text:
This week on CounterSpin: One war is ending, while the other is the subject of a major PR blitz. Right on schedule, we're told, Operation Iraqi Freedom is winding down, with live TV coverage relaying the images of the final U.S. combat brigades leaving the country. The caveats to the story of the "end" of the war are abundant—tens of thousands of troops and private contractors remain, and some are already suggesting they'll be there longer than we've been told. So how does a war that isn't really ending actually end? Hannah Gurman wrote about the Orwellian state of the Iraq War for Salon.com, and she'll join us to talk about it.
Also on CounterSpin today: The Afghanistan War is another matter altogether—public support continues to plummet, and recent scandals regarding the leaking of classified documents and the removal of General Stanley McChrystal haven't helped matters. McChrystal's successor David Petraeus has been making the rounds in the media, trying to put a new face on the war and re-define what it is the U.S. military expects to accomplish there. We'll talk about the Petraeus media blitz with author and FAIR associate Norman Solomon.
All that's coming up, but first let's take a look back at the week's press.
—Social Security turned 75 this past week—but corporate media weren't exactly throwing a party, with many reports stressing the supposedly dismal financial shape the program is in. Social Security scaremongering is a media staple, so this is nothing new. The August 5 release of the Social Security trustees report declared some short-term problems mostly associated with the recession, but the program's long-term health remained essentially unchanged. But that's not the message you got in the media. On CNN's Situation Room, host Wolf Blitzer announced, "Social Security reaches the final financial tipping point." This is not at all true, and CNN viewers were not treated to another view on the matter. Blitzer's guest was CNN pundit David Gergen, who argued that yes, the Social Security trustees might say Social Security is in decent shape, but the scary part is that the government would be paying retirees, thus "the cost to government will go way up." Well yes, in the sense that people have paid into Social Security and now expect the government to pay out the money that it has collected. How this would qualify as unusual or as a crisis is unclear. Gergen went on to blame "the liberals" for arguing that Social Security doesn't need to be "saved" right now. That view might be liberal to someone like David Gergen, but it also happens to be accurate, if we accept these trustees' reports. CNN's Situation Room has been peddling this sort of scaremongering regularly as of late—let's hope they find the time to offer something in the way of balance.
—The war in Afghanistan has re-emerged as a major news story, and according to most polls it's more unpopular than ever. NBC's Sunday morning chat show Meet the Press has dealt with this political reality by promoting the views of the military and supporters of Obama's Afghanistan policies.
The most recent example came on August 15, when Meet the Press devoted the entire show to a profile of General David Petraeus. This wasn't exactly a feet-to-the-fire interview; at the very start, host David Gregory touted the work ethic of "America's most famous warrior."
And there's a pattern here. After the release of the WikiLeaks Afghan war documents, Meet the Press' August 1 show featured an interview with Mike Mullen—he's the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Two weeks before that, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was the guest; a panel discussion followed with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, whose mild criticism of the war was "balanced" by pro-war pundits Ed Gillespie and David Brooks. And two weeks before that, the Stanley McChrystal controversy brought Afghanistan back to Sunday morning TV. Meet the Press's guest? Ardent war supporter John McCain. The panel discussion that day was notable because it actually featured a critic of the war—California Rep. Barbara Lee. But she was surrounded by 4 pro-war pundits.
So at a time of considerable opposition to the war, NBC is tilting heavily in favor of war supporters.
Why? Well, one can't overlook the fact that NBC parent General Electric does heavy business in military equipment. Now, if you want to join in the call to NBC to bring more voices to the airwaves, you can go to FAIR's website—FAIR.org—and add your voice.
—Now, you probably heard about White House press secretary Robert Gibbs' recent remarks slamming the "professional left" for being too critical of the Obama administration. As he put it, people who compare Obama to Bush "ought to be drug tested."
Now, in the corporate media, moving to the right and bashing the Democratic base is constantly offered up as a smart move for Democratic politicians. So to no one's surprise, Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank offered a defense of Gibbs' comments. As he saw it, the oil spill in the Gulf is all cleaned up, combat in Iraq is ending, healthcare reform was enacted, and a depression has been averted. So, what's the problem here?
Well, for progressives, the Obama administration badly mishandled the BP disaster—and this all came shortly after the White House endorsed more offshore oil drilling. As for Iraq, that troop withdrawal is a Bush policy; meanwhile there is a massive troop increase in Afghanistan, which was opposed by the left—and unmentioned by Milbank. On healthcare, the left's critique was that the White House stripped out some of the progressive aspects of the reform bill, such as the public option, and didn't consider a single-payer health plan. Now, averting a depression is a good thing, but the criticism from the left is that the federal government hasn't done enough to combat unemployment, and that the economic stimulus was smaller than it needed to be. So Dana Milbank is singling out the left for having the gall to oppose moves that the left disagrees with. It's a strange argument, but it's not surprising that Beltway pundits like him would approve of Robert Gibbs' base-bashing.
—The Los Angeles Times reported on August 13 than the "moral argument" over California's gay marriage ban known as Proposition 8, "has morphed into a debate over the democratic process and the propriety of judges overturning laws approved by voters."
Well, it was strange, then, that an article about this "debate" would feature only viewpoints from one side: that is, the side that says, "The people voted on it and it should be left alone." All five of the sources quoted by reporter Mike Anton took this position.
Of course constitutional findings have frequently clashed with public opinion; the civil rights era provided an array of such examples. Now, Anton actually acknowledges this, writing that there is a long-standing "tension between 'majority rule' and a Constitution designed to protect the rights of individuals against the majority."
Well, given that, wouldn't it make sense to find someone in your article to take the pro-Constitution side?
—And finally, from the I-think-I-knew-that-already department: It was revealed recently that Fox News Channel's parent company, NewsCorp, made an unusually generous $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association—that's a 527 political group dedicated to getting Republicans elected in statewide races. The takeaway on this seemed to be that Rupert Murdoch's right-wing politics aren't just evident in his New York Post tabloid or on his 24-hour cable news channel—his company is actively supporting conservative political causes.
This is all true, and coming in a crucial election year, one can't help but conclude that Fox and News Corp are rooting for one side to win. But if you've ever watched Fox News Channel, you know this already. If anything, the in-kind donations that Fox makes to the Republican cause on television every night are far more valuable than this one donation.
But it's also true that various entities within the NewsCorp universe have given money to Democratic interests. Rupert Murdoch was a supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, and the company has made donations to the Democratic National Committee, as well as to other Democratic politicians. As Howard Kurtz pointed out in the Washington Post, GE/NBC gave about $200,000 to both of these governors groups, and the same spirit of bipartisanship could be seen from Disney and CBS. Why? Well, big media companies rely on big favors from big politicians; therefore, it's always smart to spread your money around, and to give a little more to the party in power whenever that's possible. That's not to say there's nothing wrong with Fox backing Republicans—but you already knew about that. If anything, this story is a reminder that the media giants spend a lot of money bankrolling the politicians they're "covering" over in their news divisions.
CounterSpin: Goodbye Operation Iraqi Freedom, hello Operation New Dawn.
The Iraq War is ending, we're told, with TV crews back in Iraq capturing footage of the final combat troops exiting the country. One might reach for the term "Orwellian" to describe such events, perhaps because there is no more fitting way to convey the up-is-down, black-is-white sense of what has happened in Iraq, and what is happening there now.
Our next guest wrote about this for Salon.com
under the headline "The Iraq Withdrawal: An Orwellian Success." Hanna Gurman is an assistant professor at New York University's Gallatin School. She joins us now by phone.
Welcome to CounterSpin, Hanna Gurman.
Hanna Gurman: My pleasure.
CS: Well here's the official story: violence is down, Iraqis are stepping up. As ABC's Christiane Amanpour put it recently, "The surge, let's face it, has worked." These are basically the indisputable facts in our media discussions of Iraq. In what ways do you think this narrative qualifies as Orwellian, as you put it?
HG: Well, it's really hard to say where to begin. By almost every measure with respect to security, the state of Iraqi politics and maybe most importantly, Iraqis' access to basic resources and the state of Iraq's infrastructure—there are things that this mainstream story just isn't illuminating. In terms of infrastructure, for example, there are still many, many Iraqis who do not have electricity. They have about two to three hours of electricity a day, and the latest Brookings index shows that there's 30,000-50,000 private generators making up for that gap between the national grid and what people actually need. So that's just one example of the basic situation on the ground that we don't really hear that much about from Obama or from Ambassador Christopher Hill when they are touting the success of the surge narrative.
CS: It's interesting: those Brookings numbers used to be widely cited in the media when they wanted to demonstrate progress in the Iraq war. You don't hear them cited as often now, perhaps because the findings are rather dismal.
HG: Yeah, and those figures are really in many ways the heart of what Iraqi citizens see on the ground, and they point to the everyday situation. So it is interesting that that's one of the things we're really not hearing much about in terms of the surge narrative. We're hearing a lot more about the decreases in violence. We're hearing a lot more about the optimism about Iraqi politics. And even with respect to those things, there are things to be questioned.
CS: Speaking of the Orwellian, I'm looking at the Washington Post headline, "Operation Iraqi Freedom ends as last combat soldiers leave Baghdad." The article notes that "There might never be an acknowledged end to the Iraq war." The real point seems to be this message: "U.S. commanders also seem to be stressing that this is no longer America's war to lose." The end, it would seem, is not about winning then, it's about not losing.
HG: Yeah, and it does also point to the strange shift from the concept of victory—which used to be the way people thought about America's goals in war—to now, success. So even if we don't win, we still don't lose. There is this prominent word, success, and you see it everywhere in discussions of the Iraq withdrawal—that we are successfully handing over the situation to Iraq.
CS: Also the day we recorded this show, the New York Times had this piece that's somewhat muddled. It tells us there's going to be this "tiny military presence" in Iraq.
Experts are quoted saying this will be insufficient for the task; we may need to send more troops. At the same time, this presence will exist alongside thousands of private security forces, five massive compounds, massive amounts of State Department planes and helicopters. There will be private security guards—the Times explains these are "quick reaction forces to rescue civilians in trouble." And it also tells us that Iraqis object to these forces because they have a history of killing civilians. What are the mechanics of the Iraq occupation in this post-war phase?
HG: Well, you heard that today, or Thursday morning Iraqi time, the last combat brigade pulled out of Iraq. So now you have by the end of this month, 50,000 troops are going to be in Iraq. They're going to be simply transferred, or relabeled, from combat battalions to advise and assist battalions. And so they'll be there to be training or continuing to train the Iraqi security forces. What they actually do on the ground, I think it's still very much up in the air whether and when they will actually be participating in combat; I think is very much up to the base. Then you have this other story that you've been discussing, which is the transferring over, in many ways, of military responsibilities to the civilian personnel in Iraq. And in essence it's a shadow army. It's very paradoxical because on the one hand, it really raises the responsibility of the civilian presence in Iraq, but on the other hand, it's really a civilian presence that is operating security apparatus in Iraq.
And there are many military and even senior civilian officials who believe that that civilian presence is either going to have to be upped or eventually supported by a more conventional military presence. So they really don't know.
CS: Yeah, that seemed to be the message of the Times story that based on the quotes—people on the record or anonymously saying there could very well be additional troops poured into the country just to maintain some semblance of stability that they have now. Again, this is a perfectly Orwellian idea, finally, but the discussion about Iraq seems to require—and you pointed this out—that we ignore the past, and on some level, we even ignore the present, at least as it's seen from the eyes of actual Iraqis. There's an enormous amount of coverage right now, but it's about how U.S. soldiers feel about leaving this country, very little about how Iraqis feel now that this war is entering a new phase.
HG: Yeah, I think it was telling that today's story in the Washington Post on the withdrawal really follows the American soldiers out of Iraq, and you don't have any window onto what Iraqis are thinking about this. Opinion polls show that Iraqis want the U.S.
forces out, but other than that, we really rarely get glimpses into what the everyday situation is for Iraqis on the ground—and if you think about it, there's a lot to be concerned about. I already mentioned all of that information about the Brookings index and what it tells us about the conditions on the ground. There's also the political chaos that you really don't hear that much about. Ambassador Hill is constantly putting an optimistic spin on the results of the Iraqi elections. But as of today, the Iraqi parliament has met only once, and recently delayed its second meeting. They still have not convened a government. And so we really, what we see on the ground is a state of instability rather than stability. But it's being spun as a form of improvement because 2006 and 2007 were so dire that pretty much anything is an improvement from there.
CS: Hannah Gurman is an assistant professor at NYU's Gallatin School.
can read her article, "The Iraq Withdrawal: An Orwellian Success," at Salon.com.
Thanks for joining us this week on CounterSpin, Hannah Gurman.
HG: Thank you.
CounterSpin: It's hard to figure out what has changed recently in the trajectory of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, other than an increase in violence and more death and destruction. Here on American television, the war has a new salesman. General David Petraeus is making the rounds, from exclusive interviews with major newspapers to long sit-downs with network TV stars. The political necessity of this push seems evident—the public continues to lose faith in the war, and as any military officer or corporate pundit will tell you (somehow with a straight face), public support is vital to maintaining a war effort.
Joining us now to talk about the Petraeus media blitz is author and activist Norman Solomon. His most recent books are Made Love, Got War and War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death.
Norman, welcome back to CounterSpin.
Norman Solomon: Hey, thanks Peter.
CS: I didn't have to dig very deeply into our archives to find the last time we talked about the need to make a big push in the media to sell the public on the Afghanistan war. It was late December; there was a surge of 30,000 additional troops; the White House needed to talk about benchmarks, progress, and or course, the eventual withdrawal timeline. It seems like this sales job is different in content, but not much different in terms of format—you reach out to friendly media, you make assurances that there's this plan that's being executed, and so on. Is there anything new here?
NS: Well, really the salesman is expendable, as is the Secretary of Defense or one might argue, over a long period of time—even the president. They come and go, but the apparent imperative to keep spinning the media to maximize the war effort just keeps on trucking along. And really in this case, you had General Petraeus kicking it off with, I think, a pretty astute choice: giving an exclusive first with David Gregory at Meet the Press. And the net effect, I think, was to lay out—complete with beginning the hour showing the General doing push-ups all the way through to at the end of the hour the sort of summation from David Gregory, focusing on whether Washington would allow the military enough time to do what it needed to do. And so in David Gregory's close after all this interview and footage of General Petraeus in Afghanistan—I'm quoting here: "You have to wonder whether he has enough time politically to achieve what he thinks is possible here." But part of the problem is what Petraeus may think is possible in Afghanistan, or at least says he thinks is possible, is really countermanded by facts on the ground.
CS: Now, you mentioned that the generals can be expendable. The previous general, Stanley McChrystal, was very useful...until he wasn't. Petraeus is a little bit different in that there's a certain kind of halo here. This is the man, after all, who won the Iraq War, so got to give him—as David Gregory's saying—we've got to give him the chance to win the Afghanistan war, too.
NS: Yeah, that's the presumption that keeps being promoted, and whatever's actually happening to U.S. troops—as by almost any measure, they fail by the Pentagon's own definition—seems to be just swept aside in the, I can't say cult of personality, but just the focus on the persona of these four-star generals and so forth. And even when in this case, Petraeus says the most implausible things, there's media reflex to just defer and give implicit, or very explicit, credibility. For instance, midway through his Meet the Press interview, General Petraeus said, "It's not about us winning hearts and minds. It's about the Afghan government winning hearts and minds." Well, I mean, I was in Kabul a year ago, and I think it was apparent to anybody there that it was preposterous to think the Afghan government was doing anything other than losing hearts and minds. And in the last year things have gotten appreciably worse.
CS: You do get this sense that Petraeus is sending messages. The Washington Post—you cited this in your recent column—referred to the idea of attenuating the draw down, which was the message coming from Petraeus—meaning from what I can gather, that the troop withdrawal won't happen on schedule. And this is one of the crucial arguments that's going on right now. There are some liberal voices critical of the war trying to argue that Petraeus' signals, that we might be in Afghanistan longer than you think, that we might not start withdrawing when you think, is not Barack Obama's plan to wind down the war. One of the people who made this argument was Bob Herbert from the New York Times. He was relying on a book by Jonathan Alter of Newsweek, which was this kind of behind-the-scenes White House biography, where Obama very dramatically tells Petraeus you've got to stick to this plan, we've got to get out on schedule. And Petraeus says, yes sir. Now in this interview with NBC and in others, Petraeus is saying something different, and these liberal critics of the war are saying, what's going on with David Petraeus? Do you get the sense that Petraeus is saying something the White House doesn't want him to say, though?
NS: It's really implausible to me that General Petraeus would schedule and then implement this huge media blitz without absolute acceptance and approval from the White House—particularly when Petraeus was hired to do this job after the fiasco with Stanley McChrystal and his interview to Rolling Stone magazine. Really what Petraeus is doing is widening the escape hatch for what was, from the very outset, an extremely ambiguous pledge—non-pledge—from the president last winter, that a draw down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan would start in the middle of 2011. For instance, at the Meet the Press interview, General Petraeus said a few days ago, first he cited Vice President Biden, and he paraphrased Biden thusly: "It could be as little as a couple of thousand troopers who go home next July." So in other words, already the groundwork is being laid more explicitly for, not even a token, even less than a token withdrawal. What Obama did was kick the can down the road, dangle this very amorphous, nebulous pledge, something for more peace-oriented parts of his constituency to hang their hat on if they really wanted to be overly credulous.
And now the spin is moving forward, as I think we would anticipate. So the idea, in sum, that Petraeus is some kind of renegade away from Obama policy, I think lacks any sort of plausible basis.
CS: You mentioned this peace constituency and the message Obama is sending. You mentioned this in the piece that you wrote about this PR effort:
Petraeus is making the rounds just as White House press secretary Robert Gibbs blew off some steam in an interview about how the White House is frustrated with the "professional left." These are the dead-enders who want the wars to end and would probably even go after President Dennis Kucinich if they had the chance I guess. Again, this is one of these choices—the choice here is whether or not to see his words and the comments of Petraeus as reflecting the White House's real view, or somehow conflicting with White House policy goals.
NS: Well I see a couple major parallels. You know, both Petraeus and Gibbs work totally for President Obama and Gibbs is very close to Obama. And it's really beyond any, I think, rational assumption that somehow Gibbs is off on his own. I mean, he's clearly not. And by the same token, what Gibbs has done is something that Obama is more implicitly doing about the war in Afghanistan. Gibbs has verbally and repeatedly moved to delegitimize the part of the Democratic party, including on Capitol Hill, that doesn't just march in lockstep with Obama policy that includes escalating a war in Afghanistan.
CS: Norman Solomon is a journalist, historian, and progressive activist.
You can read his work at normansolomon.com.
Thanks for joining us CounterSpin this week, Norman Solomon.
NS: Thank you, Peter.
—"The Iraq withdrawal: An Orwellian success," by Hannah Gurman (Salon.com, , 8/15/10)
—"Gen. Petraeus Goes to Media War," by Norman Solomon (CommonDreams, 8/16/10)


text:
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
Oral (pills or tablets)
Generic Name | Brand Name |
conjugated estrogens | Cenestin, Enjuvia, Premarin |
Enjuvia contains plant-based, rather than animal-based, estrogen. Risks and benefits are thought to be the same for both types of estrogen.
Generic Name | Brand Name |
esterified estrogens | Menest |
estradiol | Estrace |
estropipate | Ogen, Ortho-Est |
Transdermal (patch placed on the skin that releases estrogen continuously)
Generic Name | Brand Name |
estradiol (low-dose) | Climara |
estradiol | Alora, Climara, Estraderm, Vivelle-Dot |
Vaginal ring (inserted high into the vagina; releases estrogen continuously for 3 months)
Generic Name | Brand Name |
estradiol | Femring |
Skin cream (applied daily to the legs, thighs, or calves)
Generic Name | Brand Name |
estradiol | Estrasorb |
Skin gel (applied daily to an arm from wrist to shoulder)
Generic Name | Brand Name |
estradiol | Estrogel |
How It Works
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) increases the estrogen level in your body. Estrogen impacts multiple systems of the body.
When given through an estrogen patch, vaginal ring, or skin cream or gel (transdermal estrogen), estrogen enters the bloodstream directly, without passing through the liver. The estrogen in pills must be processed by the liver before entering the bloodstream, which puts stress on an impaired liver.
Low-dose vaginal estrogen affects only the urinary and genital area. For more information, see Low-dose vaginal estrogen for dryness and atrophy.
Patch warning. Direct sunlight or high heat can increase, then lower, the amount of hormone released from a patch. This can give you a big dose at the time and leave less hormone for the patch to release later in the week. Avoid direct sunlight on the hormone patch. Also avoid using a tanning bed, heating pad, electric blanket, hot tub, or sauna while you are using a hormone patch.
Why It Is Used
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is used to increase estrogen levels in postmenopausal women who have no uterus. This treatment may help prevent perimenopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, and colon cancer.
Women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who experience early menopause after having their ovaries removed (oophorectomy) or because of other medical reasons typically take ERT to reduce their risk of early bone loss and osteoporosis. Historically, women have continued using ERT for years beyond menopause. Some women now discontinue ERT around the age of menopause.
Women with a uterus who take estrogen also need the hormone progestin to prevent the estrogen from overgrowing the uterine lining, which can lead to endometrial (uterine) cancer. Estrogen-progestin is called hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Do not use estrogen treatment if you:
- Are pregnant.
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding.
- Have active liver disease or chronic impaired liver function. (Transdermal estrogen does not stress the liver.)
- Have a personal history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or endometrial cancer.
- Are a smoker.
- Have a history of blood clots.
- Have had a stroke.
Talk to your doctor about your risks versus benefits if you have a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, stroke, blood clots, or endometrial cancer.
How Well It Works
Systemic estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) affects your entire body and reverses the effect of low estrogen. Systemic ERT:
- Helps prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis by slowing bone loss and promoting some increase in bone density.1
- Reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes.1
- Improves depression and sleep problems related to hormone changes.2
- Maintains the lining of the vagina, reducing irritation.
- Increases skin collagen levels, which decline as estrogen levels decline. Collagen is responsible for the stretch in skin and muscle.
- Reduces the risk of dental problems, such as tooth loss and gum disease.
Low-dose estrogen. Researchers are studying the effects of low-dose estrogen therapy. Low-dose estrogen may keep bones strong and may relieve hot flash symptoms.3 But, the long-term risks of taking low-dose estrogen are not yet known.
Side Effects
Risks of estrogen replacement therapy
Systemic estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) causes health problems in a small number of women. Using ERT increases your risk of:
- Stroke. ERT use slightly increases the risk of stroke.4
- Blood clots. ERT slightly increases the risk of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and lungs (pulmonary embolism), which can be life-threatening. This risk is greatest in the first year of use.5 A small study suggests that oral ERT slightly increases blood clot risk, but the ERT patch does not. When taken orally, ERT seems to increase a clotting factor in the blood, but this does not happen with ERT that is absorbed through the skin.6
- Breast cancer. The Million Women Study has shown that, in women using ERT for 10 years, the number of breast cancers is slightly higher than in women not taking ERT.7 Although the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial found no increase in breast cancer over 7 years of ERT use, experts continue to take the breast cancer risk seriously.8
- Uterine (endometrial) cancer . Taking progestin with estrogen eliminates this risk.7
- Gallstones . Women who use estrogen replacement therapy are more likely to have gallstones that cause symptoms than women who do not use ERT. (High estrogen levels are linked to gallbladder disease.)
- Ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is rare. But the risk of ovarian cancer may be higher if a woman takes estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) after menopause. But this risk remains low overall.9
- Dementia. ERT may increase the risk of dementia in women who are older than 65.10
ERT breast cancer risk is lower than the estrogen-progestin (HRT) breast cancer risk. In the British Million Women study of women who took hormone therapy for 10 years till age 60:7
- Estrogen-progestin use increased breast cancer by 19 out of 1,000 women.
- Estrogen-alone use increased breast cancer by 5 out of 1,000 women.
Side effects that can occur with all forms of estrogen but are more common with oral estrogen (and less common with a patch, cream, gel, or vaginal ring) include:
- Headaches.
- Nausea.
- Vaginal discharge.
- Fluid retention.
- Weight gain.
- Breast tenderness.
- Spotting or darkening of the skin, particularly on the face.
- Asthma . Newly diagnosed asthma appears to be more common among women taking ERT or HRT than women who are not. (Estrogen is thought to be a factor that causes asthma or makes it worse over the life span.)11
- In rare cases, an increased growth of preexisting uterine fibroids or a worsening of endometriosis.
Some of these side effects, such as headaches, nausea, fluid retention, weight gain, and breast tenderness, may go away after a few weeks of use.
The estrogen patch (transdermal estrogen) may cause skin irritation.
An estrogen ring must be replaced every 3 months. If the ring falls out at any time during the 3-month treatment period, you may rinse it with lukewarm water and reinsert it.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
In the Million Women Study of British women ages 50 to 64, taking any form of estrogen for 10 years increased breast cancer risk. The Women's Health Initiative study did not show this increased risk for women taking estrogen alone (ERT) for 7 years.8 So, taking long-term ERT probably slightly increases breast cancer risk, and taking it with progestin (HRT) further increases breast cancer risk.7 But only women who have had a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone without also worrying about endometrial (uterine) cancer risk.7
ERT use slightly increases the risk of stroke. For this reason, the Women's Health Initiative ERT trial was stopped sooner than originally planned. In this large trial, women using ERT had no change in heart disease risk, had fewer hip fractures (a sign of estrogen's bone-protecting effect), and (unlike the larger Million Women Study) had no increase in breast cancer risk during the study's nearly 7 years of ERT treatment.8
If you are taking ERT after early menopause caused by a surgical hysterectomy, talk with your doctor about long-term ERT risks and benefits.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
- Speroff L, Fritz MA (2005). Menopause and the perimenopausal transition. In Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 7th ed., pp. 621–688. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
- Rapkin AJ, et al. (2002). The clinical nature and formal diagnosis of premenstrual, postpartum, and perimenopausal affective disorders. Current Psychiatry Reports, 4(6): 419–428.
- Bachmann GA, et al. (2007). Lowest effective transdermal 17beta-estradiol dose for relief of hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 110(4): 771–779.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Women's Health Care Physicians (2004). Stroke. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 104(4, Suppl): 97S–105S.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Women's Health Care Physicians (2004). Venous thromboembolic disease. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 104(4, Suppl): 118S–127S.
- Scarabin PY, et al. (2003). Differential association of oral and transdermal oestrogen-replacement therapy with venous thromboembolism risk. Lancet, 362(9382): 428–432.
- Million Women Study Collaborators (2003). Breast cancer and hormone-replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. Lancet, 362(9382): 419–427.
- Women's Health Initiative Steering Committee (2004). Effects of conjugated equine estrogen in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy. JAMA, 291(14): 1701–1712.
- Beral V, et al. (2007). Ovarian cancer and hormone replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. Lancet, 369(9574): 1703–1710.
- Espeland MA, et al. (2004). Conjugated equine estrogens and global cognitive function in postmenopausal women: Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. JAMA, 291(24): 2959–2968.
- Barr RG, et al. (2004). Prospective study of postmenopausal hormone use and newly diagnosed asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Archives of Internal Medicine, 164(4): 379–386.
Last Updated: May 16, 2008
Author: Robin Parks, MS
Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Heating System Repair and Replacement
For more information, call Housing Services at (207) 610-5955.
Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP) funds are used to repair or replace dangerous, malfunctioning, or inoperable heating appliances or systems that pose a threat to the health and safety of the client.
- Client must have a current LIHEAP fuel application on file and live in the home.
- Proof of home ownership required, i.e. a copy of the deed or a copy of property taxes.
- A licensed heating technician must inspect the heating system at the owner's expense and a letter of condemnation or a written description of necessary repairs must be submitted to WHCA.
Households with no heat are the highest priority.


text:
Roll Over Image to Zoom
Ava Mod Giraffe Toddler Quilted Bedding
$24.50 – $99
- Overview
Bring the stars of the safari to your child's room. Giraffes and geometric floral prints offer a charming interplay of color, texture and design. The pieced quilt is sewn by hand with appliqués and decorative embroidery.
- Pure cotton percale.
- Pure cotton batting.
- Appliquéd giraffes on a white percale ground.
- Quilt and sham reverse to polka dots on a light pink ground.
- Quilt, sham and insert sold separately.
- Machine wash.
- Imported.
- Dimensions & Care
- Made of 100% cotton percale. A percale weave is noticeably denser and wears well over time.
- Sham has a quilted front and an envelope closure. Insert sold separately; down blend or synthetic.
Toddler Quilt
- 36 x 50"
Small Sham
- 12 x 16"
- Machine wash in warm water; gentle cycle.
- Use only nonchlorine bleach, if needed.
- Tumble dry on low heat.
- Warm iron as needed.
- Shipping Info
Please allow 5-7 business days for delivery. Delivery estimate includes monogrammed and gift-wrapped items.
Personalize this item
Preview $99
- Personalization
Toddler Quilted Sham
Personalize this item
Preview $24.50
- Personalization


text:
Amari Griffin's eight points, eight blocks, nine reobunds and seven steals helped lift Beecher to a 45-25 River Valley Conference girls basketball win over Grant Park on Monday.
Rachel Lee's 12 points led the Ladycats (16-6, 8-0) as seven different players scored. Lee also had six assists and three rebounds.
Paige Wehling and Rachel Basel had seven points each. Basel added four steals and three assists.
Beecher jumped out to an 11-3 first-quarter lead en route to a 21-9 advantage at halftime.
News and Notes
Neighborhood rivalry renewed: St. Francis de Sales and Washington will meet in the 2011 football season opener.
The two schools are located about 12 blocks apart on Chicago's East Side.
However, the game will be played in Indiana at Clark High School in Hammond. Clark is St. Francis de Sales' home field.
"We are happy to play a neighborhood rival and we think it will be a good series," Washington coach Jimmy Smith said. "We are looking forward to a good game and (St. Francis) Coach (Martin) Quiroga has done a nice job with their program."
St. Francis de Sales brought back varsity football in 2010 after a two-year absence.


text:
Seacoast Sustainable Food Symposium, March 18
Monday, March 11, 2013
EXETER – The Food and Health Forum celebrates our local food community on March 18 at a dinner seminar at the Blue Moon Evolution at 6:30 pm. Enjoy a community style dinner and listen and learn and as our local food champions share their challenges, successes and a vision for a strong and sustainable local food system.
The panel includes:
2013 Event Schedule: |


text:
Current Time
Provence hotels
Provence offers an embarrassment of lodging options, from retrofitted châteaux and simple country inns to converted farmhouse bed-and-breakfasts (here called chambres d'hôte) and old-school grand hotels. Chambres d'hôte require some research, for they can be a bit far off the beaten track and lacking in the services hotel guests take for granted, such as porters, concierges, televisions, and even in-room telephones. Château-to-hotel conversions are often a better choice for truly unique lodging—the setting can't be beat, and the views are among the best, since the castles are usually located atop hills. There are also serious luxury options, both modernist and grand, with price tags that could make a New York hotelier blush, especially in bigger cities like Aix-en-Provence and Avignon. What the rooms lack in square footage they make up for in stunning settings and extraordinary service. Visitors intending to settle in for more than a few days may want to consider renting a house.
To a certain extent you get what you pay for, and in Provence you're likely to pay handsomely. Dreamy four-bedroom hilltop stone farmhouses with valley-view...more
Perched in a private park on a hillside above Aix-en-Provence, Villa Gallici is a vertical paradise of hidden terraces and sweeping views, a hideaway spot that...more
If Charles and Andrée Barail's B&B in a 17th-century stone mas surrounded by unruly flowerbeds, lawns, and gravel terraces shaded by mature trees...more
This 32-room contemporary stands out from the pack—by being contemporary in the first place (thanks to architect Roland Paillat) and by having photography...more
Savvy Provence lovers are heading east of Apt, where the lavender fields aren't hemmed in by tour buses. Discover this unspoiled place in the sun from this...more
Run by a delightful English-Scottish couple, this hôtel de charme will set more than one nine-to-fiver to dreaming of following in their footsteps. Right...more
Alain Ducasse is no mere chef with a growing worldwide empire of exceptional restaurants and a constellation of Michelin stars, you know. No, he's also a...more
Built in the early 18th century for the mayor of Arles, the Baron of Chartrouse, this grand gated stone house opened as a hotel in 2002, the handiwork of owner...more
Just steps from the spattering fountains of the Cours Mirabeau, this handsome seventeenth-century townhouse is owned and run by the same team that originally...more
Smack in the middle of Aix-en-Provence's bustling Cours Mirabeau, this hotel is a bargain-priced gem of old-school grandeur—slightly rough around the...more


text:
Home | |||||||||||||||||
NOAA: Hottest March on Record The world's combined global land and ocean surface temperature made last month the warmest March on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States of America, a WMO partner for global climate monitoring. Taken separately, average ocean temperatures were the warmest for any March and the global land surface was the fourth warmest for any March on record. Additionally, the planet has seen the fourth warmest January – March period on record. The monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis, which is based on records going back to 1880, is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides government, business and community leaders so they can make informed decisions. Global Temperature Highlights – March 2010
Other Highlights
NOAA gratefully acknowledges the contributions to this global report of observational data by the national Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Member countries. NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the oceans to surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov. NOAA's National Climatic Data Center: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc NOAA: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100415_marchstats.html |
Contact: MeteoWorld Editor - WMO ©2014 Geneva, Switzerland |


text:
I am an ex-LEO from Ohio, now living in Tampa, FL.
I hadn't felt the need to carry concealed since I left the job, well VA Tech changed all that. I received my Florida Concealed Weapon License and now I don't leave home without my Colt Combat Commander in .45 ACP at my 3 o'clock. Gosh, it feels good to have that feeling of security and peace of mind again.
I looked this site over and it looks great. Thanks for allowing me to participate. I look forward to meeting the good people on board here.


text:
Join our network of non-profits, companies and individuals who believe social change can happen through design.
Become A MemberPopular Blogs
- winema gaven
1 Votes / 1 Posts - LogicGateOne Corp
0 Votes / 4 Posts - jeff clayborn
0 Votes / 2 Posts - Monty Kennar
0 Votes / 2 Posts
Most Active Members
- Kate Andrews
321 Recent Posts - v-neeta
305 Recent Posts - steven landau
157 Recent Posts - Douglas Best
126 Recent Posts
Recent Work Samples
- vasilis capellas
Designer - Vina Domingo-Roy
Designer (Product Design) - fert det
Designer (Journalism) - HeatherRose Studios
Designer (Illustration)
Greene Emborg
Member since September 08, 2013
Harmonics Laminate Flooring An Easy Task To Install And Keep Clear
Harmonics laminate flooring is a great option to create for your flooring requirements if you are creating or remodelling a home. Lots of people today are taking the rugs off their surfaces and deciding on the manufactured hardwood of laminate flooring. Navigate to this website clicky to research why to recognize this idea. You get the same sophisticated look of wood at a fraction of the cost. Though you can buy glueless laminate flooring, authorities with Harmonics laminate flooring suggest that you stick it to the sub-floor anyway.
You do need to buy an installation set, when you pick Harmonics laminate floor. If you choose to be taught further about partner site, we know about many resources you should think about investigating. If you do use the Harmonics glueless laminate flooring, you can use the foam padding for the underlay. Using this kind of laminate flooring from Harmonics ensures that you dont need numerous instruments and you can complete the entire job by just using a cordless circular saw. You do need to use the tool for fitting the Harmonics wood floor around doorways, by cabinets and for fitting within the smaller parts.
You must compare it with other brands of engineered wood flooring, even though the price of Harmonics laminate flooring is irresistible. When you visit a flooring store, you'll find often small sample bits of Harmonics glueless laminate flooring that you can study. Many customers are finding that the Harmonics wood flooring does dent and scratch just a little easier than that of other companies, but it continues to be a flexible and durable solution. This model of laminate flooring also has a guarantee against showing signs of wear. This give you piece of mind knowing that if a problem develops with the Harmonics flooring, you'll have the help you need.
It is essential that you do install the water barrier, when adding Harmonics laminate floor. This is a obstacle so that the water from your subfloor don't cause any damage to it and come through the laminate floor. Harmonics wood flooring is a great way to improve the value and beauty of the house for a fair price. It has the same sophisticated look of wood and it's an easy task to clean. All you need to accomplish is sweep or vacuum the dirt and wash it over with a wet mop. When you clear it you do have to be careful not to use an excessive amount of water. This pertains to the Harmonics glueless laminate flooring. Since laminate flooring isn't made from wooden, the additional moisture will get in between the layers and cause bubbles to occur.
Harmonics laminate flooring is available at many flooring merchants. If you can't find a shop in your area that carries this manufacturer, then all you have to do is search on the internet for sites promoting Harmonics wood flooring. You can buy the flooring from an online seller or discover the nearest area where you can go and start to see the Harmonics laminate flooring yourself. Once you do, you'll concur that for the cash, you will not beat this laminate floor. Dig up additional information about cornice by navigating to our tasteful link.


text:
Marucci Black 2 Youth Baseball Bat: MYBB20
$129.99 |
With Free Shipping Both Ways |
Product Features
What do you think about the Marucci Black 2 Youth Baseball Bat: MYBB20 ? |
or Cancel |
16 Product Reviews
Questions and Answers
Got a question about the Marucci Black 2 Youth Baseball Bat: MYBB20? Ask our team of experts, and they will respond within 24 hours.
Ask A QuestionLooking for my son a bat for spring season and we narrowed our choices to the Mizuno Generation or the Marucci Black 2. Which would you recommend for a contact hitter? My son is 58 inches tall and weighs 71 lbs.
The Marucci Black 2 Youth Baseball Bat (MYBB20) is a two piece hybrid bat with a balanced swing weight. The 2015 Mizuno Generation Youth Baseball Bat (GENERATION-YTH) is a one piece bat with a balanced swing weight. Both bats would be great options, but I tend to see contact hitters prefer two piece bats more than one piece bats.
My 10 year old is 5'4 and 85 lbs. What suggestions do you have for a good bat?
Using our bat coach feature on our website, a 30" 19 oz. Marucci Black 2 Youth Baseball Bat (MYBB20) would be a good size and weight for an average 5'4", 85 lbs 10 year old to use. The Marucci Black 2 is going to be a seamless two-piece designed bat with a composite handle and an alloy barrel. The Marucci Black 2 has an extended barrel design which creates a large sweet spot, while still having a balanced swing weight.
My son is 12 years old. What size bat would you recommend? He's 4'11" and about 90 lbs. What is the difference between the senior 30" minus 10 and the youth 30" minus 10?
For a player of his size, our bat coach is recommending a 30" model. The difference between the two models will be the barrel diameter of the bat.
Product Description
The all new Marucci Black 2 picks up right where the original Black left off. The extended barrel and massive sweet spot are back, but the Black 2 takes your game further than ever before. A more even balance point gives youth players complete control so that they can hit the sweet spot on ANY pitch. Plus, new anti-vibration technology, featuring a Kevlar-reinforced grip, means players don't have to give a second thought to hand sting ever again. The two-piece Black 2 features a seamless construction that maximizes the transfer of energy from barrel to ball. The barrel is made from Marucci's AZ3000 Aerospace Alloy that provides maximum responsiveness and durability. The extended barrel design of the Black 2 gives it a larger sweet spot and more jump off of the bat for MORE DISTANCE behind every hit! The handle is made from Marucci's carbon composite and fortified with their patented Unequal aramid-reinforced grip that silences the sting of off-center hits. When you swing the Marucci Black 2, expect nothing less than the best feeling bat EVER. Marucci: Made of Metal, Born from Wood! The Black 2 is approved for play in Little League, Babe Ruth, Dixie, Pony, AABC, and features the USSSA 1.15 BPF Stamp. It is backed by a Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty. Free Shipping!
About Marucci
Thank you. You have been a pleasure to work with and I will be ordering bats from you in the future and recommend you to others.
Related Products
Shop With Confidence
You just checked out the Marucci Black 2 Youth Baseball Bat: MYBB20. What would you like to do next?
Order Now or Browse More Bats


text:
Juried show, approximately 150 accepted artists of all discipline including sculpture, paintings, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, photography, wood and more – high quality juried fine art and fine craft show for the purpose of artistry and community enrichment. Juried by art professionals who are in the art industry and who have an art education. Located in West Bloomfield on Powers and Daly Roads, between 14 & 15 Mile Roads. Plenty of FREE parking behind Beaumont Medical Center and Barnes & Noble! The focus is visual arts – you will see artists that do not participate in other Michigan events. $5 admission (12 and under free). Friday, 5pm - 9pm, Saturday, 10am - 9pm, and Sunday, 10am - 5pm. Live entertainment and great food will enhance your culinary experience while enjoying the great artists. For more information contact (248) 684-2613.
Orchard Lake Fine Art Show Web Site
West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce
Your Snow Day Starts HerMore
Join 500,000 other people who receive the free Pure Michigan e-newsletter. View the Current Issue
Get the Official


text:
© 2005-2014
World Wide Explorations, Inc.
Website design and programming
Media for Vibrant Change
Southern Explorations is dedicated to providing high quality travel experiences that preserve the fragile lands we visit. By working closely with our customers, we are able to design unique vacations that match their interests and schedule. In addition to customized private tours, our specialty, we also offer pre-set departures to a wide range of South and Central American destinations.
For the most part, our customers are active independent vacationers, unaccustomed to the "guided tour." They seek not just adventure from their travels but a new world view. We therefore strive to provide as authentic an experience as possible with an in-country coordinated and guided trip rather than sending a Western tour guide to oversee their stay. We keep our groups small and assemble itineraries from an eclectic mix of places and activities, some on, but many off, the beaten tourist path. Because we are a small company, we can offer the utmost in personal attention to ensure that each trip precisely suits the needs and interests of our customers in an area of the world we know well. We have built our reputation for quality and customer satisfaction by adhering to the following practices:
Our staff
We employ a staff of knowledgeable travel professionals at our Seattle headquarters and have long-standing contractual relationships with our logistical specialists in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, Panama and Peru who help develop and coordinate our tours. All have traveled extensively or lived and worked in our destination countries and share a common business philosophy and environmental ethic.
Group Size
We limit the size of our tour groups to eight travelers, except on Galapagos Island cruises and tours where yacht capacity determines occupancy and on the Inca Trail where twelve travelers is the maximum. This policy offers several benefits. It minimizes our environmental impact, allows us to travel to areas less visited and makes the sightseeing experience more personal. It allows our guides sufficient time to attend to the individual needs of each visitor. Traveling in small groups also increases the likelihood of encountering wildlife in areas such as the Amazon.
We thoroughly research each destination before including it in a trip. Through our knowledgeable staff, we have established strong business relationships in all of the areas we visit which make for unique itineraries of ecological and cultural significance for our travelers and to while providing for their utmost safety and security. We augment our planned trips with an extensive list of optional tour extensions, ranging from a few hours to a few days, to enable our passengers to pursue their interests in greater depth.
We personally inspect the rooms and amenities of all potential hotels and lodges in each tour location and select only those that meet our rigorous standards for cleanliness, comfort, convenient location, safety, customer service and ambiance. We give the same scrutiny to the safety and quality of the yacht services we contract with to conduct our cruises. We support lodges and hotels that employ sustainability practices and are owned and operated locally.
We contract with guides who are native to the destination and are licensed and/or certified in accordance with the government regulations of their country. All are fluent in Spanish and English and some also speak the indigenous language of the region. Many are medically trained and some have received additional wilderness medical training in the United States or other locations. To ensure the safety of our travelers, our guides are linked with outside services 24 hours a day in most locations to provide assistance when necessary. Ours is a team of knowledgeable and congenial guides whose priceless insights into the true nature of their homelands add immeasurably to the enjoyment of the trip.
Local Travel Services & Regional Guides
To provide passengers the most authentic experience possible, we contract with local travel services in the countries we visit. Central to this goal is our policy of hiring regional guides instead of assigning the same guide or a western tour leader to accompany passengers for the duration of the trip. This ensures that our passengers are always in the hands of knowledgeable guides who know their destinations intimately.
Sustainable Tourism Practices
Our company and all those who represent us abroad practice environmental stewardship based on the Leave No Trace philosophy. We travel in established National Parks and conservation areas, leaving only footprints and taking only photographs. We select camping locations with the most benign sanitary systems, pack in gear and foods with the least waste feasible and properly dispose of all rubbish. We design all of our trips to minimize travel times and take full advantage of local hikes and walking routes. In this way, we decrease reliance on motor transportation, and enable our clients to become more intimate with places they travel. We donate to organizations dedicated to the conservation of the ecosystems in which we operate to carbon-offset the use of natural resources that our trips cause.
Because we believe sustainability applies to economic and social well-being in addition to environmental health, we make sure our tours directly benefit the locations to which our clients travel. We support local organizations, non-profits, and schools to improve the quality of life in the areas through which we travel. We employ native guides, porters, and logistical members of our staff, as well as supporting locally owned and operated hotels, lodges and restaurants. We also ensure fair wages for all with whom we work and contract. This commitment has created enduring relationships with members of our international team and greatly added to our clients' experiences abroad.
Home Office Practices
At our Seattle headquarters, we employ best environmental practices in our daily work. Our energy-efficient office is purposely located within walking distance to all of our major needs to minimize trips by car during our workday. We encourage our employees to use alternative forms of transportation, and some bike or walk to work daily. We have made efforts beyond simply using recycled paper products by making our company nearly all web and computer-based. We mail only the essentials to our clients, communicating predominately by waste-free email and phone. Additionally, we email newsletters and rely on our website to notify travelers of updates instead of mailing brochures that are paper intensive.
Memberships and Financial Contributions
Through memberships and donations, we support the efforts of local, national and international organizations working in South America to preserve ecological stability and to better the lives of the people. A portion of all Galapagos travel fees is donated to the islands' conservation projects and environmental scholarships. We are current members of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, the International Ecotourism Society, the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute, the American Whitewater Association, Headwaters Institute, Cascadia Wildlands Project, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, International Rivers,La Pagina en la Puerta, KEXP FM, the Washington Wilderness Coalition and the Adventure Travel Trade Association. We continually seek new ways to actively support sustainable tourism.
Justin Laycob
Southern Explorations President and Founder, Justin Laycob, has been studying, guiding, traveling and developing programs in South and Central America since 1995, having developed a passion for Latin America while studying in Ecuador and Chile. He graduated from the University of Oregon, with a double major in Environmental Science and Planning, Public Policy and Management. Justin began his career in the adventure travel industry in 1998 and learned the business by guiding for various adventure travel companies in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. Using his years of experience, Justin then developed his own company to offer first-class Latin American experiences for travelers by assembling the team of like-minded professionals who now comprise Southern Explorations. Under his leadership, Southern Explorations earned an international reputation for world class customer service, unique travel itineraries, sustainable tourism, and a flawless safety record. Justin travels to South and Central America regularly in order to strengthen and expand his network of contacts and friends, guide special interest groups and to explore new destinations. His experiences while guiding and exploring Latin America are evident in every trip that Southern Explorations offers, as he has played an integral role in designing each trip.
Jonathan Borgida
As Operations Manager, Jonathan is the logistical master and backbone of Southern Explorations. He gained his expertise from seven years of overseeing multifaceted outdoor operations for the youth motivation wilderness program, Outward Bound after receiving a degree in planning from the University of Oregon. This experience is one of the reasons that every detail of each Southern Explorations adventure is meticulously coordinated. When Jonathan isn't arranging trips for people from all over the world by phone or email, he is traveling to South and Central America inspecting hotels, meeting with the guides, and visiting Galapagos cruises. Everyone who works with Jonathan appreciates his in-depth knowledge of our destinations and his efficiency in responding to requests for complex itineraries. He works very closely with each passenger and group to make sure that every question is answered and that trip plans meet all of their expectations His sense of humor, and passion for the outdoors make him a pleasure to work with.
Marisa Soprano
While growing up in Vermont Marisa dreamed of traveling to distant lands, and made those dreams a reality on her first international trip to France during high school. She went on to earn a degree in Travel and Tourism Management at Johnson & Wales University. Extensive European travel left her with a basic foundation in the Spanish language which fueled her desire to explore Latin America. Marisa enjoys all things outdoors, including running, hiking, and mountain biking. Her passion for both world travel and outdoor activities is an asset in helping Southern Explorations' passengers to personalize their trips.
Carrie Beck
During her childhood on a farm in Vermont, Carrie developed a true appreciation of the outdoors that is evident today in her love of hiking, snowboarding, and horseback riding. Always eager to explore the world beyond her home state, she solidified her passion for travel on a month-long trip to New Zealand at the age of 16. While attending Whitman College, Carrie studied abroad in France and, after graduation, spent a winter instructing snowboarding in Colorado followed by a year teaching English in Japan. She joined Southern Explorations with previous travel industry experience working for an operator of worldwide walking tours. Carrie is always eager to share her enthusiasm for travel with Southern Explorations' passengers by helping them choose their perfect trip.
Angie Coyne
As a native of Vermont, Angie has always enjoyed outdoor adventure and exploration beyond her rural home town. During a university year abroad in Italy, the travel bug took its hold and Angie spent the following years traveling throughout China, SE Asia, India, Europe and South and Central America. For 4 years, Angie ran a boutique hotel in Costa Rica where she gained a true understanding of tourism and adventure travel in Latin America. Her insight is sure to help Southern Explorations' travelers plan an amazing trip! At home, Angie loves cooking, eating, music, gardening and hiking with her jungle dogs who made the trip home with her from Costa Rica.
Lisa Malmgren
Raised in rural western New York, Lisa spent her childhood backyard hiking, creek crossing, pond swimming and reading about worlds beyond the Enchanted Mountains. A semester in Switzerland while at St. Bonaventure University confirmed her love for outdoor adventure and world travel. After graduating with a degree in journalism and mass communication, Lisa journeyed to Costa Rica to earn her TEFL Certification; here, she got her first real taste of Latin American culture while living with a host family in San Jose. She spent the following year teaching English in Slovakia and traveling throughout Eastern Europe. These days, Lisa lives in Vermont. She spends her time hiking wherever she can and secretly nursing a minor addiction for Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings series.
Eric Bartanen
A Washington native, Eric graduated from Seattle University with double majors in International Business and Economics. Eric has a strong interest in world religions, cultures, and languages. His excellent eye for detail ensures that all logistics of every Southern Explorations passenger's trip is in order. While not in the office, Eric enjoys a wide variety of outdoor pursuits from snowboarding fresh tracks to dropping cliffs on his mountain bicycle.
Angelita Muro - Operations
From Lima, Angie worked at our Lima-Peru Operations Office for 2 years. Now, she is working with us at our office located in Seattle as the Operations Assistant. She graduated from Cenfotur Institute in Peru with a degree as an Official Tourist Guide with Advanced English. Angie, has traveled extensively in her native Peru and is knowledgeable about the country's varied geography and its indigenous cultures. She also worked at a Travel Agency in Iguazu, Argentina. Like our customers, Angie also enjoys travelling, hiking and other outdoor activities.
Marcia Fallas - Operations
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Marcia developed her love of learning about the culture, literature and language of other countries through travel as a high school exchange student. She holds a degree in French Literature and Foreign Languages from the University of Costa Rica. Since graduating in 1998, she has worked in the tourist industry, first in Costa Rica and since moving to the United States in 2010. On weekends Marcia enjoys visiting new places, yoga, Latin dancing, reading and going to art exhibitions. Her travel expertise and deep knowledge of her native land are a welcome addition to our staff.
Brad Murray
At Southern Explorations, we're specialists in adventure travel, not computers. When we have problems with our systems, we turn to Brad. We appreciate that he is always looking for new ways to make the information exchange between the office and our passengers easier and more effective.
HT Mellon
HT is Southern Explorations' web master. He holds a Master of the Arts degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and has years of experience as an instructor, guide and participant in various outdoor pursuits including -alpine skiing, kayaking, mountain bicycling In his free time, he travels the world and composes electronic music.
HT says "Let the lifetime of a Holiday begin!"
Sandy Lorentzen
Sandy Lorentzen writes content for our website. She has a degree in communications from the University of Washington and has held positions with companies involved in tourism including two international arts festivals and a destination ski resort development. She is co-editor of a traveler's guide to where famous people are buried to be published by Darwin Press, Princeton.
Juan - Peru Operations
Juan is our operations specialist for Peru and is based in Lima, Peru. He speaks Spanish, English and Hebrew fluently. A graduate in engineering and a trained zoologist, Juan is a remarkable source of information about Peru's history, culture and ecology. His knowledge and enthusiasm are always appreciated by our travelers.
Maria - Ecuador Operations
Fernanda is our logistical specialist for Ecuador and is based in Quito, Ecuador. She graduated from the University of Quito with a major in Tourism and Marketing. Knowledgeable in all areas of Ecuador, Fernanda meets all of our guests when they arrive and ensures that their entire trip in her country is seamless. Fernanda manages all of our Ecuadorian guides, hotels and reservations.
María - Galapagos Operations
A friendly and resourceful Quito, Ecuador Native, Maria is currently studying Tourism Management in Quito at Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial. She has been working in Ecuador and Galapagos operations for more than 3 years gaining valuable experience in managing passenger services. She also keeps us updated daily on the ever changing Galapagos cruise availability. She is easy going and has established excellent relationships with the many Galapagos cruise operators. In her free time she likes to travel and discover Ecuador's history and culture.
Andrea - Costa Rica Operations
Andrea is our operations specialist for Costa Rica and is based in San Jose, Costa Rica. She is an expert in finding new and undiscovered destinations in the region. She ensures that our passengers in Costa Rica enjoy their travels to the fullest and that everything runs smoothly. Andrea plays an intricate role in the planning of new itineraries in Costa Rica. She loves adventure travel and always has a friendly greeting for our passengers upon their arrival in Costa Rica.
Alec - Patagonia Operations
Alec handles operations for our Chile Patagonia trips and is our top guide in Chilean Patagonia. He is based in Puerto Natales, Chile. Having worked in the international tourism business in Chile since 1995, he is an in invaluable resource in developing and conducting our tours there. He spends much of his time researching new ideas for itineraries. He speaks Spanish and English fluently. Alec's thorough knowledge of the area and its history is always appreciated by our travelers. He has an infectious enthusiasm for the Patagonia's people, its landscape, and bird life. Alec is master of logistics and organizes our guides, hotels and reservations flawlessly even at the busiest of times.
Laura - Argentina Operations
Laura is our master logistics coordinator for Argentina and the Argentine Patagonia region. With a degree in Tourism from Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, she has been working in the tourism industry for over fifteen years. She has a great eye for quality and detail, making sure that nothing is overlooked for Southern Explorations passengers. Laura speaks fluent Spanish, English, Italian and some French. She travels frequently in Argentina looking for new great hotels, keeping in contact with our guides and seeking to discover the next great destination in Argentina.
Yesenia - Panama Operations
Yesenia leads our Panama operations department. She coordinates guides, logistics, and the important details of our Panama tours and is also a natural guide herself. She has advanced training in Ecological Tourism and is one of our specialists in Panamanian history and the large variety of flora and fauna that Panama has to offer. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has also been certified by NAI (National Association of Interpretation). This young adventurous woman enjoys biking and hiking activities.
Renata - Brazil Operations
Renata was born and raised in São Paulo, the business and finance capital of Brazil. She studied International Business and earned her postgraduate degree in Business Administration at Fundação Getulio Vargas, one of São Paulo's most respected universities. Upon graduation, Renata traveled extensively throughout the United States, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia, spending significant time in countries where she could perfect her English and German. Upon returning to Brazil, Renata followed a lifelong passion for nature and outdoor activities by settling in Florianopolis on the island paradise of Santa Catarina off the southern coast. Here she has developed a career as a tour planner for visitors from around the globe, showcasing the island's unique attractions. Extremely knowledgeable about all Santa Catarina has to offer, Renata specializes in eco-tourism. When not working, Renata can most likely be found on a nature hike, mountain biking, or discovering a new waterfall or other natural wonder to show future visitors.


text:
My friend Nathan just sent an email around about an app he built that interface's with Twittervotereport which was built by volunteers in partnership with techPresident; it turns your phone into an on-the-spot volunteer election reporting mechanism. The aggregate effect will be to visualize reporting problems around the nation in real time. Election monitoring orgs have been dreaming about this for eons!! Here's the email from Nathan:
Just wanted to make sure y'all knew about this: http://twittervotereport.com
I built an app for the new G1/Android phone that uses your GPS location
to accurately track where you are reporting from:
Twitter Vote Report is an all-volunteer network of software developers,
designers, and other collaborators have teamed up with the award-winning
blog techPresident to launch this effort. The only resources
contributed to this project are the participants' time and expertise!
Millions of Americans will be voting this Election Day. Many of these
voters will have terrific experiences and we'd love to hear about
those. But many voters will experience voting problems that we have
been hearing about for years: long lines, broken machines, and
registered voters who can't vote because their names aren't showing up
on the registration rolls. Using Twitter Vote Report, voters will be
able to share their experiences and resources with one another to solve
problems quickly (e.g. "don't come now, the line is too long"). These
messages will then be aggregated and mapped so that we can "see" voting
problems around the country in real-time.
Spread the word!


text:
Open new world for yourself, having learned a lot of interesting and useful things, connected with themes like pen pals for tweens preteens, nudists in norway, non nude girls preteen, on our Internet portal. Here we have few themed pictures:
backyard naturalist. This site create specially for little japanese preteen girls More details in those pictures:
backyard naturalist. Our site – choice of those to who are interesting in racecourse beach nsw, erotic nudist fiction, european miss jr teen nudist beauty pageants. Pay attention to pictures on this theme:
swiss beach nudist. You will find detailed answers to all questions concerning to boat rentals newport beach california, nudism for free, beach house half moon bay ca, having visited our portal Besides that, only at our web-site you can find such detailed pictures:
Catalogue 4388 |
Catalogue 3277 |
Catalogue 9109 |
kendra wilkinson nacktfoto. Useful materials connected on lucia coconut bay resort,mana island resort reviews, katie holmes nackt themes are collected on our portal Also pictures:
Catalogue 5454 |
Catalogue 6143 |
Catalogue 7910 |
nude preteen bbs voodoo darkside. Our web site offers the most informative answers to questions about next subjects: palm beach resort hurghada, sonesta beach resort curacao tyagarah map. See it on the following pictures:
dogging sites around. It is possible to find detailed instructions how to work with czech family naturism, preteen porm, atlantic beach condo nc rental on our site Besides that, only at our web-site you can find such detailed pictures:
Catalogue 9029 |
Catalogue 9309 |
Catalogue 5099 |
sylvia naturist. You'll receive complete information about nacktvideos von stars, voyeurisme france, beach hotel myrtle sc south at our site More details in those pictures:
naturalist teens gallery. Complete information about schone nacktfotos, fkk trier, hemera beach hotel is offered to your attention on our portal the. It becomes more clearly on the pictures:
Catalogue 9361
beach hotel palm shore |
Catalogue 3232
beach christmas vacation |
Catalogue 4711
You can find our site in the Internet by words: juno beach florida rentals, dasmarinas cavite resorts, xxs preteens. Pay attention to pictures on this theme: |
Catalogue 4693
Our site is focused on work with nick baker naturalist. Pay attention to pictures on this theme: |
sylvia naturist. What are you looking for cutey flashers or dogging waterford? You can always find the unique information about it, only at our portal!
Catalogue 1973 |
Catalogue 9096 |
Catalogue 3233 |
nudist pageant russian. Why women flashing their arse? Because of pure nudist girls! Besides that, only at our web-site you can find such detailed pictures:
indiannude photo. Once I searched for the information about mexico beach vacations, and found it at this portal. Also pictures:
Next Nudist Gallery


text:
Glancing over a neighboring New York Post on the bus, I was shocked to read that a new law forbids anyone under the age of 21 to buy spray paint…and markers! This is the first I have heard about it, and forgive me if I am less than informed. I thought that street graffiti were akin to a radical, anarchistic form of art that bred the like of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. In my neighborhood, they actually enhance the grimness of the grey metal storefronts. Is this another 'let them jews wear a yellow star' thing? Or a simple case of 'duh'?
There are two issues here:
One, are graffiti markings vandalism or art? Don't they provide a much-needed form of self-expression in an unforgiving modern metropolis, as well as street entertainment for the passers-by? Isn't this new law another restriction to freedom of expression? When I first came to New York, one of the attractions of the city was this wild form of art which I had never seen before in my native, uptight and bourgeois Paris.
And two, even if one considers graffiti as a negative, are teenagers under 21 in general really responsible for graffiti? Isn't it more likely that graffiti art is created by gang artists who actually plan and execute this as a work of art? And that if they want to obtain spray paint, they will – even if it is illegal.


text:
Ever wonder about the history of the burglar alarm? Okay, perhaps not. Now that we've brought it to your attention, though, you're probably a wee bit curious about the background of this lone device which eventually created today's booming home security industry. You may also be surprised to learn about the unique connection that the burglar alarm shares with the history and evolution of the telephone.
The Inventor
Originally patented by Unitarian minister Reverend Augustus Russell Pope in 1853, the first burglar alarm was a relatively simple electro-magnetic device. Battery operated; an open door would set a spring in motion, which would then cause a bell hammer to repeatedly strike a loud bell. Door and window sensors would later be created in order to connect these entry points to an alarm through a series of wires. Originally this was not the case, however, and individual alarm devices were needed for each window and door in a home.
The Visionary
Despite Pope being on record as the true creator, it was Edwin Holmes who is actually credited as being the father of today's burglar alarm. Turns out that Reverend Pope was a great inventor, but ailing health and poor marketing skills prevented him from doing much more with his creation. It was Holmes who purchased Pope's patent sometime between 1857 and 1858 and it was Holmes whose name is cemented in history for bringing the burglar alarm to the masses.
A door-to-door salesman turned shopkeeper specializing in household goods, Holmes did not originally plan on a career in the home security industry. Believing in the need for such a device though, he purchased the patent after his own business, which he shared with his brother, was declared insolvent by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Considering his own position, it can be said that Holmes really took a leap of faith with the burglar alarm and aren't we all glad that he did?
The Home Security Industry is Born
It wasn't long before Holmes established a brand new business centered around introducing the burglar alarm to the general public. The Holmes Burglar Alarm Company (later changed to the Holmes Electric Protective Company) initially catered to the Boston area, but soon expanded to several other cities. In several stories, it has been noted that Holmes regarded New York as being a haven for the well-to-do in addition to being a high crime area, particularly for burglaries. As his Massachusetts-based home security business continued to grow, he eventually moved his family to New York where he opened a new division of his company.
With a strong marketing background, Holmes was considered a master at convincing people that they needed burglar alarms both in their homes and at their businesses. At this same time, electricity was not yet widely used in households which were mostly still being lit by candles and gas lamps. That these very first burglar alarms were powered by electricity means that such a technology was not easily understood, nor was it regulated to protect consumers. Holmes would not be deterred by the public's lack of experience with electricity and alarms, however, and went on to publish frightening accounts of big city crimes in order to illustrate the need for his product. His marketing campaigns proved to be quite successful and, eventually, Holmes had established a network of more than 1,000 burglar alarms in New York.
The Burglar Alarm's Role in the Telephone's History
Along with starting the first home security company, Edwin Holmes was also the first to install a telephone switchboard at his Boston offices before using a similar system in his New York office. Prior to his vision for a more effective system for business communication, Holmes used Alexander Graham Bell's hand phone. With these early instruments, a caller used a special line to leave a message at what was known as a central station and an operator from that station used a separate line to then deliver that message to its intended recipient. This method resulted in multiple telephones physically being housed at a station for incoming and outgoing messages.
Holmes son, Edwin Thomas Holmes, however, soon realized that existing wiring for the alarm system at their own business (which were already being used for telephone communication during business hours) could also be used as a switchboard system where multiple phone lines could run through a single location on a switchboard and an operator could connect a hand phone to plug into any of these lines. Messages would still be relayed through an operator, but this unique way of wiring a system eliminated the physical need for multiple telephones and also allowed businesses to house their own switchboards.
For a time, Holmes served as president of Bell Telephone Company, which would later become American Telephone and Telegraph Company (today known as AT&T Corp). This same company eventually bought Holmes' thriving home security business and the rest is, as they say, history.
All Eyes on You
Do you have anything to add about the history of the burglar alarm? What are your thoughts about the future of the home security industry? The home automation industry? We look forward to reading what you have to share in the space provided for your comments below.


text:
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
List price $16.95
You save $4.13 24% off
Free delivery worldwide
Dispatched in 2 business days
When will my order arrive?
- Publisher: Large Print Press
- Format: Paperback | 329 pages
- Dimensions: 137mm x 211mm x 18mm | 386g
- Publication date: 21 May 2009
- Publication City/Country: Detroit, MI
- Edition: Large type / large print
- Edition statement: large type edition
- Sales rank: 16,398
Product description
What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food," the well-considered answers he provides to the questions posed in the bestselling "The Omnivore's Dilemma," Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists-all of whom have much to gain from our dietary confusion. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." These "edible foodlike substances" are often packaged with labels bearing health claims that are typically false or misleading. Indeed, real food is fast disappearing from the marketplace, to be replaced by "nutrients," and plain old eating by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Michael Pollan's sensible and decidedly counterintuitive advice is: "Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food." Writing "In Defense of Food," and affirming the joy of eating, Pollan suggests that if we would pay more for better, well-grown food, but buy less of it, we'll benefit ourselves, our communities, and the environment at large. Taking a clear-eyed look at what science does and does not know about the links between diet and health, he proposes a new way to think about the question of what to eat that is informed by ecology and tradition rather than by the prevailing nutrient-by-nutrientapproach. "In Defense of Food" reminds us that, despite the daunting dietary landscape Americans confront in the modern supermarket, the solutions to the current omnivore's dilemma can be found all around us. In looking toward traditional diets the world over, as well as the foods our families-and regions-historically enjoyed, we can recover a more balanced, reasonable, and pleasurable approach to food. Michael Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives and enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy.
Other people who viewed this bought:
Other books in this category
- Categories:


text:
Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)Terry McAuliffe narrowly defeats Republican challenger Ken Cuccinelli for Virginia governor's seat
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
November 6th, 2013 Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) Some analysts say that Terry McAuliffe, the new governor of Virginia had a sparsely detailed agenda. Winning by only a narrow victory over his Republican opponent Ken Cuccinelli, part of McAuliffe's platform includes the expansion of Medicaid, educational investment and the improvement of state transportation. Most agree he has a long road ahead of him governing a state with more than eight million residents, with a GOP-dominated House. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - McAuliffe has no experience in state government. Among his promises are such left-friendly platforms is promoting green technology, protecting access to abortion and ensure the state is welcoming to gays and scientific inquiry."I want us to be Number 1 in everything," he declared on the eve of the election. The former Democratic National Committee chairman, entrepreneur and Clinton intimate will now have to make good on these stated goals. His narrow win will make it hard to claim a mandate. "We really don't know where Terry McAuliffe's going," House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) says. "He hasn't really laid out any realistic plans. He's promised something for everyone. His whole orientation is toward Washington-style politics, schmoozing and doing deals, going and having a few drinks. That's not gonna work. I think he's got a pretty sharp learning curve." Senator Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) says McAuliffe has potential. "There's nobody who has more energy, who has more heart, who goes after something and knows how to get it done," Warner says. McAuliffe's autobiography, entitled "What a Party!" promoted Bill Clinton inaugural merchandise on the QVC shopping channel. McAuliffe could not name the positions in the governor's Cabinet in March. He has more recently said that he has taken steps to assemble his own. He has lost points by trying to retain Republican Gov. Robert F. McDonnell's health and human resources secretary. He has also hinted that he would like Bill Hazel to stay on in his Cabinet and made an indirect appeal behind the scenes, according to two people familiar with the effort, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss a confidential matter. Supporters say that McAuliffe's courtship of Hazel demonstrated an ability to play the bipartisan pragmatist capable of compromise. Others worried that it showed a willingness to abandon principles and people along the way. "We are unabashedly opposed to Secretary Hazel staying on in the cabinet," Tarina Keene, executive director NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia says. "I think having someone like Dr. Hazel stay on is certainly not going to be an option for the administration considering the people who put him in that office." A birth foretold: click here to learn more! Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) |


text:
In my last post about SunRun, we talked about the basic outline of the SunRun solar PPA. In this post, we're going to go through an example of an average system in Southern California Edison (SCE) utility with tiered rates and net metering. The example would be similar in other SunRun territories, but not Arizona and Los Angeles, which are leases.
In this example:
- The customer's average monthly electric bill is $153/month.
- This corresponds to $.21/kWh average rate across the rate tiers.
- The solar system's size is 5 kW DC, or 4.23kW AC.
- This system's size (5 KW) will offset 87% of the home's expected electric bill over a year. So you'll still have to pay the utility 13% of your power needs for the next 18 to 25 years.
- In the example, SunRun projects electric rates in SCE territory to rise an average of 6.5% annually across higher rate tier customers. I think that's a good estimate. Recently, in April of 2009, energy hungry SCE customers saw a rate increase from 3% to 10%, depending on which rate tier. Historically, electric rates have risen an average of 5% nationally over the last few years, but due to new clean energy requirements and carbon cap and trade legislation in Congress, experts believe utility rates will increase faster than they have in the past, especially for big energy users who are pushed into the high rate tiers. Your state/utility will have different projected increases.
- This 6.5% projection means that the current .21 kWh average rate for this customer will be $.56/kwh by the end of the 18 year contract.
- To lock in your $.21/kWh bill for 87% of your electric bill for the next 18 years (assuming your power needs remain the same), the customer pays $3752 upfront.
- For a small fee, you can spread this upfront payment over the first year and pay $237 a month plus the $133/month for solar, and $20/month for the left over utility bill.
- Assuming that 6.5% rate increase over the 18 years of the contract, you'll start to see more and more savings every year. For example:
- After 5 years, you'll be saving almost $500 a year in electricity costs. Your combined SunRun bill and utility bill will be $155.66/month. Without SunRun, you would have been paying almost $196.66/a month.
- By the end of the 18 year contract, in today's dollars, you'll have saved $9,253.
- You can purchase the system at year 18 for $5000 or continue the contract at a rate of 10% less than the utility rate at that time.
- By the 25th year, if you've purchased the system, you'll be paying zero to SunRun and only $89.25/month to the utility. If you only had stayed with the utility, your bill would be $692.83/month.
- All installation costs, and inverter replacement and full maintenance is included. (Expect excellent maintenance from SunRun. They want to make sure your panels are properly maintained and working because their fee is based on how much electricity the panels generate. So, if something goes wrong with your solar system, you'll probably get a quick visit from the SunRun installer to make sure you're getting full power out of your solar panels.
SunRun notes that the above sample quote is for a home with good solar potential. Check my previous post about gauging whether your home is right for solar.
In my next post, I'll talk about the new Los Angeles and Arizona lease model and give an example.


text:
Caterham F1 Team launched its CT03 2013 race car on the first day of testing and one addition to the team's striking new livery is McGregor.
The Dutch fashion, which company traces its roots back to New York in 1921, has joined the team as an official partner. The McGregor logo now appears on the CT03 2013 race cars and across all of the Caterham F1 Team's branding platforms.
Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal: "We are all very pleased to welcome McGregor into Caterham F1 Team. McGregor is not new to Formula One and have no doubt of the value our sport can deliver to their brand, so their expectations of the value of their activation of this partnership will be just as high.
"Securing an official partnership with McGregor is a great testimonial for us, for all the hard work that we continue to do to build our platform on track and at the factory, to the benefit of the Caterham brand and all of our partners.
"Giedo will be racing in car #21 in 2013 which neatly ties in with McGregor's denim lifestyle range, 'Twenty One By McGregor', and we are all excited about helping to activate the plans McGregor have to engage F1 fans and their consumers throughout 2013."
Jan Paul ten Hoopen, McGregor Managing Director: "We're proud to be the official clothing partner of one of the most ambitious Formula 1 teams. Caterham F1 Team - just like McGregor - is associated with drive, enterprise, passion for detail and a great chance of success in the future.
"This partnership will enable us to place our continuous international growth on the fast track while giving our brand image a powerful boost.
"We are looking forward to presenting the new Caterham by McGregor collection during the Monaco Grand Prix this year. Thanks to our strong distribution network, this collection will be made available worldwide online via www.mcgregor-fashion.com as well as in Europe through our own McGregor stores and selected stockists such as Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, El Corte Ingles, Coin, Breuninger, Bijenkorf and Galleria Innovation."
Find out more about McGregor.
Follow us on twitter. Share your view of each race and get updates from the pits.
Like us on facebook. Share your view of each race and get updates from the pits.
See our stream from behind the scenes.