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Discussion in 'Fan Art' started by Shikarnov, Nov 17, 2010.
With the what now?
My Enterprise F is now available for free download: http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/603090
Maya for the moment, Max and Lightwave formats to follow.
Please take the time to rate her, and let me know if you have any problems
But the difference is that most of these designs are brand new. Take FuzzyModem's Frontier class and your Legacy class for example: most, but not all details have been finalized, so finding an alternative class name probably isn't completely out of the question. But Adam Heinbuch's Frontier class and Galen's Legacy class have been around for years.
The point I'm trying to make is that I would like all four of these designs to share the same universe, but that won't be possible if they share the same class name. If an artist chooses to stick with the class name already chosen, I will respect his/her decision to do so, but since a class name can usually only be used once, that means I have to choose which design will exists in my vision.
By pointing out that a name has already been used, I hope to avoid this situation.
Well, I don't do exhaustive searches either, nor do I expect you to do so. It all comes from looking at as many different designs as I could find, and my memory. If a design is good enough, I remember the class name, and to not use it. 'Kitbashes' that are mostly made in Photoshop or with cut and paste do not count as far as I'm concerned; I'm talking about designs that obviously had tons of thought, work, and love put into them, designs that deserve a place in the Trek universe, even if it is only fanon.
For example, your Sojourner class might be incomplete, but it is already a quality 3D model as far as I'm concerned, so I wouldn't use it even if I came up with a design that I felt was perfect for the name. Unless you said that you were going to abandon the project or use a different name, it is on my do not use list.
Besides, I have all you guys to help me come up with another good name anyhow (which I predict is probably going to happen more than once in the future).
I'm pretty sure I would remember if there was a design that already uses that name. If there is one, its probably just some Photoshop kitbash that is not using the name, but simply wasting it. So there is no need to change the name Rush. In fact, Rush is a good, creative choice for a class name, because it isn't as obvious of a name choice than others I could think of.
I can search Ship Schematics myself if you don't believe me.
I think I understand what you're getting at, JES. You want some measure of continuity between the canon universe and fanon contributions. I can understand that. I played around in the Halo universe for several years and that was my main concern, above all else. I think the problem is that we artists get ideas into our thick skulls and don't like letting them go after we have "identified" or identified with our work. Built associations. It's like asking us to change our own names...which is a really personal thing. That's going to cause a lot of potential friction, and I think you've already seen some of that in our immediate reactions.
Yeah, you don't like a chosen name, tough luck really. It's sort of insulting to tell us we "can't use it" just for your own edification. Your best bet and probably the least insulting way to go about it is to suggest a better name, but don't count on it being adopted.
If you really want to, for your own "canon", just imagine that the ship in question has a different registry number and came before or after the other ship in question.
Congrats to the winner! It seems there is alot of debate over the design, so someone posted a poll asking folks opinion of it.
I saw this posted on the startrek.com forums and followed the link to the star trek online forums, and then found a link to this site. Funny how the internet can lead you from one place to another
This poll is terrible. There are only two options: like or dislike. There should at least be a neutral option for those who don't the design, but don't love it either.
If I'm working for someone, getting paid to do it, then they have the right to oversee what I do, make changes, tell me what names to use.
I suppose it's pretty much the same thing in a contest - if you hope to win the contest, you have to follow the basic rules.
But for fan designs in general, only the artist gets to decide what to create and how close to "canon" he/she is going to stick. The audience will tend to either like or dislike the results - that's their choice.
(I don't know HOW many times I've seen something, and said to myself, "self, sure, that ship just doesn't look like a Star Trek ship, but hot damn, that's a cool design!")
I'm never going to allow myself to become canon fodder. My only criteria for designing an Enterprise, specifically, is that she must "look like an Enterprise" (whatever THAT means!) No one is going to dictate to me that it must take into account fan artist Bob's "Coco-Puffs Class" starship or be named "XYZ" to show "deferential respect" for whatever supposedly needs deferential respect. "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations" and all that, don'tcha know...
there is such an option: abstain.
Yeah, you hit it right on the nose. I want some sort of continuity, even in fanon, so I feel compelled to say something if an artist is going to use a name that has already been used by another design that has my respect. But if an artist chooses to keep a class name, then I will respect that decision, because I feel that is the right of the artist.
Since I chose not to participate in the Cryptic/CBS contest, I didn't read the details too closely.
However, I can say with absolute certainty that the Simon&Schuster "Titan" contest only ceded ownership of the WINNER's work, not of all the other participants. I'm 100% certain of that, and my conversation with Marco confirmed it from their standpoint as well.
As far as Cryptic and CBS are concerned... well, there are lots of "you submit it, we own it, we don't have to pay you for it" so-called "contracts" out there, and I'm not surprised that this is a common clause to be included in these "rules" but since this doesn't constitute a contract, I doubt very much that any jury would ever rule in favor of the company who is claiming ownership without compensation.
That would be like you submitting your portfolio to a potential employer, and that potential employer claiming that they have the right to use the materials in your portfolio for commercial gain. They might CLAIM that, but nobody in their right mind would ever actually agree with it, least of all a jury.
That's the thing, 9 times out of 10, by the time you get to point out the "conflict", the artist has already cemented the name in question with his design. In fact, in some cases, it may be an attempt to "rescue" a name from an obscure design that no one ever took a shine to.
This makes me miss Marco and how he ran the "Titan" contest. (Has anyone heard from him recently, by the way?)
What happened here is simple... by permitting a "fan vote" in the first place, this became a threat to the egos of those folks at CBS who were making the final call. "How dare they tell us how we're supposed to vote... WE are in charge!"
It's not even "politics," it's pure egotism.
I'm perfectly fine with Adam's design. That's not the complaint. What IS the complaint is the clear "slap in the face" directed towards Fuzzy by the CBS suits, merely because they resented being "told what to do" by the customers.
This is basically the main reason that George Lucas continues to refuse to release the "original theatrical" version of Star Wars, as well. He's committed his ego to his "updated versions", and the more the public says that they want something else, the more recalcitrant he becomes. It matters not one bit to him that he's actually throwing away money in the process... or that he's angering a sizeable portion of his fan base. It's all about ego. (Oh, and about denying his now-ex-wife any profit... she'd get money from the original version but is denied anything from the "revised versions.)
Egotism has no place in this area, but that doesn't change the reality of the situation... egotism is the dominant element in the entertainment industry, and always has been. (sigh)
That's terrible. You know she was his editor? She kept him grounded, as she was the only one who could tell him when he had a bad idea. Now, all his ideas are good
Not that I have a clue what to do with 3D software but I would suggest giving this ship its own class and its own name, not Ent F, its got character enough on its own!
I don't think she was his only grounding influence, as Empire Strikes Back and Jedi both avoided most of the problems that plague the prequels. Okay...so maybe the Ewoks were an omen. But still...Lucas' major problem is his writing and casting choices. His creative vision and business acumen are undeniable. It's the damn screenwriting he should stay away from.
It's just sad that the only way you can really watch the untouched versions of the original trilogy is to get a Laserdisc player and the 1993 Definitive Collection...and pray to God it works.
But back on topic, I think Cary L. Brown's hit it right on the head. Despite Cryptic's best intentions, CBS clearly never intended to let this decision fall to the fans in any way, shape, or form. And to be fair, there was enough fine print sitting in the rules that we should have expected that.
Yep, They own the design, but part of it that I liked was that they needed to give design credit whenever posting it (That was part of the Agreement laid out in the rules). So My name is still all over it(I may not own the design, but My name will always be hooked to it), even though cryptic hasn't put my name any where near it when they put it into the game.
Congratulations to the winner! This was a really fun contest; playing Federation Starship designer—wow, groovy!
This one was mine: http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/128/4/d/enterprise_f_design_by_rinaldi_pin_up-d3fvhuk.jpg
Influenced I think by my appreciation of Chris Foss and Ron Cobb... I wanted to make an aggressive looking ship but still retain some grace and also some influences from other alien races in the Federation.
There were tons of awesome designs entered, but I think my favorite is Vektor's- WOW! When I saw it for the first time I was floored… just FANTASTIC!
Thought someone would like to see some of the stuff I did before I submitted to cryptic.
As I look at it I really didnt know where to go with the nacelles so they all look generic.
This was an early version, was a little stubby looking
and for giggles some stuff I did back in '99
Loving that side view - but just to make sure, is the saucer a perfect circle/oval, or does it flare out where those struts are so they remain straight on with the forward view?
Separate names with a comma.


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Posted on: December 13th, 2011
See more from Featured, Ice Skating
Tags: Cape Town, Ice stars, Imperial Ice Stars, Nutcracker on Ice, Pieter Toerien
Thought I would share some of the images I took of the Imperial Ice Stars at the final dress rehearsal of "Nutcracker on Ice" which is on at the Teatro, Montecasino now and moves to Artscape early next year.
Sjoe. I can see why this was a difficult shoot!
But I think you did an outstanding job =)
I knew it was not going to be easy but it was more difficult than I expected. By the end of the 2nd run I felt as if I sort of knew what I was doing. Good learning experience for me and also to learn what my new camera is capable of.
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L. Stefan LOHMANDER,MD, PhD
Department of Orthopedics Clinical Sciences Lund
Lund University, SWEDEN
Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology
University of Southern Denmark
Knee replacement for osteoarthritis: facts, hopes, and fears
Sweden and Denmark
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is responsible for a huge burden of pain, functional limitations, and loss of quality-adjusted life expectancy. OA of the knee accounts for more than 90% of total knee replacements (TKR). By 2030, the incidence of TKR in the US is expected to increase by more than 6-fold. Pain and difficulty walking limiting participation in daily activities are the primary reasons for undergoing TKR. However, among patients with disabling OA, only a minority are willing to consider TKR. Reduced willingness to undergo TKR is associated with increasing age, being black (in the US), overestimation of the pain and disability needed to warrant TKR, and rejection of the medicalization of OA. The perception of the benefits of TKR is less positive among women and those of lower socioeconomic status. TKR is one of the most cost-effective medical interventions. Data from joint registries show that the 10-year reoperation rate for TKR is less than 5%. However, between 10% and 30% of patients undergoing TKR report little or no improvement following surgery, or are not satisfied. Patients' expectations of joint replacement are relief of pain and improved mobility. Following TKR, the expectations regarding pain relief, walking ability, and the ability to perform daily activities are fulfilled to a greater extent than the expectations of being able to perform more physically demanding activities. To ensure optimal patient satisfaction, health professionals should provide sufficient information so that patients have realistic expectations of the results of TKR.
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and accounts for a huge burden of pain, functional limitations, loss of productivity, disability, and loss of quality-adjusted life expectancy.1,2 Any estimate of the burden of OA is strongly dependent on the criteria used, and the population and age group studied. The most recent estimates of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 reported that OA of the knee and hip is now ranked as the 11th leading cause of years lived with disability (YLD [prevalence of a condition multiplied by the disability weight associated with that condition]), up from the 15th position in 1990. There was an estimated 64%increase in the global burden of OA-related YLD between the years 1990 and 2010. OA of the knee is responsible for four-fifths of the OA-related YLDs of the lower extremities. In the US, it is estimated that the direct and indirect costs of OA exceed US $100 billion per year.3-5 Excess mortality is observed in patients with OA and this is related to increasing functional impairment in those patients.6 OA most commonly affects the knees, hips, and hands, but may affect other joints as well, such as the shoulders, elbows, ankles, feet, and spine. The prevalence rises steeply between the ages of 50 and 60 for both women and men, so that the majority of patients with symptomatic OA are aged between 60 and 80 years. However, OA also occurs in younger and middle-aged patients. In fact, effective treatment of OA represents a particularly difficult challenge in patients aged between 30 and 60 years.
OA of the knee represents a major share of the OA disease burden, and OA is by far the most common reason for total knee replacement (TKR), usually accounting for more than 90% of knee replacement procedures. The incidence of TKR for OA is rising steeply, and should continue to rise dramatically, with a more than 6-fold increase expected by 2030 in the US.7 The following discussion will focus on knee replacements for OA, but will also, where appropriate, use evidence gathered from the study of hip replacement for OA.
Risk factors for knee OA
OA of the knee shares the same general risk factors as OA of the other joints in that each patient and each joint carries its own mix of genetic and environmental factors responsible for the development of OA. For the knee, individual genetic variability is thought to account for about 40% of the risk, with environmental factors accounting for the remaining 60%. Genetic variability may, for example, be expressed as individual differences in the quality of the cartilage matrix, reactivity of inflammation pathways, growth and repair pathways, and joint shape. Environmental risks are mostly biomechanical, affecting the dynamic loading of the joints and increasing stress on joint tissues. This in turn will result in the activation of inflammation and tissue degradation. Leading examples of such environmental "joint stressors" are overweight and obesity, joint injury, and occupational overload. Genetically determined variations in joint shape may also influence the risk of OA by increasing joint stress.
Epidemiology of knee OA
As already stated, the disease burden of OA is enormous. It is the most common form of progressive joint disease, and affects 50 million adults in the US and Europe,1,8 with OA of the knee representing a major share of this burden. In the US, knee OA accounts for more than 10 million quality-adjusted years of life lost, and almost 1 million hospital admissions per year.2,9,10 Although knee OA is usually perceived as a disease of the elderly, the mean age at diagnosis is actually 56 years.11 The prevalence of knee OA is rising due to the aging of the population and increasing rates of joint injury and, most importantly, obesity.
Figure 1. A stepwise approach to the management of osteoarthritic
Management options for knee OA
A wide range of treatments are used for knee OA, including nonpharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical approaches.12-14 OA management strategies are determined by disease severity, patient preferences, local resources, and established treatment modalities.
A stepwise approach to the management of osteoarthritis is widely recommended, starting with patient empowerment and self-management, and, if these simple approaches are unsuccessful, the addition of specific medical or surgical interventions (Figure 1). With the exception of knee replacement, the effect size for most therapeutic interventions in knee OA is only small to moderate.
Basic management of osteoarthritis includes education, exercise, and weight loss (for overweight people), which can be complemented as needed by simple analgesics, and, for hand and knee joints, topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Additional studies are needed to tailor the different programs to different patients. Common sense suggests that a combination of treatments benefits most patients.
Oral NSAIDs and paracetamol (acetaminophen) are often used by patients with OA. However, gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular side effects are of particular concern with NSAIDs, since many patients with OA are elderly and have comorbidities, and thus are at increased risk of some or all of these side effects. These concerns add complexity to the task of pre- scribing pain relievers for patients with OA. The utility of opioids for OA is limited by their side effects. Corticosteroid injections are frequently used, but their benefit is short-lived (1 to 4 weeks). In addition to these treatments, patients with knee OA use a wide range of alternative therapies.
The surgical management of knee OA commonly includes arthroscopic surgery of the knee upon suspicion of a meniscus tear or cartilage derangement amenable to surgical treat treatment. However, high-quality trials comparing arthroscopic surgical debridement (including meniscus resection) with sham surgery, medical care as usual, or exercise programs found no difference between the groups compared,15-18 thereby showing that arthroscopic surgery is of no added benefit for these patients. Over the age of 35, meniscus lesions are often part of the early stages of the osteoarthritic process, and the diagnosis of a meniscus tear by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the osteoarthritic knee does not correlate with the presence of symptoms.19
Valgus osteotomy of the tibia can provide long-lasting pain relief and functional improvement in physically active patients of less than 60 years of age in whom OA is mainly limited to the medial knee compartment. If and when needed, the osteotomy can later be converted to a knee replacement. In a large national Swedish series of about 3000 patients who had undergone tibial osteotomy for knee OA at a mean age of 52 years, the 10-year "conversion rate" to TKR was 30%.20 This suggests that osteotomy should remain a viable option for patients in this group, thereby delaying or obviating the need for knee replacement by more than 10 years in most cases.
Figure 2. (A) Annual number of knee replacements in Sweden for osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and posttraumatic osteoarthritis
between the years 1975 and 2010. (B) Annual incidence of knee replacements (all replacements) for men and women.
Practice variations in the use of knee replacement and future projections for TKR use
Joint replacement for OA of the knee may be the only intervention with a large effect size, but it is only appropriate for patients with advanced disease or substantial symptoms that do not respond to other treatments. This group is but a minority of all those with knee OA, but still represents a very substantial number of patients. Rates of TKR are increasing worldwide, and in 2010, more than 600 000 procedures were carried out in the US alone, with rates tripling over the last decade in those aged between 45 and 64.9,21 At over $20 000 per procedure, the annual cost of TKR in the US now exceeds $13 billion.5,22,23
National knee replacement registry data from the Scandinavian countries, UK, and Australia also confirm the continuous and rapid increase in the incidence of knee replacement for OA. For example, results from the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register show that the annual rate of primary TKR for OA in Sweden doubled between 2000 and 2010 (Figure 2), while the annual rate of TKR in those younger than 55 increased 5-fold.24,25 The dramatic increase seen in younger patients may in part reflect a change in surgical practice from the use of osteotomy and unicompartmental knee replacement to TKR in younger patients.25
The mean age for TKR has changed over time, and in Sweden it now shows a decreasing trend, being about 69 years for both women and men (Figure 3, page 184).24 Reflecting the current routine widespread use of TKR as a procedure to treat severe knee OA, 1 in 14 elderly women in Sweden has now had a TKR.24 Similarly, nearly 1 in 20 Americans over 50 years of age have had knee replacement surgery, which represents more than 4 million people.9,21
Figure 3. (A) Temporal shifts in the mean age at primary total knee replacement surgery for women and men in Sweden between 1975
and 2010. (B) Comparison of the 2000 and 2010 prevalence rates of knee replacement according to age for women and men in Sweden.
Direct comparisons of the rates of TKR for OA between different countries are hindered by the limited availability of high quality specific data for OA procedures, as well as by differences in population structure. The 2007-2009 estimated rates of primary TKR for all diagnoses per 100 000 people varied between 9 for Romania and 213 for the USA.26 Even between countries with seemingly similar socioeconomic conditions, national health care systems, and population structures, the TKR rates per 100 000 varied greatly, ranging from 188 for Germany, 178 for Finland, 112 for Sweden, to 98 for France.26 The reasons for these wide variations in usage are not clear, but are likely to be due to differences on both the "supply side" (health care services) and the "demand side" (patients).
Time-related trends in TKR use
The projections for future TKR rates have regularly been outdone by reality. In the US, the demand for primary TKR was, in 2005, expected to grow by more than 600%, to reach 3.48 million procedures by 2030.27 The growth of total knee revision surgeries was projected to be proportional, with the demand for revision procedures expected to double between 2005 and 2015. If these predictions hold true, both health care infrastructures and the training of orthopedic surgeons will need to expand accordingly. The dramatic increase in TKR rates inevitably leads to questions about financial feasibility in the future: who will pay? So what are the possible reasons for the steeply increasing demand for TKR seen over the last decade? The reasons for this increase are most certainly multifactorial. Population growth, the increasing number of elderly people, and the increase in average body mass index (BMI) are, no doubt, important factors.
The increase in the age-standardized prevalence of knee OA (for which there is limited evidence) may be driven by the now global epidemic of overweight and obesity (for which there is strong evidence), and by an increase in joint injury rates. These two "environmental" risk factors may together be responsible for up to 50% of knee OA cases in some societies.21 The importance of overweight and obesity in the risk of severe knee OA leading to TKR was investigated in a prospective population-based cohort study (Figure 4); a mean BMI of 30 was associated with an 8-fold increase in TKR risk when compared with a "normal" BMI of about 22.28 Even an increase in BMI from 21-22 to 24-25 (ie, within a BMI range that is considered normal) was associated with a 3-fold risk increase in the rate of TKR for OA. In fact, in this large population-based study, very few TKR procedures were carried out on patients in the lowest BMI quartile (Figure 4). In the US, the major impact of obesity on the risk of knee OA and TKR can also be illustrated by estimating the number of TKRs averted by "reversing" the prevalence of obesity to the levels of 10 years ago. This would correspond to a mean BMI reduction of 0.6 or a reduction in body weight of less than 2 kg for a person of average height. This means that more than 100 000 TKRs would be averted over the remaining life span of this population.2
Population growth, aging, and an increase in BMI all seem to result in an increase in the demand for TKR, even if these factors do not fully explain the recent steep increase in demand.21 However, increased availability on the "supply side" is a further important and possible reason for the increase in the incidence of TKR surgery, as total joint replacements have changed from the early days of being "boutique" procedures to now being a generally available "commodity" in many settings.29,30
Figure 4. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of population fraction
without total knee replacement (TKR) or osteotomy for knee osteoarthritis.
TKR or osteotomy for knee osteoarthritis. Individual survival plots show body
mass index (BMI) quartiles (population, n=11026 [men] + 16934 [women]), with
a statistically significant difference between each of the four survival curves.
Each BMI quartile consisted of 2756 men and 4233 women on average. The
median BMI values of the population quartiles were 22.5/21.1 (men/women)
(green), 25.0/23.6 (gray), 27.0/26.0 (blue), and 30.1/30.1 (red), respectively, for
BMI quartiles 1 to 4.
Modified from reference 28 with permission: Lohmander et al. Ann Rheum
Dis. 2009;68:490-496. © 2008, BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & European League
Against Rheumatism.
What determines patient demand for TKR?
Pain and difficulty walking limiting mobility and participation in normal daily activities are the primary reasons for undergoing TKR for OA. However, several studies have indicated that among patients with a marked need for joint replacement, ie, those with disabling OA, only a minority (around one-third) were willing to consider joint replacement as a treatment option.31-33 Patients' willingness to undergo total joint replacement is, therefore, a critical predictor in determining the demand for this procedure.34,35
Reduced willingness to consider joint replacement was shown to be associated with increasing age, being black rather than white (in the US), overestimation of the levels of pain and disability needed to warrant joint replacement, and rejection of the medicalization of OA—ie, considering OA as a natural and inevitable part of aging.34,35 The perception of the benefits of joint replacement for OA was shown to be less positive among women than men, and among those of lower socioeconomic status.36 Although blacks suffer from more severe OA than whites in the US, they are less likely to consider surgery as a solution to their problem, and this is associated with less positive beliefs about the benefits of surgical procedures.37 A person's knowledge and beliefs regarding TKR appears to be largely shaped by his or her interactions with family and friends. The differences summarized here may at least in part explain the inequities observed in joint disease care.38,39
Given the low proportion of patients with OA in whom TKR is indicated who are actually willing to undergo the procedure, changes in willingness to undergo TKR seem to be an important contributing factor in driving the recent increase in the incidence of TKR, and also in driving a future increase in the demand for TKR. Increased expectations regarding the maintenance of an active lifestyle into older age may influence willingness, as may direct-to-consumer advertising, which is now common in many countries. Studies investigating temporal changes and changes in willingness to undergo TKR in different settings would be of considerable interest.
Indications for TKR as perceived by health professionals and patients
Several attempts have been made to develop consensus criteria for TKR indications. As in all such efforts, the composition of the group and the method used to form the consensus determine the result. Well-known examples of such criteria are those developed in New Zealand and Canada.40,41 Components of these scores include pain, functional impairment, problems in care giving, and radiographic severity. However, attempts to determine cut-off points leading to an "appropriate" indication for TKR by correlating preoperative patient reported symptoms with recommendations for placement on a TKR waiting list have not been successful.42 This suggests that these more easily measured components explain only a minor proportion of the decisions to place patients on waiting lists for surgery.
Most TKR criteria have been dominated by the views of health professionals, often orthopedic surgeons. The views of patients on the appropriateness of TKR have been explored to some extent, and suggest that they do not always agree with the views of health professionals. The concept of the "capacity to benefit" from TKR suggests that the benefits should outweigh any likely risks or unintended consequences by a considerable margin for TKR to be indicated.43,44
Effectiveness of knee replacement: what determines outcome and patient satisfaction after TKR for OA?
It has been said that total joint replacement "doesn't bring years to life, but brings life to years." This is true in the sense that patient-reported outcomes of joint replacement are on average "good to excellent," and it is particularly pertinent in comparison with most nonsurgical treatments for severe OA. The Scandinavian national joint registries have for many years reported on the continuous improvement of outcomes over time as a result of improved surgical, anesthesiological, and care procedures and materials.45 In Sweden, the 10-year revision (reoperation) rate is now estimated to be less than 5% for patients operated with TKR for OA at the beginning of this century.24 This means that for more than 95 out of 100 patients undergoing TKR for OA, the patient will be survived by the implant. Reoperation rates from other countries have generally been somewhat higher, perhaps because of the choice of implants, surgical techniques, and other factors.26 However, it is well-known that the risk of reoperation is considerably higher for younger patients operated with TKR, than for older patients.24 Higher revision rates for younger patients operated with TKR are expected in light of the changing demographics of TKR surgery, with rapidly increasing numbers of younger patients undergoing joint replacement.46 The Swedish national registry reports no difference in revision rates between men and women operated with TKR for OA in the 2000s.24
When considering these excellent results, it should be noted that they represent reoperation rates, not patient-reported outcomes. In fact, between 10% and 30% of patients undergoing joint replacement report little or no improvement following surgery, or are not satisfied with the outcome.47-50
Factors associated with a less than optimal patient-reported outcome of TKR at 6 months include worse preoperative pain and function, increased anxiety/depression, and living in poorer areas.51 Multiple joint involvement negatively influences the outcome after TKR,52 while severe obesity results in slower recovery after surgery, but with no difference at 3 years.53 It should be noted that the determinants of pain or function following TKR may not be the same in all studies.51,54 The most important expectations of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery are pain relief and improved mobility. It appears that at 5 years following TKR, patients' expectations of pain relief, walking ability, and ability to perform the activities of daily living are fulfilled to a greater extent than their expectations of being able to perform more physically demanding activities.50 For example, 41% of patients expected to be able to perform activities such as golfing and dancing following TKR, while only 14% were in fact able to perform these activities 5 years after undergoing TKR. To ensure optimal patient satisfaction, it is important that health care professionals provide adequate information before surgery so that patients have realistic expectations of the results of TKR.
The expectations, results, and patient satisfaction with TKR surgery for OA summarized above reflect the current "case mix" of patients with regard to disease severity, expectations of outcome, age, and active life expectancy. TKR stands out as one of the most effective and cost-effective medical interventions. However, whether this outstanding record will be upheld or not given the changing demographics of patients undergoing this type of procedure, with those aged between 45 and 64 years being the most rapidly increasing group, remains to be seen. Innovations and new implant designs have at times been introduced before evidence of their efficacy and safety could be established. Improved regulatory and clinical processes for the introduction of new devices are badly needed.
Another pressing question is that of health economics. The projected dramatic increase in TKR use, if it becomes a reality, will demand increased orthopedic and hospital resources, among others, and this will result in sharply increased costs for patients and society. _
1. Vos T, Flaxman AD, Naghavi M, et al. Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet. 2012;380:2163-2196.
2. Losina E, Walensky RP, Reichmann WM, et al. Impact of obesity and knee osteoarthritis on morbidity and mortality in older Americans. Ann Intern Med. 2011; 154:217-226.
3. Berger A, Hartrick C, Edelsberg J, Sadosky A, Oster G. Direct and indirect economic costs among private-sector employees with osteoarthritis. J Occup Environ Med. 2011;53:1228-1235.
4. Yelin E, Murphy L, Cisternas MG, Foreman AJ, Pasta DJ, Helmick CG. Medical care expenditures and earnings losses among persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003, and comparisons with 1997. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:1397-1407.
5. Losina E, Walensky RP, Kessler CL, et al. Cost-effectiveness of total knee arthroplasty in the United States: patient risk and hospital volume. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:1113-1121.
6. Nüesch E, Dieppe P, Reichenbach S, Williams S, Iff S, Jüni P. All cause and disease specific mortality in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis: population based cohort study. BMJ. 2011;342:d1165.
7. Kurtz SM, Ong KL, Lau E, Manley MT. Current and projected utilization of total joint replacements. Compr Biomater. 2011;6:1-9.
8. Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part II. Arthritis Rheum. 2008;58:26-35.
9. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). 2009. http://hcupnet.ahrq. gov/. Accessed October 22, 2012.
10. Kotlarz H, Gunnarsson CL, Fang H, Rizzo JA. Insurer and out-of-pocket costs of osteoarthritis in the US: evidence from national survey data. Arthritis Rheum. 2009;60:3546-3553.
11. Burbine SA, Weinstein AM, Reichmann WM, et al. Projecting the future public health impact of the trend toward earlier onset of knee osteoarthritis in the past 20 years. Oral presentation at: American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting; November 5-9, 2011. Chicago, IL. Abstract 2510.
12. Zhang W, Moskowitz RW, Nuki G, et al. OARSI recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, Part II: OARSI evidence-based, expert consensus guidelines. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008;16:137-162.
13. Zhang W, Nuki G, Moskowitz RW, et al. OARSI recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: part III: Changes in evidence following systematic cumulative update of research published through January 2009. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2010;18:476-499.
14. Hochberg MC, Altman RD, April KT, et al. American College of Rheumatology 2012 recommendations for the use of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies in osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Care Res. 2012; 64:465-474.
15. Moseley JB, O'Malley K, Petersen NJ, et al. A controlled trial of arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:81-88.
16. Kirkley A, Birmingham TB, Litchfield RB, et al. A randomized trial of arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1097-1107.
17. Herrlin S, Hållander M,Wange P,Weidenhielm L,Werner S. Arthroscopic or conservative treatment of degenerative medial meniscal tears: a prospective randomised trial. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007;15:393-401.
18. Herrlin SV, Wange PO, Lapidus G, Hållander M, Werner S, Weidenhielm L. Is arthroscopic surgery beneficial in treating non-traumatic, degenerative medial meniscal tears? A five year follow-up. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013;21:358-364.
19. Englund M, Guermazi A, Gale D, et al. Incidental Meniscal Findings on Knee MRI in Middle-Aged and Elderly Persons. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1108-1115.
20. W-Dahl A, Robertsson O, Lohmander LS. High tibial osteotomy in Sweden 1998-2007. A population-based study of the use and rate of revision to knee arthroplasty. Acta Orthop. 2012;83:244-248.
21. Losina E, Thornhill TS, Rome BN, Wright J, Katz JN. The dramatic increase in total knee replacement utilization rates in the United States cannot be fully explained by growth in population size and the obesity epidemic. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94:201-207.
22. Medicare Fee Schedules. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 2010. http://www.cms.gov/home/medicare.asp. Accessed October 22, 2012.
23. Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 2010. http://www.cms.gov/MedicareFeeforSvcPartsAB/ 03_MEDPAR.asp. Accessed October 22, 2012.
24. Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register. Annual report 2011. http://www.knee. nko.se/english/online/thePages/publication.php. Accessed October 22, 2012.
25. W-Dahl A, Robertsson O, Lidgren L. Surgery for knee osteoarthritis in younger patients. A Swedish Register Study. Acta Orthopaedica. 2010; 81:161-164.
26. Kurtz SM, Ong KL, Lau E, et al. International survey of primary and revision total knee replacement. Int Orthop. 2011;35:1783-1789.
27. Kurtz S, Ong K, Lau E, Mowat F, Halpern M. Projections of primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty in the United States from 2005 to 2030. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89:780-785.
28. Lohmander LS, Gerhardsson M, Rollof J, Nilsson PM, Engström G. Incidence of severe knee and hip osteoarthritis in relation to different measures of body mass. A population-based prospective cohort study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2009; 68:490-496.
29. Katz JN, Martin TL. Clinical Pathways and the commodification of total joint replacement. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2012;20:1057-1058.
30. Gooch K, Marshall DA, Faris PD, et al. Comparative effectiveness of alternative clinical pathways for primary hip and knee joint replacement patients: a pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2012;20:1086- 1094.
31. Frankel S, Eachus J, Pearson N, et al. Population requirement for primary hipreplacement surgery: a cross-sectional study. Lancet. 1999;353:1304-1309.
32. Hawker GA, Wright JG, Coyte PC, Williams JI, Harvey B, Glazier R, Wilkins A, Badley EM. Determining the need for hip and knee arthroplasty: the role of clinical severity and patients' preferences. Medical Care. 2001;39:206-216.
33. Hawker GA, Wright JG, Badley EM, Coyte PC, for the Toronto arthroplasty health services research consortium. Perceptions of, and willingness to consider, total joint arthroplasty in a population-based cohort of individuals with disabling hip and knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 2004;51:635-641.
34. Hawker GA, Guan J, Croxford R, Coyte PC, Glazier RH, Harvey BJ, Wright JG, Williams JI, Badley EM. A prospective population-based study of the predictors of undergoing total joint arthroplasty. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:3212-3220.
35. Frankel L, Sanmartin C, Conner-Spady B, et al. Osteoarthritis patients' perceptions of "appropriateness" for total joint replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2012;20:967-973.
36. Ibrahim SA, Siminoff LA, Burant CJ, Kwoh CK. Differences in expectations of outcome mediate African American/white patient differences in 'willingness' to consider joint replacement. Arthritis Rheum. 2002;46:2429-2435.
37. Suarez-Almazor ME, Souchek J, Kelly PA, O'Malley K, Byrne M, Richardson M, Pak C. Ethnic variation in knee replacement: patient preferences or uninformed disparity? Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1117-1124.
38. Jüni P, Lowy N, Reichenbach S, Villiger PM, Williams S, Dieppe PA. Gender inequity in the provision of care for hip disease: population-based cross-sectional study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2010;18:640-645.
39. Mujica-Mota RE, Tarricone R, Ciani O, Bridges JFP, Drummond M. Determinants for total hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic literature review. BMC Health Services Res. 2012;12:225.
40. Hadorn DC, Holmes AC. The New Zealand priority criteria project. Part 1: Overview. BMJ. 1997;314:131-134.
41. Naylor CD, Williams JI. Primary hip and knee replacement surgery: Ontario criteria for case selection and surgical priority. Qual Health Care. 1996;5:20-30.
42. Gossec L, Paternotte S, Maillefert JF, et al; OARSI-OMERACT task force total "articular replacement as outcome measure in OA". The role of pain and functional impairment in the decision to perform total joint replacement in hip and knee osteoarthritis: an international cross-sectional study of 1909 patients. Report of the OARSI-OMERACT Task Force on total joint replacement. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011;19:147-154.
43. Petrou S, Wolstenholme J. A review of alternative approaches to healthcare resource allocation. Pharmacoeconomics. 2000;18:33-43.
44. Dieppe P, Lim K, Lohmander S. Who should have knee joint replacement surgery for osteoarthritis? Int J Rheum Dis. 2011;14:175-180.
45. Swedish Knee Arthoplasty Register. http://www.knee.nko.se/english/online/ thePages/publication.php. Accessed October 22, 2012.
46. Ravi B, Croxford R, ReichmannWM, Losina E, Katz JN, Hawker GA. The changing demographics of total joint arthroplasty recipients in the United States and Ontario from 2001 to 2007. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2012;26:637-647.
47. Dickstein R, Heffes Y, Shabtai EI, Markowitz E. Total knee arthroplasty in the elderly: patients' self-appraisal 6 and 12months postoperatively. Gerontology. 1998; 44:204-210.
48. Jones CA, Voaklander DC, Johnston DW, Suarez-Almazor ME. Health related quality of life outcomes after total hip and knee arthroplasties in a community based population. J Rheumatol. 2000;27:1745-1752.
49. Nilsdotter AK, Petersson IF, Roos EM, Lohmander LS. Predictors of patient-relevant outcome after total hip replacement for osteoarthritis—a prospective study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2003;62:923-930.
50. Nilsdotter AK, Toksvig-Larsen S, Roos EM. Knee arthroplasty: are patients' expectations fulfilled? A prospective study of pain and function in 102 patients with 5-year follow-up. Acta Orthopaedica. 2009;80:55-61.
51. Judge A, Arden NK, Cooper C, et al. Predictors of outcomes of total knee replacement surgery. Rheumatology. 2012;51:1804-1813.
52. Perrucio AV, Power JD, Evans MK, et al. Multiple joint involvement in total knee replacement for osteoarthritis: effects on patient-reported outcomes. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012;64:838-846.
53. Jones CA, Cox V, Jhangri GS, Suarez-Almazor ME. Delineating the impact of obesity and its relationship on recovery after total joint arthroplasties. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2012;20:511-518.
54. Dowsey MM, Nikpour M, Dieppe P, Choong PF. Associations between preoperative radiographic changes and outcomes after total knee joint replacement for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2012;20:1095-1102.
Keywords: indication; osteoarthritis; total joint replacement; willingness


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A good recipe post should be tested out for replicability.
This post is not one of those. The recipe here is not a traditional one. I conjured it. Measured and left some spices at home. Gave instructions over phone to our cook, the famous Bunkin Banu, when she came to work. She followed those. I hope. I have not cooked and tested the recipe myself.
The result was quite a tasty dish according to K and me.
So I thought I will share here what I told her as it might give you some ideas on cooking the dish. This post is NOT meant for those who follow recipes to the T.
Both K and I are down with bad throats so the recipe has no chilli but you can add it if you so wish. The dish is best with enjoyed with chapatis or rice. There is a traditional Bengali dish called 'posto murgi' too. I am not sure how that is made.
So here's what I told Banu. We spoke in Hindi but I am writing this in English so that nothing is lost in translation.
Posto Murgi (for 2)
· Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of mustard oil, 1 teaspoon of whole garam masala – cardamom, clove, cinnamon, 2 bayleaves, 1 teaspoon salt, my spice mix - 1 teaspoon each of cumin and coriander powders and half a tea spoon of turmeric, 4 chicken drumsticks (boneless chicken cubes will give it a more alu posto like feel), 50 g of poppy seeds powdered and blended in 4 tablespoons of water
· Heat 2 tablespoons of mustard oil
- · Add a teaspoon of whole garam masala – cardamom, clove, cinnamon (this is where you can add chilies too) & the bay leaves
- · Once this sizzles, add the paste of a whole onion. Cook till brown
- · Add 4 chicken drumsticks. Salt 1 teaspoon. Spice mix (I had left 1 teaspoon each of cumin and coriander powders and half a tea spoon of turmeric for Banu to use).
- · Stir occasional for about 5 minutes
- · Powder 50 g of poppy seeds (posto/ khuskhus). Add 4 tablespoons of water to this and mix
- · Add paste to chicken.
- · Add 1 finely chopped ridge gourd (jhinge) to the pan.
- · Let it cook for about ten minutes (add a bit of water if it sticks to the pan). You can also pressure cook it
- · Basically, make it like an alu posto
The dish is done.
Do let me know if you try it and if it works for you. Banu did a good jo.


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Marigold Flower – Calendula Officinalis
This common and beautiful flower is often called Pot Marigold. The marigold flower has bright yellow or orange daisy-like flowers. The plant may grow to be about 70 cm (2 ft.) tall.
Marigold is very easy to cultivate from seeds.
This is a hardy annual which blooms all summer long.
The Marigold flower is an absolute favorite in many gardens. It is quite decorative.
As an extra benefit the marigold flowers can be used to make tea or used in cooking. Marigold is a useful plant indeed.
Marigold flower – Culinary Uses
Marigold flowers are edible and can be used in cooking either as a fresh herb or as dried herbs. Actually the whole plant is edible, but it is common to only use the marigold flower.
The center part of the flower does not taste very good. Use the marigold pedals. The flower pedals are used in cooking.
Marigold pedals add a pleasing color to dull salads. You can use marigold flowers in rice dishes. Marigold flowers also taste great in egg or cheese dishes.
Many will add marigold flowers when baking bread. Why not try some marigold buns?
Herbal Remedies
Calendula tea has many health benefits.
Drinking calendula tea a week before the next menstruation may very well help reduce the pains, mood swings and discomforts that many women experience monthly.
Calendula tea is often used to assist the healing of swollen lymph glands.
Marigold is antibacterial and will help fight fungus. It is favorable to drink marigold tea to help strengthen the immune system.
Calendula Cream
Marigold is probably one of the best herbs for skin treatment. Calendula cream is a natural herbal skin remedy. It can be used to treat most minor skin problems.
Put calendula cream on cuts and scrapes. This will speed up the healing process.
Calendula (marigold) cream is very good to use on your baby if your baby has diaper rash. This same cream is also great for sore nipples that breast feeding moms often experience.
Calendula cream can also be used on minor burns and sunburn.
If acne is your problem you may want to try treating your skin with marigold cream.
Calendula cream is such a wonderful skin remedy. Calendula or marigold (as we popularly call this herb) is antiseptic and safe to use on all skin types. It should always be within easy reach in all homes.
The Marigold Flower in Folklore
In Ancient Rome they used marigold to make broth. The marigold broth was thought to be a good remedy against depression. Drinking this was supposed to lift their spirits.
During the Middle Ages this flower was called Mary's Gold in honor of the Virgin Mary. This was a time and age when many people were superstitious in Europe.
Tons of different superstitions flourished around the continent about all sorts of things. Marigold was no exception.
It was told that if a maiden wished to get the attention of a young man it would help to keep a marigold flower in her pocket.
Keeping marigold flowers in your pocket if you had to appear in court would influence the judge to treat you kindly.
Fresh marigold flowers in a room would bring positive energy into the home.
If marigold flowers showed up in your dreams it was considered a good omen.
Marigold flowers in the bath water would help the person taking the bath win respect.
In Mexico marigold is often associated with honoring a dearly departed and a symbol of grieving. One legend tells the story that the marigold appeared in the blood covered fields after the Spanish conquers had slaughtered many of the native tribes of the country.


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Gone fishing
We're still excited that you've landed on this page – most probably in order to book a collection?
Sadly we're temporarily closed for business on the collections side as we need to relocate our operational base. Want to come fishing with us? We still need a hand or two on the sorting, deliveries, workshops, events, support and development side! Check out our events calendar, the rest of our website, or contact us. Or continue to read on to get an idea of how booking a collection worked back then.
How to book
- anyone can book a free collection – just use our Collection Request Form
- once the form sends us a notification of your request, please allow 1-2 days for your collection volunteer to contact you to arrange a time suitable for both
- the items should be as clean as possible
- we have enough capacity in our trailer for 12 full small carrier bags or for 6 large carrier bags
- otherwise said, the dimensions of our trailers are 60cm x 32cm x 70cm (W x D x H) and can carry up to 130kg (but who knows how much the collection volunteer can carry?)
- the collection confirmation is subject to you, as a client, having read and agreed upon our little Terms and Conditions
- thank you! 🙂


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Good to see you all again… and time to get busy. First up is the slides I rushed through today… apologies for the speed, and as you'll notice now you have time to go through them in your own time, there are a few questions and points to consider hidden within.
The complete slides are here (less the video clips): Higher Media Intro August
We'll be starting to look at representation tomorrow. This is an essential key concept which means you need to learn about it, recognise it and become comfortable in using the language of representation when analysing the media, and more crucially, when creating your own.
As ever… ask questions if you are unsure! 😉


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Join us on Monday, June 15th for our first online meeting and presentation starting at 7PM. Local landscape architect, professor, writer, and rewilding proponent, Kevin Sloan and his wife, and fellow NPSOT member, Diane Sloan will discuss how and where to return our local environment to a more balanced ecosystem to support not only the human condition, but the natural world.
"Every project, even a modest backyard landscape, can rewild a portion that may be peripheral to human needs, but the rich and diverse array of rewilded plants would be greatly appreciated by the other species we often neglect: butterflies, hummingbirds, honeybees that pollinate our food sources, and other species that enable the recovery and success of the planetary environment." - Kevin Sloan.
Go to the website below to register for the meeting. You will need to create a Zoom account as well.


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"...just the idea of some woman who seems to be completely insignificant who turns out to be extraordinary" ~ Joss Whedon
This is the one and only woman in horror that either of us will be writing about who is fictional.
I am not writing about Sarah Michelle Gellar.
This is not a piece on Joss Whedon. Though, I could literally write volumes hailing Joss for his support and empowering of women by writing them roles that smash previous female stereo types. Perhaps, after Women In Horror month, I shall.
I had to give this one a real hard think. There are so many women that are worthy of being written about in celebration of WiH month and with only 28 days to cover them. I couldn't possibly hope to recognize them all. However, I couldn't deny that Joss Whedon's character, Buffy Summers, had not only a huge affect on me, but has inspired countless others. She is strong and confident and empowered, but she is also human and that makes her vulnerable. It is with great pleasure that I write about the only fictitious woman to make our list who's touched so many lives that she has really taken on a life of her own...
You may have see the movie, you've probably seen the show. While the series was running it brought in a not-too-shabby 4 to 6 million viewers an episode. The film, though cute with moments of gothic comedic cool was far from what this character was meant to be.
"I had written this scary film about an empowered woman, and they turned it into a broad comedy. It was crushing." ~ Joss Whedon
I was a year behind Buffy Summers in high school. If we had both attended Sunnydale High, she'd be one of the cool older kids. I wasn't hooked from the very beginning. I had heard about Buffy and was told it was this great show and Sylvie and I would totally love it, but I was in high school so obviously I knew better than everyone else. One fateful night I was channel surfing and encountering a group of truly terrifying creatures. They silently moved throughout a sleeping town without walking. Rather they sort of hovered over the ground. They were expertly dressed and had these strange frantic little hunched minions that had freed their arms from the straight jackets they wore. All the while, their expressions never changed. They wore painted on grins with some of the greatest prosthetic effects I had ever seen.
Of course, I am speaking about the famous, Emmy award nominated episode, HUSH, and the creatures are none other than the Gentlemen. This episode features 25 solid minutes where no dialogue is spoken. It was incredibly ballsy. Many consider this the greatest episode of the series. Perhaps it was fate or divine intervention that brought us together. I remember watching the whole thing, just blown away. By the end of it, I turned to Sylv and said, "THAT'S Buffy? I gotta watch this."
Buffy was Joss' answer to the Hollywood female stereotype of "the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror movie." Buffy became what monsters and beasties would run and hide from. When they went to bed, they'd check under the bed and inside the closet to make damn sure she wasn't hiding in waiting.
From there on, I went back and started to re-watch episodes. Many, late night on our "Space Channel". The more I saw, the more I felt for this character. Buffy, yes, would fight against vampires, werewolves, demons, and all sorts of nasty creatures that go bump in the night, but it was never a show about monsters. This is what the movie didn't understand. Do we love Spider-man because he kicks ass? In part, absolutely. But it's the man behind the mask that moves us. It's his humanity. His vulnerability. He feels things we feel. And that's what kept people, myself included, watching. Maybe the monsters got people interested enough to take a look, but it's the story of a girl who faced all the challenges of a teen in high school and a young woman taking on more responsibility as she grew older that captivated audiences.
"In the world of Buffy the problems that teenagers face become literal monsters. A mother can take over her daughter's life ("Witch"); a strict stepfather-to-be really is a heartless machine ("Ted"); a young lesbian fears that her nature is demonic ("Goodbye Iowa" and "Family"); a girl who has sex with even the nicest-seeming guy may discover that he afterwards becomes a monster ("Innocence")" ~ Academics Wilcox and Lavery
Buffy faced the same problems we all do. She had to make hard decisions. The series beautifully displayed how making the right choice is rarely the easy or popular path to take. Sometimes it sucks. Sometimes even if you try your hardest and do your best all the time, it might feel like it's never good enough. You feel alone. You feel like shit. You wonder, "why do I even bother?"
But the most important sign of a hero is not how many times you get knocked down, it's how you get back up. No matter what life threw at Buffy, she never stopped. She never gave up. In even the bleakest of situations, she would never quit. Sure, at times, she'd feel overwhelmed and had to take some time to figure out how to keep going. In the series, she died twice, had to raise her younger sister, saved the world countless times, killed the man she loved, cared for her sick mother and ultimately came home one day to discover her dead, had been at one time or another abandoned by everyone she trusted, gave her life to save her sister, been fired, been expelled, been arrested, been beaten, stabbed, and shot, and still she found some way to take the high road.
There was a time that I would describe how I was feeling via Buffy episode titles. Each episode had a feeling and a theme to them and they would always come together at the end of the season. I would say, "oh, I'm The Freshman today" or "I'm so Life Serial". For whatever sadness or challenge life would throw at me, I would find a Buffy episode that made me feel better.
Some episodes that were just incredible... The Body. As I was mentioning, after a period of Buffy's mom being ill, Buffy one day came home to discover her mom had died. It was an amazingly thoughtful episode. The use of sound and silence was masterful. Through the episode, you were placed in Buffy's place as she struggled with thoughts of having failed her mother. She had to pick up her sister from school and tell her that their mom had died.
A girl, "the Slayer", with so much strength and power, found herself as helpless as we all feel in the face of death and loss. We think, "if only I had done this" or "if I had done that", they'd still be here or things might have turned out differently. The episode wasn't flashy. There was still a vampire in it, but it put the focus on human emotion and how each individual dealt with something that we all have to face at some point in our lives. It paid the proper respect to death and loss and I admired that.
Another favorite is the Freshman. It's episode one of season four. In the episode, Buffy has just graduated highschool and is attending her first day of college after the summer. Everything has changed. Her friends have adjusted or left. Her mentor, Giles, is not there for her. Her mother has used her old room as storage. And a vampire kicks her ass and Buffy just runs away for the first time in her life.
In all ways, Buffy feels out of place and not like herself. The past is glorified and the present is a whole lot of suck. The future isn't shaping up to be much better. However, after an encounter with her friend, Xander, she begins to call off the pity party and finds herself again. She kicks some ass and feels like her old self again, her friends even show up to help out... even though it's after the evil has been put down.
Literally, I could never shut up about Buffy. At many times in my life, when I've felt lost, I have actually asked myself, "What would Buffy do?" Usually, I'd throw in a season and take a trip down memory lane. Buffy has become such an entity that even when the show ended, her story continued on. She lives in comics and an upcoming online series. Fans continue to write fan fiction and she's slated to come back to the big screen, regrettably this time without Joss.
Sometimes it is truly shitty to try to be the good guy. Much of the time, even when you are the good guy, you end up being the bad guy. It isn't easy, but honestly, what in this life is? I love Buffy. She makes me feel, even though I'm little, I can do big things. That "I wanna be her" aspect is in full force in her. I'm so grateful for Joss writing not only a plethora of incredible, interesting, strong women, but especially for writing a hero that not only can stand fearless in the face of true evil, but all that crap that life throws at you. She reminds me that we all have that strength and good in us. Even at our lowest moments.
So, my friends, what Buffy episode are you?
Friday, February 25, 2011
Buffy: The Vampire Slayer
posted by Jen/Sylv Soska at 12:00:00 PM
5 comments:
- AnonymousApril 26, 2011 at 7:15 PM
Ha Ha...no one cares what you think.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 28, 2011 at 2:07 PM
My favorite episode is the musical.I love it and have watched it many,many times!!!!My man even knows all the songs and he doesn't like Buffy much! Hush is also an excellent one as is the final episode of season 2 when Buffy has to kill Angel. I loved Angel but I also really liked the chemistry Sarah Michelle Gellor and James Marsters had.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 28, 2011 at 2:41 PM
Bargaining (Part 1)Bargaining (Part 2)"my favoritesReplyDelete
Well said! I'm not sure how I got here but wow... you sound like me.ReplyDelete
sarah idole.ReplyDelete
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Christmas Hostess Gifts
Never show up empty-handed—shop holiday hostess gifts that are perfect for all your upcoming gatherings.
Never show up empty-handed—shop holiday hostess gifts that are perfect for all your upcoming gatherings.
This year, stock up on Thanksgiving hostess gifts and Christmas hostess gifts before the celebrations begin. That way you'll be set to attend every event, from simple brunches to elegant galas, with the perfect gourmet hostess gift in hand. It's important to express your gratitude for those who host holiday get-togethers.
Hosting a successful holiday party is no small task. Imagine all the planning and effort it takes to set a table for a large gathering. Show your appreciation to your host or hostess with a delicious gourmet hostess gift. No matter which gift you choose, they are all guaranteed to impress. Depending on the type of event, a hostess gift can be a small floral arrangement or a lovely presentation of party food, such as an appetizer tray or wine and cheese platter. Have a delightful time shopping our vast assortment of gifts and find the ideal host gift for you.
Many of our Christmas hostess gifts and Thanksgiving hostess gifts include fruit we grow in our own orchards and decadent truffles our chocolatiers crafted in our candy kitchen. We also offer many exceptional artisan meats and cheeses. Turn to Harry & David to stock up on hostess gifts for Thanksgiving and Christmas events today.


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A Duchess, a Scarf and a Dog
The Duchess of Cornwall is a great dog lover. She owns two Jack Russell terriers, Tosca and Rosie.
On 29 January, Camilla visited The Metropolitan Police Dog Training Centre in Keston, London.
There she met Gunnar, a 16-month-old German shepherd. It seems to be friendship at first sight between Gunnar and the high-profile guest. But then the dog wanted to get a royal souvenir and his choice was the smart woollen accessory which Camilla wore around her neck…
Good for the shepherd and his handler that the Duchess clearly found the incident quite amusing. When she left she said that she'd had a fabulous day!
Read more about Camilla's encounter with Gunnar here.Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Animals, The Duchess of Cornwall.


text: My reading was done by Alyssa and I have to say she was so wonderful. First, she got back to me so quickly and I can't thank her enough. I asked a pretty specific question, connected to a number of things going on in my life right now and she was able to focus on one particular area that I hadn't mentioned, but she found when reading my cards. I really can't thank her enough for being so clear about suggested next steps and I also can't say enough about how genuinely compassionate she was with her reading.


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With a scenic location right on the bend of the Minnesota River, Mankato, Minnesota, is the fourth-largest city in the state. Mankato event venues are friendly and affordable in a destination that's fewer than two hours from Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area.
In fact, the Minneapolis International Airport is currently the closest to Mankato, while the Mankato Regional Airport (which is owned by the city and can be rented for events) undergoes a $12-million runway expansion and improvement project that will pave the way for future commercial air services.
When it comes to meeting venues in Mankato, the City Center Convention Campus is the go-to spot for large conventions and exhibitions. Located in the heart of the city, the campus comprises the Verizon Wireless Conference Center and two full-service convention hotels. The Verizon Wireless Center can accommodate groups of all sizes thanks to over 45,000 square feet of flexible banquet/exhibit space. Its facilities include a 600-person banquet hall, conference center with five meeting rooms and 8,300-seat arena. The arena boasts an Olympic-sized ice floor that hosts the Minnesota State University NCAA Maverick men's hockey team and the annual Home and Builders Expo, Wedding Show and Holiday Expo. The center also features a historic reception hall, built in the early 1900s as the First National Bank and now a stunning venue complete with stained glass windows and original bank vaults.
Connected via indoor skyway to the Verizon Wireless Center, the 118-room Hilton Garden Inn has additional meeting rooms, including a boardroom and three small breakout rooms, a 24-hour business center with complimentary printing and free Wi-Fi. Also at the City Center Convention Campus is the 150-room Mankato City Center Hotel. The property has over 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a banquet center for up to 500 guests.It can even accommodate small expositions, thanks to room for 25 eight-foot-by-10-foot booths or 40 vendor tables.
The hotels on the convention campus aren't the only options in Mankato; adjacent to Minnesota State University campus, the AmericInn Hotel & Conference Center has 3,000 square feet of recently renovated meeting space, accommodating up to 200 guests, plus all the business traveler perks: free high-speed Internet, a hot breakfast and complimentary daily newspaper. The Best Western Mankato has several meeting rooms, ranging in capacity from 15 to 150 people. Opening in fall 2012, the Courtyard by Marriott will have over 6,000 square feet of event space.
Mankato is home to a plethora of banquet venues that are perfect for after-hours dinners and cocktail functions. The historic Kato Entertainment Center has a unique, 50s-style look that has made it a popular spot for social events. The Kato has over 20,000 square feet of space, a floating dance floor, permanent stage and expert catering staff that can accommodate groups as large as 1,200 people. Recently remodeled, the Mankato Golf Club has 1,800 square feet of space for private events, including an outdoor deck overlooking the pool area. For a scenic retreat, visit Applewood Restaurant & Banquet Center. Encompassing five acres, the light-filled venue has space for up to 300 people and excellent amenities, such as an outdoor gazebo, full-service bar, new deck, indoor and outdoor dance floors and ample parking.
Photo Credit : Greater Mankato Convention & Visitors Bureau
All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.
Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center
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Approximate taxi fare: $202.27 USD
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Film Fest ReviewDecember 10, 2008
On Saturday night H and I went to the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. (See my pre-fest blog post.) The event lasted a little over three hours and consisted of 9 films ranging from 2 to 33 minutes each.
I plan to make this an annual event because it seems we are very lucky and win the prizes. This year H and I each won a reusable shopping bag that stuffs into a tiny sack. Last year H won an oversized duffel bag.
But the real reason to attend is that these films are so inspirational and motivational, as well as eye-opening. For a taste, check out the People's Choice Award, Oil + Water.


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The UK's largest construction health and safety stand down is giving its backing in 2019 to an industry campaign on the sector's key risks.
For 2019 Stop. Make a Change is aligning itself with the Infrastructure Client Group's Top Risks project. The project aims to address seven of the biggest health, safety and wellbeing risks in the sector. Over the next year the Top Risks project will seek ways to tackle risks associated with:
Commenting, CECA Chief Executive Alasdair Reisner said:
"Stop. Make a Change has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2017 becoming a construction wide initiative for companies of all sizes to participate in. This year's themes, have been driven by the Infrastructure Client Group (ICG), which represents some of the country's largest client organisations. Together industry is working to make sure we address the key health, safety and wellbeing risks that our sector faces. It is imperative that this momentum is maintained if we are to generate real change in how the construction sector operates."
Stop. Make a Change 2019 events will take place from 9 to 13 September. Full details can be found at www.stopmakeachange.co.uk, while companies interested in signing up for 2019 can contact email@example.com .
Some of the UK's largest building companies have signed up to take part in the country's largest construction health & safety stand down.
Wates, McLaren and Seddon are among new faces that will take part in Stop. Make a Change in 2018.
The initiative was launched in 2017 to bring the industry together to improve health and safety performance. In its first year more than 60,000 people took part in stand down events.
Last year Stop. Make a Change focussed solely on the infrastructure sector. However, for 2018 this has expanded out to cover the wider construction sector.
Across two weeks from 16 April, there will be stand downs on sites and in offices across the UK, targeting two priority areas: mental health and plant safety.
As well as big builders, two of the industry's leading charities are also backing to Stop. Make a Change, and will be supporting companies in relation to the mental health priority.
The Lighthouse Club oversees the Construction Industry Helpline and has worked with the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, which manages Stop. Make a Change, to provide thousands of cards and posters that will be distributed to workers. The cards provide details of the helpline, which provides support on mental health & wellbeing, as well as advice on financial, legal, tax and debt management.
Meanwhile construction mental health charity Mates in Mind will provide free 'Manage the Conversation' training courses for managers. The courses will run on 24 April in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle.
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said: "CECA are encouraging everyone that participates in Stop. Make a Change to make sure they have one of our helpline packs. The packs include posters for sites and offices and helpline cards that can be distributed to their workforce so that workers know where to turn to if they need support. Our helpline provides a free of charge, confidential 24/7 helpline safety net for all construction workers and their families in the UK and Ireland".
Steve Hails, chair of Mates in Mind said: "In workplaces across the UK, managers and supervisors are increasingly being approached by workers who are suffering with poor mental health. For many managers, this is a challenging prospect and they may be nervous about how to handle such a conversation. We are proud to support Stop. Make a Change, and to work with CECA to offer training for managers to be more confident in these situations"
Stop. Make a Change has been supported by CITB's Structured Fund as part of Infrastructure 21, a Civil Engineering Contractors Association-led project to help ensure that civils suppliers are primed ready for expected growth in the sector in the coming years.
To get involved, visit, www.stopmakeachange.co.uk, or to book a place on the 'Manage the Conversation' courses email firstname.lastname@example.com. To get your construction industry helpline pack, visit www.constructionindustryhelpline.com/products
Following a successful launch in 2017, the first UK-wide stand-down for the infrastructure sector has plans for growth in 2018.
Last April more than 60,000 workers on more than 1000 sites took part in events to support Stop. Make a Change. The initiative saw sites, offices and production facilities stop work for focussed discussions on four key issues – mental health, fatigue, plant safety and respiratory health.
More than 50 clients, contractors and suppliers took part, with many making specific commitments to drive improved performance in the priority areas.
Following feedback from these companies, it has been agreed to expand Stop. Make a Change in 2018 to cover the whole construction sector rather than solely infrastructure. This is intended to increase the impact and share the best practice that has been developed more widely.
In a change to 2017, Stop. Make a Change events will now take place across a two-week period from 16-28 April, rather than a single day. This is to support organisations who faced challenges in standing down their entire workforce at once.
A vote among those organisations that took part last year has identified plant safety and mental wellbeing as the two key priorities for 2018. The smaller number of priorities will allow organisations to provide more time to focus on these issues in detail during events.
Stop. Make a Change has been supported by CITB's Structured Fund as part of Infrastructure 21, a Civil Engineering Contractors Association-led project to help ensure that civils suppliers are primed ready for expected growth in the sector in the coming years.
Companies from across the wider construction sector are invited to take part in Stop. Make a Change. Full details and joining instructions can be found at www.stopmakeachange.co.uk
60,000 people from across UK infrastructure will join forces today to help drive better health, safety and wellbeing in the sector.
More than 1,000 sites, office and production facilities across the country will today take part in Stop. Make a Change, a cross-industry stand-down to tackle some of the key health & safety challenges faced by the sector. It is thought that this is the largest stand-down event ever undertaken in the UK construction sector.
Since it was launched in November 2016 more than 50 organisations – from the sector's largest customers and contractors to small and specialist SMEs - have signed up to support the initiative. More than 30 are making specific commitments that will be briefed out during today's events.
The commitments relate to four priorities that have been chosen by an industry expert panel - mental health, fatigue, plant safety and respiratory health. Each organisation has chosen commitments that will focus on improving performance within their business, supporting better outcomes for employees in each area.
As well as their own employees, organisations taking part are engaging with their supply chain partners, with more than 3,000 other companies expected to be involved in today's events.
Stop. Make a Change has been supported by CITB's Structured Fund as part of Infrastructure 21, a Civil Engineering Contractors Association-led project to help ensure that civils suppliers are primed ready for expected growth in the sector in the coming years.
CITB chief executive Sarah Beale said: "It's great to see so many employers getting behind this important campaign. While we know that there has been sustained improvements in health and safety in recent years, there is much more to be done.
"Stop. Make a Change signals a new, heightened awareness of health and wellbeing issues among construction firms and their employees across the UK, which CITB is pleased to support."
CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: "When we first started planning Stop. Make a Change we hoped that we might get up to 10 companies and a few thousand employers involved in this first year. The response from industry has been tremendous, with a real desire to use the event as an opportunity to deliver positive change across the sector. We are looking forward to events today, and the health, safety and wellbeing improvements that they will drive".
Organisations involved in Stop. Make a Change will provide feedback on the impact that the commitments that they have made have had upon their business, with best practice shared between all contributing organisations later this year.
Some of the biggest names in the infrastructure sector have thrown their weight behind the first ever UK-wide health & safety stand-down which is due to take place this spring.
Stop. Make a Change. has been developed by some of the industry's leading contractors and customers working with the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). It was launched at CECA's 20th anniversary conference in November last year, with the backing of 18 leading contractors and customers.
Since then a host of further names from the sector have signed up to take part in the initiative including clients Gatwick Airport, Transport Scotland and Scottish Water as well as main contractors including Galliford Try/Morrison Construction, Clancy Docwra, Hochtief and Ferrovial Agroman. It is also backed by a range of SMEs and industry bodies.
Stop. Make a Change. will take place on 18 April with companies involved making commitments relating to four key health, safety and wellbeing topics – Mental health, plant safety, fatigue, and respiratory illness. Each business will decide on their own commitments and will use the event to brief staff and suppliers about them. It is intended that good practice developed through Stop. Make a Change will be shared among supporters through a guide published later this year.
CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: "It is fantastic that there has been such strong support from across the industry for Stop. Make a Change. When industry was developing the idea, it was recognised that we would be able to achieve the greatest impact if it was taken up widely, bringing best practice from clients, contractors and suppliers nationwide.
"We are looking forward to seeing what each organization is doing to drive change on each of the four topics, and are keen to share this as best practice later this year."
CEMEX Health and Safety Director Andy Taylor said: We are delighted to taking part in the Stop. Make a Change. campaign. Health, safety and well-being is our number one priority and we join many other high profile companies in the infrastructure sector who are dedicated to making it their priority on 18 April."
Notes to editors
1. Full details of Stop. Make a Change. can be found on the projects website at www.stopmakeachange.co.uk including a newly published guide to running a stand-down within your organization.
2. New organisations to have signed up for Stop. Make a Change include Amiante STR, CEMEX, Cheetham Hill Construction Ltd, Clancy Docwra, CSCS, Farrans, Ferrovial Agroman, Galliford Try, Gatwick Airport, Hochtief, HZ Inova, Institution of Civil Engineers, M.B.Roche & Sons, McLaughlin & Harvey, Morrison Construction, Raymond Brown Construction Ltd, Scottish Water, and Transport Scotland.
3. They join founding partners BAM Nuttall, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Crossrail, Environment Agency, Heathrow Airport, Highways England, HS2 Ltd, Lagan Construction, Morgan Sindall, Network Rail, Skanska, Tideway & VolkerWessels UK.
Workplaces across the UK will down tools next year as leading lights from UK infrastructure work together to boost health, safety and wellbeing in the sector.
Stop. Make a Change. will see top contractors and customers stand down work on sites and in offices across the country on the morning of 18 April 2017. It is the first time that such a national stand-down event has taken place in the UK.
Each organisation involved will use the stand down to discuss with employees and suppliers how the industry can work together to boost its performance in relation to health, safety and wellbeing. These discussions will be built around four priority areas, which have been developed by an expert panel drawn from across the industry.
The 2017 priorities are:
Involvement in Stop. Make a Change is open to any organisation that works in the UK infrastructure sector, including customers, contractors and suppliers. Companies that are interested in taking part are invited to contact email@example.com to receive full details of how to get involved.
CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: "As an industry we have made tremendous progress in recent years to improve our health, safety and wellbeing. However there remains significant scope to improve. We think Stop. Make a Change will provide a platform for the sector to work together, tackling some of the leading issues faced by our workforce and supply chain"
Nick Fletcher, Morgan Sindall's managing director of Infrastructure said: "We are committed to ensuring that our strategy for health, safety and wellbeing provides continuous improvements for all our employees and other stakeholders – we do this by measuring both the inputs and the outputs of our strategy. It is important to keep things fresh, and using inputs like Stop. Make a Change are invaluable opportunities for us to reflect on our performance and review how we can continue to develop and advance – not just at Morgan Sindall, but across the industry as a whole."
Stop. Make a Change. has been developed by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, with the support of the Construction Industry Training Board through its structured fund.
Organisations that have committed to take part in Stop. Make a Change include:
BAM Nuttall, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Crossrail, Environment Agency, Heathrow Airport, Highways England, HS2 Ltd, Lagan Construction, Morgan Sindall, Network Rail, Skanska, Tideway & VolkerWessels UK.
May 2019


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|Project by builtinbkyn
|posted 04-02-2017 11:59 PM
|1591 views
|3 times favorited
|7 comments
A few months ago I ordered some lumber form an online source – 20bf of curly maple and 10bf of bubinga. Their prices were much better than the local source. Coupled with no sales tax and free shipping, it was a pretty good deal. I'd probably order from them again, but knowing the lead time is important. Free shipping means it takes a while ;)
I didn't have any projects in mind for this lumber when ordering, but I think it will go into a cocktail table for some friends who are getting married in June. However, I did want to see what the bubinga was like to work with so I made a little project today that has been on my bucket list. It also allowed me to practice some hand tool work.
I chose to use the bubinga for the sticks as it has very straight grain, is dense, heavy and durable. I have to say, bubinga requires sharp! Scary sharp LOL My recently purchased Tormek was put to good use on a few chisels and plane irons. I also used a fellow LJers small infill plane I purchase from him months back, to mill the pieces.
The sticks are 24" long and finished with Waterlox and paste wax. There's a small dowel that provides the center and also holds them together when stored. The targets are some maple scraps from other projects.
It was a fun project that taught me a little about a species I've never worked with. Now I must go sharpen all of my chisels and irons. This stuff is tough.
-- Bill, Yo!......in Brooklyn & Steel City :)
7 comments so far
#1 posted 04-03-2017 11:57 AM
Awesome Bill! I never really thought I needed winding sticks until I made a set. Now I use them all the time. These should be useful and serve you well!
-- Kenny, SW VA, Go Hokies!!!
#2 posted 04-03-2017 01:45 PM
Thanks Ken. Oh I'll most definitely use them. I've been using two Starret straight edges, but these will be easier to use. I know people associate them with just hand tool work, but checking the product that comes out of the planer and checking cabinets for twist are other uses I'd imagine.
-- Bill, Yo!......in Brooklyn & Steel City :)
#3 posted 04-03-2017 08:33 PM
Well done. These come in handy. Since I do most everything by hand, I've got a small set for narrow things and a set about your size here for non-narrow things.
Good luck with the upcoming cocktail table.
#4 posted 04-03-2017 09:55 PM
Looks almost like the ones I made last year. Really liked the extra weight that Bubinga provides for shop made tools.
#5 posted 04-03-2017 10:33 PM
That's a nice looking group there Mini. What do you use the tool in the back for? My guess is cupping and bowing, but not sure :)
Thanks coloneltravis :)
-- Bill, Yo!......in Brooklyn & Steel City :)
#6 posted 04-04-2017 10:32 AM
Thanks builtinbkyn. Its a straight edge. I could have used the winding sticks as a straight edge also but I had the extra wood to make a dedicated one.
#7 posted 04-05-2017 02:23 PM
Great looking sticks! I just made a pair out of Maple and Spanish Cedar. I should have made the bottom wider like you did. Sometimes they have trouble staying up.
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For those new to us, there are often a myriad of questions about Christianity, the Episcopal Church and worship here at St. John's. Some frequently asked questions are below. As other questions arise from your exploration of our congregation and our Anglican tradition please let us know so that we can help you find ways to explore our historical roots as well as the basic tenets of our Christian faith.
I wonder…
Do I have to be Episcopalian to participate in the life of St. John's?
No, we are a Christian community that welcomes all God's children.
What if I do not know what to do in worship?
Our services are guided by The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. Found in every pew, this resource, and the accompanying Sunday bulletin, will help you understand and participate in our worship. Our clergy provide directions during worship, and the person in the pew near you will also be glad to help you. Our clergy also will be glad to address your larger questions and can provide resources to support your own explorations.
What is the Holy Eucharist (U-ka-rist)?
This is the term used by the early Church for the Lord's Supper, and is the Greek word for "thanksgiving." Our heartfelt thanks to God for our life in Jesus the Christ is the wellspring of our Sunday worship. By celebrating the Holy Eucharist each Sunday, we are also proclaiming the historic faith of the Church that celebrates the fullness of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Do you use real bread and wine?
During communion we distribute wafers or hosts, and wine. They are symbols of the bread and wine our Lord used with his disciples to talk about our life in Him, and His life in us: "we are one body in one Lord."
Do I have to take communion?
No. While many find a deep grace and joy in this shared Biblical Sacrament, you can make your own decision about this. Again, if you have questions, please approach one of the clergy of St. John's. Also, if gluten is an issue, let us know and we can easily provide an alternative host.
If I am not baptized, may I still participate in your worship services and receive communion?
Yes, we welcome all God's children to our worship and to receive the Sacrament. If you find that you desire to continue receiving communion, we invite you to explore with our clergy how one becomes baptized in our tradition.
Do I officially have to join your congregation and the Episcopal Church?
No. You are always welcome to participate with us whenever you can for any and every part of our parish life. Most do find a deepening understanding and faith that comes with personal commitment and regular participation. Also, a person is expected to be a baptized Christian and an active "member" of St. John's in order to serve on the Vestry (our Board of Trustees) and to lead worship as a lector/chalicist and anointing prayers.
What is a "Rector?"
The term "rector" refers to a priest who is officially in charge of an Episcopal parish. Rectors are called by the congregation and the Bishop of that diocese to serve in this important pastoral relationship.
Do I have to give money at a church service or at other times?
No. Giving back for Christians comes from a deep conviction that all that we are, and all that we have, is finally a gift from God. Sharing our resources is an act of thanksgiving that springs from a grateful heart that naturally wants to support an essential part of our own identity, the ministry and witness of our faith community.
Am I expected to share my time and natural gifts and skills with the Church?
Yes, because we believe that by doing so you will find what Christians have always found: through sharing yourself and your talents, you will find the community you are seeking as well as the same joy we find in being the hands and feet of Jesus, our risen Lord.


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Standing about 3 1/4-inches tall
This Pop! features Black Panther himself, in his iconic suit but not wearing his mark.
Straight from Wakanda comes Funko's incredible new wave of Black Panther Pop! Vinyl Figures!
This Pop! features LAPD officer Daryl Ward, a seasoned second lieutenant cop and concerned father who is partnered with an Orc named Nick.
Special Limited Flocked Edition


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Volunteer Month Spotlight: Larry Lichter
Larry Lichter, Vice President of Global Quality and Food Safety at McCormick has lived in the Baltimore area for his entire life. He's worked with McCormick for more than 29 years and while he's worked with many different segments of the business and with an international focus, he never lost the sense of responsibility he feels to serve his local community.
Larry, alongside his wife Mira and his daughters, Sophie and Danielle, mark each Thanksgiving with an act of service. For the past six years, they have teamed up with other families to serve a hot meal and pass out food and clothing donations to pass out to homeless men, women and children in Baltimore City on the morning of Thanksgiving. His children have inspired their friends and others to help serve alongside the families, so the event continues to grow each year. Larry said that starting the day of Thanksgiving with an act of local service really makes him grateful for what his family has and even more thankful to be able to share it with others.
Throughout the year, Larry and his family also volunteer at Paul's Place – an establishment in Baltimore that helps provide meals, educational services, tutoring, job interview clothing for those who need it. Additionally, Larry connects his McCormick colleagues to other service opportunities that match their interests. Whether it may be a STEM-related presentation for students, or rallying colleagues to donate to local charities, Larry believes that giving back where you live and work is paramount. He cares deeply for the Baltimore community and strives to recruit others to serve alongside him wherever possible.


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Golden Valley Educational Trust
To meet the needs of higher education in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), Golden Valley Educational Trust or GVET was set up in 1974 in Kolar District. The vision of the Golden Valley Educational Trust is to expand learning infrastructure and impart quality and affordable education in the field of Vocational, Technical, Law, Arts, Science, Commerce, and Allied Disciplines.
The founder Trustee Dr. T. Thimmaiah a Philanthropist and Educationalist strived for over five decades of selfless service to achieve these objectives as the President Emeritus of GVET.
Under the aegis of Golden Valley Educational Trust, the group of institutions presently operating is KGF First Grade College, Sri Kengal Hanumanthaiya Law College, Dr. T. Thimmaiah Institute of Technology, Dr. T. Thimmaiah Post Graduation Centre. Collectively about 5000 students are being imparted with quality education by 500 dedicated, experienced and highly qualified staff in these institutions on an annual basis.
GVET endures to provide students a serene environment in their respective independent campuses for inculcating knowledge in the classroom, as well as in, established libraries, laboratories and workshops together with soft skills.
Dr. T. Venkat Vardhan took over the reins of Golden Valley Educational Trust as President in 2014.
Dr. T. Venkat Vardhan, who is also the Founder and Chairman of the International Event Management Enterprise under the banner DNA Entertainment Networks, following in the footsteps of his father, has taken the institutions to greater heights and has envisioned elevating the learning to global standards.
The GVET group of institutions for over five decades has brought out thousands of graduates in the field of education, research, sports, entrepreneurship spread over the length and breadth of the world bringing laurels to its institutions.


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Paul Tudor Jones V. Dr. Alexander Elder
jackb, in Risk & Money Management
Doubling Down With A Loser?
25 members have voted
1. Doubling Down With A Loser?
Yeah, no biggie. Can't say I won't use this when warranted.4
PTJ has it right. I have no need to throw good money after bad.18
Double Down? Shoot, I'm all for tripling, quadrupling, etc until I'm proved right.1
Money management...what's that?2


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I remember reading a review of this beer years ago. Needless to say, I forget if the review was favorable or not. Either way, I ended up with a six-pack of these cans and saved one for research purposes. I have only had a few beers from the brewery, although they do get some distribution to New Jersey. Let's see how this beer was.
Style: American Double/Imperial IPA
Trivia: This brewery offers tours on every day but Sunday.
Random: The can art for this beer makes it look a bit dated. I think they should look into a redesign.
This beer poured with a one finger, thick, off-white head. It dissipated slowly and left a lot of lacing on the glass. The body was slightly hazy and high carbonation was visible through the cloudiness. The nose had light pine notes first and then a lot of caramel malt. The taste was a lot stronger than the nose. It had pine sap and grapefruit peel and an herbal note. It took me a few sips to place it. It reminded me of juniper. There was no malt on the taste. The body was incredibly thin with high carbonation. For a double IPA, I was shocked that the body was so thin. It had a lengthy finish with pine and juniper. This beer was another gift, so no commentary on price. I thought this beer was alright, but it's just a middle of the road DIPA to me. I wouldn't rush back to have it again.
Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0