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Friends of Liberty State Park are greatly concerned about a plan for a marina at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City.
"It is too close and will negatively impact safety and maneuverability of the small boats using Liberty State Park's public boat launch, and we are asking for a public hearing, which we feel is essential, and for environmental and water depth studies," said Sam Pesin, president of the Friends of Liberty State Park.
Pesin accused the owners of Liberty National Golf Course of trying to sneak the project through the approval process, and said he only learned the issue was before the Army Corps of Engineers late last month. The public comment period closes Monday.
But W. Nevins McCann, an attorney with Connell Foley, which represents WA Residential Urban Renewal Company LLC and its owner Boston-based Fireman Capital Partners, said the marina was approved by Jersey City in 2002, the same time the golf course and roughly 1,000 condominiums at the site were approved. Only the golf course portion of the plan was completed because of the economy.
But now the owners are looking to scale back the marina from the original 50-slip plan to 22. The developer also has approval to build 41 luxury residential units, but plans to construct only 30 for now. The issue goes before the Jersey City Planning Board Aug. 17.
McCann said he was "absolutely shocked" by Pesin's suggestion that the project was being secretly pushed through. He said it's just an amended version of the 2002 plan.
"It's not the type of project you just rush through," he said. "It was a very friendly process. We've always been very open about it."
McCann said the proposed marina is 65 feet from the public boat launch, even though only 50 feet are required.
The company recently obtained a waterfront development permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection and is going through the approval process with the Army Corps of Engineers as required by the federal Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.
McCann notes that it is the state that owns Liberty State Park and the boat launch and said the state wouldn't have approved the permit if the marina blocked a public boat launch.
But Pesin said he is concerned about disturbances to wildlife, possible contaminates under the river bed and a need for dredging.
Read the entire story of Jersey City's planned marina in today's Jersey Journal.


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FISCAL CLIFF: What's a fiscal cliff and why's it called a fiscal cliff?
- From: news.com.au
- December 31, 2012
- The 'fiscal cliff' explained, mostly by Mr Burns
- We break it down, tax cut by tax cut
- On Twitter: Chris Paine
FISCAL Cliff sounds like a banjo player who would have opened for Elton John in 1981. But the global economy's term du jour is serious business.
Everything you've watched, read, and listened to in the last two months has mentioned the term "fiscal cliff" at least seven times.
It's an American problem, which means it's essentially a global problem, so we've done some background research to explain what the hell a "fiscal cliff" even is.
Let's get started.
1. We'll ease into this softly. It's called a cliff, sure, but we don't have to fall off it just yet. Here, we'll let Charles Montgomery Burns explain:
2. Why is it called a "fiscal cliff"? Fiscal means "of or pertaining to the public treasury or revenues" and cliff means "a high steep face of a rock".
3. At the simplest level, there are a lot of spending cuts and tax hikes that will come into effect at midnight December 31. Many people are worried that if they all take place at once the US economy will slide into recession. So if it's going to be such a disaster, why are all the changes coming into effect at once?
4. It boils down to this: the US is in a lot of debt. It makes about $US2.3 trillion a year but spends about $US3.6 trillion. So, somehow, it has to slash $1.3 trillion. But if all the scheduled changes happen together, the Congressional Budget Office is predicting GDP will drop by 0.5 per cent next year, plunging the US into recession and meaning the unemployment rate will rise to 9.1 per cent. That means a loss of about two million jobs. Like we said - this can't be good.
5. There are two major changes planned:
a) A big cut in government spending. Military spending will take the biggest hit with about half of the cuts coming from defence, federal programs will also lose $US65 billion, $US26 billion will be slashed from emergency unemployment payments and Medicare payments to doctors will be docked by $US11 billion;
b) A whole lot of tax cuts will end. The biggest ones are the 2001 Bush tax cuts which were put in place to stimulate the economy. The end of them means basically everyone in the US will pay more tax. The top tax rate will rise from 35 per cent to 39.6 per cent and Social Security (welfare) taxes will also go from 4.2 per cent to 6.2 per cent. Another tax cut set to end is Obama's "payroll tax holiday", which added about $1000 a year to the average employee's income.
6. It's time to take a quick breather from all this tax talk. Let's watch Homer Simpson chase two squirrels around a tree:
7. We're nearly there. Focus. OK, so. Back to the taxes: the Alternative Minimum Tax, a flat tax on very high earners, will also run out. At the moment it applies to just four million people, but come next year it will apply to 32 million people, meaning a lot of middle-class earners will suddenly find themselves paying this tax.
Another stimulus, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is also set to end. This means tax breaks such as a higher education credits, homebuyer credits and child tax credits will go back to their pre-2009 levels.For example the child tax credit will be reduced from $1000 to $500.
8. What are the Democrats and Republicans planning to do about all this? Well, there is a lot of arguing. Republicans want to slash spending but avoid raising taxes. Democrats are looking for more of a compromise between the two.
9. The fiscal cliff is the first great challenge in the second term of newly re-elected President Barack Obama. Click here to read more about how he put Mitt Romney in a binder (binder? I just met her!).
10. What happens now? There are three main options that can be taken, according to about.com.
a) They can let all the planned changes come into effect.
Downside: The US will go into recession and unemployment will spike.
Upside: The US deficit would be cut in half.
b) They can cancel some or all of the tax hikes and spending cuts.
Downside: The US's debt will keep growing.
Upside: The US will avoid facing an economic crisis that is currently happening in Europe.
c) They can agree on a middle ground.
Downside: Given all the fighting (and the fact that both parties have had years to address the problem) it is seeming unlikely.
Upside: It would address all the issues (albeit to a much more limited extent).
11. Congratulations. You made it. The latest news is that talks between The White House and Congress over a compromise are frozen. Yikes. That's no good. But let's look at the positive: you can now accurately explain a "fiscal cliff" to your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. And tell them why it's called a fiscal cliff.
Fiscal cliff.
Follow Sarah Michael and Chris Paine on Twitter.
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Comments on this story
jimmy Posted at 5:56 PM December 06, 2012
Meh, World will end before then anyway. Does'nt anyone listen to triple j? Gillard said so.
disco stu of springfield Posted at 5:50 PM December 06, 2012
the squirrel reference i get, it was one of the greatest moments from season 5, but have never heard of the 'fiscal cliff' thing, must be from one of the new seasons which no one watches anymore.
Mr Z of Melbourne Posted at 5:24 PM December 06, 2012
A stupid and idiotic breakdown. 1. The Bush tax cuts ending will not result in more taxes for all, just those earning over $200 000 p/y. They were not designed to stimulate growth, they were just ideological gifts to Republican backers. No serious economist would claim that tax reductions on high earners would result in more investment, its an absurd argument. 2. The overwhelming majority of US debt is resultant of 3 things. A) Deficit spending on weapons and wars, and; B) Bailouts of US banks in the GFC, and; C) Low taxes. 3. The US doesn't have a budget problem, it has a revenue problem. Last year Oil companies received $80 billion from the government, that's billion with a 'b', all the while having absurdly low taxes on everything. If Americans want things like Medicare, you have to pay for it like we do here in higher taxes. Instead they cut income tax for the wealthy then bailout failing businesses while spending $700 billion a year on arms and wonder why they are broke. They're just idiots...

subset: commoncrawl


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Mother nature may have inconvenienced thousands of people in the CSRA this past week as the potent ice storm left its indelible imprint.
However, that didnt deter the intrepid spirit of Paradise Farms Lellie Ward and her volunteers as this weekends horse trials will still go on.
Although Friday was a casualty of the weather, the horse trials will start this morning at 8 a.m. Safety and the well-being of the horse and rider are paramount in the organizers eyes.
The decision to cancel Friday, I think ended up to be the right move for the ground and the safety of the people and the horses, said Ward. I never doubted that the ground was going to be good, but the condition of the roads and everyone arriving at the horse trials was a concern. There are complications for the riders in trying to get their schedule and their times. Aiken is blessed with great ground and people. The footing is perfect.
Ward has tried to make her horse trials seamless, and the logistical planning for the event takes place far in advance. The horseman makes sure that everything is in place a week before the competition, should something happen, like this weeks storm.
The week before the event is what I refer to as Fudge Time, said Ward. It came into play before. There was the year that I broke my neck two weeks before the event, so weve had practice with this.
This years event is being sponsored by Carolina Outdoors, said Ward.
I have great sponsor support for the event this year, said Ward. Carolina Outdoors will be my major sponsor for the next two years. Were very excited about that. We have a ton of sponsors. Its a really exciting program, great riders from all over the place.
The storm didnt seem to affect Ward, as the horseman is used to living in her horse trailer, one with its own generator, but dont come between Paradise Farms owner and a Cup of Joe in the morning.
Nothing gets done without the coffee, said Ward. Ive been able to watch dvds at night, burn one lamp so that my dogs and new little lamb can sit in bed and stay warm together. So, it hasnt been too bad. Weve been working till dark, so that keeps you out of the cold house, and then you can just go to bed.
A number of people and volunteers have provided help on various fronts, said Ward.
Bambi Glaccum showed up, and shes a big organizer in Pennsylvania, said Ward. She has her self-contained motor home, and its turning into operation central as the event office.


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economics: 50/75 of 886
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Dario Sarmadi / EurActiv.de
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After 60 years of nuclear power, the industry survives only on stupendous subsidies
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4th January 2016Almost 60 years since the world's first commercial nuclear power station began to deliver power to the UK's grid, the industry remains as far from being able to cover its costs as ever, writes Pete Dolack. But while unfunded liabilities increase year by year, governments are still willing to commit their taxpayers' billions to new nuclear plants with no hope of ever being viable. more...
Good news for COP21: 2015 emissions fall
Tim Radford
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Steffen Böhm, University of Essex
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Vicki Hird
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Oliver Tickell
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Mari Martiskainen, University of Sussex
16th October 2015Fuel poverty is a complex problem with many causes, writes Mari Martiskainen, but it is also a deadly one for some 25,000 thousand people every year. And there is one surprisingly simple solution: a huge upgrade in the energy efficiency of our housing stock. more...
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Conor Lynch
2nd February 2016The wave of mechanization and automation that began with the Industrial revolution is not slowing down, writes Conor Lynch. Indeed it is gaining power and is driving another 'great transformation' that could produce untold opulence for the very few, and hellhole for rest of us, or an Earthly paradise for all. But which will it be? Ultimately the future is ours - to choose, and to fight for. more...
Hydrogen car price breakthrough: it's the platinum
The Ecologist
14th October 2015Hydrogen cars - and the fuel cells that drive them - are about to get a whole lot cheaper thanks to a redesign of the platinum catalyst that makes them work, writes Oliver Tickell. By inserting atom-sized holes into the precious metal's surface, its activity can be trebled. more...
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Dr Stuart Parkinson
15th October 2015The UK government is punishing renewable energy for its success in generating 25% of the country's electricity, writes Stuart Parkinson. But there's no austerity when it comes to the bloated military-nuclear industrial sector, no matter how egregious its failures or extreme its cost overruns. Our future prosperity is being sacrificed - and its costing taxpayers billions. more...
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Megan Perry / Sustainable Food Trust
30th October 2015The UK dairy industry is in crisis, writes Megan Perry, with falling prices forcing many farmers out of business. Smaller, more sustainable farms have been the worst casualties, while the large, intensive producers survive. We must ditch market-driven 'survival of the fittest' attitudes - and recognise both the real costs of intensification, and the true value of traditional farming. more...
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Neil Nightingale
8th October 2015However much you think nature is worth, it's a lot more, writes Neil Nightingale. According to the BBC's 'Earth Index', published today in the world's financial press, water alone is worth as much as the entire global economy, and a single beaver's landscape and wetland management clocks in at $120,000 a year. more...
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Righty... lots of news...
Bought the XE for £200 pounds....
its sitting in my boot at the mo! lol.
Gareth mate, don't courtneay do a lightened flywheel for the V6??
Just a thought! and I think its the inlet cams/valves/everything that are the big restriction on the V6... could be wrong tho!
Not all Firenzas look like that pic.. Thats a Droop Snoot - very rare! I have an ordinary one (i think it looks better!)
I'll put some pics up in the Migweb piccy folder in a mo.
I only have the pictures of when I bought it. It's all stripped down at the moment ready for welding/strenghening...... and me XE engine! YIPPEEEEEEEEEE!


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The coffee shop in the front of the Full Cup may be closed after dark, but behind the cafe, the taps flow from a brand new bar. And at each Richmond County Beer Club meeting, a speaker from a small brewery speaks to members and serves samples.
"People on Staten Island are craving stuff like this," said Doug Williams, who founded the club in 2010 at Cargo Cafe in St. George. "We pretty much packed the back room at Cargo in our second and third months. It took off right away."
For Williams, the interest in craft beer is not only rooted in the unique tastes that small brewers produce, but also a desire to support small, mostly local businesses.
"It's mom-and-pop," he said. "It's people putting everything on the line to make beer, make good beer. It's not some elusive corporation. It's people like you and I."
Most featured breweries are from Long Island and upstate New York. Two weeks ago, the club invited a representative from Green Flash Brewing Company, 3,000 miles away. While located in San Diego, Green Flash does have a New York connection. Its founders, Mike and Lisa Hinkley, are from Brooklyn.
Among those sampling the hoppy, high-percentage West Coast brews were St. George residents Susan and Gene Klumbp.
"I don't drink craft brews very often, but I like the fact that I can come here and find something I really love," Gene said. "I'll drink PBR [Pabst Blue Ribbon], but I do have an appreciation for finely crafted beer."
Mrs. Klumbp is more of a craft beer fan, not only for the taste but also the stories and the process.
"Budweiser tastes stale," she said. "It doesn't get my taste buds going. The stories of how these breweries came to be are interesting. And they offer good tips for home brewers."
The Klumbps learned about the club from fellow member and St. George resident Laura Gardner, a former Coors Light fan who credits her attendance at all but two of club's meetings with her appreciation for craft beer.
"It took me a while to learn the differences between craft beers and Budweiser," she said. "It's something you have to educate yourself on. The reps come and tell you a lot about the beer-making process. Each brewery has such subtle differences in the water, in the process. After hearing about it, you grow a bigger appreciation for the brand and the brewery.
"It's not just about drinking beer," she added. "It's an experience."
Indeed, Ms. Gardner isn't the only Staten Islander with a growing appreciation for craft beers.
Ryan Barker, the bar manager at Adobe Blues, serves one of the largest craft beer selections in the city. As a result of customer demand, he also hosts special beer tastings. For example, he recently acquired a special case of beer that, like a red wine, continues to age in the bottle. Guests were invited to enjoy a bottle and document their tasting notes. In six months, he will invite them back to the bar to taste the same beer, only aged, and compare tastes.
"People on Staten Island get excited about tasting new things," he said. "This club is awesome for the beer scene. I don't think it's a coincidence that the stuff I've been getting away with coincides with this beer club being around."
Michael Cruz, bartender at the Full Cup, said the craft beer scene is most popular among the 25-to-40 age group. Younger drinkers, he said, are looking for something inexpensive, like $3 PBRs, while older beer drinkers don't know what craft beers are. Still, he's often able to win craft beer converts among the older crowd.
"Nine out of ten times, if they tell me what they like, I can give them a craft beer that they'll like. There's more and more demand for this. People are sick of Budweiser," he said.
All of this is welcome news to Williams, who was born in St. Louis but has lived on Staten Island for five years. He looks at the beer selections and events offered at Adobe Blues and sees more appreciation and innovation than bars in Manhattan can offer.
"It shows that people on this island are hungry for this," he said. "We don't have to go to Brooklyn or to the city."
Recalling a trip last year to harvest hops at the Saranac brewery outside Utica, he comes back to the local, mom-and-pop aspect of craft brewing.
"Yes it's a business, and in the end it's about making money," he said. "But it's about passion as well. It is to me what America is all about, people putting their life blood into a business."
The Richmond County Beer Club meets the last Wednesday of each month (except for this month, when it will meet Oct. 24 so as not to conflict with Halloween) at the Full Cup, 388 Van Duzer St. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/groups/tapsandbarley.


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90 Points | Stephen Tanzer's IWC - September/October 2011
Bright violet. Exotic, high-pitched aromas of black raspberry, cherry-cola and lavender, with a zesty mineral overtone. Taut red fruit flavors give way to deeper blackberry and cherry in the mid-palate; shows silky texture and appealing spiciness. The mineral note comes back on the long, focused finish. I'd bet that this wine will age well on its balance.


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Whenever I need anything printed for my business, I turn to Vistaprint. It's the company I've used for business cards, stationery, envelopes, and promotional postcards. I've even ordered invitations from Vistaprint.
Right now Vistaprint is offering six freebies, which I heard about through one of my affiliate networks. Since I know that Suddenly Frugal readers like free stuff as much as I do, I figured I'd share details of this deal.
Here are the six free items to choose from (you pay shipping only):
- Business cards: Choose from 45 different designs, and get 250 business cards for free.
- Rubber stamps: These are self-inking rubber stamps for return addresses.
- T-shirts: Design your own t-shirt.
- Sticky notes: These are customizable sticky notes with cute designs.
- Photo books: A 20-page photo book, with 80 designs to choose from, in 4X6 size.
- Tote bags: 100% cotton tote bags are great for taking shopping with you.
These items make great holiday gifts, so why not get a head start on your shopping, especially while they are free?
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October 22, 2012
The Mannerly Mr. Dalrymple Poses For His Mug Shot
Meet Zachary Dalrymple.
The 20-year-old Floridian was arrested Friday by Pembroke Pines cops for alcohol possession and failing to register a vehicle. He was booked into the Broward County jail, where he remains locked up in lieu of $2000 bond.
The mannerly Mr. Dalrymple can bee seen in the above booking photo.
October 24, 2016
Police: Victim was hit over the head with a hockey stick


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JACKSON – Entries for the 52nd annual Gene Mollitor Memorial Masters Tournament are coming in at a slightly slower pace than last year.
Tournament director Todd Reichard expected the dip after this year's tournament was moved from the last weekend in January to the first weekend in February to avoid overlapping with the high school Mel Wolf Invitational on Sunday at Airport Lanes.
"Going into this week, I noticed there were some people who said they can't bowl and I figured we might lose some bowlers doing it this way," Reichard said Sunday.
Reichard said entries are in the 40s with a week to go before the tournament gets under way. Last year's tournament drew 60 entrants the first time it was contested over one weekend rather than two and used a double-elimination format instead of round-robin match play.
The 52nd edition of the Masters is Feb. 2-3 at AMF Summit Lanes. Masters entrants will roll six games starting at 1 p.m. Feb. 2, with the top eight, 12 or 16 bowlers – depending on the number of entries – advancing to match play. The first round of double-elimination match play will take place after qualifying Feb. 2. The rest of match play and the finals will get under way at 10 a.m. Feb. 3. Match play will consist of two games, and the bowler with the higher pinfall will advance.
The Masters was originally scheduled for Jan. 26-27, but when organizers moved it to the following weekend when organizers realized high school coaches and parents of bowlers would be forced to choose between entering the Masters and coaching or watching the Mel Wolf Invitational.
"We made a decision, and whether it's right or it's wrong, we'll see how it works," Reichard said. "I don't want to lose bowlers because of high school, but we're trying to do the best we can do."
The entry fee is $60. Entry forms can be picked up at area centers and mailed to Todd Reichard, 3609 Greentree, Jackson, MI. 49203.
Ernie Marr III won his second Masters title a year ago when he beat Scott Meeker in two two-game matches.
Another big score at Airport
Airport Lanes has been surrendering some big scores lately, and Robby Portalatin struck while the iron was hot. In the Starlite Mixed League on Jan. 19, Portalatin rolled games of 279, 300 and 279 for an 858 series.
If approved by the United States Bowling Congress, it would be the third series of 850 or better rolled this season, joining the 868 by Terry Ott in December and the 858 by Gerry Lobdell in October.
Portalatin is no stranger to big sets. He joined bowling immortality in December 2000 when he rolled a sanctioned 900 series.
Demo Days are back
Bowlers looking to try before they buy the latest in balls and gloves by leading manufacturers are encouraged to sign up for Demo Days, the second this bowling season run by Andy's Pro Shop in Airport Lanes. The next Demo Day is Monday, Feb. 18, with squad times set for 10 a.m., noon, 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Among the 15-pound balls scheduled to be available for bowlers to test out are Ebonite's Challenge, Exceed and Persevere; Hammer's First Blood, Wrench and Arson Low Flare; Columbia 300's Enigma, Vow and Mass Eruption; and Track's 811 C/T, 714C and 503T. Robby's and Ebonite will also have a full line of gloves for bowlers to try.
The cost for one and a half hours of lane time is $10, and space on each squad is limited. Call Andy's at 517-768-9750 to reserve your spot.
Mark your calendars
The 31st annual Mixed Seniors Singles Tournament through the Greater Jackson USBC will take place at Homer Lanes with four squads and five divisions based on age. The squad times are noon Feb. 13 and 20; 1 p.m. Feb. 16; and 11 a.m. Feb. 17. Bowlers must be at least 55 years old. The entry fee is $15. For more information, contact Barb Bradish at 517-795-2357.
The next Suburban Sweeper events are both singles and are scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 17 and 11 a.m. March 17. Call Mark Burgess at Suburban Lanes at 517-764-3200.
-- Have an item of interest for the weekly bowling column? Email email@example.com.


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To others, it's a love story of a young man gone to war just five days after his wedding.
For author Nicholas Timmer, a Wyoming native, it's the story of family. Timmer
wrote the biography of his uncle, Lt. Robert Timmer, to add substance to the family myths he had heard growing up.
"No one in the family knew the details," said Timmer. "It wasn't only curiosity, but that he deserved his legacy, as did the young men who died with him."
Timmer will be reading from his book, answering questions and signing copies at the Kent District Library – Wyoming Branch at 3 p.m. on Nov. 9 in a celebration of Veterans Day. Timmer will have photographs and artifacts on hand. The event is being sponsored by the Wyoming Historical Commission.
Timmer traveled extensively to track down information about his uncle. The search began at home but would eventually take Timmer to Canada and England. Bob Timmer, he found, was an honor student and star athlete at Wyoming Park High School, growing up in the 1920s and 1930s.
"Flying was in his bones," Timmer said. "He started hitchhiking to the airport when he was 10 or 12 years old, and pilots would give him rides as far as Chicago. Mom didn't know about it," he chuckled.
During his high school years, Robert Timmer met Eileen Koopman and the two became inseparable. The only thing that could come between them was flying.
"This was before Pearl Harbor," Timmer said, "so he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force for flight training. He got his wings in Canada, was promoted to Pilot Officer, and was shipped out to England."
Robert Timmer transferred to the United States Air Force once the U.S. joined the war, and he began flying B-24 bombers with the Mighty Eighth Air Force, known as the "Traveling Circus." He flew one of the lead planes in the epic low-level strike at the Ploesti oil fields in Romania, for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
"Hundreds of men fell out of the sky in that battle," said Timmer, "but he came through unscathed."
The young pilot's luck did not hold when he flew a plane called "Utah Man" on Nov. 13, 1941, over Germany. He was shot down. Robert Timmer was only 20 years old when he died with six others in the downed plane.
"The book has gotten great feedback," Timmer said. "People recognize this story is not just about one man but all young men who died in war."


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Persson, Staffan and Harr, Jon and D'Amico, Simone and Jörgensen, John (2010) PRISMA - Formation Flying Project Close to Launnch. Small Satellites Systems and Services -The 4S Symposium, 31. Mai - 04. Juni 2010, Madeira, Portugal.
- Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
The PRISMA project is a technical demonstration mission for formation flying and rendezvous in space. The mission can be considered as an in-obit test-bed where different experiments involving Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) algorithms, sensors and actuators can be tested. The project is also a demonstration mission for two novel propulsion technologies. The project consists of two satellites, of which one is manoeuvring relative to the other, using different sensors and algorithms. The project is run by Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) with important contributions from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the French Space Agency (CNES) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The project started in beginning of 2005. The satellites are now basically on the launch pad, scheduled for launch on June 15, 2010 from the Russian site Yasny. The ground segment, consisting of a Mission and Operations Control Centre in Solna, Sweden, has been established and is ready for launch.
|Document Type:
|Conference or Workshop Item (Speech, Paper)
|PRISMA - Formation Flying Project Close to Launnch
|PRISMA satellite mission, formation flying, on-orbit demonstration, guidance navigation and control (GNC)
|Event Title:
|Small Satellites Systems and Services -The 4S Symposium
|Event Location:
|Madeira, Portugal
|Event Type:
|international Conference
|Event Dates:
|31. Mai - 04. Juni 2010
|HGF - Research field:
|Aeronautics, Space and Transport
|HGF - Program:
|HGF - Program Themes:
|Space Technology
|DLR - Research area:
|DLR - Program:
|R SY - Technik für Raumfahrtsysteme
|DLR - Research theme (Project):
|R - Vorhaben On-Orbit Servicing - GNC und VR
|Institutes and Institutions:
|Space Operations and Astronaut Training > Space Flight Technology
Space Operations and Astronaut Training > Missions- Betrieb
|Deposited By:
|Martin Weigel
|Deposited On:
|04 Oct 2012 12:25
|Last Modified:
|04 Oct 2012 12:25
Repository Staff Only: item control page


text: White paper-taffeta dress, $3,990, by Oscar de la Renta. Sterling silver, aqua chalcedony and pavé-diamond bracelet, $2,820; matching ring, $1,680, by Stephen Dweck. 18K gold–and-rose-quartz ring, $2,000; 18K mixed gold, diamond and semiprecious-stone bracelet, price upon request, both by Designs By Cardwell. Embroidered clutch, $295, by Moschino. Satin slingbacks, $185, by J. Crew.


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C. Davies and P. Curtis
The Guardian, Mar. 28th 2011, p. 12-13
The TUC has condemned minority violence as more than 200 people are held in custody over attacks on shops on the day of March for the Alternative on 26 March. The TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said he bitterly regretted the violence that occurred away from the main rally which was attended by circa 500,000 and was hailed a 'fantastic success'. Vince Cable, the business secretary, insisted that the government was listening to citizens exercising their right to lawful protest against the programme of cuts to public spending and welfare, but said the government would not alter its course.
London: TSO, 2011 (House of Commons papers, session 2010/11; HC 836)
From a welfare reform point of view, chancellor George Osborne's second budget provides for:
T. Horton and H. Reed
Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, vol.19, 2011, p. 63-66
The UK government's 2010 spending review marked the beginning of the most severe period of fiscal retrenchment in Britain for more than 30 years. This analysis of the impact of the review modelled the effects of £48bn of cuts to government spending programmes, excluding benefits and tax credits, by household income decile. Cuts to educational services affected poorer households more than richer households in cash terms. Cuts in social care and social housing spending have a big impact on the poor, but little or no impact on the richest households.
S. Riddell and N. Watson (editors)
Social Policy and Society, vol.10, 2011, p. 191-267
In the first ten years of the 21st century the British government introduced radical changes to its equality policy. These changes included the creation of a single equalities body, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC); the expansion of the equality terrain to include age, sexuality and sexual orientation, and faith and belief in addition to gender, race and disability as protected grounds; the decision to coalesce human rights and equality legislation under the direction of the EHRC; the development of an Equalities Framework; the promulgation of a new Equality Act (2009) with the aim of creating a single legal framework to cover all equality legislation together with the development of specific Equality Duties for the public sector around the areas of gender, race and disability with the aim of mainstreaming equality. This themed section presents a series of articles that examine these changes with a view to documenting some of their early impacts.
A. Gentleman
The Guardian, Mar. 25th 2011, p. 1 and 14-19
From the first of April 2011 thousands of publicly funded services will be lost, possibly forever, with devastating consequences, a special six page report finds.
R. Prince
Daily Telegraph, Mar. 31st 2011, p. 1 + 2
Annual tests will be carried out on the entire population at seven stages up to the age of 30 to measure how far 'life chances' are improving. The indicators will be announced in a Social Mobility Strategy to be published in April 2011. Headline data will be published so that the public can hold the government to account on its record in promoting social mobility. In spite of claims that the policy will help the middle classes, most of the indicators are targeted on those with the lowest incomes. They include:


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This rolll-up custom blanket is a great gift that will be used over-and-over for multiple purposes. Great for sports, entertainment, and recreational promotions.
A clear promotional tumbler featuring a colorful silicone grip and matching straw. Perfect for home, office, or travel!
Take a trip down memory lane with these Campster custom blankets from Field & Co. that are inspired by retro camping and old school scouts!
A clear double walled promotional tumbler with a straw and lid features your custom logo.
Jump-start your day with a steaming cup of hot coffee while promoting your brand in these attention grabbing acrylic and stainless steel custom travel mugs imprinted with your logo.
Browse our top product collections to see our favorite promos. From new, unique products, to classic items that never go out of style, these collections are the perfect place to start planning your next promotion!


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Posted on February 5th, 2014
Ahhhh, The SpaCosta Rica is abloom in spas, sprouting up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.
Costa Rica Travel Planner
Posted on February 5th, 2014
Costa Rica In BeliefCosta Rica, almost the size of West Virginia, stretches 288 miles north to south, with 631 miles of Pacific coastline and 132 miles on the Caribbean side.
Posted on February 5th, 2014
Getting There & AroundNature Air and Sansa are the two major domestic carriers, serving more than a dozen destinations throughout the country.


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Worsening conditions from Hurricane Sandy is causing interruptions in local transit services.
LANtaBus services will continue to be suspended into Tuesday. LANta will monitor conditions throughout Tuesday morning and may resume service at some point Tuesday afternoon if weather and road conditions permit, according to a LANta release.
Riders should check lantabus.com, WFMZ Stormcenter or call 610-776-7433 for updates.
LANtaVan service will continue to be suspended throughout Tuesday with the exception of trips to dialysis centers which remain open on Tuesday and for previously scheduled trips for major medical purposes.
* * *
Local transit service between Easton and Phillipsburg provided by Delaware River Coach Lines and New Jersey Transit is being suspended at 3 p.m. Monday.
Continue to check www.transbridgelines.com or call 610-868-9057 for any other Trans-Bridge Lines cancellations.
* * *
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority will close the Garden State Parkway in both directions south of Interchange 129 in Woodbridge Township as of 4 p.m. Monday.
The southern portion of the Parkway, from Cape May to Interchange 63 in Stafford Township, has been closed since early this afternoon. The additional 66 miles are being closed because of deteriorating conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy.
On the New Jersey Turnpike, the speed limit has been reduced to 45 miles per hour in both directions between the Delaware Memorial Bridge and Interchange 12 in Carteret. Motorcycles and car-pulled trailers have been banned on the full-length of the Turnpike.
Drivers should expect other significant closures and travel restrictions as the storm progresses.
All unnecessary travel should be avoided, but drivers who must travel should check www.511.com for up-to-the-minute information on travel conditions and road closures.
* * *
UGI on Monday announced that its natural-gas customers may experience service interruptions as a result of the storm.
* * *
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will close the Route 309 ramps to the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Fort Washington in Montgomery County Monday at at 6 p.m.
The closure of the Route 309 ramps is being done in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's closure of the Fort Washington Interchange due to expected flooding.
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) are strongly urging motorists to avoid all unnecessary travel in eastern Pennsylvania including the area from Harrisburg north to the New York border, east to the New Jersey border and south to the Maryland border.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out. Detailed travel information for the Pennsylvania Turnpike is also available at 1-866-976-8747.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly.


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OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- The community certainly was active this past weekend.
Grand Pacific Junction celebrated its 23rd Heritage Days festival. At the same time, the Olmsted community continued observing its 200th birthday at that event.
The Donauschwaben German American Cultural Center entertained thousands with its Oktoberfest.
The Olmsted Falls Athletic Boosters had a 'garage sale' for its many Bulldog items – and will have new ones at the first football game on Aug. 29.
The community enjoyed a city-wide garage sale.
While walking through the Grand Pacific Junction's Outdoor Wedding Garden, my husband and I stopped to talk with Clint Williams. He created Junction by purchasing the property 25 years ago – in 1989 – and began renovating the buildings, many of which were in disrepair. He brought them to life, but not only the buildings, but the center of Olmsted Falls. Frankly, he injected blood into the community's commercial artery.
He said it best when he mentioned the outdoor gardens host 100 events – in a city as small as Olmsted Falls. That is amazing.
I spoke with a friend whose daughter moved to the west coast. She may be considering returning. The last time 'home,' she said she missed the 'community.'
What a nice tribute to Bulldog Country.
Don't sell Olmsted Falls – or Olmsted Township – short. The combined community has a lot going for it. Just take a walk, glance around and really look at what it offers.
Did you say it needs more? Well, think on a smaller scale than Clint did – and just do it - like the group highlighted below. That's the Bulldog Spirit.
Scouts honor – Olmsted Falls Boy Scout Troop 201 needed a larger building than the one it has on the high school grounds, so it decided to build a larger structure.
Wonder what the building is that has been under construction behind Safety Town? That's the troop's new 24- by 48-foot equipment structure. The group raised the private funds to pay for the more than $20,000 building. It also will house some of Safety Town items.
The troop built it with the help of their scouts, former and current adult leaders and scouts; Olmsted Falls Kiwanis Club, Lee Fenrich, the city and others, including Olmsted Falls schools for the use of the grounds.
Now leaders and parents can pull the troop's Klondike sleds, tents and other large items from their garages, basements and attics and have more room for other "stuff."
Good job, troop.
Damp's Mill – The city helped brighten and dedicate the remains of Damp's Mill, a prominent business in the mid to late 1800s and early 1900s.
Part of its foundation still stands behind Falls Family Restaurant on Columbia Road, but it was not very visible. Thanks to the city and others, it is now
very visible from the new observation deck and beautiful marker. The city dedicated it this weekend in a special ceremony.
The earliest industries of this area along the Rocky River and Plum Creek were gristmills and sawmills. Damp's Mill ground wheat and corn using water power. In 1879 it ground 15,683 bushels of grain.
The plaque gives a bit of its history. The mill was damaged in 1883 by a flood. Due to that, it saw a new 13-foot tall foundation of locally quarried sandstone that had another two stories of wooden structure on it. The great flood of 1913 ruined it, along with a dam that was near it.
Many people helped make this dedication and the mill's visibility possible. They include Joan Jocke, Jim Wallace, Mayor Ann Marie Donegan, Jean Johnson, Joe Borczuch, Rosann Jones, Omega Real Estate Management, Olmsted Falls City Council and the city service department.
Take time to visit the site that is directly behind Falls Family Restaurant. When the rails and airways are quiet, you can almost hear the mill in action.
German lessons – The German Language School Cleveland at the Donauschwaben's center on Columbia Road is accepting registration for this school year.
The school teaches the German language and culture to children and adults in a cultural setting within a supportive classroom setting. Classes meet either Wednesday nights or Saturday morning.
For more details, go to germanlanguageschoolcleveland.org or call 440-235-2646.
New swim team – CLE Swimming is a team practicing at the North Olmsted Recreation Center. One of its coaches is Melanie Liddy, the new Olmsted Falls High swim coach.
CLE Swimming swims year-round and is competitive and is USA team for all ages and abilities. Its goal is to provide every swimmer with an opportunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success at an individual's level of ability.There are no memberships, required meets, volunteerism or institutional or board control.
The program starts soon.
For more details, go to teamunify.com or contact Rich Szczepinski at email@example.com or 440-574-0253.
Labor Day salute - Circle Sept. 1 to attend a special Labor Day concert at East River Park. Victory Highway will highlight the event that features a tribute to local police officers and firefighters. A moment of silent is dedicated to those who died in the line of duty.
A safety vehicle display will occur prior to the event from noon to 2 p.m. with the concert from 2-4 p.m. All are invited to attend this special tribute for those who serve.
Drive carefully - School starts this week. Remember to drive carefully with children coming to and from school.
To include news, tidbits and activities happening in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact DuMound at firstname.lastname@example.com. She also is on Twitter @JoanneDuMound. The column's online version is at Cleveland.com/Olmsted, which has direct links for many of the news items.


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Beverly Winikoff, M.D., M.P.H. is President of Gynuity Health Projects, a research and technical assistance organization dedicated to the idea that all people should have access to the fruits of medical science and technology development, and Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Before starting Gynuity in 2003, Dr. Winikoff was employed for 25 years at the Population Council where she was Program Director for Reproductive Health and a Senior Medical Associate. She developed and managed the Council's Ebert Program on Critical Issues in Reproductive Health, including work on Safe Motherhood, prevention of STDs/AIDS, prevention of unsafe abortion, provision of safe abortion care, and improving postpartum care for mothers and babies. Prior to joining the Council in 1978, she was Assistant Director for Health Sciences, The Rockefeller Foundation. Her work has focused on issues of reproductive choice, contraception, abortion and women's health. She is particularly interested in issues surrounding the abuse, misuse and non-use of medical technology as these phenomena impact on women's health and autonomy. Dr. Winikoff graduated from Harvard University magna cum laude and earned her M.D. degree from New York University and her M.P.H. degree from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Areas of Expertise
Select Global Activities
misoprostol for post partum hemorrhage: Principal investigator of a portfolio of work on misoprostol for use in postpartum hemorrhage: (1) Misoprostol for Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage This double-blinded randomized-controlled trial enrolling 1,600 women in rural Pakistan aims to test whether oral misoprostol reduces the incidence of PPH when administered by trained traditional birth attendants (TBAs) during the third stage of labor. (2) Misoprostol for treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: The study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to compare 800mcg of sublingual misoprostol with oxytocin, the standard first-line treatment in many hospital settings. Sites for this study are: Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Egypt, Turkey, and Vietnam. (3) Misoprostol as an adjunct treatment for postpartum hemorrhage In collaboration with the World Health Organization, Gynuity Health Projects is conducting a study of misoprostol as an adjunct treatment to oxytocin for the treatment of PPH. This multi-site, double-blind, randomized controlled trial is being implemented in Argentina, Egypt, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Introduction of Medical Abortion in Developing Countries: Projects on this topic are carried out in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Easter Europe/former Soviet Union and the U.S. and include: ? Demonstration projects using medical abortion regimens to introduce the technology in new settings, particularly in places with limited access to legal abortion services ? Studies to inform service delivery protocols for low resource settings ? Collaboration with pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the registration of the drugs internationally; ? Partnering with large nongovernmental organization service providers to introduce medical abortion; ? Creation of policy, sharing of information, and advocacy for medical abortion technologies; and ? Organization of seminars, educational opportunities, and training courses to share information and stimulate interest in the technology?s potential among service providers and other interested colleagues
Misoprostol for Treatment of Miscarriage and Incomplete Abortion: Of all recognized pregnancies, 15 to 20 percent are miscarried or become non-viable in the first trimester of pregnancy. Traditionally, when an early pregnancy is miscarried, treatment is with curettage or vacuum aspiration. Women frequently express a wish for less invasive treatment for this common life event. Misoprostol stimulates uterine contractions and helps to evacuate the uterus. Preliminary studies show that the treatment works in more than 9 out of 10 women. The program of work includes: ? Implementation of clinical trials to gather reliable data on optimal regimen(s) using misoprostol for treatment of early pregnancy failure. ? Creation of regulatory files to register misoprostol for incomplete and missed abortion; ? Development of training and educational materials for policymakers, clinicians, and users; and ? Organization of seminars, educational opportunities and training courses to share information and stimulate interest in misoprostol?s potential for this use. Work is ongoing in Arica, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union.
Select Publications
Winikoff, B Clostridium sordellii Infection in Medical Abortion Cinical Infectious Diseases 43 2006
Winikoff, B., Ellertson,C., Elul,B., Sivin,I "Acceptability and Feasibility of Early Pregnancy Termination by Mifepristone-Misoprostol: Results of a Large Multicenter Trial in the United States" Archives of Family Medicine 7 1998
Winikoff, B., and Wymelenberg, S. The Whole Truth About Contraception Joseph Henry Press Washington, D.C., 1997
Winikoff, B., Castle, M.A. and Laukaran V.H., eds. Feeding Infants in Four Societies: Causes and Consequences of Mothers' Choices. Greenwood Press, Inc., Westport, CT 1988
Winikoff, B. "Women's Health: An Alternative Perspective for Choosing Interventions" Studies in Family Planning 19 197-213 1988


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BERNARDS TWP. — The veteran champion and the first-time entrant turned out to be an ideal combination.
Fran Gacos and John Feindt of Copper Hill Country Club in Raritan Township captured top honors during the New Jersey State Golf Association's 48th Mixed Pinehurst Tournament at New Jersey National Golf Club on June 11.
Gacos, from Flemington, earned her third NJSGA Mixed Pinehurst championship, having also won with Copper Hill's Ken Hardwick in 1992 and 2000.
"I always enjoy playing in the NJSGA tournaments," said Gacos, "and I feel good for John, who was playing in his first tournament, that we were able to win. John and I played well, driving the ball in the fairway and putting.
"We got on the greens a lot and John did a good job of putting. The course was in great condition and we both enjoyed playing it. Winning is always fun."
Shooting three under par on the final nine holes, Gacos and Feindt carded a 33-39—72 on the par-72 New Jersey National layout to win by three strokes over Doug Rogers and Karen Cash (35-40) of Darlington. The Darlington duo took second via match of cards against Greg Moran of the host club and Dina Golas of Rock Spring.
During the second half of their round, Gacos and Feindt had birdies on the second, third and seventh holes. Feindt sank putts of eight and six feet on the second and third while Gacos dropped in an 18-footer on No. 7.
"We were a little conservative on our first nine holes but more aggressive on our back nine," said Feindt, 57, who's employed in point-of-purchase displays. "We caught a break with the weather, having an afternoon tee time."
Gacos, who also won a Garden State Women's Golf Association one-day tournament at Hackensack Country Club the previous week, has claimed four New Jersey State Golf Association Women's Senior championships (2005, 2006, 2007, 2013) and was runnerup to Sherry Herman in '08. She competed in her 11th U.S. Golf Association Mid-Amateur last summer.
"I'm looking forward to other NJSGA tournaments this year as well as the U.S. Amateur qualifiers," said Gacos, whose net total with Feindt was 69.
Also competing in the Mixed Pinehurst was Jessica Kelly of Heron Glen Golf Course in Raritan Township. She and Pat Arnotte of the Golf Club of New Jersey tied for 38th in the 59-team field at 47-41—88.
The net division winners were Leslie and Yvonne Stark of New Jersey National at 65 by a match of cards over Audrey Fischer and Stephen Oliver, also from the host club, while Beth Bohny-Vincent Galano of Beacon Hill Country Club were next at 67.
Senior Division champions were Montclair Golf Club's Kevin and Susan Walsh (76 gross) and Jay and Renate Green of Alpine (70 net).
John Feindt-Fran Gacos, Copper Hill 33-39-72
Doug Rogers-Karen Cash, Darlington 35-40-75
Greg Moran (NJ National)-Dina Golas (Rock Spring) 35-40-75
Vincent Galano-Beth Bohny, Beacon Hill 35-41-76
Scott Pester-Tracy Meerwarth, Morris County GC 38-38-76
Kevin Walsh-Susan Walsh, Montclair 38-38-76
Richard Forlenza-Jen Forlenza, North Jersey 37-39-76
Kevin Purcell (Darlington)-Terri Kirk (Beacon Hill) 37-40-77
Steve Lapper-Katie Renoff, Trump National 37-40-77
Jim McHugh-Donna McHugh, Upper Montclair 40-37-77


text:
Announces to a selectable chat frame which character killed Mr. Bigglesworth, Kel'Thuzad's cat in Naxxramas.
Plays some optional ominous thunder. You can also switch the chat output type between SAY, YELL, RAID, PARTY, and GUILD.
Much thanks to OrionShock, Jerry, and Tekkub.
See the changelog page: slash commands and optional sound now working! Type /mrbigglesworthdeath or /mbd for instructions.
Known Issues:
Due to a limitation in the Blizzard combat log, this addon only detects when someone in your Party kills Mr Bigglesworth. In order for it to be accurate, at least one person per Party in a Raid must have this addon installed. However, anyone who can see the chat type selected will be able to read the message.
Some users are reporting a rare case when upgrading to version 1.3.2 you need to delete your SavedVariables file in the WTF folder. You could try /mbd default first to see if that works. Of course, if that changes your sound settings or chat output, you will have to set it again. Most users will not have to do this as the upgrade will be smooth.
Localized in enUS and deDE, but can (and please help contribute) be localized into other languages. Please go here to help translate.
People upgrading from anything lower than 1.2.x should delete the old folder first.
- Date created
- Feb 22, 2009
- Categories
- Last update
- Jul 25, 2016
- Development stage
- Mature
- Language
- deDE
- enUS
- License
- All Rights Reserved
- Curse link
- MrBigglesworthDeath
- Downloads
- 6,703
- Recent files
- R: v1.5 for 7.0.3 Jul 25, 2016
- R: v1.4 for 4.3.0 Dec 01, 2011
- A: r12 for 4.2.0 Sep 26, 2011
- R: Release 1.3.3 for 3.3.0 Jan 12, 2010
- A: r10 for 3.3.0 Jan 12, 2010


text:
Chase Blackburn went from unemployed to undrafted free agent to special-teams contributor to key backup and finally to spot starter. On Sunday, in the first game of his fifth NFL season, he'll add one more title to his resume: opening-day starter.
"There you go. I haven't had that one under my belt," the Giants' linebacker said Thursday. "I didn't get that one last year."
Okay, Blackburn won't be an opening-day starter in the standard sense, which indicates a player who won or kept a job in the off-season and is considered a team's best option at his position. In this case, Blackburn will likely be making only one start on the weak side before free-agent acquisition Michael Boley (five-year, $25-million contract) returns from a one-game suspension.
But it's still an impressive accomplishment for Blackburn, a middle linebacker by trade who was plugged into that same spot after a series of injuries last year and earned the right to stay there for the second half of the season. And it's a significant vote of confidence from the coaching staff, considering he spent much of training camp and the preseason taking snaps for Antonio Pierce, who was out for a few weeks with a foot injury.
"I always thought it was a possibility," Blackburn said. "I didn't know when it was going to happen or if it would happen, but I was ready. ... I feel comfortable over there, yeah. I feel like I can play in this league, obviously. I did it all last year."
Early in camp, while Pierce was still healthy, Blackburn watched as Gerris Wilkinson and Bryan Kehl got reps on the weak side, though neither did enough to win the temp job. Blackburn likely earned the spot because he's a solid tackler and will be needed to help stop the Redskins' run-heavy offense.
The fact he played the weak side against Washington last year is another reason he's confident he'll play well.
"Watching the game film from last year, you're already giving yourself a little bit of knowledge of what they do. Obviously, they're going to have some new wrinkles in and things like that ... but overall, they're running a basic offense. It's Washington, just like we're going to run our defense."
Blackburn has a good feel for the Giants' defense because, as a middle linebacker, he's responsible for making the calls on the field. So when he's on the field with Pierce, he's able to anticipate any adjustments more quickly than the average outside linebacker. That, in turn, allows him to get a quicker read on the play.
Of course, there are a few changes he makes when he slides over a few feet from the middle.
"The vision, the keys, the reads, the way it looks from that little offset instead of head-up as the 'Mike,'" said Blackburn, who was credited with 61 tackles last season and had four stops for a loss of yards. "(There are) a little bit of different responsibilities as far as pass routes and things like that. More pass responsibilities. Coverage on the slot receivers and things like that."
Blackburn hasn't had much time to work on those adjustments. At least not lately
"I haven't been able to get a ton of practice reps," he said. "Fortunately, I had all of last year to get these reps and get ready to play."


text:
Chudzinski Gets This Cleveland Browns Thing
There are obviously a lot of people in Ohio rooting for the Cleveland Browns. It's been that way since the team's inception back in 1946.
Many of those same people are also rooting for Rob Chudzinski.
Chudzinski is the first-year head coach of the club, so they are going to pull for him in that respect. After all, if Chudzinski does a good job, then the team has a real chance to have a good season. But there's more to it than that.
Chudzinski grew up in Toledo, Ohio – a little less than two hours west of Cleveland. As a big Browns fan, he and his family would turn the TV around inside the house so they could watch the games while playing football in the backyard pretending they were Brian Sipe, Greg Pruitt and Ozzie Newsome. His family members and friends remain huge followers of the club. One relative even has a big bus painted to look like the team's plain orange helmet with the brown and white stripes down the middle. He loads it full of people and drives it to Cleveland on game days.
So not only does Chudzinski get to realize the dream of every football coach to get his shot at running a team in the NFL, but he also gets to enhance that dream by doing it with the team he followed as a kid. As such, this is more than just a job to Chudzinski. It is a responsibility – a challenge, a duty – to him to get this storied franchise back on track.
Without a doubt, it is personal – just as it was when he served as an offensive assistant in Cleveland in 2004 and again in 2007-08. Chudzinski is coaching not just for himself, but also for plenty of other people who are depending on him to get this thing right. He is driving himself and pulling out all the stops to make it happen. In fact, it is the first time since some guy named Paul Brown, who was born in Norwalk and grew up in Massillon, that the Browns have had a native son as head coach. And if he is successful, then it will be one of the best stories of the league.
Another great storyline of Chudzinski being in charge is that the man – offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Norv Turner – under whom he used to work in San Diego during two different stints is now working for him. It was a real coup for Chudzinski to land Turner, one of the best offensive minds in the game as Chudzinski learned a lot of his football under him. They think a lot alike and believe in a lot of the same offensive principles. So Chudzinski knows the offense – which is in desperate need of being upgraded from what it was the previous five seasons – will be coached the way he wants it to be coached.
The situation Chudzinski is in – in his first head coaching job at any level and guiding the team he loves –
is not lost on Turner. He knows how important it is not just to Chudzinski's career – but to him personally – to be successful. Turner doesn't have anything left to prove as a proven and successful NFL coach, but he has taken it upon himself to step back into a support role, push up his sleeves, give something back and help his friend get to where he wants to go. And If Turner can do that, then it will be a notch pm his belt that right now does not exist. In addition, he will get great personal satisfaction out of it.
Turner will be a major help to Chudzinski in another way in that he will be able to offer advice on all of the situations that occur on a daily and game-to-game basis. Remember, Chudzinski has never been through that before as a first-time head coach on any level. Unlike all his other stops, Chudzinski won't be doing nearly as much coaching as he will be managing people and putting out brush fires.
Another former NFL coach also figures into the Chudzinski coaching equation. Sam Rutigliano, who coached the "Kardiac Kids" teams from 1978-84 – the teams that Chudzinski rooted for while playing in the backyard – still lives in the Greater Cleveland area. In fact, Rutigliano resides in the same house in the eastern suburbs that he did when he was coaching here.
Rutigliano is hurt by the fact that, since the team came back in 1999, none of the team's previous head coaches have bothered to establish a relationship with him. For that matter, he had never been upstairs in Browns Headquarters. He never had any intention of telling the coaches what to do, he just wanted to have a friendly conversation with them from the perspective of his having been in their very shoes – in this town coaching on the footprint of FirstEnergy Stadium – at one time.
Then, as training camp was set to begin this year, Rutigliano received a call from Chudzinski, who invited him upstairs to his office for a visit. The 82-year-old Rutigliano was so excited that he was like a little kid.
So how did it go?
"It was cool, really cool," Rutigliano beamed.
And with that, Chudzinski gained another fan who is rooting not only for the Browns or for him as a head coach, but also for him personally.
Yeah, Chudzinski gets this Cleveland Browns thing.


text:
Get free shipping on your entire purchase on www.disneystore.com when you purchase any Tangled item. You'll need to enter the code TOWER at checkout to get the discount.
Go here to shop the Tangled items.
They do have a cute little throw for $5.99
Personalization would add $3.95 to this deal. You could go without it to save.
Your total with the personalization would be $9.94.
Shop through www.ebates.com to earn a percentage back on your purchase.
The offer ends April 3 --
Here's a screen shot of the details: -
(Source an email this morning from Disney)


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Syracuse Crunch head coach Rob Zettler has seen a lot of good opposing first lines fly over the boards and into his team's defensive zone this season.
He's not sure any of them are as dangerous as the trio Grand Rapids is bringing into the Calder Cup Finals in the person of Gustav Nyquist, Joakim Andersson and Tomas Tatar.
"These guys probably have the most skill of any of the top lines we've played so far,'' he said. "They are pretty creative.''
Sounds like a job for Mike Angelidis, J.T. Brown and J.T. Wyman. The home of the Calder Cup for the next season will likely depend upon who wins their multi-game tug-of-war.
Western Conference winner Grand Rapids takes on Eastern Conference champ Syracuse in a best-of-seven tiff starting Saturday in Syracuse. Zettler will likely have his third-line grinders trailing the Griffins' game-breakers from the moment they hit the city limits.
"We're very prepared from a knowledge and understanding standpoint,'' Wyman said after practice on Thursday. "We know what we're up against. We can't give them opportunity. We have to take away time and space and be physical with them.''
The Griffins' Western Conference Final against Oklahoma City was turned around when parent club Detroit got eliminated from the NHL playoffs and returned Nyquist and Andersson to reunite with Tatar. Nyquist produced 23 goals and 37 assists for the Griffins this year while Andersson was 10-17 in 37 contests.
Since returning to the Griffins, the two have combined for two goals and four assists in four playoff games. Tatar, meanwhile, has 11 goals and five assists in 18 playoff games after producing 23-26 during the regular season.
"They've got lots of chemistry together,'' said Grand Rapids coach Jeff Blashill. "They feed off each other. All three of them are very skilled. They are a very dangerous line.''
Consider the Crunch on alert. They are a worthy counter-move to Angelidis, Wyman and Brown, perhaps about as good a third line as as you'll find in the AHL.
"That line has been the glue for us,'' Zettler said. "They are able to hem teams in their own zone.''
Wyman, Angelidis and Brown are all rugged players, and the first two each have the experience of several years as pros. All three have shown fearlessness in blocking shots and Brown's speed and offensive potential puts pressure on opposing top lines to play defense or else give up quality scoring chances.
They may not be the fastest line in the league, but they play their positions soundly enough to quickly close the gaps.
And after they do, they will hit.
"You have to be physical, wear them, tear them down,'' Angelidis said. "When you're getting hit constantly, you end up making mistakes.
Blashill sounded like he's looking forward to watching the long drama play out.
"I'm sure there will be ebb and flow between the two lines,'' he said. "It will be the battle within the battle.''


text:
- Date:
late 19th century (made)
- Artist/Maker:
unknown (designer)
Goodall & Co. (publisher)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Credit Line:
Given by Mr. M. Insley
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C, case GG, shelf 68, box BI
Physical description
Ball programme with a border decorated with illustrations of butterflies.
late 19th century (made)
unknown (designer)
Goodall & Co. (publisher)
Materials and Techniques
Marks and inscriptions
'January 12th'
Height: 10.2 cm average size of prints in set, Width: 6.4 cm average size of prints in set
Object history note
Two of the programmes in this set were used at balls held at Court House and Government House, Bermuda.
Descriptive line
Ball programme with a border decorated with illustrations of butterflies. Chromolithograph, published by Goodall & Co., late 19th century.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1962. London: HMSO, 1964.
The full text of the entry is as follows:
"ANONYMOUS : Programmes
Ball programmes (4, one with pencil attached), two of which, published by Goodall & Co., were used at balls held at Court House and Government House, Bermuda. Late 19th century.
Each inscribed in pencil and in ink with partner's names etc. E.2636 inscribed in pencil Miss Sandys September 14th 1887. Clara E. Lane. E.2637, 2638, dated in ink January 12th. and January 15th 1894. E.2639 inscribed in pencil Clara E. Lane and dated in ink Xmas Day. 1896.
Chromolithographs. Average size 10.2 x 64. cm.
Given by Mr. M. Insley"
Subjects depicted
Collection code


text:
Utica Notre girls and boys basketball teams will host their annual Jugglers Classic this weekend on its Utica campus.
The girls matchups have Albany Leadership taking on No. 15 state-ranked Cicero-North Syracuse (6-3) at 2 p.m. The next game involves two-state ranked teams as No. 16 Holland Patent (8-0) takes on the host No. 12 state-ranked Jugglers (7-3) at 4 p.m. The consolation and championship games are at 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The boys bracket has Nazareth taking on Liverpool at 6 p.m. and Bishop Ford playing the host Jugglers at 7:45. The consolation and championship games are at 7 and 7:45 p.m. on Sunday.


text:
Why a Cardiocheck?
"Because high cholesterol is responsible for more than half of the annual 125,000 deaths from coronary heart disease in the UK, yet only 14% of adults are aware that cholesterol is a risk factor.
In just two minutes you can track cholesterol levels. Be sure with the CardioChek PA Blood Analyser. The World's first portable direct LDL cholesterol test.
The higher the blood cholesterol level, the greater the risk for developing heart disease or heart attack. The CardioChek® PA Blood Analyser is the first and only system that provides personal, at-home or point-of-care testing of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Multi-panel Tests
LIPID PANEL – Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL Cholesterol (calculated)
METABOLIC CHEMISTRY PANEL – HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Glucose CVD PANEL – Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, Glucose
GENERAL SCREENING PANEL – Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol
All of the above are available as single test panels too!
See the complete Cardiochek Panel Test Range here
1 x CardioChek Blood Analyser
1 x CardioChek Check Strip
Product Description
Why CardioChek
• Innovative – Runs on portable hand-held device
• Fast – Results in one to two minutes
• Flexible – Suitable for multiple clinical applications
• Accurate – CE marked / FDA cleared / CLIA waived
• Convenient – Test at point-of-care, no fasting, no refrigeration
• Cost-effective – No expensive lab analysis or follow-up consultation delay
• Fully automated – Simply pipette a single sample onto test strip
• Memory log – Stores up to 200 results – date and time stamped
Remember that high cholesterol itself does not have symptoms, so unless you test, you won't know if your cholesterol levels are too high. Frequent testing doesn't have to mean frequent doctor's appointments. Using the CardioChek® PA Analyser and test strips can help you stay on track between doctor appointments. It's like using a scale when you are trying to lose weight.
Why Wait and Worry?
Checking your numbers gives you peace of mind, helps you make informed decisions, and lets you know if your heart health regimen is working.
Recommended cholesterol levels
• Total Cholesterol should be less than 5.2mmol/L
• HDL Cholesterol should be greater than 1 in men and 1.2mmol/L in women
• Triglyceride is best done on a fasting sample and should be less than 1.7mmol/L
• Glucose should be greater than 4 but less than 7 in a fasting sample, and less than or equal to 9mmol/L 2 hours after a meal
Know Your Cholesterol
Remember that high cholesterol itself does not have symptoms, so unless you test, you won't know if your cholesterol levels are too high. Frequent testing doesn't have to mean frequent doctor's appointments. Using the CardioChek® PA Analyser and test strips can help you stay on track between doctor appointments. It's like using a scale when you are trying to lose weight.
Why Wait and Worry?
Checking your numbers gives you peace of mind, helps you make informed decisions, and lets you know if your heart health regimen is working.
Cholesterol Definitions
Total Cholesterol
Your total cholesterol level is the sum of all the types of cholesterol in yoour blood. The higher your total cholesterol, the greater yoour risk for heart disease. A total cholesterol level of under 5.18 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) is desirable.
HDL (Good) Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol because high levels of HDL can protect against heart attack. Medical experts believe that HDL carries cholesterol away from the arteries and removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup. Levels greater than, or equal to, 1.04mmol/L in men and 1.20mmol/L in females are considered healthy, whilst levels LOWER than these are considered to place individuals into the 'at risk' category.
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
When LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. This 'plaque' is a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. Heart attack or stroke can result if a clot forms or an artery is blocked. An LDL cholesterol below 2.59 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) is optimal.
Triglycerides are a form of fat that the body uses to store energy. Elevated triglycerides can be due to physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption, being overweight/obese, and a diet very high in carbohydrates. Triglyceride levels of less than 1.70 mmol/L (150 mg/dL) are desirable.
Cholesterol Ranges
Total Cholesterol
• Less than 5.18 mmol/L = Lower Risk
• 5.18 to 6.19 mmol/L = Borderline High
• 6.20 mmol/L and above = Higher Risk
HDL (Good) Cholesterol
• Less than 1.04 mmol/L = At Risk
• 1.04 to 1.52 mmol/L = Borderline
• 1.55 mmol/L and above = Optimal
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
• Less than 2.59 mmol/L = Optimal
• 2.60 to 3.34 mmol/L = Near Optimal
• 3.35 to 4.11 mmol/L = Borderline High
• 4.12 to 4.89 mmol/L = High
• 4.90 mmol/L and above = Very High
• Less than 1.69 mmol/L = Normal
• 1.70 to 2.24 mmol/L = Borderline High
• 2.25 to 5.63 mmol/L = High
• 5.64 mmol/L and above = Very High
Test Procedure
Performing a CardioChek test couldn't be easier.
• Take a 15-40µl fingerprick sample
• Dispense the blood sample onto the relevant test strip
• Read the results. Simple!
Analysis of the MDA Report on the LDX (1995), and MHRA on the CardioChek (2005) and the CEP Report on Lipid Analysers (2009). Sensitivity and Specificity of the Total Cholesterol / HDL Cholesterol classification of Lipid Results
The CardioChek system is more accurate in placing patients into CVD risk categories when the CHO/HDL ratio is used than the LDX system.
The table below summarizes the features and benefits of the CardioChek PA when compared to the Cholestech LDX. The remainder of this document will then summarize several investigation reports compiled on both instruments to provide an in-depth technical and operational comparison for both point-of-care instruments. Feature comparison colour coding is used as below.
CardioCheck PA v Cholestech LDX
Clinical Decision Points
The following information and tables were compiled from the September 2009 NHS CEP Buyer's Guide, the 2005 MHRA Report on the CardioChek system and the 1995 MHRA report on the LDX system. The below clinical decision tables are calculated by using the linear regression statistics obtained by the 2009 NHS CEP Buyer's Guide and 1995/2005 MHRA Reports, where the formula y=mx+b is used to establish an overall relationship between (X)- the reference lab and (Y)- the point of care instrument. From this comparison equation a slope and intercept is obtained, each of these statistical values are used to then accurately predict what the point-of-care instrument result will be at an analyte value that relates to clinical decision's when assessing an individuals Cardiac Risk Factor. Below is an example of how the formula is used to predict clinical values: Point-of-Care Predicted Value= Slope (clinical decision value) + Intercept
2009 NHS Buyers Guide Clinical Decision Points
CardioChek PA Linear Regression: Y= 0.72x + 1.76
Cholestech LDX Linear Regression: Y= 0.95x + 0.11
HDL Cholesterol
CardioChek PA Linear Regression: Y= 1.02x + -0.06
Cholestech LDX Linear Regression: Y= 0.93x + 0.16
2005 CardioChek PA MHRA Evaluation Report 05051
CardioChek PA Linear Regression: Y= 0.76x + 1.52
HDL Cholesterol
CardioChek PA Linear Regression: Y= 1.02x + -0.06
1995 Cholestech LDX MDA Evaluation Report: MDA/95/23
Cholestech LDX Linear Regression: Y= 0.95x + 0.11
HDL Cholesterol
Cholestech LDX Linear Regression: Y= 0.93x + 0.16
It is evident that based upon the information in the above tables that both the CardioChek PA and Cholestech LDX are both suitable point-of-care instruments for cardiac risk screening. This is based upon both instruments accurately placing individuals based upon clinical decision points relative to cardiac risk assessment and further clinical follow-up. As a result of both instruments accurately placing individuals with and without risk it is important to consider overall benefits based on platform capabilities and specifications. Some various capabilities to keep in mind when determining which point-of-care cholesterol measuring device is right for you are as follows:
• Overall price for both instrument and reagents
• Ease of use
• Portability
• Size of test menu
• Power source
• Test completion time
• Reagent storage
• Sample size and source
• Overall weight if shipping to various locations for testing
Once one has compared the specifications of each point-of-care instrument an educated and technically sound decision can be made as to which device best suits their application.
NHS CEP Buyers Guide: Point-of-Care testing for cholesterol measurement, CEP 09020 MHRA Report 05051 2005: Polymer Technology Systems CardioChek PA Lipid System MDA Evaluation Report 1995: Cholestech LDX Lipid Analyzer, MDA/95/23 CardioChek PA Technical Specification
CardioChek PA Technical Specification
How is a blood sample collected?
A small drop of fingerstick whole blood must be collected using a lancet and plastic blood collector provided in the test strip package.
How much blood is needed for each test strip?
Single chemistry tests (Cholesterol, HDL, and Triglycerides), require 15µl of whole blood. Plastic blood collector collects exact amount of blood required for the test.
How are the settings changed on the CardioChek analyser (i.e. time, date, language, etc.)?To change the settings on the CardioChek analyser, go to the USER SET prompt and press the "Enter" button and simply follow the prompts.
How is LDL cholesterol calculated?
First, test cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides using new, unused test strips. Then use the following formula to calculate your estimated LDL cholesterol:
Estimated LDL Cholesterol = Total Cholesterol – HDL Cholesterol – (Triglycerides ÷ 5)
NOTE: To calculate your estimated LDL cholesterol, you must fast for 9 hours prior to testing triglycerides. Never calculate an LDL if test results are outside the range of the CardioChek analyser (denoted by a < or > on the results screen) or if your triglycerides are >400.
What if "<",">" is displayed on screen or other unexpected results occur?
• Results are above or below measuring range.
• High temperatures affect the strips. Be sure the vial of strips has not been stored in extreme conditions.
• Be sure the vial has been tightly capped immediately after removing any test strips. The test strips should not be removed from the vial until they are ready to be used because the strips are adversely affected by humidity. Remove one strip at a time and recap vial tightly.
• Be sure whole blood was used.
• Be sure an adequate sample size was used. Too much or too little blood may give an inaccurate result. The plastic blood collector ensures accurate volume.
• Be sure blood was applied to the test strip with the test strip already inserted in the analyser.
• Check to see if the batteries need to be replaced.
• Use a check strip, provided in the kit, and make sure it passes.
• Clean the optical glass in the analyser where the strip is inserted (see instructions for proper cleaning in the user manual). Also, make sure the optical glass is scratch free.
• Check the back of the strip after testing. The membrane must be a uniform color. If there are any blotches, the test results may be affected. Test again with a fresh, unused test strip.
What if the analyser reads 'CHECK STRIP FAILED'?
• Inspect the optical glass in the analyser where the test strip is inserted. It should be clean, dry and free from fingerprints. If not, clean with alcohol wipe and dry immediately with gauze or lint-free cloth or tissue.
• Check to see if the check strip (gray plastic strip that comes with analyser) is damaged or dirty. If so, clean with soap and water or alcohol wipe, or replace.
• Be sure the check strip has been inserted right side up.
• Be sure the meter has not been dropped or stored in extreme conditions.
• Be sure the analyser is being operated inside, away from direct sun or lamp light.
• Check to see if the batteries need to be replaced.
What if the CardioChek analyser will not recognize the Memo Chip?
• Be sure the Memo Chip was installed properly. The notched side of the Memo Chip faces up.
• Be sure the chip was inserted before the analyzer was turned on. If not, press the "Enter" button twice so the analyzer can recognize that the Memo Chip has been inserted.
Case Studies
Leicester PCT
The Leicester PCT project has been a complete success and is the model being adopted by many other PCTs across Britain. The project has been written up and is now considered to be the gold standard by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) and published as 'The Handbook for Vascular Risk Assessment, Risk Reduction and Risk Management' in March 2008. Further copies of this book can be obtained from www.screening.nhs.uk/vascular.
The population of Leicester is 300,000 of which 17,000 are Diabetic. 40% are of ethnic origin, 25% are Obese, 25% are Smokers and 17% Abuse Alcohol.
Death rates from all forms of illness are 20% higher than would be expected and Leicester is 20th most deprived area in Britain. The Leicester PCT introduced a Cardiovascular Health Check Scheme. The CardioChek PA was used to provide the lipid profile for all patients involved in the scheme.
The scheme involved Pharmacists and other Healthcare professionals targeting groups most at risk including middle aged men from ethnic group. The protocol involved an I.T. Health Screen Questionnaire relating to Weight, Height, Medication, and Smoking etc.
The test were performed by the Professional who then lifestyle advice and possible referral to GP.
Captured results were sent to PCT for collation.
North Tyneside PCT
The government identified men over 50 in deprived areas as a priority for health improvement initiatives. North Tyneside PCT decided to set up a project based on high street pharmacies to screen such men for CHD. The PCT pharmacy team took the lead developing the programme, recruiting pharmacists and arranging training. Clinical Chemistry at North Tyneside General Hospital (NTGH) was asked for assistance in selecting and using the point of care testing devices for blood glucose, total and HDL cholesterol. Others in the team were a secondary-care dietician, consultant community cardiologist, vascular disease nurse specialist and a GP.
The CardioChek was selected for lipid tests. Training in use of the meters was given by company representatives to the participants. 18 high street pharmacies joined the project, and sessions were also held in venues such as community halls and working men's clubs.
This project is continuously being refined and is still ongoing.
Islington PCT
On 11th August 2008, 11 pharmacies in the most deprived areas of Islington, London were commissioned by the Islington Primary Care Trust for a 6-month pilot assessing cardiovascular risk using Cardiochek for lipid tests.
Islington is the first borough in the country to implement this pilot pharmacy-based screening project, leading the way in taking steps to widen access to health advice and to combat the prevalence of CVD in the borough
Rachel Tyndall, Islington PCT's Chief Executive (12th August 2008).
Mid Essex PCT
Lyn Mowforth (Health Promotion Advisor, Mid Essex PCT) regularly organises public health awareness events with over 3,000 attendees, many of which wish to have their cholesterol checked. As many as 140 members of the public are tested in a single day at an event. Lyn said her CardioChek PAs were fantastic for promoting health to the general population.
Lyn was able to identify those with raised risk factors and advise them on healthy lifestyle choices, while referring the most at risk to their GPs. Portability, ease of use and reliability are the main factors to consider when choosing a lipid analyser for projects such as this.
Surrey PCT
Liz Patroe (Service Improvement Manager for Surrey Heart and Stroke Network) uses the CardioChek PA for primary care based health checks. The Surrey Heart and Stroke Network aims to identify the patients most at risk of a future, significant cardiovascular event using the Qrisk2 algorithm. CardioChek PA is the analyser of choice to provide all the lipid profiling for the patients. The work being carried out in Surrey has revealed some surprising results, especially regarding health discrepancies between male and female patients.
Asda have taken the decision to improve their testing service by including total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol testing into their current scheme of blood glucose, pressure and BMI. Thus, they will commence a programme on 2nd January 2010, offering a cardiovascular programme in line with the Department of Health's requirements into 2010.
For the first two months Asda will offer a free testing service to the public in pharmacy which will include blood pressure, blood glucose, a BMI estimation and cholesterol tests. After the initial period; Asda plan on charging a nominal fee to cover the cost of the operator and testing equipment. Asda have funded the project internally as part of the business development of pharmacy.
Each store is being trained at present with a high level of motivation and enthusiasm to start in the New Year.
Coventry PCT
In Coventry over half the adult population is overweight and 23% are clinically obese. Of the children aged 5-15 yrs living in Coventry, 28% of girls and 22% of boys are overweight. 18.5% are obese. 60% of the population eat less than 5 portions of fresh fruit and vegetables per day. Only 22% of the population travel to work on foot, bicycle or public transport.
In January 2007, a new pilot study was launched by Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust using the skills of pharmacists to offer lifestyle advice for people to manage their weight over the long term. The scheme, "Management of obesity with associated risk factors", provides an individualised, pharmacist-led service for patients with a body mass index of 30 to 35, with at least one diagnosed or established risk factor, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, raised total cholesterol or waist circumference greater than 102cm for men and 88cm for women. During the pilot, 10 pharmacies in Coventry provided the weight management service, with a target of helping 15 patients per pharmacy during the 12 months. The weight management service was set up collaboratively with a number of stakeholders including the Department of Health, five pharmaceutical companies (including BHR), Unichem Professional Services and leading obesity experts including Dr Terry Maguire.
After 6 months, around 140 overweight individuals have been recruited to the scheme and some 400 follow-up appointments had taken place.
Thirty of the patients who completed the first year of the Coventry Community Pharmacy Weight Management Project shed a combined total of around 20 stones (127.3kg), supported by regular
visits to their local chemists to be weight and get helpful tips. Many of them also lowered their blood pressure and cholesterol levels as a result.
Ashwin Hindocha, owner of Mount Nod Pharmacy in Coventry, shares his enthusiasm for the 12-month scheme. He points out that the response from patients has been excellent: "We have been fortunate in the sense that they do want to lose weight — they started with a positive outlook." Mr Hindocha stresses that the scheme is about health management, not just about obesity and losing weight, and underlines the importance of conveying this thoroughly to the participants. The patients and pharmacists look at other risk factors such as diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure or any related medication that the patient is on. For example:
They look at their cholesterol and they want to do something about it.
The Sainsburys Cardiovascular health checks programme started in April 2009 with a plan to test 75,000 people across the UK, offer lifestyle advice and increase sales of Flora ProActive. The campaign ran till August 2009 when the 75,000 tests were completed. The tests were offered to all the public. This proactive screening programme was funded by Unilever to increase awareness of the risks of high cholesterol and the value of using cholesterol lowering foods. A free cholesterol test throughout the 189 Sainsbury's stores where there was a pharmacy present together with discount vouchers for product and posters to market the campaign.
Sainsbury's used the triple test strip providing total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and blood glucose to provide a substantial cardiovascular screen. The benefit of the triple test strip with CardioChek was the immediate result, the impact to the customer and it met N.I.C.E guidelines on cholesterol testing which is a minimum of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. The traffic light system was used, and customers found to have cholesterol between 5.0mmol/L and 6.5 mmol/L and a HDL of less than 1mmol/L were given dietary and lifestyle advice whilst those with a cholesterol level greater than 6.5mmol/L were referred to their General Practitioner immediately.
Feedback from the pharmacy team at Sainsbury's is that this campaign has been the single most successful in their history and has brought pharmacy much closer to the core business through the provision of testing and advisory services adding clear value to both Sainsbury's and the customer alike.
75,000 people across the UK have been screened for CVD risk, and where necessary signposted to the GP for follow up. The service has been very positively received by pharmacy and customer, and in the eyes of Sainsbury's corporation, has provided a very valuable ethical service to the customer: to guide people into living healthier lives through proper lifestyle advice both through better eating habits and also increased physical activity levels.