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The objective of the NIST biomanufacturing program is to support US biopharmaceutical industry delivery of high quality and low cost protein drugs around the world. The mission is fulfilled through the development of standards, measurement science, and state of the art tools that support advances in development, characterization and manufacturing of protein drugs and biosimilars (generic versions). The program was developed through close working relationships with members of the US biopharmaceutical industry, the FDA and international standards organizations (i.e. NIBSC, USP) to assess and authenticate current unmet and future measurement needs related to the manufacturing of protein drugs. To date NIST has sponsored seven workshops, involving these industrial and government stakeholders and established the "NIST Biopharmaceutical Measurement Roundtable" in 2012 to provide input and feedback on NIST programs. Three major areas of study (Protein Stability, Protein Structure, and Production Cell Variability) for metrology and standards development were identified and are the focus of the program.
Biomanufacturing Initiative
Protein drugs are the top selling pharmaceuticals worldwide, a hundred billion dollar industry, but also the fastest growing category of health care costs. The high cost of protein drugs can be traced to costly and inefficient manufacturing which lack the metrology tools necessary to improve the process and the product. US measurement science, standards, and reference data products provided by the NIST program in biomanufacturing will 1) benefit industry by providing measurement tools to aid in the characterization of their product, the manufacturing process, and product stability and 2) allow the FDA to develop scientifically sound regulatory guidance for development and manufacturing of safe and effective protein therapeutics. The impact of this program will be the development of lower cost biologic drugs and biosimilars, thereby allowing U.S. citizens affordable access to these innovative and life-saving medicines.
Major Accomplishments
Biomanufacturing Related Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)
A key aspect of the NIST biomanufacturing program is provision of a variety of high quality reference materials and data products. Two initial SRMs are available or in development:
- IgG Standard Reference Material / Data (SRM/D)
NIST developed a recombinant IgG1κ monoclonal antibody (mAb) as a reference material for the biopharmaceutical industry, academia, regulatory authorities, and other standards organizations for a variety of uses such as: system suitability tests, establishing method or instrument performance and variability, comparing changing analytical test methods, and assisting in method validation. The candidate reference material was graciously donated by an industrial partner. The results from this exhaustive characterization were collated and published in a three volume ACS book series in 2014 and most of the data is publicly available online at http://igg.nist.gov.
- Surrogate Protein Particle SRM
Protein particles, caused by aggregation of protein monomers, may limit drug stability and cause immunogenicity in patients, rendering the drug ineffective. Current methods used to assess these particles can vary by 10-fold in particle counts measured. A particulate SRM, used to normalize these disparate results, is being developed from a stable fluoropolymer material (ETFE) that mimics the optical properties, size, and shape of protein aggregates. The material has been evaluated for size and particle counts by 24 industrial and academic laboratories in a round robin study and will be certified by NIST for the number of particles per vial. A preliminary data analysis is complete and a draft report is in progress.
- Ripple, D. C.; Dimitrova, M. N., Protein particles: What we know and what we do not know. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2012, 101, (10), 3568-3579.
- Sakai, V. G.; Khodadadi, S.; Cicerone, M. T.; Curtis, J. E.; Sokolov, A. P.; Roh, J. H., Solvent effects on protein fast dynamics: implications for biopreservation. Soft Matter 2013, 9, (22), 5336-5340.
- Schiel, J. E.; Smith, N. J.; Phinney, K. W., Universal proteolysis and MSn for N- and O- glycan branching analysis. Journal of Mass Spectrometry 2013, 48, (4), 533-538.
- Sisan, D. R.; Halter, M.; Hubbard, J. B.; Plant, A. L., Predicting rates of cell state change caused by stochastic fluctuations using a data-driven landscape model. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2012, 109, (47), 19262-19267.
Additional Technical Details
The NIST Biomanufacturing Program encompasses a suite of fundamental measurement science, standards, and reference data which enables more accurate and confident characterization of key attributes of protein drugs that are directly linked to their safety and efficacy. The initiative has three program goals related to characterization of protein therapeutics and their manufacture: Protein Stability, Protein Structure, and Production Cell Variability
Protein Stability
Protein stability is a property of therapeutic proteins that cannot be sufficiently measured at this time, but is critical for understanding the behavior of protein drugs and ensuring their safety and efficacy. Current projects cover the areas of protein particle sizing and counting (see SRM below), development of measurement methods and theory to predict protein stability in freeze-dried formulations and small volume rheology measurements.
Project links:
Protein structure in freeze-dried formulation.
Protein Structure
Protein structure is another critical property that influence protein drug safety and efficacy. Current physico/chemical projects areas include: amino acid sequencing, post-translational modification characterization (e.g. glycan analysis), mass spectral analysis, NMR analysis and hydrogen/deuterium exchange MS characterization. In addition, an IgG SRM (see below) has been developed.
Project links:
RSCB Protein Databank structure id 1IGT highlighting glycan structure.
Production Cell Metrology
Development of new measurement methods and tools for quantifying and understanding living cell populations will enable new strategies for engineering and controlling production cells to ensure consistent and effective manufacturing of protein therapeutics. Current projects include: authentication of cell lines using short tandem repeat (STR) DNA sequencing and cell line expression efficiency predictions based on fluorescence imaging measurements.
Project links:
Microscopy image of CHO cells
AbbVie, Agilent, Amgen, Biogen Idec, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Coriolis Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Human Genome Sciences-GSK, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), MedImmune, Novartis, Novavax, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Thermo Scientific, Waters


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The latest version of Windows Phone isn't called Windows Phone at all, it's called Windows 10 Mobile, because rather than being a bespoke mobile operating system it's a version of the full fat Windows 10 that Microsoft is shipping on desktops.
That makes it powerful, versatile and unique from its mobile competition, the fiercest of which is Android Marshmallow.
The latest version of Google's smartphone OS is taking its time to arrive on handsets, but it's worth the wait, thanks to smart features and a whole lot of polish. If you're in the enviable position of buying a new phone and aren't sure which OS to go for here's what you need to know.
There was a time when Android wasn't much to look at and it's still got a fairly understated design, but it's clean and attractive. It uses the Material Design language from Android Lollipop, but with a few tweaks, with clear icons, so you always know exactly what you're about to tap on and unity of design, where everything just works together.
While it looks good, Android 6.0 Marshmallow operates in much the same way as Android and even iOS have for years. Apps are arranged in a grid of icons on your home screen and you can put favourites in a bar at the bottom which stays the same across all home screens. It's an overly familiar design, but it does make it instantly intuitive.
The open nature of Android also means you can customise it to your liking, with widgets, which add clocks, calendars, weather information and more to your home screen. Or you can even download a whole new skin, to completely change the look.
Windows 10 Mobile is different. It's far busier and far more colourful. It still has a grid of apps, but they're Live Tiles, rather than icons. This has two effects, for one they look less distinctive than Android's, but for another they can display changing information or images. For example, the photo tile might show thumbnails of your latest shots, a bit like mini widgets.
It doesn't look as refined as Android and it's not as customisable, but it is more distinctive, as it looks almost nothing like Google or Apple's mobile operating systems. It's also powerful as you'll see below.
This is a major problem point for Windows 10 Mobile as just like previous versions of Windows Phone there simply aren't enough apps.
It's a vicious circle because the lack of apps contributes to there being a relatively small user base, which in turn means developers lack incentive to make more apps. It's not all bad news though, as there are apps for most of the big services you'd expect to find, such as Facebook, as well as numerous more niche apps, there just aren't as many as the competition.
In a bid to fix this Microsoft is making it easy for developers to port their iOS apps to Windows 10 Mobile, so we may soon see an influx, but it's unlikely to catch up with Android 6.0, which has over 1.6 million apps available, with more being added all the time.
Many of these are low quality, but it does mean that you can find an app for just about anything you'd ever want.
Many of the core features of Android and Windows Phone are very similar. For example, swiping down from the top of the screen on either OS will show you any notifications and give you access to quick settings.
Both operating systems also have a deeper settings screen and an app drawer, to hide away any apps that you don't want to see front and centre on your home screen.
They do have some big, distinctive features though. On the Android front there's Android Pay, which allows you to make contactless payments on your phone. This hasn't arrived in the UK yet, but expect to see it soon.
On Windows 10 Mobile you get Continuum, which allows supported devices to connect to a screen and provide an interface similar to what you'd find on a Windows 10 PC, so it's great for serious productivity.
Of course the biggest features of these two operating systems are arguably Google Now on the Android side and Cortana over on Windows 10 Mobile.
These two voice-activated assistants both aim to save you time and let you use your phone hands-free, by talking to it instead. You can get internet search results, weather forecasts and system interactions through them, such as launching apps.
Cortana has more personality, with a more human voice and more natural responses, but currently it's not quite as powerful as Google Now, especially with the Now on Tap feature added in Android Marshmallow.
Now on Tap lets you access information on whatever's happening on your screen with a single tap and it even digs into conversations. That could mean for example pulling up film times at nearby cinemas if you're messaging about a new movie.
It's smart enough to take a good stab at what you'd want to know, but you can always still use a voice query for more specific requests.
Windows 10 Mobile is the most powerful version of Windows Phone yet. It's also a distinctive OS, but for the time being it lacks the polish of Android and has far fewer apps.
With its Continuum feature it's better for mobile workers, but Android is arguably still the better all-rounder and certainly better for the average user.
In some ways, thanks to its customisation options and open source nature, it's also better for more techy users, but Windows 10 Mobile is a highly accomplished mobile OS in its own right and we expect Microsoft will smooth away the rough edges over time.
©Copyright 2019 www.3G.co.uk - All Rights Reserved

subset: commoncrawl


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When this restaurant opened a few years ago everyone was raving about it. Finally tried it and the dishes were up to my expectations.
I chose the Central branch because quality is often better and it has more positive reviews than the branch in Tai Koo.
Started with the noodles in sesame soup with chicken.
The sesame flavour was strong and not sickly.
I liked the fried oysters because most Taiwanese joints serve greasy oyster pancakes so the individual fried oysters were much nicer complimented by the chili sauce but unfortunately they were a bit too salty.
The tea was good with a huge block of herbal jelly but it tasted like HK style milk tea.
Finished with the soup which was light and clear.
My friend had the minced meat with gravy which she said was too sweet.
The Night Market:
11 Stanley Street,
6th Floor,


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Need help purchasing a home in Maryland? Maryland Mortgage Grant Assist
Click here for information on the Maryland Mortgage Grant Assist for information on how you may be able to afford a home in Maryland!
The Maryland Mortgage Grant Assist Program gives eligible homebuyers a grant valued at 4% of the first mortgage to help pay closing costs. Since it's a grant, it never needs to be repaid, and if the grant exceeds your closing costs, the remaining funds are applied to principal reduction.
This program is available as part of a home loan through the Maryland Mortgage Program, which has made homeownership more affordable for thousands of families, and comes with the security that only the state's flagship homeownership program can provide.


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Articles tagged "Scotto Moore"
Happy #PubDay! (2/4/19)
Today's #pubday brings us historical + literary fiction, fantasy, and comedic coming-of-age novels!
THE PEACOCK FEAST by Lisa Gornick
"Spanning a century, two coasts, and two continents, this well-researched historical novel is moving and profound, laying bare the corrosive nature of secrets and regrets and the sadness of not living one's life to the fullest."–Library Journal
THE GIRLS AT 17 SWANN STREET by Yara Zgheib
A February 2019 LibraryReads Pick!
A February 2019 Indie Next selection!
"In her powerful debut, Zgheib masterfully chronicles the pain of an anorexic's distorted thinking and intense fear of food in a riveting diarylike structure… This is an impressive, deeply moving debut."–Publishers Weekly, starred review


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Hello, everyone! I want to talk about something that has been irking me lately. It's this little word that we use so frequently on social media that, I think, does more damage than good.
It is the word, FAIL.
In my social media bubble of Zero Wasters, Minimalists, Eco-Warriors, Tiny House Dwellers, Vegetarians, Vegans and so on, I commonly see the hashtags: #fail #zerowastefail #veganfail, etc. used to describe unsuccessful attempts at these lifestyles. I would say we use this particular hashtag to show our imperfections on the perfect stage that is social media. We use it to be relatable, funny, meme-worthy. So what's wrong with using it?
Simply put, the verb fail is negative.
And while our intentions are innocent, we must remember that we are framing our pursuits to live more consciously in a negative fashion. And, what did our mothers teach us? Words Matter.
When I decided to tackle veganism I had been vegetarian for six months, I was proud of my accomplishment and determined to achieve equal success in my next challenge. However, I was imperfect — I still am. Whether it is due to lack of choice, preparedness, knowledge or willpower – I do not live up to the goal I originally envisioned.
I used to describe the bumps in my journey as #fails.
Some might say that documenting our failures is a way of showing our humanness, and a way to connect, to relate to others. But I would argue that in circumstances where we are tackling, what can seem to be, daunting life changes it is unproductive, even destructive. Sharing our adventures in dressing ourselves, cooking, baking, crafts, etc., and documenting our unsuccessful attempts in these areas as "fails" is acceptable, even funny — because the consequences are understood. For example, sharing the cake, you baked that turned out to look more like a zombie than The Little Mermaid as a #fail is humorous. And, most parents will relate to your situation, but it will not dissuade them from attempting to bake themselves.
But shaming ourselves publicly for failing to be perfect at Zero Waste, Veganism or any similar lifestyle has far greater consequences. Perhaps we think "outing" ourselves, on social media, will help to keep us on track next time, but shame tends to have a contrary outcome, a downward spiral effect that can lead to self-doubt, repeating the behaviour you dislike, or worse – giving up. Additionally, we must remember that these lifestyles are ones that most people already believe are unrealistic, so why would we choose to reinforce that line of thinking by highlighting our fails? If someone is brave enough to start down one of these paths, we should be here to encourage, cheer on and draw attention to how far they have come – instead of reinforcing their "fails" with likes. We must flip the current story line that has people believing these lifestyles are impossible to one that has them saying, "I can do that!" We do this by focusing on our victories, by drawing attention to the benefits and the positive ways these lifestyles have enriched our lives.
I am not saying, "let's pretend," but what we choose to focus on is important. It is important for ourselves, so we do not internalize our sentiments, and it is important for others who are following our journey. Think about it, are you inspired to change by people who publicly document their journey negatively or those who are positive, enthusiastic and joyful?
With this in mind, I have made a conscious decision to celebrate my commitment, how far I have come and where I want to go. It is not about perfection, so who cares about the minor slip ups along the way.
Today, I try to approach my journey realistically. I have two children, a husband, and dog and, well — sh*t happens. Do I document every bump as a #zerowastefail? No, and neither should you.
I get up every morning with the intention of creating as little waste as possible, consuming only plant-based foods and learning new ways to conserve resources and reduce consumption. Therefore, I've decided to only document and celebrate the commitment I make every day to live consciously!
I invite you to do the same #celebratecommitment
Instead of beating ourselves up for not being perfect, let's choose to look at our imperfections as areas we simply have not mastered yet. Asking ourselves, "what could we do differently next time to ensure a better outcome?"
I receive messages from people starting out on their Zero Waste journey, saying they have "failed" at some particular Zero Waste endeavor. Every time I read a message like this my heart sinks. All I want to say to these people, to anyone committing to reduce their carbon footprint is, "Thank You! You are doing fantastic things, and YOU are an inspiration to those around you — Don't Sweat The Small Stuff!"
Transforming your lifestyle, diet, and consumer habits to be more mindful of the Earth's resources is positive, and therefore you should acknowledge every attempt you make at change. Throw the public criticism out the window and pat yourselves on the back – and while you're at it, praise the victories, big and small, of those around you. Positive energy and support of ourselves and one another are what will continue to inspire, motivate and grow these movements. And, in the pursuit of changing climate change, Nothing Else Matters.
"What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create."


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Not many theater schools can say they've had a young Kathy Griffin shave her legs and armpits onstage, and let Kristen Wiig play a bad tooth fairy before ever taking on the role of a bridesmaid. The Groundlings Theatre & School in Los Angeles has now been home to budding careers for 40 years, and the institution will be dedicating a whole month to celebrating the accomplishment.
"[Our 40th anniversary is] a milestone, and we have such a terrific legacy; we're so proud of our alumni," Groundlings Managing Director Heather de Michele told Backstage. "We feel so lucky to be big players in the game, and more than anything, for a nonprofit to continue to thrive after so many years!"
Beginning May 2, the comedy-improv school and theater will be showcasing performances from current and past contributors and performers, culminating in a gala with red carpet walks from company members spanning the theater's existence. The Groundlings Theatre & School has 30 current company members who write and perform in the theater's shows, in addition to teaching improv and comedy classes at the school.
Its new show, "40 Is the New Groundlings," will be performed alongside Groundlings' classic performances, and Tuesdays will feature performances from different decades, beginning with the '70s on May 6. Each Thursday features the presentation of a new show, performed by some of Los Angeles' top comedians. Attendees have access to talkbacks with performers from each time period (and an open bar).
"The month of May will be an extraordinary opportunity for comedy lovers to see some of the best talents who have come through our doors over the past four decades," said de Michele in a statement.
Alumni of the school include Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow, and Melissa McCarthy, among others. Former Groundlings slated to appear? Kristen Wiig ("Bridesmaids"), Phil LaMarr ("MADtv"), Jennifer Coolidge ("American Pie"), Stephanie Courtney (aka Flo, from the Progressive commercials), Mindy Sterling, Maya Rudolph, and more.
"The Groundlings became my graduate school: I studied there for about four years, and I ate, slept, and drank improv and sketch comedy," said Rudolph in an interview. "I learned how to write pieces and how to use my singing in performances, and I got to perform with a bunch of other weirdos, who became like family. The craziest thing was, I received word that I had been made an official Groundling on the same day I flew to New York to start a job at 'Saturday Night Live.' "
For up-and-coming comedians and actors in Los Angeles, the Groundlings has been fertile ground for growing careers for years—and that's something worth celebrating.
For information and tickets, visit www.groundlings.com.
And be sure to check out our audition listings!


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El Dorado Transit offers safe and secure payment processing through Shopify. Please be advised there is a $2.50 shipping and handling fee applied to online purchases. To purchase passes through one of our Sales Locations or by mail visit our Fares page. Passes or scrip purchased online will be mailed within 7 business days. Your order will be sent via the U.S. Post Office.
Check out the new Connect Card. The Region's new electronic transit fare payment system. You can now purchase your transit fare online, never have to carry exact change again AND use the card at more than one agency! Visit https://www.connecttransitcard.com/ for more information and to obtain a Connect Card.
*To use Senior / Disabled / Student Passes or to pay the discount fare, proof of eligibility is required. Please click here for more information!
Monthly Passes
Combo Monthly Passes
*Effective April 1st, Combo Passes will only be available for purchase through the Connect Card, paper passes will no longer be available. Click for more information on the Connect Card.
Scrip Tickets


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- Telephone +55 (82) 3324-3077
- Monday to Friday: 7:30 to 17:20
- Online service
The Fluoride and Nitrate removal Hidro Solo equipment are what is most modern in removing these contaminants from water.
Their operating system by automatic valves allows a precise operation demand, that is, the entire volume of water, and therefore, fluoride and nitrate are measured and regeneration occurs as a function of the amount of treated water automatically. This allows an operation under control, with better water quality and lower consumption of regenerating.
Hidro Solo's Fluoride and Nitrate removers operate in a continuous supply system, that is, during the regeneration it does not cease the supply of treated water.


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A few weeks ago, I reviewed a Chinese collared abaya and a few scarves and accessories that I received from the very sweet Yasina, the mastermind behind Damasq and Hijabi. So, I thought why not feature these wonderful products in an OOTD post instead of just telling you guys about it! I'm starting off the features with the very simple yet beautiful Chinese collared abaya.
Unfortunately, in this post you can't see the actual Chinese collar because of how my scarf is styled – but I do have an image of it here, if you'd like to see.
Even though, it does have such a collar, it doesn't suffocate you at all. I'm one of those people who hate polo necks because of how claustrophobic it makes me feel, so I really was quite surprised that the Chinese collar still allowed me to breathe –really!!
I decided to pair this abaya with neutral colours, so I stuck to gold, beige and a few shades of brown. And because it's black, it's quite versatile in the sense that you can pair it with any colour and it will look fab.
I see the abaya as more of a maxi dress than an abaya as it's flexible in terms of styling it. Most abayas are already kitted out with some bling or flowy sleeves so there isn't much room to play around with when it comes to styling it.
With this abaya, you can literally just throw it on along with a scarf and a pair of shoes and be on your way – or you can belt it and accessorize it if you want a more structured and thought-out look.
I paired my abaya with a skinny gold belt, gold D'Orsay pumps, a gold triangle necklace, a printed envelope clutch and a pashmina worn as a head scarf. But you can always pair it with some heels, a turban and a shopper bag – if that's your go-to style. As I said, it's quite flexible so anything goes!
Scarf: Pashmina
Abaya: Damasq
Belt: Forever New
Shoes: Gino Paoli
Bag: ModaScapa
Necklace: Legit
If you are into maxi dresses or abayas, I really would suggest you get yourself one of these -you can even pair it with a biker jacket or a maxi cardigan if you'd like to see it transition into a Winter piece. You can find it here for just R299!
Btw, look out for my next OOTD post that will feature the Summer Swirls maxi scarf from Hijabi, which you can find here.


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Hello everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at OUAS, and we have some amazing inspiration for you, plus some awesome guest designers! Please go check it out at the OnceUponASketch blog!!!
Here are some of the details:
The theme of this challenge is BIRTHDAYS.
We would like you to create a layout and interpret the theme "BIRTHDAYS" however you like based on the following sketch. You can journal as little or as much as you like, but your layout must incorporate this theme and the sketch below. Please make sure that we see some sort of journalling on your layouts and please tell us where your journalling is . Hidden journalling is perfectly fine.
Ideas for Journalling:most memorable birthday celebration for you or anyone in your family, the last birthday you celebrated and tell us your thoughts on turning this age, your child's/other family member's birthday and your thoughts on their age, a birthday that was a turning point in your life and your excitement/fears or other thoughts you had, an upcoming birthday for you or anyone and your thoughts, the best birthday present you ever received/gave and why?. You can also base your layout on a non - person birthday. This means your birthday theme can be based on : a pet, a business venture, a milestone anniversary etc etc. Its up to you how you interpret "BIRTHDAYS
Now, here is my take on the sketch:
I used products from the May Swirlydoos kit for this page, it features some beautiful GCD Studios papers. I used Kaisercraft blooms and a pretty Prima pearl accent. The frame is Imaginarium Designs and I embossed it with WOW bright white embossing powder. The chippie accent at the bottom is Dusty Attic and a gift from a dear friend Gabrielle! Thank you Gabi!!! I embossed it with the WOW white also.
The larger bloom was a really big one that I took and cut the bottom off of, bunched up and sewed together. I put a mini rosebud in the center!
I added a pretty white Prima butterfly too this came from a previous Swirlydoos kit! I thought it just added the right finishing touch!!!
Please run over to the blog to see the amazing work from the design team, and I urge you to play along, there are some awesome prizes too!!! You will find all the details here: Once Upon A Sketch blog.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, I appreciate the visits more than you know!!!


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Poker Sites in Turkey | List of Online Rooms
By James Spillane, Rakeback.com Staff Writer
|Deposits & Cashouts
|Do I need a VPN?
Online Poker In Turkey – Do I Need a VPN?
Yes. Online poker from foreign providers is restricted in Turkey, and as such the internet domains and ISPs of many poker rooms are blocked.
If you are unable to download a poker client simply use a cheap VPN service such as StrongVPN or HideMyAss to do so. After install it is no longer necessary to use a VPN although some grinders continue to do so if playing over public wifi, for extra security. Site reps have confirmed on the forums that VPNs are not prohibited, with the exception of VPN use to play online from the US.
- Back to Poker In the EU – Select Country


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Copied from the Friends of St. Catherine University Libraries linked below!
YA Author Rick Riordan Speaking on Campus Oct 8
Are you a fan of the Percy Jackson series? What about the Kane Chronicles or the Heroes of Olympus? Or how about Magnus Chase, the newest series by young adult author Rick Riordan?
If you can say YES to any of these questions, you're in luck. Rick Riordan is coming to St. Kate's!
Red Balloon Bookshop and the Friends of St. Catherine University Libraries welcome internationally best-selling author Rick Riordan to the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium on tour for The Hammer of Thor – Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Book 2.
Saturday, October 8, 7pm.
The Friends of the Libraries are also hosting a family-friendly reception in the Library before the event. Refreshments, activities and discussion will be available starting at 5:30 p.m.
Buy your tickets below, and if you're a Friend of the Libraries, you can receive a discount. Visit the Friends page to find out how to become a Friend and for more information on the discount.


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NBC correspondent Jay Gray was recently
arrested for drunk driving after "getting wasted" at a party hosted by Jerry Sandusky's
lawyer Joe Amendola. For those who haven't heard the news, Jerry
Sandusky has been charged with crimes alleging molestation and sex assault
perpetrated against young boys.
Sandusky was a well-known assistant football coach who served under famed
Penn State head coach Joe Paterno (Paterno was subsequently fired amid
allegations that he did nothing in response to Sandusky's alleged
sexual activities).
The latest news involves Joe Amendola, Sandusky's lawyer, who hosted
a party at his house, to which he invited a number of reporters from different
media. These reporters, as TMZ reports, were apparently trying to get
an interview with Sandusky, and NBC correspondent Jay Gray was among them.
Having left the party and driving home, Gray was pulled over for a traffic
stop that apparently was not related to the ultimate DWI arrest; according
to police records, the arrest happened on Dec. 12 at roughly two in the morning.
It's not clear whether one lucky reporter has been chosen to interview
Sandusky; either way, Gray now faces his own drunk-driving charges (admittedly,
less serious than the 40 counts of sex crimes against Sandusky, Gray's
hopeful interview subject).
In Maryland, more than 20,000 people are arrested for DWI every year. These
are all kinds of people, including minor celebrities like NBC correspondents.
Truly, DWI is a crime that can happen to anyone.


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Editor's PenIntro to Writingby Craig Heir
The least fun part of the adventure writing process is submitting it to the editor. Offering the fruits of your imagination to the ruthless and cruel knife of the editor to be cut, chopped, and diced into a bland, unfulfilling fruit salad can be a fate worse than death to some authors. In reality, it does not have to be so bad or melodramatic. The editing process can be beneficial and augment your work.
How is this possible? Well, there are several things an author must do in order to have a much less stressful editing experience. First and foremost is to understand the world for which you are writing. Second, know what is expected and not expected to be in your adventure. Third, meet your deadlines. These three things, along with a spell checker, will go a long way in saving your work from the Slasher.
Understanding the world for which you are writing does not just mean knowing who the bad guys are or which castle would make a great setting. It also encompasses the manner in which it will be played and by whom it will be played. Most RPGA adventures need to be written so that they can be accomplished in a four hour time slot. That means that having seven combat encounters is just asking for the red pen. This also means that you need to be aware of what types of characters are being played in your adventure. Adventures requiring parties to have a certain kind of character to succeed will need to be rewritten.
The content of your adventure must also meet a set of guidelines for both content and style. The need to keep your writing PG-13 is quite obvious. Children play this game and while I know they get exposed to much worse stuff in a single hour of Law & Order that is not within our control – only the content of our adventures is. As for style, having a consistent style for adventures allows judges to quickly find information they need and makes the whole playing experience flow much more smoothly. A copy of both the content and style guidelines can be found in the Living Greyhawk Writer's Guidelines. A new, updated version will be out shortly, but the old one will get you headed down the right path.
Nothing aggravates an editor (including me) more than getting an adventure the week before it is due to premiere at a convention. We really do not want to disappoint the gathered masses by telling them that the adventure will not be run, so we do the only thing we can. – we cut out all the grey areas. This results in a adventure that does not meet the author's original intent. With some conversation and time to think about the areas in question, some, if not all could have been saved. Instead, the players get a much weaker adventure, and the author gets all the heat for it. Save yourself some grief as well as the everlasting ire of your editors, get the scenarios to them on time.
Of course, there is more to the editing process. Your editors will also be looking at things such as character development, continuity, accuracy, and a handful of other things. These things vary depending on the type and setting of the campaign so talk to the editor of your adventure about them. I would like to discuss this at more length, but I missed my own deadline, and this article still needs to be edited.


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new fitz play #5
by CLARE HENNESSY
Directed by JESSICA ARTHUR
27 june - 8 july
Red Line Productions presents the New Fitz 2017 Program at The Old Fitz Theatre.
Proudly presented by Poor Tom's Gin & Mark Blumer, and supported by Playwriting Australia and ambassador Louis Nowra.
Mia loves two things: feminism, and journalism. She's landed the scoop of a lifetime, and she's not going to let anything stand in her way. Parker loves one thing: his job at Sunday Juice. They've landed in a PR nightmare, and he has every intention to pull them out of it. But they didn't plan on falling into each others laps.
Passion has a tendency to ruin even the best of intentions and the most perfectly pronounced of political dispositions. When so many things in her life have to be black or white, Mia finds herself falling, spectacularly, into the grey areas.
Tongue Tied is an exploration of ethics, integrity and how passion can fuck up even the best laid plans and features Gary Clementson (Hidden Sydney, Caress/Ache) and Contessa Treffione (Mystery of Love & Sex, STC's All My Sons).
Gary Clementson
Contessa Treffone
Written by Clare Hennessy
Directed by Jessica Arthur
Stage Management by Maddy McWilliam
Tuesday - Saturday: 6:15 PM
Sunday: 4:30 PM
Duration: 40 Minutes
"This is a unique and compelling idea. To have playwrights react to, reflect upon, and imaginatively re-invent ideas, stories or characters from other plays being staged, and then have the original and the re-make in tandem, is a potentially wonderful method of reinterpretation that will lead to some wonderful work. I'm certain that this challenging concept will bring out the best in many playwrights and will result in future productions where these works survive as stand-alone plays of importance."
Louis Nowra, Ambassador, New Fitz 2017
Clare is a writer, harmony enthusiast and pet botherer from Sydney, Australia. After an upbringing spent backstage, knee-deep in confetti and doused in hair spray, it was inevitable that she would follow the yellow brick road into the performing arts. Whilst attending Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College, she sang with the Australian Girls Choir (including appearing as a QANTAS choir girl alongside Hugh Jackman in The Boy from Oz), placing in the top ten achievers in the state for HSC music and performing in the Board of Studies Encore showcase. From here, she underwent a short and sweet encounter with the Sydney Theatre Company as part of their Young Playwrights Residency which propelled her into her Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media) at Charles Sturt University. Her undergraduate degree saw her developing a wide range of performance, composition, writing and directing skills, as well as various applied theatre projects (arranging and performing a three-part a capella cover of Blurred Lines for a reimagining of Lysistrata being a highlight).
She furthered her education at AFTRS Open and interned with the Australian Theatre for Young People as a dramaturg. In her final year of study, she co-founded leftofcentre theatre collective, with her debut play Elegy traveling to La Boite's FAST festival, a showing at ATYP and a season as part of Perth's FRINGEWORLD.
Following her graduation from NIDA Masters of Fine Arts (Writing for Performance) this year, she's been writing TRANSIENCE, which was produced by bAKEHOUSE/kXT.
Seating at The Old Fitz Theatre is unreserved.
Drinks are permitted in the theatre. Food is not permitted under any circumstances. This includes bar chips/nuts.
Please note there is a lockout policy in place on all shows at The Old Fitz Theatre. Latecomers are not permitted to enter during the performance and there is a no refunds/exchanges policy in place with regards to latecomers. Please contact firstname.lastname@example.com or 0416 044 413 with any issues.


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Core to College Evaluation: Building Bridges through Stakeholder Outreach and Engagement
What can K–12 and higher education systems do to foster increased collaboration in order to better prepare students for college?
Core to College, a three-year, multi-state initiative funded by the Lumina Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, is designed to promote collaboration among K–12 and higher education systems in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards and aligned assessments.
This evaluation report, prepared by WestEd researchers, examines organizational and leadership strategies that support collaborative stakeholder engagement among the initial 10 states participating in the Core to College Initiative.
Alignment Directors (ADs), located within these state education systems, are the catalyst for moving the initiative forward over the next several years. WestEd's Core to College evaluation team, working with the ADs, found that strategic planning is intertwined with stakeholder involvement, which in turn is situated within the organizational structures of each state's education systems.
The finding, in general terms, is that context matters a great deal, and that each AD is navigating his or her unique context thoughtfully, purposefully, and carefully to build partnerships and improve communication and collaboration.
Other reports in the Core to College series
- Placing College Students in Courses for Credit
- Implementing the Common Core State Standards: Articulating Course Sequences Across K–12 and Higher Education Systems
- Exploring the Use of Multiple Measures for Placement into College-Level Courses
- Statewide Networks: Connecting Education Systems and Stakeholders to Support College Readiness
Resource Details
Product InformationCopyright: 2012
Format: PDF
Pages: 71
Publisher: WestEd


text:
Tag: password strength
Password Generation Demystified
It seems as though each year an IT giant declares the death of the password. Microsoft, IBM, Google and others claimed that the age of the password had come to an end because passwords no longer kept users safe.
RoboForm 8 Feature Highlight: How Strong is Your Password?
Our tool takes into account all known bad password habits and patterns, increasing the reliability of your strength rating.
RoboForm 8 Feature Highlight: Security Center
With the launch of RoboForm 8, a new Security Center section has been added to the RoboForm Editor.


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Money management is extremely essential for students as they have very little time to worry about their bills, income, expenses as they're too young to worry about their financial woes. You must be aware of the impact of debt on a person's credit score. Debts can have a dangerous impact on your credit score and as you're a student, you have to be particularly careful about the score as your future employer will check that before hiring you within the organization. Students, running to debt consolidation companies for financial help, are a very common scene in the US and if you want to avoid following the herd, you must practice effective personal finance management. Here are some personal finance tips that students may follow if they want to stay on top of their finances in this present tumultuous debt situation.
Track your monthly income
The first step that you must take is to track your monthly income and your expenses so that you know where your money is going. Students usually don't realize where their money is going and therefore it is important for them to take some solid step to track their income and expenses. Only by tracking your expenses will you be able to curb them and this is the best way to stay within your means.
Say 'No' to credit
One of the very bad trends that most students follow is to use credit while purchasing things. This is a very bad financial habit and you must shun it as soon as possible so as to get back on track. Carry cash wherever you go so that you can stop shopping immediately when you exhaust cash. If you intend to use your credit cards for every little purchase, you'll soon be in trouble.
Dwell and shop in a group
As you're a student with no full-time employment option, you must look for discounts wherever you go. It is important that you dwell and shop in groups so that you may qualify for discounts on goods. Usually, most sellers and retail shops offer discounts on goods that are brought together. Save your bucks wherever possible so as to stay financially fit.
Follow a budget
The increase in the student loan debt is simply due to the large number of students who do not follow a budget. Craft a frugal budget so that you can easily keep a track on what you make in a month and on what you spend. If at the end of the month, you see that your income is less than your expenses, you have to take certain important steps to get back on the right financial track.
If you feel that your finances are in a state of haywire, get help from debt consolidation companies as you can get better help from the professionals. Save money rigorously so that there are enough funds from which you may choose to use money during a financial emergency.


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True West
by Sam Shepard
Directed by Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson
- February 24-26, and March 1-3, 2012
- 7:30PM, Sunday at 2PM
- The Studio Theatre, Public Affairs Center (PAC) Level 1, UIS Campus
- Photo Gallery
Play Description
Full Length Play
3 men, 1 woman, 4 total
TRUE WEST explores the challenging and volatile relationship between brothers Austin and Lee. Austin is an aspiring screenwriter, Lee an unsavory drifter. Austin's attempt at creating his own screenplay to pitch to a Hollywood producer gets undermined by Lee's con-man tactics, and the two brothers find themselves in a battle of wills with high stakes. In this "Faculty Showcase" production, the role of Lee will be played by Associate Professor of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson.
"Shepard's masterwork…. It tells us a truth, as glimpsed by a 37 year old genius."–New York Post.
"It's clear, funny naturalistic. It's also opaque, terrifying, surrealistic. If that sounds contradictory, you're on to one aspect of Shepard's winning genius; the ability to make you think you're watching one thing while at the same time he's presenting another."–San Francisco Chronicle.


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At Chika, we understand that Internal Application Development and SaaS platforms are at the heart of any business. After all, these are the tools used to support your customers.
Chika is therefore committed to working closely with you to so as to formulate the right solution. We will also track feedback from your customers to ensure there is continuous improvement.


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Port Royal Plaza is home to 8 outstanding restaurants: Bella Italia, Fiesta Fresh, Plantation Cafe, Reilley's North End Pub, Street Meet, Sunny China and The Purple Cow. Serving up sizzling steaks, fresh seafood, and pub sandwiches on Hilton Head Island for many years. Early dining and late dining, Asian, Italian, Mexican and American cuisine, Outdoor seating, occasional live music & TV sports with ample parking and where the locals eat!
Great Place to Meet for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We proudly stand as the go-to place for shopping and dining among locals and tourists alike. Port Royal Plaza offers the Island's affordable yet enjoyable experience for everyone. Conveniently located near Port Royal Plantation, we are in the center of Hilton Head Island. Being a short drive for everyone makes us a great place to meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner!


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Members of LocationTech are also full fledged members of the Eclipse Foundation, at one of the Solutions or Strategic or Enterprise levels. Here are the steps to join:
- Choose which level of LocationTech participation you prefer, Strategic or Participant.
- Complete the Eclipse Foundation application form [doc] [pdf]. (Solutions level or higher)
- Complete and sign the Eclipse Foundation membership agreement [pdf]. (Solutions level or higher)
- Complete and sign the working group agreement [pdf]. Pages 1, 5, 12, 13
- The member committer agreement covers your employees and contractors to work on any Eclipse Foundation or LocationTech hosted project.
The annual dues are based on a sliding scale based on the company size, you can look them up in the charter under the Total column Member Fees table for the desired level of participation.
Send any questions, or the completed agreements to email@example.com.
As per the agreements, the latest version of the Eclipse Foundation Bylaws apply to LocationTech members (linked here for convenience).


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A Christmas Example of Online Lifespan
The History of Christmas Tradition, Balsam Hill
Online Lifespan is the length of time that a particular infographic design will remain relevant and interesting to readers. It takes the same amount of effort to research and design an infographic about a hot, trending news topic as it does to design a more general, informational topic; however, the client will get much more value from a design with a long Online Lifespan that will generate traffic and links for years.
The History of Christmas Tradition designed for Balsam Hill is a design with a long Online Lifespan. The design is a multi-tiered timeline that covers the history of Christmas over hundreds of years, and even though the most recent event is from 2007, the history will be "relevant and interesting" to readers for years to come. In fact, it should drive new traffic in the month of December every year, which is fantastic for a company that sells Christmas trees!


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So what is genomics, anyway?
My daughter--who's in Public Health now--asked me to define genomics.I told her that genomics was the study of genetic inheritance in populations, with a specific focus on disease conditions thought to have a major genetic component.
"So," says my daughter, "how does that differ from epidemiology? or population genetics?"
I blundered through, as usual, and then looked it up online. Although I started with Wikipedia, I finally chose the definition from the CDC national office of public health genomics as an appropriate one for her question:
What is Genomics?
Genetics is the study of inheritance, or the way traits are passed down from one generation to another. Genes carry the instructions for making proteins, which direct the activities of cells and functions of the body that influence traits such as hair and eye color. Genomics is a newer term that describes the study of all the genes in a person, as well as the interactions of those genes with each other and a person's environment.
Oops, that definition doesn't include population--it only defines genes in a single person. And, it doesn't take other organisms into account.
The Wikipedia definition doesn't include populations, either. But, it does refer to other organisms:
Genomics is the study of an organism's entire genome. Investigation of single genes, their functions and roles is something very common in today's medical and biological research, and cannot be said to be genomics but rather the most typical feature of molecular biology.
Genomics can be said to have appeared in the 1980s, and took off in the 1990s with the initiation of genome projects for several biological species. A major branch of genomics is still concerned with sequencing the genomes of various organisms, but the knowledge of full genomes has created the possibility for the field of functional genomics, mainly concerned with patterns of gene expression during various conditions. The most important tools here are microarrays and bioinformatics. Study of the full set of proteins in a cell type or tissue, and the changes during various condition, is called proteomics.
STOP! OVERLOAD! How like scientists to invent more terms than anyone outside science can keep track of.
Wikipedia goes on to tell us
As of January 2005, the complete sequence was known of about 1,000 viruses, 220 bacterial species and roughly 20 eukaryote organisms, of which about half are fungi. [4]
Ironically, Wikipedia doesn't include anything about populations.
I've boiled it down to
Genomics is the study of organisms' entire genomes [note the plural, organisms].
The "human genome" is the agreed-upon sequence of nucleotide bases (DNA) identified in the human genome project. This "standard human genome"--although no one ever calls it that--is based on a selection of individuals and a selection of base sequences in that group of individuals.
Besides sequencing DNA, the study of genomics also attempts to determine how the DNA functions, what changes (mutations) affect those functions, and how one individual organism's DNA differs from the standard genome. Human genomics, then, is involved in the sequencing of entire genomes and in the investigation into DNA function.
But, DNA doesn't function in a vacuum. So, human genomics must also consider all other activities occurring in all cells of an individual human. Other parts of the cell may also affect both function and inheritance. Furthermore, genes are influenced by their environment.
Now, let's consider that one person's DNA generally matters to that one person and those genetically related to that person. Can we make the jump now to public health genomics?
Public health genomics covers a LOT of area--as you might already have figured out. Most often, the phrase refers to the study of human health conditions where genetics plays a major part in determining public health. For example, for years we have thought that "juvenile", or Type 1, diabetes appeared in a human at a relatively young age depending on genes inherited by that human from his/her ancestors.
By comparing the complete genomes (DNA samples) of some people with Type 1 diabetes with DNA samples from people without Type 1 diabetes, scientists in Iceland and other locations have been able to identify a number of genetic differences they believe relate to the condition. These have now been called, "diabetes genes".
Now, we're into public health genomics. Whole genomes have been compared--even though the detailed sequences of each genome were not identified. Differences have been found. Scientists can investigate the mapping locations of the sequences responsible for these differences, can develop tests to identify these "genes", can study the effect of environment on these genes, can develop ways to prevent and/or treat Type 1 diabetes--at the gene level.
This is public health genomics.
Well, much of it--So, what do you think?
Marie Godfrey, PhD


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Checkout Usabilla's career page or our Jobs Board for other opportunities
Business Development Representative Team Lead
The digital landscape can be overwhelming—unpredictable, ever-changing and advancing faster than ever. So, how do you ensure your company stays ahead? At Usabilla, we decided to come up with a solution. The idea was simple: empower organizations to become truly customer-centric by listening to what consumers need. How? By running surveys and campaigns to collect targeted, contextual feedback. We believe that by knowing exactly what customers value, you can build digital platforms that not only drive results but outlast change. Usabilla helps market leaders such as Philips, Tommy Hilfiger, KLM, and Audi improve their digital touchpoints by investing in the Voice of Customer. Almost a decade later, in March 2019, Usabilla was acquired by SurveyMonkey, a global survey software company based in San Mateo, California. Join us and put your customers at the center of your digital strategy.
Job Description
Are you keen to work in a fast-growing, international tech company with clients like Hilton, The Economist, and Home Depot? In an innovative environment with the attitude of a start-up but the support of a large Dutch company? How about the opportunity to visit the flagship office in Amsterdam? Nodding at your screen? Then it sounds like we've got what you're looking for.
As a Usabilla Business Development Representative, you'll stand amongst the proud frontline of our company and reach out to prospects, building lasting relationships with each interaction.
The Business Development Representative (BDR) Team Lead is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Business Development Representatives (BDRs) and their processes at Usabilla. As a BDR Team Lead, you will be both a player and a coach; using your knowledge and expertise to lead your team towards total quota dominance.
You'll be part of our modest but fast-growing international Sales team based in Manhattan, NYC. Working alongside 6 Business Development Managers, you'll report directly to the Head of Business Development USA and Usabilla CCO.
A typical day for you will involve:
- You'll generate, respond to, and develop qualified leads through outbound calls, emails, and other resourceful means
- Maintaining active engagement with both new and existing leads through creative communication designed to increase customer interest in Usabilla products
- Collaborate with and leverage teammates (BDR's and Account Executives) to develop targeted lists, call and email strategies, and messaging to drive opportunities
- Manage, track, and report on all activities and results using Hubspot (CRM)
- Identifying and empathizing with prospect needs, understanding the business drivers behind requests and presenting Usabilla as a valuable solution
- As a new branch of such a thriving SaaS company, the potential for growth within Usabilla is exponentiate. You'll be in a creative environment supported by a structure that encourages serious innovation and development
- Collaborating with a whole bunch of talented colleagues, from Marketeers to Engineers, from both the New York and Amsterdam office
Your skills:
- You're a native English speaker living in the US
- 1-3+ years of experience in Sales Development, and/or Sales (B2B or SAAS is a big plus!)
- Experience in building or being part of a growing BDR team
- A relevant Bachelor degree
- You're driven, passionate, and enthusiastic. Cold calling is an adrenaline rush and you love connecting with new people
- Your presentation, time management, and communication skills are on point
- You have a keen interest in the tech industry


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How much are you worth an hour?/
Have you ever stopped to consider how much you are worth an hour? Let's go through the steps together and I trust you will come to the conclusion that you should work less! I mean it ;) Stay with me here.....
220 work days of 8 hours each day in 1 year. $100,000 a year would equal $56.81/hour however I don't know about you but it's not true. You don't work a total of 8 hours in one day. Let's just say that 3 hours a day are TRULY working hours of productivity.
220 work days of 3 hours each day. $100,000 a year would equal $151.51 an hour.
So knowing that you are earning $151.51 an hour, let's reconsider the tasks that you do throughout the day.
- Driving
- Shopping
- Consulting
- Selling
- Counseling
- Encouraging
- Researching
Does it change the way you look at the tasks you HAVE TO DO? It should.
I remember years ago, I sold Partylite candles as a candle consultant. I loved the work. I would have friends host a party and invite all their friends and co-workers and neighbors over for our candle party. I would come up with themed parties, call everyone to confirm the guest list, present the latest and greatest candles and scents then collect the orders. When it was all said and done, a "great sales night" could be anywhere from $2000-$3000 in sales which was great however when I stopped to think about the time, effort and energy I put into it, I wasn't making much an hour at all. I knew I had to find a way to work SMARTER not HARDER.
That's when I came across the book "Life Makeovers" by Cheryl Richardson. I loved this book because at the end of every chapter, there was a suggested reading list and take action type questions. I remember thinking I want to make an impact on peoples lives by being a real estate agent. But I was clueless. I had no degree, no formal education beyond some college... who would trust me? Where would I find training and mentoring that I desperately needed?
I researched online and studied to get my real estate exam and never looked back. I have shared my story about real estate numerous places but this quick video sums up how I found a way to create 4 incomes streams. Check it out and let me know if you are ready to learn how? I am looking for others to mentor and train. Message me for more info.


text: [caption id="attachment_1083" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="this weekend, at DBG"][/caption] I will be participating in this wonderful show this weekend, along with 24 other jewelers. The Denver Botanic Gardens in conjunction with the Colorado Metalsmithing Association will be hosting. Friday evening is a reception which starts at 6pm, and goes to 9pm. Saturday the hours are 9am - 5pm, and Sunday 11am - 5pm. I am working on a bounty of new pieces. Stop by and see all my new pearls, stones and other cool pieces.


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"The Mermaid" – J. W. Waterhouse has always made my heart sing~
I see the Deep's untrampled floor
With green and purple sea-weeds strown;
I see the waves upon the shore
like light dissolved in star-showers thrown…
This piece (Sold) is inspired by recent trips to the coast, and by the ever-transfixing Nautilus shell button by Green Girl Studios (a fantastical creature!). Bracelet has stones of apatite, amazonite, unpolished onyx, turquoise, glass, and quartz, lampwork glass, seaweed pearls, & black and white pearls for beadcaps.
The Nautilus sold, but I will be adding more like this to my Etsy store, for the Siren Series– jewelry for all amphibious sirens. 😉


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Nylatron® 4.6 PA46
Product Overview
- Broadest size range availability
- Good mechanical and electrical properties
- Ideal balance of strength and toughness
- Cast as finished parts and near net shapes (nylon 6)
Product Details
Offers superior heat aging and creep resistance and retention of stiffness up to 300°F. It is reddish brown in color and used where PA 6, PA 66, POM and PET fall short.
Nylons can absorb up to 7% (by weight) water under high humidity or submerged in water. This can result in dimensional changes up to 2% and a corresponding reduction of physical properties. Proper design techniques can frequently compensate for this factor.


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We can reclaim and save water from all different types of CAFO systems. We can help with animal waste nutrient recovery from all different types of animal waste. Whether its phosphorus or nitrogen recovery in Concentrated Animal Feed Operation, we have the answer the answer with Deskins. Click here to see our corporate animation on Deskins and agriculture.
According to the USDA, Deskins Quick-Dry Filters were 98% efficient in removing TSS (total suspended solids) and volatile sollids, 89% efficient removing COD, 62% in removing TKN, 91% in removing organic nitrogen and 93% in removing organic phosphorus. What other system can do this?


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by the Left Coast Rebel
I know that the 2011 Miss TSA Calendar showed up on the net a few days ago so I'm not the first one to carry this.
It's so funny though that I had to post it (click the image to embiggen):
Once again, I am proud of my fellow American's ability to turn humor out of the tyranny of our government.
(PICTURES) 2011 Miss TSA Calendar
by the Left Coast Rebel
3 comments:
Commenting here is a privilege, not a right. Comments that contain cursing or insults and those failing to add to the discussion will be summarily deleted.
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Coumadin® (Warfarin)
This recipe is safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users.
Avoid this recipe if you are lactose intolerant.
This is a low sodium recipe.
GERD / Acid Reflux
No specific GERD triggers.
Gluten Sensitivity
This recipe is NOT safe for those who are sensitive to gluten.
"Aspiring to a soufflé, he achieves a pancake at which the reader saws without much appetite." -John Leonard, Author
I love adding fruit to my pancakes. Any berry will do - blueberries, strawberries, blackberries - whatever is in the market. I have not had much success using frozen berries in my pancakes, however.
Buttermilk is ideal in baking because there's no fat and it acts very much like whole milk in pancakes and muffins. If you are going to substitute buttermilk for milk in your recipes, you'll need to change the amount of baking soda and baking powder as well. This is because of the higher acid content in buttermilk. You will usually need less baking soda or baking powder.
For each cup of buttermilk used instead of milk you will want to use 2 teaspoons less baking powder and add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
Servings: 2 | Serving size: 2 pancakes
Cooking Time = 30 Minutes
This recipe can easily be multiplied or halved. Leftover pancakes aren't very good. The batter will keep overnight but the pancakes will not be as good.
|2/3 cup
|all purpose white flour
|1 Tbsp
|Splenda or stevia
|1 tsp
|baking powder
|2/3 cup
|non-fat buttermilk
|1/4 cup
|egg substitute
|1 tsp
|pure vanilla extract
|1/4 cup
|fresh blueberries (or strawberries or blackberries)
|2 tsp
|unsalted butter
|1 Tbsp
|pure maple syrup (per serving)
Sift flour, Splenda and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.
Add buttermilk, egg substitute and vanilla extract and blend using a large whisk until smooth.
Heat a non-stick griddle over medium-high heat. Let the batter stand for at least 2 minutes while the griddle is heating. Stir once and wait another minute before placing batter on the griddle.
When the griddle is hot enough that a few drops of water will dance on the surface, reduce the heat to medium and place about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake on the griddle.
After the pancakes have cooked for about a minute, spread a tablespoon of fruit across the top of each one. Allow to cook for another 1 - 2 minutes until bubbles form on the surface and burst. Turn pancake and cook for about 1/2 the time of the first side until they are golden brown.
Remove and top with one teaspoon of butter on each pancake and serve one tablespoon of pure maple syrup for every two pancakes.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size = 2 pancakes, 2 tsp. butter, 1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
Servings = 2
Amount Per Serving
|Calories 294
|Calories from Fat 49
|% Daily Value
|Total Fat 6g
|Saturated Fat 1g
|Monounsaturated Fat 2g
|Trans Fat 0g
|Cholesterol 2mg
|Sodium 404mg
|Total Carbohydrates 50g
|Dietary Fiber 5g
|Sugars 14g
|Protein 12g
|Vitamin A 15%
|Vitamin C 4%
|Calcium 29%
|Iron 15%
|Vitamin K 7 mcg
|Potassium 468 mg
|Magnesium 75 mg


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Sunday mornings present a great opportunity to take it easy, so put the kettle on, get out the biscuits or chocolates, relax and indulge yourself in a Lazy Sunday.
Ian Perry is your host, helping you to make the best of Sunday mornings and take it easy with a good cuppa, the Sunday newspapers, and do as little as possible for at least three hours! For those working, it's a case of kettle on more often and enforced breaks from the daily grind!
Each week, Ian brings you all the regular features including:
10:20 The Word On Health: Paul Pennington reports on health matters affecting the nation.
10:45: 2Hits2Who: Clues from 10am leading to two tracks back to back from an artist you may well have forgotten about - also known as 'The Owl Spot' - you work it out!
11:10: Weekend Sports Wrap: A quick digest of scores and fixtures from in and around the borough.
11:30: One Hit Wonders: We turn the clocks back and play a hit from an artist who failed to get any more.
11:45: Not The Same Song: two tracks, different songs, different artists, same title.
12:10: The Cinema Guide: What's on at Ilkeston's Scala Cinema.
12:20: Collaborations: two great artists, one great song. We celebrate the results of duetting artists from across the decades.
12:30: The Name Game: can YOU come up with a song featuring a person's name? It could even be YOUR name! Why not suggest one for a future show?
...and we'll throw in plenty of local news and information and of course, great songs, JUST for Erewash.


text: Frequently Asked Questions Below are some of the questions I get asked most often! If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact me! When should I book my session?I always say the sooner the better! There is always a chance that I will have an opening last minute, however, if you have your heart set on a certain date, especially a weekend, the sooner you book, the more likely you are to get the date you want and/or have more options to choose from. Is there a deposit? If so, how much is it and how do I pay it?I do require a $75 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot on the schedule. The deposit will be deducted from your total due on the day of your session. When you are ready to book, I will send over an email with your invoice in it. When you go to your invoice, there will be a "Pay Now" button next to your deposit. From there you will be prompted through the rest of the payment process. What if it is a rainy or cloudy day, can we reschedule?If the weather is less than desirable, I do offer an option to reschedule. I want you guys to be 100% happy with your session and images! Do you offer a military discount?Yes, I do! I offer 10% off for all service members, including Military, Police, Fire, etc. How long is the turnaround time for the images?It normally takes me approximately 2-3 weeks to edit and send over your gallery. How will I receive my images?You will receive your images in an online viewing gallery called CloudSpot. From there you will be able to view your images, download them to your computer or devices, share them with friends and family, as well as buy prints if that is something you are interested in! How many images will I receive?If you book a mini session, you will receive 15 edited digital images.If you book a full session, the number of photos you will receive will vary, however, I always guarantee 25+ edited digital images. Do you offer prints?If you are interested in printing any of your photos, I offer an easy way of doing so right through your CloudSpot gallery! All of the images are printed through a professional printing lab I use called White House Custom Colour. Any prints you order, will be shipped straight to your door! Will you help pose us?My goal during your session is to give you a collection of images that look as natural as possible. I definitely help pose you, however, I would use the term prompt more so than pose. I will give you instruction throughout the session, however I do not focus on every little detail. I like to leave some things up for interpretation, so you are able to move naturally throughout the session, focusing more on connection, rather than the specific pose. Do I get to pick the location?Yes! If you have a specific location in mind, please tell me! If not, that is ok too! I am happy to give you suggestions! Do you have a travel fee?There is no travel fee for any location within 25 miles of zip code 92108, anything farther than that, I do have a travel fee. The price will depend on where you would like me to travel to. Where do you do your newborn sessions? Do you have a studio?All of my newborn sessions are done in my client's homes! Do you pose newborns?I have a lifestyle approach to my newborn sessions, which means I do minimal posing, and more prompting through your session (I will guide you opposed to telling you exactly where to put your hands, arms, etc.). I will photograph baby on his/her own as well as with family, guiding you through different positions and arrangements! I love newborn photos that look natural. Natural positions, natural expressions, in a place that feels natural to everyone, your home! Do you use props in any of your sessions?I do not use or provide props, however, if there is something special that you would like to include in your session, I am happy to incorporate it in your session! Do you provide the cake or props for cake smash sessions?I do not provide the cake or props for my cake smash sessions. However, I am happy to set up anything that you would like to incorporate! Do you need a lot of light for in-home sessions?The more natural light the better, however, I work with the available light in your home! I will give you a little bit of homework in order to find the time of day that your home is the brightest, and then we will schedule your session around that time. I do not use artificial light in my in-home sessions. What is the best time of the day for outdoor sessions?Each session is different, depending on the location, however most of my sessions are booked 1-2 hours before sunset, for the best, most flattering light! What forms of payment do you accept?At the time of booking you will receive an invoice with your payment schedule all laid out. You will have access to this invoice 24/7 through your client portal. This gives you an easy way to pay your deposit and remaining balance with a credit/debit card. All deposits must be paid with a credit/debit card, however if you would rather pay cash or check for your remaining balance that is perfectly fine with me! How many people are included in your session prices?The session fees all include up to 5 people. Each additional person after the first 5 is $25 per person. Do you offer payment plans?Yes, yes I do! If this is something you are interested in, let me know, and I am happy to create a custom payment plan just for you! Do you trade?Yes! Let me know what you are interested in trading and I am happy to chat about it! Have any other questions? Please don't hesitate to ask!


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Flow Trails - Jumps and Berms
On this course we will help you
Generate more speed
Carry more speed
Ride Smoother
Rail berms
Jump higher and further
All with less effort.
Continuing on from the principles developed on the Fundamentals course, on this the second course in the series we focus on pressure control. Working with body mechanics, technique and some simple psychology you will develop a clear conceptual understanding of what needs to be done and more importantly how to do it.
Using specific targeted purposeful practice, riders will tune into the "feeling" and once we have felt it we can begin to repeat it. When we can repeat it, we can explore where and how this "feeling" applies elsewhere.
We don't just train riders for a day, we provide a conceptual understanding and a way of practicing which will keep participants progressing long after the course.
Jumps, berms and pumping terrain is something the Whistler Bike Park crew excel at coaching and we have been fortunate enough to train under some of the most experienced coaches in the world. Training people to ride trails like A-Line, Dirt Merchant, Freight Train and Crabapple Hits we have all the experience you need to guide you through the timed proven progression.
This course is for intermediate to advanced riders, our feed back is specific to your needs.
Fundamentals course
All participants must be able to level lift/bunny hop in flat pedals.
If you have not done our Fundamentals course you CAN enter the progression here but this isn't a more advanced course, its just more specific.
A fully functioning bike fit for purpose
Appropriate safety gear including a helmet
You will need flat pedals and appropriate shoes (I generally ride clipped in but there is good reason for flat pedals on this course).
Meeting Parkwood Springs 9.30, finishing at approx 3.30
Cost £80.00
Friday 7th February
Limited to 8 Places


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Jeff Dunham Reading Tickets
Jeff Dunham's observational style and engaging stagecraft sets him apart from the rest of the stand-up performers in the business. His popular characters and sharp commentary make his TV specials and live shows highly entertaining for all the fun-seekers. The use of ventriloquism along with his funny jokes ranks him among the high-profile comedians of the US as well as Europe. Currently on his latest tour, Jeff is performing his live stand-up routines at different venues. Enjoy hilarious acts by Jeff and The Gang by getting Jeff Dunham Reading tickets.
An entertainer since his teenage, Jeff became popular while performing in different comedy clubs and banquets for other celebrities. He got his first break when he showed his talents in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the early 80s. His performance in 1985 Broadway musical Sugar Babies garnered him the attention of audiences and critics. His regular appearance at the Late Show with David Letterman made him a widely known comedian.
Jeff rose to fame in the early 2000s with his solo Comedy Central Specials. So far, his five stand-up specials have been broadcasted on the channel. Due to his innovative concepts and self-created puppets, Jeff is among the highly likable and leading performers of the country.
According to 2008-09 records, his show DVDs are among the bestselling comedy discs in the US. His live shows have always attracted huge crowds and this is the reason of him being one of the hottest touring celebrities. Jeff Dunham Reading tickets are the best purchase if you want a fun time out with your family and friends.
Jeff Dunham Reading PA Tickets Prices
Currently the average price for Jeff Dunham Reading PA tickets is $175. The date and location for this event is 5-Feb-20 at Santander Arena, Reading. The minimum get-in price for Jeff Dunham Reading PA tickets is $67.
|Average Ticket Price
|Get In Price
(Minimum Price)
|Jeff Dunham
* Ticket Prices vary on hourly basis.


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Another Education Bill is now on its journey through Parliament. As usual, the Bill contains many items of interest, and some of concern, to us. Some of those items attempt to rectify some of the Bishops' concerns about the hastily drafted Academies Act 2010 and other parts of the Academies framework which the government is inviting us to join. The effect of the Bill as presently drafted will alleviate some of those concerns and lessen others, but some still remain. The government has indicated it is willing to continue working on the remaining concerns, and the CES is working closely with the Bill Team to improve the situation still further.
Aside from the Education Bill, the CES continues to make progress on the Policy side of Academies, and Bishop Malcolm Mc Mahon's recent statement reflects that steady progress. The idea of a distinctive identity for the Catholic sector within the Academy sector – the concept of a "Catholic Voluntary Academy" – discussed at our Diocesan meetings with head teachers and chairs of governors in January has now been accepted by the Government. The development of this concept and its clear signposting by ourselves and the DfE will assist in educating officials and others about the continuing distinctiveness of our sector if and when any of our schools become Academies.
These areas of progress are reflected in Bishop McMahon's view that, subject to the CES's ongoing discussions with Ministers, the "could we?" question in this debate is likely to receive a positive answer, and that the focus is shifting to the more difficult "should we?" question at national, diocesan and local levels. It is therefore timely that we have been able to discuss these questions with head teachers, chairs of governors, and others in the Diocese, and to gather views to inform the Education Commission and Trustees, who will consider these broad questions this month. Following those deliberations, and subject to their outcome, I anticipate we will need to undertake more detailed consideration of the third big question: "if so, how?". The answers to that question will need to be worked out in accordance with our own self understanding of the ecclesial nature of Catholic education, and we look forward to working with you all on that task. In the light of the above, it will be clear that this further consultation between schools and their Trustees must precede any wider local consultations or any concrete steps towards applying to be an Academy.
Change is also the order of the day in the Education Service. Maureen Roe, our Deputy Director for the last six of her nine years in the Service, will be retiring at the end of August 2011, and Margaret Carswell has decided to return to Australia, also in the summer. We will greatly miss Maureen and Margaret when they leave, but I am delighted that Margaret has agreed to return to do some work for us periodically. There will be an opportunity to recognise their enormous contributions to the Service and to say farewell to each of them in a fitting way later in the year. I ask your help in publicising the resulting vacancies so we may recruit quality replacements to continue to deliver the service you expect.
Paul Barber
Education Service: Recruitment
The Education Service is recruiting for three posts: Deputy Director and Assistant Director (Advisory Team Leader) both from September 2011, and a Catholic Education Adviser (Primary) for September or sooner if possible. Please put the enclosed Advert in your staffroom and bring the vacancies to the attention of anyone who may be interested.
Job descriptions are available on the Diocesan website under "Jobs" or contact Julie Dauncey in out HR Department for a recruitment pack.
Contact: Julie Dauncey on email@example.com
Academies: Update
An update for Governing Bodies and Head Teachers is enclosed.
Contact: Paul Barber on 020 7798 9005 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Beyond Level 3 and the Teaching of Scripture
On 11th March the Section 48 Inspectors met with the Primary Team Leader with the purpose of developing a shared understanding of the principles which underpin the teaching of Scripture, as well as a clearer more precise understanding of the Attainment Targets (especially Level 3, 4 and 5). It is planned that the discussions and debate will result in the preparation of a formal document of 'agreed understanding' which will be distributed to all schools.
Contact: Margaret Carswell on 020 7798 9005 or firstname.lastname@example.com
London Citizens
London Citizens are very keen to identify and work with a small group of Primary schools who would lead in preparing teaching materials on projects initiated by London Citizens. If you would be interested in London Citizens, please look at their website www.citizensuk.org If you would be interested in being part of a small 'writing' group, please contact Margaret Carswell.
Contact: Margaret Carswell on 020 7798 9005 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Headteachers' Conference 5 July 2011
Archbishop Vincent will open this year's all day Conference which is entitled Fostering a Culture of Vocation in our Catholic Schools Today. Invitations and booking forms will be issued on Monday 14th March and applications are welcomed by return. An engaging programme is planned which will address key aspects of the life of a Catholic school in 2011. We hope you have the date in your diary and look forward to seeing you in Westminster Cathedral Hall on Tuesday 5 July.
Contact: Margaret Theissl on 020 8457 6531or firstname.lastname@example.com
E Bacc Update
You are probably aware that much lobbying is on going in favour of including Religious Education in the Humanities group of subjects in the English Baccalaureate on many fronts. We will not rehearse the list here but would encourage schools to mobilise as many people as possible to write to their MP on the subject. This request is not directed solely to secondary schools. We know that some primary schools have already lobbied but would encourage all to join this important campaign.
Useful advice on how to campaign may be found at:
For further information please contact your school adviser of Peter Ward at email@example.com or on 020 7798 9005.
Sixth Form Funding 2011-12*
Colleges and schools with Sixth Forms will be well aware of the revised funding regime introduced by the YPLA for the coming year. Given this context, we are exploring ways of securing the cost-effective funding of General Religious Education into the future. Further information will be shared as soon as possible. Looking further ahead the Wolf Report: Review of Vocational Education, published on 3 March 2011, is making far reaching recommendations across the 14-19 range including the replacement of unit funding with a modified flat rate funding model.
In the meantime specific questions regarding General Religious Education may be addressed to Peter Ward at email@example.com or on 020 7798 9005.
Sixth Form General Religious Education: NOCN Update
The NOCN Quality Reviewer has completed many of his visits and found that procedures and practices across the diocese are in line with NOCN requirements. Following each visit, a report is made to NOCN and shared with the school. During his visits he has noted a number of examples of good practice that will be circulated to all schools and colleges entering students for this qualification. School Advisers will soon be contacting their schools and colleges to agree dates to make the end of course visit to verify standards and counter sign returns to NOCN. The annual diocesan standardising meetings will be held at Vaughan House on the mornings of Wednesday 15 June and Friday 17 June. Full details of these events will be circulated shortly.
For further information please contact your school adviser or Peter Ward at email@example.com or on 020 7798 9005.
Update on Inspection Review
The Inspection Committee is continuing to work on the draft framework for Diocesan Inspection. The discussions held with heads at various Deanery Meetings as well as Advisers and Inspectors are all contributing to the development of a framework which will meet the needs of schools and colleges in the Diocese. We are also in discussion with some other Dioceses so that our work is seen to be in collaboration with the national review being undertaken at this time. Until the publication of the new Framework the current process of Section 48 Inspections will continue. During this period of transition, support and advice for the preparation of Diocesan Inspection is available to subject leaders of religious education and heads. Please contact Mary Jo Martin at Vaughan House if you would like to discuss anything about the current inspection process or the work of the review. email@example.com
Good News Slot
(Please note: this section of the bulletin consists of good news which have been sent in from schools around the diocese. It may well be that others have achieved similar awards or success and, if so, we congratulate them too!)
Congratulations to St Swithun Wells Primary School, Hillingdon for being awarded the Healthy Schools Award.
On behalf of the Archbishop of Westminster and the Board of Studies of the Bishops' Conference of England & Wales we are pleased to announce that the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies has been awarded to these candidates who have successfully completed their studies at the Westminster Centre: DEIRDRE ANN ABBOTT - St. Joan of Arc Primary School, Islington; PATRICIA FEURY - St. Bernadette Primary School, Kenton; PENELOPE HARMAN - St Thomas of Canterbury Primary School, Fulham; JANE HEFFERNAN - Convent of Jesus & Mary Language College, Willesden; MICHELLE KEATING - St. Thomas of Canterbury Primary School, Puckeridge; DENISE LAWRENCE – St. Margaret Clitherow Primary School, Stevenage; DIANA MENDONCA - St. John Fisher, Pinner; TARA MOONEY - Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Stonebridge; PAUL NEVES – John F Kennedy School, Hemel Hempstead; CAROLYN O'BRIEN - St. John Fisher Primary School, Pinner; SUSANA OPOKU-GYAMFI - St. Aloysius College, Highgate; CAROLINE PANNELL - English Martyrs Primary School Tower Hill; CHERYL SUBBAN Sion Manning Girls School. N. Kensington; The CCRS awards were presented by Bishop John Arnold in the presence of head teachers, governors and parish priests at Vaughan House on Saturday 22nd January. The Westminster Diocesan CCRS Centre currently has over 80 teachers studying to complete the CCRS course. If staff in your school have not yet completed the CCRS course please visit the Diocesan Education Service website for more information about the CCRS course.


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me walking cedar on the beach, taken by jessamyn
A few years ago I was sitting on the floor surrounded by a circle of women. Each of us, one by one, answering questions from a slip of paper in our hands. Some of them light, some deep but with the space I was in at that time in my life, anything asked of me to share felt sacred. I remember trying hard to swallow the tears I knew that would come, even at something as simple as "what is your favorite color and why?" Speaking in front of more than one person is already vulnerable enough for me but to be speaking to a circle of tender hearts that are intimately aware of my journey, it all just felt so raw and at the surface. I recall opening my mouth and when the words didn't come, covering my face and apologizing. It helped that in this circle of tender hearts, there was room for all of this and shame didn't have a place where my tears fell. What I remember most about this moment and why I am sharing this is because something a friend said to me, lifted my shoulders a bit higher and gave me strength to keep sharing. "Throughout this whole journey, you have been so graceful with your pain. I wish I could have been more graceful when trying to conceive." It felt so healing to hear this because I was feeling so completely messy at that time in my life and for someone I admired to see the dance in it all, the gracefulness, was a gift. A soft, tender, cotton-y gift I needed for my heavy heart in that moment.
Something very similar happened on the couch with my sister Darlene this week while she was here. My whole being was swirling with heightened emotions that come with the approach of my moon cycle. We sat drinking our tea on the last morning of her visit, exchanging thoughts about our time together. She had been with us a full week and had observed from morning until night how so totally full and different our life is now compared to before Cedar was born. She quietly observed new dynamics in my marriage. She watched me do the dance that day in and out can feel so invisible to the world. I felt that all too familiar heaviness in my throat, swallowing down the emotion that was swelling. It took one moment of a soft gaze from my sister and these words to crack me open..."I have witnessed so many times throughout this week when you could grit your teeth or grunt or pull your hair out but you are so graceful going about your day. You never stop, you're always moving and you do it so gracefully." Once again, the idea of me and gracefulness created a wider, more tender space for me to spill. The tears flowed and shame washed away and I felt safe to share the vulnerable parts of motherhood and marriage and parenthood through the eyes of grace rather than clumsiness.
Hours after my sister had left on the airplane towards her farm, I had felt so far from gracefulness. A week away from the computer left me feeling a wee out of touch with the outside world. I spent some time on the computer and in retrospect, I wish I had waited a few more days and just reveled in the quiet. The quiet my soul needs when my moon cycle arrives. I read a few blogs. I saw a few photos on facebook. All in celebration of pregnancy. An image of a sonogram. A swelling belly. Honest and raw spillings about the beautiful and hard parts of this new life and heart shift. I wish so much in these first breaths of coming across these images and words, I could celebrate with them. It is not natural for me to turn my ears and eyes and heart away from such a beautiful soul shifting miracle as a woman announcing she's pregnant or a stunning moment captured of a fully pregnant goddess twirling in a field. It is not natural for me to feel anger and resentment and sorrow with something so sacred and precious. Not only does it feel painful to feel these emotions but it also is painful to have to juggle the shame for feeling this at all. Eventually I arrive in a place of celebration with these sweet souls and calm and acceptance and bravery but in those first few moments, I want to crumble to the floor and weep. This doesn't feel graceful to me. This feels messy and clumsy and strained. I feel isolated and blind, feeling my way through a dark room for the hand of another woman that tried for almost five years and never once had those two pink lines appear through the stick. Five years. years...not just months.
So I laid my head down on the bed last night and allowed this all to be. I held myself close until the sorrow felt too exhausted to thrive. I took deep breaths and thought of what makes my journey unique. I thought of Cedar and the extraordinary way he came into our lives. I thought about what I would do if I was faced with a choice; A choice to be pregnant with another child, biologically ours or to be there at the birth of Cedar like I was. Cedar entering out of another woman's womb and not my own. I knew the answer. I would choose him. Yes, I would choose him.
I wish the awareness that I would always choose him would take that hurt away. Would steal away those first tight breaths upon hearing or seeing moments of the other side. A side I may never have the pleasure of feeling or knowing.
I am grateful for the dear ones in my life that forgive me when this happens. My soul sisters that are newly pregnant or fully pregnant or once pregnant that have always been gentle with these first tight breaths I feel. That have been patient and waited for messy emotions to move through me. That have wrapped me up in their arms to reassure. That have never forgotten my pain and longing. That have told me that my story helps them move more gently during the hard parts that comes with being pregnant, both physically and emotionally. That have told me they see gracefulness on this path of mine when all I see is unwieldiness. I am especially grateful for those that have no concept of what it is to walk on this path and yet still meet me where I am and remind me that regardless, they see me as whole and feminine and connected to the goddess within. It is when these souls in my life bend and leap and twirl with me, that I am taught what gracefulness truly is.


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The New York Times is reporting today that whale sightings along the coast off of Monterey, California are fantastic. This is a good sign for whale watching in San Diego. The whales are beginning the winter migration south to Mexico, passing right by San Diego on their way. But it was the whales that astounded…
Monthly Archives: November 2013
Hornblower San Diego Captain Richard Goben Honored with Maritime Person of the Year
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News about Our Captains
The International Propeller Club honors Captain Goben in recognition for his service to the maritime industry San Diego, California (November 18, 2013) – Hornblower San Diego Captain Richard Goben received an international maritime award at the 87th Annual Convention and Maritime Industry Conference in Arlington, Virginia in October. International Propeller Club of the United States honored…
Hornblower San Diego Whale Watching Captains Anticipate Encore
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Whale Press Releases
The 2012-2013 Season had some of the best whale watching ever – Hornblower Captains prepare for a repeat in 2013-2014 San Diego, California (November 15, 2013) – The captains at Hornblower Cruises in San Diego are gearing up for this year's whale watching season, set to begin on December 14th and is scheduled to run through…