text:
Apparatus for guiding insertion of surgical instruments into a surgical site while blocking escape of fluids, including gas under pressure, therethrough from the surgical site. A generally Y-shaped housing comprises an elongate instrument guide having a distal end insertable in the surgical site and an elongate instrument passage through which elongate instruments are insertable into the surgical site. A valve seat is provided in the instrument passage. A valve member is movable into contact with the valve seat for blocking escape of fluid from the surgical site therepast along the instrument passage when no instrument occupies such instrument passage. Such housing includes a tubular valve guide having an elongate valve passage intersecting the instrument passage and along which the valve member is movable toward and away from the valve seat. The valve member is urged resiliently along the valve passage toward the valve seat for closing the instrument passage when no surgical instrument is in the instrument passage and for resiliently allowing a surgical instrument inserted into the instrument passage to push aside the valve member, back into the valve passage, to allow continued insertion of the surgical instrument past the valve member into the surgical site.
1. Apparatus for laparoscopic, arthroscopic and similar surgery and particularly for guiding therethrough the sequential insertion of a series of differing surgical instruments into a surgical site, while blocking escape therethrough, from the surgical site, of surgical site ballooning, namely surgical chamber creating gas under pressure, the apparatus comprising:
(a) means for sequentially guiding therethrough of a series of differing elongate surgical instruments into, and then out of, a pressure gas inflated surgical site, said means defining an elongate instrument guide, said instrument guide having a distal end insertable in the surgical site and a near end opposite said distal end, said instrument guide containing an elongate cylindrical instrument passage for radially snugly guiding therethrough in sequence a series of differing elongate surgical instruments into and out from the surgical site;
(b) a valve seat in said instrument passage;
(c) means for blocking escape of gas under pressure from the surgical site therepast along said instrument passage when no instrument occupies said instrument passage and means comprising a ball movable into contact with said valve seat;
(d) a ball guide having elongate ball guide passage means for guiding said ball along the length axis of said ball guide passage means toward and away from said instrument passage, said ball guide passage means comprising an elongate ball guide passage having a perimeter wall means for snugly constraining said ball against movement away from said length axis but allowing free translation of said ball along said length axis while permitting rotation of said ball about three mutually orthogonal axes, namely in pitch and roll and yaw, said elongate ball guide passage intersecting said instrument passage;
(e) resilient means backing said ball (1) for pushing said ball along the length axis of said ball guide passage into said instrument guide passage and against said valve seat to close said instrument passage when no surgical instrument is in said instrument passage and (2) for resiliently allowing a surgical instrument, moving along said instrument passage toward the surgical site, to push said ball back into said ball guide passage, said resilient means defining a coil compression spring in said ball guide passage, said ball normally engaging said valve seat in said instrument passage but having surface means responsive to pressure thereon by an instrument in said instrument passage for translating said ball back along said ball guide passage against said spring and out of said instrument passage in which said spring is always fully hidden outside of said instrument passage and in said ball guide passage by said ball even with said ball fully seated against the valve seat;
(f) a substantially Y-shaped housing defining said ball guide passage and a central portion of said instrument passage communicating with said ball guide passage;
(g) means for avoiding unintended locking in said instrument passage, by said ball, of an instrument having a central portion adjacent said ball and a relatively larger cross section distal portion between the ball and the surgical site to form a step axially facing the ball and away from the surgical site, said lock avoiding means including:
(1) intersection of the respective length axes of said ball guide passage and instrument passage an angle in the range of 30� to 45� and opening toward the distal end of the instrument guide, wherein an instrument extending in said instrument passage past the ball would abut the ball at a point on the ball spaced between said valve seat and an imaginary diametral plane through the center of said ball and perpendicular to the length axis of said ball guide passage, and
(2) the valve seat being located so that, with the ball occupying the valve seat (i) the center of the ball is spaced radially slightly outside of the instrument passage and in a direction such that movement of said ball away from said valve seat to open said valve seat moves the ball further away from said instrument passage and (ii) the center of said ball cannot enter said instrument passage, the diameter of said ball slightly exceeding the twice the diameter of said instrument passage,
such that such a step in the instrument can contact the ball near said diametral plane of the ball, which diametral plane is perpendicular to the ball guide passage length axis seal means for sealing around an instrument during insertion and removal thereof from said instrument passage, said ball guide passage intersects said instrument passage at a location axial between said distal end of said instrument passage and said seal means.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 which said angle is about 40�.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 including a gas stopcock mounted on and communicating through the sidewall of said Y-shaped housing and with said instrument passage at a location between said valve seat and the surgical site end of said instrument passage, for applying pressure gas to the surgical site.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said housing comprises a ball guide in which said ball guide passage extends said ball guide having a through hole for snugly and sealingly and fixedly receiving therethrough the central portion of an instrument tube defining said instrument passage.
This invention relates to apparatus for telescopingly guiding a series of surgical instruments into a surgical site and blocking unintended loss of fluid pressure from the surgical site.
It is known to enter the end of an instrument guide (e.g. trocar tube) into a surgical site, and telescopically guide through the instrument guide various elongate surgical instruments into the surgical site. In one example, a sharply pointed piercing instrument of elongate dimension (e.g. a trocar) is inserted telescopically through an instrument guide. The point of the trocar is then used to make an incision in the patient at the surgical site and the adjacent end of the instrument guide is inserted into the incision. The trocar is then withdrawn from the instrument guide and set aside. Thereafter, a desired sequence of surgical instruments can be inserted telescopically through the instrument guide into the surgical site. Techniques of this known type are used in a variety of surgical procedures, for example, on a larger scale, laparoscopy or, on a smaller scale, arthroscopic joint surgery, such as arthroscopic knee surgery.
Such elongate surgical instruments insertable through such an instrument guide include instruments allowing the surgeon vision into the surgical site, which may be provided with a leading tip of transparent material such as glass or clear plastic and which may include lighting, direct vision and/or camera means.
Such elongate surgical instruments also include a variety of cutting or other tissue modifying instruments. The latter may have surface irregularities near the distal working tip, e.g. grooves, etc.
It is known to inject gas under pressure into the surgical site, through the instrument guide, or otherwise, to enlarge the surgical cavity, e.g. to allow the surgeon better vision of the tissue to be surgically treated or modified or to allow the surgeon more room in which to manipulate instruments to carry out the surgical procedure. To avoid loss of pressure gas from the surgical site through the instrument guide, the latter typically has a resilient annular seal remote from the surgical site and which sealingly surrounds the surgical instrument.
The prior art has made several attempts to block loss of pressure gas from the surgical site with no surgical instrument in the instrument guide.
For example, it has been known to provide a so-called trumpet valve on the instrument guide between the surgical site and the annular resilient seal. More particularly, the trumpet valve comprises a cylindrical valve core movable in a cylindrical passage communicating at right angles with the longitudinal passage of the instrument guide. A spring urges the cylindrical valve core axially in one direction to close the longitudinal passage in the instrument guide. An external push button can be pushed by the surgeon to displace the cylindrical valve core so that the longitudinal passage in the instrument guide registers coaxially with a diametral hole in the valve core of identical diameter so that an elongate surgical instrument can be telescopically inserted through and withdrawn from the instrument guide. However, while generally satisfactory, Applicant has found that such a trumpet valve construction has disadvantages. For example, it requires an extra hand to operate the trumpet valve push button, hold the instrument guide in place, and remove or insert a surgical instrument. Further, such a trumpet valve construction requires excessively tight tolerances in manufacturing to perform properly in the field, is expensive to manufacture, and can involve difficulties in disassembly for sterilization purposes and reassembly thereafter.
Another prior art apparatus has instead utilized a trap door valve, in the form of a plate-like valve member which is hinged and spring biassed to swing against an annular valve seat enclosed in a radially enlarged chamber intermediate the ends of the instrument guide. One such prior trap door valve utilizes a trap door with a convex ball-shaped face opposing the seat. A coiled torsion spring is wound around a fixed pin skewed with respect to the instrument passage axis and has one end extending lever-like and fixedly supporting the ball-faced member, to act both as a pivot hinge and a resilient biassing element. The annular valve seat is coaxial with the instrument passage and the center of the ball-like movable valve member lies on the instrument passage axis in its closed position. Applicant has noted disadvantages with prior apparatus of this kind. For example, the initial incision in the surgical site is to be made by a sharp, pointed obturator and it is critical that the point of the obturator be maintained sharp up to the time it reaches the skin of the patient and makes the incision thereof. However, to open trap door valves of the above-mentioned kind, the sharp point of the obturator must push against the movable trap door valve member and swing it out of the way so that the obturator can proceed therepast and into the surgical site. If the opposed trap door face is of relatively soft material, the sharp point of the obturator will tend either to dig into and fail to open the trap door member or to damage the surface thereof against future use. On the other hand, if the opposed trap door face is of relatively hard material, the latter may blunt or dull the point of the obturator as such point skids along the trap door face in the process of pushing it out of the way. Moreover, successive surgical instruments passing through the instrument guide to the surgical site or being pulled out of the surgical site must also push open the trap door member. Instruments having a transparent or otherwise delicate distal tip could be damaged by scuffing along the surface of the trap door valve member in the process of opening it. Moreover, irregularly shaped instrument distal portions, for example some cutting or other tissue modifying heads, may also tend to snag on the opposed trap door face as they attempt to push it aside to reach the surgical site, or may snag on the free edge of the trap door valve member while attempting to withdraw outward past it.
Another prior art apparatus is known in which an instrument guide is sealed by means of a rubber, washer-like member with a hole cut not quite all the way therethrough. The valve member is mounted on top of the instrument guide in the same manner as a washer and when an instrument is inserted into the instrument guide it breaks through the thinnest part of the washer material and pushes aside adjacent parts of the washer material in the manner of a flap or flaps opening, such that the instrument can be inserted through the instrument guide. This type of valve is used for simple instrument guide designs and is useful for inexpensive disposable devices. However, the valve does not provide an air-tight seal when the instrument is withdrawn from the instrument guide.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome certain difficulties in prior art apparatus of this general kind.
Other objects and purposes of the present invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following description and inspecting the accompanying drawings.
One aspect of the invention includes apparatus for guiding insertion of surgical instruments into a surgical site while blocking escape of fluids, such as gas under pressure, therethrough from the surgical site. Such apparatus comprises elongate instrument and valve passages intersecting at an acute angle with a valve seat adjacent their intersection and a valve member movable along the valve passage toward the valve seat for blocking fluid escape from the surgical site when no instrument is in the instrument passage and alternatively for being moved away from the valve seat by insertion of an instrument through the instrument passage, for allowing entry of an instrument to the surgical site.
FIG. 1 is an exploded pictorial view of an apparatus embodying the invention and fragmentarily showing an obturator usable therewith.
FIG. 1A is a fragmentary, schematic, pictorial view of an optical type of surgical instrument usable with the FIG. 1 apparatus.
FIG. 1B is a fragmentary, schematic, pictorial view of a further type of surgical instrument usable with the apparatus of FIG. 1 and having an irregularly shaped distal portion.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the housing of the FIG. 1 apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a side view (taken from the right side of FIG. 2) of the FIG. 2 housing.
FIG. 4 is a central cross-sectional view substantially taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 4A is a central cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 apparatus, substantially as taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3, and without an instrument therein.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the FIG. 4 housing.
FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the instrument guide of the FIG. 2 housing.
FIG. 7 is a central cross-sectional view substantially taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the ball guide of the FIG. 2 housing prior to machining of a ball passage therein.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view substantially taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a central cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4A but enlarged, and with an instrument installed therethrough.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing successive positions of insertion of an obturator tip past the ball of the FIG. 10 apparatus.
FIG. 10C is similar to FIG. 10A but shows an optical instrument tip.
FIG. 10D is similar to FIG. 10A but shows an irregularly shaped instrument periphery.
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but fragmentary and showing a modification with a larger included angle between the ball passage and instrument passage axes.
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but fragmentary and showing a modification with a smaller included angle between the axes of the ball passage and instrument passage.
FIG. 12A is similar to FIG. 10D, but relates to the FIG. 12 modification.
FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 4A and showing a modification.
Turning to FIG. 1, an apparatus 10 embodying the invention comprises a substantially Y-shaped housing 11. The housing includes an elongate tubular instrument guide 12. The instrument guide 12 has an elongate instrument passage 13 (FIG. 4) extending longitudinally therethrough. The instrument passage 13 is sized to receive snugly but slidably therethrough one or more elongate surgical instruments, examples of which are shown at 14, 14A and 14B in FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B, respectively.
The diameter of the bottom portion of the instrument passage 13 in the instrument guide 12 is formed as an enlarged diameter, substantially cylindrical, downward opening recess 15. A tube extension 16 (FIG. 10) has its upper end fixed in the downward facing recess 15 of the instrument guide 12 to downwardly (in FIG. 10) continue the instrument passage 13 in a flush coaxial manner. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the interior wall of the instrument passage 13 in the instrument guide 12 has an internal diameter equal to that of the continued instrument passage 13 in the instrument guide 12. This allows a given instrument (the instrument 14 being shown in FIG. 10 by way of example) to slide unhindered, back and forth, between the extension tube 16 and the instrument guide 12. The extension tube 16 can be fixed in the recess 15 of the instrument guide 12 by any convenient means, such as by a press fit, a threaded connection or in any other convenient manner.
For purposes of illustration of the use of the apparatus, FIG. 10 rather diagrammatically shows the bottom of extension tube 16 having entered the tissue of a patient P following making of an incision I by the pointed end 17 of the pointed incision-making instrument 14 (e.g. obturator or a trocar member). Thus, as seen in FIG. 10, the bottom of the extension tube 16 is entered into the surgical site SS and the obturator 14 is being withdrawn upwardly.
It may be desired to inject into the surgical site SS a quantity of inert gas under pressure to expand the opening in the patient's tissue at the surgical site SS to form a cavity schematically shown at 20, to give the surgeon more room in which to carry out the desired surgical procedures at the surgical site, to facilitate inspection by optical surgical instrumentation, such as that at 14A in FIG. 1A, or the like. To this end, the instrument guide 12 may be provided with a port 21 for connection of the instrument passage 13 through a conventional, manually operable, on/off valve, such as a stopcock, schematically indicated at SC, for receiving pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source, here schematically indicated at PG. The stopcock SC can be sealingly fixed in the port 21 by any convenient means, such as by a threaded connection.
The upper end of the instrument passage 13 communicates upward through an enlarged diameter, substantially cylindrical recess 22 (FIG. 10). The recess 22 receives a resilient sealing ring 23 which snugly and sealingly, but slidably, engages the periphery of an instrument 14 so as to block the escape of gas therepast outwardly from the cavity 20 of the surgical site SS. An annular cap 24 threads at 25 telescopically over the upper (FIG. 10) end of the instrument guide 12 and has an annular top 26 that blocks upward escape of the seal ring 23 from the recess 22. The top 26 of the cap 24 has a central opening 27, of diameter similar to the diameter of the instrument passage 13 of the instrument guide 12, for loosely slidably receiving an instrument 14 longitudinally therethrough. In the embodiment shown, the periphery of the instrument guide 12 is provided with a thread relief groove 28 below the threads 25 and cap 24. The cap 24 and seal ring 23 are removable from the instrument guide 12 for sterilization and, if needed, replacement of the seal ring 23.
To the extent above described, the apparatus 10 is similar to a prior art device manufactured by the assignee of the present invention.
Turning now to aspects of the disclosed apparatus more specifically involving the present invention, the housing 11 further includes a tubular guide 40 (FIG. 10). The central length axes 41 and 42 of the instrument guide 12 and guide 40 are coplanar. The tubular guide 40 is fixed at an acute angle A, facing toward the surgical site SS, to the instrument guide 12. As hereafter discussed, it is generally satisfactory that the angle A lie between 30� to 45�, although it is preferred that the angle A be about 40�.
The tubular guide 40 has a central, cylindrical passage 43 opening through its free (bottom in FIG. 10) end, namely the end closest to the surgical site SS. A cup-shaped cap 44 threaded at 45 on the outside of the free end of the tubular guide 40 to close the bottom end of the cylindrical passage 43.
At its upper end, the cylindrical passage 43 (FIG. 4) opens to the instrument passage 13 of the instrument guide 12 through a frustoconical valve seat 46. The frustoconical valve seat 46 preferably lies all within the instrument passage 13 of the instrument guide 12. Thus, the frustoconical valve seat 46 forms a relief in the otherwise preferably cylindrical instrument passage 13. An angle B subtended by a diametral plane of the cylindrical passage 43 (and of the frustoconical valve seat 46), on the one hand, and the central axis 41 (and wall) of the instrument passage 13 preferably is complementary to the angle A. More particularly, angles A and B preferably total 90�. This is desirable because, as seen in FIG. 4, it allows the rightwardmost element 46RE of the frustoconical valve seat 46 to coincide with the rightwardmost element of the instrument passage 13, or to be parallel to and slightly recessed into the peripheral wall of the instrument passage 13 at its right side. The term "element" is used immediately above in the sense of the plurality of parallel line elements which geometrically define any cylindrical surface and in the sense of the plurality of convergent line elements which geometrically define any conical surface. In other words, the rightwardmost (FIG. 4) side of the frustoconical valve seat 46 is preferably slightly indented in the rightwardmost side of the instrument passage 13. Manufacturing tolerances permit the frustoconical valve seat 46 to slightly indent the right side of the instrument passage 13 but preferably not by more than a few thousandths of an inch (for example, eight thousandths of an inch).
Because of the convergence of the central axes 41 and 42 of the instrument passage 13 and cylindrical passage 43 (i.e. of the instrument guide 12 and tubular guide 40), the frustoconical valve seat 46 and adjacent portion of the coaxial cylindrical passage 43 penetrate through the sidewall of the instrument guide 12 as shown at 50 in FIG. 4 and expose the material of the instrument guide 12 as shown at 51 in FIG. 4.
Snugly, but slidably and rollably, disposed within the cylindrical passage 43, for sealing engagement with the frustoconical valve seat 46, is a valve ball 53 (FIGS. 4A and 10). The ball 53 is lightly urged by a coil compression spring 54 toward the valve seat 46. The spring 54 is backed by the cap 44. The spring force is low, preferably less than two pounds, and just enough to reliably seat the ball 53 and seal the seat 46 when no instrument is in the instrument passage 13.
The spherical diameter of the ball 53 exceeds the diameter of the instrument passage 13 by a substantial margin, here by a multiplier of about 2 to 21/2. In one unit constructed according to the invention, the diameter of the instrument passage 13 was 0.222 inch and the diameter of the ball was 0.500 inch, with the cylindrical passage 43 being of 0.510 inch diameter.
The instrument guide 12, ball housing 40, ball 53 and spring 54 are preferably of stainless steel, although it is contemplated that suitable plastics materials can be substituted for stainless steel in one or more of the above-named elements.
The operation of the apparatus 10 has been generally indicated above but will be briefly reviewed for convenient reference below.
In FIG. 10, with the valve ball 53 in its dotted line position shown, use of the apparatus in a surgical procedure can begin with downward insertion into the instrument passage 13 of a suitable incision-making instrument, such as a sharply pointed piercing instrument, here the trocar 14. The pointed tip 17 of the trocar 14 passes the sealing ring 23 and then contacts the rightward sloping surface of the ball 53 in its dotted line, closed (valve seat closing) position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 10 and solid lines in FIG. 10A. At the point of initial contact, the slope of the trocar pointed end 17 is at a relatively small angle TA (FIG. 10A) to the tangent plane TP of the ball 53 at the point of contact. Accordingly, the pointed end 17 of the trocar 14 does not tend to dig into the surface of the ball 53 even if the ball is of a relatively soft material, and does not tend to dull itself on the surface of the ball 53 even if the ball is of material as hard or harder than the pointed end 17 of the trocar 14. Instead, the sloping flank 60 or edge 61 of the pointed trocar end 17 tends to shoulder aside, in a leftward and downward direction, the ball 53.
In the FIG. 10A embodiment, the pointed end 17 of the trocar 14 initially contacts the ball 53 almost on the central axis 42 of the tubular ball guide 40 such that the force of the trocar point 17 against the ball is virtually along that centerline. More particularly, a force applied to a point on the hardened surface of a ball has a component acting to push the ball in a direction along the radius of the ball through the point of contact. Accordingly, upon contact by the downward advancing tip 17 of the trocar 14, the ball easily is pushed downward and leftward into the bottom portion of the ball guide, with the only significant resistance being the relatively light backing force of the compression spring 54.
As the flank 60 or edge 61 of the pointed end 17 of the trocar 14 moves downwardly along the surface of the ball 53, as in FIG. 10B, if there is any significant friction with the surface of the ball 53, the ball 53 can easily rotate in response thereto. The ball is free to rotate within the ball guide 40 due to its generous clearance fit within the cylindrical passage 43 and the relatively light contact pressure of the backing spring 54.
It will thus be seen that there is no significant tendency of the trocar point 17, even when very sharp, to damage either itself or the ball 53 as it shoulders the ball aside.
After the trocar lower tip 17 has advanced downward past the ball, the following periphery 62 of the instrument 14 advances downward through the now open valve seat 46 and continues to press the ball 53 aside so that the ball tends to ride lightly against the periphery 62 of the tool 14 and be held lightly thereby in its retracted solid line position of FIG. 10.
Once the instrument point 17 has passed down through the surface tissue of the patient P to the desired depth, i.e. to the surgical site SS, the apparatus 10, and more particularly the bottom portion of the extension tube 16 can be pressed down into the incision to the depth of the surgical site SS, as shown in FIG. 10 in a schematic manner. The trocar 14 can then be withdrawn from the apparatus 10 by simply lifting it upward out of the instrument passage 13. The relatively light upward pressure of the backing spring 14 keeps the ball 53 riding lightly against the surface 62 of the trocar 14 as it is being withdrawn. Eventual movement of the pointed lower end 17 of the trocar 14 upward past the ball 53 enables the spring 54 to return the ball upward and rightward to close the valve seat 46, substantially in a reversal of the above-described insertion steps.
Thereafter, other instruments may be similarly inserted downward through the instrument passage 13. The bottom ends of these instruments will vary in shape from each other and from the trocar 14. See for example the optical instrument 14A of FIGS. 1A and 10C. In each instance, however, the bottom tip of the instrument will encounter the surface o the ball at a location spaced to the right of the ball center and at a location on the ball surface that faces directly away from the ball guide 40 and is located on or close adjacent the central axis 42 of the ball guide 40 so that, as in the case of the trocar 14, these other instruments tend to very lightly and easily shoulder aside the ball 53 as they advance downward toward the surgical site SS.
One or more instruments to be used in the surgical procedure may have irregularities in their peripheral surface near the working bottom end thereof. One rather extreme example is shown at 14B in FIG. 1B and 10D as having an elongate annular groove 64, which results in an upfacing annular step 63 (FIG. 1B). As the tool 14B (FIG. 10D) is pulled upward out of the surgical site, the groove 64 allows the ball 53 to advance upward and rightward a short distance out of its fully retracted solid line position of FIG. 10. The upfacing step 63 then encounters the ball. However, the angle A between the axes of the ball guide 40 and the instrument guide 12 is sufficiently large that the first contact of the shoulder 63 and the surface of the ball 53 occurs at a point above a diametral plane DP of the ball (namely a diametral plane perpendicular to the central axis 42 of the ball guide 40). Accordingly, as the instrument 14B is upward pulled, its shoulder 63 will shoulder the ball downwardly against the spring 54 rather than upwardly toward the seat 46. In other words, the up rising step 63 will shoulder the ball 53 back into its fully retracted solid line position of FIG. 10 rather than forcing it upward and immovably jamming the ball 53 and instrument 14B.
Further, with the angle A at about 40� as shown in FIG. 10, very little of the upper rightward end of the backing spring 54 leaves the confinement of the ball guide 40 and is exposed to the instrument passage 13 in the instrument guide 12, even with the ball 53 closing the valve seat 46. Hence, there is no tendency whatsoever for the spring to become entangled at its upper end or otherwise resist opening movement of the ball off the valve seat 46 or have any contact with an instrument being inserted or retracted from the instrument guide 12.
Moreover, with the angle A at about 40� (FIG. 10), the frustoconical valve seat 46 continues unbroken through its entire perimeter with the ball guide 40. More particularly, the uppermost element of the frustoconical valve seat 46 engages the fully seated ball 53 at a point spaced well to the left of the open instrument passage 13 so that the circle of contact of the seated ball with the seat is circumferentially complete. Thus, even if the seat is accidentally bored too deep into the instrument guide 12, the accidental upward and rightward misplacement of the valve seat 46 would have to be very large (e.g. about 0.030 inch), and therefore easily preventable, before the circular line of contact between the upper part of the seat and the seated ball moves inboard (rightward) into the instrument passage 13 and so creates a gap (and hence gas leak) between the seated ball and the upper part of the seat peripheral wall of the instrument guide 12.
However, substantial alterations of the angle A from the preferred 40� or so angle in FIG. 10 can eliminate some of the advantages of the FIG. 10 apparatus.
For example, referring to the modified FIG. 11 embodiment, same widens the angle A' to 45� and reduces the angle B' to 45� to maintain the total of angle A' and angle B' to 90�. In this modification, the circle of contact between the valve seat 46' and the ball 53 resting thereon is at the topmost element of the valve seat 46', nearly at the interior wall of the instrument passage 13. In this instance, if the valve seat 46 is bored just two thousandths of an inch beyond its intended position shown in FIG. 11, the circle of contact between ball and valve seat will be broken at the top of the valve seat and a leak will be created. When advancing a frustoconical milling cutter to form the valve seat 46', the depth of the seat 46' is measured from the leftward bottom end 65 of guide 40 which, due to stacking of tolerances in forming and assembling the instrument guide 12 and guide 40, a two thousandths inch depth error limit cannot reliably be met. In other words, during a production run, in some FIG. 11 modified devices, the valve seat 46' will be cut too deep into the instrument guide 12 so that the circle of contact between the ball and the seat will be broken at the top of the seat and leakage past the ball can thereby occur. In contrast to the few thousandths inch error margin in the FIG. 11 modification, in the preferred FIG. 10 embodiment, an overdepth of up to 30 thousandths of an inch can occur in the milling of the valve seat 46 without loss of continuity in the circular contact between the ball and valve seat.
A further modification is shown in FIG. 12 in which the angle A" is reduced to 30� and the seat angle B" is correspondingly increased to 60� to maintain a combined total of 90� as before.
As the included angle A" is narrowed to 30� as shown in FIGS. 12 and 12A, the resulting valve seat 46" approaches being too narrow to seat the ball 53 properly. Further, an instrument with an irregular peripheral shape, such as the instrument 14B with its upfacing step 63, may be unable to easily reliably shoulder the ball leftward and downwardly against its spring 54. The ability of the retracting (upward rising) instrument 14B to shoulder the ball leftward and downward depends on an interplay of factors, such as the depth of the annular groove 64 (how far into the instrument passage 13 it allows the ball to protrude), the angle of the shoulder 63 (radial to the instrument length axis or sloped upwardly or downwardly) and the amount of friction between the ball and the surfaces that it contacts. Here the radial step 63 engages the ball below a ball passage diametral plane through the center of the ball, and there may be a tendency for the ball to be pushed upward toward the valve seat 46' rather than downwardly away from it and, as a result, a tendency of the instrument 14B to jam in the instrument passage 13 during upward withdrawal therefrom. Even with the extremely disadvantageous configuration of the instrument 14B shown in FIG. 12A, any such tendency to jam is reduced as the angle A" increases and is essentially absent when the FIG. 10 preferred angle A of 40� or so is adopted. On the other hand, if the angle A" is narrowed past 30�, the possibility of such jamming as the instrument is being withdrawn tends to increase, even if the peripheral surface of the instrument is cylindrical and unbroken, where the ball has some friction in its contact with the instrument and with the interior surface of the ball guide passage 43.
A related problem with the FIG. 12 modification is that the seat 46" now crosses the line of separation of the instrument guide 12 and guide 40 thereby risking leakage between these two parts even when the ball closes the seat 46".
FIG. 13 shows a further modification in which the valve member 53D is modified in shape. More particularly, the valve member 53D could be thought of as the top front 20% or so of the FIG. 4A ball 53 with a cylindrical downward and rearward extension. The spherical and cylindrical parts of the valve member 53D are indicated at 70 and 71. The overall length of the valve member 53D may be approximately equal to the diameter of the ball 53 of FIG. 4A. The resulting round-nosed, cylindrical valve member 53D is advantageous in that it permits the passage 43D, tubular guide 40D, cap 44D and spring 54D to be reduced somewhat in diameter, making the FIG. 13 apparatus more compact. Also, even with a strictly cylindrical spring 54D, the modified FIG. 13 construction does not expose any portion of the spring to the instrument passage even when the valve member is fully closed against its seat as in FIG. 13. The cylinder-like valve member 53D cannot pivot in pitch and yaw, unlike the FIG. 4A ball 53. Thus, the modified valve member 53D normally responds to insertion of an instrument downwardly therepast by simply translating downward and rearward along the valve guide 40D against the spring 54D.
Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.
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NCPA Media: Environment
Oct 21, 2014
Los Angeles City Council Seeks To Ban GMOs
LA Daily News: GMOs could be used to combat the deficit between food supply and hunger, says NCPA Research Associate David Weisser in a LA Daily News article.
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Just Say NO to a Carbon Tax
American Thinker: Only 60 percent of the federal fuel tax revenue goes towards highways, bridges, and roadways, according to an NCPA report featured in an American Thinker article.
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Yahoo! Finance: Employers impacted by California's plastic bag ban were forced to cut employment by almost 10 percent, according to an NCPA report featured at Yahoo! Finance.
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Politico: A disruption of the supply in rare earths could spell danger for the U.S., according to a NCPA rare earths briefing featured in Politico Morning Defense.
Sep 25, 2014
National Journal: The National Center for Policy Analysis will release two new studies at its Rare Earths briefing, reports The National Journal.
Sep 19, 2014
Briefing: Exploring American Rare Earths Solutions
NCPA Rare Earths Briefing & Two New Studies: September 26
NCPA: Rare earth metals, elements found in the earth's crust, are highly critical components in a vast range of goods, including cancer treatment drugs, solar and wind energy, consumer electronics, and national defense applications. The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) will outline Congressional options for expanding rare earth production and cutting America's reliance on China in a Capitol Hill briefing Friday, September 26 in Washington, D.C.
Aug 13, 2014
Regulation Through Litigation Bad for the Environment
Sue and settle cases against the EPA lead to deficient, overreaching policy
NCPA: Interest groups have bypassed proper procedures and forced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue new, deficient regulations through their use of sue and settle litigation, according to a new report by National Center for Policy Analysis Senior Research Fellow Ann Norman.
Aug 07, 2014
Debunking the '97% Consensus' & Why Global Cooling May Loom
Patriot Post: The supposed "97 %" consensus on global warming is a bunch of hot air, says NCPA Senior Fellow Michael Stroup in a Patriot Post article.

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
The Emerald Isle
Uncover Ireland's many charms on this intimate exploration of a country steeped in history and rich in culture.
Tour Details
What a great overview of Ireland's political and religious history, its music, literature and arts. With the small group size, everyone is included in the lectures, activities and experiences. Wonderful adventure!"
Previous Journeys Traveler
Hard to imagine a more rewarding experience."
Michael G.
My first experience with Smithsonian was beyond all my expectations! I look forward to being a regular traveler with the Smithsonian!"
Gerald M.
- A Tailor-Made Journey to India and Nepal
- The Forbidden City: Official Spaces and Private Quarters
- Journey from Bangkok to Bali: Following the Spirits
- Haydn Seek
Optional Post-Tour Extension to Northern Ireland
4 Days/3 Nights
Spend four days and three nights exploring the beauty of the Antrim Coast, one of the most scenic in all of Ireland. Guided visits include the Giant's Causeway, a World Heritage site, Bushmill's Distillery, Titanic Belfast Museum, and an orientation tour of the lively capital city of Belfast.
Your tour price includes:
- Round-trip private motorcoach or van transportation Dublin/Belfast
- 3 nights accommodations: 2 nights in Belfast at Fitzwilliam Hotel (Deluxe); 1 night in Dublin at Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport (Superior First Class)
- 7 meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
- Sightseeing of Belfast, Antrim Coast (Giant's Causeway, a World Heritage site; Bushmill's Distillery; Carrick-a-rede Bridge), and the new Titanic Museum in Belfast
- Services of a professional tour representative
- Gratuities for tour representatives, dining room servers, and airport and hotel porters
The Fitzwilliam Hotel
Well-located in the heart of Belfast on Great Victoria Street, the 131-room Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast offers easy access to many cultural attractions including the Grand Opera House, the Ulster Museum, and the Botanical Gardens. This classic-style hotel, opened in 2009, boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, as well as a bar, fitness center, Internet access, laundry and dry cleaning services, and elevators. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, mini-bar, TV, and phone.
Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport
Adjacent to the Dublin airport with complimentary 24-hour shuttle service, the contemporary Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport offers a variety of amenities including a rooftop restaurant, bistro, bar, internet access, laundry and dry cleaning services, and fitness center. The 100 air-conditioned guest rooms offer private bath with hair dryer, tea- and coffee-making facilities, in-room safe, TV, and phone.


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Thank you. If a matching email exists we will send you an email in a few minutes with instructions on how to reset your password.
Don't forget to check your spam folder if you cannot find the email. For further assistance please contact us at email@example.com .Okay
Elegant, sleek and mod, this midcentury-style chair has a slightly curved back made of wood and a foam-padded seat upholstered in black leatherette.


text:
2013 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird, 2013 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird Price, Trans Am Firebird 2013, 2013 Trans Am Firebird For Sale, Trans Am Firebird 2013 Price, 2013 Trans Am Firebird Pictures, New Trans Am Firebird, 2013 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird Price, 2013 Trans Am Firebird Specs, New Trans Am Firebird 2013 Pictures, 2014 Trans Am, 2014 Firebird, 2014 Pontiac Trans Am, 2014 Pontiac Firebird, 2014 Trans Am Firebird For Sale, 2014 Pontiac Firehawk
2014 Trans Am PERFORMANCE
The 2014 Trans Am performance over the years seems to have been inversely proportional to the size of the decals on the hood. The twin "screaming chickens" on the hood of the 30th Anniversary edition are very small. The power output of the Ram-Air inducted WS6 5.7-liter LS1 V8 is not small at 320 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque. Surprisingly, it's a pussycat around town, with a light clutch and gentle power delivery at low engine speeds. But step hard on the throttle and the tiger gets serious, quickly. Power is greatest in the midrange, above 3500 rpm. At that point it has all of the classic V8 muscle car sensory inputs. Occupants are pushed against the seatbacks, the twin exhausts howl, the Ram-Air intake honks, and there are plenty of other wonderful mechanical sounds. The Hurst shifter works quickly and smoothly. Fifth gear is best for normal highway speeds, as engine speed is an almost-idle 1500 rpm at 65 mph in sixth.


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Gear Review
Gravis Battery Review
Purchased this pack off Whiskeymilitia.com for only ~$19 which is a great deal for any laptop pack. I purchased the military color and it looks nice, the other reviews are correct in saying, "a nice profile". There's plenty of space on the inside and enough compartments for all kinds of stuff. I especially like the fleece lined zipper pocket in the main compartment; it can fit much more than just a cell phone so it makes a nice stash pocket for valuables. My 17-inch HP laptop fits nicely in the compartment even with the extra inch on the bottom of my laptop from the 12-cell battery. My only issue is there isn't much of a place to store pens and pencils; the pack does have interior pockets for this purpose but they're way too deep so I find myself digging around in there to grab what I need. Also, I'd advise whoever purchases this to take it easy on the zippers, some of them don't feel very sturdy but I haven't had any problems yet. Certainly a nice upgrade from an ugly, clumsy Targus laptop backpack I first used when I got to college. The only thing I liked about the Targus more is it had two insulated beverage pockets (Gravis has two smaller, uninsulated ones) and one insulated compartment that could fit an entire lunch; all these extra features would probably explain why the Targus is twice as big and ugly than my new Gravis. Oh, I should also mention your laptop will likey be in pieces if you take a spill while riding a skateboard or bike. In fact, there really isn't any padding at all so I wouldn't recommmend this for those who plan on eating sh*t on their way to class while wearing this pack.
View More Details on Gravis Battery Backpack - 28L


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Tel: + 49 7221 9000
Set your mind free and pamper yourself for a few wonderful, luxury hours in the special atmosphere of our Spa Suite: A private sanctuary with an Asian ambience.
Additional highlights include a private terrace and multi-media equipment. Refreshments are available from the Suite's own minibar.
Our experts will be pleased to compile an individual pamper programme just for you.


text:
Franchise Encyclopedia ▪ 2010-11 Trail Blazers ▪ 2012-13 Trail Blazers
Record: 28-38, Finished 4th in NBA Northwest Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Nate McMillan (20-23), Kaleb Canales (8-15)
PTS/G: 97.2 (16th of 30) ▪ Opp PTS/G: 97.8 (18th of 30)
SRS: -0.21 (19th of 30) ▪ Pace: 91.2 (15th of 30)
Off Rtg: 105.7 (11th of 30) ▪ Def Rtg: 106.4 (23rd of 30)
Expected W-L: 32-34 (20th of 30)
Arena: Rose Garden Arena ▪ Attendance: 676,384 (2nd of 30)
Let people know you like this site. Sponsor this page for $20. Your message will replace this ad.
Transactions listed are from July 1, 2011 to June
30, 2012.
Click on the Team for team roster and stats.
Click on the Player for career stats and accomplishments.
December 11, 2011
Signed Kurt Thomas as a free agent.
December 15, 2011
Signed Jamal Crawford as a free agent.
Signed Craig Smith as a free agent.
Waived Brandon Roy.
December 20, 2011
Waived Earl Barron.
January 4, 2012
Assigned Luke Babbitt to the Idaho Stampede of the D-League.
Assigned Armon Johnson to the Idaho Stampede of the D-League.
January 10, 2012
Recalled Luke Babbitt from the Idaho Stampede of the D-League.
January 15, 2012
Recalled Armon Johnson from the Idaho Stampede of the D-League.
February 27, 2012
Waived Armon Johnson.
Signed Joel Przybilla as a free agent.
March 15, 2012
Waived Greg Oden.
Waived Chris Johnson.
Traded Gerald Wallace to the New Jersey Nets for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a 2012 1st round draft pick (Damian Lillard was later selected).
Traded Marcus Camby to the Houston Rockets for Jonny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet and a 2012 2nd round draft pick (Will Barton was later selected).
March 19, 2012
Chris Johnson claimed on waivers by the New Orleans Hornets.
March 21, 2012
Waived Mehmet Okur.
Signed J.J. Hickson as a free agent.
June 28, 2012
Drafted Damian Lillard in the 1st round (6th pick) of the 2012 NBA Draft.
Drafted Meyers Leonard in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 2012 NBA Draft.
Drafted Will Barton in the 2nd round (40th pick) of the 2012 NBA Draft.
Drafted Tyshawn Taylor in the 2nd round (41st pick) of the 2012 NBA Draft.
June 29, 2012
Traded Tyshawn Taylor to the New Jersey Nets for cash.


text:
Privacy and Cookies
Oneworld-bound SriLankan Airlines believes it is on track to join the global alliance grouping by the middle of next year as it reports progress on aligning its IT processes with its new partners.
The Sri Lankan carrier was invited to join Oneworld last June and speaking in London during the World Travel Market exhibition, chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe said it was ahead of target.
"We are going through a process to make our systems compatible with other members," he said. "Normally this takes a year. I am proud to say this will be completed in record time and we will be a fully-fledged member of Oneworld mid-next year.
"We are a small airline having 23 aircraft, maybe 30 the year after next," he says, "but we will be present across the world through our Oneworld connectivity."
Malaysian Airlines recently said it was set to join Oneworld in February, while Qatar Airways is set to follow suit in the next 18 months.
Aircraft | Aerospace | Aviation | Military | Business aviation | MRO | General aviation | Space | Airports | Engines and propulsion | Flight tests | Accidents and incidents | Flightglobal blogs | E-newsletters |
Flightglobal dashboard | ACAS | MiliCAS | Ascend Fleets | Flightglobal Insight | ICAO | CapStats | Airport charges | Ascend Values | Aviation Exchange | Aircraft Ratings | Helicopter Fleets | Market Commentaries | FlightMaps Analytics | Industry resources
Browse by job role | Career advice | Jobs by email | Jobs search | Recruiter services
Airline Strategy Awards | Air shows | Conferences | Exhibitions | Flightglobal events
… part of Reed Business Information Copyright © 2015


text:
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An Argentine priest serving 15 years in prison for sexually abusing a boy has lost another appeal.
Father Julio Cesar Grassi lived freely across the street from the orphanage where the crimes took place even as courts repeatedly found him guilty. He began serving the sentence behind bars in September after the provincial Supreme Court in Buenos Aires upheld the verdict.
The ruling published Monday on the justice system's website said the appeals court turned down his lawyer's request to free him pending a final appeal to the national Supreme Court, saying his arguments were unfounded.
Grassi was a celebrity priest who channeled big money donations to his Happy Children Foundation until he was accused of sex abuse in 1996. He was first convicted in 2009, and still maintains he is innocent.
To comment, the following rules must be followed:
Comments may be monitored for inappropriate content, but the station is under no legal obligation to do so.
If you believe a comment violates the above rules, please use the Flagging Tool to alert a Moderator.
Flagging does not guarantee removal.
Multiple violations may result in account suspension.
Decisions to suspend or unsuspend accounts are made by Station Moderators.
Questions may be sent to email@example.com. Please provide detailed information.


text:
Sustainable Paths Toward Global Food Security
Some people believe that high-yield, chemical-intensive cropping systems that take full advantage of genetic engineering technology offer the surest path to sustainable food security. Others contend that agro-ecological systems that focus on building soil quality and diversifying agro-ecosystems will prove more cost-effective, socially acceptable, and durable.
The debate over these two paths is important and bound to go on for years to come. Many investment decisions and possible changes in policy will be influenced by the twists and turns in this debate.
Will the concept of sustainable intensification take hold? And if it does, how can it be measured?
Through M2M as new funding and partnerships are established, we will strive to inform this debate with data-driven quantification of the "human nutrition units" produced per acre or hectare of land devoted to various farming systems and technologies.
We are also open to any suggestions for ways to apply M2M analytical systems to the projection or measurement of impacts on new technology, policy, and investment patterns in those countries striving to achieve a higher level of food security.


text:
Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more
OMNISCAN is a gadolinium-based contrast agent indicated for intravenous use in MRI to visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity (or those thought to cause abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier) in the brain (intracranial lesions), spine, and associated tissues [ see Clinical Studies ].
OMNISCAN is a gadolinium-based contrast agent indicated for intravenous use to facilitate the visualization of lesions with abnormal vascularity within the thoracic (noncardiac), abdominal, pelvic cavities, and the retroperitoneal space [ see Clinical Studies ].
Adults: The recommended dose of OMNISCAN is 0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mmol/kg) administered as a bolus intravenous injection. An additional 0.4 mL/kg (0.2 mmol/kg) can be given within 20 minutes of the first dose [ see Dosage and Administration ].
Pediatric Patients (2-16 years): The recommended dose of OMNISCAN is 0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mmol/kg) administered as a bolus intravenous injection [ see Dosage and Administration ].
Adult and Pediatric Patients (2-16 years of age): For imaging the kidney, the recommended dose of OMNISCAN is 0.1 mL/kg (0.05 mmol/kg). For imaging the intrathoracic (noncardiac), intra-abdominal, and pelvic cavities, the recommended dose of OMNISCAN is 0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mmol/kg) [ see Dosage and Administration ].
Inspect OMNISCAN visually for particulate matter and discoloration before administration, whenever solution and container permit.
Do not use the solution if it is discolored or particulate matter is present.
Draw OMNISCAN into the syringe and use immediately. Discard any unused portion of OMNISCAN Injection.
To ensure complete delivery of the desired volume of contrast medium, follow the injection of OMNISCAN with a 5 mL flush of 0.9% sodium chloride. Complete the imaging procedure within 1 hour of administration of OMNISCAN.
A physician with the prerequisite training and knowledge of the procedure to be performed should supervise diagnostic procedures involving the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents.
Sequential use during the same diagnostic session has been studied in adult CNS use only. If the physician determines repeat dosing is required in non-CNS imaging in adults or pediatric patients, renal function should be normal and the time interval between repeat doses should be at least 7 hours to allow for clearance of the drug from the body [ see Clinical Pharmacology ].
Sterile aqueous solution for intravenous injection; 287 mg/mL.
OMNISCAN (gadodiamide) Injection is a sterile, clear, colorless to slightly yellow, aqueous solution containing 287 mg/mL of gadodiamide supplied in the following sizes:
50 mL in + PLUS PAK™ (polymer bottle), boxes of 10 Pharmacy Bulk Packages (NDC 0407-0690-71)
100 mL in + PLUS PAK™ (polymer bottle), boxes of 10 Pharmacy Bulk Packages (NDC 0407-0690-70)
Protect polymer bottles of OMNISCAN from strong daylight and direct exposure to sunlight. Do not freeze. Do not use if the product is inadvertently frozen.
Store OMNISCAN at controlled room temperature 20°-25°C (68°-77°F); excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F) [see USP].
All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2015


text: >Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1999 14:28:57 BST >From: Dennis Davis <email@example.com> >To: Aaron Jackson <firstname.lastname@example.com> >cc: email@example.com >Subject: sslwrap (Was: stunnel) > >>Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 11:58:48 -0400 >>From: Aaron Jackson <firstname.lastname@example.com> >>To: email@example.com >>Subject: stunnel >> >>Looking around a little, I was able to find a referenct to stunnel. >>It looks like something I need to wrap imap with a SSL connection. >>I got it to compile it, but with a few warnings. Has anybody used >>stunnel before? Any comments about how it effects security? BTW, >>there is a FreeBSD port: >> >>http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/ports/security/stunnel >> >>source located at: >> >>http://mike.daewoo.com.pl/computer/stunnel/ > >You might also care to have a look at sslwrap: > >http://www.rickk.com/sslwrap/ ... It belatedly occurs to me that there may be a third alternative to using stunnel or sslwrap. There's a program, ssl-auth, that comes as part of the netpipes package. The OpenBSD ports collection contains netpipes at: /usr/ports/net/netpipes The OpenBSD port builds the export version of netpipes. This doesn't contain the ssl-auth program. However those of you inside the bastion fortress of the North American continent can pick up the domestic version which does contain ssl-auth. As an enemy alien I can obviously only read about ssl-auth, so I can't really say how useful it may be.


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Interactive Website
(data entry)
Survey Sites
Data Analysis
(2014-15 summary)
Birds of PSSS
The Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) is a citizen-science survey managed by Seattle Audubon that empowers volunteer birdwatchers to gather valuable data on wintering seabird populations in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Together, our team creates a snapshot of seabird density on more than 2,400 acres of nearshore saltwater habitat. It is the only land-based, multi-month survey in the Puget Sound region.
Learn more about PSSS: Overview History/Objectives
For the 2014-15
PSSS Season
A recent analysis of seven years of bird observations by volunteer birdwatchers from Seattle Audubon Society's Puget Sound Seabird Survey has found positive trends in several Puget Sound seabird species that had been in decline since the 1960s and 1970s.
The analysis focused on 18 seabird species that are indicators of Puget Sound environmental health at 62 survey locations from Whidbey Island to Olympia. The study found positive trends in occurrence of 14 species, including cormorants, grebes, sea ducks, loons, and alcids. However researchers cautioned that positive trends in sightings do not necessarily reflect increasing populations. For example, federally listed marbled murrelet populations continue to decline across Washington. The research also documented local hotspots for certain species, which may reflect especially important habitat or prey the birds depend on.
In addition, the study indicated that four species were in decline: white-winged scoter, brant, western grebe and red-necked grebe. These declines may result from geographical shifts or prey declines in Puget Sound or the Salish Sea, or environmental threats to their nesting grounds elsewhere. Similar citizen-science data from other areas have indicated that western grebes appear to have shifted to the south, out of the Puget Sound region.
The Puget Sound Seabird Survey monitors the presence of seabirds during winter months when many seabird species are most abundant around the Sound. More than 250 experienced volunteers have participated in the survey since its inception in 2007. At each survey location volunteers identify bird species and utilize distance sampling methods to collect data.
Read the full article and science paper here.
October 3rd, 2015
From October 2013 through April 2014, 424 surveys were conducted at 67 survey sites in King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston Counties. Density data were collected on 50 species of seabird that utilize near-shore habitat throughout the Puget Sound. These surveys represent 167hrs & 26min of survey time and over 300hrs of volunteer effort.
Read about PSSS in the Kitsap Sun
Beginning to expert birders are welcome to volunteer.
Survey sites are specific locations established by Seattle Audubon. Nearly all are located on publicly-accessible saltwater shoreline.
See all active sites on an interactive map.
All surveys are synchronized to take place during a four hour window (determined by Seattle Audubon) on the first Saturday of the month, October through April. Each survey is 15-30 minutes.
Read the PSSS schedule for the 2014-2015 survey season here.
Using a ruler and a compass, surveyors gather data that allows scientists to estimate bird density through 'distance sampling'. Simply counting the number of birds in a given location is a simpler approach, but it forces scientists to assume that all birds are detected by observers. In reality, detection of any species declines with the distance from the observer: poor sighting conditions, quality of observing equipment, and observer inexperience all contribute to declining detection likelihood as distance increases. Distance sampling provides a robust approach to estimating density and allow for calculation of less biased density estimates.
Learn more about the PSSS protocol here.
Learn more about birds on the SAS Science pages
RENEW Your Membership!


text:
Date: 6 years ago
Runtime: 0:25
Views: 22,081
Showing off for the Truckers!
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post4986298858084070486..comments2015-06-17T20:43:36.039-05:00Comments on Disapproving Rabbits: Cheddar and Pepperonibirdchickhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-91125620589292599592012-10-15T15:58:26.940-05:002012-10-15T15:58:26.940-05:00Brandi B, you there are husbands who are only occa...Brandi B, you there are husbands who are only occasionally pw? Dang! Where do you find them? Does he have a brother? Oh you must be talking about one of your bunnys' husbunn.anonymoushttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-62170475554988174912012-10-15T15:41:05.350-05:002012-10-15T15:41:05.350-05:00Classic Eastwood. When my husband is pissy whiney...Classic Eastwood.
When my husband is pissy whiney, I ask him "Would you rather be ridin' with Comancheros, Granny?"
And when putting a leash on a dog, "When you hang a man, you better hang 'em high."
As a little girl, I wanted to marry Rowdy Yates. brandi bhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-12256118380375423532012-10-15T14:38:36.100-05:002012-10-15T14:38:36.100-05:00Brandi B - Is that Outlaw Josie Wales? Being from...Brandi B -

Is that Outlaw Josie Wales?
Being from Missouri myself - I should know that line...

B-Fanbunfanhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-17613659703412692802012-10-15T11:40:40.336-05:002012-10-15T11:40:40.336-05:00These babies are too sweet. It has been a real jo...These babies are too sweet. It has been a real joy to spend the weekend with them. Sorry about that crazy lady brabi something. Don't you all have any filters on this site?anonymoushttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-40574955914167793212012-10-15T04:01:45.063-05:002012-10-15T04:01:45.063-05:00"He's from Missouri, where they're al..."He's from Missouri, where they're all known to be killers of innocent men, women and children"...

Guess! That! Quote!
(studio audience applause)
And now a word from our sponsor!brandi bhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-65154518636865042592012-10-14T16:07:31.665-05:002012-10-14T16:07:31.665-05:00Ahh, ALMTSBB, the voice of reason!Ahh, ALMTSBB, the voice of reason!anonymoushttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-19902565307220685042012-10-14T13:57:12.522-05:002012-10-14T13:57:12.522-05:00Sorry RG, had to Google Huskies. And Brandi having...Sorry RG, had to Google Huskies. And Brandi having gone to the University of Mo. I can't support the Sooners. (I might get rode out of the state on a rail)

But back to the bunnies. Pepperoni and Cheddar will be ready to disapprove all hoomins (especially those skipping bunchores to watch football) by Monday. almtsbbhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-53146989623049266992012-10-13T19:18:14.685-05:002012-10-13T19:18:14.685-05:00Brandi and RG, I have a choice here. I can say I ...Brandi and RG, I have a choice here. I can say I want my Mommie or Go Huskies! I'm thinking...anonymoushttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-45682075122049305912012-10-13T19:01:33.039-05:002012-10-13T19:01:33.039-05:00Go Huskies?Go Huskies?Rabbits' Guyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-27671053840443461772012-10-13T18:51:07.975-05:002012-10-13T18:51:07.975-05:00The eyes of Texas are upon you, all the livelong d...The eyes of Texas are upon you, all the livelong day
The eyes of Texas are upon you, best be careful what you say...
Every second Saturday O' October, y'all must surely know
There's a battle down in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl...
Mack Brown needs to just retire
B'fore he has a stroke
His pathetic herd of longhorns
Just got their tailends smoked!!!
Oh the eyes of Texas are upon ya
All the livelong days
But the winds of vic'try came a sweepin'
From across the Oklahoma plains!
Boomer
Sooner
LMAO
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOObrandi bhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-87178226206891805532012-10-13T15:26:58.379-05:002012-10-13T15:26:58.379-05:00V, nothing will get back into the loving, supporti...V, nothing will get back into the loving, supportive arms of your fellow beans like abject despair. Let him/her who is without bunn throw the first thing handy. Welcome back.anonymoushttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-74190967760043277122012-10-13T14:26:41.510-05:002012-10-13T14:26:41.510-05:00Anonymous, you are right. How low I have sunk, so...Anonymous, you are right. How low I have sunk, sowing discord, falling prey to divide-and-conquer. I am chastened. In my defense, I can only plead that I have been Disapproved of by so many for so long that I have lost all hope. In my despair, I committed this egregious error. Whatever can I do? Am I lost? Is there a remedy for such a wretched bean as I?Valsaintehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-685391063467074252012-10-13T08:11:34.745-05:002012-10-13T08:11:34.745-05:00... I'd chance disfigurement as well, bet the ...... I'd chance disfigurement as well, bet the buns think my mug could use rearrangement as well :-)Ijon Tichy the Nthhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-88428024873537608062012-10-13T07:57:01.024-05:002012-10-13T07:57:01.024-05:00Oh, and my sincere apologies for not commenting on...Oh, and my sincere apologies for not commenting on the chubbosity of those buncheeks! They are too sweet and kissable! I would risk permanent disfigurement just to kiss them.....I'm a hoomin bean and ugly by nature, so scars on my face would be hardly noticeable.janet2bunshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-45165312367379914472012-10-13T03:28:01.166-05:002012-10-13T03:28:01.166-05:00Can the hoomins do the same, pleaaaaaase?Can the hoomins do the same, pleaaaaaase?Lalishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-11202782303700692542012-10-13T00:51:03.450-05:002012-10-13T00:51:03.450-05:00poor little mites charge up soon!poor little mites charge up soon!speedyrabbithttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-22588497928241454352012-10-12T22:48:44.954-05:002012-10-12T22:48:44.954-05:00Gotta get us some binkybunny merch! That Disappro...Gotta get us some binkybunny merch! That Disapproval Charging Station looks fabulous! It might cause HRH Queen Phoebe and Prince Consort Drizzle to disapprove of me a little less.janet2bunshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-10167211579785751382012-10-12T22:12:31.305-05:002012-10-12T22:12:31.305-05:00Oh, and on the subject of demeaning ourselves, Bra...Oh, and on the subject of demeaning ourselves, Brandi, perhaps we should choose some less decorous site to exchange our comments on the Red River Rivalry. Or, my bunns will keep me from the internet if your bunns will do the same to you. Really, we ought to work something out for the sake of our pals here at DR. For you who don't know the RRR is a football game - Bunnvo and Co. against the Bunners.anonymoushttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-34564249804092442242012-10-12T22:02:14.646-05:002012-10-12T22:02:14.646-05:00Valsainte, technically I would have to agree with ...Valsainte, technically I would have to agree with you about the greens. They(?) or perhaps it could not make a poorer showing. However, another visitor to this site previously noted that when we demean ourselves with bean on bean disapproval, the bunns win. If you can't be part of the approval then you are part of the disapproval. You get what I'm saying here, right?anonymoushttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-66457885769814111792012-10-12T21:02:18.070-05:002012-10-12T21:02:18.070-05:00Hey, that's a cardboard tunnel from binkybunny...Hey, that's a cardboard tunnel from binkybunny.com. My bunnies *love* it!

Little did I know that, in fact, it is a Disapproval Charging Station. No wonder the bunns disapprove extra hard when I fold it up and put it away.Furbeasthttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-44385172206297330232012-10-12T16:08:57.403-05:002012-10-12T16:08:57.403-05:00There must have been an unusually large amount of ...There must have been an unusually large amount of hoomin stoopidity this past week for this potent blend of Pepperoni and Cheddar to be all Disapproved out. How much bunns must put up with in their endless task of training beans to perform their bunchores properly.

Take, for example, that pitiful example on the rug there of what is supposed to be "greens." Seriously? It's no wonder they need the weekend off.Valsaintehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-24952163692198511742012-10-12T14:15:42.276-05:002012-10-12T14:15:42.276-05:00Pizza Wedgie Flop!Pizza Wedgie Flop!brandi bhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-73176916434566698102012-10-12T13:21:53.983-05:002012-10-12T13:21:53.983-05:00Drained of disapproval but not drained of cuteness...Drained of disapproval but not drained of cuteness! I wish I had a recharging chamber.sallynearyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767694.post-66703484229480503112012-10-12T12:47:35.594-05:002012-10-12T12:47:35.594-05:00Poor Regina. Those two gave her everything they h...Poor Regina. Those two gave her everything they had this week.Rabbits' Guyhttp://email@example.com


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8. The Accused: Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dani California"
The Original: Tom Petty, "Mary Jane's Last Dance"
The Case: The Chili Peppers are lucky that Tom Petty is one of the mellowest dudes in all of rock music. Their 2006 track shares the same chord progression (not to mention key!) as Petty's 1993 song, but Petty refused to try and cash in on the similarities by taking Anthony, Flea and the guys to court. "I seriously doubt that there is any negative intent there," Petty told Rolling Stone at the time. "And a lot of rock & roll songs sound alike."


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These little bracelets make beautiful gifts for friends and co-workers.
Step 1: Grab some wood
I found one side that was somewhat flat, then marked a square and cross-cut the wood to get a square(ish) block of wood. then marked a rough center and drilled a hole large enough for a worm screw for your lathe chuck. then cut the corners off to make it a little easier and safer when you start roughing it to shape.
Step 2: Flatten and rough turn the block of wood
Step 3: Part out the inside
Once you are at the depth unscrew the block from the work screw and remove the screw from the lathe and flip it around.and insert the jaws into the new groove and tighten the piece in the chuck. Now mark the radius and circle and using the parting tool finish the cut to remove the inside of the bangle. Remember, The sharper the tool, the less sanding is needed.
But we still need to sand!
Sand the inside of the bangle but be careful of the chuck jaws. I just sanded the inside up to 220 grit.
Step 4: Finish smooth the outside
I re-sharpened my parting tool then marked the width of the bangle on the outside (keep in mind the depth of the chuck jaws, you do not want to hit these.
Really punky wood can be stabilized with Cyanoacrylate, AKA superglue. Just get the thin stuff and soak it in. Once hardened it is harder than the original wood. Machines well too.
Thanks for the comment and yep, I do it often. I also mix it with sawdust, brass shavings or even glitter to fill a small crack here and there. The only problem using ca as a stabilizer is the cost... CA is pricey!
Sealer or tung oil dip?


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McGinnis: 'The Other Guys' wear out their welcomeWritten by Jeff McGinnis | | firstname.lastname@example.com
"The Other Guys" is a movie with some great ideas and almost no clue how to execute them. There are moments of inspiration where it strains against itself to be great, before sinking back down to mediocrity.
At first, the audience I was watching the movie with was laughing loudly and having fun. About halfway through its running time, though, the laughs became few and far between, as it felt like all the comic energy had been wrung out in the first 45 minutes. Now we were just politely waiting for the movie to end. The movie, though, didn't know how to quit when it was ahead.
The basic premise is tremendous. Two New York cops, played by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, are the laughingstock of their precinct. Their days are made up primarily of doing the paperwork of the department's hero cops, played by Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. First things first, Johnson and Jackson are hilarious together. So hilarious, in fact, that maybe it was a mistake to cast them here. Once they depart the picture, a lot of comic energy goes with them, though the sight gag where they meet their end is priceless.
Ferrell is a bookish accountant who is more than happy to stay right at his desk. Wahlberg yearns for action. They're both fairly inept at what they do, but the sudden departure of the poster boys leaves a vacancy that Wahlberg is desperate to fill, and he drags Ferrell along for the ride.
Ferrell is a wonderful comic actor who often can rise above his material. Here he seems to have decided to deliberately play it low-key and restrained, for the most part, which doesn't work as well when he's apparently supposed to be the wacky one. Wahlberg plays his part as more or less the straight man of the pair, but this leaves the chemistry between the two oddly disjointed. They can't both be Abbott, someone's gotta be Costello.
The movie was directed by frequent Ferrell collaborator Adam McKay (he directed "Anchorman," "Talladega Nights," and "Step Brothers"), who apparently decided early on that what this movie was REALLY about was the Wall Street bailouts. The whole crime plot the boys are investigating is a convoluted story about an investment banker (the wonderful Steve Coogan) who is being forced to defraud investors or something.
I guess the movie really wants to think it's saying something meaningful about corporate greed and so forth, but no one in the audience can possibly care based upon the flimsy story its supposed arguments are attached to. It even presents a series of infographics over the end credits about the bailouts and so forth, like someone accidentally spliced the ending of a Michael Moore documentary on there. The audience I watched with were too busy ankling for the exits to read them.
For most of its running time, "The Other Guys" keeps teasing its audience with funny comic ideas, but then providing no payoffs for any of them. The guys' boss, played by the criminally underutilized Michael Keaton, works at Bed, Bath and Beyond on the side. Theoretically, that could lead somewhere, but it doesn't. Ferrell treats his wife as a homely disappointment, when she's played by the beautiful Eva Mendes. Wahlberg has a blatant crush on her. Neither one of those ideas has a point, either. Heck, even the climax of the whole crime plot ends on a curiously muted note. There's never a real punch line.
The beginning moments, with Johnson and Jackson gleefully destroying property and recklessly endangering human life, point to something more. There's a scene where Ferrell and Wahlberg have a building explode right in front of them, then whine about how much it hurt and how it never hurts like that in the movies. Imagine if the film had really focused on the idea of reality vs. the movies, and how these guys were woefully unprepared for life as a real cop. "The Hard Way," a terrific and underrated comedy with Michael J. Fox and James Woods, explored those themes to tremendous effect.
Here, it's just another in a long line in ideas that go unrealized. "The Other Guys" feels like a hodge-podge of comic bits tossed at the screen, hoping something will stick. A few of those ideas, if developed more fully, could have been a winning comedy. Here, we just end up with a hit-and-miss affair. And the misses keep piling up the longer it runs.
E-mail Jeff at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Tags: Jeff McGinnis, Mark Wahlberg, Pop Goes the Culture, Will Ferrell


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Central, Great & comfortable flatFrance, Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier
Request to Book
About this listing
Close to all shops, train station and Tramway N3.
Located on ground floor of a classic French building in a pedestrian street. Entirely refurbished & fully equipped, this studio is a perfect place to stay for a relaxed holiday in Montpellier!
Space where guests can cook their own meals
Towels, bed sheets, soap, and toilet paper
Central heating or a heater in the listing
Continuous access in the listing
Space where guests can cook their own meals
Towels, bed sheets, soap, and toilet paper
Central heating or a heater in the listing
In the building, free or for a fee
In the building, free or for a fee
Continuous access in the listing
Breakfast is provided.
The listing can accommodate a gathering of 25 or more attendees
Easy access to the building and listing for guests in wheelchairs
Private or Shared
Free, in the building or nearby
Posted emergency information and resources
The Space
This flat is very well situated in the city centre of Montpellier. You can do everything by walk from there without being exhausted. The flat is also on the ground floor, which makes it easy with luggage and shopping bags:). The flat is well secured, very warm in winter and cool in summer. You will have all you need at your disposal to very much enjoy your relaxed & thrilling trip in Montpellier! The studio flat contains a double bed as well as a sofa bed which can be used for 2 additional travellers if required.
Guest Access
Guests will have access to all they need in the flat. They are also able to access very closely (by walk) all the interesting & exciting places in Montpellier starting with the historical centre and the famous "Place de la Comedie", the Comedie Opera as well as the Fabre Museum. Needless to say there are lots and lots of great shopping in Montpellier within easy access to the flat (by walk again). Finally the seaside is not far...by taking the direct tramway (line 3), you can swim in the Mediterrean sea in about half an hour from the flat!
Interaction with Guests
Leaflets on the city and what's on will be left in the flat. I am also very happy to help you with any queries (my daughter will help with the English).
The Neighborhood
Situated in a very lively area of the city centre, there is a bakery, a butcher, local food shops and exotic corner shops within 2 minutes walk from the flat. There are also many cheap & great restaurants within 2 minutes walk as well as a local market every morning; which is great for foodies or/and people loving to hang around.
Getting Around
From Montpellier train station, take line 3 of the tramway (5 minutes) or walk from the station (8 to 10 minutes).
By car, underground carpark near the building (3 minutes walk from the flat).
From Montpellier airport, there is a free shuttle bus to Montpellier city centre. Take line 1 (the blue one) of the tramway to the train station stop, then change for line 3 of the tramway.
Just a couple of things: no animals, no smoking in the flat.
Please do as if you were in your own home and respect the flat as if it was yours.
Also please do not arrive after 8pm on the check in day.
No party allowed inside the flat and please no noise after 10pm to respect the neighbours.
9 Reviews
Nous avons passé un excellent séjour dans ce studio. Une excellente adresse. A proximité de tout ; transports, commerces, centre ville,...
Un studio confortable où il ne manque rien.
Yolande's studio is really centrally located, making it easy to access all the sights in Montpellier. You can reach the beach by tram and shuttlebus in 30-40min. Yolande kindly waited for us at the studio, even though we arrived much later due to flight delays. The studio is small and simple, but was sufficient for the two of us. Towels and sheets were provided, wifi was also available for free.
We did have some trouble sleeping on some nights, due to noise on the alley. (people passing, music, cars). The windows are adjacent to the street and the front door of the building is right next to them as well. People coming home in the middle of the night might wake you up, if you're not a very deep sleeper. Also, we felt that the shower and toilet could have used an extra scrub.
Overall, an okay place for a couple on a budget :) Montpellier is a great city.
Studio confortable et très bien situé, entre parking (pour ne plus voir la voiture) et vieille ville (pour le café du matin). Idéal pour visiter Montpellier.
Notre hôte a été accueilli, toujours là si on avait un problème. Le logement était sympa.
Super appartement! Il y a tout qu'il vous faut dans la cuisine pour cuisiner, et la salle de bain est grande. Yolande est très sympa, et elle vous laisse plusieurs cartes pour découvrir la ville.
Yolande was a wonderful host, she had prepared the flat beautifully and left helpful information about Montpellier. Yolande was also easily contactable if we needed anything.
The flat appeared newly renovated and exactly as advertised. The flat was very clean and the kitchen was fully equipped.
The location of the flat was excellent walking distance from the central train station. Old town was very close by as was a coin laundry which had excellent wifi.
Thank you Yolande and Agnes!
Perfect central location and very comfortable with everything I needed! Host was very accommodating even though arrived very late. Would recommend to a friend and would use again!
About the Host, Yolande
J'ai 2 garçons et une fille qui vit a Londres et m'a fait découvrir Airbnb (sur la photo du profil avec moi). Je suis très sociable, fais souvent rire mes amis. J'aime l'aventure, rencontrer de nouvelles personnes et participe a des activités culturelles et sportives. Je vis entre le Maroc et Montpellier et souhaite mettre a disposition mon appartement aux autres lorsqu'il est disponible. Je parle un peu anglais mais je vous mettrai en contact avec ma fille pour des informations détaillées en anglais.
Hello, I have 2 sons and a daughter who lives in London (with me on the picture) and who told me about Airbnb. I am very sociable, like adventure and like meeting new people. I also take part in sport and cultural activities. I live between Montpellier and Morocco and I want to make my flat available to others when I am not there. I can speak a little bit English but I will put you in contact with my daughter should you need further information in English.


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A twin-engine plane crashed in the McClellanville area last week after "an in-flight loss of control," according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
Federal investigators still are trying to determine what caused that to happen.
They found no sign of thunderstorms or adverse weather in the area when the plane went down shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday, killing 44-year-old telecommunications executive Patrick Eudy of Mount Pleasant and flight instructor Robert Ulrich, 69, of Idaho, the report stated.
The plane, a Rockwell International 690B, was destroyed in the crash, which left a wreckage path about 290 feet long and 40 feet wide, the NTSB said.
The airplane was registered to a North Carolina-based corporation and was operated by the pilot as an instructional flight, the NTSB said. A close friend of Eudy, who was founder and chief executive officer of American Broadband, has said he was getting recertified on the plane, with Ulrich as his instructor.
The plane left Charleston Executive Airport on Johns Island at 4:33 p.m. After takeoff, the pilots requested maneuvering airspace for airwork over the McClellanville area, at an altitude 13,000 to 15,000 feet, the report stated.
At 4:46 p.m. the air traffic controller asked the pilot to provide his heading. There was no response. Radar contact was lost, spurring search and rescue operations, the NTSB said.
Witnesses reported that the plane had spiraled down into the trees.
Based on a witness report, local emergency crews found the wreckage within the boundary of the Francis Marion National Forest.
Examination of the accident site showed that the airplane hit trees before the crash, the NTSB said. The plane broke into five sections; there was no fire.
The NTSB investigation of the crash continues and a more complete report is expected at a later date.
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or Twitter.com/glennsmith5.
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• Home equity is harder to tap. House values have taken a drubbing in many parts of the country. And even if yours hasn't, selling might be harder, as mortgage lenders have tightened up their lending requirements for would-be buyers. Stewart says some "brag that they aren't worried about their retirement savings, because they have a million dollars waiting for them in the value of their home." But she warns them that they need to be prepared for the possibility that it might not be easy to pull that money out of their house when the time comes.
• Medical care costs are out of control. This is the biggest, most frightening unknown. While the good news is that we are living longer, the bad news is, it is costing a lot more to do so. Retiree health benefits have been slashed at many corporations and a growing number of employers are eliminating health care coverage for future retirees altogether. Barely one-third of all workers now expect to have access to employment-based health insurance in retirement, down from 42 percent as recently as 2007, according to the most recent survey by the nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).
"These results show the impact of rising health care costs is widespread and growing," said Dallas Salisbury, president of EBRI. In addition, more than half of Americans with health insurance coverage (55 percent) reported an increase in the costs they are responsible for paying under their plan in the past year, the survey found.
At the same time, medical expenses themselves are climbing rapidly. For instance, long-term costs associated with illnesses such as Alzheimer's have the potential to wipe out retirement savings. Medicare insurance covers less and less. A single, healthy man currently age 65 will likely need $331,000 in savings to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses in retirement, according to a new computer simulation analysis by EBRI. A couple in the same age range will need $635,000. And those figures do not include long-term care insurance if that is needed.
Save, save, save
It is little wonder, then, that advisers like Schindler are pressing their clients to save as fast and furiously as they can. But how much is enough? What percentage, or multiple, of your final salary do you need to have saved to provide enough income to last throughout retirement at something close to your current lifestyle?
There is no easy answer anymore. It all comes down to each individual's circumstances, and, in many ways, outlook on life. There are the easier variables—your spending, retirement age, asset allocation, health insurance plan—and there are the tougher ones, such as how long you will live. What are your health risks? (Is cancer prevalent in your family? Heart disease?) Are you really willing to forgo traveling and eating out or buying new clothes? Do you want to leave money for your grandchildren? Are you willing to work if you find there really isn't going to be enough to live on? How comfortable are you with risk—the odds that at a robust 85, the value of your investments will shrink in a roller-coaster market swing? Those are personal questions that literally no one else can answer for you.
"The number is different for every individual, which is part of the challenge," EBRI's Salisbury said. "This is no longer a one-size-fits-all calculation."
And that's why it's more important than ever to force yourself to take a hard look at your retirement plan. Regrettably, about half of workers say they or their spouse have not even tried to calculate how much money they need for a comfortable retirement, according to EBRI's 2008 Retirement Confidence Survey. Take off your dreamer's hat and be realistic, Stewart urges clients. "Focus on your current financial assets, not future assets, such as funds from the sale of a home or boat. Figure on annual returns in the 4 to 6 percent realm, not 10 or 15 percent.
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I'm pretty sure this summer is getting the best of me. You might recall me saying that I took 10 days off at the beginning of this month. During this time, I stayed away from the computer – and the kitchen – as much as possible. That's not to say that I didn't cook. I did, but I tried to keep the recipes low key. (Like this easy quinoa salad)
Or, if I was going to do something complex, I made sure it was fun! (Like the amazing popped quinoa chocolate bars that I'm going to be adding to my quinoa cookbook! I'm pretty sure I could market those babies!)
Anyways, although the time away should have left me refreshed I must confess that I'm having a very difficult time getting back into the groove of things. I certainly am not in need of a vacation from my vacation because during this time I did very little. I think after years of not taking it easy (as in almost 7), perhaps I enjoyed my down time a bit too much.
Either way, I apologize if my posts have been a bit sporadic this month.
Today's recipe is one of the easy quinoa recipes I made while I was taking it easy. It is a great easy quinoa salad for lunch or dinner. But being that I really don't like traditional breakfast foods, personally, I really loved this for breakfast.
My family, on the other hand, found the image of me photographing food at 6 am very amusing.
Adapted from Fine Cooking


text: The early years of American Lutherie magazine compiled into one conveniently indexed hardcover volume. From the Guild of American Luthiers, this massive collection is a treasure-trove of technical and how-to essays on the art and science of lutherie: tools, wood, construction and repair techniques, finishes, glues, history, and more, plus several detailed instrument plans. Articles are indexed by topic and by author. The Big Red Books of Lutherie are built to last, with quality binding and hard covers. They're made to be used, too, and will lie open on your workbench. Each volume is 524 pages. Volume One contains American Lutherie issues #1-12 from 1985-1987. Highlights: • The Hauser tradition by Jeffrey Elliott • Violin sound physics by Carleen Hutchins • Pearl inlay by David Nichols • Air resonance by W.D. Allen • Tuning violin plates by Keith Hill • The business of lutherie with Gruhn, Klein, Lundberg, Krimmel, Brune, Meltz, Grimes, Davis, and Umanov • Guitar sound physics by Caldersmith • Rosewoods by John Jordan • Ramirez workshop by William Tapia • The Dobro by Bobby Wolfe • Guitar frets by Roger Sadowsky • Violin acoustics by George Bissinger • Paisley Tele by Dave Schneider • Epoxy by Paul Jacobson • Vihuela and viola da mano by John Rollins • Evolution of the hammered dulcimer by Sam Rizzetta • Temperaments by Edward Kottick • Bracing and guitar resonance by J. and O. Jovicic • Thoughts on new guitar designs by Steve Klein, Gila Eban, and Fred Carlson • Flattop bass design thoughts by Harry Fleishman, Tim Olsen, Richard Ennis, Bill McCaw, and David Freeman • Detailed drawings of 1918 Martin 1-18, 1932 Martin C-3, Kamanche, Kasha guitar soundboard, 1943 Hauser Sr. classical guitar, flattop bass, tar, modified F-3 mandolin, and sami-sen • Meet makers C.F. Martin III, C.F. Martin IV, Manuel Velazquez, William Del Pilar, John Monteleone, Paul Schuback, Harvey Thomas, Jeffrey Elliott, and Robert Steinegger


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S&P's Retaliation Claim Against Government Gets Hearing
A federal judge in California will hear arguments on Tuesday about whether to grant discovery involving evidence allegedly indicating that the DOJ filed its $5 billion lawsuit against Standard & Poor's in retaliation for its downgraded credit rating of the United States.
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