text:
another reviewer points out, the placement on the left is curious given that the manufacturer is English, but it works for American roads). I was riding with another woman who was wearing these, and the reflective strip made her very visible from a distance as she pedaled. The mesh stir-ups are another nice feature, as they keep the tights from riding up and exposing skin at the ankles while also being soft and stretchy enough to eliminate tugging.
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Sunday, January 15, 2012
Rapha Women's Line, Take 2
another reviewer points out, the placement on the left is curious given that the manufacturer is English, but it works for American roads). I was riding with another woman who was wearing these, and the reflective strip made her very visible from a distance as she pedaled. The mesh stir-ups are another nice feature, as they keep the tights from riding up and exposing skin at the ankles while also being soft and stretchy enough to eliminate tugging.
50 comments:
I have a Rapha jersey, 40% wool 60% polyester. It's surprisingly warm as you say. The high collar is nice and warm. It's just about all I need when the temperature is over 10-15 °C or so. Even in rain I don't bother with a jacket.ReplyDelete
Never thought of wearing it over a baselayer. That would make it even more useful. You learn something new every day =)
You could color over the "Wheelsucker" embroidery with a black permanent marker.ReplyDeleteReplies
It's already black, but still legible.Delete
Is the long sleeve jersey the same as the womens classic jersey, only with long sleeves? Thanks for the thorough review and pictures!ReplyDeleteReplies
I can't tell for sure, but I think no. The fabric on the long sleeve jersey has a sheen to it that the short sleeve version does not. And the fit on the long sleeved is almost certainly different (looser). In any case, it would not make sense for them to be the same, as that would make the short sleeved to warm to wear in the summer. Feedback from others is welcome though.Delete
No, the winter jersey is warmer, made from 52% merino, the regular jersey is 29% (I think). Also, the way the material is made puts the polyester outside for wind resistance and gives it the sheen, the wool part is on the inside next to skin for wicking.Delete
They don't "hide" the country of origin on their site, they promote it and have a rather defensible case for those actually interested.
The waist this is an issue. You either wear non-bib shorts with bib tights or vice versa. Or deal with spaghetti straps and/or hold your water.ReplyDelete
I don't really care but wonder if you can feel the vent zipper if there's something in your jersey pockets.
The base layer issue is a non-starter I think. Once the jersey goes on, your original form factor returns.
But...is it fair to say you wish for a 100% merino product when you haven't worn the Sportwool next to your skin?
Yes, the thought of "taking one for the team" vis-a-vis a rash might be asking too much.
The Rapha thing doesn't bug me. It's handsome. If someone calls you an elitist you can point to your Moser. Blow minds.
PS I signed out of the Goog acct and got a youtube error message - awesome.Replies
I've worn the Sportswool against the skin when trying it on, and I do prefer the texture and feel of 100% merino to it regardless of whether I am sensitive to the blend or not. I will try it in the summer though.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 15, 2012 at 6:46 PM
I have the mens version of those pieces. I have had them for a couple of years now. My long sleeve jersey gets a lot of use, but the tights... not so much.ReplyDelete
I seem to feel the about same way that you do about the pieces. The jersey is very versatile and breathes well, which is good for the dry cold where I live. Short or long sleeve base layers really extend the useful range of the jersey. And their base layers, though expensive, are very nice. As you mention, try to get Rapha on sale and it is not such a shock to the wallet.
As for the tights, the lack of a chamois is the biggest shortcoming. The tights are a bit constricting on the abdomen when wearing bibs underneath. I feel like a sausage when I zip up the tights in the front.
Rapha does make a pair of fleece bib knickers (for men at least?) that are fantastic. Not exactly a substitute for the tights, but highly recommended for riding in slightly warmer weather.
"And their base layers, though expensive..."Delete
They have a deal where a 3-pack costs $160 including shipping, and you can choose them in any sleeve length and any size. If you get all 3 long-sleeve, that's a good deal. Also, when you buy something from Rapha online they apparently send you a discount coupon to use on a subsequent purchase. All in all it is possible to get the merino baselayers at a reasonable price.
- AnonymousJanuary 15, 2012 at 7:21 PM
which shorts are you wearing underneath the tights?ReplyDeleteReplies
For these photos I was lazy and just wore the tights over underwear. When I rode in them for real, I wore them over my Ibex cycling shorts as these are the only ones I own. Being wool, they are thicker than lycra shorts and it was a tight fit. Doable though.Delete
Re your comment about waistbands: In the description for the men's tights, Rapha suggest you wear bib shorts under the bib tights :-) Not sure why the wording isn't the same for the ladies version.ReplyDelete
But I will say the Rapha women's (non-bib) shorts have a nice deep panel at the front, so don't have a constricting waistband. I am not a spendthrift, but I do love the silky fabric and the nice deep waistband on their shorts.
Back to the tights. One potential use for that zippered pocket in the back is a disposable handwarmer. It would have been nice TODAY at 7F.
As for that white armband, don't forget that like the white panel on the leg, it really adds to visibility. As for branding, sure the white band is one of Rapha's branding things, but why not have a nice distinct branding association? Should we remove the partially eaten apples that light up from the backs of open laptops? And given that they don't have giant logos, sponsor names, garish patterns or pink flowers all over, their clothing is much more subtle than much of what is offered to *sport* cyclists.
But if you really don't like the white armband and want to try a Rapha jersey with a flattering cut for women, consider the women's club jerseys. While RSC only has the pink one in stock, it also comes in blue and cream - and Rapha have them marked down to almost half price. My wonderful brother-in-law got me the complete set last fall! These have a much more flattering cut than the classic jersey, and without the full zip that you didn't seem to like in your earlier review. Of course you'll have to travel somewhere warm or wait a while to really use them. V, feel free to come try mine.
Pixie, Jim & Mike - Yes, the men's winter tights can be worn over bib shorts, which eliminates the waistband problem, but unfortunately they do not make bib shorts for women. I suppose you could get these from Shutt Velo Rapide. Has anyone tried them?ReplyDeleteReplies
Have you tried their regular women's shorts? Definitely no binding waistband.Delete
Also there is a 3/4 bib for women.
- AnonymousNovember 12, 2012 at 10:42 AM
I'm puzzled by your comment that they don't make womens bib shorts. Am I missing something? I wear Hincape bibs (what my team provides me) but have worn several different kinds in the past.Delete
Real Cyclist has a whole page of bib shorts for women:
They even have a pair of wool blend bibs there. I really feel like I must be missing something.
- AnonymousJanuary 15, 2012 at 9:14 PM
"Wheelsucker" is generally a derogatory. It means a rider who sits in the group taking shelter from the wind while failing to go to the front to do his/her share of fighting the wind. Why ever would this be embroidered on a self respecting cyclists clothing? Get out the stitch ripper.ReplyDelete
Wow. Totally not for me. 1. Bigger boobs, skinny legs. 2. I tend to wait to pee until it's OH GOD I HAVE TO GO NOW. Even when I go earlier than that, when I get to the bathroom/whatever my body starts to yell NOW PLEASE. The idea of having to struggle out of half my clothes to pee is just awful.ReplyDeleteReplies
You might like the fit of Capo tights, they are made for slender legs and have several bibless versions available. Departmentofgoods often has them on clearance.Delete
Huh. I'll have to think about it.Delete
Reading this post, though, was a reminder that I generally dislike roadie-ish clothes. In general I dislike single-purpose clothes, and I'm just really un-fond of the spandex look (whether made out of that material or not). I have padded shorts, but they're almost all liner-style, partially 'cause I prefer a super-thin chamois, but also because I generally wear something over it. The liner shorts and my wool jerseys (which aren't true bike jerseys as they don't have those pockets) are the only truly cycling-specific clothing I own.
Like, for instance, I really hate walking into a store in just padded shorts (no, I don't do this in liner shorts). I feel oddly exposed, like I walked in the store in my bikini bottoms or something. On tour I had some thin gray knickers for wearing over my shorts, as well as a black thin cotton jersey skirt for hotter days.
I dunno. I just have this huge resistance to looking like a roadie, even when I do half-assed roadie style rides. Maybe I'd feel less weird about it if I were faster or on a bike that wasn't clearly set up for touring? No idea.
Re padded shorts/tights and civilisation: consider carrying a skirt in your bag, one of those made of thin jersey fabric that fold up into a tiny ball and barely take up any space. Then you can simply put it on once off the bike before entering respectable establishments. To me, black padded tight and shorts don't really look that roadish anyhow; it's the brightly coloured lycra with company ads all over it that holds the roadie association for me.Delete
- Johan TJanuary 16, 2012 at 3:17 AM
Dhb that I usually buy from Wiggle has sub $100 padded roubaix bib tights for women if you are looking for a cheaper option. (although the roubaix version seems sold out). I have used the mens versions for commuting for two months with no problems. Have worked great down to -7 C. Lower than that and I would consider a baselayer underneath for 1h+ riding.ReplyDeleteReplies
Saw those earlier, but they are listed as discontinued unfortunately.Delete
- philippeJanuary 16, 2012 at 4:36 AM
I don't have anything constructive to add, but I must say the second pic is charming.ReplyDelete
i find that branding rather bold and subtle at the same time. mass-market here we come! semi-elitist with a nice trickle down effect.ReplyDelete
please fill me in on the 'backlit films of exquisite suffering'. - not sure we are visting the same cinema...
So glad to see your second report on Rapha for women.. I am waiting on a few pieces to arrive this week, including the women's long sleeve jersey in medium (fig) and the 3/4 bibs. I purchased the women's gilet last year in large, and it love it and wear it all the time. I am eager to see if the jersey will be a good fit for my frame.ReplyDelete
what's disappointing to me - at their pricepoint - is that almost all their stuff appears to be made in the third world. there's no reason you can't make most of these products in england (where rapha is based, and where you'd imagine they'd want to invest their money) or europe or the us (since they seem to have a satellite office here).ReplyDelete
perhaps you could call out the country of origin on the products you bought, since they hide it on their website?Replies
Good point about listing the country of origin, will add this to the text.Delete
- Leigh in SeattleJanuary 16, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Wow, how long did it take you to get those thigh muscles? Do you find it difficult to shop for women's pants?ReplyDeleteReplies
Gee, thanks a lot : ) I don't wear pants often, but a month ago I wanted to buy some jeans and yes it was tough.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 16, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Have your feelings about the clothes in your previous review changed at all in retrodspect? I've seen the stow away jacket on sale for 1/2 price and it's so tempting!ReplyDeleteReplies
Look, you might like the jacket even though I don't. There are other blogs reviewing it if you search for it, so maybe have a look at them as well.Delete
But to answer your question, no I still find that jacket hideous. From the matronly shade of red to the awkward fit, I just don't know what else to say. I would gladly buy a lightweight summer rain/wind jacket from Rapha if they made a nice one, but this ain't it for me. I do like their softshell winter jacket and their rain jacket very much, but those are very expensive and I've never seen them go on sale.
- AnonymousJanuary 16, 2012 at 11:21 AM
"If you have a big bosom and slim legs... well, then you might be out of luck."ReplyDelete
Strange to think that way.
Big bosom and slim legs is what I have always wanted.
I assume this question would apply to the men's versions as well.ReplyDelete
I am new to cycling in inclement weather. These tights keep you warm but do they keep you dry? Do you need tights and an outer shell as well? Iv'e seen Izumi pants that zip into shorts and those seam reasonable. Are you supposed to wear them over tights?
Sorry for such noob questions but this is the first year where the Seattle-threatens-to-move-to-California syndrome has started in January for me. Usually it doesn't begin until March!
So I am very interested in what I'm supposed to wear because my wool knickers and t shirts won't cut it.
Happy WInter Riding,
Not 100% sure what you are asking, but there are rainpants that are basically made of the same shell material as rainjackets, and you do wear them over tights or regular pants (my husband wears this stuff for commuting).Delete
The Rapha tights shown here are compression tights that are meant for strenuous cycling. They are water resistant, but would probably not withstand a downpour. You may want to ask here though; the reviewer has almost certainly worn them in heavy rain.
I'll just answer here...Delete
I have not worn the rapha tights in heavy rain. My choice of rainwear varies a bit depending on temperature, type and length of ride.
For staying the dryest - I have a nice pair of Mountain Hardwear Goretex PacLite pants that I've had for several years. These are great when I'm out all day and want to keep a base layer relatively dry, like when touring, or doing a spring brevet. I've also used them a lot for commuting where I don't want to have to deal with trying to dry wet tights at work. I vary the weight of the baselayer under them to deal with warmer or colder conditions. I don't see the model I have anymore, but I think they have something similar and suspect a few other companies make something similar as well. Of course, I need to mate these with a tall overshoe to really stay dry.
I also have some nice *warm* pants made by showers pass. These are water resistant for a while, but not waterproof and will soak through in heavy rain.
Note that they don't have a women's specific model. Mine actually were originally bought for Fear Rothar, but they somehow ended up on my side of the closet. These are good for cold and damp, less so for heavy downpours or all day rain.
I tend not to use rainpants in warm conditions - tradeoff in sweat versus rain. But again, it also depends on whether it's an all day ride/rain or an hour or two.
I cannot wear the fully waterproof rain pants on warm rides either, my legs just get too hot even if the pants are described as breathable.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 16, 2012 at 1:06 PM
maybe rapha will sponsor your dark hedges trip if you wear these and promise to shoot a video? ;) just brainstorming here!ReplyDeleteReplies
Shooting promotional video for a company is typically a paid job worth more than an airline ticket. I know you are joking, but sadly I think people are too willing to do this sort of thing without fair compensation.Delete
I like the look of your new kit. It might be worthwhile to call a local cycle courier and see if they have some tips for you on durable, comfortable and good value winter gear.ReplyDelete
Photo #2 - You are Elastigirl! (Sorry - cheap shot.)ReplyDeleteReplies
Ha! It's true : )Delete
i received my Rapha order today, and will add my comments on fit on the chance it will help another female who's trying to decide whether to try the gear. I ordered the 3/4 bib shorts in small, the women's long-sleeved jersey (Fig) in medium, the merino roll-neck sweater in small, and the men's long-sleeved jersey (gray) in small.ReplyDelete
The bib shorts fit wonderfully, but the padding felt like a LOT compared to what I am used to in my Sugoi 3/4 tights. That said, the overall fit of the tights was spot on, and I think, after I have washed them, maybe the pad will have a bit more give. On the bike, though, they feel great, and I think the 3/4 tights will get a lot of use. The length below the knee felt good to me.
As I mentioned in another posting, I have the women's gilet in a large, and it's great for layering, though i probably could have gotten away with a medium. The women's jersey (in medium), however, just does NOT fit my body shape. It bunched in weird places, and was too big in the neck. The arm length was decent, but the arms felt large over all. I did not order a women's small, because when i first tried the women's gilet, I ordered a small and I couldn't zip it! The large vest is slightly loose, but in a good way (for layering).
Interestingly, the men's long-sleeved jersey in small fits me perfectly. There's no bunching anywhere. It fits my neck snugly, and it's perfect across the shoulders. It's snug in the bust, but not in a bad way.
Lastly, the merino roll up jersey in small was a perfect fit. The neck is cut pretty slim, and it looks great as a turtleneck (I'm not sure if you're to roll the neck down or not, but it fits my longer neck nicely without rolling it down). For reference, I am 5'8-1/2"or so and around 132 lbs with a 36A bust. In Outlier women's pants I'm a solid 6. Don't mean to tell you more than you want to know about me, but i hope it will help others figure out what sizes might (or might not) work for them.
Kim, do you think the 3/4 tights could be worn with leg warmers to make a combined full leg tight? Or is there something in the tailoring/length that prevents this? I am thinking now that maybe I ought to have gone with that option.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing your sizing issues and measurements, I think this sort of thing is very useful for everyone!Replies
Velouria, I think that sounds like an excellent idea, pairing the leg warmers with the 3/4 tights (unless the double coverage would be constricting at the knee). I had thought about buying the women's shorts and the leg warmers instead of the 3/4 bib tights, but ultimately, after going back and forth on it, I decided on the 3/4 bibs.Delete
I was worried the leg length wouldn't be long enough for me--a reviewer elsewhere on the web said she wished the length below the knee was longer. Thankfully, I am comfortable with the length.
Since I'm keeping everything I ordered but the women's long-sleeve jersey, I just might exchange the jersey for those leg warmers. I think your idea is a good one, and it's certainly worth a try.
Okay I went ahead and asked Rapha about this. They replied that the 3/4 tights and legwarmers will work together.Delete
Velouria, Thanks so much for contacting Rapha about the combination. Do you plan to swap your full winter tights for 3/4 tights and legwarmers now?Delete
Well I like the reflective strip, the warmth, and the multi-sport potential of the full winter tights, so I'll keep them. But maybe next year I will also get the 3/4 and the legwarmers : )Delete
- AnonymousFebruary 17, 2012 at 2:15 AM
I also have their winter jersey, the gaiter, booties and embro (won a gift certificate from some racing). I commute/train in Seattle outside 6-7 days a week year-round and ski in my off time. I've been using these for riding in 35-50 degree rain and skiing in 10-20 degrees.ReplyDelete
As a 5 foot, 110 pound competitive cyclist, I normally wear a 0-2. The XXS jersey is made for tiny children. I exchanged for the XS and the fit is quite trim, but fits perfectly for me with a lightweight base and allows me to wear a vest or jacket easily. I do a lot of core work and used to be a climber, and this fits my larger biceps, as many Euro jerseys do not.
I live in the gaiter since I got it. Warm but breathes well, and unlike others that I have tried, it has some shape and drape, more like a scarf. I have considered wearing it to work with a sweater but it's usually sweaty from the weekends. I got the pink and it's almost a bubblegum color, but very fun. I am tired of owning all black, grey and blue.
The embro is nice, but I still like the brand Greyhound Juice better because it's a solid that I can put on like deodarant rather than rub on. Could be a tad warmer and longer lasting for heat.
The neoprene booties are nothing special and if they weren't a deal and my old ones torn, I would have returned them. I wear a SIDI 37 and like that the S actually work with my road cleats. Most other booties are too loose and get in the way when clipping in. Could use some reinforcements on the sole...I suspect these will wear out quickly.
Waiting for that gilet to go on sale...
You look fabulous in Rapha gearReplyDelete


text:
Lending Solutions Hits 5 Million Loan Applications
Lending Solutions Inc. said it has processed its five millionth loan application. The Elgin, Ill., company said the milestone application was processed on Monday for the $77 million Wichita Federal Credit Union.
The Kansas credit union has been a client since 2007, LSI said. The company began processing loans by phone in 1995, the same year its founder, former Baxter Credit Union CEO Rex Johnson, opened his University of Lending.
LSI has since expanded into online lending, indirect underwriting, mortgage operations, collections, outbound services, disaster recovery and complete member service transactions.
LSI opened a 20,000-square-foot contact center in Naperville, Ill., in 2012 and now employs more than 420 people there and at its Elgin center, the company said. The company recently established an employee stock ownership plan.
LSI said it now provides 24-hour service to more than 300 credit unions, banks and mortgage companies.
"Five million loan applications is a huge milestone for LSI," CEO Lee Kolquist said in the company's announcement. "Thank you to all of our credit union clients for the trust you've placed in us over the years in serving your members as your 24/7 branch."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Qdoba, dental clinic in the works at Humes Road and Milton Avenue
JANESVILLE—Queso addicts, your wait will soon be over.
It doesn't look like much now, but come the start of next year the intersection of Humes Road and Milton Avenue will be home to a dental clinic and, yes, a local franchise of the Mexican restaurant chain Qdoba, developers say.
Crews are working to build a 7,500 square-foot strip center in what is now the parking lot of a Kmart store, said Mandy Witt, sales associate for commercial real estate at Coldwell Banker Commercial, McGuire Mears and Associates.
The project is on track to meet its planned opening date of Jan. 1, 2014, Witt said.
There's a third, 2,700 square-foot unit in the center as well, she said, but no tenant has signed for it yet. Developers also are considering splitting that space into two units.
Work on the project has so far taken place below ground, said Tom Gilbank, whose company Gilbank Construction is building the strip center.
Crews are doing site preparation right now, Gilbank said, moving sanitary sewer and utility lines.
"You don't notice this when you look, it doesn't look like a lot of activity, but things are happening," he said.
They hope to have the footings and foundation done by the end of September, and passersby should start to see the new building taking shape by mid-October, Gilbank said.
Exterior work should be done in early December, he said.
After that, it won't be long before burrito lovers have another way to get their fix.


text:
Stomach bloating and weight gain
For discussing the functions of different structures of all organisms.
Moderator: BioTeam
Re: Stomach bloating and weight gain
OMG...I can't believe this thread has been going for two years and I haven't come across it! I am miserable. I have had this battle for 15 years. It happened only every once in awhile and I started cutting out this food and that food. Over the last 5 years, it has been unbearable. I bloat at least four times a week. I have seen multiple doctors. Like many of you, I have been poked, prodded,and tested for everything. I have been told twice it is IBS, but they put me on a pill that ends up being taken off the market. I also look to be 7-8 months pregnant by the end of the day. I won't have a bowl movement for over a week. The last doctor told me I had too much fiber and it was having the opposite affect. I hate it. I have gained nearly 50 pounds in 5 years. All I hear is diet and exercise. I walk/run 3 miles a day, bike 5 miles three times a day, and swim when I can. In the meantime I only have 1300-1500 calories. Oh, then my doctor said that wasn't enough calories and that my body was compensating for it! There were so many comments on this site, but if I overlooked an absolute answer someone has found....PLEASE tell me! Because I am pushing 190 pounds now, my acid reflux is unreal,I have trouble eating just about anything, and I am in tears everytime I have to by larger clothes. Thanks
I am 34 and a mother to my 7 year old daughter who has had bad stomach distention (looks like she's 7 months pregnant by the end of the day..starts the day looking 4 months pregnant)....and she's had this problem of stomach bloating and excessive gas since she was born!! I am frustrated by the lack of attention she's had by her pediatrician and sought out a GI specialist when she was 5. My daughter is an active, type A personality, girl, who is otherwise a happy-go-lucky little girl. For two years, now, we're not much closer to finding out WHY all this has happened. She's always been bigger than her peers and now (like I feared,) it's starting to affect her self-image. She has a little sister who is 4 with no problems at all. I just want her to feel normal. Just so you know, she came out of the womb not tolerating any kind of milk or formula...she had infant projectile vomiting whenever she had a bottle (but she's been tested for lactose intolerance and it came back normal!) She's been put on a wheat intolerance diet..for 1 year!!..but it didn't change her appearance or her discomfort. I've had pediatricians tell me to ease up on fast food (we went through drive throughs maybe once a week, so we then went only once every few weeks) but nothing changed. BTW, that infuriated me that the pediatrician would say that when my younger daughter, my husband, and I don't have any symptoms of being obese, and we all eat the same food as a family.
Here's what 7 years of researching yielded:
-Don't trust pediatricians...seek a specialist if you can
-Your body is very complex, and your symptoms most likely are being caused by a biochemical imbalance; either that or your body is missing something to help you digest your food. I read on a medical website that whatever you eat turns to fecal matter or gas and that problems can stem from digestion when "turning" the food into one or the other.
-Your blood type may have something to do with digestion. Google "eating for your blood type"
-Anemia (iron deficiency) may have something to do with your symptoms.
-Symptoms may be hormone related
-Four important people to help you find your diagnosis: 1. Gastroenterologist (GI doc) 2. Endocrinologist (Hormone and metabolism doc) 3. Allergist (Allergy doc) 4. Nutritionist (can give you tips on digestive enzymes and probiotics that might be helpful)
My daughter has pain in her upper stomach, just under her sternum. Her upper stomach protrudes about two to three inches past her chest (she's 7). Her gut (belly button area) protrudes another inch out from there.
Since the age of 5 1/2, she's been seen by a GI doc at CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County.) Here's a summary of a year and a half of treatment:
My daughter tested positive for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (presences of Eosinophils (ess-in-o-fills) on her esophagus. This means the lining of her esophagus looks like it has scar tissue on it...what this means is her reflux problems have hurt the lining of her esophagus. We found this out through an Endoscopic exam where they put a camera up her nose and down her throat.
She was seen by an ENT doc at CHOC (Ear, Nose and Throat doctor) who said he saw small nodules on her vocal chords (which explained the chronic hoarseness in her voice) and said it could be from GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) and recommended Prevacid. We did not take it because my daughter is 7 and I want to find the cause of the problem and treat that and not just the symptoms. Plus, google "side effects of Prevacid;" you won't want to take it either.
She had a breath test (Hydrogen test) to test for lactose intolerance...came back normal.
The GI doc said she may have fecal matter stuck in her intestines/colon and said she needed to flush it all out. The doc put her on an aggressive Magnesium Citrate treatment consisting of two 10 oz bottles of Magnesim Citrate bottles (you can find them at any drug store) and a liquid diet..no solids at all. This 5-day treatment sent her to the bathroom for 5 days of chronic diarrhea. Her stomach went down about an inch and a half and then came right back the day after introducing solid foods. We are now following up the treatment with Kristolose which will keep her stools soft. The Kristolose has kept her regular.
We're scheduled for a three hour exam next week to have allergy testing done, and I'll give you the results of that as well.
My gut instinct is telling me she may have a problem digesting food. I've researched digestive enzymes and probiotics and want to start her on a regime consisting of some enzyme and probiotic supplements, but I don't want to do any of this until we do the allergy testing. However, after reading some of these posts, I'm thinking the enzymes and probiotics may not be the answer (read the post in March of this year from the 34-yr old male who seemed to try everything with no relief to his symptoms.)
Blogging is good because it can help direct people to the right answers. I'm sorry that I don't have answers to the cause of stomach distention, bloating, and gas, but if we keep at this, we may stumble across the answer. I'll continue to post with updates. I came across this thread and was hoping for the answer, but I figured that even if that doesn't happen, if I can help someone else by sharing my story, then it's worth the time to post it.
Hello Everyone!
I am the original one who posted this blog over 2 years ago! After 8 years I have finally found out what my problem was. It turns out that I have low stomach acid. That is why everytime I would eat anything I would bloat so much because I did not have acid to breakdown the proteins. All I do now is take a HCL and pepsin before I eat and I do not bloat. It worked right away. I am so happy. I have lost close to 20 pound and i feel great! It was not a medical doctor who diagnosed me. It was a Naturopathic DOCTOR!
Good luck to you all and I hope you figure out what is wrong! Just don't give up!
what is HCL?
Re: Stomach bloating and weight gain
Since July 2008 I have been experiencing pain in my right lower side and right lower back area. The pain would come and go, but as of August the pain would just be consistent and my stomach, back and face started to have a bloated look. I began gaining weight, could not do my usual stomach crunches, tired and when I would eat my stomach would hurt. I would also urinate alot. I had paid a visit to the emergency room and explained that I would like a ultrasound, xrays or something because this was a problem. I was told that maybe I had pulled something/strained myself and I was given muscle relaxers and motrin. Well I know that it's not straining or anything like that, but something far from it. I will visit my primary doctor this week and I will again request that I have a xray and/or ultrasound b/c this is the first time I have ever experienced something like this. I am straight on being STD free so that's not my problem. But thanks to alot of you on this website with the knowlegable advice. I will be asking questions about IBS, gallstones, hypothrodism etc. Just to let the doctor know that I am not playing with my health and that I need some results. I've gone from being 140lbs. the beginning of this year to 159lbs. right now.
Gallstones can cause pancreatitus which causes pain in the lower back and abdominal area. But the pain is very severe and would cause you to double over. Pancreatitus can be diagnosed with a blood test. Usually your Amylase levels go through the roof. Gallstones can also cause lower back pain, but the inferred pain often seems to move. Bloodtest can also be used to confirm gall bladder problems. Did the ER conduct a blood draw on you. If so, and they released you, I would say you can rule out the two I mentioned.
Re: Stomach bloating and weight gain
I am relieved in many ways to hear that my stomach problems are shared by so many. I am still struggling after 13 years to find a cure or way to decrease the bloating. It is better than when it first started. It was interesting to hear someone say that while they were pregnant they did not expereince any problems. I have had 3 children and during each pregnancy I felt great and had no bloating or pain at all. Sometimes I think it is from eating too good, like someon else said- I tend to eat fruits and veggies, but I have tried it all- eating no meat, no cheese or dairy, small meals, eating slower, I have given up eating many veggies that I know cause gas. I try to eat mostly cooked vegies. I exercise and so on. It is very similar to what someone noted. I will feel good in the morning but after lunch start to feel bad and sometimes by evening I am just so tired and full, I can't do anything. Someimes I put a warm compress on my stomach and it is better. I mostly have the pain in the lower left quardrant. My dr. said there is only colon there so now she has me taking fiber and a stool softner. I guess it helps but I still have the problem. If anyone out there gets a real diagnosis please let us know.
Re: Stomach bloating and weight gain
So, yeah, have the same symptoms, bloating, constipation, weight gain, am lactose intolerant....have had these stomach problems for as long as i can remember (over 18 years). but Ive always had my own methods of keeping it somewhat 'under control'...this involved laxatives and only eating when i wasnt going anywhere (like others have described)...and, yes, ive had eating disorders in the past.
...about 5 months ago i suffered gastro. and It seems after the bout of gastro (or what i believe to have been gastro) was when my symptoms started to worsen and get out of control. Ive had blood tests (time permitting), been to a gastro doctor who diagnosed me with IBS...saw a naturopath which worked for about a week....
Over the last year, ive had some big changes...a break up, changed jobs, gained a mortgage...and have lost my period (ive had it once, and it was light, in the past 8 months) and pretty much become a recluse - i go to work, home and gym. I used to go out nearly every weekend (day or/and night), but due to financial restrictions and my worsening stomach problems ive been out probably a total of 4-5 nights in the last year - no, im not exaggerating. I also have to try clothes on before i pack my gym bag, just to see if it'll fit 'today.'
Anyway. So, yes, ive been told (by both the naturopath and gastro doctor) that the mental state affects the state of digestive health....i dont dismiss this...
...I'm just wondering if anyone else had a bout of gastro and noticed their symptoms get out of control afterwards?
like all of u, i just want to be 'normal'...or as close to as possible. I'd give anything to go back to how i was...even if it wasnt so 'normal'...at least i could keep it under control.
Has your hormone levels been checked. A lack of a period sounds like a hormonal problem. Sometimes going on the pill can help hormonal problems. Hormones on the fritz can cause a myriad of symptoms. Go see a gyno.
Re: Stomach bloating and weight gain
thx for the reply,
yeah, had those blood tests yesterday, so waiting on results, and have to go in for an ultrasound too...
just curious as to whether a bout of gastro could have been the trigger? maybe its brought up something underlying, and is making the 'usual' problems worse...pffft who knows.
Re: Stomach bloating and weight gain
Like I said, a hormonal imbalance can cause a wide range of symptoms, including gastro.
See list below:
I am not an MD so anything I say should be considered unreliable, however getting a blood test and ultrasound is a good start on your part. Your gyno may also want to do a MRI scan to look at your pituitary, as a cyst on your P gland can cause you problems. Don't let this frighten you though. The cyst if any usually spontaniously regress after time.
My wife went through this whole thing. She had a cyst on her pituitary, stopped having periods or was spotty, gained large amount of midline mass. The treating physician perscribed birth control pills, and most of her problems went away. Lost 20 pounds, periods restarted( Which I did not miss) For your symptoms I would suggest you seek advice of an MD rather than a alternative med Dr.
• Aching joints and muscles,
• Allergy symptoms,
• Breast tenderness,
• Chronic fatigue,
• Cold or tingling hands and feet,
• Craving sweets, caffeine, carbohydrates,
• Depression, anxiety,
• Dizziness, lightheadedness,
• Dry, thin, or wrinkly skin,
• Endometriosis,
• Facial hair growth,
• Fibrocystic breasts,
• Hair loss, thinning hair,
• Headaches, migraines,
• Heart palpitations,
• Heavy or light periods,
• Hot flashes,
• Incontinence,
• Irregular periods,
• Irritability, inability to handle stress,
• Lack of concentration, foggy, fuzzy thinking,
• Leg cramps,
• Low metabolism,
• Lower sex drive, loss of sex drive,
• Menstrual cramping,
• Morning sluggishness,
• Mood swings,
• Memory lapses,
• Night sweats,
• Osteoporosis,
• Ringing, buzzing in ears,
• Sleep disturbances, insomnia,
• Spotting, light bleeding,
• Symptoms of hypothyroidism with normal T3 and T4,
• Unstable blood sugar,
• Urinary tract infections,
• Uterine fibroids,
• Vaginal dryness,
• Water retention,
• Weight gain, especially in hips, waist and stomach,
• Yeast infections,
Re: Stomach bloating and weight gain
Thanx Michael
Sometimes its good to hear the opinions of someone (or someone who knows someone) that's gone through similar and come out the other end. Understand ur not a doctor... will see what happens with these tests and go from there...
glad ur wife's all good (yes, including the pms)!
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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2017
Hotovitzki Early Origins
East Prussia and Poland, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging Medieval society. Schuschke became part of the main royal Clan of Korab, one of the 12 noble tribes of Poland. It later became more prominent as numerous branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some of which were located in other countries. Through the acquisition of these estates as well as their important contributions to society, the family successfully elevated their social status.
Hotovitzki Spelling Variations
Hotovitzki Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Korab, Schuschke, Korabiewski, Rusiecki and many more.
Hotovitzki Early History
Hotovitzki Early History
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hotovitzki research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 168 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Hotovitzki History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Hotovitzki Early Notables (pre 1700)
Hotovitzki Early Notables (pre 1700)
Another 20 words (1 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hotovitzki Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Anne Korab, who arrived in New York, NY in 1854; Cath Korab, who came to New York, NY in 1854; Paul Korab, who came to New York, NY in 1854; Jan Korab, who settled in New York, NY in 1890.
Hotovitzki Family Crest Products
Hotovitzki Family Crest Products
See Also
See Also
Other References
The Hotovitzki Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Hotovitzki Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
This page was last modified on 24 January 2013 at 16:21.
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Our Views: Housing program helping lift up homeless veterans
If you listen to WCLO, you've likely heard the public service announcements for communityofveterans.org. You know, the one where a soldier returns home and a boy asks, "Did you have to shoot anyone?" A man asks, "So what's the deal, you gonna get a job now, or what?" And a woman says, "Why are you being so jumpy? Put all that stuff behind you, OK?"
Many veterans come home not with visible and physical wounds but deep emotional scars. If these soldiers don't get help, these wounds can plague them for years or their entire lives. They can lead to shattered families, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and even homelessness.
It's a tragedy that so many veterans suffer such fates. That, however, is where the Rock Valley Community Programs and its supporters are stepping in. In 2011, the nonprofit opened Housing 4 Our Vets in the former Caravilla Nursing Home between Janesville and Beloit. The program can help up to 48 homeless veterans at a time transition into their own housing.
These are veterans of all ages. Many served in Vietnam, but others were in Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps they suffer from brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. They don't just get a roof over their heads. They also get counseling and medicines, three daily meals, Internet access and rides to places such as Veterans Administration medical centers. They can rely on each other for support while writing resumes and learning money management and family-living skills. They can get job skills at adjacent Blackhawk Technical College.
Don Gross, for example, told Anna Marie Lux in Monday's Gazette that he struggled with substance abuse and lost his job, home and marriage. He went through a VA treatment program that he says saved his life. He used veterans educational benefits to earn a degree in industrial mechanics from Blackhawk Tech, serves as resident manager of the housing program and knows that his life will again fall apart if he returns to his old ways.
Program social worker John Smith sees veterans who have burned bridges until they have no family or friends. He helps connect them to benefits and jobs.
"A lot of these guys are very proud and don't want to ask for help," Smith told Lux. "That is why they will live in their cars or their tents."
Veterans make up a large percentage of homeless Americans. Last year, Housing 4 Our Vets found independent housing for 68 percent of those involved. That's above the average of 55 percent for similar programs.
The VA offers funding, but Housing 4 Our Vets still relies on our generosity for money, as well as bedding, coats and toiletries. It also needs volunteer drivers.
It's not just students in Rock County who find themselves homeless. Veterans need hands up, as well, and Housing 4 Our Vets and its contributors do great things. The program helps those who've sacrificed for our country to rebuild their lives and regain dignity.
Your donations are appreciated.
Last updated: 6:58 am Thursday, February 20, 2014


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The Canadian Opera Company is delighted to be part of the ever-growing support of honeybees, Currently we host seven hives onthe roof of our opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Follow the honeybees' progress on Parlando, with visits and posts from beekeeper Fred Davis!
NEW - Our bee blog has moved!
Visit Parlando for more updates about our honeybees.
Beekeeper Fred Davis updates us on the honeybees' progress:
I've been trying to keep a watchful eye on the two hives during this summer. It's been hot and muggy and I was concerned that the humidity would have a negative impact on how much capped honey we would get this season and on the bees' overall behaviour. The bees will not add the important enzyme that preserves honey or cap the cells where the nectar is stored it until the humidity level of the nectar is about 18%. Honeybees stand at the opening to the hive and use their wings as fans to cool it off. That helps to maintain a 93 degree F temperature within.
Well, the bees surprised us all. Two weeks ago we removed and spun out about 80 lbs of honey. The honey frames went back on the hive two days later. We hope to get a good second harvest some time in the early Fall.
And here are some pictures, taken by Fred's wife, Barb.
Look how tall our bee hives are! They're bee condominiums now!
Fred smokes the bees, to relax them, making removal of the frames easier for everyone.
Fred's son, Sam, gives the thumbs up. This was an unbelieveably hot and humid day to be so heavily covered up.
Some of the frames had been removed at this point.
Sam checks out a frame.
The raw honey is simply poured through a sieve to keep out any large, unwanted bits. The rest is pure, edible sweetness!
Thanks Fred! And thanks bees!
Posted by Gianna Wichelow / in Update from Fred / comments (2) / permalink
Posted by Gianna Wichelow / in Bee Update / comments (2) / permalink
A swarm of bees is a rare occurrence. When the bees lose their home, or feel they have to leave, they gather around their queen in a clump and await the return of scout bees who are looking for a new spot. An interesting fact is that the bees are at their most docile in a swarm as they have no home to protect.
Surprising but true.
Posted by Gianna Wichelow / in Did you Know? / comments (0) / permalink
Read the nutritional guidelines for the FSC Honeybees Honey!


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I understand that homebirth is not for everyone. But I know that it is for me, right now.
My all natural birth with Gray was less painful and by far more pleasant than my other births. And if it makes you feel any better, I am very low risk and we live 1.4 miles from the hospital.
It seems so silly now to say just what made me finally change my mind. But a friend told me about visiting another friend that just had a baby in the hospital recently and she said they glued a bow in the baby's hair. I thought, oh great, something else I'll have to add to my birthplan. No bow glue.
And when hubby and I were discussing that birth plan- mainly a long list of what we don't want to happen in labor and after the baby is born, we found ourselves saying, why are we having this baby in the hospital?
My original desire was to have a homebirth, but convenience and finances and a little bit of laziness on my part had me deciding on a hospital birth instead. The closer I've gotten to this little girl making her debut, the more I've felt that tug on my heart that I need to do what I really want and think is right for us.
One of my fondest memories of the day I had my first child, I was laboring on our bed upstairs while Jeff prayed beside me. It was incredible pain. And then it was the first time I was starting to understand how to listen to my body and not fight against it. It was there my water broke. There that my new life as a mother officially was beginning.
I envision giving birth to this baby girl, probably in that same bedroom, coming full circle from that day 7 and a half years ago. It just feels so right, and makes so much sense. A new life beginning in the place we do all of our loving and laughing and living.
In my mind, I am now at peace. To me, how she gets here and where she comes out isn't what really matters. The moment we can begin our new life with our first daughter, our sons' first sister, and possibly the completeness of our family... and all the moments to come after that are what it's really all about.
Belly, 30 weeks
Photo by Marianne McNamara, Scandica Fine Art Photography


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Cach� Monitor is an SQL development tool for InterSystems database Cach�. It features an advanced SQL query editor with SQL syntax highlighting, SQL code completion with context sensitive information about database objects (also known as Intellisense), an SQL history buffer for executed SQL commands, SQL code formatting, parallel queries, graphical SQL execution plan with index and selectivity information, SQL abbreviations, and much more. Database diagrams graphically show the structure of the database.
StelsCSV is a JDBC driver that allows performing SQL statements and other JDBC operations upon text files (comma separated, tab-separated, fixed length, etc.). Using this driver, users can easily create a simple database consisting of plain text files. The driver can be used for writing data importing programs and migration tools. It supports most keywords of ANSI SQL92, table joins, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements, data types, aggregate, converting, string, and user-defined SQL functions.
SpiderDB is a lightweight database schema crawler library developed using Java. It is a simple library that can be used to Crawler the underlying schema of a database and return POJO objects, which makes it very easy to use. This library takes care of all the differences among the various database management systems, and makes application code free from the DBMS differences.You keep using same POJOs even if you change the underlying DBMS.
BoneCP is a Java JDBC connection pool implementation that is tuned for high performance by minimizing lock contention to give greater throughput for your applications. It currently beats all known connection pools, including C3P0 and DBCP, as shown on the benchmark section on the site.
Vibur DBCP is a concurrent, fast, and fully-featured JDBC connection pool based on Java dynamic proxies. It supports a fairness parameter, statement caching, Hibernate integration, and SQL queries logging, among other features. Various configuration examples (with Spring, Hibernate, etc.) are provided.
StelsXML is a JDBC type 4 driver that allows you to perform SQL queries and other JDBC operations on XML files. It allows you to easily access data contained in XML documents using the standard SQL syntax and XPath expressions. The driver is completely platform-independent. It supports most keywords of ANSI SQL'92, XPath expressions for defining tables and columns, inner and outer table joins, aggregate, numeric, string, conversion, and user-defined SQL functions.
A rule language.
A Java bytecode viewer and class modification library.


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Calumet Park
9801 S. Avenue G Chicago, Illinois 60617
(312) 747-6039
Fee: Free
Age Range: Any
GhostbustersUnemployed parapsychologists set themselves up as "Ghostbusters" to rid New York of evil monstrous apparitions that are taking over the city. Sigourney Weaver costars as Dana Barrett, the cellist whose strange happenings in her apartment lead the ghostbusting team into the clutches of a punitory poltergeist.
Rated PG | 105 minutes | 1984*Closed Captioned
Presented by Charter One, with additional support from RCN.
Chicago Park District Lakeside Cultural Series
Movies in the Parks is presented by:
With additional support from:


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Around 400 BC, the celebrated Greek physician Hippocrates offered some advice about diet and health. He declared, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." The growing number of Americans who turn to supplements to make up for a poor diet ought to pay attention to those words of wisdom.
Each day, millions of adults in the United States take high doses of vitamins and minerals with hopes of feeling better, getting sick less often, and living longer. For years, physicians told consumers that, at worst, they were just wasting their money. But now, the word is to be careful—because high doses of certain vitamins and minerals may actually increase the risk of disease.
Dietary Supplements 101
As you probably already know, vitamins—by far the most popular choice of supplement—are vital to our survival. The body cannot make them on its own, so we must get vitamins from our diet. Similarly, we need minerals like iron and calcium to function, and must rely on outside sources to meet our requirements. Other supplements, such as herbs, are a whole other story.
Although supplements are a good idea in certain cases (such as for pregnant women, the elderly, and vegetarians), experts agree the best way for you to get the nutrients you need is by eating a well-balanced, healthful diet.
Too Much of a Good Thing
One hundred years ago, scientists began to identify the nutrients in foods that we need to avoid getting deficiency diseases like beriberi and rickets. With attention being given to the benefits of vitamins and minerals, it's no wonder that many of us choose to take supplements. Problems arise, however, when people take individual vitamins or minerals in excessive amounts, rather than eat a nutritious diet.
Use the following chart as a guide:
Supplements: Recommended Intake Levels of Some Supplements and Known Risks Associated With Excessive Amounts
The Bottom Line
While it may be promising, the evidence so far linking supplements with a reduced risk of chronic disease is much less convincing than most people realize. What is clear is just how easy it is to overdose on certain supplements. Also, many supplements may interact with medications you currently take. Therefore, your best bet is to get most of the nutrients you need from the foods you eat. For a healthful diet, be sure to include lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains (like whole wheat bread and brown rice), unsaturated fats (found in nuts, avocados, and oils), and low-fat dairy products.
If you do take supplements, keep the following in mind:
- A multivitamin cannot provide adequate calcium, and for this reason many people could benefit from a separate calcium supplement.
- Be wary of unfounded medical claims for dietary supplements.
- Talk to your doctor about all supplements you take, including concentrations and amounts.
- Keep supplements out of the reach of children.
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 02/2016 -
- Update Date: 04/02/2014 -


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GC Appointments
Dave Prouty was promoted to general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Prouty has served as the organization's chief labor counsel since 2008, before which he spent 22 years at UNITE HIRE, an international union representing the textile and restaurant industry. He replaces Michael Weiner, who will still serve as the MLBPA's executive director.
The University of Pittsburgh named P. Jerome Richey general counsel, effective March 1. Richey previously was chief legal officer and executive vice president at CONSOL Energy, which he joined in 2005 as general counsel and corporate secretary. He started his career specializing in commercial litigation, employment counseling, governance and internal investigations at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) appointed John Ryder general counsel. Ryder has served as an RNC national committeeman from Tennessee from 1996 until the present, with the exception of the four years between 2004 and 2008. He also chaired the party's national redistricting efforts following the 2010 census.
Francine Rosenberger joined Steben & Co., a provider of managed futures funds, as general counsel. Rosenberger most recently was an equity partner at K&L Gates, where she advised clients on the formation, structuring and operation of investment companies, exchange-traded funds and commodity pools.
Jeffrey Shane was named general counsel of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association representing the airline industry. Before joining IATA, Shane spent four years as a partner at Hogan Lovells. He previously was the Department of Transportation's U.S. undersecretary of transportation for policy from 2003 to 2008. He replaces Gary Doernhoefer, who is leaving after three years with the organization.
Other In-House Moves
Mark Harding, the general counsel of Barclays, will resign his post as soon as the London-based bank finds his successor. Before assuming the GC role in 2003, Harding was general counsel of UBS's investment bank and a partner at Clifford Chance.
Law Firm News
Jeff Baudier joined Phelps Dunbar as a partner in its Baton Rouge, La. office. Baudier previously was the president and CEO of Petra Nova, a subsidiary of NRG Energy Inc., where he previously served as regional president and general counsel of the South Central region. At Phelps Dunbar, Baudier will concentrate his practice on the oil, gas and energy industries.
Willard Tom, the one-time general counsel of the Federal Trade Commission, rejoined his former firm, Morgan Lewis, as a partner in its antitrust practice. Before his three-year stint as general counsel, Tom served as deputy director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition and head of its policy office. He resigned from the agency last November.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore hired David Kappos, former director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) as a partner. Kappos led the patent office for three and a half years before resigning in January. He previously was a senior lawyer at IBM Corp., where he held the title of assistant general counsel for intellectual property between 2003 and 2009.


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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2017
Kiramirski Early Origins
Prussia, where the name emerged in medieval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.
Kiramirski Spelling Variations
Kiramirski Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Kisamore, Kasamore, Kisamire, Kiramirski, Kiramsersky, Kasamire and many more.
Kiramirski Early History
Kiramirski Early History
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kiramirski research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kiramirski History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Kiramirski Early Notables (pre 1700)
Kiramirski Early Notables (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Kiramirski Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: settlers who traveled to the New World and established themselves along the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries..
Kiramirski Family Crest Products
Kiramirski Family Crest Products
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See Also
Other References
The Kiramirski Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Kiramirski Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
This page was last modified on 14 March 2014 at 11:23.
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Cornell Square Park
1809 W. 50th St. Chicago, Illinois 60609
(312) 747-6097
Fee: Free
Age Range: Any
An day to educate and entertain while providing a ?safe space? for the residents on the south and west sides. To utilize art as a form to spark social responsibility and intergenerational dialogue. Each event will include but is not limited to: performances from local artists, film showcases, forums, spoken word, art based workshops, youth café, peace circles, dance, and more.


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Our Views: Wisconsin lawmakers shouldn't risk lives of cancer patients
State lawmakers should stop playing political games and pass the Cancer Treatment Fairness Act.
The measure, also known as Senate Bill 300, would require insurers to cover costs of chemotherapy pills—not just intravenous treatments. Without this legislation, patients with some health plans face thousands of dollars in co-pays for pills.
Shenanigans risk dooming SB 300 in the legislative session's final hours. Lawmakers are risking the lives of some cancer patients, as well.
First, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, used procedural measures to block a Senate vote, even though the bill had wide bipartisan support. That support was evident when it finally cleared the Senate on Tuesday, 30-2.
Now it must pass the Assembly, where Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington, reportedly opposes it despite it having sufficient supporters. While Vos says he will allow a vote when the Assembly meets one final time Thursday, he suggests possible undisclosed changes.
Any change could create the proverbial poison pill because both houses must pass identical versions. The Senate plans to meet one final time April 1.
On Wednesday, Gov. Scott Walker reportedly said he would sign the bill if the Assembly passes it.
Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, who co-authored SB 300 with Rep. Pat Strachota, R-West Bend, says pills are the future for cancer treatment and this measure helps the state keep pace.
�"As a cancer survivor, I know how important it is that your treatment options are decided between you and your doctor," Darling said in a news release Tuesday. "The Cancer Treatment Fairness Act makes sure that decision stays in the doctor's office instead of the insurance office."
Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, noted that an average of 87 Wisconsinites get the devastating news each day that they have cancer. In a news release, she said pills can be more effective and less toxic. They even allow patients to keep working without noxious side effects caused by other treatments.
Darling says doctors are increasingly turning to pills and often use pills and injections together. Pills have proven especially effective against some blood and breast cancers, and many new cancer treatments involve pills. Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota are among 28 states that have already passed similar legislation.
The problem is that insurance companies fear higher costs. It's no surprise that Fitzgerald's brother, Jeff, a former legislator, works as a lobbyist for the opposition trade group Wisconsin Association of Health Plans. Sen. Fitzgerald claimed his brother's position played no role in delaying the legislation, but while the senator voted for it Tuesday, the stall tactics took on an unseemly smell given the bill's overwhelming support.
It's worth noting that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that states enacting similar measures didn't see leaps in insurance premiums. The state of Washington experienced an increase of just 0.2 percent, and Indiana found no increase.
Said Darling: "Every state that has evaluated the cost of the measure found little to no impact on consumers."
"The clock is running out for many of these patients, who cannot wait while politicians play games with their health," Taylor said. "Their lives depend on us acting now. … Delaying this bill is simply unconscionable."
Stop messing with the lives of some of Wisconsin's most vulnerable residents. Pass the measure, and put it before Walker to sign.


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North Ward population growth
North Ward population growth statistics 1991 to 2036 compiled and presented by population experts, id.
Did you mean...
Population growth across North Ward is recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in their Census collections every five years, and also in estimates in between Census periods.
Population experts, .id take these raw figures and present them in a series of websites which you can access here. Suburb boundaries change across time, and it's important that you are comparing the same geographic area over time. You can be confident that .id's demographic resources take care of this for you and that the data is up to date and accurate. The website has been funded by the local council.
Anyone can access and use the information provided in these websites. They present the data in simple, clear maps, tables and charts with concise factual commentary to inform community groups, investors, business, students and the general public.
As well as population growth, comprehensive demographic information for North Ward is also available and includes such topics as dwelling approvals, dwelling structure, households, income, religion, age structure, population density and much more. Population forecasts are also available for some areas.


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Cisco packs silicon photonics on 3-D ICs
16 comments
SANTA CLARA, Calif. Cisco Systems is prototyping silicon photonics using 2.5-D silicon interposers, according to a senior engineering executive in a keynote at DesignCon here. The communications giant is one of a handful of companies trying to harness the technology to drive down the costs of next-generation networks.
The convergence of optical and semiconductor ecosystems will have a huge impact for networking at 40 and 100 Gbits/second and beyond, said Bill Swift, who leads Ciscos transceiver and module group.
Swift showed a rough diagram (below) of a 2.5-D chip that included a laser light source, optical lenses and isolators along with what appeared to be a CMOS modulator and multiplexor. This is stuff we are working on now, and I find it very exciting, he said.
He declined to comment on reports the company will ship this year samples of 100G silicon optical modules based on the LX4 standard. Cisco bought silicon-photonics startup Lightwire (Allentown, Penns.) in February 2010 for $271 million.
Click on image to enlarge.
Convergence of CMOS and optics will drive next-gen nets, Swift said.


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Janesville Jets swept by Wilderness
CLOQUET, Minn.—After Friday's 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wilderness, Janesville Jets head coach Joe Dibble said he hoped his team could carry its good performance from that game's third period into Saturday's rematch.
It didn't take long for the Wilderness (9-2-3) to call that hope into question.
Michael Covach scored just 33 seconds into the game for Minnesota and set the tone for another two-goal victory, this one 4-2.
Despite the early concession, the Jets (5-7-1) responded well, answering with two first-period goals of their own from Zach Keryluk and Robin Hoglund.
Minnesota kept up the pressure in the second period, putting 12 shots on Brock Kautz's goal. Jakob Romo eventually found the back of the net to tie the game, and Brett Heikkila scored midway through the period on a power play to give the Wilderness the lead for good.
Thomas Lindstrom, who scored twice Friday night for Minnesota, assisted on three of his team's goals Saturday.
Last updated: 11:28 pm Saturday, October 26, 2013


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Organic California Produce: Fruit and Vegetables for the Winter
As many of you know, the local produce season is winding down and we're seeing a lot less variety coming in from the fields. Like much of the country, we look to California for fruits and vegetables when our own region cannot sustainably supply them.
To avoid sourcing from conventional, "Big Ag" corporations, we have been working with Veritable Vegetable, an organic produce distributor in San Francisco. Veritable Vegetable is a relatively small, female-run company that consolidates produce from organic farms in California and then supplies restaurants and businesses with their produce. (In fact, Chef Alice Waters places orders with them regularly for Chez Panisse.) What's special about working with Veritable Vegetable is that we can source produce from small, family owned, organic farms in California — and what we receive is extremely high quality, unique, and incredibly fresh.
Formaggio Kitchen Cambridge is the only location on the East Coast that receives shipments from Veritable Vegetable, which means we are the only ones on the East Coast lucky enough to enjoy the bounty from these farms. And, while I will always hold New England farms close to heart, I am thrilled to be making new contacts in California. Knowing who is growing our food and feeling confident in their growing methods and practices is incredibly important, and one of the major reasons we chose to source from small farmers. That said, here are a few of my favorite farms on the West Coast, and what we can expect to see from them into the holiday season, through the deep winter and out into spring.
Coke Farm
San Juan Bautista, CA
Size: 200 acres
Crops: Strawberries, Lil Gems, Radicchio, Frisee, Cipollini Onions, Shallots, Meyer Lemons
Coke Farm has been growing organic fruits and vegetables for over thirty years. Prompted by a doubting conventional farmer who speculated that strawberries could not be grown organically, founder Dale Coke rose to the challenge, planting his first strawberries on the home ranch near Aromas, California. The plants produced successfully and a local natural foods store became the first Coke Farm customer. Dale started planting more crops and, within a year, he connected with a chef at Chez Panisse. He expanded by adding different crops to the roster, selling more organic produce to local stores and to San Francisco Bay Area restaurants.
T&D Willey Farm
Madera, CA
Size: 75 acres
Crops: Cukes & Zukes, Heirloom Lettuces, Bell Peppers, Spinach
T&D Willey Farm is a located in the Central San Joaquin Valley, which is in the southern half of California's Great Central Valley. The family have been farming since 1980 and were officially certified organic in 1987. Watered by snow melt streams from the Sierra Nevada, the rich alluvial soils of the region grow exceptional produce. T&D Willey follows the four seasons of their mild growing climate to produce a year-round harvest of bountiful Mediterranean vegetables.
Beck Grove
Fallbrook, CA
Size: 30 acres
Crops: Kaffir Limes, Persimmons, Blood Oranges, Kumquats, Satsumas, Minneolas
In 1982 the Becks moved from Los Angeles to Fallbrook to pursue a healthier, rural lifestyle. They settled on a declining avocado grove and began a fresh start with new crops, focusing on citrus fruits such as limes, lemons, mandarins, etc. Beck Grove is certified organic and follows biodynamic practices, ensuring a closed system using all natural and historical methods.
Riverdog Farm
Guinda, CA
Size: 200 acres
Crops: Broccoli Rabe, Onions, Fava Beans, Peppers, Kale, Cukes & Zukes
Riverdog farm is a certified organic farm located in the Capay Valley. Rich creek-bottom soil, intense summer heat and winter frost encourage the growth of exceptionally delicious fruits and vegetables from their land. Partners Tim Mueller and Trini Campbell , along with their daughter and 50 full-time employees, keep the farm going year-round. They supply restaurants, select retail markets and sell at Berkeley farmers' markets.
Full Belly Farm
Guinda, CA
Size: 85 acres
Crops: Carrots, Fennel, Chili Peppers
Located an hour northwest of Sacramento, Full Belly has been farmed using organic practices since 1985. The farm owners are Andrew Brait, Judith Redmond, Paul Muller, and Dru Rivers. With help from about 45-55 employees, the farm produces an amazing diversity of vegetables, herbs, nuts, flowers, and fruits year-round. Full Belly grows and markets over 80 different crops and provides year-round employment for farm labor. Employing sustainable growing practices such as cover crops and creating habitats for beneficial insects and wildlife, the farm is able to integrate successful farm production with long-term environmental goals.
Emily Shannon is a produce buyer and classroom instructor at Formaggio Kitchen Cambridge.


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Pro: A new breed of super-carriers will boost U.S. naval supremacy
EDITOR'S NOTE: The writer is addressing the question, "Should the U.S. spend billions more on the Navy?"
WASHINGTON -- A decade of counterinsurgency and counterterror operations has created doubts about the utility of the aircraft carrier. Today's budget cuts threaten to shrink the Navy's carrier force—already reduced from 11 to 10—to as few as eight or nine.
Yet whether in a direct or supporting role, aircraft carriers have taken part in almost every U.S. major military operation since World War II. They have served as diplomatic tools to ratchet up or ease political pressure. They have given our military unparalleled freedom of action to respond to a range of requirements. They have supported several missions simultaneously, guaranteed access to any region in the world, and reduced the nation's reliance on others for basing rights.
If the U.S. Navy is to continue to secure the high seas, trade routes and shipping lanes around the globe long into the 21st century, it needs a robust fleet—both in quantity and quality.
The new Ford-class carriers are an important step toward this goal. The first—the USS Gerald R. Ford, is scheduled for christening Nov. 9. Called by the Navy "true 'leap ahead'" ships, the Ford-class features important advances to project power over the course of the century it is expected to remain in service.
The carriers' electromagnetic aircraft launching system and advanced arresting gear will allow them to operate planes heavily loaded with weapons and fuel.
In addition to a new dual-band radar, a larger flight deck and improved ordnance elevators, the Ford-class emphasizes automation and maintenance, which will reduce operating costs.
While analysts rightly point to potential threats to carriers such as anti-ship missiles, the United States is not the only country investing in aircraft carriers.
As of 2012, about a dozen nations operate carriers of one form or another. While the size, capabilities and effectiveness of these vessels vary widely, the fact that India, China, Brazil and Thailand enter and stay in the aircraft carrier business speaks to the ship's continued utility both in peacetime and war.
As states like China modernize their navies and acquire more advanced capabilities, they implicitly threaten America's long-standing maritime supremacy.
This is especially troublesome because despite America's overall superiority at sea, conceivable future battles would likely force America to play an "away game." Nearby enemy forces would enjoy large numerical advantages at first, whereas American forces in theater would have to make do until the arrival of reinforcements.
This "away game" dilemma is especially vexing because of the growing role that smaller and less survivable ships are playing in America's navy. An increasing number of more vulnerable ships results in an overall naval balance likely to be less favorable in the future than it has been in the past.
A military tilted in America's favor is the most cost-effective use of military power. While Americans hope not to have to defeat a capable military anytime soon, the best way to win any future conflict is not to fight one at all. A robust defense investment to keep a military gap in America's favor would achieve this goal.
While aircraft carriers are under increased risks due to increasing global capabilities, the solution is not to capitulate. Rather, the United States needs to leverage its own technological advantages for creative solutions.
Potential game-changing developments in directed energy and unmanned aviation may go a long way toward extending the military lifespan of carriers and other surface combatants. The key is to do what Americans do best: create innovative solutions.
The real question is not whether aircraft carriers are floating relics but how can the nation not afford to invest in a fleet of new super-carriers?
Mackenzie Eaglen is a resident fellow in the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Readers may write to her at AEI, 1150 17th St., Washington, D.C. 20036.


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Civil Rights Game set to celebrate diversity
By John Schlegel and Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
Beyond the nine innings of baseball, Saturday's events will be full of history, discussion and reflection on one of the larger issues in American society.
Prior to Saturday's first pitch, the day will begin with the annual Beacon Awards at noon ET, continue through the afternoon with the MLB Wanna Play event for children throughout, and culminate with pregame ceremonies that will honor African-American baseball pioneers -- with players wearing throwback uniforms from 1947, the year Jackie Robinson made his historic debut, and fans receiving commemorative jerseys honoring Chuck Harmon, the first African-American to play for the Reds.
For the Reds and Cincinnati, it's another chance to show that Major League Baseball's efforts to promote civil-rights awareness has their support.
"Cincinnati has a rich history, a rich baseball history, and has played a significant role in our country's journey toward civil equality," Reds president and CEO Bob Castellini said as he welcomed attendees to Friday's roundtable discussion at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
The roundtable, which featured Cincinnati baseball icons Joe Morgan and Barry Larkin and included an appearance by Hank Aaron, was the first event of the weekend, a 90-minute discussion about civil rights held at a museum honoring one of the key elements of the evolution of African-American rights.
When the events start up again Saturday, children will be a big part of the theme. Free and open to the public, the MLB Wanna Play event will be held at Fountain Square from 12-7 p.m., with Reds players Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto conducting a baseball skills demonstration from 2-2:30 p.m. and participating in a Q&A from 2:30-3 p.m. that will also feature MLB Network analysts Harold Reynolds and Larkin, as well as Cardinals infielder Felipe Lopez, teen saxophonist BK Jackson and Capt. Josh Holden, a West Point graduate and former Reds Minor Leaguer.
At 5 p.m., more than 2,000 children, coaches and community partners will take part in the Delta Youth Baseball March from Fountain Square to Great American Ball Park -- a highlight of last year's event for Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB's executive vice president of baseball operations.
"One of the great things about Cincinnati is the close proximity of the facilities we can use," said Solomon. "Having Fountain Square right there and the kids marching down was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen."
At noon, three icons will be honored in what should be moving presentations during the sold-out MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon at the Duke Energy Center.
The Beacon Awards recognize individuals "whose lives are emblematic of the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement." The MLB Beacon of Life Award will be presented to Hall of Famer Willie Mays. Mays will get his award from the Rev. Bill Greason, who was a teammate of Mays' in 1948 with Birmingham of the Negro Leagues.
The MLB Beacon of Change Award will go to tennis legend and equality pioneer Billie Jean King, who spent her career trying to put women's sports on the same level as men's athletics. Presenting King's award will be boxer Laila Ali, the daughter of legendary boxing great Muhammad Ali.
Entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte will receive the MLB Beacon of Hope Award from congressman John Lewis, who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement.
The luncheon will be hosted by ESPN anchor Sage Steele with former Atlanta mayor, congressman and United States ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young scheduled to deliver the keynote address. Grammy Award winning singer Roberta Flack will be performing.
There will also be a special tribute to the members of the sit-in at the Greensboro, N.C., Woolworth lunch counter in 1960. Proceeds from the MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon will benefit the Reds Community Fund, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Major League Baseball Urban Youth Foundation.
Other events scheduled for the weekend:
Author James Hirsch will have a presentation highlighting the career of Mays from 4-6 p.m. at the Reds Hall of Fame. Hirsch wrote the bestselling biography, "Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend."
Harmon, the Reds' first African-American player, and author Marty Pieratt will sign copies of a new book called "First Black Red," from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Hall of Fame.
Before the start of the Reds-Cardinals game, fans will get to see the three Beacon Award winners be recognized. Hall of Famer Ernie Banks will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and Flack will sing John Lennon's "Imagine." Recording artist Jeffrey Osborne will perform the National Anthem, and the U.S. Army Golden Knights will perform an aerial demonstration.
From 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. before Sunday afternoon's series finale, fans who go to the Reds Hall of Fame can meet with veterans of the Negro Leagues and get autographs. And for the 1:10 p.m. game, the first 10,000 kids, 14 and younger, will receive a Phillips kids mesh jersey.
If last year is any barometer, the players will be on the top step of their respective dugouts watching the festivities. That's exactly what the Reds and White Sox did for the 2009 Civil Rights Game.
"I think anything that reminds people of history -- and especially critical history -- is very healthy," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "A lot of guys, they grow up now and I asked them if they knew who Maury Wills was. No, they didn't. Anything you can do to remind them not to make light of it, but the Civil Rights Game is a real good message to send from Major League Baseball."
John Schlegel and Mark Sheldon are reporters for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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A few years ago, the U.S. housing bubble burst and the construction industry tanked, which was challenging for every business in that sector. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania-based building-products manufacturer CertainTeed Corporation found itself at a crossroads. A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, a global manufacturer with around 200,000 employees worldwide, the company faced a crucial decision: How could it continue selling in a distressed market while ensuring that its receivables would continue to be paid?
Treasury & Risk spoke with Susan Delloiacono, the company's director of credit services, about how CertainTeed began using predictive analytics within its credit-and-collections automation system to identify exactly which customers pose the most credit risk. By basing decisions on more precise information, the company was able to streamline credit decisions and dramatically improve prioritization of receivables within the collections process. Now its accounts receivable (A/R) metrics are outstanding, and employees, customers, and the company are all thrilled with the change.
T&R: What do the treasury and receivables functions look like at CertainTeed?
Susan Delloiacono: Well, the treasury function is managed by Saint-Gobain, but we handle our own credit and collections in the business. In fact, when I was hired in 2010, our five major product lines—roofing, insulation, vinyl siding, gypsum, and ceiling products—each had its own ERP [enterprise resource planning] system and its own credit-and-collections manager.
T&R: That seems inefficient.
SD: It was. We might have a customer that purchased products from each business unit, and they would have five credit managers talking to them about their credit, asking for their financial statements and banking references. Each group was doing the credit-line reviews and collecting for their own invoices. And the credit managers had different criteria for making credit decisions.
Right after I started, one customer filed for bankruptcy. That particular customer was buying from three business groups. I found that that one credit manager was managing the account on a two-for-one basis—so you pay me two dollars, and I'll ship you one dollar worth of product. Another credit manager was doing one-for-one, so an exchange of dollars for orders. And the third credit manager didn't even know there was a problem. They sat next to one another, but they never worked together to establish a combined risk strategy that would represent the companywide credit limit that CertainTeed would feel comfortable offering to that customer.
We were just looking at receivables as if we were five separate companies, when the risk rolled up to the corporate level. Job one for me when I started was to combine all our systems so that CertainTeed's A/R had one face to the customer.
T&R: Did you hear from customers about the hassles this environment created for them?
SD: No, but just because there's not a complaint doesn't mean there's not discomfort. If I worked with a vendor that required me to deal with five different people and provide the same information five times, I think that would be aggravating. And we were very inconsistent in how we approached our customers.
T&R: What about internally? Your visibility into receivables data must have been limited.
SD: When I first got here, the CFO asked me, 'How much does our largest customer owe us?' I had to tell him I'd get back to him in half an hour, because I had to find all the account numbers and add everything up and figure out the past-due percentage. That was really problematic in the building-products industry in 2010. Construction took a huge hit in the economic downturn, and it was absolutely critical to CertainTeed to have a consolidated view of each customer's credit risk.
T&R: Where did you start?
SD: We started by implementing a new software system, AvantGard GETPAID from SunGard. We created a risk score that indicates each customer's overall credit and collection risk to CertainTeed. The score includes whether they have a bank line of credit, which is critical for us. It includes a few Dun & Bradstreet metrics that reflect how they're paying other vendors. And then the biggest element of the scorecard is how they pay CertainTeed—not how they are paying their electric bill, but how they are paying us. I've found that the Dun & Bradstreet information, on its own, can be woefully deficient. I had one customer that was in a technical bankruptcy, but their Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX was still 80.
So we developed a risk scoring mechanism within GETPAID that uses SunGard's predictive analytics models to determine how much credit risk a customer really poses. The model incorporates details about a customer's payment behavior that a human credit analyst might miss.
One example is the customer I mentioned that was in technical bankruptcy. None of their invoices were past-due until January, so typical collections software wouldn't have alerted us to the potential problem until then. But the scoring model picked up on the fact that even though invoices weren't past-due, the customer's payment behavior was changing. Eighteen months prior, this customer would always discount in five days. That time frame started growing, first to 10 days, then 15 days. Their invoices were net 30 days, and they were still paying on time, so even though there was a clear change, it wasn't one that I would necessarily notice as a collector. But the predictive metrics picked up on it. This customer's risk score changed in our system in September, four months before their first invoice became past-due.
Seeing that kind of sensitivity is what sold our CFO on this model.
T&R: How do you use this technology now? Did you also change A/R processes?
SD: When we put in the system, we had credit managers in each of our five siloed business groups doing both credit and collections. Soon after we installed the software, we split out the credit risk function from collections. The skills are very different between those positions. Collections requires people who are accurate and intelligent, but it also requires skills around building a relationship with a customer. So we hired collections specialists and consolidated collections activities for all five divisions with those people. Along the same lines, because credit management involves really analyzing financial statements, we hired accounting-level people to do that job. Now we're able to do deeper analysis, which has reduced our bad debt, and we're developing better relationships with customers so we're getting paid faster.
T&R: So, the credit managers use the predictive analytics to determine a particular customer's true credit risk before they decide how much credit to extend? And the collections staff use the predictive analytics to prioritize their workload?
SD: Yes. In our previous environment, we segmented customers by type. We knew smaller contractors would be more risky and larger distributors would be less risky, so we had different follow-ups for different classes of customers. Now it doesn't matter what category a customer fits into. If the risk score shows that a large distributor is a higher risk, we will call that customer more than the small contractors that GETPAID is telling us are lower-risk.
When our collectors look at their portfolio, it's clear which customers they should attack first. We're re-scoring our customers on a monthly basis, and when the score shows they are a high risk, they show up at the top of the collector's list. It doesn't matter how they did on last month's score. If you're at the top of the list right now, you're going to be hearing from us every couple of days.
T&R: Has this worked?
SD: It's worked like a charm. Our receivables aging has improved dramatically. Right now, 95 percent of our customer accounts are current. If we include the 1-to-15-day bucket, 99.5 percent of our customer accounts are current. In our industry—or, for that matter, any industry—that's exceptional. Along the same lines, we look at invoices more than 60 days past-due. That used to be a bear of a number for us. We've reduced it so much over the past two years, we've reached our stretch goal, which senior management thought we'd never get to. We have reduced our over-60-day invoices by 60 percent this year over last year. We're at our stretch goal for write-offs, as well.
Another related benefit is that we can be more targeted with our bad-debt reserve. We use our risk score and aging to define a reserve for bad debt. So if we have an account that is current but is showing up as higher-risk, when we allow a new order to go out, we have a better sense of how much we should reserve.
T&R: Is the improvement in your A/R metrics partly a result of the improving economy?
SD: Yes, I want to be clear. The health of our customers has improved. 2009 and 2010 were bad years for anyone in construction, and we're coming out of it. But we're not out of the woods by any means. There's still trouble in the industry. So although some of the improvement in our receivables is organic, due to the improving health of the industry, a significant portion is clearly because we've put in place the appropriate processes and key performance measures.
T&R: To what degree has this new approach improved customer service?
SD: It gives us one face to the customer and simplifies the customer experience. For example, we use the system to classify deductions, to look at problems and see if we have an unfavorable trend with a customer. Then we can be a lot more proactive when there are issues. I was just on the phone with a large customer who buys across all our product lines. I asked him to send me his A/P [accounts payable] register so I could compare his Excel file to my parent-level customer statement. I was able to proactively get back to him, outlining the differences, before I received his check. I was able to identify problems and ask him to focus on the missed items. We used to wait to raise issues until after the payment was applied. Now our system allows us to take the shoe leather out of the process for our customers.
On the flip side, we can also classify overpayments. We had an example recently of a contractor that sent us a $20,000 check. Since our cash application had no open invoice to apply it to, the payment became a problem "overpayment" in the system. We looked into it and found that it was a remittance for an invoice that was two years old, which had already been paid. A collection analyst called the customer and alerted her accounts payable contact of the situation. She was so grateful! It was an error on their part, so we immediately returned the money. Through that process, the customer saw that we've got her back, and our analyst was able to develop a deeper, trusting relationship with that customer.
One other benefit I should point out is that we've also seen a dramatic improvement in terms of employee satisfaction. Now our staff knows that every transaction that appears in their collection queue is meaningful. We no longer have situations where our analysts complain, 'We know our customer's pay cycle is on Friday, but the system alerted us to call them on Thursday. The customers are annoyed with us, and we're spending time following up needlessly.' Our employees want to add value in every interaction they have with a customer. Now they really do.
T&R: Was there any reluctance within the company to consolidate receivables information across the business units?
SD: There was some. It's normal. If you have a credit manager you're used to working with autonomously, you're going to be nervous about moving to a shared service center. Some sales managers and controllers for our business units were concerned going in. But seeing is believing. All of those naysayers are thrilled with the results, the focus, and the passion we have as a team to deliver results.
At the corporate level, Saint-Gobain is thrilled too. Thankfully, our company is able to support several capital-intensive initiatives, including building new plants and investing in expanding others. It helps the process along when you are turning the receivables as well as we are able to. It is all about providing the working capital needed to support investments in the future of the business.
T&R: So, would you recommend that companies with more traditional credit and collections functions look for ways to incorporate predictive analytics into their processes?
SD: Absolutely. I'm in love with our process; I'm just so proud of it. I don't even go into my ERP system anymore. I have everything I want in one place on my desk, with no paper, working over a $3 billion queue. I'm loving it.