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For more information on how our screenings have gone, please check out my recent post at our Wrong Way to Hope website. I'll keep blogging about the fitness-component of our 2 month adventure here on Life to the Full. Thanks!
It's been a beautiful, fun, and engaging trip so far as we've traveled around BC and dipped down across the border into Washington. I thought I would write a bit about some of my goals, namely eating (as well as) possible maintaining my fitness while on the road.
We've been eating relatively well on the road with very minimal (if any?) fast food stops and more fruits, as many veggies as possible (harder to get on the road without preparation) and eating not such huge meals.
While at Inspire Health, a holistic cancer care facility, we sat in on several sessions including a Nutrition Course. Although the information is more for cancer survivors, it certainly holds across the board for ANYone interested in cleaning up their nutrition and understanding how eating well helps your body, mind, and spirit function well. Prepare yourself for an overload of information (I'm blown away with how much I've learned and continue to learn from the cancer community, especially when looking at health and fitness from a holistic perspective):
Ten Inspiring Food Transformations!
1. Eat More Vegetables & Fruits
Fill your plate with color!
Carotene family: your oranges, yellows, & reds, which help convert food into Vitamin A in the body: carrots, beets, squash, peppers…YUM!)
Allium family: onions, garlic, leeks –> Can destroy and inhibit cancer cells from growing!
Broccoli, kale, bok choy: abundant in sulphur compounds and help our body detoxify
2. Change Your Oils!
Avoid corn, sunflower, safflower, soy, and cotton seed oils
Plant-based vegetable oils have a high amount of Omega 6s, which are essentially but promote inflammation (important for our immune system), and we generally eat too much of this in our North American diets. We need more Omega 3s (like in walnuts – shell them yourself! – and in chia seeds) to stay balanced (as they have anti-inflammatory qualities), so try changing up your oils and not just sticking with our beloved EVOO.
Sesame oil, canola oil, grape seed oil, olive oil in moderation.
3. Avoid Refined Sugars
Enjoy sugars in WHOLE foods (and local if possible!) which don't have the refined elements there, which are the sugars that cause a spike in your blood sugar level and actually creates an environment that encourages the growth of cancer. Eating sweet foods like whole fruit and winter squash allow the sugar to release more slowly in your blood stream because you're also ingesting fiber along with the sugar, so remember: eat the real thing!
Beware of artificial sweeteners (like Splenda!) because although they don't have any calories in them, they mess up your digestion systems because your body doesn't actually absorb the nutrients.
4. Eliminate Chemical Ingredients
5. Replace White with Brown
This is a switch that our culture is accepting, but it's not just enough to go from white to brown, but to know why! Switching over one thing at a time (not too much at once!) will do wonders for your body and health.
It's not good even if you get a 16-grain loaf of bread because the flour can be so rapidly processed that our bodies can't get through to the nutrients. Try soaking your dough overnight to help sprout it (or buy sprouted flours or sprouted pastas) to help your body accept the nutrients. Try spelt and kamut, quinoa and millet flours as something different in baking and check out the ingredients on the back of the bag the next time you pick up a bag of white (or even whole wheat!) flour.
(Raw treats made with ground rolled oats, almonds, a bit of rice flour, almond butter, and all-natural dried cranberries – don't be afraid to try something different!)
6. Cook Beans & Lentils
Your gut got a problem with eating beans? When prepared properly, they actually shouldn't give you bloating and gas! If you can, try to prepare your beans and lentils ahead of time, buying them dry (in bulk – many stores have this option) and soaking them for at least 24 hours before cooking them.
7. Eat Clean Animal Foods
Grass-fed organic meat is the best, and wild versus farmed is better for fish. Beware of the "free range" and "free run" labels for chickens and eggs too (and look for vibrant yolk colors!) because this can mean they are shuffled 1/2 hour away from one pen to the next! Check out these websites for some good information: www.chickenout.ca and www.beyondfactoryfarming.org
8. Add Cancer-Fighting Superfoods & Their Extracts
- Ground flaxseeds (we can't digest the whole seeds, so grind it up, store it in the fridge for about 1-2 weeks as it goes rancid, and enjoy 1-2 TBPS raw – not cooked or heated up – a day).
- Fish oil omega 3 fatty acids
- Garlic – anti-bacterial, viral, fungal
- Tomatoes – contain lycopenes, which helps fight prostates and other cancers.
- Tumeric – anti-inflammatory properties (and who doesn't love a good plate of curry?! YUM!)
- Green tea – wins in all the studies for anti-cancer benefits (try organic decafs if regular green tea messes up your sleep at night or try Rooibos at night
- Milk Thistle (or silymarin) – this is an herbal plant from Roman times that helps with liver support, detox and regeneration
- Dark berries – full of antioxidants in your local berries like blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries, etc!
9. Use Quality Water
10. Be Moderate, Be Happy…
Part of our happiness? Hanging out with people like this:
and this:
and by seeing places like this:
And by moving into my second goal: maintaining my fitness while on the road:
It's been much easier for me to head over to Map My Run, enter the address we're staying at, figuring out my mileage for that particular run, and waking up early and heading out the door. It's been much harder to find places to do body weight workouts due to the places we're staying and the pace of our last few days (I'm conscious of losing muscle and plan on doing lots of push ups on the ferry to Victoria later today!). Plus, I've been enjoying runs in BC so much with this beautiful spring weather!
Monday: a rainy 7.25 mile run in Vancouver
Tuesday: body weight workout in the church while we set up our sound system and tried it out!
Wednesday: a 5.6 mile speed play run along the road above: beautiful!
Thursday: push ups (later!) and lunges on the ferry
So far, so good! I still feel better when I get some type of movement in every day and am striving for that, especially under stressful situations and busier days. But I'm okay with an every-other-day running schedule and find that besides exercising, it really relaxes, releases, and refreshes me.
Thanks for stopping in today – I hope you learned a bit about eating well and/or were reminded of some good habits to put back into your life and that you're eating well, moving often, and enjoying life wherever this post finds you! Again, this week has been busy and crazy and it seems like the next few weeks will allow me more time to process, exercise regularly, and write, so thanks for bearing with me in these not-so-regular posts.
I'd love to hear what you're up to! Eat anything extra delicious and healthy lately? Had a good workout? Got any "staying fit on the road tips?" – send 'em my way! And have a great day. Live well & be well,
"Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food." – Hippocrates
Other Reliable Resources:


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Multi-car insurance
What are the requirements for a multi-car policy?
To obtain a multiple-car policy, you need to insure two or more passenger vehicles on the same auto insurance policy. It's that simple.
You will need the VIN and lien holder information (if applicable) for all vehicles along with the driver's license numbers for all drivers. This doesn't vary from a single-car policy other than you are listing more than one vehicle on the policy.
Some insurance companies cap how many vehicles you can have on a multi-car policy at four or five.
Car insurance companies' rules vary. Some car insurance companies offer a discount only if the insured autos are in the same household and insured by related parties. Other insurers only require you to be at the same address and don't care if you're related or not.
You can qualify for the discount mid-term if you place an additional car on your policy. Conversely, if you delete a car mid-policy and are insuring a single vehicle, your discount would stop.
Does the coverage need to be the same on each vehicle?
Yes and no. Most insurance companies require that you have the same amount of liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage on each vehicle, so there is no confusion as to how much liability coverage each vehicle has.
You can, however, carry collision and comprehensive on one car and not another. The same is true for add-on coverages, such as rental reimbursement or custom car and equipment coverage.
In general, the optional coverages that protect vehicles – such as comp and collision, rental reimbursement and custom equipment coverage -- can be different on each vehicle, but your liability, uninsured motorist and other required coverage limits must be the same on all vehicles. That means if you have liability limits of 100/300/50 on the first car, you need those same limits on the second vehicle as well.
Car insurance companies, and state laws, normally require that liability limits on all vehicles on your policy are the same, so there is no confusion as what your liability limits are on any of your vehicles if you're in an accident. Use our car insurance coverage calculator for a recommendation of an appropriate coverage package.
Remember that it's the car that is insured, not the person.
If the driver of the second car on the policy, the one with full coverage, were to drive the primary vehicle, he or she would have only liability coverage if in an accident, since that is the only coverage purchased for that vehicle.
And, whoever drives the second vehicle would have collision and comprehensive coverages available as well as liability if in an accident since those are the coverages on that particular car.
When adding another car, driver or both to your car insurance policy it's a great time to compare car insurance rates. Your present car insurance company may no longer have the best rates when you factor in the additional car and driver
Can I insure a car and a motorcycle on the same policy?
No, since the motorcycle would need a motorcycle policy and not an auto policy.
There is a benefit though from insuring both of these vehicles with the same car insurance company -- you should be eligible for a multi-policy discount, which can be up to 20 percent.
What are the benefits of a multi-car policy?
Besides any discount, you can insure all the vehicles with one policy with one renewal date and one payment date.
If you get a separate insurance policy for each vehicle you not only miss out on the discount but you also have to keep track of multiple bills and due dates each month.
How big is a multi-car discount?
The discount runs from 10 to 25 percent off of your liability, collision and comprehensive parts of your car insurance policy.
Each vehicle gets this discount, but the discount doesn't compound with each car you add. So, if the discount is 10 percent, your first car will get 10 percent off no matter if you add two or four other cars to the policy.
Can I add other family members' cars to my policy?
Typically if someone else owns the car, then that person needs to get his own policy for the vehicle. However, you may still be eligible for the discount with some insurers.
For instance, if your adult child resides with you and has his vehicle insured through the same carrier as your vehicles, then some insurers will apply a multi-car discount to both policies.
Other carriers will not allow this. Ask.
Are there other benefits with a multi-car policy?
In states that allow it, you can stack your uninsured or underinsured bodily injury motorist (UM/UIM) coverage when you have multiple vehicles on the same policy.
For example, if you're insuring two cars with uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage with limits of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident (100/300) and stack your UM coverage, your limits would double to 200/600.
The more cars you insure, the higher your stacked coverages would go. Choosing to stack your coverage does cost a bit extra.
You can still get a home and auto insurance bundle discount
In some cases, insurers will cap the amount of discounts you have applied to your policy. However, car insurance companies typically will allow you to have both a multi-car discount and a home and auto insurance bundle discount, says Penny Gusner, consumer analyst for Insurance.com. This is great news, as car insurance savings for bundling auto and home policies with one insurance company averaged about 8 percent.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Central Connecticut baseball team fell to fifth-ranked Arkansas, 11-5, on Friday in the NCAA Regional opener at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR. Sophomore TT Bowens drove in five runs and hit a homerun for the Blue Devils, but the Razorbacks churned out 13 hits and held the lead all afternoon. CCSU will play an elimination game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Central slips to 30-22 overall following the setback.
Arkansas got the scoring started when Heston Kjerstad led off the second inning with a single through the right side. He would move to third on a 3-2 single to left by Jack Kenley who advanced to second on the throw to set up the Razorbacks. Casey Opitz would ground out with a ball up the first baseline, but Kjerstad was able to come home and make it 1-0 while Kenley scooted to third. After a fly out to right field, Christian Franklin drew a walk, but a wild pitch on ball four allowed Kenley to come home and make it 2-0.
Arkansas' starter Connor Noland was perfect through 3.0 innings. He induced four ground outs and got a pair of strikeouts before Central settled in in the fourth inning. Junior Chandler Debrosse and sophomore Sam Loda led off with back-to-back singles in the fourth to put runners on the corners. Sophomore TT Bowens would hit a fly ball to deep centerfield and drive in Debrosse and make it 2-1.
The Razorbacks got the run back to lead off the bottom of the fourth when Kjerstad hit a homerun to right field on an 0-1 pitch to make it 3-1. Arkansas tacked on three runs in the fifth. Trevor Ezell hit a one-out single and moved to second on a passed ball before a string of three straight hits. Matt Goodheart doubled in a run and scored on Dominic Fletcher's single. Kjerstand would double to right field with two outs to drive in a run and make it 6-1 before he was thrown out trying for third base.
The Blue Devils took advantage of a trio of defensive miscues in the sixth inning to score a run. Sophomore Matt Bertochi and Debrosse both reached to begin the inning following two Razorbacks errors. After a groundout pushed them to second and third, Bowens hit a grounder to short that was dropped and allowed Debrosse to score and make it 6-2.
Arkansas drew a pair of walks around a ground out in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back singles by Franklin and Ezell would plate a pair of runs and make it 8-2. Senior Patrick Mitchell would get a strikeout for the second out, but in an attempt to throw out a baserunner stealing second, the throw skipped into centerfield and allowed Franklin to come across home.
In the eighth, sophomore Matt Bertochi led off with a single and Loda drew a one-out walk. Bowens would follow with a homerun into left field on a 2-2 pitch to cut the deficit to 9-5.
Ezell closed out the scoring for Arkansas with a two-run homerun to left field with one out in the eighth.
The Blue Devils finished with five hits as a team. Bowens was 1-for-3 with five RBIs and a homerun. Debrosse and Loda each had a hit and run, while Bertochi had a hit and scored twice. Freshman Tim Buchek had a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning.
Fox went 4.2 innings in the start and kept CCSU close through the first four innings before running into trouble and taking the loss. Mitchell tossed 2.1 innings in relief and junior Andrew Braun closed the game out with an inning.
Central will play in an elimination game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against the loser of the California-TCU contest.
Opening Statement: "I thought it was a terrific environment and great crowd. We were going to have to play a perfect game and unfortunately we didn't come up with that, but we battled hard and I'm proud of our team. We needed to stick closer to put some pressure on them and unfortunately we lost but I'm proud of our team."
On the return of Bowens: "Halfway through the year changed our team. He does what he's capable of doing and that's part of the reason why we're here. He has a presence in the middle of our order to get us three runs with one swing, unfortunately at the time it was 9-2, but I think he can build on this. I'm proud of and happy for the team that we came out here and competed. It's a lot to ask of 18, 19, 20 year-olds to play in front of a crowd like this but when they go to bed tonight they can be proud."
On pitching against the Arkansas lineup: "I thought they were really aggressive and overall as a lineup they came ready to play today. They hit some good pitches"
On his approach to pitching against the Razorbacks: "Every pitch I had to compete and I couldn't take a pitch off because they would capitalize. A lineup with depth is tough you just have to grind through it. It's what you work for all offseason is to face guys like this and prepare for it best you can.
On how they were pitching him: "I could tell early they tried to attack me with off-speed pitches. I knew they were going to try and get me off-balance."
On his homerun in the 8th inning: "I knew their intentions were to get a double-play. He just missed his spot and the goal was to take advantage of mistakes and he gave me one and got into it.
On the experience of playing at Arkansas: It's an amazing experience. Being a smaller Northeast school and being able to earn the privilege to come down here to compete against with these teams is definitely a very good experience to play in this atmosphere. The fans were screaming and yelling the entire game, you can't recreate that experience."


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Last week's Art Club was awesome. There were some really well done submissions, along with a few absurd or funny ones, but in all, the turnout and the effort were great. Although everyone really did do a swell job, I did say that a winner had to be chosen, and as you can see from the header above I decided on k1216's Kagura submission.
k1216, good work! Congratulations on victory, you receive 10 (ten) Ani-TAY points and a one-use date with Protonstorm. Try hard again next week; this gladiatorial bloodbath has only just begun. With prizes this good, only the best will come out on top.
Let's go through some of the standouts, shall we?
Pita64 had a few good submissions, but this Totoro was my favourite.
This was definitely the best hand-sketch to come from Ascendant - Izanagi.
I'm not sure what The Messiah drew, but I totally see that raindrop happy face in the top right corner.
Protonstorm absolutely nailed that hair on Noa from Yamada-kun.
Can I say I'm not surprised that this is Novibear's self-run workplace?
Watfen64 is much better than me at drawing.
Meridya made a few sketches on the 3DS, a feet few could accomplish.
Koda with some awesome Splatsunderes XD.
And finally Rockmandash and the true form of the Ani-TAY Blimp.
This Week's Theme!!!!!!!!!!!!
So that wraps up last week's submissions. Here comes the fun part.
I'm sure most of you are familiar with currently airing Assassination Classroom, but if you're not, all you have to do is google, "Koro Sensei," to recognize that he is an arising icon of modern anime. This week, your given theme to draw something that creatively incorporates Koro Sensei. He could be the focus, he could be in the background, you could merely use his smile; all that matters is that he's in there somewhere. I'm deeming this battle, Fast Yellow Octopus. You have one week.
Here's my simplistic take on the theme, though it's not very creative. What can you guys come up with? How creative can you be?
Again, here are the rule:
-No nudity.
-No hateful content.
-Use your own work.
Good luck!
You're reading Ani-TAY, the anime-focused portion of Kotaku's community-run blog, Talk Amongst Yourselves. Ani-TAY is a non-professional blog whose writers love everything anime related. Click here to check us out.


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Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, head of the 4.5 million-member Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, is expected to announce his resignation today.
Zenit offers the full text of Benedict XVI's general audience on St Peter Canisius.
Rome Reports says that pilgrims will not need tickets for the beatification of John Paul II (video)
Zenit publishes the long-awaited full text of the Pope's address to the Apostolic Signatura.
Cardinal Walter Kasper explains why he signed a 1970 petition calling for a reappraisal of priestly celibacy.
Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton says "there was a 50 per cent increase in favourability toward the Pope" following Benedict XVI's visit to Britain.
Carolyn Moynihan, deputy editor of MercatorNet, considers the ethics of Live Action's covert videos of Planned Parenthood staff.
And the Daily Mail claims that the Pope is disrupting Barcelona's preparations for its crucial Champions League tie against Arsenal.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.


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RSA SecurID Risk-Based Authentication is a tokenless, multi-factor enterprise authentication solution that uses risk scoring to determine that users are who they say they are while preserving the username and password login experience.
|Request an RSA SecurID 90-Day / 25-User Trial
|RSA SecurID Risk-Based Authentication Data Sheet 3 years ago in RSA SecurID Risk-Based Authentication
|by Kevin Kyle
|RSA Risk-Based Authentication for RSA Authentication Manager 8.0 Data Sheet 4 years ago in RSA SecurID Risk-Based Authentication
|by RSA Link Team
RSA SecurID Risk-Based Authentication is designed to protect access to the most common web-based applications including SSL VPN, web portals, Outlook Web Access, and more. It is transparent to end users and preserves the username and password login experience, only requiring step-up authentication when the transaction appears to be out of the ordinary for the end user. During a step-up authentication challenge, users are prompted to provide additional proof of identity by either answering life questions or completing an on-demand (SMS) authentication.
Risk-Based Authentication strengthens traditional password login by silently applying risk-based analytics. In real time, the risk engine scores each authentication request by using knowledge about the client device and analyzing the end user's behavior.
Step-Up Authentication is needed when the risk engine deems a login attempt to be high-risk. During a "step-up" authentication challenge, users are able to provide additional proof of identity by either answering life questions or completing an on-demand (SMS) authentication.
The functionalities of Risk-Based Authentication and On-Demand Authentication are offered on a combined, lifetime license.
RSA SecurID Business Continuity Option (BCO) is a licensing feature available in RSA Authentication Manager 7.1 or higher that allows for a temporary expansion of a server license to meet an influx of remote-access users, such as during a business disruption when employees must work from home. The licensing feature can be invoked up to six times every license term, for a timeframe of 60 days each time. BCO license terms are for three years.
The Business Continuity Option expands the server license and enables a pre-defined number of RSA SecurID On-Demand Authenticators to be used. For example, a customer purchases a 1,000-seat BCO license; when the BCO option is invoked, an additional 1,000 seats of On-Demand Authenticators instantly become available. Deployment is done on-the-fly with the Self Service module in RSA Credential Manager (included) so that users can on-board themselves without overwhelming the IT help desk with requests.


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The United National Party states that since existing legal provisions to investigate an impeachment, which is a parliamentary procedure, are insufficient, newer laws should be introduced in place of existing provisions empowering parliament to carryout such inquiries.
Issuing a release General Secretary of the UNP MP THissa Aththanayeke expressing his views in this regard noted that even the Supreme Courts interpretation had acknowledged that the impeachment was a procedure intrinsic to parliamentary proceedings.
In his release Aththanayeke adds that although the UNP was of such a stance, certain parties instead of chastising the government & reproving it of its actions, went on to reprove the actions of his party.
The release bearing Aththanayeke's signature further notes that if the bill presented before parliament as a private members motion by Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa is approved of, then the required legal frame work in this regard could be formed.
Our news team inquired from the minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs W. D. J. Seneviratne with regard to the establishing of new laws with regard to the investigation of the impeachment.


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Reduce Chin Fat
Kybella is the first and only FDA Approved injectable treatment to improve the appearance of moderate fat beneath
the chin by physically destroying the fat cells.
Fat beneath the chin can impact a broad range of both male and female adults. Some possible causes are genetics,
weight gain, and aging. According to American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, 67% of people said they are
bothered by the fat beneath their chin.
Once Kybella destroys the fat cells, they cannot store or accumulate fat. The active ingredient in Kybella is
deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of
dietary fat. Fat cleared from the treatment area is processed through your body's natural metabolism.
*individual results may vary
How much does KYBELLA cost?
For pricing, please call 888.970.7546 to schedule a consultation appointment with one of our physicians.


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Teach Me To Number My Days
It's that time of year I get pensive, inward, quiet, reflective, meditative, and a bit disgruntled… Years ago this was my favorite week of the year – my happy birthday week – but when the five's became sixes I didn't like it so much! My friend, the man I work for, and I were talking… [Read More]
Quietude: July 2nd, 2017
Who doesn't like the 4th of July! America is 241-years old on Tuesday and we need to be waving flags, lighting sparklers, shouting happy birthday because we get to live here. We get to live in a free country that has been so graced and blessed by Almighty God that we should be on our… [Read More]


text: Benchnotes August 2019 Journal Issue: August 2019 Bankruptcy Code: 11 U.S.C. § 362 11 U.S.C. § 548 303 348 542 547 1112 Topic Tags: Administrative Expense Claims Automatic Stay Claims Bankruptcy Litigation Creditors' Committee Ethics Executory Contracts/Leases Fraudulent Transfers Practice and Procedure Preferences Professional Compensation/Fees Consumer Bankruptcy Discharge/Dischargeability Business Reorganization Real Estate Unsecured Trade Creditors Please sign in to access Journal articles or click here to join ABI. Read more about Benchnotes August 2019


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Characterization of Leucocin B-KM432Bz from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides isolated from Boza, and comparison of its efficiency to Pediocin PA-1
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://www.plosone.org/
A bacteriocin-producing bacterium was isolated from boza and identified as Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides KM432Bz. The antimicrobial peptide was purified and shown to be identical to other class IIa bacteriocins: leucocin A from Leuconostoc gelidum UAL-187 and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides QU15 and leucocin B from Leuconostoc carnosum Ta11a. The bacteriocin was named leucocin B-KM432Bz. Leucocin B-KM432Bz gene cluster encodes the bacteriocin precursor (lcnB), the immunity protein (lcnI) and the dedicated export machinery (lcnD and lcnE). A gene of unknown and non-essential function (lcnC), which is interrupted by an insertion sequence of the IS30 family, is localized between lcnB and lcnD. The activity of leucocin B-KM432Bz requires subunit C of the EIIt Man mannose permease, which is the receptor for entry into target cells. The determination of the minimum inhibitory concentrations revealed the lowest values for leucocin B-KM432Bz over Listeria strains, with 4 to 32 fold better efficiency than pediocin PA-1.


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We have the skills and tools to ensure you spend less time and energy on tax and more time on the things that matter to you.
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Click here to add your own text


text: This all-season screenwash with organic ginger extract is part of the new sustainable care line Pure Care inspired by BMW i. It contains some natural ingredients, and removes even stubborn dirt all year round from glass surfaces and windows/windscreens, effectively and without leaving streaks. With this screenwash a little goes a long way. It cleans the windscreen effectively at temperatures as low as -23 °C. The screenwash and the 2000ml stand-up pouch are produced using methods with lower environmental impact and resource use.


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Audi plans on bringing to the Paris Motor Show a limited edition of the SQ5 TDI that will be manufactured in 50 units.
Back in June, the Ingolstadt-based automaker Audi revealed the first S model to get a diesel engine. We are talking about the SQ5 TDI that has a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 TDI engine which pumps out 313 HP (230 kW) and a peak torque of 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque.
This engine is linked to an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox that delivers the power to the quattro all-wheel drive system, enabling the crossover to perform the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in 5.1 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). Fuel consumption is rated at 7.2 liters / 100 km (32.7 mpg US / 39.2 mpg UK).
At the upcoming Paris Motor Show, Audi will bring the SQ5 TDI exclusive concept which will be a limited production vehicle from quattro GmbH that will share the same engine powertrain. Only 50 units will be made, with prices starting from 92,000 Euros in Germany, while the regular SQ5 TDI will go on sale in the first quarter of 2013 for 58,500 Euros.
This limited edition is distinguished by the Aral Blue crystal effect exterior paint finish, four exhaust tailpipes, along with xenon plus headlights and LED DRLs. Inside it has a black Fine Nappa leather-wrapped sports steering wheel and gear lever gaiter with contrasting stitching in snow white. The center sections of the seats are in woven leather (first time for a production model), while the inlays have a natural grain ash finish.
More details can be found in the attached press release below.


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Over Spring Break I planned activities for each day. We were staying in town, but I still wanted to make it fun. Each day, my oldest child would get up and drive me nuts about what we were going to do. Here's a sample conversation:
If you say so.
So, when we pulled up to Medieval Times in Arundel Mills, Maryland (think 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic), oldest child was adequately impressed. The facade on the mall actually does look like a giant castle! (You don't get to enter via the external drawbridge, but that's okay.)
Medieval Times is a dinner and tournament experience. When you arrive, you enter and are assigned to a knight. You get a crown (yes, even you, mommy) in the appropriate color, and then you get to wander the "Great Hall" and see the sights while you wait for the actual dinner seating to begin. The night we went, there was a falconer and Princess Catalina out for you to take pictures with as a family. I'm not gonna lie, it took me a second to get over people saying "M'lord, m'lady, this way, please." with a totally straight face.
During the period while you wait before the seating, the king comes out and acknowledges birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events. We arrived much earlier than we needed to since we didn't have a special event, but there is an open bar and the kids enjoyed the "knightings".
Once it's time to be seated, guests are invited to enter by the color of their crown. You're seated with the other guests who will be cheering for your knight, and receive a ribbon to wave, too. The new show, which we were able to see, starts with horses, who perform very beautifully. There is a good bit of Fog Machine that happens during the show, as well as periods of lasers and/or darkness. None of my children were frightened by this, though, they actually enjoyed it! The show isn't "too loud" (I know I've had several readers write to ask about volume of performances) but you are seated stadium-style, so don't plan on having conversation with anyone who isn't seated directly next to you.
The premise of the meal is that audience are guests of the king and his daughter. To entertain his guests, he has invited a knight from each area to compete. Then there are some exhibitions of either horsemanship or falconry and games of skill where the knights ride on horseback and compete in things like spearing rings with their lance. Winners are given flowers by the Princess, which they toss out to people in their section.
Dinner comes in kind of a strange progression of courses. First there's tomato bisque, and then after that there's a garlic bread course. I've never had a bread course before, but whatever, it works! The main meal is INTENSE. There's half a chicken, 2 ribs, and potato wedges. You should know, too, that you eat without silverware. You get a lovely thick napkin, though, and after dessert (ours was an apple pastry) you get some excellent wet naps 🙂 If you have children young enough, they can be a lap child. We did this, but I would NEVER do it again. It would totally be worth the extra ticket not to have a crown and banner in your face the entire time, and to not have little fingers in your food (lap children share a meal, which is fine because the portions are enormous, but not fine because there are little fingers in your food!) Spring for the extra ticket so that you can keep your eyes in tact!
If I wasn't sharing with a little carnivore, I would have opted for the vegetarian meal, which they do offer. It appeared to be a grilled mushroom cap, hummus and pita and a veggie kabob and actually looked really good! You should know about the meal that your drink options are unsweetened iced tea (sugar/artificial sweetener is provided) and Pepsi.
Holy grief, people. I never give my children caffeine, but it was a special night and so we let them have the Pepsi. Did you forget that caffeine is a drug? Because the car ride home reminded me of that fact. Might be worth bothering your waiter for water for the kids! It did keep them awake through the show, though! (Not that they would've fallen asleep anyway!)
The show progresses during dinner to a man-to-man competition where the knights face off jousting and then in foot battle. They actually joust. This amazed me. I hadn't figured out how they were going to fake that, and they don't. They actually ride on horses and slam each other's shields with lances that shatter into a million pieces. They do fight and simulate someone being cut or stabbed, but there is no blood and it is "real" enough to be interesting and exciting and "staged" enough that my youngest understood there was nothing scary. "It's like big brothers playing swords" was her comment, and she's easily upset about things.
There is a villain who comes to try to claim Princess Catalina, and there is some ominous music. Some of the swords shoot sparks. We happened to think both of those things were awesome.
Note: The New Show is on sale for a limited time. Also, there are matinee educational shows, but I haven't seen one. I hear they are not much different from the evening performances, but cannot speak to that with any authority.
Break it down, now:
Medieval Times
Recommended for ages 5 and up, although younger children will enjoy it, too!
Pros: Different experience, highly imaginative and engaging. Kids enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. Fun costumes, and an overall unique and really upbeat experience!
Cons: Fog and lighting could intimidate the youngest viewers, or those who are sensitive to sensory overload.
Notes: This show includes imitations of fighting, as well as the use of animals.
We had a great time at Medieval Times, and we think you will, too!! Enter from now through April 19th at midnight to win tickets to see the new show for yourself at Medieval Times Baltimore!
You can have 1 entry for each of the following:
1) Twitter! You can write whatever you want, but include @PwcMoms and @MedievalTimes
2) Facebook! You'll have to post here, too, but head to Medieval Times Maryland and let them know PwcMoms sent you! Your comment here stating you did this is your entry, as always.
3) Share! Tell your friends about this contest on facebook or twitter and link back to @PwcMoms and leave a comment saying you did.
4) Or just leave a comment. I forgot this one originally, but you can always leave comments. They're my favorite.
Each method counts as a separate entry! Good luck!)
Disclosure: PwcMoms was provided with tickets to attend a Medieval Times show, as well as a set of tickets to give away. No other compensation was provided and all opinions expressed here are our own. Your experience may vary. We're not responsible for you being lanced. Just sayin.


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Ezekiel 2:2-5
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Mark 6:1-6
We have all doubtless heard the old saying that familiarity breeds contempt. Nowhere is this better Illustrated than in today's Gospel. Jesus returns to Nazareth at this early point in his ministry already having a reputation as a miracle worker. Now there were quite a few people in ancient Palestine who had reputations as miracle workers, but only one of these people claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
The Galilee of the first century was filled with Jewish people who were expecting the Messiah with what can only be described as an apocalyptic fervor. This was a people who were very familiar with the Scriptures, especially the Psalms of David, because those would have been passed down as part of the oral tradition of the Hebrew people. Jesus would have been brought up knowing them by heart, but so would many of his friends and neighbors. These people knew to expect a Messiah, and they believed that one was coming.
Mark doesn't go into much detail about what Jesus taught in the synagogue that day, but what he shares with us is the reaction of the people who were there. Luke, however, goes into much greater detail about what happened that day, there are some biblical Scholars who even believe that Christ may have made more than one visit to the synagogue at Nazareth and what we have in scripture is a compilation of those visits. We don't really know, but we do know that however it happened, the result was the same. Luke tells us that Jesus read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, he has sent me to Proclaim Liberty to the captives and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at Liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (cf. Luke 4:16-30)
The people who heard Jesus that day in Nazareth would have understood exactly what Jesus meant when he told them that "today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." In the first century this passage was viewed as a prophecy of the Messiah, so for anyone to make the claim that this passage was being "fulfilled in your hearing" meant that they were making the claim to be the Messiah that God had sent. Jesus revealed his Messianic identity to the people who were supposed to know him best. However, we see their reaction. "Isn't this Joseph's son? Isn't he the carpenter? Where in the world does he get all this?" The Gospel tells us they took offense at him, St Luke goes so far as to tell us that they were going to throw him down the hill on which the city was built. In other words, they were so angry by what Jesus said that they were prepared to put him to death.
They wanted a Messiah, but the one who came to them and said "I'm the One" was right in front of their eyes for many years, and if the Scripture is to be believed, this was somebody who they would have least expected to have been the promised Saviour. (cf. Matthew 13:53-58)
Ezekiel tells us in the first reading that these people weren't going to hear the truth. Although today's Old Testament passage is an account of the calling of the Prophet Ezekiel, the words can just as equally be applied to what happened to Jesus. "Son of man I am sending you to the Israelites, Rebels who have rebelled against me, they and their ancestors have revolted to this very day."
When the people of Nazareth looked at Jesus they didn't see a wonder worker, let alone the Divine Son of God. They saw that carpenter that many of them grew up with, Joseph's boy. This is one indication from Scripture that when Jesus was growing up, he likely lived a very ordinary existence for much of his life as a youth, because the reaction of his neighbors and friends-and in a village like Nazareth this would also have included many of his extended family-tells us that the last thing that they saw or were willing to see was the Messiah and Lord. He was before them all the time, and they never saw it. When he declared it, they didn't believe him.
Do we take the Lord for granted, just like the people in Nazareth did? Do we see Christ in those around us, in the neglected, in the poor, in the immigrant, in the homebound, in the sick, in the dying, in the defenseless Unborn? Are we willing to look for Christ in those places, and among those people?
When we come at the weekend to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, do we simply treat Jesus as though he is entirely too familiar to us? Yes, coming to Holy Mass is a religious obligation, it is a Precept of the Church to come on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, and it is right and just that it should be. But do we treat Jesus as if we are only here because we have to be? Is the Eucharist a ho-hum affair for us? Is our relationship with Jesus just a little bit too familiar? Have we lost our awe and reverence for the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, God made Man?
Very often we make the mistake of placing Our Lord Jesus in a box of our own making. We often try to categorize Jesus according to the labels of this world. We somehow see conservative Jesus or liberal Jesus in the pages of Scripture, but of course often this indicates that those who engage in this kind of labeling of Our Lord don't bother to read the Scriptures very closely. A very dear friend of mine who is personally inclined to libertarianism as a political philosophy spent a great deal of time during our college years trying to prove somehow within the pages of Scripture that Jesus is a libertarian. There is no conservative Jesus, and there is certainly no liberal Jesus or libertarian Jesus. There is simply Jesus the Christ who is the Second Person of the Trinity, who is God, and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
When Jesus comes to us he comes to us in ways that the world would not expect, just as he came to the people of his own hometown and made himself known to them in a manner and a way that they did not expect or accept. Jesus comes to us in the Sacraments that we receive, most especially when we are open to the Graces that he gives to us through those Sacraments. If we look closely we can not only see Christ in our neighbor, but we can see Christ in his Bride the Church. For as much as the Church is filled with sinful people, and as we know she has even had sinful leaders over the centuries, and certainly in our own time, it is through the Church that Christ works to bring Salvation to the whole world. Not unlike the people of Nazareth, the world does not recognize Christ in the Church, but we should certainly be able to recognize Him. We should also be ready to do our part so that others can recognize Him in the Church-and in us.


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Appliances' sizzling spending success - According to Marketview and the BNZ, overall spending for the week ending 18 March 2018 was +3.2%, while transactions were a fraction ahead at +3.3%. Spending on appliances was well ahead of the market with a top three increase of +10.6%, alongside Furniture & Flooring (+8%) and Travel Agents (+10%). Find out more here
Appnet's staying in Auckland - The annual Appnet Conference will be held over 11-13 May. The 2018 venue is the Holiday Inn Auckland (top photo). Friday arvo will see the "Betta Cup Challenge", followed by a barbie on Friday night. Saturday's gala diner will be at Villa Maria. Registrations close at the end of next week. Find out more on (09) 969 1930
ACL 1OO% focused on travel - In contrast, Appliance Connexion is again looking further afield this year. Bangkok, Thailand, is set to be the host city for the August event. Find out more on (09) 579 6960
Ataribox back online - After some "will they, won't they", the retro stylings of the Atari VCS games console have reached another milestone with Ataribox now saying pre-orders will start at a date yet to be announced in April. Find out more here
Appnet movers & shakers - Appnet's Graphic Designer, Bianca Evangelista, is leaving next week to further her career. Her replacement, Gunjan Bansal, will be arriving in the first week of April. All the best to Bianca! Find out more on (09) 969 1930
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Lack of Leadership Programs In Bush Budget Bemoaned
School leadership may be one of the top issues of the day in education, but it's nowhere to be found in President Bush's budget plan.
In fact, the only federal job that focuses directly on school leadership issues may be cut: the national principal-in-residence.
The lack of attention to school leadership programs in the proposed Department of Education budget Mr. Bush unveiled last week has school administrators' groups worried about the new administration's devotion to their field.
"There's been a real awakening across America of school leadership. We're not seeing that reflected" in the administration's priorities, said Gerald N. Tirozzi, the executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, who served as an assistant secretary of education in the Clinton administration.
"What we would like to see are dollars that are specifically targeted for training for school leaders," said Vincent F. Ferrandino, the executive director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals. "Not specifically earmarking it really sends the wrong signal to our school leaders."
Secretary of Education Rod Paige was not available for an interview last week, but he said at a press conference April 9 that he supported significant changes in the way his agency works and pays for school programs.
"Simply spending more money in the same way is not the answer," he said.
Lindsey Kozberg, a spokeswoman for Mr. Paige, confirmed that the national principal-in-residence, along with the national teacher-in-residence, would see "changes." But she added that the planned changes did not reflect any lack of interest in school leadership issues by the new administration.
"You will see from the office of the secretary, within the department, willingness to work with school administrators, superintendents, and principals alike," Ms. Kozberg said. "Given his background as a superintendent, Secretary Paige knows what it's like to get three phone calls a day before you're done shaving."
Mr. Paige was the schools chief in Houston before being tapped for the secretary's position.
Setting Priorities
No Education Department program currently focuses on school administrators directly, except for the principal- in-residence position.
But the department has focused on leadership before.
Former Secretary Richard W. Riley pushed for a $40 million grant program last year that would have opened leadership academies for school administrators across the country. The idea didn't survive last year's budget debate, but it may be proposed again this year by Sen. John Kerry, D- Mass.
Leadership programs began at the federal level in the 1970s in the Office of Education, before the office became a separate Cabinet-level department during the Carter administration.
The department's most substantial program for school administrators was born in 1984, during the Reagan administration. LEAD, or Leadership in Education Administration Development, provided grants for states and U.S. territories to begin their own school leadership centers. The program lasted six years.
Centers opened in 57 states and territories, with the goal of providing better training for school administrators, said Hunter S. Moorman, who oversaw leadership programs at the agency for many years.
Mr. Moorman said some of the LEAD centers thrived more than others, but they all helped develop the written materials and practices that led to today's focus on administrators as leaders of teaching and learning.
"The work that LEAD began ... still needs to be done," he said.
The Reagan administration and the first Bush administration developed innovative leadership academies through grants to existing training centers, including universities, Mr. Moorman said. The federally financed education laboratories also participate in leadership-related activities.
But this year, President Bush's lack of specific proposals on school leadership issues is meeting with concern.
More attention to school leadership could help the nation avert a big shortage of principals that is expected in the next five years, the leaders of the national principals' groups argue, and could provide training for current principals who need more knowledge and skills to improve teaching and meet new academic expectations.
Mr. Tirozzi said the federal government should consider direct spending on leadership programs. "If education is our number-one priority, it takes that," he argued.
Two Democratic senators may push for specific proposals in the final budget that would affect school administrators.
Sen. Kerry is said to want to revive the $40 million leadership-academy proposal from last year, along with a grant program that would send money to states for the professional development of school leaders.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., has introduced a $50 million bill that would expand a teacher-recruitment grant program to include principals.
Ms. Kozberg said that those plans intentionally aren't included in the Bush administration's budget, but that Mr. Paige has discretion to use some department money for leadership activities.
The president's budget plan would give states greater flexibility so that some money could be used for leadership development, she said.
"With our budget, there's probably greater flexibility at the state level for that purpose," she said, "in an effort to focus on results, rather than create programs."
A 'Way to be Heard'
The national principal-in-residence, a small but well-known program that began in 1993, is aimed at providing the perspective of a working administrator to the department.
Ms. Kozberg said the administration would seek other ways to tap the advice and perspectives of working school administrators.
"It's accurate to say there will be changes in those programs," she said, "and probably a broadening."
Carole Kennedy, a former elementary and middle school principal from Columbia, Mo., is the current principal-in-residence. The nonpolitical, two-year appointment involves speaking at administrator conferences and leading workshops. Ms. Kennedy's term ends in July.
Vicki Baldwin, who was the national principal-in-residence in 1995 and 1996, said she brought practical views to high-level policy discussions and learned immensely from the experience.
"If they're truly doing away with this, then what kind of message is that? I hate to think that it's just simply political," said Ms. Baldwin.
Vol. 20, Issue 31, Pages 31, 34Published in Print: April 18, 2001, as Lack of Leadership Programs In Bush Budget Bemoaned
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In the omnichannel marketplace, brands that engage with consumers as individuals stand a better chance of retaining customers. Loyalty programmes are a time honoured way of achieving this.
The first known loyalty scheme dates back to 1793 when a merchant in the US state of New Hampshire started giving customers copper tokens to collect and redeem against a future purchase.
In an age when people are in constant contact with their smartphones, retailers need to update from copper tokens to points on an engaging mobile app. Otherwise billions of their loyalty points will remain unclaimed.
The marketing firm, Bond Brand Loyalty recently estimated that $100 billion worth of loyalty points are unclaimed, either because the redemption process is cumbersome, or there's no communication with loyalty members outside the purchasing process – so people just forget to use them.
Tech firm Comarch has brought out a white paper detailing some modern methods of developing successful loyalty schemes.
Comarch has worked with over eighty clients to build loyalty schemes and is a specialist in innovative customer engagement systems based on what it calls "gamification".
The gamification (pronounced game-ification) market is predicted to be worth over $11 billion by 2020, but what is it?
Comarch says it's taking strategies and devices implemented in games and applying them to business practices – creating engaging experiences that keep people coming back for more.
As examples, the white paper cites the following:
Walgreens, the American pharmacy chain, has linked its reward scheme to its members' physical activity and wellness actions. For example, participants can: earn 250 points by linking a health app or device to the account; earn 20 points per daily weigh-in; earn 20 points per mile run, walked or cycled.
Samsung pay is a payment app with its own reward scheme. Samsung Rewards gives users of the payment app 10 points per purchase completed via the app. The reward catalogue is public, so even non-members can see what they could earn – rewards include a Gear VR headset for 12,000 points and a Gear Fit 2 for 16,000 points, or VISA / Sephora gift cards for fewer points. Members can also win prizes and get the chance to earn more points by completing certain goals in the Samsung Health app.
JetBlue's TrueBlue loyalty scheme uses gamification. It rewards members for completed tasks, providing them with virtual and physical rewards. It rewards members by giving them the right to use their points towards the cost of any seat, at any time and by giving them six points per dollar when booking on jetblue.com.
And Disney uses a wristband – The Magic Band – for guests to wear throughout the theme park. They can use it to pay for shopping and rides, and in return, it provides Disney with data on the guests' individual preferences and how people move throughout the park. It also enables characters to greet children by name and acknowledge when it's their birthday. It's connected to an app – My Disney Experience – where guests can plan their trips, book activities and make reservations.
Businesses create loyalty through developing trust, says Comarch. Without trust, it says, people won't feel comfortable in giving the business access to their data, but with trust, mobile optimised loyalty schemes deliver excellent results for scheme members and businesses alike.


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America's Literacy Directory – America's Literacy Directory (ALD) is a web site that allows users to find local literacy providers in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. The ALD includes literacy programs for adults, children, and families. You can also search the ALD for volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood.
Brighter Beginnings – Brighter Beginnings is offered by WDMCS Community Education to families who live within the West Des Moines Community School District boundaries. Their goal is to make the world brighter for parents and children by providing fun early childhood family learning, so parents can be their child's most influential teacher.
Center for Early Literacy Learning – CELL is dedicated to early literacy learning, identifying and developing evidence-based literacy learning practices, and they also focus on young children with developmental delays or diagnosed disabilities.
NAEYC – The National Association for the Education of Young Children advocates for quality early childhood education. Their Learning and Development pages contain many practical articles for parents and caregivers on how to focus on learning and literacy with your child at home.
National Literacy Directory – The NLD is designed to help individuals find local literacy and education programs and GED testing centers in their areas. The National Literacy Directory contains over 10,000 educational agencies located across the United States. Another component of the directory is a toll-free number that individuals can call to get a local program referral.
National Literacy Trust – The National Literacy Trust is a UK based independent charity that transforms lives through literacy by supporting those who struggle with literacy and the people who work with them.
Partners in Care: Fussy Baby Network – Partners in Care is an extension of the Erikson Institute and is dedicated to offering information about why some babies are fussy and tools for helping to soothe baby. It also offers information about how to help baby develop sleep patterns and how to avoid over stimulating your baby so that he/she will be less likely to become fussy. Although originally intended for outside caregivers, the information provided will be of benefit to anyone who has a fussy baby.
PBS.org – The PBS site definitely revolves around its children's programming, but it has some great literacy resources including book lists, reading tips, a book finder, and child development information. You'll also be able to find activities to do (on and offline).
Reading is Fundamental – RIF's goal is to motivate young children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8.
Reading Rockets – Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.
Signing Savvy – Signing Savvy LLC focuses on creating cutting-edge, easy-to-use sign language learning tools. The founders of Signing Savvy include educators, interactive media designers, and sign language experts representing over 40 years of experience in sign language education.
Zero to Three – Zero to Three is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Their mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers.


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As college classes resume this fall, Georgetown University will welcome its inaugural class of students in a brand new degree: a Master's of Science in Health and Aging. "The longevity market is a really exciting space with a great need for trained, educated professionals," said professor Pamela A. Saunders, Program Director of the new GU program.
Saunders predicts the enrollees in the interdisciplinary program will be able to pick and choose between job offers in various sectors when they graduate. "We're training the next generation of leaders, the problem solvers who will move into positions to find solutions," she said. "There are so many businesses and agencies in the Washington, DC area who are already interested in them; I have more intern possibilities than I have students."
While the longevity economy is surging, the number of students preparing for jobs across the field continues to lag. That's why the nation's colleges and universities are in the midst of a shift to attract more students to be formally schooled in aging—through majors or minors at the undergraduate level, certificate programs and graduate degrees in gerontology.
This pivot recognizes the appeal of aging studies to returning students in search of encore careers, and adapts existing college curriculum to expose more traditional students to the subject matter.
"While jobs related to aging have increased tremendously in the 40 years I've been in the field, the academic programs have not become as popular as people thought they would, given the demographics of the aging population," noted John Cavanaugh, the president of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area whose disciplinary expertise is in gerontology.
Cavanaugh is heartened that more colleges now offer courses with aging content within other academic departments. "They're getting training in the basic disciplines and then can specialize in that sector as it is focused on older adults," he said. For example, business schools have created coursework on marketing to older consumers, introductory psychology courses now include content about older adults as well as child development, and law schools are preparing students to specialize in elder law.
Gerontology professors find that a stealth approach hooks students on the subject matter. Elizabeth Bergman is chair of Ithaca College's Gerontology Institute, which relies on an accidentally-on-purpose approach to present aging studies content to undergraduates.
"We've made a concerted effort to develop more aging-related courses, and we've overhauled some of our existing ones to make them more dynamic. Now these classes can check a box to satisfy the social science requirement for freshman and sophomores," she said. "Students are exposed to the subject, we can often involve them in experiential learning with elders that breaks down their assumptions and stereotypes. We see students who suddenly find their passion and are transformed. It's far more common for our aging studies majors or minors to come in this way than as declared majors."
Bergman is a member-at-large of the executive committee of Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education and managing editor of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, the organization's scholarly journal. The theme of its most recent edition was how educators can influence the next generation to pursue gerontology careers.
"We need to retool and rebrand to reach students at the K-12 level. We are beginning to connect with high school guidance counselors to explain the potential careers for students. Most of them have no idea of the opportunities."
Bergman calls gerontology's breadth "both a blessing and a curse." Students with gerontology degrees apply their knowledge in jobs in housing, business, finance, health care administration, social service and government agencies.
"If a student majors in education, there's a clearly defined career. In aging studies, the options are far broader, but it can be an uphill battle to get students to embrace a major without a clearly articulated career path. With the high level of debt so many assume, there's a lot of pressure on students to choose careers that will be lucrative and have a guaranteed income right away."
Sigma Phi Omega, the international gerontology academic honor and professional society, offers encouragement and early professional development to college students through its 43 campus chapters.
"Students join to find mentors, network with people working in aging and for the prestige of having an honors organization to put on their resume," said Pamela Brown, immediate past president of Sigma Phi Omega and a professor who teaches gerontology courses at Albany State University in Georgia. "This organization is another place where we can demonstrate the great opportunities in our field and make sure students are up-to-date with what they can do with a academic gerontology background. They see how they can integrate the study of aging to create their livelihood."
Students arriving for Georgetown's new master's program are between the ages of 30 and 60. Many academic programs that offer advanced degrees in gerontology are pitching to mid career professionals. "Our candidates have been working in the corporate, nonprofit and government world. Most of them have held jobs that touch the aging population; they want the knowledge and credentials to be more effective or take the next step in their careers," said Georgetown's Pamela Saunders.
Saunders suspects the persistent obstacle to attracting students of all ages to gerontology is the stubborn bias of ageism. "We are challenged to reframe aging on a larger stage and as a social justice issue, for this generation and the next," she said. "The issues associated with aging won't go away in 30 years; the large population of millennials is the next bulge and they will overlap with the baby boomers. This is a problem for the next century and it's global."


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Peptha Mask is an antioxidant "creamy mask" (with cranberry extract), containing innovative anti-wrinkle peptide complexes, stimulating collagen and with lifting and anti-aging effect. Peptha Mask contains hydrolyzed RNA and hydrolyzed DNA, making the skin fuller, renewed, vital and brighter than ever.
METHOD OF USE: apply the "creamy mask" in the evenings on face and neck, once perfectly cleaned. Leave it on for 10/15 minutes and massage the residues to finish the active absorption. To be used twice or three times a week for 3 weeks as intensive treatment. Once a week as prevention against aging.
Free from added petrolatum, silicones, parabens, synthetic coloring agents and fragrances.


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Subaru Outback EcoHitch
The EcoHitch™ hidden hitch for the 2015-2018 Subaru Outback is designed to be completely concealed so you only see the receiver once it installed rather than having to see an unsightly crosstube underneath your vehicle. Rated for 525 pounds tongue weight at the trailer ball, and 3,500 pounds towing weight, the Hidden hitch for Subaru Outback is full of strength that supports your adventures. *If you're going to be towing and need trailer wiring, click here! Ensure your wiring harness does not drag on the ground by visiting our Eclipse trailer wiring bracket page. This trailer hitch for Outback allows you to bring your extra cargo, bikes and whatever else you need to bring on your next adventure.
Trailer Hitch Part Numbers: x7266(2"), x7267(1¼")
Available Accessories:
Wiring Harnesses
Bike Racks
Cargo Trays
Ball Mounts
*If you're going to be towing and need trailer wiring, click here!
Safer, roomier, more powerful, more fuel-efficient and quieter than ever, your Outback needs a trailer hitch that will be able to keep up with all of your driving needs, especially one that is as lightweight as this Subaru Outback trailer hitch. With the EcoHitch for Subaru, we have manufactured a perfect complement to your updated classic Subaru Outback. The EcoHitch™ hidden hitch for the Subaru Outback comes in both 1.25-inch and 2-inch receiver sizes so you get your choice of which bike racks and cargo trays will work best for the receiver you choose.
This trailer hitch for Subaru will let you maintain a great drive in your Outback without changing style or efficiency since the only part of the hitch that is visible is the receiver. Also, with 525 pounds tongue weight at the trailer ball, and 3,500 pounds towing weight capacity you won't have to leave anything behind with this hitch for you Subaru Outback.
Applications include:
2015 Subaru Outback EcoHitch trailer hitch
2016 Subaru Outback EcoHitch trailer hitch
2017 Subaru Outback EcoHitch trailer hitch
2018 Subaru Outback EcoHitch trailer hitch
2015-2018 Subaru Outback EcoHitch Features:
- Completely concealed design - only receiver is visible
- 100 percent bolt-on installation - no drilling required
- Engineered to meet stringent national SAE J684 towing safety standards
- Rated for 525 pounds tongue weight at the trailer ball, 3,500 pounds towing weight
- Available in 1¼-inch and 2-inch receivers
- Designed to complement the aerodynamic contours and underbody airflow of vehicle
- Coated with high impact powder coat for durability
- Material can include a qualified combination of aerospace grade aluminum, stainless steel or steel*
- Made with 100% recycled and recyclable materials
- Lightweight
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- Lifetime Warranty
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|Part #
|Bare Weight
|31.5 lbs
|28 lbs
*WARNING* Your vehicle may have a lower tow rating than this trailer hitch. If your vehicle's tow rating is less than the rated towing capacity on your Torklift Central trailer hitch, your trailer hitch capacity is limited to your vehicle's factory rated towing capacity.
EcoHitch Installation on 2018 Subaru Outback
EcoHitch Installation on Subaru Outback
*This video is intended to give a general overview of how this hitch is installed. For more specific information or details, please refer to the written instructions.


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Not My Teen: Teens Drawn to Heavily Advertised Alcohol Brands
Every month, we're keeping you informed on the latest studies and research in our "Not My Teen" blog series. Today, we're looking at the relationship between alcohol brands favored by underage drinkers and their heavy exposure to alcohol brand advertising.
Teens can be easily influenced by the world around them. Teens tend to mimic what they see on TV, in magazines and on social networks, particularly risky behaviors as the consequences of such activities are often left unaddressed. New research suggests that heavy exposure to alcohol advertisements may cause teens to be more likely to consume alcohol. A study from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that the brands of alcohol favored by underage drinkers are the same ones that are heavily advertised in magazines read by teens.
In the study, researchers used national magazine readership data to identify which age groups received the greatest exposure to advertising for the top 25 alcohol brands consumed by underage males and females. Results showed that brands in the top 25 were advertised more heavily in magazines read by teenagers. Eleven brands exposed 18- to 20-year-old males more heavily than any other age group while 16 brands delivered greater advertising exposure to 18- to 20-year-old females than to any other age group. Overall, 18- to 20-year-olds were five to nine times more likely to be exposed to such magazine advertisements of popular alcohol brands consumed by underage youth.
"Young people, and especially young females, still read magazines, and the alcohol brands youth are being over-exposed to via magazine advertisements are the same brands they are choosing to drink," said lead study author Craig Ross, PhD., in reference to the study. These high levels of exposure to magazine advertising of alcohol among underage readers occur despite all advertising being in compliance with the alcohol industry self-regulatory codes, revealing that current guidelines may not be as protective as they should be of our nation's youth.
As parents, it's important to remain aware of what media content your teen is being exposed to and consistently communicate with your teen about the dangers of alcohol, drug and medicine abuse. When your teen knows about the potential consequences that come with engaging in risky behaviors, your teen will likely be less likely to be as easily swayed by the media and other influential sources.


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Being a free spirit, I enjoy going to restaurants that are enthusiastic to go out of the 'box' and not troubled to go off the beaten track. Zorawar Kalra who started Farzi Cafe has been famed as a dynamic restaurateur for a good reason. His Indian cuisine is an extreme art form and modern interpretation of traditional Indian food with engineering precision. Though Farzi Café has many vegetarian options but this time round they have come up with a spectacular 'Navratri special' chef's menu! All I want to say is it was a unique and sensational experience that not many restaurants are able to create. Food should be art, whether it's vegetarian or not.
You could probably put the Buckwheat Tacos Twist in front of anyone, and 9 out of 10 of them would have no idea that it was a 'Navratri special'. It tastes so good with the pumpkin filling and an exciting crunch from the water chestnuts and it does the one thing that so many dishes fail at–get the texture right. Even the presentation was impressive – very fresh and tasty.The Sabudana Risotto topped with water chestnut crisps was great. I was a little worried with this strange nomenclature, but I shouldn't have been–this is the best Risotto I have ever had made with sago. Despite my mother's accolades, I would have no idea how to make sago taste so good, but theirs was incredible – creamy, flavourful and satisfying.
Would I recommend? The food was delicious, I have learned to love when vegetarian food is done well, and outside of your home kitchen, this has been the best 'Navratri special meal', I have had in Delhi. Also, mission matters to me and I have a lot of respect for the this place, for their dedication to serving wholesome and delicious food with a twist at affordable prices especially considering that they're located in a neighbourhood with an abundance of food chains. If you go (and I hope you do), just keep in mind that this is a Limited menu and is only available during the Navratras.
|This warm lauki ka halwa is to die for..replete with panjiri like Nitrogen chilled Singhara and dry fruit crumble
P.S. I do hope the chef retains the 'Sabudana Risotto' and the 'Lauki Ka Halwa' on its regular menu too!
|If this generation ( That's my mom) is happy with the menu....it's obviously damn good


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A Lubbock, Texas, woman recently climbed Mount Everest and got people buzzing not because she's 61 years old, but because she scaled the peak with just one good leg, TV station KCBD reports.
Rhonda Graham climbed Mount Everest in October and hopes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in July.
She's been an amputee since 1980, when she lost her left leg to a staph infection. For the next 25 years she used crutches to get around because infections and surgeries kept her from getting a prosthetic leg, KCBD said.
When she finally got a prosthetic she set her sights on a lofty goal and pasted a photo of Everest on the leg for motivation (see a photo here).
The prosthetic didn't hold up well in her mountain-climbing quest, but Graham's spirits did:
"The hydraulic seals of the leg broke, probably because of altitude. So the leg basically was not functioning very well by the time the trip was over. It was more or less just hanging on," she laughed.
[h/t KTRH]


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Help support the library by attending the Spring book sale by the Friends of the Library!
Today: Noon to 5pm Friends Members and 5 to 7pm Public
Tuesday: 9am to 7pm with a bake sale beginning at 9am
Wednesday: Noon to 5pm
So many of our programs are made possible by this wonderful organization, and all support given to the Friends will have a positive impact on the library. From programming to computers to furniture, the items purchased by the Friends help make the library a better place to visit!
Monetary donations are welcome and encouraged.


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The last two days have graced us with some exciting thunderstorms.
This was yesterday's front, although today and just about every other Florida afternoon thunderstorm looks much the same.
The clouds looked ominous and we got about 1/2″ of rain; but the lighting was minimal and the whole thing passed within a few minutes. The most interesting part was the smoke in the clouds. Apparently the storm brought remnants of a fire that it may have whipped up on the way.
Today's storm was much more impressive. The NOAA weather radio went off and mentioned Micco (which it never does). The clouds rolled in fast with a good display of lightning. We got 3″ of rain within one hour. The yard turned into a temporary pond and the road was transformed into a river. We even heard some hail tinkling on the roof. Another quick mover, the storm was gone and the sun back out in just over an hour. Within a few more minutes the puddles had dried up.
We unplugged everything during the storm, but got a good show by looking out the windows.
AJ's anemometer clocked the biggest gust it has ever measured:62.6 mph.
Grapevine beetles (Pelidnota punctata) have been visiting my blacklight. They are common, but their size and mellow demeanor makes them fun to capture and inspect. I enjoy them because they look as though they are made of wood.
And last but not least…


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October 2011
Creating the Perfect Job Candidate
Andrea Tortora
When CEO Rex Wetherill needed to quickly fill positions at Hydrotech, he hired employees right out of college.
"We usually want people with more experience in the field," Wetherill says of the Springdale fluid control company. "But it's incredibly difficult to find people with the skill sets we need to be effective."
Hydrotech, like many manufacturers in Greater Cincinnati, is struggling to find the right people to fill open positions. That could be a "potential source of drag on the economy," says Gary Conley, president of manufacturing consultant TechSolve. "There will be much lost opportunity for expansion and growth."
Manufacturing is a bright spot in the region's economy, employing 108,800 people "" 5,100 more than a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The sector is growing nationally, too, with more than 100,000 jobs added since January.
"As demand rises, keeping jobs empty becomes costly," says Ben Passty, director of the Applied Economics Research Institute at the University of Cincinnati. "It is easier to create the perfect candidate than it is to wait for the person who is the right fit."
Training for Growth
At Hydrotech, instead of adding experienced people and retraining them, Wetherill hired two recent graduates this summer "" an engineer and a marketer.
"Since we have to train them, we can really get them acclimated to what we do and the culture here," Wetherill says. Hydrotech designs, installs and distributes fluid power systems.
Jim Pickrel started as technical marketing coordinator in July, armed with a marketing degree from UC. He is learning everything from service and repair, to manifold and cartridge assembly, to design for the hydraulic pumps and pneumatic systems that Hydrotech supplies to manufacturers.
"I came in with zero experience in hydraulics and pneumatics," Pickrel says. "The engineering that goes into it is remarkable. There is so much done before we put it together."
As he learns the lines, Pickrel also will be teaching his bosses a bit about social media and brand development. "He is the same age as our future customer," Wetherill says. "And we need to know how they want to communicate."
Workers not prepared
At R&R Tool in Blanchester, co-owner Dan Reed gave up trying to find employees with the right experience.
"We just came off that requirement and decided to get people in and just train them," says Reed, who operates the tool and die contract machining firm with wife Bonnie. Reed says candidates with experience weren't being trained by previous employers to do more than one thing. "So when this downturn hit, they just weren't prepared to step into something new," he says.
That shift is rippling across the manufacturing landscape as more technology comes into play, jobs change and employers seek workers who can multitask "" troubleshoot, debug machines and change parts, says Mike DeVore, chair of the mechanical engineering technology program at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
"They don't just want operators anymore," DeVore says. "You have to have people who can make adjustments if there is a specification that isn't right."
Young People Not Interested
At Monti, Inc., in Carthage, "We are always hiring qualified CNC machinists," says Molly Narburgh, human resource manager and daughter of CEO Gavin Narburgh. Monti makes conductors, insulators and steel parts for the electrical industry.
Finding experienced people is tough. Monti instead hires programmers and operators to run its machines. It is reaching out to vocational education programs, too, Narburgh says. Three high school graduates were hired to be machinists, and a college graduate who worked at Monti while in college recently started as an account manager.
"We want to start them off young so they can build with our company," Narburgh says. "But you rarely come across a college graduate who wants to work in a machine shop."
as a Creative Process
That lack of interest reflects a failure in the education system and a general degradation in the skill level of the workforce, says Richard Stevie, chief economist with Duke Energy.
He said many among the unemployed once worked in the construction industry as laborers. "The jobs being created now are in manufacturing, and they don't have the skills to make that jump," Stevie says.
To fill the skills gap, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Manufacturing Institute launched a joint effort this June to credential 500,000 community college students with skills certifications tied to manufacturers' needs. The "Skills for America's Future" initiative wants to reach that goal in five years. In the meantime, temporary labor firms are busy supplying workers for manufacturers who aren't ready to invest in immediate hiring. Gold Medal Products, a Cincy Manny Award winner, went that route, hiring a machinist and assemblers who first came aboard through a staffing agency during the busy April to August season.
Conley says the workforce issue is a frustrating problem.
"It is certainly much better to be faced with the problem of how to provide people with the preparation and education they need in order to enjoy the employment and jobs that exist than to have one where there is no demand for labor, regardless of qualifications," Conley says.
What Passty wants young people to realize is that the jobs are not just about pushing buttons. "Manufacturing will be driven by innovation and dynamics," he says. "Manufacturing as a process is more about creativity."
Mike Tonyan, Hydrotech's vice president of sales, marketing and technical training, interviewed six candidates for Pickrel's job. None understood the manufacturing aspects, but he says they became very interested as he explained it.
"It is something that is not projected as glamorous (in the media), and kids hardly get any type of exposure to it," Tonyan says.
Manufacturing is a field Pickrel says he didn't know much about.
"I'm fully vested now," Pickrel says, "and I think as young people (start to) see (that it) is not monotonous and you can get your hands on the product and it's fun, I think more will become interested."
Manufacturing continues to show signs of growth, although things are slowing down, according to the Cincinnati Report on Business from the University of Cincinnati Department of Economics and the Institute for Supply Management "" Cincinnati.
The August Cincinnati Purchasing Management Index of 59.3 represents continued expansion for manufacturing in the region. A value above 50 indicates growth.
Source: Cincinnati Purchasing Management Index (PMI) 2011
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It might surprise anyone who's heard his booming tenor of a voice, but San Francisco singer-songwriter Bhi Bhiman didn't always want to be a musician. His first chosen profession? Comedian. Which goes some way toward explaining the sharp humor in his lyrics.
"I tried to do [comedy], but playing guitar on stage is a lot easier for me than having nothing up there," Bhi (pronounced "Bee") Bhiman tells us over coffee in SOMA's Brickhouse cafe. "People always notice my vocals first, but I think guitar might be my strength. It's something I could do in my sleep, so having that as the foundation and singing over it is a lot easier than comedy. I just knew I wanted to be funny in some way."
Despite the fact that there's a lot of serious social commentary on his latest album, Bhiman — stories from perspectives as diverse as a rail-riding hobo ("Guttersnipe"), a North Korean prisoner ("Kimchee Line"), and a cuckolded lover ("Crime of Passion") — Bhi's songs do indeed have a stream of sly and dry humor running through their lyrics. Sometimes, as on "Kimchee Line," it's all in the delivery. But the ode to white trash-dom "Ballerina" even goes so far as to parody Johnny Cash and June Carter's "Jackson," with the opening line: "We got married in a Wal-Mart/ Down by the Wrangler jeans."
Bhiman was released last month through Boocoo Records and includes a surprising and refreshing diversity of styles. The base is essentially folk — especially obvious on "Take What I'm Given" and the instrumental "Mexican Wine" — but country elements emerge on "Guttersnipe" and "Ballerina"; "Time Heals" has Caribbean undertones; and a soul vibe weaves throughout the entire record, thanks to Bhi's emotive delivery and powerful, deep voice.
It is an unusual mix for the Inner Sunset-based musician, but one that holds together seamlessly — probably thanks in part to Bhiman's worldly background. His parents are originally from Sri Lanka, and his mother has nine brothers and sisters who have spread out across the globe, offering Bhiman lots of opportunities to see the world from a young age.
"There's family all over," he explains, "Trinidad, Tobago, at one point Kenya, the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, America. We grew up in kind of a global household. I never really thought about it."
But the music Bhiman heard at home growing up was decidedly American. Raised on a diet of "talk radio and oldie stations," he had his first exposure to music from his father's love of Doris Day and Petula Clark, and slowly expanded to a passion for grunge once he reached his teens.
His experiments with music really commenced though, when Bhiman moved from his native St. Louis to Santa Cruz and started playing rhythm guitar for a rock 'n' roll band. "We'd play house parties and stuff like that," he laughs, flashing an infectious smile. "I wanted to be Malcolm Young from AC/DC, but then my friend encouraged me to sing for some reason."
Five years ago, Bhi took on a more focused singer-songwriter role and began to perform solo. Though, to hear him tell it, becoming the artist he is today was a bit of a happy accident. "I still don't totally know how I got to this sound, to be honest," he says. "I'm writing on kind of odd topics so sometimes it just feels like grabbing at things in the air."
And though Bhiman claims he doesn't know what he'd be doing today if he weren't making his music — "I'd be harvesting sea salt or something" — he is aware that his is an unusual career path for the son of traditional Sri Lankan parents. "My family is supportive — confused and worried, but supportive," he smiles. "[Music] is not a chosen South Asian profession. My mom is an E.R. pediatrician and all about education. Being a singer-songwriter doesn't really fall into that."
It could be argued, however, that Bhiman's music does provide a public service, speaking up for the forgotten corners of communities everywhere — the lower classes, the lost and the forgotten. His first-person tales are written about friends, acquaintances, and people he reads about in his daily newspaper. But they ultimately offer important social commentary, humanizing, as they do, characters most people would rather never speak to in their own lives — prisoners, killers, homeless travelers, and many more. And while he doesn't describe himself as a political person, Bhiman will admit that his music deals with the struggles of the real world.
"My lyrics are literally political, yes," he nods. "More than anything, I just talk about social things, as a storyteller. I'm pretty jaded on politics and I'm not one of those people that's just opposed to everything and jumping on causes, but I do like to talk about social issues.
"It's important to talk about that stuff," Bhiman concludes, now sounding serious. "And not enough people do."


text: Since the USD is currently overvalued by around 20% against the major other currencies (EUR,CAD,JPY) i would keep it in your home currency. Even if the next recession in Canada is harder than the one in the US, this is probably already priced into the currency. According to my currency system the CAD is currently the best currency to own, but as always this is just based on statistics (relative purchasing power, term spread, carry and momentum) and can change next week/month. Personally i just wait for the next small pullback (maybe to ~1.335) in the USD/CAD to open a hedge to the CAD. Currently i am hedged into the EUR, but the hedge is much more expensive than the one into CAD, so i will move 50% of the hedged exposure over to CAD.