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Latest News
Unexpected catch
Kaylee Gibson lacks neither talent nor personality.
But on a softball team brimming over with both, the Merced College sophomore's contribution can be overlooked.
And that's how it went with the all-conference voting.
Six other She-Devils drew first-team honors, with Gibson receiving a a respectable second-team nod at catcher -- the Central Valley conference's deepest position.
All six of MC's first-teamers were deserving -- but other than MVP Megan McColloch, no She-Devil was more crucial to the team's success than Gibson.
"Kaylee's ability to shift to catcher was everything for us," MC coach Steve Cassady said. "It was the difference between having someone back there that you trust, and trying to build one the entire year from someone who may have done it once or twice in their lives.
"Her contributions have been huge, because it's such an important position."
Cassady's season was thrown into turmoil in the opening month when projected starting catcher Amber Vineyard suffered an injury to her throwing arm.
With no set backup, Gibson got the nod.
"I think it's gone well. I really enjoy it," Gibson said. "I started every game at catcher my junior year at Buhach Colony, so I knew the position.
"But after a few years, it took a few weeks for me to feel comfortable back there again."
Gibson's physical tools returned quickly, but learning the nuances of her staff took a little longer.
"It didn't happen as quickly as I would have liked," Gibson said. "All of them throw different pitches, so I had to learn how they move and when they like to throw them."
Cassady's been pleased with Gibson's natural ability to manage games.
"She does everything you could hope for," Cassady said. "She frames well, has soft hands, reads the pitchers well and can point out mechanical flaws.
"She lets me know when they're becoming less effective. And she can soften up umpires when my wit upsets them."
Hitting ninth in the order, Gibson's offensive production tends to be overshadowed, as well.
The sophomore hit .333, leading the team with six triples and finishing fourth with 18 RBI.
Not typical numbers from the No. 9 hitter, Gibson doesn't mind being underestimated.
"The way I see it, I'm a second leadoff hitter," she said. "I go up there with the attitude that I'm going to get on and Mallory (Bair) is going to drive me in."
Gibson's ability to get on and steal bases has allowed Bair (21 RBI) to be potent from the lead-off spot.
And Gibson's only gotten better.
With the ability to bunt, slap or swing away, the lefty constantly gives opposing pitchers pause.
Gibson also hit a team-high .509 in CVC play.
"A lot of teams let down because I'm the nine hitter," Gibson said. "I usually see how they're playing me and adjust to it in the at-bat."
As successful as her season has been, the perfectionist in Gibson still has one major criticism of her move back behind the dish.
"I haven't done a good job of throwing runners out," Gibson confessed. "My release is quick and my throws have been accurate, but I haven't been seeing the runners quickly enough."
Overcoming those struggles could be crucial as MC (32-15) hosts aggressive Gavilan (33-16) today in the opening round of the NorCal playoffs.
Led by Julie Broyer (33 steals) Gavilan successfully swiped 109 of 136 bases on the season.
"To deal with it, I've started getting ready to throw to second on every single pitch, whether there's a person on base or not," Gibson said. "If they want to try and run on me, I'm down with the challenge."
So far, that formula has worked out just fine.


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In 93 days (not that I am counting or anything…) I am going to New York Citaaaaay with one of my best friends to celebrate our birthdays. New York is a place I have wanted to visit for as long as I can remember and I literally cannot wait to go and explore one of the most loved cities in the world. To make sure we make the most of the big city dream while we are there we have put together a bucket list of things we want to do on our visit, so here it goes…
1. Sit on the met steps like Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen
2. Grab a New York coffee to go before 7am
3. Take a Selfie from the top of the Empire State Building
4. Devour a whole authentic New Yorker Pizza
5. Watch a Knicks game
6. Catch a musical on Broadway
7. Enjoy a cappuccino from Central Perk
8. Take an evening stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge
9. Look at the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island ferry
10. Buy something from Bloomingdales and Macys!
11. Have an Audrey moment in Tiffanys
12. Take a minute to remember at Ground Zero
13. Go ice skating in Central Park
14. Climb to the top of the Rockefeller Center
15. Take part in a choir service at a gospel church in Harlem
16. Brunch in Greenwich village
17. Drinks in Soho – Sex in the City style!
18. Read a chapter in the reading room of the New York public library
19. Travel in a New York Cab
20. Take the Subway
21. Join in on a "wolf of wall street" style commute to the financial district
22. Get lost in Grand Central Station
We are there for 5 full days so hopefully that will give us plenty of time to check as many things off this list as we can (not that we have built time in for sleep!) and if anyone has any suggestions of things we need to add or blog posts about your visits to New York then throw them our way!
Charlotte x

subset: commoncrawl


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Wednesday, August 14, 2013
In Style
41 comments :
- Aida said...
Nice. I love how you paired the dress with the shirt. I wish I was so bold :)
I left you a reply on your comment on my blog.
- August 14, 2013 at 3:44 AM
I love how you paired this! I have that Old Navy dress, but in the hearts print in navy/green- I might have to try wearing mine with my chambray. Visiting today from the Random Wednesday link up, hope you have a great day!
- August 14, 2013 at 4:01 AM
- Jessica Hobin said...
I have a dress that I'm going to pair with a top underneath when the weather gets colder. I can remember doing that in High school a lot, funny how things come back around! This is a lovely outfit, you look great! :)
- August 14, 2013 at 4:12 AM
- Ash said...
I love this outfit so much! Now I need a polka dot dress for my chambray :) I'm a huge fan of layering under sleeveless dresses, and chambray is always a little more interesting than plain white. You look awesome! (And welcome back... Missed you last week!)
- August 14, 2013 at 5:03 AM
- Melanie said...
Just randomly found your blog and I love it!!! New follower :)
- August 14, 2013 at 5:47 AM
- Niki Caron said...
I love the look of a short under a dress, and I love yours!! You look beautiful as always! Love that 2nd look with the floral dress, too!
- August 14, 2013 at 5:54 AM
- Amy Shaughnessy said...
You look SO cute! I just pinned this. Cutest thing I have seen.
Fashion and Beauty Finds
- August 14, 2013 at 6:08 AM
- Rebecca said...
I love this! Sometimes I feel uncomfortable in sleeveless tops and dresses, so I love to throw on a button-up under them.
- August 14, 2013 at 6:24 AM
- pretty little things said...
adorable dress on you -- love the layering! xo
- August 14, 2013 at 6:25 AM
- preethi said...
I totally agree - I remember in high school thinking shirts under dresses were so terrible (although they were done less well...), but now it can be so cute! I just found your blog through WIWW and it's adorable. Am a new follower! :)
lace, etc.
- August 14, 2013 at 6:34 AM
- Janelle said...
I love how this looks! They layering looks so great. I've recently discovered how cute it looks to layer shirts under a sleeveless dress!
- August 14, 2013 at 6:39 AM
- Helene in Between said...
I love the shirt under the dress look- so cute!
- August 14, 2013 at 6:50 AM
- Lauren said...
This is one of my favorite ways to transition dresses! You look so adorable. I'm pinning this look for later!!
Fizz and Frosting
- August 14, 2013 at 6:51 AM
- Mama S said...
you look amazing mama! love that outfit!
- August 14, 2013 at 7:08 AM
- TheTinyHeart said...
The layering is so cute! I'll definitely be trying this out in the fall :)
The Tiny Heart
JCrew Giveaway!
- August 14, 2013 at 7:08 AM
- Lorrie Herbin said...
Love your blog! I love wearing shirts under summer dresses.
I think the second outfit is from Gap, I recognize that dress from another blog and my friend has that clutch! :)
- August 14, 2013 at 7:22 AM
- Tori said...
Aww! Very cute polka dot dress & creative layering :)
Fashion, Trends & More
- August 14, 2013 at 8:02 AM
- Kelly {Sparkles and Shoes} said...
This polka dot is absolutely gorgeous!
Sparkles and Shoes
- August 14, 2013 at 8:19 AM
- Treasure Tromp said...
absolutely loving this look!
- August 14, 2013 at 9:02 AM
- Caroline said...
This was my go-to look in middle school when we weren't allowed to wear sleeveless tops/dresses! I looooove this updated and adult version - so cute! And it's getting me so excited for fall :)
- August 14, 2013 at 9:13 AM
- Hallie Oceanside said...
LOVE this look Ashley!
Never even thought to place my sleeveless with sleeves. Guess I can go reshop my closet now:)
- August 14, 2013 at 9:51 AM
- Kayla Peveler said...
I need to get more daring this fall and try some! My FAVORITE outfit is the one on your button, with the big belt and grey leggings? SO cute.. I know, its a cardigan and not a shirt, but whatever ;)
- August 14, 2013 at 10:17 AM
- smk053078 said...
I love this!! And honestly, I don't think I have added a top under a dress before....thanks for the inspiration!! Love that middle look from your Pinterest!!
- August 14, 2013 at 10:34 AM
- Jennifer Durham said...
Such a cute outfit! And picture #2 looks to be Gap, how do I know? I bought that clutch on sale last month ;o)
- August 14, 2013 at 11:00 AM
- Sippy Cups and Pearls said...
Ashley! I love your style! Please come be my personal assistant. hahaha. seriously though :) lol.
- August 14, 2013 at 1:04 PM
- Lins - Domesticated Working Woman said...
I love this look, but I always feel frumpy unless I tuck the shirt into my tights.
- August 14, 2013 at 1:16 PM
- Susannah said...
Super cute!!! I love the look! :-)
- August 14, 2013 at 1:23 PM
- Nikki said...
Love it! I layer under my dresses all of the time. It is such a great way to transition dressing into fall. I love that polka dot dress! So cute!
- August 14, 2013 at 1:25 PM
- Misty B said...
This is so lovely on you! What a great idea!
- August 14, 2013 at 5:09 PM
- Head to Toe Chic said...
ummm i'm totally copying this!! I love the idea of wearing a shirt under a dress! It would be so much more comfortable.
- August 14, 2013 at 6:39 PM
- still being [molly] said...
oh this is ADORABLE, ashley! you look beautiful and super radiant!
- August 14, 2013 at 6:42 PM
- ann wood said...
This dress looks great on you! I've been thinking about adding a blouse to some of my dresses too. I like how you added a necklace for a touch of sparkle. Love your beautiful hair!
blue hue wonderland
- August 15, 2013 at 4:39 AM
- Claire said...
Cute blog and your kiddo's are so cute too!
- August 15, 2013 at 6:33 AM
- Elizabeth said...
I love this idea, - such a great way to transition into fall!
- August 15, 2013 at 7:54 AM
- Ashley said...
That dress is so cute - and love the look of the shirt underneath it! Looks like I need to take a trip to Old Navy! :)
- August 16, 2013 at 9:13 AM
- Sarah said...
So super cute and a great idea for getting more wear out of your clothes! I must remember this!
- August 16, 2013 at 11:49 AM
- Jessica @ Here(and)Now said...
Ooh I love this look so much! What a wonderful way to double your outfit potential!
- August 18, 2013 at 10:30 AM
okay TALK about adorable!! That dress is the prettiest thing EVER. period. And I love how you styled it, classy and simply, but still fun. Love the heels.
- August 19, 2013 at 2:00 PM
How cute is this outfit!
I am hooked.
I will be following you for sure.
I am glad I found you.. :)
- August 26, 2013 at 6:36 AM
- Rach @ This Italian Family said...
I haven't seen this trend yet, but it looks great on you!
- September 3, 2013 at 2:36 PM
- Dancewear said...
The amount of light a material absorbs and reflects may be a factor in material selection. Also, dance is about movement, so the way a fabric hangs or moves on the dancer is important. Thanks for sharing it....
- November 8, 2013 at 2:07 AM


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Every year Lockleys Bowling Club stages the following popular tournaments:
Open Grand Classic
This is held as the opening tournament of the year and is traditionally programmed on the first Sunday of the year. It is open to all players and the entry fee includes lunch. Lockleys Grand Classic Flyer 2019.
Ladies Classic
This is traditionally programmed on the first Sunday in February and is open to women only. Entry fee includes lunch. Lockleys Ladies Classic Invitation Flyer.
Skins Tournament
This is traditionally held on the first Saturday in April. Play commences at 1.00pm and plays into the evening with an evening meal which is included in the entry fee. Download flyer.


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Our Physicians
Dr. J. Stephen Maddox
Dr. Stephen Maddox is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology. He holds a Lifetime Certificate, and he also participates in the Maintenance of Certification-Dermatology program sponsored by the board for continuing medical education. He is a native of Alabama, receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. After completing his residency in dermatology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock in 1983, he joined in practice Dr. Hugh B. Praytor, the founding physician of Dermatology Associates of Montgomery. Dr. Maddox is published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and is a member of the American Medical Association, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the Southern Medical Association, and the Alabama Dermatological Society. He is a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Alabama Health Center Montgomery.
Dr. Maddox is accepting new patients.


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A Phase Ⅲ Study to Investigate Toripalimab Versus Dacarbazine as the First Line Therapy for Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma (JS001)
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03430297
Recruitment Status : Recruiting
First Posted : February 12, 2018
Last Update Posted : October 23, 2019
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Condition or disease
|Metastatic Melanoma Unresectable Melanoma
|Biological: JS001 240mg Q2W Drug: Dacarbazine 1000mg/m2 Q3W
|Phase 3
- In the subjects who have clinical benefit evaluated by investigators and tolerate the study treatment, treatment will be considered to give after occurrence of progression defined by RECIST1.1 as evaluated by the initial investigators, these subjects must terminate the treatment when further progression is validated.
- The subjects in dacarbazine treatment group are allowed to be crossed to receive JS001 after progression of disease; however, they need to be re-evaluated if they meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria.
Subjects need to provide one tumor tissue specimen for archival or one newly acquired biopsy tissue from the site that is previously not irradiated for evaluation of PD-L1 expression status when they participate in the study. The PD-L1 expression status of specimen will be evaluated in the central laboratory using immunohistochemical (IHC) method. Subjects with positive or negative PD-L1 can be enrolled in this study, and the clinical activity in the two subgroups will be evaluated in accordance with the prespecified subgroup analysis.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Estimated Enrollment :
|230 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Crossover Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|A Randomized, Controlled, Multi-center, Phase Ⅲ Clinical Study to Investigate Recombinant Humanized Anti-PD-1 Monoclonal Antibody Injection Toripalimab (JS001) Versus Dacarbazine as the First Line Therapy for Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma
|Actual Study Start Date :
|February 2, 2018
|Estimated Primary Completion Date :
|June 2020
|Estimated Study Completion Date :
|December 2020
|Experimental: JS001 240mg Q2W
Biological: JS001 240mg Q2W
recombinant humanized anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody injection (JS001) will be provided by the sponsor. Strength: 240mg/6ml/vial. 240mg, once every two weeks.
Control drug: dacarbazine (1000mg/m2, d1, intravenously, once every three weeks). The dose will be given intravenously over 180 minutes (the infusion time can be prolonged according to the institutional criteria), starting from Week 1, once every 3 weeks, until progression of disease.
|Active Comparator: Dacarbazine 1000mg/m2 Q3W
Drug: Dacarbazine 1000mg/m2 Q3W
The dose of DTIC will be calculated according to the following formula, where the 'X' represents the total mg dose of DTIC: X (mg) = [body surface area (BSA) x (1000mg/m2)].
The body surface area (BSA) is defined by Dubois formula: BSA (m2) = 0.007184* (cm0.725) * (kg0.425)
- the progression-free survival (PFS) [ Time Frame: 3 months ]To compare the progression-free survival (PFS) evaluated by one independent review board of radiological data in systemic treatment-naïve patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic melanoma who are treated with JS001 versus dacarbazine.
- objective response rate (ORR) [ Time Frame: 2 years ]To compare objective response rate (ORR) evaluated by the independent review board of radiological data according to RECIST 1.1 between the two groups;
- duration of response (DOR) [ Time Frame: 2 years ]To compare duration of response (DOR) evaluated by the independent review board of radiological data according to RECIST 1.1 between the two groups;
- Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0 [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients are eligible for participation in the trial only when they meet the following criteria:
- Age ≥18 years, male or female;
- Systemic treatment-naïve, histologically confirmed unresectable stage III or IV melanoma. Previous adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy is allowed, however, it is required to be completed at least three weeks prior to the randomization, and all the relevant adverse events have been recovered to normal or CTC-AE grade 1;
- Measurable lesion (according to RECIST v1.1 criteria);
- ECOG score 0 or 1
- Tumor tissue has to be provided (FFPE archival or newly acquired tissue block or unstained slide from FFPE) for analysis of biomarkers;
- Previous radiotherapy must be completed at least two weeks prior to administration of investigational product;
The laboratory data for screening must meet the following criteria and should be acquired within 14 days prior to the first dose:
- Peripheral hemogram: white blood cell (WBC) ≥3.0×109/L, neutrophil (ANC) ≥1.5×109/L, platelet (PLT) ≥100×109/L, hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥90g/L;
- Renal function: serum creatinine°≤1.5 x ULN or calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) >40 mL/min (using Cockcroft Gault formula);
- Hepatic function: AST/ALT≤2.5 x ULN in subjects without hepatic metastasis, AST/ALT≤5 x ULN in those with hepatic metastasis;
- Total bilirubin ≤1.5 x ULN (except the subjects with Gilbert syndrome, the total bilirubin must be < 3.0mg/dL).
- Estimated survival ≥16 weeks;
- Men with reproductive capacity or women of childbearing potential must use highly effective contraceptive methods during the trial (e.g., oral contraceptives, intrauterine device, sexual abstinence or barrier method combined with spermicide), and continue contraception for 12 months after the end of treatment;
- Subject is willing to participate in the study, sign the informed consent form with good compliance and cooperation with follow-up;
- Re-enrollment: re-enrollment of subjects who discontinue the study for failure prior to the treatment (i.e., the subject has not been randomized/received any treatment yet) is allowed in this study. The subjects must re-sign the informed consent form if they are re-enrolled.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients will be excluded from the trial when they have any one of the following conditions:
- Previous treatment with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1or anti-PD-L2 therapy;
- Known allergy to recombinant humanized anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody and its components;
- Presence of BRAF mutation, except unwillingness or inability to receive BRAF mutation inhibitor;
- Malignant melanoma originated from eyes or mucosa;
- Having received other anti-tumor therapy (including corticosteroids, immunotherapy) or participated in other clinical studies within 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment, or having not recovered from the previous toxicity (except grade 2 alopecia and grade 1 neurotoxicity);
- Pregnant or lactating women;
- HIV positive; HCV positive; positive HBV DNA copies detected simultaneously with HBsAg or HBCAb positive (quantitative detection limit 500 IU/ml);
- History of active pulmonary tuberculosis;
- Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment in the past two years (e.g., use of disease-modulating drugs, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs), relevant alternative therapy is allowed (e.g., thyroxine, insulin or physiological corticosteroid replacement therapy for renal or pituitary insufficiency);
- Other serious, uncontrollable concomitant diseases that may affect the compliance with protocol or interfere with interpretation of the results, including active opportunistic infection (serious) infection in progressive stage, uncontrollable diabetes, cardiovascular disease (grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ heart failure defined by New York Heart Association, degree Ⅱ and above cardiac block, myocardial infarction in the past 6 months, unstable arrhythmia or unstable angina pectoris, cerebral infarction within 3 months, etc.) or pulmonary disease (history of interstitial pneumonia, obstructive pulmonary disease and symptomatic bronchospasm);
- Subjects with active central nervous system (CNS) metastasis, active brain metastasis or leptomeningeal metastatic foci. For the subjects with brain metastasis, if they have received treatment and have no evidence of progressive disease on the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at least 8 weeks after completion of the treatment and within 28 days prior to the first dose, they are eligible to participate in the study. Meanwhile, it is required corticosteroid for systemic therapy at the dose of immunosuppressant (>10mg/day prednisone equivalent) must not be needed at least two weeks prior to administration of investigational product;
- Previously receiving hematopoietic stimulating factor within two weeks prior to the start of treatment, for example, colony stimulating factor, erythropoietin;
- Having been injected by live vaccine within 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment;
- Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment (not including diagnostic surgery);
- History of psychotropic drug abuse and inability to give up or history of mental disorder;
- Having other malignant tumors that have not been recovered in the past 5 years, not including obviously cured malignancies, or curable cancers, for example, basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell cutaneous carcinoma, superficial bladder cancer or carcinoma in situ of prostate, carcinoma in situ of cervix or carcinoma in situ of breast;
- Other severe, acute or chronic medical or mental diseases or abnormal laboratory findings that may increase the risk from participation in the study, or interfere with interpretation of study results according to investigators' opinion.
Eligibility criteria on cross-over to JS001 treatment period —inclusion criteria for the subjects who are previously randomized into DTIC:
- According to investigators' evaluation, the subjects must have documented radiological progression of disease during DTIC treatment;
- Previous anticancer therapy, including DTIC and palliative radiotherapy, must be completed at least three weeks prior to the dose of JS001;
- Adverse events related with DTIC or palliative radiotherapy must have been relieved to grade 1 or baseline at randomization;
- Any major surgery must be completed at least 28 days prior to the first dose of JS001;
- No previous treatment with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy;
- The laboratory data on the eligibility for cross-over therapy must meet the following criteria and should be acquired within 14 days prior to the start of JS001 treatment:
- Peripheral hemogram: white blood cell (WBC) ≥3.0×109/L, neutrophil (ANC) ≥1.5×109/L, platelet (PLT) ≥100×109/L, hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥90g/L;
- Renal function: serum creatinine≤1.5 x ULN or calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) >40 mL/min (using Cockcroft Gault formula);
- Hepatic function: AST/ALT≤2.5 x ULN in subjects with no hepatic metastasis, AST/ALT≤5 x ULN in those with hepatic metastasis;
- Total bilirubin≤1.5 x ULN (except the subjects with Gilbert syndrome, total bilirubin must be<3.0mg/dL).
- Men with reproductive capacity or women of childbearing potential must use highly effective contraceptive methods during the trial (e.g., oral contraceptives, intrauterine device, sexual abstinence or barrier method combined with spermicide), and continue contraception for 12 months after the end of treatment;
- Subjects are willing to participate in the study, sign the informed consent form with good compliance and cooperation with follow-up;
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03430297
|Contact: Ling Xiao
|China, Beijing
|Beijing Cancer Hospital
|Beijing, Beijing, China, 100142
|Contact: Jun Guo, Phd; Md email@example.com
|Principal Investigator: Jun Guo, PhD; MD
|China, Hubei
|Wuhan Union Hospital
|Not yet recruiting
|Wuhan, Hubei, China
|Contact: Li Fan 027-85873501 email@example.com
|Sub-Investigator: Li Fan, Phd,MD
|Principal Investigator: Jing Chen, Phd,MD
|China, Yunnan
|Yunnan Cancer Hospital
|Not yet recruiting
|Kunming, Yunnan, China
|Contact: Ying Wang, Phd,MD 0871-68179173 firstname.lastname@example.com
|Principal Investigator: Xin Song, Phd,MD
|Sub-Investigator: Ying Wang, Phd,MD
|Principal Investigator:
|Jun Guo
|Beijing Cancer Hospital
|Responsible Party:
|Shanghai Junshi Bioscience Co., Ltd.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT03430297 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|February 12, 2018 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|October 23, 2019
|Last Verified:
|October 2019
|Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
|Plan to Share IPD:
|Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
|Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody
the First Line Therapy
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Neuroectodermal Tumors
Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue
Nevi and Melanomas
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Immunologic Factors
Physiological Effects of Drugs


text:
Frico Heating Solutions
Energy efficient, total heating solutions
Frico a Systemair company offering a wide range of heating products.
We offer total solutions, including both complete heating systems and products for additional heating, that help you manage the indoor climate in shops, industrial buildings, offices, hotels, restaurants and sports arenas. Because we are environmentally aware our products are climate-smart. In our product development, the focus is on achieving the greatest possible function with the least possible energy consumption. The intelligent products contain control systems that ensure you never consume more energy than is required.
- Air curtains
- Fan heaters
- Radiant heaters
- Convectors


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Lincoln had his first real bath today. He cried for only a few seconds, then realized how nice and warm the water was. He was content the whole time, and loved having his little belly rubbed with the wash cloth. Squire says, "It was just how I imagined his first bath would be! I knew he'd love the water!" :)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
For the Grandparents: Lincoln's First Bath
Posted by sdhepworth at 11:18 PM
Labels: Lincoln
4 comments:
I wish I could cuddle with him right now!ReplyDelete
Jami he is PERFECT! Can't wait to meet him!ReplyDelete
Hey I want to hold him too! Looks like I only have to wait a couple of weeks! :-)ReplyDelete
Oh my gosh guys, he is ADORABLE. He was always adorable but he is coming out of that "alien newborn" stage that all babies go through. I hope this was all taken without offense, because, I can admit I had two alien babies. hehe Congrats!!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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NYC-based DJ JUSS has emerged as one of the most sought after DJs. Driven by his ability to move a crowd and his innate skill to read a crowd has quickly made him a new favorite amongst NYC nightlife. All about pleasing the crowd, you'll always hear a diversity of music at a DJ Juss event… from rock, disco, electro, house, r&b and hip hop music, incorporating all of these genres into his sets. With only 2 years of professional dee jaying, JUSS has already lent his services to clients such as Equinox, DKNY, YRB Magazine, HYT ME LLC, Aveda, Fashion Night Out 2011, Alzheimer's Association, Lupus Foundation, rapper Mickey Factz, actor/singer Rotimi.
Not only is DJ JUSS prepared to take over the nightlife, JUSS has plans for the fashion world. JUSS also referred to as "Mr. Cardigans and Converse" can always be seen rocking a fresh pair of Converse sneakers and a cardigan sweater.
DJ JUSS first got his start in the entertainment industry, with internships at Sony BMG, and working alongside chief graphic designer for Russell Simmons, Kevin Leong as well as a dream job at HYT ME Entertainment. At HYT ME, JUSS spent his summers at the lavish Hamptons Mansion headquarters greeting celebrity guests and coordinating events. Juss recounts his early DJ start, "While hosting an event for Fabolous the DJ was running late. So I was asked to play music for the event; so, I grabbed my laptop, plugged it in, and played some music until the DJ arrived" says JUSS. To his surprise, the people were dancing!
With his musical ear, creativity, and marketability, DJ JUSS is surely the new "go-to" DJ for A-list events.


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The Wells College men's basketball team had six players score in double figures in a 90-54 win over Penn College on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Schwartz Athletic Center in Aurora, N.Y.
Anthony Nesci led Wells with 16 points. He was 4-for-6 from the field including 3-for-4 from behind the 3-point line. Rich Ross added 14 points and David Dames scored 12. The starting five was well-supported by the rest of the Wells roster. Jordyn Tyler, Zach D'Arpino, and Mohamed Hassan scored 10 points each off the bench. Wells outscored Penn College 34-15 in bench points.
Wells posted its largest margin of victory of the season and maintained hold of a fourth place tie in the North Eastern Athletic Conference North Division. The Express is 7-15 overall and 5-8 in the NEAC. Penn College is 2-18 overall and 2-10 in the NEAC.
The Express committed just nine turnovers and held a 49-40 rebounding advantage.
Dames led Wells with nine rebounds and Tyree Fisher had six rebounds and seven assists.
Wells scored the first five points of the game and never trailed. A 25-8 run by the Express in the first half pushed the Wells advantage to 33-13 and the lead remained at double-digits for the rest of the game.
Wells will play at home Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. against first-place Morrisville State College. Prior to the game, a Senior Day ceremony will recognize Jordyn Tyler.


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(*disclaimer: this may have been the very worst day of my entire motherhood to chronicle, but journalistic integrity compels me onward.)
Let us begin…
7:09 am: someone is snorting and tugging on my shirt. I open my eyes and blink at Evie, lying in a sweaty little bundle under my arm. Oops. I don't really remember pulling her into bed with me, but I suppose it happened at some point in the night. Oblige her by nursing until she falls back asleep.
7:19 am: roll carefully out of bed and watch as Evie stretches out like a teenager, flopping her arms over her head and trying her best to take as much bed space up as possible. Blow gently on her floppy black hair and laugh before creeping out of the room to find…
7:20 am: COFFEE. My amazing husband has an espresso waiting for me on the counter and has already fed both boys. Bless him. I could never breastfeed without the tag team system we have in place, whereby I handle the nighttime parenting and he takes the 6 am - 8 am shift. If I know I have at least an hour of two of uninterrupted sleep coming my way at dawn, I can handle almost any nocturnal shenanigans. Which reminds me…
7:26 am: peek into boys' room. Whew, no fresh vom. Joey's 6 hour stomach flu seems to have run its course, and the dorm smells only faintly of puke and Dawn dish soap. Crack the window open to let in the spring air and flee the scene.
7:31 am: sit down with my egg and Arbonne protein shake. Hear my phone ringing from the other room and run to see a missed call from my little sister. Dang, it's my day for preschool carpool. Slam the shake down and run to pull on actual pants, and a shirt that is not black. I have maybe 3 shirts that are not black, so this is a sign of real effort in living.
7:45 am: breakfast is done and I really should leave, but Evie is 'wolfishly hungry' says Daddy. Dave is going in late this morning because he has a lecture series to emcee this evening, so he agrees to watch Evie and JP while I run Joey and his cousin to school. I nurse Evie for 5 minutes to abate her hunger and scan Facebook for morning news.
7:56 am: oops. We're late. I
8:01 am: a minor accident has traffic backed up. Joey is delighted by a firetruck and ambulance parade and reminds me to pray, so we say a quick Hail Mary and inspect the bumper damage as we creep by. He knows about a third of the words to the prayer now…Catholic school FTW!
8:11 am: roll up to my sister's house and grab a nephew. We're gonna be so late…
8:19 am: arrive at school, running to the preschool entrance to beat the timed lock that automatically seals at 8:20 (I think? I've never been late enough to actually miss it). Hustle the boys into their classroom, check their mailboxes, make awkward small talk with their teachers and run back to the parking lot. Remember that for once I didn't do a guilty leave-behind of any other offspring in the van and relish the temporary silence of having no additional cargo for the 17 minute drive home. Mentally recommit to Dave Ramsey's principles as I look longingly at the beautiful houses in the neighborhood surrounding our parish. Resolve to never eat out again or buy any clothing so that we can buy a house sometime before 2019.
8:39 am: Home again. Take a hungry Evie from Dave as he is one-handedly finishing the breakfast dishes. I. Married. Up. Sit down to nurse and read a couple morning blogs.
8:46 am: Dave is asking me if checks and pinstripes can work together. Nope.
8:58 am: Finish an impromptu dusting session of the main floor. Look regretfully at my 2-week-old white cami that I'm using as a dustrag before throwing it down the basement steps to the laundry. Curse our 'new' old top-loading washer that has so far shredded the spaghetti straps on five camis and an embarrassing number of other unmentionables with stringy parts. Try to remember to buy one of those stupid mesh bags to wash delicate laundry in.
9:00 am: strip protective plastic trash bag off of Joey's pillow (under the case; no suffocating allowed in this house) and decide to run through all the bedrooms and bathrooms dumping the small trash cans into it. Arrive at the front door with an entire trashbag full of dirty diapers and thank God mentally for modern conveniences and the good sense to have given away my entire stash of cloth diapers before we moved to Rome. Never again, landfills be damned.
9:01 am: Dave is ready to go and we pray a quick morning offering with John Paul sandwiched between our legs shrieking about 'his monies!' Dave takes the trash bag from my hands and heads off to work and I see that our cans already lining the curb. I have the best husband.
9:06 am: scrub the kids' bathroom down with a pair of diaper wipes. Wonder if my toilet will be any less disgusting when my boys are teenagers. Decide the answer is probably not one I want to know.
9:10 am: sit down to start writing this lovely thing. JP is still screaming for 'monies,' so I dig 33 cents out of a dish on my dresser and line the coffee table with change for him to count. He squeals with delight and finds an old Trader Joe's bag to use as his 'purse.' I try not to be too disturbed.
9:40 am: look up and see John Paul lying in the Rock n Play, cackling to himself and counting his monies still. I'm a little embarrassed that all I've been doing for the past 30 minutes is recalling my day thus far, but not embarrassed enough to stop.
9:43 am: time to switch gears and start looking at headlines for Heroic News. Look at my open tabs from last night and count at least 3 bizarre headlines that apparently caught my attention before bed: "Jesus didn't care about being nice or tolerant and neither should you," "NH Teacher fired for friending students on Facebook" and "How to spot a psychopath." Decide that I probably am one, and get to work.
9:50 am: JP alerts me that "Evie doll is cwyin, mama" Find a somewhat unhappy baby in her swing and get a whiff of JP's 3rd diaper bomb this morning. Carry both offenders into the boys room and set Evie down on Joey's bed (mattress on the floor) for some dreaded tummy time while I address JP's nasty. Mentally vow to find and kill whoever keeps feeding him raisins. Wonder if it was me.
9:56 am: nurse again. Reflect in gratitude for Evie's stellar nursing abilities and my own gift of being able to type while she eats. Lovingly stare into the screen of my MacBook Air and rejoice in its small lightweightness.
9:57 am: JP is trying to put a pull-up on his stuffed monkey and is laughing hysterically. Wonder if it's time to think about potty training him, as Dave insists. Mentally slap myself across the face for even thinking this thought. Think about going to the library and/or Target before preschool pickup. Ask JP if he wants help outfitting his monkey. Help him.
10:01 am: He decides monkey would prefer a diaper.
10:02 am: Evie is no longer pleased with my multi-tasking. Shut computer.
10:20 am: Target it is.
11:16 am: Ooops, Old Navy was closer. $89 later and many spring colors later, I'm now late for preschool pickup, but I no longer look like a haggard recovering meth addict in a facility issued head-to-toe stretchy black uniform.
(School pickup, Lunch, nursing, phone calls, texts answered, bathroom trip with creepy 2-year-old observer in tow.)
1:24 pm: Ahhh, naptime/quiet time. Joey has been fighting this relentlessly since around Christmastime, but now that it's warming up he has relented to lie on a Superman sheet in the backyard with a stack of library books and a handful of roly-polies. I harvested the roly-polies for him. Vom.
1:25 pm: the remains of JP's quesadilla is hardening on a paper plate (survival mode 4ever.) I'm only semi-drawn to it, so this new eating plan must be working.
1:27 pm: they're all quiet at the same time. Evie in her swing and the boys in their respective nap zones. The second best part of my day has now begun.
1:28 pm: Joey is back. He needs a paper bag and a handful of sticks to have quiet time with. He asks me if I'd like to join him. I stare at him, wondering why God thought it would be funny to make my firstborn an extrovert.
1:30 pm: I settle down to write and check some emails. I see one from my editor at Catholic Exchange and I start thinking up ideas for another piece later this week. I never plan posts ahead of time, and I hardly ever write down ideas that come to me, but maybe I should. At this point what I write is 90% spontaneous, though I do have occasional insights in the shower.
1:31 pm: I haven't showered today…
1:37 pm: And I'm not going to. Joey is back and he is "all done with his quiet time." I break his heart by telling him he is mistaken. I wonder if i should start planning dinner, and then I remember the chicken sausages I put on the counter to defrost this morning. I move them to the fridge and, remembering that Dave has a work dinner, consider making salads for dinner for a second night in a row. Joey must have taken me seriously, because he wandered back outside with a sippy cup filled with Pellegrino. I absentmindedly finish the rest of the bottle.
1:44 pm: Retire to my room to hide from Joey for the remainder of 'quiet time.' A friend texted us an invite to come play afternaptime, and I consider waking JP up early just to get us all out of the house. Evie is crying to nurse from her swing. Flop onto the bed to nurse her while browsing for news stories with my free hand. Update the site with breaking news. I love having a baby who loves to nurse lying down.
1:59 pm: I got distracted by the internet. I look up from my reading to see Joey sitting in my doorway with his stuffed animals in his arms. He looks at me guiltily and then sits down on the hall floor and starts reading the atlas. Whatever.
2:03 pm: I can't imagine anybody is still reading at this point. I can't believe how many times each day I am interrupted. Start streaming the new Ingrid Michaelson album (free on iTunes for a week!) and Joey crawls up into my bed and announces "I just want to beeee with you." I send him to wash his ropy poly hands before letting him crawl up next to me. He covers my the back of my arm with kisses and snuggles into our bed. Now I'm a mommy sandwich.
2:30 pm: naps are a bust. Wake a sleepy John Paul and toss all 3 kids in the car for a trip to a friend's house and some magical Vitamin D time in her stay cation of a backyard. Pick up a nephew on the way because YOLO, and my sister has to take somebody else to the doctor.
4:05 pm: Why do I bring them anywhere? Oh yes, socialization…
4:43 pm: cooking dinner. Way too early. Trader Joe's chicken sausages on the barbecue with asparagus and baked potatoes.
4:50 pm: everybody is yelling for something, but I'm happily sweeping through the house and flinging dirty laundry/errant toys/random books down the basement stairs. All our toys and books now live in the basement, and my favorite part of the day is pitching things down the stairwell one by one. Clean house = happy mommy.
4:52 pm: dinner is served.
4:59 pm: dinner is over. Dammit, I've overplayed my hand. I run a bath for the boys and they run screaming towards the bathroom, shedding clothes as they go. The floor is littered with asparagus, but I did make them 'mop' the spilled milk under the table.
5:15-5:46: books are read, diapers are applied, teeth are brushed, and then I sort of lie there on Joey's bed, letting them both jump on me while they yell "fight fight fight!" and proclaim it wrestling time. Wish for the hundredth time today that Dave was home for bedtime.
5:50: prayers. A quick, incoherent story about some pigeons, a penguin, Lightening McQueen and Mater flying to Rome for JPII's canonization. Lots of random words in Italian. Ends with a trip to Old Bridge for gelato. Joey is satisfied. Hit the lights and head to my room to nurse Evie.
5:58: brag on Facebook about having put my kids to bed 2 hours before sunset. Hear banging and shouting from the back bedroom,
6:35 pm: Both boys are watching a double episode of Curious George on a laptop propped on their dresser. Eating granola bars. I'm a sucker.
6:40 pm: fine, one more episode. Evie is asleep in her swing, so I unload and load the dishwasher and spray down the counters and table. Check for new headlines and get briefly immersed in a stupid post on Facebook. Wonder why I came crawling back to my social media habit for the umpteenth time.
6:46 pm: because the internet.
6:50 pm: bedtime for real this time. Good night, sleep tight.
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Sit at computer. Think about doing a couple waiting loads of laundry.
8:05 pm: is it too late to take a shower? Evie wakes up and wants to nurse. I don't feel so hot...
8:25 pm: oh, the stomach flu. Now it's my turn. Spend the rest of the night in a prone position on the bathroom floor, returning occasionally to bed to lie there moaning. Please, God, don't let the baby get this.
11:54 pm: PLEASE GOD don't let the baby get this. Dave offers her a bottle and she refuses. Violently. I attempt nursing in between bouts of vomiting. Joey wakes up screaming that he's hungry and Dave goes to comfort him.
Maaaaaybe this was not the greatest day to chronicle…but it's certainly not one I'll forget.


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For Immediate Release
For additional information please contact:
Chris Watson
Mob. 0419 358 942
Email: email@example.com
Acoustic recording reveals call of probable Night Parrot in southern NT
In early 2017 zoologists Chris Watson and Mark Carter found a bird call in an acoustic recording that could not be positively identified. The site of the recording is a stand of very old thick spinifex (Triodia longiceps) surrounded by natural gibber firebreaks. The call recorded is a series of short constant frequency whistles at around 2.2kHz. The time of the call is roughly an hour after sunset. There had been rain at the site shortly before the call was recorded.
Two observers have since heard the call repeated at the site, in one instance coming from thick spinifex close to the observer.
No further recordings of the call have been identified (however, many hours of acoustic data from the site has been gathered which is yet to be analysed).
The call is a similar frequency and tone to Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) calls recorded in Queensland and recently released to the public, but differs in its length (see sonogram image). In March it was announced that Night Parrots found in Western Australia have calls which differ from the birds in Queensland. After liaising with the ornithologists who found the Western Australian population we were able to compare our recorded call to other examples of Night Parrot whistle calls from WA. While there is not an exact match, the calls from WA Night Parrot and the bird recorded in the NT are very similar.
The land system in which the call recording was made is extensive and hosts many locations which correspond with the known habitat requirements for this species elsewhere in Australia.
We are proceeding on the basis that we have detected a probable Night Parrot in the Northern Territory. Work is now underway with the relevant statutory body to gather more data at the site and identify more locations in the wider landscape where this bird may occur.
We have deliberated for some time on whether to release this information into the public domain. We cannot access enough reference material to make this a fully confirmed record of the bird (or to dismiss it as another species). We have both been openly critical of the extreme secrecy and intrigue which has surrounded this species in recent years. Where practical, we will release information as soon as we can; particularly information that will assist others in finding the bird elsewhere.
As the tentative identification of the call was partly reliant on acoustic data which is not ours to release we are limited to releasing the sonogram image of our call only, not that of the reference calls from Western Australia.
We will not be sharing location data of this site under any circumstances in the interest of the bird's conservation.


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Tuesday, September 30, 2014
(No.273) "Manulife's purchase of Standard Life of Canada: sensible or not?"
"Manulife buys Standard Life's Canadian operation:
some comments about obsequious insincerity and other matters"
by Alastair Rickard
I have written a number of RickardsRead.com columns with Manufacturers Life (Manulife), the Toronto-based Canadian life insurance company, as a subject. Going further back I wrote a good deal more about Manulife in issues of my Canadian Journal of Life Insurance [CJLI].
Therefore I was not surprised to receive a couple of requests to share my views about the purchase for $4 billion by Manulife of the Canadian subsidiary of Standard Life of Edinburgh. a transaction to be completed early in 2015.
I have never stood among those members of the media or life insurance industry who would cheer the supposed superior activity while ignoring the deficiencies of Manulife and its senior management. As editor of CJLI I once gave the then CEO of Manulife the Sir Mackenzie Bowell Award. It was an award I created specifically to recognize an absence of excellence by someone in the Canadian life insurance industry. I named it so because Bowell (an Orangeman from Belleville Ontario) is arguably the least distinguished prime minister (1894-96) in Canada's history.
Had I still been bestowing the award post-2008 when Manulife ended up in a financial ditch I would almost certainly have given it to the company's then CEO Dominic D'Alessandro.
As for Standard Life's Canadian operation long based in Montreal I formerly had a somewhat higher regard for it than I have in more recent years.
Standard, a mutual company long based in Scotland, had successfully resisted in 2000 and in 2003 attempts by two different carpet-baggers to force its demutualization. However that changed in 2006 when Standard in Edinburgh finally succumbed -- as the result of altered financial regulatory requirements combined with poor management and inferior performance -- to pressure to change from a mutual to a stock company.
The Canadian operation of Standard Life had already been changed by Edinburgh from a branch operation to a subsidiary. Even before that Edinburgh had tried unsuccessfully to 'patriate' a big chunk of the Canadian branch's surplus.
Standard's Canadian operation had much to recommend it at one time including some quality people in management. Also I confess to having a soft spot for Standard Life's Canadian operation if only because the real starting point of the life insurance business in Canada can be dated from the appointment by Standard Life in the 1830s of an agent in Quebec City.
Not so long ago Standard's Canadian operation gave up competing even for its declining share of the individual life insurance business in this country. Here Standard had long operated a career agency distribution system, then gave it up (like many other life companies) in favour of chasing individual life sales via brokerage. That was thought to require the offering of products carrying certain features with high up front commissions.
There was a significant distribution-related life insurance policy fraud on companies some years ago in Ontario, the investigation of which (dubbed Operation Lion as I recall) reached a certain point and was quietly shelved in order -- as far as I could determine at the time -- to avoid public embarrassment of both regulators and certain life insurance companies taken in by some unscrupulous sales people. They had taken advantage of policy designs and compensation ready made by companies to be taken advantage of.
Because of Standard's then product and high early commission system designed to attract brokerage sales, it was a company that would certainly have stood out as a leading example of victimization had there been any any real media coverage of Operation Lion.
In the modern era Standard's Canadian operation has long been more successful as an asset product/pensions/group player than as a player in the individual insurance business. Therefore, insofar as Manulife is seeking to bulk up its individual life business in Canada, the addition of Standard's Canadian subsidiary won't do much except for the addition of what's left of its declining block of in force individual life insurance policies.
Leaving to one side the price to be paid for the Standard business here it does make sense for Manulife to add substance to its operation in Canada (and especially in Quebec) where, given intelligent product pricing and distribution -- and in Manu's case that is hardly a given -- the company can add some real profits to supplement its excessive focus on chasing 'pie in the sky by and by' profits outside Canada.
For an excellent recent example of the potential financial benefit to a Canadian life insurance company's bottom line from an appropriate acquisition in Canada one need look no further than the reliably significant proportion of Sun Life's annual worldwide profits arising from its Canadian operation after it acquired Mutual Life/Clarica Life's Canadian operation in 2002 with its leading, national career agency system, an effective national distribution system for both insurance and asset products.
As both an industry 'insider' as well as an editorial critic of the life insurance business I have long been sceptical about the actual basis and degree of substance behind certain of the revenue/profit numbers from the foreign operations (especially in Asia) of North American life insurance companies. There is nothing quite so malleable as the actual and especially projected numbers involving product pricing and distribution and retention in some foreign markets put out by some life companies.
One example: I remember one senior Manulife executive confiding to me what a real mess a particular Asian operation of the company was while what I could read regularly in the financial press (as their 'reporting') was the Manulife spin of how great things were in that very operation. And of course there is always the possibility in a company's numbers of the inflation of profit figures through unrealistic product pricing, distribution costs and other self-serving assumptions. Of course some in a company's senior management inevitably respond that a life company's actuaries are entitled to make assumptions. Rather weak tea.
While the Manulife attempt to bulk up in Canada makes sense, the $4 billion price it is paying for Standard's Canadian operation seems excessive to me. In terms of real value going forward in the Canadian market there is no comparison with what Sun Life obtained to boost its market presence in Canada from its purchase of Clarica Life (the demutualized Mutual Life of Canada) in terms of size, quantity, quality, diversity, market position in every province and most significantly a very large national proprietary distribution system.
Of course there is precedent provided by Manulife itself for paying too much for an acquisition. Manu received the sort of uncritical media attention to which it became accustomed prior to its entry into the financial ditch ca 2008 when it bought John Hancock Life for $10.3 billion in stock in 2003. Hancock, formerly a mutual company, had demutualized in 2000.
At the time Manulife bought John Hancock I was far from being an industry loner in my view that Manulife overpaid for John Hancock. Indeed when Manulife bought the 141 year old Boston-based company there was a view held by more than a few within the industry that Manu had bought a company in decline.
Nor was I alone in being amused by Manu going round to American state insurance regulators within a a comparatively short period of time pleading its case for a 40% average raise in the premiums on its (i.e., Hancock's) in force Long Term Care policies (in some cases a 90% increase ws needed). The sale of LTC business was something Hancock pursued with the sort of vigour, poor judgement and questionable basis that Manulife itself later did involving the promotion and sale of that oxymoronic product: the guaranteed variable annuity.
It wasn't all that long before Hancock's enthusiastic leap into the LTC market was shown to be (to those who actually wanted to take notice) less than fortunate: its group LTC premiums had been increased by 25% in 2009, having already jumped 14% the previous year. For a sense of the magnitude of the Hancock LTC mess (amongst other facets of Hancock's operation) for which Manu had overpaid not long before the U.S. LTC market, pricing and claims really tanked, consider that by 2010 Hancock had 1.2 million LTC customers with seriously underpriced coverage and had already paid out more than $3 billion in LTC claims on just a small fraction of the coverage it had sold.
Boys and girls: can you write a sentence including the words "have you done your due diligence"?
One of the problems with much of the 'expert' analysis of life insurance companies and their operations is the often inadequate understanding of the realities of the business, including the failure to understand the importance to a company's mix of new and in force individual business of product design, pricing and distribution. Let me repeat for the umpteenth time in a RickardsRead column: active life insurance companies are in the business of selling stuff.
Manulife provides a case in point. Before Manu hit the financial ditch following the 2008 financial meltdown in the U.S. you would rarely see anything in the media or from 'experts' about Manulife that wasn't favourable. More often than not so-called analysis was laudatory, even after Manu stopped in 2004 hedging the huge risk associated with its sales tsunami of variable policies.
What is the real story behind Manulife's financial crisis?
The root cause was not the Wall Street-related financial meltdown. It was not even the fact that Manulife ceased hedging its variable annuity risk in order to increase company profits and hence senior management's already excessive compensation.
The Manulife financial problem's root cause was the absolute stupidity of senior management in proceeding to sell truckloads of variable rate product with contractually guaranteed rates of return (and moreover highly unrealistic rates over the longer terms involved in these policies). Many people experienced in the business and not willfully blinded by visions of corporate executives' sugar plums or easy commissions knew this and acknowledged the risks -- at least among themselves.
After the financial heifer dust hit the fan at Manulife it did not take long for the company's top management to go crying to Ottawa begging for regulatory relief to help provide a bit of traction with which to try to extricate the company from a financial mess of its own making. Manu's senior management got substantially less assistance than was wanted -- and rightly so.
This sort of corporate tale is only one example out of many of misguided management in financial services. The careers of too many CEOs contain far more financial compensation than achievement.
In my experience and observation some of the lousiest decisions made in the financial services business have been prompted by a couple of tendencies. Warren Buffet has remarked on one of them: people in the financial community would rather be wrong as a group than right on their own. This feeds the other tendency.
Career management considerations by executives are too often the first priority when offering opinion within the councils of a company. Indeed for too many executives the best personal tool to be relied upon is obsequious insincerity. It has certainly assisted some would be CEOs to clamber up the greasy pole.
Executive rank has been shown again and again to be no prophylactic against the allure of bad ideas. While every senior executive in a life insurance company has the right to be mediocre even stupid some have certainly abused the privilege.
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Posted by Alastair Rickard at 9:38 PM
Saturday, September 6, 2014
(No.272) "Reading Off The Beaten Path: Alistair MacLeod, Daniel Woodrell & others "
"Reading Off The Beaten Path: novels by
Alistair Macleod, Daniel Woodrell and others "
by Alastair Rickard
Many of the novels I have reviewed in RickardsRead columns have been commercially successful although not 'bestsellers'. However all have been books I enjoyed reading, some consumed as readily and with as much lasting nourishment as cotton candy at a fall fair, others savoured over time like a bottle of good wine.
Recently I have been spending some time reading (or rereading) several novels that have never made it to bestseller lists. They are off the literary beaten path and all the more deserving of attention because of that.
While the tastes in fiction of followers of RickardsRead will not necessarily or in some instances even probably match mine, those who in the past have liked novels I have recommended may enjoy reading those listed below. All are still in print.
1. "Out" by Natsuo Kirino translated by Stephen Snyder (originally published 1997; English translation first published 2003; Vintage).
Natsuo Kirino has been published in North America as a writer of crime fiction -- and she is, in part. But "Out" is more than a crime novel involving several lower middle class Japanese women who work together on a night shift packaging lunches. The novel is also an ode to a rather depressing way of life, to the economic and social plight of many women in today's Japan.
In this story these women get caught up in a grisly crime and its unexpected aftermath. The novel is not easy reading but it has real substance.
2. "Banished Children of Eve" by Peter Quinn. (Originally published in 1994, Penguin).
As one whose university education involved historiography I enjoy an historical novel the period of which interests me, that has a realistic and interesting plot and the 'history' the story calls upon is referenced accurately. I have no time to waste on historical novels that can't meet those criteria but too many of what are presented as such these days do not. "Banished Children of Eve" meets and exceeds these criteria.
Set mainly in New York City during the 1840s to 1860s it delivers a very effective portrait of the city and in particular the living conditions of its residents as the city received -- but did a lousy job of absorbing -- a flood of Irish immigrants after the various rounds of the potato famine drove Irish emigration to New York and Boston.
Peter Quinn, an Irish-American, tells the story through Irish and Irish-American characters' intersecting plot lines culminating in the American Civil War's effects on the economy and the lives of New Yorkers rich and poor. The climax of the novel involves the 1863 "draft riots" in the city which saw not only civil unrest and destruction of property but loss of life and serious confrontation between the Irish immigrants and blacks whom the former blamed for loss of jobs and declining wages.
This is an absorbing historical novel.
3. "No Great Mischief" by Alistair MacLeod (McClelland & Stewart, 1999).
Alistair MacLeod, the Canadian writer and teacher, was known best for his short stories. Rex Murphy called them "miniature masterpieces". His career as a superb wordsmith made him a bright light in the Canadian literary firmament.
Macleod, who died in April of this year, wrote only one novel: the award winning "No Great Mischief". Its focus was on the tightly knit families who came to Cape Breton from Scotland in the 18th century and then on a particular family in the later 20th century directly descended from them.
The story is told mainly through the voice of one modern character, Alexander MacDonald, who carries the narrative of the lives of various family members. MacLeod's own Cape Breton experience and heritage clearly informs the narrative.
The novel has an uncanny resonance particularly for Canadians of Anglo-Scots/Nova Scotian background and indeed for those who share aspects of this Canadian picture.
A personal example: I ended up working as a labourer in a mine/refinery in Thompson Manitoba in the 1960s before one could drive in and while it was still mainly a rough and tumble mining camp with many strange characters among its denizens. When I read MacLeod's account of Alexander MacDonald surviving in a similar setting and time frame in northern Ontario I was impressed by its verisimilitude and by the memories his narrative called up for me.
There is not a false or contrived note or poorly constructed sentence in "No Great Mischief". It is writing at its most accomplished.
4. "The Maid's Version" by Daniel Woodrell (Little Brown, 2013).
Daniel Woodrell is a novelist whose talent far exceeds his public profile in the U.S. I have written in these columns about him and his skill at writing, especially about people who, like him, lived in Missouri and the Ozarks. For me his three novels set in Louisiana now republished as the "Bayou Trilogy" rank for reading pleasure alongside the first three of Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels later issued in a single volume under the title "Berlin Noir".
Woodrell's latest novel, "The Maid's Version", is set in a Missouri town called West Table during the early decades of the 20th century. Its central characters are Alma DeGeer Dunaheu, a dirt poor day worker in the homes of the local wealthy and various members of her family. Central to the novel are the economic class system and the links to an an earlier town 'disaster', supposedly an accident claiming dozens of lives.
The Irish novelist Roddy Doyle has called Daniel Woodrell "one of the world's great novelists". I share his opinion.
5. "Cold Winter In Bordeaux" by Alan Massie (Quartet 2014).
Alan Massie is a Scottish journalist and novelist with more than 20 novels published. One of my favourite novelists Robert Harris called the first of the Bordeaux quartet ("Death in Bordeaux"} "both a thriller and a literary novel: a difficult trick but in my book the greatest to bring off".
The second in the series is "Dark Summer In Bordeaux" and with the publication of "Cold Winter In Bordeaux" Massie is three quarters of the way through the writing of a quartet of novels set in the French city of Bordeaux during the Second World War and the city's occupation by the German military.
This third novel is set during 1942-1943 and is, on one level, a murder mystery to be solved (with the Germans looking carefully over his shoulder) by the city's lead homicide detective Superintendent Lannes. He co-operates with the German occupiers no more than he is forced to do by circumstances but they are always looking out for any persons or acts they regard as relevant to their occupation or Nazi ideology.
But the novels are as much the chronicle of the Lannes family's challenges and tribulations during the war and Supt. Lannes' reaction to them. For example one son ends up working for the Vichy government while the other leaves the country and becomes a member of the French Resistance while the daughter falls in love with a young but politically naive Frenchman who has embraced the German war effort.
Lannes himself wrestles with trying to protect his family from the negative forces at play in the city and in France while doing what he can to assist Jewish or homosexual acquaintances who are trying to avoid the attentions of the Gestapo. All the while he must officially report to superiors appointed by the German occupiers.
To appreciate fully the quality of Massie's writing in these novels one should read them in the order they were written. They are as much one long narrative as three separate novels.
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"Few things are more frustrating than watching a company announce what appears to be a better-than-expected quarter, watching them raise their forecasts for the rest of the year and then watching their stock get totally hammered," Cramer said Friday. "It's always so confusing.
"You have to wonder, was the market's harsh verdict wrong or was the quarter really not that good? Or maybe it just wasn't good enough?"
The "Mad Money" host asked himself these questions after V.F. Corp. reported earnings before Friday's opening bell. V.F. Corp. delivered a 10 cent earnings beat off a $1.61 basis on revenues that rose 12 percent year-over-year. The apparel marker also reported record gross margin, meaning what it made after sales, of 47.2 percent. It raised its sales and earnings forecasts for 2011, too. Despite all of this, Cramer said the stock fell sharply on Friday.
So what happened? Cramer thinks the stock fell because it ran up too much ahead of the quarter.
"It's not that they didn't beat the expectations. It's that the beat was widely anticipated and even though V.F. Corp. raised guidance, the numbers weren't as upbeat as many had hoped, especially as, when you adjust for one-time items and currency, the earnings guidance came in below what the analysts were expecting," Cramer explained. "This is case of good, but not quite good enough given how much the stock had run."
Cramer noted that historically, V.F. Corp. has been a conservative company. He doesn't think the company is facing any long-term pressures and so it should be able to continue raising guidance through the remainder of the year. The current sell off could actually turn out to be a great buying opportunity, he said. But to learn more, he spoke with CEO Eric Wiseman. To see the full interview, watch the video.
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Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free of charge books, movies, software program, music, sites, and much more. A handful of years ago I decided to take FireFox on a test drive and boy was I impressed by its functionality, overall performance and the array of add-ons. Ooma, for instance costs about $150 for the base box, and then you still require to pay about $four per month for the taxes on the basic service. This is a quite helpful and beneficial hub for those who use the favorites toolbar specifically with all the pictures that actually assist to visualize items for the reader so they know specifically what you happen to be talking about. Now, she spreads motivational messages and shares her amazing accomplishment through many avenues: coaching, weblog, Facebook posts and radio interviews. I actually consider we are going to see Voipo eclipse a lot of the bigger phone providers as time goes on.
There are other internet browsers like Safari and Opera that have earned a location in the top 5. However, Google Chrome, which was initially introduced in September 2008, has speedily risen among the top 3 most well-liked internet browsers and has now become the internet browser of option. That's why Internet Explorer and numerous other browsers have constructed-in pop-up blockers and methods to block particular internet sites. Functionality: given that FireFox comes with thousands of versatile add-ons that boost one's internet expertise which may possibly not be accessible on other browsers, you may possibly pick to use FireFox especially for these purposes. I create Squidoo lenses (net pages, just like this one) and I find that as I edit, save and publish these lenses, the speed is considerably far better in Chrome as opposed to FireFox. What a fab idea to have a motivational radio station – would by no means have thought about it but it makes best sense!
If you are looking for a way to disable or turn off pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer 10, follow these easy guidelines to get the job carried out. However, it is effortless adequate to take the extra step and deactivate pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer totally. Employing different browsers for different purposes is a individual choice and will rely on what you do. But in my knowledge, making use of multiple browsers has definitely enhanced my internet browsing expertise. Rather than turn off pop-up blocker fully, you could want to make minor adjustments to the Internet privacy settings so that pop-ups are only blocked for particular sites. Figure 2. Click the Settings button to access the Pop-up blocker settings in the Internet Choices – Privacy menu. Occasionally, performing a disk cleanup to remove short-term internet troubles can help make your web browser really feel quicker, and fix issues displaying web sites.


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The client needed help updating their old website template that was built in an outdated version of Adobe's Dreamweaver. Though it's not a method we recommend, the client wanted to keep using the technology but update the programming (We recommend migrating all sites to a more manageable CMS such as Drupal or Wordpress). We stepped in and gave the client an updated site by creating a better User Experience, updated Interface and and the latest interactive web technologies, all while maintaining the clients request of utilizing Adobe Dreamweaver.
The American Savings Foundation is an independent charitable foundation dedicated to strengthening the community by supporting education, human services, and the arts, with a special emphasis on the needs of children, youth and families, through grants to community organizations and college scholarships.
Established in 1976, New York based MJF Contracting is a family owned and operated business, specializing in retail, institutional and corporate construction. Though the client was having great success offline, they wanted to expand their client base, and they knew to do that, they needed a website.
MJF also wanted to use their website as a tool for their business, not only in an advertising sense, but they also wanted their contractors to be able to log in, and upload document and photos pertaining to current projects.To ensure the client's website would reach as many users as possible, we designed a fully responsive website that would deliver their content appropriately, whether the visitor is was visiting using their desktop, or mobile device. We delivered their site built upon a WordPress foundation, giving them the ability to update the site's content when they needed, and allowing us to utilize WordPress's login feature to allow their contractors to sign in and upload information as needed.


text: All, The work on the "PWG Standard for Multifunction Device Counters" is nearing completion. Before a standard MIB is coded we are looking for the subset of counters to mandate in all implementations of the Counter MIB or schema. One of the goals of this work is to facilitate the development of fleet management applications in a heterogeneous imaging environment. I need input from you to arrive at a manageable subset of counters that meets the needs of fleet management applications and is not to onerous for MFP vendors to implement. Please send me your input by close of business Friday October 29. Send your comments to <mailto:wins at pwg.org <mailto:wins at pwg.org> > or you can mail them to me d irectly <mailto:pzehler at crt.xerox.com <mailto:pzehler at crt.xerox.com> > . The current version of the specification is available on the PWG ftp server at <ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg/wims/wd/wd-wimscount10-20040913.pdf <ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg/wims/wd/wd-wimscount10-20040913.pdf> > or <ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg/wims/wd/wd-wimscount10-20040913.doc <ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg/wims/wd/wd-wimscount10-20040913.doc> > Thanks, Pete Peter Zehler XEROX Xerox Innovation Group Email: PZehler at crt.xerox.com Voice: (585) 265-8755 FAX: (585) 422-7961 US Mail: Peter Zehler Xerox Corp. 800 Phillips Rd. M/S 128-25E Webster NY, 14580-9701 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.pwg.org/archives/wims/attachments/20041021/9f5374b7/attachment-0001.html


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A male wild turkey weighs between 16 and 24 pounds when fully grown, while an adult female wild turkey weighs 8 to 10 pounds. Raised on farms for human consumption, domestic turkeys range in size from 5 pounds to more than 40 pounds.
On average, domestic turkeys weigh twice as much as their wild counterparts. In fact, they are so heavy that they usually cannot fly. Within 18 weeks after hatching, a male domestic turkey can attain a weight of 30 pounds. The largest wild turkey on record weighed in at 37 pounds, while the heaviest turkey ever raised weighed 86 pounds.


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Renault Scenic Thule Roof Racks and Equipment
Renault Scenic
The Scenic is the smaller of Renault's MPV's but can still take a family away with all their luggage in a box on the roof rack, and a cycle carrier on the back tow ball with bikes for fun.
Please find below links to Thule Roof Racks, Roof and Tow Ball Mounted Bike Carriers, Water Sports Carriers, Roof Boxes, Ski Carriers and Accessories for your Renault Scenic.
Thule supply 2 models of Roof Rack for the Renault Scenic, Standard bars and the more stylish and aerodynamic Aero bars. Able to take a range of Thule roof boxes, roof mounted bike carriers and kayak carriers. Click Here to visit the roof rack selector to find your model of Scenic and the roof rack to fit!
Thule Bike Carriers and Racks for the Renault Scenic. Both roof rack and tow ball mounted bike carriers are available. You can find the correct rear mounted cycle carrier using our cycle carrier selector.
To view Thule Roof Racks and Equipment for other Renault models click here.


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Who I am Instead...
I am: A child of the King, A New Creation, An Ambassador of Christ...
Monday, July 9, 2012
Don't quit your day job.....
There is an artist somewhere inside of me just begging to be released. I already told you about my addiction to "pinterest"....well in my musings through some of the most recent pins, I came across several pins that show you how to be creative with art in journals (complete with online classes for a fee) and then I came across something on" You tube" called "Doodle Diem". This is the result of my visit to the "how to" videos. For those of you that may be looking for some hidden meaning in the art, there isn't any..... Don't worry, I am not going to quit my day job yet.
Posted by "Virtuous Wannabe" at 8:27 PM No comments:
Sunday, July 8, 2012
True or false....It is "semi-hot" in Florida
The thermometer under the eve of my deck was registering at 110 degrees...less than an hour later following a quick summer rain, it registered 85. That is Florida weather for you....so unpredictable. Yesterday, as I spoke to a newfound friend via phone, I confessed that I trust God 100% in some areas of my life (such as provision) but trust Him very little in other areas (such as being sovereign in the lives of the children He gave me). I said all of this as an illustration to my friend, hoping to encourage and minister to her....BUT God (I love when I see "But God" in the Bible)...being the "tide turner" that He is used her to minister to me. She said, "Sue, you know that God is not semi-sovereign. If you struggled with the answer to the True or False question in the title of this post....let me help you. It is an absolute truth that it is hot in Florida right now...one only need to walk outside and feel their makeup melt away to know this. It is also absolutely true that God is completely sovereign, right here...right now.....This is an attribute of God that I need to cling to.
Posted by "Virtuous Wannabe" at 5:03 PM No comments:
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Yep....finally a "Sue can do" project
Pinterest". Many of you are familiar with this website but for those of you that are not, it is a website that consist of "pinboards", you express your interest, hobbies, etc. and all people in the "Pinterest" world create "pins" which are various places of information that you can pin to your boards. The sky is the limit. You will think you can do or make anything. I find that most of the time, I "pin" away in hopes of that "rainy day" where I can get around to doing and making all of the projects. One of my boards is called a "Sue can do" board. I am not the most "crafty" person. I am known as the "tacky decorator" and I get it honest from my mother. Many wonder why I have no pictures on the walls, curtains on the windows, or other decorative items in my home, it's because I don't have a clue how. I just don't have the knack for decorating. Anyhoo (as my friend Deb would say), today I found a true "Sue can do". Many of you made your first flag cake in elementary school. I am almost a half century old and today I made my first....thought it turned out "cute". Please don't count the stars and stripes (after all, it's the thought that counts"). Happy Independence Day!
Posted by "Virtuous Wannabe" at 6:55 PM No comments:
Monday, July 2, 2012
God's not through with me yet:)
It has been over a year since I wrote last. Call it's writer's block, call it a slump, call it whatever you will. Truth is that God has been showing me that I talk entirely way too much. I stumbled across my friend Deb's blog Deb's blog and it occurred to me that the very thing that makes me want to read her blog is that she is not "psychoanalyzing" the world, she is just simply sharing a piece of her life daily. I talked to her about this Sunday and decided that I would love to return to the blogging world but only with less to say. So, here goes....I can't wait to tell you in "smidgen's" how God has humbled me since my last post.
Posted by "Virtuous Wannabe" at 8:04 PM 1 comment:
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MOORHEAD — The Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) has released the results of a review of practices at Mississippi Delta Community College after receiving complaints of alleged mismanagement. PEER wrote: "On May 2, 2012, PEER received a complaint from two legislators (later joined by eight more) regarding allegations that had been made to them of possible ...Read More »
Home » Tag Archives: ethical
Tag Archives: ethical
Legislator resigns, fined for steering contracts to family
BRANDON — A five-year Mississippi House member has resigned and agreed to pay a $10,000 fine to resolve an ethics case the state brought against him over public contracts that went to his family's printing company — a fraction of the amount he originally was ordered to pay. Republican Rep. Kevin McGee, 42, of Brandon, resigned yesterday, effective immediately. >> ...Read More »


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Identity Cloaker is a VPN based service, and one of the few that will allow you to watch RTE in UK or anywhere outside Ireland. Can you Watch RTE in the UK or US ? Well first of all I had to test it, I tried to access RTE from the UK first without an Irish proxy but it didn't work too well. Here's the screen I got.
As you can see it detected that I wasn't trying to access from the Republic or Northern Ireland by my IP address and so blocked my access. Not a great surprise, seemingly everything you do online nowadays is tailored to your location and crucially your IP address. Although this is very annoying if you happen to be living or working abroad. The person who asked me to access this was a student from Ireland studying in the US, she just wanted to watch the Late Show on RTE.
Now Using an Irish Proxy
Anyway now I have a chance to access the same page after connecting through one of Identity Cloaker's Irish VPN servers.
So for BBC you need to choose a UK server, Hulu and all the US stations need a US server and so on. The network is growing fast so you have access to a lot of the worlds media now with this program. In fact they now have servers in the following locations Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italian, Dutch, Japan, USA, UK to name just a few - plus unlike many companies you get access to all of them for your subscription.
Many companies just let you have access to one country and charge extra for access to the others. However if you want to watch RTE then you'll need a company who has an Irish IP address list. There is some incredible content available over the world through these connections - try checking out the US TV channels, the Canadian or Australian there are loads of fantastic content.
Irish proxy in order to connect to the RTE player web site. You'll need to restart your browser when you connect through a proxy server or VPN. So I select an Irish proxy and restarted my browser. You can see the change straight away, what you see is decided by your IP address, my home page has switched to Google.IE and all my search results would now be based on Irish results.
This would happen whilst I was connected to the Irish proxy by default. But what I wanted to check was if I still got blocked from the RTE Player web site. Well I went to the RTE player web site and it worked straight away, here's the same web page as above when I accessed via the Irish proxy server.
Here you can see I was able to access the RTE player with no restrictions because it believed I had an Irish IP address like this. If you're outside the country and not using some Irish proxy or VPN then you'd get the international version which allows limited access.
Just as I can watch BBC Iplayer, ITV, Channel 4 by choosing a UK server or Hulu, NBC and Pandora selecting a US Server. Here's a method using an Irish proxy well actually a VPN.
Once you see how easy it is to use and the amazing shows that you can stream from all across the globe it will open up the internet so much more. You will never get blocked based on location at all, just as long as Identity Cloaker have a server for it. They're definitely the best choice for an Irish server.
Try it out, the subscriptions are monthly and you can cancel whenever you like. Most of the other TV proxy companies are charging more than they do for a solitary country -


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It is necessary to know about essay writing techniques because you can able to get the attention of your readers. If you want to impress people around you on how you write or create an essay, here are things that are important to consider.
Techniques for Personal Essay Writing
If you're writing a personal essay that is based on personal experience, you need to ensure you able write a good story. It must need to cite incident, conflict, obstacles, complications, climax and resolution. For personal writing, here are scenes that are important to know:
On the other hand, for essay writing techniques; here are things that you need to remember. For general technique, you need to have a beginning, middle and end. The introduction part must need to outline the problem, an explanation and outline your main arguments.
Need a professional help with literature review? Our best literature review writing services will help you!
A good essay writing technique is about having a well-ordered essay. You need to have a plan for your essay and ensure you have bullet points, spider diagram or table with the main components of your answers. Additionally, ensure it is clearly order. Poor structure will disappointment readers that is why you need to order your thoughts logically.
Using Subtitles Helps You in Organizing Your Essay
- Make sure to understand the question. You need to demonstrate understanding about the key issues as well as about the conceptual awareness. Don't be vague and always illustrate specific referenced examples, you may use a sample essay for this purpose. Using pictures, maps or figures is a good idea in illustrating points.
- Demonstrating both sides of an argument is important. You need to show that you have a deep understanding about your topic. As much as possible, you need to divide your essay into parts and read understand it before you begin.
- For the conclusions, it is required that you able sum up all your arguments. Don't introduce new information in this stage. Instead, you need to highlight essential points and follow essay writing instruction. You also need to give conclusion that is strong that will be remembered by readers.
Writing a good essay and knowing how to write an impressive essay is essential that is why you need to do your best and check how to use 5 paragraph essay format.


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Get your camera ready for an eye-popping holiday to St. Petersburg, a stunning destination on your cruise to Russia and the Baltic. Called the Venice of the North because of its elegant buildings, canals and bridges, St. Petersburg oozes beauty, culture and bling.
If your holiday includes staying overnight, you'll adore the summer White Nights, where the sun barely sets. You'll find elaborate palaces, grand churches and artistic treasures here, including the striking Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, with its 7,000 square metres of mosaics.
Take in jaw-dropping views from St Isaac's Cathedral, whose dome is decorated with 200 pounds of pure gold, or be amazed by the Hermitage, the Tsar's former Winter Palace, with its glittering interiors and vast art collection. There's history, ballet and much more to explore in fabulous St. Petersburg.
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With expert local guides, easy 24-hour cancellations, plus guaranteed first off ship and return-to-ship if your tour is delayed, our tailor-made shore excursions allow you to experience each incredible destination in a whole new way. See the stunning sights of St. Petersburg, visiting locations where history was made, such as the grand house where Rasputin met his end and the Tsar's former Winter Palace. Enjoy the beauty of St. Petersburg from the waterways or on a narrated drive. To book the best cruise to Russia and St. Petersburg, see our most popular shore excursions below. .
See the key sights of Russia's magnificent imperial city on a narrated drive. Marvel at the Winter Palace, the Hermitage Museum, the Admiralty and the glittering St. Isaac's Cathedral.
Enjoy St. Petersburg with a two-day tour taking in palaces, exquisite gardens, the world-famous Amber Room, the Hermitage, onion-domed churches and more. Includes a delicious Russian lunch.
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