text:
Improvement of Myocardial Function Following Catheter-Based Renal Denervation in Heart Failure
Author + information
- Received December 11, 2016
- Revision received January 25, 2017
- Accepted March 5, 2017
- Published online June 26, 2017.
Article Versions
Author Information
- Song-Yan Liao, MDa,
- Zhe Zhen, MDa,
- Yuan Liu, MD, PhDa,
- Kai-Wing Au, PhDa,
- Wing-Hon Lai, PhDa,
- Anita Tsang, BSca and
- Hung-Fat Tse, MD, PhDa,b,c,∗ (hftse{at}hkucc.hku.hk)
- aCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- bResearch Center of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- cShenzhen Institutes of Research and Innovation, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- ↵∗Address for correspondence:
Dr. Hung-Fat Tse, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Room 1928, Block K, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
Visual Abstract
• A porcine model of heart failure was induced by myocardial infarction followed by rapid ventricular pacing for 4 weeks.
• Catheter-based renal denervation was performed using an expandable basket with 4 electrodes to deliver radiofrequency energy. Histological examination showed significant denervation of the renal arteries after the procedure.
• Compared with the control group, animals that received renal denervation showed significant improvement of cardiac function as determined by LV ejection fraction, maximum rate of LV pressure rise normalized to instantaneous developed pressure, and reduction of myocardial and renal norepinephrine gradient at 10 weeks after procedure.
Renal denervation (RD) is a potential novel nonpharmacological therapy for heart failure (HF). We performed bilateral catheter-based RD in 10 adult pigs and compared them with 10 control subjects after induction of HF to investigate the long-term beneficial effects of RD on left ventricular (LV) function and regional norepinephrine gradient after conventional HF pharmacological therapy. Compared with control subjects, animals treated with RD demonstrated an improvement in LV function and reduction of norepinephrine gradients over the myocardium and kidney at 10-week follow-up. Our results demonstrated that effective bilateral RD decrease regional norepinephrine gradients and improve LV contractile function compared with medical therapy alone.
Heart failure (HF) is a major medical problem with substantial health care burden, and the associated mortality and morbidity of HF remain high despite advances in pharmacological and device management (1,2). There is thus a compelling need for new therapies that target the underlying pathophysiology of HF and further improve clinical outcome. In patients with HF, increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system is associated with progression of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and increased mortality (3,4). Both renal afferent and efferent sympathetic nerves have been proposed to contribute to the sympathoexcitation in HF (5,6). In HF, increased central sympathetic neural outflow is associated with cardiac and renal efferent sympathetic nerve activations, and thus, cardiac and renal norepinephrine spillover (7–9). However, activation of renal afferent sympathetic nerves caused by renal hypoxemia and ischemia may also directly induce increased central sympathetic outflow (9,10). Recent development of catheter-based renal nerve ablation for treatment of refractory hypertension has led to a growing interest in renal denervation (RD) for treatment of HF (6,11–16).
Prior studies showed that surgical RD improves LV function and prevents HF in rats after myocardial infarction (MI) (17–19). In large animal models of rapid pacing-induced HF, catheter-based RD also reduced systemic neurohormonal activation and renal norepinephrine content, and improved LV function and dyssynchrony (20–22). Nevertheless, the long-term beneficial effects of RD on cardiac function after conventional pharmacological therapy for HF have not been addressed in these studies. Here, we hypothesized that RD reduces the myocardial and renal norepinephrine discharge and improves LV function in HF. Accordingly, we investigated the long-term effect of bilateral catheter-based RD, using a multipolar electrode catheter, on LV contractile function and regional norepinephrine release in a porcine model of mixed cardiomyopathy treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and beta-blocker.
Study protocol
Female farm pigs weighing 35 to 45 kg (age 9 to 12 months) were used for this study. An animal model of HF induced by myocardial ischemia and rapid pacing (MI + HF) was created as described previously (23,24). In brief, all animals underwent baseline assessment of LV function using echocardiographic and invasive hemodynamic assessments. Acute MI was induced in all animals by coronary artery embolization to the left circumflex artery, followed by 4 weeks of rapid right ventricular pacing (150 beats/min) using a VVI pacemaker to induce HF. After ventricular pacing had ceased for 24 h, repeat echocardiographic and invasive hemodynamic assessments were performed. Animals with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45% were randomized to receive medication alone (control group, n = 10) or catheter-based bilateral RD (RD group, n = 10) after invasive hemodynamic studies and were followed for 10 weeks. During this period, all animals with or without RD were treated with daily oral metoprolol succinate (25 mg) plus ramipril (2.5 mg).
Serial echocardiographic examinations were performed at 2, 6, and 10 weeks following RD. At 10 weeks, final invasive hemodynamic studies were performed, and all animals were sacrificed for histological and immunohistochemical assessment.
Electrocardiographic parameters, including resting heart rate, corrected QT interval, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as serum biomarkers, including angiotensin II, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and norepinephrine levels, were measured at baseline, immediately post-MI, and before and after 10 weeks of RD. Moreover, the regional venoarterial gradient of norepinephrine from the myocardium and kidneys was determined by measuring serum norepinephrine levels from the femoral arteries and coronary sinus and from the renal arteries and veins, respectively (7).
Renal angiogram and catheter-based RD protocol
The animals were laid in a supine position following induction of anesthesia. Renal angiography was performed through a 6-F JR4 guiding catheter (Cordis Corp., Miami, Florida) via a femoral artery cutdown. Intra-arterial nitroglycerin (200 ug) was injected into the renal arteries via the guiding catheter and direct renal angiogram was performed to guide the RD procedure (Figure 1A). In both the control and RD group, catheterization was performed to collect blood samples from the femoral arteries and coronary sinus ostium and then from the bilateral renal arteries and veins to measure the myocardial and renal veno-arterial gradient (venous-arterial levels) of norepinephrine, respectively. In the RD group, catheter-based RD was performed using a 5-F quadripolar multiple electrode array ablation catheter (EnligHTNTM, St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, Minnesota), which consists of an expandable basket with 4 electrodes that were used for endovascular delivery of radiofrequency energy into the renal arteries (Figure 1B). The catheter was connected to a temperature controlled radiofrequency generator that automatically controls energy delivery using a proprietary algorithm based on temperature and impedance feedback. In each main stem of the renal artery, 1 min of radiofrequency ablation energy at 4 to 10 W with a temperature limit of 60°C was performed at each electrode. This resulted in a spiral pattern of individual treatment sites spaced rotationally and longitudinally along the artery (Figure 1C). After RD, renal angiogram was repeated, and blood samples were taken from the bilateral renal arteries and veins to measure the renal spillover of norepinephrine, renin, and angiotensin II. After the final invasive cardiac hemodynamic assessment at 10 weeks after RD, blood samples were taken from the bilateral renal arteries and veins to measure the renal veno-arterial gradient of norepinephrine. In the control group, renal angiogram and blood sampling were performed without RD.
Invasive hemodynamic assessment
Invasive hemodynamic assessment was performed during induction of MI and before and 10 weeks after RD to assess changes in LV function (21,22). In brief, a 7-F combined catheter-micromanometer (Millar Instruments, Houston, Texas) was advanced into the carotid or femoral artery to measure peripheral blood pressure and then advanced into the LV for measurement of LV pressure, maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise (+dP/dtmax), and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure reduction (−dP/dtmax) (23,24). Moreover, dP/dtmax normalized to instantaneous developed pressure (IP) (dP/dtmax/IP) was also used to determine LV contractile function, as the pre-load condition can be altered during general anesthesia (25). Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and cardiac output were measured with a Swan-Ganz catheter. Body surface area of each farm pig was calculated as previously described (26). Stroke volume index was calculated by the following formula:
Echocardiographic measurements
Standard transthoracic echocardiograms including 2-dimensional and M-mode imaging were performed using a commercially available echocardiographic system (Vivid i, GE Vingmed, Horten, Norway) equipped with a 3-9 MHz transducer. In each animal, standard 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiograms were used to measure the LV volume. To obtain the LV volume using M-mode echocardiograms, the maximum minor axis of the LV at end-diastole and -systole were measured on the parasternal long- or short-axis view, on the assumption that the LV is a spheroid at the parasternal long- and short-axis views, to calculate LVEF (24). All echocardiographic measurements were interpreted off-line in a blinded fashion by another independent operator using a computer workstation (GE Medical, EchoPac, Horten, Norway). The intraobserver variability of the measurement of LVEF based on M-mode measurement was 4% using 20 repeated random measurements.
Biomarkers assessment
Serum porcine angiotensin II (Peninsula Laboratories, San Carlos, California), BNP (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, Burlingame, California), and norepinephrine (Rocky Mountain Diagnostics, Boulder, Colorado) levels were measured in peripheral arterial blood using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits to assess HF status and peripheral neurohormonal activation. For the measurement of norepinephrine level, all blood samples were placed in ice immediately after collection followed by extraction. Then, all the extracted samples were stored at −80°C, and were measured in a single batch with calibration using standard control samples. The coefficients of variation for angiotensin II, BNP, and norepinephrine were 8.8%, 7.9%, and 11.2%, respectively, based on repeated measurements in 20 random samples. Femoral arterial and coronary sinus blood samples and renal arterial and venous blood samples were also obtained in the control and RD groups to measure myocardial and kidney norepinephrine veno-arterial gradients, respectively, at MI + HF status and at 10-week follow-up. Coronary sinus blood sampling was performed by using a 6-F JR4 guiding catheter (Cordis Corp.) positioned at the mid-portion of the coronary sinus. Moreover, serial measurement of serum creatinine level was measured as the assessment of kidney function before and after RD.
Histology and immunohistochemical assessment
The animals were sacrificed at 10-week follow-up after RD. After euthanasia, the heart was cut into 8 sections (7-to 10-mm thick) perpendicular to the apical-basal axis. The sections of the LV were traced, and color photographs of each section were obtained to serve as a permanent record. Planimetry of the tracings was performed to measure the size of infarction (as a percentage of the LV mass) (23,24). Detailed histological and immunohistochemical assessments of the renal arteries were performed to determine the degree of denervation after catheter-based RD. After 10 weeks of RD, and while under general anesthesia after hemodynamic assessment and renal angiogram, the pigs' abdominal aorta and kidneys were rapidly harvested. The renal arteries were dehydrated in ascending concentrations of alcohol and embedded in paraffin. Transverse sections of the renal artery were made every 5 to 8 mm from its origin up to just distal to the main bifurcation of the renal artery, resulting in 3 sectioning levels (proximal, mid, and distal segments). On each level, 5-μm serial sections were cut, and per artery, all sectioning levels were mounted on a single glass slide. The sections were immunohistochemically stained for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), which are markers for sympathetic nerve fibers. Endogenous peroxidase was quenched using 0.03% H2O2 for 30 min, and then the sections were incubated with a rabbit anti-TH primary antibody (1:1,000 dilution) (Merck Millipore, Temecula, California) followed by a horseradish peroxidase−conjugated antirabbit secondary antibody (1:500 dilution) (DAKO, Glostrup, Demark) as previously described (27). For amplification of the signal, a tyramide signal amplification kit (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, Massachusetts) was applied. The sections were incubated in the fluorogenic substrate Alexa Fluor 488 tyramide (1:100) (Life Technologies, Eugene, Oregon) for 10 min and then coverslipped with mounting medium with DAPI (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Missouri). Image analysis was undertaken using a fluorescent microscope (Leica DMLB2, Leica, Wetzlar, Germany). The percentage of TH area staining from each image was quantified with Image J software (National Institutes of Health). For each slide, 5 regions were randomly selected and examined at ×10 magnification. All measurements were counted in a blinded fashion.
Statistical analysis
All data are expressed as mean ± SEM, and analysis was performed using SPSS software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Comparisons of parameters between different groups before and after RD were made using the Mann-Whitney U test or 1-way analysis of variance with Tukey's test, as appropriate. Serial changes in echocardiographic and invasive LV hemodynamic parameters and biomarkers at different time points were compared by 1-way repeated analysis of variance with Tukey's test. Statistical significance was defined at a value of p < 0.05.
A total of 26 pigs with MI and impaired LVEF documented on echocardiogram underwent rapid ventricular pacing to induce HF, and 20 animals who survived after induction of MI + HF were studied. These animals were randomized to the control group (n = 10) and the RD group (n = 10). Histological examination demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the LV infarct size between the 2 groups (Figure 1D).
Electrocardiographic data
There were no significant differences in the resting heart rate (Figure 2A) and corrected QT interval (Figure 2B) at baseline, after MI, and during MI + HF among the control and the RD groups (all p > 0.05). However, the resting heart rate was significantly lower and the corrected QT interval was shorter in the RD group at 10 weeks compared with the control group (Figures 2A and 2B) (p < 0.05).
Hemodynamic data
There were no significant differences in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Figure 2C) at baseline, after MI, during MI + HF, and at 10 weeks between the control and the RD groups (all p > 0.05). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure at baseline, after MI, during MI + HF, and at 10-week follow-up in each group. The PCWP was significantly elevated during MI + HF compared with baseline and after MI in both groups. Moreover, in the RD group, the PCWP was significantly lower at 10 weeks compared with during MI + HF and the control group at 10 weeks (Figure 2D).
Compared with baseline, LV systolic contractile function as determined by +dP/dtmax, +dP/dtmax/IP, and stroke volume index significantly decreased after MI and during MI + HF in the control and RD groups, but there were no differences in −dP/dtmax (Figures 2E to 2H). In the control group, there was no change in +dP/dtmax, dP/dtmax/IP, and stroke volume index at 10 weeks compared with MI + HF (p > 0.05). Contrary to this, +dP/dtmax, dP/dtmax/IP, and stroke volume index significantly increased at 10 weeks in the RD group compared with their MI + HF status (Figures 2E, 2G, and 2H) (all p < 0.05). Moreover, dP/dtmax/IP and stroke volume index were also significantly higher at 10 weeks in the RD group compared with the control group (Figures 2G and 2H) (all p < 0.05).
Echocardiographic data
After pacing was turned off for 24 h, echocardiogram showed that LVEF decreased from 65.3 ± 0.9% at baseline to 38.7 ± 2.1% after induction of MI + HF (p < 0.001). As shown in Figure 3A, maximum minor axis of the LV at end-diastole and -systole during MI + HF was significantly increased compared with baseline in both groups. At 10 weeks, the LVDs were smaller in the RD group compared with the control group (p < 0.05).
There were no significant differences in LVEF at baseline, after MI, and during MI + HF between the control and the RD groups (Figure 3B) (p > 0.05). Serial echocardiogram showed no changes in LVEF at 10 weeks compared with MI + HF in the control group (Figure 3A) (p > 0.05). However, LVEF was significantly increased at 10 weeks in the RD group compared with during MI + HF, and was higher than the control group at 10 weeks (Figure 3B) (p < 0.05).
Biomarker data
Serial changes in serum BNP (Figure 3C) and norepinephrine (Figure 3D) in the control and RD groups showed similar trends: their levels progressively increased after induction of MI + HF compared with baseline (p < 0.05). At 10 weeks, the serum BNP was significantly lower compared with MI + HF in the RD group (Figure 3C) (p < 0.05), but not in the control group (p > 0.05). However, there was no difference in the serum BNP level between the control and RD groups at 10 weeks. At 10 weeks, the serum norepinephrine level was still persistently elevated in both groups compared with their baseline (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the control and RD group (p > 0.05).
Interestingly, the cardiac veno-arterial gradient of norepinephrine was significantly elevated in the control group at 10 weeks compared with during MI + HF (p < 0.05), but not in the RD group (p > 0.05) (Figure 3E). Moreover, the cardiac veno-arterial gradient of norepinephrine was significantly elevated in the control group at 10 weeks compared with the RD group (Figure 3E) (p < 0.05). Both the right and left kidney veno-arterial gradient of norepinephrine remained unchanged at 10 weeks compared with during MI + HF in the control group (Figure 3E) (p > 0.05). However, the right and left kidney veno-arterial gradient of norepinephrine was lower at 10 weeks compared with during MI + HF in the RD group (Figure 3E) (p < 0.05 for right kidney). Furthermore, the right and left kidney veno-arterial gradient of norepinephrine was significantly lower in the RD group at 10 weeks compared with the control group (Figure 3E) (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings show that RD prevents the increasing myocardial norepinephrine gradient and reduces the renal norepinephrine gradient in HF.
There were no significant changes in serum angiotensin II (Figure 3F) and creatinine (Figure 3G) levels at baseline, after MI, during MI + HF, and at 10 weeks in both groups (all p > 0.05). Moreover, there were also no significant differences in serum angiotensin II and creatinine levels at baseline, after MI, during MI + HF, and at 10 weeks between the control and the RD groups (Figures 3F and 3G) (all p > 0.05).
Histology and immunohistochemical data
Histological examination demonstrates that catheter-based RD denervated the renal sympathetic nerves around the renal arteries (Figure 4A), and semiquantitative examination revealed a similar percentage area of TH positive sympathetic nerves at the proximal, mid, and distal segment of renal arteries in the control group (Figure 4B). Moreover, in the RD group, the percentage area of TH-positive sympathetic nerves at the proximal, mid, and distal segments of renal arteries was significantly lower than in the control group (Figure 4B) (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that catheter-based RD significantly denervated the renal sympathetic nerves around the renal arteries.
In this study, we investigated the long-term effects of bilateral RD using a catheter-based multielectrode catheter in a porcine model of HF induced by MI and rapid pacing. Our results showed that the catheter-based multielectrode catheter can effectively denervate renal sympathetic nerves to prevent elevation of myocardial norepinephrine gradient, reduce renal norepinephrine gradient, and improve LV function, as measured by serial echocardiographic measurement of LVEF and invasive hemodynamic assessments of dP/dtmax/IP and stroke volume index, on top of conventional pharmacological therapies with ACE inhibitor and β-blocker in HF. However, there was no significant change in serum angiotensin II and creatinine level after RD.
Catheter-based RD has emerged as a nonpharmacological approach for treatment of refractory hypertension via decreasing sympathetic activities (6,11–14). In HF, sympathoexcitation is associated with increased mortality and progression of LV dysfunction (3,4). As a result, RD has been proposed as a novel therapy for HF via suppression of sympathetic activities. Prior experimental studies (17–19) showed that surgical RD can prevent adverse LV remodeling after MI in rats. In an ovine model of pacing-induced HF, short-term catheter-based RD reduced renal norepinephrine content (22). Moreover, long-term catheter-based RD has also been shown to reduce serum BNP, angiotensin II, and aldosterone levels and improve LV function in a canine model of pacing-induced HF (20,21). Nevertheless, the potential effect of RD in HF after optimal evidence-based pharmacological therapies and the extent of RD after the procedure were not addressed in these studies. Moreover, the effect of RD on sympathetic overactivation in HF remains unclear.
In this study, we confirm that catheter-based RD can improve LV function in a clinically relevant large-animal model of MI with HF. Our results demonstrated that bilateral RD reduced PCWP and improved LV contractile function, as measured by echocardiogram and detailed invasive hemodynamic assessment. Moreover, reverse remodeling of the LV dimensions, as shown by significant reduction of LV end-systolic and -diastolic diameters after RD compared with control, were observed. However, a major concern about the use of RD in HF is the risk of hypotension and kidney injury after the procedure. In contrast to previous experimental studies (20–22), we did not observe any significant change in blood pressure or angiotensin II level after RD. This may be attributed to the concomitant use of ACE inhibitors in this study, and thus, the effect of RD on blood pressure via the suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is masked. Indeed, recent human pilot studies on RD in HF patients treated with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II blockers also demonstrated no significant change in blood pressure after the procedure (28). However, it is also possible that the blood pressure response to RD involves a more complex mechanism in which the beneficial effects on HF are mediated through attenuation of adverse neurohormonal feedback loops, such as regional changes in the norepinephrine gradient, as observed in this study. In this study, the lack of significant differences in serum norepinephrine and angiotensin II between the control and RD groups might also be related to the use of ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, albeit at relatively low doses. Importantly, we did not observe any significant change in kidney function as measured by the serum creatinine level after RD. Therefore, our data provide further reassurance to support the safety of RD in HF.
One of the important findings of this study is that effective bilateral RD, as confirmed by histological examination, is associated with the prevention of elevation of myocardial norepinephrine gradient as observed in the control group, and significantly reduced the renal norepinephrine gradient in HF. In the control group, treatment with ACE inhibitors and β-blockers was associated with a reduction in the peripheral but not coronary sinus and renal norepinephrine levels. These findings suggest persistent sympathetic overactivation in the heart and kidney despite conventional pharmacological therapies for HF. In contrast, decreased cardiac and renal norepinephrine gradients were observed after bilateral RD. It is possible that elimination of renal afferent and efferent sympathetic nerves reduces not only the renal sympathetic activation as shown in previous studies (22), but also the central sympathetic neural outflow to decrease cardiac norepinephrine gradient.
Study limitations
First, there is a potential effect of renal nerve reinnervation after RD, as observed in recent experimental studies (28). Second, the direct causal relationships between the change in cardiac and renal norepinephrine gradient and improvement in LV function remain unclear. Third, the doses of ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers were low without titration. Therefore, our results cannot be extrapolated to include patients with truly maximally tolerated medical therapies. Final, the renal excretion of norepinephrine in the urine was not measured in this study due to the difficulty in collecting 24-h urine in pigs. Therefore, the overall changes in the kidney norepinephrine levels could not be determined, as a substantial portion of norepinephrine is excreted from the kidney.
Our findings provide further evidence to support the application of catheter-based RD for treatment of HF. Several ongoing clinical studies will assess the long-term safety and efficacy of catheter-based RD in HF (15,29).
COMPETENCY IN MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE: RD has been proposed as novel therapy for treatment of HF. In a preclinical large-animal model of HF, we have demonstrated that successful bilateral RD using catheter-based radiofrequency ablation decreased myocardial and renal norepinephrine gradients and improved LV contractile function on top of conventional medical therapies with ACE inhibitor and beta-blocker.
TRANSLATIONAL OUTLOOK: Our findings provide further support for future clinical investigation on the use of catheter-based RD for treatment of HF.
This study was supported in part by the Center for Innovation and Strategic Collaboration Division, St. Jude Medical, Inc. USA and the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, General Research Fund (No. HKU 7795/12M; HKU 7800/13M and HKU 171210/14M). Dr. Tse has received an honorarium and research grant from the CISC Division, St. Jude Medical, Inc. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper.
All authors attest they are in compliance with human studies committees and animal welfare regulations of the authors' institutions and Food and Drug Administration guidelines, including patient consent where appropriate. For more information, visit the JACC: Basic to Translational Science author instructions page.
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- angiotensin-converting enzyme
- B-type natriuretic peptide
- dP/dtmax
- the maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise
- heart failure
- instantaneous developed pressure
- left ventricular
- myocardial infarction
- renal denervation
- tyrosine hydroxylase
- Received December 11, 2016.
- Revision received January 25, 2017.
- Accepted March 5, 2017.
- 2017 The Authors
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Religion & Spirituality
Poema S4 010 | Mr Ekow on Escaping No Mans' Land
Musician Mr Ekow, is my guest today. We hear his story, including the challenges of being an LGBT Christian, coming out to non-affirming Christians and his pastor, and how this impacted his relationships and own creative journey as a musician. He talks about being stuck in no mans land - wanting to be faithful to God, but also wanting to be true to his own identity.
Mr Ekow shows how he has faced both racial and LGBT prejudice and how this had an impact on his emotional and mental health. He then talks about the freedom he has found since coming out and how his story has impacted his music.
His story is one of struggle, courage, creativity and freedom. It's a story of hope, and the power of owning your story and the freedom which comes from being true to who you really are.
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Job Title:
Applications Management Engineer, Cheshire East, to Ł45K + Excellent Benefits
to Ł45K + Excellent Benefits
Job Description :
Applications Engineer, Cheshire East, to Ł45K + Excellent Benefits
Global software company seeks an Applications Engineer, to be based out of their Cheshire office.
• On- call support for production environments in extended business hours
• Excellent problem solving & troubleshooting skills
• Good IT / Technical skills (MS Windows / Linux, MS SQL Server, IIS, integration tools,
• reporting tools, scheduling, networks and databases).
• Basic Skills in at least one of the following: T-SQL / Powershell / .NET / vbscript
• Basic understanding in SSO technologies (Azure AD / ADFS ) is advantageous but not
• essential.
• Minimum 3 years hands on experience in Windows / Linux infrastructure.
• Minimum 2/3 years in IT application support services.
• Very Good verbal and written skills in English.
• Travel to multiple facilities may be required both in and outside of UK.
• Knowledge of financial and banking applications is an asset
• Knowledge of Wealth & Investment Management business is advantageous but not
• Essential
• Degree in IT, or equivalent through experience.
Keywords: Application Management Engineer, support, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Shropshire
Duties & Responsibilities: To be involved in the Customer Service Team, delivering application management service to the customers. The Application Management Engineer implements and runs best practices, techniques and procedures essential to a deployed application's optimal operation, performance and efficiency throughout the Software platform. To be responsible for assisting in the support of custom applications, monitoring critical logs, and working directly with users to troubleshoot and support incidents regarding custom applications and systems issues. Follow-up with users and support staff as needed on requests and problem tickets. Reporting and follow-up for service management, including incident management, problem management, and release management. Liaison among users, technical support and development teams. Work directly with the technical and development teams to resolve issues. On-call production support and maintenance required for support applications. Leveraging your problem solving skills, you will work, in collaboration with the software team, on a wide variety of Business & Technical issues in a fast pace environment that is managed using ITIL methodology. You will report to the Customer Services Manager.
Your role includes:
• To understand the technical & business architecture of the solution system monitoring script.
• Applications monitoring: monitors critical logs and systems. Manage exceptions and fix data and systems engaging with the Business Consultant and System Engineers.
• On call support: overnight / early morning production on-call support and application management of the platform.
• To work directly with Clients and the Customer Service team to troubleshoot and support incidents regarding custom applications and systems issues.
• To assist in the project team charged with the implementation of the software at clients' sites, more specifically the technical and data integration between the software and other financial applications
• To participate in regular customer Service status meetings
• To validate and keep the customer environments up-to-date (internally and customer)
Client offers:
• A challenging and progressive position within an international work environment
• Excellent remuneration package (Pension Contribution, health care and life insurance)
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Some spoilers to Serenity (the Firefly movie) and Red Rising and Golden Son by Pierce Brown.
FRIDGING is a problem in storytelling. Briefly, it is the act of killing a character in order to (from the writer's point of view) inspire other characters to heroic action. The perpetrator can be a maniacal villain, an unsympathetic bureaucracy, a selfish god.
And of course, above all, the writer put them up to it. Let's get this out of the way: Whatever your characters do, it's your fault. Don't blame your characters for doing this or that. Own it. Joss Whedon murdered Wash. Pierce Brown killed Eo . . . and Pax.
There are good reasons to kill of a key character. Maybe you want to show that no one is safe from your terrible, swift pen (as in the case of Wash). In this case, foreshadowing is your friend. Prepare your audience for the coming loss.
Killing off a major character can open up all kinds of interesting possibilities for storytelling. Pull the chair from under the audience. They've gotten too comfortable with the story formula. (I'm kind of pissed still at Kameron Hurley for killing off a certain character in RAPTURE. That's means it worked. I think.)
Fridging is different. It's killing a character just for the sake of inspiring others to take their grief and convert it into (often violent) action.
You should recognize this situation in your own writing and think about what you are doing. If that's really what you want to do, then own it. Realizing too that it may really turn people off. I admit I almost threw Red Rising against the wall when Eo died, in her husband's POV eyes the perfect woman born in squalor calling for revolution. (I did appreciate that in Golden Son *SPOILER* Darrow's mother revealed her own less than flowery opinion of her late daughter-in-law.)
It's not something I can't get past as a reader, but it feels like a betrayal IMO. Frankly, it's lazy writing. I'm sure at some point I will do it myself, but it's a cheap plot point. Like heroes that are orphans by default, it frees your hero from those pre-existing emotional bonds that would keep them from heading into the world of adventure.
So think of something else.
My own aphorism is this:
Don't ride the dragon, be the dragon, don't be the martyr, lead the revolution.
Take the too-good-for-this-world character and make them live through the change they want to realize. It's less of a fairy tale, but it's closer to reality. What happens after the revolution is won, when you have to actually pay off your rebel army and get to the business of creating something new, worthy of your children and the blood of those who don't live to see the world they died bringing into existence.
Because dying is easy, living is harder.


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2nd Craigslist Homicide arrest
On May 8, 2013 at approximately 8pm Mr. Felix Dejesus, of Cromwell, was murdered on Allendale Road. while attempting to sell tablets that he had arranged to sell via Craigslist. On June 17,2014 Hartford Police Department Homicide Detectives arrested Rashad Moon, 22 of Hartford in connection with the homicide. Rashad Moon, 22 of Hartford is being held on a $1,000,000 bond and charged with felony murder, robbery first-degree, and conspiracy to commit robbery in the first-degree
On June 30, 2014, Hartford Police Department Homicide Detectives, working closely with the Connecticut State's Attorney's Office in Hartford, applied for and obtained a second arrest warrant for this homicide. Marvin Mathis, 20 of Hartford, was arrested today and charged at the Hartford Police Department with Murder, robbery first-degree, and conspiracy to commit robbery in the first-degree. He is being held on a $100,000 judge set bond.


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Children's Ministry
Autumn Trapp
WE ARE a "seed planting" ministry- we plant the Good News and we expect and wait on Jesus Christ to harvest His followers in His time.
Our mission is to provide a loving atmosphere that guides your child to Christ through worship, fellowship and the study of Scripture.
We encourage children to become involved in all of the programs of the Church offered for them: Small Group, Children's Church, AWANA, and other special activities.
Come and join the fun!"


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This is my Uncle Scotty pictures above. He was married to my aunt at one time and the adopted my cousins Maddy many years ( maybe 14 ) back. They are now divorced but I still consider him my uncle and always will. He is fun and very active.
I thought I would write a post about him because he was featured on our Fox 9 Morning News this morning ( 5 times actually I saw it played ). My Uncle Scotty is an Inventor. He actually lives in a big barn ( that is awesome ) and he is able to work right from home on all of his inventions.
He was featured on the News Today for his Sky Ride.
It all started in his barn and now has gone from a Dream to a Reality.
It started back in 1985 as a sketch that he threw together he then turned it into a reality in 1995 by taking the drawing and actually building the machine and track.
So what is the Sky Ride.
Well it is a Bike / Rower that is suspended in the air connected to a track above.
I have seen it in his yard and been on it once. Seemed like a crazy idea a few years ago when we where there and it is even more crazy to know now all the ideas they have planned for this Sky Bike.
My Uncle has not only invented that though. He has invited a few different things.
I remember riding the Row Bike ( with training wheels ) at family get events when I was younger and I remember going on a ski trip and seeing his Penguins at the ski resorts.
His biggest invention by far was the ROLLERBLADE.
Yes you heard me right he invented the 1st in line skate here in Minnesota back in the 80's. He is in the process of writting a story about how it all started, how the Wheels Got Rolling!
Here are a few facts about the Rollerblade and when it all started.
Modern Skates
In 1979, brothers Scott and Brennan Olson, of Minneapolis, Minnesota found antique skates with wheels placed in a straight line on the skate's sole. The Olsons redesigned the skate by using polyurethane wheels on the bottom of hockey boots. The Olsons also added a rubber toe brake.
In 1983, the Olsons founded Rollerblade Inc. to mass produce their new invention. Rollerblade Inc. was the first company to mass produce the "in line" type of roller skate.
Rollerblades were the first commercially successful in-line Roller Skates. Minnesota students Scott and Brennan Olson invented them in 1980, when they were looking for a way to practice Hockey during the off-season. Their design was an ice hockey boot with 3 inline wheels instead of a blade.
I want to keep this memory for my girls.
As this is a great memory to have and I would also love to get his book when it comes out so that they can one day read about his trial and errors and how he got passed all the people who turned him down.


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You've moved out. You've got your own place. You still have a place at your parent's? Wait, what? It's normal for some and not-so-normal for others. We're going to talk about the top things that come to mind when you think about people who have a room in their parent's house once they move out.
10. You Think You Deserve It
Not all but some think this is totally okay and that's a little narcissistic. What did you do to have a permanent space other than be born?
9. You Have Relics of the Past Staring at You
Seeing that Korn poster every time you stay does something for you? Why not at least update the room. Unless you still love Mr. Davis and Co. then by all means, keep that poster up and keep being a freak on a leash.
8. You're Taking Up Space
Ever wonder if your parents want to take the room back, but it's like this awkward conversation they don't know how to start…Well don't make them ask you to take your stuff. Just do it.
7. You're Using Your Parents as a Storage Locker
Which leads us to this. Rent a storage locker if you don't have room in your new place.
6. Calling Two Places Home is Confusing People
"Wait, do you mean you'll be at your place or your mom's tomorrow night?"
5. Getting Mad When Others Sleep in There is Silly
Calm down, grandma needed a place to sleep and since they couldn't move your old Pokemon cards to make a real guest room, this will have to do.
4. So…You Have a Time Capsule…
Korn, Pokemon, a Giga Pet. It's like stepping into a time machine every time and that can make you slip into a younger mental state when you're there.
3. Sleeping in a Twin Bed with Your Bae…Not Cool
Did Saturday Night Live teach us nothing about sex during the holidays on a twin bed?
2. You Stay There Too Much
Why are you paying rent elsewhere? Just move back.
1. It's a Shrine to the Dead, but You're Still Breathing
This room confuses new neighbors who visit. "I'm so sorry your son passed. How long has it been?" "What? Josh lives across town." *Awkward stare*


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You want to liven up your vehicle with vehicle graphics, but don't know exactly where to start… Here's everything you need to know about materials, design, lifespan, and care.
Vehicle graphics are a great way to get exposure for your business, small or large. Vehicle graphics are a form of advertising that increases your company's exposure exponentially, without having to do anything but go about your day, and leaving your vehicle to do the rest. Not to mention, vehicle graphics have a much higher response rate, and can increase your business's annual sales.
Even though it's clear that vehicle graphics can be hugely beneficial to your company's success, you may still have several questions about what options you have when it comes to designing and choosing your vehicle graphic, and how long you'll actually reap the benefits for before it's time to replace. We've compiled a list of the most common questions about vehicle graphics; here's everything you need to know…
What options are available for vehicle graphic materials?
With only two options for vehicle wrap materials, the choices are rather limited; you can choose either cast vinyl or calendered vinyl. Both will go on the same, and will have the same high quality appearance. The only difference? Their lifespan and where they can be applied. While cast vinyl lasts, on average, 5 years, calendered vinyl is better suited for short term use, lasting only several months to a year.
- Cast vinyl. Cast vinyl is a high quality material that easily stretches and forms to the shape of the surface it's being applied to, making it perfect for the odd shape of cars and trucks. Not only will cast vinyl go on well, but it also holds the shape over time, and provides a paint-like finish when covered with a clear laminate. The only down side? Cast vinyl is considerably more expensive than calendered vinyl.
- Calendered vinyl. Calendered vinyl material is essentially the opposite of cast vinyl in the sense that it snaps back into its original shape rather than easily conforming to the surface of the car. Additionally, colors are much harder to match and be printed onto cast vinyl. However it is a much cheaper material and can be produced in mass quantities, making it perfect for box trucks or a fleet of commercial vehicles.
What methods can I use to apply my vehicle wrap?
- Full vehicle wrap. This type of wrap is exactly what it sounds like – a vehicle wrap that fully covers the vehicles surface. You can choose a full color graphic design, or keep it simple with a one color wrap in lieu of a new paint job.
- Half wrap. These types of vehicle graphics have the same general concept as full vehicle wraps, but simply cover the bottom half or only portions of the car, rather than a full coverage design.
- Window graphics. Window graphics for vehicle wraps are always installed using window perf, which allows you to have a full color graphic without losing the ability to actually see out the window.
- Vinyl lettering. This type of "wrap" is not actually a wrap at all, simply a logo or company name and information installed on the vehicle. This form of vehicle graphics is considerably cheaper than a full vehicle wrap, but still gets your name out there, and is a great form of advertising.
How long will my vehicle graphics last?
The answer to this question varies a lot depending on the type of material you use, how well you care for your vehicle wrap, and the types of conditions that your vehicle is exposed to. Typically, cast vinyl wraps can last up to 5 years, while calendered vinyl lasts up to only 1 year. Window perf window graphics can last anywhere from 1 to 3 years, depending on the quality of material that you purchase and the elements that the material is exposed to.
How should I care for my vehicle graphics?
Properly caring for your vehicle graphics is the best way to ensure that you get the most out of your product, and that your wrap has a long, fruitful life span. While there's no special treatments needed for vehicle wraps, it's important to stay away from high pressured car washes or bristles in order to avoid accidentally scrubbing off the vinyl. Instead, hand wash your vehicle with soap and water.
Now that you know the basics about vehicle graphics, you can get to work creating a design of your very own!
For more information about vehicle graphics, or to place an order, contact us.


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Coronavirus update: Viewings and valuations resume as estate agents reopen. Click here to find out what we're doing.
School Lane, Toft
01223 356054 email@example.com
10 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AD
01954 260 940 email@example.com
23 Church St, Willingham, Cambridge CB24 5HS
Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm
Saturday 9am - 12.30pm
Sunday Closed


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Met Opera: Manon (VIP)
Exhilarating soprano Lisette Oropesa stars as the irresistible title character, the tragic beauty who yearns for the finer things in life, in Laurent Pelly's revealing production. Tenor Michael Fabiano is the besotted Chevalier des Grieux, whose desperate love for Manon proves their undoing. Maurizio Benini conducts Massenet's sensual score.


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7 Stunning Embroidered Pieces
Bright and beautiful needlework—especially in fresh florals—is the common thread here.
ASOS Embroidered Column Dress
Think of this frock as a better-than-basic little black dress. Pair it with sleek, simple accessories to let the embellishments shine.
To buy: $73; asos.com.
Glamorous Floral Embroidered Bomber Jacket
As chic with jeans and a tee as it is with an (unexpected) pencil skirt.
To buy: $115; nordstrom.com.
Trend Bar Embroidered Flower Vine Stickers
Add these removable, reusable stickers to anything from white sneakers to a minimalist leather bag for an instant update.
To buy: $20 for two; trendbar.com.
Accessorize Ariana Embellished Across-Body Bag
Both whimsical (with its flower and star design) and functional (it fits phone, keys, wallet, and more), this bag can skew brunch casual or a little more dressy.
To buy: $44; us.accessorize.com.
New York & Company Floral-Embroidered Popover Blouse
The perfect layering piece—imagine this pretty pattern peeking out from beneath a blazer.
To buy: $55; nyandcompany.com.
Steve Madden Inca Heels
These pretty velvet heels are the ideal shoe for seasonal transitions—luxe velvet and embroidery look great now paired with opaque black tights, but these low, chunky heeled sandals will also create the perfect base for an outfit come spring.
To buy: $100; stevemadden.com.
Dori Csengeri Red Earrings
Embroidered leather has the look of heavy stone jewelry, but—don't worry!—these stunners up the style ante without weighing down your ear lobes.
To buy: $133; lyst.com.


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This Sale Has Flights Around the US for Less Than $40
Late summer flight deals are coming out in droves. Plenty of deals have appeared recently to get you to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, and even Southeast Asia. But if you're looking for a quick weekend away inside the US, your animal-adorned chariot has arrived.
A new sale from Frontier Airlines features $20 one-way tickets and 102 routes with one-way tickets for less than $40. Many of the cheapest deals are shorter routes, but there is a brigade of other options you can take around the US for under $100.
It's not a bait and switch on the one-way cost, either. The below roundtrip flight between Albuquerque and Denver costs just $38.40. You might spend that amount on gas alone driving the 450 miles between the two cities.
The sale isn't just limited to a part of the country, either. Cities with tickets under $40 include Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Bismarck, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Des Moines, Fort Myers, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Madison, Miami, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ontario, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Reno, Saint Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Tampa, Trenton, and Washington D.C.
There are a lot of deals, but it's worth knowing what you're getting into. Frontier is a budget airline, and in 2016 it had an unimpressive 62.4% on-time arrival rate. So, this isn't quite like the recent deal where Southwest offered $42 tickets, which included two checked bags. But if you want to fly for less than it'll cost you to drive somewhere, this sale can make it happen.
Budget airlines are notorious for having a lot of fees that can elevate the price of your flight rather quickly. Frontier is no exception. To get the best deal, pay for your carry-on online in advance of the flight. You'll likely pay around $35-40 for that bag. Your personal item will be free.
Despite the baggage charge, you can still make it a cheap flight if you're able to pack light and forgo a reserved seat. Sitting next to a stranger isn't that horrible unless you wind up next to this guy.
Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.


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With wedding season fast approaching its time for all those summer brides to get picking.
Here are some of my favorites (perhaps a bit over-the-top) for the blushing brides this season.
upper 3 by Vera Wang
upper 3 from Elie Saab Couture Collection
Elizabeth Dye available at The English Department in Portland OR
upper 2 by Temperly London Bridal
Upper 2 by Monique Lhuillier


text: All Oriola Group employees undertake to honour the company's business and professional secrets and other confidential information. Employees do not reveal confidential information to third parties, such as colleagues who are not specifically authorised to receive this information or to family members and friends. Furthermore, employees do not use confidential information for any other purpose than the performing professional duties that require it.


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Subscribe: RSS feed
May 9, 2017
Have British Gas / Centrica fallen foul of the Lobbying Act in their attack on plans for a price freeze?
October 17, 2013
I'm no economist, but the ill-judged social media response by British Gas to their price hikes looks to have spooked the City: And Centrica…
November 11, 2011
On Twitter common best practice is that people stop tweeting as a mark of respect on Armistice Day. But every year, some brands always screw up - with Tweets going out. This then means some poor PR has to spend the rest of the morning apologising.


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A pension is more than a promise to current and future retired workers. It's a great way to attract and retain workers to public service. Just ask State Parole Officer James Long of AFSCME Local 1565 (NP-4 Department of Correction Bargaining Unit).
"A defined benefit plan is a much better retirement tool than a defined contribution plan," he says. "It's one of the main benefits that attracted to me public service."
Public pensions improve public services by reducing turnover and retraining costs, and retaining experienced and qualified workers. A new report from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS), Pensionomics 2018, reaffirms the positive impact of defined benefit pensions on state economies.
According to NIRS, "the spending by 27 million retired Americans from their monthly pension payments in 2016 supported 7.5 million jobs for other Americans and $1.2 trillion in total economic output nationwide. This spending resulted in $202.6 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue, a finding that mirrors other studies of public pension plans as revenue generators."
Defined benefit plans are doing their part to boost the Connecticut economy, too. NIRS reports that in 2016, expenditures stemming from state and local pensions supported:
- 43,559 jobs that paid $2.7 billion in wages and salaries.
- $7.1 billion in total economic output.
- $1.6 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues
It's no secret that past governors and legislatures failed to properly fund state employee pensions, creating a massive unfunded liability in the Tier 1 system that closed in 1984. But the advent of public sector bargaining in Connecticut in the late 1970s has brought demonstrable progress. All of the plans negotiated since the advent of collective bargaining have been found to be moderate and well funded.
Thanks to recent agreements with the state union coalition known as SEBAC, we've even found a stable and affordable way to pay off the unfunded liabilities from the old Tier 1 plan. And this is in addition to the 2017 savings and concession agreement which will save the state $25 billion over 20 years, much of it on pension costs.
Click here for previous press reporting on the SEBAC 2017 savings agreement.
On Jan. 11, The CT School Finance Project & the CT League of Women Voters sponsored a five-hour Public Pension Forum in Hartford. The forum reaffirmed that state employee retirement benefits are reasonable, moderate and properly funded outside of the Tier 1 category.
Guest panelists also acknowledged that the new Tier IV hybrid pension will make it difficult to attract top-flight employees to state service, due to its low benefit levels.
(Comptroller Kevin Lembo's new OpenPension website helps dispel some of the myths about state employee pensions. For example, the average bargaining unit employee receiving a normal retirement from one of the current pension tiers receives a pension of $18,600 a year.)
As the National Public Pension Coalition notes, "If public pensions were eliminated, the consequences would be devastating." Yet corporate conservative think tanks like the Yankee Institute and some anti-worker legislators in Connecticut are doing their best to eliminate public pensions through a sustained disinformation campaign.
Click here to view the National Public Pension Coalition video, "How the Koch Brothers Are Trying to Steal Your Pension." You'll learn how ultra-wealthy and corporate zealots want to take money out of working America's pockets and give it to Wall Street by setting up "research institutions" to discredit pensions.
These special interests will not succeed in their achieving their true goal, which is to eradicate retirement security for all workers. The bottom line is that public pensions matter — not just to retirees, but to their families and their communities.
Our AFSCME Council 4 union is committed to the long-term fight to protect and advance retirement security for everyone.


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According to your browser settings, you prefer the language English (US).
Our site is available in English (US).
Tous les rendez-vous en un coup d'oeil
Ne ratez aucun évènement- Tous les rendez-vous en un coup d'oeil.
With our webinars, we offer virtual events: exciting presentations and workshops, which are broadcast live over the Internet and professionally moderated. These usually one-hour webinars are free of charge for you.
We are preparing new webinars with current topics for you. In the meantime, we wish to invite you to watch our recorded technical trainings.
Des conseils personnalisés et des informations sur le Solar-Log™ vous attendent aux salons suivants:
The virtual fair will start in CW20 and take place online on the Solar-Log.com website. To compensate for the canceled Intersolar, we bring the trade fair directly and conveniently to you. Look forward to further information shortly before the fair starts! So be excited.<link 32181 - internal-link "Opens internal link in current window">Visit here</link>


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2019 Toyota 4Runner
There aren't too many proper truck-based Sport Utility Vehicles around these days and they're numbers are getting smaller every year. The Toyota 4Runner is one such vehicle and unlike a number of similar sized crossovers, the Toyota is a genuinely capable off-road vehicle as well as a family-friendly everyday vehicle. So, let's take a closer look at what the 4Runner has to offer and see why you should consider one.
A lot of midsize SUVs look pretty similar these days, and although they are mostly pretty attractive, it's hard to feel in any way individual when you're driving one. The 2019 Toyota 4Runner, by way of contrast, doesn't really look like anything else on or off the road. It's a bit like a previous generation of the new Toyota Hilux pickup truck with a back on it, but that doesn't mean a great deal as Toyota doesn't even sell the Hilux here in the US. Regular versions look pretty rugged and aggressive, but the TRD Pro versions are higher off the ground and they get painted black wheels that really do make it stand out.
Engines and performance
Toyota keeps it simple here with just a single engine covering all versions of the current 4Runner. The unit in question is a 4.0-liter V-6 developing 270 horsepower and 278 lb.-ft. of torque, which sends the power to the rear or all four wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. The TRD trim level gets all-wheel drive standard, while the SR5 and Limited versions of the Toyota can be rear or all-wheel drive. The rest of the range gets a part-time system more suited to slippery surfaces than genuine off-roading. There are other Toyota SUVs out there with better road manners if you're not intending to go off the beaten track. But if you're looking for a daily driver capable of handling some seriously challenging terrain when the pavement runs out the 4Runner is a great choice.
It's a bit of a climb to get into the Toyota, but that's all part of the appeal of this proudly different vehicle. There's a good amount of space for up to five inside, and a third-row seat is available if a family has small children it needs to accommodate back there. There's plenty of cargo space, especially when there's no third-row and the second is folded away. The standard cloth is tough and durable to deal with the outdoor lifestyle, but the synthetic or real leathers available are even better as they're easier to clean.
Features and equipment
The entry level SR5 comes standard with a 6.1-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, power features, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and air conditioning. Stepping up to the SR5 Premium upgrades your 4Runner with navigation, synthetic leather upholstery, and a number of other features. The TRD and TRD Pro may be the top of the range models, but this truly is where the real value is to be found in the current 4Runner lineup. As well as standard all-wheel drive the TRD Pro also includes: off-road traction control modes, a locking rear differential, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, navigation, Fox shocks, raised suspension and off-road tires.
For more information on the 2019 Toyota 4Runner for Sale in Fort Collins and to arrange a test drive, don't hesitate to get in touch with us here at Pedersen Toyota, your premier choice Toyota dealer in Fort Collins.


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Catharine Cellier-Smart shared a link to the group: FR<>EN Translators.
Colleagues working in the field of (higher) education might be interested in this list of terminology with 422 entries, which also includes some abbreviations.
English/French glossary on higher education & research in France.
Beatrice Goutfer: It's not a glossary, but a terminology list, but thanks all the same.
Adrien Lambert: Please, enlighten me, what is the difference between a glossary and a terminology list?
Catharine Cellier-Smart: Glossaries give definitions.
Adrien Lambert: Thank you, Catharine. Now that you have said it, it seems obvious to me, but I must admit that I have not been using this word correctly. I actually think that many people misuse it. In French, people often confuse 'glossaire' with 'lexique'. Interesting.
I posted:
Steve Dyson: We live and learn. Sounds like I have been using the wrong term for my French-English Glossary of Naval Technology for a very long time. While it does contain definitions and links to definitions, most entries comprise terms in French and a range of potential equivalents (in English) for translators and transcreators producing technical journalism on naval defence. As Adrien suggests, I may have been influenced by the looser usage in French. Still, there's no excuse for not having researched this in more detail.


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Going for Gold with Ann Ashworth
David "Mr Active" Katz was in the Team TomTom training camp in Dullstroom recently, catching up with inductee, Born2Run's Ann Ashworth. Ann has stepped up her game in 2017, and has some Comrades Marathon advice for each and every shape and size. Endurance nutrition is essentially the same, whether you out there for six hours or 12.
Thanks once again for joining us on 32Gi Sports Nutrition, I'm Mr Active, David Katz. It's been a great privilege recently to be in the training camp in Dullstroom of 'Colonel Coach' John Hamlett, who has had the last two men's champions.
Ann Ashworth from Born2Run, who are a partner of 32Gi, they do sponsor products for their elite club and she has been training with John. She's after a very impressive Comrades run, a Gold Medal, which is a very difficult thing to attain. It's a great pleasure now to welcome her onto the podcast; Ann, thanks very much for joining us?
Ann Ashworth: Thanks very much for having me, thanks for coming through to Dullstroom.
DK: Tell me about Dullstroom, tell me about high altitude. I know you talk about not having not done much mileage, for most people it's quite a bit of mileage, but this year has been a bit of a game changer?
AA: Yes, John runs an eight week camp sort of from just before Easter to Comrades. During those eight weeks you are expected to live and train exclusively in Dullstroom. Unfortunately I couldn't make the full eight weeks, I've just been able to come in for three weeks and weekends.
How to get into that Comrades Marathon zone
But training at altitude, it's over 2 000m which is not that much higher than Johannesburg, but the benefit of being out here is that you don't have to deal with the traffic, you don't have to deal with work, you don't have to deal with all the outside distractions. You get long, open stretches of road where you can test your hill strength and you can test simulated race conditions and that's a huge bonus to be out here.
DK: Looking towards Comrades 2017, the goal is that Gold, that race day anything can happen, but you're feeling like your training is there?
AA: Definitely, I'm feeling more confident than I have in the past. Just because I feel that I might actually get to race day feeling like I've prepared for it. Whereas usually I'm like: Oh heavens, what's going to happen today. You can never tell what's going to happen on race day and maybe you have a complete meh and the wheels fall off and you just have to deal with that.
But I'm really hoping that I've put in significant hours this year and hopefully things come right for me. If I can finish strongly and not have to stop and have walk breaks. If I can just hold an even pace throughout the race, I'll be very happy with that.
DK: Training is one thing nutrition is the other, what adaptations have you done in the preparation this year for Comrades?
How a change in diet can make your Comrades
AA: Working as a lawyer, we tend to eat a lot of food on the run, drink far too much coffee and go from sugar-high to sugar-high. This year I've really tried to cut out all the fat in my diet, cut out all the sugar in my diet and basically just go back to whole foods.
I'm sticking to a very high protein diet but I do use a lot of supplements, just to supplement natural food and it has definitely helped a lot to cut down on my coffee etc. The diet, I think, does play a massive role. Then using the right supplements for the high intensity training and things like that is obviously vital.
DK: For elite athletes who are doing a lot of running and a lot of training and yes, diet is important, but your immune systems are constantly taking a knock. How do you combat that?
AA: If you're taking a high protein diet, it seems to just keep you a little bit stronger to withstand the training. Obviously we take things like a lot of Vitamin C, a lot of Omega 3's, but not Omega 6, a lot of calcium, a lot of iron. That really does keep us going.
Then I know that a lot of athletes will have regular Vitamin B injections, particularly now these last three weeks as you get towards Comrades. If there's a sick person or someone sneezing anywhere near you, you tend to just excuse yourself and go somewhere else. We do definitely avoid anyone who looks like they might have a sniff or a cold, especially at this stage. You also just have to live your life and hopefully none of us get sick.
How Ann handles her Comrades nutrition
DK: That's not just for elites, that is for every single Comrades runner. Avoid people who are sick, you don't want to ruin your race, very close to Comrades. Looking at race day, looking at the evening before, you already have that nutrition planned. Run is through some of your nutritional planning from the evening before, the morning of and during the race this year?
AA: So, I think the most important night to get your sleep is actually on the Friday night. I work backwards from then. So Friday night I'll go to bed early and I'll stay in bed as long as I can on Saturday morning. Then that has knock-on effect, so I won't have breakfast, I'll have a late brunch. Then I won't have lunch, I'll sort of have afternoon tea, which will be my biggest meal. I'll probably look to eat at about 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon will be my big meal of the day on the Saturday. Then a very light dinner on Saturday evening.
Then getting up very early on Sunday to eat about two hours before the race and all of those meals will be clean meals. They'll be sugar-free, fat-free, high protein with some carbs, but we don't really carbo load anymore. In the past there was a lot of focus on athletes carbo loading, most of us don't do that. You will increase your carbohydrate intake by a little bit, but not by a lot. So you basically are doing what you would do every day and maybe having an extra two slices of bread, for example.
The science behind the quantity of fat
DK: You talk about cutting out the fat but you're not cutting out all the fat, you're cutting out, in a sense, the bad fat.
AA: Yes, so there are some measurements, when you're checking ingredients you would say okay, I won't have more than 2g fat per 100g in a carbohydrate item, for example. For example I can eat Woolworth's pasta, but I can't eat Fattis and Monis because Fattis and Monis has 3g per 100g and not less than 2g.
It's silly little things like that, but I still cook with oil. There's no chance I can get away with not cooking with oil. I still have avocado and things like that, so it's not completely without oil, but we do try and keep it quite low.
DK: In terms of recovery, what's your trick and how are you recovering from sessions. I presume race day would be a similar recovery strategy?
AA: Usually after any run I will have a protein shake and then usually within a short time thereafter I would have a protein meal. Whether you're going to have scrambled eggs or whether you're going to have some grilled chicken breasts or something like that, then what's I'll have.
On race day I really hope that I will have burned enough calories to eat whatever I want when I get to the finish. I feel like I'm definitely going to have a Steers burger waiting for me! At Born2Run we've got a tradition that when you finish a race, you've got to have a chocolate milk and so I think we'll probably buy out whatever the closest Pick 'n Pay chocolate milk supply is. Definitely planning on sitting down with a chocolate milk at the end of the race.
DK: Ross Tucker's perfect recovery, he loves his Steri Stumpie post-race. Ann, thanks very much for chatting to us, all the best for Comrades and we're looking forward to seeing how you go.
AA: Great, thanks very much.


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Earth Overshoot Day is on August 13
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity's demand on renewable natural resources exceeds the supply that our planet can regenerate.
When a country plummets into a massive financial deficit, it attracts worldwide attention. Yet countries today are largely ignoring another form of overspending: their ecological deficits. This is putting economies and citizens alike at even more risk.
The consequences of a fiscal deficit can strike much more quickly than those of an ecological deficit. But the results of an ecological deficit — including fisheries collapse, biodiversity loss and climate change, as well as economic instability — are potentially much longer lasting and more difficult to reverse if not tackled early.
This is because addressing resource constraints requires reshaping our use of resources like forests and energy, with profound effects on our infrastructure and lifestyles.
Recovery may even be impossible if ecological thresholds are exceeded. Exceeding ecological thresholds can result in swift and large-scale changes in the way ecosystems function, like in the case of the collapse of cod stocks in the North Atlantic as a result of overfishing — and may be very difficult to reverse.
However, there is good news. This year, more than ever, the momentum is building quickly for us to address ecological deficits on a global scale.
A global ecological deficit is called overshoot, and today, August 13, is Earth Overshoot Day. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity's demand on renewable natural resources exceeds the supply that our planet can regenerate. More simply, it's the date humanity has spent our planet's budget for the entire year. This year, that date arrives more than four months before the year ends. As recently as 2000, Earth Overshoot Day fell in October


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BWW Reviews: Jazz Stars Jane Monheit & John Pizzarelli Thrill in OC Cabaret Concert
You know that saying that "two is better than one?" Well it couldn't have been a more enjoyably appropriate description than the swingin'-est concert to hit Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in some time: the double-bill of jazz powerhouses Jane Monheit and John Pizzarelli. The two talented stars—each accompanied by their own incredible traveling bands—played to an almost-packed house this past Friday, October 5 as the rousing season opener for the 2012-2013 Cabaret Series at the Center.Though the opulent setting of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall seems a tad too huge for what would normally be much more at home at the smaller, more intimate Samueli Theatre (the usual site for these often candle-lit Cabarets), the enlarged venue actually worked well in framing these two regal acts—allowing the gorgeous space to reveal just how both of these artists deserve much bigger fame than they already enjoy. The pair's well-crafted individual sets were clearly demarcated by an intermission, but both provided a nice sampling of each of their unique contributions to the world of jazz. With Monheit, you get a beautiful, theatrically supple voice—masterful and effortless in every jaw-dropping delivery; with Pizzarelli, you get a terrific jazz guitarist armed with incredible improv skills and a smile-inducing rapport with the audience that's part stand-up comic routine, part head-boppin' fun. At one point both performers even come together for a couple of superb duets that demonstrate, again, why these two are laudable musical geniuses whether singing solo or with each other. Up first during this true double-bill was two-time Grammy nominee Monheit, seductively confident and playfully sassy throughout her lovely set, much like a modern-day hybrid of Mae West, Jessica Rabbit, and Ella Fitzgerald. Though still looking like a fresh-faced ingenue, the now 34-year-old wife and mother continues to sing with a palpable maturity beyond her years (It also helps that Monheit comes equipped with some of the best, most emotionally-resonant jazz arrangements of this young century courtesy of her principal pianist Michael Kanan).It's this self-assured, very musical theater-like approach to the Great American Songbook—first heard in her valiant 2000 debut album Never Never Land—that elevates Monheit from your typical jazz singer. Blessed with precise vocal control and depths of connective emotion—whether bubbly and high, flirty and fun, or sincerely heartbreaking—Monheit seems to have a knack for caressing each note with measured care. Her vocal prowess creates such vivid stories, often striking just the right mood necessary to fashion a full-bodied performance. This is particularly evidenced by her flawless, soul baring duet with Kanan on "Over the Rainbow," a song that has held a special significance in Monheit's continued career (which she described in her BWW interview here). It was so eerily quiet during this song that you could have literally heard a pin drop in between the beautifully-rendered lyrics. This hushed, piano-only-backed rendition was brand new for me personally, as I've only heard her other, more well-known arrangements that include full, swelling orchestras. But much like in those layered iterations, Monheit succeeded in mining gut-wrenching emotion out of each note, enhancing its deeper connotations as a melancholy song of quiet, aching longing. How amazing was Monheit's version? Let's just say even my tin-hearted friend sitting next to me was reduced to a puddle of tears. It was simply goosebump-marvelous.Rest assured, Monheit—who was joined on stage by Kanan, bassist Neal Miner, and drummer/husband Rick Montalbano—was just as incredible in the speedier, more uptempo songs as well. Her opener "Old Devil Moon" introduced her sexy, sultry side almost immediately, while her swingin' take on Mel Torme's "Born To Be Blue" (arranged by Miner) was jazz-hot... that is until it morphed seamlessly into a seductive, slow-burn torch song. Wow. She pulled a few more tunes from her discography including Cole Porter's "In The Still of the Night," the sweet-and-scatty "Stardust" (which she recorded, she admitted, so that her grandfather could add her version to his collection of 1,500+ recordings of the song), and her lovely finalé "I Wish You Love" (plucked from her Best Of album). She also gave a rousing, if rushed live version of "Twisted" from her debut album, which is perhaps the set's lone slight misstep—only because it seemed the song was now double-timed. Unless you've heard the song before—which is already such a tongue-twister to begin with—you'll find yourself completely losing comprehension of the hilariously wicked lyrics, more so in this even faster version. But soon after, she treated the audience to a preview of a song slated for her next studio album: a stunning, Kanan-arranged rendition of the Bergman's "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" Once again, Monheit demonstrated her great acting skills as well as her mastery of—and, perhaps, affection for—tunes of heartache. Afterwards, she remarked,
"Man, it's like a Mark Romanek film up in here!" Ha! Throughout her hour-long set—peppered with very little banter—Monheit displayed just how effortlessly she transitions from sassy belter to rhythmic scat-master to emotionally vulnerable torch song chanteuse with just a flip of a song. Her live performances—bubbling with an intriguing stage presence that truly adds to her mystique—almost felt like enhanced, tricked-out versions of her studio recordings. And, of course, her vocal riffs and effortless runs suggested that Monheit is a far more adventurous singer than, say, her safe, platinum-selling peers (and, fine, in the spirit of full disclosure... I am unashamed to admit that, perhaps, my judgment may be a bit clouded: she is my favorite singer—simply because of these exact reasons).While the first half was mostly flirty and sassy (with tinges of bluesy heartbreak), the second half of the evening was an all-out laugh-riot, thanks to audience-pleaser Pizzarelli and his seemingly endless stream of tales. Armed with folksy zingers, an electric guitar, and an easy-as-molasses singing voice, the veteran jazz man—backed by pianist Larry Fuller, drummer Tony Tedesco, and his "brother by the marriage of my parents" bassist Martin Pizzarelli—entertained fans and newbies alike with a set that mixed droll stories and toe-tapping jazz gems. (In his own words, Pizzarelli described the double-bill concert thusly: "She's the music, I'm the comedy!") Though, comic stylings aside, the Pizzarelli Quartet is, musically, a really seasoned one, as evidenced by their mostly uptempo showcase that traversed everything from Duke Ellington to the Beatles. His set even included several moments that called for welcome audience participation (Johnny Mercer's "Switcherooni" and the Jerry Lieber/Mike Stoller ditty "Ruby Baby"). His aw-shucks brand of humor was instantly charming, of course, and his everyman demeanor quickly endeared him to the entire room, especially while relating amusing anecdotes about his own father, Bucky Pizzarelli—himself a famous jazz session musician with a list of staggering credits that had many jaws dropping (and, FYI, he's also married to Broadway vet Jessica Molaskey to boot!) When he did sing, it was utterly beguiling, especially while scatting like crazy—and in perfect syncopation with his guitar strums!The absolute treat, though, was when Monheit came back out to sing a couple of duets she had sung with Pizzarelli in the recent past: the first, the absolutely adorkable "Tonight You Belong To Me" (made famous by Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin in The Jerk) which was featured in Monheit's last studio album Home, followed by the Gershwins' "They Can't Take That Away from Me" which they sang together on Ramsey Lewis' PBS anthology series Legends of Jazz—an appearance that, Pizzarelli gloated, has become a YouTube sensation. Both singers had wonderful chemistry with both songs and you can absolutely tell they enjoyed each others' mutual talents. It was perfection and you could tell the audience wanted more of that, too. But it was Pizzarelli's humor that became the real take-away from his enjoyable second half, which culminated in a tour-de-force, seemingly non-stop medley of musical impersonations of different music industry titans crossing different genres on the song "We Like Jersey Best." In this excitingly manic finalé, Pizzarelli posits a "what if" scenario, imagining how each artist might go about performing this little-known pro-Garden State anthem. He certainly elicited some joyful cheers with his dead-on takes of everyone from Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, and James Taylor, to, Louis Armstrong, the BeeGees, and, yes, even Billie Holiday! Overall, the Monheit-Pizzarelli concert is one of the Center's best jazz cabarets they've ever offered, featuring two genuine musical superstars. Here's hoping that a return engagement from both artists is in the cards, each with individual shows. Photos courtesy of SCFTA/Happy Photos Inc.Follow this reviewer on Twitter: @cre8iveMLQ-----Segerstrom Center for the Arts' 2012-2013 Cabaret Series continues with Michael Feinstein's The Sinatra Project (October 27, 2012) followed by Lea Salonga (January 19, 2013), Marin Mazzie & Jason Danieley (February 14-16, 2013), Barbara Cook's 85th Birthday Concert (April 13, 2013), and, finally, Betty Buckley (May 16-18, 2013). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.SCFTA.org.
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July 2015 reads
>> Saturday, August 01, 2015
Still very busy, but I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Regular blogging should resume soon! :)
1 - Why I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming, by Mike Brown: A-
review here
Astronomer's memoir covering the discoveries that led to Pluto being demoted from being a planet. Really fun and exciting, loved it.
2 - The Casual Vacancy, by JK Rowling: A-
review here
I read this a while ago and thought it was fantastic. I reread it this month for my book club, and it held up very well to a reread. It was, however, really dispiriting to read this after the election in May. All I could think was "That vile Shirley Mollison has won".
3 - Beneath the Surface, by Kate Sherwood: B+
review coming soon
Romance between a farmer and a lawyer doing PR for a company building a gravel pit next to his (the farmer's) land. This had the mix of low-key romance and family angst that I like so much in Sherwood's books.
4 - Finders Keepers, by Stephen King: B+
review coming soon
Connected to Mr. Mercedes, which I loved (different case, but Hodges and the gang get involved). Really fun plot, all about obsession with a writer's work.
5 - Trust No One, by Jayne Ann Krentz: B-
review coming soon
The good news is that JAK has now moved completely away from the Arcane Society. The bad news is that she's still fond of overcomplicated suspense plots that really don't come off. Still, a nice enough romance and elements that were reminiscent of my favourites by her.
6 - The Ghost Network, by Catie Disabato: DNF
review coming soon
It sounded interesting: investigation into a mysterious disappearance, secret societies, a "found document" format. But I couldn't really get into it, mainly due to the fact that pretty much all the characters were celebrity-obsessed and had their heads far up their own arses.
7 - Sweet Deception, by Heather Snow: DNF
review coming soon
I'm having trouble getting into your average historical romance these days. The subversive ones I'm ok with, but the trops I used to be absolutely fine with just grate. Nothing wrong with this one, I was just rolling my eyes too hard at things like "If I'm right I get a kiss".
8 - Speak, by Louisa Hall: still reading
review coming soon
What sold me on this one were the comparisons with Cloud Atlas (I do adore David Mitchell). It's made up of several different stories from different time periods, from the 17th century to 2040, all somehow connected to the issue of artificial intelligence. Really intriguing so far.
9 - The Moor's Account, by Laila Lalami: still reading
review coming soon
On the Man Booker longlist, which I'll be reading as usual. This was the most interesting to me of the lot, so I started with it. It's an account of a doomed 16th century Spanish mission to La Florida, from an enslaved Moroccan man. So far so good.


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13, March 2010 Leave a comment
I love this guy. *BUFFER*
Took my lil sis to see the multi-award winning Alton Saxophonist /Rapper Soweto Kinch perform an intimate set yesterday night and his unique fusion of sexy sax and sharp tongued lyrics against a backdrop of live Jazz (THE BASS! THE DOUBLE BASS!) took us on a truly magical musical journey.
Here's an example of what we were blessed with:
Not only an outstanding musician, he is also socially conscious; heading up the Flyover Show – an annual free inner-city open air concert for his home town- Birmingham's young people. Next one is May 29th 2010.
What a G.


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10.11.16 | Par Sébastien | dans LIVE CONTENT, News, English | 0 commentaire
The ceremony brought together an array of boutique hotel owners, travel and lifestyle press and travel industry influencers from all four corners of the world, including representatives from CNN Travel, Elite Traveler, The Telegraph, Spear's Magazine, Boat International, Time Out, The Financial Times and hoteliers around the world.
This year's keynote speech was delivered by Tim Dingle, a pre-eminent figure in leadership and motivation training. Other esteemed guest presenters and speakers at the event included Brian McCabe, CEO of JDB Fine Hotels & Resorts, Alex Buchanan representing Best Travel Services, Paolo Macchiaroli, founder of My Private Villas, Elisabeth Visoanska, founder of VISOANSKA PARIS and Brian Froelich, Chairman of JDB Fine Hotels & Resorts.
Elisabeth Visoanska guest presenter Elisabeth with the Vigilius Mountain Resort
|The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah team Elisabeth with the Borgo Egnazia team
|Visoanska Paris, official sponsor of the ceremony on backstage and with the winners.
|The World Boutique Hotel Awards is the first and only international awards organisation exclusively dedicated to recognising unique excellence among boutique hotels. The Awards, now in its 6th year, honoured the people behind these outstanding properties. The Awards gala dinner also brought together members of The Master Key Society, with guests given a speech by founding member Manolis Vordonis, owner of the Poseidonion Grand Hotel. He and Awards Founder Edward Gabbai shared the concept behind this new collaborative venture, established to create valuable relationships exclusively among the Award Winners by facilitating hotel exchange visits between them.
'Quoting Muhammad Ali, Klitschko said, "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth". It is what we do in 11 Mirrors, that is what we do all here. To all of the winners congratulations from my side. Thank you for an amazing evening!'
The World's Best Wellness Spa goes to … Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy!
The World's Most Sustainable Hotel goes to … Vigilius Mountain Resort, South Tyrol, Italy!
The World's Best Relaxation Retreat goes to … The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah, Bali, Indonesia!
World's Best Beach or Coastal Hotel: El Nido, Pangulasian Island, Philippines
World's Best City Hotel: 11 Mirrors, Kiev, Ukraine
World's Best Classic Hotel: Hotel Heritage, Bruges, Belgium
World's Best Culinary Hotel: Vila Joya, Algarve, Portugal
World's Most Inspired Design Hotel: Kau Manor, Estonia
World's Best Honeymoon Hideaway: Punta Tragara, Capri, Italy
World's Best New Hotel: Hotel Gotham, Manchester, United Kingdom
World's Best Relaxation Retreat: The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah, Bali, Indonesia
World's Most Romantic Hotel: Aenaon Villas, Santorini, Greece
World's Most Sustainable Hotel: Vigilius Mountain Resort, South Tyrol, Italy
World's Best Wellness Spa: Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy
World's Best Private Villa: Over Yonder Cay, The Bahamas


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LAUREL — Sanderson Farms Inc. reports net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 were $595.8 million, compared with $517.8 million for the same period a year ago. For the quarter, the poultry company had a net loss of $6.9 million, or $0.31 per share, compared with a net loss of $8.0 million, or $0.36 per share, for the first ...Read More »
Tag Archives: costs
Utility's earnings up, but expansion and hiring delayed
ATLANTA — Southern Company reported fourth quarter 2012 earnings of $383 million, or 44 cents a share, compared with earnings of $261 million, or 30 cents a share, in the fourth quarter of 2011. Southern Company, the parent company of Mississippi Power Co., also reported full-year 2012 earnings of $2.35 billion, or $2.70 a share, compared with earnings for 2011 ...Read More »
Drought shrinking ranchers' profits; consumers to feel impact
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Pictures of wilting corn in the Midwest may dominate the evening news, but the 2012 drought is also shrinking livestock's profit potential nationwide. John Michael Riley, agricultural economist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said the drought means livestock, dairy and aquaculture producers will continue to see higher feed prices. "Cattle will be the most impacted, both ...Read More »
Auditor releases annual report on costs of Legislature
JACKSON — Just like any business or state agency, the Mississippi Legislature needs supplies, staff and equipment to operate. Lawmakers need coffee to jump-start the day. From April 12, 2011 to May 3 of this year, it took $22,056 of coffee and $13,406 of bottled water to wet the whistles of legislators, staff members and just about any member of ...Read More »
Mississippi Power's Kemper plant running $366M over budget
KEMPER COUNTY — As the Mississippi Business Journal's Clay Chandler reported last week, Mississippi Power Company has told regulators the power plant it is building in Kemper County is $366 million over budget. The overrun would push the total cost of the coal-fired power plant being built by the unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co. to $2.76 billion. That's only $110 ...Read More »
MDOT looking to cut costs by trimming 2,300-vehicle fleet
JACKSON — The Mississippi Department of Transportation is working to reduce its fleet of vehicles by 10 percent over the next five years, according to transportation commissioner Mike Tagert. Tagert, who represents the northern district, says MDOT has a fleet of 2,300 vehicles. He says any reduction would not affect 300 emergency vehicles. The Daily Times Leader reports Tagert said ...Read More »
New out-of-state tuition waiver goes into effect July 1
JACKSON — The flexibility of a new law that will allow universities to waive out of state tuition will let each school structure a plan conducive to its needs, according to high education leaders. Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds tells the Clarion-Ledger the law will particularly help Delta State University in Cleveland and Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, which ...Read More »
TVA revises of cost of nuclear plant construction to $4.5B
NORTH MISSISSIPPI — The Tennessee Valley Authority says the revised total cost to complete Unit 2 at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tenn., is up to $4.5 billion. The earlier estimate in 2007 had been $2.49 billion. The federal utility, in a statement yesterday, blamed the increase on poor previous estimates and that reviews to support the initial ...Read More »
Entergy Mississippi: Utility bills to decrease more than expected
JACKSON — Customers of Entergy Mississippi Inc. will see their rates drop more than previously announced through April, May and June, according to the utility. Haley Fisackerly, president and CEO for Entergy Mississippi, said, "With a continuation of low natural gas prices combined by efficient operations of our system by our employees we are able to lower bills even more ...Read More »
PEER releases cost-per-inmate-day report
JACKSON — During its 1994 special session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 2005 (now codified as MISS. CODE ANN. Section 47-5-1201 et seq. [1972]) to address short- and long-term bed capacity within the state's correctional system. The bill created the State Prison Emergency Construction and Management Board to expedite the contracting and construction of proposed public and private prison facilities ...Read More »


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ISUN Skincare shop ABOUT ISUN LOVE LETTERS & AWARDS CONNECT BLOG
By Skin Type
Knowing your skin type means you get the right products
and the right treatment for your skin.
It also helps you find specific tips and tricks for that skin type.
Every skin is different and it changes over time!


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Page One
The old Daily Planet reporters were respected for the unbiased and straightforward stories they did about Berkeley, particularly about local government. That's what Berkeley readers simply can't get from the regional or national press. That's what we most want to keep and strengthen, which is why we've re-hired reporter David Scharfenberg and have made offers to other previous staffers. The local hard news will continue to be the backbone of the Planet.
As we work toward the goal of making the good even better, we've put David on salary while the rest of us work on the technical means of producing the paper. He's been spending a good deal of time unraveling the city budget and studying the effect of the economic crisis on the schools and the county. We're searching for an experienced managing editor who understands the importance of local reporting to Berkeley's sophisticated readers.
If you have any thoughts on improving our local news coverage, write to firstname.lastname@example.com.