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Board of Directors
Introducing our Board of Directors
Thank you to the individuals who commit their time and talent to the WFL Foundation.
Kara Reinhardt Block grew up in Princeton, NJ. After graduating from Princeton University with an AB in East Asian Studies, Kara lived in Washington, DC, where she worked in health policy with a focus on medically-underserved populations. She graduated from Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, LA and completed her residency in internal medicine at Tufts Medical Center. In 2010, she and her husband, Jason, moved to Wellesley, where they have two boys in public elementary school.
Currently focused on raising her children, Kara was heavily involved as a parent volunteer at the Wellesley Montessori School including recruiting for and serving on the 2015 search committee for a new director. Kara is the PTO volunteer coordinator at her children's school, a role that grew out of her involvement on the organizing committees for the school's two major regular fundraisers. Since its inception, Kara has served on the organizing committee for the Wellesley Free Library Foundation's annual mini-golf fundraiser. She speaks Mandarin Chinese and is on the parent committee as well as the Advisory Board at the Wellesley Chinese Language School.
Kara enjoys being a parent coach for town soccer and maintains a strong interest in food, Tudor history, amateur photography, healthy policy and activism.
Bridget grew up in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. A graduate of Princeton University and Boston College Law School, she also has a master's degree in Anglo-Irish Literature from Trinity College Dublin. Bridget is an attorney at Ropes & Gray in Boston. She has lived in Wellesley for 18 years, and the Wellesley Free Library is one of her favorite places in town! She has held active roles with several community organizations, including serving on the boards of the Friends of the Wellesley Free Library, Wellesley Mothers Forum, and National Charity League-Wellesley Chapter. Bridget and her husband Kyle have three daughters, all of whom attend Wellesley Public Schools. Bridget took up rowing a few years ago, and loves being out on the Charles River at sunrise.
A partner at Baumann & Baumann CPAs Wellesley, MA since January 2013, Macdonald has been a partner at regional and national accounting firms for 30 years. Macdonald has been a Wellesley resident since 1977 along with his wife Katherine and two children both of whom are graduates of WHS.
Macdonald served as a member of the Wellesley Advisory Committee 1999 to 2002, Chairman 2001 to 2002, and member of the Wellesley Audit Committee from 2002 to 2005. He also was a board member and Treasurer of Wellesley Scholarship Foundation from 2002 to 2012 and board member of jfyNetworks Boston MA. Macdonald is a graduate of Boston College and Bentley University.
Amy Fuller Boyd grew up in Harvard, Massachusetts. After receiving her BA in Computer Science at Brown University, she settled in Menlo Park, California where she worked as a Software Development Program Manager at Digital Equipment Corporation's Western Software Lab, Taligent (a joint Apple and IBM start-up) and Synopsys. Amy and her husband Norris moved to Wellesley in 2000 and all three of their children have attended the Wellesley Public Schools. While her kids were young, Amy was active in the Hunnewell Elementary School PTO and held several board positions, including PTO President. Now Amy runs her own consulting business which offers website, social media and marketing support to small businesses. An avid proponent of libraries and community resources, she worked on the WFL Mini Golf event in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She has also given her time to WPS Parents of Performing Arts Students (2012-2016), Wellesley Girl Scouts (2003-present) and Wellesley Boy Scout Troop 185 (2014-present). In 2016 she became the town-wide Scouting for Food Scout Chair.
Michael Casey is a husband, dad, photographer, avid reader, and proud card-carrying member of the Wellesley Public Library. Mike is a professional photographer who specializes in portraits and architecture to expand brand-building efforts for a broad portfolio of corporate, non-profit, and individual clients. His portraits present a real and honest side of his subjects and his architecture and interior work conveys the beauty of our surroundings -- both manmade and natural.
A native of Taunton and graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Mike spent 12 years in the advertising industry with Hill, Holliday and Arnold. With inspiration from clients including Titleist, Reebok, and Red Hook Brewery, Mike honed his skills as a storyteller with a lens. Mike's civic passions include the Pan Mass Challenge, Project 351, Camp Harbor View, Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, Wellesley High Girls' Golf and Soccer, and Wellesley Little League.
Since 1999, Mike has proudly called Wellesley home. His wife, Lisa Hughes, and children, Riley and Dylan, embrace all things Wellesley -- especially the community's emphasis on civic, cultural, and recreational engagement. One of the Caseys' most meaningful memories was the debut of his book with Kevin O'Connor, The Best Homes of This Old House, at the WPL.
Mary and her husband, Jim, moved to Wellesley in 1980 from California. They have two adult children, who attended Bates School, where Mary was active in the PTO and served as president. Mary's work life has centered on early childhood education. For the past 27 years, until her recent retirement, she was executive director of the Wellesley Community Children's Center (WCCC), which offers education and care to children in its Early Childhood Program located on the campus of Wellesley College and After School Programs in six of the seven town elementary schools. Before WCCC, Mary taught at the Stanford University Children's Center, where she founded and directed the first Infant Center; taught and supervised students at the Lemberg Children's Center at Brandeis University; worked in an early intervention program in Brookline; and was founding director of the Child Care Center at McLean Hospital. She has also taught early childhood curriculum courses at Wheelock College and early childhood education courses at Wellesley College. Mary has a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in early childhood education from Wheelock College.
While Director of WCCC, Mary entered into a collaborative agreement with the Library to operate a kindergarten after school program at the Fells Library. She has been on the organizing committee of the Wellesley Free Library Foundation Gala Committee for the past six years.
Laurel has expertise in development, fundraising and database management and has been working in the non-profit sector for over 15 years. Earlier in her career, she worked for a large national regional mall developer as the Director of Human Resource Information Services. Laurel is active in community-based, non-profit organizations that work to improve the well-being and quality of life of the residents of Wellesley, Massachusetts. She has held several leadership positions on non-profit boards including President of the Eliot Montessori Board of Trustees, Chair of The Fund for Wellesley and President of Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club. At present, Laurel is Vice President for the Wellesley Service League and serves on the boards of the Wellesley Library Foundation and Wellesley Friendly Aid. Laurel earned both her BA in Sociology and her MBA from the University of Chicago.
A native of Long Island, New York, McMahon received a BSFS from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. She worked in Washington, DC for an international exchange organization before moving to Boston. Her three children went through the Wellesley Public Schools, where she spent a great deal of time volunteering (particularly in the school libraries) and in various PTO positions. McMahon is currently an academic advisor for the ABC (A Better Chance) program. Other community positions include Wellesley Town Meeting Member, (1993-present), Community Preservation Committee, (2011-present -current Chair), Advisory Committee, 2008-2011.
Bill McNamara is a product management and marketing executive in the investment management industry. For over 20 years, McNamara has worked in the investment management industry in the Boston
area. From his original work in strategy and finance, he moved his professional focus to investment product management and marketing. McNamara's experience includes work in the retail investor channel, the advisor and brokerage market, and institutional clients.
McNamara resides in Wellesley, Massachusetts with his wife and two teenage children. He received his B.A. in English and Economics from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. McNamara holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College. He has served as an alumni giving agent for both institutions. His personal interests include history and politics, gardening, and travel. His volunteer activities have included coaching soccer and baseball, managing the annual Christmas tree sale at St. John School in Wellesley, and volunteer opportunities with local clubs.
Johanna Murray grew up in Thousand Oaks, CA then moved to Boston where she attended Northeastern University. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, Johanna worked at MFS Investment Management marketing mutual funds to financial advisors. She later worked at Idiom Technologies, a translation software company, developing marketing materials and events to end users. In 2001, she and her husband, Alec, quit their jobs and traveled around the world. They lived in Chatham, MA before settling in Wellesley in 2007.
Since then, she has dedicated herself to raising her two boys and providing freelance marketing services. She has also volunteered for Bates Elementary and Wellesley Middle School PTOs. In 2014, she joined Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills as their office coordinator. While at the preschool, she created an Author Speaker Series with local children's authors and collaborated with the Hills Branch Library to implement a monthly program. Johanna is also a member of the Wellesley Service League and the Hills Garden Club of Wellesley. She speaks Spanish, enjoys yoga, hiking, and reading in the magazine room at the library.
Cynthia recently retired after 23 years at Fidelity Investments. The last seven and a half years, she served as the director of research at Fidelity Charitable, an independent public charity that sponsors the largest donor-advised fund program in the U.S., whose donors recommended $2.6B in grants to 92,000 charities in 2014. She was a member of Fidelity Charitable's Senior Management Team, focusing on trends in the broader philanthropic sector and grant-making practice. Previously, Cynthia had a long career managing high performing teams at Fidelity Management and Research Company, where she served in numerous senior management and investment capacities, including Fidelity's actively managed U.S. equity funds, director of research for all of Fidelity's investment grade bond funds, and director of research for Fidelity's domestic and Canadian dollar money market funds. Prior to Fidelity, she was a founding managing director of a French-owned merchant bank in New York and held a leadership position in leveraged finance at Citibank, with expertise in global banking and workouts.
Cynthia is currently on the board of the YMCA of Greater Boston, the WGBH Board of Overseers, and Invest to Elect steering committee. She has served on a number of advisory committees for national organizations in the philanthropic sector, including Charity Navigator, Guidestar, and Exponent Philanthropy. Cynthia holds a B.A. degree cum laude, with departmental honors in art history, from Wesleyan University and resides in Wellesley, with her 13-year-old son, Edward, and husband, Harry Sherr.
Linda received a BBA in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and continued with studies in Managerial Accounting at Harvard University. Linda has spent the majority of her career as a Sales and Management professional. She specializes in creating and managing high performing sales teams, market analysis, identifying new markets and opportunities and setting and achieving sales objectives within the engineering and construction, technology and aviation industries. She has worked for international companies such as Hilti and Bombardier as well as with technology start-ups.
Linda has served as an active volunteer at the Fiske Elementary School and Wellesley Middle School and continues to do so at The Rivers School in Weston. She has also served in various active roles as a volunteer with the Wellesley Mothers Forum and at The Hills Church in Wellesley.
Linda, her husband Shawn Herlihy and their three boys have lived in Wellesley since 2008.


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MOTO PHOTOS: 2018 Art Of Speed Show, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
For much of my time in Malaysia I looked like a German sex tourist. My bags had been lost in El Salvador on the trip over, so, smelling quite ripe after 36 hours in the air, I'd bought the first shirt I'd seen. It was pink and floral and not really the kind of thing you want to wear to a bike show…
MOTO PHOTOS: 2018 Custom Built Show, Bogotá, Colombia
I've got many stories about my time in Colombia. Some of it is a blur. I was crippled by soroche, struck down by the flu and found myself in the middle of Colombia's national holiday. A holiday that had missile-launcher-toting soldiers on DR650's patrolling the streets…
MOTO PHOTOS: 2017 Kustomfest Show, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
In our second big South-East Asian event for 2017, and easily one of the best shows all year, October saw us in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for two days of custom motorcycle wet dreams, beers and sate sticks all wrapped up in a very cool hoedown called 'Kustomfest'. We came, we saw, we wandered. And at the end of it, we were glad we did.
2017 BROOKLYN INVITATIONAL: A Motorcycle Diversity Masterpiece
Could you imagine the art world if its exhibits were held in strip mall parking lots? Imagine having to go to a swap meet or burger joint to see the latest from Cindy Sherman or David Hockney. It'd feel off, right? That's how the motorcycle world treated two-wheeled works of art, at least until 2008 when custom bike builder Keino Sasaki, artist John Copeland and photographer Jeffrey Schad combined forces to create the Brooklyn Invitational: at its roots a motorcycle show, but much more culturally ambitious.
MOTO PHOTOS: 2017 Art Of Speed Show, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We were lucky enough to be able to attend Malaysia's 6th annual Art of Speed show in Kuala Lumpur last month. Rumour suggested that it was up their with the best Asian shows. After a long weekend full of local custom culture, food, beer, bona fide moto celebs and even a decent ride into the Malaysian countryside, we were just about ready to open a new Kuala Lumpur office.
2014 Wheels & Waves – Official Video
Claiming the title of 'Best Bike Show in the World' is no mean feat. With competition from the likes of The One show in Oregon and the AMD World Championships, to land a title like that would take some doing. And even though it's just little old us giving out the gold, we'd probably forego the subzero conditions in Portland and give the billetesque AMD a miss. Where would we cast our vote you may or may not ask? Wheels & Waves, that's where. With a sweet French summer on offer and more good food than your average Michelin-starred restaurant, we'd be in beautiful Biarritz. This year a barrage of biking celebs made an appearance, including the Boys from Blitz, the very dapper Paul d'Orleans and even America's Roland Sands. Wish you were there? So do we. But fear not, because the boys from Southsiders Motorcycle Club attended for us – and they took a whole bunch of video cameras to record the bountiful biking shenanigans for posterity.
Kentucky Kick Down Vintage Motorcycle Show
Scott Halblieb is a good mate of Pipeburn. He's also a rather excellent bike builder, who has blessed us numerous times with his superb creations. So when he approached us about putting our good name to a little bike show he and a mate were organising down Louisville way, we naturally said yes. Then we toasted the show with some fine Kentucky bourbon. Then we toasted it again. And again. Then things got blurry.
Throttle Roll Wrap Up
So the hangovers have finally passed and all the custom bikes have all been ridden home or taken back on their trailers. But the talk is still going about what a great event Throttle Roll turned out to be. We are super proud of our friends Mark Hawwa and Jordon Kightly for taking a punt on such a large scale event – and it looks like it paid off. Not that they made much money out of it, because it was free. Yes, free! With over 3500 (motorcycle enthusiasts, families, hipsters and dogs) people attending the event across the day, the streets of Enmore were filled with the likes of Bobbers, Classics and Café Racers. Traffic clogged up as bikes where parked left right and centre. The 'No Parking' signs were covered so the footpaths were littered with stunning bikes – the way it should be.
The Throttleroll 2013 Custom Motorcycle Show
In the U.S. they have the 1 Moto show. France has its Wheels and Waves. And now we are very proud to introduce Sydney's own world-class custom, classic, and café racer biker show – the inaugural Throttle Roll. It's the brain child of our very own Mark Hawwa and Jordan Kightly. The same guys who brought us the Australian Café Racers and the now famous Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. With a pedigree like that, we're guessing it's going to be a doosey. That's why we put our name on it.
If you're in Sydney next Saturday the 11th of May, you can drop by the The Vic in Enmore from 12pm onwards. There'll be more than 40 custom bikes, live bands, a few cleansing ales and a whole bunch of guys and girls who like custom bikes… just like you. And if you're the type who finds that too much fun is barely enough, then you can also join the Sydney Café Racers on a morning ride through the Royal National Park. Interested? Then check out more on the website and Facebook pages for the event. Scott and I will be there with bells on – and Pipeburn t-shirts as well. Feel free to come up and say hello.
2012 One Motorcycle Show
The One Motorcycle Show is all done and dusted for another year and it looks like Thor Drake and the guys at See See Motorcycles have smashed it out of the park. We unfortunately couldn't get there, mainly due to the fact that it was held about 8,000 miles away from the Pipeburn orifice — even Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman would think twice about doing that ride. Luckily for us the main sponsor Bell Helmets put together this little video to show us what we missed out on. Looks like it was a killer event with so many unique and 'real' rides being showcased. We also loved the names of some of the award categories which included: I'd Ride That, Looks Fast, Sketchy Bike, Made in the USA and Italian Stallion. Was also good to see people like Roland Sands supporting the show, even entering his super moto "cafe monster". Rumour has it he also gave away a couple of his new jackets to the people who were last to put beer cans on his bike. Keep an eye out in the vid for the Pipeburn(t) favourite — the toaster helmet complete with burnt toast popping out the top. Pure genius. Were you there? Let us know what you thought…

subset: commoncrawl


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Our Clients
Cambridge Distillery
Internationally recognised & award – winning distillery based in Cambridge
Debut restaurant from MasterChef Professionals winner
Sublime Flavoured Butter
Premium flavoured butters disrupting the dairy aisle
Starward Nova
THE Australian whisky aged in Australian red wine barrels
The Oxford Kitchen
1 Michelin * restaurant in Oxford,
by Great British Menu's Paul Welburn
Pitch Restaurant & Cookery School
Debut restaurant from MasterChef Champion Kenny Tutt
Multi award – winning Belgian fries in Brighton
The Begging Bowl
Innovative, chic Thai food in Peckham
Caiger & Co. Catering
Award – winning bespoke
& luxury caterer
Auberge du Lac
Beautiful food in the beautiful Herts countryside
Innovative Argentine cooking in Marylebone
Bea's of Bloomsbury
Modern tearooms & cakeshops at St. Paul's, Marylebone & Russell Square
Claudi & Fin
Healthy, low-cal, and truly delicious frozen yoghurt lollies
The Little Viet Kitchen
Authentic Vietnamese food and drink in Islington
London Greek Wine Festival
140 Greek wines, live music & Greek food at King's Cross
Roux at Parliament Square
Fine dining restaurant in the heart of Parliament
MasterChef Cookery
Cookery classes with MasterChef
winners & contestants
PR & Marketing
There's no set menu
when it comes to PR with Project Taste.
We treat every brand as the individual that it is – we take time to get under its skin and then create campaigns that will actually make a difference. Whether its social, digital or traditional media – or, most likely, a combination of all three – we have the know-how to get a brand noticed.
Talking to your customers.
In its simplest form, this is what marketing is.
It should cover everything from the way your menu is designed and worded to what the website looks like and your social media presence… in essence, how do your customers engage with you and what impression do they get when they do?
We can help with everything from launching a new restaurant or brand and ensuring the right influencers and media know about it to building an innovative programme of events & content plans for social media and beyond.
We can do some of it, we can do all of it,
we can advise you on what's best.


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Basic Rules
The 6620 Vantage Connect 3G data link can receive and upload readings from a range of standard Davis Vantage sensor transmitters. When ordering, these sensors must be specified separately from the Connect unit itself. This page explains the various sensor options that are available.
The basic rules are:
- Connect comes in two types: 6620 wireless Connect and 6620C cabled Connect. (The wireless version would be the default choice);
- The 6620 Wireless Connect can receive readings from all of the standard Davis wireless sensor transmitters. And the same wireless repeaters and long-range repeaters can be used as for a standard Vue or VP2 system;
- The rules for permitted combinations of wireless sensor transmitters are the same as for a standard Vantage Pro 2 station (excluding the Envoy8X unit, which is not relevant to Connect) when logged by a PC via Weatherlink. These rules are summarised further below;
- The 6620C Cabled Connect can receive data only from a single 6322C or 6327C VP2 Cabled Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS). No additional sensors beyond those fitted to the single installed ISS can be received by a cabled Connect unit;
- The various sensor configurations are all managed via the web interface to the user's weatherlink.com account. No configuration needs to be done locally except for setting the channel on individual transmitters. (Each sensor transmitter must use its own wireless channel.)
The typical Connect Installation
A typical Connect installation would include one standard Integrated Sensor Suite (or Plus ISS) to provide readings of:
- Wind speed and wind direction;
- Air temperature and relative humidity;
- Atmospheric pressure
- Rainfall;
- Sunshine intensity (solar irradiance) — Plus ISS only;
- UV intensity — Plus ISS only;
The wireless Connect can receive data from any of the the five standard Vantage ISS units, i.e. 6322 (the standard VP2 ISS); 6327 (the VP2 Plus ISS) and 6357 (the Vue ISS); or the equivalent two VP2 fan-assisted ISS units, 6323 and 6328 (Plus version).
Listed above are the readings that are actually measured by the installed sensors. There are additional readings that the software calculates from the measured readings, such as wind chill and dew point temperatures; rainfall rate; ET/evapotranspiration (if a solar sensor is fitted) etc. These calculated readings are also known as derived readings. The Connect unit also records and uploads summary data such as daily minimum and maximum temperature, wind speeds, rainfall etc.
The standard rules for VP2 wireless transmitters are followed. i.e. a single Connect installation can receive data from only one ISS unit and therefore only one anemometer, one rain gauge etc. To receive data from, for example, two anemometers would require two independent Connect installations. (Readings from the one permitted anemometer can be transmitted using an 6332 Anemometer Transmitter, i.e. rather than connected to the ISS, if achieving a good anemometer exposure is a priority.)
NB It is not essential to include an ISS in a Connect installation, but it would be a relatively special-purpose configuration that omits the ISS.
Additional temperature, humidity, soil moisture and leaf wetness sensors
The previous section outlines the core of a typical Connect installation. There are then a number of additional sensors and associated transmitters that can be added to wireless Connect systems as options, which cover three categories of sensor:
- Combined air temperature/humidity with the sensor inside a radiation shield (i.e. as with the standard ISS);
- Temperature-only sensors, with the temperature being a sensor probe on the end of a cable;
- Soil moisture and leaf wetness (leaf wetness being of importance for prediction of plant disease and hence of value in scheduling crop spraying);
- These sensors are then attached to different models of supplementary wireless transmitter, as follows:
The 6382 Temperature/Humidity Transmitter (pictured right) is the easiest one to describe. This is a self-contained transmitter with a temperature/humidity sensor fixed inside a radiation shield, exactly as in a standard ISS. No additional sensors can be attached to a 6382 transmitter.
The 6372 Temperature-only Transmitter is also simple to describe in having just a single temperature probe on the end of a 4m cable. The temperature probe is encapsulated in a stainless steel sheath and so can be used to measure the temperature of any medium – soil, water or air (but remember that it has no radiation shield and so is not suitable for standard air temperature readings, except in heavily shaded places). As with the 6382 transmitter, no additional sensors can be attached to a 6372 transmitter.
The 6372 transmitter is an economical solution where the requirement is simply to measure just a single temperature value at a given location. But the 6345 Multi-sensor Transmitter (see below) can be fitted with multiple temperature probes of the same stainless steel type and will be a more cost-effective option when temperature needs to be measured at multiple positions in the same general location (e.g. different soil depths).
Note: Two further points here: First, temperature only reads to a resolution of 1°F (or equivalent in °C, i.e. roughly 0.5°C) with all supplementary temperature sensors. Second, 6372 and 6382 transmitters do not have a solar panel on the door as standard and so require the battery changing about every 6 months. A suitable door with solar panel is available as an optional extra.
The 6345 Soil Temperature/Moisture and Leaf Wetness Transmitter (or what is sometimes called the 'Multi-sensor Transmitter') can accept a maximum of 12 sensors in total, comprising four soil temperature probes; four soil moisture probes; two leaf wetness probes and two 'leaf temperature' probes. It doesn't have to be fitted with all twelve – it will work perfectly well with just a single temperature probe attached. If the requirement is to measure two or three temperature values (e.g. different soil depths) at a given location then a 6345 transmitter fitted with just 2 or 3 temperature sensors can be a cost-effective answer.
Where a soil moisture probe is fitted, it is recommended that it be paired with a soil temperature probe buried close by and at the same depth (the soil moisture reading should be temperature compensated for best accuracy; if a paired temperature probe is not fitted then the current air temperature will be used for compensation, but this can obviously lead to significant errors).
Rules for mixing supplementary transmitters
These various transmitters can be mixed, but only in certain permitted combinations and the number of individual transmitters can never, even in theory, exceed eight (the number of available wireless channels) as an absolute maximum. In practice, seven transmitters in total will be the maximum because other rules will intervene before this theoretical maximum of eight is reached.
Data passes from Connect to weatherlink.com via a standard Weatherlink data format. So the more restrictive Weatherlink rules for permitted transmitter combinations apply to Connect (i.e. 'what can be logged' rather than 'what can be displayed on a VP2 console display').
The actual rules for supplementary sensors are then as follows:
6372 Temperature-only and 6382 Temperature/Humidity transmitters
Three rules apply here:
- A maximum of three 6372 Temperature-only stations;
- A maximum of two 6382 Temperature/Humidity stations;
- The total of 6372 and 6382 stations cannot exceed three;
6345 Multi-sensor transmitters
It's simplest to work on the basis that only one 6345 Soil Temperature/Moisture and Leaf Wetness Transmitter can be fitted to a single Connect installation (but remember that up to twelve sensors in total can be cabled to this one 6345 transmitter).
However, there are two circumstances in which a second 6345 transmitter can be added to the configuration:
- The leaf wetness sensors (and the two associated temperature sensors) can be moved to a second 6345 transmitter. The concept then becomes one of having separate 6345 units for soil and for leaf wetness sensors, but note that the soil and leaf wetness sensors cannot be intermixed;
- The two 'leaf wetness' temperature inputs can be used on their own on a second 6345 unit to make it into a temperature station with two inputs. But if only one of these two temperature inputs was to be used then it would nearly always be more cost-effective to use a 6372 Temperature Station instead (unless the whole allowed quota of three 6372 units was already installed);


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When working with big data being able to access it is the cornerstone of success. Pooling the data to a single location can be a daunting process.
Contemporary Analysis (CAN) lives for the data and the solutions that come down the line. We understand the value of having data in the right place with the right access.
CAN is able to help you migrate from an old platform to a new one. We can also help you migrate from your on premise solution to a cloud based solution.


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Top 10 pitfalls that writers should avoid while penning fiction. You may not realise it, but some elements in your story might be really off-putting for readers…
How many times has this happened to you- You're reading a book, enjoying the juicy , fast-paced plot, the tension is just right, the characters are just the way you like 'em, when suddenly- Bam! the author introduces an element that makes you want to bang you head against a wall. I'm sure you're thinking, 'Oh, that's just a part of the plot- the reader is supposed to be infuriated!' That isn't true. We writers have to write stuff that keeps people engaged, and that means leaving out the little annoying details that would ruin a perfectly good book.
So, newbie writers- here's some of my biggest pet peeves in fiction! And do note that this is my list. Likes and dislikes differ from people to people, but these are some of the most common dislikes.
10. The Man Who Knows Everything
In practically every book I've read, there's always this one guy who knows everything- he might be a plumber by profession, but he knows how to fix cars, knows everything about every country in the world, can tell the temperature outside by just breathing…what the hell? I've met a lot of people in my life, but I have yet to come across someone who just knows everything about everything! This trend can especially be seen in romances, where the tall hero just knows the taste of every wine, the name of every powerful person in the city and can even understand the feelings of the heroine by just looking at her! Okay, writers, I get that you're trying to showcase him as a wealthy, dominant, intelligent personality, but this just ain't believable!
9. You're British? Well, here's some tea for you!
Nowadays, writers of other nationalities seem to love writing British characters. But all they know about the UK is that it rains there a lot and that the citizens always drink tea. This may been true a couple centuries ago, but now this detail just irks me. Okay, hand the British guy a teacup or two in the book, but also give him other drinks! You know, rumour has it that Englishmen drink water and even coffee! It's the same with other British traits, like making the character say 'mate' and 'bloody' after every two lines, or making them extremely finicky and always dining with antique china. Maybe it's time you stopped binge watching Downton Abbey, folks.
8. The Silent Doe Syndrome
This is usually the female character that walks hand in hand with #10. She's extremely polite, shy and doesn't know squat about this cruel, cruel world. She's probably orphaned, raised up by her distant relatives and is a really big idiot. She leads a pretty dull life, getting abused on a daily-basis and then then enter our hero! he snatches her out of her misery and changes her whole life. But still, this character remains pretty much dumb throughout the book. When she gets into trouble- she does nothing, but only waits for her knight in shining armour. Writers label her as 'innocent'. But believe me, there's a pretty wide trench between innocence and ignorance. So if you drew upon the idea of Jane Eyre for this character, I suggest you read the book again.
7. Destiny, fate, etc. etc.
The unlikely protagonist breaks out from his cocoon to realise he/she's the Chosen One. And that single piece of knowledge is all he needs to vanquish all his foes. Seriously, guys? I have no problem with the protagonist fulfilling his destiny. But don't make him out to be invincible just because he has a destiny. Instead, you could try showing him discover his own strength, maturing as he goes further on his destined path. A prophecy, no matter how wonderful, shouldn't give the character magical abilities. Even in the Lord of the Rings, Aragorn did acquire the legendary sword Flame of the West, but he only won battles with it because he had the skills to go with it. The sword was destined for him, but he had to do work of his own to be able to possess it.
6. The Adonis
If only I had a penny for every time I encountered this character, I'd definitely be a millionaire by now. This character is the most common one in romances- he's strong, he's handsome, he works out, he has great muscles, he has an irresistible face…in short, he's just flawless! I don't get why the male characters always have to be muscled and chiseled. Attraction can be due to other reasons besides looks. In fact, the more the hero is physically attractive, the more I feel alienated from him. Summing up his qualities like that makes it seem as if the writer is doing nothing more than just objectifying him. Does he have a life? Does he like music, like to read? Depth to a character is more than just physical descriptions.
SUGGESTED FOR YOU: Are You Really a Writer?
5. Her eyes were the colour of a stormy day, the irises flecked with specks of gold and silver.
Describing every single contour of a person's face is not really necessary. Same goes with clothing. As long as the descriptions do not add to your setting or take your story forward, do not include them.
4. Miss Attractive
The female version of the Adonis- she's not just beautiful- she has voluptuous lips, sparkly eyes and a seductive accent. This is the character who makes everyone fall in love with her. And by everyone, I mean everyone- the protagonist, the side-characters, everyone is under her spell. This woman just makes me want to punch her. She's shallow and lives off her fame. These kind of characters never garner a reader's sympathy.
3. The Strong Heroine
Nowadays, most books feature a strong, self-assured female lead, which is something I really like. But somewhere along the way, one of these two things happens to her- 1) She turns mean and very difficult to like, turning from a confident woman to a heartless and inconsiderate b****.
2) She becomes a pillar of stone- nothing moves her; she's completely devoid of emotion, hiding herself in her pain.
For me, the best female characters are those who have control over themselves. Maybe they don't bawl their heart out when they see an abandoned puppy, but they do have emotions. And they do cry- crying really makes a character strong, just like in real life. Also, they overcome mental difficulties- they don't just waive guns all through the book.
2. The good-for-nothing Side Characters
This is definitely one of my biggest pet peeves- I don't like inactive characters. My rule with this is- If they don't have a show, chuck them out. Insignificant characters in a book are like grass on a rosebed. Only bring those people in your story who have a task to do. Otherwise you'll just end up with extra clutter and make the book boring.
1. The Quest for Love
Why is it that every book today ends with the female lead falling in love with the male lead? I didn't know love was necessary for survival, did you? Fellow writers, people do have a life. They aren't always pining for someone to settle down with. There are people whose biggest ambitions pertain to their career, travelling abroad, sometimes even a hunger for knowledge. Books nowadays make girls seem pathetic and needy- but they're not. I blame Twilight: New Moon for this. Face it- not every book has to end with the leads marrying each other. You can have a happily-ever-after for them- ever heard of that magical word 'Friendship'? Well, it's a pretty strong emotion. Maybe it's time you let your characters explore their individuality a little.
Well, that's all I've got for now. I hope the above points make you look at the book you're writing differently and make it even more reader-friendly.
If you have anything to add, do comment below! Also, I love receiving messages, so feel free to tweet, message or email me!
FURTHER READING: 15 Quotes that every Writer should know
YOU WILL ALSO LIKE: Do ghosts and spirits help writers?


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In this second instalment of Below the Surface with Dr. B, MWF Managing Director - Dr. Brian Kotak explains Dissolved Oxygen, Water Temperature and how these factors affect fish species as well as how a lake "turns over" during the fall. … [Read more...]
Below the Surface with "Dr. B"
Interested in Lake Science and how topics like lake light, temperature and so much more affect bodies of water and the fish that live in them? MWF Managing Director – Dr. Brian Kotak, who holds a PHD in freshwater ecology takes us on a journey "Below the Surface" to learn more about the relationships between freshwater organisms and their environment in this interesting, entertaining and informative video series.
Below the Surface With Dr. B – Lake Light
Ever wondered what it's like to be a fish living in an environment covered by three or more feet of ice during the winter? In this first instalment of the MWF's Lake Ecology series, MWF Managing Director - Dr. Brian Kotak explains how light attenuation and lake ice affect the amount of light that … [Read more...]


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Clean, easy-to-read code is the aim of all developers. At least, it should be. In the world of programming, code without understanding is about as useful as schematics drawn in invisible ink; no one is going to understand what you're looking to build.
Yet making code easier to understand isn't as simple as you might think. That's why many developers have created their own style guides. Google is just one example. They have put together style guides on a huge range of languages; from C++ to Vimscript.
Like it or leave it, these guides are key to creating a universal standard for coding. Which in turn means more easily understood code. Here, we're going to delve into a few of the main takeaways from Google's JavaScript style guide and how to get your code in line (or not, as the style guide suggests).
Say No to Var (Unless It's Really Variable)
We're not sure how we feel about this one. Call it old habits, but var seems to still be used a lot; even on StackOverflow. That being said, Google thinks that it shouldn't be.
// not_good var something = 42; // good let something = 42;
If you're thinking of assigning a variable, Google suggests you should be using const or let by default. var should be reserved for variables which need to be reassigned.
Comments Should Be Clear
If you're not commenting on your code, you're not doing it right. Not only do comments help others to understand what you've written, they also help you to understand when you come back in a year or two. However, there is a right and a wrong way comment on something.
You should not be creating asterisk boxes or something which looks like ASCII art. Simple /* … */ or // style indicators are best.
// not_good ******************************** *this is not a good comment * *this is not a good comment too* ******************************** // good /* this is a comment * this is a comment too */
We understand that you want to make it look nice, but there's a line between coding and trying to create art with your keyboard. Stick to the former.
Horizontal Alignment
Horizontal alignment is the act of taking your tokens and lining them up so as to be in the same place vertically. It involves a lot of pressing of the spacebar or tab key and doesn't really do much to aid in the code's utility – other than to make it look nice.
// not_good { thing: 42, Longvariable: 435, }; // good { thing: 42, Longvariable: 435, };
Google says this isn't a good idea. In fact, they've gone so far as to state that horizontal alignment should be removed from places where it has already been used previously.
Use 2 Spaces Instead of 1 Tab
While this might not be the first takeaway we've addressed, it might be the most important. Avoid tabs and use spaces instead. We're going to agree with this because we think it looks a lot nicer when only 2 spaces have been used for line indenting compared to 4. It also helps different lines of code distinguish themselves a little.
// not_good function foo() { ∙∙∙∙let name; } // good function bar() { ∙∙let name; }
We know it's a hard habit to break, but pressing that extra button will show notable differences to the readability of your JavaScript code over time.
If It's Too Long: Line-Wrap
On the topic of horizontal management, if what you're coding is over the 80 character column width, line-wrap it. How you do this depends on what you're coding. Just keep it in mind that you shouldn't be going more than 80 columns to the right.
Semicolons Mean Stop
Semicolons: when used with JavaScript they mean that a statement has been terminated. Yes, you should be using them as though they were full stops in your high school English final. Don't get an F because you didn't include something as simple as basic punctuation.
// not_good { thing: 42, } // good { thing: 42, };
This is simple stuff and we can understand why Google thinks they should be used more often. Code which lacks terminating semicolons looks lazy and doesn't help the reader known how to navigate it. Use them!
Also, don't rely on automatic semicolon insertion. It's forbidden (according to Google).
"With" Is Not Ok
As with anything, some parts of JavaScript have come to be seen as reductive, meaning you shouldn't be using them. One of those things is the use of the with keyword. Google states that with makes your code harder to understand. It's been somewhat banned since ES5, so mark this as a friendly reminder.
Other JavaScript Style Guides
Don't forget, there are other style guides out there too. Airbnb's JavaScript style guide is another popular option which seems to cover almost all aspects of JavaScript. They describe it as "A mostly reasonable approach to JavaScript".
Another alternative is the Idiomatic JavaScript Style Guide. This guide is designed to make the coding process as intuitive as possible, whilst also ensuring that all code within a single project looks like it was written by the same person. The Idiomatic style guide is available in multiple languages and addresses a lot of what you'll come up against when coding JavaScript.
With Great Style Comes Great Code
The trick to adopting a great coding style is not making sure that your code looks aesthetically pleasing. Rather, the trick is to make it understandable to as many other people as possible. Comments can help you do this – and you should use them to explain complex parts of your project – but they should not be what you rely on.
Beautiful code develops itself in a way that is practical and easy to manage. Style guides from groups like Google help us to create a more uniform understanding of how to do that.


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Open Access
Characterization and Thermal Analysis of Mercury Complexes Containing Intermolecular N→Hg Interactions
The new mercury (II) compounds with (L1), (L2) of the general formula [Hg(L)2], have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic and IR, Raman spectra and thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry techniques. The changes observed between the spectra of the ligands and of the complexes allowed us to stablish the coordination mode of the metal in complexes and the mechanism of C–H activation is discussed in detail. Thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and other analytical methods have been applied to the investigation of the thermal behavior and structure of the compounds [Hg(L)2]. Thermal decomposition of these compounds is multi-stage processes.
Copyright © 2011 Hindawi Publishing Corporation. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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Who's your favorite brokerage and why? That's the question I asked some bloggers. Below, you'll get to see each of their unique responses! The responses 1. I love Merrill Edge for those that have $50-100k to invest there. The give… Continue Reading →
Online Investing – 5 Key Things Everyone Should Know With the increasing number of online brokerages that are available, investing has never been easier. However, those who are just starting out can find themselves overwhelmed by all of these options…. Continue Reading →
Solving Investor Problems – A Stockpile Review In this blog post, I'm going to do a thorough Stockpile review so that you can decide whether or not Stockpile is the brokerage you want to use to invest in stocks. (This… Continue Reading →
4 Tips To Overcome Fear When Investing When it comes to investing, the main reason most people don't invest is because of fear. They fear losing the money they worked so hard for. I understand this fear when investing. Losing… Continue Reading →
On this blog, I talk a lot about equity (stocks, bonds) investments you can make with your money. However, that's not the only type of investment you can make – you can also invest in yourself! My friend Kraken Fireball… Continue Reading →
What This Series Is Going To Be About This series is going to be my story about growth, possible entrepreneurship, and journey to accomplish a 99K challenge. I'm going to write about the skills that I obtain, the problems I try to solve, my investment… Continue Reading →
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Critical Thinking: Out of the Box and Into the Bottom Line On-Site Training offered by TrainersDirect
Critical Thinking: Out of the Box and Into the Bottom Line On-Site Training
Thinking "out of the box" is all about generating the opportunity to have lots of good ideas to choose from
Course Description/Agenda
Length: 2 days
Business Performance Improvement Requires Better Ideas
Business performance improvement is built on a healthy sequence of
good decisions supported by the decision makers' organizations. Good
decisions come from good thinking, the ability to solicit, consider,
compare, and select good ideas. Thinking "out of the box" is all
about generating the opportunity to have lots of good ideas to
choose from. Good business is about turning good ideas into
Thinking is a Skill
We can consider that intelligence and thinking are different. Intelligence is our innate capability, what we're born with. Thinking, on the other hand, is how we learn to use our intelligence, and as such, is a skill. As a skill, like bowling, golfing, cooking, etc., it can be actively improved. In one comparison, intelligence is the race car and it's finite mechanical capabilities, and thinking is the driver who can learn more and more about how to maximize the utility of the car.
Out of the Box, or Rather Across Paradigm Boundaries
Our brains are wonderful data storage and retrieval systems which
prefer patterns and repetition. They recognize new ideas that are
similar enough to recorded ideas so they "fit" into the pre-existing
collection. Truly new ideas often don't even register in this
hierarchy of set patterns.
It also seems that truly new ideas often come from the
"accidental" crossing of paradigms, mixing new ideas that just don't
logically belong together. The self organizing capacity of our
brains goes to work on this new, unique combination and tries
tirelessly to "make sense" of the novel combination. "Lots of ideas"
is the wonderful by product; 90% will be thrown away, but 10% will
often include ideas, never before conceived, which warrant further
Creativity Techniques
While there are many myths about creativity (creative people are always artists, or nerds, or not like you and me, etc.) a modern understanding of creativity recognizes techniques are available to assist anyone who knows how to use them. Effective creativity techniques deliberately mix up paradigms while addressing real problems and opportunities to proactively generate lots of new ideas. These techniques do not need to depend on a chance occurrence. These techniques can be used at will whenever individuals or teams recognize they need more ideas. "Creative people" learn to recognize they may have to use an illogical technique to generate what they will only later come to recognize and appreciate as a logical alternative. Go figure!
Seminar Outline
Introduction: Seminar overview. goals, introductions,
assumptions, ground rules.
Creative Process Introduction: Review purpose and
strategy of deliberately creating new ideas.
Select topics which need new ideas:
plan to use techniques on a practical issues.
Select the technique alternatives:
Problem Reformulation, Scoreboard, Knowledge Mapping, Classic
Brainstorming, Brainwriting , Alternatives, Random Word, Imaginary
Brainstorming, Analogies, Picture Associations, Biotechniques,
TILMAG, and Morphological Box; how to use Creative Thinking Process
and select techniques.
Practice with the technique More Seminar Information
More Seminar Information
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text: Freshmen in Mr. Cucinella's Pre-AP World History class took part in an annual Silk Road Simulation on Friday. Students simulated the commerce that was conducted on these prolific trading routes by bartering for specific goods that were sold on these prolific trading routes. Groups had to create a trading booth and product that represented a specific civilization that traded on the Silk Roads.


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The International College of Zhejiang University will run a 4-wek long intensive and comprehensive Chinese language short-term program in the summer. The Chinese language course will be given in the mornings (8:00-9:30, 10:00-11:30) from Monday to Friday. Students will be placed into classes of different levels on the basis of their performance in the class placement test.
Deadline of application: June 20, 2019
Registration Date: July 4th Thursday 2019
Class Placement Test: July 5th Friday 2019
Duration of the program: July 8th Monday Courses start
August 2nd Friday Final Test
Application feeŻ║RMB Yuan 400
Tuition fee: RMB Yuan 3,200 (4 weeks)
Textbooks feeŻ║Actual price
Accommodation: Single or double rooms of International College building, Yuquan CampusŻ©80 yuan/day/personŻ®
Documents necessary for application:
1. Application Form (Download)
2. A photocopy of passport and a recent photo (white background,35mmĪ┴45mmin size)
3. Remittance receipt of the application fee (RMB 400 yuan)
Please make clear scan copies of all the above-mentioned documents and send them to us at email@example.com as attachment
Bank Account Information:
Chinese Yuan / US Dollar Account
Account No: 374065939298
Name of the Bank: Bank ofChina, ZHEDA SUB-BRANCH,HANGZHOU
Swift Code: BKCHCNBJ910
Bank Address: No. 28,Qiushi Road,Hangzhou
After receiving and verifying the application materials,ZhejiangUniversitywill send the Admission Notice, visa application form and other relevant documents.
Tel.: +86-571-87951456
Office Room 4500,InternationalCollegeBuilding,Yuquan Campus,ZhejiangUniversity,Hangzhou
Zip Code: 310027


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In the matter of the estate of ABRAHAM POWERS of Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., NY:
No petition in the file.
ABRAHAM POWERS, at 66 years and upwards of Hounsfield, named his wife, CATHERINE POWERS, formerly HOSINGTON. Named his five children: ZELOTES, RACHEL, ZARUINA ABRAHAM GRIDLEY and LORING. Oldest son, Zelotes. Eldest daughter, Rachel. Second daughter, Zaruina, the now wife of ASA MARBLE. Named his second son, ABRAHAM GRIDLEY and his youngest son, LORING. A third of his farm which had been entered into between him and his oldest son, Zelotes, dated 1 April 1830. Named his two oldest sons, Zelotes and Abraham Gridley as executors of the will. Will dated: 29 May 1832. /s/ Abraham Powers.
Witnesses: EVANDER SPALDING of Hounsfield and SAMUEL G. WATSON of Watertown.
Will proved: 7 March 1833.
Jefferson Co. NY Wills, Vol. A, p. 64.
NOTE: Abraham Powers died 22 Jan. 1833 at 67 years and is buried in the Muskalonge Cem., Hounsfield, Jefferson Co.
Information contributed by volunteer Marilyn Sapienza.
Return to Jefferson County Will Index page
Copyright 2020 Jefferson County NYGenWeb — a member of the NYGenWeb Project
If you have any questions or comments about this page, please contact,
County Co-Coordinator Bruce Coyne.
Return to Jefferson County Genweb Page


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Back to Journals » Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology » Volume 12
A pilot study of fecal bile acid and microbiota profiles in inflammatory bowel disease and primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors Vaughn BP, Kaiser T, Staley C, Hamilton MJ, Reich J, Graiziger C, Singroy S, Kabage AJ, Sadowsky MJ, Khoruts A
Received 1 September 2018
Accepted for publication 10 December 2018
Published 10 January 2019 Volume 2019:12 Pages 9—19
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S186097
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single-blind
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Prof. Dr. Wing-Kin Syn
Byron P Vaughn,1 Thomas Kaiser,2,3 Christopher Staley,2,3 Matthew J Hamilton,2 Jon Reich,1 Carolyn Graiziger,1 Stephanie Singroy,2 Amanda J Kabage,1 Michael J Sadowsky,2,4,5 Alexander Khoruts1,2
1Inflammatory Bowel Program, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 2BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA; 3Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 4Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA; 5Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA
Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is thought to arise from an abnormal immune response to the gut microbiota. IBD is associated with altered intestinal microbial community structure and functionality, which may contribute to inflammation and complications such as colon cancer and liver disease. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is associated with IBD and markedly increases the risk of colon cancer. We hypothesized that secondary bile acids, which are products of microbial metabolism, are increased in PSC patients.
Aim: Here, we profiled the fecal bile acid composition and gut microbiota of participants with IBD and PSC, as well as healthy participants. Additionally, we tested the effects of vancomycin, a proposed treatment for PSC, on gut microbiota and fecal bile acid composition in participants with IBD and PSC.
Methods: Fecal samples were collected from patients with IBD, IBD/PSC and healthy controls and fecal bile acids and DNA for microbiota analysis were extracted. Fecal bile acids were averaged over a seven-day period. For subjects with IBD/PSC, oral vancomycin 500mg twice a day was administered and fecal samples were collected for up to eleven weeks.
Results: Participants with IBD and PSC had less fecal microbial diversity at baseline relative to controls. While there was some evidence of altered conversion of cholic acid to deoxycholic acid, no substantial differences were found in the fecal bile acid profiles of patients with IBD and PSC (n=7) compared to IBD alone (n=8) or healthy controls (n=8). Oral vancomycin was a potent inhibitor of secondary bile acid production in participants with IBD and PSC, particularly deoxycholic acid, although no changes in liver biochemistry patterns were noted over a two week period.
Conclusion: In this pilot study, bile acid profiles were overall similar among patients with IBD and PSC, IBD alone, and healthy controls. Microbiota diversity was reduced in those with PSC and IBD compared to IBD alone or healthy controls.
Keywords: vancomycin, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis
This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.Download Article [PDF] View Full Text [HTML][Machine readable]


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Many want to stay young looking and not worry about fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and other signs of aging. The truth is many of us, women or even men, wishes to delay aging as long as possible. But is it possible? Can one really prevent wrinkles and fine lines from appearing on their skin? Can you keep your skin smooth and young looking for a longer period of time?
Anti-aging tips for your skin
Many things play a role in skin aging and some factors actually hasten the process. While aging is natural and the passing of the years cannot be prevented, skin aging can be delayed if one knows how to take care of the skin properly. Here are some anti-aging tips that can help you delay skin aging and enjoy young looking skin longer.
Protect your skin from the sun
The sun's damaging UV rays is the number one catalyst for wrinkles, age spots and blemishes. Wear sunscreen every day even when it's not too sunny to protect your self against collagen damage and skin cancer. Choose sunscreen with SPF 30 for better protection. Make sure to lather on sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going out.
Eat a healthy diet
Your diet should be a healthy mix of foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. If you are asking why the reason is these nutrients are excellent for the skin. Avoid unhealthy foods such as those rich in saturated fats and packed with empty calories. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants that fight the free radicals and prevent them from damaging skin cells. Fish, such as salmon, herring and tuna are rich in omega-3, an essential fatty acid that makes skin beautiful and young-looking.
Keep your skin moisturized
Nothing hastens the aging process more than dry skin. When your skin is dry, wrinkles can develop more quickly. Your skin loses its natural protective oils every day so it is crucial that you moisturize every day. Use Moroccan Argan Oil to moisturize your skin. This 100% natural oil has moisturizing and anti-aging properties. Argan oil is packed with nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, sterols and phenols. These components are proven effective in keeping skin healthy, smooth and young looking.
Live a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle means a healthy body. Healthy body means healthy skin. Quit smoking if you really want to delay skin aging. Smoking causes fine lines, skin discolorations and wrinkles and is one of the major causes of cancer.
Alcoholic beverages dry out your skin and cause damage to your vital organs. Dry skin is vulnerable and can be easily damaged. Limit your alcohol consumption to one glass a day or better yet, quit drinking altogether.
Regular exercise can help improve your blood circulation and relieve stress. Get enough sleep and allow your cells to repair and renew. Sleep for at least eight hours daily.


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While excavating the foundation for an addition to my home, the contractor encountered buried sandstone ledges and giant boulders. The backhoe and dozer broke loose the soft rock, but I was left with tons of the stuff.
Several of the larger pieces became landscape features. Three sandstone boulders, shaped like biscuits the size of couches, became seating for a firepit. Other rocks of assorted size were used to make borders for flower beds, sidewalks and the garden.
What I am most excited about are the flat sections of sandstone 6 inches to 1 foot thick, and in circumference larger than garbage can lids. These I can imagine set in a flagstone patio for the new addition.
My fiancé was surprised to find me on the first above-freezing day of January wrestling with rocks. Dressed in jeans with knee pads, wearing leather gloves and wielding my old rock hammer. I was happily sorting sandstone, arranging it by color and striation, splitting the rock along sedimentary planes into uniform thicknesses.
"What are you doing?" she asked with concern. She had never seen anyone turning rock into works of art.
"I still got it!" was my proud reply, showing her how to tap a seam of sandstone and have it break into two slabs, then two more, and so forth. There is something wonderfully addictive about doing this by hand with a sharp-edged rock hammer.
I come from a long line of Appalachian rock masons. They labored on both sides of my family. Cross-fertilization occurred between generations of cousins, uncles and in-laws. My brother and I were two of the last after our father retired.
In the 1990s we tried to revive the business. We constructed flagstone and dry-stacked fireplaces, hearths, chimneys, sidewalks, patios, fountains, retaining walls, terraces, stairways – even mausoleums. The customer base grew; we made profits. But the curse of small businesses everywhere loomed: finding competent, trustworthy employees. Rock masonry is a skill that requires back-breaking labor and an artistic flair.
Great masons incorporate structural principles and architectural creativity. Holding a piece of stone in your hands, feeling the texture and weight and seeing in your mind's eye how it will fit the puzzle of a fireplace or archway is a gift from God.
Working with natural stone means you can't rely on regularity or exact measurement. A flagstone pathway, for example, won't be smooth like tile or regular as brick. Nature's diversity is the rule rather than the exception. Embracing it to produce a structure that is sturdy, pleasing to the eye, but obviously not far removed from the material's natural state – that's the goal but also why it's so difficult to find workers.
Messing around in the mud of my backyard, stacking chunks of rock and shearing off layers of sandstone that time and ocean currents laid down millions of years ago, I was happy as a prehistoric clam (which is a common fossil revealed when separating planes of soft stone).
My fiancé is still learning my foibles and flaws. She shook her head as I hefted 60-lb. hunks of stone, whacked them with sledge and rock hammers and sweated in wild abandon while scrabbling on my hands and knees in the dirt.
It was glorious, restorative experience – up to a point. Reminisces and reminders of youth aside, I truly enjoy working with stone and mortar, trowel and plumb bob. But splitting the rock has always been "my thing." I could have been the happiest prisoner on a chain gang.
Until the next morning.
I am glad my fiancé was not in the house when I tried to get out of bed. The ululation of pain would have frightened her away from marriage or any association with me. When she visited later in the day, it was to care for a crippled man who could barely limp to the bathroom.
How many tendons and joints can be inflamed in a creaky body well into six decades? I could count every point of soreness and throbbing, naming the muscle groups and connective tissues. This included the pain from a pulled groin and smashed thumb. I was a wreck.
"Do I need to take you to the emergency room?" she wondered.
"Let me die in my own bed," was the solemn reply.
I am better now. I can walk without a cane and almost bend over to tie my shoe laces.
"Hope you learned your lesson," my beloved said, patting my arm fondly.
Obviously, she had not noticed me staring out the kitchen window at the pile of sandstone awaiting the touch of the Old Mason.
I can see the flagstone surface spreading out before me, visualize the slight slope needed for drainage, imagine how the flat pieces of stone will become three-dimensional patterns, flowing one into the other… all the while calculating how much ibuprofen and lineament will be needed to complete the project.


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This award-winning space for executive parties is always a popular choice for upscale clientele to mingle, dine, and enjoy time with friends, family, or colleagues. Of note is the unmistakable Art-deco design which blends with the panoramic views to impart a bygone sophistication––making R2L the preferred choice of businesspeople and event planners. For the dining public in Philadelphia looking to escape a hectic week and enjoy an incredible meal and a selection from our award-winning wine list, R2L's location and experience is second to none.
For a sit-down dinner after a cocktail hour our private event seated dinner menu provides flexibility to customize the chef-driven offerings available to your guests in multiple tiered packages. Here are some highlights from the private menu:
- English Pea Soup w/ yellow split pea, smoked tofu & fluke ceviche
- Asparagus Salad w/ white asparagus aioli, seasoned bread crumbs & watercress
- Lobster Bisque w/ vegetarian scrapple, pepper jelly & louis mousse
- 5 oz. Filet Mignon & Braised Short Rib w/ potato gratin, crisp maitake & bérnaise
- Grilled Green Circle Amish Chicken Breast w/ fried leg, potato croquettes & natural jus
- Roasted Salmon w/ roasted asparagus, spring onions, potato pancake & red wine reduction
Below are the private rooms we offer for executive parties:
- The Pinnacle Room (up to 64 guests, more if combined with Board Room #2)
- The William Penn Room (up to 22 guests, can be combined as well)
- Board Rooms 1 & 2 (for an intimate party with co-workers)
- Use the entire executive parties space for a large, 400+ person private event. Utilizing the Club Room, Salon and Bar/Lounge in addition to the private event space.
Contact Us or Reserve Today
Consistently delivering exceptional dining experiences is at the heart of what makes R2L inimitable in the Philadelphia restaurant scene. Impress clients and celebrate with colleagues at Philadelphia's premier venue for executive parties.
Contact us at (215) 564-5337, make a reservation online, or learn more about planning a reception at this admired Center City location. We are available to speak with you at any time about creating a memorable dining experience and we look forward to speaking with you.
Related Tags: Executive Parties | R2L Business Meetings


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The Bills suffered their second consecutive bad loss last Sunday to fall to 5-4, but would still own a wild card spot if the season ended today. What are the Bills' playoff chances looking like?
Simulations from The New York Times, FiveThirtyEight and the betting site betlabsports.com now say the Bills have below a 50 percent chance to end the drought, although their odds are in line with other wild-card contenders.
Here are their latest breakdowns for the Bills entering their Week 11 game against the Chargers:
Odds to make the playoffs
NYT: 44 percent (last week: 53 percent)
FiveThirtyEight: 36 percent (last week: 50 percent)
Betlab Sports: 34.37 percent (last week: 55.2 percent)
Playoff picture: Bills still hold playoff spot after blowout loss to Saints
Odds to win the division
NYT: 10 percent (last week: 17 percent)
FiveThirtyEight: 4 percent (last week: 11 percent)
Betlab Sports: 3.77 percent (last week: 13.8 percent)
Odds to win the Super Bowl
FiveThirtyEight: Less than 1 percent (last week: 2 percent)
Betlab Sports: 0.22 percent (last week: 1.2 percent)
Five things to know about the Los Angeles Chargers, the Bills' Week 11 opponent
The Patriots (7-2) and Steelers (7-2) are near locks to make the playoffs on FiveThirtyEight and BetLab, scoring over 99 percent, while the NYT scored them in the high 90s as well.
The Titans (6-3) and Ravens (4-5) are thought to be the Bills' biggest competitors for wild-card spots. No other AFC wild-card team scored above 20 percent on any site. (Both the Jaguars and Titans are 6-3 in the AFC South, but each site thinks the Jaguars are the superior team.)
The New York Times' simulators, which are interactive, say this week's game against the Chargers would result in (roughly) a 10-point swing in their playoff odds. It will also help the Bills for tiebreaking purposes, as they need to acquire wins against AFC teams.
Probability Index, Week 10: Bills playoff odds about 50-50 at halfway point
Probability Index, Week Nine: Bills playoff odds jump over 60 percent after beating Raiders
Playoff probability index, Week Eight: Bills continue to hover under 50 percent
Probability Index: Bills playoffs odds improve after having the week off, betting site says
Probability Index Week Six: How likely are the Bills to make the playoffs?


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Recently, a client declined the opportunity to review some work we were doing. When we submitted the project, we did so with the caveat that the taxonomy needed to be validated and that we needed a half day from the subject matter experts.
The client said "no, we can't do that – they don't have the time".
I explained that we had to make a number of assumptions about the taxonomy and how it would be integrated into content strategy. We needed to discuss these issues and talk about the choices that could be made and the alternatives available. This still met resistance. They said "you are the experts – just tell us how to do it. Rather than asking us, just tell us the answer."
It's hard to say where to begin with a response. This is not about us making a judgement and simply deciding. It is about how people think about their information and how the client wants to present their solutions.
Saying "just give us the answer" is like saying "just give us a web site". "You guys are the web site experts, right? Don't waste our time by asking us silly questions about our business and goals and customer needs and products and solutions and market differentiation and message and competitive advantage and…"
"Can't you just give us a web site?"
What some clients don't know is that part of the answer is doing the work. Developing content strategy and taxonomies to support that strategy is about working through the process and solving problems. There is no way someone can make those decisions without directly impacting the business and deciding business issues.
Distinguishing between 'market' and 'solution' is a simple example. Does the marketing organization need to understand target markets so they can organize information with a specific message for certain types of customers? If they serve both consumer and business segments the answer may seem obvious.
What if it is a matter of "utilities" versus "transportation"? Is there enough of a difference in materials and message to organize information for each of these? What about the "Federal" sector versus "Life Sciences"? What if the target is a federal research lab? That falls into both categories. How would solutions for these markets be defined? Do they simply cut across markets or are they truly different solutions for different markets?
So the challenge of defining these categories is not a matter of simply 'categorizing' information or defining the categories. This is really about how the business is run – how markets are segmented, how messages are differentiated and how the organization wants to deliver their message.
Filed under: Project Management, Taxonomy | Tagged: Consulting, Content strategy, Stakeholder involvement |


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Graham Hall
2016 Salomon Prize winner
Graham Hall, long-standing timpanist of Sinfonia Viva, has been awarded the RPS/ABO Salomon Prize.
Graham Hall, founding member and former Principal Timpanist of Derby-based Sinfonia Viva, has been awarded the prestigious RPS/ABO Salomon Prize for his "hugely dedicated service to Sinfonia Viva over many years: as a timpanist, player and Musicians Union rep; and also as highly skilled arranger who has supported the orchestra's extensive outreach work, and in doing so has inspired his fellow musicians to join him in going the extra mile."
The award, presented on 2 March 2016 - his 56th birthday - at a Sinfonia Viva concert at Derby Cathedral, recognises his 34-year association with Sinfonia Viva, as a musician, player's representative and an accomplished arranger and orchestrator.
The Salomon Prize was created by the Royal Philharmonic Society and Association of British Orchestras in 2011 to celebrate the 'unsung heroes' of orchestral life; the orchestral players that make our orchestras great. The award is named after Johann Peter Salomon, violinist and founding member of the Philharmonic Society in 1813. Each year, players in all orchestras across the UK are asked to nominate a colleague who has been 'an inspiration to their fellow players, fostered greater spirit of teamwork and shown commitment and dedication above and beyond the call of duty'.
Graham is the fifth recipient of the prize, and the first player from a chamber orchestra. He follows in the footsteps of outstanding musicians from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Graham was nominated for the Salomon Prize by his fellow players at Sinfonia Viva, where he was Principal Timpanist for many years. He served on the Orchestra's Board as player representative and latterly the Musicians' Union representative until he suffered a stroke 14 months ago. With the support of Sinfonia Viva, he has been "re-orchestrating" his life by developing his music preparation work and remains a key part of Sinfonia Viva's musical life.
About Graham Hall
Graham Hall studied at the Royal Academy of Music under James Blades. On leaving London he taught for two years in his home city of Nottingham as a peripatetic percussion tutor before going freelance as a player in 1984. He has worked with many orchestras in the UK as well as Sinfonia Viva, including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Opera North, where he held the position of Sub Principal Percussion for nearly 25 years.


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Cameron Newborn Knotted Beanie
Our knotted beanies keep those tiny heads warm and cozy. Made from the same ultra soft fabric as our blankets, these hats feel good against baby's new skin. The knot is easily adjustable for the perfect fit. A necessary accessory for any newborn.
Product details:
Color: Blue
Beanie: fits newborn to 3 months
Fabric: Made from a Rayon / Spandex blend fabric for the perfect combination of softness, stretch and durability
Care: Machine wash in cold water with like colors. Hang dry is recommended but let's be real...can tumble dry on low heat.
Made is the USA


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PADI Deep Diver Training Pattaya Thailand
Explore deeper dive sites with confidence at depths down to 40 metres/130 ft. Learn to manage your gas supply, go over buddy contact procedures, and buoyancy control. Here at Mermnaids we have a lip of a deep hole that we can use for this deep (yet, relatively shallow) dive. On our doorstep we have wrecks that lay between 20 – 40 meters that are ideal for the deep diver training.
The lure of the deep. There's something exciting and mysterious about exploring deeper dive sites while scuba diving. Sometimes it's a wreck that attracts you below 18 metres/60 feet, and on wall dives it may be a giant fan or sponge. Whatever it is, to scuba dive with confidence at depths down to 40 metres/130 feet, you should take the PADI Deep Diver Specialty course.
If you've earned the PADI Adventure Diver rating or higher, and you're at least 15 years old, you can enroll in the Deep Diver course.
Your training starts by reviewing reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your personal limits.
During four deep dives with your instructor, you'll go over:
- Specialized deep diving equipment.
- Deep dive planning, buddy contact procedures and buoyancy control.
- Managing your gas supply, dealing with gas narcosis and safety considerations.
You may be able to get college credit for the Deep Diver course – ask your instructor.
Also, the first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification. Contact us about earning credit for other dive courses.
You'll need a dive computer along with the rest of your basic scuba equipment. A dive light and slate are also recommended. Your Mermaids Instructor will be able to suggest gear appropriate for local deep diving.
Getting Started:
Contact Mermaids Dive Centre for the PADI Deep Diver Thailand Crew-Pak that includes your manual and video. We can arrange the materials and get you enrolled onto the Deep Diver schedule. Read the manual and watch the video before arriving for the first training dives.
Got the Deep Diving Bug?
If you get a taste for the deep then Mermaids offer PADI TEC Deep Diver training. This takes you below into further depths of 40 – 45 – 50 – 65 – 90+ Metres in depth. Taking our PADI Deep Diver Course gets you almost half way to that depth however the rest of the way is technical diving. Technical diving requires a new set of diving skills and equipment – but it's the thrill of the deep that keeps us going …
Mermaids training to go deeper:
- Sidemount Diver – Work on your dive equipment configuration with the Side Mount training.
- 40 TEC Course – Begin your technical diving adventures with the 40.
- 45 TEC Course
- 50 TEC Course
- TEC Gas Blender – You can dive with the gasses … now mix them!
- 65 TEC Trimix Course
- TEC 90 Trimix Diver Course – The limits are endless! Learn to 90 and keep going.