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"I have to upgrade my quality management system (QMS) to Class III," is a phrase I hear often when working with companies that are undergoing a transition from marketing-only Class II medical devices in the United States to the addition of a Class III device or indication. While there are differences in some regulatory requirements — most notably labeling, the extent of reporting, and the extent of quality system review — the QMS requirements are identical between these two classes.1 In this article, we will explore the misconception of differing QMS types between classes as well as what to expect when your QMS is reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from a Class III perspective.
Expanding into the highest device classification in the U.S. is an exciting time for a growing company. However, questions seem to come from every direction, and it is usually up to regulatory and quality organizations to supply the answers. Queries typically include: What kind of testing do we need, what is this going to cost us, what interactions will we have with FDA, and what changes do we need to make to our QMS? While many of these questions will take months of research and time investment to answer, the last one can be rather simple; that is if you've successfully implemented a QMS for your Class II device. If you are currently operating under a compliant Class II QMS, the answer to what changes do we need to make to our quality system is that minimal to no updates will be required, and here's why.
In the U.S., the Quality System Regulation requirements for medical devices are defined in FDA 21 CFR 820. The requirements documented in this subsection of the medical device regulation govern the methods, facilities and controls that are to be put in place for the design, manufacture, packaging, labeling, storage, installation and servicing of all finished medical devices intended for human use. The FDA implemented the regulation to ensure that finished medical devices will be safe and effective and in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. While the general requirements are defined in the CFR, the extent of implementation and the methods of implementation is left up to each individual company. So, whether your device is Class II or Class III, a robust QMS should be adequate to successfully navigate the manufacturing section of your investigational device exemption (IDE) (if applicable); Module 4 (manufacturing module) of your premarket approval (PMA) application; your pre-market approval inspection; and all post-market regulatory/compliance activities.
However, there are a few points to consider when preparing for your transition from a Class II to a Class III device manufacturer:
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There are many definitions of a QMS and what documentation types are contained in this grouping of information. For clarity, the working definition of what encompasses a QMS for the purposes of this article includes all quality manuals, quality policies, procedures, and work instructions as well as the records generated during the design (design history files); manufacture (device master records and device history records); and market release (CAPAs, complaints, shipping records, medical device reporting, recalls, etc.) of medical devices.
Whether you submit a traditional or modular PMA application, your QMS procedures are required to be submitted with your PMA to demonstrate that you comply with 21 CFR 820. This review is different from the investigation that is completed at your facility in that each procedure is reviewed for its content as well as the interconnections between the individual procedures. This review is completed to ensure your QMS is designed to function in a complaint manner. For example, the CDRH reviewer will ensure that your complaint-handling system ties to your CAPA and MDR systems, and that your CAPA system ties to your risk management, design controls, nonconforming product/process, recall, and MDR systems.
The FDA issued the "Quality System Information for Certain Premarket Application Reviews" guidance document to help you navigate the description of your QMS as well as ensure you provide the expected procedures. Completion of your manufacturing section according to this guidance document will reduce the chances of obtaining deficiencies related to your QMS at the CDRH level, saving you time in your overall application timeframe since all deficiencies must be cleared prior to the issuance of the premarket inspection.
Along with your procedures, manufacturing process documentation applicable to your Class III device should be provided in your PMA application. For example, your validation plan is required be in place and included with the submission of your manufacturing information. Although your process validations are not required to be completed prior to submitting the manufacturing section of the PMA, any validations that have been executed should be submitted for review alongside the appropriate procedures. The validation plan and any validations submitted will be reviewed for compliance to 21 CFR 820.75. Submitting a subset of your completed validations with your PMA application will provide you valuable insight into what documentation will be expected for post-approval changes that are described below. To gain the most value, consider submitting validations for processes that are not only specific to the device under review, but are also processes that your company has not validated previously.
If you choose not to submit any validations or do not have them completed, it should be noted that all applicable process validations must be completed prior to the pre-approval inspection and prior to distribution of any finished devices. Your submission should provide an expected date of completion to ensure that the pre-approval inspection is not issued prior to your facilities being ready.
One significant difference in the review of the QMS between Class II and Class III devices is the timing of the facility inspection by the FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA). These are your district investigators. In general, a Class II device can be placed on the market without a facility inspection as the inspection will be completed per the ORA schedule. However, in most cases, prior to the approval of your PMA application, an inspection by ORA must be completed at all applicable design, manufacturing and contracting (such as sterilization) facilities. These inspections are referred to as pre-approval inspections, which are issued once CDRH is satisfied with the desktop review. The inspections are similar to what is conducted during a QMS inspection technique (QSIT) investigation; however, the investigator will focus on the processes and documentation that support the design and manufacture of the Class III medical device. Additionally, the CDRH reviewer may provide specific instructions to the ORA investigator based on the review of the submitted QMS documentation.
Maintaining your PMA after approval will require the submission of additional QMS information. Here is where minor changes to your QMS may be required. More specifically, your change control process should be reviewed to ensure that the correct levels of review are conducted for changes that impact not only the design, but also manufacturing processes, facility locations and the QMS. These procedural updates are necessary due to the increased level of pre-approvals (called supplements) and reporting that are required to maintain your Class III device.
There are guidance documents to help you determine what types of changes require pre-approval and which can be included in your periodic report, including: "Modifications to Devices Subject to Premarket Approval (PMA) - The PMA Supplement Decision-Making Process," issued Dec.11, 2008, and "30-Day Notices, 135-Day Premarket Approval (PMA) Supplements and 75- Day Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) Supplements for Manufacturing Method or Process Changes," issued April 13, 2011. These documents provide guidance on all types of changes to a PMA.
As a term of your PMA approval, you will be required to submit periodic reports, usually referred to as an annual report, regarding your device. These reports include changes to your manufacturing processes and device design that were implemented during the reporting period and do not impact safety or effectiveness as they are nonsignificant changes. Minimal QMS documentation will be provided in support of your periodic report.
For significant changes to the manufacturing process (see examples below) a pre-approval supplement is required. Unlike a Class II product where these changes were documented internally only, you must now gain FDA approval prior to implementation for the following:
The amount of QMS information provided is dependent on the type of change being requested and can vary from a small subset of what was submitted in your initial PMA to a full recompilation of QMS information specific to the new site or manufacturing process. Furthermore, it is highly likely a pre-approval inspection will be issued for new facilities. So, while the amount of QMS information provided to the FDA changes significantly, the QMS does not.
The quality system for your QMS is a continually changing program that must provide flexibility for your changing company. This holds true for a transition between U.S. Class II and Class III manufacturing. Slight changes to your already compliant QMS will ensure your continued compliance with the 21 CFR 820 regulation and the requirements of submitting and maintaining your PMA.
Andrea Pilon Artman founded SpectRA Compliance, LLC in 2019 to reinvent the experience medical device companies have with consulting services. She believes that each technology and company is unique and requires regulatory and quality support that is tailored to specifically meet their needs. Artman strives to partner with SpectRA's clients by providing customized solutions designed to fit seamlessly into their organization and help them to realize their objectives.
She holds a master's degree in bioengineering from the University of Toledo where her thesis focused on the characterization of a nanocomposite material for use in bone regeneration. Artman also holds a bachelor's degree in bioengineering from the University of Toledo. Upon completion of her thesis work, she was a reviewer for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where she developed a passion for regulatory science and policy. While at the FDA, Artman reviewed cardiovascular devices in both the Office of Compliance (post-market) and the Office of Device Evaluation (pre-market).
Most recently, she was the associate director of regulatory affairs for an extracellular matrix company specializing in wound management and surgical products. Artman has also held multiple positions in regulatory affairs, quality engineering, and regulatory compliance in a wide range of device industries, including cardiovascular and orthopedics. You can reach Artman at firstname.lastname@example.com. SpectRA Compliance is a referral partner of MasterControl.


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Top Fraud Tips to protect your payments from start to finish, across all channels
Consumer behavior is changing. According to Google, "67% of people have used multiple devices sequentially to shop online.[1]" From advanced ordering to reading customer reviews to even watching t.v., consumers expect their device to "do it all." Payments are no exception. Merchants should begin to consider the role of mobile in their business model as well as the impacts this channel will have on profits….and losses due to fraud.
There are a number of factors that will influence continued mobile payments adoption and there are key considerations that merchants should keep in mind when determining their best defense against fraud in this channel. Whether used as an extension of online shopping or for mobile proximity payments, protecting the mobile channel calls for an appraisal of factors to arrive at an effective yet realistic fraud prevention strategy.
Device Type
"Mobile" computing and payments can occur on smartphones or tablets, each with unique user experience and behavior patterns.
- Gartner estimates that 1,946,456,000 mobile phones and 320,964,000 tablets will be shipped this year (as compared to 261,657,000 traditional desk-based and notebook PCs)[2]
- Gartner also projects that smartphones will account for 88 percent of all mobile sales by 2018. [3]
- The average amount of time that people are spending on their mobile devices has risen by over 177% (up to by about 40 minutes over 2012 [4]to 1.85 hours/day)
Distinguishing amongst different devices can be done through tools like device fingerprinting that aid in fraud prevention by recognizing that a particular device was used previously in either a legitimate or fraudulent transaction.
Experience Type
Consumers can interact on mobile through mobile apps or browser-sessions, each with unique functionality and security implications. Apps are often built with enhanced security features while mobile browsers are an extension of what a user would experience on a desktop browser, though often "thinner." Apps require different versions depending on the device type and platform (Android vs. iOS), while browser experiences are more unified and easily updated for operating system updates or device upgrades. Apps used to be the preferred route for mobile use, but browsers have gained popularity, which signals a greater need for enhanced security features and options. According to a study by Instart Logic, millennials are more inclined to make a mobile purchase via browser (57 percent) than through an app (43 percent).[5]
Omni-channel proliferation
Consumers are engaging with merchants across a number of methods and channels, each serving a specific purpose. Consumers may evaluate a product in-store and later purchase the item via a mobile device ("showrooming") or view inventory information on a smartphone and then call customer service to verify the item is in stock at their local store. According to eMarketer, 72% of US online consumers have made a purchase online after browsing for a product in-store[6]. Additionally, according to a PwC survey, the majority of US respondents (65%) use at least 2 channels to shop and 21% are using four or five channels to shop.[7] These consumer interaction touch points illustrate the need for a cohesive, unified brand messaging strategy across all channels as well as the ability to collect data and obtain a unified perspective of shopper – and fraudulent – behavior.
Understanding the Challenges
There are a number of challenges that this growing channel brings to the table for card-not-present (CNP) retailers, and we've laid out some of the more prevalent ones to consider. While there will be novel obstacles as the mobile ecosystem evolves, there are solutions that will more appropriately address these challenges, if merchants employ a comprehensive and layered fraud strategy; one that protects the merchant's payments across channels and throughout the transaction lifecycle.
Fraud Challenge: As mobile gains popularity and more people adopt this payment method, it will lead to new user registration for mobile sites. New users may not have much – or any – prior transaction history by which to build a user profile.
Fraud Solution: Relying on velocity controls alone to detect abnormalities in purchasing behavior is unwise. However, used in conjunction with device fingerprinting, the two can better help merchants determine whether or not a purchase is being made by a legitimate customer or a fraudster. Device authentication recognizes that a particular device is the same that was used before to conduct successful transactions in the past or, alternatively, that have been used to conduct fraud online.
Fraud Challenge: Keying in secure data on a mobile device can prove to be difficult and may result in mistakes that impact authentication. This problem is compounded by the fact that some mobile apps do not save credit card information or offer one-click purchasing.
Fraud Solution: Pairing front-end fraud security tools like geolocation – which confirms the location of a customer and uses the information as part of the transaction fraud scoring and authorization decisions – with tools like chargeback notifications on the backend is a winning combination. Chargeback notifications enable communication and collaboration between participating card issuers and merchants so that merchants can resolve disputes with the customer before they become chargebacks.
Fraud Challenge: 3-D Secure faces hurdles on mobile: merchants with mobile sites may have trouble getting the authentication pages to render, particularly if the issuer is not also mobile-aware.
Fraud Solution: Multi-factor authentication – a method of access control where a user inputs two types of authentication such as a password paired with a fingerprint – can be helpful not only bypass "clunkiness" associated with 3-D Secure on mobile, but also to provide safe, secure and user-friendly means of authentication. Some mobile devices have built in tools that can be used for authentication, such as fingerprint readers. Using inherence features like biometrics is steadily becoming common practice since there is decreased possibility of false credentials.
No matter which tools you implement, your mobile fraud prevention strategy should focus on stopping fraud without causing undue friction in the sales process or to good customers. This requires striking a balance in your overall fraud strategy between front-end fraud tools to stop fraud and backend tools that tie in feedback loops without hindering sales.
Fraud Challenge: The use of mobile phone and text features for transaction verification and in second factor authentication (the use of a smartphone as "something that the user possesses" where a user receives a one-time dynamic passcode for authentication) has been exploited to commit Account Takeover (ATO). Fraudsters have found ways to insert themselves in that process through tactics such as phone porting, which requests the number be reassigned or forwarded to another device.
Fraud Solution: Velocity controls let merchants monitor the average velocity of transactions and set limits on the frequency with which and when a credit card is used – whether it is daily, weekly or monthly – and how the card is limited (dollar amount, transactions processed or day of the week used).
Measuring variances in common behavior can be an effective way to stop account takeover. Velocity controls allow merchants to identify high-risk transactions, triggering an appropriate response that ranges from additional review to suspending a transaction. Velocity controls help focus fraud prevention where its needed and improves the efficiency of fraud prevention efforts so that time and energy isn't wasted evaluating transactions that don't merit further investigation.
The mobile shift is fast upon us and shows no signs of slowing down. It is sure to bring additional sales opportunities….and more fraud. Both consumer and fraudster behavior will evolve alongside the channel and merchants need to focus on both consumer experience and security to survive and thrive in this channel.
The pressure on merchants to employ a rigorously secure yet frictionless mobile experience can be overwhelming. Creating a solid fraud prevention foundation that is layered with the right, channel-specific tools and controls can aid in securing transactions from end to end without burdening the front-end with overly-sensitive measures. The mobile channel will continue to rapidly expand, achieve widespread consumer adoption and ultimately provide additional sales opportunities. Successful merchants will optimize the mobile experience as part of an overall omni-channel strategy while remaining vigilant, agile and – most importantly – secure across all channels and transactions.
About Verifi
Verifi, an award-winning provider of end-to-end payment protection and management solutions, was founded in 2005 to help our clients effectively manage the payments challenges they face everyday. Verifi helps merchants safely process payments, combat fraud, prevent and resolve costly chargebacks, as well as increase billings and keep loyal customers. Our best-in-breed solutions and white glove support are trusted by a wide range of industries from emerging companies to the Fortune 500. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, we process more than $20 billion transactions annually and currently serve more than 25,000 accounts internationally.
[1] http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33565/34-Enlightening-Statistics-Marketers-Should-Know-About-Multi-Screen-Usage-Google-Data.aspx
[2] http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/06/gartner-device-shipments-break-2-4b-units-in-2014-tablets-to-overtake-pc-sales-in-2015/
[3] http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/06/gartner-device-shipments-break-2-4b-units-in-2014-tablets-to-overtake-pc-sales-in-2015/
[4] http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/12/80-of-all-online-adults-now-own-a-smartphone-less-than-10-use-wearables/
[5] http://www.fierceretail.com/mobileretail/story/millennials-prefer-mobile-browsers-over-apps-shopping/2014-09-30
[6] http://www.business2community.com/strategy/6-brands-getting-creative-store-technology-slideshow-0915915
[7] http://www.pwc.com/en_us/us/retail-consumer/publications/assets/pwc-us-multichannel-shopping-survey.pdf

subset: commoncrawl


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"A WORLD OF OUR OWN" part two! Hunting the trail of the man behind the string of murders on the planet Ungara, Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz find the alien world thrown into utter chaos. Lines are drawn amongst the Ungaran people, and if the Green Lanterns can't bring the villain to justice, Ungara may explode into violence!
Green Lanterns #38 is another very strong entry in what is still one of DCs greatest titles of the moment. The story is visceral, the emotions are strong, and the art has improved. I definitely recommend this issue. Give it a read. Read Full Review
GREEN LANTERNS #38 continues "A World Of Our Own" as Simon and Jessica battle civil war on Ungarra. Tim Seeley weaves a tale of war and culture shock, with the Lanterns finding disturbing similarities to Earth's conflicts on this alien world. Read Full Review
Unfortunately, it seems like nuance goes out of the window a little bit when dealing with the Red Tide. Read Full Review
This story is a continuation of the consequences that interfering with an Alien Culture can bring. From saving Liseth's Life on the Brinkmanship, and then to getting too close, by getting involved romantically with her. Simon is learning some big lessons. Lessons that we saw John Stewart and Hal Jordan learn many years ago. Jessica is learning about the politics of other worlds, and what it takes to see the big picture in the long run. Regent Vok is an excellent teacher, though Jessica may not be ready for the lesson. The story is getting good, especially after the mess with Bolphunga a few issues back. This book is right where it should be. Putting relatively obscure and unknown characters in difficult situations, and showing how the either mess it up or grow from the circumstances. Read Full Review
I absolutely loved the artwork for this issue; both Jess and Simon have such iconic looks to them, so when you add in the Green Lantern colors/uniforms and superhero poses, and you have two fantastic looking characters. Plus the way energy is interpreted/shown here was very striking (no pun intended) and I really enjoyed the detail and choices made for the pods shown at the end. There were some silly expressions made, but one could argue that they were intention, so I'm going to mostly overlook those. Read Full Review
Despite some issues with the pacing, this is a fine middle issue for this arc. It features some stunning visuals and excellent characterization to make a story that is highly entertaining, if mildly confusing. Read Full Review
An excellent story gets better, though the art stumbles at times. It's also enjoyable to see some believable friction between the heroes; it's natural and it's going to come to a head eventually. The cliffhanger is terrific, with the mention of other alien races terrific to encounter. If only the visuals had been more detailed and more consistent. Read Full Review
I'd also say that popping up at the shore is a little lame when you're building tension with every page previous. It feels less like Dunkirk and more like Transformers. Explosions now, suspense later. A story like this needs to feel more grounded, like the Sword to the leg scene. I say that while fully understanding that this is a Green Lantern comic and both Simon and Jessica are superheroes and whatever Jess may say, throwing a giant green fist at things is pretty much standard practices here. I get it. But a balance can be made, it just wasn't here. Read Full Review
The artwork in this issue does not have the cosmic scale one sees in a sister title like Hal Jordan, but thats okay. That is afar more ambitious book. This is the same concept on a smaller scale that hassuccessfully carved out its own segment of the comic book audience. It worksfor Green Lanterns very well, and thats no small thing. Read Full Review
Not the best issue Seeley has put out since taking over Green Lanterns, but still worth a read for sure. Read Full Review
While the action on Ungara picks up in this issue, the overall story felt lacking in its execution. Thankfully, the art we get here is amazing, but that can only help so much in an issue that felt forced as hell. Read Full Review
I really don't care what happens next because I feel like this title is more about selling a political viewpoint rather than telling a story. And again, that's gross. Read Full Review
Green Lanterns #38 has the components to create an intriguing story, but needs stronger character work to get there. Read Full Review
Green Lanterns #38 hits the reader on the head with political posturing rather than trying to tell a compelling story that leads to an intellectual exploration of a timely topic. That said there's nothing about this issue that would encourage me to recommend it to anyone. Four out of ten lanterns. Read Full Review
A little better than last issue, but not much. The best part is the cover!
The action jumps in the middle when Liseth gets herself lost, it felt like a page was missing. I'm not feeling the DNA machine thing, though I do like that it reveals the skeletons in Regent Vok's closet. It would have been a much stronger issue had the reveal been less obvious.
We go through the entire issue just waiting for for our characters to find out what we already know. What Simon already knows. Why didn't he ever mention it? I guess the sex was too good? I don't know. The execution here sucks and the story is mostly boring. I don't care about this planet.


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We are counting down to The London Tattoo Convention 2019 only 14 days to go. The Tattoo Competition is a highlight of the event, where visitors will have the chance to see the best skin-inked artworks of the weekend on display.
The panel of tattoo experts will take to the stage to choose their favourites on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September: meet the six judges of the 2019 Tattoo Competition below…
Master black and grey artist Mark Mahoney will be flying in from his famous Sunset Strip studio to join the judging panel. A legend in his field, Mark Mahoney has tattooed everybody from Sid Vicious to Tupac Shakur. This year Mark will also be scouring the convention for the best-looking booth – the winning tattoo artist or studio will score a special award handmade by Italian silversmiths El Rana.
Known around the globe for his innovative Japanese-inspired bodysuits, Filip Leu is a master of tattooing. Mentored by his father, tattoo legend Felix Leu, a young Filip travelled the world and worked with the best in the business honing his skills. These days Filip Leu is widely regarded as one of the best tattoo artists in the world and a pioneer of his craft; it's a great honour to welcome him back to our judging panel.
Renowned French tattooer Tin Tin will be judging at The London Tattoo Convention this September. Famed for his versatility and skill, Tin Tin owns the famous 'Tin Tin Tatouages' studio in Paris and organises the Parisian 'Le Mondial du Tatouage' convention each year. With over 30 years tattooing experience in a multitude of styles, Tin Tin is an expert in the field.
Once a keen student of The Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, today Antonio 'Macko' Todisco is one of world's finest chicano-style black and grey artists. A trip to Los Angeles in 1994 inspired a love of graffiti, cholo-style imagery and lowrider art that has informed his work ever since. This award winning artist has appeared at many conventions all over the world and is internationally published.
Luke Atkinson is the owner of Checker Demon Tattoos in Germany. Luke has travelled extensively learning the secrets of tattooing from the masters, from tattooing underground with Shotsie Gorman in New York to studying the art of irezumi with Horiyoshi III in Japan. He'll be bringing his vast knowledge of tattooing to the judging panel this September.
Flying in from Switzerland, Titine Leu completes the judging panel for the 2019 Tattoo Competition. A former tattoo artist and self-taught painter, Titine is a member of the famous Leu tattoo family. She is known for her beautiful paintings of iconic tattooed characters and sensual female forms.
Don't miss out on the show of the year, pick up your Advance Tickets today and join us at the Tobacco Dock!


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Spa Break Destinations Down-Under
Australia and New Zealand offer a surprising wealth of relaxing and rejuvenating vacation options.
Modern life can often feel a bit stressful. You're running flat-out, trying to juggle your career, your friends, your family — it's not often that you get to take a few moments out for yourself, just to relax and unwind, to decompress and get ready to get back in the game and do it all again.
A spa break vacation is the ideal way to slow down your pace of life, even if it's just for the weekend. Whether you're heading off solo for a bit of me-time, taking a partner for some romantic relaxation, or just hanging out with a friend or two – the idea of sitting in a spa pool, having a massage or a facial, and allowing yourself a little time to pause, reflect, and breathe is incredibly appealing.
If you're in Australia or New Zealand, or planning an expedition or vacation in that direction, you might want to consider adding a few days of spa time into your itinerary — there are some fantastic spa-break destinations to consider in this part of the world.
Here are a few of my favourites.
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs
- The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs offers one of New Zealand's best spa experiences.
- The spa is nestled in a Totara forest, overlooking a fern-fringed stream. You'll feel like you've immersed yourself in a different world, a different time.
- You'll find Kauri Cliffs almost at the northernmost tip of New Zealand's north island, on Matauri Bay – not too far from the capital Auckland.
- As well as the full range of treatments, the spa also offers a sauna, hot tub, heated indoor lap pool, and a fitness centre.
Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, Hepburn Springs
- Hepburn Springs is Australia's original spa resort.
- The original bathhouse opened in 1895 to enable visitors to the area to benefit from the healing properties of the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve.
- Today this is a state of the art spa facility offering all the treatments you could imagine in impressive facilities.
- Easily accessible from the southern city of Melbourne, Hepburn Springs is a popular weekend mini-break destination for locals.
One & Only Resort, Wolgan Valley
- Nestled between the Wollemi National Park and the Gardens of Stone National Park in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the One & Only Resort is located in a unique part of the world.
- The resort includes a fully equipped spa complex that uses chemical-free products from Australian brand Sodashi.
- Wolgan Valley is inland from the gate-way city of Sydney, leave the city lights behind you and immerse yourself in the unique surroundings of the Australian bush.
Empire Retreat and Spa, Yallingup
- In the remote region of Margaret River in Western Australia, the Empire Retreat is an adults-only destination that epitomizes rural luxury.
- The spa includes bathing suites with large stone baths, a steam room, and rainforest shower suites. Packages are available for individuals or couples.
- The town of Yallingup is part of the Margaret River Wine Region — one of Western Australia's major tourist destinations. It takes 2.5 hours to drive from the state capital Perth to Margaret River.
- As well as luxury accommodation such as the Empire Retreat, the Margaret River region offers some fantastic beaches, top restaurants, and of course some spectacular wines.
Waiwera, Auckland
- Just 35 minutes from Auckland, on the Hibiscus Coast of New Zealand's north island, the natural thermal pools of Waiwera offer opportunities for a full range of spa treatments, but they also have outdoor pools and hydro-slides.
- This is Auckland's most-visited water destination. They've even got a movie pool where you can watch a film with your friends while soaking in the thermal water.
Isn't it time that you put yourself first? Isn't it time that you prioritized feeling relaxed and refreshed? If you come back from your vacation feeling like you need a few days to recover, then you're probably doing it wrong. Next time head for a spa-break destination, and ideally head down-under to Australia and New Zealand.


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The IF function of SUM field in MYSQL use of conditional statistics (case)
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Today, someone asked a question is this group:
Then a group Friends replied
select name,sum(case when stype=4 then money*(-1) else money end ) as M from table group by name
I wanted to think, should be able to use the IF function
So the next change
select name,sum(money*IF(stype=4,-1,1)) as M from table group by name
Two ways that more efficiency not test.
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Posted by Gavin at December 05, 2013 - 7:28 PM


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Update on the Flag status of the Aquarius: in search for a long term solution.
Even thought people continue to risk their lives by taking the dangerous refugee route across the Mediterranean, there is currently not one single humanitarian ship operating to rescue people in distress. The reconnaissance aircraft "Moonbird" from Sea Watch is currently the only NGO asset operating at sea that sight boats in distress. Individual European countries such as Malta or Italy have deliberately prevented in the past months' civilian organizations from saving lives. Thus, there are hardly any witnesses left who can independently report on the situation unfolding in the Mediterranean.
Our rescue ship Aquarius, which we have been operating together with MSF in international waters off the Libyan coast since 2016, is currently impeded to return to rescue operations at sea. The Aquarius remains in the port of Marseille until further notice, until its flag status is clarified.
In an unprecedented political maneuver, the Panamanian Maritime Authority (PMA) announced at the end of September its intention to withdraw the flag from the Aquarius. The decision was taken due to political pressure from Italy. An official communication from the Panamanian Maritime Administration to the owner of the Aquarius said that the Italian authorities urged the PMA to take "emergency measures" against the Aquarius. The statement said: "Unfortunately, it is necessary to exclude [the Aquarius] from our registration because it poses a political problem for the Panamanian Government and the Panamanian fleet when it enters European ports." (See news release dated 23.09. 2018).
In support of their claim, the Italian government alleged that the Aquarius captain had refused to return survivors to Libya during a rescue operation in September – a country torn by civil war, where migrants are constantly threatened by forced labor, slavery, torture and sexual violence and run the risk of falling between firing lines of rival paramilitary groups.
Just a few weeks earlier, Gibraltar had deprived, based on unsustainable grounds, the Aquarius of its flag (see statement of 13.08.2018). Despite the fact that the Aquarius had met all the regulatory requirements and technical controls of the flag State of Gibraltar over the last two and a half years.
We find these attempts to stop the rescue operations of the Aquarius unacceptable! We will not allow this to stop us from saving people from drowning at Sea and bear witness to the tragedy unfolding on the Mediterranean. We therefore call for a petition on the European states, and in particular the German Federal Government, to work actively for civilian sea rescue and for a new flag for the Aquarius. What we demand is compliance with the law and, thus, the obligation to rescue people in distress at Sea.
We continue to explore all the long-term possibilities to continue saving lives with the Aquarius. In the meantime, the owner of the Aquarius has obtained a provisional registration with the Liberian Maritime Authority as an interim administrative solution. However, this does not allow us to continue our search and rescue operations. The search for a long-term solution for the Aquarius continues.
The latest information on the flag status of the Aquarius can be found on our Twitter account.
(Last update 12.11.2018)


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I want to apologize in advance that this post might be a scatter brained mess, but it's my blog so oh well! I know I said that I would probably write the night before the due date, but I'm currently going through a lot of emotions that I want to put down. As the day approaches the reality of the situation becomes more daunting.
I am a birth mother.
This decision has not only effected myself but obviously my family. As much as I have tried to distance myself from this pregnancy the realization of I'm having 2 kids has become over whelming. I mentioned in the last post that these babies will be tied to me forever and the more that thought sinks in the more emotional I get. I never thought I'd be in this place ever in my life and all I want is for every one to be happy, the adoptive parents, my mom, and mainly myself. I know that if I wouldn't have made this decision to place the babies up for adoption I at the end of it all would not be happy.
Does that make me selfish? People say I'm strong and brave for doing this but I can't help but to feel selfish. Selfish for putting what I feel are my needs & feelings before any one elses. I never wanted to be a mother of any sort but the fact of the matter is I am now and that thought scares the living shit out of me. These little girls years from now when they can think for themselves will know I birthed them, I gave them up, and I don't know what to say to explain what I went through to do so. How do you explain… Yea sorry I put you up for adoption because I didn't want to me a mom. That sounds terrible but the bottom line is that's the truth, not being ready financially, mentally, or even physically to take care of 2 new born babies on my own is just an addition to that.
People have offered to help me raise these girls moving me to another state just so these girls will stay in the family, but I don't want to raise these girls, I don't want that responsibility. Choosing a family outside of my family & friends was so that it would make my decision easier, but knowing that my family wants to be involved with these girls is also a hard reality to swallow. It means that these girls will be more apart of my life than I would have wanted. Circling back, how do I keep myself distant while my family has that social interaction without these girls wondering why I'm not as involved as "grandma?"
Trying to find this happy medium in my head is making me anxious. I need to take all of this one step at a time, one moment at a time. I can work myself up because the unknown to me is a very scary thing and it makes me feel like I don't have control over my situation. It could be that these girls come and I see them and all of that anxiety goes away but it also could be that all of that anxiety becomes intensified with all those post partum hormomes.
I've felt lost in my life several times, as I'm sure many of you guys have too but right now this is the most lost I've felt in 28 years of my existence. I think back to when I first found out I was pregnant and how Fuck face couldn't comprehend how I could feel like my world was over. I know that my world isn't over and that things will go back to normal and I'll be able to handle everything thrown at me in the future, but a small part of me still feels that having these girls isn't the greatest thing and that I wish it would have never happened.
I feel like I've cried more in the past 2 days then I have since finding out I was pregnant with twins. I really would love to just fast forward past these next few weeks and start this next chapter pretending that these past 37 weeks didn't happen, but I can't because it did happen. Life will continue to move forward and I just hope that I can find a way to cope with this versus ignoring it.


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Saturday, June 6, 1998, Snowshoe
Snowshoe Time Trial
[Snowshoe Road Race] [Results] [Stage Race Overall Results]
Saturday, June 6, 1998 is the day the road bikers came out in West
Virginia to battle the cold, the mountains and the clock, as they
entered the Mountain State
Road Series Snowshoe Time Trial. The course was a 7 mile uphill
climb with an elevation gain of 1820 feet from the Snowshoe Visitor's
Center to the top of the mountain. "When you think you've finished,
there's one more mile to go," was the warning given to each racer as they
registered for the race.
The first racer began their ascent at 1:01PM with each consectively numbered racer following one minute apart. Just prior to race time, the fog lifted from the top of the mountain permitting the racers to see where they were headed. At the starting line, temperatures were not as would be expected for a June day in West Virginia, but were in the upper 40s. As the racers climbed, the temperatures fell into the 30s, making for a "Cold, ... Really Cold" ride. Coming back down was even colder and most riders opted to tough it out riding their bikes back to the start rather than climbing aboard the many vehicles waiting to bring them warmly back to the Visitor's Center.
Most of the racers entered today had also entered the Snowshoe Road Race the next day and quotes heard after the race circulated around fantasies of ending the road race with a 7 mile climb up the mountain. That would show those who didn't brave the weather to tackle the time trial today!
Newcomer to the series, Stephen Simpson, climbed the mountain in an impressive 28 minutes 37 seconds taking Cat 1-4 Men's first place award. He was closely followed by Dave Wehger and Thomas Samples, second and third respectively.
Katina Sayers was the only woman who ventured out to take on the mountain, and she did so valiantly, with a time of 38 minutes and 55 seconds.
[More Photos] [Results]


text: HIP-HOP Wanz Q&A: Meet the 'F-ing Awesome' Singer in 'Thrift Shop' 1/31/2013 by Steven J. Horowitz FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Wanz The 51-year-old software test engineer talks about scoring the hook on Macklemore's No. 1 hit. What's next? An upcoming EP of his own It took only 45 minutes to change Michael Wansley's life. The Seattle-based singer, known by his stage name Wanz, has found himself at the top of the charts with his bass-heavy credit on Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop," which has now enjoyed two weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Last July, the 51-year-old fielded a call from Street Level Records owner D-Sane who got word that the hip-hop duo was looking for a Nate Dogg sound-alike to guest on their future smash. Wanz, who had heard of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis but never sat with their music, headed to the studio to lay down his catchy refrain at 1 a.m. The session went so smoothly that he was in bed an hour later. Now, the former software test engineer is taking a shot at solo stardom. Having toured the country with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis over the past few months and performed with them on "The Ellen Show," Wanz is building his brand on social networking sites and recording a six-track EP that he hopes to release before he joins the pair on their Australian trek next month. Here, the Lakewood, Wash. native discusses his history with music, rediscovering Macklemore and how he hopes to crack the charts on his own. What's your background in music?Music has always been a part of me. I've been singing for as long as I can remember. I was always in church choir, I was always in school choir. I was always singing, always singing every song on the radio. I went to Central Washington University where I was introduced to jazz. At that time, I had only known classical and pop stuff. And then I went and discovered jazz in college and I studied that for seven years and did pretty well at that. When did things expand beyond jazz and choirs?When I turned 21, I had a band called Boys Will Be Boys. We did some INXS covers. [Later] I formed another band called Life Ring and was doing primarily originals, playing bass. Then… I got asked to front a band called the Ghetto Monks and saw a little bit of success. That band kind of went its way and fell off. Then it was about five or six years ago, I started investing in writing my own music because I wasn't hearing what I wanted to hear. I didn't see it in the clubs. I didn't see what I was hearing in my head. How did you get linked with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis?Through a strange twist, I got connected with a guy named D-Sane who is the owner of Street Level Records and he was doing underground hip-hop here in the North End of Seattle. One of his guys called me and asked me to sing a hook on one of his songs, and everybody dug it. That led to my career in singing hooks. So that same guy calls me on Monday night in July and asks if I've heard of a guy named Macklemore and I said I'd heard of him but I wasn't familiar with the music. He was looking for a guy that sounds like Nate Dogg. For a decade, I've been known as the Nate Dogg of North End in Seattle in that little circle of underground hip-hop. He called me back like five minutes later and said they want to bring you in. So 45 minutes later I'm at the studio and meeting Ben and Ryan for the first time and talking about what my history is, Ghetto Monks this and my own originals and what I wanted to do. Ben showed me the hook for 'Thrift Shop' and said 'Sort of like this.' I sang a line to him and he said yeah, like that. I go in and get levels and 45 minutes later, I'm going home. Pretty quick, quicker than anybody imagined. How was it shooting the video for "Thrift Shop?"I went up and filmed and the next day, I did the boat scenes. By this time, I hadn't heard the whole song. It's been about six weeks since I recorded the session and I still haven't heard the song. So Ryan is taking me up to catch a bus on the North End and I was asking him to play the final song and it was the first time I heard it and I loved it and thought it was great. The video dropped and I'm sitting at my desk watching the numbers go up, it got up to about 1,000, 1,500, I just looked out the window and went, uh oh. I came back the next day and it had tripled in size, and I said, uh oh, and started pushing it out to my Facebook people, and the rest, as they say, is history. I got asked to go on tour. I had never been on tour before. Then, I'm on the phone with my boss' boss and the HR person and they're saying, are you going to come back? And I said, well, at my age, these kinds of opportunities don't come along. I don't think it's ever going to happen again. So I've got to stay out here and do this, because this is a dream come true. Dream come true shit for me. What was your day job?I was about a year and a half working at a company that was paying me really good money to be a software test engineer, and that was my career of choice since music wasn't panning out. I was doing software testing for 13 years, but spent most of that time contracting out of Microsoft. But I finally landed a full-time paying job with a great salary, great benefits... I thought I had arrived, I thought I was done. It was just doing music on the side, doing my own recordings on the side, that was for me. Are you surprised by the success of 'Thrift Shop?'[Laughs] No. When I left the studio after recording, we were all really just happy as clams. I don't think those guys had ever been at that short of a session that had been done that well. After the video shoot, I actually went back into the catalog because I didn't really know Macklemore. [It was] after the first video shoot that I went and downloaded "The Language of My World" and listened to "White Privilege" that I actually connected with him. There are a lot of commonalities in his story that I have. I found somebody who had that same passion, because I had never run into anybody like that before. But I never thought "Thrift" was going to be as big as it was, but then again I didn't know that he had done all of this work. What's next for you? Are you talking with labels or looking to go on the road on your own?My game plan right now is to first and foremost get myself branded so that I have something. I have a six-song EP that I'm working on, it's at the mixing stage, and I'm trying to get it all done so that I have it on a site where people can buy it by the time we go to Australia in February. I just can't put all this attention (72 million views for "Thrift" on YouTube) and just sit at home, not when I've been dreaming the dreams I've had for all my life. This is a shot that I get. You do what you're supposed to do, and that is you put the product out there. I've been around so many bands, been around music for so long and watched so many people try and think they know what they're doing and think this, that or the other. Now, it's my turn. You only get one bite of this apple. At 51 years old, what are the odds that this is ever going to happen again? Pretty slim. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME


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48" Zentra Single Bath Vanity - White
White, wall-mounted, and absolutely gorgeous, the 48" Zentra Single Vanity is a wonder to have in any bathroom. Its soft-closing hinges and slides, along with a solid oak cabinet, makes this vanity a durable vanity that will last a lifetime. The white finish is complemented by Brushed Chrome hardware and is matched with any one of four great top options - included Green Glass, White Artificial Stone, Ivory Marble, or Carrera White Marble. Comes with a matching mirror.
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48" Zentra Single Vanity - Dimensions
Zentra Wall Cabinet - Dimensions


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This bag has been made in QLD for us by the fabulous NeNe and Bop.
Featuring our amazing 'Pretty fly for a cacti' print designed exclusively for us by Whimsy Kaleidoscope.
These tote bags are fully lined and reversible! Which means you get two bags in one!
They are made from high quality cotton fabrics, are lightweight and machine washable making them pretty and practical.
The lining is a fabulous black and grey leopard print and the bags are sewn with Karen's signature red thread detail.
*Please note the print placement will vary for each bag.
100% Cotton.
Approximately 46cm wide and 38cm long, depth 15cm, handle height 25cm.
Cold gentle machine wash.
We have tried our best to represent the true colours of this item, however due to the difference in computer monitors/ phone screens and lighting during photography, it can be difficult to accurately represent the actual colours of each product.
This bag is in stock and ready to post. If you are ordering this product on it's own it will be posted within 7 days of placing your order!
*If you are ordering a bag with a clothing item, we will post all your goodies together when they are all ready, which could take up to 6 weeks as most clothing pieces are made to order.


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//united hindi songs//
Download United Six Songs In Hindi
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Supporters are now helping to
Campaign closed
Stop construction of mosque on Mill Road, Cambridge


text:
The Post that I re-blogged had a sentence that kind of stuck with me….this one….."Savoring a warm cup of hot chocolate/tea/coffee, drinking each sip mindfully".
What does "mindfully" mean? =
Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.
Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there's a "right" or "wrong" way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we're sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.
Now….I have for some years now….been doing some things mindfully, from time to time….like when I eat something particular I imagine it growing, then being harvested, then the taste as I nourish my body with it…..It makes me appreciate what it is that I am eating or drinking, and to do it with care and gratitude, that someone grew this and now I am lucky enough to eat or drink it!
So that has been sitting with me…Mindful…..I have been going through the last few days…Mindful of my breath, of what I am eating, and drinking….. and it feels good in some odd way….to really think about a cup of coffee….and everything that happened before it got "into" my cup.
I have a Ruthless past, and yet….I feel it trickling away……not even existing…..its so long gone that none of it matters…..and its such a good feeling?! letting "this moment" be THE moment…the only one……
Sometimes its not so easy, but like with most things? the more I do it the easier it gets…..and the better I feel!
Today? in My Nutribullet?
prunes, cranberries, goji berries, Acai Juice 2 tbsps, chia seeds, spinach, kale, chard, banana WITH the peel, wedge of lemon WITH the rind, almonds, almond milk, and frozen mixed berries. The amounts I use of each are small, so as to fit them all in without over filling my mixer/bullet. the taste? today a bit "green"? as I used more green as I felt I needed that today.
I hope your Monday was a pleasant one! and if not? Hold on, tomorrow is another day!


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Alexandra Guest House has been established for Twenty Eight Years and within that time we have accommodated thousands of guests across our two guest houses, located in Gateshead and Hebburn
Our bedrooms provide guests with a comfortable stay and a relaxing night's sleep. To view our bedrooms, visit the Photo Gallery. All of our bedrooms offer the following facilities:
We are ideally located for easy access to local major attractions, including The MetroCentre, Gateshead Stadium, The Baltic, The Sage and Newcastle City Centre and The Angel of the North.


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Compassus – Branson Recognizes Local Volunteers
Julie Jankowski receives top volunteer recognition for dedicated service during National Volunteer Week
BRANSON, Mo. – The Compassus program serving Branson and the surrounding areas is proud to recognize Julie Jankowski and all hospice volunteers during National Volunteer Week April 15-21 for providing companionship, support and dignity to hospice patients and their loved ones. Jankowski has been volunteering at Compassus since 2014.
"We are proud to recognize Julie for her efforts to honor life and offer hope to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses by supporting them with compassion, integrity and excellence," said Janet Gard, executive director for Compassus – Branson. "Volunteers like Julie are fundamental to the Compassus mission of delivering the highest quality care. These caring individuals extend the reach of hospice employees, creating the opportunity to do more for more patients and their families."
"Julie has committed one day of her week to assisting our bereavement coordinator with mailings, phone calls and computer entries," said Ginger Harrison, volunteer coordinator for Compassus – Branson. "In addition to her bereavement work, Julie always steps in to help when
others are in need. She is an awesome asset to our team."
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, there are an estimated 450,000 trained hospice volunteers providing more than 19 million hours of service to hospice programs each year. Hospice volunteers add to the care provided by physicians and other hospice staff by bringing companionship to people in the final months and weeks of life, providing respite to families and caregivers, and supporting the administrative responsibilities of hospice programs.
"Whether listening quietly, reading a book or simply running errands, volunteers make a meaningful impact on our patients and their families," said James Lukavsky, M.D., medical director for Compassus – Branson. "I want to thank Julie and all of the volunteers on our team for their commitment to those we serve."
For more information about National Volunteer Week, visit pointsoflight.org/signature-events/national-volunteer-week.
For information about Compassus – Branson, please visit compassus.com/branson or call (417) 335-2004.


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Spring Is Blossoming into a Full-Grown Beauty
When Aly was 9 days old, we moved into our first house in Juneau. A friend who managed a local moving company brought a container truck by to move our stuff. His parents were there, pitching in alongside mine, and Michelle's mother. My friend brought along his two-year-old daughter.
At one point I held my newborn daughter, and offered her to his admiration. He smiled and said that babies are cute, but he preferred them at his daughter's age. As a new father, I was a bit deflated, of course, but in the proper season, I learned what he meant, and ultimately agreed with him. Newborns are ineffably precious, but toddlers are a lot more fun!
I thought about this as April dawned. Spring has advanced from her infancy to the point where her personality begins to assert itself. We have no fire in the woodstove this morning. The sun has returned to warm the cabin before yesterday's heat has fully dissipated from the logs. A skiff of overnight snow melts away in a warm breeze. Buds swell on the birch, alder, cherry, and willow trees. The garden stirs to life. A spring fragrance permeates the air. Even the piping calls of the marbled murrelets, which have continued throughout the winter, seem to strike a brighter, gladder tone. The sap is rising, within and without.
The season is quickly growing to maturity, in full blown beauty and power, taking us all along with it.


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The University of Kansas provides paid holidays to employees to help balance work and family responsibilities.
University Support Staff (USS), Unclassified Professional Staff (UPS), and fiscal year faculty and academic staff are eligible for paid holidays. Academic year faculty/academic staff, temporary employees (including students), and part-time employees who work irregular schedules are not eligible for paid holidays.
Holiday Schedule
The table below provides the holiday schedule for the calendar years listed below. You can also download the 2019 Desk Calendar (pdf) or the 2020 Desk Calendar (pdf) to print and use as a desk reference.
New Year's Day
|Tues., Jan 1, 2019
|Wed., Jan 1, 2020
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
|Mon., Jan 21, 2019
|Mon., Jan 20, 2020
Memorial Day
|Mon., May 27, 2019
|Mon., May 25, 2020
Independence Day
|Thurs., July 4, 2019
|Fri., July 3, 2020
Labor Day
|Mon., Sept 2, 2019
|Mon., Sept 7, 2020
|Mon., Nov 11, 2019
|Wed., Nov 11, 2020
|Thurs., Nov 28, 2019
|Thurs., Nov 26, 2020
|Fri., Nov 29, 2019
|Fri., Nov 27, 2020
|Wed., Dec 25, 2019
|Thurs., Dec 24, 2020
|Fri., Dec 25, 2020
|May be used starting Dec. 30, 2018 through Dec. 28, 2019
|May be used starting Dec. 29, 2019 through Dec. 26, 2020
Additional Information
- When a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday will be observed on either Friday or Monday, respectively.
- In certain circumstances, staff and fiscal year faculty/academic staff may be required to work on a holiday due to the needs of the department.
- To learn more about eligibility, compensation, and time reporting guidelines, please refer to the Holiday Policy.


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Mysterious Mary, Part 1: Mary (Campbell) Bowlen – Unrelated Stranger?
Mysterious Mary, Part 2: Mary (Campbell) Bowlen Green – Still Unrelated?
I feel just a bit guilty, getting three posts out of one person who is at most a collateral relative (and may not be my relative at all). But she did have three husbands, after all, and her history is complicated enough, I think, to warrant three posts. In any case, if I had tried to do it all in one post, I'd be several weeks behind by now on my 52 Ancestors challenge!
At the end of part 2, we left Mary A. Greene in 1896, still ensconced in her not-always-empty nest at 41 Market Street; close inspection of the Newburyport city directories reveals "Benj. M. Roward" (daughter Sarah's husband Benjamin M. Rowand) boarding at 41 Market in 1882,1 and William F. Decie (daughter Mary's husband) in 1896.2
Which brings us up to 1898 when, on New Year's Day in Lynn, Massachusetts, one Samuel Bamber of Lynn married one Mary A (Murphy) Green of Newburyport. He was 56, born in England, and an (insurance) agent, and this was his second marriage. She was allegedly 60, born in P.E.I, and ostensibly a doctor (!), and this was her third marriage. And – crucially – her parents are given as Michael [Murphy] and Martha (Morrison).3
|Marriage record of Samuel Bamber and Mary A. (Murphy) Green, 1 Jan 1898, Lynn, Mass.
First, there are the Newburyport city directory listings. The last time Mary A. Greene "widow of Daniel W." appears in the directory was 1896, at the same 41 Market Street address where Daniel, and later Mary, had been for over 20 years. Samuel Bamber makes his first appearance in the 1898 directory – at 41 Market Street.4
|Newburyport city directory, 1898: Samuel Bamber at 41 Market (top), no Mary A. Greene (bottom)
|1900 U.S. census, Newburyport, Mass., Samuel Bamber household
According to the city directories, Samuel Bamber continued to reside at 41 Market St. through 1906. There is no Bamber listed in 1908, and starting in 1910, Mrs. Mary A. Bamber is listed at that address.6 I have found no death record in Massachusetts for Samuel, but I did find one clue to where he might have disappeared. On 9 May 1907, the Cunard liner Ivernia arrived at Liverpool, England, and one of the passengers who had embarked at Boston was one Saml Bamber, agent, age 65, nationality USA.7 (According to the 1900 census, he had been naturalized.) Not definitive by any means, but it at least raises the possibility that he had returned to his native country and died there.
|Excerpt of passenger list of Iberia, 9 May 1907 arrival at Liverpool
|1910 U.S. census, Newburyport, Mass., W. William Decie household
|Death certificate for Mary A. (Green) Bamber, 18 Jul 1918, Newburyport
So, is Mary my great-great-grand aunt? Which of the names and parents and ages and birthplaces are we to believe?
First, her birthplace. I'm inclined to believe she really was from Prince Edward Island, despite her alternating claims of a Nova Scotia origin. She twice reported the even more specific Georgetown, P.E.I., birthplace (also repeated on her death certificate), but never gave a specific location in Nova Scotia. P.E.I. is a small island and at the time was probably much less well known to U.S. residents than Nova Scotia. Perhaps she simply found it easier at times to say she was from Nova Scotia instead of explaining where Prince Edward Island was. Also, her first husband, George Bowlen, was from Nova Scotia. Why would she have claimed P.E.I. as her birthplace in their marriage registration if she was actually from her husband's province? And why include the detail of Georgetown, when George didn't bother to get any more specific?
Next, her age/date of birth. Again, I'm inclined to believe her initial claim to be 24 when she married in 1853, implying a birth year of 1828-1829. This was corroborated two years later in the 1855 state census, when she reported being 26. This is the oldest Mary ever claimed to be, and was a year older than George. It seems hardly likely that a young woman of that time would admit to being older than her husband by even a year, unless it was true. If any of her later age claims were correct, she would have been no more than 20 in 1853; if she had wanted to appear a little more mature, she would most likely have claimed 21 or 22 to George's 23. After George's death, her progressively increasing under-reporting of her age is understandable when you compare her probable age to that of her subsequent husbands: Daniel's age in 1860 (when they presumably married) would have been 24 to Mary's probable 31, while Samuel Bamber was 56 and Mary was probably 68 when they were married in 1898! Small wonder if Mary was inclined to hack 3 to 8 years off her age.
Finally there is the matter of her parents and maiden name. Here I'm rather stumped. I can think of no plausible reason why she might claim to be a Campbell from her first marriage in 1853 through at least 1870 (daughter Mary's birth record), and then announce that she was a Murphy when she married Samuel in 1898. The fact that Annabell reported Mary's maiden name to be Murphy for her death certificate indicates that the marriage record wasn't just a fluke, a made-up name to go with the (presumably) made-up occupation of doctor; it would seem that Mary must have given Annabell reason to believe that she was a Murphy. Perhaps – and this is sheer speculation – the presence in Newburyport in the late 1800s of numerous other members of the Murphy clan led Mary to acknowledge her true identity and kinship with those other Murphys. But if so, what was she hiding when she told George Bowlen her name was Campbell? I will probably never know.
The fact remains that, on the one hand, I can find no record of a "George and Martha Campbell" in P.E.I., while, on the other hand, I do have records of a Michael Murphy and Magdelen Morrison (my GGG grandparents) having kids in exactly the right time frame. I'm not too concerned about the discrepancy of Magdelen's first name; one of their children's baptismal records reads Matilda, and records of the other children (known and tentative) variously say Martha or Margaret. The common link is always the unique combination of Michael Murphy and M___ Morrison, and it doesn't seem likely that Mary would have pulled a relatively uncommon surname like Morrison out of thin air. It's also easy to see how a first name might mutate when recalled by descendants who had never know the grandmother whose name they were reporting on a death certificate (Magdelen > Maggie > Margaret > Mattie > Martha > Matilda).
For now, Mary (Murphy?) Bowlen Green Bamber will remain marked as "tentative" in my family tree – but on the whole, I am inclined to believe that she is my great-great-grand aunt, who inexplicably presented herself as a Campbell between the ages of 24-40.
(Note: This post is in response to Amy Johnson Crow's "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge at No Story Too Small.)
- The Newburyport Directory, 1882... (Boston: Sampson, Davenport, & Co., 1882), p.111, entry for Benj. M. Roward; database and digital images, "U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989," Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Jul 2014).
- The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1896... (Boston: Sampson, Murdock, & Co. 1896), p. 57, entry for William F. Decie; database and digital images, "U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989," Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 Apr 2014).
- "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," database and digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org : accessed 14 Feb 2014), Newburyport, Essex, Mass., vol. 478, p. 403, marriage of Samuel Bamber and Mary A. Green, 1898; citing "original records held by the Massachusetts Archives". That "second marriage" for Bamber is suspect; the record of his 1892 marriage – identifiable as the same Samuel Bamber from his parents' names – indicates that that was his second marriage (ibid., Methuen, Essex, Mass., vol. 424, p. 454, marriage of Samuel Bamber and Alice (Hartley) Fitton, 1892). Perhaps he had a previous wife in England.
- The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1898... (Boston: Sampson, Murdock, & Co. 1898), p. 30, entry for Samuel Bamber (accessed 26 Apr 2014), p. 75, no entry for Mary A. Greene (accessed 18 July 2014).
- 1900 U.S. Census, Essex County, Massachusetts, Newburyport, ED 421, sheet 8-B, dwelling 171, family 191, Samuel Bamber household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Feb 2014).
- The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, [year]... (Boston: Sampson, Murdock, & Co. 1900-1916), entries for Samuel Bamber (1900, 1902, 1904, 1906), for Mrs. Mary A. Bamber (1910, 1912, 1914, 1916); no entry for Bamber in 1908 (accessed 26 Apr 2014).
- "UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960," database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Jul 2014), entry for Saml Bamber, age 65, arrived Liverpool, England, 9 May 1907, aboard the Ivernia.
- 1910 U.S. Census, Essex County, Massachusetts, Newburyport, ED 434, sheet 7-A, dwelling 163, family 173, W. William Decie household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Feb 2014).
- "Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1841-1920," database and digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 19 Jul 2014), Newburyport, death certificate #220 (registered #152), Mary A. (Green) Bamber, 18 Jul 1918.


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I provide consulting and training to organizations wanting to define and measure success specifically around implementing the new standards for social media measurement and public relations.Read All Predictions>
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The problem with all the "Big Data" that we are being inundated with these days is that an awful lot of it is either irrelevant or flat-out wrong. I look at databases all the time and they're full of irrelevant data, or the wrong dates, or something. And unfortunately


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MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP - Part 33
At this point in my "story" I'd like to explain a few things. Although this story is about the history of my comic book shop and my life-long interest in comic books, it's also about people and events that had a major impact on my life in regard to the story that I wanted to tell. This doesn't mean that if I haven't mentioned you that you had no impact on my life. I believe that everyone we interact with is important and affects us in some way. It's just that I actually have a reason for the inclusion of each part of this story. Hopefully it will all become clear by the end. I also know that many of you have little interest in my personal life and many of you have little (or no) interest in my business of selling comic books. I'm considering a change in format in future chapters. I may separate each chapter into a personal section and a business section so that you can skip over the section that you're not interested in reading. Please feel free to give me your opinion on this change. Now, on with the story.
When my son, Adam, was four years old he was able to read books on his own. Adam learned new things very quickly. He had a very advanced vocabulary and he was almost always well behaved. My wife, Mal, and I spent as much time as possible with him trying to teach him new things and playing games together. We'd play "Go Fish" and "Candyland" quite often. One of my favorite games to play with Adam came to be called "Hey Buddy." We would set up small roads on a rug in our family room and use Adam's toy cars and pretend to drive around "the town." As we would pass each other Adam and I would say, "Hey Buddy." We would also build small houses using Lincoln Logs so we'd have actual destinations to drive to. Adam loved this little game.
One of my many character flaws is my lack of patience. I saw how one of my friends interacted with his children and I was actually envious of his relationship with his kids. When he was home, he spent most of his time with his wife and children. It seemed as if he actually enjoyed including his kids in almost every activity and his love and patience was most evident when he was doing yard work. He would frequently be cutting the grass with one or more kids sitting with him on his lawn tractor. He never seemed to be irritated or lose his patience with them. I was amazed at his devotion and dedication to his family. I wished that I could be like him.
I later learned another important life lesson. You can't judge a book by its cover. Don't make assumptions based on outward appearances. I found out that the man I held in such high esteem wasn't perfect, after all. I had been unaware that he was having trouble in his marriage. He was still a man who possessed a lot of great qualities but I learned that things are not always as they appear to be.
It was around this time that my main employee, Steve Wentzell, decided that it was time to leave. I wasn't paying him as much as I should have been and he could make enough money to live on by selling records at a local flea market. Thankfully, I had enough part time employees to keep the store running smoothly and David Lynch was willing to work for me full time.
David Lynch had a great knowledge of comic book history. He also loved movies, music, and old television shows. He was a talented writer. We also got along really well. He was willing to adapt to my way of doing business and he was a good steady worker. When I would leave instructions and projects for him to work on when I wasn't there, he always worked hard to complete these tasks. In our business, it's important to make the shopping experience pleasant for our customers and a good personality makes this much easier. Most of our customers liked David.
A customer, David Hartwell, had been recently laid off from his full time job and when I offered him some temporary work, he accepted. David Hartwell was one of the most laid-back, easy-going guys I'd ever met. He wasn't the fastest worker I had, but he was diligent and he always finished every task he started. He did quality work, not quantity. He would frustrate me at times, but I eventually learned that it was better to get the job done right, as David Hartwell would do, than rush through it. Although David Hartwell only worked as a temporary, part-time employee during 1983, he would eventually come back a few years later as a valuable full time employee.
In 1965 I had created a comic book super-hero called "Insect Man" and I had written and drawn quite a few small comic books that featured his adventures. One of my customers, Peter Fries, asked if I'd be interested in resuming publication of the comic book series. He had created a new super-hero team called "The Defensors" and he wanted to feature them in the new Insect Man comic books. Peter wrote and drew a three-issue story line and we began publishing Insect Man again after a five-year hiatus. We had these offset printed in black and white and we sold about one hundred copies of each issue in my store.
Some of my other customers began to write stories too. Dan Courtney and Chris Coleman wrote a few issues about a new super-hero named Silverlion. I enjoyed publishing these stories but these issues didn't feature my character of Insect Man. Another customer, Larry Young, wrote and drew a story that would feature the exciting return of Insect Man. He designed a new costume and this issue was an instant hit. We sold out of every issue we had printed. Larry didn't have time to do any more issues because he was a hard working college student but David Lynch stepped up and began writing the new Insect Man comic books. The local newspapers wrote articles about "Worcester's own super-hero" and the sales increased on our little Insect Man comic books.
Larry Young eventually worked at my store for a couple of years and he now makes his living writing, drawing, and publishing real comic books!
Next chapter: Atlantic City!
Monday, January 18, 2010
My Life With Comic Books: Part # 33
Posted by paul howley at 5:39 AM
Labels: comic books, David M Lynch, Insect Man, Larry Young
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If you are getting a good night's sleep of the recommended 8 hours, on average, a third of your life is spent in bed. This makes the bed a very important space in your life. Why not invest the time and money to truly turn it into a sanctuary where you can enjoy a blissful night's sleep?
There are many bedding options out there and making selections can be overwhelming, so we've put together an easy guide to help you. We'll review the vitals of purchasing the perfect sheets: fabric choices, thread counts, weaves, patterns, colors, and seasonal adjustments.
Some people love soft, velvety sheets, others prefer lightweight, stiffer variations. There are many beautiful materials available, but the type that you select must be personalized to your specific preferences.
Cotton is the most common type of fabric used for bed sheets. Depending on what type of cotton is used, it can range from expensive Egyptian sheets to inexpensive jersey sheets. Pima or Supima cotton is slightly less expensive than Egyptian cotton sheets but also provides a gorgeous sheen and is a very soft, comfortable cotton.
Linen is another fabric choice that is usually used during the summertime or in areas with a hot climate. They are a more expensive option and one of the most durable, long-lasting options.
Satin sheets often exude a more sensual tone than most other options and are available in synthetic blends with polyester or nylon. Consider purchasing woven options rather than knit ones to really experience satin's signature smoothness.
Flannel is an excellent winter option that is made entirely out of cotton. Available in both medium and heavy option, this extra-soft sheet provides a unique fuzzy feel that is great for a cozy nap in the wintertime.
Jersey sheets are like wrapping yourself up in a knit cotton t-shirt. They are extremely popular for college dorms because they are so inexpensive. While soft and comfortable, this fabric is easily ripped. Another inexpensive option is poly-blended sheets which are very ubiquitous, easy to use and wrinkle resistant.
Beyond the materials used, it is the weave of a sheet that significantly impacts the way that they feel on your skin. Read below to learn about the different ways that sheets are woven.
Sateen weaved cotton is a luxury option that offers a tighter weave for colder seasons. It is a slightly thicker weave that still provides a glamorous sheen.
Percale sheets are crisp, more breathable weaves that are excellent for the summertime. Unlike sateen sheets, percale sheets are matte and lack any sheen. This lightweight weave is very soft and sophisticated.
Microfiber is one of the tightest, densest weaves. This makes it extremely soft, water resistant, wrinkle resistant, and very easy to remove stains from. This weave is ideal for colder months when you crave a heavier, comfortable sheet.
When determining which weave you like best, look at the staple length on the product label. Long staple cotton is very durable and fine, like Egyptian cotton, and often more expensive. Shorter staple cotton is usually a good indicator of a lesser-quality product and a weave that isn't as soft.
While thread count should be a factor in your purchasing decision, it is no longer the sole indicator of quality as commonly thought in the past. Materials and weaves are now valued greater than just the thread count.
Firstly, let's discuss what exactly a thread count is. This number reveals how many horizontal and vertical threads are within one square inch of fabric. The higher the number, generally-speaking, the higher the quality of bed sheets.
However, if you prefer a fabric like inexpensive, soft Jersey, thread count is barely a factor. There are many mid-range sheets with 400-600 counts that are still very soft yet affordable.
Bed sheets are an important element in creating the perfect bedroom style. If you've only stuck to colors in the past, now is a great time to invest in a pattern. Select a pattern in different scales from small to large that have the same color palette.
A pattern can make a big impact and is a great way to balance neutral colors or accent walls. It is recommended that you pair patterned sheets to a solid comforter and vice-versa.
When thinking about colors, start with a base neutral, solid like gray, cream, nude, or white and add deeper accent colors that pop. Gray is a great neutral that looks sophisticated and pairs particularly well with a wide-range of colors.
Most households have multiple sheet sets, this not only helps when a set is tied up in the laundry, but it can also aid in adjusting your preferred sheets by season. Since certain heavier weaves are geared more toward winter, it is a good idea to switch your sheets with the seasons.
Consider using microfiber or flannel sheets in the winter, and switching to lighter fabrics and weaves like percale or linen in the summertime.
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Hockey's Gentleman on Ice
Rappoport, Ken, The Saturday Evening Post
The hockey game had long since ended, yet a fair-sized crowd still lingered outside the Maple Leaf Gardens on a bone-chilling winter night in Toronto. Not all the people were waiting for the home team to emerge. In fact, most were there to see just one player--Wayne Gretzky of the visiting Edmonton Oilers.
Tension, almost palpable, rippled through the crowd until someone shouted, "Look--there he is!' Gretzky and some aides had piled through a side door to avoid the inevitable stampede. The crowd momentum shifted to the other side of the building, then became hysteria. Gretzky was pulled this way and that until, disheveled, he made it safely to the team bus. It was another hairbreadth escape for the blond darling of Canadian hockey fans.
Crowd behavior normally reserved for high-flying rock stars is routine these days for Gretzky. Not only is he recognized as the best hockey player for his amazing scoring proficiency, but the Oilers' center is also the sport's most popular figure and its best good-will ambassador. "From a promotional standpoint,' says John Halligan, public-relations director for the National Hockey League, "he is hockey. We have always had international stature, but because of Gretzky we have it to a greater extent now.'
No player in the history of hockey has captured the imagination of fans and media alike as Gretzky has in his seven seasons as a professional. He has the game's most recognized face, its most sought-after autograph and its most lucrative contract. His number, 99, is already a synonym for "great' in Canada, where he usually enjoys better press than Pierre Trudeau and receives far more fan mail than the Canadian prime minister. Gretzky's mail at one recent count reached 20,000 pieces a week, some of it addressed only to "Wayne Gretzky, Canada.' "It's like writing to Santa Claus,' says Mike Barnett, the president of CorpSport International, the Edmonton-based firm that handles Gretzky's many marketing deals.
The United States, generally blase about hockey, has felt Gretzky's influence as with no player before him. Bobby Orr and Bobby Hull, two of hockey's other greats, penetrated the U.S. consciousness to some extent. But Gretzky's impact has been far more dramatic. He is seen not only on national-magazine covers in America, but also on billboard advertisements from coast to coast, where his face --sans identification--smiles down and promotes one of his major endorsements, a camera. His name is also on the lips of world leaders. Once, at a White House gathering, President Reagan joked that he would trade "two draft choices and the state of Texas' to get Gretzky for his hometown Washington Capitals.
A quick glance at Gretzky would hardly suggest the most potent scoring machine in hockey. He is barely six feet tall and weighs not much more than 170 pounds, a relatively frail figure among the bullies who abound in one of the most violent team sports in the world. Out of uniform, he is usually dwarfed by his broad-shouldered teammates. But on the ice, he is most certainly in place.
"I played a lot of lacrosse, and that taught me how to roll with checks, slip away from them,' Gretzky says, explaining his uncanny ability to avoid collisions with heftier players. "I only get hit head-on about two or three times a year.'
At the age of 17, Gretzky was playing professional hockey, and not many years later he was dominating it and making the pre-Gretzky record books almost irrelevant. Gretzky quickly became his own point of reference. In his fourth season as a professional, 1981-82, Gretzky broke the record for most goals--92--in an NHL season and erased Phil Esposito's mark of 76. (He produced 87, the second-best mark in history, last season.) In 1980-81, Gretzky had broken Orr's record for assists with 109 while establishing a total-points standard (combined goals and assists) of 164. …


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When I sit down to write, I have to make myself ignore all the things that need to be done around the house. It's not hard. I have an amazing capacity for tuning out housework. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on the way you look at it, so does my husband. The upshot is, our house is badly in need of TLC, because neither of us puts a priority on chores. The good thing, for me, is I don't have a husband who expects me to take care of everything that has to do with our home.
It hasn't always been that way. My first husband reasoned that since he was out earning a living and I was staying home with the kids, the housework was all my responsibility. Of course he didn't value it as highly as his job. No matter how much I did, it was never enough to make us even. Because as long as one thing was out-of-place or unfinished, my job was never done. And when you have four kids under the age of six, believe me, there is always something out-of-place or unfinished.
I started to work outside of the home during my second marriage. I even did the same kind of work and worked the same number of hours that my husband did. But when we came home from work, he vegged out and I got dinner. I also did the grocery shopping, the cleaning, the laundry and general pickup. When I pointed out that he wasn't helping me with any of the chores (he did cut the grass), he pointed out that I had four daughters who needed to be doing "that stuff," effectively letting himself off the hook.
Is my story unusual? Of course not. So why do women put up with it? Because we don't like to argue? Because we're afraid that our husbands and boyfriends will leave us? Or is it because we know it won't do a damn bit of good? No matter how you cut it, the men who don't do housework don't do it because they just don't want to.
If you use the logic that men are so fond of, it doesn't make sense, nor is it fair, to expect the woman to do all or most of the housework when both the man and the woman are working outside of the home. Some men use the excuse that it's "traditional" for women to do the housework. But that was when it was also traditional for a woman's only job to be within the confines of her home.
It's been a while now since work was divided up as "women's work" or "men's work." Women truly have come a long way–except for in the home. They do almost as much of the housework as they did when all they did was housework, even when they're holding down full-time jobs. And I haven't even brought up child-rearing. How many men take equal responsibility for that?
Younger men are a little more open to "helping" their women around the house, but they still see it as "helping." It's not something for which they're equally responsible.
Some women have convinced themselves that they like being in charge of the home. Men wouldn't keep the house up to their standards, they tell themselves. And because men don't want to have to do the dirty work anyway, they "let" their women take over. They let them decorate the way they want to (as long as they get their big-screen TVs, that is), they allow them to pick out the appliances (after all, those are women's "tools"), they give the women the walk-in closets (to hold all the clothes they let them buy). But is this bribery enough to compensate for having to do all the housework, day in and day out, for the rest of our lives?
I finally got a break. My husband does more around the house than I do. I'm more than happy to give up full jurisdiction in order to share the responsibilities. And the nice part is: now the home truly feels like it belongs to both of us.