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Vol. ~ EINet News Briefs ~ Mar 21, 2008
*****A free service of the APEC Emerging Infections Network*****
APEC EINet News Briefs offers the latest news, journal articles, and notifications for emerging infections affecting the APEC member economies. It was created to foster transparency, communication, and collaboration in emerging infectious diseases among health professionals, international business and commerce leaders, and policy makers in the Asia-Pacific region.
In this edition:
1. Influenza News
- Global: Cumulative number of human cases of avian influenza A/(H5N1)
- Global: Time to acknowledge social and economic effects of H5N1 avian influenza, experts say
- Turkey (Edirne): Backyard chickens infected with H5N1 avian influenza
- Hong Kong: Schools shut due to outbreaks of seasonal influenza
- Indonesia: H5N1 avian influenza and H3N2 seasonal influenza co-infection in Indonesian teenager
- Laos: Government officials report a new outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry
- Viet Nam (Quang Nam): H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in ducks
- USA: US has enough H5N1 avian influenza vaccine for 13 million people
- USA: New patch boosts immunity to H5N1 avian influenza
- China (Guangdong): Officials report H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in poultry
- Viet Nam: Vietnamese child dies from H5N1 avian influenza, country's 106th case/52nd death
2. Infectious Disease News
- Australia (New South Wales): Rise in mosquito-borne illnesses prompts bite warning
- Australia (Queensland): Measles outbreak spreads to mine workers
- Australia: Number of dengue fever cases rising in Port Douglas
- Philippines (Laguna, Iloilo): Typhoid outbreaks sicken thousands, deaths reported
- Thailand (Prachuap Khiri Khan): Economy reports first case of Tularemia
- Canada (Chilliwack): Health officials report five cases of lab-confirmed mumps
- Canada: Eight family members sickened by unknown illness
- USA: Experts closing in on heparin contaminant
- USA (Virginia): Imported case of measles worries U.S. health officials
- USA: Officials report three new cases of hantavirus
- USA (Arizona): Second case of measles confirmed at Northwest Medical Center
- USA (Nebraska): Progressive inflammatory neuropathy in pork plant worker
3. Updates
- Indonesia (FAO report)
4. Articles
- A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards avian influenza in an adult population of Italy
- A broadly protective vaccine against globally dispersed clade 1 and clade 2 H5N1 influenza viruses
- Current and future antiviral therapy of severe seasonal and avian influenza.
- The Southeast Asian Influenza Clinical Research Network: Development and challenges for a new multilateral research endeavor
- Ecology of H3 avian influenza viruses in Korea and assessment of their pathogenic potentials
5. Notifications
- APEC EINet Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Virtual Symposium: Partnerships and Continuity Planning for Critical Systems
- 13th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID)
- HHS includes online services in pandemic communication drill
1. Influenza News
Global: Cumulative number of human cases of avian influenza A/(H5N1)
Economy / Cases (Deaths)
Total no. of confirmed human cases of avian influenza A/(H5N1), Dec 2003 to present: 373(236).
Avian influenza age distribution data from WHO/WPRO: http://www.wpro.who.int/sites/csr/data/data_Graphs.htm .
WHO's maps showing world's areas affected by H5N1 avian influenza (last updated 3.18.08):
WHO's timeline of important H5N1-related events (last updated 3.11.07):
Global: Time to acknowledge social and economic effects of H5N1 avian influenza, experts say
H5N1's potential for causing a human pandemic has understandably been the major focus of research, the scientists acknowledged. But "for every human being infected, there is at least one million animals infected—and that is probably an underestimate," Dr. Ilaria Capua, the head of virology at Italy's Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, said. "The veterinary community . . . have never before faced a challenge this big."
The economic repercussions reach from the micro level of village markets to the macro level of national economies and back, said Dr. Alejandro Thiermann, special advisor to the director-general of the World Organization for Animal Health. Fearing the importation of H5N1 flu, some countries have banned imports of chicken produced in affected countries, even when the disease has been found in wild birds rather than poultry. The resulting collapse in trade within a country depresses the prices that small-scale growers earn and makes them less willing to report disease outbreaks. The problem has proved so significant that new provisions governing avian flu-related trade restrictions are being added to the Animal Terrestrial Code, an international treaty governing veterinary health, said Thiermann, who serves as the Code's secretary.
The adoption of widespread poultry vaccination, one of the chief tools for controlling avian flu, also illustrates the complexity of integrating flu control into cultures and economies, said Dr. Les Sims of Australia's Asia-Pacific Veterinary Information Services. Stringent vaccination has successfully controlled avian flu in Hong Kong since late 2003, Sims said, but Hong Kong is "small and rich" and its results have not been replicated in any other country where avian flu is endemic. "We knew that mass vaccination would be very difficult to sustain, both the financial cost to the government and the enthusiasm of the people to go out and support it," he said. "The problems that are occurring in Vietnam now are largely ones that appear to be due to farmers not having their birds vaccinated rather than to vaccine failure."
Successful avian flu control will require attention to these and other "last-mile" difficulties that are not usually the province of virologists or human-health planners, the scientists cautioned.
Europe/Near East
Turkey (Edirne): Backyard chickens infected with H5N1 avian influenza
Veterinary officials in Turkey have confirmed an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in the western part of the country near the border with Greece, according to a report on 8 Mar 2008 from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The virus struck 22 backyard chickens at a village near Ipsala in Edirne province. The remaining 16 birds were destroyed. Turkish officials listed fomites, which could involve contamination spread by humans, vehicles, or animal feed, as the source of the outbreak. Turkey's last H5N1 outbreaks occurred over several weeks in January and February 2008 at six sites, all of which involved backyard poultry.
All of the previous outbreaks occurred near villages along the Black Sea, an area that officials from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have said is vulnerable to H5N1 outbreaks, because surrounding countries are a winter home to migratory birds from Siberia and often have poor separation between wild and domestic birds. In contrast to previous outbreaks, the Ipsala area is close to the Mediterranean Sea.
Hong Kong: Schools shut due to outbreaks of seasonal influenza
Hong Kong's top health official announced on 12 Mar 2008 that all primary schools, special schools and kindergartens in the city would close for two weeks due to seasonal flu outbreaks. Dr. York Chow, secretary for Food and Health of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government made the announcement after the Department of Health and the Bureau of Education met to review the data of the flu and the response of parents.
"We made the decision given the rising trend of flu infections within the community as the flu peak is expected to continue for weeks," Chow said. "We hope such precautionary measures will help reduce the cross infection of the flu virus in schools and the community."
Chow said that an expert group was doing its best to investigate the recent deaths of three children with flu-like symptoms, adding that at this stage, no common factors have been identified. He said the most important thing at the moment is to grasp a clear picture of the outbreaks and whether they are spreading. On 12 March 2008, the Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received reports of influenza-like illness (ILI) outbreaks affecting 23 schools involving a total of 184 people. A CHP spokesman said ILI could be caused by influenza or other respiratory viruses. CHP's officials have visited all these institutions and provided health advice to the staff accordingly.
CHP received a report from Hospital Authority on 12 March 2008 concerning a three-year-old boy who was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital because of persistent fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The boy was transferred to Intensive Care Unit and is now in stable condition, said the spokesman, adding that initial investigation showed his respiratory sample yielded positive results for influenza A (H1N1). Further tests are in progress. Regarding the death of a 7-year-old boy with respiratory and neurological symptoms in Tuen Mun Hospital, the spokesman said further laboratory tests showed that the boy's respiratory sample yielded positive results for influenza A (H1N1) (other reports maintain that it was a dual H1 and H3 infection). A three-year-old girl also died of the flu early this month, following the death of a two-year-old child at the end of February 2008. Hong Kong health officials have reported nine confirmed flu cases and 65 suspected ones since 6 Mar 2008, mostly at schools, in the territory of nearly seven million.
The Hospital Authority (HA) on 12 Mar 2008 announced that a special fund of 20 million HK dollars (2.6 million USD) had been set aside to implement a series of measures through April 2008 to cope with recent surge in demand for public hospital services due to seasonal influenza. Public hospitals have been experiencing a prolonged increase in emergency demand lately, in particular the emergency medical admissions, HA Chief Executive Shane Solomon said.
"Compared with February last year, the daily number of emergency medical admissions is 16 percent higher. At the same time, recent admission to pediatric wards in public hospitals has also surged," he said.
The sudden and unprecedented surge in demand in medical and pediatric wards has created great pressure on the front line staff. To cope with the recent surge, various hospital clusters have opened extra beds and implemented other initiatives to cope with patient needs.
Indonesia: H5N1 avian influenza and H3N2 seasonal influenza co-infection in Indonesian teenager
In a paper presented on Mon 17 Mar 2008 at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vivi Setiawaty of Indonesia's Center for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research and Development described the case of a 16-year-old girl who was tested for flu in Jakarta in April 2007 under a flu-surveillance system established in 2005 by the Indonesian Ministry of Health.
The girl, who had been experiencing flu symptoms for several days, was only mildly ill, with a 100.5 F fever, sore throat, cough, headache, and body aches, but no difficulty breathing and no signs of pneumonia (case reports of H5N1 patients in countries such as Thailand have described more dramatic clinical presentations). Throat and nasal-swab samples that were taken on the sixth day of her symptoms tested positive by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for both avian influenza H5N1 and the seasonal flu strain H3N2 at the Indonesian National Institute of Health Research and Development. Serology test results were less clear. Antibody titers from serum samples taken the sixth day provided a weak indication of H5N1 infection (titer of 1:10) but were negative for H3N2; convalescent sera, on the other hand, gave a strong indication of H3N2 infection (titer of 1:640) but were negative for H5N1. Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta, an arm of the Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology, confirmed the test results, according to the paper. The girl's case fell within the period when the Indonesian government was not sharing flu isolates with the international laboratory system maintained by the World Health Organization, and there was no indication whether her isolates were evaluated outside the country.
"This is the first case-report of a human with both influenza A/H5N1 and H3N2 co-infection," the paper states. "Such infections are of great concern due to the possibility of genetic re-assortment leading to the emergence of a H5N1 strain that is more easily transmitted human to human, and emphasizes the importance of advanced laboratory-based surveillance in geographic regions where both human and avian influenza viruses are co-circulating."
Laos: Government officials report a new outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry
Viet Nam (Quang Nam): H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in ducks
USA: US has enough H5N1 avian influenza vaccine for 13 million people
A progress report released on 20 March 2008 says the US government has stockpiled enough pre-pandemic H5N1 influenza vaccine for 13 million people, more than double the number listed in the previous report, issued in July 2007.
The report on pandemic preparations by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also says the government plans to release a new version of its pandemic vaccine allocation plan, after considering comments at a series of recent meetings and forums. The 16-page report from HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt lists a wide range of HHS pandemic preparations. It emphasizes the agency's efforts to collaborate with other stakeholders in tackling problems like vaccine allocation and who should bear the burden of stockpiling supplies such as face masks, respirators, and antiviral drugs. The report also says that HHS has acquired enough antiviral drugs to treat 40 million people, or about 80 percent of the agency's goal of 50 million. Officials want the states to buy enough additional doses with the help of a 25 percent federal subsidy to treat another 31 million people.
The report also says HHS:
USA: New patch boosts immunity to H5N1 avian influenza
The so-called adjuvant patch, to be used with an injected vaccine, could help stretch the supply during a pandemic, the Maryland-based company said. Current approved vaccines against the H5N1 avian influenza virus require two doses to be fully effective.
Iomai is testing its adjuvant patch on 500 volunteers in a phase 1/2 trial looking at the safety and efficacy of the patch. The patch is applied after gently scraping the skin with a light sandpaper-like device. It is used to boost an H5N1 vaccine made by the Belgian drug company Solvay. When used with a single dose of the 45-microgram H5N1vaccine, 73 percent of those tested had what is considered a protective immune response. About 49 percent of those who got the vaccine alone, without a patch, had an immune response considered protective after the first dose.
"The prospect of being able to immunize during a pandemic with a single dose is very attractive," said Iomai's chief scientific officer Gregory Glenn, whose company got a $128 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to test the patch.
At least 16 companies are testing H5N1 vaccines but no one knows precisely what a pandemic strain of the virus would look like or how to formulate the best vaccine. Tests on the current vaccines suggest that people need bigger doses than with seasonal influenza. Global flu vaccine production capabilities are limited and if bigger doses are needed, that means fewer people could be vaccinated in a pandemic.
"A one-dose pandemic flu vaccine is a very important advance," Glenn said. "There is just almost no way to immunize twice in the face of a pandemic."
Keeping the right records and counting people to show up twice are both barriers, he said. Adjuvants are frequently used to boost vaccines and some of the experimental H5N1 vaccines include adjuvants in the formulation.
China (Guangdong): Officials report H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in poultry
Viet Nam: Vietnamese child dies from H5N1 avian influenza, country's 106th case/52nd death
In late February 2008, 10 birds out of a chicken flock raised by the boy's family fell ill and died gradually. Then, his family slaughtered some healthy chickens of the flock for meals. Relevant provincial agencies have disinfected and detoxified the affected area, and selected samples from fowls in the area for bird flu testing.
2. Infectious Disease News
Australia (New South Wales): Rise in mosquito-borne illnesses prompts bite warning
Health authorities are warning people to protect themselves against mosquito bites following a three-fold increase in mosquito-borne viruses in the first two months of 2008. There were 380 cases of Ross River virus in New South Wales (NSW) in January and February 2008, up from 78 for the same period last year. Barmah Forest virus cases almost doubled to 121 over the same period, and more are expected in March 2008 as the mosquito season peaks. Recent rainfall has been blamed for the explosion in mosquito numbers and cases of the viruses, which cause debilitating symptoms such as tiredness, sore and swollen joints, rashes, and fever.
The potentially fatal Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) has been detected in mosquitoes and chickens in Griffith, Leeton, and the Macquarie Marshes. In rare cases the virus can also be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, causing permanent brain damage and death.
"There have been no human MVEV infection cases to date, however the monitoring program results means there may be the potential for people to become infected if bitten by a mosquito," said Mr. Jeremy McAnulty, NSW Health director of communicable diseases. He urged people traveling throughout the state over Easter to take precautions such as wearing insect repellent and loose clothing; and avoiding going outside around dusk and dawn particularly when fishing, camping, or bush walking.
Australia (Queensland): Measles outbreak spreads to mine workers
Tropical Population Health Network Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey Hanna said the shopping center was the only common link between the four infected students and the two miners. He said it showed how contagious the disease was. The discovery of the first four locally acquired cases of the disease in 11 years prompted urgent warnings from public health authorities for people to be on the lookout for measles symptoms.
Although none of the students—two girls and two boys aged between 12 and 15—had to be treated in hospital, Dr. Hanna said three were very sick. The bigger concern was that they had been highly mobile while at their most contagious, using public buses, visiting two of Cairns' biggest shopping centers, a large popular Cairns restaurant, a swimming carnival, and a large party in the Kuranda area. Dr. Hanna said the two miners had not interacted outside the mine site during this early stage.
Australia: Number of dengue fever cases rising in Port Douglas
In the center of Mossman, streets to the west of Front St, between Grogan and Harper St, have been declared a warning zone. In 2003, more than 30 people contracted dengue in the inner-Cairns suburb of Parramatta Park, and a 1997-98 outbreak struck down 500 people in the Cairns and Port Douglas area with dengue fever.
Philippines (Laguna, Iloilo): Typhoid outbreaks sicken thousands, deaths reported
In another outbreak (Laguna Province) contaminated water triggered the outbreak of typhoid fever that has downed nearly 2,000 people and killed a 14-year-old girl in Calamba City, health secretary Francisco Duque III said on 10 Mar 2008. Tests showed that the water supplied by the Calamba Water District contained the salmonella bacteria and did not have enough chlorine to kill the microbes, he said. Duque said the number of people with typhoid fever had gone down to 876 from a high of 1800, but the health department could not yet declare that the outbreak had been contained. The department said earlier it suspected that the city's reservoir had been contaminated, but officials of Calamba's water district on 10 Mar 2008 claimed that the city's water was safe for drinking.
Thailand (Prachuap Khiri Khan): Economy reports first case of Tularemia
Dr. Thawat said the woman, whose name was withheld, had kept a number of rabbits in her house and could have been infected by Francisella tularensis, the bacterium that causes the disease, probably through an aerosol of body secretions from her infected pets. Dr. Thawat dismissed concerns about an outbreak, saying that there is no threat of human-to-human transmission and that relatives of the dead, who live under the same roof, should not worry. Cancer might have made the woman too weak to fight the disease, he said.
The ministry is waiting for the results of another lab test from the United States to see if the rabbit fever is of strains A or B, which are more dangerous. The chief of the public health office in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pipop Janesuthivejjakul, appeared unshaken by the news of the disease. He said the public should not panic over the news of the woman's death, which took place in Kui Buri district in October 2007. The provincial office knew of no other victims in the country.
Canada (Chilliwack): Health officials report five cases of lab-confirmed mumps
Fraser Health is reporting five lab-confirmed cases of mumps in Chilliwack, in the wake of larger outbreaks in Alberta.
"It's been coming at us from east to west," said Fraser Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Gillian Arsenault, who pointed to cases documented in Nova Scotia, and later Alberta. "Apparently some of those infected (in Chilliwack) had either direct or indirect contact with the Alberta connection. So for anyone planning to go to Alberta, now is a good time to get vaccinated."
The local cases are likely just the tip of the iceberg given the "sneaky" nature of the mumps virus, she said. The virus is spread by saliva, so a cough or sneeze can send it traveling through the air with fine mist droplets.
"When we have lab-confirmed cases, it means there are more cases we don't know about," said Dr. Arsenault. "The reason for that is roughly one-third of infected people display no symptoms at all. For them it's just like a rotten cold." Another third of sufferers will experience swollen glands, testicles, or some other physical clue, and the swelling always comes on the heels of the cold-like symptoms. An individual who's been exposed can be infected and not know it, she said. "It only takes one coughing infected person in an ER or waiting room to spread the virus."
Asked if she thought British Columbia's population was immune enough to stop an outbreak, "We don't know," she said. Small clusters of mumps cases have been reported in other communities over the past year, which didn't in fact turn into larger outbreaks of the virus. "We're hoping the same will happen here," said the health official. "We don't know how fast or how big this iceberg is, so it's a good time to get the word out. The more people know, the more likelihood it won't turn into a big outbreak." Mumps "very rarely" kill people, she said, but they can fall ill and feel awful.
A total of 399 cases were reported in Alberta between 1 Sep 2007 and 4 Mar 2008, with the majority of cases in the Chinook region of southern Alberta, and the rest in Calgary. There were also outbreaks in Nova Scotia. "It shows we're not completely immune," said Arsenault.
Canada: Eight family members sickened by unknown illness
"Whatever sickness they had, as soon as someone touched them, and caressed them, cuddled them, or comforted them, they got sick as well, within 20 minutes, half an hour."
The plane was diverted to Fort Lauderdale late on 4 Mar 2008, and the eight were transferred to hospital. They included the man's 14-year-old nephew, the only one who had complained of stomach problems, and one of his daughters, a paramedic who had been treating the others. All were released by the time the flight finally resumed and landed in Edmonton around 8:30 a.m. on 5 Mar 2008.
The families had all eaten at the same place on 4 Mar 2008. But the man said not everyone who ate at the restaurant got sick, and although some of the young adults had been drinking alcohol, his brother-in-law who doesn't drink was also ill. Greg Meyer, an airport spokesperson in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control interviewed everyone on board and determined the sick passengers were not suffering from any airborne illness. Jim Rudolph, a spokesperson at the Edmonton International Airport, said there were no further illnesses reported on the flight once it resumed.
USA: Experts closing in on heparin contaminant
In interviews, heparin experts in China and the United States, including a researcher involved in the inquiry, said that a chemically altered substance called over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate is probably the contaminant that the FDA says is linked to hundreds of allergic reactions and 19 deaths. Even so, researchers said they were not certain that the contaminant, constituting between five percent and 20 percent of the drug, is what is causing the allergic reactions nor do they know precisely how or when it was mixed into the active ingredient.
Chondroitin sulfate is a widely used supplement to treat joint pain. In its unaltered state, it does not have the blood-thinning properties found in the contaminant. But scientists and researchers say the act of changing the molecule gives the substance anti-coagulating properties. Scientists who have examined batches of the contaminated heparin distributed by Baxter International in the United States said in interviews that they suspected that the heparin-like molecule was intentionally mixed into the drug.
"A child could tell you it's counterfeiting," said Dr. Jawed Fareed, a professor of pathology and pharmacology at Loyola University Chicago, who has been studying batches of heparin since the problems with the drug were discovered. He was conducting his own investigation because he was concerned that the quality problems with heparin were far more widespread than acknowledged.
An American chemist, who asked not to be identified because he had signed a confidentiality agreement, said he and the FDA had looked at chondroitin sulfate as a possible contaminant because of its structural similarities with heparin.
"It is something that is a little bit different," said the chemist, "like a distant family relative you don't recognize. Once we have the exact fingerprint, we will try to figure out how it got into the product."
Zhang Tianmin, 80, a retired professor at the Shandong University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, said counterfeiters would likely choose chondroitin sulfate or chitosan, from shellfish, as a base substance to create a heparin-like molecule, because both substances are cheap. But since neither has natural blood-thinning activity, counterfeiters would have to add something that does.
"Sulfate groups appear naturally in the heparin molecule," Mr. Zhang said, "but they can also be produced by chemical synthesis."
Baxter has recalled virtually all of its heparin products in the United States. There have been no new deaths since the recall, the FDA said. Dr. Fareed said it was too early to say whether the contaminant is causing the adverse reactions. A variety of reactions have been observed, including abdominal pain, hypotension (low blood pressure), a burning sensation, vomiting, diarrhea, rising temperature, and anaphylaxis, he said, "but one cannot link all of these to one substance."
"This is a deliberate act of chemically manipulating a heparin-like substance and mixing it with heparin to increase the yield," he added. But some batches of heparin containing the contaminant did not elicit adverse reactions, casting uncertainty on their root cause, Dr. Fareed said.
USA (Virginia): Imported case of measles worries U.S. health officials
USA: Officials report three new cases of hantavirus
Testing coordinated by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment has confirmed that a Kiowa County man who died in late February 2008 had contracted a hantavirus.
A young Louisiana man has been battling hantavirus since symptoms began in early February 2008. He has been taken off the ventilator and dialysis, and is off all pain medication and antibiotics. Doctors say he probably got it in a duck blind (a cover device for hunters) in his home state of Louisiana.
The often-deadly disease is transmitted through the urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents—especially deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). People contract the disease by breathing in the dried particles infected with the virus. Early symptoms include fever and muscle aches, possibly with chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cough. Symptoms develop within one to six weeks after exposure. There is no specific treatment for hantavirus, but health officials say the chances for recovery are better with early medical attention.
USA (Arizona): Second case of measles confirmed at Northwest Medical Center
USA (Nebraska): Progressive inflammatory neuropathy in pork plant worker
The newest case brings the total number of workers known to be affected to 14. Officials said that as the investigation continues to look into past workers at all three plants, they expect to find more cases. Those affected have reported fatigue, numbness, and tingling in their arms and legs with a wide range of severity. Some have recovered and returned to work, while others are severely disabled. Officials are calling the condition progressive inflammatory neuropathy, or PIN. Most of those affected worked at Quality Pork Processors in Austin, MN, where the condition was first recognized, and two have been identified in Indiana. Nebraska officials declined to say which plant employed the meatpacker, but the only plant in the state that uses the high compression system is owned by Hormel Foods, based in Austin.
3. Updates
(UN; WHO; FAO, OIE; CDC; Health Canada; CIDRAP; PAHO; USGS)
Indonesia (FAO report)
"The human mortality rate from bird flu in Indonesia is the highest in the world and there will be more human cases if we do not focus more on containing the disease at source in animals," said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech. "I am deeply concerned that the high level of virus circulation in birds in the country could create conditions for the virus to mutate and to finally cause a human influenza pandemic. The avian influenza situation in Indonesia is grave—all international partners and national authorities need to step up their efforts for halting the spread of the disease in animals and making the fight against the virus a top priority."
31 provinces affected
"Indonesia is facing an uphill battle against a virus that is difficult to contain. Major human and financial resources, stronger political commitment and strengthened coordination between the central, province, and district authorities are required to improve surveillance and control measures," he said
Major constraints
"We have also observed that new H5N1 avian influenza virus strains have recently emerged creating the possibility that vaccines currently in use may not be fully protecting poultry against the disease. This issue is being addressed by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture with technical assistance from OFFLU (OIE/FAO Influenza Network of Laboratories) and funding provided by USAID and AusAID. Also required are more investigations and the development of better poultry vaccines," Domenech said. "The major challenge is to immediately apply the main components of a successful national avian influenza control strategy, based on effective surveillance, emergency culling and compensation, vaccination, improved biosecurity, effective laboratory and quarantine procedures, and movement controls of poultry and poultry products."
4. Articles
A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards avian influenza in an adult population of Italy
Giuseppe G, Abbate R, et al. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2008;8:36. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-8-36
A broadly protective vaccine against globally dispersed clade 1 and clade 2 H5N1 influenza viruses
Current and future antiviral therapy of severe seasonal and avian influenza.
The Southeast Asian Influenza Clinical Research Network: Development and challenges for a new multilateral research endeavor
Ecology of H3 avian influenza viruses in Korea and assessment of their pathogenic potentials
5. Notifications
APEC EINet Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Virtual Symposium: Partnerships and Continuity Planning for Critical Systems
APEC EINet is pleased to host a special videoconference on pandemic influenza preparedness. This videoconference is a follow-up to our first "virtual symposium", which was conducted in January 2006 with great success (participating economies were Australia, Canada, China, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, USA, and Viet Nam). You can view a five-minute video clip of our previous virtual symposium at: http://depts.washington.edu/einet/symposium.html. Our upcoming videoconference will be held in late May 2008. It will take place during the evening hours of 29 May in the Americas and in the morning hours of 30 May in Asia, for approximately 3.5 hours. Our objective is to describe how private and public sectors in the APEC region can cooperate and work effectively to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic.
Through this videoconference, we hope to promote regional information sharing and collaboration to enhance pandemic preparedness. In order to improve preparedness regionally, it is vital to understand how each economy in the region is undertaking this task. In this process, EINet will:
13th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID)
Date: June 19-22 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Venue: Kuala Lumpur Convention Center
The meeting in Kuala Lumpur hosted by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia will again welcome delegates from over 100 countries. The program will include plenary talks by world-renowned experts in the science of infectious diseases and important topics critically presented by international luminaries in the field. Moreover, there will be great opportunities to spend time with leaders in the field, exchange ideas, and develop collaborations with scientists from distinguished medical centers around the globe. All who are committed to the prevention and control of infections worldwide will find this a compelling meeting that should not be missed.
HHS includes online services in pandemic communication drill
The exercise was the second time HHS has reached out to blogs. In May 2007, the department featured posts from bloggers such as Michael Coston of Avian Flu Diary and Greg Dworkin, MD, of FluWiki in a five-week pandemic preparedness blog series. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt hosts his own blog on the HHS Web site. He is the first cabinet secretary to use the online forum, according to HHS.
Bloggers were also included in a one-day leadership conference that HHS hosted to engage community leaders in talking about local preparedness efforts and seek input on how to tailor HHS's own resource materials. "We recognize that during a pandemic information could be life-saving. As more and more people turn to the Internet for information and news, blogs have emerged as an important and influential communications tool," HHS said in its invitation to attend the tabletop exercise.
Federal officials at the table included HHS Secretary Leavitt and representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard. Representatives from state health departments and healthcare facilities also took part in the exercise, because they will also be fielding questions from the media and online sources throughout an influenza pandemic, and especially at the beginning.
Details about the pandemic exercise were off the record, but the scenario featured intensified activity overseas that prompted the World Health Organization to raise its pandemic alert stage. The situation then progressed to one suspected H5N1 case in the United States, which led to dozens of cases in major cities on both coasts. At several points during the exercise, moderator Forrest Sawyer, a former news anchor with ABC and NBC, asked the news media and online outlets to predict what their headlines would be and what information they would need from HHS, CDC, and other agencies. During the exercise the communications officials from HHS floated the idea of "embedding" some of their staff in media organizations to ease access to official information during a pandemic. The agency also said its media access policies now treat reputable blogs and other reputable online services the same as traditional media organizations.
Stephanie Marshall, director of pandemic communications at HHS, said that because growing numbers of people are going to online sources for news and information, "It's important for the government to understand how best to work with bloggers and other online journalists to distribute information. The exercise and the insights offered by the participating bloggers will help us improve and refine our existing pandemic communications plan."


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Chilies Rellenos
Large green chilies are roasted and stuffed with a cheese-and-tomato filling. The stuffed peppers are then batter coated and fried.
Yield: Serves 4
- 8 large green chilies, such as Poblano or Anaheim, stems attached
- 1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated
- 2 green onions, white portion only, thinly sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions1. Roast the chilies by sliding them under the broiler and cooking them until the skin is blistered and charred on all sides. Transfer the chilies to a bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. When cool enough to handle, lift off the skin with a paring knife. Cut each pepper down one side, leaving the stem attached. Scoop out the seeds and membrane, then set the chilies aside on absorbent paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cheese, onions, and tomatoes. Toss to combine and spoon into the chili pepper cavities. Press the cut edges in slightly. Transfer to a plate and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they are slightly thickened. Whisk in the salt and baking powder, then whisk in the flour. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites, until soft peaks form. Fold them into the egg yolk mIxture.
4. Heat 1 inch of oil in a large skillet. Dip the chilies into the egg batter and fry in hot oil. Turn the chilies once, cooking them until lightly browned. Transfer to absorbent paper to drain. Serve immediately.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tonichelle, I'll try to keep in mind what you say about mushing! I love the idea of it but had no idea it was as rough to watch as that. You have correctly pegged me as a chicken. I'll depend on your reports about the exploits of the mushers and the dogs rather than watching firsthand.
Excuse me, but isn't this thread supposed to be about Yuna? This thread has been hijacked and this debate about Ohno etc. should be moved to some separate thread.
This thread is very long and has been hijacked countless number of times. But I agree, it's time to move on from this topic.
(Yes, because this is a Yuna thread...)
Yuna cheering for the Korean short track team in Vancouver.
Last edited by EricRohmer; 10-22-2011 at 10:05 PM.
OK so I lied. This will be my final thoughts on this, I promise.
lowtherlore, I don't even know why I have to repeat this but please get this through your head. Nowhere have I said that only Koreans are overly nationalistic. Sorry for not including that in my original but that's such an obvious statement that I didn't feel the need to stick it in there as some sort of disclaimer. And sorry to break it to you, but I am Korean. I just have a different point of view than yours. And I'm hardly the only one. Apparently, we're just not as vocal as you.
Last edited by Figga; 10-22-2011 at 09:43 PM.
I like to hope that someday, we'll be able to bridge such gaps in the world, not forgetting history but rising above it.
new yuna products the official launching will be on october 28 in korea
Thanks, Tonichelle! I'll cover my eyes when instructed by you. (>giggle<)
My respect for the dogs and the mushers is boundless. I got to edit an article for kids about the original trek to Nome in 1925 with the serum, which inspired the Iditarod, and I still get gooseflesh when I think about those men and their dogs, setting off in temperatures of forty below, in the dark, over hundreds of miles of ice--in January! I know I tend to romanticize things (which is why I'm a skating fan). But this sport deserves to be romanticized. I gather that the mushers tend to live very down-to-earth lives, mostly in out-of-the-way locales in Alaska and Minnesota and such, and they're certainly not in it for the money. It's great to know there's a knowledgeable musher fan in the GS community.
Last edited by Olympia; 10-27-2011 at 09:15 PM.
yuna kim at the official launching of YUNA collection today in korea
videos http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=112873268824160
she looks very pretty
Is Kwangjuyo a brand name of pottery in Korea? Yuna's make up is very different from the other Korean celebrities.
KwangJuYo ' YUNA Collection ' Launching Show 2011.10.28
another set of photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/queenyu...th/6287903553/
Last edited by cooper; 10-28-2011 at 10:33 AM.
from yunaforum
KwangJuYo magazine??


text:
Created in this Craftsy class
Craftsy Block of the Month 2013 taught by Laura Nownes
Learn new quilting techniques, make new friends and create a sampler quilt! Laura Nownes demonstrates 10 fabulous blocks and numerous techniques in this FREE class.
Other projects made as part of this class:
QuiltingFirst Sampler Quilt
QuiltingBlock of the Month 2013
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Very nice! It looks great
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Oh this is just wonderful and such beautiful colours. I am so far behind as I have only got first couple of blocks done.... thanks for the inspiration
11/23/2013 Flag


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More about the issues from our panelists:
Border Security proposals in both the House and Senate bear the fingerprints of private defense contractors that have spent millions in lobbying and campaign contributions to politicians writing these policies. Read the op ed by Lia Lindsey and Mary Zerkel to find out more.
Pedro Rios, director of AFSC's San Diego program, explains how the militarization of borders is ineffective, costly, and dangerous.
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Dr. Michael Carlie is the 2008 SUCCESSability Award Recipient
"There are no students with disabilities. All students face challenges, and so do their faculty. The challenges are of many kinds, some more visible than others. I know that whenever I face a challenge, I appreciate when someone extends to me a helping hand, offers a kind word, or simply shares a smile - an understanding glance. These shared kindnesses can make the difference between a day filled with struggle and sadness or a day filled with optimism and hope."
"Like many people who have faced challenges in their lives, I want to reach out to others who are trying to make the most of their lives by pushing ahead, hoping for a brighter future, and working hard to overcome those challenges. I consider it an honor and an obligation to contribute to students who work that hard. And this is not entirely selfless effort. I gain something, too. I get a chance to return all the kindness that have been extended to me."
~Dr. Michael Carlie
"Dr. Carlie was always nice, helpful, and was the best professor I have ever had. He always asked me how I wanted to be accommodated, he always called on me in class and he always treated me like a typical student. I will never forget how was having a bad day when I walked into his class, and the first thing he asked was how he could accommodate me. If I ever needed help with anything he would assist me; even with class assignments such as finding an article for me once. I cannot put it into words how comfortable he made me feel in his classes. He was so approachable..and hilarious."
~Sociology, Anthropology & Criminology Student
2008 Nominees
Joyce Lopez - Management
Dr. Michael Carlie - Sociology, Anthropology & Criminology


text:
Welcome to the Financial Services Channel of the BeyeNETWORK.
This channel provides insights into how business intelligence can help you address your business challenges. Through the channel, you will also read about the challenges, successes and lessons learned by a wide variety of participants in the financial services industry - including both the private sector and governmental agencies.
Companies in the financial services industry are leveraging business intelligence and performance management solutions to gain valuable insights into their organization, customers, operations, and supply chain and are positively impacting their bottom lines. Emphasis will be placed on the rapidly changing dynamics, needs and issues, facing the industry, consumers and vendors. We will discuss how participants are leveraging innovative strategies, technology and processes to gain competitive advantage, increase operational efficiency and manage risk.
I welcome your input on topics of interest, questions and other suggestions. Please contact me by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Markus is a BI Global Solutions Director and Avanade's primary business intelligence (BI) expert. He defines and directs the implementation of Avanade's solution strategy relative to Microsoft's
BI products and alliances, including the creation of intellectual property (IP) and reusable implementation assets that accelerate customer deployment.
Markus leads a team of solution architects who work closely with the Microsoft Office Business Applications product group. His team influences the Microsoft product road map through the escalation
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Wednesday, January 24, 2007 by: Beau Hodai
Tags: weight loss, potato protein, appetite suppressants
The protein, potato proteinase inhibitor 2 (PI2), developed by Kemin Health is derived from white potatoes, and is one of the main ingredients in the weight loss supplement, Slendesta.
A recent study, conducted at Iowa State University, has shown that when an individual ingests PI2, the release of a cholecystokinin, a peptide that simulates the feeling of fullness, is stimulated.
The largest study in a series to test the weight loss potential of PI2 involved some 240 participants, and spanned 12 weeks. Participants who were given 30 mg of PI2 one hour before the two largest meals of the day showed marked weight loss over participants who had been given a placebo.
"This potato protein extract looks promising as a safe, natural appetite suppressant," said Mike Adams, co-author of "Natural Appetite Suppressants for Safe, Effective Weight Loss." "In my personal testing so far, I have found it helps take the edge off of late night hunger, especially when combined with pinolenic acid."
Pinolenic acid is an appetite suppressant and digestive aid derived from the pine nuts of the Siberian pine.
No study on either animal or human toxicity has yielded any evidence yet that consumption of PI2 has any adverse effects.
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State leaders question the safety of children at unlicensed residential youth care centers after an incident at Tierra Blanca Ranch.
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"It was an honor to be here with all of them," Spears said.
Kentwood-raised Britney showed up to meet the students while they were having breakfast with City Councilman Jay Batt and discussing Katrina. Her arrival was met with squeals of delight.
"It was awesome. I will never forget it," said 14-year-old Lindsay Hernandez, who lived with 21 relatives and friends after her home was destroyed. Another student, Auntrell Prosper, 17, who now lives with her family in a trailer, said of the hurricane's aftermath, "We had to go to a shelter."
Spears took the girls shopping and then dining at one of Cajun chef Emeril Lagasse's restaurants for some fried chicken and red beans and rice, the Associated Press reports.
Spears, 24, also gave the girls fleur-de-lis pins on blue ribbons, and she surprised the school's dance troupe, the Gatorettes, and brought them gift bags with CDs, DVDs and shoes sent by Capezio.
"They dance so great. They're awesome," Spears said after watching the troupe rehearse.


text:
Fixing a Double Flushing Toilet
The rinse holes may be the reason you need to double flush
You may want rubber gloves
Required Materials for this Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.
- Wire coat hanger
- Paper towels
- Plumber's putty
- Lime remover


text:
Women make up a third of U.S. lawyers, doctors
The Wall Street Journal reports that in 1970, women accounted for 9.7% of the nation's doctors and just 4.9% of its lawyers, according to Census data. What a difference a generation makes. Now it's 32 percent and 33 percent.
Read more at http://www.goerieblogs.com/lifestyle/hertimes/.


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The Woodsman Available on Amazon
The corrections are in, and the book is available here. If you need one for a gift or to build a small fort with, Amazon is the place to go. ... Read more
The Woodsman has shipped!
All Woodsman books and prints were sent out yesterday! You should receive them in one to four weeks depending on your proximity to Seattle and whether you live in a... Read more
Rolling right along
I just wanted to let everyone know that things are still proceeding apace, even if the pace is a bit slow. We have the archival prints and bookmarks printed, and... Read more
Woodsman Funded and Formatting in Progress
Well, we did it! Mission Kickstarted.
Sorry for the delay, between the holidays, getting sick and going back to work it's been hectic around here.
Final formatting is in progress... Read more
New Stretch Goal!
As mentioned on the Kick-a-thon interview, we are adding a stretch goal. If we make $10,000 in funding I will write the story of the Mother, a completely new and... Read more
Interview with Kick-a-thon!
Friday, 12/14/2012 from 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm PST Kick-a-thon will be interviewing me in studio! Holy cats! Kick-a-thon is an awesome idea by Jeff McCord when he was Kickstarting... Read more
Holy schnikes!
Well, we did it. And by "we", I mean "you". And by "did it", I mean "did it in six hours". So, you did it in six hours. Congratulations!
It... Read more


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IRCTC Sign In
During peak hours (8AM – 10 AM), IRCTC login can be quite challenging especially with a slow Internet connection and a busy IRCTC server. The website has a lot of scope for improvement. Successful Sign In and booking tickets can be done with a combination of steps. We'll explain how.
Official https login URL:
Tips to successfully book IRCTC tickets even during peak hour:-
– Sign In to IRCTC website in different browsers (IE, Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox). Google Chrome and Firefox handles timeout's better. This way, even if the page time's out, you will have an active transaction on other browser.
– Log on before 8 AM for Taktal tickets. You could perform the search after 8 AM. Have the departure and destination station codes handy. For tatkal tickets, have all the relevant details with you (Things like ID card, for e.g. Driving license number)
– After entering the payment details, do not close the browser even if it takes 1-2 minutes. There have been days I have had to wait for 4-5 minutes for completing the payment.
About IRCTC:-
IRCTC stands for Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. They handle catering, online booking and more recently even flight bookings at competitive prices. They take care of catering in some Rajdhani Exp trains, Duranto Exp, Frakkha Exp, Maitree Express, and Kandhari Exp. Booking with IRCTC can be made from an internet connected PC, Mobile phone or just SMS. They have an option for E-Tickets (email/online) and i-tickets (delivered by post). Their frequent traveler program is called 'Shubh Yatra'. There is an annual fee for this program. IRCTC tickets can be booked even via Make My Trip & Yatraa's API with IRCTC for a small fee. Tatkal tickets can't be booked with this service though.
IRCTC also takes booking on the following luxury trains:-
– Palace on Wheels
– Royal Rajasthan on Wheels
– Golden Chariot
– Buddhist Circuit Train
– Royal Orient Express
– Deccan Odyssey
Tips to protect your IRCTC account:-
– Ensure that your web browsers are up-to-date to protect your account from spyware. If you are using a Windows PC, it is wise to install reliable anti-spyware software.
– Do not share your login details with anyone. Ensure that the mobile number that you have entered with IRCTC is correct.
– Pick a password that is complex and yet easy to remember.


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This was our second trip this year with MSC - our first was in June on MSC Fantasia where we had a fantastic time and made us book again with MSC.
We booked our transfers with MSC from Linate to Genoa & back - they were on time and we found our rep as soon as we got our luggage - definitely we will book transfers again with MSC.
The boat is beautiful and very well kept - décor is immaculate and colour scheme fantastic.
Evening shows are beautiful and we really used to look forward for them and we enjoyed all of them - they were all different from Fantasia - I do not know why some commented that they are repetitive - all the shows we watched were all different and absolutely fantastic
Food is really good - buffet Bora Bora is very good and with a lot of variety - our evening meals at La Reggia was absolutely perfect - with a 6/7 course meal - the restaurant supervisor Domenico & his attendant Wayan were always ready to please us - they were fantastic and very polite.
Our room attendant Franciscus was very good & polite also - always ready to help
Entertainment was very good with 5 bars/lounges having live music - all the singers were good and we used to look forward after our dinner to go and listen & dance!
Disembarkation was very well organised and efficient.
Definitely my wife and I will cruise again with MSC next year - we cannot wait for our 3rd trip with them


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Hi! My name is Punkin
I am Domestic Shorthair from Mentor, OH
Nicknames: Punk, Punny, Bunny, Kitty, Baby, etc...new names come out everyday!
Age: 15 years old
Gender: F
Coat: short haired
Education: Besides killing bugs in the house and opening nearly-closed doors, I can jump real high for my mom to catch me when I want to leave the room, and if I get locked in a room by myself I can jiggle the doorknob until someone hears me & lets me out.
My favorite tricks and treats are: Everyone is SO proud of me when I follow my feather wand and jump REAL HIGH! Especially Mom, she's never seen any kitty jump up so high! and Treats, I love night time because because it means 2 things: Puppy's dinner + treats! After Puppy get's her dinner I get to lick the juices from the bowl & later Mommy gives me treats, but I just can't wait by now and paw at the bag and Mom til we get it open.
Where I hang out: In the windows, sun, under blankets or wherever Mama is!
My favorite grubs: One of my favorite things to do is eat! My favorite time of day is when everybody wakes up because breakfast means TUNA! I get Meow Mix and Kit & Kaboodle everyday, but once in a while I am treated to Meow Mix wet food!
My pet peeves: I hate when people touch my feet! I also can't stand when my bathroom isn't flushed after every use. Otherwise, I most certainly refuse to 'go'!
What I love about my owners: It's great to be me! I'm really lucky. I get to play, eat, go outside, or sleep whenever I want. I get lots of love and feel like a Princess-especi- ally when I steal somebody's spot or pillow at night & don't have to move!
My cat hobbies: During the very few hours of the day I am awake, I love to play with my sister, Zoe! She's still a puppy so she keeps me young & active, but she can't get me on the tables, in my tunnel or house, and of course when Mommy picks me up! I also love toys. Catnip & mouse toys are my favorite-especi- ally when they rattle! I like when Mom hides the feather wand under a blanket, too, so I can attack it! And sometimes, I am even allowed to go outside! But I wont stay out unless Mama leaves the door open a crack so I can run in if I get scared. I eat grass, chase bugs, & at night I go with Zoe on her nighttime walkies down the street & back. Night is my favorite time to be outside.
Pet motto: SHHHHHhhhhh!
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When one of my two sister cats (Tiger) developed lukemia and passed about 5 months later(!), we decided to fill the void by rescuing a cat from the local Humane Society. I went in with the hope of getting an orange female kitten, and there she was in the first cage! Fate! It was around Halloween, which is why "Punkin" was so perfect. She was a great addition to Tiger's sister, our black cat Lucky, who has also since passed.
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OODA Blog - OODA - Enabling Intelligent Action
Frame Reflection:A Critical Review of US Military Approaches to Complex Situations
We are pleased to present this monograph on frame reflection. As the authors note:
"Our hope is that the insights gained from institutional barriers in the modern military may provide insights for designers in other walks – with ideas on … Read More
Body Cavity Bombers: The New Martyrs
We are pleased to announce that this book has been released and is available for purchase through Amazon.
Body Cavity Bombers: The New Martyrs: A Terrorism Research Center Book
Dangerous Minds – The Relationship between Beliefs, Behaviors, and Tactics
"This monograph is a collection of linked articles looking at the relationship between the tactics, behaviours, and beliefs that develop into a scenario study of next generation threats that can be identified from the study of various archetype attackers … Read More
OODA Loop Launched
OODA Loop is an intelligence platform designed to provide critical intelligence, analysis and insight on global security, technology, and business issues.
OODA Loop is the culmination of three years of experimentation by a team of engineers and analysts and informed … Read More


text:
Pandora's collection of earrings, rings, necklaces, and most notably charm bracelets are versatile, gorgeous, and the new trend of jewelry for all generations. PANDORA bracelets have a patented threading system allowing charms to be added and rearranged in a fashion chosen by each individual. Even the rings and earrings are interchangeable providing you the opportunity to continue building new pieces with the charms you already possess. The possibilities are endless with the 2,000 plus handcrafted charms.
Learn more at: www.pandora-jewelry.com


text:
Collected in one volume—the first three books in the bestselling Inspector Montalbano mystery series
American readers were first introduced to Sicily's inimitable Inspector Salvo Montalbano more than ten years ago. Since then, the detective—and his characteristic mix of humor, cynicism, compassion, and love of good food—has won the affection of crime fiction aficionados and Italophiles alike. With Andrea Camilleri's last two mysteries appearing on the New York Times bestseller list, it's clear that interest in the series is at an all time high. Now, Death in Sicily features the Inspector's first three adventures in one handy volume, offering new readers just the enticement they need to get started.


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Featured Content
Hiking Glacier Peak Wilderness
|Colors of the North Cascades
St. Peter's is not Rome. Disneyworld is not Florida. Glacier Peak is not Glacier Peak Wilderness. Landmarks often deceive. Overshadowed by a dominating mountain, the scenery in this immense wilderness is more marvelously varied than you might think. That's why this is a premier backpack trip. Your enjoyment won't depend on seeing Glacier Peak. It's only one of many powerful sights.
And this loop is only one of several you can choose from in the area. Our favorite covers 46 miles in four to seven days, linking Pilot Ridge, Blue Lake, Dishpan Gap, Indian Pass, White Pass, 1: Red Pass, White Chuck River, Kennedy Hot Springs, Lake By and Lost Creek Ridge. For a shorter, three- to five-day version, start by hiking up the North Fork Sauk River, then continue the loop from Red Pass north. That's the trip described here. If you hiking the longer loop, also read Trip 91.
As you set out, you'll be greeted by nobility: giant cedars and gargantuan Douglas firs. The trees are so tall it's hard to look at them while carrying a big pack. For a shoulder-season dayhike, keep in mind this section along the North Fork, between the trailhead and McKinaw Shelter. It passes through an exceptionally grand ancient forest.
Above, on the Pacific Crest Trail, is a 3.5-mile stretch between Lower White Pass and Red Pass that's one of the supreme, sustained-high-elevation hikes in the North Cascades. The other, is on Miners Ridge, east of Image Lake (Trip 94).
Then there's the view from Red Pass. Wow! Make sure you hit it in good weather, or you'll miss one of the most impactful scenes in the United States: the alpine vastness of the White Chuck, River's headwaters valley, with the White Chuck Glacier beyond. After surveying this ethereal valley, you get to walk through it. The tussocky meadows, rock gardens, lyrical, omnipresent meltwater streams, and particularly the elegant, swooping walls are more typical of the Canadian Rockies than the gnarly North Cascades.
Once you're below the upper basin, you could happily walk to Kennedy Hot Springs during a rainstorm an occurrence so common here you should expect it. The trail descends through prelapsarian forest, beside the raging White Chuck River whose lusty roar resounds. Try to include a side trip up to the White Chuck Glacier for a rock-and-ice extravaganza.
Kennedy Hot Springs is the Grand Central Station of Glacier Peak Wilderness. The trails radiating from it lead to wilder, lonelier environs: Red Pass, Kennedy Ridge, Fire Creek Pass, and Lost Creek Ridge. In the vicinity of the springs and on the slopes above, you'll find berries galore.
If possible, allow a full day for the 8.6-mile side trip from Kennedy Hot Springs to Kennedy Ridge, where you'll see the Kennedy and Scimitar glaciers. But if all you have time for is the first 2.0 miles, even that's worthwhile. The ancient forest decorated with sphagnum moss is enchanting. Half a mile before joining the PCT, the trail surprises you by suddenly dancing along a knife-edge ridge.
Fire Creek Pass is another excellent side trip from Kennedy Hot Springs. Fit, determined hikers can make the 19.0-mile round trip in a day if you're here when the days are long, and you start close to sunrise. But its worth allowing two extra days. Less ambitious hikers can camp at Glacier Creek, 4.3 miles up, then dayhike a 10.4-mile round trip to the pass. Or hike all the way the pass on day one, camp on the other side at Mica Lake, then hike back over and down on day two. You might also, consider arranging a shuttle, so you can hike over Fire Creek trail, down past Mica Lake, and exit via the Milk Creek trail. But don't that if it means missing Lake Byrne and Lost Creek Ridge.
Lake Byrne, atop the eastern end of Lost Creek Ridge, is as pretty as any place in the North Cascades. Ideally, you should backpack the whole ridge, but only if you're strong and experienced. The route is sketchy in spots, rough in others, and always works you hard. It straps you in and thrashes you around like a bucking bronco. But the challenge can be enjoyable, the continuous views exhilarating, the relative isolation rejuvenating.
Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication


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There is no bad time of year to be in California's wine country, but perhaps the best time of year to plan your visit to this bountiful region is for the harvest. The harvest in the Napa Valley begins as early as August and can continue through early November, but the prime time is October.
The harvest is truly a magical time to be in wine country. There is a special energy in the air that creates a bit more hustle, puts a spring in everyone's step while the smell of fresh wine lingers in the air. It is the first taste of the season's grapes, it is the hope that this year, just might, produce the most perfect bottle of wine and it is the culmination of an entire season of hard work. It truly is a time for celebration! It is the perfect time to really immerse yourself in the wine-making process. During the harvest bushels of grapes are handpicked, sorted and then head off to be pressed before starting the fermenting process. From grape to glass the process is really fascinating!
With the days a bit shorter and the evenings a little cooler October is the perfect time for adventure vacation packages or cycling tours in the Napa Valley.  There is something for everyone in California's wine country; whether you are a foodie, a wine connoisseur, a cycling enthusiast or you are just in need of some rest and relaxation this is the perfect vacation spot!
Your Friendly Travel Consultant,
Melissa Ladvala


text:
Gucci Mane's Rep Explains Ice Cream Cone Tattoo
Rapper Gucci Mane, 30, revealed his latest tattoo today (January 13)—an ice cream cone located on his right cheek—causing many fans to question the reasoning behind the artwork.
Kali Bowyer, Gucci's spokesperson, spoke to Rolling Stone about the meaning of the image. "It's a reminder to fans of how he chooses to live his life," she said. "Cool as ice. As in 'I'm so icy, I'll make ya say Brr.'" Bowyer also said the design was inspired by a medallion that Gucci has worn for years.
This is the first image of Gucci to surface since he was released from a mental institution. The "Wasted" spitter was ordered to the facility for a probation violation. In regards to the charges, he entered a "Special Plea of Mental Incompetency" to a judge and insisting he was unfit to "intelligently participate in the probation revocation hearing."
His next court date is January 24.
Congratulations To The Renegades, Producing DJ Khaled First Single
Lil Wayne is getting back to one of the things he does best: tricking out collabos with his trademark lyricism.
On Thursday (January 13), DJ Khaled's latest star-studded posse cut and first Cash Money offering, "Welcome to My Hood" hit the Net, featuring bars from Weezy, fellow Florida rappers Rick Ross and Plies and rumored Young Money signee T-Pain.
The track, crafted by the Renegades (Fear Factor Music Group/We The Best Music), Khaled and the Nasty Beatmakers, features the victorious, speaker-shattering, hometown-pumping energy typical of the DJ's all-star collabos, with Pain belting lines like, "Everybody know everybody/ And if I got it, everybody got it," over the steely, bass-heavy beat.
Ross leads things off, balancing glossy images of Audemars Piguet-laced wrists and mortgage-payment-sized bar tabs with grimy street operations, wrapping up with, "The Ferrari just a front/ Got the Lambo in the back/ Told you we the best forever/ DJ Khaled handle that."
Plies follows with a souped-up, eardrum-busting flow, detailing the exploits of his city's hardened thugs. "I know some n---as from my 'hood that would've rocked Noriega/ I'm taking Noriega, n---a, the real Noriega," the Fort Myers rapper spits about hometown hooligans capable of ripping apart the infamous Panamanian politician and drug kingpin — not the Queens rapper Noreaga.
Wayne closes the track with lyrics that reference his return to the game — and Khaled-helmed collabos — after his 2010 prison stay. "Back from hell, cell 23/ Tell the warden kiss my ass, pockets are Mo'Nique," Weezy rhymes, shrugging off the drama of the jail bid. He also briefly touches on the 2007 weapons arrest that landed him in the pen, spitting, "Sh-- happens, and since I'm the sh--, I'm who it happened to." The I Am Not a Human Being rapper finishes with lines about his single-minded focus on re-conquering the game, rhyming, "All that bullsh-- is for the birds/ Throw some bread out/ Got it sewed up/ Check the thread count."
Khaled hinted to MTV News last year that the first single for the forthcoming We The Best Forever would get the Wayne treatment.
"When I work with Wayne, I always get the most classic verses, like 'We Taking Over,' " Khaled said. "And this verse with my new one, it's ... I'm not even gonna lie: It's amazing.
"It's one of them anthems that I do," he added. "The streets are gonna embrace it on another level. When you hear it you're gonna be like, 'This is what I'm talking about.' It's that anthem, I got them."
What do you think of DJ Khaled's "Welcome to My Hood" record? Let us know in the comments!
New Book on Southern Hip-Hop Due in May
The South got somethin' to say, and a new book is hoping to be an added voice.
Dirty South: Outkast, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and the Southern Rappers Who Reinvented Hip-Hop tells the tales of some of Southern rap's biggest acts while simultaneously trying to unpack the stereotype that the music is simple or stupid. Author Ben Westhoff sat down with Luke Campbell, Big Boi, 8Ball & MJG and Scarface to try to create a comprehensive history of the area's contributions to hip-hop. He dissects the histories and influences of artists and producers from Atlanta, Miami, Houston, New Orleans and St. Louis while also tracking the career trajectories of Nelly, Timbaland, the Neptunes, Geto Boys, UGK, T-Pain, the Hot Boys, T.I., and more.
Dirty South tells of some of the most important Southern movements and moments, from the creation of 2 Live Crew, to the rise of labels like Rap-a-Lot, No Limit, and Cash Money to Lil Jon's crunk takeover and plenty more.
The book will be available in May of this year through Chicago Review Press.
Nicki Minaj Paints Her Donk For V Magazine Spread
Nicki Minaj goes ham with the body paint in the newest issue of V magazine see for your self inside.
"I just always want to do 'me,' but 'me' changes every day," Nicki, 26, shared. "I would crumple up and die if I had to wake up and be the same person every day. I don't silence those voice anymore. I just let them speak."
"I'm an entertainer – I like to make people laugh," Nicki added. "Some will hate it and some will love it, but all will remember it. And that's what I want: to be remembered. Even if I'm saying something hard-core or controversial, there's always a touch of humor, and if you don't like it, it means I'm stirring things up inside of you."


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City alerts residents to planned controlled burn at Table Bay Nature Reserve
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City alerts residents to planned controlled burn at Table Bay Nature Reserve
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The City of Cape Town is in the process of obtaining a permit to conduct an open burn of vegetation at the Zoarvlei Wetland Section of Table Bay Nature Reserve. This burn will take place when weather conditions are favourable between January and March 2013 to remove accumulated dry reeds and bulrushes.
The City's Environmental Resource Management Department is presently working in the wetlands to apply herbicide and cut and remove bulrushes that cause seed dispersal in the area.
The area that will be burnt lies between the Paarden Eiland industrial area to the west, and Brooklyn to the east. The burn will be conducted in terms of a permit for controlled burning as issued by Subcouncil 15 of the City of Cape Town. The Environmental Resource Management Department's Biodiversity Management Branch will ensure that the procedure is conducted safely and efficiently.
The burn will take place on a suitable week day, Monday to Thursday, and will be completed within the course of one day. Neighbouring residents and land owners will be notified of the exact date of the burn by a letter-drop in their mailboxes and email notifications where available. Measures will be put in place to direct traffic away from any smoke and ash.
When the burn takes place, surrounding residents are advised to please keep their windows shut while burning takes place. Flammable items such as gas canisters should be removed from outside areas and laundry should be taken off washing lines to prevent odour contamination from the smoke. Sprinklers may be used to dampen gardens as a further precautionary measure.
The burn will assist managers in removing more of the bulrushes that have been invading the wetland over decades. The integrated management of bulrushes includes burning, cutting, removal and herbicide application. The removal of dry flammable material by means of a controlled burn will reduce the likelihood of future uncontrolled wildfires.
Some of the nature reserves managed by the City of Cape Town require the proliferation of a natural fire regime, without which our unique and irreplaceable indigenous vegetation would not be able to regenerate. The Table Bay Nature Reserve comprises various vegetation types, including Cape Flats sand fynbos, Cape Flats dune strandveld and Cape Lowlands freshwater wetlands which must burn occasionally to stimulate new growth and to remove flammable dead plant materials.
All owners and occupiers of adjacent properties have a right to lodge written objections to the proposed open burning with the City by 22 January 2013. Kindly direct all queries or objections to the City's Air Pollution Control section on Tel: 021 590 1419; via fax to 021 590 1621; or via email to
For further enquiries, please contact Koos Retief, Area Manager: Milnerton Area, Biodiversity Management Branch, Environmental Resource Management Department on 082 788 6987.
For more information on the City's nature reserves, visit
Published by the City of Cape Town.
© City of Cape Town, 2016
Contact us: 0860 103 089


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Classic Cartoon Favorites: The Ultimate List of Retro Characters for FacebookBrooke McLay
There's a wave of support reaching throughout the Facebook community. It comes in the form of profile pictures, with Facebook users everywhere changing their standard profile pics to represent their favorite retro cartoon characters. This is in response to the December 1 plea to: "Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday (December 6) there should be no human faces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is for violence against children."
If you're looking for the perfect cartoon character to represent your support of this noble cause, look no further. We've compiled a list of some of our favorite cartoons which represent the food lover in all of us. Whether you're a baker, candy lover, vegan or uber-meat lover, here are some of the best retro cartoons to represent your passion while supporting the Facebook fight for children's safety.
Love candy, cupcakes & all things sweet?
Here are the yummiest little cartoons you'll ever find:
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Rainbow Brite
- Smurfs
- Care Bears
Are You Vegetarian/Vegan?
Try one of these healthy cartoon classics to represent your passion for healthy eating:
- Popeye
- Olive Oil
- Grape Ape
Meat Lovers Unite!
Here are a few of our carnivore-loving favorites:
- Porky Pig
- Elmer Fudd
- Captain Caveman
- Spongebob
Got a penchant for Asian food?
Here are some of the best anime & manga cartoon characters to represent your palate:
- Pokemon
- Dragonball Z
Have another cartoon foodie favorite? We'd love to hear it! Leave your ideas in the comments below. Together we can compile an extensive list of the best retro cartoon characters!


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text: Dr Gerard Riley BA, MPhil, PhD In 'People' Academic StaffPostdoctoral researchersDoctoral researchers Back to 'Psychology' School of PsychologySenior Academic Tutor Contact details Telephone+44 (0)121 41 firstname.lastname@example.com AddressUniversity of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK I am a Clinical Psychologist. I work in neuropsychological rehabilitation, both in clinical practice and in research. Research interests include family relationships in acquired brain injury/dysfunction, errorless learning, and the coping responses of those with a brain injury. Qualifications B.A. (Oxford); B.A. (Liverpool); M.Phil. (London); PhD. Teaching Dr Riley teaches on the Clinical Psychology doctorate programme. Research Neuropsychological rehabilitation in acquired brain injury - errorless learning, anxiety-related avoidance of activities, disclosure Family responses to disability – relationship continuity in dementia and acquired brain injury, family engagement in rehabilitation after acquired brain injury Risk and sexual health - cognitive, social and cultural factors that influence safe/unsafe sexual behaviour in the context of HIV and other STDs Publications Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=8lRpTvsAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&is_public_preview=1 Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gerard_Riley/?ev=hdr_xprf Riley, G.A. & Venn, P. (2015). A comparison of automatic and intentional instructions when using the method of vanishing cues in acquired brain injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 25, 53-81. Ellis-Gray, S.L., Riley, G.A., & Oyebode, J.R. (2014). Development and psychometric evaluation of an observational coding system measuring person-centered care in spouses of people with dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 26, 1885-1895. Riley, G.A., Fisher, G., Hagger, B.F., Elliott, A., Le Serve, H., & Oyebode, J.R. (2013). The Birmingham Relationship Continuity Measure: The development and evaluation of a measure of the perceived continuity of spousal relationships in dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 25, 263-274. Baah-Odoom, D., & Riley, G.A. (2013). The role HIV-related blame and stigmatisation play on risk perception, self-efficacy and sexual behaviour among students in Ghana. IFE Psychologia: An International Journal, 21, 284-303. Baah-Odoom, D., & Riley, G.A. (2012). Expanding the theory of planned behaviour: The influence of personal norms on condom use amongst young people in Ghana. Journal of Social Science and Public Policy, 4, 80-91. Riley, G.A., & Baah-Odoom, D. (2012). Belief in a just world, generalized self-efficacy and stigma may contribute to unsafe sexual intentions via a reduced perception of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS amongst young people in Ghana. AIDS Care, 24, 642-648. Riley, G.A., Dennis, R.K., & Powell, T.E. (2010). Evaluation of coping resources and self-esteem as moderators of the relationship between threat appraisals and avoidance of activities after traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 20, 869-882. Riley, G.A., & Baah-Odoom, D. (2010). Do stigma, blame and stereotyping contribute to unsafe sexual behaviour? A test of claims about the spread of HIV/AIDS arising from social representation theory and the AIDS risk reduction model. Social Science and Medicine, 71, 600-607. Walters, A.H., Oyebode, J.R., & Riley, G.A. (2010). The dynamics of continuity and discontinuity for women caring for a spouse with dementia. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 9, 169-189. Shah, P., Hull, T., & Riley, G.A. (2009). Associations between the Illness Perception Questionnaire for Schizophrenia and engagement in treatment in a secure setting. Clinical Psychologist, 13, 69-74. Lloyd, J., Riley, G.A., & Powell, T.E. (2009). Errorless learning of novel routes through a virtual town in people with acquired brain injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 19, 98-109. Shaw, D. & Riley, G.A. (2008). The impact on parents of developments in the care of children with bleeding disorders. Haemophilia, 14, 65-67. Riley, G.A., (2007). Stress and depression in family carers following traumatic brain injury: the influence of beliefs about difficult behaviours. Clinical Rehabilitation, 21, 82-88. Riley, G.A., (2005). Threat appraisals and the avoidance of activities after TBI. (conference proceedings). Brain Impairment, 6, 134-135. Riley, G.A., Brennan, A.J., & Powell, T., (2004). Threat appraisal and avoidance after traumatic brain injury: Why and how often are activities avoided? Brain Injury, 18, 871-888. Riley, G.A., Sotiriou, D., & Jaspal, S., (2004). Which is more effective in promoting implicit and explicit memory: The method of vanishing cues or errorless learning without fading? Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 14, 257-283. Riley, G.A., & Simmonds, L.V., (2003). How robust is performance on the NART following traumatic brain injury? British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 42, 319-328. Riley, G.A., Brown, K., & Searle, C., (2003). Are information packs useful in community rehabilitation? British Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 10, 110-114. Riley, G.A., & Heaton, S., (2000). Guidelines for the selection of a method of fading cues. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 10, 133-149. Riley, G.A., & Holding, D., (2000). Tackling a fear of falling using graded exposure. Physiotherapy, 86, 143-145. Riley, G.A., (1998). Some guidelines for the use of stimulus modifications in teaching response topography to people with developmental disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 10, 153-165. Riley, G.A., (1996). The effectiveness of stimulus modification procedures in teaching response topography to individuals with severe developmental disability. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 24, 371-375. Riley, G.A., (1995). Guidelines for devising a hierarchy when fading response prompts. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 30, 231-242. Riley, G.A., (1991). Prompting strategies for those with a severe mental handicap: A comparison of procedures using only response prompts with a procedure combining stimulus and response prompts. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 18, 193-206.


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We all have them. Some quilters cut them up into various sized squares or strips, some quilters hide them in a basket, some quilters make Yo-Yos from them, some quilters use them in miniatures, some quilters make Crazy Quilt Blocks from them, some quilters donate them to schools or beginner quilters. I have done all of the above.
One thing for sure is that few quilters throw them away. The price of fabric is too high.
Today, in my effort to tame the scrap monster that lives in my sewing room I am making Fabric Postcards. I don't know if you have seen these adorable, and functional little things, but after you read this post, I can almost guarantee that you will want to make one or four for yourself.
These a perfect for cheering up an old friend, or just to let a lonely college student know that you are thinking of them.
Okay, here we go.
Our Mission: To make a Fabric Postcard
Materials Needed:
- Scraps of fabric, all sizes and colors. They don't have to be cottons.
- flannel or batting scraps 7″ x 5″ is a good size
- Cardstock or other heavy weight paper. You also need a sewing machine that can straight stitch and zig-zag and thread. A rotary cutter, ruler, mat and an iron are also helpful, but you could probably get by without them.
1. I start with either a piece of batting or a piece of flannel. It has to be larger than 4″ x 6″ . (I actually like 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ ) This is your foundation for the postcard fabrics.
2. Sew you fabrics onto this foundation in any way you like.
* They can be string pieced.
* They can be crazy patch pieced around a center fabric.
This is one way to make your postcard. I started with a center piece and added pieces randomly in a crazy quilt style around the center.
You just keep adding pieces around and around until you have covered the entire piece of flannel. If you have lots of small pieces you can "pre-piece" them by sewing them together before you sew them to your foundation. See bottom right in the picture below.
When you flip it over it will look something like this.
Pretty messy, but that is okay because we are going to hide it…….
3. You want to make sure it is bigger than your postcard. I cut a 4″ X 6″ rectangle from a piece of card stock. You can get several from one sheet.
4. Make sure there is room all around your card.
****Important Tip: Don't cut your fabric down to size and try to sew it to a card. It will stretch and not fit well. Leave you fabric bigger and plan to cut it after you sew it to your card. ****** Learn from other people's mistakes, It saves you so much time.
5. Change the settings and sewing foot on your sewing machine.
Of course your machine is going to be different,
but I offer what I do as a guideline and it may help you a little.
I change the foot to a zig-zag foot.
I use a zig- zag stitch.
I set the stitch width at 3.5
I set the stitch length at .75
I set the needle to end in a down position. This is wonderful for turning corners.
5. Zig Zag stitch all the way around your card. It doesn't need to be perfect. It goes very quickly.
Here you can see what it looks like after you have stitched all around the postcard.
You can see that I don't use too tight of a zig zag stitch. This is a personal choice.
(Yes this is another postcard. I make lots of these!)
6. Carefully trim away the excess fabric. Take your time and go slow. You don't want to cut into the stitching.
7. Turn the card over. Write the address on the right hand side and your note on the left. Stick a postcard stamp on the upper right hand corner and drop it in the mailbox. It will make someone's day! It works, I use them all the time!
Have Fun!
I would love to know what you think. Have you ever made a fabric postcard? Do you think you will make one now? Any suggestions? 🙂


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Unit cell
The smallest arrangement of atoms in a crystal lattice that has the same symmetry as the whole crystal
Particles cannot expand to fill its container, but they can flow to adjust to the shape of its container
Attractive forces limit particles' range of motion so they remain closely packed in a fixed volume
Considered incompressible; already tightly packed, particles don't have room to compress further
Random motion of (___) particles causes (___) to mix until evenly distributed; space where (___) flows is often occupied by another (___)
Liquid phase
In water: when molecules on the surface of the ice (solid) gain enough energy to break the hydrogen bonds apart, (this phase) is entered
Melting point
Temperature at which forces holding the crystal lattice (of a crystalline solid) are broken and becomes liquid
Substance which is normally liquid at room temperature is considered a (___) when it's in its gas phase
Boiling point
Temperature at which vapor pressure of a liquid equals the external or atmospheric pressure
In water: formation of hydrogen bond releases thermal energy and indicates change from vapor to the liquid phase. (Which phase change?)
Process by which a substance changes from a gas or vapor to a solid without first becoming a liquid; energy is released
Molecules with a higher-than-average kinetic energy escape from the surface of a liquid (what phase change?)
Heat of fusion
Amount of energy it takes to turn solid into a liquid (energy involved for phase change)
Heat of vaporization
Amount of energy it takes to turn gas to liquid, or liquid to gas (energy involved for phase change)
Strong attractive forces acting between particles
(Why do) solids have a definite volume and a definite shape
No significant forces of attraction between gas particles
(Why do) gases have an indefinite volume and an indefinite shape


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Mario Winans
Mario Winans brings a lot of musical credibility to this, his second CD. As a producer and songwriter, he has worked with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. And he comes from the first family of gospel, the Winanses. Unlike mom Vickie, uncle BeBe and aunt CeCe, however, Winans, 29, steers clear of Sunday-morning material on this R&B release. The hit first single, "I Don't Wanna Know," is about a cheating girlfriend whose creeping Winans would rather ignore. "I don't wanna know/ If you're playing me, keep it on the low," he sings against a hypnotic hip-hop backdrop built around a sample from Enya's "Boadicea." Add in an unusually understated rap from P. Diddy, who signed Winans to his Bad Boy Records, and you have one of the best songs on the radio right now. Unfortunately, there is nothing else here that measures up to "I Don't Wanna Know." While Winans continues to show refreshing vulnerability on tracks like "Disbelief," a few formulaic hip-hop numbers (featuring the obligatory guest rappers) and some sound-alike slow jams hurt this disc. Still, his smooth vocals, lush production and sensitive lyrics on cuts such as the ballad "3 Days Ago" and the sensual midtempo "I Got You Babe" (not a remake of the Sonny & Cher hit) make for good mood music.


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Free E-ZPass tags for 7,600 current and retired employees of the Port Authority can't be justified. The price tag, roughly $1 million, might not seem like much considering that the agency took in $825 million in tolls last year.
But the revelation is upsetting to many, coming just months after the agency decided to raise tolls 60 percent at peak hours. In the case of drivers with E-ZPass, the tolls jumped from $5 to $8 to cross the four bridges and two tunnels during rush hour.
Steep as the tolls are, regular Janes and Joes manage to come up with the money, just like those traveling in limousines. Why can't employees of the Port Authority, who are well compensated, pay their own way, too?
It must be noted that the tags can be used only for Port Authority tolls. Maybe an argument can be made that it's good to have employees traveling these tunnels and bridges because they become the eyes and ears of the agency. In an emergency, they could be pressed into service.
Aside from the security concerns, Port Authority officials say access to E-ZPass is simply a benefit, one that was negotiated with the unions for some employees. Compared with health care and pension benefits, this one is not especially pricey.
But more than the money, it's the appearance of yet another perk for people who get their paychecks from a government agency. The Port Authority should understand that in handing out such goodies -- or inking them in contract agreements -- it risks irritating the people who pay the freight.
We are, of course, mindful of the important work that Port Authority employees do to keep the bridges and tunnels safe. For that, they should be well compensated. But those who run these agencies must also remember that they have been given a public trust to manage their finances sensibly. Free E-ZPass for agency employees and retirees seems to be contrary to that goal.


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This is a discussion on OSCON 2009: Building Belonging - Solaris Rss ; Ubuntu is widely known for its community-building efforts, so I was very interested to hear what Jono Bacon , the Ubuntu community manager, had to say at OSCON . Jono suggested that people want to be in a community (any ...
Ubuntu is widely known for its community-building efforts, so I was very interested to hear what Jono Bacon, the Ubuntu community manager, had to say at OSCON.
Jono suggested that people want to be in a community (any community) because it gives them a sense of belonging. This makes sense to me--we are, after all, social creatures. And Ubuntu seems to do a good job at this. Jono showed a photo from the recent Ubuntu Developer Summit in Prague, in which all the volunteers were highlighted. I didn't have time to count, but it appeared to me that over half the people there were volunteers, not Canonical employees.
So how does a community foster this sense of belonging? Jono had several suggestions. One was to treat all contributions as gifts. That doesn't mean accepting every contribution. But if the contribution can't be accepted for some reason, be constructive and gentle in your feedback.
Jono suggested some ways that structure can help foster belonging. For example, Ubuntu structures everything in teams, even user groups. This makes everything simple and uniform: to get involved, find a team that you want to join. And because the teams are smaller than the community as a whole, it's easier to get started and make connections.
Structure can also be used to encourage socializing. By this Jono didn't mean the structured team-building exercises that one sees in the corporate world. Rather, the idea is to budget time just for chatting, sharing stories, etc. Besides encouraging social bonding, this promotes information exchange that might not happen otherwise.
Jono also noted the importance of the virtual environment. First, he drew an analogy with physical neighborhoods. People are more inclined to hang around someplace that is kept-up, safe, and inviting. Second, the virtual environment can help build belonging by making contributions (and contributors) visible.
Community members can reinforce a sense of belonging by framing questions or issues in a way that leads to progress. Jono's example was to change the thought "this sucks" to "I won't live life this way".