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When used correctly, anabolic steroids offer a variety of health benefits to both athletes and non-athletes.
In fact, because the benefits of steroids have been frequently downplayed to focus more on the side effects of excessive steroid use.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic steroids specifically formulated to enhance muscle-building (anabolic) properties of androgens (androsterone and testosterone) while minimizing sex-linked (androgenic) properties.
Steroids stimulate muscle cells, activate protein-producing genes within muscle cells and increase enzymatic activity that promotes protein production. Buy legal steroids online here.
Table of Contents
The benefits of steroids are numerous, and will depend on which type.
Bodybuilders and athletes can often experience enhanced muscle mass, physique, and performance.
Steroids are synthetic variations on the male hormone testosterone, a chemical naturally generated by the body and that the body relies on for proper muscular function and growth.
Bottom line: people are driven to use steroids because they promote faster results and can be customized with stacking and dosages to meet the needs of individual fitness goals.
What can steroids be used for?
There are two main things that anabolic steroids can be used for: therapeutic treatment and increased performance for athletes and bodybuilders. We are going to focus on how steroids can be used for performance enhancement.
Each steroid has a different mechanism of action, but generally steroids can be used to achieve greater capacity in strength training and athleticism by fostering stronger bones, accelerating the development of muscle tissue, and boosting red blood cell count for higher stamina and endurance.
Some steroids can be used for cutting, which refers to losing excess fat while retaining lean muscle mass.
This is distinct from merely "losing weight," but steroids like Anavar can support the goal of just shedding pounds as well, providing it is combined with the right lifestyle of diet and exercise.
Other steroids, called bulking agents, can be used to quickly gain muscle mass and size. These are often stacked with cutting steroids to avoid excess weight gain and the look of puffiness and bloating.
Some athletes draw on steroids to help build lean muscle mass, boost endurance and strength, and reduce recovery time.
Steroid use in sports has been around for the last few decades. You may be surprised at some of the high profile members of the sporting community who have been caught "doping" with some performance-enhancing substance.
What do steroids do for athletes?
Athletic benefits of anabolic steroids primarily concern their ability to increase protein production and reduce post-workout recovery times by inhibiting catabolism of muscle tissues.
Anabolic steroids also promote cellular differentiation to limit the amount of cells that eventually develop into fat-storing cells.
Cellular differentiation supported by anabolic steroids facilitates weight management in athletes while maximizing the strength and stamina potential of muscle mass growth.
Moreover, decreasing fat storage means an athlete's basal metabolic rate will naturally increase, since more muscle cell activity elevates BMR.
This further helps athletes maintain a healthy weight/height ratio.
For weight trainers, the benefits of steroids in bodybuilding offer the same advantages enjoyed by athletes–greater stamina, increased muscle mass, leaner physique and shorter recovery times.
Anabolic steroids also promote red blood cell production, which enhances muscle health by providing plenty of oxygen and nutrients to muscle tissue.
Steroids are banned by most sporting organizations, including the international Olympic Committee.
You might think that means you are in the clear if you don't play sports or weight train competitively.
But for the non-professional sportsperson and bodybuilder, non-medical use of steroids is typically illegal in many countries, including the U.S.
Apart from the legal risks, there is also the very real potential for life-threatening side effects.
Although injectable and liquid anabolic steroids work well to enhance athletic performance, they may cause side effects that require special consideration by users in order to prevent health issues that may or may not be reversible.
Are steroids good for you?
Let's briefly look at some of the possible adverse health outcomes, and then we'll let you decide.
Orally administered anabolic steroids seem to exert more adverse effects on the liver than those administered via steroid injections.
Some injectable anabolic steroids such as Sustanon, testosterone enanthate and testosterone cypionate affect the liver only minimally, if at all.
More common side effects of steroid use includes hepatic lesions, steroid gut, jaundice and benign tumors.
However, liver tumors are predominantly seen in people who use anabolic steroids containing a 17-alpha-alkyl group.
Generally, once administration of this type of steroid is stopped, tumor growth reverses. Jaundice and lesions are reversible as well.
The side effects will vary depending on the potency of the steroid chosen.
Since anabolic steroids are derivatives of the hormone testosterone, they will have a genitotropic effect on the male reproductive system.
Administration of sports steroids naturally lead to a higher concentration of testosterone in the body, which decreases production of other hormones and causes reversible hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.
Although the benefits of steroids in sports produce desired steroids gains, some studies have shown that "stacking", or using two or more anabolic steroids simultaneously, may increase suppression of gonadal functions.
However, abstaining from anabolic steroids will reverse the condition within several months.
Other possible side effects of anabolic steroid use in men include gynecomastia(formation of breasts due to higher circulating estrogen levels), acne, hair loss, increase in total cholesterol and decreased libido.
Alternately, women who take anabolic steroids may experience increased libido, infertility, hair loss and higher cholesterol levels.
In addition to helping build muscle mass and endurance, anabolic steroids also seem to enhance "masculine" or aggressive behavior in baseball players and sports players in general.
Testosterone fuels competitiveness among athletes by activating the amygdala in a way that strengthens its resistance to higher brain centers.
In other words, anabolic steroids and testosterone stimulates the brain's subcortical areas responsible for producing aggressive behaviors while suppressing the newer, more rational part of the brain.
Ultimately players use it because they see a huge transformation in their body's and athletic capabilities.
Anabolic steroids are commonly used to:
When supraphysiologic quantities of anabolic steroids are given to men less than 35 years of age, lean body mass and muscle strength and size are both increased, with or sometimes without regular exercise.
In addition, anabolic steroids improve muscle tolerance to weight training exercises while protecting overloaded muscles against fiber damage.
Benefits of taking steroids for men over 40 involve collagen and bone tissue synthesis that boosts bone mineral density to offset the effects of osteoporosis and development of bone spurs.
Steroid treatment may also prevent sarcopenia, an age-related condition contributing to falls, frailty and weakness.
Hypogonadal men will also benefit from the ability of steroids to restore normal hormone levels, increase lean muscle mass and contribute to healthy bone density.
When taken as prescribed, the benefits of testosterone steroids often seemt o outweigh the risks as they are well-tolerated in healthy men.
The problem is that people who abuse steroids for performance enhancement use them at doses that are way too high, bringing on severe adverse effects.
Any side effects that alter a steroid user's physical or mental abilities can usually manage mild to moderate side effects by making slight dosage adjustments.
However, a stacking program should only be implemented by those who have several years experience taking and understanding the health benefits of steroids and have in-depth knowledge of how certain ones affect the body.
Understanding the benefits versus the risks is key.AAS SteroidsBefore and After SteroidsBenefits of SteroidsCommon SteroidsHow Steroids WorkList Anabolic SteroidsOral SteroidsPros Cons SteroidsSteroid ResultsSteroidsSteroids BodySteroids EffectsSteroids FactsSteroids for BeginnersSteroids ReviewsSteroid UseSynthetic SteroidsTaking SteroidsTruth About SteroidsTypes of Steroids


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A relationship, much like life is a journey and hence it needs to be treated with love and respect on a daily basis. Relating with this person lovingly will keep both of you and people around you happier as they sail this "ship" with you. Whose responsibility is it to maintain a relationship? Is it 50-50? 80-20? In my opinion, each partner has to give 100% in order for a relationship to work. Expecting it to just be "Good" is being naïve, expecting it to be super easy is also unrealistic, it takes work, but you can make the work pleasurable, fulfilling and satisfying.
A real, loving relationship is a partnership of mutual support, mutual pleasure and mutual respect. Relationships are 'created' and don't exist until two people unite in a common purpose. You make a choice to continue to relate with another person in a loving and conducive way so that each of you can meet your life goals and attain personal growth. Dr. Christine Meinecke – Psychologist explains it so aptly, "Infatuation is temporary. Disenchantment happens as soon as infatuation wears out and is inevitable. Marriage cannot succeed without mature love. Mature love is self-responsible. Self-responsible spouses do not try to change their partners. Instead, they focus on managing their own insecurities and dark moods, expectations and reactions."
You need a common purpose
Make a choice to continue to relate with your partner so that each of you can meet your life goals and attain personal growth. If you have children, then creating a loving environment for them, would be one of the common purposes.
When you know that you want to be with this person more than you want anything else in the world, (for whatever reason), then everything you do for each other and to keep your life together harmonious will come from desire and a true "want" instead of a compulsion or a "have-to". You will not have anything to complain about.
There is nothing called Perfect Marriage!
How can there be when we are all unique individuals transforming every single day, but finding what works for two to co-exist in harmony and joy is what a healthy relationship is about. Who defines this perfection anyway?
Because you now have a "goal" or purpose which is "to relate with this person lovingly everyday", the next time your partner pushes your buttons or says something that almost invokes an impulsive reaction, wait and think about that goal.
Respond, don't react!
"A reaction is automatic, not thought through consequentially, whereas a response is chosen. Between an action and its reaction there is a space, and in that space is the opportunity to choose. (Victor Frankl)
Responding is using that space to make that choice and to do or say what will get you closer to your goal" Choosing to respond in a sensitive manner to the feelings of your partner is a priceless habit to form in order to have a loving relationship. Selfish vs. Selfless All this is different from letting your partner walk all over you.
No one wants to be a doormat, or be involved in a relationship with a pushover. So it is your responsibility to take care of "Number 1" – You.
Be selfish!
Being selfish simply means taking responsibility for yourself, which is far more commendable than being a victim and blaming others and your circumstances for your situation. If there is no me, there cannot be a "we". When you are selfish in this way, only then can the people around you be happy too. Sometimes, you may realize that in fact, "giving" your partner what they want instead of being stubborn about what you want, will often in fact make YOU happy. There is a delicate balance between giving freely and thinking of our own needs. This is the trickiest relationship skill to master, but perhaps the most rewarding.
We are not mind readers
Ask for what you want clearly and allow each other to say 'no' without guilt. Don't expect your partner to read your mind; if you want them to do something, ask them specifically for what you want. Remember that you are two people brought up in different homes and with different habits and values and to assume that the other should KNOW how and what you want is ridiculous. Never assume that anything is common-knowledge.
Only someone who can say No, can make a real promise!
When you are uncomfortable or simply do not want to do something, simply be lovingly firm and say 'No'. Allow your partner to say 'no' without repercussions, too. Even if you are disappointed, accept that you are better off being slightly disappointed than having the person you love lie or pretend to you. A distorted internal link most of us have is to connect the 'No' to a request to meaning a 'No' to you. We take the rejection personally, which is misplaced.
Infatuation according to Dr. Christine Meinecke, can last nine months to four years – this may vary greatly when they are modern or long-distance relationships. In this stage, partners overestimate their similarities and idealize each other.
Try these Love Strategies as featured in "Don't Think of a Blue Ball" to help kick-start your relationship after the inevitable end of the infatuation phase.
Think of a time you felt truly and completely like you were being loved.
Was it something you heard, saw or felt?
A couple, John and Jane went in to see a hypnotist for some marriage counseling. They were feeling like they had lost the magic in their relationship and they were a couple that were once "madly in love" with each other. So the Hypnotist asked John first to think of a time when he felt like he was truly and completely being loved.
"Think of a time, perhaps in your childhood"
Was it something you heard being said to you? A touch? A gesture?"
John answered that he felt loved when –
- He heard the words, "I love you John". He loved hearing his own name being uttered out loud.
- He also felt loved when someone cooked a nice meal for him, when he knew that the woman he adored, cared enough to go to the shops, buy ingredients, chop, marinate and spend time and effort in the kitchen for the sheer pleasure of satisfying his palate.
- When someone ran their hands through his scalp, his hair. Almost scratching with nails, through the top of his head, the neck, the sides of his head, he felt cared for, nurtured, loved…adored.
Jane was asked the same question and she said that she felt truly loved when –
- She heard the words "You are so beautiful, Jane" whispered in her ear. Her name being said to her made her feel loved.
- When she was given thoughtful gifts, flowers or chocolate, basically when someone spent their precious time and money on her. She wanted to know that they were willing to give up something precious to make her feel good.
- When she was held firmly around her waist and kissed on her neck, especially from behind her. Her waist is a pressure point that made her feel sexy, feminine, beautiful and desirable.
When either of them felt, saw or heard these things, they were like "buttons" being pushed which made them feel loved. When they first met, as most new loves, both were randomly doing everything for the other as you do in the early stages of a relationship. This, as Dr. Meinecke describes is during the early honeymoon stage of the relationship where people are quite infatuated and would do almost anything for each other, including watching movies that don't really interest us.
So, by default, they happened to press the right buttons as well, unknowingly, of course, like a child pressing all the floors in the elevator and hitting the right floor in the process.
So, by "mistake" John was holding Jane's waist facing her, from behind her, he was holding her hip too and her shoulder too, but he got the waist sometimes, just like even a broken clock gets the time right twice a day!
Jane too was hitting the spots when she ran her hands through John's scalp and his back and arms as well, she too like the clock, got it right a few times a day.
The thing though is that after a relationship gets over the honeymoon stage, we humans tend to become comfortable and then we relax and revert to either not pressing buttons, or maybe pressing our own "buttons" on our partners.
So what was happening in John and Jane's case is that, of late, both of them were "missing the spot"
Care enough to Press the right buttons
Think about having an itch on your back and having your hands tied up holding a heavy box in front of you, and you ask your partner to scratch it for you and they just can't seem to scratch the itch, missing it by centimeters all the time! This can be very frustrating!!!! Dr. Meinecke refers to this stage as the "Disenchantment" stage and the focus in on what is wrong with each other, perhaps even questions like, did I make a mistake?
If you knew how easy and almost effortless it would be to make the person you love feel good, wouldn't you just do it? Especially when you were aware of the good feelings it would invoke in the other and therefore infuse back to you?
It sounds so easy and almost mechanical, but it is so effective and not doing it is so detrimental to the relationship. Yes it will take a little time, and effort on your part, but isn't that what being in a relationship is about?

subset: commoncrawl


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Most people tend to associate a decline in memory or cognitive function with age, but the bottom line is that cognitive abilities like attention, memory,
mood and mental clarity are not necessarily related to how old we are. There are many older people who seem to have better memories than you and I put
together and that is because cognitive function, just like most of the human functions, depend on what we eat and our overall health.
A number of essential amino acids are required for optimal brain function and cognitive support. L-Tyrosine, for example is a vital ingredient for the
production of l-dopa, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, and these are important for neurotransmitter support, for mood regulation, and for mental
clarity. Taurine is another essential nutrient that is required for optimal brain function and cognitive support. Taurine plays a vital role in protecting
the brain and brain cells and this amino acid allows the brain to maintain a healthy brain function. Acetylcarnitine plays an important role in attention,
mental clarity, mood, and memory.
Most of these amino acids are available in the food we eat, but who has the time and energy to try to work out which foods contain which amino acids in the
correct amounts.
The truth is our ability to think, reason, remember, earn a living, and live life in general, all depends on our mental abilities. Which is why it is
important to invest in a high quality cognitive support supplement that will ensure your brain gets the nutrients it needs to keep you performing at
optimal levels.


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Before you teach your kids some words start with "ch", teach them how to make "ch" sound. The first idea come to our mind is the sound a train makes, "choo-choo-choo". If your kids love toy trains, play with them on the floor. Say "Choo choo!" frequently and encourage your child to join in. Another way of teaching the CH sound is by teaching your child where to place the tongue. Encourage her to place her tongue tip on the roof of the mouth at the bumpy ridge just before it goes down toward the back of the mouth.
Then add each vowel after the CH sound. They are "cha, che, chi, cho, and chu". Finally, introduce your kids with word start with "ch". Use the word list below to practice the CH sound.
Read the words: chapter, check, chin, chocolate, church. Then ask your kids to draw it. Also, you can let your kids write the words and then match up their pictures with the right words.


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Montezuma to Dominical Taxi Boat Transportation
Cena od USD 145,00 USD
- Trvanie: 4 Hodín (cca.)
- Kód produktu: PBT75N
Montezuma to Dominical Taxi Boat Transportation
* Rate includes all charges and fees.
Meeting spot: Montezuma Beach Taxi Boat office at 8:30 a.m. arrival is by 2:00 p.m.
This taxi boat service includes, taxi boat service from Montezuma to Herradura Beach, ground transportation from taxi boat landing beach to Jaco to drop off passengers and then continue the trip to DOMINICAL.


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5th September 2011
Order and downpayment received today.
2nd. September 2011
Our Singaporean customer will be placing another 3,000 sets of our Gebung Type Rubber Tapping knives for mature trees by next week.
This is a repeat order which they ordered from our company in April 2011.
Our Gebung knives have proven to be effective in tapping mature trees while our upward tapping knives are good for tapping trees in high places.
Besides these tapping knives for mature trees, we have also supplied Gebung type rubber trees for virgin rubber trees.
Interested buyers can email us at: email@example.com


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Monogram Creator
Software Downloads
Monogram Creator Download
Monogram Creator is coming soon!
Want to see what's next? Try the new Creator Alpha release, or get notified when Monogram Creator launches:
Looking for Palette?
Creative Console was designed by the creators of Palette.
Shop for Palette ❯
Palette dials, buttons, and sliders are compatible with Monogram Creative Console
Palette Software ❯
Download PaletteApp and see release notes
Palette Support ❯
Tutorials and help with using Palette


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Storm Predicted For Saturday May 12
Auckland, New Zealand, May 8, 2001 – Refreshed after the week-long State of Origin break from NRL club competition, the Vodafone Warriors are anticipating a hard game against the Melbourne Storm this Saturday. The first home game for the Vodafone Warriors in several weeks, the match-up will see the team take on the Storm's large contingent of former Warriors and representative Kiwi colleagues.
The game will have added significance as the Storm and the Vodafone Warriors will also vie for the Michael Moore Cup (formerly the Trans-Tasman Cup). Established in 1998, but recently renamed in the memory of the Melbourne team manager who died at Prince's Wharf in downtown Auckland last year, the Cup has always been closely contested. Presently held by the Storm, both clubs have won the Cup three times and each are certain to want a fourth win.
"The Storm had a rough start to the season but their recent performances have proven they're a side with dangerous potential. They have posted huge scores against the Eagles and Panthers, while they lost to the Broncos by just two points and to the Roosters by one. That's an impressive record and if we make mistakes on Saturday we'll be made to pay for it," says Vodafone Warriors Coach Daniel Anderson.
"I know our guys are looking forward to the opportunity to play against some of their mates. There is no question it'll be a tough game – it would be foolish to expect anything else, but we're confident of matching the Storm. We'd also like to think we'll be the ones taking home the Michael Moore Cup on Saturday."
General manager Mick Watson hopes fans will make the effort to be at Ericsson for the game. "To date, we haven't had too many home games and as a club we are looking forward to the weekend. It means we get to enjoy the crowds' support and we are able to avoid the concerns that arise from travelling. We want the fans to make a big noise on Saturday. That sort of vocal support really lifts the team, and it adds so much to the atmosphere of the stadium," says Watson.
The Vodafone Warriors' line up for Friday's game
is as follows:
1. Motu Tony
2. Henry Faafili
3. Clinton Toopi
4. David Myles
5. Francis Meli
6. Ivan Cleary
7. Stacey Jones (c)
8. Jerry Seu Seu
9. Jason Death
10. Justin Morgan
11. Logan Swann
12. Ali Lauitiiti
13. Kevin Campion (c)
14. Nathan Wood
15. Jason Temu
16. Monty Betham
17. Awen Guttenbeil
18. Shontayne Hape
Ericsson Stadium gates open at 5.15pm on Saturday, May 12. The Bartercard Cup curtain raiser of Eastern Tornadoes vs. Otahuhu kicks off at 5.30pm. The Vodafone Warriors will take on the Melbourne Storm in Round 12 of the NRL competition, 7.30pm.


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Selena Gomez Vs. Jennifer Lawrence: Whose Sexy Pantsuit Do You Like Best?
Whoops! These two sexy starlets, Jennifer Lawrence and Selena Gomez, rocked nearly identical white pantsuits recently. But, who did it best?
Selena Gomez, 22, looked sleek and sexy in a buttoned-up white pantsuit, while Jennifer Lawrence, 24, took a more casual route with a similar style. Which one of these gorgeous girls rocked their pantsuit better?
Selena Gomez vs. Jennifer Lawrence: Who Wore It Better?
It's a pantsuit face-off!
On Nov. 8, Selena stepped out for the Unlikely Heroes Awards Gala in a sexy, vamped-up white-pantsuit with a long blazer that had embellishments on the shoulders.
To add to her sexy look, she opted not to wear anything underneath her blazer, which cut down her chest like a v-neck.
The following day, Jennifer rocked an almost identical look at a photocall for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1 in London, England.
Jen's look was a bit more laid-back, as she kept her non-embellished blazer open and chose a black top for underneath.
So, now we ask the very important question to YOU, HollywoodLifers: Which one of these sexy starlets rocked their white pantsuit better?
Be sure to vote in the box on your right!
Jennifer vs. Gwyneth Paltrow In Topless Tuxedos
This isn't the first time Jennifer has worn a similar outfit to another big celebrity.
Just recently, Jennifer looked sexy in a thigh-length black tuxedo jacket with satin lapels. The jacket cut square down her chest, nearing her navel and revealing some very sexy cleavage.
The look was very similar to the ex of her rumored on-again/off-again new boyfriend, Coldplay's Chris Martin. Yes, I am talking about Gwyneth Paltrow!
For her look, Gwyneth wore a black pantsuit with satin lapels that had sexy cut-outs on the waist of her blazer. The mother-of-two also opted not to wear anything underneath her blazer, which cut down just between her breasts
When we asked out HollywoodLifers to vote on who wore it best — Jennifer or Gwyneth, just over 78% of them chose Jennifer!
— Lauren Cox
Follow @Iaurencox


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Nanna made cupcakes for the kids to decorate last night while we were running. She's such a fun grandma!
Julianna wasn't feeling good so she didn't didn't even want to eat one when they got finished. Of course, when they started she had me take this picture:
Josh had no objection to eating his.
I guess they are children after my own heart because after I ran I took this selfie:


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The Slat Back Carver Dining Chair is but some of the most popular, it's the perfect way to bring country chic to your dining room or kitchen. The traditional design is both timeless and stylish and with high quality construction you can be sure that they will retain their charm even with day to day use.
With a wide selection of matching Farmhouse Tables in a variety of sizes as well as Carver Chairs available you can be sure to find a perfect selection to suit you.
Width: 590 mm Depth: 530 mm Height: 845 mm Seat Height: 465 mm
Arm Height: 686 mm
Materials: Beech
Lead time for chairs from the time of order is 2-3 weeks. If you need an urgent turnaround then contact us as there may be an additional charge to receive your item a lot sooner. Please bare in mind that during the lead up to Christmas we may have an extended lead time.
Please see chair delivery information
Our Keepers Cottage
Gem has our Traditional Farmhouse Dining Set


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This is a Genuine Suburban Anode Rod
A Genuine Suburban Anode rod will prolong the life of you hot water service and also provide clean safe hot water.
All Suburban RV Hot Water Systems have an anode rod which absorbs all the corrosive action of hot water. It is located on the bottom of the HWS under the main burner, you simply unscrew this to drain the tank of water. If the rod is mostly eaten away, simply replace it with a new one.
The downside of using a non-genuine anode
- Incorrect thread which will cause damage to your tank
- Wrong alloy composition which will make your tank smell like rotten eggs and also leave a green jelly like compound in the bottom of your tank
- Incorrect length can cause damage to the cold water inlet socket within the tank
The Suburban Anode Rod is made for use in the 4, 5 & 6 Gallon tanks. Please be aware that some imitation anode rods can cause damage to your Suburban HWS.
- Overall: 238mm
- Thread Size: 3/4" NPT
- Made from Magnesium
Be The First To Review This Product!
Help other Caravan Parts users shop smarter by writing reviews for products you have purchased.


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If you follow any fashion bloggers on Instagram you've probably heard of Second Hand September by now. But what is it all about? Second Hand September is an initiative which encourages people not to buy new clothes for the month of September and instead to buy from charity shops/preloved and rewear items from their own wardrobes. The idea is to stop people from relying so much on fast fashion and instead show that shopping sustainably can be stylish.
To be completely honest I couldn't fully pledge myself to only buying sustainably for the entire month. I am a self confessed shopaholic after all, but a step in the right direction is better than nothing and the way I see it is if I can make my buying habits more sustainable in any way that's already a win.
For this blog post I decided to enlist the help of some of my favourite local bloggers who advocate for buying and wearing preloved, vintage and sustainable clothes. Each of them sent me a picture of a recent outfit they've styled using these pieces to give you guys ideas of how you can be more environmentally friendly as well as still looking fab.
Me (and my bitch face), @hannahchambers_
Obviously I would be a hypocrite not to include myself in this so this is a recent basic work outfit that I styled. The blazer is a mens blazer from Oxfam. Blazers are one of my fave things to get from charity shops, as for me size doesn't matter as I wear them oversized anyway.
Rachael, @_imrachael
Rachael's outfit is the perfect transition into Autumn, her dress is from the Preloved and Reloved NI Clothing Swap which she runs alongside two other bloggers. Her coat is previously from Zara and was bought from a Charity Shop on the Lisburn Road.
Niamh, @fashionfollows_
Niamh wears this amazing vintage 90s style outfit. Her top is from Asos Marketplace and jeans are vintage.
Charis, @charisoliviaa
Charis wears this gorgeous denim jacket from Ebloggers, a great staple item to have in your wardrobe.
Sian, @sianmcquillan
Sian is wearing the perfect holiday look, showing that you can have a preloved wardrobe for all occasions. Here top is from Depop.
Cheryl, @polkadots_and_pompoms
Cheryl is wearing an amazing casual outfit which could be styled as workwear or just a nice day time look. Her blazer was previously from H&M which she bought from Depop.
Havanna, @havswardrobe
Havanna wears a 90s vintage sportswear vibe. Her t-shirt is from Mind Charity
Sian, @headsandthreads
Sian shows how your outfits don't have to be boring in this amazing vintage multi-coloured dress from Beyond Retro.
Becky, @theniftythrifter
Becky's account has been one of my faves recently for second hand September inspo. This gal is a student too, so shows lots of outfits that you can wear on nights out, like the one above. Her top here is from Depop, Jacket and Skirt both from Cancer Focus Charity Shop and Necklace from Age Uk.
Nuala, @vintageandretronoodles
Nuala, wears a lovely all black outfit with a statement leopard print dress, her entire outfit is from charity shops.


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Price: $17.10
Quantity: 1 available
Book Condition: Very Good
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap; 365pp + ads; DJ is a picture of a 1914-style football team (no helmets, old uniforms) getting ready to kick a football; It's a beautiful illustration, but unfortunately, there are several tears on the DJ, but none actually impact the picture; The book itself is great! Virtually no signs of edgewear; Pages are yellowed, but clean and tight; Owner's inscription on fep; Protected in mylar cover; Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Illustrator: Relyea, Charles M.. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: 1 - 2 pounds. Category: Children; Juvenile Fiction::Sports; Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 100239. Hardcover
Title: Left End Edwards
Illustrator: Relyea, Charles M.
Publisher: New York, Grosset & Dunlap: 1914
ISBN Number: No ISBN
Binding: Hardcover (Original Cloth)
Book Condition: Very Good
Jacket Condition: Fair
Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall
Pound: 2.00 Pound
Seller ID: 100239
Keywords: BZDB26 NOISBN Children; Juvenile Fiction::Sports; Left End Edwards Barbour Ralph Henry Hardcover


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What makes a particular path or spiritual teacher trustworthy? And what are the tools that regular people use to make healthy distinctions when it comes to evaluating the part spirituality plays in their lives? That's assuming you're comfortable with the very idea of performing such an evaluation. Might the answer depend – in part – on how evolved and mature we are? (Oops, sorry, we're all completely enlightened already!)
In the 1940's, psychologist Abraham Maslow developed the Hierarchy of Needs, a theory stating that humanity has certain basic needs that must be met in a particular sequence in order for individuals to be able to become self-actualized. First, hunger and thirst must be sated, followed by safety needs like security and protection. Third are social needs, a sense of belonging and love, and then esteem needs. Once these four foundations of Maslow's hierarchical pyramid are satisfied, self-actualization is possible.
Whether or not one adheres to Maslow's theory, those of us with the money and leisure to pursue spiritual studies are indeed incredibly fortunate. By contrast, people living in the Third World without enough to eat on a daily basis don't have the luxury to chase divine union. But does that mean the hungry are ultimately less "spiritual" than those in the developed world? And can we really become self-actualized if we fail to address such inequities? In other words, if we want to be able to declare "One World", shouldn't everyone have their basic needs met to freely follow their soul's path?
Maitreya's Priorities
Consider for a moment the following proposition: Maitreya, a Teacher of enormous stature, is living in the world. He is waiting for the right moment to publicly declare himself as the one awaited by all the world's religions, and as a teacher alike for those of no religion. According to British author and esotericist Benjamin Creme, who has been speaking about Maitreya's emergence for over 30 years, Maitreya has defined certain vital priorities for humanity. From Mr. Creme's book "The Great Approach":
"When the world's stock markets crash, the priorities of all governments will change. The first priority will be the provision of adequate food for all the people; second, the provision of adequate housing; and third, the provision of adequate healthcare and education for all the people as a universal right.
"That does not sound terribly revolutionary: enough food, shelter, healthcare and education, which many people take for granted. But there is no country in the world in which all of these pertain as a universal right. When they do, life on this planet will be transformed."
Is it time to expand our definition of the word "spiritual" to move beyond what it conjures up for some of us in the new thought community; our own personal enlightenment?
Mr. Creme also writes in his book "Maitreya's Mission Volume Three,"
"The religious path, as seen by the Masters, is only one of many paths to the demonstration of our innate divinity. God does not reside in the religion, although the religion might help you to realize that divinity. Every aspect of life – politics, economics, religion, art, culture, science, education – can be lived in such a way that what we call God can be known and expressed."
So, those of us who are not quite Buddha yet might be interested in exploring various options at our disposal for leading a spiritual life, whether recognized as such by others or not.
Evaluating who benefits from a spiritual path – personality or soul?
Consider this simplified premise: the soul of a human being is a spark of the divine and altruistic at its core. The human personality is primarily self-serving, and that's self with a lower case "s". If each individual's soul is trying to peep out and take hold of its respective personality vehicle, then it is this battle, this striving for supremacy of one over the other that prompts some of us to seek out a spiritual path or other fulfilling work.
If you'll agree that your soul and personality are busy duking it out, and let's pretend this takes place over many, many lifetimes, the objective is for the soul to win. When teachers and a body of teachings appear, we have to ask ourselves what their real value is. Do they appeal primarily to the selfishness of the small personality, or do they speak to the loving, service-oriented soul?
Noticing Resonance – Heart and Mind Together
Does a particular message feel genuine, is it delivered respectfully and does it truly resonate for you in both heart and mind? Or is the messenger stridently pushing an agenda and suggesting negative consequences if you don't get on board? If a teacher has an open heart, shuns divisive ideologies and urges cooperation and sharing, what would your response be? On the other hand, what if he or she suggests doomsday scenarios that claim there is only One Path – and you aren't on it?
So what resonates for you? If Maitreya's concerns, briefly outlined here, strike a chord, then make it a priority to attend Benjamin Creme's free public talk on July 25th at 2pm. It will be held at FIT-Haft Auditorium, Building C, 2nd Floor on 27th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City. For more information, call 212-665-9959.
Jacqueline Delibes


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Inter School Activities encourage students to interact with pupils of other schools and participate in a wide variety of events that hone their talents. It also gives them an insight into the thought processes and expertise of students of their peer group from other institutions.
It was very rightly said that ''Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students


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Many of us hold a vision in our minds, not a visual vision, but rather a feeling based in our hearts of a love that will never fail. We wonder will it ever be fulfilled. Yes, yes it will.
How do I know? Because I know hoping and keeping the dream makes it so. There is a shift in the air, the space around us, and in the Universe at large when you refuse to let go of the dream. So, darling, keep the dream. It will make a space to be filled by the right person.
There will be wanna-be mates who turn out to be substitutes, like seconds (flawed clothing items) and knock-offs (copied from the original item). Forgive me, my first career was as a dressmaker. But I have been a student of love my whole life.
I research love all the time. No one knows how to solve the mystery except for those folks who can honestly say and show they have been happily married for decades. One of my study groups. These folks have something in common. They are willing to change.
Its not easy, the older and seemingly wiser we get, the harder it is to let someone else be the reason we will change. My suggestion is to become child-like again. Be that inquisitive and influential kid you once were. You are older and wise enough not to get in trouble. But remember how open your heart and mind used to be. Access that beautiful child again in your older body and watch, wait and see what appears before you. Say yes to love when its standing right in front of you.


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This has been another blog that simply won't flow off the keyboard. Maybe this is related to the fact that last night was a bt late to bed following a trip to Ashford to see JB's story being acted out. All very exciting, and viewable for everyone here.
Go on, have a look. It's really quite okay!
I have an idea what I want to write but no structure will form to the words that makes it flow in any readable way.
My running endeavour today was a return to hill repeats on the road we made in Rye (I say "we made" – I mean that I managed, ordered in materials for, set-out, made design decisions where necessary and co-ordinated in with the highways authority along with our structural engineers while the groundworkers and tarmacers did the physical get it on the ground bits).
For those not familiar with my outings, it's a pyramid series of shuttle runs starting at the bottom of the hill (after a warm up from the top) with a 50m sprint up followed by a jog back down, continuing through 100m, 150m, 200m and 250m legs before shortening the legs through the same 200m, 150m, 100m and 50m runs. The steepest bit is from 125 to 250m at a steady 1 in 11 incline.
And it hurts.
The theory, as with most interval sessions, is that no matter how fit I get, the effort will never diminish beacuse I'll simply be able to push harder for longer. The restrictor is generally motivation and the self-preserving instinct to not hurt myself. Tonight this was eased by the presence of Spencer, my finishing foreman. Nothing like someone else there to assist in pushing oneself harder, I feel.
And tonight I pushed myself harder than the last outings. My overall time is flattered by the speed I was able to maintain on the jogs back down as I recovered a bit – if speed of recovery is fitness then I'm doing ok. But the intervals aren't bad either, all being consistently higher with the 100m uphill coming in at below 6 minute per mile pace. The first 50m outing is the most disappointing, clearly well before I hit my stride, with the first 200m hit being 6.07 average which, with the hardest bit of hill included, is pretty bloody satisfying.
Only 1.7 odd miles, but a hard outing and very different from just plodding around the lanes. Fair play to Spencer – he kept at it through the session and had a good sprint even in the last 50m with his first 50 being the equal of mine in every respect. I guess he'll be beating me in a few weeks if we stick at it, being the youth he is!
So a good run and a bad blog. I'll have to be happy enough with that, I guess.
452.64 miles to go.


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It's the fourth Sunday of the month and that means it's time for Swing Songs from The Nightingale!
Gabrielle Riel broadcasts Big Band, Swing and Electro-Swing live this evening on both Radio Riel's main stream and Radio Riel Dieselpunk from 6:00pm — 7:30pm North American Pacific time. The theme this month is "Pick Yourself Up", which is inspired by the Kerns and Fields song from the Astaire and Rogers movie "Swing Time".
If you happen to be in Second Life, please join us for the show at The Seraph Club in St John Islands. (http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/St%20John%20Islands/121/197/1503)


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Black Crane
BLACK CRANE Leaf Jumper / Lavender
Regular price $183.00 Sale price
Unit price
A relaxed sleeveless jumper. Soft feel drapey fabric with deep v open back and elastic detail. Drop crotch. Side seam pockets.
- Relaxed fit
- 55 % Linen, 45% Rayon Woven (Lightweight)
- Made in USA
- There are slight spec differences per colors due to garment dye
- Delicate machine wash in cold or hand wash cold. Use a net bag or alone in a machine, do not wring or twist. Low tumble dry with a net bag, dry flat. No bleach.


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Design of Arithmetic Circuits in Quantum Dot Cellular Automata Nanotechnology
Part of the Studies in Computational Intelligence book series (SCI, volume 599)
Part of the Studies in Computational Intelligence book series (SCI, volume 599)
This research monograph focuses on the design of arithmetic circuits in Quantum Dot Cellular Automata (QCA). Using the fact that the 3-input majority gate is a primitive in QCA, the book sets out to discover hitherto unknown properties of majority logic in the context of arithmetic circuit designs.
The pursuit for efficient adders in QCA takes two forms. One involves application of the new results in majority logic to existing adders. The second involves development of a custom adder for QCA technology. A QCA adder named as hybrid adder is proposed and it is shown that it outperforms existing multi-bit adders with respect to area and delay. The work is extended to the design of a low-complexity multiplier for signed numbers in QCA. Furthermore the book explores two aspects unique to QCA technology, namely thermal robustness and the role of interconnects.
In addition, the book introduces the reader to QCA layout design and simulation using QCADesigner.
Features & Benefits:
This research-based book:
· Introduces the reader to Quantum Dot Cellular Automata, an emerging
· Explores properties of majority logic.
· Demonstrates application of the properties to design efficient arithmetic
· Guides the reader towards layout design and simulation in QCADesigner.


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Dear Valued Client, Member, Vendor and or other:
Starting Monday March 23, 2020 United Family & Childrens Society will be conducting operations on a remote basis until further notice. We feel this is necessary to keep everyone protected and safe.
While the physical location will be closed, we are available and ready to be of assistance.
email@example.com. Send us an email, as we will be monitoring our inbox throughout the day. We will respond to your email by the end of every business day.
TELEPHONE: 908-755-4848 (Monday-Friday 9:00 -5:00 PM only)
We have calls and being answered offsite. If unavailable, please leave a message and your call will be returned by the end of business hours.
Stay Safe!
Manuela Garcia, LCSW
Executive Director
Professional counseling is offered to help individuals, children,
couples and families cope better with a variety of problems. We
also provide children's services and special programs, as well
as adoption services to prospective adoptive parents. Please browse the rest of our
Web site for more information about UFCS and current employment


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Thrifty Thursday #001
As a disclaimer, I don't mean 'thrifty' in the monetary sense, though I do enjoy getting the most bang out of any bucks I spend. I mean it more in the sense of "using other resources carefully and not wastefully" (thanks, Google Dictionary!); the resource in my case being words. The point of this series… Continue reading Thrifty Thursday #001


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This baby changing bag can be carried over the shoulder or in the hand. Thanks to its large zipped opening and its zipped external pocket, you can securely store all your essential changing items with easy access.
Weight: 700g
Dimensions: 36 x 28 21.5 cm
Watch our real mums that have paraded in Paris to introduce the new collection of Babymoov changing bags.
My Bag My Style Live Fashion Show from Babymoov on Vimeo.


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Easy condo living with full service amenities in a bright but secluded unit updated throughout. Parquet floors in entry, kitchen and dining room with balcony overlooking courtyard. Kitchen open to the large living area and dining room, has marble countertops and stainless steel appliances. Large master has a large updated bath and multiple closets. Large laundry room with washer, dryer and built in ironing board. Premium maintenance, 24 hour doorman or attendant, exercise room and pool.
This listing is courtesy of the listing agent Liz Chiego (#4685), with the office Phyllis Browning Company.


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Counry woods animals on a soft neutral background keep you company in the kitchen this season, right in time for fall. Bring a magical autumnal ambience to your kitchen, this design features red squirrels, deer, pheasants, hedgehogs and the occasional owl. Sure to brighten your days, I love these in our French Country kitchen.
Each has a handy hanging loop, you can also use these as an extra large napkin for "messy meals." A wonderful host or hostess gift, wrap around a bottle of wine or present this with a fresh baked pumpkin pie! Machine wash. We also sell the co-ordinating double oven gloves.


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Former Orange County insurance agent arraigned on 40 felony counts of grand theft
News: 2018 Press Release
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — Anna Gabriela Garcia, also known as Anna Nuno-Garcia, 46, of Capistrano Beach, was arraigned yesterday and charged with 40 felony counts of grand theft after allegedly collecting premium payments from customers and diverting the funds of over $195,000 for personal use.
Garcia, a former licensed insurance agent, while working for an independently owned State Farm agency from September 2011 to November 2014 embezzled more than 300 checks totaling $195,626 by altering, endorsing or depositing them into her personal bank accounts. These checks were for payment of the insureds' insurance premiums or were premium refunds for the policyholder.
"Garcia's alleged crimes are an example of why insurance fraud is not a victimless crime," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "In order to line her own pockets, Garcia allegedly took advantage of people who trusted her and put those people at risk of economic loss by failing to place insurance coverage intended to protect them."
Garcia allegedly failed to place coverage for personal and commercial automobile insurance causing cancellation of DMV registrations and exposing customers and others on the road to the risk of economic loss. Garcia also allegedly failed to place a life insurance policy and at least 17 homeowner and renter's policies.
To conceal the embezzlement of diverted premium checks into her personal bank account, Garcia allegedly made 57 unauthorized ACH debits from one State Farm insured's bank account to pay the premiums of others unknown to that insured. She also allegedly made unauthorized charges to multiple customers' credit cards to pay the premiums of unrelated others' State Farm policies.
Garcia allegedly used cash payments from some clients to purchase money orders to pay premiums for other clients and set up policyholders on unauthorized State Farm installment payment plans. Garcia also misdirected customer billings, statements, and refunds to incorrect addresses, some of which were her own or Post Office boxes she had access to. Victims included extended family members and elderly State Farm customers.
Garcia was arraigned on November 5, 2018 at the Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana. Bail was set at $20,000.00. This case was handled by CDI's Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Garcia's license expired in April 2018 for failure to renew.
# # #
The California Department of Insurance, established in 1868, is the largest consumer protection agency in California. Insurers collect $310 billion in premiums annually in California. Since 2011 the California Department of Insurance received more than 1,000,000 calls from consumers and helped recover over $469 million in claims and premiums. Please visit the Department of Insurance website at www.insurance.ca.gov. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.


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Mon 18 Jan 2016
Read About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Williams
Posted by Edward W. Morley '60 under Williams History at 10:06 am
The Williams College Libraries conveniently maintain a PDF of the Williams Record coverage of Dr. King's 1961 visit to Williams College.
John Kifner '63 did the reporting for the Record. He would go on to receive the Williams Bicentennial Medal in 2002 after a storied career as a New York Times reporter at home and abroad, and in his reporting on Dr. King's visit, readers can see a preview of his later reportage:
"Life at its best and as it should be lived is complete on all sides," came the deep, vibrant voice from the pulpit.
A free chapel cut last Sunday brought the irony of the first [standing room only] audience at chapel within recent memory, with WMS piping the sermon to a large overflow in Baxter Hall…
The curious came away satisfied, for Dr. King is a vigorous and compelling speaker. After chapel, another overflow crowd awaited in Jesup Hall for a question and answer session on civil rights. Many had already attended his talk on the philosophy of non-violent resistance at the WCC dinner.
The reference to the "free chapel cut" is a reminder that — although students began to protest against mandatory religious worship even in the late 19th century — chapel remained compulsory at Williams College almost until the College became coeducational. By the 1960s, even the clergy were suggesting a change. Here's Rev. Nicholas B. Phelps '56, assistant rector at St. John's Episcopal Church, later in 1961 (also in the Record):
"A religious service is designed as an expression of the life of a community. The college chapel uses it as a means of education, which is fundamentally treacherous to the tradition to which you are trying to expose people."
Back to Dr. King's visit. In contrast to the usual newspaper format where the lead article would provide the facts of Dr. King's visit, the longer of Kifner's two Record articles is really an overview on Dr. King, the civil rights movement, and non-violent civil disobedience, leaving an account of Dr. King's speech and activities to the brief sidebar, quoted above. That article gives only the briefest description of the substance of Dr. King's sermon:
At chapel, King spoke on the "Three Dimension of the Complete Man." The first dimension, length, he defined as the development of a rational and healthy self-interest. "Before we can love others adequately, we must love ourselves properly," he stated.
Breadth, he defined as "concern for others . . . the ability to rise above individual concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." He cited the Good Samaritan as one who "projected the I into the Thou . . . . God, he said, is interested in the freedom of the whole human race.
The last dimension, height, is the ability to rise above the mere sensate of life, to grope for God and Faith…
Surprisingly, the Record ran no follow-up commentary to Dr. King's visit, although in February, 1962, it did identify his speech as one of the four most newsworthy Williams moments of 1961 (alongside President Sawyer's installation, an upset win over Amherst in football, and a run of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" at the AMT). And over time, it proved an occasion long remembered at Williams, one worth remembering as we celebrate Dr. King's birthday and legacy.
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What is the Test?
- HSK-Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi is an international Chinese proficiency written exam for non-native Chinese speakers, it consists of six levels, namely HSK (level 1), HSK (level 2), HSK (level 3), HSK (level 4), HSK (level 5), HSK (level 6).
- HSKK-Hanyu Shuiping Kouyu Kaoshi is a standardized Chinese language oral test. It consists of three levels, HSKK (Elementary level), HSKK (Intermediate level) and HSKK (Advanced level), which is conducted in the form of audio recording.
What Will a Chinese Test Do for You?
- Your gateway to study in China
- A must for applying for scholarships and summer camps
- Priority conditions for the Confucius China Study Program
- Joint Research Ph.D. Fellowship
- Ph.D. in China Fellowship
- Plus for career building
2020 Test Schedule
Test format: Paper-based Test
Test time:
The October 17, 2020 test has been canceled. Stay tuned for future test dates.
- HSK Written Test-Level 2,4,6 Start time 9:00am
- HSK Written Test-Level 1,3,5 Start time 1:30pm
- HSKK afternoon
Test center:
Confucius Institute at Webster University
Test location:
Webster University
470 East Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63119
HSK Test Fees
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Register and pay online: http://www.chinesetest.cn/index.do
If you have difficulty registering or paying online, please contact email@example.com
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- Chinese Teachers' Workshop


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When a child is diagnosed with Crohn's disease, many questions arise. How will this affect my child's life? Can Crohn's be successfully treated? How will the disease impact my family? Children can live well with Crohn's. Pediatric gastroenterologist Keith Benkov tells us how.
Announcer: The opinions expressed on this program are solely the views of our guests. They are not necessarily the views of HealthTalk, our sponsor or any outside organization. As always, please consult your own physician for the medical advice most appropriate for you.
This program is supported through an educational grant from Elan Pharmaceuticals. We thank them for their commitment to patient education. Now, here's your host, Rick Turner.
Rick Turner: When a child is diagnosed with Crohn's disease, many questions arise. How will this affect my child's life? Can Crohn's be successfully treated? How will the disease impact my family?
Katie felt this firsthand, when her daughter Danielle was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 11. Today, we'll learn how Katie and her daughter continue to cope with Crohn's. We'll also get expert advice from pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Keith Benkov. Dr. Benkov is chief of the division of pediatric gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Medical Center and associate professor of pediatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He also directs the Children's Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Mount Sinai. Dr. Benkov and Katie, we welcome both of you to our program.
Dr. Keith Benkov: Thank you very much.
Katie: Thank you.
Rick: Katie, let's start with you. Can you please share with us how Danielle was first diagnosed?
Katie: Danielle was our sweet little darling firstborn, and she started having some stomach troubles when she was about 4 [years old]. A 4-year-old isn't great at telling mom and dad exactly what's going on. We did take her to the doctor and have them check her out, and they really couldn't diagnose anything. Every month or two it seemed she'd have one of these episodes, and it would either pass, or we would end up taking her to the doctor. And over the course of the next couple of years, the doctors basically said, "Let's just keep an eye on it, and perhaps we gave her some Tums or some Pepto Bismol." And it would kind of go away. But when she became 8, it seemed to get a little bit worse. She then started having very loose stools, some diarrhea, some foul kind of smell, and it seemed like there was something a little bit more serious going on. But the doctor just kept saying, "Let's keep an eye on it." We went to see a naturopath to try to see if they had any ideas for us, and that ended up being just a little bit extreme because they bombarded us with vitamins and minerals and diet changes, and that's the last thing in the world a little 8-year-old wants to do. By the time she was 9 and 10, we had been referred to a specialist at Children's Hospital here in Seattle. And at the first visit with the specialist, [we got] some prescription antacids, which we tried, and it seemed to help a little bit. Again, the problem seemed somewhat intermittent: It didn't bother her constantly, so we weren't constantly back to the doctor seeking help. It would kind of go away, and then [we] would just go about life, and then it would get worse again.
At one time, Danielle was doing just a turkey and rice diet along with vitamins because we were trying to cleanse out some potential food allergies, and that went over like a lead balloon. But when she was probably 10 or so, we were back to the specialist again who decided that perhaps if mom wasn't monitoring Danielle's bathroom habits quite so closely, that maybe there wouldn't even be a problem. When things did get worse and we went back to our family practitioner, [we] told them what the specialist had said. They said, "Well, this really is one of the best specialists in the area. I suggest you go back to them and just demand some answers." We did that in the spring of Danielle's 11th year, and they did a colonoscopy where they diagnosed Crohn's disease. And at that time, the doctor said [it was] a rather extreme case.
Rick: And what were some of the immediate challenges that Danielle faced?
Katie: She couldn't really participate in sports and busy activities that her friends were experimenting with because she always had to know where the closest bathroom was. That's a difficult issue with us - as was the case with her diagnosis where it took such a long time to find out specifically what was wrong. Now she goes about her daily life functioning as a fairly normal, healthy person, and only when stress gets to an extreme level does she seem to have any stomach problems.
Rick: Katie, how would you say the diagnosis impacted your family?
Katie: Well, after so many years of not knowing what the problem was and being told that it was just all in my head, we were extremely relieved [to have a diagnosis].When you go on for years not knowing what the problem is, you're just glad to have an answer. So it was a positive change for us.
Rick: Initially, what was the course of treatment for Danielle?
Katie: She was put on prednisone, and then we started in on a maintenance dose of a drug called Asacol [mesalamine]. She had an immediate positive response to the prednisone and got the flare-ups under control. The Asacol seemed to just greatly improve her condition. She was very thin because she wasn't keeping her nutrients, and she wasn't growing and thriving like she should be. She started to gain weight and look like a healthier child.
Rick: Over time, has Danielle's treatment regimen changed at all?
Katie: Well, it has [changed] some. When she was taking Asacol, she found that it seemed to cause some gas for her, which as a young girl that is not something you want to go about living with. We switched to a sulfasalazine, which does not seem to have the same gaseous side effects.
Rick: And how is she doing now?
Katie: Danielle's doing pretty well. She's 17 now and a very independent girl. She wants to make her own choices in life and likes to consider herself a healthy person. Also, she really does not want to take her medications because that's buying into the idea that she is sick. And she doesn't want to be considered sick. So we do have a fair number of challenges with getting her to take her medication, and I recently kind of turned her health over to her specialist and Danielle herself saying, "A year from now, you are going to be going off to college, and you need to be able to take good care of yourself without mom following you around." She seems to be fairly healthy, and she's doing well.
Rick: Dr. Benkov, you wrote a book entitled, "Managing Your Child's Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease." Tell us how a parent can help their child understand what's going on inside their body.
Dr. Benkov: I think the principal objective of the parent should be [to] learn what is going on inside their child's body because if they can't understand it, the child is going to have some difficulty with it. Children have, sometimes, an innate understanding of things. Depending on how sophisticated the child is, it can be explained in terms that they know better.
Rick: So as the school year begins, Dr. Benkov, children with Crohn's may be nervous about a lot of things, not the least of which is experiencing symptoms while in the classroom. What are some ways to ensure that your child is comfortable during the school day?
Dr. Benkov: The most important thing is that Crohn's can be controlled. If the disease is controlled, the child should be able to live like everyone else. If the symptoms are active, then there might be some accommodation. Bathroom visits might have to be integrated into the schedule. Many kids are very embarrassed about using the bathroom at school. Bathroom facilities aren't always clean. They aren't always private. Sometimes a parent should look to see that perhaps a child could use a faculty bathroom or a bathroom that is associated with the nurse's office. There are sometimes issues with kids who have been a little bit debilitated with their Crohn's, sometimes schedules have to be modified. But I still think the gold standard is that every child with Crohn's should be treated adequately enough that they can participate in full activities. And it's only while you're waiting for a child to respond to therapy that these special accommodations have to be made.
Rick: Now, do you have any special strategies for helping kids talk to other kids about this, which may be an uncomfortable subject for them?
Dr. Benkov: Kids are a lot more honest than their adult counterparts, and they sometimes get the sense that there are things that they can share with close friends. But they also know that some things are kept to themselves. And, again, if a child is relatively symptom-free and well-controlled, it's really at their discretion about what they share.
Rick: And how about issues of diet at school, [is there] anything that you could suggest there?
Dr. Benkov: I would advocate that the vast majority of our patients with Crohn's can eat a fairly regular diet. It's only the exceptional ones that have to limit what they eat. We have a major crisis, obviously, in this country with adequate nutrition, but there's really no reason that a person with Crohn's has to eat too differently as long as their disease is controlled.
Rick: So, in general, school lunches are okay?
Dr. Benkov: Well, that's a debatable thing in the first place whether school lunches are okay for healthy children. There is too much of an influence of fast foods in school lunches, inappropriate soda machines, but, yes, we'll say school lunches are okay.
Rick: Parents of children with Crohn's also need support and information. What suggestions would you give a Crohn's caregiver?
Dr. Benkov: There are a lot of organizations, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation [of America], for one, that have seminars and education days. Some large centers like Mount Sinai give routine educational seminars. I think that the onus is really on the parent to become as knowledgeable as possible so that they can help make decisions. We, as physicians, don't have a monopoly on information. We really want to share it so that decisions can be made together and that when there are tough decisions to be made, families will have a little bit of ownership.
Rick: Do you recommend parents become involved in a support group for caregivers or an advocacy group?
Dr. Benkov: I think that it's a way of taking control over a situation that isn't always controllable, and I think support groups are terrific. They should be guided by professionals who can keep conversations and discussions constructive. Advocacy groups are also terrific because if you feel like you're doing something positive, whether it's participating in the education, participating in emotional support, fundraising for research, a lot of families feel like they are helping the cause, and it makes some of the unpleasantness of the disease a lot better.
Rick: There are a number of therapies currently available to treat Crohn's disease. Give us a brief treatment overview and also share with us what you typically prescribe to your pediatric Crohn's patients.
Dr. Benkov: There are a lot of very standard treatments that have been available for a good number of years, and there are a lot of newer treatments. We don't always like to expose a child to something that is too new, and too novel and hasn't had a long track record in terms of safety. So we tend to work very closely with adult gastroenterologists and researchers to see what's going on. The treatment can be broken down into various levels depending on the severity of the disease. Crohn's disease causes chronic inflammation, and one of the ways, traditionally, that it's been treated are with anti-inflammatories. We have two forms of anti-inflammatories. One are the aspirin-type, which can be effective for mild and moderate cases but aren't always effective for severe cases. The brand names are Pentasa [mesalamine], Asacol [mesalamine], Azulfidine [sulfasalazine] and Colazol [balsalazide]. The most potent anti-inflammatories are corticosteroids, sometimes called steroids, not to be confused with the anabolic steroids that are currently getting such notoriety in professional sports. These corticosteroids are anti-inflammatories that are very potent and work very well but also have lots of side effects. We only like to use these for short periods of time. If we find that a child can't respond to one of the aspirin-based anti-inflammatories, we sometimes have some adjuncts that we use. Probably the biggest adjunct is the use of antibiotics, which is a little bit of a paradox because Crohn's disease is not a bacterial infection. But we all have bacteria in our intestine, and some of the latest research that is being done in Crohn's shows that part of the problem in how Crohn's develops is a defect in the immune system that allows certain bacterial proteins to stimulate the immune system to overreact. By giving antibiotics, we seem to be able to hold some of these bacteria in check and not let them cause inflammation. I mentioned the immune system as part of the problem with Crohn's disease, and that probably is the major thrust of some of the standard treatments that have been available for the last 15 or 20 years in that we have drugs that are directed against the immune system to keep the immune system from overreacting. We don't want to shut down the immune system because that's fraught with lots of side effects. But if we can keep the immune system from overreacting, the inflammation never takes hold.
Rick: And what are the drugs which modify the immune system?
Dr. Benkov: The standard ones are Imuran [azathioprine], and Purinethol [mercaptopurine], which are very mild agents that modulate the immune system but also take months to really be effective.
Rick: You've mentioned a number of treatment approaches for Crohn's disease, and the first ones you mentioned were the anti-inflammatories. What are the side effects to be concerned about with those?
Dr. Benkov: When we talk about the aspirin-type drugs, they can cause some gastrointestinal upset. They can cause some ringing in the ears. They can cause headaches. They can even cause some inflammation of the liver and some decreased activity of the bone marrow. But they are very well-tolerated, and it's only the exceptional patient that ever has anything like that.
The steroids have a much wider range of side effects. The steroids will cause a lot of cosmetic side effects like an increased retention of fluids, that the face can be swollen. The appetite increases, so some of the kids can actually get chubby while they are on it. Other side effects include increased facial hair. There can be stretch marks. There can be some thinning of the extremities. And then there are medical side effects that we as physicians don't like that have to do with thinning of the bones, some eye changes, temporary diabetes, high blood pressure, some neurologic changes in the brain. I think the successful treatment of Crohn's disease really should not include steroids. It is only a stopgap measure when you have nothing else to offer for a short time.
Rick: Let's talk about the biologics. Are they considered safe for children?
Dr. Benkov: There's really one major biological that's available right now, and others are soon coming to market. Infliximab has been available since October of '98. Infliximab also known as Remicade [infliximab] and has not had a pediatric indication [not yet approved by the FDA for use in children]. Those of us who practice pediatric gastroenterology have probably used it in a couple of hundred kids in a fashion that's termed off label [not contained in the approved prescribing information]. We think it is safe. We feel comfortable that it has been tested before the FDA approved them in '98 [for adults], and we haven't seen any serious long-term side effects with it. But we always worry what could happen in the future. The bottom line of is we think they are probably are safe.
Rick: Do you know if they are being tested for pediatric use?
Dr. Benkov: They are being tested, and we anticipate that they will be approved for pediatric use in the near future.
Rick: You mentioned Remicade. Are there other biologic-type of approaches that are in the pipeline?
Dr. Benkov: Oh, for sure. They come in different forms, but basically they are proteins that either block the inflammation directly or bind onto certain proteins and receptors that cause inflammation. The hallmark of biologicals are they really have to be injected. Some of them are injected intravenously. Some of them can be injected subcutaneously into the fat, like an insulin injection, but they can't be taken by mouth.
Rick: And which drugs should we be on the lookout for that are in the process of being tested?
Dr. Benkov: Well, there [are] lots of different names, but one is a drug that stimulates the white cells of the intestines to try and keep the immune defenses up so as not to let protein sensitize. They haven't gone by brand names yet.
Rick: And can you briefly describe for us the risks and benefits of this type of approach, this biologic treatment?
Dr. Benkov: Well, the benefits are the drugs are specifically targeted for inflammatory-type cells and proteins. So we think instead of shutting down the whole immune system, we're really only targeting very specific functions. It's a very potent, effective way of limiting the inflammatory process. The risks have to do more with what you don't know. What else could happen and basically in a similar type drug there are complications of loss of white matter in the brain causing problems. The immune system has lots of functions, and when you down regulate you have a risk of certain viral processes [and other infections] going on which can cause problems. So, especially in pediatrics, you want to proceed very cautiously and let there be enough experience gathered in the general population before you start giving it to a child.
Rick: This approach with the biologics of treating the disease more at its root cause as opposed to the symptoms of the disease, do you see that as a significant step forward?
Dr. Benkov: It's been a tremendous step forward, but there has been some confusion as to whether these drugs can be given on a regular basis over a long-term period, and, again, because they are injectables they are not the most convenient things to be working with.
Rick: Once a child is on a medication and they are feeling better, what can parents do to help ensure that the child stays on the medication to avoid a flare-up?
Dr. Benkov: Well, that's a big issue. In pediatrics, we have our typical age of diagnosis, [which] might be age 11, 12, 13, and it's a transition for the child into adolescence. The younger children in this group are usually pretty much under their parent's jurisdiction, that they can usually give the drug, and the child will take it, and it's a very routine thing. As they become teenagers, as schedules change, as after-school activities increase, as teenagers start coming home later at night, some kids aren't necessarily adhering to the regimen that the parents want and that the physician wants. By the same right, a lot of parents want to give some of their teenagers a little bit more responsibility. And it's a very fine line because they should have that responsibility, but the parents also have to have some way of double-checking that they are taking their medication. I sometimes feel like a broken record in the office repeating myself. But I've seen some of the nicest, most intelligent kids stop taking their medication just because they feel well, and they don't like the idea that they feel different because they are taking the medication, and they don't see the need for the medication because they barely remember not being well, it was so many years ago. Typically, the kids as they go off to college, it's a very big problem.
Rick: Dr. Benkov, this can be a pretty scary thing when a child is diagnosed with Crohn's disease both for the child and for the parent. So, at that time, when you get that initial diagnosis, what sort of advice can you give to both parties?
Dr. Benkov: The main thing is that these are treatable illnesses and with a lot of good research, we like to think that they might be curable in the next 10 to 15 years. But in the meantime, Crohn's is treatable, and the most important thing is that the child function like a regular child. I always try to emphasize to a family and the child themselves that there is nothing that is going to get in the way of their education. There's nothing that is going to get in the way of their career, and there is nothing that is going to get in the way of them having their own family someday. They are going to be just like everyone else. Unfortunately, they might need to be on medication and to know a good doctor and to participate in their care and make the right decisions. The goal of treatment is really that the child looks like everyone else, functions like everyone else and grows and matures like everyone else, so there's really nothing to fear. The downside is that they might have to be on some medication at various points.
Rick: Dr. Benkov, is there a take-home message that you'd like to share with our audience?
Dr. Benkov: Yes, there is. Crohn's disease is a treatable illness that requires family to be as knowledgeable about the disease as possible and to be consistent with the treatment and to strive for a normal live and eventual cure with medical science.
Rick: And Katie, what advice do you have for other parents of children with Crohn's disease?
Katie: Well, from our experience, I would suggest to go back for follow-ups with or without symptoms. If I could do it again, I would insist on a colonoscopy much, much earlier. Think about asking the doctor about what are all of the tests that are available, what can I do to help with a diagnosis because we kept just kind of accepting, "Let's keep an eye on it, and let's try this, and let's try that."
Rick: Katie and Dr. Benkov, thank you so much for joining us today.
Remember to visit the Crohn's message board at HealthTalk.com to connect with other members of the Crohn's Education Network.
From all of us at HealthTalk, I'm Rick Turner. We wish you and your family the best of health.


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India and Indonesia have pledged to establish a "comprehensive strategic partnership" centred around maritime and defence cooperation.
The two countries released a joint statement on Wednesday following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta.
Indonesia was the first leg of a tour that is also taking Modi to Malaysia and Singapore.
"Both leaders reaffirmed that Indonesia and India as strategic partners and maritime neighbours must work to further strengthen and broaden the already robust defence cooperation," the release from India's MEA read.
As if to underline India's maritime imperatives, Modi was initially supposed to go to Sabang by ship from Port Blair. Though that plan was later cancelled, it evoked memory of Jawaharlal Nehru's own sea journey from Port Blair to Indonesia in 1950. A ship-borne trip by Modi would have symbolised India's maritime interests in a way that Nehru's trip barely three years after independence simply didn't.
In Jakarta, India and Indonesia inked a Defence Cooperation Agreement and committed themselves to stepping up cooperation between their respective navies and air forces.
'India is a strategic defence partner,' Widodo said during a press conference in Jakarta, adding that both sides would 'continue to advance our cooperation in developing infrastructure, including at Sabang Island and the Andaman Islands'.
Sabang island lies just off the coast of northern Sumatra and is part of Indonesia's Aceh province. Earlier in the month, Widodo's minister for maritime affairs, Luhut Padjaitan had said India would invest in Sabang, a port deep enough to accommodate various vessels 'including submarines'. Those last words indicate the naval component of India's involvement in Sabang.
Though usually known as a tourist destination, Sabang is strategically located near the mouth of the Strait of Malacca, China's main gateway into the Indian Ocean region. It is also less than 200 kilometres from Indira Point, the southernmost tip of India's Great Nicobar Island.
In 2012, India opened a naval air station, INS Baaz, in Great Nicobar's Campbell Bay. There have also been rumours about Indo-Japanese plans to lay an array of hydrophones between Indira Point and Aceh to detect PLA Navy vessels, especially submarines.
What Indonesia wants
Jakarta's outreach to India is obviously driven by mutual concerns about China. While Indonesia is not party to the South China Sea disputes, Beijing's nine-dash line does intrude into its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Last year, official Indonesian maps renamed a patch of water around its Natuna Islands, the 'North Natuna Sea'. This in turn infuriated Beijing, which demanded Indonesia recognize the area as being part of the South China Sea.
As an archipelagic nation, Indonesia has been assertive about its maritime rights. Under Widodo, Indonesia's coast guard and navy have zealously pursued fishing vessels of other ASEAN nations trespassing in Indonesia's EEZ. Indonesian authorities have also publicly sunk seized vessels.
As part of its assertiveness, Indonesia is also seeking to renegotiate its EEZ boundary line with India, and presumably expects the agreement on Sabang will enable it to extract concessions from Delhi.
Jakarta's strategy is ultimately to perform a balance act between the great powers jostling against each other in the Indo-Pacific.
A link in India's maritime strategy
The agreement on Sabang is a spot of good news for India, which has seen its influence in the Indian Ocean wane in recent years. In the Maldives, President Abdulla Yameen has drawn closer to China and brutally cracked on his domestic opponents. And in the Seychelles, plans for a small naval facility appear to be going nowhere.
On the bright side, India's naval diplomacy is still going strong. Earlier this month, the Indian Navy conducted joint exercises with the Vietnam People's Navy. Those same Indian warships are now headed into the Pacific Ocean where they will participate in this year's edition of Exercise Malabar in Guam from June 6-15 along with the US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.


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I am one of the special presents.


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Anonymous Guest Blogger, Lilongwe, Malawi.
I was 19 years old and in my first year of undergraduate studies at one of the universities when I learnt about my HIV status.
A guy that I was dating proposed that we should go for an HIV test. He had the test done first. His results came back negative. Not to be out done I confidently went for the test but sadly my results came back positive.
These results triggered some bad childhood memories. I recalled being molested at the age of eight and I remembered being sick very frequently as a child and getting blood transfusions.
I suspected one of these scenarios to be how I got infected with HIV. When I shared the results with my boyfriend, he changed his attitude towards me and later dumped me. I also shared the results with my Dad and to my surprise, he said that he had always suspected that I was HIV positive.
The HIV positive diagnosis affected me badly. I lost concentration in class and started absconding classes in search for spiritual healing. As a result I failed and repeated my first year. My CD4 count went down to 200. I was having a hard time accepting my status.
In my quest to find solace and answers in God, I started attending prayer meetings. At one of these meetings I met two ladies who were talking about HIV. The two ladies encouraged me to start medication.
The first hospital I went to treated me more like a client and not a person. Everything was so mechanical. I changed hospitals and started attending clinics at a government clinic for HIV related illness. This changed my life. The doctor at that clinic was very friendly. He asked me a lot of questions about my health and life. A few sessions with this doctor helped me to realize that there is life after an HIV positive diagnosis. I accepted my status and began a new life knowing that I would need to be strong for myself.
After accepting my status the next thing was to learn how to deal with the stigima associated with being HIV positive. One day my roommate found my Anti-Retroviral (ARVs) and told everyone she could about it. A little while later, a guy came up to me and said, "l like you, you are a well behaved girl, multi-talented and focused. I wish I could date you but I cannot because of your HIV positive status". Such moments taught me to be strong. Facing stigma firsthand and being able to stand up to it showed me the need to fight for others. During this time I also learnt that there were so many youth who were going through the same ordeal.
Since then, I have been counselling and mentoring young people living with HIV at Lighthouse clinic and other places. I help youth through the process of accepting their HIV status and encourage them to adhere to treatment. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to a young lady aged 25, who upon learning that she was HIV positive almost committed suicide. Through counselling she changed her mind. Now she mentors other newly infected girls.
I have also spoken to over 400 adolescents at the annual gathering of all Lighthouse adolescents during their graduation transitioning to adult care. Present at the gathering were high level dignitaries from NGOs and stakeholders that assist in adolescent health services.
There is a lot of talk about how young people need to protect themselves from HIV. Now is the best time to let the youth meaningfully participate in dealing with the epidemic. Young people need to be equipped with comprehensive knowledge about HIV and need skills to allow them to reach out to others. As an intern at one of the NGOs in the country, I have had the opportunity to conduct prevention, care and treatment activities targeted at young people and women. Through this experience, I have realized that there is a lack of comprehensive information and knowledge on HIV. This fuels stigma and discrimination. The government needs to protect people living with HIV the same way it protects those that are not infected with the virus.
Living with HIV has taught me that my life is not defined by what is in my blood, I define it myself and I define who I want to be.


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We are excited to announce the launch of Widen University, an online training center featuring HD videos and web workshops on Widen Media Collective and digital asset management. Widen University is a place where DAM administrators can build their skills and, eventually, earn a certification in Digital Asset Management.
Widen University was designed to address multiple learning styles with video courses, interactive feedback sessions and written exercises. Courses will educate customers, assist with implementation and help Media Collective administrators master DAM.
We sat down with Widen University content and program creators Emily Jacoby, an Implementation Specialist, and Lexy Spry, a Training Specialist.
Why did you develop Widen University?
Emily Jacoby (EJ): When it comes to implementing a DAM, the process is very similar for all customers. We were looking for a way to get the right information out to everyone and help them through the configuration process. Widen University emerged as the best way to provide a reliable, clear implementation plan to our customers.
Lexy Spry (LS): Basically, we needed a way to reach a lot of customers.
How did you determine what content to provide to students at Widen University?
EJ: I've been an Implementation Specialist for three years, so I am very familiar with what it takes to get a DAM up and running. We supplemented our team's knowledge with customer surveys and conversations with Media Collective users to make sure we were covering everything. We learned what people need to know to be the best administrators they can be.
LS: I'm pretty new to working at Widen, so I spent a lot of time looking at current implementation resources, sitting in while sites were being configured, and using existing materials to work through it myself. It was a great opportunity to look at our training content with fresh eyes.
There is a big emphasis on how Widen University presents materials in a variety of ways, like videos, text, and web workshops. Can you talk about what went into the decision to package the information different ways?
LS: Everyone has different learning styles. Adults are generally aware of their learning preferences, and they want options. Some people like interpersonal interactions, other people want to watch videos on their commute, and some people want to read about a process and then work through it themselves. We tried to address lots of learning styles.
EJ: As we started working on the project, we noticed that certain methods of providing information worked well for some and other methods worked well for others. We knew we needed to reach different learning styles for the site to be helpful.
LS: While we were working on Widen University, the marketing and software teams at Widen were adopting some new publishing and project management software. I sat in on a lot of the training sessions where people here were learning new systems and talked to our audience afterwards about how they liked it. It helped me a create a better learning experience on Widen University. I even talked to some of the trainers afterwards to learn more about their process.
What has been fun about creating Widen University?
LS: It's a brand new idea at Widen, so felt like we had a lot of room to experiment with it. I knew we could start fresh with the it. We also hosted all the resources in the Media Collective, so I got to experience our software everyday. It made things a lot easier. Seriously, I made a lot of versions of my videos.
EJ: It's a fun new way for me to interact with customers. I also like knowing how this is going to improve not only the implementation process for people, but also how Widen provides service to our customers.
What were some the challenges you came across while working on Widen University?
EJ: An interesting challenge for me was in launching and sharing Widen University internally. In some ways it is very similar to what our customers go through when they launch the Media Collective in their organizations. We had to plan the phases of the project, communicate with people, and get feedback from users. Also like DAM implementations, we had to deal with a changing vision for the project.
LS: I set a really ambitious timeline and given the demand for the next phase of Widen University, it feels like it is still not enough!
Speaking of the next phase, what can we expect to see from Widen University in the future?
LS: Phase two is Admin Life, a series designed for current DAM administrators, specifically Media Collective administrators. That is planned to launch in the spring 2016. We'll also continue the web workshops, which are designed to simulate a classroom with lots of interactive elements.
EJ: Beyond that, we are working towards a model of certification for DAM administrators.
The Widen University team will soon kick off LiveFromWiden, a series of interactive web workshops that extend the offered courses and connect customers with Widen experts and fellow users. "Branding Your Media Collective Site," scheduled for December 7, 2015 at 12:00 pm CST, will be the first LiveFromWiden workshop. This will be followed by "Advanced Search" on December 16 and "DAM Advocacy 101" on December 21.
See the press release "Widen Establishes Widen University, a Center for Digital Asset Management Training" for more detials about the launch.