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Gallagher to Partner with EagleBurgmann
Gallagher Fluid Seals, Inc. Awarded Exclusive Distribution Rights with EagleBurgmann
Partnership will expand Gallagher's OEM and MRO business into the mechanical sealing industry
King of Prussia, PA. March 26, 2019 /News and Updates/ -- Gallagher Fluid Seals, Inc. has exciting news for its customers. EagleBurgmann, a leading provider of industrial sealing technology, has awarded Gallagher Fluid Seals with exclusive distribution rights in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic territory of the United States. The territory includes Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia.
2019 marks 63-years in business for Gallagher. As the global sealing landscape has continued to evolve since 1956, so has Gallagher. New technology brings new sealing challenges, and that has allowed the expansion of new areas of expertise and growth – enter mechanical sealing.
EagleBurgmann has a wide array of product lines, including: mechanical seals, carbon floating ring seals, and magnetic couplings. Gallagher is focusing strictly on mechanical sealing products from EagleBurgmann, which include: Cartex Cartridge Seals, SeccoMix 1, H75VN, Splitex® Cartridge Split Seals, Unitex, MBS682 Metal bellows Seal, and much more.
"We are thrilled to have this new partnership with EagleBurgmann," says Chris Gallagher, CEO of Gallagher Fluid Seals. "EagleBurgmann's gold-standard level of service, quality, and support will allow us to enter this new market both efficiently and effectively."
With Gallagher account executives located throughout the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic, and a team of experienced full-time mechanical engineers on staff, customers can expect prompt service and custom sealing solutions if their application requires it.
This new partnership is an exciting start to 2019, and Gallagher will continue in its mission to work with customers whose sealing applications are critical to the performance of their equipment.
Want to speak with an engineer or account executive? Contact us today:
About Gallagher Fluid Seals, Inc.
Gallagher Fluid Seals, Inc. is a global distributor and manufacturer of Fluid Sealing products. Gallagher represents the strongest seal manufacturers in the world, in addition to operating its own gasket fabrication facility. Gallagher serves both OEM & MRO customers through the development of technical solutions that solve sealing challenges.
Gallagher Fluid Seals currently operates 3 Facilities; its headquarters in King of Prussia Pennsylvania, and it's 40,000 square foot gasket fabrication and sales office in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and the newly-acquired Quality Seals office in Bethel, Connecticut.
Kevin Patton
Marketing & Communications Analyst
About EagleBurgmann
EagleBurgmann is one of the leading providers of industrial sealing technology on the international stage. Their products and comprehensive services are used wherever the key requirements are reliability and safety.
Excellent quality, close proximity to their customers, great capacity for innovation and an extensive product portfolio for nearly all industrial processes and fields of application are what make them stand out.
Their portfolio includes mechanical seals and seal supply systems, magnetic couplings, carbon floating ring seals, expansion joints and gaskets, packings, special products and extensive services. Being part of the German Freudenberg and Japanese EKK group gives EagleBurgmann all the resources they need for a reliable partnership built on solid foundations. Worldwide.


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Readers' Guide for Discussing Linda Gray Sexton's Works
To share your own responses or those of your reading group, or invite the author to visit your group either in person or with Skype, please speak to Linda using her contact form.
Find Reading Guides Below For:
Bespotted, Half in Love & Searching for Mercy Street
- What did you learn about mother-daughter relationships from reading Searching for Mercy Street? Or about the reverse?
- Linda says at the end of the book that she forgives her mother. Do you believe it is possible to forgive a parent (or a child) when they have disappointed you so intensely? Does Linda truly forgive her mother, and why?
- Did Linda invade her family's privacy by writing such a candid description of their life together? If yes, was it worth it?
- Does all memoir run the risk of compromising the family's privacy? If so, why write memoir?
- Is memoir an important genre? Would you rather read a memoir, or an autobiographical novel?
- Linda says she doesn't view herself as a sexually abused child, but rather that her mother crossed intimate boundaries in inappropriate ways. What is the difference? Is this an evasion by the author?
- Did Linda's family create empathy in the reader as they tried to cope with Anne's depression and suicide attempts? Did they handle it well? Why or why not?
- Did Anne's family and friends "desert" her at the end of her life by becoming so distant?
- Do you feel you have a better grasp of Anne's life and what it was like to live with such a depressed person after reading Searching for Mercy Street? In what ways did Linda succeed and fail in educating her readers about this?
- A lot of Anne's poetry is quoted throughout the book. If you are new to her poetry, did it make you want to read more? If you have read her before, did the context of the poems here enlighten you?
- After reading the book, do you agree or disagree that Linda should have released her mother's psychiatric tapes to Anne's biographer?
- What did you enjoy about the book most? Least?
- What did you learn from Half in Love about suicide and depression?
- Was it difficult for you to believe statistics such as one person kills himself every seventeen minutes? Or that homicide is twice as frequent as homicide in the U.S. today?
- Have you ever experienced depression? If so, would you describe it in the same way Linda does in Half in Love? Is she on target?
- Has anyone is your family ever been depressed and tried, or succeeded, in killing themselves? If so, what was your reaction?
- What do you wish you would have done in that situation, or do you feel you did a good job supporting your friend or family member?
- How was it handled within the family itself?
- Do you feel you could have prevented the suicide attempt?
- What emotions did you experience during the aftermath of either the depression or the (attempted or successful) suicide of someone you were close to?
- Did you receive any support from the medical community?
- In Half in Love, Linda says that she initially received only rejection from her therapist when she first tried to kill herself and only later did she find a therapist who could deal with her wish to die. Do you believe, as she states, that "no one wants to deal with a suicide?"
- What do you think about the way Linda's family (father, sister, husband, children) handled her depression and her suicide attempts? Did you feel empathy with them?
- Do you think there is such a thing as a "legacy" of depression or suicide? Is it inevitable that we inherit such a condition regardless of our awareness about the subject?
- If you have suicide or depression in the background of your family, what can you do to prevent it from becoming a problem in your own life?
- Was Half in Love difficult for you to read? If so, why?
- Did you understand Linda and her depression better by the end of the book?
- Do you feel Linda invaded her family's privacy by writing such a candid description of their experiences as well as her own?
- Do you believe a writer should even tackle memoir when it involves speaking about the family? Why write memoir instead of a novel where you can disguise and protect the family better?
- What did you think of the way she "interviewed" her sister and her children at the end of the book? Does this sort of thing belong in a memoir?
- Did she make sufficient "amends" to the people she hurt?
- What can we do as a society to enlighten and inform the public so that suicide is not such a "taboo" subject?
- How does the author move from the subjects of Half in Love (depression and suicide) to those of Bespotted (laughter, companionship and joy)? Is it a believable, successful transition?
- It took Sexton ten years to write Half in Love and only two to write Bespotted. Does the reader understand why? Was there a comprehensible reason for the difference taken in time?
- Why didn't Sexton's childhood Dalmatians remain a part of her past? What makes it possible for her to draw that positive experience with her, forward into her present and future?
- Do you believe that dogs can make a radical difference in our lives? As much as all those Dals did to both Anne and Linda Sexton? Or is she fooling herself about their significance to most people?
- Was the scene of Gulliver's death effective? Did you believe Sexton when she said she grieved over Gulliver more keenly than she had her mother? Was this shocking—and if so, why? Or, why not? Could you imagine yourself feeling the same way?
- Sexton maintains in this book that she has found a new and happy equilibrium. Has she proved her point? Can one do this just through the love of a dog?
- Were the portraits of the individuals dogs amusing and absorbing or boring and distracting? Why? Were most of them, ultimately, characters you came to know, whether they were minor or major presences?
- Did the book intrigue and compel you? How did you feel about its pace?
- Do you think these positive aspects of her background and childhood are believable, or is it all just "magical thinking" on her part?
- Did you see and feel the themes of regeneration and peace in Bespotted, just as you saw the themes of forgiveness in Searching for Mercy Street and the journey back to health in Half in Love? If so, does it follow from beginning to end in a believable way?
- Are Sexton's regained memories easier or harder to accept than those in the two other memoirs?
- Can a memoirist recreate an actual event with verisimilitude, sometimes complete with dialogue—such as the one when the Sexton puppies are born when Linda was only thirteen? Do you believe memoir can be accurate and faithful to some concept of "truth" or "fact," or is it too subjective a form on which to be depended?

subset: commoncrawl


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We offer free notary service for members at any location for your convenience.
With proper wiring information and your signature, we can wire funds to another financial institution for you. If you wire funds routinely to the same institution, please ask us about our Recurring Wire Program.
We offer our members the opportunity to become a part of a Group Legal Service Plan. This plan offers the services of licensed Pensacola attorneys with the law firm of Staples, Ellis & Associates. Visit their website to learn more about Staples, Ellis & Associates.
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Keep your valuables safe in one of our safe deposit boxes located at our Nine Mile Road office. Several sizes are available to meet your needs.
For any occasion - a wedding, a shower, a birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, you can't go wrong with VISA® Gift Cards! It's prepaid, so there's no overspending, and it includes all the protection and security features you've come to expect from VISA®. Gift cards come in any denomination of your choice from $10 to $1000. See a Member Service Representative for details.


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India's largest private sector bank, ICICI Bank has announced the launch of it's new financial service targeted at Gulf based NRI's called I-Express. I-Express is an instant money transfer service for Non Resident Indians (NRIs).This service is expected to be available through ICICI Bank's select partners in the six nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The service will be initially be targeted at NRI's residing in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The I-Express facility offers the remitter, the option of visiting any partner outlet to transfer an instant credit into the beneficiary account maintained with ICICI Bank in India, at no extra cost. Under this service, the funds will be transfered immediately and the beneficiary can withdraw the money within minutes of the payment.
An ICICI Bank spokesperson said, "ICICI Bank not only offers funds transfer facility into the accounts of beneficiaries held in its own branches in India but also helps in crediting funds into accounts of beneficiaries held in over 65,000 branches of other Indian banks. The I-Express facility is a great benefit for recipients who have accounts with ICICI Bank in India as they will be able to receive remittances instantly".
ICICI Bank is one of India's leading remittance player and currently enables remittances across 40 countries worldwide. The bank has relationships with over 80 correspondent banks and 23 exchange houses across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).


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September 24, 2017
Visa® recently introduced the Visa Account Updater (VAU) service as a convenience for Visa cardholders. This service automatically updates your Visa card information with participating businesses at which you have stored your card number for automatic payment.
How VAU works
VAU extends the amount of time your account-on-file information is stored with your selected merchants by automatically updating your debit card information due to account changes, like the expiration date.
For example, let's say you've enrolled in recurring monthly payments to pay your electric bill with your debit card. As you know, we periodically replace your card, and your new card has a fresh expiration date. Instead of you having to contact the electric company to update your card information, your card information is automatically updated, if your electric company is a participating merchant.
Sending debit card information
We'll begin sending your updated card information, as applicable, to Visa beginning late October 2017. Visa will securely store your debit card information and release the new information to financial institutions and participating merchants in order to process your requested transactions without interruption.
Opting out
While this is a convenient service, Visa requires we participate and we'll begin submitting card updates to them as applicable when your debit card information changes. If you'd prefer not to have your card information updated automatically, you can opt out. If you'd like to opt out, please contact Kelly Mleynek or Kate Brown at 641-332-2218.


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|buildingSMART alliance Information Architecture Projects
Information Architecture Projects: BIM Activities - Stakeholder Activity Model
Developing an Enterprise BIM Framework Utilizing an Activity Node Tree Construct
1. Background, Purpose and Objective
The buildingSMART alliance, a council of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and the North American Chapter of buildingSMART International has been coordinating the efforts of the facilities industry to implement open BIM standards for the industry over the past several years. Goal #2 of the Alliances Strategic Plan, the development of a Stakeholder Activity Model as part of an Enterprise Management Framework, that will be the basis for the future of informational relationships throughout the facilities industry and thus the basis for true information interoperability.
The development of an Enterprise BIM Framework is one of the most important and primary steps to enable the production of a consistent set of interoperable standards for the exchange of building and infrastructure data through the lifecycle of a building project. To achieve the vision of interoperable standards for the exchange of building and infrastructure data throughout the lifecycle of a project, the development of a holistic end-to-end framework and best practice roadmap - a node tree that provides NIBS stakeholders with a comprehensive view of how the business and data functional requirements cover the lifecycle of planning, managing, design, engineering and construction, operate and use is essential.
The primary purpose of an Enterprise Framework is to facilitate the communication, planning and scoping of business capabilities that enable the accomplishment of enterprise or project wide business transformation, integration and interoperability. Highlighted below is the Project Overview and Summary Information.
Project Name
Project Description
Developed By
Approval Authority
Products Developed
Purpose (Problems, Needs, Gaps)
Scope and Approach
Conduct the required research, and document existing work and best practices and "string" the various pieces together to build the end-to-end framework that provides the context of enterprise wide functionality and management.
This enterprise framework will be utilized as a planning tool, communication and scoping tool (as it displays the meets and bounds of the project) to enable integration, interoperability and transformation of each functional area within the enterprise framework.
2. Developed Products – Overview and Benefits
To achieve the project objective, a number of products were created. Each of these products has a specific purpose and intent. The use, purpose and objective of each product is discussed below.
BIM Enterprise Activity Node Tree
The Enterprise Activity Node Tree or Operational Activity Decomposition Tree is a functional, hierarchical decomposition of Enterprise-level Operational Activities for a given business functional area. It defines the scope of a given enterprise, and provides the required context and content required for planning, scoping and business transformation.
The Node Tree constrains the relationships of the activities and is used to decompose the operational activity model only to a level necessary to identify cross-functional information exchanges.
For example in the case of the BIM node tree, the activities will be decomposed to a level where the relevant business function, information exchanges, data and metadata for the planning or construction of a building is visible and determined.
The BIM Node Tree was developed utilizing a number of artifacts and best practice resources including:
These sources in addition to multiple workshops and collaboration sessions provided the necessary context and content required to develop the enterprise node tree illustrated in Figure 1 – BIM Enterprise Node Tree.
Figure 1 – BIM Enterprise Node Tree
The BIM Node Tree consists of the parent core functions necessary to define the information required for Building Information Management. It defines what is done and not the sequence of how it is done. It consists of the core functions related to the lifecycle of the building - Management, Planning, Design, Construction and Operate/Use and is a hierarchical decomposition, which means it decomposes each of the parent core function into related child activity nodes, providing a level of granularity required for more definitive scoping and planning. The BIM Node Tree will be one of the key products utilized to define opportunities, or information dependencies among Activities that need to be further scrutinized and utilized to identify relevant information exchanges and related data and meta data.
When the Node Tree is stabilized and approved, the decomposed activity model diagrams will be created with Input, Control, Output, Mechanisms (ICOMs) identified for each Operational Activity during workshops and or stakeholder meetings. Selected or focus area Operational Activities will be defined and expressed at the correct level of decomposition and definition.
Life Cycle Model (LCM) and Architectural Precast Process Model
One of the key products developed for this project is the Life Cycle Model event trace description or business process model depicted in Figure 2 – LCM Process Model.
The LCM process model was developed utilizing the COBie Use Case and a Model View Definition based on NBIMS version 1, part 1 to demonstrate how activity nodes from the BIM Node Tree map easily to the LCM and provide a logical sequential order for the flow of information throughout the facility life cycle. A second example provides a process model for the Precast Concrete project accomplished by Dr. Charles Eastman of Georgia Tech utilizing activity nodes from the BIM Node Tree – Figure 3 – Architectural Precast Process Model.
These examples will help extend the vision to others working to define BIM for the facilities industry nationally and internationally and allow them to produce far more valuable products, which also define interoperability needs.
Figure 2 – LCM Process Model
Figure 3 – Architectural Precast Process Model
The purpose of a Process Model is to provide a sequence-ordered examination of Business Process Steps to achieve a Business scenario or business context.
The Model displays a series of business steps that are executed sequentially, or in parallel, in response to business events, to produce a specific business result. Secondary purposes of a process model include:
The LCM and Architectural Precast process models for this project were developed using the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). BPMN is a standard notation used across industry and Government to document Business Processes and is promoted by the Object Management Group.
This standard has been developed specifically to model collaboration across organizations, and supports the implementation of a service-oriented architecture (SOA). The primary goal of BPMN is to provide a standard notation that is readily understandable by all business stakeholders; the business analysts who create and refine the process; the technical staff responsible for designing and developing the software and infrastructure to support the process; and the business managers who implement, manage and monitor it. Consequently BPMN is intended to serve as common language to bridge the communication gap that frequently occurs between business process design and implementation.
The process Steps in the LCM and Architectural Precast process model are derived from or mapped to leaf-level Operational Activities in the node tree. The process models are characterized by multiple object types by the following four major groups; Flow Objects, Connection Objects, Participants and Artifacts.
Flow Objects actually perform the work and produce the models, synchronize the Process Steps, and direct the process flow. The Flow Objects are:
Connection Objects are represented by arrows that show the flow via sequence or by synchronizing messages between different organizations. An example of a connection object is a sequence flow.
Pools represent participants and their roles, respectively.
Artifacts are notations that do not affect the process flow, but provide clarity to the reader. An example of an artifact used on the process models include Data Objects.
3. Next Steps
It is anticipated that the Node Tree developed under this project may be included as part of the National BIM Standard version 2, and thus used long into the future in defining the scope and business process models and data interoperability related to BIM. It is the first step in determining the required "Building Information" provided or generated from the relevant nodes within the node tree that can be shared collected, stored, updated and provided to shared to stakeholders at anytime from anywhere through a model/server/cloud computing enabled environment.
In essence developing and executing a service oriented architecture (SOA) strategy for BIM is what is required.- SOA is an architectural and design discipline conceived to achieve the goals of increased interoperability (information exchange, reusability, and compatibility), increased federation (uniting resources and applications while maintaining their individual autonomy and self-governance), and increased business and technology domain alignment. Figure 4 - BIM Cloud/Service Concept is a graphical illustration of the BIM SOA approach.
Figure 4 – BIM Cloud/Service Concept
In order to achieve this strategy, the completion/definition of Node Tree, the complete decomposition (ICOMs) of selected "in scope" activities with relevant information exchanges, populated with the required data, metadata, system function and system data exchange information utilizing multiple categories and classifications if required are some of the primary tasks required to determine what building information the node/activity will produce, that is provided to the "Cloud" and shared with stakeholders. Other tasks and project required to fulfill the BIM SOA concept include;
The conversion of previously created business process models to adhere to the activities of the node tree developed under this project – The work and sample process models developed under this project have demonstrated how activities and data from different business process models will relate utilizing a consistent activity/node construct that is reusable. This critical capability previously did not exist previously.
The creation of Data Models or a single integrated data model is one of the primary requirements and products that will enable the stakeholder community develop a more informed architecture based on standards that can be used as an industry architecture framework. The development of data models either at the logical level - data requirements and structural business process (activity) rules or at the physical level - the physical implementation format of the Logical Data Model entities, e.g., message formats, file structures, physical schema will entail the conversion of the data included in the various information exchanges promoted by ERDC into a data model linked to the information exchanges on the decomposed activity model, that is linked to activities in the node tree, that are mapped to process steps, information exchanges and data objects on the process models. This data model could also be included as part of NBIMS as it matures. Prior to that it will help identify who is creating and who is using data and help ensure that information is not re-collected but re-used and enhanced throughout the facility life cycle.
Data Models:
In essence the data models describe the structure of an Enterprise Framework's data in terms of Entities and their characteristics as Attributes. It provides wide definitions of the Entities and their Attributes and captures structural Business Rules governing the interrelationships between these Entities and their Attributes.
Data models consists of:
The Conceptual Data Model is used for concept refinement and stakeholder comprehension of the Data and Information requirements. The Entities and Attributes depicted in these models are refined into a Logical Data Model where Entities and their Attributes are restructured according the rules of normalization. This is done to capture all of the Data and Information requirements prior to producing physical transactions and database schema documented in the Physical Data Model. This process is reversible starting from either the conceptual or physical as long as the integrity of the model is maintained, as it is forward and reverse engineered.
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2020 BOMA Virtual International Annual Conference & Expo
7/27/2020 » 7/29/2020
2020 SEPA Virtual Grid Evolution Summit
7/28/2020 » 7/29/2020
Virtual-2020 NIST Disaster Resilience Symposium


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Many people think they can just market through articles; that is not enough. In the short-term, some of these methods might show a little success. Only good search engine optimization can really benefit the website's visibility and lead to long-term success. Use these tips to help improve your website's profile.
Several articles on different topics are better than one long article on your website. Long pages aren't searched as thoroughly by search engines as short ones are. Also, many viewers don't read the whole article if it is too long.
When setting up pages using SEO, it is usually better to have multiple short articles on similar topics than to have one extremely long article. Long pages will reduce the rank that you have. Also, viewers will likely read shorter articles.
If you want your site to achieve high rankings, you must make your content more spider-friendly. Spiders have to be able to easily navigate your site before they can properly index it. A sitemap allows you to present the hierarchy of each page on your site; this also makes it easier for spiders to assess relevancy.
Just because you advertise more does not mean that your rank will improve. Advertisements may bring more visitors, but it does not increase your ranking.
You need to get more visitors to your website and keep them there to increase your page rank. There is evidence that the more time a person is on a site the higher ranked that site will be. ) has some bearing on the site's Page Rank. Forums, blogs, and posts that can replied to are all great means to increase visitors' time spent on your site, as they all build interest.
Proper keyword density is essential to search engine optimization. Focus on keeping each page's keyword content well under 20 percent.
You should identify yourself as a knowledgeable expert in the field in which you are doing business. This tactic will maximize internet marketing efforts. You need to design a website that appeals to a well-defined consumer niche and that is easy for members of that group to find. Keep in mind that it's critical to your company's success to give customers the items they want, rather than what you might assume they want.
You need to stay patient as you try to boost your SEO. You will not see any huge changes or an influx in traffic overnight. It can actually take a while if your site is brand new and not using a preexisting domain name. As in a business you would run on offline, your reputation will take time to build.
Avoid using Flash on any website you want to optimize for search engines. This can cause errors in loading and slow the process down. In order to optimize your website, the content must be able to be searched and indexed by search engines.
This is easily done through a robots. txt file and adding it to your root directory. What this does is it disallows the search engine from accessing certain files on your website.
Adding a site map to you site is vital to any SEO process. It makes it much easier for the search engine's spiders to crawl through your website's information. If your site is particularly large, you may need multiple maps. It is important to keep the amount of links per map to under 100.
Search Engine
Keep each page of your site focused on a single topic. It really is a mistake to try to cram in each of your services or products into just one posting. This leads to confusion, driving visitors away. It's far better to introduce only one service or product at a time in a post.
There are a few things that you can do to optimize your search engine results. These description tags will provide a short blurb about your website or the page to the search engine. Make sure the meta tags have valuable and concise content. A good meta description can increase your visit count even if your position in the search engines hasn't moved at all.
Some people believe that adding keywords to the comment tags of a website will increase their visibility. It is more important to have quality content on your site.
Proofread content moves products, but many webmasters forget this critical step. Ensure that your website is clearly legible to both your readers and the search engines. Search engines are more likely to disregard your website or give it a low ranking if keywords are misspelled or your content contains a number of conspicuous grammatical errors.
Never place the same content on your site more than once, or search engines may consider your website spam. Know that it is quite possible to use duplicate content without even knowing it. You might feel like you are saving time by using the same exact product description across more than one page, but a search engine sees it as spammy.
Site Map
It may be obvious, but register your website with the popular search engines. Some people may mistakenly think that this automatically happens. Check back periodically to ensure that your website is still being listed. If you are not on page one, you are at least there, which offers you room for improvement.
Generate a keyword-oriented site map for added SEO optimization. A site map basically shows all the areas available to viewers on your websites, and provides an easy access point to find what they are looking for. Site maps are also utilized by search engines to increase a website's ranking. If a site is easy to access by the engine, then its rating will increase as this is one of the determining criteria.
You can increase your ranking by using a videos in your website. Videos are great for when you want to show yourself or the staff or you can show how a product works. Make sure that you utilize the right keywords in your videos. Google Webmaster Tools will allow you to submit your URL. You should then put the video on sites like YouTube and Metacafe. You can then relax and watch the customers start pouring in.
There is no such thing as a perfect website. When you start fixing the flaws on your site, you will increase the visitors you get. Never stop trying to improve your business and website and you can attract more visitors.
The world of podcasts is also something you should consider. A podcast can include audio or video content that includes relevant, interesting material directed at your consumers. Due to the ease of access to the podcasting world, this form of marketing is gaining a lot of traction with businesses who want to a new way to talk to their consumers. You can then submit your podcasts to major search engines with descriptions of your content.
Java can be part of your pages, though certain search engines disfavor it. While there's no reason you can't choose to use it, it's also important to understand that different search engine crawlers will view your web page in different ways, depending on the crawler.
Use the local listing options available from Google and Yahoo to improve your sites visibility. These listings provide your website with free publicity, and should increase your website's traffic. Any way to get more publicity without spending money is a must.
Use the local listing options available from Google and Yahoo to improve your sites visibility. You get more visibility and visitors with this service. Do not turn down free publicity.
Image links are not good for search engine optimization. Image links don't have any anchor text, which means all a search engine has to work with is the link's URL.
The initial paragraph on your webpage should use words that are also usable HTML meta descriptor tag. Some engines use these words to tag the content of your page. Poor or ineffective content in this area can hurt your SEO.
High quality, unique content is one of the best ways to boost your search engine rankings. A great way to generate more traffic onto your web site is to have unique content. People stick around when you offer them information that is unique and has great content.
Search Engine
Put more content on pages than only links. Include them within your content, instead of allowing them to stand alone. Link pages won't be high up on search engine results and they are boring to visitors. Keeping your content in line with your text provides context to the engines and creates more professional looking content.
Make sure to write for human readers when doing your search engine optimization. Sure, keywords are important, but search engine bots don't result in sales. The site should be simple for anyone to read. If it can't be read, it will fail.
If you get a domain for a sub-hosted site, see if the host will forward your former page to the new one. This will let users access your site from bookmarks they've already established. You can also place redirect pages on the old domain so that users are automatically taken to your new site.
If a search engine can tell that you are intentionally getting higher rankings through fraudulent methods then they may manually suppress your ranking. Search engine sites, like Google and Yahoo, have blacklisted some websites and removed them from their search results for trying to manipulate rankings. Use good ethics when you are utilizing search engine optimization techniques on your site.
All of your links, incoming and internal, should use keywords. " as anchor text. The more relevant your links are to your given topic, the higher your ranking will be. Do a daily check of your site to make sure the internal links use good keyword links.
One vital SEO tip that you should remember is to keep an eye on your search standings at all times. If you don't keep track of your standings then you will not know if your efforts in SEO are paying off. The Google toolbar and the Alexa site are two tools for following page rank.
If your site one related to business, it is important for the CEO of your company to actively reach out to your audience. People want to hear from important members of the company.
Your SEO focus should be on phrases, not just single keywords. People don't usually search for just a single word. Select phrases that bring visitors to your site when they are looking for your services. Make sure to include specifics on local information in what you write, such as "Cincinnati store holding annual sale." " instead of the more generic "Check out our sale! "
ALT tags that you use with SEO is something people don't pay attention to. Images look great on your website, but they also serve another purpose. Make sure that you take advantage of ALT tags when you use images, so that the text is seen by search engine spiders. This is what you should do to get more keywords onto a site.
You need to be using Google Analytics. This allows you to track your SEO progress and see how the changes affect your page rank. It lets you see what keywords are bringing in the most viewers. Then, you can focus more on these keywords.
If you offer useful information to your visitors, you will find a higher ranking than a page that is only selling something. Try writing a list of useful tips when shopping for something in your product category, or a FAQ letting people know how to use your products.
If you go the link directory route to build backlinks, verify the legitimacy of the directories you use by checking to see if its sites are useful and interesting. A few directories have tons of outdated, badly designed sites. Only affiliate with link directories that have quality content.
Pictures and files used on your site should contain related keywords in the file names. But don't do this with anything you use for the actual design of the page. You can include the name of your business in the title of your banner, but if you have a background image, make sure you do not use any keyword in its title since it is not relevant.
Signing up your website to many search engines will help them begin to crawl your site for new content. Simply look at the search engine's page and there should be a link to help you do it. Use strong descriptors and relevant keywords so you site it properly categorized.
Consider submitting articles, including a backlink, to ezines which cover the same topic as your website. EZines have archived lists of articles with active links so even if time has passed, since you published your article consumers can still find them and use the information to access your site.
Rss Feed
Every single page of your site should be optimized with relevant keywords and content. Continually update your site's content with article that include your keywords. Insert your keywords across all aspects of your website so as to increase you SEO strategy.
You should include Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds on your site. Consistently updated RSS feeds are recognized as fresh content. If you can't find a suitable RSS feed for your website, create your own. Let everyone know that they can subscribe to your RSS feed.
Steer very clear of publishing duplicate content, if you don't want to be penalized by Google with a reduction of your page ranking. Always look for fresh content to interest potential customers.
You might actually be able to get some traffic to your site while your site is ranked on the back pages, but your traffic would exponentially increase as soon as you started to implement the proper SEO tactics. By using the tips you've just read in this article, you can start to raise the profile of your website.


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Tá Imeall ar cheann de na cláracha teilifíse is ansa liom. Chuir Tristan Rosenstock agallamh orm le déanaí. Tig leat breathnú ar an mír anseo.
TG4's brilliant arts show Imeall features presenters Tristan Rosenstock and Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh's selection of arts and literature events from around the country. It's a favourite show of mine. Tristan recorded an interview with me recently at The Glucksman Gallery, which you can watch here.


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They are in the process of being developed. This information will be completed after a few months of updating the budget/net worth templates to guage where we stand and set a realistic goal. I could set unrealistic goals, but I want to have something to strive for on a daily basis and set milestones.
If you have any suggestions please drop me a line with your milestones, goals, or how you reward yourself once you attain a goal. 🙂


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Remote or no prospect of grid connection
Many people in developing countries are deprived of the benefits of access to electricity as a result of an inadequate infrastructure. As a result they are denied access to many economic and socio-cultural benefits.
As prospects from grid-connectivity are rather remote, if not totally inexistent, off-grid electrification that relies on REs (renewable energies), that is essentially solar PV (photovoltaic) systems appears as the most realistic and suitable solution for these regions.
Comprehensive work
For more than 15 years IEC TC (Technical Committee) 82: Solar photovoltaic energy systems, has been developing publications that set out recommendations aimed at guiding the introduction and use of REs in rural decentralized electrification.
This work has so far resulted in the development of the IEC TS 62257 series of 18 publications that includes, among other things, general requirements for the design, erection and operation of microgrids and micropower plants; recommendations for small renewable energy and hybrid systems; and the selection of components.
In addition to requirements to ensure the safety of persons and property, and recommendations concerning operation, maintenance and replacement as well as project development and management, these publications cover also the following:
- system selection and design
- selection of self-ballasted lamps (CFL)
- selection of PV-IES (PV individual electrification systems)
- selection of stand-alone lighting kits for rural electrification
- selection of batteries and battery management systems
- various types of generators - Photovoltaic generators
- details of microgrids and micropower systems.
Easier, cheaper access for key stakeholders
The IEC has responded positively to a request from the United Nations Foundation to make the IEC/TS 62257 technical specifications more easily available to key stakeholders in developing countries. This request was reinforced by the conclusions of a 2012 workshop on rural electrification held by AFSEC (African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission) with experts from IEC TC 82. As result of that workshop, AFSEC is developing a technical guide for sustainable off-grid electrification, with reference to IEC TS 62257 series.
The IEC, World Bank Group and United Nations Foundation have worked together to give access to the IEC TS 62257 series to key stakeholders at discounts ranging between 50% and 75%. Details are available from the IEC Webstore.


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October 21st, 2011perfect text
Infamous as one of the best places in the world to buy contraband of design and fashion watches, Bangkok is truly an amazing place to buy the real thing too. With designer shops selling watch brands such as Cartier, Patek Philippe, Breitling, Tag Heuer and Omega, will find almost any watch real design in Bangkok you want, plus a lot of beautiful fashion designer watches like Swatch, Fossil and Anne Klein. In your next shopping trip to Bangkok do not miss buying watches in these places. You will find gorgeous and fashionable designer watches often large prices.Mahboonkrong (MBK) Mall – The best selection of fashion designer watches from Bangkok, you can not beat Mahboonkrong shopping (MBK) shopping center. Of course, it is also known for its large selection of fake watches, but there are many stalls and shops jewelers also sell fashion designer watches that mimic authentic designer watches at all. Find Tissot, Swatch, Seiko and Zenith, among many others designs.Look of seats in the second and third floor of the mall for literally thousands of designs and varieties to see fashion. And if you want something a little more real, go to the stores of gold in the same area. Gold watches are impressive, with hundreds of pieces of gold jewelry found too.You Mahboonkrong (MBK) shopping center next to the train station National Stadium sky in downtown Bangkok Bangkok.Cartier-One of the watch companies Exclusivity is, of course, there are two beautiful Cartier and Cartier parlors in Bangkok. The oldest is in the Emporium shopping center next to the train station Phrom Phong sky. It's a little quiet, discreet and populated by large number of buyers over high society, but have a lovely selection of watches for him and her. You will find clocks designed or decorated in simple classic watches watch leather straps, with a choice of automatic or mechanical as well as some fabulous jewelry Cartier showroom in Bangkok pieces.The second is in the exclusive shopping mall Siam Paragon Siam BTS with the train station. Although Cartier yet, so quieter, because the clientele at the Siam Paragon is the hip a little more fashionable Cartier collection here reflects to some extent with some of the latest styles in the branch.There Emporium 's also a third smaller Cartier showroom in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, so you can still pick up enough to get a watch chain country.City – Chain of the city is one of the largest watch chains in the country with branches all over Bangkok. They are normally found in the branches of the Big C and Carrefour supermarkets. As a watch store so supermarket chain, one would think the city chain watches sold inferior quality, but that's not true. In the chain of the city, find fashion watches such as Ellesse, Tito Solvil, Hugo Boss, Casio, Coach, DKNY, Calvin and the French connection Klein.Due to its location in the major supermarkets in low cost, however, the chain the city often has some of the lowest prices on watches and fashion designer, in many branches, a huge square selection.Central World – The largest mall in Thailand and the largest shopping center third Southeast Asia, Central World Plaza has many shops selling designer watches and fashion designer. Look at Cortina Watch Boutique luxury watches, Casio G-Factory, G-Shock and Baby-Go, if you really want to go premium, Rolex has a shop here too.Central Plaza Mundo is near Chidlom BTS sky train station. More information: Mahboonkrong (MBK) MallCartier, BangkokCity ChainCentral World PlazaTags: center, chain, design grafico, fashion, station
replica watches


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I prefer the most unjust peace to the...
This is an aphorism from Aphorisms Galore!'s official collection.
Comment# · ★★☆☆ Fair (632 ratings) · submitted 1997
I prefer the most unjust peace to the most righteous war.
Cicero, in War and Peace
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20761MOD: Querying Data with Transact-SQL
What's included:
- 90 Day Access
- Available 24x7
- HD Quality Streaming Videos
- On-Demand Labs Hands-On Labs
- Knowledge Checks
About this On-Demand Course
This Microsoft On-Demand Course is an integrated on-line training experience that includes video, labs, exercises, text and knowledge checks. Students experience all of this through an on-demand course player.
What's included?
- Access to the official Microsoft Video On-Demand Course for 90 days from the point of first access, allowing you to start and stop when you need to.
- Lab access for 90 days from start of access.
- The content is based on the same official courseware we use in our instructor-led training, and videos feature engaging experts hand-selected by Microsoft. Unlike other on-demand offerings that offer simulated labs, MOC On-Demand gives you a live, real-time environment for hands-on training.
20761MOD: Querying Data with Transact-SQL
This course is designed to introduce students to Transact-SQL. It is designed for both students requiring the knowledge for other courses in the SQL Server curriculum, and for students preparing for the skills required to take exam 70-761.
The main purpose of the course is to give students a good understanding of the Transact-SQL language which is used by all SQL Server-related disciplines; namely, Database Administration, Database Development and Business Intelligence. As such, the primary target audience for this course is: Database Administrators, Database Developers and BI professionals.
- Working knowledge of relational databases.
- Basic knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operating system and its core functionality.
What You Will Learn:
After completing this course, students will be able to:
- Describe key capabilities and components of SQL Server 2016.
- Describe T-SQL, sets, and predicate logic.
- Write a single table SELECT statement.
- Write a multi-table SELECT statement.
- Write SELECT statements with filtering and sorting.
- Describe how SQL Server uses data types.
- Write DML statements.
- Write queries that use built-in functions.
- Write queries that aggregate data.
- Write subqueries.
- Create and implement views and table-valued functions.
- Use set operators to combine query results.
- Write queries that use window ranking, offset, and aggregate functions.
- Transform data by implementing pivot, unpivot, rollup and cube.
- Create and implement stored procedures.
- Add programming constructs such as variables, conditions, and loops to T-SQL code.
Course Outline:
Module 1: Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2016
This module introduces SQL Server, the versions of SQL Server, including cloud versions, and how to connect to SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio.
- The Basic Architecture of SQL Server
- SQL Server Editions and Versions
- Getting Started with SQL Server Management Studio
Lab : Working with SQL Server 2016 Tools
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Describe the architecture and editions of SQL Server 2012.
- Work with SQL Server Management Studio.
Module 2: Introduction to T-SQL Querying
This module introduces the elements of T-SQL and their role in writing queries, describes the use of sets in SQL Server, describes the use of predicate logic in SQL Server, and describes the logical order of operations in SELECT statements.
- Introducing T-SQL
- Understanding Sets
- Understanding Predicate Logic
- Understanding the Logical Order of Operations in SELECT statements
Lab : Introduction to Transact-SQL Querying
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Describe the elements of T-SQL and their role in writing queries
- Describe the use of sets in SQL Server
- Describe the use of predicate logic in SQL Server
- Describe the logical order of operations in SELECT statements
Module 3: Writing SELECT Queries
This module introduces the fundamentals of the SELECT statement, focusing on queries against a single table.
- Writing Simple SELECT Statements
- Eliminating Duplicates with DISTINCT
- Using Column and Table Aliases
- Writing Simple CASE Expressions
Lab : Writing Basic SELECT Statements
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Write simple SELECT statements.
- Eliminate duplicates using the DISTINCT clause.
- Use column and table aliases.
- Write simple CASE expressions.
Module 4: Querying Multiple Tables
This module explains how to write queries which combine data from multiple sources in SQL Server. The module introduces the use of JOINs in T-SQL queries as a mechanism for retrieving data from multiple tables.
- Understanding Joins
- Querying with Inner Joins
- Querying with Outer Joins
- Querying with Cross Joins and Self Joins
Lab : Querying Multiple Tables
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Describe how multiple tables may be queried in a SELECT statement using joins.
- Write queries that use inner joins.
- Write queries that use outer joins.
- Write queries that use self-joins and cross joins.
Module 5: Sorting and Filtering Data
This module explains how to enhance queries to limit the rows they return, and to control the order in which the rows are displayed. The module also discusses how to resolve missing and unknown results.
- Sorting Data
- Filtering Data with Predicates
- Filtering with the TOP and OFFSET-FETCH Options
- Working with Unknown Values
Lab : Sorting and Filtering Data
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Filter data with predicates in the WHERE clause.
- Sort data using ORDER BY.
- Filter data in the SELECT clause with TOP.
- Filter data with OFFSET and FETCH.
Module 6: Working with SQL Server 2016 Data Types
This module explains the data types SQL Server uses to store data. It introduces the many types of numeric and special-use data types. It also explains conversions between data types, and the importance of type precedence.
- Introducing SQL Server 2016 Data Types
- Working with Character Data
- Working with Date and Time Data
Lab : Working with SQL Server 2016 Data Types
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Describe numeric data types, type precedence and type conversions.
- Write queries using character data types.
- Write queries using date and time data types.
Module 7: Using DML to Modify Data
This module describes the use of Transact-SQL Data Manipulation Language to perform inserts, updates, and deletes to your data.
- Inserting Data
- Modifying and Deleting Data
Lab : Using DML to Modify Data
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Insert new data into your tables.
- Update and delete existing records in your tables.
Module 8: Using Built-In Functions
This module introduces the use of functions that are built in to SQL Server Denali, and will discuss some common usages including data type conversion, testing for logical results and nullability.
- Writing Queries with Built-In Functions
- Using Conversion Functions
- Using Logical Functions
- Using Functions to Work with NULL
Lab : Using Built-In Functions
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Write queries with built-in scalar functions.
- Use conversion functions.
- Use logical functions.
- Use functions that work with NULL.
Module 9: Grouping and Aggregating Data
This module introduces methods for grouping data within a query, aggregating the grouped data and filtering groups with HAVING. The module is designed to help the student grasp why a SELECT clause has restrictions placed upon column naming in the GROUP BY clause as well as which columns may be listed in the SELECT clause.
- Using Aggregate Functions
- Using the GROUP BY Clause
- Filtering Groups with HAVING
Lab : Grouping and Aggregating Data
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Write queries which summarize data using built-in aggregate functions.
- Use the GROUP BY clause to arrange rows into groups.
- Use the HAVING clause to filter out groups based on a search condition.
Module 10: Using Subqueries
This module will introduce the use of subqueries in various parts of a SELECT statement. It will include the use of scalar and multi-result subqueries, and the use of the IN and EXISTS operators.
- Writing Self-Contained Subqueries
- Writing Correlated Subqueries
- Using the EXISTS Predicate with Subqueries
Lab : Using Subqueries
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Describe the uses of queries which are nested within other queries.
- Write self-contained subqueries which return scalar or multi-valued results.
- Write correlated subqueries which return scalar or multi-valued results.
- Use the EXISTS predicate to efficiently check for the existence of rows in a subquery.
Module 11: Using Set Operators
This module introduces the set operators UNION, INTERSECT, and EXCEPT to compare rows between two input sets.
- Writing Queries with the UNION Operator
- Using EXCEPT and INTERSECT
- Using APPLY
Lab : Using SET Operators
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Write queries using UNION, EXCEPT, and INTERSECT operators.
- Use the APPLY operator.


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Stock the nursery full of diapers and wipes, and get ready to talk about your baby's bowel movements morning, noon and night. Here's the scoop on newborn poop!
Baby's first poop
Meconium doesn't look like "regular" adult poop or even poop you'll notice once your baby starts feeding, but it's the first bowel movement your baby will have shortly after birth. It's very dark, sticky and looks like tar — the same for all babies whether breast or formula fed. Once meconium has passed, the color and consistency of poop will look different depending on how you choose to feed your baby — breast milk or formula.
Breast-fed baby poop
If you exclusively breastfeed, your baby's poop will be yellowish-brown in color, "like cottage cheese mixed with Dijon mustard," Riley Minster, M.D., explains. Once your breast milk comes in, your baby's poop may also look like a bunch of seeds.
Formula-fed baby poop
Formula-fed baby poop has its own consistency and color — "like yellow or brown or even green tinted soft grown-up poops, but very watery and smaller," Minster says.
When to call the pediatrician
While your pediatrician is always just a phone call away if you have questions or concerns about your baby's bowel movements, it's rare you will need to worry.
"Parents are always concerned that their baby is pooping too much, or too little, or the poop looks different, or it is too smelly, or not smelly enough," Minster explains. "The only true 'warning sign' is blood. Bloody stools are never normal — they are not necessarily dangerous, but they are not normal and your child should be seen by their pediatrician within 24 hours."
Get to know your baby's BMs
You'll get to know your baby's cues — when he's hungry, when he needs a diaper change, and yes, his bowel habits. What's normal for your baby may be different than your friend's baby, and that's usually just fine. "Some babies are always constipated and poop once every four to five days. Some babies poop four to five times a day," Minster explains. "All babies get constipated sometimes, and like adults, they can get diarrhea too. If your baby is happy, enjoys being fed, has a soft tummy and no fevers, then it doesn't matter what their poop looks or smells like."
Read more about baby health
What you need to know about circumcision
Baby spit up: What's normal?
Ways to bond with your baby while bottle feeding


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A decent German movie that is worth the watch. Two business women are fighting for the same position in a consulting firm. The younger woman (Maren) is purposefully brought to the firm to compete and replace the older woman (Katrina). During this process, they begin to become friends and eventually more.
The whole movie with english subtitles can be found here:


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Senior/Policy and Advocacy Manager
|The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is a great place to work! IDSA has a highly competitive benefits package, generous paid vacation and sick leave, flexible scheduling and telecommuting program, is located two blocks from the metro, and has a free gym onsite for all employees.
Organizational and Position Overview
Nested within the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) is a professional home for clinicians and researchers working on the front lines of the HIV epidemic. You will represent HIVMA as a Senior/Policy and Advocacy Manager (position could be "senior" level depending on experience) who will lead HIVMA's policy and advocacy efforts on priority issue areas, including appropriations, the Ending HIV as an Epidemic initiative, research, evidence-based prevention, other relevant public health and physician workforce issues.
FLSA Classification – Exempt
Reports to – HIVMA Executive Director
Essential Responsibilities
Other Responsibilities – Other duties as assigned
|Minimum Qualifications and Experience
Required Skills
The ideal candidate is a hardworking team player who can remain flexible to switch gears depending on priorities.
Please submit a cover letter and resume for consideration.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Job posted: 2019-09-18


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Local social service agencies are looking to put a spot light on human trafficking. It's estimated that in the last year 25 percent of all human trafficking victims in the United States were found in Texas. Houston Public Radio's Capella Tucker reports an effort is underway to increase the general public's knowledge of the problem.
People caught up in human trafficking are used for some type of forced labor, from the sex trade to domestic servitude to farm labor. Human Trafficking Outreach Specialist Katie O'Rear helps educate people about what to look for to identify victims. She says human trafficking is overlooked in society.
"It's something seen as part of the criminal world, as part of the immigrant world, it's seen as something that people look at as being part of a different culture or part of a different economic group, it's just completely overlooked as being the giant problem that it is."
The U.S. Justice Department estimates that between 14,000 and 17,000 persons are trafficked to the United States every year. Children At Risk staff attorney Lisa Sandoze-Robinson says the state legislature addressed the issue during the most recent session. She says new laws clarified the definition of trafficking and expanded the definition for forced labor.
"Under the law that was passed in 2003 it was required that the element of transport be present in any case involving trafficking. But in fact, trafficking in most cases is organized crime with many players so if you are only able to prosecute the people actually involved in the movement of the victim then you're leaving out a lot of people who are perpetrators of the crime."
Several activities are planned this week to raise awareness about human trafficking. Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition Co-Director Stephanie Weber says past human trafficking busts have discovered that victims have received medical attention without being identified as a human trafficking victim.
"It's absolutely important for us to help medical professionals learn how it is that they can identify human trafficking victims who may be coming through the emergency clinics or may be coming through the emergency room."
The Coalition is also looking to train lawyers who work with victims of human trafficking. Capella Tucker, Houston Public Radio News.


text: A young woman was diagnosed with leukemia. How could this happen? As it turns out, she was an instructor in a beauty college. For several years she had worked with various chemical products. It appears that these products caused her to develop her disease. For years scientists have known that the chemical Benzene causes leukemia. What we are just now learning is that this chemical was in thousands of consumer products. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with AML leukemia, please seek legal help.


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A man who tried to sell endangered animal parts has been given a Community Payback Order.
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Monday 5th December, Gary Whyte was ordered to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work, having been convicted for offences relating to the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations in October.
Click Here To Promote Your Business Around Fife
Wildlife Crime Officers in Fife launched an investigation after being alerted to the items being put up for sale on an online auction site.
A search of the 50-year-old's home address in Cowdenbeath resulted in the recovery of the animal parts, which were subsequently confirmed to be tiger claws.
Speaking following today's sentencing, Constable Lindsay Kerr, Wildlife Crime Officer for Fife said: "Whyte stood to make a significant profit from the sale of these tiger claws, the sale of which is a contravention of endangered species legislation.
"As soon as Police Scotland became aware of the items being illegally offered for purchase online, a robust investigation was launched, which resulted in Whyte being convicted in October.
"The sale of endangered animal parts will not be tolerated and anyone involved in such activities can expect to be dealt with by police."


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This recipe was born out of necessity. There were a couple of kilos of tomatoes getting overripe on our window sill from the vines outside. I also like to have items that we freeze in easy to use portions.
Want small easy portions of tomato ready for EasyLoCarb recipes?
Since making this sauce and freezing it in ice cube trays for easy use, we have found loads of uses for it in other recipes, add it to some pulled meat with some herbs and voila – a wonderfully tasty meal over Almond polenta, zucchini pasta or your favourite salad.
This recipe is great for using up overripe tomatoes – there are a few carbs in the final product but unlike commercial versions there is of course no added sugar.
Versatile Tomato Sauce
So get a load of tomatoes, onion, some chilli, garlic, capsicum (bell pepper), some stock or water and salt and away we go…
Here we have one long red chilli, but as with many of my recipes, add more to increase the heat or add a hotter chilli – I am growing habenero's but i use them very sparingly.
The tomatoes are cut up into fairly big chunks the tomatoes where about the size of plums and I cut them into quarters.
Now, heat some fat or oil in a sauce pan I used lard… because I can..
I used about two tablespoons of lard, which I put in the pan until it melted and was hot
Now add the onions which should have been roughly chopped
Fry these in the fat until they start to go translucent
Then add the garlic
Continue to fry for about 2 minutes
Add the chopped capsicum (bell pepper) and chilli and cook for a further 2 minutes
Now add the tomatoes
Stir all the ingredients
Try and make the ingredients evenly spread
Add two cups of liquid – i used home made lamb stock
Add salt to taste – we use a low sodium Lite-Salt as it is 50% Sodium Chloride and 50% Potassium Chloride and we've been trying to increase the potassium in our diet.
Give the mixture another quick stir and put the lid on the sauce pan
Cook on a low heat with the lid on for at least an hour, but it can take up to two hours.
It will be ready when the tomatoes have broken down and all the juices have come out. Now turn up the heat and cook for 15 minutes without the lid on until the volume has reduced by about a third.
Now get a stick blender into the mixture, you can use a blender if you prefer.
The sauce still should be a consistent colour
Next we put this through a sieve to remove the seeds and the bits of skin that remained in the sauce. Then we spooned it into ice cube trays (we got 42 out of this volume). Once they were solid we place them in plastic bags for easy use.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 13 Calories from Fat 9
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Sugars 0g
Protein 0g 0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. wp-nutrition-label
NB: Net Carbohydrates here are 1g – 0g (fiber) = 1g per serving
- 1.2 Kg Fresh Tomatos Any type
- 100 g Onion Chopped
- 25 g garlic Chopped
- 1 Chilli or more to taste
- 100 g Capsicum Chopped (Bell Pepper)
- 2 Tbsp Lard Or other fat/oil
- 2 Cups Water or Stock I used Lamb but anything but fish/shellfish would be good
- Cut up the tomatoes into similar size pieces, chop the onions, chop the garlic and chop the capsicum
- Add the lard to a large saucepan and heat until melted
- Add the onion and cook until it is transucent
- Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes
- Add the capsicum and chilli and cook for a further two minutes
- Add the tomatoes and stir to combine evenly
- Add the water or stock and stir, turn down the heat and put the lid on the saucepan
- Cook for at least 1 hour but not more than 2 hours
- Turn off the heat and blend either with a stick blender in the saucepan or in a stand blender until it is smooth and consistent
- Let cook a little, then push the sauce through a sieve to remove the bits of skin and seeds.
- Spoon into ice cube trays and freeze, once frozen put into freezer bags and remove as much air as possible.
- To use add straight into a pan or add to a sauce or leave to defrost to use cold on a burger or sausage or chicken leg or.....


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Alhamdulillah. It was great experience with Alhamratour! We had tour to Andalusia and other european countries. It was great working with them.
My family & my sis-in-law family holiday with alhamratour was great! Their service was very good & we had a good time throughout our 11days trip visiting morroco & spain staying in good accomadation and delicious food. The guides are indeed knowledgeable. Alhamdulillah!
excellent service...the tours are very well organised, the staff are friendly and respond to any enquiries promptly.. the guides are knowlegeable..I wld highly recommend Alhamratour-TTHW to all.


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The NBA scoffed at Clippers embattled owner Donald Sterling planning to sue them for $1 billion in damages.
"Mr. Sterling's lawsuit is predictable, but entirely baseless," NBA Executive Vice President and General Counsel Rick Buchanan said in a statement to this newspaper. "Among other infirmities, there was no "forced sale" of his team by the NBA – which means his antitrust and conversion claims are completely invalid. Since it was his wife Shelly Sterling, and not the NBA, that has entered into an agreement to sell the Clippers, Mr. Sterling is complaining about a set of facts that doesn't even exist."
The NBA announced on Friday afternoon that the league, Shelly Sterling and Sterling Family Trust reached an agreement that would ensure former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to purchase the franchise for $2 billion. The league also canceled a meeting scheduled for June 3 in which the Board of Governors planned to hold a vote on Sterling's ouster. The NBA has said it would have needed at least 23 of the 30 NBA owners to rule in favor of Sterling having his ownership removed. The NBA had also issued him a life-time ban and a $2.5 million fine, a league source adding Donald Sterling must either pay in full or have it deducted through the sale.
The NBA does not currently have a date set for when the Board of Governors would approve Ballmer to become the Clippers owner, which would also require a 3/4 approval. But a league source estimates it will take place within "weeks."
The league source also familiar with the NBA's proceedings also maintained that Shelly Sterling "sold 100 percent of the team" and "has no equity with the team" other than having an unspecified number of tickets and parking spots to Clippers games as well as a table in the Chairman's room.
NBA cancels June 3 meeting, reports agreement that ensures Steve Ballmer as Clippers' owner
Donald Sterling to sue NBA for $1 billion
Winning Clippers bidder Steve Ballmer says he embraces 'inclusiveness'
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Okay folks. I'm back with another flash fiction Friday. Today's story is a little different. It's not sci-fi, or horror. It's just two people sitting down for a drink and trying to catch up. Before we start, I would like to say that I wish I had a little more time to work on this one and I will probably refine it, but here it is in all its raw glory. I call it…
The Problem
Todd sat across the table from her, unsure of what to say. He never had this kind of trouble talking to women. Not any more at least. Then again, she wasn't just any woman. This was Sabrina. This was the girl he'd pined for night after night back in high-school. This was the girl who'd never noticed him back then. At least he'd thought she hadn't noticed him. Which is why it had been so strange when he'd heard her voice calling to him as he'd walked down the street. Even after all this time, he would recognize her voice anywhere.
He raised his glass of scotch to his lips, the ice tinkling against the glass from his shaking hand.
"So how have you been?" She asked.
"Oh, you know. Not bad. My company's really starting to take off."
Sabrina laughed loudly and he immediately felt like an idiot. Saying his company was taking off was like saying the bible was a reasonably popular book. In fact, he was seriously considering an offer to sell his company which would make him the world's youngest billionaire.
"I had the biggest crush on you back in school." He blurted, regretting it instantly.
"You? Really? I never would have guessed."
"You knew?" He said, shocked.
"Everybody knew. It's not like you actually needed my science notes."
"Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Why didn't you?" She countered.
Todd found himself at a loss for words. There were dozens of reasons that he couldn't bring himself to voice. Finally, he picked the truest one.
"Because I never would have stood a chance with you."
"What makes you think that?"
"I was just a science geek. You were pretty and popular." He said, realizing how pathetic that made him sound.
"And yet you asked me out today. What's changed? Am I not pretty any more?" She asked, tossing her long blonde hair teasingly.
"No. I mean you're gorgeous."
"So what's changed?"
"I wasn't rich back then."
He'd meant it as a joke, but immediately regretted it, realizing how it sounded. She stared back at him as if he'd slapped her. After a long silence, she stood up from her chair.
"No. Please. Don't go. I didn't mean it like that."
"I'm not some gold digger. As a matter of fact, your money couldn't interest me less. I liked you because you were a genuinely nice guy. Do you want to know the reason we never went out? Because you never asked." She said, her voice trembling like she was on the verge of tears.
Her speech finished, she turned and was gone.
Todd sat back still unsure what had just happened. There were so many things to process. Had she really liked him? Or had she just said that to hurt him after he had suggested she was after his money?
Todd felt the strange urge to put the retainer he hadn't worn in years into his mouth. He was suddenly the lonely nerd he had been back in school.
The waiter appeared at his elbow with a fresh glass of scotch.
"I didn't order this." He said, absently.
"No sir. The lady bought it for you before she left. She asked me to serve it on this napkin." The waiter said, placing the glass of very expensive whiskey in front of him and disappearing.
Todd picked up the glass of liquid amber and downed half of it, enjoying the mellow burn as it made its way down his throat and spread through his chest and stomach out to his limbs, bathing him in a warm glow.
It was then that he realized the waiter had said something odd about the napkin. He grabbed it and stared at it.
Written on the thin paper was a fairly complex looking equation along with the words, "Call me when you figure this out."
"Smart. I forgot that. She's smart too." Todd said, pulling out his expensive fountain pen and getting to work.
Like I said, it's still a little rough. I'd like to play a little more with the characters.
I would like to say that some inspiration for this story was taken from my own life. No, I'm not a billionaire. Nor am I a brilliant math geek. I was however, very shy when it came to girls. Since high-school, I have discovered that several girls I thought I didn't have a shot with would have said yes if I had just mustered up the courage to ask them out.
Of course I didn't find any of this out until it was way too late. Oh well, good to know for the next life, I suppose.
Anyway, that's about it for today. I may see you on Monday, but it all depends if I finish the book I'm currently reading by then.
Your questions and comments are always welcome. If there's a topic you'd like to see me address in my blog or my vlog, send me a message at any of these sites.
Check me out on Facebook
On Twitter @JustinMKelly1
My Amazon page, in case you want to read more
On Goodreads
And on YouTube
I also post a copy of this blog on Tumblr
Don't forget, I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday's are a rundown of what I'm reading. Wednesday's are my general writing blog, and of course, there's Flash Fiction Friday.
Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday.


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We are already know the drafting details of shirt front, back and yoke pieces (If you want to go through our previous tutorial (CLICK HERE). Now we are going to see here shirt sleeve-cuff-collar drafting and cutting details of the fabric with the help of drafts and sewing instructions.
Construction details:
0-1 = 1/6th armhole circumference
0-2 = sleeve length (shoulder to wrist)
1-3 =½ armhole circumference
Connect 0-3 and divide that line into 3 equal parts then mark that as 0' & 3' as shown in draft picture.
A is 3/8" above from 0'
B is ¼" below from 3'
Shape front armhole by joining 0-a-b-3
C is ¾" above from 0'
D is 3/8" above from 3'
Shape back armhole by joining 0-c-d-3
2-2' = ¼"
2'-4 = ½ wrist around +2½" or 2/3rd of 1-3
Join 4-2 & 4-3
5 is midpoint of 3-4. Join 5-3 with inside curve line.
Join 4-2 ¼" inside curve for sleeve's front side only.
6 is midpoint of 4'-2 and make 6" cuff opening for sleeve's front side only.
7-8 & 9-10 = 2½"
8-9 & 7-10 = ½ wrist around + ¾"
Give curved edge in 10.
Collar construction:
0-1 & 2-3 = 3"
0-4 & 3-5 = 1¾"
0-3 & 1-2 = ½ neck around measurement
6 is midpoint of 0-3 and 6' is midpoint of 4-5
3' is 1½" above from 3. Join 6-3'
x is 1½" from 5 and x' is ¼" below from x. join x'-3'
7 is marked 1½" away from 2 and 2' ¼" above from 2.
Now join 7-2'-x'-6' with curved lines (refer Draft)
Cutting line: 0-6-3'-x-x'-6'- 4 for collar. 0-4 on fold
1-7-2'-x'-6'-4 for collar stand. 4-1 on fold
You can use this same draft for single piece collar also, but here we are going to do this as two piece collar i.e., Collar and collar stand.
Need a simple rectangular piece of 4 ¼" x 6" (this includes seam allowance).
Cutting instructions:
- Now we are going to cut our fabric with the help of drafts. First thing we have to press our fabric so that draft lays there perfectly without any wrinkle. I think it's one of the most important steps.
- First place fabric fold in half with selvages together without any shrink. Above image is only for your reference about seam allowances for each draft pieces, which is not for draft placing instruction. You can place wherever, but remember the fold lines.
- Place draft perfectly and secured with pin or weight then mark on fabric with your fabric marker. Make sure about seam allowances all around mentioned in draft details image.
- Place Shirt's back piece fold line 1" away from fabric fold line for Back pleats (refer image) and mark.
- All drafts are marked now. So remove drafts from fabric. Again secure the fabric with pin or weight for cutting purpose.
- Cut the marked fabric. We'll also need to cut our interlining for collar, collar stand, and cuff and buttonhole placket. For button stand and pocket mouth interlinings are optional.
- We are going to cut interlining for Collar, Collar stand and cuff by using draft. For buttonhole placket need 1" strip interlining is enough.
Now we are ready to sew our shirt. Sewing instruction with images is in our next tutorial….within few days…


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MSE Administration
Conference rooms
MSE-WE departmental conference rooms
The MSE complex provides three conference rooms that may be reserved for student and staff use: 145 Fontana Labs, 177 Watts Hall, and 184 Watts Hall. Additionally, 479 Watts Hall--a student lounge--may be "occupied". Room attributes and reservation instructions provided.
Welding Engineering conference space may be reserved by contacting Ed Pfeifer, Welding Engineering Laboratory Manager, to request conference room space at the Edison Joining Technology Center (phone: 292-4139, email, rm 106 EJTC).
Media equipment
Media equipment for presentation needs
Computer projectors, a digital camera, and MSE-WE demos are available for students, staff, and faculty of the MSE-WE department. Includes links to OSU's Classroom Services support and Engineering Region 6; both can provide additional presentation equipment.
Outgoing mail, MSE
MSE outgoing mail procedure
Mail may be sent from the MSE department via two means, US Postal Service (non-express) and United Parcel Service UPS (express). Provides flowchart for handling outgoing mail shipments.
- Welding Engineering: Please see Ed Pfeifer for outgoing mail procedures.
Textbook orders
Textbook ordering process for MSE & WE instructors
Textbooks are ordered by means of the Barnes & Noble / OSU Bookstore site. These orders are shared with the other campus bookstores via OSU Bookstores.
Fiscal Policies, Procurement, & Procedures
The MSE-WE department Fiscal Officer is:
Mei Wang
177 Watts Hall
E-mail the MSE Fiscal Officer
Further information on Fiscal Policies, Procurement, and Procedures
Provides information on University, College, and Departmental fiscal policies. Includes Purchasing Office forms, CoE Business Meal forms, policy statements, and more.
Human Resources
The MSE-WE department Human Resources Officer is:
Mei Wang
177 Watts Hall
E-mail the MSE Human Resources Officer
Further information on Human Resources
Provides access to eLeave and eTimesheet online forms as well as the OSU Office of Human Resources. Includes links to general benefits, OSU HR forms & polices, Payroll Services, and more. "Volunteer and Visitor Release form" is also found at this link.
Further information on Travel
Provides links to CoE and OSURF travel guidelines, policies, and forms.
Transportation and Parking Services
OSU Transportation & Parking
Information on parking passes, lot locations, campus bus service and more.
Note: Graduate students who hold a GRA or Fellowship appointment may request permission to purchase a Staff ("B") parking pass, including garage access. Please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator for details.
Records retention guidelines
University Archives' record retention guidelines
Retention schedules for student and course records, employment records, financial records, and more.
Office of Information Technology
OSU Office of Information Technology
Provides support for Carmen, name.## accounts, and other university-hosted IT concerns. The customer service help line is 688-HELP (4357).
Office of Academic Affairs
Office of Academic Affairs
This office has responsibility for the administration, coordination, and development of all academic functions of the university.
University academic calendar
University Registrar calendar
Provides key dates--such as starting & ending dates, finals, and Commencement--for the coming years.
Office of Legal Affairs
Office of Legal Affairs
Services include advice and counsel on all matters having legal significance for the university, the oversight of litigation, contract review, and preventive law workshops and educational programs.
Office of University Relations
University Relations
This office coordinates universitywide communications and reputation management, working with both the internal community as well as extra-university relations. Includes Research News, Web Services, Visual Identity, Photography and other divisions.


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ASDS fights rising skin cancer rates
Despite factors such as longer life expectancies and a societal emphasis on tanning – which contribute to rising skin cancer rates – ASDS members are determined to not only diagnose and treat the disease but help prevent it.
Skin cancer treatments ranked as the most-performed procedure by ASDS members for the fourth year in a row in 2014; more than 3 million procedures were performed. But the commitment among ASDS members to lead the fight against skin cancer extends well beyond the volume of treatments.
ASDS is involved in several programs to combat skin cancer. Members offer free skin cancer screenings through the Choose Skin Health program, a partnership with Neutrogena, while the Sun Safe Soccer and Sun Safe Surfing programs emphasize responsible sun behavior.
And in May, an ASDS Board-appointed expert group of dermatologic surgeons released the first-ever consensus recommendations for the treatment and management of basal cell carcinoma, the most frequently occurring form of skin cancer.
Finally, in case you missed these in the spring, ASDS released a pair of national public service announcement videos to coincide with Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May, one warning against indoor tanning and the other focusing on sun-protective behaviors for men.
From prevention efforts to diagnosis and treatment, ASDS members take a comprehensive approach to battling skin cancer.


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Serving Illinois and Nationwide
Cipro Peripheral Neuropathy Lawsuit
Cipro is a form of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones and has long been useful in the treatment of numerous types of infections. Recent discoveries have linked Cipro and two other fluoroquinolones to permanent nerve damage, with effects occurring as soon as the first use. To make matters worse, evidence has been presented to suggest that the makers of these medications were aware of this link and purposely downplayed and tried to hide the risk from doctors and their patients. The Chicago Cipro attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC are currently representing patients who experienced peripheral neuropathy while taking Cipro or similar medications and are the leading medical liability law firm in Illinois.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is committed to holding pharmaceutical manufacturers responsible for the injuries their medications cause to consumers. If you suffered nerve damage after taking Cipro, we invite you to contact our office for a free case review. Our attorneys will discuss your legal options and the status of lawsuits involving Cipro.
The History of Cipro and its Usefulness
There is no denying that Cipro has been extremely helpful in the treatment of infections that could not otherwise be treated with penicillin or other antibiotics and it is a commonly prescribed for the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, respiratory infections and urinary tract infections. It received approval from the FDA in 1987 in tablet form and then received approval to be used intravenously by 1991. Since then, Cipro and medicines in the same family have generated billions of dollars in profits for the largest pharmaceutical companies as one of the primary forms of medication to treat a myriad of bacterial infections.
Despite its usefulness, it was revealed that the use of Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox do not come without risks. Documents were uncovered that revealed complicity on part of all of the major pharmaceuticals producing these medications in that they were aware as early as 1996 that there was significant risk of peripheral neuropathy involved in the use of each of the aforementioned medications. Peripheral neuropathy is defined as permanent nerve damage, which can result in extreme pain and the loss important motor functions.
The Failure to Warn Makes Pharmaceuticals Liable
One of the primary concerns cited in the lawsuits being brought against the manufacturers of Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox is that the companies were aware of the risks and failed to communicate them. In some instances, the risks were hidden or downplayed so that patients would not think twice about taking the medications. Drug companies are responsible for making all significant risks and side effects known, however, and patients are entitled to compensation for their injuries because the warning labels provided were misleading. Additional allegations include the defrauding of patients by actively concealing information about risks; strict liability for knowingly marketing a harmful product; and negligence resulting from the failure of the manufacturers to perform research and monitor patients to ensure the safety of the medications. Pharmaceutical companies have a long history of evading regulations and placing profits before safety, which is why it is important to hold them responsible for their negligent actions.
Status of Current Cases
Two cases are currently pending in California and attorneys across the country are watching these cases closely because they will likely set the tone for the sea of litigation that is to come in the near future. In the first case, the plaintiff has made the allegations that Bayer knowingly marketed Avelox despite the drug being a danger to the wellbeing of patients and that Bayer did not provide proper warnings to the doctors prescribing the medication or the patients using it. In the second case, the plaintiff is seeking punitive damages from Johnson & Johnson, claiming her peripheral neuropathy was the result of deliberate disregard on behalf of Johnson & Johnson for the rights and safety of consumers.
Arrange a Free Case Review
The Chicago Cipro attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC are the leading attorneys in Illinois when it comes to representing the interests of medical liability victims and have maximized the recovery of compensation for thousands of clients. We are currently evaluating cases to be brought against the makers of Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox for injuries resulting from the prescribed use of these medications. If you suffered peripheral neuropathy while taking any of these medications, you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact us today to arrange a risk free consultation with one of our highly acclaimed attorneys to learn more about your legal options and so that we can evaluate the details of your case to determine the most advisable course of action. Our lawyers work strictly on a contingency basis, meaning that we never receive payment for our services unless we are able to secure damages on behalf of our clients. If we cannot collect for you, our services are free.


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Boot cuffs are underrated accessories. Adding a cuff to you boots can make your feet warm and fashion-wise they can make your outfit look more fun.
These crocheted cuffs look even more fun than the traditional knitted socks and cuffs. Add them to your plain basic outfit and boots and voila you have instantly added a nice color pop to your outfit.
Crochet-wise, they are a quick project done in maximum 30 minutes and last you forever. The best thing is that you probably don't need to buy yarn for this project and use whatever leftover yarn you have at home.


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This gallery contains 3 photos.
DIY projects with Florabelle
05 Saturday Aug 2017
Posted 12-Step Workin
05 Saturday Aug 2017
Posted 12-Step Workin
This gallery contains 3 photos.
05 Saturday Aug 2017
budget, CBT, deprivation, fear, gratitude, humor, legal problems, non-judgemental, patience, planning success, positivity, progress, risk management, self-assessment, self-praise, snail mail, snowball
Problem and My Reaction:
I received a notice via snail mail that I had Tollway violations. The state wanted $150 dollars.
Additional helpful information: (Remember to gather more information to reduce stress and avoid freezing, leading to more problems.)
Barriers to resolution of the problem:
Resolution preparation:
Resolution action and Result:
Now, how did this happen? How did I potentially inflict the pain of $150 going out the window? How did I risk my car registration? My driver's license? Gone untended, I could have been dropped from my car insurance further creating more expense by extending my current SR22 snafu an additional 3 years. Not to mention a possible criminal record because this is Illinois.
I belabor this issue not to catastrophize, but to bring attention to how something like missed toll payments can snowball. I worry how easy notices could be missed or put off because people are too busy or too reliant on technology. I worry for those struggling to make it on low income, those without banks, and those who are transitory; because they make perfect targets usually due to inaction. OPENING SNAIL MAIL remains part of life. Don't ever let a legal issue like a toll get away from you. It can ruin your life even more than you are struggling now.
I want to stop making this face. Stop scaring myself. Stop hurting myself.
Ask questions. Without or in spite of, judgment, criticism, guilt, blame, or beating on one's self, STOP AND ASK YOURSELF WHAT WENT WRONG? AND CHANGE IT! PRONTO!
What do I currently do?
What happened?
Why? What was happening that kept me from taking care of myself?
What now? What can be done to prevent this from happening again?
Wrap-Up, Assessment Date, Release:


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My Pachypodium lamerei, which I acquired in January 2009 at only 9" tall, has now grown into a magnificent 53" (1.35m) specimen and he had his first pot change last year in April 2013. At the rate he has grown over the past 18 months, I think he is going to need a new pot early in the new year! But I can't go too big with a pot, otherwise I can't bring him in for winter. A bit of a dilemma... I lost my first one due to the fact that he got too heavy to carry in and was thus taken out of the pot and planted directly in the garden, attaining a height of almost 2m before being killed by one extreme winter we had. At that time I swore I wouldn't get another one, but who can resist a beautiful Pachy smiling at you in the local garden centre?
My Pachy last year November 2013
This popular Pachypodium from Madagascar, Africa, has a shiny silver trunk covered with long, sharp spines. The trunk may branch out, making it even more attractive. A tuft of long, narrow leaves grow only at the top of the trunk, like a palm tree, and it is also known as the Madagascar Palm. However, it isn't a palm at all, but a succulent from the Apocyanaceae family.
In the summer, clusters of fragrant, white flowers will appear on mature plants that are grown outdoors. Don't expect it to bloom indoors, unless you can provide plenty of direct sunlight. You may want to move this sun-loving succulent outdoors to your porch or patio for the summer. Mine spends summer in my garden, but just remember to bring it back inside when the temperature drops -- it won't tolerate frost.
My Pachy in April 2013, just before being re-potted and very top-heavy for his current pot.
.Repot in spring every 3-4 years or when it outgrows its pot. It's a good idea to use a heavy container to prevent toppling. This thick-trunked tree can get top-heavy. Also, be careful of those spines when handling this plant. Wear thick garden gloves and wrap a newspaper or old towel around the trunk when repotting it to protect your hands.
Leaf drop in winter is perfectly normal. It may even drop all its leaves. But, don't worry. It'll grow more leaves in spring when it gets the sunshine and warmth it loves. When it comes out of dormancy and you see new leaves growing, that's your cue to resume normal watering and fertilizing.
This Pachypodium can reach 6 ft (1.8 m) indoors, much taller if grown outdoors in a frost-free climate. It does require full sun. Water thoroughly and allow top half of soil to dry out between waterings. In winter, water sparingly just to keep the soil from drying out completely. Plant in a pot with drainage holes to prevent root rot. Cactus mix works well to provide fast drainage. Or you can use 2 parts all-purpose potting mix with 1 part sharp sand or perlite.
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Sow seeds in spring. Offsets can also be cut away from the parent plant and potted up separately.
My Pachy in February 2010, a year after I got him.
If you live in a frost-free zone in South Africa, this is a beautiful succulent to consider for your garden. It's water-wise, doesn't need much care and remember not to over-water in winter.