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List of Documents for AP LPCET 2019 Certificate Verification
List of Documents to be Produced for AP LPCET 2019 Certificates Verification: AP DSE Officials given the AP LPCET-2019 Notification in June-2019 for admission into one year Language Pandit Training Course(LPT) in Govt. IASEs /CTEs and Private LPT Colleges in Andhra Pradesh State and invited the online applications from the eligible candidates through its official website as per schedule for admission into HPT and TPT Courses in state for the academic year 2019-2020. Eligible candidate were applied and appeared on May 31, 2019 in all Districts of the AP State and they were checked their results at its official website. Appeared candidates would give the web options from 10-06-2019 to 12-06-2019 through " I Spell Online submission of preferences through web based selection form" at http://lpcet.apcfss.in for admission into language pandit training courses. The admissions will be made as per the rank obtained in entrance test through web based selection of colleges.
Steps to be followed in AP LPCET Counselling 2019:
లాంగ్వేజ్ పండిట్స్ కోర్సుల్లో ప్రవేశానికి సంబంధించిన అడ్మిషన్ల ప్రక్రియ.
Step 1: Web Options Entry : వెబ్ ఆప్షన్లను నమోదు
Step 2: Seats Allotment: సీట్లు కేటాయింపు.
Step 3: Provisional Letter Download: ప్రొవిజనల్ లేటర్లు జారీ.
Step 4: Certificates Verification at DIETs: ధ్రువపత్రాల పరిశీలన
Step 5: Issue of Final Admission Letter: ఫైనల్ అడ్మిషన్ లేటర్ల జారీ
Step 6: Join in Allotted College
Step 7: Classes Start: తరగతులు ప్రారంభం .
2nd Phase AP LPCET Web Counselling Schedule:
1. Submission of Web options by Candidates: 27-06.2019 to 30.06.2019
2. Allotment of seats: 01.07.2019 to 02.07.2019
3. Issue of provisional letters of admission: 03.07.2019
4. Verification of Certificates of DIETS and Issue of Final admission letter: 04.07.2019 to 05.07.2019
5. 1st day of Instruction 06.07.2019
In this First stage, First phase web options would be given by the lpcet candidates will download their Provisional Admission Letter (Allotment of Seat) and they will attend the district level Certificates Verification at Govt DIET. Finally, LPCETAP officials will issue the Final Admission Letter to the Selected Candidates after verification of Certificates.
Full details are available in your PAL(Provisional Admission Letter). All the LPCET Candidates are requested that follow the instructions
1. You must read the your PAL three or more times line by line.
2. You Should attend the Certificates Verification with Required List Of Documents at your Allotted College of District's Govt DIET College, this is mentioned in your Provisional Admission Letter.
3. Fee will also important for pay at the time of Verification. So, Candidates should pay the prescribed fee after verification.
4. After you will receive Final Admission Letter and you can join your allotted college
So, you must join your allotted college after verification of certificates. Later you can also participate in II Phase counselling as per the same process of I Phase.
Phase I AP LPCET Counselling:
Web Options: June 10 to 12 .
Seat Allotments: June 13, 14
Provisional Letters: June 15
Certificates Verification: June 16 to 18
Classes Start: July 1
Required Documents for AP LPCET 2019 Certificate Verification:
Next step is that "Certificate Verification" For certificate verification you have to carry the following certificates.
1. Pdf of ONLINE application of AP LPCET.
2. Rank Card of AP LPCET 2019
3. SSC or its Equivalent Certificate for proof of Date of Birth(SSC Memo)
4. Certificates of Qualifying examination as submitted in the ONLINE application(Inter marks memo)
5. Transfer Certificate from the institution where last studied.
6. Study Certificate from Class 4 to 10. In case of private study Residence Certificate issued by the MRO.
7. Integrated Community certificate issued by MRO for candidates claiming admission under quota For reservation of BC / SC / ST categories(Caste Certificate)
8. PH Certificate issued by the District Medical Board in case of candidates claiming reservation under quota for PH category.
9. Special Category certificates issued by concerned authority for candidates claiming admission under quota of reservation for Special Categories(CAP, NCC, Sports,).
10. Income certificate issued by Tahsildhar after 01.01.2019 of parent/s of SC & ST candidates
11. AP LPCET 2019 Hall Ticket
12. 2 pass port size photos
13. Provisional Admission Letter
Next the real test is attending the counselling. Follow these tips while attending counselling.
1. Carry Your Certificates
2. Venue of Counselling
3. Time of counselling
4. Confirm the counselling time of your rank.
5. You have to stay very early before your counselling states because you can get an idea of places of colleges.
6. Keep an idea to reach the venue of counselling.
7. Fee particulars
8. Photos (Pass port size)
Important Instructions:
1. Candidate Should attend the Certificate Verification:
Candidate should without fail attend to the session for verification of certificates on the above shown dates. Otherwise this Provisional Admission letter stands cancelled and the vacancies that arise in such cases will be considered for candidates who follow them in the merit list during the second phase of web based selection of colleges for admission. Any request for consideration of admission after being absent for the session for verification of certificates during the prescribed time will not be entertained.
2. Candidate Must Produce the List of Documents:
Issue of this Provisional admission letter is based on the particulars of candidate submitted by them in their ONLINE application and on the State Rank secured by her / him. Hence, if the candidate fails to produce any of the relevant documents (as listed in the Provisional admission letter) in support of the claim for admission her / his admission stands cancelled.
3. Candidates should pay the prescribed fee:
Candidates should pay the prescribed fee at any of the E-Seva Center for issue of Final Admission letter with which the candidate can proceed to the college into which she / he is given admission. Fee once paid will not be remitted back even if the candidate withdraws admission
4. Disciplinary Action:
Candidates shall maintain strict discipline during the session for verification of certificates. Any candidate who obstructs the session or misbehaves or causes disturbance as to whatsoever will be subject to disciplinary action as per rules.
5. Candidates can apply for II Phase of Webbsed Selection of Colleges:
If any candidate who is given admission during the first phase of web based selection of colleges wants to shift to any other college based on the vacancy list after first phase they can apply for the same during the second phase of web based selection of colleges.
First phase certificates verification will be started from: 16-06-2019
1. AP LPCET 2019 Provisional Admission Letter Download
2. AP LPCET 2019 Certificate Verification Schedule/Dates
3. List of Documents for AP LPCET 2019 Certificate Verification
4. Download Final Admission Letter of AP LPCET


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It's spring break time again, and we're wishing all our students a safe, relaxing, fun and invigorating break from classes and campus. Some U-M students will be participating in the Alternative Spring Break (ASB), a service learning program sponsored by the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning through the SERVE office. Each year, approximately 400 students travel by road to 25 to 30 sites across the United States to engage in meaningful action and to seek understanding of the root causes of social issues.
To prepare, students spend the year learning about the culture and history of a particular area, community or issue. Past and present ASB projects include engaging with youth in Chicago, working with the Sioux Nation in South Dakota, and working with community organizers in Detroit. Students apply and are selected for ASB in early October, and end their ASB experience with a reflection workshop in mid-March. For more information about ASB, please visit: www.ginsberg.umich.edu/serve/asb or contact Staci Daniels-Sommers, Alternative Spring Break Coordinator and SERVE Advisor at email@example.com.
Please consider making a gift to the Ginsberg Center.

subset: commoncrawl


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#432 Bernard Marcus
03.08.07, 6:00 PM ET Age: 77
Fortune: self made
Source: Home Depot
Net Worth: $2.2 bil
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Atlanta, Georgia , United States, North America
Industry: Retailing
Marital Status: married, 3 children
Education: Rutgers University, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Cofounded do-it-yourself home improvement giant Home Depot with partner, Arthur Blank, in 1978 after being fired from now defunct Handy Dan Home Improvement Center. Took public 3 years later. Revolutionized hardware store concept with inventory stacked to ceilings; caters to both professional contractors and regular Joes. Via Marcus Foundation, funded $250 million aquarium in hometown Atlanta.
Distribution of Billionaires by ResidenceDiameter of disc reflects size of fortune. The red disc indicates Bernard Marcus
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Related SectionsHome > Lists > Billionaires
'); //--> News Headlines | More From Forbes.com | Special Reports


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September Socks/
Pattern: Charade Socks by Sandra Park |
Yarn: Lion Brand Sock-Ease - Lemon Drop
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm) DPN's
Date: Sept 3 - 27, 2010
Back when I lived in New Jersey, school always started right after Labor Day and I came to think of September 1st as the start of Fall. Who goes to school in the summer anyway? It wasn't until I moved south and school started in early August that I did. Even after years of heading back to school in August, August is still summer and September is still Fall. So, I happily contented myself with casting on for a pair of woolly socks with the mistaken thought that cooler weather would soon arrive. How wrong I was. It wasn't until the Equinox, September 22, that the temps weren't in the triple digits. Today, my thermometer read 67 degrees which feels almost chilly. Maybe woolly Fall socks weren't a bad idea after all.
Besides from being woolly, these socks are YELLOW. They're so yellow that they practically give off their own light. If I hung one from each of my shoulders, I could probably read by the light they give off. They are that yellow. The photos make the yellow less apparent. Do not believe them. They lie. As for the pattern, I used Charade which works wonderfully well with all that yellow. Plus, I've wanted a pair ever since I made the boy some. Woolly, yellow, Fall socks for the win.
P.S. I found that the easiest and fastest way to fix a missed yarn over in this pattern is, on the next row, to knit into the front and back of the stitch where the yo should have been. Once the pattern is worked on the next row, no one will be able to tell the difference.


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New harbor groundbreaking ceremony this Friday
Low-key event will be informal but public is invited to symbolic kick off
A ceremonial ground-breaking for the new boat harbor is set for Friday.
"Because of the space available we are just going to do remarks" by city officials, Allie Hendrickson, the city's deputy city clerk said in an email to the Valdez Star. "It will be relatively informal."
Two weeks ago, city officials said a photo opportunity with Mayor Larry Weaver and heavy equipment was in the works for the event, slated for 11:30 a.m.
"This is not going to be a big community party," city manager John Hozey said Monday night during the regularly scheduled council meeting. "We will have a very large community ribbon cutting upon completion of the project."
Completion on the $65 million project is not expected until 2018; there are also unfunded portions of the overall facility that have no firm construction dates.
It is unclear exactly when contractors will actually begin construction.
"We'll be seeing them mobilize very quickly," Hozey said.
A mild Valdez winter with record low snow levels is expected allow for an extended construction season in Valdez this year. Construction is also mandated to begin before the month of May so that nesting shore birds do not colonize the site to delay work.
A $20 million bond package was approved by Valdez voters last October after the city received roughly $21 million in Federal funding to support the project, along with state grants and funds contributed directly from the city's tax base.


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Back when he was still a film critic and hadnt yet become a stark raving lunatic, iconic director Jean Luc-Godard once said that the best criticism of a movie was to make another movie. By that rationale, Id argue that Source Code is a rebuttal to The Adjustment Bureau. Director Duncan Jones sophomore effort is a sleek machine, touching on questions of true love, alternate realities and predestination, nailing them to the floor with a rock-hard discipline that this particular viewer applauds.
Source Code begins with Jake Gyllenhaal as a shell-shocked veteran of the Afghanistan War waking up after a snooze on a Washington commuter train. He has no memory of where he was or of his mission. Suddenly, a hot fellow passenger (Michelle Monaghan) is being entirely overfriendly. Weirdly enough, theres another strange fellow staring back at him in the mirror whenever Gyllenhaal goes to the bathroom.
Then the whole goddamn train explodes.
Gyllenhaal is quickly plunged back to a frosty control bunker, video-linked to an even chillier commanding officer (Vera Farmiga) and her no-nonsense superior (Geoffrey Wright, who decided to let his ostentatious, bad-guy crutches deliver half the performance for him).
After some hasty explanation, were led to believe that thanks to the brains capacity to retain information shortly after deathplus a quantum physics equation to be named latera secret military forensic operation has allowed Gyllenhaals grunt to mind-meld with a civilian victim and witness a terrorist attack that already took place several hours before.
The rules are hard and simple: He can only witness the last eight minutes on the train, and he cant alter the outcome. Everything else is gobbledygook that director Jones ushers off the screen as quickly as possible, as opposed to The Adjustment Bureau, which kept re-explaining each arbitrary rule so often that it no longer even made sense to anybody, including the actors involved.
This bomber has a great big nuclear surprise planned for later in the day, so its up to discombobulated, time-travel-sick Gyllenhaal to navigate his way through this particular caboose, over and over again, until he finally locates the terrorist.
What follows is Groundhog Day meets Speed, a star-crossed love story unfolding in eight-minute couplets. Paced like a rocket and unfolding perilously close to real time, Source Code creates a maze in which we want the hero to solve the mystery and save the girl from a tragedy that has already occurred.
The lovely Monaghan, who, for the first time since her breakthrough role in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang , is allowed to exude her full charisma, provides some romantic distraction from the task at hand. (Id rather flirt with her than hunt down a mad bomber, too.)
Working from a script by Ben Reilly, Jones plows a lot of the same gimmicks that made his 2009 summer sleeper Moon such a pleasant surprise. Notoriously born as Zowie Bowie, Jones has since scrambled far away from his father Davids formidable sphere of influence and carved out a niche within the kind of thoughtful, low-budget space oddities that folks just dont make anymore. Camera composition and editing provide more thrills than the dodgy CGI.
And its nice to see Gyllenhaal, who so often struggles with roles above his pay grade, finally settling into a part he can finally handle. The Speed comparisons dont end here, as Source Code reminds you of when Keanu gave up on all that Shakespearean balderdash and embraced his talents as a handsome guy who moves well on camera.
The movie plays by its own rules andfor most of its running timeis a masterful example of sci-fi at its best and most dystopian.
So just when it feels like the film should end, please walk out. Source Code has another 10 minutes to go that keep it from being a hallmark of the genre, and it soon falls into the realm of all those other April also-rans. Theres a crowd-pleasing whatzit of an addendum that frankly makes no sense and sells out almost everything that has come before, damn near ruining the movie. You can smell the studio executives notes from a mile away.
A smart projectionist would jump on this thing with a pair of scissors.
Director: Duncan Jones
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga
Running time: 93 minutes
Read our interview with director Duncan Jones here.


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Alan Rich - Sr. Staffing Consultant
Foundering Partner, Studio Search - Linkedin Profile
Alan Rich specializes in technical recruiting for the Video Game and Casino Industry. Alan started his career as a film editor in the motion picture industry at MGM Studios. He moved into technical recruiting in 1990 and founded Studio Search in 1992. Alan is the driving force behind Studio Search's success.
Barbara Richman - Sr. Staffing Consultant
Managing Partner, Studio Search - Linkedin Profile
Barbara Richman provides Recruiting Solutions. She is a seasoned and successful recruiting partner with more than 16 years of experience building teams for start-ups and developers. She specializes in the Video Game Industry and brings additional recruiting experience in Film Animation and Energy.
Michelle Whitmore, SPHR, SHRM-SCP- HR and Talent Management Consultant
Strategic Partner - Linkedin Profile
Michelle Whitmore provides solutions tailored specifically for you, your company and your culture. She recognizes that each workplace is unique, offering its own set of opportunities and challenges. She's dedicated to creating tools and resources that compliment your culture as well as the employment branding you need to attract and retain top talent.
Chris Carruth - Executive Business Strategist
Strategic Partner - Linkedin Profile
Chris Carruth leverages 20+ years of cross-functional leadership roles at a variety of tech companies , including his most recent position as COO of Critical Strike Entertainment, a F2P online sim game. Chris' focus is on structuring and implementing a consumer-centered view of the "business side" of running a business, ensuring that the source of revenue, the user, is the axis which the product, indeed the business, must revolve around to be truly competitive.


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Mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) may prevent the entrance of allergens. This study examined the relationship between serum IgA levels (within the normal range) and sensitization to house dust mites (HDM) or airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR).
The clinical records of 1,136 adult patients with suspected asthma, for whom test data for serum IgA level and methacholine-AHR were available, were reviewed retrospectively. The AHR/allergy indices were compared among patient groups with low (<140 mg/dL, group I), intermediate (140 to 280 mg/dL, group II), or high (≥280 mg/dL, group III) IgA levels in serum.
The HDM skin sensitization rate progressively decreased from 30.0% in group I (n = 139) to 26.8% and 18.5% in groups II (n = 684) and III (n = 313), respectively (p = 0.003). Although both the HDM sensitization degree and the IgA level were significantly related to age, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of association of a high IgA level (≥ 280 mg/dL) with HDM sensitization was significant (0.617; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.415 to 0.916; p = 0.017). Among younger subjects (≤ 45 years of age) with AHR, the prevalence of moderate/severe AHR progressively decreased (70.6%, 52.3%, and 47.1% in groups I, II, and III [n = 34, 149, and 51]), respectively (p = 0.045). The IgA < 140 mg/dL was a significant risk factor for moderate/severe AHR (OR, 2.306; 95% CI, 1.049 to 5.071; p = 0.038).
Selective immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency, a common primary immunodeficiency, is not infrequently diagnosed in Caucasians (prevalence, 1:300 to 3,000) [1]. In subjects with IgA deficiency, not only is the incidence of recurrent infections very high but the incidence of atopic diseases was also reported to be high as early as 1980 [2]. Therefore, over many years, our team has routinely screened serum IgA levels to detect IgA deficienciences in patients with suspected allergic diseases, even though selective IgA deficiency may be very rare in Koreans; the prevalence thereof was only 1:14,840 in Japanese [3].
Later, Ludviksson et al. [4] reported that asthma was significantly more common and allergic symptoms more severe in infants with low IgA levels, although the levels were normal for age. In addition, infants born to atopic parents had a higher prevalence of salivary IgA deficiency [5]; children with positive skin prick tests to common allergens had lower serum IgA levels; and children who developed allergic rhinitis or atopic eczema had lower salivary IgA levels [6].
Mucosal IgA neutralizes bacteria and viruses by interfering with epithelial adhesion and improving the properties of mucus in trapping and removing antigens (immune exclusion) [7]. Therefore, recurrent (usually bacterial) infections are associated with IgA deficiency [2,8]. Via the same mechanism, IgA may also prevent the development of allergic inflammatory reactions to environmental allergens. In fact, pretreatment with short ragweed-specific IgA prevented the development of lung eosinophilia and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) after airway challenge with ragweed in mice [9]. Atopics may have insufficient amounts of IgA, and so may be prone to development of allergic diseases. During early life, when the human immune system is immature, impaired IgA responses may facilitate sensitization to allergens and the development of allergic diseases. Therefore, the subjects of many studies on IgA/ allergy were infants or children [2,4-6]. In adulthood, IgA levels may be restored to normal and reduced IgA levels in nasal washes of adult asthmatics were not evident in one study [7]. However, Balzar et al. [10] reported that serum IgA levels correlated with asthma severity in adult asthmatics.
Asthma is a disease characterized by AHR. The house dust mites (HDM) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) are well-known to be the most common allergens causing asthma, and the relative risk for AHR of sensitization to HDM is 4.45 [11]. Although Papadopoulou et al. [12] showed that AHR associated with HDM sensitization occurred frequently in children with selective IgA deficiency, no work has yet shown any relationship between serum IgA levels within the normal range and HDM sensitization/AHR. Therefore, the present study was designed to explore the relationships between serum IgA levels (including those within the normal range) and HDM sensitization or AHR in adult asthmatics.
The clinical records of 1,136 adult patients with suspected asthma, for whom serum IgA levels were available, and who underwent the methacholine-AHR test in the Division of Allergy of a tertiary hospital between 2007 and 2013, were retrospectively reviewed. Suspected asthma was defined as asthma-like symptoms suspected by a doctor. The intervals between both tests for all subjects were less than 4 months. No subject met the international definition of selective IgA deficiency (serum IgA < 7 mg/dL) [13], and only six of 1,136 subjects exhibited a subnormal IgA level (7 to 70 mg/dL) as defined by Weber-Mzell et al. [1]. All subjects were divided arbitrarily into three groups by reference to serum IgA level: low (< 140 mg/dL, twice the lower limit of normal, group I); intermediate (140 to 280 mg/dL, group II); or high (≥ 280 mg/dL, four times the lower limit of normal, group III).
Lung function tests
Lung function tests were performed using a computerized spirometer (Spiro Analyzer ST-250, Fukuda Sanyo, Tokyo, Japan) according to the method recommended by the Intermountain Thoracic Society [14]. Each predicted value of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was calculated using the regression equation of Crapo et al. [15].
The test for AHR to methacholine (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) aerosolized using a DeVilbiss 646 jet nebulizer (DeVilbiss Co., Somerset, PA, USA; output 0.13 mL/min) was performed using the standardized tidal breathing method [16]. The concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20, mg/mL) was obtained via linear interpolation from a log dose-response curve. The severity of methacholine-AHR was scored using a modification of the method of Woolcock and Jenkins [17], as follows: PC20 > 16 (normal, score 0); 2 to 16 (mild, 1); 0.2 to 2 (moderate, 2); and < 0.2 mg/mL (severe, 3).
Blood tests
IgA and immunoglobulin E (IgE) serum levels (normal: 70 to 400 mg/dL and < 100 IU/mL, respectively) were measured by nephelometry (Behring Diagnostics GmbH, Marburg, Germany). White blood cell counts and the percentages and numbers of eosinophils (white blood cell count × eosinophil %) in peripheral blood were also measured. An elevated eosinophil count (eosinophilia) was defined as ≥ 450 cells/μL [18].
Allergy skin prick tests
Allergy skin prick tests were performed using 55 common allergens, including HDM Dp and Df. A histamine solution (1 mg/mL) served as a positive control and normal saline as a negative control. Wheal and flare sizes were measured 15 minutes after the application of test agents. Mean values were calculated from the largest and smallest diameters of wheals measured at right angles to each other. The skin sensitivity grade to a specific allergen was determined by calculating the ratio of the size of the wheal induced by the allergen to the size of that induced by the histamine solution, as follows: 25% to 50%, 1+; 50% to 99%, 2+; 100% to 199%, 3+; and ≥ 200%, 4+. In subjects who did not exhibit dermographism, a sensitivity grade ≥ 3+ was considered to be clinically significant.
Statistical analysis
Data from groups divided by serum IgA levels were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and are presented as means ± standard errors. Multiple comparisons using the Tukey method were made during post hoc testing. Proportions were compared among groups using the chi-square test for trend (the linear-by-linear association). Correlations among variables were assessed by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients. The relative risks of HDM sensitization and moderate/severe AHR were assessed via logistic regression. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for version 20.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA), and a p value of < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
Relationship between serum IgA levels and other variables
Among the 1,136 subjects, the serum IgA levels were low (< 140 mg/dL, group I) in 139 patients (12.2%); intermediate (140 to 280 mg/dL, group II) in 684 (60.2%); and high (≥ 280 mg/dL, group III) in 313 (27.6%) (Table 1). The mean serum IgA levels were 114, 208, and 354 mg/dL in the three groups, respectively. There was no significant difference among groups in terms of the proportions of males and eosinophilia, and the baseline FEV1. However, the age of the group III was significantly higher than those of groups I and II. Higher IgA levels were associated with greater proportions of subjects with increased serum total IgE levels, and (inversely) with lower proportions of subjects sensitized to HDM Dp or Df (30.0%, 26.8%, and 18.5%, respectively; X2 = 8.550, p = 0.003). The proportion of subjects sensitized to Dp progressively fell in those with higher IgA levels, as was also true of subjects sensitized to Df (both p < 0.01) (Fig. 1). The numbers of allergens yielding positive reactions in skin tests tended to decrease as the serum IgA level increased although statistical significance was not attained (p = 0.097). We found no significant difference in the distributions of subjects with moderate/severe AHR among groups classified by serum IgA level.
The serum IgA level correlated positively with age (r = 0.140, p = 0.000) (Table 2). A higher IgA level was associated with lower numbers of sensitized allergens (r = –0.061, p = 0.049) and lower-grade sensitivity to HDM Dp/Df (r = –0.093, p = 0.003). Unexpectedly, we found a positive correlation between the serum level of IgA and total IgE (r = 0.110, p = 0.000). None of the blood eosinophil %, FEV1, or AHR was significantly associated with the serum IgA level.
Age was significantly associated with total IgE level, the number of allergens, HDM sensitivity grade, FEV1, and AHR severity. There were significant relationships among the allergy markers, FEV1, and AHR.
Relative risk of sensitization to house dust mites
Increased serum IgA levels significantly reduced the relative risk of sensitization to HDM Dp or Df (odds ratio [OR], 0.998; p = 0.012) (Table 3). A low IgA level (< 140 mg/dL) was not significantly associated with an increased risk of HDM sensitization, but a high IgA level (≥ 280 mg/dL) was significantly associated with a decreased risk thereof (OR, 0.599; p = 0.003). In addition, greater age and better lung function were associated with lower risk, but all of male sex, increased serum total IgE level, and moderate/severe AHR were risk factors for HDM sensitization. However, the age of male subjects (n = 492) was significantly less than that of female subjects (n = 644; 42.6 ± 0.8 years vs. 53.2 ± 0.6 years, p = 0.000), and the IgA level did not significantly differ between the sexes (237 ± 4 mg/dL vs. 237 ± 4 mg/dL, p = 0.936). Upon multivariate regression analysis, the risks for HDM sensitization of an IgA level ≥ 280 mg/dL (OR, 0.617; p = 0.017), greater age, and increased serum total IgE level were statistically significant.
The relationship between serum IgA level and AHR in young subjects with AHR
As we found no significant relationship between IgA level and AHR, and as both the IgA level and AHR were associated with age, the subjects aged ≤ 45 years were selected for analysis of AHR data to exclude any effect of age. Some such subjects (such as those with allergic rhinitis) might have become sensitized to HDM without development of AHR and, thus, young asthma patients with AHR (n = 234) were selected to assess the risk of moderate/severe AHR. No significant difference in age among groups classified in terms of serum IgA level was noted: the age was 26.7 ± 1.5 years in the low IgA group (< 140 mg/dL, n = 34); 29.4 ± 0.8 years in the intermediate IgA group (140 to 280 mg/dL, n = 149); and 30.5 ± 1.1 years in the high IgA group (≥ 280 mg/dL, n = 51). However, higher serum IgA levels were associated with lower proportions of subjects with moderate/severe AHR: 24/34 (70.6%), 78/149 (52.3%), and 24/51 (47.1%) in the three groups, respectively (X2 = 4.008, p = 0.045) (Fig. 2).
A low IgA level was a significant risk factor for moderate/severe AHR (OR, 2.306; p = 0.038) (Table 4). In addition, although greater age and better lung function were associated with lower risk, all of male sex, eosinophilia, increased serum total IgE level, and HDM sensitization, were all significant risk factors for moderate/severe AHR. However, the mean age of males (n = 155) in our study was significantly lower than that of females (n = 79) (27.0 ± 0.7 years vs. 33.6 ± 1.0 years, p = 0.000), and the IgA level did not significantly differ between the sexes (219 ± 7 mg/dL vs. 225 ± 11 mg/dL, p = 0.660). Upon multivariate regression analysis, HDM sensitization and lung function were significantly associated with AHR.
In the present study, the serum IgA levels in almost all subjects were within the normal range; however, the rate and extent of HDM sensitization were significantly (inversely) related to the serum IgA level. Similarly, the prevalence of moderate/severe AHR was also significantly (inversely) related to the IgA level in asthmatics. These results are consistent with those of previous studies [2,4-6,10] showing that low IgA level is associated with atopic disease. The subjects of previous studies [2,4-6] were mainly children, and some authors have found that the atopy/IgA relationship was unclear in adult patients [7]. However, a study in adult patients by Balzar et al. [10] revealed a relationship between serum IgA level and asthma severity. Similarly, we found a relationship between serum IgA level and allergy/asthma. To our knowledge, this is the first study worldwide to show that serum IgA levels within the normal range are associated with sensitization to HDM and AHR.
Mucosal IgA may be insufficient to prevent the entrance of allergens via the mucosa, resulting in the ready development of allergic diseases in atopic subjects [5,6]. Recently, it has been reported that IgA may play an important role in the context of the so-called "hygiene hypothesis," suggested to be the principal mechanism explaining the recent abrupt worldwise increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases including asthma. When Fageras et al. [19] examined children born in Sweden and Estonia at 3, 6, and 12 months, and at 2 and 5 years of age, the children in Sweden, where respiratory infections were less prevalent than in Estonia, showed a higher prevalence of allergic disease (47% vs. 24%), and positive skin prick test results (41% vs. 21%), and lower secretory IgA levels in saliva, than did children in Estonia. Low microbial pressure might cause the IgA system to mature more slowly in Swedish children. In addition, it has been shown that the beneficial effects of grass pollen-specific subcutaneous [20] or sublingual [21] immunotherapy were associated with induction of specific IgA2. In a murine asthma model, HDM Df-specific sublingual vaccine pre-treatment protected from development of AHR and eosinophilic airway inflammation in association with increased response of Df-specific IgA [22].
Although all subjects in the present study underwent AHR testing because of suspected asthma manifestations, only 500 of the 1,136 patients (44.0%) exhibited AHR. Therefore, in all subjects, HDM sensitization, but not AHR, was associated with the serum IgA level. Both asthmatics and allergic rhinitis patients without AHR may become sensitized to allergens under the influence of serum IgA level, and thus, the relationship between the HDM sensitization and the IgA level may become significant. However, the influence of serum IgA level on AHR may be obscured by enrollment of allergic rhinitis patients without AHR. In addition, age was significantly related to both serum IgA level and AHR. Moreover, unlike "variable" AHR mediated by inflammation, "persistent" AHR caused by remodeling is not affected readily by any factor including serum IgA level [23], and "persistent" AHR would be more predominant at older ages. Therefore, when we selected young asthmatics with AHR to avoid the effects of such confounding factors, we found that the prevalence of moderate/severe AHR was significantly related to the serum IgA level.
None of our subjects had selective IgA deficiency, and only six (0.5%; compared to 2.13% in healthy Caucasians [1]) exhibited subnormal IgA levels or partial deficiencies. We may have underestimated the prevalence of deficiency. When the relationship between AHR and IgA level is considered, some subjects with severe asthma who could not undergo AHR testing may possibly have had IgA deficiencies. If severe asthmatics had been included as study subjects, the relationship between serum IgA levels and AHR/asthma would have been more apparent. Thus, Balzar et al. [10] demonstrated a significant relationship between serum IgA level and forced vital capacity (rs = 0.65, p = 0.002). In addition, in line with the concept of "variable AHR," eosinophilia was a significant risk factor for moderate/severe AHR in the present study. Choi et al. [24] showed that Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination was effective to treat active, but not silent, asthma (eosinophilia is a marker of activity). Thus, any relationship between IgA level and AHR would be more apparent in subjects with active asthma.
The serum IgA level was positively associated with age. Fageras et al. [19] reported that salivary IgA levels in children increased with age, attaining adult levels by the age of 5 years. In adults also, serum IgA levels increase with age by an average of 2 mg/dL per year [1]. As postnatal microbial pressure may induce salivary IgA production in children [19], repeated infections in adulthood also may induce a progressive increase in serum IgA levels with age. If so, the well-known fact that the odds of yielding a positive skin test to common aeroallergens decreases (on average) by 2.11% per year [25] may be at least in part explained by the increase in serum IgA level with age in consequence of repeated microbial exposures.
Male sex was a risk factor for HDM sensitization and moderate/severe AHR in the present study. However, our male subjects were younger than the female subjects, and we found no sexual difference in serum IgA level. The main reason why the data indicate (probably falsely) that male sex is a risk factor would be that age profoundly affected our results, because younger subjects more frequently exhibit allergic sensitization [25] and, in turn, AHR. Although boys seem to be more easily sensitized to HDM in childhood than do girls [26], females of child-bearing age (mostly adults) are more likely to be sensitized to HDM and to suffer from allergic asthma [27]. Weber-Mzell et al. [1] reported that serum IgA levels were higher in males than in females. As the IgA level increases with age, and as our male subjects were younger than our female subjects, any sexual difference in IgA level may have been obscured in the present study. In general, such a subject-selection bias may be a weak point of any cross-sectional study, as in our present work.
Even though the serum total IgE level was positively associated with the degree of HDM skin sensitivity, and inversely with age (skin sensitivity decreases generally with age [25]), that level (surprisingly, in contrast to the HDM sensitivity) was positively related to the serum IgA level. In the work of Ludviksson et al. [6], both IgA and IgE levels in serum increased from 2 to 4 years of age, probably because of progressive maturation of plasma cells, and these levels were positively associated even though serum IgA levels were significantly lower in skin test-positive children 2 years of age. Likewise, we noted that some patients with high IgE levels tended to have high IgA levels, and those with low IgE levels low IgA levels, suggesting individual differences in plasma cell functioning, caused either by aging or other factors. In addition, unlike HDM sensitization, serum total IgE levels may be increased by parasitic infestations and may be associated, in adults, with the development of other diseases such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and Churg-Strauss syndrome.
Secretory IgA in mucosa is mainly composed of IgA2, but in serum, IgA1 is dominant [7]. Patients with optimal levels of serum IgA always have secretory IgA antibodies in their secretions [28]. Fageras et al. [19] showed that secretory IgA was the principal form of IgA in the saliva of Estonian children, but was present at insufficient levels in Swedish saliva. Therefore, further studies on secretory IgA rather than serum IgA are required.
In summary, sensitization to HDM in patients with suspected asthma was significantly related to the serum IgA level, even when that level was normal. In addition, the prevalence of moderate/severe AHR progressively decreased with an increase in serum IgA level in young asthmatics with AHR. IgA may prevent sensitization to HDM and development of AHR in asthmatic patients.
Table 1.
Values are presented as number (%) or mean ± SD. Skin sensitization: ≥ 100% of allergen/histamine wheal size ratio in skin prick test.
IgA, immunoglobulin A; IgE, immunoglobulin E; Dp, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Df, Dermatophagoides farinae; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; PC20, provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1 from baseline.
Table 2.
IgA, immunoglobulin A; Eos, blood eosinophil; IgE, immunoglobulin E; HDM, the sum of skin sensitivity grades to house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; AHR score, severity score of methacholine airway hyper-responsiveness (normal, 0; mild, 1; moderate, 2; severe, 3).
Table 3.
Table 4.
PC20, provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in lung function from baseline; cOR, crude odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; aOR, adjusted odds ratio; IgA, immunoglobulin A; IgE, immunoglobulin E; Dp, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Df, Dermatophagoides farinae; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second.
1. Weber-Mzell D, Kotanko P, Hauer AC, et al. Gender, age and seasonal effects on IgA deficiency: a study of 7293 Caucasians. Eur J Clin Invest 2004;34:224–228.
2. Burgio GR, Duse M, Monafo V, Ascione A, Nespoli L. Selective IgA deficiency: clinical and immunological evaluation of 50 pediatric patients. Eur J Pediatr 1980;133:101–106.
3. Kanoh T, Mizumoto T, Yasuda N, et al. Selective IgA deficiency in Japanese blood donors: frequency and statistical analysis. Vox Sang 1986;50:81–86.
4. Ludviksson BR, Eiriksson TH, Ardal B, Sigfusson A, Valdimarsson H. Correlation between serum immunoglobulin A concentrations and allergic manifestations in infants. J Pediatr 1992;121:23–27.
5. van Asperen PP, Gleeson M, Kemp AS, et al. The relationship between atopy and salivary IgA deficiency in infancy. Clin Exp Immunol 1985;62:753–757.
6. Ludviksson BR, Arason GJ, Thorarensen O, Ardal B, Valdimarsson H. Allergic diseases and asthma in relation to serum immunoglobulins and salivary immunoglobulin A in pre-school children: a follow-up community-based study. Clin Exp Allergy 2005;35:64–69.
7. Gloudemans AK, Lambrecht BN, Smits HH. Potential of immunoglobulin A to prevent allergic asthma. Clin Dev Immunol 2013;2013:542091.
8. Morell A, Muehlheim E, Schaad U, Skvaril F, Rossi E. Susceptibility to infections in children with selective IgA- and IgA-IgG subclass deficiency. Eur J Pediatr 1986;145:199–203.
9. Schwarze J, Cieslewicz G, Joetham A, et al. Antigen-specific immunoglobulin-A prevents increased airway responsiveness and lung eosinophilia after airway challenge in sensitized mice. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1998;158:519–525.
10. Balzar S, Strand M, Nakano T, Wenzel SE. Subtle immunodeficiency in severe asthma: IgA and IgG2 correlate with lung function and symptoms. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2006;140:96–102.
11. Sears MR, Herbison GP, Holdaway MD, Hewitt CJ, Flannery EM, Silva PA. The relative risks of sensitivity to grass pollen, house dust mite and cat dander in the development of childhood asthma. Clin Exp Allergy 1989;19:419–424.
12. Papadopoulou A, Mermiri D, Taousani S, Triga M, Nicolaidou P, Priftis KN. Bronchial hyper-responsiveness in selective IgA deficiency. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2005;16:495–500.
13. Conley ME, Notarangelo LD, Etzioni A. Diagnostic criteria for primary immunodeficiencies: representing PAGID (Pan-American Group for Immunodeficiency) and ESID (European Society for Immunodeficiencies). Clin Immunol 1999;93:190–197.
14. Morris AH, Kanner R, Crapo R, Gardner R. Clinical Pulmonary Function Testing: A Manual of Uniform Laboratory Procedures. Salt Lake City: Intermountain Thoracic Society, 1984.
15. Crapo RO, Morris AH, Gardner RM. Reference spirometric values using techniques and equipment that meet ATS recommendations. Am Rev Respir Dis 1981;123:659–664.
16. Hargreave FE, Ryan G, Thomson NC, et al. Bronchial responsiveness to histamine or methacholine in asthma: measurement and clinical significance. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1981;68:347–355.
17. Woolcock AJ, Jenkins CR. Assessment of bronchial responsiveness as a guide to prognosis and therapy in asthma. Med Clin North Am 1990;74:753–765.
18. Klion AD, Weller PF. Eosinophilia and eosinophil-related disorders. In: Adkinson NF, Bochner BS, Burks AW, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles & Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders, 2014;1205–1223.
19. Fageras M, Tomicic S, Voor T, Bjorksten B, Jenmalm MC. Slow salivary secretory IgA maturation may relate to low microbial pressure and allergic symptoms in sensitized children. Pediatr Res 2011;70:572–577.
20. Pilette C, Nouri-Aria KT, Jacobson MR, et al. Grass pollen immunotherapy induces an allergen-specific IgA2 antibody response associated with mucosal TGF-beta expression. J Immunol 2007;178:4658–4666.
21. Scadding GW, Shamji MH, Jacobson MR, et al. Sublingual grass pollen immunotherapy is associated with increases in sublingual Foxp3-expressing cells and elevated allergen-specific immunoglobulin G4, immunoglobulin A and serum inhibitory activity for immunoglobulin E-facilitated allergen binding to B cells. Clin Exp Allergy 2010;40:598–606.
22. Yu HQ, Li XH, Guo H, et al. Sublingual immunotherapy efficacy of Dermatophagoides farinae vaccine in a murine asthma model. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2010;152:41–48.
23. Cockcroft DW, Davis BE. Mechanisms of airway hyperresponsiveness. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;118:551–559.
24. Choi IS, Han ER, Kim YJ, et al. Personal factors affecting therapeutic responses to BCG vaccination in asthmatics. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 2011;3:178–185.
25. Wuthrich B, Schindler C, Medici TC, Zellweger JP, Leuenberger P. IgE levels, atopy markers and hay fever in relation to age, sex and smoking status in a normal adult Swiss population: SAPALDIA (Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults) Team. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1996;111:396–402.
26. Sears MR, Burrows B, Flannery EM, Herbison GP, Holdaway MD. Atopy in childhood. I. Gender and allergen related risks for development of hay fever and asthma. Clin Exp Allergy 1993;23:941–948.


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恭喜發財!! Happy Lunar New Year!!
這麼快又一年,今年是羊年,祝大家 身體健康,心想事成!
19 Feb 2015 is Lunar New Year of Chinese. So I'd like to draw a greeting card for our New Year of The Sheep.
In the past year, I'd changed many things, big desk, drawing tablet, drawing software, drawing style, etc. And now, I'd got this drawing style and method. So I set my target for this year, Background. I hope I can have improvement on it.


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Download this article in .PDF format
This file type includes high resolution graphics and schematics when applicable.
Pneumatic pressure controls fall in the category of pressure reducing valves, commonly referred to as air line regulators. It is also essential, once a system pressure has been selected to perform a task, that air be supplied at constant pressure to the actuator, regardless of variations in flow and upstream pressure. Thus, it is important to add to a pneumatic system a pressure regulator that:
• supplies air at constant pressure regardless of flow variation or upstream pressure,
• helps operate the system more economically by minimizing the amount of pressurized air that is wasted. (This happens when the system operates at pressures higher than needed for the job),
• helps promote safety by operating the actuator at reduced pressure,
• extends component life because operating at higher-than-recommended pressures increases wear rate and reduces equipment life,
• produces readily controlled variable air pressures where needed, and
• increases operating efficiency
Fig. 1. Simplest regulator incorporates an adjustment spring (that is, it is not pilot-operated) and an unbalanced poppet. It does not have a separate diaphragm chamber, and it is non-relieving.
Types of regulators
Unbalanced poppet, non-pilot operated — Figure 1 shows the simplest type of unbalanced poppet regulator. Normally, supply pressure enters the regulator and flows around the poppet, which is seated, blocking flow.
Turning the adjustment screw to compress the adjustment spring forces the diaphragm down. It pushes the stem down and the poppet uncovers the orifice. As downstream pressure rises, pressure air acts on the underside of the diaphragm, balancing the force exerted by the adjustment spring. The poppet throttles the orifice to restrict flow and produce the desired pressure. As downstream flow demand varies, the regulator automatically repositions the poppet in relation to the orifice. The spring under the poppet ensures that the regulator will close at no-flow. This regulator is non-relieving.
Unbalanced poppet, non-pilot operated with diaphragm chamber — The regulator in Figure 2 is larger (and more expensive) than the model in Figure 1. It also has a diaphragm chamber which isolates the diaphragm from the main air flow to help reduce the effects of the abrasive air on the diaphragm.
Fig. 2. Regulator has an adjustment spring and an unbalanced poppet. It has a separate diaphragm chamber which contains an aspirator tube connecting to the reduced-pressure port. It is self-relieving.
An aspirator tube connects the diaphragm chamber and the outlet chamber. As flow through the regulator increases, the tube creates a slightly lower-than-outlet pressure in the diaphragm chamber. The power pressure under the diaphragm deflects it downward, forcing the poppet farther away from the orifice. The adjustment spring extends to open the poppet orifice without significantly decreasing outlet pressure. The effect is the same as increasing the adjustment setting and thus reducing droop at higher flow rates.
This regulator's much larger diaphragm area produces greater forces and thus displaces the poppet more with a given change in reduced pressure. Larger diaphragms increase regulator response and sensitivity.
Balanced poppet, non-pilot operated, with diaphragm chamber — This regulator, Figure 3, has the same general internal construction as the previous type. However, it has a considerably larger orifice to allow for greater flow. In addition, to maintain good stability, the poppet is pressure-balanced. That is, the poppet sees the same reduced pressure on both top and bottom surfaces. Thus, the effects produced by reduced pressure fluctuations cancel out, and sensitivity and response are greatly improved. This very-large-capacity regulator has low droop.
Fig. 3. Regulator has a balanced poppet and a separate diaphragm chamber with an aspirator. It is non-pilot operated.
With an exactly balanced poppet, the system-pressure/reduced-pressure ratio has no effect because the unbalanced resultant forces on the poppet caused by supply pressure are zero. However, these poppets are generally designed with a slight tendency to close. Therefore, a large increase in supply pressure forces the poppet closer to the orifice, throttling flow. This causes the reduced pressure to drop slightly.
Remote controlled, pilot operated, balanced poppet — In some applications, the regulator must be installed where it cannot be easily adjusted. The regulation and pressure setting mechanisms are then separated. A small air pilot line connects the regulator (in the air line at the point of use) to the remote setting mechanism, which can be mounted at any convenient location.
The remote setting mechanism is a small regulator that produces a control air signal. The signal is sent to a pilot-operated, balanced-poppet regulator, similar to the previous regulator except that the top is replaced with a short, pressure-tight bonnet to receive the control signal from the small remote setting regulator. Instead of working against a force created by a compressed spring, the pilot-operated regulator works against a force created by air pressure — that is, an air spring.
The air spring maintains a constant force on the upper side of the diaphragm of the pilot-operated regulator because the remote setting regulator holds the control signal at constant pressure. Thus, droop in this regulator is small.
Internal, pilot-operated, balanced poppet — This regulator also uses the pilot-operated principle to produce a precision regulator. Both the pressure setting regulator and the pilot-operated regulator are combined in a single housing. The same force-balance principle applies as in the previous regulator.
With this regulator, some supply air bleeds into the cavity over the lower diaphragm and escapes through the nozzle. As increased air pressure on the upper diaphragm opens the flexible seat, the pressure above the lower diaphragm drops and causes the poppet to approach the primary orifice, reducing flow, then pressure. A bleeding-type relief seat vents through the center of the diaphragm. This regulator also has a safety-type relief valve above the pilot mechanism, which rapidly exhausts any very high overpressure.


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Carved by hand and made to measure, a complete design to delivery service is offered.Previous Commissions
We are traditionally trained Stonemasons hand carving Natural Stone fireplaces from our workshop near Hay-on-Wye.
Everything is made to measure using traditional techniques in a choice of fabulous natural stones quarried and mined in the UK.
Designed by us, carved in our workshop, delivered and fitted all over the country for both private and trade customers.
With over 25 years experience carving stone we have made hundreds of fireplaces. Country Cottages to Stately Homes; Listed buildings and New Builds; Hotels and New Developments; we will carve a timeless addition and focal point for any space for decades to come.
All made to measure, designed from scratch or following your brief.
Hugh Peachey was extremely helpful over the design and very nice to deal with and it was all completed in good time.
Dear Hugh, This is just a quick note to thank you so much for the stone fireplace you fabricated and fitted for us. It was a delight to work with you. The initial design sketches gave us lots of ideas, the quality of manufacture is first class, and the overall result has given the drawing room exactly the lift we were looking for. You evidently enjoy your work; in an age of mass production, it is a joy to find a craftsman who can turn out such fantastic bespoke pieces.
We were delighted with the service and quality of work done by Hugh, we would be very happy to recommend him.
The Mason's yard carved a matching pair of fireplaces for my renovation project in London; I am very pleased with the standard of work and service offered by Hugh and his team.
They were recommended to me by previous customer and I would happily recommend them to anybody in need of a natural stone Fireplace.
Just wanted to send you a note regarding the wonderful fireplace that you have made for us. The workmanship is of an exceptional standard, it has been a real pleasure dealing with you. You are a credit to your craft and we will not hesitate to highly reccomend The Mason's Yard. We are very proud of our beautiful Bath stone Fireplace.
We sometimes have fireplaces in stock for immediate delivery. Please ring or email for further details.


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Q. What's the difference (pros/cons?) between turning to a sperm donor and finding a co-parent?
Q. Is the idea that people who find each other on Modamily later hook up and actually have sex until the woman is pregnant - or through insemination?
Q. If people find a good parent match on Modamily - why just have a baby together and not also start a relationship?
Q. How do you think the fast track to parenthood, through a social forum online, will change the way families are formed in the future?
Q. What has been the inspiration for Modamily (other websites or such?), and when do you think the first successful new family will be formed through Modamily?
I noticed a good portion of family and friends spending their 20s and 30s focused on their careers and putting off marriage and children.Yet, as they approached 40, especially in the case of female friends, there came an enormous amount of pressure for finding a partner, often resulting in rushed marriages ending in divorce. It was even more disheartening when a child was introduced because now that child would often have to be raised in an environment of friction where mommy and daddy did not get along. I felt there had to be another viable option that could protect against these problems. Hence, co-parenting.
The main difference is the other person is involved with the raising of your child. We feel that co-parenting provides more support to the child because it involves two parents that are physically, financially, and emotionally committed. Healthy, happy, and balanced children are what we are trying to achieve and statistically, having both a mother and father within a child's life dramatically improves chances for a happy and balanced upbringing. Also, donor conceived children sometimes develop health problems related to their father's genetic makeup, for example they pass down the genes which may make them more susceptible to certain diseases such as diabetes or cancer. Knowing this information can help with diagnosis and even preventative treatment. Therefore knowing the identity of a donor has many benefits for the child, through to when they become adults.
The fundamental concept behind Modamily is that we provide a network where members can meet other like-minded people who dream of becoming a parent. There are many ways to become a co-parent, and what Modamily does is help our members find someone that wants to raise a child in a similar fashion as they do. Modamily simply matches up the parents based on their desires and they decide how best to proceed from there.
The desire to become a parent is why single men and women use Modamily, but there is nothing preventing the development of a relationship. Our primary goal is to create a community for great potential parents that removes the stress and pressures associated with feeling that in order to be a parent one must find a spouse first.
A niche social network like Modamily will definitely help increase the odds of finding someone in a shorter period of time. Everyone joins for the same purpose: to become a parent. Because people are staying single longer and waiting to get married, sites like Modamily can fill the void by helping those that still want to fulfill dreams of having a child. There's plenty of time to find Mr. or Mrs. Right, but only a limited time to find Mommy or Daddy Right.
I used to be very uncomfortable with the idea of going on a dating site to meet women. When I moved back to New York, I found that many of my friends had met their significant others on sites like Match.com, eHarmony, jdate, or OkCupid and some even got married and had kids. These people weren't weirdos or had three heads, like I pictured. Rather, they were just regular people like me looking for that connection. However, I also felt that there was a sub-set of people that were frustrated with these sites because they weren't meeting their needs. I felt that if I could put together a site where everyone is there for the sole purpose of having a child with a partner, it would be possible to form a like-minded community to fill that need. Our goal is that by the end of the year, there will be some babies coming into the world from people that met through Modamily.
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Customer reviews
"I own a private nursery school in Aberdeen and have used the services of Graeme Munro and his experienced staff team for the past 18 years. During this time we have always received a very reliable and efficient service with a friendly and personal approach. I would highly recommend Graeme Munro & Co Ltd and look forward to working together with them for many years to come." - MD of Private Nursery School
"Graeme Munro has been a highly valued part of our company's growth since 2005. We have established a strong working relationship with him, based both on mutual trust and his awareness of our financial service requirements. It's fair to say that, thanks to Graeme's knowledge, forthright suggestions and critiques, we have a soundly-based awareness of what is required to survive and to grow in the increasingly competitive world of retail. We are very comfortable with our working relationship, the ease with which we are able to communicate with Graeme and his team and their availability whenever required. Certainly we consider him to be an integral part of our company and its operations." - MD of High-End Fashion Retailer
"Graeme's firm has advised us from our start-up many years ago. He responds to our calls and emails right away and we have always found his advice easy to understand and very helpful. He keeps us right in every financial aspect of our business, particularly with VAT, Corporation Tax and PAYE. I have recommended Graeme's firm to many friends and colleagues over the years." - MD of Marine Electronics Supplier
We changed to Graeme Munro & Co around 2 years ago for our previous accountancy and payroll provider of 6 years. Graeme and his staff have provided us with superb service and quality. No question is too silly for Graeme as he takes his time to explain things. He is very patient and is extremely thorough in his work. Graeme has been an important part of our company's growth and development with invaluable advice and support. We feel we have a strong working relationship and look forward to Graeme providing his services to us for many years to come. We cannot recommend Graeme and his staff highly enough as they would be an asset to any company." - MD of Security Company


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Tuesday, September 23, 2008
One up, One Down, One Weird interaction
The last 24 hours has been interesting. First, the best news. Lori and I were walking around Cameron Village walked into the Fresh Market and found out they carried Tony Packo's Pickles and Peppers, only the greatest thing to come out of Toledo EVER and by far my Favorite Restaurant of all time. I miss this more that Skyline (which we couldn't find).
The down side was I got my first flat tire on my bike and I had to get it fixed. :-(
On the way to the bike repair place today (over by NC State) , I was walking to the closest Wolfline stop (since it is free and save me a walk) and a woman stop me asking for directions to the Bus Stop. I said follow me I'm going there now. On the way, we were talking and I found out she was a pole dancer. When I found that out, my bus arrived so I didn't get to talk to her more. I guess you never know the people you come across on a daily basis.
Posted by Whozep68 at 10:44 AM
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Atheism is the belief that there is no supernatural being behind anything that the universe has to offer. Everything is driven by science and created by a natural process. Of course this is a general oversimplification as some atheists do say they believe in a universal spirit or in God and some who identify themselves as religious say they do not believe in God at all.
When Americans are asked about their religious identity, 2.4% of them will self-identify as being atheist.
Atheist Demographics
This is in comparison to the consistent three-quarters of Americans who identify themselves as being Christians. In 2007, atheism was just 1.7% of the American population, so although the growth has been small over the past decade, there are more people today who say they don't believe in God or a universal spirit than in the past.
- Two-thirds of the people who self-identify as being an atheist are men.
- 38% of those who identify themselves as being atheist are between the ages of 18-29, compared to the 22% of the US population that fits into this age group.
- Atheists [43%] are more likely to hold a college degree when compared to the general public.
- 14% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit.
- The percentage of atheists who say that they are absolutely certain about the existence of God or a universal spirit: 5%.
- More Americans say they do not believe in God or a universal spirit [7%] than say they are atheists [2.4%].
- 1 out of every 4 atheists state that they believe they are a spiritual person.
- The percentage of atheists who consider themselves to be a religious person: 3%.
- 82% of atheists say they either often (52%) or sometimes (30%) feel a deep connection with nature and the earth.
- 4 out of every 10 atheists say that they often think about what the meaning and purpose of life happens to be.
- A survey published in the 2005 Encyclopedia Britannica stated that 2.3% of the world's population consists of individuals who profess "atheism, skepticism, disbelief, or irreligion."
There's an interesting correlation between atheism and intelligence. As a person's IQ level increases, there is a greater chance for them to have an atheistic view of spirituality than a traditional religious view. This is true for all religious groups and denominations. That doesn't mean than an atheist won't incorporate some aspects of religion into their life, such as meditation, but it does generally mean that there is an emphasis on humanism in their personal beliefs than supernaturalism. With nearly 1 in 10 Americans saying that they don't believe in God, yet only 2 out of 100 identifying themselves as being atheist, there is definitely a stigma present in the choice to not believe in God. What could these figures be if there was some leadership in place that would be a voice for the atheistic movement?
Atheism From a Global Perspective
- The worldwide population of atheists fluctuates between 500 million to 750 million varying from researcher to researcher.
- Multiple studies and surveys in Canada show a 19% to 26% rate of atheism.
- When asked a series of questions pertaining to the existence of God or other spiritual beings, 1 out of 5 people will say that they don't believe in the existence of a supernatural being.
- If atheism were considered a religion, it would be the fourth most popular point of view, coming in behind Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism in that order.
- Despite these high numbers, atheism is virtually non-existent in most of Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Asia.
- The highest populations of atheists are found in Scandinavia and Japan, with population rates as high as 90%.
- Income levels for atheists 25 years old and over showed 60.4% at $50,000 while 24.1% earned $100,000 or more.
- Despite gains in the United States, the overall percentage of the global population has seen the number of self-identified atheists cut in half over the last four decades.
More people have an atheist view of the world than even the statistics show. In the United States, the actual number of atheists could be as high as 34 million. Because of the social pressures from religion and politics, however, some may choose not to admit what their personal philosophies happen to be. Because there is a less of a negative stigma against atheism in other parts of the world, it is understandable that self-identifying rates of atheists would be much higher. Because of the crackdown of religious governing in parts of the Middle East and Asia, it's also understandable why many would choose not to identify as being atheist since some laws say that they could be put to death. In practicality, however, if a nation says that people are free to practice whatever believe they wish, the practicing belief of there not being a God should be just as accepted as a popular religion.
Count Atheists Be One Of The Most Discriminated Against Demographics?
- In American surveys on politics, 3 out of 4 Americans routinely say that they will only back a political candidate that holds similar religious views.
- When George H.W. Bush was asked if atheists could be Americans, the future President's response was this: "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God."
- When an atheists' presence is more prevalent in a given society, then anti-atheist prejudice among religious believers is reduced.
- In a Pew survey about US Constitutional knowledge, the atheists and agnostics scored the highest at 20.9 against the participant's average of 16.0.
- In a belief system for a marriage partner, atheism always ranks as the lowest rated quality that someone would want to have in their partner.
- Despite the negative stigmas, atheists have lower divorce rates than religious demographics, have fewer children, and ultimately have families that are more close knit.
- In the United States, there are still laws in the books in several states that forbid a known atheist from holding down a political office.
- There are no endorsed chaplains that hold an atheistic belief, yet atheists outnumber all other non-Christans.
Atheists might be in the minority, but that doesn't give people the right to bully them. Are there aggressive atheists out in the world today that are filled with bitterness and hatred, looking to pick a fight with anyone who holds a different view than them? There is – and the same could be true for any other spiritual belief. Religion [or the lack of it] is what divides humanity more than anything else. Numerous wars have been fought about religion and millions have died simply because they believe in something that isn't necessarily popular for their region. When nearly half of all people are willing to switch their religious affiliation and essentially believe in nothing, atheism stands out and speaks from essentially one voice. That could be one reason why more people than ever before are following the atheistic world view.
How Fluid Is Modern Religion Today?
- 28% of kids today have left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion – or no religion at all.
- If a change in protestant denominations is included in the above statistic, the number jumps to 44%.
- Among Americans ages 18-29, one-in-four say they are not currently affiliated with any particular religion – which is the key age demographic for atheism.
- The percentage of older Americans above the age of 70 who say they aren't affiliated with a religion: 8%.
- 37% of Americans are married to a partner that has a different religious affiliation.
- Yet through all of this inconsistency, atheism websites have seen sharp drops of traffic since 2012.
When people can't decide what religion to follow because nothing feels right, atheism stands tall, a strong voice in the swirling storm. One of the largest sub-demographics that is growing within the atheist perspective are former ministers of faith in other religions deciding that being an atheist was the right choice to make. Maybe atheism is showing some losses in certain parts of the world, but overall the minority that makes up atheism isn't really much of a minority at all. What does this mean for the future of religion? It means that it is fine to be skeptical. There is nothing wrong in testing everything that comes out of the mouths of men. By doing so consistently, an atheist becomes more than a free thinker. They become an independent spirit who cares about their fellow humans just like religions command, but without the guilt or shame associated with perceived failures.
Last month, more than 2 million people visited Brandon's blog. He shares exactly how he took his blog from zero to 1 million monthly visitors here. His path to success was not easy. Brandon had to comeback from being disabled, by a rare health disorder, for most of his thirties. God delivered him from hardship and has blessed his family in so many wonderful ways. You can send Brandon a message here.


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Bitcoin Price Falls
In the last several weeks the Bitcoin price went down as a result of the bad news from China and Greece.
Greece was once again found in the danger of a a debt crisis and China faced Stock Market collapse. There was some optimism in the Bitcoin community hoping that the next recessions will give Bitcoin the opportunity to "rise and shine". At one point last week Bitcoin Price hit the resistance of $300 then stabilizing between $280 and $300
There is a powerful control in Greece regarding the control of capital so the ability to purchase Bitcoins was almost nonexistent. Even if Greeks found Bitcoin to be a "safe haven" they couldn't buy it.
Mark Karpeles – the former CEO of MtGox Bitcoin exchanger – was arrested on 1st of August by the Japanese police for committing fraud. Karpeles then admitted the manipulation of users account balance for his own personal gains. It's possible that he even fabricated millions of US Dollars. After the news of Karpeles arrest the Bitcoin price went down to $270 then returned at $280 and staid at that level. Then the Bitcoin price went down again.
Bing announced a great decision of adding Bitcoins to the Bing Rewards program, a news welcomed by the entire Bitcoin community.
Even if Australia announced to rethink its position on Bitcoin taxation to treat it like a regular currency the Bitcoin price continued to stay low.
Also, Blockchain.info made it in the news for another flaw in their system regarding Blockchain.info's pushtx-api that led to a spoofed transaction, a problem that was fixed. However, the company's credibility suffered.
Where will the Bitcoin Price go Next?
Bitcoin's recent price movement raises the question: how low the price can fall? It's hard to answer this question.
It's better to analyze how much of the recent Bitcoin price movement was given by the crises in China and Greece. If we take into consideration how fast the price went down the previous week we can say that the speculators were the one who made the price and not ordinary Greek and Chinese people wanting protect themselves from the financial collapse in their countries.
The price will probably stabilize between $240 and $265 because is not in speculators interest do get the price even lower.


text: Like what you read? Interested in finding out more about my writing and photo services? Need a sample before you make a decision? Send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com with some ideas of what you are looking for. I would be more than happy to work with you to custom build the perfect writing piece for your needs or answer any questions you may have.


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Fill to End of Line in Word
Every day I have to type contracts, bonds, and other legal papers, which is easy to do. But down here in Mexico the legal documentation has to have the blank spaces left between the last word of a paragraph to the end of the line filled with dots, hyphens, or dashes. It's easy to do manually. But once done, if you add or delete words, you have to adjust the filling character to the new line length. Is there a way in which Word can fill these spaces automatically?
Octavio Favela
If you can manage to format your document without using tabs, here's a solution. Press Ctrl+A to select all the text in the document. Select Tabs from the Format menu and click on the Clear All button. Create one tab just inside the right margin. For example, if the right margin is 6 inches, set it to 5.99 inches. Under Alignment, check Right. In the Leaders area, select periods, dashes, or underscores. Click on OK. Type a tab at the end of each paragraph, or use Find and Replace to replace ^p with ^t^p (^p represents a paragraph mark, and ^t represents a tab). Word will fill the line to the right margin with your leader character.


text: Look hot. Feel cool. Rogue Royalty ultra soft premium quality pure cotton singlets with a white Rogue Royalty logo blazed on the front and shoulders. Guaranteed for a comfortable, soft luxurious feel these will be one of your wardrobe favourite's just based on the comfort factor alone. The fact that they look HOT is an amazing bonus. Available in black only. Go Rogue, Stay Rogue


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Unconferences are starting to become mainstream. Events where the attendees themselves shape the discussions Hyper WM in the West Midlands is in its third year. So what did one comms person learn?
by Emma Rodgers
Last week I went to the third Hyper WM in the impressive neon surroundings of the Public. For those who didn't make it, I thought it would be useful to share what I learnt.
Hyper WM is a West Midlands unconference that brings together people under the banner of making local government better. There is no set agenda - attendees pitch ideas for what they want to discuss and it goes from there. Ideas become workshops and if there isn't enough interest, the idea gets shelved and the next idea gets pitched.
At this particular event topics ranged from the welfare reform to open data. I was approached to pitch an idea so put forward e-newsletters for residents, not because I am an expert but because I wanted to learn from others about how they did it. That's one of the great things about unconferences, even if you don't have all the knowledge someone else will or you will at least be reassured that others are struggling to find a solution too.
So in no particular order here's my top 3 reasons for going to the next Hyper WM and why I'll definitely be signing up.
New ideas and inspiration – Really useful information about Walsall's journey with MailChimp and their resident's magazine. They stopped doing it one day and didn't have one complaint. It really got me thinking. And it's not only from the sessions themselves that you get ideas – while there I spoke with Ally Hook from Coventry about Facebook – they're doing great new things and it gave me ideas for our own site. I also caught up with Tony Moran from the MOD who talked me through his social media strategy – again really useful as I'm putting ours together.
A problem shared – it was clear we're all grappling with the same issues, whether it's public health joining local government or how to better communicate with residents on and off line - sharing our approaches in an open and collaborative way really did help. I don't think this would happen in the private sector.
Meeting people – yes I know it sounds cliché but it was brilliant to meet others from across the West Midlands. They are a really lovely, helpful and diverse bunch from a range of backgrounds – social media, students, freelancers, private sector – who are happy to help in any way they can. It leads to new partnerships and link ups which is invaluable.
Interestingly, not long after last week's session a heady twitter debate took place asking if unconferences had had their day. I haven't been to many but based on my Hyper WM experience I can't agree. It's an exciting and interesting way to share ideas and meet like minded people. Don't get me wrong I don't think it works for every topic and I'm sure it is also down to the quality of the organisers [Andy Mabbatt and Si Whitehouse are two of the best] but I think there is a lot more to come from unconferences.
Right then I'm off to sign up for the next Hyper WM. See you there.


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A report from Jamaica's Star.
International Women's Day has passed, but the work of empowering girls worldwide does not stop for Judith Martin, a self-published Jamaican children's author, who has launched a book series about a phenomenal Jamaican princess called Lana.
Martin has been visiting schools in Jamaica and The Bahamas, as well as book fairs and online platforms, to introduce her book series called 'Pantheon of Beauty' to little girls.
So far, she said she has got rave reviews.
"In Jamaica, I visited Barracks Road Primary, Cornaldi Avenue Primary, and another basic school in St James. It was wonderful. The little kids, they gathered around. I only had a couple of books to show the kids, but I had some business cards, and they were all jumping and shouting, 'Mi want one!'," she said.
The series will span some 30 books, featuring the Jamaican princess Lana, who is travelling the world and sharing her culture, while learning about other beautiful, powerful women throughout history.
Female recognition
Currently, two books from the series have been published. The first in the series is titled The Goddess of Beauty, which was launched in 2010. Lana leaves Jamaica and goes on an adventure with an African beauty goddess named Oshun.
The second book is entitled Saga of A Princess, released in 2016, where Lana travels to Russia and meets the brave Viking princess Efanda.
Martin's work also involves advocating for female recognition. She currently has a petition on change.org for the Russian President Vladimir Putin to erect a monument in honour of the real life princess Efanda.
A statute was erected honouring her husband, Prince Rurik, but did not recognise Efanda's contributions in building the Rurik Dynasty that lasted over 700 years.
"All of my characters are real, but I just tell the stories in a creative way. Young girls and women will get to learn about history and geography from all over the world. The books include maps and flags of the places that are being talked about," Martin explained.
Own experiences
The inspiration for Princess Lana comes from Martin's own experiences growing up in Montego Bay with her loving family.
She said her family's constant reassurance of her beauty and self-worth, coupled with her massive yard filled with lots of fruit trees, always made her feel like a princess.
"The aim is to get the books popular so that they could reach bigger companies like Disney and Nickelodeon because they are very important stories about women from history who, a lot of times, don't get the recognition they deserve," Martin shared.
The 39-year-old now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and visits Jamaica regularly. Her books are available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com for $10.


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Badgley Mischka Fall 2016 Bridal Collection
Mark Badgley and James Mischka looked to Buenos Aires in the '50s for their fall 2016 bridal collection. Mixing classic styles with Hollywood glamour, Badgley Mischka has brides everywhere looking modern and sophisticated for their big days.
Their inspiration seemed to continue the story of the woman they portrayed in the Badgley Mischka spring/summer 2016 ready-to-wear collection. With their RTW collection designed with aspects of the '50s retro vibe, with a flair of timeless elegance, it seems the Badgley Mischka muse has entered the next stage of her life. For the spring/summer months, she was living her high society life, with the perfect clothes to match, and has now found a suitable man to marry. So now, she needs to find her wedding dress, and tries on all of these dresses to find the perfect one. Each dress has its own attributes that would make it perfect for this woman to wear, as the small details make it cohesive with the overall characteristics of the woman.
Despite the extravagance of some of the designs, there is a breath of lightness flowing through the Badgley Mischka fall 2016 bridal collection, and there is no doubt the wearer will simply glide down the aisle. "Even when the dresses have volume, they're light as a feather,' said Badgley in an interview with WWD. Most of the designs were made from tulle, silk chiffon, georgette, lace, and mikado, so the designs are sleek, gorgeous, and also ensure the bride's comfort.
There was a definite leaning toward gowns with a sweetheart neckline. Since each dress is unique, the repetition isn't redundant, and the different ways in which it is used creates a high level of diversity in the collection, despite the streamlined neck.
The looks ranged from simple and clean to regal and elegant, so many women will be able to find their perfect look in this collection. The wide variety of shapes and silhouettes make it difficult to find any one gown as a standout piece. Each piece is beautiful in its own way, because each was made with a new woman in mind.
With the diverse silhouettes, it is clear women of many body types can find their perfect look in the Badgley Mischka fall 2016 bridal line. From classic ballgowns to slim-fitted dresses, Badgley Mischka has created a collection for women of any stature. Even with the most simply styled silhouettes, the brand hasn't given up their glitzy romanticism. The use of intricate sequins and beading gave a sometimes subtle and sometimes glaring nod to the ritzy lifestyle of the Badgley Mischka client.
As a woman seeking her own bridal gown, wearing any dress from Badgley Mischka's fall 2016 bridal line would be a dream come true.
Photos courtesy of WWD


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SPG Solar Completes First of Seven Solar Projects for the City of Tucson
City of Tucson to Dedicate Solar Installation at El Pueblo Activity Center. SPG Solar, Inc., recently completed the first of seven solar projects for the City Tucson.
TUCSON, Ariz. -May 26, 2009 - SPG Solar, Inc., recently completed the first of seven solar projects for the City Tucson. On Friday, May 29, 10 a.m., the City of Tucson will hold a dedication ceremony at the El Pueblo Activity Center, 101 West Irvington, Tucson Ariz., site of the first completed project. The seven new projects for the City of Tucson will combine to deliver nearly 1 megawatt of clean, renewable energy to the city.
Speakers will include several city and federal officials as well as representatives from Tucson Electric Power and SPG Solar, Inc. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory will also participate. This year Tucson, one of 25 DOE Solar America Cities, celebrates 10 years of installing solar power systems on city facilities.
The roof-mounted 100 kW system uses racks produced by Schletter, Inc, a Tucson solar company. Kyocera Solar, also an Arizona based company, supplied the 465 solar panels that will produce over 150,000 kWh per year, enough to power about 15 Tucson homes and reduce greenhouse gases by about 108 metric tons per year. This is equivalent to removing 20 passenger vehicles from Tucson's highways each year. Electricity generated by solar does not consume or pollute water or air during operation.
Thomas Rooney, chief executive officer of SPG Solar, Inc. praised the City of Tucson for its persistence and vigilance in providing renewable energy sources for its city facilities. The installations are being built by SPG Solar, based in Novato, Calif., with development and construction teams deployed from SPG Solar's Tucson regional office.
"SPG Solar is honored to be a partner with the City of Tucson in helping it reach its renewable energy goals," says Rooney.
SPG Solar worked with the City of Tucson to develop, engineer, and plan the construction of each site to optimize system performance and thus increase the financial and environmental benefits of the project.
"The City of Tucson is impressed with the professionalism and technical knowledge of SPG Solar," says Doug Crockett, City Energy Manager. "They delivered different solutions to each opportunity, and the design and construction teams completed the El Pueblo Activity Center solar project ahead of schedule."
The project is the first of seven solar projects now being built by the City of Tucson and financed by issuing $7.6 million Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs). The other projects will be completed between now and November. The installations are being done by SPG Solar of Novato, Calif. Repayment of the bonds will come in part from TEP solar rebates.
The completion of the system sparked interest and brought opportunity in the Arizona solar market, leading SPG Solar to establish a permanent operating facility in Tucson, Ariz., in March, creating 40 new local jobs. SPG Solar's expansion into Arizona follows the trend of continued growth of the company since being founded in Northern California in 2001.


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Commissary Life #7: Check Out That Ginger
It's been the hottest week of the summer. You know what will help you cool off? A Spicy Ginger Lemonade!
Have you ever wondered how we get our Spicy Ginger Lemonade to have such a bold taste? Well, it's simple really: we use a lot of ginger. It's the perfect summer refreshment for these hot, muggy days.


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What DOES Jane Austen Know About Love and Romance?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Purchased
Despite the fact that she remained single and never married, Jane Austen understood what makes a relationship successful and strong. Her novels are full of wisdom, advice, and guides. Her characters teach us what to do, what not to do, and exemplify the many different forms and facets of love. Debra White Smith (author of many Christian Romance novels and a Modern Christian series on the novels of Jane Austen), takes one of the most famous passages in the Bible on love and marriage (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) and illustrates how it is followed in all of Jane Austen's novels.
"Love is patient, love is kind . . ." these words from 1 Corinthians describe love, pure and perfect love. As the daughter of a clergyman, it is conceivable that Jane Austen would believe and heed the words in the Bible about love and marriage. Jane Austen must have believed this passage to be the recipe for a satisfying and successful relationship. Characters in Jane Austen's novels learn valuable lessons about love, and we, in turn, can learn from their growth and follies. Continue reading »


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We are proud to be East Tennessee's premier rental provider and look forward to helping you with your event rentals!
Phone: (865) 588-1131
Fax: (865) 558-8779
We rent everything you need for your special occasion! Whether you're planning a small intimate occasion or a grand celebration, our Certified Event Rental Professionals will be happy to assist you. We can browse through our showroom to help you select the perfect items for your special event – and your budget. All Occasions Party Rentals is known for its extensive selection of products – tents, tables, chairs, linens, china, tableware, glassware, lighting, staging, flooring, furniture, fabric draping, decor, and so much more. We will even set up a display for you to see how all the items look together before placing your order.
5825 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday
FROM I-40 EAST: Take Papermill Rd. Exit #383. At stop light, turn right. Go to first light, turn right onto Weisgarber Road. Go past main post office, to stoplight.Turn right on Middlebrook Pike. Party Rentals is at first light on left, at intersection of Amherst Road.
FROM I-40 WEST: Take Papermill Rd. Exit #383. Bear left for Weisgarber Rd. Bear right onto Weisgarber exit. Turn right onto Weisgarber Rd. Go past main post office, to stoplight. Turn right on Middlebrook Pike. Party Rentals is at the first light on left, at intersection of Amherst Road.
If you prefer to speak to someone now, call 865-588-1131.
View our entire lineup of available products.Learn More
We are tuned in to the most current ideas and trends in the industry.Learn More
Answers to common questions concerning rental procedures.Learn More
Our Certified Event Rental Professionals will be happy to assist you.Learn More


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Quality Health Care Information Critical
By: Jim McManus Source: Boston Business Journal
"Quality of care" has become a rallying point for an army of health care reformers around the nation. Numerous conferences and scholarly journals explore the performance metrics of practitioners, criteria and standards, and health care outcomes. The goal is to measure and ultimately improve health care service delivery.
Equally important is a little-discussed but vital issue for health care reform: the quality of health care information.
In the area of health care, the quality of information is critical. For patients, it can mean the difference between life and death. For businesses, the quality of information affects reimbursements, investments and profitability.
The Internet puts a world of health care information at everyone's fingertips. Some is credible and helpful. Some is inaccurate and even harmful.
Federal and state government agencies now publish vast health care information resources, but they can be overwhelming in the amount of information offered.
Hospitals and patient groups provide a mixed bag in terms of the quality of information. Some are excellent, while others seem to treat consumer-facing information as an afterthought.
These and other Web sources need to continually refine their pages, improving the content, design and ease of navigation.
Perhaps the greatest disparity in the quality of health care information can be found on blogs and patient chat rooms. The Internet is a hypochondriac's dream come true. Some of the best health care blogs give hope to those who believe the Web can aid the progress of the human race. They are thoughtful, unbiased and informative. Chat rooms can give hope to newly diagnosed patients, connect people with resources and healers, and inform visitors about new discoveries.
In assessing the quality of health care information, a few principles are useful:
· Consider the source: Who has paid to gather and disseminate the information? If it is a group with a financial interest in a product or service, account for that in evaluating the results.
· The scientific method works: If health care information has been subjected to rigorous, unbiased testing over time, it is more likely to be useful.
· Get a second opinion: It is worth the time to check another source — and there are many — for the accuracy and reliability of health care information.
The quality of information will emerge as a major issue in health care reform, driven by consumer demand and the emergence of transparency as a more urgent priority for health care industry stakeholders.


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For Municipalities
Wisconsin Urban Wood's Green Tier Charter helps Green Tier Legacy Communities move further faster toward reaching their sustainability goals. The GreenTier Legacy Communities Charter is a unique partnership between Wisconsin communities, non-profit organizations, and state agencies. The WI DNR works together with these entities to assist communities in developing and implementing sustainability measures. WUW's Charter supports municipalities in pursuit of achieving superior environmental stewardship by focusing on urban wood utilization. Full list of Green Tier Legacy Communities Partners. Why become a Green Tier Legacy Community? Current Green Tier Legacy Communities.
For Businesses
Through Wisconsin Urban Wood's Green Tier Charter, WUW members provide urban forest owners with confidence that the member is practicing sound business management practices at all levels by by adherence to WUW governing documents. The WI DNR recognizes WUW governing documents as advancing the cause of forestry in the state to promote the best interests of the people and the state in forestry, and in assistance to landowners to secure adoption of better forestry practices, in furtherance of Wis. Stat. 28.01 and 28.07.


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Photos: Turnover, Citizen @ The Mod Club
Michigan / Ohio natives Citizen embarked on their 2016 North American tour with some rad support from Turnover, Sorority Noise, and Milk Teeth. The tour stopped through The Mod Club in Toronto on April 21st, 2016 where I once again had the chance to photograph Citizen (see my archived photos here) and for the first time ever... Turnover (which I was insanely stoked about).
I've been on a film photography kick lately and decided to try my hand at shooting film again after having success with Underoath's reunion show a week prior (see here).
This show was difficult to shoot. It was sold out, no pit and raging kids going nuts over both Turnover and Citizen. It was a challenge, but Turnover's low light performance processed better than I thought on film and Citizen's performance was bat shit crazy. The venue exploded the second they started playing and that had me getting crushed in the mosh pit desperately trying to get a good shot. After a song and a bit, I ended up moving back to a clear patch in the crowd and sniped a few from a distance.
I'm a huge fan of both Turnover and Citizen, so I'm stoked that I got some decent shots of them on film... real film. All photos were shot on my Nikon F100 on Kodak Portra 800 and Tri-x. See the full gallery below and let me know what you think in the comments.
Words / Photography by: Steve St. Jean


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|Cole slaw - an excellent side or as a topping on pulled pork.
(borrowed image.)
medium head of white cabbage (shredded)
1/2 small head red cabbage (shredded)
1 large or 2 medium carrots, peeled and grated
(or - bagged cole slaw mix, 2 bags 14 oz)
1/3 cup minced onion
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
8 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp. pepper
2 tbsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. celery seed
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Place in a fridge for at least three hours so the flavors meld. Stir and serve.
Keeps in an airtight container for up to a week.