text:
Positive Remodeling of the Coronary Arteries Detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Asymptomatic PopulationMESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis)
Author + information
- Received October 26, 2008
- Revision received December 11, 2008
- Accepted December 22, 2008
- Published online May 5, 2009.
Author Information
- Cuilian Miao, MD*,
- Shaoguang Chen, MS†,
- Robson Macedo, MD*,
- Shenghan Lai, MD†,
- Kiang Liu, MD§,
- Debiao Li, PhD∥,
- Bruce A. Wasserman, MD*,
- Jens Vogel-Clausen, MD*,
- João A.C. Lima, MD*,‡ and
- David A. Bluemke, MD, PhD¶,* (dbluemke{at}jhmi.edu)
- ↵*Reprint requests and correspondence:
Dr. David A. Bluemke, MRI Room 143 (Nelson Basement), The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess coronary arterial remodeling as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis using coronary wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an asymptomatic population-based cohort.
Background In early atherosclerosis, compensatory enlargement of both the outer wall of the vessel as well as the lumen, termed compensatory enlargement or positive remodeling, occurs before luminal narrowing.
Methods One hundred seventy-nine participants in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) trial were evaluated using black-blood coronary wall MRI. Coronary cross-sectional area (vessel size), lumen area, and mean wall thickness of the proximal coronary arteries were measured.
Results Men had a greater vessel size, lumen area, and mean wall thickness than women (38.3 ± 11.3 mm2vs. 32.6 ± 9.4 mm2, 6.7 ± 3.2 mm2vs. 5.3 ± 2.4 mm2, and 2.0 ± 0.3 mm vs. 1.9 ± 0.3 mm, respectively, p < 0.05). No significant coronary artery narrowing was present by magnetic resonance angiography. Overall, coronary vessel size increased 25.9 mm2per millimeter increase in coronary wall thickness, whereas lumen area increased only slightly at 3.1 mm2for every millimeter increase in wall thickness (difference in slopes, p < 0.0001). Adjusting for age and sex, participants with an Agatston score >0 were more likely to have wall thickness >2.0 mm (odds ratio: 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 3.84).
Conclusions Coronary wall MRI detected positive arterial remodeling in asymptomatic men and women with subclinical atherosclerosis.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently defined as clinically significant when luminal narrowing is present, typically at the 50% diameter reduction threshold. However, in early atherosclerosis the first arterial changes consist of compensatory enlargement of both the outer wall of the vessel as well as the lumen, termed compensatory enlargement or positive remodeling (1–3). Evidence from histopathological and clinical studies suggests that positive remodeling is associated with plaque vulnerability and plaque rupture (4–7). Prior studies have indicated that the process of positive remodeling can be prevented (8) and modulated (9) by statin therapy.
Whereas positive remodeling has been shown in patients with symptomatic CAD, it has not been shown in asymptomatic individuals and its relationship to other measures of subclinical atherosclerosis has not been established. This knowledge gap stems from the absence of noninvasive methods that allow for quantification of coronary vessel wall size in a large asymptomatic population. The most commonly used imaging technique to identify positive remodeling has been intravascular ultrasound. Intravascular ultrasound detects positive remodeling and can characterize plaque composition (2–7). The technique, however, is not suitable for a screening method because of its invasive nature. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has been used to assess positive remodeling in patients with symptomatic CAD (10). Potential disadvantages of MDCT include ionizing radiation and injection of iodinated contrast.
Black-blood coronary wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect increased wall thickness in patients with X-ray angiography–documented CAD with good reproducibility (11–14). Although coronary wall MRI is complex and sophisticated, the technology can be applied to an asymptomatic population because it is noninvasive and radiation-free. The purpose of this study was to detect and quantify subclinical atherosclerosis in a large asymptomatic population using coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and coronary arterial wall MRI.
Study participants
Study subjects were recruited from participants in the Baltimore and Chicago field centers of the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) trial. The study design of the MESA trial has previously been described in detail (15). In brief, participants of 4 ethnic origins (Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, and Chinese) ages 45 to 84 years were enrolled from 6 U.S. field centers (Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Forsyth County, North Carolina; Los Angeles County, California; northern Manhattan, New York; and St. Paul, Minnesota). Individuals with known clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline were excluded.
One hundred seventy-nine participants from examination 4 of the MESA trial (October 2005 to February 2008) were enrolled in this prospective cohort study (Table 1).The mean age was 61 ± 9 years; 90 were men and 89 women. Sixty-four percent were Caucasian, and 36% were African American. We excluded participants with a heart rate above 85 beats/min (because of technical limitations of the MRI technique), claustrophobia, contraindications to MRI, and without sinus cardiac rhythm. Information on demographics, smoking, and medical history were collected, and the measurements of covariates, including plasma lipids, fasting glucose, resting blood pressure, Framingham risk score, and common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were obtained according to the MESA study design and methods (15). Left ventricular (LV) mass was determined by cardiac MRI as described previously (16). The study was approved by the respective institutional review boards. All participants provided written informed consent.
Coronary MRI
All participants were imaged on a 1.5-T whole-body magnetic resonance scanner (Avanto, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) with a gradient strength of 45 mT/m, slew rate of 200 T/m/s, and 12-channel receive coils (6 anterior and 6 posterior). The period of coronary diastasis was determined for each participant based on a 4-chamber cine steady-state free precession sequence. The MRAs were acquired during free breathing using an axial 3-dimensional (3D) whole-heart, navigator and electrocardiogram-gated, fat-suppressed, T2-prepared steady-state free precession sequence. Sequence parameters were: TR/TE 3.8/1.7 ms, bandwidth 975 Hz/pixel, flip angle 90°, field of view 320 × 320 mm2, matrix 288 × 288 interpolated to 512 × 512, slice thickness 3.0 mm interpolated to 1.5 mm, navigator acceptance window ±2 mm.
The 3D multiplanar reformations were performed on MRA images to localize the left main (LM), the proximal left anterior descending (LAD), and the right coronary artery (RCA). Cross-sectional coronary wall MRIs were acquired at 5-mm intervals from the origins of the LM (1 image), the proximal portions of the LAD and RCA (3 images for each artery at 5-mm intervals) as previously described (17). Coronary wall MRIs were acquired with a double inversion recovery, motion adapted navigator gated, asymmetric adiabatic spectral inversion pulse for fat suppression, T2 turbo spin-echo sequence with the parameters: TR 2 R-R intervals, TE 33 ms, echo-spacing 6.6 ms, bandwidth 305 Hz/pixel, matrix 512 × 512, field of view 420 × 420 mm2, slice thickness 5 mm, navigator acceptance window ±2 mm. The examination time was limited to 60 min or less to complete the protocol.
MRI analysis
For coronary MRA analysis, the images were transferred to a 3D image analysis workstation (Leonardo, Siemens). Image analysis of 3D multiplanar reformations and maximum intensity projections for LM, the proximal portions of LAD, and RCA were performed by 2 experienced observers to detect any significant luminal narrowing (>50% diameter reduction). Black-blood images were graded on a 3-point scale: 1 = nonvisualization; 2 = adequate; and 3 = good. Coronary wall images with a score of 2 or 3 were analyzed using VesselMASS software (Division of Image Processing, Radiology Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands [18]) by an observer blinded to coronary MRA results and other clinical information. The images were zoomed to 1,000%. The outer (adventitial) and inner (luminal) boundaries of the coronary wall were traced manually using a region-of-interest tool. The outer contour area (cross-sectional vessel size), lumen area, and mean vessel wall thickness (related to the plaque burden) were obtained from the software reports.
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) measurement
Computed tomography (CT) scanning of the chest was performed with a prospectively electrocardiogram-triggered scan acquisition at 50% of each RR interval with an MDCT system (Volume Zoom, Siemens) that acquired 4 simultaneous 2.5-mm slices for each cardiac cycle in a sequential axial scan mode. Each participant was scanned twice consecutively. Scans were read centrally at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center to identify and quantify coronary calcification (19). CAC measurements were adjusted with a standard calcium phantom scanned simultaneously with each participant. The mean Agatston score was used in all analyses.
Statistical analysis
All of the statistical analyses were performed with the use of statistical software SAS version 9.2 (Statistical Analysis System, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina). Continuous variables are presented as means with standard deviations. When multiple measurements of a single coronary artery were available, they were averaged for that vessel to constitute a single data point. Both procedures UNIVARIATE and CAPABILITY in SAS were used to assess normality of the variables of interest. An unpaired ttest was used to compare with group mean values after assessing for normality of the distributions. Because the CAC score was not normally distributed, log-transformed CAC was used in the comparisons. A chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between coronary artery wall thickness and: 1) outer contour area; and 2) lumen area before and after adjustment for measures of body and heart size (body mass index, LV mass, respectively). Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between dichotomized CAC and coronary arterial wall thickness. To examine whether 2 correlation confidents were equal, a method proposed by Cohen and Cohen (20) was used and the SAS procedure covariance analysis of linear structural equations (CALIS) was used to perform the analysis.
Participant characteristics
The characteristics of the study population are summarized in Table 1. The number of participants with dyslipidemia, smoking history, or non-0 coronary Agatston calcium score in men was greater than those in women (p < 0.05). Agatston calcium score and common carotid IMT were greater in men than in women (p < 0.05). Framingham risk score was greater in women than in men (p < 0.05). All participants meeting the enrollment criteria completed coronary artery MRA and coronary wall MRI. The image quality of all MRAs was adequate for analysis at the sites at which coronary artery wall images were obtained. No significant stenoses (≥50% luminal diameter reduction) in the LM and the proximal portions of RCA and LAD were identified.
Coronary arterial wall remodeling
A total of 365 coronary wall MRIs (LM 108, LAD 121, and RCA 136) with grade 2 and 3 of image quality scores in 179 participants were evaluated. The imaging protocol was not completed for 52 arterial locations primarily because of patient tolerance or examination time exceeding 60 min. The coronary artery wall could not be visualized at 129 locations. The overall image quality scores of 365 coronary wall images were 2.6 ± 0.24, 2.6 ± 0.24, and 2.7 ± 0.21 for the LM, LAD, and RCA, respectively. There was no significant difference in image quality score among the coronary artery segments (p > 0.05). Coronary arterial wall MRI measurements are summarized in Table 2.Coronary vessel size, expressed as either outer contour area or lumen area, had a normal distribution. Men had a greater mean outer contour area and lumen area than women (38.8 ± 11.3 mm2and 6.7 ± 3.2 mm2vs. 32.6 ± 9.4 mm2and 5.3 ± 2.4 mm2, respectively, p < 0.05). Mean wall thickness in men was greater than that in women (2.0 ± 0.3 mm vs. 1.9 ± 0.3 mm, respectively, p < 0.05). The LM outer contour area and lumen area were greater than that of the LAD or RCA (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in coronary artery wall thickness between LM and LAD or RCA.
As coronary artery wall thickness increased, the overall vessel size (outer contour area) increased at a greater rate than the change in the lumen area. Specifically, the outer contour area increased by 25.9 mm2for every millimeter increase in mean wall thickness (p < 0.0001). Lumen area also increased, but at a smaller rate of 3.1 mm2for every millimeter increase in mean wall thickness (p < 0.0001). This indicated that the coronary vessel size enlarged to compensate for atherosclerotic change, that is, positive remodeling (examples in Figs. 1 and 2).⇓
For men, the outer contour area increased 26.2 mm2for every millimeter increase in wall thickness, whereas the lumen area increased 3.2 mm2per millimeter increase in wall thickness (difference between slopes, p < 0.0001) (Fig. 3A).For women, the relationship was similar: outer contour area increased 23.9 mm2per millimeter increase in wall thickness, whereas lumen area increased 2.3 mm2per millimeter increase in wall thickness (difference between slopes, p < 0.0001) (Fig. 3B).
To consider the possibility that increased vessel size and wall thickness could be explained by body size alone, the regression analyses were repeated after adjustment for body mass index or LV mass. After adjustment, the relationships of mean wall thickness to outer contour area and lumen area for both men and women remained statistically significant. Adjusting for LV size (mass), the outer contour area increased 0.141 mm2/g and the lumen area index increased 0.018 mm2/g per millimeter increase in wall thickness in men (p < 0.0001). For women the outer contour area index increased 0.187 mm2/g and the lumen area index increased 0.019 mm2/g per millimeter increase in wall thickness (p < 0.0001). When the LM, LAD, and RCA were examined individually, the positive correlations between outer contour area and vessel wall thickness remained significant (p < 0.0001, all territories).
Coronary calcification and positive remodeling
Eighty-two participants (82 of 179, 46%) had coronary calcification. The mean calcium scores in men and women were 163 and 50 Agatston units, respectively, indicating mild atherosclerosis. The distribution of CAC (or log CAC +1) versus wall thickness was nonlinear because of wide variation in wall thickness for participants with a CAC score of 0 (i.e., noncalcified plaque). To test the hypothesis that CAC was associated with increased wall thickness, logistic regression was used to relate Agatston score to median wall thickness of the study population (1.96 mm). Arterial wall thickness greater than the median was significantly associated with positive CAC score (odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 3.8) in univariate logistic regression analysis. There was little change after adjustment for age and sex (odds ratio: 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 3.8).
This is the first study to noninvasively show positive coronary wall remodeling in asymptomatic individuals with no history of CAD as well as the relationship between coronary calcification and arterial wall thickness by black-blood coronary MRI. Positive remodeling was present in the coronary arteries of both men and women. Mean coronary wall thickness was assessed by MRI as a measure of atherosclerosis, and the lumen area on average showed a slight increase as wall thickness increased (Figs. 3A and 3B). However, the predominant change in the vessel size was a more substantial increase in the outer contour area of the vessel wall (Figs. 3A and 3B). These relationships persisted after adjusting for body size or heart size. The combination of these findings is consistent with positive arterial remodeling in early atherosclerosis (1–3). Glagov et al. (1) observed that human coronary artery cross-sectional area increased with increasing plaque area to maintain the lumen area until plaque occupied 40% of the potential lumen area. For vessels with <20% stenosis, cross-sectional vessel area enlarged at a faster rate than plaque area increased, consequently lumen area also increased a small amount (Fig. 4).In thse present study, the outer contour area of the vessel wall increased with increasing mean wall thickness and the lumen area also increased, but at a much slower rate than the outer contour area. This indicated overcompensation, consistent with the previously mentioned histopathological studies.
Arterial calcium by CT is an established marker of coronary atherosclerosis. Prior studies have shown that CAC is closely correlated with plaque burden (21,22). Although CT CAC measures only a fraction of the total plaque burden, we may expect to see an overall relationship with arterial wall thickness defined by MRI. In the present study, CAC score using the Agatston score was positively associated with increased arterial wall thickness before and after adjustment for age and sex.
The use of MRI presents several advantages as well as limitations for identification of early coronary atherosclerosis. The method is noninvasive without ionizing radiation, and a contrast agent is not used. The arterial wall signal is readily identified because of its relatively high signal intensity compared with the low signal of adjacent periadventitial fat and lumen. This high level of conspicuity for the arterial wall is offset by several disadvantages. Each image of the arterial wall takes 2 to 3 min to acquire, and we excluded patients with elevated heart rates caused by short periods of coronary diastasis. Low image quality is present when respiratory patterns are irregular, because imaging is simultaneously gated to both the electrocardiogram and the motion of the diaphragm. Also, our protocol was challenging to implement: 2 MESA sites in Baltimore and Chicago with multiple technologists were used for a sophisticated protocol that required near-real-time reformation of the coronary angiogram and precise placement of perpendicular image slices with avoidance of coronary branches. The spatial resolution of MRI is much worse than intravascular ultrasound, although contrast resolution is generally better. Ultrasound methods have defined a remodeling index based on identification of the external elastic membrane, but this structural detail is not present on MRI. Factors such as partial volume effects and insufficient blood flow suppression currently limit this method to determine a threshold for normal coronary artery wall thickness. Current MRI methods have not resolved plaque components of the coronary artery in vivo. Despite these issues, evidence of positive coronary arterial remodeling was detected in both men and women without symptomatic CAD and no significant (>50%) coronary luminal narrowing as assessed by whole-heart MRA.
A previous study by Fayad et al. (12) used 2-dimensional black-blood MRI to evaluate coronary arteries in 8 normal participants and 5 patients with ≥40% stenosis of coronary arteries as assessed by X-ray angiography. The results showed that the average maximum coronary wall thickness in patients was significantly greater than that in normal participants (4.38 ± 0.71 mm vs. 0.75 ± 0.17 mm, p < 0.0001). In another study, 2-dimensional black-blood coronary wall MRI showed that both mean vessel wall thickness and mean wall area were greater in CAD patients than in healthy participants (1.5 ± 0.2 mm vs. 1.0 ± 0.2 mm and 21.2 ± 3.1 mm2vs. 13.7 ± 4.2 mm2, p < 0.02) (11) as well as in patients with diabetic nephropathy (23).
Worthley et al. (24) used serial MRI at baseline and 6 months after aortic balloon denudation in a Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits model to show positive arterial remodeling. Their results showed that the vessel wall area increased significantly after treatment. The outer arterial wall area showed much larger changes compared with proportionately smaller increases in lumen area. These MRI results were confirmed by histopathology. Kim et al. (14) used 3D black-blood coronary wall MRI to detect positive arterial remodeling in the RCA of 6 patients in areas of nonsignificant CAD (10% to 50% diameter reduction). Both mean coronary wall thickness and wall area were significantly increased in the patients compared with 6 healthy participants, whereas the lumen diameter and lumen area were similar, indicating positive arterial remodeling.
Positive arterial remodeling may be related to accumulation of plaque in the arterial wall, with overcompensation of nondiseased areas caused by endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in response to increase of shear stress (25,26). Based on this mechanism, eccentric plaque should contribute more to the positive arterial remodeling than diffuse atherosclerosis. Early coronary artery plaques are usually eccentric (27), therefore positive remodeling mostly occurs in the early stage of atherosclerosis.
Clinical significance
These results suggest progress in using noninvasive imaging for the detection of early atherosclerosis. Currently most noninvasive imaging studies using CT or MRA are focused on detection of coronary artery narrowing because 50% coronary narrowing is the current threshold for angiographic treatment. If the reliability and spatial resolution of MRI can be improved, early and potentially more treatable atherosclerotic disease could be evaluated and monitored noninvasively.
Positive remodeling of the coronary artery wall was detected in asymptomatic men and women using MRI. With further development, MRI has potential as a noninvasive method for assessing plaque burden and coronary artery size.
The authors thank the other investigators, the staff, and the participants of the MESA study for their valuable contributions. A full list of participating MESA investigators and institutions can be found at http://www.mesa-nhlbi.org.
This research was supported by R01 HL78909 and contracts N01-HC-95159 through N01-HC-95169 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Paul Schoenhagen, MD, served as Guest Editor for this article.
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- 3-dimensional
- coronary artery calcium
- coronary artery disease
- computed tomography
- intima-media thickness
- left anterior descending coronary artery
- left main coronary artery
- left ventricle/ventricular
- multidetector computed tomography
- magnetic resonance angiogram
- magnetic resonance image/imaging
- right coronary artery
- Received October 26, 2008.
- Revision received December 11, 2008.
- Accepted December 22, 2008.
- American College of Cardiology Foundation
- ↵
- ↵
- McPherson D.D.,
- Sirna S.J.,
- Hiratzka L.F.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Burke A.P.,
- Kolodgie F.D.,
- Farb A.,
- Weber D.,
- Virmani R.
- Schoenhagen P.,
- Ziada K.M.,
- Kapadia S.R.,
- Crowe T.D.,
- Nissen S.E.,
- Tuzcu E.M.
- Varnava A.M.,
- Mills P.G.,
- Davies M.J.
- von Birgelen C.,
- Klinkhart W.,
- Mintz G.S.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Suzuki M.,
- Saito M.,
- Nagai T.,
- Saeki H.,
- Kazatani Y.
- ↵
- ↵
- Achenbach S.,
- Ropers D.,
- Hoffmann U.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Botnar R.M.,
- Stuber M.,
- Kissinger K.V.,
- Kim W.Y.,
- Spuentrup E.,
- Manning W.J.
- ↵
- Fayad Z.A.,
- Fuster V.,
- Fallon J.T.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Kim W.Y.,
- Stuber M.,
- Bornert P.,
- Kissinger K.V.,
- Manning W.J.,
- Botnar R.M.
- ↵
- Bild D.E.,
- Bluemke D.A.,
- Burke G.L.,
- et al.
- ↵
- ↵
- ↵
- Wasserman B.A.,
- Sharrett A.R.,
- Lai S.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Carr J.J.,
- Nelson J.C.,
- Wong N.D.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Cohen J.,
- Cohen P.
- ↵
- Rumberger J.A.,
- Simons D.B.,
- Fitzpatrick L.A.,
- Sheedy P.F.,
- Schwartz R.S.
- Sangiorgi G.,
- Rumberger J.A.,
- Severson A.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Kim W.Y.,
- Astrup A.S.,
- Stuber M.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Worthley S.G.,
- Helft G.,
- Fuster V.,
- et al.
- ↵
- Furchgott R.F.
- ↵
- Glagov S.,
- Zarins C.K.


text:
The Picbot was created to help you bring your smartphone photography and videography to the next level. The advancement of the photography hardware on smartphones has steadily been improved from picture quality to control of the shutters. The Picbot will help you utilize these improvements by capturing the moment. It will be used as an alternative to selfie sticks and other mainstream products for the smartphone recording landscape.
Picbot is a motorized mount that is controlled by the software when connected to Picbot's App on a smartphone. This allows you to access many great functions to create using your smartphones camera.
Picbot is a solution to creating steady timelapse. The Auto Tracking and Facial Tracking technology eliminates the need to be static when recording videos which brings a new dimension while being hands-free. The interaction is more natural when engaging with the smartphones when recording. There is no need for a camera controller, just yourself and what you are trying to create.
Self Rotating Facial Tracking - The Picbot Rotates To Center The Subject In Frame While Video Recording Or Taking Photos
Picbot will center the frame on the subject. You can track up to three faces at the same time. Then will automatically take photos or videos.
With Video, the Picbot will track and adjust to center the frame on a moving subject while live filming and can rotate a track a full 360 degrees.
Capture The Perfect Panorama
After centering the frame, the Picbot will automatically initiate the panorama photo sequence. Capture your surroundings just by setting up the Picbot and jumping into frame. The Picbot does the rest!
Upload your perfectly captured 360 experiences to social media!
Automated Motor - Capable Of Full Rotation In Either Direction
The Picbot can continuously rotate 360 degrees in either direction. With smooth rotation, you can use automated or manual settings to capture in all directions with steady recordings.
Use Your Mobile Phones To Create Gorgeous Timelapses
Use the Picbot to create timelapse using preset options or adjusted settings. Set the type of scenery, timing, and degree of rotation. Add a new repertoire to your smartphone photography game!
Still Motion Capture - When In Frame, Hold Pose and Picbot Will Automatically Countdown For Your Snapshot
When the subject is in frame and still, the Picbot will automatically initiate a countdown timer to snap the photo or start a video. Capturing self and group photos while being in frame could never be easier. Without setting the timer, just jump into frame and pose, the Picbot helps snap away!
1/4 Inch Thread Standard Mount For Tripods and Stands
Attach your Picbot to standard 1/4" mounts, adapters or stands.
Bluetooth Controller
Pair the included bluetooth controller when you want to take manual control instead of the automated settings. You can spin, adjust the zoom, initiate video and photos with the controller.
Simple And Intuitive App Design
Our team has spent a lot of time developing an app that works seamlessly so that you can focus on creating.
Edit Your Pictures with Built In Filters and Features
Enhance your photos without ever leaving the app adding your own personal touch.
Foldable Mini Tripod
Have a steady shot with this Mini Tripod with a standard screw mount. It also has gripped feet and locking rotating screw mount for customizable mounting positions. Collapse for easy storage. Professional and portable for every setting.
Facial Tracking
Video Recording From PicBot on iPhone 6 Plus Front Camera
Thanks for taking a look at our campaign!
We hope you can join us in making this product a reality!
Risks and challenges
We are an experienced group that have brought many products to market. With any products being brought to market, we may find some small issues along the way that can be worked out with the correct planning which we feel we have prepared for. Our team is ready to work out any issues on the hardware and software production throughout the campaign.
We have tested all the functions and they are ready for mass production. Any issues run into after receiving you product, we will stand behind the product and are available to answer any questions.
We will be constantly updating our FAQ page and responding to inquiries throughout the campaign.
Funding period
- (60 days)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Aug 8, 2019 at 6:00 pm
This CARTA symposium focuses on the contributions of scientists and scholars of anthropogeny who live and work in Africa. Himla Soodyall discusses links between the historical and genetic narrative of populations in southern Africa. Berhane Asfaw assesses the claims for the "earliest" homo sapiens.
Aug 7, 2019 at 9:00 pm
See more date(s) and/or time(s) below.
UCSD-TV on Spectrum channel 1231, Cox channel 135, ATT U-verse channel 99
Registration is not required for this event.
Natalie Ann Syster • email@example.com • 858-534-3535
Faculty, Staff, Students, The General Public
Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA)


text:
This is an article to educate you, my readers, about copyright infringement, but also to have some satirical laughs at the expense of a copyright infringer who might not have foreseen how copyright matters could be the trigger that uncovers more about your business than you would want people to notice. You will learn:
- What does not work in defense of Copyright Infringement.
- Why you should never hire an SEO company to SPAM the internet.
- Why, if you engage in other questionable business behavior, you should hope to never run into someone who happens to be adequately capable of exposing that.
Jared Grey, the Copyright Infringer
It came as a bit of a surprise to me (thanks for the tip Nathan!) to see thousands of web pages showing videos of a company called MultiPlex PC LLC (Orlando, Florida) that include a picture of my Home Office (the 5.0 version of that particular setup).
I was able to identify 6 videos, all of a similar nature, a slideshow of products and multi-monitor setups, used as a marketing vessel for the products and services of MultiPlexPC, that included this image of mine. And, as it appears they have been on there for over two years (since May 2009, to be exact). And of course, the videos and images on the MultiPlex PC Blog also reflected that, as you can see here.
When searching for videos using MultiPlexPC as the keyword it became very clear that YouTube was not the only place these videos and MultiPlex PC's "marketing and advertising" could be found. Out of about 3100 results, half of them were all copies of those original YouTube videos, and about a fourth of all of those appear to be local copies and local uploads to various other video storage services. Still, the total number of domains that would need to receive a DMCA ran in the dozens. It seems MultiPlex PC really wanted to cover the entire internet wit their marketing goals.
Of course, anyone using the images of my office, without permission, either willfully or by reckless behavior and committing an act of copyright infringement can understand that sooner or later such things tend to catch up with you.
And it certainly has for MultiPlex PC and its owner Jared Grey. A DMCA takedown notice had already been sent to YouTube while Mr. Grey, the owner of Orlando Florida based MultiPlex PC LLC responded to the matter.
Mr. Grey explained that they did "not have login credentials to the Youtube account anymore" and that "the email account associated with it had been hijacked some time ago" and "because there has been no documented revenue generated from the YouTube videos I did not find it advantageous to recover the account".
Why would I care if the videos did or did not generate any revenue, documented or otherwise? 🙂
But what's even funnier was the request for documented evidence that the pictures are actually mine. Or, as Mr. Grey put it;
"If I can recover the account I will remove the videos in question, but I will need to see documented (time stamped and watermarked photos should do) evidence that the pictures are actually yours and that you're not simply claiming they are yours to try and generate income by threatening litigation."
I can understand Jarod Grey's desire to know that I am indeed who I say I am but asking for proof when anyone with access to a search engine could easily tell certainly made me laugh a bit. Of course, my attorney would be laughing even louder while presenting tons of volume of proof in court. 🙂
The Law
Mr. Jarod Grey of MultiPlexPC was very adamant in stating that he would not pay for monetary damages for the following reason;
"I find claim that a couple of pictures buried deep in a YouTube video are generating the kind of revenue for our business that you claim. Since you cannot prove that we have made money from the videos, and I can more likely prove that we haven't"
Mr. Grey offered to remove the videos from YouTube, something which would have been taken care of by the DMCA that went out, and it became clear that once again we have encountered someone who is, indeed, ignorant about copyright law. After a little educational response it might have gotten a bit more clear, or perhaps not quite yet, but in case you are wondering why MultiPlex PC's concept of not having had any financial gain from those advertisement videos does not hold water;
- In the civil context, the term "willful" has a well established meaning and most courts use a "recklessness standard" to enhance statutory damages for copyright infringement. And while the statute does not define "willful", it consistently defines it as including reckless behavior.
- In a copyright infringement case you, as the owner of the material in question, do not always need to prove that the infringer profited from their actions. But it does help you build a better case and often gets you higher damages awarded. Instead, one can easily sue for punitive damages which are damages which punish the infringer for wrongful conduct.
Committing acts of copyright infringement as part of creating and spreading around video material used as marketing material or advertisements for your business, products, or services, does not require much effort to take to court. Depending on the situation the actual case itself may not require a lot of effort either.
A follow-up e-mail from Mr. Grey said that he was going to take care of removing the videos from YouTube (I guess the credentials had materialized quickly) but asked me why there is no public section on my website that presents the commercial licensing and cost of my images. Now that's certainly one I never heard before. Probably because nobody else ever brought it up because it is quite irrelevant.
In a free market the owner of any property, intellectual or otherwise, can set whatever price they wish. And it may very well be that larger corporations end up paying more for something that smaller businesses can get cheaper.
The Cost of DMCA takedown notices
After a little further education, provided for free, to Mr. Jarod Grey of MultiPlex PC, I also made it clear that removing all the material from dozens of places through the DMCA process can become quite expensive because of the time and effort involved. And that I certainly did not see a valid enough reason why I should be picking up the tab for thousands of dollars worth of DMCA'ing.
In the meantime, Mr. Grey of MultiPlex PC has been going about removing videos from different places and told me that various SEO companies in the past might be responsible for the content having spread so widely over the internet.
That's possible. It doesn't absolve one from the responsibility and legal liability. And in this case it should be a lesson for everyone else that if you are not 100% sure of the source of the materials you use, and there is a chance that you might have been infringing on someone's copyright, that having an SEO company help you spread the material far and wide is likely to only further harm you down the line.
The "we're a poor company, don't sue us" approach
Mr. Grey told me they did not "have any money to pay" me and that with their small margins the profits go back into "trying to grow" (the company) and "paying bills". Well, welcome to small business 101. That sums up the bulk of all small businesses. But, of course, is not an excuse for copyright infringement. Mr. Grey also informed me that they didn't have money for an attorney to battle a lawsuit, would not do any more than remove the videos in question (before I provided only a partial list of those I had found), and that I should feel free to sue because if I get a default judgment there'd be no money anyway. So being poor and defenseless is now a good enough excuse for copyright infringement? 🙂
At that point the decision is up to me, of course, but you have to wonder how much of what Jarod said is true and how much is just a collection of words in order to discourage someone from spending a few bucks on a lawsuit that yields nothing at all. After a quick round of investigating Jared Grey and MultiPlex PC I am currently convinced that this is not a very trustworthy individual.
It is possible that the cost of engaging in a discovery process during a legal case would show otherwise. But the first thing I recommend doing is to dig up as much information about the other party before making any decisions. And this is where it gets really interesting because the behavior of Mr. Jared Grey of MultiPlex PC in Orlando Florida, claiming to be "The Leader in Multiple Monitors" and being a computer building company dedicated to providing the avid market trader, video game enthusiast, poker player, engineers, and graphic artists with "unmatched computer buying experience", has started to show some really interesting and deceptive practices.
What Trading Technology Review wrote about MultiPlex PC
The Trading Technology Review website, owned by Market Pirates LLC, has made some very observant comments about MultiPlex PC, LLC. Please allow me to highlight some of those here;
"It is interesting that they offer a FXBootCamp trading computer since Wayne McDonell (the owner of FXBootCamp) just bought a trading computer from another vendor."
"They show a number of companies under the heading "A Few Companies that trust us…". This statement seems to be a stretch since we know that some of them have strong relationships with other computer vendors."
"You will need to pay an extra $200 to get a 3 year warranty with on-site service. the warranty is listed as "complete" and not "limited". There is no legal definition of a warranty that is "complete". The correct legal term is "full". I don't think they know what they are getting into with their lack of legal understanding."
"Like many who aren't, they call themselves "The Leader in Multiple Monitors!""
After my little bit of research I have to agree with Trading Technology Review. Those who call themselves leaders in anything usually aren't. Those who say they are the most trusted usually aren't. And the comment that MultiPlex PC has a lack of legal understanding is something I became quite aware of when I received the initial response from the founder and CEO, Mr. Jarod Grey. It is a bad idea to be in business without at least basic legal knowledge about your products and services.
Meet Jared Grey, the trader who is raking in the money!
How about this one? An article on Ezine@rticles from someone who recently upgraded their computer to run multiple monitors and noticed a great improvement in their day trading productivity. The article claims "Since I have upgraded to just 4 monitors instead of 1 I have made an extra $24,000 this year".
But then also mentions "If you're in the market to purchase a day trading computer and multiple monitors, check out Multiplex PC".
Does it surprise you that the article is attributed to someone named Jared Grey?
The somewhat incoherent writing of the article could be interpreted in different ways but to me it reads as if Jared was trying to get some internet marketing going while trying not to be too outrageously blatant about using a place like Ezine@rticles to post pure advertisements (like many others do and will use it for).
But that was back in November 2008. Jared Grey has certainly picked up on how to do more of it and I will show you exactly how in the next paragraphs.
How Jarod Grey of MultiPlex PC tries to get sales
Disclosure is everything. Posting comments and statements online, pretending you are a satisfied customer of a business, not disclosing that you either work for the business or own it, is a very bad thing to do. Because sooner or later it comes out and your reputation is forever destroyed by your own actions.
Even if at some later time a miracle occurs and real customers, if there are any, would start posting raving reviews of your products, people would no longer believe it because it is entirely possible that those too are fake. Don't believe me? Just ask Andre Leite Alves of Aware Bear Computers in Pittsford New York just how he dug his own grave with that one.
Here is a comment on a blog article about multiple monitor setups. Notice the inclusion there to my old 5.0 setup over at another site? Notice anything about the name of the person leaving the above comment? Yes, jgreyorl is short for Jarod Grey Orlando, as in Orlando Florida. You can find a lot of interesting things if you search for that short name and many of the things you find will lead straight back to MultiPlex PC in some form.
Also notice how Jarod Grey is pretending he recently bought a triple monitor array and plugs MultiPlex PC in there with a link to the site?
"Glad to see other people putting their rigs up for us to see", however, I'm not sure how to interpret that because to me it actually reads more like "Great to see pictures of stuff we can grab and use in our advertisement videos because we clearly have nothing of our own to show so we will just pretend we have been involved in any of the setups of which we just stole the images and we hope nobody is ever going to find out".
Someone always finds out. And if your past behavior is like this, and if that is the way you wish to run your business, then don't start crying when your business ends up losing any reputation it might have gained in the future.
At about.com there is a similar post by a similar "jgreyorl". Asking to see more pictures of multi monitor setups that his "fellow day traders" use. Asking for images so there would be fresh material to grab and use for the commercial purposes of MultiPlex PC? And again, in this post Jared Grey once again plugs his business without actually disclosing that he is the owner.
Over at ecoustics.com Mr. Grey responds to someone and tells them to try out MultiPlex PC because "THEY" have much better products. Why would the owner of MultiPlex PC have a need to refer to his own company as "THEY" instead of "I" or "WE"? Oh, because he was once again trying to not be too blatantly obvious about him plugging his business everywhere he can and doing so in a very "spammy way"!
And there the deceptive Mr. Jarod Grey of MultiPlex PC is doing it again! Passing himself off as a satisfied customer and this time trying to cover it up by saying "I spoke to all the other companies out there and Kevin at Multiplex PC was super nice and helpful.".
Uhm, if there is a Kevin there, which there might be, I don't know, why would Jared need to refer to him in this particular way? And why would the owner of MultiPlex PC need to speak to all the other companies out there only to decide to buy from his own company? Jared, you're busted again!
OK, just because you like reading how Jared Grey has completely failed to realize that doing this stuff under his own name is generally something that only really stupid con-artists end up doing, let's have another one. Over at the trade2win forums, Jared Grey "personally recommends MultiPlexPC" because he "purchased a Proplex 2100 from them" and because "they burn-in the components for 24-48 hours". Once again, posted jgreyorl, once again using "they" to refer to the company he owns.
It's getting a bit boring now, isn't it? Feel free to google around yourself and see just how much more of this you can stand to laugh at. Of course, Mr. Grey might only now realize, gee, what if I do all that and instead use different names and… oh, wait, I might actually be educating Mr. Grey again and I don't think it would be in anyone's best interest for him to get better at this tactic of trying to do business. Even Project Honey Pot has an interesting bit on Jared and MultiPlex PC and the spam violations it implies:
The Project Honey Pot system has detected behavior from the IP address consistent with that of a comment spammer. Below we've reported some other data associated with this IP. This interrelated data helps map spammers' networks and aids in law enforcement efforts
Of course, anyone googling Jarod Grey or MultiPlexPC are very likely to arrive on this site where, probably, after this exposure, it is difficult to believe anyone would believe an honest post or actual review by an actual customer because Jarod has soiled his market by trying to increase sales this way. Ah, well, live and learn.
The moral of this story should be clear if you made it this far. Never have an SEO company bloat and spread your marketing materials and advertisements if they contain copyrighted material that you are not authorized to use. Also, never step on the copyrights of someone who really does take it seriously and will investigate a little before making any decisions regarding lawsuits. And whatever you do, don't do any of these things in public view on the internet where it remains forever-and-ever to haunt you.


text:
The Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal is a double blind peer reviewed educational journal. BA (Hons) Enterprise with Finance is a comprehensive diploma designed to give you the confidence and data to successfully enter the competitive graduate jobs market. This course gives students with an in-depth knowledge of shopper and mortgage lending from a lender's perspective. Matters embody: the sorts of credit score available to match shoppers' needs, the applying and evaluation course of, investigation, documentation and assortment strategies.
An award-winning college, we're dedicated to offering our college students with the very best expertise. We continue to put money into both our amenities and our revolutionary approach to education. Our college students benefit from business-related teaching, and sources and help designed to assist them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing amenities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students' Union actions.
Please contact the International Study … Read More


text:
Carrie & Kathleen
A new beginning.
Hello Lovelies!
Welcome to my new site! I'm so excited to be using this new Squarespace format to better organize what you see when you visit. It's been a while since I've created a blog post, and with my new internet home, I will be able to bring you more variety of content.
I've been sitting on this set of shots for several months now, waiting to have the perfect place to share. These two gorgeous golden muses are my friends Carrie and Kathleen. They were sweet enough to model for me this spring, in the middle of Pisgah National Forest.
Makeup by the incredible Ali Lawless.
In this story, we are happening upon two sorceresses in the woods.


text:
Contact: Troy Newman , President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034, both with Operation Rescue, firstname.lastname@example.com WASHINGTON, June 2, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Two letters have been sent to the Department of Health and Human Services by the Select Panel on Infant Lives seeking further investigation and remedies for violations it uncovered in the course of its investigation into Planned Parenthood's trade in aborted baby remains. The investigation was initiated after the Center for Medical Progress released undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials haggling over the price of aborted baby remains.Committee Chairman Marsha Blackburn notified HHS officials that it had obtained evidence that for over a five-year period, two Planned Parenthood organizations and a third abortion facility violated HIPAA privacy laws by allowing employees of the organ procurement company StemExpress to access private patient records that clearly identified women by name and birth date.The abortion businesses at issue are all located in California. They include:
Each patient record shared constitutes a separate violation of HIPAA, noted Blackburn.Concerns were also expressed that coercion may have been involved in obtaining consents from vulnerable pregnant women for the donation of their aborted babies' remains. Each StemExpress procurement technician received a bonus for every organ or other body part obtained. In addition, technicians were instructed to inform women that the remains would be used to cure various diseases, (for which, in some cases, researchers are not actually using fetal remains), as a means of persuading women to consent.The second letter focused on evidence that StemExpress violated regulations by "fraudulently using invalid consent forms, and misleading customers to believe it had valid Institutional Review Board ('IRB') approval.""The so-called IRB used by StemExpress appeared to be phony as a three-dollar bill," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, who served as a founding board member for the Center for Medical Progress. "This gave Planned Parenthood and StemExpress' body parts business an illusion of legitimacy that it did not possess."The Select Panel is asking the HHS to conduct additional investigation into these offenses and take "all appropriate actions" if it agrees violations occurred.Nearly 80 pages of documentation accompanied the letters to support the Select Panel's conclusions that Planned Parenthood and StemExpress broke the law."The Select Panel has provided irrefutable evidence that Planned Parenthood violated the privacy of patients and that StemExpress fraudulently portrayed its organ procurement as legitimate," said Newman. "The Panel's investigation confirms what the Center for Medical Progress videos showed; that this was nothing but a scheme to exploit women and their babies for financial gain," said Newman.Read Blackburn's Letters:


text:
I'm linking up with The Broke and the Bookish for Top Ten Tuesday. The topic this week is: What are
Ten top series you haven't finished yet?
1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1)
2. Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)
3. Unhinged (Splintered #2)
4. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)
5. Legend (Legend #1)
6. The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1)
I normally try to finish a series but I couldn't with those. I have more series that I haven't finish or started that could join this list but these are the one's on the top of my head. :) Thanks for reading!


text: HomeOutfits By TypeAffordableTank Top Outfit Ideas That Are So Ridiculously Good Go through your closet and see how many cute tank tops you have. Tank tops are considered basic wardrobe essentials – they're those pieces that women own just because. Their a staple in women's clothing that styling just goes a long way. Whether you're layering it with a cool leather jacket or over a bralette, here are some stylish outfit ideas with tank tops. Suede maroon skirt, over-the-knee boots, hat, clutch purse, black tank top outfit This is one great getup to wear for fall and winter – a black tank top with suede maroon skirt, over-the-knee suede boots then add a coat or jacket when it's chilly outside. Fedora hat, gray tank top, printed blazer, denim jeans, pointed-toe ballet flats Wear your tank top to the office – it may sound weird, but with a blazer, you'll look more conservative. Throw on a blazer. Then for after work, just take it off then you'll have an instant night out look. Muscle tank top, boyfriend jeans, high heels Create a DIY muscle tank by cutting off the sleeves of your t-shirt. Then complete your look with boyfriend jeans and a pair of high heels to balance the masculine and feminine vibe of this ensemble. Printed skirt, denim jacket, white tank top outfit idea Denim jackets are very ideal all year around. They'll work easily with your tank top outfit paired with a printed pencil skirt and nude high heels. A great flirty look for daytime. Printed silk skirt Whether you're going on a date or just wanting to dress to impress, you'll certainly look delicate and lovely in this tank top and a printed midi skirt. Ripped-knee jeans and ankle boots You can never go wrong with this combo – tank top, denim jeans and ankle boots. Bright yellow skirt and yellow ballet flats, accent necklace Add a bright (or a lot of bright) piece to your getup for the day. It instantly pulls together a simple outfit. Turtleneck tank top, straight trousers, flats If you want to give an elegant vibe into your casual look, try wearing a gray turtleneck tank top and navy blue trousers. Sparkly sequined midi skirt Look fun and flirty by wearing a sequined midi skirt with your black tank top to achieve a sexy look for night out or date nights. Denim vest, black leggings and black boots Not everyone can pull off the tank top and leggings look. If you have a slim or a nice built, you'll definitely look great it it. Just add a cute outerwear to complete the look. Denim shorts, ankle boots Typical American women wear their tank top with denim shorts and ankle boots. Stand out by choosing a printed or graphic tank top instead of plain ones. Flared pants Here's a splendid look which you can rock whether it's fall, spring or summer. For fall, just add a leather jacket or a cardigan to your look. There are so many ways to style tank tops. Try out different looks and play around. Tank top is definitely a must-have that won't cost you so much. Other posts you might like: Outfit Ideas with Shirt Dresses How to Style Your Plain White Tee Outfit Ideas with Denim Dresses


text:
There are currently no product reviews.
NOTE: Reviews may require prior approval before they will be displayed
ProBMX Aluminum Square Taper Crank Set
- Brand: ProBMX
- Colour: Black Anodized with Linished Face
- Material: T6-6061 forged aluminium
- Crank Length: 170mm (this is the only size available)
- Spindle interface: JIS square taper
- Chainring BCD: 130mm
- Chainring Thickness: 3/32" (this chainring will work with either a 3/32" or 1/8" chain)
- Chainring Teeth: 44
- Weight: 630g Per Set
- Pedal Threading: 9/16"
- The chainring comes standard bolted to the front of the cranks, but you can also move it to the rear if required to line up chain with rear sprocket
- Bottom Bracket: If you need a bottom bracket, we suggest using our YST Bottom Bracket Conversion Kit With Sealed Bearings as it give the most adjustment possible. Click here to see them
- You will need 2 allen keys to fit and adjust this crank set, a 5mm for the chainring bolts and a 8mm for the bottom bracket bolts - we sell allen key sets in our tool section Click here to see them
- Model:
- 13 Units in Stock
- Manufactured by: ProBMX


text:
We use cookies to ensure that you are getting the best experience on our site.
We never store personal data in cookies. If you'd like to you can read more about our cookie policy and privacy policy.
The Draft Public Service Pensions Bill, which was presented to Parliament last week, proposes major changes to the governance and oversight of public sector pension schemes. In particular the Pensions Regulator is set to widen its current oversight of private sector pension schemes to cover public sector pensions.
Commenting on the changes, CIPFA Pensions Panel Chair, Bob Summers, said:
"Any measures intended to strengthen governance in public sector pensions should be welcomed. We at CIPFA look forward to exploring with the Pensions Regulator how existing governance arrangements and associated Codes of Practice and guidance, particularly in the sphere of the Local Government Pension Scheme, can be deployed to assist the Regulator in discharging these new responsibilities".
However Mr Summers expressed some concern at elements of the bill which seek to centralise aspects of the Local Government Pension Scheme under the control of the Treasury,
"The LGPS is unique amongst UK public sector pension schemes in that there is a clear accountability link between local fund administrators and local Council Tax payers. The introduction of a third party that can influence funding strategy and the process by which employer contributions are set weakens that link and restricts the ability of the local fund administrator to manage the fund flexibly to suit local circumstances."
Contact: Tim Windle
CIPFA Press Office
t 0207 543 5787
e firstname.lastname@example.com
Notes to Editors:
About CIPFA
CIPFA, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, is the professional body for people in public finance. Our 14,000 members work throughout the public services, in national audit agencies, in major accountancy firms, and in other bodies where public money needs to be effectively and efficiently managed. As the world's only professional accountancy body to specialise in public services, CIPFA's portfolio of qualifications are the foundation for a career in public finance. They include the benchmark professional qualification for public sector accountants as well as a postgraduate diploma for people already working in leadership positions. They are taught by our in-house CIPFA Education and Training Centre as well as other places of learning around the world. We also champion high performance in public services, translating our experience and insight into clear advice and practical services. They include information and guidance, courses and conferences, property and asset management solutions, consultancy and interim people for a range of public sector clients. Globally, CIPFA shows the way in public finance by standing up for sound public financial management and good governance. We work with donors, partner governments, accountancy bodies and the public sector around the world to advance public finance and support better public services. This includes the development of local professional qualifications in African countries like Lesotho and Nigeria and in Europe in post conflict states in the Balkans.


text:
At Nimble, we are always looking for bright people who can make a serious contribution to our organization. We are offering opportunities to talented individuals in the fields of web development, web design, search engine optimization, marketing and more. Nimble offers you an innovative, vigorous and helpful environment to pursue a professional career. Let's grow together!
Your Email:
Designed and Copyright By Nimble Solution PVT. LTD


text:
Posted Dec 9 2015
One of my favorite holiday decorations are the luminarias in New Mexico. Little paper sacks filled with sand along with a votive candle glowing inside light the driveways, courtyards, and rooftops of our homes to welcome holiday guests. If you are visiting the northern part of New Mexico, you might hear luminarias referred to as a […]Read More...
15 Comments
Posted Nov 11 2015
Hi Gang, Today's Writer Wednesday topic is about our favorite holiday books. While I enjoy reading them, I don't have any particular favorites I bust out year after year. However, I do have favorite holiday MOVIES. One of the things I look forward to the most every year is grabbing a mug of hot cocoa and snuggling […]Read More...
10 Comments
Posted Sep 8 2015
For more stories of Other's Phobia's, visit the other Writer Wednesday bloggers: Historical romance writers – Wendy LaCapra | Sweet and Inspirational writers – Kristen Ethridge | Novels with Romantic Elements – Jean Willett – Natalie Meg Evans | Romantic Suspense – Carol Post – Sharon Wray | Paranormal writers – Pamela Kopfler Kay […]Read More...
4 Comments
Posted May 6 2015
Now it's time for the blogroll! If you have a chance, please visit some of my favorite romance authors/GH sisters and hear all about their favorite desk things as well. Fellow contemporary romance writers – Jamie Wesley – Kat Cantrell – Priscilla Kissinger | Paranormal romance writers Kay Hudson – Pamela Kopfler | Romantic suspense writers Carol […]Read More...
22 Comments
Posted Apr 15 2015
Now it's time for the blogroll! If you have a chance, please visit some of my favorite romance authors/GH sisters and hear about their wedding highlights (re: disasters) as well. Historical Romance Authors Kathleen Bittner-Roth — http://kathleenbittnerroth.com/blog/ Wendy LaCapra — http://www.wendylacapra.com/blogInspirational Romance Authors Karen Fleming — www.kdfleming.com Kristen Ethridge – http://kristenethridge.com/Novels with Romantic Elements Authors Natalie Meg Evans – http://nataliemegevans.com/natalie-meg-evans-blog-siteRomantic Suspense Authors Carol Post […]Read More...
10 Comments
Posted Dec 4 2012 in Beach read, Gina Robinson, Humor, Live and Let Love, Spys
The mom has been hogging all the electronics around here, but she stepped out for a minute, so I'll make this quick. I'm putting an iPad on my Christmas list, but I'm not holding my sweet doggie breath. (Well, my breath will probably be sweet by then because the only thing I ever get in my stocking is […]Read More...
33 Comments
Posted Aug 13 2012 in Susan Elizabeth Phillips, The Great Escape
Sorry for the delay between reviews, but the mom was in LA winning something called a Golden Heart and she took all the reading devices with her. I don't know what that whole Golden Heart thing was all about, but not much has changed around here. She's outside picking up my poop as usual right […]Read More...
6 Comments
Posted Jul 9 2012
The mom in my house finally got a Kindle Fire. Much easier for my paws to manipulate, so once I figured out this voice recognition software, (It speaks Japanese and Dog, go figure) I was able to finally have my say about all the books I read while the parents are out. Now if I […]Read More...
2 Comments
Posted Jul 6 2012 in Charley Davidson, Darynda Jones
This is the latest book in the woof-a-lishish series by Darynda Jones. It doesn't come out until October 30th, but I got a sneak peek. Miss Jones said she'd only let me read this early on one condition. I had to promise to contain my excitement the next time I see her because the peeing […]Read More...
16 Comments
Home •• Meet Tamra •• Books •• Newsletter •• News •• Blog •• Privacy Policy•• Contact
© 2012-2019 Tamra Baumann. All rights reserved.
Site designed and maintained by


text:
Latest News
Commission OKs Fort Worth rodent business expansion
FORT WORTH -- A south Fort Worth business that breeds more than a half-million rats and mice a year was given approval Wednesday by the city's zoning commission to expand its operation.
The Big Cheese Rodent Factory, which has operated since 1999 at 2527 W. Dickson St., plans to spend more than $18,000 to reduce odors from the factory in response to complaints.
Nearby residents and business owners complained to city officials because of nauseating smells emanating from the business, causing Fort Worth environmental management officials to inspect the site.
"We have been good neighbors and we will strive to be better neighbors no matter where we end up in this process," said Lynda Hanna, co-owner of the factory.
The complaints of odors wafting through nearby properties caused zoning commissioners in May to delay Hanna's request to expand the business and to change the zoning for the property
The factory property is currently zoned to operate offices and a warehouse. If City Council approves the zoning commission's recommendations, the property would be appropriately zoned for the factory's breeding operations and keep it on city officials' radar including requirements that bad smells be contained.
T.C. Michael, a Fort Worth environmental management supervisor, said the factory has submitted a plan to eliminate the odor issues and that the owners are making a "conscientious effort to contain the odor."
The factory's owner hired Plano-based Air Purification Systems Inc. to install ozone machines to combat the ammonia in the air produced by the rat and mice urine.
Posie Hundly, owner of the air quality company, said the technique is very effective and the goal is to reduce the ammonia levels to 50 parts per million, which will leave only a "whiff" of the rodent scent – meaning the smells could blow by nearby properties but would not be a constant odor.
Ellen Shaw, who owns a self-storage business to the southwest of the rodent factory, said the odors have subsided but she still opposed the zoning request.
Shaw said the factory's original application requested occupancy to operate offices and a warehouse, but did not indicate a breeding business would be included.
"We feel like they have been operating illegally there for four years," she said.
The factory's owner said she did not intentionally mislead the city.
Zoning commissioner William Greenhill agreed and suggested that the new zoning classification of heavy industrial would be appropriate for the business.


text:
Jane Westfall
Product Manager, Product marketing, and Innovation Strategy in Austin, Texas
Jane Westfall
Product Manager, Product marketing, and Innovation Strategy in Austin, Texas
I help Fortune 500 brands, start-ups and scale-ups plan, design, deliver and deliver digital products, services, and marketing initiatives - working cross functionally with design, sales, engineering, data science and research.
Driven by user-centered design-thinking, I advocate for the user and drive brand resonance, aquisition, retention and growth turning insights into actionable strategies.
I'm also a Co-Founder of Urban Bellhop, the first brand to service the vacation rental market.
I came by way of working in venture capital, then business and innovation consultancies and held leadership roles at interactive marketing agencies such as @frogdesign and @AKQA (See LinkedIn). Clients include @IKEA, @Netflix, @DirectTV, @IntelMedia, @WellsFargo, @Visa, @Gap, others.
My avocations include interior design, applying usability to everyday environments and real estate property development.
"Solve the obvious problems others seem to ignore." Sir Dyson
"Every industry is open to innovation." Vin Khosla
"Good design accelerates the adoption of new ideas." Yves Behar


text:
WHEN: Autumn Nature Camp 2015, October 19-23
The teacher, Yiwen Eliens is an experienced kids yoga teacher who has practised several styles of yoga (Hatha, Bikram, Iyengar, Arial) and Dao meditation in Amsterdam, London, Taiwan, China and Berlin. She is an experienced kids yoga teacher and the founder of GEM KIDS YOGA.
There is a joyful mix of elements in her yoga classes: music, breath, games, storytelling, dancing, singing, drawing and even flying with the rope!
What a better way for kids to enjoy nature than doing yoga in a private secure forest!
Yoga is a good way for kids to develop strength, coordination, flexibility and balance.
Most importantly, it is FUN!


text:
The Offer Up app is available for download on the respective app store of a user's mobile operating system. A user needs to visit the app store and search it using the store's search function.
On a device running on Android OS, the Offer Up app is available on the Google Play store. To download the app, click on the Install button to download and install the app to the device. On a device running on iOS, the app is available on the iTunes store. The app is also available on other third party websites, but it is recommended to download only from official app stores, as downloading from other websites is possibly harmful to the device.


text:
Add Images of Islamic Phrases to Your WordPress Posts using Shortcodes
// January 24th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // Blog
For those who don't follow me on Twitter, just an update that I recently released my first WordPress plugin, called Islamic Graphics. It's a very simple script that allows self-hosted WordPress bloggers to embed images of common Islamic phrases into their posts and pages via shortcodes.
- Examples:
- 'alayhis salam – (peace be upon him)
- rahimaha Allāh – (may Allāh have mercy upon her)
- rahimahu Allāh – (may Allāh have mercy upon him)
- rahimahum Allāh – (may Allāh have mercy upon them)
- radiallahu 'anha – (may Allāh be pleased with her)
- radiallahu 'anhu – (may Allāh be pleased with him)
- radiallahu 'anhum – (may Allāh be pleased with them)
- sallalahu 'alayhi wa salam – (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)
- subhanahu wa ta 'ala – (glorified and exalted be He)
A black version of each graphic is also provided, and there are also options to include text. Full preview available on my MuslimMatters post, which is also where I log plugin updates.
Download the Islamic Graphics plugin from the WordPress.org repository – don't forget to rate it. :)
Inshā'Allāh I plan to release another more complex WordPress plugin sometime soon. This development work is part of a forthcoming MuslimMatters website upgrade. It has served as a good excuse for me to learn PHP. Turns out it is similar to Perl, which reduced the learning curve alhamdulillah. :)


text:
The Breast Cancer Survivor's Fitness PlanThe Harvard Medical School Guide to
İkinci El
Exciting new research shows a simple prescription — regular physical activity — can cut breast cancer recurrence rates and extend survival. In her new book The Breast Cancer Survivor's Fitness Plan, Dr. Carolyn Kaelin, founding director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital, provides effective, inspiring workouts tailored for each type of surgery and adapted for differing fitness levels. Dr. Kaelin, a leading breast cancer surgeon and a survivor herself, knows first-hand the unique challenges millions of women face while undergoing treatment and long afterward. She also understands and carefully explains the important links among exercise, recovery, and quality of life.
Designed with master trainers Josie Gardiner and Joy Prouty, this well-rounded regimen can help women feel strong again while protecting bones, rebuilding muscle, improving flexibility and balance, and enhancing vitality and all-around health.
The Breast Cancer Survivor's Fitness Plan offers detailed, up-to-date information on safety concerns following surgery and other treatments and provides survivors with ways they can fight:
- Accelerated bone-thinning,a possible prelude to osteoporosis linked to chemotherapy and a new class of anticancer drugs called aromatase inhibitors
- Creeping weight gain that may raise risk for breast cancer recurrence, cut short survival, and contribute to health and self-image concerns
- Lingering exhaustion from cancer treatments that put a damper on daily life
- Dwindling muscle coupled with gains in fat – a condition doctors call sarcopenia – that affects health, activities, and self-image
- Changes in flexibility and balance that interfere with everyday activities or enjoyable pursuits and may cause injuries
- Shoulder weaknesses and injuries that make even simple activities like opening a jar or slamming the trunk of a car difficult following surgeries, especially when physical rehabilitation isn't offered
- Myths and fears about lymphedema, a painful, chronic swelling in the arm or torso when lymph fluid backs up because lymph channels have been altered by surgery or radiation
- Discomfort from menopausal symptoms triggered by anticancer drugs
The Breast Cancer Survivor's Fitness Plan is dedicated to easing or erasing these challenges through evidence-based advice and a beautifully illustrated, step-by step exercise program designed to enhance recovery.


text:
Portrait from the Granite State Monthly, 1895.
Lifelong Peterborough, New Hampshire resident Mortier Lafayette Morrison's life bears a slight similarity to Grosvenor Austin Curtice, profiled here back on December 14th. Both of these oddly named men were lifelong residents of New Hampshire and both were veterans of the Civil War. Both went on to become prominent local officeholders in their respective towns and both served terms in the New Hampshire legislature. Interestingly, both Morrison and Curtis served together during the 1881-83 session, the latter in the state senate and the former in the house.
Born in Peterborough on July 2, 1836, Mortier Lafayette Morrison was the son of Abraham Perkins (1807-1870) and Mary Robbe Morrison. A prominent Peterborough figure in his own right, Abraham P. Morrison was the owner of a paper-mill as well as a three-term state representative, serving in the legislative sessions of 1848, 1862 and 1863. The eldest of two children, Mortier L. Morrison was "prevented in early life from attending school as he wished" due to "severe necrosis of the tibia", and later was affected by typhoid fever. With this long bout of ill health, young Mortier was largely self-educated, and after reaching aged nineteen followed his father into the paper-making trade.
In August 1862 Morrison enlisted for service in the Civil War, and a little over a month after enlisting was named as Quarter Master's Sergeant of the 13th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. He succeeded future Governor and U.S. Senator Person Colby Cheney in that post and served until his discharge in mid-1865. On August 9, 1861, Morrison had married Susan Gates, with whom he had one daughter, Alice (1862-1925). Their marriage proved to be short, as Susan died less than a year later on May 1, 1862. He would remarry in March 1866 to Caroline Brooks, their union seeing the births of two further children, Mary Brooks (born 1868) and Abraham Perkins (born 1870.)
After returning home from the war Mortier Morrison took on the management of his father's paper-mill, which he sold to the firm of Adams and Nay in June 1870. In April 1873 he was selected as treasurer of the Peterborough Savings Bank, and office that he would continue to hold until his death forty-six years later. In addition to his time as treasurer, Morrison would hold several other local offices in Peterborough, including a twenty-five-year stint as town moderator and from 1868-1870 served as town selectman.
In 1878 Mortier L. Morrison was elected to the first of three terms as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Taking his seat at the start of the 1879 session, Morrison served as a member of the committee on Banks. He would be elected to another term in 1881 and in 1915 won his third term in the house. Further political honors came Morrison's way following his first two terms in the house, as he served as Peterborough's delegate to the 1902-03 New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention. In 1918 he was again tapped to represent Peterborough at the State Constitutional Convention of 1918-19 but died during the recess of the convention, his death occurring at Peterborough on May 1, 1919, the fifty-sixth anniversary of the death of his first wife Susan.
A longstanding member of the G.A.R., as well as a Mason and Odd Fellows Lodge member, Mortier L. Morrison was preceded in death by his second wife Caroline in 1906 and his son Abraham in 1913. In an unusual twist, there are two possible burial locations for Morrison, as his name is located on his first wife's stone in the Peterborough Village Cemetery as well as on another headstone at the Pine Hill Cemetery, also located in Peterborough. All in all very curious!
A Mortier L. Morrison G.A.R. encampment ribbon from 1919.


text:
We are part of the modern movement of design and branding firms. Lightweight, up to date and with a true value and understanding of modern marketing & sales goals. We specialise in sales generation based graphic and web design, print and digital based marketing.
But what does that mean? Basically we design marketing material that will strengthen your brand, increase your sales and raise awareness of your company, products and services.
And if you feel your brand is not strong enough - we can review your existing marketing material and strategy and to tell you what you need to hear. We build brands, strengthen companies identities and push their visual sales and marketing forward to help them increase their sales and improve their turnover. Afterall, design is a sales tool and it should first and foremost be about improving your sales and brand perception.
From brochures to advert design, from exhibition graphics to vehicle graphics.
Responsive mobile friendly websites designed to get your noticed and get your sales.
Making your company look the part all the way from the logo to the overall identity and style of the company.
From drinks labels to product packaging, we cover it all.
Instruction manual illustrations, info graphics and other design illustrations.
Image retouching for product photos and other photography based graphics.


text:
BlackBerry Krypton with Snapdragon 660, 4GB RAM, 21MP Camera listed on certified by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. TCL has confirmed to launch Krypton this Oct. priced under Rs $500. and later launch Blackberry Juno with physical QWERTY keyboard. BlackBerry recently launched Blackberry KEYone, BlackBerry DTEK50, DTEK60 .
According to Listing, BlackBerry Krypton will support fingerprint Scanner, Single (SIM Nano SIM) with 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-fI, Wi-fi Hotspot, Bluetooth and USB Type C. It will sport a bigger 5.5-inch full HD resolution( 1,920 x 1,080 pixels) at 534 ppi with intuitive gesture based navigation.
For specifications, Krypton will run on Google's latest Android 7.0 Nougat with BlackBerry Hub and DTEK security features and powered by most powerful 64-bit quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC clocked at 2.35 GHz with Adreno 530 GPU clubbed with 4GB DDR4 RAM.
Krypton will come with 32GB flash inbuilt storage sporting a magnificent 21-MP rear camera with Auto focus, F/2.2 large aperture and a 8-MP front facing camera for selfie and video calling. It will be packed with a massive 4.4V, 4000 mAh non-removable Lithium-Ion battery with Quick Charge 3.0.
Read More About:- BlackBerry DTEK50 Price, Preview, Release date, Specifications
BlackBerry Krypton Specifications:-
- Network 4G/3G/2G
- Single-SIM(4G LTE) With Nano SIM
- Display 5.5-inch Full HD ( 1,920 x 1,080 pixels) resolution scratch resistance display at 534 ppi
- OS Android 7.1 Nougat OS
- Processor quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC clocked at 2.35GHz, Adreno 530 GPU
- RAM 4GB + MEMORY 32GB flash memory
- Primary Camera 21- MP auto focus, f/2.2, up to 4208 X 3120 pixels resolution, support Panorama, Acostic photographs, HDR, watermark pictures
- Secondary Camera 8-MP for Selfie
- Sensor Compass, Light Sensor, Magnetometer, Gravity Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Infrared Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor
- GPS Yes, with A-GPS and FM Radio
- Battery 4000 mAh non-removable Lithium-Ion battery with Quick Charge 3.0
- Release date OCT. 2017
- Availability OCT. 2017
- Price in India Approx. Rs. 26,000 (USD 399$)
Read More About:- Blackberry KEYone launched, Price in India, Full Specifications
At last few honest word from my heart, BlackBerry Krypton is coming please the gadget lovers. What you think? Please be open to give your view about your opinion for the new Avatar.


text:
An excerpt from the workshop by Mattijs Kneppers where he explains how to do granular synthesis in Max/MSP the proper way!
share.ams snippet - workshop granular synthesisMay 7th, 2009
share.ams snippet - the iPod is down!May 7th, 2009
Jan Klug shows his awesome iPod vs iPhone fight performance, and he even explains how it works!
Thanks Jan!
share.ams snippet - performance circuit benMay 7th, 2009
An excerpt of Ben Terwels performance, playing his self-made cracklebox based instrument.
He's having another performance in Amsterdam at May, 22nd at http://www.plotfarm.nl/, and we heard that he's preparing something tasty for this summer!
share.ams snippet - preparationsMay 7th, 2009
This snippet was shot during the preparations at The Getaway cafe.
Mattijs is explaining what to expect during Share.ams, and then the camera takes a peek at Circuit Ben's instrument.
New videos uploaded by MattijsMay 7th, 2009
Hello everyone,
Mattijs Kneppers has uploaded new videos showing the atmosphere of the first Share Amsterdam on his Vimeo page. Thanks Mattijs!
This video was made during the [zl join] jam session - Bram Kneppers kindly provided us with his newest animation (Worm) which was distributed to everybody and served as a basic ingredient for the jam.
Great time!January 18th, 2009
Hi everyone,
Thanks to all the talented people that turned up tonight! We had a great time and judging by all the positive feedback we are sure you did too. More pictures and video's soon.
Menno Pleij (Midiator)January 13th, 2009
Menno is currently starting a company around his Midiator hardware/software device meant to make programming and controlling light shows fun. The device consists of a controller, a touch screen and an embedded PC running a sophisticated Max 5 patch.
The first version has already been used on big festivals such as North Sea Jazz and Sensation. Let's see what happens when Menno gets his hands on the DMX-controlled LED-lights of The Getaway Café
Animata & JitterJanuary 13th, 2009
During the share.ams you'll be able to see how to modify Animata source code to send geometry using OSC, and then post-process and render the scene in Jitter:
Animata geometry rendered in Jitter from nesa on Vimeo.
nesaJanuary 13th, 2009
During the microworkshop sessions, Nenad Popov will show us some of his favorite combinations of effects to achieve organic, textural esthetics using OpenGL+shaders in Jitter.
Maxing Max To The MaxJanuary 13th, 2009
Mirko Lazovic and Nenad Popov will show us experimental networked live audio visual performance using exclusively Max/MSP, during the mutual jam session.


text:
Welcome back to the Pride Lands—The Lion King is back.
Disney unveiled its first trailer for the live-action remake of the 1994 animated classic.
The movie is directed by Jon Favreau, who brought the world the first Iron Man movie and the live-action remake of The Jungle Book. That 2016 movie grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide, and The Lion King will use the same computer technology that brought The Jungle Book to vibrant life.
The voice cast is pretty incredible, too:
- James Earl Jones
- Donald Glover
- Seth Rogen
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Billy Eichner
- John Oliver
- Keegan-Michael Key
- Beyonce Knowles-Carter
The Lion King opens in theaters on July 19, 2019.


text:
A unique Market Access Programme for European startups
In 2018, the French-German Chamber of Commerce is happy to participate in Access2Europe, a programme to accelerate the growth of European startups in key EU markets. To carry out this unique programme, the Chamber has joined forces with 3 partners in major European startup hubs: CUBE (Berlin, Germany), Tehnopol (Tallinn, Estonia) and Peninsula (Barcelona, Spain). Startups and scale-ups from Europe have the opportunity to explore and test 4 dynamic markets thanks to bespoke incubation and discovery programmes designed by the respective local partners.
What do we offer in Paris?
Access2Europe is a 1 year project awarded with the European Commission's Horizon 2020 grant. Alongside the French-German Chamber of Commerce, the project partners Cube, Tehnopol and Peninsula invite European startups to dive into their respective ecosystems, all providing the same offers:
Read more and apply on www.access2europe.org
About us
The French-German Chamber of Commerce has been fostering business between France and Germany for over 60 years. Thanks to its network and members ranging from major industrial corporates to SME and startups, it is today a key platform of the French-German business landscape. Its staff, based in Paris and Berlin, provide customised advice and services to German and French companies of all sizes, supporting the successful establishment and expansion of their activities. In the last years, the Chamber has established itself as an important stakeholder of the French-German Innovation ecosystem, facilitating contact between young and emerging companies with established players. In this context, it organizes Tech Tours, provides dedicated coaching to entrepreneurs and runs events connecting the French-German startup community.


text:
An article entitled "G20 Conspiracy Case: The Inside Story," published on CrimethInc.com at http://www.crimethinc.com/blog/2011/11/24/g20-conspiracy-case-the-inside..., and also published on infoshop.org at http://infoshop.org/page/toronto-g20-conspiracy, has claimed that "cops in the MDC us(ed) information meant to help protestors with their legal defense against them." The article also states that information from the Movement Defence Committee (MDC), a working group of the Law Union of Ontario, was used against a specific G20 defendant.
These claims appear to be based on a misunderstanding of events and the MDC's organizational structure. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify the distinction between the MDC itself, which has a closed membership, and the Legal Observer programs we run, which are open to the public.
By way of background, the MDC set up the Summit Legal Support Project to provide legal support for protestors against the G8-G20 Summit meetings in Toronto. The Project ran from May to July, 2010. As part of the Project, we welcomed members of the public to attend our trainings and act as Legal Observers (LOs) during demonstrations. These LOs were trained to monitor and take notes of police misconduct, and were asked to report any arrests to the MDC legal office by phone. Close to one hundred people attended trainings and volunteered to act as LOs during the G20 demonstrations.
The legal office itself, however, was staffed by members of the MDC, a secure committee with a vetted membership of trusted activists, legal workers, law students and lawyers. Because the LO program was open to the public and anticipated to be vulnerable to infiltration, no LOs were given access to any confidential, sensitive, or non-public information gathered as part of our work. It was not possible, given our group's resources and ability, to ensure every potential LO was not an undercover police officer. The division between the LO program and the MDC itself was made to guard against infiltration of the MDC. It is also a means of balancing our desire to engage the broader community in our work, while still closely guarding our integrity as a group.
We have reason to believe that, unfortunately, at least two undercover police officers posed as Legal Observers during the G20 demonstrations. However, the MDC itself was not infiltrated by police during the Summit Legal Support Project (SLSP), or at any other time.
We hope that this clarification serves to address concerns about the integrity of the MDC arising from the article. We see the article as generally being a positive contribution to discussions about the need for a culture of security in our movements. However, we suggest that where space for misunderstanding exists, it is very important to check facts and confirm details prior to airing serious allegations.
The MDC continues to function as a closed, secure committee, as we routinely handle personal, private and confidential information in an effort to facilitate the legal defence of activists. We continue to work closely with community organizations like the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, No One is Illegal, and many other local grassroots groups fighting against injustice and oppression. We recently completed providing 40 days of legal support for the Occupy Toronto movement. We have no reason to believe that our committee, or any confidential information provided to us, was ever compromised. If anyone has any information to the contrary, please let us know as soon as possible.
In solidarity,
The Movement Defence Committee


text:
An enchanting faerie tale.
Mauricio Baiocchi's Cicada Princess is an enchanting fairy tale short based on the children's book of the same name, also written by Baiocchi, with illustrations and character design by Steve Ferrera combine to create a masterful stop-motion animation project which made its project debut on Kickstarter in May 2011. After more than 1100+ donations from community sponsors and supporters from the San Francisco Film Society, the film has been completed and submitted to film festivals.
English actor, screenwriter, and poet Stephen Fry narrates the short film. His voice is the perfect accompaniment and sets the beautifully solemn mood of the short and level of elegance. For sixteen years, cicadas live underground and emerge to meet the sun for the first time–but their time is short. A cicada can only live for two days and two nights, and then they pass away. To celebrate their emergence from the earth, they attend a regal ball in hopes to find happiness and love.
The individual quality of the anthropomorphic cicada figurines are impressive and are outfitted beautifully in their fancy ball gowns and suits delicately stitched with care. The remarkable craftsmanship extends to the handmade buildings, the soil and the grand tree, and the little props within the castle where the ball is held. Most of all, the story is beautiful and moving–and emotional attachment to the little cicadas' and is enchanting to watch as they enjoy those final moments before emerging to the surface world for a poignant, final send off.
Below is the video featured during the original Kickstarter campaign that hi-lights the charming tale behind the creation of the book and short-film.
Our review of Baiocchi's Cicada Princess short-film is due to receipt of our backer award for supporting the original creative project on Kickstarter.
Source Mauricio Baiocchi's Cicada Princess
All images © of Mauricio Baiocchi.


text:
The Practice Rooms
160-162 Church Road
East Sussex
07717 030002
Bradley Dearman
Bradley Dearman specialises in analytical hypnotherapy with psychotherapy working with adults and children from practices in the East Sussex area.
Over the past 20 years Bradley has continued to study a variety of subjects embracing psychology, health and holistic practices which led him to choose to specialise in hypnotherapy. Bradley is a qualified hypnotherapy practitioner holding a Diploma in Analytical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy and the Diploma in Clinical and Analytical Hypnotherapy Studies.
Bradley is a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register in addition to having trained, qualified and experienced working with Eye-Movement Therapy, Hypnobirthing, Gold Counselling and Supervisor Skills.
His varied studies and working experience give Bradley a vast knowledge-base on which to draw upon and thus he provides an eclectic and dynamic approach to the therapeutic process with clients and trainee therapists alike.
Bradley had previously worked within the construction industry taking on a number of roles which were customer-relations focused up to director level and business owner.
He has a vast experience of sports, health and fitness having trained, competed and coached in a number of sports most notably running and triathlon.


text:
As discussed in part one, the main problem with having so many choices is the stress that comes in making the wrong decision. In the past you had to decide if you wanted your coffee black, or with cream and or sugar. Now if you just have sugar, do you want honey, agave, Splenda, Sweet n Low, Equal, raw sugar or regular sugar? Do you want half and half, 2%, 1%, soy, almond? And that's just your basic coffee. We're not even getting into iced, hot, extra hot, syrups, foam, sizes, etc, etc, etc.
So our head is already spinning from decision fatigue and we haven't even had our coffee yet. Why would one choose to take on the massive bundle of decisions that come with building a custom home? As someone who designs custom homes (and likes to eat and pay my mortgage) choosing to design your own home is a great decision. You just have to be prepared for the choices that are coming. Here are a few tips for dealing with these choices:
- Know that the world will not end if you make the wrong choice. Think of all of the fixtures and materials in your home. You may have a few pet peeves, but chances are there are things you don't even notice. The door hardware may not be what you would pick out if you had the choice, but you probably don't even notice it on a day to day basis.
- On that note, take stock of your current home. Think about what really drives you crazy. For me, it's that in my condo you can see the toilet from the dining room table. If I am ever able to design my own space, I will go to great lengths to make sure there are no situations like this. But we don't have cabinet hardware, and that doesn't bother me at all.
- Enlist help from your friends. Put a call out on Facebook about people's experiences with appliances, how different floors hold up to pets, etc.
- Decide up front what the most important elements are, and that you want to have control over those elements. If you don't care about, say, sinks, your designer will know you general style and can pick out a choice or two for you to pick from. There's no reason to get decision fatigue looking at dozens of sinks and have little time or energy left to pick out the things you really care about.
- Look for limiting factors to help narrow down your choices quickly. Maybe you don't want to take the time to keep fingerprints off of stainless steel appliances. Undermount sinks are just not in your budget and you have never really noticed them anyway. Done.
- Do you have the time to spend? If you do, give yourself limits: I'll spend one hour looking at sinks. Narrow it down to a few choices, then sleep on it. Go back, and make a decision. If you have more money than time, your design will love to do this for you. If you're worried about the amount of time, set a limit.
- Leading up to the interiors decisions, over a few months or weeks, create a mood board using whatever method suits you-bookmark pages of the internet, use Photoshop to collage images, order samples to physically put together (your designer or architect can help with this), find pictures from books or magazines. Go through it and note what you like and don't like about the picture. Even if you can't articulate exactly what materials or style you want, your true desires should come through.
Resources for example photos: