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Back 2 New Cleaning provides professional duct cleaning services on the same day you make a call. You won't find the same quality of work anywhere in Somerville. We have highly efficient staff holding apt certifications and skills for duct cleaning job. With over many years of experience and expertise, we are a reliable source for all duct cleaning services.
Importance of ducts at your home:-
Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning are one of the most basic requirements nowadays. Be it your home or office, HVAC Systems makes them stay-worthy for you. Owing to the increase in pollution, a necessity of such systems have increased manifold.Hence,it is the duct, which facilitates the HVAC system to maintain air quality and regulate the temperature of your home or office.
Duct absorbs dust and particles from the indoor airs, hence keeping it clean and fresh. In due course of prolonged use, layers of these absorbed dust and particles pollute the duct. Excessive accumulation of dust can hamper the efficiency and performance of the HVAC System.
Reasons for Duct Cleaning
- If an excessive amount of dust and particles accumulate in the duct, it is back circulated in your indoors. This can result in respiratory problems and other health ailments. It can also be a cause of allergies and infections in the same fashion. Moreover,the duct loses its efficiency to absorb more dust and particles from the indoor air. Hence, you interiors lose its air-clean properties.
- Your duct can be home to rodents, vermin, mites, and bugs. These creatures love to reside and move in dirty places. These are vectors of various disease related to stomach and liver.
- The HVAC System loses its normal efficiency. Moreover,this directly affects your energy saving factor negatively. This will result in high electricity bills in the same fashion.
- Feelings of stuffiness and congestion might bother you and your family. This feeling results in frequent mood swings and irritation.
- Temperature regulation will not be optimum. As the HVAC Systems loses its efficiency, it will not be able to provide you the hotness or coldness you require.
For better quality of duct cleaning and duct servicing, professionals are required. Many agencies and units providing reliable duct cleaning services rule the market. Moreover,your time, energy and duct, all will be saved if you hire a professional to treat your duct out of the dust properly.
Ducted Heating Cleaning Somerville
Back 2 New Cleaners provide ducted heating cleaning services across all the suburbs of Somerville at affordable prices. We have the right tools and are capable of cleaning all kinds of ducts and vents in your home and commercial spaces. Besides ducted heating, we offer evaporative duct cleaning, HVAC duct cleaning, centralised duct cleaning, ceiling duct cleaning, roof turbine vent cleaning, and floor duct cleaning services. With the latest technology, we know the best ways to clean your ducts. Call now for the same day duct cleaning services.
Evaporative Duct Cleaning Somerville
Evaporative duct cleaning is another one of the major services we offer at Back 2 New Cleaning for duct cleaning. Australian summers are unbearable, and to make them bearable cooling systems and evaporative ducts come to our rescue. However, with the regular use, evaporative duct systems do get dirty, which also becomes a contributing factor in increased energy bills. This is when you need to hire the professionals for evaporative duct cleaning to bring you fresh and germ-free air and maintain a comfortable environment.
Duct Repair Somerville
Another thing our technicians expert at is duct repair. With the constant use, the duct material tears apart and at times animal intrusion becomes the reason for duct damage. Such conditions lead to the production and leakage of CO that can be health hazardous. This is when you need professional services for duct repair. Moreover, our team can reach your doorstep for duct inspection on the same of booking. Contact us today and bring your experts home.
Heating Unit Servicing Somerville
Back 2 New Cleaning professional duct cleaners also offer the best services for heating unit servicing. Our technicians of heating system servicing make sure are satisfied in every way, thus, can reach your place on the same day of booking to save your house from the attack of winters, while making it more energy efficient. Our heating system technicians are equipped with the best tools and skills which ultimately bring them the best results. Contact us today for heating unit servicing and get a special deal of the day.
Carbon Monoxide Testing Somerville
Carbon monoxide testing is another major service that covers duct cleaning Somerville. Our professional duct cleaners, bring all the necessary tools and equipment to check the extent of CO in the home. And if they find the excess production of carbon monoxide they can also offer duct cleaning services. The removal of CO from the home is an important task, as the presence of this gas can lead to several health issues including depression and breathing problems. And for your best help, you can install CO detectors in the home.
Duct Mould Removal Somerville
Has your house been constantly under the attack of health problems and stale odours for a long time? There possibly could be mould infestation inside the ducts. Moulds find your ducts as the best places due to a humid and moist environment. Wondering how can you get rid of mould from your ducts? Hiring the professional duct cleaning is the best ways to resolves all your duct related problems. We at Back 2 new Cleaning have been serving in the field for more than 10 years and possess all the required tools and cleaning agents for effective duct mould removal. So, what are you waiting for? Call us now and get the best services for duct cleaning and sanitising.
Return Air Duct Cleaning Somerville
We at Back 2 New Cleaning offer a wide range of duct cleaning services including return vent cleaning. With the constant use, dirt and grime get accumulated on the parts of your return ducts that need to be cleaned quickly for the smooth functioning. Possessed with the advanced tools and skills, we effectively clean your ducts. In case you want the emergency services, call us for same day duct cleaning inspection and cleaning.
- Same day return duct cleaning
- Affordable duct cleaning services
- Advanced tools and cleaning solutions
- Quick and safe services
Methods used by us
Professionals and agencies rely on the following methods for efficient duct cleaning and air duct servicing:
- Rotary Brush and Vacuum: This is one of the most popular methods of duct cleaning. It is applicable for both residential and commercial duct cleaning. In this method, the cleaners dismantle the duct in small cleanable segments. They use foam to block any leakage or door of the segments. Then they insert the rotary brush in the segments to dodge away dust and particles. Hence,the vacuum pulls out all the dust and particles out of the duct.
- Compressed Air and Vacuum: In this method, compressed air along with a diffuser is used. The professionals insert a hose connected with the diffuser on one side of the duct. A vacuum cleaner is connected to the other side. The force of the compressed air pushes all dust and particles towards the vacuum cleaner. Hence,the vacuum cleaner then pulls and throws out all the dust and particles.
- Manual Cleaning technique: This is another reliable duct cleaning method. This is implemented when the above two methods fail to give the desired result. If the dirt and dust residue in the duct is sticky and stubborn then this method is used. This is a time-taking method but efficiently cleans you duct from dust and molds. However,this method is generally applicable for large ductwork.
Some of the benefits of availing our services:-
- Better indoor air quality.
- Neat and clean ducts.
- Less utility bill.
- Healthy and safe environment.
- Less chances of sickness.
- Eradication of contaminants and other pollutants.
- Odor removal.
- Less chances of allergies.
- Improvement in efficiency of ducts.
- Less chances of air borne diseases.
Our duct cleaning procedure:-
We follow an efficient duct cleaning procedure which starts right from the time you give us a call.
- After we get a confirmation from your end, we send our expert at your place. They reach your house with all the equipment and answer all the queries which you might have.
- Our cleaners remove shoes before entering your house after which they thoroughly inspect your ducts.
- Our cleaners use protective drop clothes to guard your furniture and floor from scratches.
- They use a powerful vacuum cleaner to remove all dirt and dust after covering the registers.
- They use a rotary brush to clean every corner of the duct.
- Moreover,we also inform you of any repairs which might be essential.
- Finally we re inspect your ducts and make sure that it is free from all types of allergens.
- We then sanitize your ducts and deodorize it. Hence,you feel a pleasant fragrance spreading in your room once you switch them on.
Why choose us:-
- We have a staff of best cleaners in the entire industry with apt training, experience and certifications.
- We offer duct cleaning services at a competitive price.
- Our services are accessible anywhere as we cover the whole of Australia.
- Same day duct cleaning services and value for time is what we believe in.
- We are available 24*7 even on public holidays and weekends.
- We use state of the art methods and highly efficient equipment.
- None of our products can cause any harm to your skin or environment.
- We not just clean, but also sanitize the ducts.
- We are constantly evolving and hence promise best in the industry.
Complete satisfaction guarantee:-
What makes us apart from the rest of the cleaning companies is that we never compromise with the quality. We give you 100 % quality assurance. All you need to do is give us a call to get your ducts super clean in no time. You can also get in touch with us via mail. Hence,get your ducts clean now by calling our expert right to your home or office.
Duct Cleaning is now easy and simple with these professionals
Home or Office- Duct Cleaning
Above par services
Location: Somerville, VIC, Australia


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Welcome to Forgotten Cars, where we highlight fascinating cars and engines that are obscure, unrecognized and lost to the passage of time.
Back in the early 1990s, there were so many new Japanese luxury cars it was easy to lose track of them. Last time we did Forgotten Cars, we discussed the Mazda Millenia and its Miller Cycle engine – memorable technology burried into a rather drab, if competent, car.
In 1994, I had a copy of Automobile Magazine that had a little card stuck next to an ad for the Infiniti J30. In it, I wrote down my name and email address (presumably in crayon) and 8-10 weeks later received a VHS tape with a video about the J30. It was the most preposterous thing set to soft jazz even Kenny G would've hated and narrated by actor Jonathan Pryce, because a Welsh accent would really class things up. This, apparently, was going to get Baby Boomers to buy this car. You know, the people who really like reading T.C. Boyle novels.
But the J30 wasn't a shapeless blob to come mostly from an American marketing department, like the M30 Coupe and Convertible or most low-level Acuras and Lexuses of the time. It was a Japanese market Nissan Leopard J Ferie (a less-than catchy name, but it got a 4.1-liter V8 that we didn't) that had all of the makings of a competitive sedan to do battle with BMW 325s and 525s and Mercedes C280s and the Acura Legend. Its styling was fairly unconventional, too.
Yes, there are serious Jaguar overtones as pointed out by Paul Dean of the Los Angeles Times in his 1992 review, but name any luxury sedan of the era and few will call them adventurously styled. This is back before Volvos got curves and BMW got Bangled.
The mechanicals of the J30 were of special note, too. Like the Mercedes and BMW establishment and unlike the Legend and Lexus ES300, it had rear-wheel drive. The J30 also had the 3.0-liter V6 engine out of the Nissan 300ZX, producing 210 horsepower in this car mated to a modern-for-the-time four-speed automatic. But on the slightly more sporting J30t, it was equipped with HICAS, Nissan-speak for four-wheel steering.
Why didn't it work? For starters, it was expensive as hell for 1993 at $34,000. Although, the only options were the t package and a car phone, so it was well equipped. Consumer Guide may have said it was more balanced than competing models, but acceleration wasn't terribly sprightly with a heavy sedan bolted to that V6.
And the packaging left something to be desired, because the car had less passenger space than the Sentra of the time. Then there was the whole issue of Infiniti's branding being so muddled at this point of time. $34,000 was a whole lot of coin for something many people wrote off as a gussied-up Nissan, and the fact it resembled the first-generation Altima did not do it favors. Someone seriously screwed that up.
But back in the day, few reviewers said there was anything fundamentally flawed with the J30 and it probably deserved better than it did in its 4-year-run when it was superseded in 1997 by the front-wheel drive, fancy Maxima that was the I30.
And there's the fact that these cars have stood up to the test of time. It seems like every week in Southern California I'll spot a couple that are sun faded and probably have 200,000 miles to go with the ugly stickers now slapped on the back window. Aside from the also-unloved Q45, the J30 is worth remembering as a car Infiniti actually got right in the '90s.
Do you guys have any memories of the J30?
Help us out, Jalops. We'd like to make Forgotten Cars a regular thing, but we need suggestions. We're looking for stuff that's really obscure and that even the most seasoned car experts know little about. Give us some ideas in the comments!
Photos credit Aldenjewell, Hugo90

subset: commoncrawl


text: Enjoy the sweet life as you learn both the art and science of baking breads, muffins, pies, cakes and cookies. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned home baker, you'll love expanding your bakeshop repertoire with our tried and true, easy-to-follow recipes. Or, if sweets are not your thing, we also have classes for making homemade pizzas and pastas that rival the best in Italy.


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Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Notorious for Gunnery Sergeant Hartman's unrelenting beasting of Private Pyle, Stanley Kubrick's epic follows a bunch of green recruits through training and onto the Vietnam battlefield. The whole thing was shot in England, though you'd never know it.
Platoon (1986)
Though Charlie Sheen's character in Platoon starts out optimistic and full of ideals, he soon ends up as cynical as his Two and a Half Men alter-ego. Claustrophobic jungle fighting and a level of violence that shocked 80s audiences are the backdrop to a plot that has you wondering who the real enemy is.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
A long story of war and madness meandering down a river full of dangers. Martin Sheen comes across all sorts of surreal and harrowing scenes in his mission to kill Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) whose mind hasn't survived the rigours of Vietnam warfare.
Starship Troopers (1997)
Paul Verhoeven's future war satire follows, in extended newsflash form, the fortunes of a bunch of new recruits straight out of high school who are packed off to exterminate the hordes of giant killer space bugs threatening humanity.
A scathing attack on militarism and fascism from the Dutch director – who lived through the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Worth watching for the intensely terrifying opening scene of the Normandy landings alone. Ex school teacher Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) sets off across France to find Private Ryan – whose three brothers were killed during D-Day – and y'know, save him.
Spielberg deliberately aped the look of vintage newsreels during the 20-minute opening sequence, fiddling with the shutter timing on the cameras and treating the film to desaturate the colours.
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Military deserter Private Witt (James Caviezel) is dragged out of his peaceful life with Pacific natives and back into war. He and his compatriots are then thrown into the battle to take back the island of Guadalcanal.
Somewhat unfairly overshadowed by Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line saw the return of legendary director Terence Malik to film-making after two decades of self-imposed isolation. Malick's approach to the Second World War emphasised the use of documentary wildlife footage, emphasising how the horrors of war impacted on the unsullied landscape of Guadalcanal.
The Longest Day (1962)
Producer Darryl F Zanuck saw the aftermath of D-Day as part of a news camera crew, so it's not surprising that his depiction of Operation Overlord was painstakingly accurate. The last blockbuster epic shot in black and white, With three directors and an all-star cast including John Wayne, Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum and Henry Fonda (plus a pre-Bond Sean Connery) tramping around the original locations, The Longest Day was an undertaking on the same scale as the real D-Day landings.
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
The cast, packed with Hollywood A-listers from Laurence Olivier to Sean Connery, takes on the roles of the soldiers of Operation Market Garden in an attempt to seize back bridges in Nazi-occupied Netherlands. As in Jurassic Park, director Richard Attenborough spared no expense.
Jarhead (2005)
Jake Gylenhall experiences the futility and, most notably, the sheer boredom of the Gulf War conflict as he goes through training, ending up as a sniper with no-one to snipe at. Where most war films focus on the brief bursts of intense action that punctuate conflicts, Jarhead draws on the long drawn-out stretches of boredom in between.
The Dam Busters (1955)
As the title suggests, this bunch of dashing pilot types risk life and limb to bust dams. Germany's dams, to be precise. Based upon a real operation in WW2 that used the infamous bouncing bomb for the first time.
George Lucas famously used footage from the film for an early rough cut of the climactic Death Star battle in Star Wars – with many lines of dialogue in the final film sounding suspiciously familiar.
And Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is currently beavering away on a remake of the film, scripted by Stephen Fry.
The Big Red One (1980)
Reporter Sam Fuller signed up to fight in the Second World War partly to witness "the biggest crime story of the century," and 30-odd years later, he put that story up on the cinema screen, directing this tale of a grizzled Sarge (Lee Marvin) guiding his men through the conflict.
Fuller's original four-hour cut was chopped up by the studio, but a recent reconstruction restored many of the lost scenes.
Zulu (1964)
And so all the way back in 1879 for the Anglo-Zulu war. Specifically the Battle of Rorke's Drift where a heavily outnumbered group are set upon by a huge Zulu contingent. Michael Caine plays against type as a plummy-voiced British officer in an early role, and Welshmen sing.
Robert Altman's Korean War-set black comedy focuses on the doctors who patch up the wounded soldiers, and the ways in which they attempt to relieve the tension of dealing with life-and-death situations on a daily basis. The subsequent TV series may be more famous, but Altman's original eclipses it in many ways.
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Lee Marvin takes charge of a unit of convicts sent to carry out a suicide mission, in this brutal, macho adventure movie. Made at the height of the Vietnam War, the film skilfully welded the anti-authoritarian attitudes of the time to the conventional men-on-a-mission movie structure.
Laughably implausible, but what it lacks in authenticity it makes up for with raw action.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
The first film ever to scoop the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars, this adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's World War I novel was shot just twelve years after the end of the Great War.
And – somewhat surprisingly – this Hollywood production depicted the horrors of the conflict from the German perspective. Indeed, many German veterans were involved in the production as extras and advisers.
The film's closing shot is still regarded as one of the most iconic in the history of cinema.
Days of Glory (2006)
Director Rachid Bouchareb examines the contributions of North African soldiers who fought in the French army during the Second World War – and the shabby treatment these "indigènes" received at the hands of the country they fought for.
Downfall (2004)
It may be best-known as the film that launched a thousand viral videos, but Oliver Hirschbiegel's depiction of the last days of Adolf Hitler is serious business.
As Hitler gradually loses his grip on reality in the face of Germany's defeat, the pressure cooker atmosphere among his most loyal followers in his Berlin bunker mounts.
Star Bruno Ganz navigates the potential minefield of humanising Hitler – while not rendering him a sympathetic character – with consummate skill.
Waterloo (1970)
The vast scale of this film centred around Napoleon's efforts at the battle of Waterloo in 1815 is what sets it apart. Drawing on 17,000 extras – many borrowed from the Soviet army – it even dwarfs most modern war films with CGI-bolstered casts.
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Where Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers focused on the oft-told story of American soldiers in the Second World War, this companion piece shifted the focus onto their enemies in the Imperial Japanese Army. Ken Watanabe plays General Kuribayashi, who sticks to his duty of defending the Japanese homeland in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Definitely the superior of the two films in Eastwood's Second World War diptych.
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Not filled with guns, this one, but bombs. Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq war movie – the first film by a female director to win the Best Director Oscar – follows the hyper-tense world of the bomb disposal squad. And you thought Jenga was nerve-wracking...
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Three friends start off on a hunting trip in Pennsylvania and end up playing Russian roulette at the hands of the Vietcong. Robert de Niro and Christopher Walken put in some stirring performances which lay bare the desperation of their situation – but things get really bleak when they get home.
Das Boot (1981)
The Second World War as seen from under the waves in German U-boat U-96. The submariners embark upon a battle of attrition with their living conditions and flinch as their creaky metal home almost implodes. Director Wolfgang Petersen intended it to be a journey to the end of the mind – well it's certainly no great advert for joining the Navy, that's for sure.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
While the first film in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy focused on the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring, the second is a war movie through and through.
As the forces of Saruman mass against the kingdom of Rohan, we're treated to the militarisation of Isengard, refugees fleeing the coming conflict and – of course – the climactic conflict at Helm's Deep, shot by Jackson with a keen eye for the geography of a battle.
The Battle of Algiers (1966)
Modern conflicts are characterised not by the sweeping charge into battle, but by the guerrilla war that takes place in the aftermath. The Battle of Algiers, then, is a true modern war film.
It's a remarkably even-handed depiction of the guerrilla insurrection that took place during the Algerian War of Independence.
Neither the Algerian revolutionaries nor the French counter-insurgency come out of it particularly well, with both engaging in atrocities as the conflict drags on.
Ran (1985)
Akira Kurosawa's last great epic is – loosely – based on Shakespeare's King Lear, telling how a feudal warlord's decision to divide his kingdom among his children leads to ruin. On a grand scale.
Kurosawa's perfectionism saw him creating an entire castle – and then burning it down – for a key battle scene. No surprise that it was the most expensive Japanese film ever.
More movie lists
25 best alternative Christmas movies ever
25 best time travel movies ever
25 best TV and movie cars ever
5 of the best future sports movies
Gadget lists
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The U.S. army reportedly deployed a specialized "psychological operations" team in 2009 to help convince American legislators to boost funding and troop numbers for the war in Afghanistan.
Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, a three-star general in charge of training Afghan troops, ordered the operation, Rolling Stone Magazine reported in a story published late on Wednesday.
An officer in charge of the unit objected when he was ordered to pressure the visiting senators and was harshly reprimanded by superiors, according to the magazine.
Castaway's parents thought they would never see him again
The father of Pacific castaway Jose Salvador Alvarenga said he was told his long-lost son vanished on a fishing trip but he didn't have the heart to break the news to his ailing wife.
- Scotland legalizes same-sex marriage
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- Olympic construction leaves Sochi residents in the cold
- Castaway's parents thought they would never see him again
"My job in psy-ops is to play with people's heads, to get the enemy to behave the way we want them to behave," the officer, Lt. Colonel Michael Holmes, told Rolling Stone.
"I'm prohibited from doing that to our own people. When you ask me to try to use these skills on senators and congressman, you're crossing a line," he added.
Gen. David Petraeus has called for an investigation into charges, NBC News reported.
On the msnbc's "Morning Joe" program Thursday, NBC News Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jim Miklaszewski reported that officials both in Washington and Afghanistan had been "scrambling" to come up with a response to the allegations.
Miklaszewski also pointed out that using such tactics on U.S. citizens is against regulations and not to be done under any circumstances.
Among those targeted were senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, Jack Reed, Al Franken and Carl Levin, as well as Representative Steve Israel of the House Appropriations Committee, the report said. The team also allegedly targeted Admiral Mike Mullen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Video: Officer on psy-ops order: 'We weren't gonna do it' (on this page)
Levin pointed out Thursday that he has long been in favor of building up Afghan forces.
"For years, I have strongly and repeatedly advocated for building up Afghan military capability because I believe only the Afghans can truly secure their nation's future," Levin said in a statement. "I have never needed any convincing on this point. Quite the opposite, my efforts have been aimed at convincing others of the need for larger, more capable Afghan security forces, and that we and NATO should send more trainers to Afghanistan, rather than more combat troops."
'Very serious and disturbing'
One of the lawmakers, Sen. Reed, told msnbc's Chris Jansing that he found the accusations "very serious and disturbing" and said the Pentagon should investigate, and if warranted, punish those involved.
The Rhode Island Democrat, who is a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former U.S. Army Ranger, said he's been to Afghanistan 11 times and has tried to get a "broad view" of the situation on the ground by seeking out many different sources.
He said he never detected anything unusual when speaking to military personnel, but stressed that he weighs carefully what everyone has told him and doesn't put too much stock into any one individual.
According to Holmes, he and his four-man team arrived in Afghanistan at the end of 2009 in order to determine the effects of American propaganda on Afghans and the Taliban, the magazine reported.
Soon, though, Caldwell ordered the unit to gather profiles of visiting dignitaries, including their likes and dislikes and "hot-button issues," the magazine reported.
Only on NBCNews.com
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Holmes was asked how the general could secretly manipulate the lawmakers, Rolling Stone said.
"How do we get these guys to give us more people?" Caldwell asked, according to the magazine. "What do I have to plant inside their heads?"
U.S. law bars the military from using psy-ops on Americans, and every defense authorization bill explicitly prohibits the manipulation, the magazine reported.
"Everyone in the psy-ops, intel ... knows you're not supposed to target Americans," a veteran member of similar team told Rolling Stone. "It's what you learn on day one."
© 2013 msnbc.com Reprints


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In spite of several insurers fleeing the annuity business, Guardian is increasing its business in the market.
"We look at the annuity market in a holistic way," Doug Dubitsky, head of the life insurance company's annuities division, told AdvisorOne on Wednesday. "We're increasing our focus on income solutions and we're not tied to any one product or any one feature or rider."
One of the biggest flaws to the annuity industry overall, Dubitsky said, is that the very concept of annuities is confusing to clients. Of the myriad options available, many have a proper place in a client's portfolio. Add to that the existence of some disreputable products. "In the public mind, all of these get wrapped together around that one word, 'annuity,'" Dubitsky said.
"We've run away from the word 'annuity' and 'annuitization' as something that's bad. Annuitization in the right circumstances and with the right products is very beneficial."
Another problem with annuities is that they've become too complicated, Dubitsky (left) said. In an effort to have them be all things to all people, "we started bolting on too many bells, too many whistles." Dubitsky and Guardian are working toward simplifying annuities and responding to clients' needs with specific products.
"Not every product has to solve every need. If we have multiple solutions and we have multiple forms of guaranteed income in retirement, as an advisor, I can understand your problem and I can figure out what works best for you. Then I can turn and say, 'Here are my options. Let's figure out the one that fits your needs the best.'"
For example, Dubitsky said, investors could choose a "variable annuity with a living benefit rider for somebody who wants equity market growth, potential to take advantage of an up market and at the same time have a guaranteed floor and lifetime income. There are single-premium immediate annuities for someone who wants what I call pure income: needs the money today, wants predictable, steady income, and wants the most guarantees from the product."
The biggest trend in annuities and the common thread among annuity purchasers is that they all need guaranteed income. Regardless of income level, clients don't want to have to change their lifestyle after they retire, Dubitsky said. From the mass affluent to the very high-net-worth, clients want to maintain their lifestyle.
One misunderstanding advisors have about how annuities should be used is that some assume they have to annuitize all of a client's retirement assets rather than just a portion. Instead, Dubitsky said, they should look at retirement holistically and determine the client's basic lifestyle needs—not just basic expenses like food, clothing and shelter, but what they need to maintain their current lifestyle. By planning for the gap between those basic needs and guaranteed income like pensions or Social Security, advisors can address clients' discretionary needs and begin planning with products like insurance, mutual funds and other options.
"The reason why you're able to talk to them about those options is because you've guaranteed the basic needs," Dubitsky said. "You've taken the fear factor off the table." This is important because Dubitsky says one of advisors' biggest challenges is getting their clients to do anything because they're "paralyzed with fear," even if they like the solutions their advisors are proposing.
The worst part of clients' mistaken belief that not doing anything is better than doing something and making a mistake is that they're losing time, Dubitsky said.
"Longevity itself is not a risk," Dubitsky said. "Longevity multiplies all the other risks that you face."
Dubitsky expects deferred annuity products, what he calls "create your own pension" annuities, to continue to grow in popularity. Guardian has one such product currently in development and expects to launch it before the end of this year. The reason for their success, he says, is that clients are exhausted. "It's absolutely exhausting to have uncertainty around your financial future after you've spent your entire life working."
In addition to those specific products, guarantees will always be important. Dubitsky also expects a return to simplicity.
"When somebody doesn't understand something, one of these things are going to happen: They're not going to be comfortable with it, in which case they might not make the right move, or they're going to be mis-sold. But if I keep it simple and understandable, and I provide the right training and education, then I have products that people feel comfortable with. I have products that reps feel confident in selling."
Dubitsky concludes, "The majority of reps out there care about their clients and want to do the right thing. The better I educate them, the better I arm them with the right information and the right solution, the more successful they'll be."


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84. Heaney, L. R. 2000. Dynamic disequilibrium: a long-term, large-scale perspective on the equilibrium model of island biogeography. Global Ecology and Biogeography 9:59-74. PDF (1.19MB)
85. Heaney, L. R., A. Diesmos, B. R. Tabaranza Jr., N. A. Mallari, and R. Brown. 2000. Beacon of Hope - a first report from Kalinga Province, in the Northern Central Cordillera. Haring Ibon (Manila), 2:14-18.
86. Rickart, E. A., and L. R. Heaney. 2001. Shrews of the La Sal Mountains, southeastern Utah. Western North American Naturalist, 61:103-108.
87. Heaney, L. R., M. V. Lomolino, and R. J. Whittaker (eds.) 2001. Diversity patterns of small mammals along elevational gradients. Special issue, Global Ecology and Biogeography, 10:1-109.
88. Heaney, L. R. 2001. Small mammal diversity along elevational gradients in the Philippines: an assessment of patterns and hypotheses. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 10:15-39.
89. Cranch, A. E., L. R. Heaney, and J. Kerbis Peterhans. 2001. The Royal Kingdom of Bhutan: Sanctuary for Biodiversity. In the Field, 72:2-6.
90. Heaney, L. R. 2002. Island life along Wallace's Line: Biogeography and patterns of endemism in the Philippines and Indonesia. Pp. 28-30. In Wikramanayake, E., E. Dinerstein, C.J. Loucks, D.M. Olson, J. Morrison, J. Lamoreaux, M. McKnight, and P. Hedao. Terrestrial ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: A conservation assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press. 643 pp.
91. Heaney, L. R., E. K. Walker, B. R. Tabaranza, Jr., and N. R. Ingle. 2002. Mammalian diversity in the Philippines: an assessment of the adequacy of current data. Sylvatrop, 10 (2000):6-27.
92. Heaney, L. R. and N. A. D. Mallari. 2002. A preliminary analysis of current gaps in the protection of threatened Philippine terrestrial mammals. Sylvatrop, 10 (2000):28-39.
93. Rickart, E. A., L. R. Heaney, and B. R. Tabaranza, Jr. 2002. Review of Bullimus (Muridae: Murinae) and description of a new species from Camiguin Island, Philippines. Journal of Mammalogy 83:421-436.
94. Heaney, L. R. 2002. A decade of research on Philippine mammals: Progress and challenges. Silliman Journal 42 (2001):88-108.
95. Rickart, E. A., and L. R. Heaney. 2002. Further studies on the chromosomes of Philippine rodents (Muridae: Murinae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 115:473-487.
96. Heaney, L. R. 2002. Biological Diversity in the Philippines: an Introduction to Megadiversity in a Nation of Islands. Pp 2-8. In P. S. Ong, L. E. Afuang, R. G. Rosell-Amball (eds.), Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priorities. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Conservation International Philippines, Quezon City. Pp xvii + 113.
97. Heaney, L. R., D. S. Balete, Genevieve V. A. Gee, and E. A. Rickart. 2003. Remarkable rats of the Central Cordillera. Haring Ibon.13:18-29.
98. Rickart, E. A., L. R. Heaney, and B. R. Tabaranza, Jr. 2003. A new species of Limnomys (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae) from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Journal of Mammalogy 84:1443-1455.
99. Steppan, S., C. Zawadski, and L. R. Heaney. 2003. Molecular phylogeny of the endemic Philippine rodent Apomys (Muridae) and the dynamics of diversification in an oceanic archipelago. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 80:699-715.
100. Heaney, L. R. 2004. Remarkable rats and the origins of island biological diversity. In The Field 75:16-18.
101. Rickart, E. A., L. R. Heaney, and R. S. Hoffmann. 2004. First record of Sorex tenellus from the central Great Basin. Southwestern Naturalist 49:132-134.
102. Heaney, L. R. and G. Vermeij. 2004. Diversification. Pp. 779-788. In M. V. Lomolino, J. H. Brown, and D. Sax (eds.). Foundations of Biogeography. University of Chicago Press. 1291 pp.
103. Heaney, L. R. 2004. Return to the Sea of Cortez (review of A New Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cortez, edited by Case, Cody, and Ezcurra. ) Journal of Biogeography 31:1551-1553.
104. Heaney, L. R., D. S. Balete, E. A. Rickart, M. J. Veluz, and J. Sarmiento. 2004. Welcome surprises from Mt. Banahaw. Haring Ibon, 16:10-15.
105. Lomolino, M. V., and L. R. Heaney (eds.). 2004. The Frontiers of Biogeography: New Directions in the Geography of Nature. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland.
106. Heaney, L. R. 2004. Conservation Biogeography in an Oceanic Archipelago. Pp. 345-360. In M. V. Lomolino and L. R. Heaney (eds.), Frontiers of Biogeography, New Directions in the Geography of Nature. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland.
107. Esselstyn, J. A., P. Widmann & L. R. Heaney. 2004. The Mammals of Palawan Island, Philippines. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 117:271-302.
108. Heaney, L. R., Walsh, J. S. Jr., and A. T. Peterson. 2005. The roles of geological history and colonization abilities in genetic differentiation between mammalian populations in the Philippine archipelago. Journal of Biogeography 32:229-247.
109. Heaney, L. R. 2005. Remarkable rats. USA Today 133:44-47.
110. Heaney, L. R., D. S. Balete, G. V. Gee, M. V. Lepiten-Tabao, E. A. Rickart, and B. R. Tabaranza. 2005. Preliminary report on the mammals of Balbalasang, Kalinga Province, Luzon. Sylvatrop 13 (2003):51-62.
111. Rickart, E. A., L. R. Heaney, S. M. Goodman, and S. Jansa. 2005. Review of Chrotomys and description of a new species from Sibuyan Island, Philippines. Journal of Mammalogy 86:415-428.
112. Balete, D. S., L. R. Heaney, J. Sarmiento, and M. J. Veluz. 2005. Zambales surprises: The mammals of Mt. Tapulao. Haring Ibon 21:20-27.
113. Heaney, L. R. 2005. A second chance to avert extinction: good news for Philippine biodiversity. Silliman Journal 45 (2004):111-112.
114. Jansa, S., K. Barker, and L. R. Heaney. 2006. The pattern and timing of diversification of Philippine endemic rodents: Evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. Systematic Biology 55:73-88.
115. Catibog-Sinha, C. C., and L. R. Heaney. 2006. Philippine Biodiversity, Principles and Practice. Haribon Foundation, Philippines. 495 pp.
116. Heaney, L. R. (editor). 2006. The Mammals and Birds of Camiguin Sur Island, Philippines, an Isolated Center of Biodiversity. Fieldiana Zoology, new series, 106:1-72.
117. Heaney, L. R. and B. R. Tabaranza, Jr. 2006 Mammal and Land Bird Studies on Camiguin Island, Philippines: Background and Conservation Priorities. Fieldiana Zoology, new series, 106:1-13.
118. Heaney, L. R. and B. R. Tabaranza, Jr. 2006. A new species of forest mouse, genus Apomys (Mammalia: Rodentia: Muridae) from Camiguin Island, Philippines. Fieldiana Zoology, new series, 106:14-27.
119. Heaney, L. R., B. R. Tabaranza, Jr., D. S. Balete, and N. Rigertas. 2006. Synopsis and biogeography of the mammals of Camiguin Island, Philippines. Fieldiana Zoology new series, 106:28-48.
120. Balete, D. S., B. R. Tabaranza, Jr., and L. R. Heaney. 2006. An annotated checklist of the land birds of Camiguin Island, Philippines. Fieldiana Zoology new series, 106:58-72.
121. Croft, D. A., L. R. Heaney, J. J. Flynn, and A. P. Bautista. 2006. Fossil remains of a new, diminutive Bubalus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae: Bovini) from Cebu Island, Philippines. Journal of Mammalogy, 87:1037-1051.
122. Balete, D. S., E. A. Rickart, and L. R. Heaney. 2006. A new species of the shrew-mouse, Archboldomys (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae) from the Philippines. Systematics and Biodiversity, 4:489-501.
123. Heaney, L. R., B. R. Tabaranza Jr., D. S. Balete, E. A. Rickart, and N. R. Ingle. 2006. The mammals of Mt. Kitanglad Nature Park, Mindanao, Philippines. Fieldiana: Zoology, new series, 112: 1-63.
124. Heaney, L. R., D. S. Balete, J. Sarmiento, and P. A. Alviola. 2006. Losing diversity and courting disaster: The mammals of Mt. Data National Park. Haring Ibon 25: 15-23.
125. Heaney, L. R. 2007. Is a new paradigm emerging for oceanic island biogeography? Journal of Biogeography, 34: 753-757.
126. Balete, D. S., E. A. Rickart, R. G. B. Rosell-Ambal, S. Jansa, and L. R. Heaney. 2007. Descriptions of two new species of Rhynchomys Thomas (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae), from Luzon Island, Philippines. Journal of Mammalogy, 88: 287-301.
127. Heaney, L. R. 2007. Islands Rising (Review of Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, 2nd edition, but R. J. Whittaker and J. M. Fernandez-Palacios). Journal of Biogeography, 34: 1832.
128. Rickart, E. A., D. S. Balete, and L. R. Heaney. 2007. Habitat disturbance and the ecology of small mammals in the Philippines. Journal of Environmental Science and Management 10: 34-41.
129. Esselstyn, J. A., H. J. D. Garcia, M. G. Saulog, and L. R. Heaney. 2008. A new species of Desmalopex (Pteropodidae) from the Philippines, with a phylogenetic analysis of the pteropodini. Journal of Mammalogy, 89: 815-825.
130. Jan Schipper and 131 other authors, including Heaney, L. R. 2008. Status of the World's Land and Marine Mammals: Diversity, Threat, and Knowledge. Science, 322: 225-230.
131. Balete, D. S., L. R. Heaney, E. A. Rickart, R. S. Quidlat, and J. C. Ibanez. 2008. A new species of Batomys (Muridae: Murinae) from eastern Mindanao Island, Philippines. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 121: 411-428.
132. Rickart, E.A., S. Robson, and L. R. Heaney. 2008. Mammals of Great Basin National Park, Nevada: comparative field surveys and assessment of faunal change. Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist, 4: 77-114.
133. Duya, M. R. M., M. V. Duya, P. A. Alviola, D. S. Balete, and L. R. Heaney. 2008. Report on a Survey of the Mammals of the Sierra Madre Range, Luzon Island, Philippines. Banwa, 4 (2007):41-68.
134. Heaney, L. R., and S. M. Goodman. 2009. Mammal radiations. Pp. 588-591. In R. Gillespie and D. Clague (eds.), Encyclopedia of Islands. University of California Press.
135. Heaney, L. R., and M. V. Lomolino. 2009. From the foundations to the frontiers of biogeography. Frontiers of Biogeography, 1:3-4.
136. Balete, D. S., L. R. Heaney, M. J. Veluz, and E. A. Rickart. 2009. Diversity patterns of small mammals in the Zambales Mts., Luzon, Philippines. Mammalian Biology, 74:456-466.
137. Heaney, L. R., D. S. Balete, E. A. Rickart, M. J. Veluz, and S. Jansa. 2009. A new genus and species of small "tree mouse" (Rodentia, Muridae) related to the Philippine giant cloud-rats. In R. S. Voss and M. D. Carleton (eds.), Systematic Mammalogy, Contributions in Honor of Guy G. Musser. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 331: 205-229.
138. Heaney, L. R., and T. E. Roberts. 2009. New Perspectives on the Long-Term Biogeographic Dynamics and Conservation of Philippine Fruit Bats. Pp. 17-58. In T. H. Fleming and P. Racey (eds.), Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation of Island Bats. University of Chicago Press.
139. Heaney, L. R., M. L. Dolar, D. S. Balete, J. A. Esselstyn, E. A. Rickart, and J. L. Sedlock. 2010. Synopsis of Philippine Mammals. Field Museum website, http://www.fieldmuseum.org/philippine_mammals/
140. Heaney, L. R. 2010. (Review of) The Theory of Island Biogeography Revisited. Quarterly Review of Biology, 85:350-351.
141. Hoffmann, M., C. Hilton-Taylor, A. Angulo, et al. (206 authors, including L. R. Heaney). 2010. The Impact of Conservation on the Status of the World's Vertebrates. Science, 330:1503-1509.
142. Rickart, E. A., L. R. Heaney, D. S. Balete, and B. R. Tabaranza, Jr. 2011. Small mammal diversity along an elevational gradient in northern Luzon, Philippines. Mammalian Biology, 76: 12-21.
143. Rickart, E. A., D. S. Balete, R. J. Rowe, and L. R. Heaney. 2011. Mammals of the northern Philippines: tolerance for habitat disturbance and resistance to invasive species in an endemic fauna. Diversity and Distributions, 17:530-541.
144. Heaney, L. R. 2011. Island biogeography: Paradigm lost? Frontiers of Biogeography, 2:94-97.
145. Heaney, L. R. (ed.). Discovering Diversity: Studies of the Mammals of Luzon Island, Philippines. 2011. Fieldiana Life and Earth Sciences, 2:vii + 102 pp.
146. Heaney, L. R., E. A. Rickart, D. S. Balete, M. V. Duya, M. R. Duya, and S. Steppan. 2011. Seven new species and a new subgenus of forest mice (Rodentia: Muridae: Apomys) from Luzon Island. Fieldiana Life and Earth Sciences, 2:1-60.
147. Alviola, P. A., M. R. M. D. Duya, M. V. Duya, L. R. Heaney, and E. A. Rickart. 2011. Mammalian diversity patterns on Mt. Palali, Caraballo Mountains, Luzon. Fieldiana Life and Earth Sciences, 2:61-74.
148. Balete, D. S., P. A. Alviola, M. R. M. Duya, Melizar V. Duya, L. R. Heaney, and E. A. Rickart. 2011. The mammals of the Mingan Mountains, Luzon: evidence for a new center of mammalian endemism. Fieldiana Life and Earth Sciences, 2: 75-87.
149. Duya, M. R. M. D., M. V. Duya, P. A. Alviola, D. S. Balete, and L. R. Heaney. 2011. Diversity of small mammals in montane and mossy forests on Mount Cetaceo, Cagayan Province, Luzon. Fieldiana Life and Earth Sciences, 2:88-95.


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syngo.CT DE Virtual Unenhanced
Clinical Application
The assessment of iodine uptake of an abdominal lesion can be used as an indicator whether a lesion is benign or malignant.
- Single-click calculation of a virtual unenhanced image
- Slide bar to smoothly adjust the mixing ratio to either see more of the virtual unenhanced image or the enhanced image
- Evaluation of the HU values and the iodine concentration (mg/ml) in the virtual unenhanced and the enhanced image
- Side-by-side view to compare the virtual unenhanced image with the mixed dataset of the low- and the high-kV dataset
- On-the-fly collection of all findings and key images in the Findings Navigator while reading the case
- Seamless integration of Dual Energy into the CT Oncology Engine which offers the generation of an unenhanced liver image without additional scans, which helps to avoid unnecessary radiation dose
Requerimientos Generales
Minimum Software Version
(one of the following)
syngo.via VA11
syngo.via VA20B
(for Single Source Dual Energy)
Please Note: Additional technical prerequisites may apply. Upon receiving your request, your local Siemens representative will clarify whether your system meets the requirements.


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A premium consultancy for Hyperion implementation services is seeking an HFM Solutions Architect/Consultant to join their practice. This leading position will provide an expert consultative component in the clients' ongoing efforts to provide best practices and maximize the effectiveness, of their customers' Enterprise Performance Management solutions with the Hyperion Financial Management tool. In this role the HFM Architect will act as a business solution or technical systems expert from the client base, creating Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) and business intelligence (BI) solution visions and solutions that can be implemented over time.
As an Architect, with expert knowledge with EPM and BI solutions and has a track record of successful large HFM implementations and is capable of creating and documenting estimates, designs, and plans for complex high profile projects.
Must be self-sufficient and pro-active in managing their work, while maintaining appropriate communication and escalation to management. They should be able to work both independently and as part of a team, and be committed to continuously improving operations and profitability.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Responsible for creating, documenting, and implementing a scalable solution design and implementation plan.
- Provides technical expertise and hands on implementation work during critical project milestones.
- Lead pre-sales activities (as needed) to develop solution offerings and presentations, and to demonstrate, present and explain our services offerings to prospective clients.
- Has a deep understanding of engagement methodology, core values, attitudes, business ethics, etc., and actively promotes them with other staff.
- Mentor and develop staff through coaching, recruiting, teamwork, self-directed learning and mentoring, and may also be responsible for managing medium engagement teams (up to 5 individuals).
- Assist in pre-sales efforts to explain our services offerings to prospective clients.
- Identify opportunities for additional consulting services.
This role requires a good attitude, strong business ethics, an analytic mind, the ability to think on your feet, and excellent customer skills.
- MBA, Masters or Bachelors with 8-10 years related work experience.
- Self-starter with high motivation to succeed.
- Team player with strong results orientation.
- Knowledge of financial accounting processes.
- Strong critical thinking and analytical background (consulting, banking, research)
- Must have excellent presentation and communication skills and the ability to gain the confidence of business executives.
- Excellent technology skills related to product implementation.
- Deep knowledge of Hyperion Financial Manager or related product
- Experience with databases (Oracle, Essbase, etc.)
- Strong organization skills and attention to detail.
- Proficient in basic computer skills and Microsoft office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- In-depth, detailed product knowledge combined with very strong business or technical expertise.
About the Client:
The company is aggressively growing, was originally founded in 2000, and is known as a leader in providing EPM and Business Intelligence solutions to Fortune 1000 companies throughout the US. They offer a very competitive salary, a lively working environment, great benefits including stock/equity options along with 401(k) company matching, and a sizable bonus structure.
Presented by Dan Counts President/Founder Fairwinds Recruiting


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Trustees Approve Training Agreement, Review Reports
ESTHERVILLE Several reports were reviewed and accepted by the Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees during its December meeting on Dec. 18.
Of particular importance to the Trustees was the report of Ebony Rahe of Williams & Company, Certified Public Accountants, who issued an unqualified or clean audit opinion on the college for the past fiscal year. In presenting the audit report, Rahe noted that despite declining enrollment and credit hours, the college had increased net assets by $1.1 million.
College Trustee Bob Jennings pointed out that even though there were losses in enrollment, that fact signaled that the area's economy is finally beginning to realize some improvement.
The Trustees approved the audit report and then conducted a second reading of the institution's child abuse reporting policy, which makes reporting mandatory for incidents involving persons under 18.
A report on e-Learning was presented by Theresa Zeigler, director of distance and global education for Iowa Lakes. Zeigler noted a marked improvement in students who had completed online courses since 2005. This coming Spring the college will incorporate e-books into the curriculum, which will represent a significant savings for students, according to Zeigler.
Clark Marshall, Executive Director of Continuing Education and Economic Development, presented the trustees with a request for a preliminary training agreement between the college and Simonsen Iron Works of Spencer. The agreement was approved by the trustees, who also granted approvals to grant applications for Palo Alto County Gaming Grants. If grant funds were awarded, the projects would be completed within the next 12 months, according to Emmetsburg campus Executive Dean Tom Brotherton.
Trustees approved a lease with Spencer International for a 12-row planter for use at the College's Emmetsburg Farm Lab for the upcoming growing season and also received a report from Jane Campbell, Executive Director of Marketing, on the First Lego League gathering, which was held at the Estherville campus on Dec. 15.


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Canada! It's the land of ice hockey, free healthcare from the government and roving bears who mercilessly attack expensive SUVs, it seems.
This report from the delightfully-named Sex, Cigars & Booze Lifestyle Magazine tells us of a Toyota Sequoia SUV in Calgary that got absolutely trashed by a bear recently.
How bad, you ask? Bad enough that his insurance company totaled out the car. The magazine reports that the door panels were ripped off, the seats and dash were shredded, the steering column was twisted, the airbags went off, and the wiring harnesses were clawed out. The bear also pooped in the back of the SUV because bears are just assholes in general.
Apparently, the Sequoia cost more than $70,000 Canadian, and insurers stopped counting repair costs at $60 grand. Thanks a lot, bear!
What's the biggest hazard to cars where you live?
Photos credit Sex, Cigars & Booze Lifestyle Magazine


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This is a first draft of an E-Mail to Konami. Since I'm not a native speaker of English or Japanese, and the letter should be sent on the behalf of many of us, please let me have your input regarding the wording etc., or you may even come up with an own version that you deem better, or just give your approval to be on the list of signers.
Okay, without further ado:
I would have included the proposal to name my first-born child "Konami" if they somehow can continue with BR, but that's probably something I can only do on behalf of myself.To: Konami Online Services/Customer Support
Re: Termination of Online Services for Busou Shinki on 8/31
Dear Konami OS/CS,
with deep regret we received the notification of the termination of Battle Rondo and Diorama Studio. Both applications have been a tremendous source of joy and inspiration for many of us, and numerous hours have been spent raising our virtual shinkis. Losing them so soon fills our hearts with sadness. Of course we respect your decision which has surely not been made lightly, but could there be any way to preserve our shinkis? Battle Rondo might be too complex, but maybe an offline Version of Diorama Studio on our local machines would be possible. We offer eternal praise if you could find it in your hearts to walk such a way and save our beloved shinkis from parting with us.
With gratitude for the fun your services provided and hope for the future,
Any thoughts?


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COLUMN: I'll try to be a sport
"Hi, I'm Stacy, and I'll be your server. Can I get you something to drink while you look at the menu?" she yelled over the high-decibel music. Over Stacy's shoulder I could see seven large-screen TVs, each showing a different sports event -- football, basketball, soccer, skiing, snowboarding, hockey and pingpong. More were scattered around the place.
It's odd, but when we eat at home, I can't tell you how often we turn on the television and the radio at the same time, or how often we turn up the volume to 11. Wait, I can tell you. Never.
It was hard to hear Screamin' Stacy over the music, but I think she explained that the Drink o' the Day was a chocolate milkshake made with double shots of brandy and tequila. Drink three, and the fourth one's free. That sounded a bit heavy for lunch, so we chose diet sodas.
While Stacy was fetching our drinks, we scanned the menus. I suddenly remembered reading that the filthiest things in most restaurants aren't the bathrooms, but the menus. Unlike the bathrooms, the menus never get cleaned.
The giant televisions were starting to annoy me -- not simply because they were on, but because of the lack of variety. Why wasn't "The Voice" on any of the TVs? Or "The View"? Or "NCIS" or "Dr. Phil," or "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" or a thousand other shows? Why was it all sports? "Because you don't need the sound to watch sports," Sue said.
"You don't need it to watch Dr. Phil, either," I said. "You know he's going to say to every guest, 'How's that working out for you?' But why do they have TVs at all? We came to eat lunch, not watch highlights of last Saturday's football games."
"Most days you have to wait in line to get into this place," Sue said. "It must be doing something right."
You can't argue with success, but is this how people decide where to eat now? By how many TVs the place has? And if televisions are the deciding factor, wouldn't people want to watch something specific? What if the customer said, "I'll give you a bigger tip if you put on 'American Pickers.'" Would that attract more customers or drive them away?
Actually, there's a good chance that the American pickers owned the place we were in. Everything on the wall looked as if it came out of one of those old barns full of junk they find in dirt-road country. There was an old Schwinn bike and a tin sign for Moxie hanging between two of the TV sets, and every other square inch of wall space was covered in memorabilia from the 1950s and '60s reminding people of a simpler time, a time before they put TV sets in restaurants.
Two guys were sitting at the bar drinking the brandy/tequila milkshakes and ignoring all the entertainment around them. They were intently watching something on their smartphones. I passed them on my way to try to wash some of the deadly menu viruses off my hands.
One guy was playing "Words With Friends"; the other was scoping out his Facebook wall. Now that almost everyone has a little TV with a thousand channels in their pocket, do we even still need the big ones?


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Greenpeace: China-made kids' clothes carry toxic risk
- Two major Chinese manufacturing centers make toxic clothes%2C Greenpeace warns
- China%27s government advises parents to buy lighter-colored children%27s clothes%2C to reduce risk of toxic residue
- National safety standards for use of hazardous chemicals in kids%27 wear have not been a priority
BEIJING – Kids' clothes made in China's two largest children's wear production bases contain hazardous chemicals that pose potential health risks for children, says a new report by the environmental group Greenpeace.
The report urges Beijing to cut toxic residue in China-made clothes — many of which are exported to Europe and the USA — by establishing proper chemical management regulations.
The Greenpeace study, citing laboratory analysis of 85 samples, found that some of the clothing made by two garment makers contained NPE, a hormone disrupter, and antimony, a chemical element used in making bullets.
Authorities are not taking action to tackle the problem, said Lee Chih An of Greenpeace East Asia in Beijing.
"We want to put more pressure on the government, to tell them there is urgency for change," Lee said.
China is the world's largest garment exporter, and kids' wear is one of its fastest growing sectors.
The two clothing centers investigated, Zhili town in eastern Zhejiang province, and Shishi city in southern Fujian province, account for 40% of China's total production of children's clothing, according to Greenpeace. Shishi exports up to 80% of its output, mostly to the Middle East, but also Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America.
Even the Chinese government's quality control watchdog agrees that kids' clothes can be dangerous. The Defective Product Administrative Center of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision issued a consumer guide to parents in May advising parents to "buy light-color kids' clothes, without fluorescent brighteners or pigment printing."
A sample survey by the Beijing Consumer Association in June found 38% of children's clothes did not meet quality standards.
China's management of textile chemicals lags the European Union's by 20 years, said Zhang Miao, a toxics campaigner at Greenpeace. "We can't say that any brand has zero problems" of toxic residue, she said.
Previous Greenpeace studies exposed larger Chinese and foreign brands; this report focused on small and medium-sized enterprises because they represent the bulk of the industry. Such enterprises supply increasingly popular online businesses such as the Taobao.com retail site, Zhang said.
Some of the tested samples illegally used images of iconic U.S. characters such as Mickey Mouse. The report said third-party, independent laboratories found more than half of the 85 tested samples, all made in Zhili or Shishi, contained NPE and nine in 10 items made of polyester tested positive for antimony.
Phthalates, known for their toxicity to the reproductive system, were found in high concentrations on two samples, according to Greenpeace.
An Yiheng, vice secretary general of the children's wear committee at the China National Garment Association (CNGA), declined to comment when contacted Tuesday by USA TODAY. The CNGA is a state-run body for China's clothing industry.
Beijing housewife Zhang Xue, whose daughter is 2½, said she feels "pain in her heart" whenever she reads about toxic children's clothes in China.
"All I can do now is to wash my daughter's new clothes many times and put them in the sunshine for several days, as well as buying more light-color clothes," said Zhang, 28. "I wish the quality standard in China could be stricter like in foreign countries, so I could worry less about my girl's chances of getting sick."
Contributing: Sunny Yang


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If you're a professional fine art or commercial studio photographer with a discerning eye for color the highest quality profiles are a must. When paired with an i1 measuring device, ProfileMaker™ 5 Platinum helps you connect each step in your color imaging workflow by creating and editing high quality, reliable ICC profiles. Achieve the most accurate digital color with highest confidence that it will remain consistent on each input, display and output device.
ProfileMaker Platinum features modules to manage all of your color imaging devices and processes:
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ProfileMaker 5 Platinum and i1Pro Bundle/UVIn addition to ProfilerMaker 5 Platinum software, this package includes an i1 Pro - the industry defacto standard for high quality semi-automated profiling. Available in NoFilter or UVcut, i1Pro can be used to profile all devices in your workflow, including monitors, scanners, printers and projectors, plus measure ambient and flash lighting. It even measures spot colors for important corporate identity shoots to ensure color consistency. One device does it all!
ProfileMaker 5 Platinum and i1iSis with OBC Bundlei1iSis is an easy-to-use automated chart reader for high production environments. In addition to ProfileMaker 5 Platinum software, this package includes:
ProfileMaker 5 Platinum and i1iSis XL with OBC Bundlei1iSis XL (A3+) is an easy-to-use automated chart reader for high production environments. In addition to ProfileMaker 5 Platinum software, this package includes:
ProfileMaker 5 Platinum software allows you to create and edit ICC profiles for each of your professional photography workflow devices.


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Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) January 30, 2013
A new connection between childhood obesity and leukemia, the most common form of cancer in children, was recently found by the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. This finding underscores the serious health consequences associated with childhood obesity and the need for education organizations like the Children's Obesity Fund, according to co-founders Michael Omidi, MD and Julian Omidi.
"We all know that children suffering from obesity are at great risk of developing severe medical conditions later in life," says Michael Omidi co-founder of the Children's Obesity Fund. "This report indicates that obesity has more ramifications than we thought.
The study, led by Steven Mittelman, MD, PhD and featured on the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles' website, found that fat cells can act as kind of safe harbor for cancer cells—giving them a place to hide and thwart effective treatment. The fat cells might produce a hormone or some kind of fuel that attracts cancer cells and encourages them to grow and multiply. This study has generated an interest in studying what kind of attractant fat cells seem to produce—perhaps a type of amino acid—that renders chemotherapy an ineffective treatment. Hopefully this new information will help the medical community design more effective treatments for the disease.
"It is possible to reverse the threat of certain preventable diseases—type 2 diabetes and heart disease, notably—by addressing the childhood obesity issue," says Omidi. "If it is also possible to lower the possibility of leukemia by eradicating the problem of childhood obesity, then we really need to step up our efforts significantly."
Co-founded by Michael Omidi, M.D. and Julian Omidi, the Children's Obesity Fund hopes to help reverse the trend of rising obesity rates in America. The goal of the non-profit charity is to help people fully understand the obesity issue and its dire impacts on individuals and society as a whole -- and to use that knowledge to encourage children to grow up strong and healthy. Children's Obesity Fund partners with other organizations to educate and support parents, educators and others so that we can all work together to raise healthy, active, social, and happy children. The organization is on Facebook and can also be found on Google+, Twitter and Pinterest.