper body is forbidden for propulsion purposes. The vertical displacement of the body during the stroke cycle has been described as wave-like (Ungerechts, 1982). Since such motion could be characterized by specific amplitudes of oscillations. Such oscillations were also specified by a particular frequency and phase relationship (Sanders et al., 1995). Our knowledge on finswimming bears mostly on underwater finswimming. It was shown that the wave-like motion traveled along the body in the caudal direction and that finswimmers adapted their
undulations in frequency and amplitude, starting the propulsive motion at the hip level (Baly et al., 2002). Nevertheless, because of the air-water interface, finswimmers motion is quite different in amplitude and frequency at the surface than underwater. Concerning finswimming at the surface, Zamparo et al. (2002) performed a kinematic study that quantified the efficiency of human swimming in using fins. Another study revealed the effect of the monofin shape on the propulsive forces by analyzing the change in the swimmers velocity over one cycle of the monofins motion (Tamura et al., 2002). Finally, a finswimmer is at one and the same time a propelling and a propelled body. Given the speed reached (3.89 ms-1), body pitch and knee bending must be weak in order to limit the frontal surface area, as defined by Vogel (1994), a main factor of hydrodynamic resistance. The gliding and the propulsion must be finely tuned in order to
Kinematics of finswimming
optimize performance. A previous study at the surface showed that the race distance and practice level increase the stroke frequency and the ankle vertical amplitude (Gautier et al., 2004). However the gender influence on kinematic parameters was not taken into consideration. In the present study, we hypothesized that the gender affects finswimming performance in association with the practice level and the race distance. Thus, we aimed to quantify finswimming at the surface in terms of kinematic parameters such as the swimming speed, the movement excursion, and the degree of knee bending according to gender, race distance and practice level. Their analysis may provide information useful to coaches and technicians in order to reduce drag of the finswimmer.
METHODSThe experiment was carried out in a 50 m pool. Six elite finswimmers members of French National Team (3 males, 3 females) and six novices (3 males, 3 females) who started competition six months ago participated on a voluntary basis. For the elite group, average age was 20 4 years, body mass 69.1 8.1 kg, and stature 1.74 0.8 m. For the novices, average age was 25 3 years, body mass 64.6 5.2 kg, and stature 1.69 0.4 m. Finswimmers were instructed to perform 3 random trials of 25 m per race distance (100 m and 800 m). Using a snorkel, finswimmers performed trials with their standard monofins. Passive disk markers were applied on selected joints to facilitate their tracking and video analysis: wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle were visible to the camera throughout the stroke cycle. Video images were collected from two digital cameras (SONY VX-2000E, 50Hz). One digital camera was immerged and securely fixed in a watertight box at 0.15 m below the water surface and recorded in sagittal plane. A calibration was carried out separately for each trial, at the middle tank and 5.34 m away from the camera. The width of the optical field of view in the plane of motion was 6 m. The other digital camera (SONY VX2000E, 50Hz) was placed in the axe of the first to record motion above the water in order to control
whether the whole body was kept underwater, except for the snorkel, vertex, and heel. The markers were semi automatically tracked (3D Vision, Kihopsys). The analysis period comprised one complete stroke cycle starting from the video frame corresponding to the first whole body appearance. Body marks were seized to determine a 5-segment human model: forearm, arm, trunk, thighs, and shank. The knee bending angle was determined using the relative angle between the distal extension joint center of the thigh and the shank. As for all biomechanical data, random error from the digitizing process was reduced using a recursive fourth-order Butterworth digital filter with a frequency cut off at 4 Hz. The analysis consisted of a repeated measures ANOVA with gender (male vs. female) and expertise level (novice vs. expert) as betweensubject factors, and distance (100 m vs. 800 m) as within-subject factor (N = 12). The dependant variables were the velocity, the amplitude and the frequency of oscillation, and the knee angle. All effects were declared significant at a threshold of p < 0.05.
RESULTSThe average speed for 800 m was lower than for 100 m for the experts (2.09 ms-1 0.17 ms-1 and 2.66 ms-1 0.26 ms-1, respectively). Novices were slower than experts (1.69 ms-1 0.11 ms-1 and 2.07 ms-1 0.18 ms-1 respectively). Irrespective of the distance, males were faster than females (2.58 ms-1 0.40 ms-1 vs. 2.15 ms-1 0.31 ms-1). Table 1 shows that the average frequency of stroke cycle decreased with increasing distance for both experts and novices (p < 0.01). On 800 m, novices were slower than elite finswimmers, although their frequency was higher. Such frequency was higher for males (1.61 Hz) than female (1.22 Hz) on 100 m as well as on 800 m males (0.81 Hz vs. 0.61 Hz, respectively). Figure 1 indicates that the amplitude of body oscillation increased as a function of race distance (p < 0.01) for all expertise levels. The upper limbs amplitude of oscillation (i.e., wrist, elbow, and shoulder) was smaller for experts than for novices. Concerning the lower limbs (hip, knee, and ankle),
Table 1. Frequency (Hz) of stroke cycle of the most oscillant joints as a function of practice level and race distance in elite (EXP) and novice (NOV) finswimmers. Data are means (SD). Frequency (Hz) EXP 100m NOV 100m EXP 800m NOV 800m 1.89 (.30) 1.54 (.26) 0.97 (.16) 1.01 (.16) Hip 1.88 (.29) 1.53 (.28) 0.97 (.16) 0.98 (.17) Knee 1.88 (.29) 1.53 (.28) 0.96 (.16) 1.01 (.16) Ankle 1.88 (.01) 1.54 (.01) ** 0.97 (.00) 1.00 (.02) Average ** significant difference (p < 0.01).
Gautier et al.0,80 0,70EXP 100m NOV 100m EXP 800m NOV 800m
Figure 1. Range of vertical oscillation for elite (EXP) and novice (NOV) finswimmers in a 100 m and 800 m race. ** significant difference (p<0.05). only the amplitude at the ankle level was larger for experts than for novices. There was non difference between male and female in vertical ankle amplitude (0.56 m vs. 0.51 m, respectively). However, wrist amplitude was significantly lower in female (0.22 m) than in male (0.26 m). Knee bending was a factor of performance as a function of the expertise (p < 0.01) associated with the important vertical amplitude of the ankle. Bending for experts was smaller than for novices (119.25 3.31 deg. and 104.60 4.96 deg. respectively on 100m). On the 800 m, novices knee bending was higher than the elites one (94.85 7.30 deg. vs. 108.87 6.61 deg.). However, such main effects on knee bending were comprised within a 4-way gender x race distance x practice interaction. This result will be discussed in the following part. While stroke frequency decreased with increasing race distance, mean joint amplitude increased, irrespective of the expertise level. This also suggests that both novices and experts can adapt their energy output. Regarding motion amplitude, the experts upper limbs appeared to act as a stabilizing device. Expert finswimmers limit potential energy due to upper limbs oscillation in order to increase kinetic energy. In contrast, novices larger upper limbs amplitude and lower speed indicate that potential energy is not transformed in to kinetic energy as efficiently. Such an inefficacy is reinforced by the fact that their shoulder operated as a pivot point, so that the body behaved as a pendulum rather than as an element along which a wave was transmitted, and by the fact that their frontal area was wider due to their larger upper limbs amplitude. In addition, the novices shoulder was nearer to the snorkel, as they were privileging breathing and were not as used to submerge their head as elite finswimmers. They did not take advantage of buoyancy to balance their upper limbs. Note that underwater, the undulatory motion starts from the hip down to the ankle (Baly et al., 2002), whereas at the surface this motion basically starts from the shoulder for novices. Regarding gender, females were slower than males, and their stroke frequency was lower. Females upper limbs oscillation was larger, while that of the lower limbs was smaller. In spite of such a large lower limbs oscillation and an important knee bending, males were faster than females. They appear to take most advantage of the maximal acceleration generated at the moment of down-kick than female (Tamura et al., 2002). The experts vertical amplitude at the ankle was larger than for novices irrespective of the
DISCUSSIONThe present study investigated the undulation motion performed by finswimmers at the surface, aiming to uncover the influence of gender, practice level, and race distance on selected kinematic parameters. The undulation frequency and the swimming speed decreased with the increasing race distance from 100 m to 800 m for both expertise levels. This suggests an adaptive decrement in the energy expenditure for long races. Moreover, although novices were slower than experts on 800 m, they showed a higher frequency. Novices seem thus to rush their action, privileging muscular strength and quick motion in a attempt to swim faster. This point to a lack of efficiency in the novices stroke technique.
race distance. Likewise, thanks to the stabilizing role of the upper limbs and the resulting streamlining, the energy gained and stored was used to increase the ankle vertical amplitude. Therefore the speed reached by male finswimmers might be due to the potential energy generated by the wrist amplitude, which is transformed in kinetic energy and transmitted caudally, in the line of the suggestion made by Sanders et al. (1995). That amplitude increased from hip to ankle in elite finswimmers, particularly on 800 m, suggests a whip-like action (Ungerechts, 1982). Both the reduction of frequency and the rising of ankle amplitude induced a relief in the foot pain resulting from the friction and the rigidity of the monofin. Nevertheless, standard monofin with specific length and rigidity allowed to reach an amplitude and a frequency most adept to the race. As suggested by Videler and Kamermans (1985) for dolphins, elite finswimmers seem to beneficiate from a large propellant area and to accelerate during downstroke, which they optimized by setting both a gliding and a propellant phase. Interlimb dissociation allowed elite finswimmers to reach and to preserve their high speed and to achieve the best performance. Expert male finswimmers exhibited a smaller knee bending than females of the same expertise and than male novices, inducing a limitation in frontal drag. Indeed, at the surface, the body has better be always profiled. In comparison to underwater results reported by Baly et al. (2002), the experts upper limbs were used as a stabilizing device at the surface too. For novices however, an efficient oscillation starts at the shoulder level at the surface, whereas it starts at the hip level underwater. Stroke frequency at surface is higher than underwater for the same race distance, whereas the ankle amplitude is bigger. For both surface and underwater swimming, hip and knee amplitude of oscillation is almost similar. Interestingly, our out-water camera did not record any marker. This suggests that even in surface swimming, finswimmers tended to operate in a quasi-underwater situation, probably because underwater swimming is faster than doing so at the surface. The ankle amplitude was larger underwater than at the surface, despite the lower hip angular excursion. Such results may be understood by the larger mass of water efficiently used underwater.
a race at the surface. Elite male finswimmers achieve such a feat thanks to a weaker knee bending and a low upper limbs pitching, reducing concomitantly their frontal area and drag. Moreover, they optimally transform potential energy into kinetic energy during stroke cycles and transfer it caudally, tantamount contributing to a propulsive whip-like action. Expertise may be conceived as taking advantage of the mechanical constraints pertaining to hydrodynamics in order to optimize performance. This empirical study represents a first if incomplete step towards a more thorough modeling of finswimming.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTSWe would like to thank Mr. Scribot at the CREPS in Toulouse for his logistic support. We are also grateful to the Extrem Vision Company for its technical aid.
REFERENCESBaly, L., Favier, D., Durey, A. and Berton, E. (2002) Influence de la distance de course sur les paramtres cinmatiques de nage chez les nageurs avec palmes de haut niveau. Science & Sports 17 (5), 263-265 Gautier, J., Baly, L., Zanone, P. G. and Watier, B. (2004) Effect of practice level and race distance on kinematics parameters in finswimming. Science & Sports, In press. Sanders, R. H., Cappaert, J. M. and Devlin, R. K. (1995) Wave characteristics of butterfly swimming. Journal of Biomechanics 28, 9-16 Tamura, H., Nakazawa, Y., Sugiyama, Y., Nomura, T. and Torii, N. (2002) Motion analysis and shape evaluation swimming monofin. In: The Engineering of Sport. Eds: Ujihashi, S. and Haake, S.J., Blackwell Science, Vol. 4, 716-724. Ungerechts, B. E. (1982) A comparison of the movements of the rear parts of dolphins and butterfly swimmers. In: Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming. Ed: Hollander, A. P., Champaign, Human Kinetics, 215-221. Videler, J. (1981) Swimming movements, body structure and propulsion. Cod Gadusmorhua, Symposia of the Zoological Society of London 48, 1-27 Videler, J. and Kamermans, P. (1985) Differences between upstroke and downstroke in swimming dolphins. Journal of Experimental Biology 119, 265-274 Vogel, S. (1994) Life in moving fluids. Second ed. Princeton University press, Princeton. 467 Zamparo, P., Prendergast, D. R., Termin, B. and Minetti, A. E. (2002) How fins affect the economy and efficiency of human swimming. Journal of Experimental Biology 205, 2665-2676
CONCLUSIONSFinswimmers cannot get away from body streamlining in order to reach high level of performance through the adaptation of stroke frequency and motion amplitude to the constraints of
Gautier et al. AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY Jimmy GAUTIER Employment Doctoral Student Degree MS in sports sciences Research interests Biomechanics of sports gestures. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Laurent BALY Employment Project manager Degree PhD Research interests Biomechanics of sport E-mail: email@example.com Pier-Giorgio ZANONE Employment Professor Degree PhD Research interests Dynamics of coordination and learning E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Bruno WATIER Employment Assistant Professor Degree PhD Research interests Biomechanics E-mail: email@example.com
KEY POINTS Finswimmers are at one and the same time a propelling and a propelled body. This study investigates the undulatory motion performed by finswimmers at the surface. Elite male finswimmers were pitching more acutely than female swimmers and showed a smaller knee bending than both novices and elite female swimmers. Finswimmers tended to perform a dolphin-like motion, which is used underwater situation and optimizes hydrodynamics.
Jimmy Gautier Laboratoire Adaptation Perceptivo-Motrice et Apprentissage, EA 3691, UFR STAPS, Universit Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31 062 Toulouse cedex 04 France.


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Over the last 30 years, Gabriel Byrne has established himself as one of the leading actors of his generation. Stories from Home is a revealing and evocative insight into Byrne's life. Blending home movie films and contemporary footage, it's an intimate profile, emanating from the man himself and giving the viewer a rare insight into Byrne's private and public world.
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Leiths professional courses / Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
Summary Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
Begins Mon 16 Dec 2019PLACES AVAILABLE - Call or email to enquire
£19340.00 (£1900.00 deposit)
We are now taking bookings for the 2019/2020 Two Term Diploma. The fee for this course is £19,340 (deposit £1,900). If you're interested to find out more about the course, please call 0208 749 6400 to book a tour of the school and an informal interview.
Dates for 2019/2020: 16th December to 20th December 2019 (Skills Week), 3rd January to 20th March 2020 (Intermediate Term), 14th April to 26th June 2020 (Advanced Term).
The Leiths Two Term Diploma is a renowned full time cookery course designed for those wishing to launch a career in food. It offers comprehensive professional training that will ensure a rounded knowledge of food and wine along with a clear sense of current industry trends and culinary styles, menu planning and budgeting. Successful students will also gain a CTH Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts, which is one level below a full degree.
Students enrolling for the Two Term Diploma must make themselves available from 16th - 20th December 2019 in order to attend an Induction week. During this week you will have practical sessions focussed on the key skills, so you can familiarise yourself with our professional kitchens whilst the teachers can assess your cooking informally and give individual advice on any practice required before the start of term.
We will also go through how the course will run and how you will be assessed; coursework that Foundation students have completed; how you will go about writing your daily time plans for class and how to cover the course theory.
You will also complete the Food Hygiene Level 2 certificate as part of this induction. You will also be required to attend the School on Friday 3rd January 2020 for Allergen Awareness and COSHH training.
Open evenings:
For information about our upcoming open evenings, click here.
Suitable for:
Anyone interested in a career in the food industry. This includes:
- Working as a professional or private chef
- Opening a cafe, pub, bistro or restaurant
- Launching a catering business
- Developing food products
- Food styling
- Food writing
- Food media, marketing and PR
The Diploma can be achieved in two or three terms. The Two Term Diploma starts in January and comprises of the Intermediate and Advanced Certificates. You must have enough knowledge of cookery, previous culinary training, or sufficient practical experience to omit the Foundation Term.
How to book:
In the first instance please email us to arrange an interview or call 020 8749 6400. Following this, to secure a place, we will require a completed enrolment form and a deposit of £1900. If you have any queries regarding how to book the course please telephone the school.
Please note: Payments for professional courses must be made by either bank transfer, cheque or a debit card payment. We cannot accept credit cards.
Course content Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
The tabs detail the sample techniques and recipes that you will learn during each term.
You will be continually assessed during the practical sessions. You must also pass a theory and practical examination and complete the coursework to successfully graduate. A class teacher will give feedback and support throughout the course.
You will be expected to study at home for about 4 to 5 hours a week. This will include writing time plans, menu planning and costing exercises. This will form a final portfolio to be assessed at the end of the academic year.
You may be disqualified from taking examinations if you have not completed the required 90% of the course.
Details of our Complaints Procedure can be found here. If you have any questions about this procedure, please email email@example.com.
Intermediate term
This term enables students to build on their basic skills. By the end of the course students will be able to cook both modern and classic dishes to a high professional dinner party standard. Students will be taught to be more creative and to cook ideas of their own without written recipes.
In small groups, students also cost, plan, shop and cook for 50 of their fellow students as a practical exercise developing their ability to cook for large numbers in a team.
During the term, Leiths List, our agency, will organise careers sessions where students will be able to talk to people from all over the catering industry in order to help make decisions about future careers.
Intermediate Certificate in Food and Wine
This term can be taken as an independent 12 week certificate course or as part of the Two term Diploma. Potential students wishing to enrol should be experienced cooks with a sound knowledge of cooking. They may lack formal training and wish to improve their skills and to learn classical cooking methods to create contemporary dishes.
The School can assist in arranging coaching prior to the course to enable students, where appropriate, to join us at this level.
Typical skills and sample recipes:
Meat preparation
- 2 day session with butchers
- Boned chicken with ricotta and sun dried tomatoes
- Butterfly leg of lamb
- Guinea fowl braised with smoked paprika, peppers and olives
- Salt and spice roasted pork belly with caramelized peanut and chilli dressing
International cooking
- Pacific Rim
- Spanish
Professional skills
- Costing - How to organise an event for 200+ people, ordering, staffing, hire, etc
- Menu writing
- Pan fried fillet of venison with fresh pear chutney
- Partridge, Jerusalem artichokes
- Emulsion sauces – Monkfish with herby hollandaise, steak with béarnaise sauce
- Pan sauces – Skate with brown butter and capers
- Espagnole – Veal steaks with Madeira sauce
Fish and shellfish preparation
- Fried sardines with a spicy pickled cucumber & red onion salad
- Sea bream with skordalia and a pinenut vinaigrette
- Deep fried squid in herbed salt and pepper batter
- Spaghetti con Vongole
- Salted Szechwan pepper prawns
- Gelatine and Mousses – Honey bavarois, chilled lemon soufflé
- Soufflés – twice baked goats cheese soufflés, passion fruit soufflés, pistachio souffle
- Ice creams – Ginger Ice Cream, Damson ice cream
- Pate Sucrée – Tarte au citron
- Choux - Aubergine & Proscuitto gougere
- Flaky pastry – Steak and kidney pie, Cinnamon palmiers
- Hot watercrust pastry – Veal and ham raised pie
- Suet crust pastry – Steak and kidney pudding
- Beignets
- Enriched bread doughs – Beer bread, Chelsea buns, Walnut raisin bread, Hot cross buns
- Whisking method - Genoise and Crème au beurre
- Work towards the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Certificate in Wine and Spirits (completed during the advanced term)
- Compare old and new world wines
- Discuss current market trends in food and examining the effect this has on the wine trade
- Matching food with wine
Advanced term
Refining the skills and techniques acquired during the Foundation and Intermediate terms, students can expect to graduate with the precision required to enter a top level professional kitchen or alternative area of the food industry. By the end of the course students will be able to cook both modern and classic dishes to a restaurant standard. The style of the food is both sophisticated and challenging.
During the Advanced Certificate, students will meet professionals from all areas of the industry and our agency Leiths List can introduce current students to graduates who have followed a variety of career paths.
Advance Certificate in Food and Wine
This course can be taken as an independent 12 week certificate course. Potential students should very proficient and confident cooks with good knowledge of skills at Foundation and Intermediate level, either from formal training or from cooking in a professional kitchen.
The School can assist in arranging coaching prior to the course to enable students, where appropriate, to join us at this level.
Typical skills and sample recipes:
Meat preparation
- Wood pigeon and black pudding salad
- Lamb sweatbreads with madeira jus
- Ballotine of chicken
- Assiette of rabbit
- Beurre blanc
- Cappuccino sauces
- Jus
- Bisque
- Sabayon
Fish and shellfish preparation
- Roasted Pollock with sweetcorn puree and mushroom mousseline
- Braised octopus with caramelised onions and aioli
- Tea smoked mackerel with horseradish potatoes and chive oil
- Honey roast sea bass with pickled ginger
- Lobster and crab ravioli with bisque sauce
- Langoustines with fennel risotto and lemon oil
- Hand rolled garganelli with new season's morels and spring truffle pesto
- Chicken and wild mushroom ravioli with morels
- Vanilla pannacotta with rhubarb and strawberries
- Ice creams, sorbets and parfaits
- Puff pastry – seafood feuilletees, Boeuf en croute, Gateau Pithiviers
- Sablées – Sablée aux fraises
- Strudel pastry
- Bread – Wild yeast sour doughs, ciabatta, Fougasse
- Yeasted pastries – Danish pastries and Croissants
- Brioche
Other skills
- Tempering chocolate – hand made ganache filled chocolates
- Preserving – bottling, jams and chutneys
- Sugar work – sugar corkscrews and spun sugar
- Clearing – Sauternes jelly with foie gras terrine, clear lemon jelly
Professional skills
- How to start a business – law, health and safety, ordering, laid down procedures, environmental health, staffing
- Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Certificate in Wine
Also covered: Knife skills, presentation, seasoning, pasta, offal, petits fours, vegetable garnishes and demonstrations from visiting specialists.
Typical day
A typical day normally starts at 9.15am and finishes at 5pm with an hour for lunch between 1-2pm.
The day is divided between demonstrations and practical cooking sessions. You will also receive lectures and demonstrations from gastronomic celebrities and head chefs from leading restaurants as well as caterers, food scientists and other culinary experts.
During the course, there is also the occasional outing and event that goes outside these set hours.
Your weeks alternate so on one week, your day begins with a morning demonstration at 10.00am; arrive at 9.45am to be prepared for the start.
The next week, your day will start with a practical cookery session; arrive by 9.15am to change into your chef's whites and start organising ingredients.
Earlier starts:
During the Intermediate term, there are two earlier starts at 9am for the butchery sessions, plus two very early morning visits to Smithfield meat market.
If the morning cooking session does not run over, lunch is 1-2pm. You can go to the student common room, remain in the demonstration room, do some research in the library or sit in the local park.
All the food you cook is yours, so if you have a morning cookery session your lunch can be what you've cooked. If you have a morning demonstration, you taste the food at the end of the session, but may also want to bring supplementary food from home or eat out locally.
If you have a practical session in the afternoon, allow time to change and get into the kitchens early to weigh up the ingredients.
Classes usually end at 5pm but may finish later on occasions. If you are cooking in the afternoon, the food cooked can be taken home to enjoy for dinner.
Late finishes:
During the Intermediate term we run a charity canapé party for friends and family of students, after the school day has finished.
In the Advanced term, there is a trip to vineyards in Sussex that returns at around 5.30pm.
Qualifications Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
By completing this course, you will gain the following qualifications:
- Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
- CTH Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts
- Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wines and Spirits
- Assessment in Marine Cookery
- Level 2 Food Allergen Awareness
- Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering
- Level 2 Health and Safety in the Workplace
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health class
- First Aid training
Students completing the Leiths Diploma course are entered for the 'Best Overall Student Award', sponsored by I&P Olive Oils, and the 'Best Wine Student Award', sponsored by Louis Latour. The prizes are generous, enjoyable and educational.
Careers Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
What you could do with a Leiths Diploma:
- Set up your own catering company or freelance for other caterers
- Become a food stylist and make food look beautiful for photography
- Develop dishes or products for a food producer or supermarket
- Teach others to cook
- Write recipe books
- Become a food writer
- Become a private chef for a family
- Work in food media, marketing or PR
- Or become a chef and aim for a Michelin star or 3!
See what our Alumni are doing now
Business advice
For those considering setting up their own business, Leiths holds career seminars and offers talks on insurance, VAT, business plans, public relations, marketing, health and safety legislation and taxation.
Finding work
Leiths can arrange work experience placements in restaurants, magazines and other food companies for Diploma students. Leiths List, the school's agency for chefs, can also assist students and graduates in finding work.
Booking / Fees Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
A place on the Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine is subject to the student being proficient in the skills and theory covered during the Foundation Certificate. The student must have done some work experience in a professional kitchen before they start the course. A one-to-one with a Leiths teacher (at an additional cost) is usually required to assess the student's skill level once the initial interview has taken place and then to cover or revise Foundation Certificate skills as necessary.
How to book
In the first instance please contact us to arrange an informal interview and a tour of the school. Following this, to secure a place, we will require a completed enrolment form and a deposit of £1,900. If you have any queries regarding how to book the course please telephone the School.
All remaining professional course fees will be due at least six weeks before the course starts. We'll send you an invoice, along with instructions for ordering equipment, books and uniform closer to the time.
Regrettably the Professional Careers Development Loan was withdrawn on 31st January 2019 and as yet, a new scheme has not been announced by the Government.
Leiths is registering for the Advanced Learners Loan but sadly this is not likely to be available for our students until the 20/21 cohort.
You can, however choose to pay your fees in instalments. Please call for more information.
Facilities Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
Leiths School of Food and Wine is located over 4 floors of a light and airy space on a residential street between Shepherd's bush and Chiswick in West London.
The school is comprised of four kitchens, three of which are used for the full time students while the fourth is used for recipe development, corporate team building, one day workshops, photography and filming.
The kitchens are all equipped with gas ovens and hobs of the same design and high standard employed by most professional restaurants and catering kitchens, giving students access to all the equipment needed to learn to cook professionally.
The demonstration kitchen on the ground floor is fully air conditioned and fitted with LCD screens and cameras enabling students to see the close up details of each step of the dishes and techniques demonstrated by the teachers and outside lecturers.
Students have access to a library of cookery books and magazines for reference, a student dining room, changing facilities and WiFi. There are computers at their disposal.
Preparing for the Course Leiths Two Term Diploma in Food and Wine
Uniform and equipment
As a student on this course, you will require knives (£145 – 360) additional kitchen equipment (£200) and course literature (£75).
You are required to wear chef's jackets, hats, aprons and checked trousers. You can order these items from us when you pay the final invoice. Good quality flat, black lace up shoes or non-slip kitchen clogs, must also be worn in the kitchens.
The School is non-residential, but we keep an accommodation list if you need help finding somewhere to stay while you study.
Foreign Language Students and Visas
Students for whom English is a second language should normally have reached an IELTS (The International English Language Testing System) band score (or equivalent) of 6.5 - this equates to C1 on the CEFR (Council of Europe's Common European Framework).
Students from abroad may be required to send a resumé of their cooking experience, knowledge and skills.
Please contact the school if you are a Non-EU prospective student requiring either a Study Visa or Tier 4 Study Visa.
Teachers are very supportive and approachable.Diploma student 2019
* All prices correct at time of publishing. Please note that prices are likely to change at the end of each financial year (April).
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Scientists Warn The United States To Prepare For Even More Riots, Brace Yourself (Video)
By Josey Wales
By using plain and simple math, along with data charts, scientists at the New England Complex Systems Institute have come to a clear-cut conclusion that when food prices rise, as much as they are in the US, then people start rioting.
Did you know right now in the US, 49 million Americans are already dealing with food insecurity. One in seven Americans rely on food banks.
One quarter of the American military needs outside assistance to feed their families. And of course, minorities are facing serious hunger issues.
Ukraine, one of the largest wheat exporters in the world, has suffered a 73 percent increase in domestic wheat costs.
According to the World Bank, these price increases have been caused primarily by three factors:
1) Sharply higher demand for food in China,
World Bank blog entry by Senior Economist Jose Cuesta entitled "No Food, No Peace" (2) warns that:
"It is quite likely that we will experience more food riots in the foreseeable future… food price shocks have repeatedly led to spontaneous — typically urban — sociopolitical instability."
American investigative journalist Alfred Henry Lewis (1855-1914) famously said, "There are only nine meals between mankind and anarchy." He went on to explain, "It may be taken as axiomatic that a starving man is never a good citizen."
Hunger dispels the illusions of a polite society and unleashes the desperate animal-like nature that lurks inside all human beings.
The EBT system depends entirely on the financial solvency of the federal government, an empire steeped in over $17 trillion in debt and constantly on the verge of a financial wipeout.


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Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial plant native to Europe and Asia; and present in North America as well. The plant grows to a height of 3-4 feet.
Valerian blooms from June to September. The flowers are pink or white, with a generally pleasant smell. However, other parts of the plant have a musky smell, reportedly not unlike unwashed feet.
Valerian has been used in medicine for over a thousand years, with Hippocrates being the first to describe its properties. The name of the plant stems from the Latin word valere, meaning healthy, strong.
Effects of valerian:
The part of valerian that is considered to be the most effective is the oil that can be found in the plant's root. It is this part that is used in medicines and by those who wish to experience its effects.
The most common use of valerian is as a cure for insomnia and other sleep disorders. This is due to the sedative effects of Valeriana officinalis. Other uses include treating anxiety, depression and pain, though the effectiveness of valerian treating these symptoms is disputed.
Several studies have confirmed the effects of valerian on sleep, however, the exact mechanism of its effects have yet to be fully understood.
Valerian also attracts cats, similarly to catnip (Nepeta cataria). The plant's smell also attracts rats, which means it may be (and has been) used in traps.
If you find this Valerian guide useful please give it a "+1":
Thank you!
Valerian guide
- Legal status of valeriana officinalis
- Buy valerian
- Valerian effects
- Dangers of valerian
- Interactions with valerian
- Health benefits of valeriana officinalis
- Valerian dosage
- Valerian – preparation and consumption
- Valerian trip reports
Valeriana officinalis – legal status
Valerian is not a controlled plant in most countries, which means it is legal to buy, possess, grow or trade the plant or parts of it. Extracts of Valeriana officinalis are commonly sold as an over the counter supplement.
In the US, valerian is on the FDA's list of substances that are generally recognised to be safe (GRAS). The root oil and extracts may be used as spice or seasoning.
While valerian does not seem to be specifically controlled or illegal in any countries, it may still be banned categorically. Islamic countries, to be specific, may adopt Sharia law into their legal system. This law prohibits the use of all intoxicants and considers them an abomination.
Please note that while currently there seem to be no laws banning the use of valerian in any country, laws are subject to change. Make sure to check with the appropriate laws in your country or region before deciding to buy or try Valeriana officinalis.
Source: University of Maryland Medical Centre, Erowid
Buy Valerian
Valerian root and valerian extract are available as over the counter substances in several countries. I can personally recommend two online shops that ship quality valerian root extract globally.
Buy Valerian – US
Buy valerian /Shipped from the US./
Buy Valerian – Europe, Netherlands
You can buy valerian in europe at the following link:
Buy Valerian /Shipped from the Netherlands. Currently valerian root is unavailable, but supplements containing valerian root extract, such as Lounge E are available./
Valerian effects
Valerian is often called nature's Valium, though Valium is synthetic while valerian is a herb. Still, the two have rather similar sedative effects.
The part of Valeriana officinalis most often used in medicine is its root – the root oil it contains, to be precise. It is this part that contains the largest concentration of active compounds.
At least, that is the theory: it is still unclear exactly how valerian exerts its effects. The root contains several alkaloids, gamma-aminobutryc acid (GABA) and isovaleric acid, among other compounds.
Currently most research suggests that the effects are achieved through a synergy of the active compounds. Another theory is that valerian inhibits an enzyme that destroys GABA as well as causing it to be released from brain nerve endings, which may cause the sedative effects.
Cognitive effects
The main cognitive effect caused by valerian is sedation. Most users report sleepiness after consuming the substance. This is accompanied by a calm, relaxed state.
The effects of valerian are generally considered pleasant. Use of the plant reduces anxiety and can result in mild euphoria and slight feelings of intoxication. The effects are comparable to a small dose of MDMA, but without any mental clouding.
Physical effects
Valeriana officinalis has rather few physical effects. Some users have reported tingling sensations after consumption. Due to valerian's sedative effects, it may be more trying to accomplish physical tasks.
The root oil of Valeriana officinalis affects circulation the same as other sedatives. Heart rate and breathing slows down, and users may feel sluggish.
Sources: National Institutes of Health, botanical.com, Erowid
Dangers of Valeriana officinalis
Valerian is mostly considered a safe substance, as evidenced by being included on the FDA's list of substances generally recognised to be safe. However, as with practically all substances, there are some dangers to the use of valerian.
For one, Valeriana officinalis is a little-researched plant, which means there are no definitive studies detailing the effects of long-term use.
Clinical study participants have reported headaches, dizziness and gastrointestinal problems; though it should be noted that some of these effects occurred with placebo as well.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Interactions with valerian
Valerian is a sedative and an anxiolytic, causing sleepiness and reduced anxiety. It is generally inadvisable to use it in combination with other substances with similar effects. This list includes other sedatives, Xanax and alcohol.
Valerian also affects the liver's ability to break down other substances and medications. Please consult your doctor before taking valerian if you are also using lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), or similar medications that are changed by the liver.
Source: WebMD
Valerian health benefits
Valeriana officinalis is most commonly used to treat sleep disturbances, most notably insomnia. Clinical studies show that there is a significant difference in the time it takes to fall asleep between patients receiving valerian and those taking placebo
Valerian has been used for several other medicinal purposes as well, though there is insufficient evidence for most of its supposed effects. Health benefits attributed to valerian include relieving pain, reducing stress and anxiety and treating epilepsy.
Sources: WebMD, National Institutes of Health
Valerian dosage
The root of Valeriana officinalis contains about 0,8% root oil, though this can vary between 0,5-2,0% depending on the plant's location and environment.
Because of this variation, dosages given in grams of the root can only be considered guidelines. The amount of extract recommended for insomnia is about 300-900 mg before sleep, while anxiety can be treated with 120 mg of extract three times a day.
In order to achieve stronger, possibly euphoric effects as experienced by some users, larger doses may be necessary. Users should always exercise caution when experimenting with higher doses.
Valerian tea and other methods of consumption
It is the root of Valeriana officinalis that is usually consumed to achieve the desired effects. There are several ways to prepare and consume valerian.
The most common way to use the root is by making a valerian tea. 1-2 teaspoons of valerian root are steeped in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes. Afterwards, the root is filtered out and the valerian tea may be drank. The tea is reported to taste and smell less than pleasant; honey and lemon may be added to ameliorate the experience.
Valerian is also available as an over the counter drug, often mixed with hops or other botanicals. These pills may also be used to achieve the sedative, pleasant effects of valerian.
Buy Valerian
Valerian root and valerian extract are available as over the counter substances in several countries. I can personally recommend two online shops that ship valerian globally.
Buy Valerian – US
Buy valerian /Shipped from the US./
Buy Valerian – Netherlands
You can buy Valerian at the following link:
Buy Valerian /Shipped from the Netherlands. Currently valerian root is unavailable, but supplements containing valerian, such as Lounge E are available./
Valerian trip reports
The following are reports of ordinary people who took valerian and wrote down their experiences.
"I've found Valerian root to have noticeable but variable effects. It does not smell nice; very much like extremely sweaty underarms. It also does not taste very good by itself (bitter,) but honey can be added, which also helps digestion. It has irritated my stomach on occasion. I usually use about a teaspoon, steeped in hot water for 5-10 minutes. I find it very relaxing and often, though not always, sleep-inducing.
The first time I ever tried it, I probably used two tablespoons. I sat in my living room for several hours and did nothing but breathe. It was a state that was as at least as relaxing as sleep. It did seem to affect respiration; breathing was a little more labored, though very pleasantly so. Each breath was a conscious and independent decision."
– Excerpt from Kevin's valerian trip report
"The first effects came after some 40 minutes. I noticed that my pupils dilated and since the mirror is situated just under the lamp in the bathroom, I could see that they were not normal since they changed size constantly but irregularily.
After about one hour and 20 mins I felt the effects stronger, it felt almost like having taken a few shots of alcohol. The head felt a little heavier than before and I felt a lot more sleepy than I use to be this 'early'. I'm not sure if I possibly had been able to legally drive a car at that time since I didn't feel too alert. "
– Excerpt from Kay's valerian trip report
If you find this Valerian guide useful please give it a "+1":
Share your own trip report in the comment section below (to ensure anonymity don't use your real name or real email address when submitting trip reports)!
Some of the information presented here might be outdated or incorrect (check "last updated" below). If you are planning to try out any of the substances, make sure to to research them yourself as well.
I'm 100% committed to safe and responsible legal high consumption. If you have a few minutes to spare please read my blog post about responsible and safe legal drugs use.
Valerian is only one of the legal highs included in Simon's legal high guide, check out the others as well.
If you're interested in more legal, natural sedatives, check out Simon's Guide to Natural Sedatives!
Last updated: 2015. 12. 07.


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From brand standards, to captivating websites, graphic design is paramount to effective marketing. Why? Because it doesn't matter how great your message may be – if it doesn't capture your audience's attention visually, it probably won't connect. That's where designers come into the picture – or create it, rather! Designers are a focal point of our digital marketing agency, acting as a creative liaison between web development, photography, content, social media, and management teams.
Our resident design genius, August, challenges the status quo of traditional design, specializing in bringing brands to life through digital art, typography, and more. In our staff Q&A, he chats about his passion for design and CMA's approach:
What attracted you to graphic design?
I've always been a creative thinker. I enjoy applying that creativity to the process of design and visually solving problems.
What are some of the projects you work on at CMA?
I work on brand development and brand refresh projects, among other things. With a brand refresh, we take a brand, identify areas of opportunity, and leverage those to define who they already are. We conduct various stakeholder meetings and analyze feedback to identify common threads and define brand buy-in. With a brand development project, it's a similar process, but we're helping the brand discover who they are and who they want to be through a series of questionnaires and face-to-face meetings.
What's your favorite part about working with CMA's clients?
I enjoy the holistic approach CMA takes for our clients; making sure we do their stories justice. When developing a brand, we look at common themes we're hearing from stakeholders and team members to create something that's educational, useful, and beautiful for our clients, too – not just their consumers.
Is there a specific method for how you approach design problems? What are your tips for effective design in marketing?
We do extensive research including a competitive analysis, reviewing case studies, identifying brand pillars, reverse engineering what similar brands are doing, and diagnosing opportunities. We recommend "showing your work" by creating a brand manifesto, preparing a communications brief, and looking at the overall "how" and "why" a product or service is used.
What are the worst mistakes brands make when using design in their marketing?
I would say it's anytime a brand's design doesn't have longevity. While virality or one-hit-wonders can be effective for certain causes, that can actually end up hurting the brand narrative overtime. After the dust settles, their consumer's connection to the brand may be lost or forgotten. It's important to have a sustainable plan when it comes to branding services.
How would you describe graphic design to someone who doesn't think it's important to a brand's development?
Graphic design is essential to capturing the emotional essence of a brand and cultivating it to create something that people can feel and see. It creates tangible visuals from the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions people have. With that foundation, design works to constantly educate the customer.
In a world of endless content, how can you make yours stand out? Exceptional design is a staple in the marketing and branding services work we do at our Seattle advertising agency. If you're looking for answers to your design questions or need someone to help you step up your design game, contact us today! We make you look good – August and our Creative Media Alliance design team make sure of it.


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Ian Bigg certainly has a lot of interests and hobbies according to his FutureNet Profile.
How does he fit it all in around his scamming I wonder?
He is certainly more "engaged" than powermac Paul McCarthy the Banners Broker Ireland Country Manager.
Paul seems to have no interest in anything other than scamming more suckers just like he did back in the day with Banners Broker
powermac's profile
Screen Shot 2016-03-28 at 17.05.39.jpg


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89 items tagged "Business"
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Midtown Architects v1.0.1 - Responsive Business Joomla Portfolio Template
- Category: ThemeForest
- Created on Monday, 13 February 2017 21:15
This template is a responsive and retina-ready Joomla template with grid system layout.
Consult Press v1.0 - Finance & Consulting Business Joomla Template
- Category: ThemeForest
- Created on Monday, 23 January 2017 23:10
Consult Press is the Perfect Finance, Consulting & Business Joomla Template. Consultpress is best suited for corporate website like accountant, admin, advisor, consulting, business, consult agency, corporate, finance, financial, insurance, invest, investment, investor, consultancy, pensions, trading, consulting Firms, insurance, loan, tax help, Investment firm etc.
Aspasia v1.3 - Responsive Joomla Template for Small Business and Portfolios Sites
- Category: JoomShaper
- Created on Monday, 23 January 2017 22:57
Aspasia is a clean, stylish and professionally designed Joomla 3.5 template. It is a specialized solution for people who love to create, ideal choice for workshop, craftmanship websites and all kinds of (art) businesses. Well made and nice designed multi-concept and multi purpose. Equipped with the powerful Helix3 Framework and pre-designed page templates.
Finance Press v1.0 - Consulting Business, Finance Joomla Template
- Category: ThemeForest
- Created on Monday, 16 January 2017 23:50
Finance Press is the best Joomla template specifically made for independent Financial consultants, Auditors & Accountants. Not only for individuals Finance-Press also includes corporate style layouts for finance based consultancies.
Hammer v1.0.2 - Construction, Building Business, Renovation, Industry Joomla Template
- Category: InspireTheme
- Created on Friday, 13 January 2017 16:44
Hammer is a construction and renovation oriented template, designed for building companies and people that offer renovation and constructon services. Hammer is build on the popular Helix 3 framework and comes with all it's features and more. The design is trending, but classical, with bold colors which can be easily changed depending to your needs. We have also added a variety of pages with practical solutions for your construction business.
Galaxy v1.3.0 - Gantry 5, Business & Portfolio Joomla Template
- Category: InspireTheme
- Created on Thursday, 12 January 2017 20:13
Galaxy is a modern, business & corporate Joomla template built on the powerful Gantry 5 Framework. It is nice, clean and perfectly coded template that fits almost any kind of website. Galaxy comes with many custom particles that bring some unique features and make the website configuration a real pleasure! We also integrated the UIkit Framework in a very natural way which gives you amazing freedom and possibilities.
Lightbox v1.0 - Multipurpose Joomla Template for Businesses and Organizations
- Category: JoomShaper
- Created on Wednesday, 04 January 2017 23:19
Lightbox is a well-designed, responsive and multipurpose Joomla! 3.6+ template for small, medium and big sized consulting companies, financial consultants, law service companies, individual tax/finance advisors and all other kinds of businesses. It includes four built-in template color variants.
Factory Press v1.0 - Industrial Business Joomla Template
- Category: ThemeForest
- Created on Friday, 30 December 2016 16:30
Factory Press – a premium industrial business Joomla Template developed specifically for all types of industry, technique, engineering or machinery businesses. Beside this you also have drag & drop page builder which you can use to create and re-arrange content easily.
JA Mono v1.0.4 - Responsive Joomla template for Creative Business
- Category: JoomlArt
- Created on Thursday, 24 November 2016 13:13
JA Mono is based on Unusual layout concept with monochromatic style. This is not your traditional website and Mono is dedicated for creative business, designers and startups. JA Mono is unusual because it makes great use of large-screen estate.
Industrix v1.3 - Joomla Responsive Business Template
- Category: ThemeForest
- Created on Tuesday, 15 November 2016 21:32
Industrix is html5, css3 powered responsive multipurpose corporate joomla template which will be a great solution for your industry, corporate, business and portfolio sites.
Legend v1.5.0 - Responsive Joomla Business Template
- Category: ThemeForest
- Created on Monday, 14 November 2016 13:07
Legend is a stunning responsive business Joomla! 3.6 template built for showcasing your product or service. Every element of the template is neatly coded giving the template an almost-flat look but a unique one as well.
Vantage v1.4.2 - Responsive Joomla Business Template
- Category: ThemeForest
- Created on Monday, 14 November 2016 13:03
Vantage Template is a clean business or portfolio Joomla! 3 template built with a clean and crisp, pixel by pixel concept. Vantage comes packed with various extensions and an interactive admin option panel.
YbusiNess v2.0 - Responsive Joomla Business Template
- Category: ThemeForest
- Created on Monday, 14 November 2016 12:57
YbusiNess – is a stylist, clean and professional Joomla theme powered by Gantry Framework. You can use it as a business or corporate or portfolio site. The theme is fast, flexible and easy to customize. It comes with Revolution Slider module(25$ value), K2 and Roksprocket and so many features. It has cross browser compatibility and clean code with detials documentation. Hope, you will enjoy it.
Business Line v1.0 - Corporate and General Business Joomla template
- Category: Shape5
- Created on Thursday, 10 November 2016 22:56
Business Line is an extremely powerful, corporate, and general business Joomla template. Its design and unique styling allow you to showcase and organize important content to your website visitors in the best way possible. The header area of the design features a heavily custom Image and Content Fader which will attract your visitor's attention.
Boost v1.0 - Creative Business Folio Template
- Category: Joomlabamboo
- Created on Saturday, 25 June 2016 00:23
Give your site a boost with this fast responsive design for your folio website. Boost is a brilliant and beautiful theme ready for you to use on your portfolio, photography or business site.
JA OnePage v1.1.2 - One Page Joomla Template for business
- Category: JoomlArt
- Created on Tuesday, 31 May 2016 09:26
JA OnePage is responsive One page template for Joomla 3 and Joomla 2.5. It runs on our brand new T3 Framework with tons of backend customization config options. JA OnePage has all the features required for quickly launching most of the sites, it's more of a launch site or for people / companies who just need the online presence but do not have much to show or offer online.
LT eService Pro v1.0 - Business / Online Service Joomla Template
- Category: LTheme
- Created on Monday, 23 May 2016 00:56
LT eService is responsive template tailored for business / online service websites. Actually, use this template to introduce one of a kind email services solution to your potential customers in a very effective way. Make your sites displaying on mobile / tablet version with 100% responsive layout, clean and stylish.
ZT Evio v1.0.0 - Responsive Business Joomla Template
- Category: ZooTemplate
- Created on Saturday, 21 May 2016 10:54
ZT Evio is Elegant & Creative Business Joomla Template which have many powerful features to allow you build websites very easy and unlimited your creative to make impressed websites. ZT Evio comes with two expertly crafted home pages and variety of practical layouts and elements for all your business needs. Wonderful design, large functionality, options and features it's only start. You can easy customize a lot of options, for example – Particles effect on Header and so on.
Aspasia v1.0 - Responsive Joomla Template for Small Business and Portfolios Sites
- Category: JoomShaper
- Created on Friday, 20 May 2016 14:30
Aspasia is a clean, stylish and professionally designed Joomla 3.5 template. It is a specialized solution for people who love to create, ideal choice for workshop, craftmanship websites and all kinds of (art) businesses. Well made and nice designed multi-concept and multi purpose. Equipped with the powerful Helix3 Framework and pre-designed page templates. It supports lastest version of HikaShop, K2, AcyMailing and is easily customizable with SP Page Builder tool. It is fully responsive and it looks good on all resolutions and devices.
SJ Stabwall v1.0.0 - Responsive Business Joomla Template
- Category: SmartAddons
- Created on Saturday, 19 March 2016 11:46
SJ Stabwall is a professional Business Joomla 3.x template with a well-structured layout and elegant look for any business/corporate sites. SJ Stabwall comes with dozens of powerful extensions and an intuitive admin option panel that allows you easily to set up a business website.
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The depth of knowledge and experience within our team enable us, as specialist contractors, to focus that expertise over a dedicated range of construction disciplines to solve your problems. Focusing on façade repair and refurbishment, through specialist cleaning techniques, application of decorative and protective coatings, repair of brickwork, stonework and concrete, specialist applications of silicate coatings and the application of Liquid Resin coatings for car park decks, podium decks, balconies, and walkways to offer fully warranted waterproof and decorative solutions especially where limited downtime is a requirement
High Five Construction's team offers the benefit of many years experience in the sector of specialised concrete repair works. Known to, and recognised by, all of the main product manufacturers, their staff bring a wealth of knowledge of repair techniques to remediate and repair concrete.
We can carry out specialist testing, and sample gathering for laboratory analysis. We also can provide repair specifications or simply react to specifications provided. If it's concrete, we can fix it, repair it, warrant it's longevity and we can even make it architecturally more attractive. We can actually make other surfaces look like concrete if required
High Five specialise in repairing and refurbishing brick facades. We can clean with care to revive brickwork. We can repair brick faces with Heritage approved mortars, We can repoint, If your brickwork is collapsing or unstable we can rectify this by installing HELIFIX retrofit ties or creating new support by installing HELIFIX Helibeams as an approved installer.
We can apply impregnation chemicals that will arrest water and salt damage. We can return brickwork to its original glory or, using silicate technology, we can totally change your brickwork to achieve a complete new look to your structure
High Five can offer a range of waterproofing solutions for any construction situation. Working closely with specialist manufacturers such as SIKA REMMERS & VANDEX, we can offer waterproofing from Grades 1 to 4. We can offer below ground membranes for all types of new construction below slabs and raft foundations.
We can install or replace failed DPC. We can waterproof your basement both externally and internally, advising on ventilation, humidity and condensation issues. All our work is fully warranted and guaranteed offering you, the customer, long term peace of mind and confidence
Liquid Resin technology has become an important component in many areas of Construction. High Five's trained specialist applicators have great experience in the skill and expertise of applying these rapid curing chemicals to transform open space surfaces from car park decks, walkways, podium decks, balconies, to staircases and landings.
These products waterproof and protect, enhance aesthetically and architecturally improving living and working environments, are durable and come with warranties up to 20 years at no extra cost. Highly cleanable and non slip.
We have applied coatings manufactured by all the main manufacturers such as SIKA, TREMCO and RPM
Car Parks have become a focal point in our society in respect of our reliance on the automobile. Throughout the UK, millions of pounds are spent each year to make these areas safe and welcoming environments for the users.
Primary in this, apart from the potential structural repair that we can offer, are the cold applied liquid coating systems that waterproof and decorate car park surfaces, such as those manufactured by SIKA, TREMCO & RPM.
A recent entrant to the sector in 2018, High Five Construction's team of specialist applicators have completed excellent work in this field for the likes of AXA Insurance and Kent County Council. We specialise in the application of rapid curing resin technology that allow the fast and effective repair of surfaces with minimal downtime, thereby reducing the inconvenience to the end user
We believe we are the most competitive in the marketplace and all our work is fully warranted and guaranteed.
They say "Don't judge a book by its cover !"…Whatever the nature of construction of your project or building, the reality is that what your residence, HQ, depot, office, retail space etc. looks like outside will immediately colour prospective users, clients, customers and visitors in their initial impression of you and potentially your business. If you don't protect your building, it will decrease in value, become more costly to maintain and eventually become an unsafe environment.
We at High Five are the "Transformers" whatever is required we have the skills to renovate and protect to a very high standard at a reasonable cost.
We can provide access by MEWP or mobile towers, where suitable, to save expensive scaffold costs. We can carry out the works using one of our abseiling teams who are all IATA trained.
So from cleaning it, repairing it, to painting it, we can even improve your thermal efficiency by installing SAFE external wall insulation with decorative special renders.


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Forensic Weather Consultants provides a variety of different certified weather reports for various cases and investigations. Our reports can be supplemented with various services and actions, such as testimony, depositions, incident-site visitation, live testimony and more.Learn more about the various types of work Forensic Weather Consultants reviews for its clients.
Slip & Fall
Forensic Weather Consultants is the industry leader providing accurate, site specific reports for slip and fall on snow/ice cases and also slip and falls inside on wet floors.
Hail Impact Reports
Enter a single address or a database of properties you manage and we'll send you an email anytime hail was detected at one or more of your addresses.
Hail, Wind and Tornado Claims
Forensic Weather Consultants offers different levels of service to our customers who are involved in hail, wind and tornado claims and lawsuits.
Forensic Hurricane
Our cutting-edge Forensic Hurricane Reports can be automatically downloaded within seconds here on our website. These reports are a must-have for insurance adjusters, insurance companies, public adjusters, engineers, professionals, and even homeowners who need to determine what the sustained winds, wind gusts and storm surge heights were at a specific address. This inexpensive option contains detailed weather data that will be sufficient for most users.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Forensic Weather Consultants provides site-specific research and analysis for professionals involved in motor vehicle accident claims and lawsuits. You will receive detailed information, findings and opinions as to whether precipitation, sun glare or fog may have played a role in the accident. Read below for more information about our automobile accident weather reports.
Hail swath maps
Hail swath maps Hail swath maps Hail swath maps
Free Hail Alerts
Free Hail Alerts Free Hail Alerts Free Hail Alerts


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View Reading Activities
At first a brand-new toy, now a threadbare and discarded nursery relic, the velveteen rabbit is saved from peril by a magic fairy who whisks him away to the idyllic world of Rabbitland. There, he becomes "Real," a cherished childhood companion who will be loved for eternity. Treasured for generations, here is a timeless tale about the magic of boundless love.
Click here to read more about this book and find fun activities for the whole family.
A new Imagination Library book means a new opportunity to engage with your child using the coordinating reading activity.
Reading Activities
Link to more Baby Signs
More downloadable activities
Facts About Dogs (to talk about during or after reading)
Info and activities about butterflies
Printable activites & crafts
Coloring Sheet
Coloring and Activity Sheets
Author's Website
Reading Activity
Tips for Reading with Babies
Activity Poster
Activities 1
Activities 2
Reading Tip Sheet
Reading Tip Sheet (Spanish)
Llama Llama books website
Activity Packet
Activy and Coloring Sheets
Reading Activities from the Author
Author's website
Max and Ruby's Bedtime Book
Reading Actvity 1
Reading Actvity 2
Reading Actvity 3
Reading Actvity 4
Link to Reading Activities
Video of book being read aloud
One Cool Friend
Link to Actvity Sheets
Meet the Illustrator
The Snowy Day
Activity Kit
Mother Goose Printables, Activities and More
Reading Tips & Activities
Activity Sheet
A partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in all 95 TN counties
312 Rosa Parks Avenue
Tennessee Tower, 27th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243


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Elizabeth Bell
Account Manager
Account Manager
Elizabeth is an experienced Account Manager who concentrates on our client's organic business development growth efforts. She routinely helps the Partners and select professional staff of our clients create business development strategies on how to approach specific prospects, as well as manages client nurture marketing programs. Elizabeth takes the time to coach professionals on basic selling tactics and she has an uncanny ability to follow-through and engage cold prospects to move them from the initial firm awareness stage to a qualified prospect. Her interpersonal skills and prospect interaction capabilities are exceptional.
Prior to joining Visionary, she has over fifteen years of successful account management and business development experience in the communications and advertising industries.


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NAFTA's unexpected impact on Illinois
Representatives from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. recently entered into the fourth round of negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement. While interests are wide-ranging and competing, the major focus has been on "rules of origin," which look at the location breakdown of where products are manufactured to determine trade statistics, procurement and preferential treatment.
As negotiations continue, the State of Illinois, its economy and its real estate could be affected in good, bad and surprising ways:
The singularity is near
While some argue that the U.S. has lost 350,000 manufacturing jobs since 1994 due to trade with Mexico, others note this decline started well before NAFTA began. Tracking employment against manufacturing output is the most telling, as we're seeing a sharp increase in productivity, despite fewer jobs. The answer: Robots and automation are making U.S. manufacturing more efficient. It's not "Westworld," but maybe it's not far off..
Illinois is increasingly exposed
In the past decade, Illinois exports to NAFTA markets have grown by nearly $10 billion. It's significantly more than the growth in exports to Korea, CAFTA-DR, Peru and Colombia combined, meaning we're heavily invested. While our state has seen its share of budget challenges, NAFTA is evidently one long-term relationship that continues to pay dividends. And just what are we sending to our friends in Mexico and Canada?
What we're giving: Oil and cars and soybeans, oh my!
Illinois is such a key exporter in NAFTA, with approximately half of our exports heading to those markets, because of our diversified economy and production of basic staples, from oil to automotive to vaccines. With manufacturers accounting for 26.3 percent of occupied space in suburban Chicago, any potential changes to NAFTA could dramatically impact these companies' approaches to supply chain and space optimization, as well as their financial performance.
What we're getting: More oil, phones and bottles of beer!
With no access to crude oil in-state, it's become Illinois' top import at $18 billion annually. Other top products range from tech to pharmaceuticals to beer, indicating our wide range of import requirements and reliance on free trade agreements. While we're a state strong in raw materials, we depend on the global manufacturing network to send us goods like cell phones, with enough pieces made in enough countries to rival a rock band's world tour.
Where it hits our jobs and real estate
With the majority of Chicago area jobs in trade, transportation and utilities, we have a lot at stake in this round of NAFTA negotiations. Analysis of Chicago market tenants that fall in the top six import and export industries revealed that they account for approximately 5.3 million square feet locally, a conservative number.
In addition to our local companies that make products and send them through the supply chain, industries from pharmaceutical to electronic trading to hospitality depend on the free flow of goods and services across borders. NAFTA may be one of many free trade agreements, but it definitely hits closest to home.
For more information on how policy changes affect local real estate, click here.


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The Setting
Laura, a courteous and quite polite girl, is invitated by her friend Lillian, to spend the weekend at a very isolated mansion, where her old uncle Henri's estate and inheritance is becoming more and more popular as the man's personal health is under discussion. As the invitation is accepted, and the weekend has begon, the story really begins. Lillian seems occupied from the beginning and Laura (you) has all the time to explore the surroundings. The first feeling that crawls up to you, is that not everything is quite alright. With great care, and with a snoop-like attitude, your curiosity is well fed as the game itself begins.
The Characters
The Will
Although the setting is brought to you as a family meeting, where you are allowed to walk around as well, the family is not the main reason all these people have gathered in this desolate isolated mansion. It is expected the health of the old Uncle Henri is decreasing at such a level, it is about time the future of his wealth is decided upon in his will. And if one wishes to retrieve a part of this, one way or the other, it is considered best to be near the grand prize :-). The will appears to be the binding factor that has brought everybody together on this occasion. Or is there more to it? :-)
Relations and understandings
As the evening marches on, you can get a good glimpse of how the people present have their own reasons to distrust or dislike one another, which affects the atmosphere greatly. Deceit, Fraud and Love are topic of discussion and all three seen as reason to have strong emotions about how other individuals.
Alternate ending
At the end of the final Act of the game, you will be forced to make a choice (unless you're too late that is). This choice entails the final direction of the story line by defining the person who is favoured as "good guy" in the end. Although if one reads well enough, it is clear enough what the best choice is supposed to be, this choice is yours.


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Attraction Thumbnail:
Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester Chester, CH2 1LH
Chester Zoo
Pack up the kids and take a trip to the unforgettable Chester Zoo. With over 110 acres and 8,000 animals to meet and learn about, it's no wonder the Chester Zoo is voted one of the top zoos in the world.
First opened in 1931 aiming to offer a more conservationist approach, Chester Zoo has gone from strength to strength and today is Britain's most-visited wildlife attraction.
Today the zoo has a huge range of animals from mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and fish, as well as having regular events, talks and opportunities to get more involved at the zoo.