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Did you know that your heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system is not only the single most expensive "appliance" you have in your home? Unfortunately, it's also the most expensive to operate. When it breaks down, it can cost a lot to repair or replace. If it's working inefficiently, you'll feel the pain with higher utility bills.
Either way, once you have your HVAC in place, your goal should be to keep it in top working condition for as long as possible. Here's how:
- Schedule an annual tune-up
- Check the condensate drain; add liquid bleach to keep the condensate from getting too sludgy to move out the drain tubes.
- Clean your air filters
- Rinse off your outdoor air conditioning unit.
- Keep indoor vents open.
- Use a programmable thermostat
- Improve your home's overall energy-efficiency
Schedule an annual tune-up
Faulty electrical connections may cause safety hazards and reduce the life of both your furnace and the air conditioning unit. A trained technician can tighten all electrical connections, measure voltage and current on motors, check refrigerant levels on your AC and oil or gas connections on your furnace, and look for other issues that might not yet be apparent to you, but that are slowly becoming problems.
A technician will also clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. That's important because the coils reduce efficiency and cause the system to run longer. Blower components may also need to be cleaned, and moving parts oiled. You can hire a company on an ad hoc basis, or enter into a service contract, which you'll pay for up front but may result in discounts later if your system needs repairs and parts.
Compare local contractors with our HVAC Installers Near Me page to compare quotes from reliable heating and cooling contractors and average costs in your area.
Check the condensate drain; add liquid bleach to keep the condensate from getting too sludgy to move out the drain tubes.
I honestly never realized I was supposed to do this, until my drain started leaking all over the floor around the HVAC unit. A repairman had to replace the old drain with a new one, at a cost of $335 (parts and labor). He showed me how to unplug the drain on top and pour in maybe a quarter cup of liquid bleach, which he recommended I do a couple of times a year to keep the system working properly.
Clean your air filters
ENERGY STAR recommends checking them monthly. I generally end up cleaning mine every time the season changes, based on my experience with my own system. I have a removable filter that I can simply take outside and hose off. This is a very inexpensive and simple action that can save a lot of money over time, since dirty filters can reduce efficiency of both your heating and air conditioning components.
Rinse off your outdoor air conditioning unit.
Ideally, your unit is situated well above the ground and somewhat protected from damage from falling branches or twigs and debris. If your unit is sitting on a cement pad right on the ground, you may need to wash it off with a hose a few times a year to keep it running at optimal performance.
Keep indoor vents open.
Closing vents puts extra pressure on your system's electronically commutated motor, or ECM, which reduces energy efficiency and can wear out the motor.
Use a programmable thermostat
Such a thermostat will turn the heat or AC on and off only as needed, which will reduce wear and tear on both the air conditioner and the furnace.
Improve your home's overall energy-efficiency
A well-insulated home will require less heat in the winter and less cooling in the summer. The less you demand of your HVAC system, the longer it will last!
Find today's best prices for your
home improvement project.


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EPISODE 20: Tarot, like Carrot
We all know by now that Dr. Kelly loves a good tarot card reading. And being a "gifted psychic", she can tell you that your future holds a lighthearted overview of tarot cards AND a heated fight about statistics. Oh and also, you're all going to have a super awesome life. Promise. The cards told her.
Email us! email@example.com
p-values and statistics!
Wasserstein RL, Schrim AL, Lazar, NA.Moving to a World Beyond "p<0.05". The American Statistician (2019)
Amrhein V, Greenland S, McShane B. Scientists rise up against statistical significance. Nature (2019)
Precognition Science
Bem D et al., Feeling the future: A meta-analysis of 90 experiments on the anomalous anticipation of random future events F1000 Research (2015)
Engber D.Daryl Bem Proved ESP Is Real. Slate (2017)
Ritchie SJ, Wiseman R and French CC.Failing the Future: Three Unsuccessful Attempts to Replicate Bem's 'Retroactive Facilitation of Recall' Effect. PlosONE (2012)
French C. Precognition studies and the curse of the failed replications. The Guardian (2012)
Rouder JN and Morey RD.A Bayes factor meta-analysis of Bem's ESP claim. Psychon Bull Rev (2011)
Rabeyron, T,Retro-priming, priming, and double testing: psi and replication in a test–retest design
Predicting the unpredictable: critical analysis and practical implications of predictive anticipatory activity

subset: commoncrawl


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Dive Brief:
- More than 200,000 K-12 students in California are considered homeless by federal definitions, a number that has risen 20% since 2014, EdSource reveals in a special report.
- Just over 3% of the state's enrolled public school students, more than twice the national rate, are homeless, but numbers are likely much higher since not all families accurately report their homeless status.
- Homelessness affects student populations because they are dealing with extreme poverty, stress and exhaustion, which result in poor academic performance and higher drop out rates.
Dive Insight:
While homelessness in California is growing at an alarming rate, this is a national crisis. In the 2013-14 academic year, 1.36 million students in the U.S. fell into the homeless category, either living out of vehicles or in temporary living situations. This situation not only affects the health and economic well-being of students, but also impacts school performance as well.
Lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest factors in the problem. As housing prices rise, families often have to combine several households within one dwelling, This situation creates a noisy, crowded and unstable home situation that is not conducive to learning.
The housing crisis affects teachers as well. In some areas of California, many teachers face long commutes in order to access housing that falls within their budget. The teacher housing crisis affects areas across the country as well. Some states are seeking creative solutions to providing teacher housing, including building homes for teachers, or providing cheaper rental solutions to entice teachers to school districts.


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The RSA Report: The Age of Automation
The Age of Automation: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and the Future of Low-Skilled Work
Published in September 2017
By: Benedict Dellot and Fabian Wallace-Stephens
The RSA in partnership with Google
The RSA's Age of Automation Report looks at how AI and robotics might change the face of work.
The top-line message is that we need a concerted effort to boost investment in AI and robotics if the UK is to end its long run of producing low skilled and low paid jobs.
Contrary to popular opinion, these technologies are unlikely to eliminate jobs en masse, but rather to transform them – and in ways that could boost productivity, raise wages and lead to more intellectually stimulating work.
The nub of the problem is not that we're adopting these technologies too fast, but rather too slow. Only 14 percent of business leaders in our YouGov poll say they're actively adopting AI and robotics, or soon plan to.


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Alex MacDowall is confident that he will return to challenge at the front of the Yokohama Trophy at the third round of the WTCC season in Marrakech.
TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk blogger MacDowall jointly led the independents' standings after his debut weekend in Monza, but his bamboo engineering Chevrolet Cruze struggled at round two in Valencia.
"The weight of the ballast on our car really did hurt us in Valencia," said MacDowall, now fifth in the Trophy standings. "It was a tough weekend, tougher than we expected, but at least we scored a couple of points which could be really important at the end of the season.
"After such a good start to my WTCC career at Monza, it was disappointing not to be further up the order in Valencia but we're not dwelling on that – I'm looking forward to being back among the front runners in Marrakech and getting back on the Independents podium.
"It's going to be another new challenge for me and I really am looking forward to it," he said about the street circuit in the Moroccan city. "Realistically, Marrakech ought to be much more suited to our car and we should definitely be aiming to qualify well inside the top 12 to get into the second part of qualifying, like we did at Monza – that's really important.
"From what I've seen of the Marrakech WTCC races in the past there's always a lot of action, especially at the chicanes, so the races will be tough. I'm confident we'll have a good car though and be able to challenge at the front in the Independents Trophy."


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Your support will help researchers investigate how to make chemotherapy effective for kids with spreading bone cancer.
Osteosarcoma is a deadly bone cancer that affects around 700 children and young adults in the United States each year. Though rare, the cancer has existed since the age of the dinosaurs with little treatment progress. When the bone cancer spreads to children's lungs, they almost always die because the osteosarcoma cells no longer respond to chemotherapy.
How your donation helps:
David Largaespada, PhD, and his lab suspect there is a link between osteosarcoma's chemotherapy resistance and its ability to spread and survive in distant parts of the body, such as the lungs. He plans to use CCRF funding to explore this link and investigate how to make the spreading form of osteosarcoma sensitive to chemotherapy again.
Support The Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund
Zach and his family helped start the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund at Children's Cancer Research Fund. Directed proceeds from his music and other fundraisers help researchers tackle osteosarcoma.


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Two deaths in Germany were linked directly to smoking cannabis which triggered cardiovascular complications in the young men (both in their 20s). The researchers go on to explain that cardiotoxic effects have been noted with marijuana use and thus urge caution to user who might have a heart condition. "We simply cannot, any longer, adhere to the old mentality that 'marijuana does not kill," Lemos, the chief forensic toxicologist for the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office, told Live Science. "We are now seeing evidence from my office and elsewhere that it just might."
Marijuana Use Linked to Two Deaths
Originally published: August 5, 2014
Although marijuana may have a reputation as a relatively harmless drug, a new case report links it to the deaths of two young men in Germany.
Toxicological examinations concluded that the men were under the influence of cannabis before they died, and traces of THC — the main active ingredient in marijuana — were found in the men's blood and brain tissue, the researchers wrote in the report.
In both cases, the deaths were related to cardiovascular complications. In one of the deaths, a 23-year-old man without a history of health problems suddenly collapsed while using public transportation, and died after 40 minutes of unsuccessful resuscitation efforts, according to the case report based on postmortem investigations. The man had a small amount of marijuana in his pockets when he was found, according to the researchers at the Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Duesseldorf in Germany, who reported the case.
In the second case described in the report, a 28-year-old man was found dead at home by his girlfriend. An ashtray, rolling paper and a sealable plastic bag containing remnants of marijuana were found next to the body. The man had occasionally used cannabis, the researchers wrote. He had also abused alcohol and drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine until about two years before his death, they wrote. [5 Bad Habits You Should Still Quit]
"After exclusion of other causes of death, we assume that the young men died from cardiovascular complications evoked by smoking cannabis," the researchers wrote.
"We assume the deaths of these two young men occurred due to arrhythmias evoked by smoking cannabis," but this assumption does not rule out that the men were predisposed to cardiovascular risks, they wrote.
Nikolas P. Lemos, the chief forensic toxicologist for the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office, said there have been confirmed cases in which marijuana has had harmful effects on the heart.
"The potential cardiotoxicity of cannabis has been reported in peer-reviewed abstracts as well as scientific proceedings before, including by my team," Lemos said.
"This case report adds two more cases from Germany, but since late last year, we have known and reported on this drug's potential cardiotoxic effects in some parts of the general population," he said.
The researchers in Germany who reported the deaths declined an interview request from Live Science, citing an overwhelming media response to the paper and "some quite unpleasant reactions from individuals."


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As PRWeek waits for the rooftop photo-shoot with Seventy Seven PR's MD Nadia Gabbie to finish, many floors below, Kingsway is thronging with students.
Placards in the air, they are protesting against tuition fees, flanked by luminously clothed policemen as they pass by. The spectacle brings back memories for Gabbie, who as a student joined the poll tax demonstration 'because of the cause, the subsidised coach to London and a spirit of adventure'.
Although the political climate has changed and the coach fare is no longer an issue, the 42-year-old's career path shows her sense of adventure has not diminished.
Last September, Seventy Seven was left rudderless when its three managing partners - James Gordon MacIntosh, Alan Twigg and Jo Carr - departed simultaneously to form their own agencies.
Gabbie was swiftly brought in on an interim basis to plug the gap in a role that would leave many people apprehensive.
'I thought there might be great tremors within the agency, and from a team perspective, of course, there were. But during the subsequent months those tremors died down,' says Gabbie, who took over full-time last month. 'At first, I didn't know whether I would want to stay. I imagined there would be huge challenges, but it feels there are now opportunities.'
Even if the phrasing borders on cliche, there is no doubting her sincerity or the force of determination behind much of what she says. In an interview punctuated with laughter, Gabbie is always keen to move the conversation to the future.
Quick to praise the departed trio, she nevertheless adds that their exit allowed the rest of the team to emerge from their shadow and 'shine'.
She also emphasises that the close link with sister agency Fishburn Hedges - it inhabits the same workspace - will help going forward, as well as the advantages of continued integration between teams within Seventy Seven.
'That's why I wanted to come here and not a standalone consumer agency. In today's world those that can't offer a joined-up approach between corporate, social media and consumer have a bigger challenge than I do.'
That she took on the potentially risky role perhaps should not come as a surprise. Originally hoping to study at St Martins College of Art, after university the book-lover was lured into the world of PR while working as a receptionist at Bloomsbury, where she rubbed shoulders with Paula Yates and was yelled at by Brian Blessed.
Attracted by the fact the publisher's PR team was 'the focus of attention', she had only been with her first PR agency for a year when, aged 23, she joined Martin Ballantine as he launched Revolver. It was just the two of them. 'I thought it would be an exciting opportunity that was worth a chance,' she says.
Having learned both comms skills and business nous, she left for Scope Communications fuelled by ambition and the desire to join a bigger agency, a decision she called both 'the best thing I ever did' and 'heartbreaking'. Gabbie also reminisces fondly about her work at Scope, taken over by Ketchum shortly after her arrival, where Britpop ruled and Euro '96 offered exiting consumer brand opportunities.
The experience she gained fed into her second leap into the unknown; the launch of Frank PR. Now a consumer stalwart, she started the agency with Andrew Bloch and Graham Goodkind, both of whom had left Lynne Franks.
For the mother-of-three, who admits she 'likes change,' it was partly a kickback against an image the industry has yet to fully shake off. 'I thought this was the chance to do something different and we just wanted to do PR on our own terms. It was PR without the bullshit, as opposed to the legacy of Franks, which not everybody thought was a positive thing,' she says, adding they wanted to show 'it was not all about crystal ball waving'.
Gabbie had her second child, Remy, not long before deciding to launch Frank PR, which presented challenges, but she nevertheless relished building an agency that has since gone from strength to strength.
Steve Cumming, now head of sponsorship at Chelsea Football Club, worked with Gabbie over many years while at Carlsberg and Diageo. He talks of her 'big ideas' that were 'ahead of her time', adding: 'She has always managed to be both very committed to her job, her family and friends, something testament to the way she builds relationships.'
Perhaps suffering with itchy feet, she left the fast-growing agency to spend four years as a consultant, giving her an 'industry-wide' view of PR. Then came the job that preceded her move to Seventy Seven, overseeing Slice PR's acquisition and rebranding to Mischief on behalf of Engine.
Head of planning at Edelman, Ali Gee, who worked with Gabbie at 3 Monkeys, says this top-level experience - at Frank particularly - helped mould a 'ruthless commercial acumen', a rare addition to the creative and strategic flair needed at senior level.
'Someone I met recently asked me why I was still in PR,' says Gabbie. 'I say it's a fantastic time to be in PR - it's our time now and it really matters.'
Hearing her call to action as she embarks on her latest professional quest, the image of a younger Gabbie, banner in hand alongside fellow protesters, is not a difficult one to imagine.
2011 Managing director, Seventy Seven PR
2009 Managing director, Slice PR
2005 Freelance consultant
2000 Founder and joint managing director, Frank PR
1996 Account director; board director, Scope Communications (became Ketchum in 1997)
1993 Account manager; account director, Revolver Communications
1992 Secretary to account executive, The Public Relations Business (now Starfish Communications)
1991 Receptionist, Bloomsbury Publishing
What was your biggest career break?
The first step is always the hardest, so moving from the secretarial job with Bloomsbury Publishing to my first PR account executive role was a big moment. And joining to lead Seventy Seven at this point, when it is such a great time for PR.
Have you had a notable mentor?
Two people stand out. James Maxwell, the co-founder of Scope who sadly died of a brain tumour in 2003. He cared about all his staff and clients, and genuinely listened to those around him. Martin Ballantine taught me that while our profession is hard work and demanding, it is also great fun and that one can laugh through most things.
What advice would you give to people climbing the career ladder?
Smile and say 'yes'.
What qualities do you prize in new recruits?
The ability to do the above, while making a great cup of tea.


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Santosh Trophy - 2019
So Tamil Nadu is eliminated ??
Traditional strong teams are getting eliminated.One good thing is about venues. New places are organising Qualifers like Solapur, Neyveli, Bhilai, Katra !!!
Tamil Nadu eliminated and Karnataka qualify
All four teams in contention in Group B
In Group B, all four teams — Kerala, Services, Telangana and Pondicherry — are in contention for a spot in the next round.
If Telangana defeats Pondicherry on Friday, it qualifies having logged seven points from three matches. The second match between Kerala and Services, then, becomes redundant.
But if the contest ends in a stalemate, the outcome of the Kerala vs. Services clash will determine the qualification scenario. If Services ousts Kerala, it qualifies automatically with six points and, if it goes the other way, Kerala and Telangana will have five points apiece.
Pondicherry also has an outside chance of qualifying if it beats Telangana by a big margin and the day's second match ends in a draw. It will be a three-way tie, then, between Services, Telangana and Pondicherry, with four points apiece.
In case two teams are tied on points, the goal difference and then the head-to-head will determine the qualifier.
ashindia 6195 PointsCome on Telangana !
Masnak Spain47 PointsI guess Services will win to Kerala...
Soccerlover 3254 Pointswith Biswajit Bhattacharya what more can u expect than to be knocked out! ?
Maharashtra 4–1 Gujarat
Telangana 0–0 Pondicherry
Kerala and services still in contention to qualify
Nagaland pulls out
Nagaland Football has been mismanaged for years. Many times in the past, their participation was nixed one some excuse or other. Once I remember they cancelled saying that they are not able to get Train Reservations - that was few years ago.They use their football stadium in Kohima, Dimapur for motorcycle/Car Rally mostly.Probably the only NE state where Football is not popular.


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Turn any USB 2.0 hard drive*, SSD, or a micro SD card into a WiFi storage device, supports FAT32 and FAT64 (exFAT).
Availability: In stock
Availability date:
The Addonics WiFi Drive Adapter is a handy network device. It is a great tool for wireless sharing of a USB drive or micro SD card. There is no router or local area network set up needed, making this a perfect solution for setting up a small wireless media server in a car, home, office or any place for wireless file sharing, video or music streaming to multiple wireless devices. Set up is fast and easy. Simply attach a USB drive or inserting a micro SD card into the WiFi Drive Adapter. The data on the USB drive or the micro SD card becomes readily accessible wirelessly.
The WiFi Drive Adapter a great way to set up a shared internet connection by multiple wireless devices in hotel, office or any places where there is only one internet connection is available. To create a wireless hot spot, simply connect the WiFi Drive Adapter to a Local Area Network with Internet connection.
*USB hard drives over 2TB from Western Digital and Seagate such as the GoFlex series are not compatible, please see detail explanation in Q&A section
1. Any SMB APP for Smart Phone or Tablet can be used for accessing the WiFi Drive Adapter. Air Drive APP has been tested to work well on both Android, Apple phone and Tablet
2. Power from USB port varies on different computers. The WiFi Drive Adapter can be powered directly from most USB ports. The pass-through power on the WiFi Drive Adapter USB port can power most USB flash drives or Flash readers. To power a USB hard drive by the USB port on the WiFi Drive Adapter, an external power adapter is recommended and may be nescessary if the USB port on the computer has limited power. In general, USB 3.0 port supports more power than USB 2.0 port.


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Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: Overview
To support the health professionals in decision-making in the health sector a system is developed which is the clinical decision support system. To analyze the clinical data and diagnose various diseases of the patients the clinicians interact with the clinical decision support system. The adoption of the system was due to the passing of the acts such as Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) in 2009. The system can be used in various stages such as before the diagnosis, during the diagnosis, and after diagnosis in order to understand the connection between the patients past medical history and the current medical data.
Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: Segmentation
The global clinical decision support system market is segmented into its component, delivery mode, product, type, model, user interactivity, and application. Based on component, the market is segregated into services, hardware, and software. The services segment is further sub-segmented into ongoing IT implementation and support services, post-sale and maintenance services, consulting services, and training and education services. Based on the delivery mode, the global market is divided into on-premise, web-based, and cloud-based. On the basis of the product, the market is categorized as integrated CDSS and standalone CDSS. Based on the type, the market is segmented into diagnostic CDSS and therapeutic CDSS. On the basis of the model, the market is bifurcated into non-knowledge-based CDSS and knowledge-based CDSS. Based on the user interactivity the market is segregated into passive CDSS and active CDSS. The different applications where the clinical decision support systems market is used include advanced CDSS and conventional CDSS.
Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: Growth Factors
The growing adoption of IT in the health sector is the major reason that is contributing to the market growth of the clinical decision support system. In the recent years, the trends in the health sector have changed considerably. The clinicians are looking out for analytical solutions so that they can reduce the medication errors and they are also looking out for ways to reduce their healthcare expenditures, thus boosting the demand of the market. With the help of clinical decision support systems the health professionals can be more effective, planned, and safe about their decisions. The growing need to improve the healthcare sector is triggering the market growth in a positive way.
Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: Regional Analysis
The clinical decision support system is geographically segmented into regions such as Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. The region that dominated the clinical decision support system market is the North America. The factor that contributed to this growth is the better healthcare infrastructure, increasing disposable income, and availability of technologically advanced healthcare IT solution. The Asia Pacific region is also contributing to the market share owing to the gradual adoption of IT in the healthcare sector.
Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: Competitive Players
The key market players in the clinical decision support system market include Accenture, Quintiles, Surgical Information Systems LLC, Clinical Computing, ITH icoserve, Haitai Medical Information Systems Co., Ltd., Healthcare Management Systems, iMDsoft, Clinicmaster, Allegro CTMS, Promantra, Inc., Clinical Computer Systems, Inc., SCC Soft Computer, and 3M Health Information Systems.
Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: Regional Segment Analysis
- North America
- Europe
- France
- Germany
- Asia Pacific
- China
- Japan
- India
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Middle East and Africa
What Report Provides
- Full in-depth analysis of the parent market
- Important changes in market dynamics
- Segmentation details of the market
- Former, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and value
- Assessment of niche industry developments
- Market share analysis
- Key strategies of major players
- Emerging segments and regional markets
- Testimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.


text: Marshal Hangtree 1,769 Posted March 16 12 hours ago, Michigan Slim said: Ruger M77 MkII. LEFT HAND. .270 Winchester. Killed a lot of deer with it. My buddy just glass bedded it and put in a Rifle Basics trigger. Made it a real tackdriver. I would love to have a M77 left hand, Slim! Great rifle. Hang on to it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Greenery & Landscaping ExpoMay 28 – 30 / 2019 , Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center
The China (Shanghai) International Greenery & Landscaping Exhibition is the oldest and most influential greenery & landscape industry event in China.
GLC 2019 will demonstrate the combination of indoor exhibition and outdoor machinery demonstration. The indoor exhibition covers a wide range of exhibits across upstream and downstream chains, including landscape design, materials and components for construction and maintenance, maintenance machinery and equipment, plants, seeds, interior green, playgrounds, leisure grounds, sports grounds, roof greening building greening technology, wood frame construction and bamboo construction, Urban planning, outdoor landscape lighting products and smart home, while featuring an outdoor presentation area and experience zone with an area of approximately 10 000 square meters to host wonderful presentation and experience activities.


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The DALI electronic potentiometer from Gira is used for brightness control for electronic ballasts or transformers with a DALI interface. Up to 64 DALI devices can be controlled from various operating points.
max. 2 mA
max. 4 mm²
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Edward Lear#86 on top 500 poets
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
Limerick:There Was An Old Person Of Sparta
There was an Old Person of Sparta,
Who had twenty-one sons and one 'darter';
He fed them on snails,
And weighed them in scales,
read more >>
- Hits: Number of visitors who read the poem on the given date.
- Posts: Number of visitors who posted the poem to a friend (via e-mail) on the given date.
- Dates that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list.
- Dates, poems and poets that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list. Statistics are generated daily.


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Platform Overview
Henley Space is a quality development manager capable of delivering luxury high design, through to cost effective needs based solutions in residential property across the UK.
Our residential development business and services are co-ordinated through a highly experienced management team who have developed over 100 high quality homes in the UK and overseas. In-house skills range from architectural and design services to project management, surveying, cost reporting and construction. Design and cost efficiency are core values delivered through meticulous project planning and implementation. Our team have the depth of experience to act as main contractor, development manager or project manager.
We will look at a variety of schemes but will act as principal only where we believe we can use design to create an edge. We also carry out private client work and will act as development manager for other investors on suitable projects.
For further information. please contact Warwick Hunter, Managing Director.
Latest News
People think that design is styling. Design is not style. It's not about giving shape to the shell and not giving a damn about the guts. Good design is a renaissance attitude that combines technology, cognitive science, human need, and beauty to produce something that the world didn't know it was missing.Paola Antonelli


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Both fast and wide, the L-mount 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM from Sigma is a unique wide-angle prime designed to produce high-resolution, well-corrected imagery. As part of the Art line of lenses, this lens has a focus on image quality and rendering, and utilises both FLD and SLD glass elements to control chromatic aberrations and colour fringing for notable clarity. Four aspherical elements, including the front large-diameter precision-moulded glass element, also contribute to reducing distortion and spherical aberrations for improved sharpness and accuracy. Additionally, a Super Multi-Layer Coating has been applied to individual elements to suppress lens flare and ghosting for greater contrast when working in strong lighting. Well-suited to astrophotography and low-light outdoor shooting, this lens presents a unique blend of a broad perspective and fast, flexible performance.
Complementing the optical performance is an equally adept Hyper Sonic Motor, which provides fast, smooth, and near-silent autofocus performance. This focusing motor also enables full-time manual focus override at any time just by rotating the focus ring for refined manual control and focusing as close as 10.6". The lens barrel is constructed using a Thermally Stable Composite material, which supports working in a wide variety of temperatures and conditions, and the lens mount is constructed from brass for long-term durability and mounting accuracy. Additionally, this lens is also compatible with the optional Sigma USB Dock for fine-tuned control over focusing parameters and other lens characteristics.
Focal Length 14mm
Aperture Maximum: f/1.8
Minimum: f/16
Camera Mount TypeL-Mount
Format Compatibility 35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor
Angle of View 114.2°
Minimum Focus Distance 10.63" (27 cm)
Maximum Reproduction Ratio 1:9.8
Elements/Groups 16/11
Diaphragm Blades 9, Rounded
Autofocus Yes
Filter Thread None
Dimensions (DxL) Approx. 3.76 x 4.96" (95.4 x 126 mm)
Weight 2.57 lb (1170 g)
In our retail store, our commitment to customer service is second to none. This commitment continues on-line with Camera Canada . We doubt you will find another store anywhere that has the knowledge and talent that we have. That's a bold statement but it's true! Our Camera Canada staff include Certified Photographic Consultants, a certified photofinishing engineer and a professional Systems Design engineer PLUS we employ licensed professional photographers ready to assist you with your particular picture taking exploits!


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First Drop!
Vocal start
Second Drop
Listen to all music and sounds of Maddy and follow this user by signing in for free.
You can listen to 7 tracks and mixes and follow this user as 7 did before.
This artist liked 3 tracks, followed 7 others and reshared 108 tracks and mixes. 87 other people are following this page too.


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Dental Implants in Posterior Maxilla: Diagnostic and Treatment AspectsView this Special Issue
Research Article | Open Access
Hakan Bilhan, Selda Arat, Onur Geckili, "How Precise Is Dental Volumetric Tomography in the Prediction of Bone Density?", International Journal of Dentistry, vol. 2012, Article ID 348908, 8 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/348908
How Precise Is Dental Volumetric Tomography in the Prediction of Bone Density?
Objectives. The aim of this study was to review the bone density assessment techniques and evaluate the macroscopic structure of bone specimens scored by Hounsfield Units (HUs) and decide if they are always in congruence. Methods. The mandible of a formalin-fixed human cadaver was scanned by dental volumetric tomography (DVT) for planning of the specimen positions and fabrication of a surgical guide and a surgical stent was fabricated afterwards. Bone cylinders of 3.5 mm diameter and 5 mm length, were excised from the mandible using the surgical stent with a slow speed trephine drill. After removal of the cylinders two more scans were performed and the images of the first scan were used for the determination of the HU values. The removed bone cylinder was inspected macroscopically as well by micro-CT scan. Results. The highest HU values were recorded in the interforaminal region, especially in the midline (408–742). Posterior regions showed lower HU values, especially the first molar regions (22–61 for the right; 14–66 for the left first molar regions). Conclusion. Within the limitations of this pilot study, it can be concluded that HU values alone could be a misleading diagnostic tool for the determination of bone density.
1. Introduction
Dental implants play an important role in the treatment of partial or complete edentulism. Although the success is very high, posterior maxilla can withstand lower mechanical forces because of its thinner cortical layer, and the lower density of the maxillary spongiosa [1] thus is more critical than other sites. Furthermore, the maxillary sinus restrict the available bone volume, necessitating shorter implants and/or grafting procedures [2].
Bone density plays an important role in planning of implant dentistry in terms of timing of loading as well as number of implants to be used for denture support especially in critical locations such as posterior maxillae. Bone mass, structural properties (macro- and microarchitecture), and material properties (modulus of elasticity, mineral density, etc.) constitute mechanical competence of bone, which is commonly referred to as bone quality in implant dentistry [3]. Substantial variations in bone quality in corresponding anatomical sites and direct correlation between bone quality and implant success rates exist [4]. Since mechanical behavior of bone is a critical factor in the attainment and maintenance of osseointegration, several classification systems and procedures were advocated for assessing bone quality and predicting prognosis [5, 6].
These assessment methods have various limitations in addressing cortical and cancellous bones in a subjective and quantitative manner. There are several radiological methods for bone mineral density (BMD) measurements yielding close relationships such as dual-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning [7] and Hounsfield unit (HUs) from computed tomography imaging [7]. Texture analysis has been applied in micro-CT [8], while Hounsfield units (HU) have been used in spiral CT as a measure, related to jaw BMD [9]. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a more recent development than spiral CT. Its clinical application in the field of dentomaxillofacial radiology is gaining importance and spreading widely [10–12], but the available research on CBCT-based bone quality assessment is scarce. Low dose CBCT is often advised for implant planning, considering the possibility to gather clinically relevant 3D data at a low dose, but CBCT does not necessarily allow reliable and accurate bone quality assessment when focusing on the inherent radiographic density information that is otherwise expressed by HU [13]. On the other hand, a very recent study reported of a strong positive correlation of radiographic bone density assessed by CBCT with bone volumetric fraction assessed by micro-CT at the site of dental implants in the maxillary bones [14].
Although strong correlations exist, still a 30–50% of unaccounted variance in mechanical properties from bone density measurement has been reported [15, 16]. Osteoporotic cancellous bone is characterized by low bone mass as well as a deterioration of the microarchitecture. Whether a patient is diagnosed osteoporotic depends only on his/her BMD and how this BMD value compares to a population average [17]. Clinical results have shown that BMD of patients with osteoporotic bone fractures and patients without such fractures can have a substantial overlap [18], causing variance similar to that in density—mechanical property relationship studies. The microarchitecture of cancellous bone has been largely attributed to this variance; density approximates the amount of bone tissue within a cancellous bone specimen but it does not quantify the microarchitecture that is inherent. Together with bone density readings, a quantitative measurement of microarchitectural parameters may improve our ability to better estimate bone strength [19]. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) is a relatively new method to image and quantify bone with very high resolution [14, 20]. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scanners, with similar working principle as conventional clinical CT scanners, have been used to study microstructure of materials in three dimensions and to study the relationship between microarchitectural parameters [21] and mechanical properties of cancellous bone [22]. Micro-CT may not be applicable routinely in clinical practice for now, although as a reliable method for bone mass and structure evaluation, it might offer much needed insight into bone quality assessment by providing objective and quantitative microstructural data. Image datasets of human cancellous bone specimens at micron resolution were acquired and from these datasets, microarchitectural parameters have been determined and converted into microfinite element (FE) models [23]. It was shown that the predictive power of bone strength and stiffness was improved with the combination of bone density and microarchitecture information and this work supported the prediction of microarchitecture using current clinical computed tomography imaging technology [23].
While clinical CT scanners typically produce images composed of 1 mm3 volume elements (voxels), X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT or μCT) systems developed in the early 1980s had much better spatial resolution, producing voxels in the range of 5–50 μm, or approximately 1,000,000 times smaller in volume than CT voxels [24, 25]. Early micro-CT scanners were custom-built and not widely available. Compact commercial systems are now available and are rapidly becoming essential components of many academic and industrial research laboratories. A wide range of specimens may be examined directly using Micro-CT including mineralized tissues such as teeth, bone, and materials such as ceramics, polymers, or biomaterial scaffolds [26].
Micro-CT systems are now widely used in many academic fields, several recent reviews have presented the current state of micro-CT imaging and analysis of them [14, 27–30].
Emphasis has traditionally been placed on the cortical bone as quality predictor due to its stiffness for achieving primary stabilization [31, 32]. However, a dental implant is mainly in contact with cancellous part of bone, and mechanical characteristics of cancellous bone also influence the load bearing capacity of implant-bone union. In fact, the presurgical determination of bone density plays an important role in planning of the surgical procedure as well as prosthetic treatment. In another study human cadaveric maxillary and mandibular trabecular bone with 3D morphometric data acquired through micro-CT were analyzed and correlated with bone density measurements in Hounsfield scale and Lekholm-Zarb bone classification [3, 5].
Micro-CT is a nondestructive, fast, and precise technique that allows measurements of trabecular and cortical bone [26]. It can provide a spatial representation of bone formation at the implant surface and the peri-implant region up to a few microns or even better, and can evaluate both qualitative and quantitative morphometry of bone integration about dental implants [33].
The aim of this pilot study was to review the current literature about bone density assessment and evaluate the macroscopic structure of bone specimens having been scored by Hounsfield units afore.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Experimental Protocol
2.1.1. Preoperative CBCT Imaging
The mandible of a formalin-fixed human cadaver was involved in this study. After removal of the mandible from the cadaver, the obtained mandible was scanned by dental volumetric tomography (DVT) for planning of the specimen positions and fabrication of a surgical guide. The scan of the mandible was performed with a Newtom (Newtom Cone Beam 3D Imaging, AFP Imaging Corporation, New York, USA; Figure 1). A surgical guide was fabricated on the cast obtained from an impression of the alveolar process of the mandible (Figure 2).
2.1.2. Specimen Preparation
Bone cylinders of 3.5 mm diameter and 5 mm length, were excised from a cadaver mandible using the surgical stent (Figure 3). Excising of bone cylinders from the mandibular body was done using a slow speed trephine drill (Trephine Drill 3.5 mm × 22 mm, Salvin Dental Specialties, Inc, Charlotte, NC, USA) under constant irrigation by the use of the prepared stent (Figure 4). Nine bone cylinders in total were extracted for the experiment; cylinders were stored in consequently numerated 0.9% saline solution containing little vessels. However, since 2 of the cylinders were damaged during removal, these were excluded from the study. The 5 mm cylinder length was chosen to satisfy continuum assumption, so that mechanical properties derived for each cylinder was representative of the whole bone [34].
2.1.3. Postoperative CBCT Imaging and Determination of the Hounsfield Units
After removal of the cylinders two more scans were performed, with the surgical stent and without surgical the stent, respectively. The images of the first scan were used for the determination of the Hounsfield Unit values. The cavities of the removed bone specimens were localized by viewing the second and third scan images and the Hounsfield Unit values of the missing bone cylinders was determined by taking the mean of five values: coronal, apical, buccal, lingual, and the center. The software (Newtom Imaging Software, AFP Imaging Corporation, New York, USA) is capable of giving graphically the HU values of the marked zone. For each bone cylinder, the raw CT values were converted into HU by means of the following formula [35]: HU = ) where , , and are the values of bone, saline, and air, respectively.
2.1.4. Micro-CT Imaging
As a part of the pilot study, the bone cylinder on the left first premolar molar region of human cadaver bone was randomly chosen for micro-CT scanning. The bone cylinder was placed in a custom vessel wrapped in paper soaked with saline solution to prevent any desiccation, and isotropically scanned at 14 μm resolution with a model 1172 micro-CT scanner (Skyscan, Kontich, Belgium) using a CBCT scanning technique (Figure 5). CBCT is a novel CT image acquisition technique in which up to a several hundred CT images (as opposed to 1–3 images in normal CT) are reconstructed by one data acquisition as the data on the fluoroscopic image is handled as plane data. The total time required for scanning and reconstruction was approximately 30 minutes per sample, thus deterioration of the bone cylinder as a result of being exposed to ambient conditions was significantly reduced. To ensure a consistent CT image resolution among all the datasets, the scanner turntable location was fixed at a specific SOD and SID distance of 19.03 mm and 356.90 mm, respectively. The X-ray parameters were set at 51 kV and 200 μA and the CT images were processed at a scaling coefficient of 50 and averaged three times. With these parameters, together with a 0.5 mm aluminum plate placed at the X-ray detector, a good contrast was achieved in the resultant CT images between trabeculae. Resultant dataset had an isotropic resolution of 14.836 μm. Resultant CT images for each bone cylinder was evaluated for microarchitectural parameters [19] such as tissue volume, bone volume, percent bone volume, tissue surface, bone surface, intersection surface, bone specific surface, bone surface density, trabecular bone pattern factor, structure model index, trabecular thickness, trabecular number and trabecular separation (CT Analyzer, Skyscan, Belgium) (Figure 6).
3. Results
3.1. Relationship between Microarchitectural Parameters and Hounsfield Unit and Interrelationship between Microarchitectural Parameters
The main objective of this study was to study the possibility of inferring of microarchitectural parameters from clinical CT images.
The rate of cancellous bone volume in the total volume of core is the bone volume density (BV/TV), which was in the range of 0.12–0.29 for the sample.
All the measured HU values, means, and ranges are shown in Table 1. The highest HU values were encountered in the interforaminal region, especially in the midline (408–742). Posterior regions showed lower HU values, especially the first molar regions (22–61 for the right; 14–66 for the left first molar regions). The bone cylinder which was scanned by micro-CT showed an incongruous structure when HU of the donor site was considered. The HU values indicated a higher density bone, whereas the Micro CT image revealed rather a spongious bone (Figure 6).
|Region 1: right retromolar pad region of human cadaver bone.
Region 2: right first molar region of human cadaver bone.
Region 3: right first premolar molar region of human cadaver bone.
Region 4: right lateral region of human cadaver bone.
Region 5: midline (symphysis).
Region 6: left lateral region of human cadaver bone.
Region 7: left first premolar molar region of human cadaver bone.
Region 8: left first molar region of human cadaver bone.
Region 9: left retromolar pad region of human cadaver bone.
4. Discussion
Our primary objective of studying the relationship between HU from CT images and microarchitectural parameters, density given in objective values (mg/cm3) and HU, was the evaluation of a diagnostic tool for in vivo assessment of bone quality.
A formalin-fixed cadaver mandible was harvested and used in the present study for several reasons. The main reason was the ease to obtain in comparison to a fresh cadaver as recommended in a few studies [36, 37]. Another reason was the protection from communicable diseases. Tissue fixation with 10% formalin (4% formaldehyde) is widely used to preserve specimens without refrigeration, offering researchers the added benefit of protection from specimens with communicable diseases [38–42]. Although it is assumed that formalin fixation alters the mechanical properties of bone, studies failed to deduce quantitative data [43, 44]. Chemical fixation through the use of aldehydes has been shown to cause a direct effect on bone mechanical properties by forming an increased number of inter- and intrafibrillar cross-links of primary amine groups of polypeptide collagen chains [38, 44] have shown that while formalin fixation has no effect on the mineral composition of bone, it causes the collagen fibrils to be more closely packed. However, in a recent study it was reported that formalin fixation and freezing would not adversely affect the viscoelastic and elastic mechanical properties of murine bone [45]. The use of embalmed bone is known to be used in studies testing the mechanical behavior and efficacy of fracture fixation devices, joint prostheses, and other reconstructive orthopedic devices [46].
Accuracy of micro-CT was qualitatively evaluated by comparing to standard histomorphometric data with the corresponding CT slices for the same specimen. The results showed that, in general there was a good correlation between histomorphometric data and microtomographic data. One author obtained a correlation coefficient of 0.855 [33].
The result from this pilot study has raised doubt that in addition to bone density, bone microarchitectural parameters can also be predicted from clinical-CT imaging. We chose to use the CBCT, as it is a three-dimensional measurement often used in dentistry. In similar studies [47, 48], it was reported that to reasonably evaluate cancellous bone architecture, image datasets of resolutions not more than 100 μm should be used. Microarchitectural parameters from both clinical-CT imaging and histological sections were also compared and it was shown that high-resolution clinical-CT resulted in an overestimation of microarchitectural parameters. In a recent study [3], the scan was initially utilized to assess bone quality subjectively in Lekholm and Zarb classification [5] at incisor and molar edentulous sites by rating the distribution of cortical and cancellous bones and density of cancellous bone in HU was determined through a function of the CT equipment by averaging the readings of multiple slices within respective sites. Similarly, in our study, the Hounsfield units were determined by taking the average of five values of the removed cylinders: coronal, apical, buccal, center, and lingual, additionally stating the range of HU values of each cylinder.
For harvesting the cylinders a trephine drill was used as described in another study [3]. There is great difficulty in accurately excising bone specimens that correspond to the exact CT volume of interest, if the bone specimens are to be excised after clinical imaging, as pointed out in a previous study [23]. In the previously mentioned study, the specimens were scanned after removal from the bone for this reason. However in the present study we preferred to use the whole mandible in the CBCT to mimic the clinical application.
In a study by Fanuscu and Chang [3], the anterior sites in both arches were noted to be volumetrically denser than the posterior sites, indicating varying bone mass. It was noted that volume density remained depthwise stable in the maxilla, whereas in the mandible it decreased with depth in the corono-apical direction, as being seen in our study too.
Current classifications and procedures for evaluating bone have certain shortcomings as mechanical competence in terms of mass, structure and material is not well addressed for trabecular bone. There have been unsuccessful attempts to quantify bone density in consideration of mechanical strength. Friberg et al. [49] proposed an objective cutting resistance procedure that might provide a composite value for mechanical characteristics in predicting bone quality for initial stability. However, mechanics of drilling with a bur and withstanding occlusal forces by an implant has to be further investigated and correlated. Trisi and Rao [50] compared histomorphometrics and hand-felt cutting resistance and demonstrated that subjective tactile sensation was proved to be poor in discerning finer differences.
About ten years ago an image-based bone density classification that utilizes gray-scale values through CT was suggested [51]. The method of preoperative bone density measurement was advocated as a prognostic indicator in which site-specific, objective and quantitative results on the Hounsfield scale would provide bone-quality information. Following this perspective, the reliability of Hounsfield units in predicting bone density was evaluated in this preliminary study. The proposed classification evaluates bone mass; however, its mechanical value is limited without structural and material properties. Riggs et al. [52] reported on bone mass increase in osteoporotic patients by medications and found that bone strength was not increased and fracture risk was not lowered as much as expected by the gain in bone density. This suggests that there is an important influence of the complex microarchitecture on the mechanical competence of bone.
It should be underlined that CBCT data have a larger amount of scattered X-rays than conventional spiral CT. This may enhance the noise in reconstructed images, and thus affect the low contrast detectability [53]. Because of scatter and artifacts, HU values in CBCT are not valid, and therefore the method of correlating BMD to HU values from CBCT is not ideal. Moreover, the scatter and artifacts in CBCT get worse around inhomogeneous tissues with reduced HU values up to 200 HU [54], which confirms that the HU in CBCT is not a valid method for bone quality assessment. Since up till now CBCT-based bone quality assessment is neither accurate nor reliable, there is a need to find methods to circumvent the shortcomings of this particular development, so as to have a reliable way to assess bone quality or there is a need for methods, other than density measurements, for bone quality assessment. In a bone density assessment study it was concluded that mandibular cortical bone was denser than cortical bone of the upper maxilla, whereas cancellous bone has similar densities in both mandible and the upper maxilla. The main problem appears to lie in the differentiation of tissues of similar density [14]. Texture analysis may thus come into play, which is strengthened by the fact that bone quality may be expressed by its microarchitectural composition. May be for this reason a very recent study concluded that correlation of micro-CT and conventional histomorphometry should be subject of future research [14]. In contrast to classic histomorphometry architectural metric parameters such as bone volume (BV), total volume (TV), and bone surface can be directly determined from the 3D images acquired by micro-CTs, without assuming the geometric model [55].
The increased failure rate of implants that are placed in posterior regions was attributed to differences in bone quality and quantity and elevated occlusal stress in the molar areas [56, 57]. Therefore it is very important to analyze the bone density in posterior maxillae before implant surgery.
Within the limitations of this pilot study, it can be concluded that HU values alone could be a misleading diagnostic tool for the determination of bone density. It is advisable to concentrate future research on density quantification from clinical CT images and relate those to various bone types with different mechanical properties to be able to make predictions concerning the bone quality.
The team would like to thank SKYSCAN for offering the micro-CT scanning possibility and technical support. They appreciate the kind efforts of Asim Horasan (Chief Engineer in Teknodent) in giving technical and logistic assistance for this study. The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests in this study.
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This has been the week of regular Deer Season here. It is the "Main Event" of several other deer seasons that lead up to it. Namely, bow season, T Zone, Youth Hunt-- there's probably more. And after the main event there will be a week of muzzleloader, and probably another T Zone and then bow season will reopen. There is probably a three day season in there for women over 55 using lutefisk clubs, but I would have to check the regulations for the dates on that one.
At any rate, it's the big deal. Don got a new blaze orange camo shirt that he can wear while sitting in the lazyboy by the picture window. This qualifies as hunting in Wisconsin. His walk through the hunting grounds usually begins at the crack of 9:30 and he's usually back in time for coffee and papers around 11. The mornings have been especially nice this season with temperatures above freezing and sometimes up to near 40 which makes for a nice outing.
This year is an "Earn a Buck" season which means hunters have to shoot a doe before the "earn" the right to shoot a buck. It's a hideous dictate from the DNR, in cahoots with the insurance industry, in an attempt to reduce the deer population (kill one doe=killing up to three!) and it goes against the nature of any real hunter. Yesterday he came upon two does who were eating alfalfa in our 4 acre pasture. They became panic stricken and were running around looking for an escape route. He had the "right" to shoot that doe but both eventually leaped over the 4 foot fence and bounded for the woods.
Later that afternoon we were both hunting from the lazyboys when a huge doe appeared in the grove of soft maples by the sand bar (in the top photo--just to the right). We scoped her with our binoculars as she browsed. As we enjoyed watching her it was agreed we had more use for her to make these appearances than to sit in our freezer.
We have been using our trail camera for several months now and getting some good shots once in awhile. It has been only recently--OK two days ago--that I started transferring the shots to the computer. Duh. What have I been waiting for?
Had a lovely shot of a nice 10-point buck, some cute little does hamming it up for the camera, some raccoons and even a fox! But, nooooo, I didn't SAVE those pictures.
So, better late than never. I hope that big guy comes around again.


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No matter what anyone says about people not reading volumes of text on the internet, the fact still remains that good clear, well written and correctly written copy is a must and this includes making sure that what you do have isn't filled with typos.
Your website is your BRAND! Check your copy properly before putting it up live and if you don't have time to do it yourself let us do it for you.


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Jetpilot Men's Chamber 3/2MM Wetsuit
Order Now: $299.95
The Chamber 3/2MM Wetsuit from your pals at Jetpilot is quite possibly the only fullsuit you'll ever need again.
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Get Back on the Horse!
7 comments:
- bluesun said...
"When you get bucked off, get back on--and don't squat with yer spurs on." --Trail Tip Song, by Riders in the Sky
I can't hear a story of someone getting bucked off a horse without hearing that song in my head.
*goes off to find his Riders in the Sky music
- September 15, 2010 at 9:58 PM
- darlin said...
Quite the feisty horse you have there LSP but she waited for you to get back on, that's awesome! She sure is a beauty!
Glad to hear that you're back up and about, try to keep it that way k? :-) Ahhh, yes, it's about time for you to get out shooting again, you must miss that immensely.
Happy trails and aim high when your horse is traveling that fast. I say that because I'm low to the ground and you'll miss me that way! lol
God Bless.
- September 15, 2010 at 10:39 PM
- LSP said...
Riders in the Sky? Nice one.
Always essential to get back on...
- September 15, 2010 at 10:46 PM
- LSP said...
Darlin, I'll aim high!
- September 15, 2010 at 10:55 PM
- darlin said...
You're too kind LSP, thank you! :-)
- September 15, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Looking at it from a different point of view if you didn't get back on you would not respect yourself and the horse would not respect you either.
Whitetail Woods Blog / Blackpowder Shooting
- September 16, 2010 at 7:25 AM
- LSP said...
That's an extremely good point, Rick.
I'd say that mutual respect between horse and rider is essential -- and it doesn't come automatically...
- September 16, 2010 at 12:15 PM


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'Equine Cushing's Disease' is a common hormonal disease of horses and ponies which is now known as PPID. PPID stands for 'pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction' which refers to the part of the brain which is affected by the condition.
The 'dysfunction' describes increased hormone output from the pituitary gland and it is the output of these hormones that causes the clinical signs or symptoms seen in horses with this disease. Despite the common perception that PPID is solely a condition of veteran horses and ponies, new data shows that horses and ponies over the age of 10 can be commonly affected. The Cushing's disease that dogs can suffer from is a different disease with different symptoms and treatment.
The early symptoms of PPID can often be overlooked or attributed to 'just old age' at first. These include loss of topline muscle over the back and the development of a 'pot belly'; reduction in immunity to infections; excessive drinking, urinating and sweating; and lethargy or poor performance.
Other signs develop as the disease progresses, including an excessively long hair coat and delayed or even absent shedding of the coat. These signs are often more obvious in native breeds that usually have a very thick winter coat. Another common finding in horses and ponies with PPID is abnormal deposits of fat around the body, including around the eyes which may give the horse a 'puffy eyed' appearance.
The most worrying clinical sign of PPID is laminitis, a common, painful and ultimately devastating condition affecting the feet and hooves of horses and ponies. Horses with PPID are more susceptible to laminitis because of the abnormal levels of circulating hormones from their pituitary gland.
If your vet suspects your horse may have PPID, blood sample(s) are usually taken in order to confirm a diagnosis of the disease. This ensures that your vet can have a way of directly measuring the levels of various hormones in the blood.
Currently, PPID cannot be cured but it can be controlled by medication. There is a licensed medicine available in the UK and Ireland with a prescription from a veterinary surgeon. It helps to normalise levels of hormones produced by the pituitary gland into the bloodstream and therefore treats the clinical signs of PPID. As this treatment affects hormone production, there is usually a short lag between beginning treatment and seeing a horse return to normal in terms of clinical signs. It can take up to 12 weeks to see the full benefit of treatment.
Many horses and ponies with PPID can have other conditions associated with middle or old age, as well as the symptoms directly associated with the disease. With this in mind, a good programme of routine preventative health care can be a great help in managing a horse with PPID. This should include regular worming, dentistry, and routine foot care (especially for laminitic horses/ponies), as well as feeding a high quality, balanced diet. Ask your vet for advice.
Written by: Verity


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Decorative concrete products are making it easier and cheaper than ever before for homeowners to get the patio of their dreams without spending a fortune. In fact, estimates are that in many cases, it can cost up to 50% less when using decorative and stamped concrete rather than using natural stones for the patio. However, it is possible to do far more with today's concrete. It can create a look very similar to actual brick, cobblestones, marble, and even wood. It is possible to add patterns, shapes, and designs with relative ease, so long as the contractor has experience.
The decorative concrete products look fantastic, and they are very easy to care for. Since it is concrete rather than stones, the owners never have to worry that the stones might settle or shift over time. It looks good now and it will look good for years to come. It cleans with sweeping and a bit of soap and water. That's all it takes to keep it looking fantastic for a long time.
How Do the Decorative Concrete Stamps Work?
The stamped concrete works quite simply. The contractor will pour the slab and make sure that it is smooth, and will then use a stamp to create a pattern in the concrete when it is still wet. It is possible to add coloring to the concrete as well, and this is what really helps to sell the realism and make the concrete look like actual natural stone and other elements. Talented contractors can create a wide range of different looks with all of the decorative concrete products on the market today.
Benefits of Professional Installation
When working with a professional contractor, homeowners and business owners will find that the contractor is able to take care of all of the hard work. Great contractors are also able to collaborate to come up with some great design ideas that will work well for the patio. Whether you have the patio solo or it is out poolside, great contractors can create a look that really works and ties the patio together with the house and the rest of the property.
The contractors also have experience, and that means that they can get the job done right the first time. Owners will have peace of mind when they let the professionals handle the work for them. However, some might still want to do it on their own.
Can Homeowners Do It?
It is possible to learn how to stamp concrete and use decorative concrete products as a homeowner or business owner. However, it is not always an easy thing to do, and owners should remember that the mistakes they make in the concrete will be there and staring back at them forever. Those who want to take the DIY approach with decorative concrete products should make sure they take a class or two first so they know how to work with the concrete and what they should expect at each of the different steps along the way.
Duraamen Industrial and Polished Concrete Flooring Products are designed to provide labor saving and long lasting flooring solutions. Talk to an expert about your flooring challenges...Please Call + 973 230 1301 / eMail Us


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My brother agreed to go with me because Eddy had to work. We got to Malibu found a spot to park & greeted the group. I dont have a problem meeting new people & felt comfortable right away. It was a good 30 people (see group picture below - can you find me?) Oh & don't hate on the pictures, they were all take with my point & shoot camera :) & it was very hot. For us Souther California peeps, 90 degrees is HOT okay.
At first we started off at a good pace (for me) until we started going up hill for what felt like an eternity. It was probably five plus minutes non-stop at a time. Group picture above was our first rest 30 minutes in, and if you find my face - I'm already tired!! lol Kept telling myself what did you get yourself into?!
Needless to say it took us 3.5 hours to get to the top where we found seashell fossils & a wonderful view. Well worth all my huffing & puffing I can now say.
I'm still smiling in the picture below so I'm going to take a guess
& say this was taken at the start of the hike! ha ha
I didn't take many pictures going up, because I was too busy trying to breathe,
in case you were wondering.
The awesome fossils
The view: Self-explanitory
My brother David & I
Thank you for carrying my backpack bro, couldn't have done it without you!
Overall, I'm glad I went ahead and spontaneously did the hike. Could I have been better prepared? Physically, no doubt! I had never been soo happy to see & sit in my car! lol Still soo very proud of myself, that I finished the hike. There were people who turned around three hours in & headed back. We made it to the top & let me tell you - that is one of the greatest feelings in the world! Because I know I pushed myself past those negative thoughts of wanting to turn around, of giving up, but I didn't. Total time in the hike was approximately five, yes FIVE hours! Easy? Not even close. Beyond difficult is more like it, but I can proudly say I DID IT :)
On the way down I had about an hour and a half (it was much easier since it was downhill) to think about the overall experience & life in general. Sometimes life throws you lemons, but like they say; Make lemonade! Never give up on your dreams. And don't let them just stay dreams. Do something about it, work hard, and become the person you've always dreamed of. It's not going to become of reality just waiting around for it... In the future I want to become a destination wedding photographer where I will be able to travel & do what I love most, document L-O-V-E. Does it sound far-fetched. To some I'm sure. But not to me. I'm working hard to improve on my skills, learning the inside & outs of my camera, and working with the equipment I have & MAKING IT WORK. Yes, I wish I had a better camera or every lens out there, but for now, I'm working with what I got & making the best of it. And you should to.
What is your dream? I told you mine, I'd love to hear from you. Does your dream sound crazy to others? Don't let that stop you from getting where you want to be and accomplishing your goals.


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Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Stories of Scotland's tiniest biting beasties. Entertaining, informative and instructional stories, poems and essays on the scourge of the Highlands.
Here it is, all you ever wanted to know - and a bit more besides - about the scourge of Scotland, the dreaded MIDGIE! Read about its history, folklore and news stories. Appreciate the poems it inspired, the hilarious short stories it stung with inspiration. Discover the zoological facts and little known traits of the wee beastie.
Above all, learn how to combat once and for all this scunner of the glens!


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Pixlr-o-Matic is like having Instagram in your browser
If you love Instagram on your iPhone and want a great way to get that same toy camera feel on your computer, Pixlr-o-Matic is perfect for you. Better yet, you can do it from anywhere right in your browser. It's a Chrome web app, so you'll want to download that extension, but you can also just head to the website if you happen to not use Chrome.
You have the choice to upload photos or to take them with an attached webcam, as long as the Flash interface works for you. For me, it never does, so I had to rely on a locally-stored file.
There are three sections to manipulate, including color processing, some film effects and then borders. Once you're finished, you can upload it to an included service or save it to your computer locally. I played around with the Pixlr-o-Matic with one of my own photos and thought you'd like to check out the results so here you go:
So there you have it. It's a fun toy and works well. Drop by and check it out, then of course it's time to link up your pictures to show us what you've created.
Read next: Bill Gates' brilliantly accurate predictions for the Internet...from 1995


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How to Keep a Client for Life
How to Keep a Client for Life
My Nana and Grandad were 60 years married and they reminded me about the importance of not taking clients for granted.
Client retention is as important as client attraction. You've heard me say this a few times now!
I gave this talk during the summer and in this video, I talk a bit more a bout client retention. Some of it you know but it's always good to hear it again so that you can ACT on it.
Watch to the very end (it's only 5 minutes) where I share four key words that I'd like you to include in your business strategy from TODAY.
Book a call so we can chat about how you can begin retaining clients – https://denisefay.as.me/clientsforlife-introduction


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Weekend Rates
Letting commences at 16:00 hrs on the Friday and terminates at 10:00 hrs on the Monday.
Weekly Rates
Letting commences at 16:00 hrs on day of arrival and terminates at 10:00hrs on day of departure (up to seven nights, but excluding the overlap of two weekends). Rates to include two weekends can be quoted on request.
You can make a reservation through our website www.oldessmorecottage.com. Your reservation is complete once you have received confirmation from Old Essmore Cottage in writing and following receipt by Old Essmore Cottage of deposit in cleared funds (see deposit below). We shall hold your provisional reservation for seven days.
Euro 150.00 Deposit
A euro 150. deposit is required per week or part week to secure booking and is non-refundable. The balance of the tariff must be paid 4 weeks before date of arrival. Failure to pay the remaining balance of the full tariff four weeks before date of arrival shall be treated as a cancellation.
Please note;read booking conditions, in sending a deposit one has agreed to Old Essmore cottage booking conditions.
Security Deposit
A refundable security deposit of €100.00 is payable to cover any loss, damage or additional cleaning incurred other than the normal, to the property or contents by you or any one you permit access to the property. A charge of €10.00 will be deducted from the security deposit for replacement of each key not returned at time of departure. The refundable security deposit shall be held until the end of the letting when it shall be refunded to you no later than one week after departure subject to deductions for any of the above. You will be notified by Old Essmore Cottage of any additional costs over and above the amount of the security deposit paid, which is to be paid by you within two weeks of date of departure.
Methods of Payment
Old Essmore Cottage accepts most major credit cards / PaypPal
Personal Belongings
Old Essmore Cottage is not responsible for any lost or stolen property.
Sorry but no pets
Your Obligations
You and all members of your party agree to the following conditions:


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The Lakegirl Stay Afloat inner tube has a silver color key ring with lobster claw style clip and chain.
The inner tube is about 3 " wide, and is made of foam. It actually floats too.
You will love this classic for both style and function, and fun.
Lakegirl INNER TUBE Keyring


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Recent polls have shown that U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., holds a significant lead over Republican rival and former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown.
Recent polls have shown that U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., holds a significant lead over Republican rival and former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown.
But Shaheen holds an even more commanding lead over Brown, the former senator from Massachusetts, in the all-important fund-raising race, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings.
Shaheen's campaign ended the most recent quarterly filing deadline on June 30 with $5.1 million of cash on hand, according to the FEC filings.
From April 1 to June 30, Shaheen raised $2.8 million and spent a little more than $2 million, even though she has no primary challenger.
Brown's campaign ended the quarterly reporting period with almost $1.5 million of cash on hand, according to FEC filings.
Brown's campaign ended June with roughly $3.6 million less in his campaign war chest than Shaheen has in hers, according to the FEC filings, but he has only been actively campaigning since April.
His campaign raised $2.3 million between April 1 and June 30, and spent $1.1 million.
Harrell Kirstein, communications director for Shaheen's campaign, said "our campaign has received donations from more than 31,000 donors — an increase of nearly 5,000 donors from the previous quarter."
"Sen. Shaheen is proud to have such strong grassroots support for her work to put New Hampshire first and make a difference for the people who live and work here," Kirstein said in an e-mailed statement. "We're confident we'll have the resources we'll need to win this November, regardless of whom Republicans nominate to run against Jeanne Shaheen."
Elizabeth Guyton, spokeswoman for Brown's campaign, said Friday, "It's clear that both campaigns are going to have the resources they need to get their messages out. That won't be a problem for anyone in this election. Sen. Shaheen's problem is her message. Voting 99 percent of the time with President Obama is not a winning formula in New Hampshire in 2014."
She also said Brown raised the most money of all nonincumbent GOP candidates who did not self-fund during the last quarter.
From Jan. 1, 2013 to the end of June, Shaheen raised $6.9 million from individual contributions and $1.5 million from committee contributions or political action committees.
The list of PAC contributions she received is almost an inch thick when printed out and includes everything from $1,000 from the American Bankers PAC to $1,500 from the General Dynamics Corporation PAC, $5,000 from the Nutmeg PAC of Stamford, Conn., and $5,000 from the Desert Caucus of Tucson, Ariz., according to FEC filings.
From Jan. 1 to June 30, Brown raised $2.1 million in individual contributions and $209,500 in other committee contributions or PAC contributions.
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., who is running against Brown in the Republican primary, ended June 30 with $78,946 of cash on hand, according to FEC filings.
Smith's campaign raised $133,966 from April 1 to June 30, and spent $153,489, according to the FEC reports.
Smith received $339,391 in individual contributions from Oct. 1 2013 to June 30, and received a little more than $12,000 in other committee contributions, according to the FEC filings.
Jim McConnell, the field director for Smith's campaign, acknowledged his candidate is being badly outfunded, but said, "They've got the money, we've got the votes."
McConnell predicted a low turnout for the primary, which he believes will favor Smith because of his backing by longtime Republican activists who support gun rights, tea party issues and pro-life stands.
"Sen. Smith has an unrivaled record with respect to Second Amendment rights, the right to life and tea party issues," McConnell said Friday. "He was tea party before the tea party existed."
Jim Rubens, a businessman and former two-term state senator who is also running in the Republican primary against Brown and Smith, ended June 30 with $414,184 of cash on hand, according to FEC reports.
From April 1 to June 30, his campaign raised $275,685 and spent $92,405, according to his campaign's filings.
But FEC filings show that much of Rubens' campaign war chest comes from loans he made to his own campaign, according to the FEC filings.
From July 1, 2013 to June 30, Rubens raised $81,737 from individual contributions but took no PAC money.
Brian Tilton, communications director for Rubens' campaign, acknowledged his candidate is self-funding the campaign "for the most part," and believes he is connecting with Republican voters.
"It's very simple, we're taking our message to the grass roots," Tilton said Friday. "People are fed up with career politicians and ready for a big change."
He also touted the support from the recently formed Mayday Super PAC, which pledged to spend $4 million in support of Rubens and another candidate in a race in Iowa, and believes it will help even the campaign playing field.
He also pointed to Rubens' long tenure in the state, where he's lived for 40 years, as opposed to Brown, who recently moved to New Hampshire after losing a re-election bid in Massachusetts.