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World Cup Qualifying
Luzhniki Stadium Moscow
In 2018, Moscow Will Be The Host Of The 21st FIFA World Cup Tournaments.
Moscow is the capital of Russia, and was founded in the 12th century in 1147. It is currently home to a population of over 12 million people, ranging over 100 different nationalities. It is a bustling city full of heritage and history, and millions upon millions of people visit Moscow each year as tourists, students and returning visitors. Moscow is a true melting pot of culture. It is also the center of politics, economics, and science in both Russia as well as Eastern Europe. It is one of the world's largest and most diverse cities. Much like the rest of Russia, Moscow experiences winters that are long and cold, with mild and comfortable summers. Moscow is home to the Tretyakov Gallery, a notable and famous art museum. It's also the heart of performing arts in Russia, and filled to the brim with ballet, theatre and music. Moscow is well known for it's breathtaking landmarks that speak volumes of both the cultural and historical heritage of Moscow and Russia as a whole.
With Moscow's size and all of the things to do and see, it's a destination worth visiting. There is so much to take in, with an ever changing and growing population, as well as being a central hub for cultural, economic and historical growth. It seems only natural that Moscow will soon join the ranks of the other great cities to host the FIFA World Cup Tournament.
The FIFA World cup, or more colloquially known as just the World Cup, is an international football – or, soccer, if you're American – competition. Men's senior football teams compete in a tournament that takes place every four years, which began in 1930. The current reigning champion is Germany, after having won in 2014 against Brazil. However, the four years is up and it's time for a new champion to take on the title. Every four years, a new host city is chosen for the FIFA World Cup. In 2018, the 21st FIFA World Cup will begin in Moscow, Russia, and the qualifying senior men's football teams will compete within the stunning city of Moscow.
The FIFA World Cup Moscow will take place at the Moscow Luzhniki Stadium, which is located at the center of the one of the largest sports complexes in the entire world. Like much of the rest of Russian, the Luzhniki Stadium boasts beautiful and complex architecture, and it is nestled alongside the Moscow River, and sits just across from the Vorob'evy Hills Natural Park. The Luzhniki Stadium will be the main stadium for the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament, and will be used for the opening match, as well as both the semi-final and the final match. The games will take place between the 14th of June to the 15th of July in 2018, and will determine the champions for another four years. All the excitement and suspense will take place within one of the central cities of Eastern Europe, and will be another hallmark of historical significance for the grand city of Moscow.
World Cup 2018 News
Dick Advocaat new national coach of Holland
Dick Advocaat new coach of The Netherlands Dick Advocaat was appointed as the new coach of the Dutch National team. The Dutch Football Bond (KNVB) anounced that earlier in may. He is the one to fullfill the difficult job of leading Holland to the World Cup 2018 in...
Jorge Sampaoli new coach Argentina
Jorge Sampaoli new coach Argentina Sampaoli was assigned as the new coach of the Argentina National Team for the World Cup 2018 Russia. He is succeeding Edgardo Bauza, who didn't manage to get the right results for his team. Sampaoli leaves his role as coach of...
World Cup 2018 will have Video Referees
World Cup 2018 in Russia will have Video Referees This will be the first World Cup ever using video referees, as FIFA anounced to the BBC a few weeks earlier. Multiple countries have tested this form of controlling the games, and until now all tests went extremely...


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Terms and Conditions
When you purchase a painting from me, I will ship it within 4 business days. The exception to this rule is if I'm on a trip. I will try to put a notice on the storefront when that happens (vacations) so there won't be any surprises. It's just me doing this stuff, I don't have a staff.
I am the creator of all the paintings on this website. They are all original works of art by me: Mark Howard Webster. They are not copies of anyone else's artwork.
I retain the copyright to all works of art on this website. So please don't use images of my paintings to make your church brochure look prettier. Yes, someone did that once…
My paintings come with a two week satisfaction guarantee. Hang it on your wall. When two weeks rolls around and you decide you don't like it, you can return it for a full refund, not including shipping.
It must come back to me in the same condition it left. Meaning, no punctures, no soup stains, no broken corners, etc. Pack it well in bubble wrap and cardboard and it will be fine on the trip home.
Once I receive the painting and check it out I will refund your money online.
If you decide you do like it, please leave a comment on the product page for that painting on my website, thanks in advance!
I've sold around 60 paintings both in local galleries and to friends. People seem to love them.

subset: commoncrawl


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In the arena of break barrel air rifles, the Crosman Phantom stands out for low price and value. Enjoyment within the realms of plinking, target shooting or pest control is easily realized. Yes, pest control can be fun. The fiber optic sigthts bump up the ease to quickly acquire the target, and the rear sight has thumb screws for tool-less adjustments.
The safety is within the trigger guard and can be a bit tricky to manipulate depending on one's finger. A stubby, sausage-like appendage might have more difficulty than say, a long lean forefinger.
The Phantom is .177 pellet single shot, and the "kick" from the spring-piston mimics a .22 to some degree.
We found the grip to be very good as the result of raised nubs.
Care is necessary when handling the metal parts, such as the barrel. On a humid day, light spotting or rust can occur rapidly. We find it best to do preventative maintenance and oil/treat parts beforehand.
Join us and watch the video for an overview of the Crosman Phantom. We take a quick look at the Crosman Phantom, .177 pellet rifle. A storm is hanging out on the fringes, but we had plenty of sunshine for a review and some sample shots with various ammo. Cabela's hunting pellet, Gamo PBA, and RWS HyperMAX are featured. For some penetration testing, a piece of 7/8" poplar is used. We finish with some crosscuts to expose the pellet path through the wood. For the price, the Crosman Phantom is a deal. This makes for a perfect small game air rifle for the survivalist as well as a fun plinker and target airgun.


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1) Handstand Straddle Taps: 5x3 ~In the straddle to HS position work the pull by lifting to a mat or plates, or if not proficient working with control from a plate to floor.
2) Hand Stand Hold: 5x Max Time
3) Press to Handstand Negative: 10x1 ~Using a wall lower through a straddle as slowly as possible. If possible remove the wall.


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Nicki Minaj Delivers Ferocious Freestyle Over PTAF's 'Boss Ass Bitch'
Nicki Minaj hasn't released a lot of new music in 2013, but you wouldn't know that by listening to her latest release.
It only takes a little over four minutes for Minaj to reclaim her throne. The Young Money first lady released a solid freestyle over female group PTAF's (Pretty Taking All Fades) 'Boss Ass Bitch,' in which she "employs these n----s," informs other females they need a "p---- renovation," gives advice on how to handle disrespectful men and breaks into a haunting sing-song reminiscent of her famed 'Monster' verse.
It's half-entertainment, half-warning shot to the competition. Next year may be the Year of the Barbie once again.


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How to Backup iTunes Library on MacBook
Read this post to know how to completely backup iTunes library on Mac to a new place, no matter for cleaning your MacBook or just for preventing your favorite iTunes songs and videos from loss.
MacClean – Your Best Mac Cleaner Software
Free download MacClean to sweep away the duplicates, unnecessary large files, junks and caches on your Macbook, iMac or Mac Mini.
Through our survey, over 79% iPhone users rely iPhone / iTunes / iCloud to store their important personal data. In order to help you extract useful photos, messages, notes and more from your backup, we composed this 2016 iPhone Backup Extractor Software Review for your reference.
You may lose your iTunes library if your Mac is damaged or iTunes collapses. So if your iTunes library on Mac is crowed with many songs and TV shows, you'd better backup your favorite ones or the whole iTunes library to a new place for protecting them from accidentally loss. And in this post, you will find out how to completely backup iTunes library on your Mac, no matter iMac or Macbook Air/Pro.
You May Like: How to Transfer Music from iPhone to iTunes
How to Backup iTunes Library on MacBook
The process to backup iTunes media library is very simple. The first thing you should do is to find where the iTunes media files are stored on your MacBook, and then transfer these files to your target place. The target place may be one hard drive, cloud drive, CD or just another device. Now let's discover all the details by following the steps below.
Step 1. Find where iTunes media files are stored on your Mac.
You can get the location by open iTunes > click "iTunes" > "Preference" > "Advance".
Find iTunes media files location on iTunes 12
Step 2. Collect all iTunes media files to the default iTunes Media folder.
Select "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library", just like the screenshot shows at the first step. And then click File > Library > Organize Library, select Consolidate files and Click "OK".
Find iTunes media files location on iTunes 12
Step 3. Transfer default "iTunes" folder to target place.
The "iTunes" folder is the parent folder of "iTunes Media" which we referred at the first step. Just find the "iTunes" folder on your Mac and backup it to your target place. For example, if you want to backup your iTunes library to external drive, just drop and drag "iTunes" folder to the drive.
Backup iTunes library to a new place
What's Hot on iMobie
New iOS Data to iPhone Transfer Guidelines > Tom·August 12
2018 Best iPhone Data Recovery Tools Review >Joy·August 27
2018 Best iPhone Backup Extractor Tools > Tom·August 16
How to Recover Deleted Text Messages iPhone > Joy·March 17
How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC > Vicky·August 06
More Related Articles You May Like
- Top 3 Ways to Acesss iCloud Backup – 3 easy ways are provided for you to access the iCloud backup you created before. Read More >>
- How Can I Transfer iPod Music to iTunes – This post provides you one smart tool to transfer music from your iPod to iTunes. Read More >>
- Fix iTunes Dont Sync Videos to iPhone/iPad/iPod – This guide offers you the solution to fixing iTunes don't sync problem. Read More >>
- How to Copy All Songs from PC to iPod without iTunes – Guide about how to transfer music from Windows computer to iPod. Read More >>
- How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone – Want a way to transfer from the old iPhone contacts to the new? Check this guide to learn more. Read More >>
- How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac – Learn how to offload your Camera Roll photos from iPhone to your Mac in few clicks. Read More >>
- What Is the Best iPhone File Transfer – Need an all-in-one iPhone File Transfer software to keep everything organized? Here is the answer. Read More >>


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Otis Redding's Daughter Talks Jay-Z & Kanye's"Otis" Single
For those that still aren't in the know concerning Jay-Z and Kanye West's new single "Otis," the song is named after and samples legendary soul singer Otis Redding.
In a recent interview with Billboard, Karla Redding-Andrews, the daughter of the late great singer, talked about the background story surrounding "Otis."
"We first heard about the song in early July, end of June," Redding-Andrews said.
"Concord Music Group has the masters and Bill Belmont and Michele Smith from Concord brought it to us.
"There was a back and forth about whether the name of the song would be "Otis" or "Otis Redding."
And we just wanted to make sure lyrics and references in the song worked with the legacy of my father.
"To have two current, legendary" artists use the legendary music of Otis Redding-we were quite honored."
Karla Redding-Andrews also talked about clearing the Otis Redding sample produced by Kanye, who also sampled Redding for "Gone" from Late Registration album.
"It always amounts to respect to Otis," she said.
"It always depends on how it's used and what the artist has going on at the time. All of that goes into play.
"It all went through the record companies," Karla said when asked if she met personal with Jay-Z and Kanye about the sample.
"That's the nature of the business and it's probably better that way.
"[If we met with them], we would probably bring more personal considerations into it.
"But this is a wonderful opportunity.
"We really like the song and the swagger elements that are in the song. It speaks to the star that Otis was in his day."
Jay-Z and Kanye's Watch The Throne album is scheduled to be released digitally on August 8th, and in stores on August 12th.
Listen to "Otis" here.


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John bundled the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble in which Colin Doyle brilliantly saved Ross Wallace´s free-kick only to see Nyron Nosworthy head the ball back goalwards.
Paul O´Connor chested in an own goal to give Birmingham the lead in the 28th minute. Michael Chopra scored a superb 75th minute opener before Garry O´Connor appeared to have won it for Blues with an 82nd minute strike.
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2007, All Rights Reserved.


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15 Of The Best Designs Merging Fashion And Technology
February 28 2016
From FASTCOMPANY's website: At Paris Fashion Week in 2013, the architect-turned-fashion designer Iris Van Herpen stunned the crowd with her (literally) electrifying Voltage collection. At the center of the show was a 3-D printed skirt-and-cape combo created in collaboration with architect and MIT Media Lab professor Neri Oxman. Made with an obscure type of 3-D printer, the outfit—alternately soft and structural, and covered in thousands of tiny, scale-like white nodules—seamlessly bridged the gap between the handcrafted and the machine-made.


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Legal & General is to shed quarterly reporting in 2016 as pressure grows on major corporations to focus on generating long-term value for investors.
The company will use "timely and frequent" updates next year, rather than three-monthly trading figures, to communicate with investors.
In June, LGIM wrote to all FTSE 350 companies to urge them not to continue publishing quarterly results.
In October, Schroders also joined LGIM in its calls for firms to drop quarterly reporting.
The rules from accounting watchdog the Financial Reporting Council changed a year ago, meaning companies no longer have to publish interim management statements, which fall between half yearly reporting.
L&G group chief executive Nigel Wilson says: "Legal & General believes in long termism. The future success of the UK economy is dependent on companies and shareholders making the correct long-term business decisions.
"Legal & General believes making this change will help management and the board make the right long-term decisions in the interests of all our stakeholders."
The firm will publish its 2015 full year results on 15 March 2016.
Wilson adds: "Our business cycle is long-term, with many of our investment and business decisions playing out over years and sometimes decades, rather than quarters. As such, ending quarterly reporting will allow us to focus on communicating what is relevant to the value creation in Legal & General's businesses."


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The success of a company is based not only on an excellent knowledge of the market but also on a deep understanding of the most important stakeholder group: the customers. Target Group Analysis is the optimal instrument for identifying customers and their respective needs and desires.
The services includes individual identification and analysis of relevant target groups, particularly for Sales and Marketing. Our extensive experience in creating reliable Target Group Analysis especially in the B2B environment and industry helps us dive deeper into the business case presented. Our main focus falls on: strategic growth, market entry, optimizing marketing strategy, positioning of products and companies.
Key Aspects Of Our Target Group Analysis
Multi-level approach delivers the best possible project results
The combination of secondary and primary data provides a comprehensive picture of our clients' chosen target group. The relevant information, which is based on a variety of existing data from studies, databases, press-reports, and company annual reports, is collected and presented according to clients' needs and preferences. All open questions, which were not answered during the secondary survey, are then primarily evaluated by the means of expert interviews and suitable surveys.
References & Project Examples
The Target Group Analysis is usually made in correlation with Sales and Marketing activities. Objectives such as growth, market strategy, optimization of market strategy and positioning of products and companies, motivated our clients to request for individualized Target Group Analysis.
By identifying the target group of our clients, resources can be better and more efficiently used, and products and/or services adapted to the individual customer needs. By adapting the offerings to the specific market requirements, their growth and success can be sustained and improved in the long term and the turnover can be maximized.
Our team can examine relevant target groups, gather all the information you will need and help you make the best decision for your company. The Target Group Analysis is especially useful when making positioning strategies for new products and/or services. It is important to communicate the unique characteristics of products or services to this individual target group. The analysis can also give our clients valuable information about the geographic location of their target market as well as the best places to distribute their products.


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DALLAS-FORT WORTH - The Dallas-Fort Worth area has the hottest housing market in the country, according to new report by Realtor.com.
Analysts rated the top markets in April based on demand for housing and how long it takes to sell a property.
"Sellers are seeing listings move between 29 and 49 days more quickly than in the rest of the country and at an accelerating pace from just last month — an average of five days faster," Realtor.com economist Jonathan Smoke said in the report.
So far in 2015, median single-family home sales prices in North Texas are up about 9 percent from a year ago. And the number of homes sold in the area so far this year by Realtors is 4 percent higher than in 2014.
"Dallas is one of the top 15 hottest so it's definitely not slowing down," Smoke said.
Top Five U.S. Housing Markets:
Based markets based on demand for housing and how long it takes to sell a property in major markets across the nation.
1. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Tex.
2. Santa Rosa, Calif.
3. Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.
4. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo.
5. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Our twice-weekly e-newsletter provides a quick overview of Texas real estate markets. Because your time is valuable.


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On behalf of the CtK Leadership, I would like to invite you all to join us on a new journey. We have arrived at a pivotal moment in the life of our church. It's not the first time we can say that. Back in 2003, this church nearly dissolved. But there was a group of people who said, "We can't close our church." Those people made a stand. They fought for the church to continue. We have a chance to join those who fought for the existence of this church by fighting, here and now, for the expansion of our church. Let me introduce you to the We Can't initiative.
We Can't is a strange title. We could have chose something more positive, but we wanted the ability and power of God to be at the heart of what we're doing. Living a life of faith in God means trusting God's strength more than our own. We believe God has given us a vision much bigger than any church could fulfill without totally depending on Him. Our theme verse for this whole initiative is Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." That verse says it all. God is calling us to trust him for big things. He's telling us to pray big prayers.
Our first obedient step in this is We Can't. This is a one-fund initiative, meaning all regular giving and special giving will be combined into one unified fund. We currently operate on a $750K annual budget (over the next 2 years this will be $1.5M). We're trusting God to expand our generosity to reach a goal of $2.5 million over two years. That's an increase of about $1M during that same time. Those are big costs. But we thought of a bigger one: not doing this. Not swinging for the fences. Not praying big prayers. Playing house as a church. Settling for business as usual Christianity. Not doing this means not reaching greater Raleigh. It means settling for a veener gospel- miles wide but only inches deep.
We could do that. Churches do it all the time. But we want to do something that matters. We want to join hands with the pioneers who first kept our church alive by saying We Can't. And because of Christ, we believe that we can't really fail- except by failing to risk boldly and trust deeply and sacrifice for His purposes.
As our leaders considered this undertaking, there was a lot of discussion about our long-term vision and about what matters to CtK. The answers returned us, again and again, to the central mission of our church:
CtK exists to Live, Speak, and Serve as the very Presence of Christ in downtown Raleigh.
We believe that, through Christ alone, we can make those more than just words. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing at CtK. I pray that you will join us as we go all in on what God has planned for us.
- Geoff Bradford


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New Johnston Road bridge opened Thursday
The big news Thursday for motorists was the opening of the new "flyover" bridge from Johnston Road to the inner loop of Interstate 485 in southern Mecklenburg County.
The bridge, which opened about 5 a.m., enables motorists headed toward Charlotte from the Ballantyne area and South Carolina to get on I-485 without stopping at a traffic signal on Johnston Road.
The bridge is part of the $83.3 million I-485 widening project, which is adding a lane in each direction between I-77 and Rea Road. That project is scheduled for completion in December. Steve Lyttle


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The weather has been a little cooler on and off over the past 2 weeks and I have been able to handle knitting with wool. A cowl has been long on my to do list as an alternative to a scarf while I am working around the farm I came across this one called the honey cowl, by Madelelinetosh and just love it.
Here is the one I finished last week using yarn from my stash. I made the longer one so that I could wrap it around twice but didn't have enough yarn so it's half the width suggested which suits me for the farm.
And so I've started another one. Once again using yarn that I had, but look forward to making another next year with madelinetosh yarn. This yarn was a bulk lot given to me by a friend, so there is plenty to make the wider one but I'm leaning towards the narrow one.
And the book I've been reading is Food and Development. Quite a heavy read and so I'm reading small sections at a time. This book looks at the diverse food related problems of the modern world . It looks at undernutrition and over nutrition and the causes, food politics and power. And at the moment I'm reading about globalisation and the part it plays in malnutrition.
An interesting read for anyone concerned with food sovereignty. My resolve for mindful living is deepened from the reading of just the first few chapters. Why should we have so much in the overdeveloped world when so many have so little? The over consumption of resources, the exploitation of the powerless and the mindless consumerism for the sole purpose of filling the pockets of the powerful. And what do I take from this? to live an even more frugal life with gratitude and thankfulness for all that I do consume.


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Fred Rendon, Jr. woke up after a thirty-year nightmare just five years ago. He jokingly referred to himself as "Rip Van Winkle" and making light of his experience is telling of just how far he has come. For more than four decades, 64-year-old Rendon was wracked with guilt, anxiety and depression, a potent formula for post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD).
It is pitch dark and I have never been so terrified in my life. The darkness I am experiencing is another new awakening in my being. It is consuming my every thought with fear " fear like I have never felt. It is hard to experience this degree of darkness until you`ve been in a country where electricity does not exist. "The noise is roaring, and because of the pouring rain my sight is limited to total blackness. I am 18 and halfway around the world fighting for my country in a place called Vietnam, ten thousand miles away from home."
So opens Rendon`s book, Echoes of PTSD (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, October 2012), an autobiographical account of his experiences in Vietnam, and the subsequent disorder that, as Rendon put it, stole more than half of his life away.
The Harlingen native decided to enlist in the army when he was just 16 years old, but he had to wait for his 17th birthday, and get signatures from his mother and father in order to enlist. He spent a few months in Okinawa, Japan until he turned 18. Then he was shipped off to boot camp.
"Some funny stuff happened there, at boot camp. But you know, it wasn`t funny at all at the time," Rendon said lightly. "The names they`d call you, the things they`d have you do, were sometimes ridiculous."
Rendon was a driver in Vietnam so he didn`t see as much combat as some, he said. However, he was involved in several skirmishes and gunfire exchanges, and he is confident that he killed more than one man during his time as a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps. After a tour of nearly five years, Rendon received Vietnam Campaign, Vietnam Service and good conduct medals, and returned home in 1969.
When he arrived, he found that he was not the same man, he said, and he couldn`t live a normal life.
The worst part was coming back here and not fitting into society. I was going to the Veterans Administration and being treated pretty badly. "I went to the VA in Dallas and told them I was hearing echoes in my ears and having a lot of problems and they said, "Were you shot in the head?` And I said, `no,`" Rendon said. (The VA representative) said, "Well then, there`s not too much we can do for you. And furthermore, you better be careful, because a lot of those guys who get hearing problems like that end up committing suicide, but we can`t do anything for you.`"
He pursued an education and earned a degree in English, then he taught for a few years, but he said he felt like a fraud. He had a wife, with whom he had two daughters, but he regrets that he wasn`t as available as he wanted to be. He found himself holing up in his bedroom more often than not, curling into the fetal position and crying, unable to escape the grip of depression.
"I was never shot or wounded," Rendon said. So I had a lot of guilt that I was suffering from PTSD when I was around these other guys who had seen way more combat than I did. I just felt like a loser, like I didn`t deserve counseling when these `real marines` and `real soldiers` had been through so much worse. Suicide began to seem like a better and better option. I used to think of the guys that had died (in combat), and feel envious of them, like they were the lucky ones."
Rendon recalled a specific incident in which he watched a friend he`d gone to high school with release a prisoner of war for a laugh. The man sent German shepherds after the POW; the dogs chased and attacked him viciously, visibly ripping his flesh. Rendon protested, and his friend laughed him off, and then shot the man in the head. It was one of the scenarios that haunted him the most.
"It never dawned on me to (tell counselors) that I`d been in a firefight, or I had watched a guy kill another guy, because we all went through that," he said. I said, "I just can`t be around people. I get very sad, I cry for no reason, and I don`t know what to do.` I just wanted somebody to help me learn how to keep a job and live a life. I didn`t know how to ask them, and they didn`t know how to help me, so it made for a pretty difficult life. You lose self-esteem. You become nothing."
PTSD is known to cause intense nightmares, trouble sleeping, extreme anxiety, an inability to interact normally with others (particularly in large groups), depression and crippling flashbacks. These symptoms lead many to turn to drugs or alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate, Rendon said. He himself dealt with an alcohol problem for many years until he was introduced to a program called Pathways in 2007, which was created by TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw. Rendon credits the program with saving his life, and now he`s made it his mission to help other veterans find the rehabilitative program, and also get all the benefits that they are due.
So Rendon decided to start his own non-profit organization, SAVE: Special Assistance for Veterans Endeavors. Rendon acts as an advocate and liaison between veterans and the VA. He contacts local veterans and veterans` hospitals, to help file and secure claims for benefits that they are due because of their status as wounded or mentally disturbed to the point where they are unable to provide for themselves and their families. One hundred percent of the proceeds of his sales of Echoes of PTSD go to the organization, and will fund other soldiers` opportunities to get treatment. His book is available for purchase on his web site, www.fredrendon.com.
"I met one guy, he was out on the street as I was driving by, and he had a military cap on," Rendon said. I noticed he only had one leg. I stopped and we started talking about our experiences, and I said, "So are they going to get you a new leg?` He said he applied for it two years ago, but it hadn`t arrived."
Rendon felt compelled to take action. He made calls to the Veteran Administration, to the VA Hospital in Dallas, to his contacts in Kansas, and finally, a few weeks later, a prosthetic leg arrived for his new friend, Paco Juarez. Currently, he is fighting to get a Purple Heart commendation for another veteran, Steve Garcia, who recently had part of his leg amputated due to a long-ago Vietnam wound exacerbated by a recent injury. It was thanks in part to Rendon that Garcia was able to secure a motorized wheel chair by filing a benefits claim. These are just two of many veterans whose benefits Rendon has fought for, alongside other Harlingen veterans, in an attempt, he said, to give back just a little of what he got.
For Veteran`s Day, Rendon will be celebrating with fellow veterans at the opening of the Veteran`s Memorial at Pendleton Park in Harlingen. The memorial includes a rock wall, and a brick walkway. Each brick is inscribed with the name of a local veteran, and bricks are available for purchase to commemorate a friend or a loved one lost in a war. The park has been under construction since March, and it will have its dedication ceremony today at 9:30 a.m. This success is just one milestone in a long and continuing road for Rendon. He is grateful to have found help, and wants to send a message to other veterans that they are not alone.
"I think the most important thing to me, is I want (other veterans) to learn what the symptoms (of PTSD) are, and if you have them, don`t be embarrassed. Ask for help. Call me, write to me. This is just my story, and I`m lucky I`m still here to tell it."
Echoes of PTSD is available for purchase at www.fredrendon.com. All proceeds will benefit his non-profit organization, SAVE. You can also contact Rendon if you or someone you know is a struggling veteran in need of help.
by Madeleine Smither
ONLINE: www.fredrendon.com
Madeleine Smither covers features and entertainment at The Monitor. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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1Sonic Productions specialise in high quality, affordable mastering solutions from full 'red book' spec pre-masters for CD manufacture, to MP3 preparation for internet based applications.
At the heart of our mastering operation are the ears of Max Gilkes. Max has been making records for nearly 20 years – as an artist, producer, arranger, conductor, engineer and session player, with credits including Mercury nominated Kate Tempest, Fink, Bonobo, Kelis, Roots Manuva, Grasscut, Eliza Carthy, Lily Allen, Manu Chao and Prince Fatty.
This depth of experience means he knows exactly how your mixes and masters should sound – both from the perspective of mastering engineer and that of artist/producer.
The 1Sonic studio is situated in Brighton, on the south coast of England – less than an hour from London's Victoria station.
We can happily work via correspondence anywhere in the world; providing you with approval versions of your music via our ftp server.


text: PrevNextWe were at the beach letting our dog run with the other off-leash dog when we met this slick wet dog. This was a really sweet dog who seemed to be happy with the attention of getting his photograph taken. We were at Crane Beach in Massachusetts. By Jay StebbinsDogs of Boston TwittertweetFacebookshareGoogle+sharePinterestpin it


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Turtle Entertainment GmbH
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Friend's Email:
Subject: I have found a CD that I think you would enjoy
Wax Ecstatic
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Larger Image
CD Details
Similarly Requested CDs
CD Reviews
Killer concept album, Sponge's best...
Whitey D | Wilmington, DE | 06/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The fine art of a concept album was all but forgotten in the nineties, until Sponge unveiled this masterpiece on the public who (criminally) didn't seem to care. That is very unfortunate because "Wax Ecstatic" is easily some of the best music to come out of the drab mid nineties. The lyrical concept is certainly a strange one: the death of a drag queen. Not all the songs seem to fit the formula, but the vast majority do. The lyrics can be explicit at times, but never do the churn the stomach. By the time Velveteen comes around you'll find yourself feeling sorry for the transvestite protagonist, trust me. The music on this CD is diverse and a great leap forward from the nondescript grunge rock of "Rotting Pinata"."My Purity" rocks with the sheer attitude and abandon of a Guns N' Roses song, with much better vocals of course. The title track is another standout with a catchy guitar hook dominating the song. "I Am Anastasia" is a highlight, as is the Bowie-influenced "Silence is Their Drug". "Have You Seen Mary" should have made the boys in Sponge veritable stars, but thanks to the poor marketing Columbia gave this album, it's just another highlight in an album full of them. The final 1-2 punch of "The Death of a Drag Queen" and "Velveteen" are emotional highs, the former being a gruesome tale of a late night murder and the latter being a heartfelt memoir, as well as the obvious choice for the album's best song. After Velveteen, there's an amazing hidden track that rocks on par with the rest of the CD. Why it is unlisted I don't know. Don't let the crazy concept prevent you from purchasing this CD, you'll be missing out on some truly classic music. "Wax Ecstatic" stands as Sponge's crowning achievement and is a testament to the perils of the record industry. The music is certainly catchy enough for radio and high quality enough to please any rock fan and keep them coming back for more. Pick up this forgotten gem and tell all your friends to do the same. You won't regret the money spent."
Defineitely worth your while
Daniel J. Hagerman | barnegat, NJ United States | 03/12/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"there are four excellent songs here. the first three (my purity, got to be a bore & wax exstatic) are amazing songs. anastasia is also a great song. thick guitars, great rhythm section and amazing grooves, especially in got to be a bore. great production as well for this album. on wax exstatic (the song) i love it when the guitar solo kicks in. it is the perfect balance between hearing the lead and yet still hearing the other instrments. i can hear the drums, bass and guitar holding a great groove as the lead blows me away. GREAT stuff!!
as for the slower stuff, it is good. i think the louder stuff is more vibrant and holds stronger songwriting but still, death of a drag queen is a terrific moody song as is drag queens of memphis. there are some great songs here and this is one band that made one great album in wac exstatic. i have to check out some of their other stuff."
More underrated, yes... But better than Pinkerton? Maybe
montythemongoose | 10/14/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yet another misappreciated or unappreciated gem from '96. Detroit's entrant in the post-Cobain-suicide grunge feeding frenzy took off from their rote, angst-by-numbers debut Rotting Pinata & made what some have gone on to pronounce the first salvo in the glam revival. Specifically, I'd assume, given the wistful but inspired take on transvestism that the band presents in Drag Queens of Memphis, Death of a Drag Queen, & perchance even Velveteen (pick the better album closer: this or Butterfly...). Additionally, though, there is also a power in the chugging guitar of the opening My Purity & Silence Is Their Drug. Here, the guitarists --- it's been a long time since I read the liner notes, so I forget the names --- treat their instruments as that extension of their anatomy, we all know which one, a la NY Dolls, KISS, Aerosmith, or any of the 70s greats, glam & non-glam & pseudoglam. & then there are the effecting tracks, I Am Anastasia & Have You Seen Mary? Having beaten our heads against the wall, us having happily let them (trust me, if it wasn't good, we wouldn't let them at all), they grab our tear ducts & sap them totally. Ah, yes, then, another 70s staple: the lighters-held-aloft moment. & I love that, unabashedly & unironically. For me, I'm starting to think, '75, or maybe '74 --- I wasn't around then --- was the golden age of rock in that decade. [Of course, the Sex Pistols are still hella good. - ed.] & Sponge, on Wax Ecstatic, ran with that sentiment 'til they could run no more... As would be apparent from their limp output since & even at the time minimal output (WE is 10 tracks). But who's to quibble when 10 hit like 20, or maybe 30, from Rancid (another good band, but a different sort of band... Even if Buddyhead isn't fibbing when they say that Lars Frederiksen has a Grateful Dead logo tattoo). My vote then for most misappreciated '96 album: Pinkerton. But most unappreciated: Wax Ecstatic. Now, then, I'm finished... You, appreciate this record. Buy it & love it."


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Rancher loses support over slavery comments
Sen. Rand Paul, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, joined a line of Republican and Democratic leaders Thursday in denouncing Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher at the center of a standoff with the federal government over land use, for suggesting that blacks might have been better off in slavery.
"His remarks on race are offensive, and I wholeheartedly disagree with him," Paul, R-Ky., said in a statement.
The senator's remarks came after he'd offered support for Bundy's case as the rancher resisted the federal Bureau of Land Management when it sought to confiscate his cattle because he wasn't paying fees for their grazing on public land.
The government backed off after federal authorities encountered hundreds of Bundy supporters, many carrying guns, who'd flocked to his ranch in Bunkerville, Nev., as the dispute intensified.
With his remarks, Paul joined other Republican leaders in assailing Bundy for comments published online by the New York Times on Wednesday evening after they'd previously expressed support for the rancher.
Bundy in remarks to supporters last Saturday talked about seeing blacks gathered outside public housing projects in North Las Vegas.
"And because they were basically on government subsidy, so now what do they do?" he asked. "They abort their young children, they put their young men in jail, because they never learned how to pick cotton.
"And I've often wondered, are they better off as slaves, picking cotton and having a family life and doing things, or are they better off under government subsidy?"
A spokesman for Heller, who also had expressed support for Bundy, said the senator "completely disagrees with Mr. Bundy's appalling and racist statements, and condemns them in the most strenuous way."
Bundy has been championed by some Fox News commentators, though some appeared to distance themselves after his remarks were published.
Greta Van Susteren of Fox News posted a link on her blog to the Times article under the headline, "Let me make this plain: I condemn what Cliven Bundy said about African-Americans."
The Nevada Democratic Party issued a statement shortly after the article was published, denouncing Republicans for having aligned themselves with Bundy.
"These comments are reprehensible, and every Republican politician in the state of Nevada who tried to latch on to Cliven Bundy's newfound celebrity with Tea Partiers and the militia movement should be ashamed of their actions," it read.


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Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale
- Title:
- Taiko Extravaganza 2018 - The Tree of Life
- When:
- Where:
- Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts - Scottsdale
- Category:
- Performing Arts Events
Ken Koshio
"Tree of the Life"
Scottsdale, Arizona – Ancient Sounds of Peace (WYVEAA ) co-produced by K2 Enterprise, presents "Ken Koshio TAIKO EXTRAVAGANZA 2018 – The Tree of Life" taking place at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts for the 4th annual show in Arizona (first one in 2015).
Our past shows have been a big success to reach a lot of local people through the message of Koshio's Life Beats. The last audiences commented how they felt connected to the soul and energy throughout this masterpiece of performing art.
The theme of this year's show is "The Tree of Life" as the art form of drum beats and the roots of our indigenous spirit are intertwined to celebrate and experience the colorful diversity of cultures and generations. Since ancient times, Taiko in Japanese means drumming beats (太鼓) and ancient time (太古). They are connecting our ancestral expression from the past to the future, even as a taiko creates "life beats" from a past living tree.
Koshio's passion is to share the most rewarding experience possible and express the importance of our origin. This amazing collaboration of diverse cultures and different] style of artistic expressions will be brought to the stage, in tune with the rhythms of nature within our Grand Canyon State of Arizona as womb (胎内) of the earth.
This show is a variety of expressions, dynamics of fusion beats, music, dance, and vibrations for all generation.
Dates: Saturday, June 23, 2018
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
$30 - $50
Location: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
7380 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Ticket purchase link


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Efficiency, innovation and a resource-saving manufacturing are the primary factors for the success in Automotive Engineering. Laser know-how offers many various prospects for automotive engineers and suppliers to optimise production. Whether or not vehicles, motorcycles, utility autos or agricultural engines – LASERVORM is your accomplice for laser processing, know-how development and laser engineering. The steadiness of funds position of the country showed a distinct improvement in the course of the Fifth Plan interval. The plan envisaged an actual annual progress price of eleven p.c for exports, nearly twice the extent of growth in imports, which had been projected at 6.3 p.c every year. Nonetheless, since imports were over double the level of exports in 1977-seventy eight, the actual trade deficit was projected to rise from 1503 million to 1614 million by the end of the interval. The current account deficit was anticipated to stabilize round $1 billion, with a considerable enhance anticipated in residence remittances from Pakistanis working abroad.
The internet is being utilized to the field more and more often, with mechanics providing advice on-line. Mechanics themselves now frequently use the internet for data to assist them in diagnosing and/or repairing automobiles. A preferred useful resource for any such analysis is the video web site YouTube, 1 where skilled and DIY mechanics alike movie and share their experiences on vehicle diagnostics and restore. Paper based mostly service manuals for automobiles have become significantly less prevalent with computer systems which can be related to the Web taking their place, giving fast access to a plethora of technical manuals and information.
Due to this fact now i am scared to decide on this discipline too because if i didn't get a good job for automotive design my life will be completed. And in addition i heard that only a small variety of individuals can get this job. Interesting and really Precious Data.Thanks rather a lot… Plz proceed this work. Fundraisers are another nice option to go. Work along with any group the place you may offer to pin stripe vehicles and donate a percentage from every job you do.
We've 2 places: Bellevue and Issaquah, as some of you may have seen or recognized a Redmond facility was tried but didn't go as planned so we took a step again to deal with the Bradley's name, reputation and philosophy. Strategies and format: students are anticipated to speak and present a clear concept concept as if in a studio assessment. Using freesketching strategies and/or very fast pc graphics, they are going to produce A3 prints and a digital presentation.
Well, what I was saying was that the platform was one of the reasons these merchandise failed. It definitely wasn't the one motive. Might 2013: GM Inglish was nominated to the Corridor of Fame among martial artists of USA and Africa. Sources of car emissions are Engine Crankcase Blow-by Fumes (20%)- heating oil and burning of fuel that blows previous piston rings and into the crankcase. Fuel Vapour (20%) – chemical compounds that enter the air as fuel evaporates. Engine Exhaust (60%)- blown out the tailpipe when engine burns a hydrocarbon based fuel.


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I've compiled a list of sites that I have found useful, and that I believe have a lot to offer. This list is obviously far from exhaustive, but I hope this will be a helpful resource for you all.
If there is a site that has helped you immensely and want to share it, please Email it to me. I do want to keep this list as compact as possible, but want to make sure to share important information.
|Perhaps the best place to not only begin, but to learn a lot about photography. Camera reviews are top-notch, and the forums cover everything photographic.
|Radiant Vista
|Learn much about Photoshop (see Photoshop Workbench) and about how to "see" images. Informative and easy to follow video tutorials.
|Thom Hogan
|While mostly geared towards Nikon equipment (his user guides are essential), he's a wealth of level-headed knowledge. Keep an eye out for him in the DPReview forums.
|Luminous Landscape
|A great resource with many tutorials and reviews - reviews go beyond just cameras to printers, software, tripods, scanners, etc.
|Just about any lens you can think of has been tested here. Lab and real-world tests - very reputable.
|Portrait Lighting
|Some basic concepts for lighting and portraits.
|Wedding Photos
|A fabulous guide on how to take and light great wedding photos (with gorgeous examples included).
|Eye Editing
|Tutorial on improving eyes in Photoshop - really helps to make a portrait picture pop.
|This, to me, is one of the best sites for lighting (flash) information. It goes beyond the how-to (and covers so much of that!), and really inspires. Truly is a must-see.
|Light Box
|Instructions on how to make your own, inexpensive light-box.
|On-Camera Flash
|How to effectively use on-camera flash.
|Photoflex Lighting School
|They cover lighting from the basics right up to studio lighting with complex kits - clear and well explained.
|Dozens of specific lighting tutorials. Covers a lot of issues that come up when lighting a subject, and how to get around those issues.
|Wedding Lighting
|An excellent walk-through for wedding lighting. Written for Nikon Flashes.
|Bouncecard 1
Bouncecard 2
Bouncecard 2
|Three different do-it-yourself (DIY) flash bounce cards. They're all cheap and easy to make, and all do wonders!
|Wireless Flash Compensation
|In-depth Wireless Flash Compensation instructions for Nikon CLS flash systems.
|Sharpening 101
|Thom Hogan's Article on sharpening. Clearly covers the how's and why's of sharpening.
|Advanced Sharpening
|A tutorial with some solid, advanced sharpening techniques.
|Un-Sharp Mask
|How to apply un-sharp mask (USM), and just as importantly, the theory behind the task.
|USM Values
|Some USM values - useful as a rough guide until you get the hang of things.
|Haze Removal
|Using USM to remove haze from pictures - powerful tool, wha?
|Action Central
|This is the site that introduced me to Actions. Has many actions already built that you can load into Photoshop. Also has some great tutorials so you can build your own actions.
|Photoshop Lab
|This page has several Photoshop tutorials - many of which go beyond regular photo editing.
|Russel Brown
|This guy really knows his way around Photoshop. The links stretch long down the page, so make sure you take a good look.
|Colour Management Basics
|The basics of Colour Management, including aRGB and sRGB. Covers when to use each for JPG, RAW, printing, and the web.
|Colour Management Discussion
|A good discussion of the many pros and cons of using different colour spaces.
|Matthew Hollett
|My friend, Matthew Hollet's, website. He has a natural eye for photography, and a gift for writing. Check out his Oughtful section. When I read the words he puts with his pictures, it makes me wish I could shoot every second of every day.
|Brian Larter
|Brian's blog has some great images (he just began a photo-a-day project for this year!), and some inspiring Photo Projects. It's ideas like Brian's that keep me shooting when I feel I've run out of ideas. He's also involved with environmental movements - because without a world to take pictures of, we'd all be lost.
|A fun, useful collection of photography links. They go beyond the usual (like the science behind people blinking in photos!). Check back often to see the constant additions.
|An always-changing collection of the best photo blogs. Technique and skill are covered with the many other links above, but sometimes inspiration is what you need. And with hundreds of blogs to pick from, there's no end to the inspiration you'll find here.
Please remember that the internet is not the be all and end all of resources. There are many many excellent books and magazines out there, not to mention other photographers at local camera clubs or at your local camera shop. And be sure to get out and shoot! There's no point in learning all the best techniques if you aren't out using them to take pictures. (In fact, pick up a camera right now and take a picture. Of yourself, your friend, the food in your fridge!)
Again, please Email me if you have any sites you want to share with me. We all have lots to learn!


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Welcome to Rhi Talks!
This blog is a space for discussion surrounding media topics, research and the world around us as a whole! As a Communication and Media Studies student at UOW, my primary interest lies in international media, more specifically the way in which news is interpreted globally, and how cultures share the global space…


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Vinnie's Tampon Case has been featured in nearly
every woman's magazine, on countless radio programs, in newspapers
across the globe, on TV shows, in documentaries, in books, at the Andy
Warhol Museum, offered in stores around the world, given away by Justin
Timberlake at his 22nd birthday party, discussed in Harvard classrooms,
and, most importantly, carried proudly in back pockets of Jr. Varsity menstruators on playgrounds everywhere.
I've received thousands upon thousands of fan letters over
the years from every imaginable type of woman/girl- from every race,
culture, class, from almost every continent. I've received fan mail
written on Hello Kitty stationary from pre-teens who can't wait for
their period so they can use my case, from teens who read my GIANT
ROLLER COASTER STICKER BOOK with their entertained boyfriends. I get
letters from mothers who get the cases for their daughters, from guys
who've gotten the case for their girlfriends, from doctors,
gynocologists, children therapists, health clincs, crisis centers, from
women's study programs. and a very nice fan letter from a Baywatch
But, in my ten years of giving out my tampon cases I rarely revealed the true reason I decided to embark on the project. What follows is that explanation.
Project Goal: To create an affordable (or free)
everyday object that would encourage a positive and non-sexual dialog
between guys and girls about a woman's body– in hopes of sparking
education that will work towards ending violence against women.
The Inspiration: A friend revealed to me her having
been kidnapped and raped by a group of strange men when she was in high
school. The recurring trauma of her experience compounded by the fact
that her family didn't know how to deal with the crime and the fact
that the perps were never arrested or brought to justice shook me to my
Furious at a society that refuses to develop the tools to deal with
such horrific and wide-spread behavior I took it upon myself to attempt
to change the environment that allows a college educated male like
myself to be willfully ignorant of a woman's well being and safety
The Plan: Based on having witnessed the cathartic moment my friend had while watching the scene in Thelma & Louise
when Susan Sarandon's character shoots the rapist I had an inspiration
moment. I realized that women/girls are offered almost no oportunities
to mimic or role-play their power and there are almost no pop-culture
heroines that inspire with their daring do- turning the table on the
evil that women, specifically, often face. Boys and men are inundated
with ego-props from an early age, from toy guns to comic heros to
nearly every Hollywood film that has ever been made. Thelma &
Louise was the only outlet my friend had to exorcise the demons of her trauma, and to workshop a level of revenge on her attackers. I decided to make more outlets.
I began by making large cartoony
paintings of that exact moment of justice/revenge in T&L, thinking
that women could hang this image in their home as an inspiration and/or
a warning (see images below). But, art reaches, on average, a relatively small audience.
I realized that I wanted to offer a product that was much
more accessible, immediate and less intimidating than a painting. To
really affect change I needed to get the message directly into the
hands of young men. This led to scaling down and redesigning my
gun-toting women into cute cartoon characters adhered to refridgerator
magnets. My first two sets were WOMEN TIRED OF TAKING MEN'S SHIT and WOMEN KICKING WOULD BE RAPISTS IN THE NUTS, both of which were part of my FRIGGIN MAGNETS® line.
These magnets were sold in stores around the country and were much
more successful than my paintings in terms of attracting eyeballs, but
the overt violent images bothered me (violence begets violence) and the
off-color language was limiting the ability of my message getting in
the hands of kids, at least thru the gatekeepers of parents and retail
The Solution: I sat on this puzzle for six months
until I happened across a menstruation conversation between two of my
female friends. When I came into the room they laughed and stopped
talking tampons. An awkward silence followed and that was it. If women
can't even have a mundane conversation about menstruation in the
presence of a man how the frik will men and women be able to share
conversations about the much more traumatic experiences that happen to
a woman's body?
I decided I would make tampons with my name, Vinnie, boldly and unabashedly printed on the wrappers. If a guy named Vinnie can get over his phobia of the cycle then other men would surely be emboldened to follow his lead, right?
Well, it didn't take long for me to realize that making tampons was
way out of my league, so, in the course of conversations with friends
about my plan it became clear that a case to protect tampons might be a
viable alternative. I workshopped all kinds of different case options
(plastic, metal tins, etc) until I hit on the canvas case with the
inside pockets idea. It was important that the case be durable enough
to protect period products from getting torn or broken but it needed to
be soft-ish as well to not break other things in the purse. The canvas
case was perfect. (cont. top of next column)
DEAR VINNIE- FAN MAIL (A sampling):
E=MC2, the wheel, nuclear fusion…etc, etc. all world renouned inventions… until now. Vinnie's Tampon Case has squashed them all. You are a hero in my eyes. Every female that i come into contact with agrees. i hope your grandmas sewing machine is in good shape, cuz we girls are gonna clear you out. You rule. Your faithful follower (at least until menopause)-StrikersOL
Dear Vinnie, Suddenly I find myself looking forward to my next period. Thanks, -Susan, Atlanta, GA
Dear Vinnie, I don't know you, but you are either really psychotic or one of the most awesome people on earth. I choose that you are awesome. -Stephanie, Palo Alto, CA
Dear Vinnie, Knowing there are wonderfully freaky boys out there who ponder menstruation makes me happy. May you inspire the masses. Keep it up! A new fan -T.M.
Vinnie, You've got my vote for "Woman of the Year." It always amazes me that
it's really women that perpetuate the hush-hushedness of having your
period. No wonder men don't talk about it, we won't let them. Well,
until you came along… good for you, boy! -VB, Canada
Dear Vinnie, I am writing you today because of the glorious invention that you have created. I was pleasantly surprised to have received one on Christmas Day. Only you can truly understand the joy I felt after receiving my very own tampon case. Like other frustrated females I too have lost many good tamopns to the demons of my purse. Now, I will never have to worry about having a fresh and clean tampon always on hand. Thank you so very much for your ingenious invention. -Cara, becky and Kriss
Dear Vinnie, I love my tampon case! My friends love theirs! Thank you for not being a squeamish boy when it comes to periods. You've earned you last name for sure. Muchas gracias. -Elena C.
Dear Vinnie, Yesterday, I received my very own "Vinnie's Tampon Case for Christmas. It was a great hit at the dinner table. I am pleased, too, that I will never again be forced to scrounge in the bottom of my big black bag only to come up with a tampon with a built-in cough drop and lipstick. -Anne, New Mexico
Dear Vinnie, Thank you so much for making these amazing cases. Every
time I look at it, it cracks me up. But at the same time it reminds me
to check my handy chart. I never miss a beat thanks to you! p.s. your
mother must be very proud of you. -Kristen, Studio City, CA
Dear Vinnie, I couldn't be happier to finally find such a great tampon case! I'm a flight attendant- always on the go- so I'm sure your case will beat my ziploc bag of tampons in the bottom of my flight bag! Thanks. -Ryan, Alexandria, VA
Dear Vinnie, For the past 11 years, my mother and I never discussed my period. Every once in a while, she would motion to the grocery list posted on the fridge and say, "Do you need some female things?" and that would bt that. I took your suggestion and left the roller coaster chart on the coffee table and my mom picked it up. To my surprise, she now takes an amazing interest in my flo' and even checks up on the coaster to see when she should start buying smoothie ingredients! With the help of my friend, we've made a series of multi-colored, multi-expression Hot Vinns for use anytime. They're especially helpful for arthritic knees and elbows, too. Thanks, Vinnie! We love ya! -Ester, Ventura ,CA
Dear Vinnie, have you created anything for that first
period?--quite the event in the life of the female. Maybe fireworks
should be included.-XXXToneeQua, LA
Hi vinnie, we love you. -Maddy and Ann
DUDE!!!! Vinnie! you are like my freaking idol! seriously you are
the best thing sense sliced bread! Usually guys get all wireded out
about us ladies having our natural cycle but you......you.....KICK JOSH
HARNETT'S ASS!!!!! when i first saw your Vinnies tampion case i thought
it was a joke but now i know! i saw it in the magazine Working Mother
(no im not a teen mom, i was waiting at the doctors office) OK well you
need to tell your people to send Vinnie's tampon case to San Clemente K
man! Oh and another favor make a stciker of your cartoon face that says
Vinnie's Tampon case so i can put them all over my folders! Vinnie i
gotta hand it to you. You rock my socks off! And keep it up man! Love **JO** YOUR MY IDOL (i know i already said that but its so true)
Dear Vinnie, Are you a real person? What's you deal? –Craig
Vinnie, You rock yo my name is Narnia and i love your book i am 12 and i started my a month before my b day wich is Oct 27 and i got it for my bday and i loved it you rock love narnia
Dear Vinnie, this is probably the greatest thing i've ever bought. ever. i love love love it. thanks so much for creating something so useful and practical. –Mary, Great Falls, VA
Vinnie, Your tampon case always keeps me prepared! I even have tampons for others who need them! I feel so useful...thanks! –Kirsten, Merryville, IN
Youre freakin amazing, You have no idea how much i love you and my tampon case. – Adrielle, souix Falls, SD
I break for cycles Bitch!!! –Cristi, NYC
VINNIE!! Your tampon case has saved my life more than once. My friends can always count on me to have their back when that time of the month unexpectedly comes about and surprises them. Thanks a bunch! Sincerely, Abby- Parkersburg, WV
Dear Vinnie, you undoubtedly make my flow something to smile about. –Stephanie, Hattiesburg, MS
Vinnie, you make being a girl fun. –Alex, Mukilteo, WA
Dear Vinnie, i absolutly adore your tampon case and promised myself that when i was able to use them i would get one but i am unable to purchase them in england. PLEASE can you send one my way i am desperate. i feel i would be the envy of my whole school with one of these. – Octavia, Northants, UK
Even though I called it a tampon case I designed it to hold nearly all menstruation related products. I called it a tampon case because, like most guys, tampon
was sort of a catch-all word for the entire business, so I knew guys
would know what it was for once they saw that word. Vinnie's menstruation case was too clinical and plug case too…wrong. My friend Krissy encouraged me to use the word tampon to reclaim it as something cool
instead of the dread it typically inspired in both women and men. The
first case I made was an iron-on transfer image with my name and
smiling face boldly displayed. I sewed it by hand and gave it to my
friend Marcy. She laughed and immediately stuffed her tamps inside so I
knew I was on the right track. My friend Sasha introduced me to the
idea of a period chart, so I created one with additional Vinnie-esque
graphics and put them in every subsequent case.
Freeness: Since the expense of menstrual products is also an issue women have with most tampon products ("its just cotton!")
I decided that my newly minted Vinnie's Tampon Case would always be
free from me. This was 1996. Two years later, when I had the time and
had saved up some money to print and sew a couple hundred cases (with
the help of my mom's sewing and my grandmother stuffing Period Charts)
I embarked on my official five year commitment to VTC. From January 1,
1998- January 1, 2003 I pledged to give out free tampon cases everyday
to whoever asked me for one. And to encourage requests I wore
embroidered shirts and jackets that had the name of my project on the
back. And for five years I did just that, giving out nearly 10,000 free Vinnie's Tampon Cases.
The Secret: An important part of the project was
to never let on that my effort had anything to do with combating rape
or violence against women. And in the thousands of interactions and
interviews I almost never let on (the one exception being an interview
I did for the online website Adiosbarbie.com). My plan was to always present the project with the humble explanation that I simply came up with the idea "after seeing my female friends fumble in the bags for a broken tampon".
My plan was to avoid burdening the case with "a cause". I wanted the
case to bring a smile and to encourage conversations where
conversations had never existed before-a non-sexual dialog about a
woman's body between a boy and a girl (Boy- "What's that?" Girl-"Its a Vinnie's Tampon Case!" Boy-"What does it do?").
I wanted the case to eventually appear as if it was sanctioned by "the
man" so that teens who are all about "sanctioned" products (mainstream
gear that keeps them from appearing like a…(gasp) nonconformist) would
pick it up and use it.
THE STYLE: Stylistically I wanted the VTC line to have a retro car culture vibe. I modeled the general look after Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's
Rat Fink era Hot Rod aesthetic from the 60's. Like Bid Daddy I wanted
the designer ('Vinnie') to be featured prominently as a quasi mc for the brand (below).
And just like Big Daddy, I decided to feature big wheels,
revving engines and race flags to attract boys to the products. It was
imperative to have the exact opposite look of typical period products,
to nix the soft pinks and euphemistic jargon, and replace them with
bright reds, bold blacks and unapologetic language that announced the
function of the case with authority. I figured women would enjoy this
complete departure from the norm. They did and do.
The RESPONSE: Even though my friends liked my
case I wasn't sure initially how strangers would respond. The response
was incredible and beyond anything I could have imagined. Women
instantly got the concept and were SO ready to finally have an opportunity to put the played
euphimistic attitiudes about the monthly cycle behind them. And men
were, oddly enough, also relieved to finally have an outlet to talk
about something they never felt they had permission to acknowledge in
the past (since, according to the credo of period product
commercials, a successful period is a 'hidden period', so by
ackowledging a woman's period you are revealing that she hasn't been
successful in hiding it. Weird dynamic).
Other VTC Products-The original product was a canvas tampon case, but the VTC line eventually grew to include a CRAMP RELIEVING BUBBLE BATH & Music For Menstruators CD, two books put out by Chronicle Books (Vinnie's GIANT ROLLER COASTER PERIOD CHART & Journal Sticker Book , Vinnie's CRAMP KICKING Remedies), as well as a Vinnie Mini Case for non-applicator tampons and a vinyl zippered case for formal events or scuba diving.
On Jan 1,2003 After wearing my VTC uniform
everyday for five years (including weddings!), and after thousands of
spontaneous conversations about my project, I stopped wearing my
uniform as I said I would. But the demand for VTC didn't stop. The fan
mail kept on coming as did the media requests. My brother in LA played
the role of 'Vinnie' on a daytime talk-show because I couldn't make it out west (see video ) and a high schooler became Vinnie
(or V2 as we called him) the last semester of his senior
year, wearing my uniforms and handing out free cases around NYC with
his pals (watch V2 ).
FAN MAIL (cont.):
Dear Vinnie, It gives me irrational joy every time i look at my tampon case or period chart. the world needs vinnie! -Jennifer, Greenville, SC
Dear Vinnie, my only regret is that i have but one period a month for which to use my Vinnie's Tampon Case. -Saara myrene, green bay, WI
Dear Vinnie, What can I say?! You are nothing short than God's gift to women!! I
was first intro-ed to your case when a girl in my class swung out her
case and proudly marched our of class without a second glance back.
When she did come back to class, I had to know what made her so bold
with her flow. It was one of your one of a kind cases! I studied it
over and asked her non-stop questions, I was then bound to buy one… And
now, I want to be a case carrying member of the Vinnie Case Club. The
few, the proud, the menstruating… -Nathalie, Hammond, VA
Dear Vinnie, It makes me feel good to know that someone out there is dedicated to
making the world a safer place to menstruate. -Amy C., Los Angeles, CA
Vinnie, Thank you for your wonderful product, it has been a source of joy. All
my homies dig it, but I left it in the RR of my college once, and no
one even stole it! My fiance is so completely bowled over, he now
calls my period, "your Vinnie." You Rock! -Lisa, San Francisco, CA
Dear Vinnie,I am just lost for words. This is so cool.....Thanks man, -Gena
Hi Vinnie!Thank you so much!!! Forty-five girls in LA are now going to think of
you for at least a week every month for the rest of their lives!-
Marissa, LA
Vinnie, you're a nut! Thanks for the tampon case! I have to admit,
when I first laid eyes on it I thought, "Yeah, this is exactly what I
had in mind only… mmm…. Perhaps a bit more subtle…" But hey, who needs
subtle? Girls already know about tampons and guys- they'll just have
to handle the fact that women have cycles. (By the way, I especially
like the picture of Grandma sewing the cases.) -Ann, St. Louis, MO
Dear Vinnie, If I can get a
hold of one of your cases I may enjoy being a girl again. Hopefully before the next time Aunt Rose comes for a
'visit. -Lisa, New York, NY
Dear Vinnie, How can I get more tampon cases? This product has changed my life, and
I must share the joy with my loved-ones, especially those who are
female and pre-menopausal! Waste no time, this is no laughing matter! -Jan, New York, NY
Dear Vinnie, The resounding response from my friends is "I have to have one of
those!" So, if I may order (for now) 2 more tampon cases. It will
improve my status with my peers. Jenn
Okay. All the ladies have now received their case and I have to say-
the reviews are unanimous! And the award goes to Vinnie's Tampon
Cases! Here's a little quote that I think encapsulates it all for all
of us: "For the first time ever, I am bummed that I don't have my
period." –Eimear B. I think that's about it. -Stacy c.
Vinnie,Your tampon case makes owning tampons spine-tingling, delerious,
laugh with utter abandon, dance like a dervish, skip pell mell, kiss
total strangers on their faces JOYFUL!!! Well, maybe not. But I sure
dig the case. Cheers. – Jessierose, Purvis, MS
Hello vinnie! recently, my car was broken into and my purse was stolen--which most unfortunately contained my vinnie's tampon case. i was lamenting my loss to the friend who got it for me (along w/ the period chart--one of the best gifts ever!) and she said "why don't you write to vinnie and see if he'll give you another one?" this seemed worth a try, as you apparently do just give them out to random people. if i wasn't so pathetically broke, i'd just buy another one...but... i only hope that the vinnie's i lost at least circulated to someone else instead of ending up in a dumpster. let me know 'kay? will continue to adore your stuff!! Jennifer D.
Hey Vinnie, my name's Alex and I'm 14 and I seriously need one of your cases but I live all the way over the planet in Coventry, England. Is there anything I/you/my rabbit can do? -Alex, Coventry, England
Dear Vinnie, I (Bridget) was given the roller coaster period chart book for my
birthday from Denise, and I have gone to elaborate measures to create a sock
heating pad. I love the book, as do all my friends, and rock on Vinnie, not
many unibrow wearin' guys write books about cramps. ;) –Bridget
Dear Vinnie, I got my first tampon case in the summer of 8th grade and my friends quickly folloed my footsteps, I just wanted to let you know I am proud to own a Vinni'es tampon case and I show everyone it.
-Jackie, Carlsbad, Ca
Vinnie you are the coolest guy in the world to have thought of such
a thing. Please come to my home town so I can get a case just from
you. –Crystal, Beaumont, TX
Vinnie! What's up with the "high-performance" tampon cases? Can
they paint my toenails? Wash My car" Fix my Bad hair day blues? I still
would love to be the envy of all the ladies, how can I get hooked up
with a tampon case?
Hey vinnie, i think you rule because you can talk about girl's periods and your a guy....so thats just cool...i know i wish that i could have a guy friend like you...to talk about my cramps with....but all i have are shitty chicks to moan to about my stomach hurting and they don't care because they go through it too and no one sympathizes for them either....so thats sucks....anywayz....you rule....majorly.....so keep up the good work...lol...okie dokie...l8trz! -kAtHeRiNe(KaT) from Nc,UsA
Dear Vinnie, You are the coolest guy! You need to civilize more
males out there--thanks for the hope. :) – Cassandra, Chicago, IL
i love tampon cases!! i carried mine everywhere even when i wasn't on
my peroid! then someone stole it from me, so i am getting a new one!
–Jessie, Temple, GA
Vinne, Everyone tries to steal my Vinnies Tampon Case! I tell them to buy their own. –Tami


text:
Sieren "Blue Memories"
Before Berlin-based producer Sieren drops his forthcoming collaborative album with Russian producer Lomovolokno next month, he's shared its closing track with us. "Blue Memories" feels introspective with its broken vocal samples floating over breezy bass tones and synth melodies sputtering between metallic drum sounds. According to a press release, the producers' inspiration for their forthcoming album partially stems from the uncertainty of the future, the anxiety of starting anew, and the risk of failure. Sieren and Lomovolokno have made a preview of Faces Vol. 4 available to stream before the album's official release on March 4 release, which you'll find after the jump.


text:
Ever wondered how to block someone? How to identify a spambot? Caitlin answers these and 13 other questions about Twitter.
How To Create A Writing Schedule That Works For You
Do you want to write? You need a writing schedule. We'll help you create one in this post.
Get in Shape at Blogging Bootcamp
Join a small team of authors who are about to be transformed into savvy bloggers. If you have a blog and want to make it successful, join!
What to Do When Your Book Isn't Selling
Stumped by slumping book sales? Rob Eagar shares what to do when your book isn't selling.
How to Increase Your Productivity by Working Less
We work hard to be productive at work. But what if productivity was found not in mixing business and pleasure but keeping them far apart?
The 4 Faces of Timeline for Authors Explained
Facebook has done it again. There are four ways to look at a public Timeline. Are you always getting the whole story?
The ABCs of Twitter Hotkeys
Do you use Twitter? You need to know the hotkeys that will make the site even easier for you to use.
How To Find Zen Mode in WordPress
They say that zen is a state of mind. Thanks to WordPress, zen is also a form your screen takes. We're here to show you how it works.
The WordPress Hotkey Cheat Sheet Every Author Needs
Tired of trying to figure out how to edit things on WordPress? Get ready to print off this cheat sheet of hotkeys.
Don't Ignore Your Three Facebook Inboxes
If you are an author on Facebook, you have three email inboxes. What important messages are you not receiving?


text: On Sun, Aug 06, 2006 at 09:08:46AM -0400, Uri Guttman wrote: > >>>>> "NC" == Nicholas Clark <nick at ccl4.org> writes: > > NC> Even dha would be unable to persuade me to move to New York > NC> City. A bad start is that I don't know anyone there (except dha, > NC> plus I've met dha's mum) > > dha is a great incentive to move to nyc! Aw. You're so sweet. But you're saying mom isn't? :-) dha -- David H. Adler - <dha at panix.com> - http://www.panix.com/~dha/ With its concern for ethics and its snooty disdain for digging up corpses, killing test subjects, and resurrecting the dead, the medical establishment has lost ground to mad scientists in such important fields as zombie creation. - The Onion, Volume 38 Issue 36


text:
The sequel will not involve as much about folk song collecting as did The Songcatcher and Me, but the plot requires one lyric in the style of an old-time sentimental ballad, so I have written the following poem for use in the sequel:
A mother on her sickbed lay;
She knew her day was nearly done.
A ship was due to sail away
and carry off her only son.
"I wish for you a warmer clime,
a haven from the stormy blast,
and roses in the winter time
and may your first love be your last.
"I pray that you will live and thrive
and any sorrow soon will mend,
abundant honey from each hive,
a pot of gold at rainbow's end."
"Oh, Mother, dear, we both well know
there's no such thing as rainbow gold,
or roses in the winter snow
or hearts still whole when we are old.
"But you have taught me to rejoice
and do my best, enjoy each day,
and memories of your loving voice
will stay with me and guide my way."
(c) Ruth Latta, 2013


text:
Stephanie Hill and C. Roxanne Connelly2
Culex quinquefasciatus Say, commonly known as the southern house mosquito, is a medium-sized brown mosquito that exists throughout the tropics and the lower latitudes of temperate regions. This species is found in the southern United States and is present throughout Florida. This nighttime-active, opportunistic blood feeder is a vector of many pathogens, several of which affect humans. Throughout much of the southern US, Culex quinquefasciatus is the primary vector of St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEv). Culex quinquefasciatus also transmits West Nile virus (WNv).
Culex quinquefasciatus Say (1823)
Culex pungens Wiedemann, 1828 (ITIS 2007)
Culex fatigans Wiedemann, 1828 (Bates 1949)
Culex auestuans Wiedemann, 1828 (WRBU)
Culex acer Walker, 1848 (WRBU)
Culex cingulatus Doleschall, 1856 (WRBU)
Culex quinquefasciatus is a sub-tropical species usually found within the latitudes 36° N and 36° S. However, in the US between 36° N and 39° N there is a broad hybrid zone where Cx. quinquefasciatus freely mates with Culex pipiens Linnaeus, which is usually not found south of 39° N. Mating between these two members of the Culex pipiens complex produces viable offspring within the hybrid zone. The extent of the hybridization is extensive and, as a result, the members are sometimes considered to be subspecies, Cx. pipiens quinquefasciatus and Cx. p. pipiens respectively. Culex quinquefasciatus is found in North America, South America, Australia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and New Zealand.
In the US, this species ranges from Virginia across the southern plains to southern California, and from as far north as southern Iowa, south to Texas and Florida. There are reports of Cx. quinquefasciatus as far north as Indiana in the US. The species has also been collected in Hawaii (Barr 1957). In Florida, Cx. quinquefasciatus is found in all 67 counties.
Adults: Adult Cx. quinquefasciatus vary from 3.96 to 4.25 mm in length (Lima et al. 2003). The mosquito is brown with the proboscis, thorax, wings, and tarsi darker than the rest of the body. The head is light brown with the lightest portion in the center. The antennae and the proboscis are about the same length, but in some cases the antennae are slightly shorter than the proboscis. The flagellum has thirteen segments that have few to no scales (Sirivanakarn et al. 1987). The scales of the thorax are narrow and curved. The abdomen has pale, narrow, rounded bands on the basal side of each tergite. The bands barely touch the basolateral spots taking on a half-moon shape (Darsie and Ward 2005).
Eggs: Common to the Culex genus, the eggs of Cx. quinquefasciatus are laid in oval rafts loosely cemented together with 100 or more eggs in a raft, which will normally hatch 24 to 30 hours after being oviposited (Bates 1949).
Larvae: The larval head is short and stout, becoming darker toward the base. The mouth brushes have long yellow filaments that are used for filtering organic materials. The abdomen consists of eight segments, the siphon, and the saddle. Each segment has a unique setae pattern (Sirivanakarn and White 1978). The siphon is on the dorsal side of the abdomen, and in Cx. quinquefasciatus the siphon is four times longer than it is wide with multiple setae tufts (Darsie and Morris 2000). The saddle is barrel shaped and located on the ventral side of the abdomen with four long anal papillae protruding from the posterior end (Sirivanakarn and White 1978). For more detailed morphological images, see the UF/IFAS Identification Guide to Common Mosquitoes of Florida website.
Pupae: Similar to other mosquito species, Cx. quinquefasciatus pupae are comma shaped and consist of a fused head and thorax (cephalothorax and an abdomen). The cephalothorax color varies with habitat and darkens on the posterior side. The trumpet, which is used for breathing, is a tube that widens and becomes lighter in color as it extends away from the body. The abdomen has eight segments. The first four segments are the darkest, and the color lightens towards the posterior. The paddle, at the apex of the abdomen, is translucent and robust with two small setae on the posterior end (Sirivanakarn and White 1978).
Gravid Cx. quinquefasciatus females fly during the night to nutrient-rich standing water where they will lay their eggs. They will oviposit in waters ranging from waste water areas to bird baths, old tires, or any container that holds water. If the water evaporates before the eggs hatch or the larvae complete their life cycle, they die (Mosquito Information website 2007).
The larvae feed on biotic material in the water and require between five to eight days to complete their development at 30°C (Gerberg et al. 1994). The larvae progress through four larval instars, and towards the end of the fourth instar they stop eating and molt to the pupal stage. Following 36 hours at 27°C the adults emerge from the pupal stage (Gerberg et al. 1994). The time of development under natural conditions for all stages is variable and dependent on temperature.
Both males and females take sugar meals from plants. Following mating, the female seeks a blood meal. Culex quinquefasciatus are opportunistic feeders, feeding on mammals and/or birds throughout the night. Males survive only on sugar meals, while the female will take multiple blood meals. After a female mosquito digests the blood meal and the eggs develop, she finds a suitable place to lay her eggs, and the cycle begins again. A single female can lay up to five rafts of eggs in a lifetime (Gerberg et al. 1994). The number of eggs per raft varies with climatic conditions.
Culex quinquefasciatus is a vector of many pathogens of humans, and both domestic and wild animals. Viruses transmitted by this species include WNv, SLEv, and Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEv). Culex quinquefasciatus is the principal vector of SLEv in the southern US. The virus increases its numbers in birds and then infects mosquitoes feeding on birds during the bird nesting season in the spring. The mosquito may then transmit the virus to humans. St. Louis encephalitis is age-dependent, affecting older humans more than the young. Symptoms of the disease are flu-like and can range from fever and headaches to stiffness and confusion. After a period of several days the brain may begin to swell, accompanied by depression, extreme excitement, sleepiness, or sleeplessness (CDC June 2007). Humans do not develop high levels of the virus in the blood and, therefore are considered dead-end hosts unable to infect mosquitoes (Foster and Walker 2002). In Florida, major St. Louis encephalitis epidemics occurred in 1959, 1961, 1962, 1977, and 1990 (Day and Stark 2000; Shroyer and Rey 2014). Other epidemics in the US include Colorado 1985, Arkansas 1991, New York 1999, and Louisiana 2001 (CDC October 2007).
Although Cx. quinquefasciatus is not considered the likely primary vector of WNv in Florida, it likely plays an important role in maintaining the virus within bird populations, and is capable to transmitting it to humans. For more information on West Nile virus in Florida, see the UF/IFAS publication West Nile Virus.
Outside the US, Cx. quinquefasciatus is responsible for transmitting the filarial nematode, Wuchereria bancrofti (Tropical Africa and Southeast Asia), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVF) (Africa) (Foster and Walker 2002). Wuchereria bancrofti is a filarial nematode that can cause lymphatic filariasis. Currently, worldwide there are approximately 120 million cases of lymphatic filariasis (WHO 2000). The mosquito picks up the microfilaria from an infected vertebrate. The nematode develops inside the mosquito, and is passed on to another vertebrate (Foster and Walker 2002). RVF has been responsible for major epidemics in Africa and Asia. The World Health Organization monitors outbreaks of RVF. Between 2000 and 2010, there were outbreaks in Kenya, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Yemen (World Health Organization 2012).
Cultural control. Personal protection, reduction of larval habitats, and chemical control are the best ways to reduce mosquito bites and therefore the transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens. Because Cx. quinquefasciatus feeds at night, long sleeve shirts and insect repellent are recommended for outside nighttime activity. Reducing the amount of outside activity also lowers the risk of Cx. quinquefasciatus bites (Mosquito Information Website 2007).
Culex quinquefasciatus is dependent upon humans for the creation of its nutrient-rich aquatic habitats. It is essential to reduce or eliminate this type of aquatic environment. Around the home this can be done by not over watering plants, changing water in pet water dishes frequently, changing water in bird baths at least once a week, removing unnecessary water-holding containers, and keeping ponds stocked with mosquito fish (Kern 2007). Water-holding containers that cannot be removed can be covered or turned upside down, old tires need to be removed, and drainage ditches need to be kept clear of debris that will obstruct flow (Mosquito Information Website 2007).
Large man-made aquatic habitats such as storm-water catch basins and waste water containers should be eliminated or reduced (O'Meara 2014).
Chemical control. Insecticides can be used to control larvae and adults. Larvicides are applied to bodies of water near where the larvae are concentrated. This method reduces the greatest number of immature mosquitoes with the least amount of pesticide. Adulticides are used to quickly reduce the population of adult mosquitoes in an area. In general, mosquito resistance to specific insecticides may reduce the effectiveness of chemical control. Some chemicals require a licensed pesticide applicator to perform the application. Before proceeding with a chemical control, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service (CES) or Mosquito Control District (AMCA 2005). In Florida, you can find your local CES office through the UF/IFAS listing of those offices.
AMCA. 2005. Mosquito Information: Control. American Mosquito Control Association. http://www.mosquito.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37&Itemid=114 (14 June 2016)
Barr AR. 1957. The distribution of Culex p. pipiens and C. p. quinquefasciatus in North America. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 6: 153–165.
Bates M. 1949. The Natural History of Mosquitoes. Macmillian Company. New York, NY. 379 pp.
Belkin JN. 1977. Quinquefasciatus or Fatigans for the tropical (southern) house mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 79: 45–52.
CDC. June 2007. CDC answers your questions about St. Louis encephalitis. Center for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/sle/technical/fact.html (14 June 2016).
CDC. October 2007. Saint Louis Encephalitis. Center for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/sle/ (2 June 2009).
Connelly CR. 2006. Common Mosquitoes of Florida [February 2012] UF/IFAS. Card Set. SP 370.
Cutwa-Francis MM, O'Meara GF. 2008. Culex quinquefasciatus. Identification Guide to Common Mosquitoes of Florida. https://fmel.ifas.ufl.edu/fmel---mosquito-key/genera-and-species/genus-culex/culex-quinquefasciatus/
Darsie Jr RF, Morris CD. 2000. Keys to the adult females and fourth-instar larvae of the mosquitoes of Florida (Diptera: Culicidae). Technical Bulletin of the Florida Mosquito Control Association 1: 148–155.
Darsie Jr RF, Ward RA. 2005. Identification and Geographical Distribution of the Mosquitoes of North America, North of Mexico. University of Florida Press. Gainesville, FL. 300 pp.
Day JF, Stark LM. 2000. Frequency of Saint Louis encephalitis virus in humans from Florida, USA: 1990–1999. Journal of Medical Entomology 37: 626–633.
Fonseca DM, Keyghobadi N, Malcolm CA, Mehmet C, Schaffner F, Mogi M, Fleischer RC, Wilkerson RC. 2004. Emerging Vectors in the Culex pipiens Complex. Science 303: 1535–1538.
Foster WA, Walker ED. 2002. Mosquitoes (Culicidae), pp. 245–249. In Mullen G, Durden L. (editors). Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Academic Press. New York, NY.
Gerberg EJ, Barnard DR, Ward RA. 1994. Manual for Mosquito Rearing and Experimental Techniques. American Mosquito Control Association Bulletin No. 5: 61–62.
ITIS. 2009. Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=126490 (14 June 2016).
Kern WH. September 2007. "Some small native freshwater fish recommended for mosquito and midge control in ornamental ponds." Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN456 (14 June 2016).
King WV, Bradley GH, Smith CN, McDuffie WC. 1960. A Handbook of the Mosquitoes of the Southern United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 173. United States Department of Agriculture. Washington D.C. pp. 118–119.
Lima CA, Almeida WR, Hurd H, Albuquerque CM. 2003. Reproductive aspects of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) infected with Wuchereria bancrofti (Spirurida: Onchocercidae). Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. 98: 217–222.
Mosquito Information Website. (2009). University of Florida, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu/Index.htm (14 June 2016).
O'Meara GF. (2014). Mosquitoes associated with stormwater detention/retention areas. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg338 (14 June 2016).
Savage HM, Anderson M, Gordon E, McMillen L, Colton L, Charnetzky D, Delorey M, Aspen S, Burkhalter K, Biggerstaff BJ, Godsey M. 2006. Oviposition activity patterns and West Nile virus infection rates for members of the Culex pipiens complex, at different habitat types within the hybrid zone, Shelby County, TN, 2002 (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 43: 1227–1238.
Sirivanakarn S, White GB. 1978. Neotype designation of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 80: 360–372.
Shroyer DA, Rey JR. (June 2014). Saint Louis encephalitis: A Florida problem. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG337 (14 June 2016).
WRBU. (undated). Adult Culex quinquefasciatus. The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit. http://www.wrbu.org/mqID/mq_medspc/AD/cxqui_hab.html
World Health Organization. (September 2000). "Lymphatic filariasis." World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/lymphatic_filariasis/en/ (14 June 2016).
World Health Organization. 2012. Global Alert and Response. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/riftvalleyfev/en/index.html (14 June 2016).
This document is EENY457, one of a series of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 2009. Revised October 2012, May 2013, and June 2016. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. This document is also available on the Featured Creatures website at http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/.
Stephanie Hill, former graduate student, Department of Entomology and Nematology; and C. Roxanne Connelly, professor and Extension medical entomologist, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Florida Medical Entomology Lab; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county's UF/IFAS Extension office.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.


text:
Today was Day 2 of the Advanced Imaging Conference. Unlike yesterday which had multiple tracks of tutorials, today had a set agenda with a variety of speakers on a variety of topics.
I also spent more time today wandering around looking at the various vendors. A majority of the stuff is way out of my reach including this impressive looking RC truss priced at a show special of $29,900.
One of the talks in the afternoon was by Dr. Alex Fillippenko on Dark Energy. Dr. Fillippenko is definitely a very talented lecturer and it was a very lively session.
Dr. Fillippenko was so popular, he had quite a following during his Q&A which ended up lasting the entire afternoon break.
The final talk of the afternoon was by Chris Ford who gave a very visually impressive talk on doing 3D Astronomical Rendering. His talk was quite timely since its possible to do most of what he suggests with the 3D capabilities in Photoshop CS4 Extended.
Near the end of his talk, Chris demonstrated stereoscopic rendering and had the audience wear 3D glasses.
I really enjoyed all of the talks and have been quite impressed with the conference. I am definitely planning on returning next year.