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Five months after "mistakenly" collecting "fragmented" data from home networks via its Street View cars, Google has confirmed that private emails, Web addresses as well as passwords were among the data captured.
In a recent blog post, the search giant admitted to "failing badly", noting that in May, Google had not analysed the data and did not know what information was included in the collection.
"Since then a number of external regulators have inspected the data as part of their investigations (seven of which have now been concluded)," Google senior vice president of engineering and research, Alan Eustace, said in the post. "It's clear from those inspections that while most of the data is fragmentary, in some instances entire emails and URLs were captured, as well as passwords.
"We want to delete this data as soon as possible, and I would like to apologize again for the fact that we collected it in the first place."
According to the post, the company has put in place a number of new processes in an attempt to rectify its internal privacy and security practices.
The company has appointed a director of privacy, Alma Whitten, across its engineering and product management. The role will focus on building effective privacy controls into the company's products and internal practices. The company is also looking to increase the numbers of engineers and product managers to assist with this.
Staff training procedures will also be altered with specific focus on the responsible handling and collection of data.
"In addition, starting in December, all our employees will also be required to undertake a new information security awareness program, which will include clear guidance on both security and privacy," the post reads.
The search giant will also add a new review process to the existing review system, in which every engineering project leader will need to maintain a privacy design document, detailing how user data is being handled, for each project they are working on.
"We are mortified by what happened, but confident that these changes to our processes and structure will significantly improve our internal privacy and security practices for the benefit of all our users," the post reads.
The ordeal has prompted much criticism of Google's Street View program, including an open letter from both the Electronic Frontiers Association and Australia Privacy Foundation jointly questioning potential security breaches the program posed.


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According to the report, average costs for landfill gas are under $60/MWh, ranging from $35 to $100 per megawatt hour. Hydro comes next with an average of around $60/MWh, but there are very large variations from this figure, depending on plant capacity factor, regional location and the difficulties of construction at different sites. Similar caveats apply to geothermal, which has an average cost of around $70/MWh, dependent on the steam's temperature and accessibility.
The average cost of onshore wind is rated at around $80/MWh, ranging from $50/MWh to about $230/MWh. Various types of photovoltaics and solar thermal generation, plus biomass gasification come next, before offshore wind, with an average cost of $220/MWh. The range is put at around $135/MWh to $330/MWh. Wave and tidal energy are the most expensive renewable-energy sources, with the average costs put at $500/MWh and $450/MWh, respectively. The data results are similar to those reported by the International Energy Agency, reinforcing the message that wind costs are now in the same range as those from gas and coal-fired generation.
India stands out as cheapest for build
The same report shows India can be the cheapest place to build onshore wind farms with capital costs of between $1,080/kW and $1,250/kW. Assuming capacity factors of 15-33%, the cost of energy is put at $47/MWh to $113/MWh. China is a very close second: its slightly higher capital and operating costs push wind-energy costs to between $49/MWh and $113/MWh. Installed costs are highest in Italy, Spain and Romania, and the high capital costs combine with low capacity factors to push energy costs to $90-100/MWh (see chart, below).
The WEC report shows significant global variation for generation costs from conventional fossil-fuel sources. The US, for example, delivers the cheapest gas-fired generation, at $61-69/MWh. That is about half what it costs in Japan. These variations mean the competitive position of wind also varies between regions and states.
The cost estimates are based on a standard test interest rate of 10% on the life of the plant.
Long deal spreads nuclear cost for UK
The WEC report has little to say about nuclear power, noting that "little price discovery is available on many nuclear plants, and ...
projects can be subject to significant cost overruns". It suggests capital costs range from $3,570/kW to $6,520/kW, and generation cost from $91/MWh to $147/MWh. The top end of the range roughly coincides with the long-awaited announcement from the UK government that agreement has been reached, in principle, for construction of a nuclear power station.
The so-called strike price is £92.5/MWh, a fraction under $150/MWh, payable for 35 years. The length of the contract is justified on the basis that it equates to roughly 60% of the life of the plant, projected at 60 years, although no commercial electricity-generating reactor has yet operated for this length of time, and the design chosen has yet to be proven in practice. But by offering a contract for 35 years, it has been possible to bring the strike price down to below £100/MWh ($160/MWh), the level proposed for onshore wind.
A £10 billion loan guarantee removes a substantial element of risk, and the developer is able to proceed on the basis that the internal rate of return will be 10%. In the absence of a loan guarantee, the internal rate of return would be higher. Even an additional percentage point would increase the required strike price by around £10/MWh. If nuclear liabilities were not capped at £1 billion, that would further add to the insurance cost and so to the operation and maintenance costs.
Commentators have drawn attention to the fact that the energy payments are indexlinked, whereas the majority of the outgoings are not. The operation and maintenance costs may be index-linked, and possibly the fuel costs, but, once the plant is built, the capital repayments are not index-linked. This means that the contract is likely to become steadily more profitable with the passage of time.
In the light of these cost distortions, it seems illogical to compare nuclear and wind costs, but that is precisely what the UK government — and the nuclear industry — are doing.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today, influencer marketing is considered the most effective method of advertising. Radio DJs are the original influencers. Our live and local DJs are credible and influential in the community, driving taste, trends and conversation.
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Fixed - 2 years
based on $300,000 loan amount for 25 years
RateCity Says: The more of your home you pay off, the lower your rate could be. This low rate is avialbe for borrowers with equity of 40% or more.
Calculate repayment for Credit Union SA product
Fixed - 2 years
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based on $300,000 loan amount for 25 years
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Pros and Cons
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- Suitable for low deposits
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- Free redraw facility
- Limited extra repayments
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Credit Union SA Features and Fees
Credit Union SA Features and Fees
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Next LVR
Interest rate type
Fixed - 2 years
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Loan term range
1 - 30 years
Principal & interest
Interest only
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Extra repayments
Yes - limited to $10000
Offset account
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Redraw fee: $0
Split interest facility
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Repayment holiday available
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In branch
- Special $5,000 First Home Buyers Grant on eligible loansWhen you borrow at least $250,000 to purchase or build a first home with a loan to value ratio over 80%. All loans that are eligible for the First Home Buyers Grant will be subject to pay Lenders' Mortgage Insurance. To be eligible, applicants must not have previously owned residential property in Australia.
- Cashback Enjoy a $2,500 cashback when you take out a home loan with us.Cashback offer available on any owner-occupied or investment loan with minimum new borrowings of $250,000 where the loan to value ratio is 80% or less. Funds available at settlement, except in the case of construction loans where cashback will be paid on confirmation that the foundation has been poured. Limit of one cashback per household.
Pros and Cons
- No upfront fees
- Suitable for low deposits
- Extra repayments and redraw facility
- Free redraw facility
- Limited extra repayments
- No offset account
- Ongoing fee
- Discharge fee at end of loan
Credit Union SA Features and Fees
- Details
- Features
- Fees
- Application method
Maximum LVR
Total Repayments
Next LVR
Interest rate type
Fixed - 2 years
Borrowing range
Suitable for
Loan term range
1 - 30 years
Principal & interest
Interest only
Applicable states
Extra repayments
Yes - limited to $10000
Offset account
Redraw facility
Redraw fee: $0
Split interest facility
Loan portable
Repayment holiday available
Allow guarantors
Available for first home buyers
Total estimated upfront fees
Application fee
Legal fee
Valuation fee
Settlement fee
Other upfront fee
Ongoing fee
$395 annually
Discharge fee
Application method
In branch
- Special $5,000 First Home Buyers Grant on eligible loansWhen you borrow at least $250,000 to purchase or build a first home with a loan to value ratio over 80%. All loans that are eligible for the First Home Buyers Grant will be subject to pay Lenders' Mortgage Insurance. To be eligible, applicants must not have previously owned residential property in Australia.
- Cashback Enjoy a $2,500 cashback when you take out a home loan with us.Cashback offer available on any owner-occupied or investment loan with minimum new borrowings of $250,000 where the loan to value ratio is 80% or less. Funds available at settlement, except in the case of construction loans where cashback will be paid on confirmation that the foundation has been poured. Limit of one cashback per household.
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What is a credit file?
A comprehensive summary of your credit history from an authorised credit reporting agency.
It includes your credit details, credit taken in the last five years, any default payments or credit infringements, arrears, repayment history, bankruptcy filings and a list of credit applications (including unapproved credit applications) in addition to your personal details.
Do mortgage brokers need a consumer credit license?
In Australia, mortgage brokers are defined by law as being credit service or assistance providers, meaning that they help borrowers connect with lenders. Mortgage brokers may not always need a consumer credit license however if they're operating solo they will need an Australian Credit License (ACL). Further, they may also need to comply with requirements asking them to mention their license number in full.
Some mortgage brokers can be "credit representatives", or franchisees of a mortgage aggregator. In this case, if the aggregator has a license, the mortgage broker need not have one. The reasoning for this is that the franchise agreement usually requires mortgage brokers to comply with the laws applicable to the aggregator. If you're speaking to a mortgage broker, you can ask them if they receive commissions from lenders, which is a good indicator that they need to be licensed. Consider requesting their license details if they don't give you the details beforehand.
You should remember that such a license protects you if you're given incorrect or misleading advice that results in a home loan application rejection or any financial loss. Brokers are regulated by the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC), as per the National Consumer Credit Protection (NCCP) Act.
What are the responsibilities of a mortgage broker?
Mortgage brokers act as the go-between for borrowers looking for a home loan and the lenders offering the loan. They offer personalised advice to help borrowers choose the right home loan for their needs.
In Australia, mortgage brokers are required by law to carry an Australian Credit License (ACL) if they offer credit assistance services. Which is the legal term for guidance regarding the different kinds of credit offered by lenders, including home loan mortgages. They may not need this license if they are working for an aggregator, for instance, as a franchisee. In both these situations, they need to comply with the regulations laid down by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
These regulations, which are stipulated by Australian legislation, require mortgage brokers to comply with what are called "responsible lending" and "best interest" obligations. Responsible lending obligations mean brokers have to suggest "suitable" home loans. This means loans that you can easily qualify for, actually meet your needs, and don't prove unnecessarily challenging for you.
Starting 1 January 2021, mortgage brokers must comply with best interest obligations in addition to responsible lending obligations. These require mortgage brokers to act in the best interest of their customers and also requires them to prioritise their customers' interests over their own. For instance, a mortgage broker may not recommend a lender who gives them a commission if that lender's home loan offer does not benefit that particular customer.
How to break up with your mortgage broker
If you find a mortgage broker giving you generic advice or trying to sell you a competitive offer from an unsuitable lender, you might be better off breaking up with the mortgage broker and consulting someone else. Breaking up with a mortgage broker can be done over the phone, or via email. You can also raise a complaint, either with the broker's aggregator or with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority as necessary.
As licensed industry professionals, mortgage brokers have the responsibility of giving you accurate advice so that you know what to expect when you apply for a home loan. You may have approached the mortgage broker, for instance, because you have questions about the terms of a home loan a lender offered you.
You should remember that mortgage brokers are obliged by law to act in your best interests and as part of complying with The Australian Securities and Investments Commission's (ASIC) regulations. If you feel you didn't get the right advice from the mortgage broker, or that you lost money as a result of accepting the broker's suggestions regarding a lender or home loan offer, you can file a complaint with the ASIC and seek compensation.
When you first speak to a mortgage broker, consider asking them about their Lender Panel, which is the list of lenders they usually recommend and who may pay them a commission. This information can help you decide if the advice they give you has anything to do with the remuneration they may receive from one or more lenders.
Does Australia have no cost refinancing?
No Cost Refinancing is an option available in the US where the lender or broker covers your switching costs, such as appraisal fees and settlement costs. Unfortunately, no cost refinancing isn't available in Australia.
Can I change jobs while I am applying for a home loan?
Whether you're a new borrower or you're refinancing your home loan, many lenders require you to be in a permanent job with the same employer for at least 6 months before applying for a home loan. Different lenders have different requirements.
If your work situation changes for any reason while you're applying for a mortgage, this could reduce your chances of successfully completing the process. Contacting the lender as soon as you know your employment situation is changing may allow you to work something out.
Can I get a home loan if I am on an employment contract?
Some lenders will allow you to apply for a mortgage if you are a contractor or freelancer. However, many lenders prefer you to be in a permanent, ongoing role, because a more stable income means you're more likely to keep up with your repayments.
If you're a contractor, freelancer, or are otherwise self-employed, it may still be possible to apply for a low-doc home loan, as these mortgages require less specific proof of income.
Will I have to pay lenders' mortgage insurance twice if I refinance?
If your deposit was less than 20 per cent of your property's value when you took out your original loan, you may have paid lenders' mortgage insurance (LMI) to cover the lender against the risk that you may default on your repayments.
If you refinance to a new home loan, but still don't have enough deposit and/or equity to provide 20 per cent security, you'll need to pay for the lender's LMI a second time. This could potentially add thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in upfront costs to your mortgage, so it's important to consider whether the financial benefits of refinancing may be worth these costs.
Is there a limit to how many times I can refinance?
There is no set limit to how many times you are allowed to refinance. Some surveyed RateCity users have refinanced up to three times.
However, if you refinance several times in short succession, it could affect your credit score. Lenders assess your credit score when you apply for new loans, so if you end up with bad credit, you may not be able to refinance if and when you really need to.
Before refinancing multiple times, consider getting a copy of your credit report and ensure your credit history is in good shape for future refinances.
I have a poor credit rating. Am I still able to get a mortgage?
Some lenders still allow you to apply for a home loan if you have impaired credit. However, you may pay a slightly higher interest rate and/or higher fees. This is to help offset the higher risk that you may default on your repayments.
I can't pick a loan. Should I apply to multiple lenders?
Applying for home loans with multiple lenders at once can affect your credit history, as multiple loan applications in short succession can make you look like a risky borrower. Comparing home loans from different lenders, assessing their features and benefits, and making one application to a preferred lender may help to improve your chances of success
Will I be paying two mortgages at once when I refinance?
No, given the way the loan and title transfer works, you will not have to pay two mortgages at the one time. You will make your last monthly repayment on loan number one and then the following month you will start paying off loan number two.
If I don't like my new lender after I refinance, can I go back to my previous lender?
If you wish to return to your previous lender after refinancing, you will have to go through the refinancing process again and pay a second set of discharge and upfront fees.
Therefore, before you refinance, it's important to weigh up the new prospective lender against your current lender in a number of areas, including fees, flexibility, customer service and interest rate.
Can I refinance if I have other products bundled with my home loan?
If your home loan was part of a package deal that included access to credit cards, transaction accounts or term deposits from the same lender, switching all of these over to a new lender can seem daunting. However, some lenders offer to manage part of this process for you as an incentive to refinance with them – contact your lender to learn more about what they offer.
How common are low-deposit home loans?
Low-deposit home loans aren't as common as they once were, because they're regarded as relatively risky and the banking regulator (APRA) is trying to reduce risk from the mortgage market.
However, if you do your research, you'll find there is still a fairly wide selection of banks, credit unions and non-bank lenders that offers low-deposit home loans.
How do I take out a low-deposit home loan?
If you want to take out a low-deposit home loan, it might be a good idea to consult a mortgage broker who can give you professional financial advice and organise the mortgage for you.
Another way to take out a low-deposit home loan is to do your own research with a comparison website like RateCity. Once you've identified your preferred mortgage, you can apply through RateCity or go direct to the lender.
What is a variable home loan?
A variable rate home loan is one where the interest rate can and will change over the course of your loan. The rate is determined by your lender, not the Reserve Bank of Australia, so while the cash rate might go down, your bank may decide not to follow suit, although they do broadly follow market conditions. One of the upsides of variable rates is that they are typically more flexible than their fixed rate counterparts which means that a lot of these products will let you make extra repayments and offer features such as offset accounts.
How can I negotiate a better home loan rate?
Negotiating with your bank can seem like a daunting task but if you have been a loyal customer with plenty of equity built up then you hold more power than you think. It's highly likely your current lender won't want to let your business go without a fight so if you do your research and find out what other banks are offering new customers you might be able to negotiate a reduction in interest rate, or a reduction in fees with your existing lender.
What is an ombudsman?
An complaints officer – previously referred to as an ombudsman -looks at formal complaints from customers about their credit providers, and helps to find a fair and independent solution to these problems.
These services are handled by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, a non-profit government organisation that addresses and resolves financial disputes between customers and financial service providers.
How much of the RBA rate cut do lenders pass on to borrowers?
When the Reserve Bank of Australia cuts its official cash rate, there is no guarantee lenders will then pass that cut on to lenders by way of lower interest rates.
Sometimes lenders pass on the cut in full, sometimes they partially pass on the cut, sometimes they don't at all. When they don't, they often defend the decision by saying they need to balance the needs of their shareholders with the needs of their borrowers.
As the attached graph shows, more recent cuts have seen less lenders passing on the full RBA interest rate cut; the average lender was more likely to pass on about two-thirds of the 25 basis points cut to its borrowers.


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By Austen, Jane
With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work, this Penguin Threads edition includes cover art by Jillian Tamaki and deluxe french flaps. Commissioned by award-winning Penguin ...art director Paul Buckley, the Penguin Threads series debuts with cover art by Jillian Tamaki for three gift-worthy Penguin Classics. Sketched out in a traditional illustrative manner, then hand stitched using needle and thread, the final covers are sculpt embossed for a tactile, textured, and beautiful book design that will appeal to the Etsy(tm)-loving world of handmade crafts. The Penguin Classics Deluxe series has been celebrated for its unique packaging and innovative design. The books of the Penguin Threads series will make truly special gifts and will be welcome additions to any craft or literature lover's collection.Read more
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Kinesio Classic Blue Tape
"Offering you Comfort and Stability since 1978"
Kinesio continues to provide our famous traditional wave design that has set the standard for Kinesio Taping® practitioners worldwide. From elite athletes and weekend warriors to neurological and pediatric patients, Kinesio® Tex Classic provides users with high quality and consistent results.
• Hypoallergenic and latex Free for all patient populations
• Utilizes a high grade cotton for breathability and comfort
• Provides entry level pricing point which enables ALL to use authentic Kinesio Tex
• Available to both Medical Care Professionals and Patients
Colors available Beige , Black , Blue , Pink and WHITE!
Available in 4m and 31.5m
Packing : Box of 6 rolls, Carton of 20 boxes (120 rolls)
- Description
- Reviews (0)
Kinesio Taping® is distributed solely by Progress Healthcare
The product is not identified as KT Tape.
The Kinesio® Taping Method has taken the Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine world by storm. This amazing taping method was developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase over 25 years ago in Japan. Since then, Kinesio® Taping has become the gold, or should we say "platinum," standard for therapeutic and rehabilitative taping. This proprietary method of taping uses a uniquely designed and patented tape for treatment of muscular disorders and lymphedema reduction, among other things.
The Kinesio® Taping Method involves taping over and around muscles in order to assist and give support or to prevent over-contraction. The first technique gives the practitioner the opportunity to give support while still maintaining full range of motion. This enables the individual to participate in his/her normal physical activities with functional assistance. The second technique, which is most commonly used in the acute stage of rehabilitation, helps prevent overuse or over-contraction and helps provide facilitation of lymph flow for an entire 24 hour period. Correctional techniques include mechanical, lymphatic, ligament/tendon, fascia, space and functional.
Kinesio® Tex Tape can be used in conjunction with other therapies, including cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, massage therapy and electrical stimulation.
Kinesio® Taping affects the activation of the neurological system and the circulatory system. Muscles are not only attributed to the movements of the body, they also control the circulation of venous and lymph flows, body temperature, etc. Therefore, the failure of the muscles to function properly induces various kinds of symptoms. Consequently, more attention was given to the importance of muscle function in order to activate the body's own healing process. Using an elastic tape, such as Kinesio® Tex Tape, it was discovered that muscles and other tissues could be helped by outside assistance. Kinesio® Taping is an innovative approach to treating nerves, muscles and organs.
Since the introduction of Kinesio® Taping in the United States, medical practitioners such as PTs, ATCs, OTs, DCs, MTs and MDs have recognized and embraced this effective, safe and best of all, easy-to-use modality. The method and tape allow the individual to receive the therapeutic benefits 24 hours a day with both comfort and ease because it can be worn for several days per application. Currently, Kinesio® Taping is used in hospitals, clinics, high schools and by even by professional sports teams.
Kinesio Taping® Method Concepts
Kinesio® Taping alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. The taped portion forms convolutions in the skin, thus increasing interstitial space. The result is that pressure and irritation are taken off the neural and sensory receptors, alleviating pain. Pressure is gradually taken off the lymphatic system, allowing it to channel more freely.
Caution should be exercised to prevent lateral shearing forces particularly on the elderly or individuals who have systemic illness or sensitive and/or traumatized tissue. Increased unidirectional pull on the skin can cause blistering or micro trauma increasing edema and hemorrhage.
In addition, over stimulation of pain and nociceptors of the skin may increase pain or produce itching. Kinesio® Singapore recommends consulting your physician/Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner prior to the use of Kinesio® Tex Tape.
Kinesio Taping® Physiological Effects
Muscles constantly extend and contract within a normal range. However, when muscles over-extend or over contract, such as when lifting an excessive amount of weight, muscles can not recover and become inflamed. When a muscle is inflamed, swollen or stiff due to fatigue, the space between the skin and muscle is compressed, resulting in constriction to the flow of lymphatic fluid. This compression also applies pressure to the pain receptors beneath the skin, which in turn communicates "discomfort signals" to the brain and emdash. This type of pain is known as myalgia, or muscular pain.
Tape can be applied as a single strip "I", or in the shapes of an "X" or "Y", depending on the shape and size of the targeted muscle(s). The basic principle of therapeutic taping for weakened muscles is to wrap the tape around the affected muscle(s). Start from where the muscle begins [ORIGIN], continue along the muscle and finish where the muscle ends [INSERTION].
This particular application process is typically used for supportive purposes. As the muscle fibers contract, Kinesio® Tex Tape supports the contraction by stimulating the skin and pulling the muscle back towards the point of origin.
To prevent cramping or over-contraction (overuse of muscles), tape should be applied from [INSERTION] to [ORIGIN]. If you are treating yourself without assistance, it is important to remember the basic principle of stretching the skin before application no matter where the pain is located. For example, if the body-side of the forearm is the source of the pain, you should bend your hand back before applying the tape. Similarly, if the source of pain is the outside of the forearm, then the wrist should be bent forward. This principle must be strictly observed. For treatment of muscle pain, Kinesio® Taping is ineffective unless the skin is stretched. This particular application process is typically used for acute conditions such as strain or sprain, muscle spasm and edema from injury or surgical procedures. As the muscle fibers contract, the Kinesio Tex® Tape will relax the muscle in question.
The only Original Kinesio Tex Tape Authorized by Dr. Kenzo Kase
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Download your complimentary copy of EDF taping Guide
KT1/2 Course, Singapore
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Terms & Conditions of Course Registration
Limitation of Liability
The material presented in this course by Progress Healthcare Pte Ltd is for educational purpose only. This material is not intended to represent the only methods and/or procedures available for the medical conditions discussed, but is only intended to represent an approach, view, statement or opinion of the author or presenter, which may be helpful, or of interest, to other practitioners.
The workshop attendees agree to participate in this educational program coordinated by Progress Healthcare Pte Ltd with full knowledge and awareness that they waive any claims they may have against Progress Healthcare Pte Ltd for reliance on any information presented in this educational program. In addition, the attendees also waive any claim they may have against Progress Healthcare Pte Ltd for any injury or other damage which may result in any way from their participation in this education program.
Cancellation and Refund Policies
Registration fees, less 50% will be refunded if written cancellation is received 30 days prior to the seminar. Upon registration, $50 of the course fees are non-refundable. No refunds will be given before 30 days to course. Kinesio® Taping Association * affiliates reserve the right to cancel at any time with full refund.
All incidental expenditure e.g. Hotel Accomodation, Meals, Transport are on attendees own.
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- BBC World Service News (July 2012 )
- The Wall Street Journal.. Read on here!
- The Straits Times "What's That Tape?" (Aug 2012)
- The Straits Times "On Guard against Sprains & Strains" (Aug 2013)
Kinesio Taping South East Asia
A Short History of Kinesio Taping Singapore
Kinesio Taping® developed strong roots in Singapore because many early believers were fixated that a simple thing that is the tape could do such wonders that a patient's body could feel magical once again.
In retrospect, putting way too much emphasis on the tape has heightened the excitement that knowledge of the science behind the evolution and innovation – otherwise known as Kinesio Taping – could bring immense benefits to patients and a medical professional's career.
Like the peak of an ice berg, the tape is usually attributed to patients' amazing recovery. In actual fact, the other 90% of the ice berg which remains unseen makes the difference between a practitioner and a phenomenal Kinesio Taping Practitioner.
Practitioners are often surprised to find out that KT Tapes can be used to aid breathing by simply "lifting" the nose. As other hidden techniques are developed through clinical research and subsequently available through enhanced educational materials… KTA offers evolution and innovation through Basic, Advanced, and Upper Level Courses, information of which will be available soon.
(Top Photo) Mr. Tsuyoshi Kase presents on KT's first seminar in Singapore General Hospital
Singapore Instructors, Coordinators and Practitioners at the Kinesio Taping symposium
Tokyo, Japan, April 2007.
The Official Kinesio Taping® Course Page, South East Asia
The Kinesio Taping® Method has two very important elements: the education and the tool. Kinesio Taping® has never been (and never will be) a one-size fits all philosophy. Knowing how to apply the tape is instrumental in an applications success, and this is highlighted in the globally recognized education and certification program. Today Kinesio University™ approved seminars and courses are offered in more than thirty countries across the globe. In 2014 alone more than 1,000 approved programs were hosted, training tens of thousands of practitioners worldwide.
Course Outcomes
• Describe the concepts of Kinesio Taping.
• Review muscular anatomy as it is related to Kinesio Taping.
• Explain and Apply the concepts of the Kinesio Taping Method.
• Describe the unique qualities of the Kinesio Tex Tape.
• Recognize the principles of Kinesio Tex Tape application.
• Utilize and demonstrate application skills in guided laboratory sessions.
• Demonstrate application skills during lab sessions.
• Practice the various cutting techniques and their clinical application.
• Apply Kinesio Taping method to relax and stimulate muscles.
• Apply Kinesio Taping methods for pain, swelling, joint mobility and stability.
• Apply various taping techniques for treatment of the spine, and upper/ lower extremity dysfunction
• Apply various taping techniques for treatment of unique conditions using the concepts and principals of the Kinesio Taping Method.
The Kinesio® Taping Instructor will present material based on an International syllabus, conducted with lab sessions for taping practice. Each participant will receive materials, books, certificate and upon completion of the course access to an online database.
2015 Kinesio Seminar Attending Guide
KT1 Fundamental Concepts, Screening/Muscle Test, & Muscle Applications
(To be taken in conjunction with KT2)
The KT1 course is designed to introduce practitioners to the Kinesio Taping® Method. Over the course of this eight-hour class, the Certified Kinesio Taping Instructor (CKTI) will discuss the fundamental concepts of the Kinesio Taping Method and the unique properties and use of Kinesio® Tex Tape. During lab sessions, attendees will have ample time to practice screening and muscle testing created for the enhancement of their Kinesio Taping skills and muscle applications for both the upper and lower body.
Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to discuss and apply the Kinesio Taping Method to relax
overuse syndromes, stimulate weak muscles, and decrease pain and swelling. In additionto instruction provided by the CKTI, the attendees will receive the full-color Kinesio Taping KT1 & KT2 Workbook to augment their training. Each attendee will also receive a 60-day membership to the Kinesio Taping Association which includes access to a reference database.
KT2 Advanced Concepts & Corrective Techniques of the Kinesio Taping Method
(Pre-requisite, completion of KTA approved KT1 course)
The KT2 course builds on material learned in KT1. During this eight-hour class, the CKTI will introduce the six Corrective Techniques (Mechanical, Functional, Space, Fascia, Ligament/Tendon, and Lymphatic) and discuss their application in a variety of clinical conditions.
During lab sessions, attendees will have ample time to practice applying these techniques to a variety of upper and lower body conditions. Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to discuss and apply the Kinesio Taping Method to orthopedic & neurological conditions.
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The Official Kinesio Taping® Course Page, South East Asia
KT3 Clinical Concepts And Advanced Whole Body Applications of the Kinesio® Taping Method
(Prerequsite, Completion of Approved KT1 And KT2 Courses)The KT3 course combines the Kinesio Taping Method foundational concepts of KT1&KT2 with advanced clinical concepts. The course provides lab time for attendees to practice their skills on the new concepts through a variety of clinical applications. The KT3 course is designed to allow the Certified Kinesio Taping Instructor (CKTI) to cater specific clinical applications to address specific professions. Upon completion of this course and prerequisite KT1&KT2 seminar, attendees will be eligible to request and take the exam to become a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP®). Note: Students can request to take the exam but will not be eligible to receive a CKTP certificate until they graduate.
KT4 Specialty Course Concepts Include :
What is a Certified Kinesio® Taping Practitioner (CKTP) ?
2015 KINESIO CKTP Flyer
The Kinesio Taping Association International takes the CKTP role very seriously. In order to begin the CKTP certification process, your practitioner has taken a minimum of 24 class hours of KT1, KT2 and KT3 seminars, and may have received additional advanced training in a particular area of practice.
Certification itself requires the passing of a written examination and practical skills demonstration.
Education provides the intellectual underpinning – the software, if you will – that makes Kinesio Taping effective. It is the skill and enthusiasm of our trained CKTPs that has made Kinesio Taping a worldwide phenomenon. The curriculum reflects more than 25 years of symposiums, forums and professional sharing among tens of thousands of professionals worldwide.
In earning and maintaining CKTP status, your practitioner demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of patient care.
With an ever growing foundation of health professionals desiring and willing to become certified in the Kinesio Taping Method, The Kinesio Taping Association (KTA) has designed a certification process that will allow dedicated practitioners to earn their designation as a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP).
- Attend and complete KTA approved KT1, KT2, and KT3 level courses.
- After completion of the necessary courses, complete the CKTP Test request form
- All Exams are Handled Online.
- Once The Kinesio Taping Association has received the information needed, you will then receive via email instructors for taking the online exam.
- If you fail to receive a passing grade of 80% or above, you must request a retake. This is not automatic. Your 1 free retake will only be available 30 days from the time your email is received.
Benefits of becoming a CKTP
- You may add the designation of CKTP to your business card and letterhead.
- Be eligible to assist at approved Kinesio Taping Seminars as a lab assistant. Please email sales[]progress.com.sg with your full contact information.
- You are eligible to apply to become a Certified Kinesio Taping Instructor (CKTI) when the Instructor Training program is offered (typically in cycles of 3 – 6 years).
- Only CKTPs can become CKTIs.
- Option of being recognized and listed by name and location on the Kinesio website for patient referral. (CKTP Elite Membership is Required).
- Ability to submit case studies / research for International KT symposiums.
- Ability to submit articles of interest to quarterly publication Advance Healing.
Attendees email your completed CKTP Exam Form
to KTAI | firstname.lastname@example.com
Become a CKTP from Kinesio on Vimeo.
The Original Kinesio Tex Tapes authorized by Dr. Kenzo Kase can be found at the following stores :
Even Olympians know….
Insist on the original Kinesio Taping and know why it is the best..
The Kinesio® Taping Association team is a select group of medical and administrative professionals dedicated to advancing the art and science of the Kinesio Taping Method through education, clinical practice, research and the support of community service activities. These individuals hold a collective mission and vision about the future role of the Kinesio Taping Method as a central force in the health of patients and client systems, both nationally and globally. Our overall objective is to provide every medical practitioner with the most current application technique through the continuation and improvement of expert instruction and state-of-the-art database tutorials and to properly disseminate health data in support of the Kinesio Taping Method, while maintaining the highest level of professionalism within the company.
Specialist Clinics armed with the knowledge of trained and updated Kinesio Taping professionals are most capable to treat you with the magic that is the Kinesio Taping Method.
Glossary (for level of Expertise and Experience)
CKTI : Kinesio Taping Instructor
CKTP : KT3 trained and Kinesio Taping member
KT3/4 : Having attended the Kinesio Taping Clinical Course
KT1/2 : Having attended the Kinesio Taping Basic Course
Patients are encouraged to seek professionals who have received the Kinesio Taping certification after 2011 for best results..
Johnson Ponraj, CKTI
Johnson Ponraj graduated with a Bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy from K.M.C.H College of Occupational Therapy, India, 2004. He is a fully registered Occupational Therapist under AHPC, Singapore and a member of AOTI, Ireland. He has been a practising clinician since 2005. He started work as an Occupational Therapy team coordinator at Rashmika Centre for Learning (Aided by Madras Dyslexia Association) in India for about two years. He moved to Singapore in 2006 to work as an Occupational Therapist in various settings that included Early Intervention Programs for Children with developmental disabilities, Program for Children with Multiple Handicaps, and Therapy Outreach Program in Community. He entered private practice as a Trainer and Consultant in 2012 and co-founded Hope Springs Therapy Centre in 2014 and continues to serve clients from all walks of life.
Johnson is a Certified Kinesio Taping Instructor (CKTI) , Certified Neuro-Developmental (Bobath) Therapist and a Registered Listening Program provider. He treats clients of all age groups. His beliefs in interdisciplinary approaches has made him pursue intensive clinical credentials in Sensory Integration Intervention, Advanced Sensory Processing intervention, Craniosacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Soft Tissue and Joint Mobilisation Techniques. His experience working with multidisciplinary teams has made him a trans-disciplinary clinician keen in exploring various alternative therapy interventions.
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text: I have a table containing about 2 million rows. I need to delete about a million of them based on simple criteria, say column x = 1. But I am worry about Oracle's RBS may grow so big that it can't handle it. What is the best way to delete rows in this case? If I have to allocate a big RBS for this purpose, how do I tell it to keep before-image of the deletion in this particular RBS? Or there is a better way to achieve this?


text:
Woman In Green, The (1945)
CategoriesCrime Free Classic Movies Sherlock Holmes
The Woman in Green is a Sherlock Holmes film starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, with Henry Daniell as Professor Moriarty, and Hillary Brooke. Young woman in London are found murdered with a finger cut off. Scotland Yard thinks it's the work of a psychopath, but Sherlock Holmes senses a bigger conspiracy. The is the 11th Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes movie.


text:
So... what do you wanna know?
I see people are speculating on why I closed the comments section.
There were a lot of reasons. There were definitely good things about it. Some of the regular commenters were friendly, sometimes insightful. I liked reading Jinzang's postings, for example and even some of the trolls were at least entertaining.
It was also the free-est Buddhist themed discussion group on the 'net. A guy I know tried to sign up for one of the other on-line Buddhist groups and got the third degree from the owner before he was even allowed to join, let alone post anything (which would have been censored according to the owner's ideas of what was and wasn't "right speech"). And I was letting anybody post anything they wanted.
But I got sick of handing over a free platform to weenies with axes to grind, usually against me. People can say whatever the hell they want. But I didn't see any reason I had to give them space to do it. So now they have to denounce me on their own damned blogs. Or at least over on Aaron's blog where I don't have to look at it (see below). Plus I started seeing lots of things attributed to me that I hadn't said. They were from the comments section! People get confused sometimes...
I've been motorin' away lately on Nishijima Roshi's translation of Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamikakarika. Lots of folks have asked me about the release date that's been announced on Amazon. I think they have it coming out on November 3rd? Something like that. Well, I'll be amazed if I'm even done with the first round of editing by November 3rd. The publishers have told me it'll be out in Spring.
Lots of things happening in Spring! At least that's the promises I've been hearing. Hardcore Zen is set to come out in German, Polish and Greek editions in Spring. And it's likely I'll be touring in Europe behind those releases. Yay! I'm still waiting to hear word back on where I'll be and when.
My next mainstream book is due out in Autumn of 2010. So far the provisional title is SIN, SEX AND ZEN. New World Library likes the title. So unless I or they come up with something better over the next few months, that title will probably stick. As the title suggests, the book will be about sin and about sex and about Zen. Three topics near and dear to my heart!
I've also started re-working a novel I wrote in the mid-late 90's. At the time it was called DESTROY ALL SPACEMEN. But if I finish it I'm gonna re-title it DEATH TO ALL MONSTERS! (with the exclamation point). It's a novel about an American guy who works in Tokyo for a company that produces Japanese monster films. It turns out one of the movies his company made may or may not contain footage of an actual UFO shot down by the Japanese military near the end of World War II as well as scenes of its living occupant. The film was pulled off of distribution in the 60s and no one's seen a copy since. Our hero, rabid fanboy that he is, just wants to have a peak at the film, which he finds deep in the company vaults. But when he does all hell breaks loose.
The story is a fictionalization of my real life at Tsuburaya Productions. There really is an episode of the giant monster vs. giant superhero TV series Ultra Seven that hasn't been seen since the early 70s. Or at least it wasn't seen between then and circa 1998 when I allowed a copy to be broadcast on the Turner Broadcasting Network in the USA. They showed it at like 4 am one morning as a filler. Management wasn't happy with me about that. The fanboys went nutzo when it came out. So did a lot of very weird "business people" in SE Asia.
The book is also about what life was like in Japan at the time, the people I knew there, the things we did. Nishijima Roshi is even a character. I like the book a lot. But it needs some fixing up before I send it anywhere. I could use someone who's an expert on Japan in WWII if anyone's interested in advising me on a few areas. Particularly the Japanese occupation of Manchuria (so-called "Manchukuo"). Write me at email@example.com.
And speaking of Amazon.com (which we were a while back), could a few of you who actually liked ZEN WRAPPED IN KARMA go over there and put some decent reviews of the thing up? Last I looked the top review was by some weasel who wanted to comment about his uninformed opinions on my marriage. It's interesting that so many people like to natter about the sex stuff in that book. But nobody likes to say anything about the disease and death stuff, which is far more important if you ask me. But who asks me? Nobody! That's who!
OK. Whatever. Come see me in Canada (dates below):
• November 13, 2009 - I will be in Vancouver BC speaking at the local Dharma Punx chapter on November 13th. Details are coming soon. Probably another gig will happen the following day. The gig on the 13th will be a talk and the one on the 14th will likely be several rounds of zazen followed by discussion.
•November 17, 2009 7pm, Victoria, BC Canada, University of Victoria Interfaith Chapel, Lot #6 UVic Ring Road, Tuesday Zen Open House, Zen meditation and Q&A;, contact email@example.com for more info
They run a beginner's group each week. 3x15 minute sits with a talk in the second one (just 15 minutes). Afterward there is tea, introductions, and a period of question and response.
• November 19, 2009 7pm, Victoria, BC Canada, University of Victoria Interfaith Chapel, Lot #6 UVic Ring Road, Public talk, contact firstname.lastname@example.com for more info
This will be my main talk, your standard issue ask the zen guy questions. Books will be for sale. Fun will be had by all.
Want to comment? Go to: rebloggingbradwarner.blogspot.com/


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Market News
|August 06, 2013
Roundup Ready --- Or Not?
|Six years ago, Larry Martin noticed a strange weed with fuzzy leaves and a woody stalk taking over the corn fields he uses to feed his herd of 65 dairy cows. After researching it, Martin learned that the weed, called velvetleaf, is so invasive that it can reduce a crop yield by as much as 30 percent.
It's also tough to eliminate. After three years of pulling velvetleaf by hand and using various herbicides that didn't work, Martin decided to switch to the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup, which is manufactured by Monsanto, the controversial St. Louis-based biotechnology corporation that has become synonymous with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
Because spraying Roundup kills both weeds and other plants that come into contact with it, Martin also had to plant Roundup Ready corn, which is genetically modified to resist glyphosate. Introduced in 1998 by Monsanto, Roundup Ready corn is patented and farmers are contractually obligated to buy new seed the following year, rather than saving seed to replant.
After using the Roundup, Martin eventually eradicated the velvetleaf. But as a self-described worrier, he mulls over the decision to use the herbicide. "There's a big controversy, I guess. If somebody came and chewed me out I don't know that I'd have any reasons for using it."
There seems to be little middle ground on the subject of genetically engineered crops, at least in the fractious atmosphere of the media and the Internet. The debate over their use and efficacy is often contentious, even as more American farmers have turned to genetically engineered crops in the last 20 years in the hope that they can boost yields and reduce vulnerability to weeds and pests. Scientists who see the potential of genetic engineering to alleviate hunger, combat disease and mitigate some of the effects of climate change say the risks of genetic engineering to human health have been exaggerated and the science misunderstood or impugned.
As the arguments about the merits of genetic engineering seesaw between advocates and skeptics, the New England states, including Vermont and New Hampshire, are on the leading edge of a national drive to label products containing genetically modified ingredients because of consumer concern about the content of their food.
"I think I should have the right to know," said Babo Harrison, who lives in Bethel.
At the same time, Harrison said, she was uncertain on the question of whether there is a role for genetic engineering in agriculture. "I'm not universally against it, but we also open up a can of worms," she said.
Charles Peters, who lives in East Thetford, supports labeling and didn't see a need for GMOs. "We've been hybridizing for thousands of years and that seems to have worked well in the past," he said.
Martin has been farming for 45 years on land inherited from his father. He remembers when his father used to cultivate 10 acres by hand. But Martin tends 25 acres of silage corn --- corn grown to feed livestock --- and the farming paradigm has changed dramatically since the 1950s and 1960s. The margins are razor-thin and the pressure for farmers to grow more food continues to ratchet up even as the costs of doing business increase.
"I wished I just had a tiny little farm and I could go out and hoe it all, but I can't. That was a good way to take care of that stuff, but the American public isn't going to do that anymore," Martin said.
A Brave New World
With the introduction of genetically modified crops in the 1990s, agriculture entered a brave new world of biotechnology, where promises of higher yields and less reliance on chemical herbicides and pesticides persuaded many American farmers to adopt the new technologies.
There are crucial differences between genetically modified crops and traditionally bred crops.
For thousands of years, humans have bred plants to improve appearance, flavor, longevity or to resist insects or diseases through cross-pollination from one plant to another. The process of selecting the desired traits (say, a redder tomato with better flavor), transferring them, testing the new variety and arriving at a final commercial product can take years.
Genetic engineering isolates the gene or genes that control the desired traits and inserts those genes into the plant or other living organism. Farmers can buy hybrid crops that are genetically modified for pest resistance, herbicide resistance or both. A hybrid that contains more than one resistance gene in it is called a "stacked gene" variety.
The U.S. grows more genetically modified crops than any other country in the world, with soy, corn, alfalfa and cotton leading the pack. In 2000, 25 percent of all corn planted in the U.S. was genetically modified; by 2013, that had risen to 90 percent, according to the USDA.
Perhaps 90 to 95 percent of silage corn in Vermont is genetically engineered, according to Alison Kosakowski, a spokeswoman for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. New Hampshire doesn't track how many farmers use GMOs.
Whether they are aware of it or not, most Americans are wearing clothing made from cotton that has been genetically modified to resist boring insects. They are also eating or drinking soy bean and corn products grown from seeds that were modified to resist pests and weeds.
"If you're eating something in the American food system, (GMOs are) everywhere," said Steve Taylor, of Meriden, the former commissioner of agriculture for New Hampshire.
But even as many farmers and agribusinesses have embraced biotechnology as a way to reduce labor and costs, there has been a vocal movement opposing GMOs. There is apprehension about their safety and deep cynicism about such companies as Monsanto and DuPont that profit from the technology. Skeptics say genetically modified crops haven't been sufficiently tested on animals to know whether their consumption could have a long-term impact on human health.
"More studies of potential effects are needed," said Dave Rogers, policy adviser for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont. Pharmaceuticals are tested for use on humans, and genetically modified crops should be, too, he said. "I don't say these things are killing people in the streets, but these are serious questions. It's unconscionable we've gone 20 years without research."
On the other side of the argument are scientists and doctors who say that 20 years of eating genetically modified crops with no apparent widespread ill effects is evidence of their safety. Last year, the American Medical Association issued a statement finding that although there is a small risk of adverse reaction, "bioengineered foods have been consumed for close to 20 years, and during that time, no overt consequences on human health have been reported and/or substantiated in the peer-reviewed literature." The AMA did recommend, however, that products containing GMOs go through mandatory testing prior to commercial use.
And after years of public resistance, mandatory labeling and strict anti-GMO regulation, even the European Union has ceded some ground on the subject. In 2010, the European Commission released a report on a decade of European Union-funded research on GMOs.
"The main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research, and involving more than 500 independent research groups, is that biotechnology, and in particular GMOs, are not per se more risky than ... conventional plant breeding technologies," the report said.
Scientists are as aware as anyone else of the law of unintended consequences: the pesticide DDT introduced to combat insect-borne diseases that then led to precipitous declines in bird populations; the drug thalidomide that was distributed to pregnant women in the 1950s to relieve morning sickness but also led to grave abnormalities and deformities in fetuses in utero.
"You can have unintended consequences with conventional crops as well," said Thomas Jack, a professor of biology at Dartmouth College. "GMOs are no more dangerous than conventional breeding, because you know what gene you're putting in."
If testing on animals is what GMO skeptics want, he said, then new varieties created by conventional breeding should also be tested for possible effects on humans. Currently, this isn't the case.
Although Taylor does not use genetically engineered crops on the dairy farm he and his sons run in Meriden, and buys non-GMO silage from a neighbor, he understands why they're in use. "Farmers turn to these things because they're constantly under the gun. There are barriers to getting (a) high price so they turn to ways to cut cost."
Both Sides of the Equation
Across Route 5 from Larry Martin's property in Fairlee is Newmont Farm, owned by Walter and Margaret Gladstone. They milk 1,150 cows and grow approximately 850 acres of corn. Although he doesn't rely only on Monsanto seeds, and uses other herbicides in combination with Roundup, Gladstone began using Roundup Ready corn modified for both herbicide and pest resistance approximately three years ago.
"We switched because the technology was there that gave us greater confidence for better yields, and potentially less chemical and pesticide use," he said. "From the point of view of risk management, (the Roundup Ready corn) is a good tool to use and we're trying to make a living." He observed a difference in the population count per acre, the vigor, color and final yield when compared with the conventional hybrids he also grew.
Not everyone is signing on for Roundup Ready, though. Thirty-five miles down the Connecticut River in Plainfield, the family-owned McNamara Dairy, which supplies milk to a number of Upper Valley grocery stores, doesn't grow genetically modified corn. Pat McNamara understands customer concerns about genetically modified plants finding their way, directly or indirectly, into the food chain.
"I've just chosen not to (use it) because we are close to our customers. Sometimes it is easier to say, 'No, we don't use it,' rather than go on to explain (why we do)," he said.
Overhearing McNamara, a customer who'd come to buy milk chimed in that he drives nine miles to the dairy precisely because it doesn't use GMOs.
Although McNamara's not convinced Roundup is better than the herbicides he uses, he has no strong feelings about other farmers using it.
"It's excellent weed control. You can wait until June to spray and (the weeds) are gone and that's a huge advantage. There's a lot of weeds that weren't around 30 years ago," he said. Nor would he hesitate to drink milk from a farm where the Roundup regime is in place. "As a farmer I can see both sides of the equation."
But as long as genetically modified crops, and Monsanto in particular, remain a "lightning rod," he sees no reason to change over to Roundup Ready and Roundup. "We are in the business of selling milk and we don't need negative advertising."
Label Laws
Although some want GMOs banned, that is unlikely to happen, said Rogers. For consumers concerned about genetically engineered crops, the logical option is to label products that contain genetically modified ingredients and let the consumer make an educated choice. "That's the moderate position," he said.
For his part, Gladstone doesn't support the labeling law, seeing it as "another potential regulatory burden."
While labeling foods that contain genetically modified ingredients has been standard practice in Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and even Russia, the drive toward labeling in this country is relatively recent.
New England states are in the forefront of the movement. Connecticut passed a labeling law earlier this summer, although its implementation hinges on a "trigger": For the law to take effect, four other Northeast states with a combined population of 20 million must also pass labeling laws, and one of the states must border Connecticut. Maine also passed a law but it has not been signed by Gov. Paul LePage.
In May, by a vote of 99-42, the Vermont House passed a GMO labeling law, which will go before the Vermont Senate when it reconvenes in January 2014. The House Committee on Agriculture and Forest Products heard hours of testimony from more than 30 people representing, among others, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, the Agency of Agriculture, the Vermont Grocers' Association, food producers, restaurants, doctors and scientists and religious institutions.
The bill "doesn't address the pros and cons of genetic engineering, it doesn't ask for a ban, it really asks for the right to know," said the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Kate Webb, D-Shelburne. "It doesn't say you can't grow it or sell it. It just lets the consumers know so they can make an informed choice."
Webb is cautiously optimistic that the bill will pass the Senate and then go to Gov. Peter Shumlin, who has indicated his willingness to sign it.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture also supports labeling, wrote Kosakowski in an email, adding "genetically engineered crops serve a purpose and are an important element to the success of many Vermont farms."
This summer, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group embarked on a statewide campaign to go town to town, door to door, asking people to sign postcard petitions endorsing the labeling law. The goal is to collect 30,000 signatures by the end of August; to date they have 24,000, said Leah Marsters, a field organizer for the group. The postcards will be forwarded to the Senate committees of jurisdiction as well as other bodies in the state, she said.
"We think that the GMO labeling law is extremely important as a consumer right-to-know issue," said Marsters.
She expects the bill will face stiff opposition from the biotech companies, as did a proposed labeling law in California, which was narrowly defeated last fall. "We know they will dig deep to try to prevent Vermont from being the first state in the nation to enact a GMO labeling law."
In New Hampshire, the Environment and Agriculture Committee is revising a bill that can go to the House in January, said state Rep. Maureen Mann, D-Rockingham, who is the primary sponsor of a labeling law. If the House passes it on schedule, the bill would move to the Senate in the spring.
"In terms of comments from people, the support has been absolutely overwhelming," she said. Only hazily aware of the issue a few years ago, Mann began looking into it because of requests from voters. The proposed labeling law in New Hampshire is "absolutely constituent-driven."
"I want it all labeled very specifically," said Rosemarie Peters, a Lebanon resident. A vegan, she reads labels closely, but at the same time she expressed little concern about the technology of genetic engineering itself. "We look to science for a lot of things."
Labeling is not a new concept for the American food industry, Mann pointed out. Federal regulations on processed foods already require a list of ingredients and nutritional content. And many American companies already designate GMO products destined for overseas markets where labeling is required, including The Hershey Co., which has to identify its chocolate as having been produced with soy lecithin, which is derived from GMO soy.
Label or no, "I don't think people are going to stop eating Hershey bars," Mann said.
Health and Environmental Concerns
The arguments against genetic engineering veer between concerns about human health and environmental health and whether GMOs are as effective as claimed.
Opponents say that because there isn't enough data on the effects of genetically modified crops on animals, science should observe the precautionary principle, which holds that until an action, technology or medicine can be proved to be of no harm to humans or the environment, it shouldn't be implemented.
Rogers, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont adviser, has taught agricultural science and the ethics of agriculture at the University of Vermont for 15 years. He is not anti-science, he said. "We want more science about how plants and insects interact. People say we're Luddites. No way. That's the kind of agricultural research we need, but large economic interests have the ability to set the agenda."
As a result, there's little research money for organic farming, he said. And those who question the use of genetically engineered crops say that their caution has sometimes been dismissed as trivial, or unfounded. There's a "vilification of people who have alternate views," he said.
Some scientists argue that genetic engineering has the potential to alleviate human hunger and increase crop yield more rapidly and efficiently. Others argue against using genetically modified crops since slower but proven conventional breeding methods have done the job for centuries.
Jack Shepherd, a professor of environmental science at Dartmouth College, began his career as a reporter in the 1960s for Look and Newsweek magazines, and has studied famine and food as an instrument of politics in sub-Saharan Africa. He recalled visiting a village chief and farmer in Swaziland who had set aside a large bin of corn for next year's crop and proudly showed it to Shepherd.
Over generations, this corn, through careful selection, had been bred to be drought-tolerant, well-suited to the arid conditions in which it grew. Why would any genetically engineered corn do better in that challenging environment than what the farmer already knew how to grow, Shepherd asked.
The environmental concern is that, over time, weeds will become resistant to an herbicide like Roundup, or insects will become resistant to the pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, which is genetically inserted into such crops as cotton or soy.
One of the keys to combating increasing resistance is to use Roundup in conjunction with other herbicides in a kind of "cocktail," said Rob McClung, a professor of biology at Dartmouth. "If you deploy cocktails you do better. It's the same with tuberculosis and AIDS. It's exactly the same logic and the same principle."
In a paper published recently in the journal Nature Biotechnology , French and American scientists looked at data from 77 countries on five continents. It found that of 13 major insect species exposed to Bt in genetically modified corn and cotton between 1996 and 2011, five were resistant by 2011.
Alarms are also raised about so-called genetic pollution. Last month, some genetically modified, Roundup Ready wheat was found growing in field of conventional hybrid wheat in Oregon. Monsanto had developed genetically engineered wheat, but in 2004 abandoned plans to introduce it for commercial use because of opposition from American farmers concerned about trade barriers on GMO wheat overseas, according to a report in The New York Times . How the genetically engineered wheat arrived in the field isn't yet known, but the incident is being investigated by the USDA.
Scare Tactics and Disinformation
While there are valid areas of debate regarding genetic engineering, advocates for the technology argue that vilification of different viewpoints goes both ways. The most vehement critics of GMOs, they say, use scare tactics and disinformation by implying that all of science is in the pocket of companies working with the technology, or by cherry-picking data from studies that are then either retracted or disavowed by the rest of the scientific community.
To read the more extreme anti-GMO literature on the Internet is to tumble down a rabbit hole into a world of conspiracy theory, and a distrust of science that seems based in raw emotion, rather than examination of data. A headline on the website Sustainable Pulse reads "Monsanto's Roundup to blame for Worldwide Male Infertility Crisis?"
"Food just seems to be a very emotional thing for a lot of people and the science is not easy," said Lorraine Merrill, New Hampshire's commissioner of agriculture. "That adds to that suspicion factor."
As a result, the debate over genetic engineering is often heated.
A public symposium on the subject held two years ago at Dartmouth College was disrupted when some people in the audience repeatedly heckled an industry speaker who'd been invited to participate, said Jack, the Dartmouth biology professor, who was in attendance.
"That's not civilized debate. We need to calm down and figure out how to have a conversation," said Rob McClung, a professor of biology at the college who was also present at the symposium. "The technology is neither good nor bad. It's how you apply it."
Whatever its merits and drawbacks, genetic engineering is sure to continue to touch off robust debate. "It's a patented and controlled commodity," Shepherd said of genetically engineered seeds manufactured by such biotech companies as Monsanto or DuPont.
"If the right to food is a human right, we should have the right to grow that food. If we control that food source, and charge people money to have access to what is a right, where is a Swaziland farmer going to find the money? This guy is going to have to come up with American dollars, rather than grow food for his community."
The proponents of GMOs, said Rogers, sometimes talk as "if it's the only technology we have. There's lots of conventional breeding that is effective. Somehow people act as if (genetic engineering) is the only arrow in their quiver, and it's not."
But does the potential of risk mean science should exercise the precautionary principle to such a degree that science doesn't move forward at all?
"Can you prove that nothing will ever go wrong?" McClung asked.
"Human beings have been influencing the evolution of plants and animals since we were getting out of the caves," said Merrill. "Sometimes you hear people say that it's just wrong to take genes from one species and put it into another. But that happens in nature as well."
In Fairlee, Gladstone drives through huge open barns of heifers and milkers, and then circles around his farm, with its huge stockpiles of different kinds of silage designed to meet a cow's specific needs for roughage and protein. A pragmatist, Gladstone views GMOs this way: "There's a place for them, but it doesn't mean it's for everyone."
Now that the velvetleaf is gone at Martin's farm, he is considering returning to conventional corn hybrids next spring.
While the combined cost of Roundup and Roundup Ready was less expensive than conventional herbicides and corn, the Roundup Ready corn seemed to yield a bit less. RoundUp did the job he wanted it to, but he sees no need to continue with it.
"Corn usually grows pretty good around here anyway," he said.


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December 11, 2012
It Can Happen to Anybody
Posted in News from the Foundation by Christine Wood
When the Foundation was established in 1989, our focus was homeless families. We've since realized that keeping families in their homes has many obvious benefits, so most of our support is now directed to programs with goals of preventing families from becoming homeless.
Read More >
December 06, 2012
Bringing Food and Warmth to Those in Need
Posted by Marilou Ubungen
We hope you and yours are having a wonderful holiday season! This time of year is a busy one for our offices, as many are working with local organizations to support families who need a little extra help during the winter months. Below are some examples of how Windermere offices throughout the Western U.S. are giving back to their local communities through the Windermere Foundation.
Read More >


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Hurricane Recovery Assistance
On This Page
The U.S. Department of Labor is assisting in the recovery efforts in communities affected by this season's hurricanes.
The Department of Labor support includes the following income and job assistance:
- DOL's National Contact Center
- Unemployment Insurance (UI)
The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Find your state's unemployment insurance information.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
DUA provides financial assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster declared by the President of the United States and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.
Hurricane Sandy Disaster Unemployment Assistance (PDF)
- National Emergency Grants (NEGs)
Impacted states can apply for NEG funds that can be used to temporarily employ dislocated workers. These funds can be used to employ workers on projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.
Learn how to apply for a National Emergency Grant.
- Occupational Safety and Health
The Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is making available technical assistance and resources to help protect those participating in cleanup and recovery efforts.
Learn how to keep workers safe during clean up and recovery operations following hurricanes.
- Worker Claims
The Department's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) has instructions for claimants under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and information for the longshore community.
- Health and Retirement Benefits
Questions about your health or retirement benefits from your employer's plan? Contact the Department's Employee Benefits Security Administration or call toll free 1-866-444-3272 with any questions.
- Wages
Questions about being paid correctly following the disaster and recovery? Contact the Department's Wage and Hour Division or call toll free 1-866-487-9243 with any questions.
- Recording Hours Worked
Download the DOL Timesheet App to record the number of hours you have worked and calculate the amount you may be owed by your employer.
Hazards from weakened and damaged trees, downed power lines, high water, and other dangers remain from hurricanes. We urge citizens to be mindful of instructions from state and local officials. Individuals in declared counties can register online for disaster assistance at www.fema.gov or call FEMA's toll free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362); for the hearing impaired TTY 800-462-7585.
Public Service Announcements
Fact Sheets on Natural Disaster Recovery
Other Resources
As the official benefits website of the Federal government, Benefits.gov provides citizens with easy, online access to over 1,000 government benefit and assistance programs from 17 partner agencies.
Disaster Assistance Improvement Program (DAIP)
The mission of the DAIP is to ease the burden on disaster survivors by providing them with a mechanism to access and apply for disaster assistance through the collaborative efforts of federal, state, tribal, local and nonprofit partners.
News Releases
- DOL's OSHA posts results of sampling for contaminants at Sandy cleanup areas in New York and New Jersey
- DOL provides $300,000 to aid West Virginia communities to recover following Hurricane Sandy
- DOL provides grant increment to assist additional New York counties following Hurricane Sandy
- DOL awards funding increment to assist New Jersey recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy
- DOL issues compliance guidance for employee benefit plans in wake of Hurricane Sandy
- OSHA and EPA urge employers, workers, homeowners and others to protect themselves during flood cleanup
- NEW DATES: ERISA Advisory Council to hold final 2012 meeting Nov. 26-27
- DOL provides grant to assist Connecticut with recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy
- DOL provides grant to assist Rhode Island with recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy
- DOL's OSHA urges hurricane recovery workers to protect themselves against hazards
- DOL provides grant to aid New York communities with recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy
- DOL provides grant to aid New Jersey communities with recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy


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On June 2, at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled the next version of its iOS mobile operating system among many other announcements. iOS 8 will introduce a bevy of features, many of which have huge platform implications.
Many of the new features, both consumer-facing and developer-oriented, seem to be pointed squarely at the "power users". Such users are the ones who may have switched to or prefer Android because of a lot of capabilities in that operating system which iOS did not have or allow until now. But let's just consider it the natural evolution of the iOS platform, now at over 800 million users (a stat Apple CEO Tim Cook stated in his keynote at the event).
Let's take a look at some of the key features that Android and to a lesser extent, Windows Phone offer, which lure customers to those platforms, and how iOS 8 has responded to those.
- Third party keyboards
- Actionable notifications
- Widgets
- App-to-app communication and sharing
- Google services, including the contextual Google Now
- Larger choice of devices of various form factors, mostly larger screens
Keyboard improvements
Windows Phone introduced Word Flow, which is to this day, the best predictive keyboard I have used. It is a way by which the system can provide the next few words that you may be about to type, based on what you start typing. For example, if you type "how are", there is a good chance you want to type "you" next, and the predictive nature of the keyboard will prompt "you", and maybe a couple of other options like "things" or "the". iOS gets such a feature finally. It is very similar in nature to Word Flow but obviously it is something the iOS keyboard has missed all this time. No more.
Third-party keyboards
In what I thought was a surprising move, Apple also announced that they are going to let third parties provide their keyboards so customers can replace the system keyboard with a third-party keyboard. That is huge because the likes of Swiftkey and Swype have made a name for themselves in the Android world, and users of those keyboards claimed it is a big enough reason for them not to move back to iOS. Already, several key names have announced their keyboards are coming to iOS 8, which is not surprising at all.
Interactive notifications
Apple's Notification Center, while a decent imitation of Android's notification center, is a bit clunky. Even the upcoming Action Center in Windows Phone 8.1 does a better job managing notifications. So it is no surprise that Apple decided to make some changes and one of the big changes is the interactive notifications. Android has this feature already, where quick actions can be taken on notifications that land in the notification center, without opening the apps. Interactive notifications aim to do the same, and more importantly, Apple has decided to open it up to third parties from day one. That means, developers can enable quick actions like Facebook's Like and Comment, Twitter's Retweet and Replies, etc. directly in the Notification Center. Obviously it is a big deal on Android because of the productivity gains, and it was about time iOS implemented the same. (As a part-time Windows Phone user, I do hope this feature is on its way on that platform as well. It is badly needed.)
The other big improvement in the iOS Notification Center comes in the form of widgets. This has been another ding against iOS until now because Windows Phone first introduced Live Tiles which enable quick information that app developers can provide to customers via the app icon(s) flipping and updating. Android later added widgets which were sub-sections of the apps that could be placed on a home screen and provided snippets to live information to the customers. With Widgets, iOS 8 somewhat addresses this "gap" by enabling developers to provide live updates, although in the Notification Center, not in the app icon or on the home screen like the competition. So the widget will look like a notification but it will have more real estate and will be able to take more forms vs. a text update. For example, score updates during a game could show the two team names and scores by quarter.
This is hugely welcome news, for customers and developers alike. For customers, it means more than just text updates and for developers, it is somewhat of a parity with other platforms as well as another way to keep their customers engaged with the app.
As for app-to-app communication, Apple has made it possible for apps to communicate and share data with each other. Although the details are more important than the announcement in terms of how useful this feature is, it is remarkable that after so many years of keep each app limited to itself, Apple has decided to enable inter-app communication which has been a stable in Android as well as Windows 8 and Windows Phone.
When it comes to Google services, they are already available on iOS in the form of various apps, including Google Now. Although this has prompted many customers to consider Android, where the integration with the phone is even tighter, I suspect it will also make it easier for them to make the return trip going from Android back to iOS.
Finally, although perhaps it may be an even more compelling reason for normal users to try Android, there is this thing about larger screen phones. It is rumored and by now almost a given that Apple will be introducing phones with larger screens this Fall, which is usually when they update their hardware. A larger screen iPhone will almost certainly be a hit, if the popularity of large screen devices running Android are any indication. It will be interesting to see how Apple handles the application UI. When they introduced the iPad, they had an elegant (although ugly) option of a "2x" mode. It will be interesting how they handle the larger real estate and yet, make developers' work to address the larger screen, minimal.
Some other important updates from Apple with regard to iOS, not so much related to Android, but definitely showing signs of bulking up:
iCloud Photo Library
Until now, the Photostream feature backed up photos from all our iDevices automatically, but it was limited in storage. Apple also announced at WWDC that they are moving to an "iCloud Photo Library" which would store all photos *and* videos in full resolution, from all our iDevices. The first 5GB is free but instead of the currently expensive storage purchase options, Apple is also introducing inexpensive storage that can be purchased for what they refer to as iCloud Drive. Effectively, much like SkyDrive camera Roll in the Windows world, and Google+ Photos in the Google/Android world, the iCloud Photo Library is the entire photo library, always available in the cloud and all the Apple (Mac and iOS) devices and Windows 8 PCs. All edits made on one device are instantly available on all other devices. For a company that has not been at the forefront of well-implemented cloud services, the proof of the pudding will lie in the tasting, but as of now, it seems like Apple gets it and is on the right track. Also, in another move that shows Apple is opening up in a way they have not done traditionally, they have enabled other apps to integrate their editing tools and filters within the new Photos app.
Messaging updates
In what seems like a carpet bomb attack on WhatsApp, Facebook messenger and Snapchat all at once, Apple's iMessage will now support audio messages, video messages, group messaging and automatically disappearing messages. Apple also added the ability to share location which is very handy when coordinating meetups with groups. So instead of relying on several different apps (and therefore, different logins, different address books, etc.), you can do the same with the default messaging app, only as long as everyone you communicate with is on iPhone :-) But that has been the modus operandi for Apple from day one, so there is nothing out of the ordinary in that strategy.
iOS 8 is claimed to be a bigger update than when Apple announced the mobile App Store and it certainly seems like there are many huge changes coming in iOS 8 for iOS developers which may end up increasing the app quality gap between iOS and Android even more than it is today. iOS is still usually the first platform for mobile developers to build their innovative solutions and experiences. With these changes, despite the rocketing market share of Android devices, Apple is poised to make it even more worthwhile for developers to build for their platform(s).
(All images via Apple's website)


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SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) – A state review finds that more than 200 state employees were overpaid more than $500,000 by managers who deliberately broke state rules at the troubled California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Tuesday's report by state Controller John Chiang is the latest blow to a department where employees were found last summer to have kept $54 million hidden in two special funds for more than a decade, even as dozens of parks faced closure.
Chiang criticized what he called a "deliberate disregard" for state policies.
The controller found that managers broke rules and regulations to pay 203 employees about $520,000 in extra pay over three years.
He said several dozen other employees were also overpaid more than $63,000 because they worked more hours or in higher-paying positions than allowed.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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You were born in England into a family with roots well anchored in Greece and forms part of a long tradition of goldsmiths and jewelers that goes as far back as four generations. I guess your family tradition has influenced you a lot in your career as a jeweler and sculptor. According to the information of your website, at twelve and created your first design in the workshop of your uncle.
– With all the family tradition I guess it was not difficult to learn the trade. But of course you have done so with your own art and original great design. How did you get started in erotic jewelry design for men?
Jewelry may be in my family for many years, however I believe that the advantage of this is mainly technical. I believe that the key to artistic creation and design is to know the past but not to get attached to it. Instead, one should observe the present to evolve.
-Why erotic jewelry?
Because regadles of gender, wearing jewelry has always been instinctive and ritualistic, as you pointed out, almost a base instinct. It is pure self expression and in this there is much eroticism. So I think that all jewelry appeals to our erotic side, either consciously or subconciously
The question of male jewelry in particular – this a very interesting challenge for me because it is a specific field that has been dormant for about 1500 years since the rise of Roman Catholicism over the Celts. Previously, men used to wear and express themselves with jewelry. But from this point in time and for many centuries, men wearing jewelry for the purpose of beauty was simply 'forbidden'. Jewelry was restricted to religious symbols, wedding rings (a social symbolism) and later watches (functionalism). Even today in some places it continues to be considered a social and religious taboo for men to decorate themselves.
In western countries, this only began to change after the 1980's with feminism, when women began to buy (and pay for) their own jewelry. As a result, one generation later, men too are in turn 'released' from seeing jewelry as social obligation to women, or to a theocratic society. Men are seeing jewelry as they did 1500 years ago, for what it is, expression… and this is a wonderful opportunity.
-What led you to create such original jewelry?
In a nutshell, one of my favorite Oscar Wilde quotes. "Be yourself, everyone else is taken"! Jewelry is ancient art-form and since most things have already been done in the past, the only thing one can do is to use the power of observation. I do not like to see jewelry as a fashion accessory that comes and goes with the fashion trends. My designs come from human nature and the patterns of nature, this is why I have not seen them age.
– You have a great catalog designed jewelry for men: pendants, bracelets, rings, bracelets and the famous Cock Rings. True works of art based on the entire culture of your beloved Greece. Men and women, since ancient times, have felt the need to adorn themselves with symbols of power, virility or femininity, of triumphs, of created an identity that differs from the rest. I guess some have changed in this respect: we love to adorn ourselves, have tattoos, to paint, wear jewelry, perfumes. The jewels of Nikias, are the result of this need?
Need is different to desire. Our needs are elementary, but we desire civilization, art, literature, to adorn ourselves and all the other things you mentioned. This is why the Greek spirit is important for me. It is important for all of us who are civilized… because our mission as humans is to overcome our primary needs and to respect our higher desires that feed not only our body but more importantly our soul, and our mind.
A balance of these higher goals is what set the ground for Greeks 3000 years ago to give birth to philosophy, geometry, comedy, tragedy, democracy, architecture, sculpture etc. In all of these fields we still find the highest beauty achievable by man and they are unchanged building blocks of our current civilization. Physical adornment and self-identity is just a small part of this philosophy. I am just a craftsman in an ancient art-form. I don't think that much has changed in our desires as human nature is the same, only that man today lives less spiritually and often loses the connections.
– Is "Le Cock Ring" your greatest success in intimate design for men?
Commercially, yes for sure as the concept has been met with great success in almost 50 countries worldwide. It is a success because it is a radical proposition and a functional item, equipped with all the virtues of a work of fine jewelry. Many people thought the idea was too crazy, but I followed my instinct on this.


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I had thought this should be enabled for everyone at this point... but I still don't see it in any of my accounts (one regular and two Apps)
I have disabled all the extensions that could have messed with Gmail, and a few Labs, just in case.
Even my non-techie wife, using a non-english configuration has it. Any ideas on getting it to work?


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2017 Heartland RVs
Elkridge X-treme Light Fifth Wheel Series E22 Special Notes
Special Notes
Heartland RVs Note
TRAVEL TRAILERS/5TH WHEELS - From 2005 to current, prices include air conditioner, awning, fantastic fan/rain sensor, home theater system (Bighorn only), DSI water heater, and stability jacks.
2017 Note
In addition to what is standard, Landmark Three Sixty Five models include the Home Package, Travelers Package and Full-Timers Ambiance Package. Bighorn models include the King of the Mountain Package and Bighorn Premier Package. Bighorn Traveler models include the Discovery Package and Interstate Package. North Trail models include the North Trail Lightweight Package. North Peak models include the North Peak Lightweight Package. Lakeview models include pearl fiberglass sidewalls and the Lakeview Destination Package. Fairfield models include fiberglass laminated sidewalls and the Fairfield Extended Stay Package. Fairfield Limited models include the Fairfield Extended Stay Package. Resort models include fiberglass laminated sidewalls and the Resort Comfort Package. Resort Limited models include the Resort Extended Stay Package. Mallard models include the Mallard Lightweight Package. Wilderness models include front cap, Wilderness Elite Package and the Wilderness Lightweight Package. Trail Runner models include the AM/FM/CD/DVD and the Trail Runner Value Package. Trail Runner SLE models include the Trail Runner SLE Value Package. Prowler travel trailer models include the Prowler Value Package. Prowler fifth wheel models include power rear stabilizers, 50 AMP service, Prowler Value Package, Prowler Plus Package and the Prowler Ivory Package. Prowler Lynx models include the Prowler Lynx package. Pioneer models include the Pioneer Value Package. Sundance XLT travel trailer models include the Ultralite Exterior Package and the Camping In Comfort Package. Sundance XLT fifth wheel models include correct track, solid surface countertops, Sundance Lightweight XLT Package, Sundance XLT Kitchen Upgrades and Sundance XLT Fifth Wheel Upgrades. Sundance models include correct track, frameless bonded windows, Sundance Exterior Package and the Sundance Interior Package. Gateway models include correct track, roller shade, Enter The Gateway Package, Gateway To Comfort Package and the Gateway To Residential Package. Torque Extreme Light models include the Torque Exterior Package and the Torque Interior Package. Torque models include correct track, Torque Package and the SS Option. Edge models include the Edge Package. Cyclone models include the Cyclone (Cyclone HD) Package. Elkridge models include the Elkridge Summit Package and the Elkridge Max Package. Elkridge Xtreme Light models include power rear stabilizers, 50 AMP service, Elkridge XL Package and the Elkridge Xtreme Package. Big Country models include the Big Country Elite Package and the Big Country Independence Package. Road Warrior models include the Road Warrior Package. Pioneer FW also includes Pioneer Value Package, electric leveling, tri-fold sleeper sofa, and 15K A/C.