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One week ago I stayed at Sandals Regency la Toc in an ocean view room. Whilst the service and the food were excellent, the room was good but needs a bit of upgrading to the bathroom; it was very clean and comfortable but not pristine and new; I guess the hotel is old. The mixed alcoholic beverages tasted a bit watery not creamy as I exptected but overall it was good value for money. I would recommend Sandals any day, they really provide superior service.
My husband and I went to sandals la toc for our honeymoon. The resort is so beautiful and offered all kinds of free activities. We went sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, as well as took part in many of the events at the resort, it was amazing! I highly recommend sandals resorts, they really took care of us. Also the food was so delicious and we had many restaurants and lots of variety to chose from. There is truly something for everyone there!
My husband and I went to Sandals La Toc for our honeymoon and were MORE than pleased with the hotel from start to finish. Our room had a private pool and had views to die for. Absolutely breathtaking. The rooms were clean and the turn down services every night made our honeymoon EXTRA special. The staff was amazing. We had two butlers, Shauna and Jenny, who were amazing. However, the friends we met there that didn't have butlers had an equally amazing experience with the staff. They were helpful, constantly asking if we needed anything and friendly. People have complained about the beach since Grande's beach is more calm, but it was only a little 'rough' for a few days out of the trip and the rest were calm like a lake. AND what people are calling rough is just a few waves which where we are from in Jersey...we LOVE! Staying at the top of the cliff is absolutely beautiful. You really get those sunsets and sunrises that you want on a trip. There is a shuttle that comes every 5 minutes to help you get up and down the hill. However, there is a private pool at the top of the cliff with a swim up bar as well. In general...amazing time. Don't listen to other peoples reviews about the little things that went wrong on their vacation. It's amazing.
Had an amazing time. The view from the room was incredible. The staff was friendly and accomidating. The property is also fairly private when compared to other resorts in the area. Great for a relaxing vacation. Would definitely go back.
This was a beautiful property in a beautiful setting. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. The lobby was breathtaking and this is your first impression. There was construction however I was notified of this before my visit. I had an 80 min. massage that was outstanding. Very relaxing getaway. Very quiet and private. The food was delicious and the setting for the meals was breathtaking right on the beach. The fitness center has top of the line equipment and very nicely managed with nice views and very clean. I stayed in a one bedroom condo. The interior was refreshing and had a nice layout and top quality furnishings. Loved the bathroom and the fact that I could do the laundry in the condo. We used the Miele appliances and made dinner in room one evening. I slept better than I had in months-comfortable bedding. I would highly recommend this property with the understaning that they are still under construction.
Beautiful setting, incredible accomodations and awesome staff made our honeymoon a magical memory. A bit of expansion and repair construction was offset by our VIP treatment and low key pace of the resort. Very knowledgeable concierge staff, friendly and attentive restaurant/bell/room service staff and relaxing spa staff made the whole island experience a memory of a lifetime. We hope to return for a winter retreat or jazz festival in May in the coming years.
My husband and I stayed here on our honeymoon. We reserved a marina view hotel room with a jacuzzi on the balcony, but when we arrived all of the rooms with jacuzzis were being used by owners. We were disappointed for about two seconds as we were shown to our upgraded, beachfront, 3 bedroom, 3 bath suite!!! Hello!! It was complete with washer and dryer, full kitchen, dining room, a balcony overlooking the pool to the back and a full length balcony (to die for!) directly over the beach, to the front. it was fabulous!! Great food! Great concierge. Great service. Gorgeous pristine beach. A few cons (if I MUST name some): Other half of Resort was under construction, but it did not bother us; Only one restaurant was open, but it was overlooking the beach so no complaints here; and the food was very pricey, but we found it to be pricey everywhere. Also, the pool was a bit small, but who needs a pool when you have the gorgeous ocean a few yards away! Overall- awesome place! Do not hesitate to stay here!!
Even though the property was still under construction we decided to give it a try. The place is absolutely beautiful. Every high end amenity that you could think of is included. They definately spared no expense. My husband has worked in the hospitality industry for nearly 20 years and I spent at least 12 years in the industry myself. This place was absolutely worth every penny. The staff were exceptional and extremely professional. In all honesty I only had two complaints with the first being the food. Very expensive and definitely not of the same quality as the property itself. She need to get an Executive Chef on board that can get this aspect of the hotel together. Also the mosquitoes will eat you alive. The airlines lost our luggage and as such we had no protection for the first night. Not being aware of the problem we ate at the restaurant that night. My six year old son was so bitten up it was unbelievable. He looked as if he had chicken pox. Yes, that bad. They started fogging the property evenings toward the end of our stay but do not attempt to stay at this property without being adequately protected. We were absolutely miserable for the first few days after nearly being eaten alive. Otherwise, you have to try this place.
The service was excellent, especially Trisha, Selma and Tim at the two restaurants. But, there were only 2 restaurants....the room was clean but not perfect. Yes, I am picky, but when you clean the floors, be sure to hit the corners!!
Had a wonderful time staff was extra helpful and friendly food at the bar was very good and well presented. Room was very nice. Will definitely be coming back. Will recommend to friends and relatives. Only recommendation is bring repellant.
We very much enjoyed our stay at the Landings. The staff was courteous and attentive, the food was excellent, and the rooms were like new, spacious and luxurious. We had an electrical difficulty in our initial room, but the staff promptly upgraded us to a waterfront room. the location on the northwestern (Caribbean side) coast of the island was good, because it was a beautiful locale, and a short ride from several nice restaurants. Overall, a terrific, if a bit pricey place to stay in St. Lucia.
The Landings is the best place to stay if you are visting St. Lucia! Although it was still under construction, the parts that were complete were absolutely beautiful. The staff provides top notch service and is very accomodating. The condos are very clean and exquisitely decorated, with the finest appliances and amenities. The food was very tasty and well presented. The fitness center features top of the line Cybex equipment and has a wonderful view of the beach. I am certain that this resort will only get better when it is finished. Only one thing,... make sure to carry your bug repellant with you; I got bitten by chiggers while dining at out at the outdoor restaurant. Overall, the resort is fabulous!
Fantastic property. Very clean, bright and cheery and every staff member was exceedingly pleasant. We scored a package deal and got way more resort than we paid for. Nothing negative to say.


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Hayy Ibn Yaqzan Reviews
Hayy Ibn Yaqzan
71 pages, translated by L. E. Goodman with 91 page Introduction + 79 pages of Notes. Spine is uncreased. Remainder marks on all 3 edges. Minor rumples to upper part of front cover + top margins of first few pages. Else Bright Clean Tight!
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Brit Girls Of The Sixties: Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw & Lulu
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CAAA soccer players, still early in the season, battle it out as one scores a goal Saturday morning at Strickland Park.
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AZ budget brokers working behind closed doorsPosted: Updated:
A growing number of state lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle are complaining that they've been left out of the budget process. It's the result, they say, of new rules and new procedures implemented by the majority leaders and the governor's office.
"The discussion is not even available because it doesn't occur," said Rep. Lela Alston, a Democrat, whose district includes the historic districts near downtown Phoenix.
Alston served in the Legislature from 1977 to 1995. She returned two years ago but said the rules and responsibilities had changed, even for members such as herself who serve on the Appropriations Committee, which traditionally oversees the budget.
"When I came back this time, I said, 'OK, I'm on appropriations again. Where's my budget book?' And people didn't know what a budget book was," Alston said.
Legislators and those familiar with the workings of the Legislature said the changes began about 10 years ago.
In the past, state agency heads, experts and interested citizens would testify in front of subcommittees and the Appropriations Committees in both the state House and the Senate. The members of those committees would vote on budget recommendations. The recommendations would head to the entire House and Senate, where all members would vote. A final budget would head to the governor's office.
Alston remembers going on field trips with other lawmakers to see firsthand how their budget decisions would affect agencies and individuals.
Lawmakers tell CBS 5 Investigates that no longer happens.
"Right now, the process is that the agencies go to the governor and say, 'This is what we need.' And never come to the state Legislature," said Republican Sen. Chester Crandell, whose district covers parts of northeastern Arizona.
The governor's office negotiates with roughly eight members of the House and Senate leadership behind closed doors. When they reach an agreement, they introduce the budget to the members, who often are required to vote on the package within 24 hours.
Crandell said he believes the Legislature has ceded too much authority to the governor. He said having agency heads make detailed budget pitches to legislative committees would open the process and provide the ability for fiscal conservatives like himself to directly oversee the spending.
"I think what it does is get the people more involved in looking at agencies and determining how they're spending their money," Crandell said.
CBS 5 Investigates sent interview requests to the House and Senate majority leaders and their public information officers, requesting interviews about the budget process. Not one legislator responded.
We caught up with House Speaker Andy Tobin in the House parking lot.
Tobin defended his way of negotiating the budget and said he regularly keeps his members informed about the process and progress.
"I think really what you're talking about is what happens when we're sitting down quietly away from the public," Tobin said.
Tobin refused a request by CBS 5 Investigates to sit in on one of the closed door meetings.
"I'd love to have you come into my office and sit with me and chat, but no, the press isn't in those meetings," Tobin said.
Critics argue that legislating behind closed doors creates mistrust and allows faulty legislation to pass.
Last year, the final budget included a provision that swept $50 million in mortgage settlement funds into the state general fund. The money was supposed to be used for foreclosure prevention and to crack down on mortgage fraud. Members and housing advocates said they were unaware of that provision until the last minute.
That budget was voted on the same day it was released.
Two years ago, the governor and House and Senate leaders agreed on budget cuts that removed funding for low-income transplants. Medical experts said they were not consulted about the cuts and argued that their testimony may have been able to prevent them altogether. Two people died before the funding was restored.
"It is an extreme example, but it's a real example," Alston said. "You know, we really do make life-and-death decisions for individuals."
Copyright 2013 CBS 5 (KPHO Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.


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Gypsy 05 Organic Long Maxi Dress In White
The Gypsy 05 Long Organic Dress has a cult following and is loved for its easy and flattering fit. Constructed from an eco-friendly organic cotton, the dress works for every body type thanks to its fluid maxi dress fit with elasticized empire waist seaming and twist strap detail and V-neck bodice. Fitted at bodice and relaxed through the length.
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Here are detailed file-by-file descriptions of the contents of specific fonds and/or links to scanned documents.
Leon C. Eckenfelder and friend
|Series 1
|Letters and diaries. -- 1901-1916
|Series 2
|Establishment and dissolution of the company. -- 1907-1954
|Series 3
|Photographs. -- [ca. 1900-1930s]
|Series 1
|Letters and diaries. -- 1901-1934
Armand and Marguerite Trochu. -- 1901-1916. -- 41 letters. --
Consists of transcriptions of French letters written by Armand Trochu and his teenage daughter, Marguerite, to family in France, describing the trip to Canada, and life on their ranch at Trochu. (The original letters are held privately in France.)
-- See M-8769-1 for English translations of these letters. (The translations were done by Yvonne Van Cawenberge of Trochu, Alberta.)
|Microfilm-de Beaudrap
|Paul de Beaudrap's diaries. -- Copied 1973 (originally created 1904-1934). -- 1 microfilm reel. -- Consists of diaries, in French, describing ranching activities at St. Ann Ranch (1904-1905) and Ranch Jeanne d'Arc at Three Hills (1905-1934). -- The originals are held by Mrs. Xavier de Beaudrap of Three Hills.
|Series 2
|Establishment and dissolution of the Company. -- 1907-1954
Charter and land titles of St. Ann Ranch Trading Company. -- 1907-1954. Consists of the following:
Articles of Association of St. Ann Ranch Trading Company, 1907
Dissolution of St. Ann Ranch Trading Company and estates of partners. -- 1930-1954. -- Consists of the following:
Estate documents for Leon Charles Eckenfelder, 1951
|Notes from historical search at Land Titles Office.
|Correspondence re dissolution of St. Ann Ranch Trading Company; estates of partners; and leasing of oil rights. -- 1928-1954. -- Also includes letter to J.G. Figarol of Leo, Alberta re Eckenfelder estate, from Chadwick and de Roussy. -- 1928
|Map of Trochu and Sheep Creek area. -- 1949 and n.d.
|Valentine Eckenfelder. -- 1908. -- 2 items. -- Consists of a document in the form of a mortgage statement, involving St. Ann Ranch Trading Company land in favour of Mrs. V. Eckenfelder, for the loan of $8500.00.
|Series 3
|Photographs. -- [ca. 1900-1930s]. -- 65 photographs
|L.C. Eckenfelder family and early Trochu. -- 40 photographs
|Eckenfelder and Figarol families. -- [ca. 1912-1930s]. -- 8 photographs
|Eckenfelder, Trochu and Figarol families; Trochu area views and groups. -- [ca. 1900]-1919. -- 18 photographs


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Live Nation and House of Blues Integrated Marketing Campaign
July 27, 2010
David Fortin, vice president, marketing, House of Blues Entertainment, Inc., Live Nation, and Carl Schloessman, senior vice president, marketing and sales, House of Blues Entertainment, Inc., Live Nation, shared the brand's successful integrated marketing strategy, which includes utilization of surveys, email campaigns, tradeshows, advertising, and an outsourced sales organization, coupled with their in-house team, to drive incremental special event sales.
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|Redemption Period
|Annual Yield
|Tax Lien
|2.5 years
|14% - 16% pa
Search the most up to date list of tax lien certificates and tax deed investments in the state of Massachusetts. Click an area on the map above and see all the latest Massachusetts tax liens. Get well-informed on your investment by receiving detailed information which includes address, tax year delinquent, tax amount owed, as well as a report on the community and schools in the area. Start searching now!


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Android Users - Coming Soon! - Migrating from aCar 4.8 to 5.0
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Have a fuel injection cleaning done!
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Act Now: Don't allow Congress to turn its back on unemployed workers.
Call 1-800-826-3688 today. Call or email your members of Congress today! Tell them to support extending unemployment insurance immediately. With so many Americans struggling to find and keep a job, we cannot afford to cut them off when they're already down. Tell them to ensure the strength of the safety net that unemployment assistance provides to so many people.
If you take action and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from Bread for the World.
Dear [Decision Maker],
Thank you,[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP]
Stay Connected to Bread
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities in which we live.


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I'm dealing with many clusters of stateless hosts deployed via vSphere AutoDeploy and updating host profiles from reference host is something I badly needed. I was surprised this cmdlet didn't exist so I wrote a function to do the job. Hope folks find this useful.
Function Update-VMHostProfile { <# .SYNOPSIS Updates the host profile from its reference host. .DESCRIPTION The Update-VMHostProfile updates a host profile from its reference host. .PARAMETER Profile Specify the host profile in which you wish to update from reference host. .EXAMPLE C:\PS> Update-VMHostProfile -Profile $Profile Updates the host profile $Profile from its reference host. .EXAMPLE C:\PS> Get-VMHost -Name $Host | Get-VMHostProfile | Update-VMHostProfile Get's the host profile attached to the VMHost $Host and updates it from the host profile's reference host. .EXAMPLE C:\PS> Get-VMHostProfile | Update-VMHostProfile Updates all host profiles from reference host. .NOTES Function has only been tested with vSphere 5.1, should work with vSphere 5.0. .LINK http://infrastructureadventures.com/ #> [CmdletBinding()] Param ( [Parameter(Mandatory=$True,ValueFromPipeline=$True)] $Profile ) BEGIN {} PROCESS { if ( ($Profile.GetType()).name -eq "String" ) { $Profile = Get-VMHostProfile -Name $Profile } $HostProfileReferenceHostId = ("host-" + (($Profile.ReferenceHost.Id).split("-"))[2]) $HostProfileHostBasedConfigSpec = New-Object VMware.Vim.HostProfileHostBasedConfigSpec $HostProfileHostBasedConfigSpec.host = New-Object VMware.Vim.ManagedObjectReference $HostProfileHostBasedConfigSpec.host.type = "HostSystem" $HostProfileHostBasedConfigSpec.host.Value = $HostProfileReferenceHostId $HostProfileHostBasedConfigSpec.useHostProfileEngine = $true $HostProfileView = Get-View -Id $Profile.Id $HostProfileView.UpdateHostProfile($HostProfileHostBasedConfigSpec) $Profile } END {} }


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'Clarke MacArthur opened the scoring just 2:28 into the game when he rushed the net and tucked a shot right under the crossbar to beat Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak. Buffalo made it a 2-0 game shortly after thanks to Jason Pominville who swept a Derek Roy rebound into the net. For Pominville, it was just his second goal in 11 games and sixth on the season. Only about two minutes later, the two forwards swapped roles when Pominville found Roy for his sixth of the year — a one-timer to the right of Halak that, set up by a pretty Pominville pass that cut right in front of the crease and landed on Roy's stick.'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / Sabres Strike Early, Rout Canadiens 6-2


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And, of course, the fine print:
Get free shipping on your next order when you spend over $100. The discount will be automatically applied to your purchase; no promo code required. The subtotal of your purchase must be $100.01 or greater after any promotional discounts have been applied. Additional fees such as tax or shipping and handling do not apply toward your minimum subtotal requirement of $100.01. Offer applies to standard shipping only. Certain items that require additional shipping and handling are excluded from this promotion and do not apply towards your $100.01 subtotal minimum. Offer subject to change.
Keeping a vintage camera on a shelved display is one thing, but actually using one? Well, that's a whole 'nother sort of awesome. And this repurposed lamp, which boasts a vintage camera, does just that. While it certainly won't be taking many pictures, the included light bulb and brand new wiring means it'll be adding a flash to your decor for years to come.
- Vintage Ansco Shur-Flash camera
- Sleek black and chrome metal tripod
- Measures 24" x 12"
- New 15W candelabra base bistro bulb
This product ships from the maker within 7 days, via USPS
** This item may have additional shipping charges applied at checkout.
Full refund issued for items returned within 14 days of receipt


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Organic foods are no more nutritious or safer than conventional foods, according to a recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Published in the Oct. 22 online version of Pediatrics, the academy's official journal, the study by Joel Forman and Janet Silverstein found that while organic farming is better for the environment than conventional farming, organic foods are no better than conventional foods when it comes to food safety and healthfulness.
"Current evidence does not support any meaningful nutritional benefits or deficits from eating organic compared with conventionally grown foods, and there are no well-powered human studies that directly demonstrate health benefits or disease protection as a result of consuming an organic diet," according to the report.
The study also found that although organic foods regularly cost more than conventional foods, costs can be competitive and yields comparable to conventionally grown foods.
Forman and Silverstein recommend that pediatricians share the study's findings with patients and their parents who ask about eating organic vs. conventional.


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Remembering the Video Game Work of Michael Clarke Duncan
Oscar nominated actor Michael Clarke Duncan passed away earlier today. The 54 year-old died from complications from a heart attack he had earlier this summer. Duncan is best known for his roles in The Green Mile, Armageddon, and Talladega Nights—among many, many other films.


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The pirate site plans to ignore the lawsuits from Elsevier and the American Chemical Society.
Improving Tomato Flavor, Genetically
January 26, 2017|
A sequencing blitz on the tomato genome reveals the genes that contribute most to tastiness.
January 26, 2017|
A sequencing blitz on the tomato genome reveals the genes that contribute most to tastiness.
January 23, 2017|
Researchers generate an organism that can replicate artificial base pairs indefinitely.
January 17, 2017|
A cell phone–based microscope can identify mutations in tumor tissue and image products of DNA sequencing reactions.
January 12, 2017|
Foamy-like endogenous retroviruses may have emerged more than 450 million years ago, according to an analysis.
January 10, 2017|
Researchers describe how gene expression in different human brain regions is altered with age.
January 1, 2017|
Three techniques for identifying the collection of maternal and paternal genes silenced in offspring
January 1, 2017|
The Asian honeybee should have been crippled by low genetic diversity, but thanks to natural selection it thrived.
January 1, 2017|
After initially discovering that DNA methylation represses transcription, Howard Cedar continues to explore how the epigenetic mark regulates gene expression.
January 1, 2017|
A test tube-based genome-labeling technique has been brought under the microscope.
January 1, 2017|
Eukaryotes prevent secondary RNA structures called G-quadruplexes, commonly observed in vitro, from forming in the cell.


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Meijer has made it so shoppers don't have to pore through circulars on Thanksgiving Day and then wake at 3 a.m. to wait in line and jostle with other customers on Black Friday.
Meijer said it is making holiday shopping easier for customers this year by offering aggressive Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday doorbuster deals on popular brands all day long while supplies last.
"Holiday shopping can be very stressful, so Meijer is focused on making the experience easier for our customers," said J.K. Symancyk, Meijer's COO. "By offering our special deals beginning at 6 a.m. on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday, our customers won't have to worry about waking up in the middle of the night to stand in line and can choose how early or late they want to shop for the hottest holiday gifts."
The company plans to send its Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day ad previews to customers who currently receive e-mail alerts from Meijer, as well as the more than 860,000 Meijer Facebook fans and Twitter followers. It is a smart strategy because it encourages more shoppers to like the company on Facebook and follow it on Twitter to secure access to the promotional officers.
The company is also promoting a loyalty initiative called Santa Bucks that will be available the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The digital Santa Bucks are available through the company's mPerks digital coupon program, which will allow customers the ease of digitally clipping coupons using their text-enabled cell phones. The Meijer mPerks program was launched in the fall of 2010, and has 830,000 subscribers, with more than 5,000 joining the program each week.


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A look at the Indiana Pacers heading into the 2012-13 NBA season:
The big story
For years, the Pacers have been preaching patience as they attempted to shed a slew of bad contracts and bad actors, both of which resulted in bad teams that pushed the once-Pacer-crazy fan base to seek other entertainment options. Last season, at long last, there was a payoff—the Pacers finished 42-24, won their first-round playoff series over Orlando and gave Miami a scare by taking a 2-1 semifinal series lead before eventually falling to the Heat.
Now comes the encore, in which the Pacers must back up what they accomplished last season, this time as one of the favorites to claim a top three seed in the East. They're well-positioned to do so. In the offseason, they had to shell out in order to keep point guard George Hill (five years, $40 million) and center Roy Hibbert (four years, $56 million), but that means their starting five—with shooting guard Paul George, small forward Danny Granger and power forward David West—returns intact. Those five were a surprisingly rugged and durable group, and were among the best starting fives in the league.
Clearly, though, Indiana was not satisfied with its bench, and the theme of the offseason was upgrading the reserves. They dealt away point guard Darren Collison and defensive guard Dahntay Jones, getting developing center Ian Mahinmi in return. That gives them the legitimate backup center they lacked. They took a chance on former draft bust Gerald Green, who tore up the D-League and played well with the Nets last year (12.9 points per game, 48.1 percent shooting), giving him a three-year, $10.5 million deal. They also signed free-agent point guard D.J. Augustin, more of a natural playmaker than his predecessor Collison. Power forward Tyler Hansbrough is still around, too.
Should Mahinmi continue to get better and Green follow through on what he showed last year, the Pacers' bench will be significantly better than it was last year, allowing coach Frank Vogel to throw players at opponents in waves. This is a team without a superstar (apologies to Granger and Hibbert on that one) and needs to win with depth and relentless effort. They're better built to provide that now.
MORE TEAM PREVIEWS: LA Lakers | Rockets | Celtics | Nets | Mavericks
Keep an eye on
If there is a guy with star potential on the roster, it is Paul George, the supremely athletic, talented and 6-8 shooting guard. George is entering his third year, and that is, typically, when a raw prospect begins to cash in on his superior talent. That is the hope with George, who raised his game in several key areas last year—his scoring was bumped up from 7.8 points per game to 12.1, his 3-point shooting hit 38.5 percent after he shot 29.7 percent as a rookie, and he became a better passer and rebounder.
He is already a tremendous finisher at the rim. If he can work in a better midrange game, and make himself as lethal in the post as his size suggests he should be, he will be ready for his close-up.
But that's where the lineup's balance might actually work against the Pacers. Who will lose out on shots as George becomes more of a featured player? And might that cause a chemistry problem on a team that counted chemistry as a strength last year? When you have Hibbert inside, plus quasi-stars Granger and West, someone is going to have to put ego aside in order to allow George to blossom with more shot attempts. It's a delicate proposition for Vogel, but a necessary one for the long-term benefit of the team.
PHOTOS: Images from NBA media day
Strategy session
Frank Vogel came into his first full season as the Pacers' head coach vowing to play, "smash-mouth basketball." That was effective in some respects, especially when it comes to rebounding, in which the Pacers ranked fourth in the league (43.9 per game). Indiana outrebounded foes by 104 last season, and that helped lead to 1.08 more shots per game than opponents, and 1.62 more free throw attempts.
Still, when it comes to the number of opponents' free throws, Vogel might want his team to be a little less smash-mouth this year. The Pacers were sixth in the league when it came to free throws allowed, giving up 24.5 per game, and in losing the playoff series to Miami, they gave up 27.0 attempts per game. Of the five teams worse than they were, four ranked in the bottom half of the league in points allowed per 100 possessions (the Pacers were ninth). The Pacers are hoping that the addition of Mahinmi off the bench can help address the situation, but Vogel also needs to impress on his other big men, Hansbrough in particular, that they can be smash-mouth without literally smashing other people's mouths.
Outside view (from and Eastern Conference scout)
"They established a style, and I think you have to give Frank a lot of credit, for a guy coming in off the lockout without much time to work with this team and just really trying to establish himself, he did a really good job. They're not all that tricky in what they do, but he will definitely come up with good wrinkles on plays to get different guy shots where they want them. He is very good at reading the way a game is going and reacting and getting defenses off-guard. They'll go small when they need to, go big when they need to, and they always seem to force you to play their way, to get you out of your comfort zone."
Inside view (from coach Frank Vogel)
"We know there is a buzz around the team now, and we appreciate that. You can see it and feel it in the community, people come up to me all the time and say we are doing something special. And they're right. The playoffs last year, it was such a great atmosphere and now we are looking to pick up where we left off. … We have everybody back. You look at teams that go to conference finals, got to The Finals, win championships, they are not usually pieced together. They have a core that has been together. We feel like we have that."
Our view
The depth and balance that this team has established will keep it in the mix when it comes to the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. They can't hang with the Heat, of course, but with Derrick Rose injured in Chicago, the Pacers are the favorites in the Central Division. The only question is whether they can beat out the revamped and experienced Celtics for the second spot in the conference and the mantle of Heat-challenger. Both Boston and Indiana have completely reshaped their benches, and which team did a better job with that—and which stays generally healthier—will probably come in at No. 2.
LINEMAKERS: Public likes Lakers, bettors aren't buying in
Projected rotation
Again, the key here could be the development of George. The Pacers are stocked with a bunch of decent-to-good players, but George could be in line for a breakout year.
PG: George Hill
SG: Paul George
SF: Danny Granger
PF: David West
C: Roy Hibbert
Gerald Green, G/F
Tyler Hansbrough, F
D.J. Augustin, G
Ian Mahinmi, C
Miles Plumlee, F


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" Brand: Quinoderm / Skin Care Type: Blemish Control "
I decided to use Quinoderm BP as part of acne.org's regimen. I suffer from cystic acne in my early 30s. To start with it's best to use the product before bed as it is an intense product. I used alongside a thick moisturising face cream and fragrance free facewash.
The cream initially can sting and leave redness. It's important to avoid the eye area. I would recommend applying your eye cream prior to the Quinoderm to avoid accidentally rubbing it into your eyes. Apply a small amount to start with and leave to dry for 5-15 minutes before applying a moisturiser. Moisturising is a must. It is also very important to wash your hands after using the cream, as if you touch your eyes it will sting!
After two weeks I saw significant improvement in my skin. No cystic acne and only a couple of pimples around the worst areas. There has been a lot of dryness, which I've been told will correct itself with type and plenty of moisturiser. After a week I started using twice daily, eventually increasing the amount applied each time.
It is important to apply it over the skin and not just directly on a spot, as it prevents rather than cures.
Being a dancer is the hardest thing in the world - not only do you have to work your butt off to dance at your best, but you also have to work your butt off to LOOK your best all the time. So imagine, if you will, my horror, when once a month (yes, ladies, at that wonderful Aunty Flo time), my face erupts into the worst spots I had ever experienced! A quick dash to the chemist last year resulted in me picking up this 25g tube of wonder, and now, it is my best friend, and comes everywhere with me!
What is Quinoderm?
Quinoderm is a cream, containing benzoyl peroxide, specifically created to clear up acne. It's an over the counter cream, and the chemist usually checks with me that I have used it before, before selling it to me at a bargain price of £2.55!
What does the product look like? What can I expect?
A pretty purple coloured squeeze tube, with a screwtop white lid, contains the cream, with the funny little Quinoderm logo in orange, and white writing. The cream comes in a matching cardboard box, with instructions on usage, in a handy little leaflet inside.
Quinoderm's active ingredients are:
- Benzoyl Peroxide, hydrous 10% w/w
- Potassium Hydroxyquinoline Sulphate 0.5% w/w.
It also includes ;acetic acid, white soft paraffin,edetic acid, sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate, maize starch, cetostearyl alcohol, sodium cetostearyl sulphate, macrogol 40 castor oil and purified water.
How do I use it?
Using Quinoderm is easy enough - the recommendation is to apply a thin layer to the effected area two or three times a day. You should gently massage the cream until it all blends into the skin, avoiding the mouth and eye area. You should probably also avoid dyed fabrics too - the cream is very good at removing colour from my pillow cases when I use the cream before night, so it's best to avoid your favourite jeans!
I use so little an amount that the 25g tube lasts me ages!
Does it work?
The most important question! And the answer, for me,is a big fat YES! Quinoderm helps me to keep my skin a lot clearer - I get a lot of acne around my mouth, and a few days of using Quinoderm, and I can instantly see results. Check out my photo - this is after having a bad break out just two weeks ago, and my skin is ten times better!
There are a few downsides to Quinoderm, however. The main thing I have found is that it dries your skin out massively - which then leaves you with the dilemma of do I put cream on, or moisturise?! I find that I only need to use Quinoderm for a few days until my spots are cleared, and so then I moisturise for a good week with a heavy moisturiser, and balance is restored.
The other is the smell - it really does give the idea that you're putting chemicals straight onto your face! It tingles once it's on, and this shows how strong this concoction really is! But that tingling soon settles down, and the pungent smell soon subsides.
All in all, the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages of this product, and it really is the best cream I have come across to treat my skin quickly and efficiently.
Quinoderm is available at all good leading pharmacies throughout the UK. They also have a website, which is currently under construction, and the range also includes face wash, and a weaker strength cream, specifically for sensitive skin.
Overall rating = 4.5/5 - would be 5, but the dry skin can be a pain!
Puberty, was to blame for my greasy slicked back hair style, when I was told off for wearing hair products at school - they didn't get close enough to me to realise the grease was self made and I cultivate it naturally. Washing it just made the grease seep from my scalp. Vosene medicated shampoo, was just about medicated enough to fluff up my hair for six hours, before the grease returned - emulating the mist on the moors from the book: 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'. Initially it was the greasy hair and then it was the incessant pimple on the tip of the nose that obscured my vision, and not forgetting the small crusty clumps that resided in the corners of my mouth, and top lip. Young elfin girls would shy away from me, believing I had herpes. By my late teens, like me, the pimples were growing and becoming boils. They seemed to magnetise all the fatty cells, skin debris and unwanted toxins into a mound and within days the pimple i.e. the castle would stand erect. Two places were their favourite haunts; on the cheek bones and on the temples. I would without fail have a boil or a raised blemish visitor every five weeks or so, until January 2009. The same time I discovered the discrepancies in the claims, concerning the so called facial cleansing products containing Benzoyl peroxide.
Behind the face of Quinoderm
Normal acne and spots are exterminated because Quinoderm has two active ingredients; benzoyl peroxide, and potassium hydroxyquinoline sulphate.
Most reputable brands of facial products do indeed have the Benzoyl peroxide agent in its ingredients. It is incredibly common and well sourced in the health and cosmetic sector. The agent is prevalent in creams and gels and face washes - usually at a concentration level of 2%. A higher dosage of 11% which is apparent in some products doesn't mean the Benzoyl peroxide more concentrated - hence, being more effective for your skin against acne. In fact the 2.5% level is as effective as the agent gets. Hereby the fallacy of thinking the agent isn't as powerful due to quantity is a myth. Each agent has properties that deliver variable strengths comparing to other agents, it is impossible to list ingredient quantities in these kinds of products efficiently. Therefore viewing the quantity listings on the ingredients is not a valid approach to skin safety - although manufacturers tend to disregard this fact while printing it on the packaging, it is highly misleading. When it comes to the risks you take while entrusting a health or cosmetic product to be 100% effective; you got to remember the more effective the product is, the greater the side effects and downfalls.
Dosage Recommendation
My experiences of getting systematic boils especially around the temples stopped, because I became less skin conscious. Vanity wasn't as important, like what it was in my early twenties. Because I'm not so conscious of my appearance, I'm less stressed; and in the meanwhile, it has eliminated blemishes and spots. My skin was overtly cleansed made me susceptible to swellings and boils. I now use this face wash occasionally, averaging it out at once a month, by then, my skin is still noticeably carrying extra oils - one cleanse by Quinoderm defaults the balance level. Manufacturers 'Ferndale Pharms Group' fatuously claim Quinoderm Face Wash should be used twice a day - morning and night. Heightening the dosage to the level Ferndale Pharms' claim; damages the epidermis (top layer of the skin) for all skin types, and make it prone to irritation, peeling and swellings. The advice lacks clarity and is irresponsible on the grounds of consumer health-care; especially if a consumer has a serious skin problem. Such as: Acne rosacea. A fair number of consumers don't know they have the skin condition - partly because the threads are variable - blushing easily is one variable, the more obviously visual ones are broken capillaries in the cheeks and chin. Both conditions could be put down to an excess in alcohol either daily, or through a lifetime of consumption. Visibility wise, it can be misinforming.
Health Warnings are: 'avoid contact with eyes'; or 'keep away from ears and lips. A smidgeon tough considering it is a face wash. The reason why they say to not get it into the ears is due to the fact it can give you temporary hearing loss. The agent: salicylic acid in Benzoyl proved to cause deafness in 'zinc deficient' laboratory rats. Hopefully, no consumers are zinc deficient. An odd agent to have in a face wash, you would think - no wonder 'Quinoderm' doesn't widely advertise itself as being connected with such harmful agents. Keep away if you are breast feeding or pregnant - Again not noted on the vendor websites. Oxyquinoline is a bactericide and fungicide agent used in complexion cosmetics to rid epidermis bacterial irritations - large doses of face washing can temporary hinder conception and is in your system until the agent is urinated out. Consult your GP or check it out on NHS Direct if you're currently facial cleansing with face washes. Quinoderm is the brand packaging pseudo identity for agents that have not been given the vote of confidence on safety checks (the results were inconclusive); especially as a face wash product whereby your dosage will exceed safety measures.© 1st2thebar 2012. Even the package name: 'face wash' sounds friendly and harmless, and because of this fact, consumers will overdose on the product, ingest the agents by accident in small quantities on each dosage can be a factor for temporary poor hearing. The matter isn't helped when 'Ferndale Healthcare Inc' (part of the Ferndale Pharms Group) sets the dosage at 'twice a day!' - Total complacency.
Take Heed
On balance, if you're prone to sporadic mild acne - Quinoderm can efficiently clear up pores in a timeframe of a three day period. Done sparingly, and administered with heed - the product shouldn't be treated as a mere face wash, and splash around in a precarious fashion; the agents involved are not a picnic in the park, by no stretch of the imagination. Due to my experience, I believe the Ferndale Pharms Group' are in breach of not handing out the correct facts and dosage back to their consumers. Regardless of skin type; oily or not - they've failed the consumer. They've indirectly withheld vital agent knowledge; which could cause great discomfort for people who have skin conditions already.
Those of you who do have oily skin, you'll look a lot younger than the rest of us in years to come - but do please consult with your General Practitioner if you're thinking of using a face wash of any brand, especially if you've a current underlining skin condition. It could save you a lot of discomfort and stress.© 1st2thebar 2012
***Why I want the product***
I am always on the lookout for a product that will help with my hormonal spots, not cause stripping of the skin (dryness), adult breakouts, something that does not irritate my sensitive skin and something that does not have ingredients that can do more harm than good, which can aggravate skin causing more breakout, sensitivity and irritation.
I wanted a facial wash that was free from ingredients Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate.
***Why free from those ingredients?***
The ingredients in particularly that can harm delicate sensitive skin, dry the skin out, which can cause more sports and that is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. This ingredient is known as a detergent, it helps to life, remove oils. It is used as a foaming agent in many of our daily products such as facial washes, toothpaste, shampoo, body washes, and washing powders...the list goes on. You cannot avoid it entirely but you can avoid it in your facial wash if you are prone to acne, have sensitive skin, irritate eczema
***What facial wash did I find?***
I came across a brand called Quinoderm years ago while browsing a pharmacy website for a new facial wash. The first thing that made me take notice of this brand was the price, and the big second, there were no above ingredients in sight. The ingredients inside Quinoderm facial wash is not comedogenic but one ingredient called Sodium Hydroxide is on the scale as 5 in irritation, thankfully this ingredient is located fourth from the bottom, which generally means the lower the ingredient in the list the less irritation.
***What do Quinoderm say?***
Quinoderm facial wash is a dual action wash that penetrates deep into the skin removing dirt and oil, its antibacterial action helps to kill bacteria that can cause spots. Leaving skin feeling healthy, clean and none tight.
It is suitable for oily and spot prone skin.
The packaging of this facial wash is simple yet to the point. The 150ml white plastic bottle has a navy blue sticker that goes right around the bottle. It tells you the product name, what it does and what skin type it is recommended for. Turning the bottle round you can also read directions to apply, keep out of eyes and ingredient list.
The lid sees a pop off lid that clicks securely when closed.
***Applying the product***
Opening the lid and squeezing some product into the palm of my hand the product is a lovely aqua blue/green colour, the scent is refreshing and almost medicated type of smell but the scent is not strong.
The product without water feels and looks more like a gel. It is thick but looks creamy at the same time.
Mixing a little water and rubbing my hands together, I am surprised and glad to see it does not foam and this was not something I was used to beforehand as I have used foaming cleansers for years.
On my face the product glides on smoothly, because it does not foam and disappear into my skin I feel it is working into the skin more, removing more makeup, dirt, grime and oil that has been built up through the day and night.
Washing the product off with a facial cloth, my face never felt dry, tight or irritated that can happen with facial washes with foaming ages like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate as these ingredients strip the skin of natural oils.
***Did I like the results?***
At the time my skin was not in a really bad state, I would have hormonal sports that are inventible and the odd spot periodically, I found Quinoderm Facial Wash worked a treat for me. It helped to clear spots quicker than previous facial washes; my face felt and looked healthier, cleaner and smoother without irritation. I found it was good at removing my makeup at the evening but I would always follow up with a second cleanse. I liked the product that much I continued to be a faithful user of the wash and used around four bottles until...
***What happened?***
Due to getting older, hormonal imbalances, medications from operations etc took a toll on my skin and Quinoderm Facial Wash could no longer keep up. I still felt it was doing my skin good such as none drying, none irritating, cleaning well but it just stopped working on my hormonal and general spots and has continued not to work ever since.
***Why do I continue to use it then?***
Simple, it does not contain harsh ingredients, none foaming, worked well for me for months and the price is fantastic for 150mls. Until I can find another facial wash that does not contain all the things I do not like I will be sticking with it.
***Price and availability***
I got this product from expresschemist.co.uk for a staggering £2.99 or you can purchase from pharmacy2u.co.uk for £3.49
***Would I purchase again?***
Yes, but I would say it is more suited for peoples of mild acne/spots. Persistent spot suffers may not work so well.
Suffering with Acne when in your late 20's is embarrassing and annoying and like so many other people I have tried every product going, from both the Dr and off the shelf.
After a lot of searching on the internet I came across a discussion about Quinoderm, in general people were saying that it is cheap and very effective. Out of desperation I headed for my local chemist and bought it for about £2.50.
Quinoderm contains Benzoyl Peroxide is available in 5% and 10% strength. The 5% is recommended for first time users and this is what I intended to buy, however I must have asked for the wrong one as when I got home I discovered I had the 10%. I decided to use it anyway and couldn't have been happier with it.
It is a clear gel that you apply with your fingers after washing your face. It has quite a distinctive smell which I found quite strong at first but you don't notice it after a few minutes. It is recommended that you do a patch test to start with, I did this and had no bad effects. When I first used it on my face, it made my skin tingle but it wasn't sore. I left it overnight and in the morning the small area I had used it on looked better already. I used it nightly for the following week and there was a definite improvement in my skin, however it did leave it drier than it was before. Personally I would take the dry skin over the spotty skin. You can apply it before using make up and you cannot tell it is there.
You need to make sure you wash your hands after application and sleep on old pillow cases as it has been known to bleach fabric, however I had no such problem.
I stopped using Quinoderm when I became pregnant as although it doesn't say there are any risks to unborn babies I know that some acne treatments are a big no-no in pregnancy. I have since started using it since stopping breastfeeding and it is as amazing as ever! If it's suitable for your skin type I highly recommend it.
I don't have the worst skin, but being in my mid 20s it's not exactly the clear skin I had hoped for. I had spots in my teens and although it has fluctuated, it's something I'm still dealing with and that does bother me. I came across some reviews for Quinoderm that were positive and having tried most over the counter creams and washes, decided to give it a go. There are some cautions to using this and although it hasn't been a miracle cure for me, it's something I've found benefit from using.
I hadn't heard of this before Googling a few products and seeing the reviews; it's not something I've seen advertised or on shelves before, and I don't know of anyone else having used it, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Quinoderm has a small range of facial care products, including a cream and a wash that can be found online and in pharmacies. This review is primarily for the cream as this is what I've been using and I can't really comment on the wash because I've not tried that (yet, but there's still time!).
On their website, Quinoderm claims that their creams are the 'only Benzoyl Peroxide combination products available from your pharmacist without a prescription'. They come in two strengths, 5 and 10%, so you get some flexibility in matching it to your needs. The Quindoderm 5 is probably more suitable for first time users or those with sensitive skin, whereas the 10% is something you could work up to or use if you feel you need something that bit more potent to tackle problem skin.
The make a rather demanding and provocative claim on their website: 'there is nothing more effective than Quinoderm cream when it comes to treating spots'. I'm yet to find a product that lives up to expectations or their claims, but I'm always open to giving it a go. They do suggest to give the product time to work, which can be as little as 2 weeks or as much as 2 months, in order to see some improvement. For the most effective results, you should stick to a skincare regime, and more tips and advice can be found on their website through a Google search.
This can be used in a way that's tailored to your skin, but if you use twice a day, for instance, I would gradually build up to this and not use too much at first! To apply, they suggest you use the '3 finger technique' (as proposed by the Acne Support Group). Squeeze small amounts of the cream on to three fingers, then dab onto your skin and rub over the affected areas. I think the key there is 'areas', meaning don't just focus on the actual spot itself, make sure to rub into the surrounding skin too.
Before applying this I make sure to cleanse my face, wash with water, and dry thoroughly. When applied to clean, dry skin I often notice a slight stinging sensation from it. I tend to use it twice a day, but this does vary because of the after-effects. This can leave your skin rather red, which is why I think caution should be made when using this. Don't use too much and don't use too often, at least not at first until you know how your skin reacts. I've used this before for a couple of days and the next day my face has had bright red blotches where I've applied it, making me 10 times more self-conscious! When this has happened I've tried moisturising and E45, but it does take some time for the redness to go away, so be warned if you use the day before a big event or night out.
Does it work? I'd actually say that it does, but I think that because of the way I've been using it (not as regularly or with as much routine as required) I've not had the greatest benefits I could have. I will use this more often at more regular times in future, but I'll make sure to moisturise in between and use less per application because of the redness. I noticed after 2 weeks that my skin had cleared up a fair bit in terms of there being less size to spots and eventually many disappeared. I still get left with some old marks, but I'm much happier with my skin after Quinoderm.
This isn't a fast miracle cure for spots, and it does have its redness-inducing effects that are offputting, but it has still been far more effective than any other product I've used. Because only small amounts are needed this tube has lasted a very long time, even when applied twice daily. I bought mine off Amazon for around £6 (Quinoderm 5) and I can safely say that it has been a wise investment rather than buying a load of other over-the-counter products to try that just don't work.
Overall I would definitely recommend giving this a go if you have troublesome skin, a few spots, or acne. Everyone's skin is different and reacts differently to different products, so it's worth trying this out for yourself. It's the only cream that has made a significant and positive impact on my skin, but it should be used with caution.
Face wash (150ml £3.19 Amazon)
Quinoderm 5 & 10% cream 25 & 50g (£4-8 Amazon)
When I was younger I suffered terribly with spots. I tried every medication from the doctor and nothing seemed to work. However, I must admit that I was not terribly persistent with treatments either because it was just so bad that if in a couple of weeks the treatment had not worked I moved onto to try the next thing which I am sure probably made my skin worse looking back on it.
How I came to use this cream...
I have not had bad spots for a good couple of years now and just a month ago I noticed a few really large, inflamed and painful lumps appear on my chin. I cannot stress how much they hurt. I thought it is possibly down to stress due to university exams and work training all coming at once. The worst thing about these couple of spots were that it did not matter how much make-up I piled on they were still ridiculously obvious. Yes the make-up reduced the redness but nothing else.
So during this time at work a colleague/friend of mine could see how much it was stressing me out. I use Clinique's anti blemish system religiously and up until then it had been a miracle worker keeping all spots away. But my colleague who had cystic acne for several years told me about Quinoderm (a white cream that comes in a blue tube, with 25g in). I told her I did not want to spend ridiculous amounts of money on treatments like I used to. She told me to pop into Boots and grab this and she told me it was about £2.00. I took her advice it was £2.65. She warned me to only put it directly on the spot because of the main ingredient, benzoyl peroxide really dries the skin out. But me being me read and went with the instructions rather than my friend's experience... the instructions stated apply 2 to 3 times a day on the affected area and massage in until no trace of the white cream is left. So rather than place it just on the spot I did rub it over the area surrounding the spot slightly too. Big uh oh but I will tell you about that later! I did take on board some advice from my friend though, she advised putting it on the skin with a cotton bud so it did not come into contact with my hands at all because it is a bleaching agent of some form.
My results after 1 day...
The large spots seemed reduced in size but they were still as red as ever.
My results after a few days...
The spots had dramatically reduced but I had been left with extreme dry, flaky areas on and surrounding the spots. This is why my friend had recommended just putting it directly on the spot (why did I not listen to her!)
My results after around 5 days...
I was getting a little worried because I noticed that there seemed to be some patchiness on the areas I had put it, they had almost gone quite orangey and when I put foundation on not only were the dry areas emphasised but you could see the patchiness still, just a slight discoloration. I was not sure whether these results were normal or whether this was some sort of reaction to the product. I did check it out online, I went onto some different forums to see what other people had mentioned and everything I was experiencing was normal. Additionally one girl gave me hope, she had put that after a couple of weeks when the skin has gotten used to this strong cream with its ingredients that the scaling and patchiness goes. It was around this time that I also reduced the usage of the cream because I thought perhaps I was just majorly overdoing it. So I took it down from three times a day to twice a day.
My results after 2 weeks...
My skin was much improved and I stopped using the cream. However, I have kept it on standby for the next emergency. My skin is generally clear so I do not see the point in using this constantly. I get very small spots regularly but nothing to worry about and they tend to disappear after a day or two. So this cream I really am just keeping for the large inflamed spots that do not disappear in a couple of days. But what I will do in the future is when I feel a spot on the horizon put some of this cream on to prevent it coming to the surface. I know that this works with the product because during my 2 weeks of use with it, I had a new spot start to appear and it quickly disappeared after one application of Quinoderm.
Those with sensitive skin be warned...
Luckily I do not have hugely sensitive skin but I can imagine for those who have problems with regular skincare that this would cause a lot of sensitivity, stinging and patchiness. So as it states on the instructions a patch test should be used which I would definitely recommend because 10% of the ingredient benzoyl peroxide is apparently very high! They do have the same cream with just 5% of this ingredient in which I am guessing is for the more sensitive skins.
Also do not put the cream onto broken skin from a spot or else I am sure ridiculous stinging would take place!
The cream also contains an antibacterial agent called hydroxyquinoline sulphate which works to stop the spread of the p.acne bacteria which causes spots.
To conclude
Overall, this is a good cream to minimise the inflammation and redness from spots. I would not recommend this to somebody with excessively sensitive skin though. My results showed that continual and excessive use of this cream can cause patchiness on the skin. So I think this cream should be used as few times as possible, just once a day and only a couple of times a week maximum.
I am constantly on the hunt for new products that will help me get rid of spots. This hunt has unfortunately cost me quite a lot of money over the years! Whenever I have clear skin, I am so much more confident and happy.
I have recently discovered an over the counter cream called Quinoderm. It is really cheap (£2.79). I thought cheapness would equals 'rubbish'. But hey, I just had to try it!
I did my research on acne.org before I took it out of its box to use. It was suggested by the majority of users on the forums that the cream was the only thing they had tried that had ever truly worked.
The cream comes in a tube which is purchased in a dark blue and box with an orange logo on. You can buy 5% or 10% Benzoyl Peroxide strength. It seems to be strongly advised to buy the 5% if you have sensitive skin, as it is very strong cream. I have very, very sensitive skin, but could only find the 10%, so I went with it.
Upon applying this cream, I found that it smells quite strong, but not repulsively. You don't need to use much of this, just a thin layer. It is recommended that you apply twice a day to all areas of your face or body that are usually effected by acne (even if currently clear). You have to use this cream regularly as it doesn't make the acne vanish forever, the spots will just come back if use is discontinued. The cream is ok to be worn under make up or even applied over moisturiser. The cream is not greasy.
There must be some downsides, you say?
The cream certainly clears your spots within days. It also prevents future spots if you continue to apply as instructed. Now do you want to hear the bad bits? I have found that this cream is very drying to your skin. My skin was bright red and scaly after a few days of use, I couldn't stop itching! I would imagine the 5% version wouldn't be as bad due to it's lower strength. There is a solution to the drieness however - tonnes of moisturiser. I won't lie, the process is very time consuming. Oh, and it also bleaches your clothes/pillows/towels too, so be careful!
I have been using for approx 2 months now, but admit I have not always used twice a day. I still get the odd few spots because of this, but overall there has been a massive improvement and I would recommend.
You can buy from Boots, all good chemists and even the Internet.
Like a lot of people, I do sometimes get a spot. Typically in a very obvious place on my face and on the day of an important meeting.
However, for the most part you can feel them coming and today before shaving, I spotted one on my jaw line - which is odd because they are normally on my schnozzle or chin. So, I zapped it with some Quinoderm cream and will give it another treatment tonight.
I am almost certain that, like other spots I have zapped, it will have gone by the morning. The best time to catch them is before they fully show themselves and more often than not you can stop them in your tracks by applying some Quinoderm cream the night before.
I find it so much more effective than other spot creams and my wife also uses it to the exclusion of any others. One tube lasts us for simply ages and I generally have to hunt around for it in her stuff as she uses it more than me,
It comes in a 25g tube of cream of which you need just a small splodge on the end of your (clean) finger, which you then rub gently onto the spot. I generally don't rub it all in if it's a night time and it dries to a little crust. Upon application you can feel a tiny tingle which helps you to believe that it is doing some good.
In the box in which the tube comes, there is a leaflet which gives you all necessary detail. Active constituents are Benzoyl Peroxide BP (10%) and Potassium Hydroxyquinolene Sulphate BP (0.5%)
If you need to use spot creams and haven't tried this one, I would certainly give it a go.
Ive been on pretty much every skin medication known to man, including roaccutaine, none of which have worked.
I was given an amazon voucher for some work i did for a school and thought i would spend it on some health and beauty products, looking at the good reviews i thought it was worth a try.
I bought the cream and the facewash.
I can say that i do not regret it, i can see that its had a drastic effect on my skin.
It has taken the reddening away and i can go days without and breakouts. If i do break out i can put the cream on it during the day and it will help it do die down and drys up and white heads as well as stopping others appearing.
- Worked great for me
- Doesnt leave you greasy
- Best facewash i have ever tried
- Gives you back your confidence
- Can leave you very dry (flakey) if overused
- Can sting if used directly after face wash, give yourself a while to dry before applying cream.
- Smells for a few minutes
- Can bleech clothes
If i could thank the makers of this then i would, unfortunatly i can so im doing it here.
A few words to all you people who suffer from bad skin, give this a try, ive tried the strongest prescription drugs for over 5 years now and ive never noticed a difference.
I use this for two weeks and im feeling good about myself already because i can see it working.
Give it a try, youve got nothing to loose.
I cant reccomend this enough.
Get your confidence back like i did.
I started using Quinoderm about a year and a half ago. I went into my nearest Boots Pharmacy and asked if they had a topical cream i could use to help my acne. I had previously tried Freederm, which really only seems to make my skin worse. The sales assistant recommended Quinoderm as she had said it really cleared up her son's acne. Quinoderm really does work, it helps dry out spots, clear them and stops the surrounding area from being contaminated.
*About the Product*
Quinoderm can be bought over the counter it comes in a 25g or 50g tube, i think the small one is about £3 and the big one about £5. The small one lasted me a long time, maybe 6 months, i then bought i big one quite a few months ago and there is still loads left in that.
Qunioderm is a cream that you apply directly to spots. The main active ingredient is Benzoyl Peroxide, which is known for it's acne clearing properties. You can chose a 5% or 10% Benzoyl Peroxide concentration. The sales assistant first recommended me the mildest one as i had never used it before. If you are trying this product for the first time i would recommend doing this as it did dry up my skin and made it abit sore for a while.
*My experience*
As soon as i started using this the individual spots i had applied it to stopped getting worse, they started to dry up, and eventually cleared. I usually i apply it when i feel spots emerging (i get like red lumps), most of the time it prevents them forming into zits, if not it keeps them under control. This product has helped clear my spots. I think it is so effective because it dries up blemished and prevents them from becoming big pimples that may pop and spread the bacteria, (sounds gross i know sorry). So i apply it to the affected area and it seems to stop it spreading. I usually only apply it at night, but i tried it before under make-up and it seems to look okay.
Overall i am quite pleased with this product. However, if get bad spots, i do apply alot and this dries out my skin and makes it flaky, so if i want to apply foundation it does not look good as it will not glide on smoothy and emphases the dry patches, ( i do have quite sensitive skin, this problem can proberly be avoided by not applying so much...silly me). But this hasn't bothered me too much as my main focus is on clearing the breakout, it goes back to normal in a few days and use of a moisturiser.
This product is good for treating existing spots and preventing them from getting worse and spreading. However i still occasionally get spots, so i don't think it completely prevents fresh breakouts or spots appearing. However, my skin in much better than is used to be and is easier to control, so it has helped alot.
*I would definitely recommend*
I really recommend this cream, it worked very well for me and i will continue using it. It will be good if you have moderate/severe acne and want to clear it and keep it under control. It is also handy to keep if you often get the odd blemish here and there.
I was introduced to this stuff by my boyfriend who used it many years ago when he was a teenager and still always has a tube at hand to combat any annoying spots. It is available at most chemists.
I have thankfully never suffered with acne but I do get the occasional breakout of spots, usually hormone related and any woman (or man) knows how distressing it is when all you can see when you look in the mirror is the big red shiny spot on the end of your nose / your chin, right in the middle of your forehead (even though no-one else may notice it much you just can't stop thinking about it). I have tried various things such as clearasil which have worked ok, but then again by the time they had worked the spot would probably have gone by itself anyway!
This cream smells quite strong and a bit like germolene. It also can bleach towels (my poor charcoal grey towels now have pink splodges!) bed sheets, clothes etc so do be very careful and wash your hands well after use.
I find that applying a thin layer twice a day will clear a normal spot up in 24-48 hours and for a really troublesome spot it will be gone after 3 days of use. It does make the skin around it quite dry and rough to the touch but this is a small price to pay and nothing a bit of moisturising won't sort out.
ive suffered from ache for years!! im 28 and do find it rather silly, but hey ho, ive tried everything!!! they sell it, ive used it. ive spent so much money on products just to get clearer skin, maybe not clear as that maybe impossible but atleast clearer. so after using quinoderm for the first time i was so so impressed! i have been using this for just over a week nw and my skin is so much clearer, i may have one or two spots still lingering but the majority have gone!! however, the is a not so nice side effect, very dry and taught skin bt applying a good moisturiser 5 minutes after application does help, and also a horrible burning sensation when i apply it, bt this disapears after a few seconds. its a good product as far as ive used it so i do recommend you to give it a try as it has helped me.
Well at the grand old age of 27, I have started resembling Superted (there's one for people born in the 80s) and have had a quite a few red spots on my face since Christmas. Now, I know what is causing this - a change in my contraceptive pill - but knowing the cause doesn't make it any more pleasant! I have been feeling a bit self-concious, so thought I would give Quinoderm a try after hearing it was good.
So, off I went to Boots, where I bought a tube for about £3. Quinoderm is an anti-acne treatment, comes in a cream and contains benzoyl peroxide - the one got is 10 per cent BP but you can get five per cent and 2.5 - as do most acne creams. I followed the instructions, using the cream twice a day, after washing my face/taking my make-up off. It warns you that it can take the colour out of garments, so I popped an old pillow-case on my bed and haven't had any problems. The cream goes on easily enough, though it stung a bit the first few times - it recommends testing a small patch of skin before using it on your face, which I did and this came out fine. You have to use quite a thin layer and I would advise keeping it away from the eye area, as the skin is quite sensitive there. It does smell a bit too - quite a chemical smell.
I carried on doing this for a couple of weeks, and found that my forehead, which was a bit greasy, became dry. I didn't really notice any reduction in spots but carried on. After another few days, I noticed that my skin was feeling quite tight, dry and flaky. So, I had a look online and found advice that said you should clean your face, moisturise, then put the cream on. So I tried that for a couple of weeks and found that my skin was very dry and there had been very little reduction in spots.
So I cut down on using the cream to once a day and this helped the dryness and flakiness - but I still had spots! After this, I gave up using it. I am quite disappointed as people seem to rave about this cream - I don't know if it was the strength of the cream, perhaps it might have worked better of the BP had been five or 2.5 per cent. Or maybe I should have braved the dry skin and carried on using it. Or perhaps it's just me!
I now use the cream on my forehead if it is getting greasy, but nowhere else. It didn't help my acne, made my skin dry, flaky and uncomfortable and for me, just did not work. I am off to the doctors, who will hopefully be able to help!
For me - it just didn't work!


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This up-market hotel lies opposite Las Matas train station, close to ParqueEmpresarial de Las Rozas, the holiday centre of Heron City and the shopping centre Las Rozas Village and Factory. There is a stop for the public transport within walking distance. The fully air-conditioned building offers use of a cafe bar, a restaurant, and three conference rooms with a capacity of up to 150 persons.
Those arriving by car may park free of charge in the garage. The spacious and comfortably appointed soundproofed rooms all come with an en suite bathroom, a lounge room, an office and a balcony. All rooms are well-equipped as standard. The hotel comprises rooms designed especially for the needs of disabled guests. The nearest golf course is 5 km away and there is a ski resort with lifts and slopes some 30 km from the hotel. Guests may select their breakfast from a buffet.
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Take a sneak peek into the future at what might be possible as scientists use innovative engineering and design to make cyber characters less "humanoid" and more just plain human. Robot "actor" RoboThespian will introduce you to CHIMP, ATLAS, PR-2, Herb the Butler, ICUB and others during an amazing tour of what's going on in robotics labs around the world.
Great Lakes Science Center


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Power protection FAQ
Ralph Graves is one of Crutchfield's blog editors, and part of the company's social media team. He writes about home audio/video gear, specializing in Apple-related and wireless technologies. Ralph holds a master's degree in music composition, and his works have been released on various labels. He's served as product manager for an independent classical and world music label, produced several recordings, and worked extensively in public broadcasting. Since 1984 he's hosted a weekly classical music program on WTJU, and is also active as a blogger and podcaster.
More from Ralph Graves
Heads up!Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.
» Does my power protection component have to be turned on to work?
» I only have a 2-prong outlet — can I use a power protection unit with a 3-prong plug?
» Why should I buy one of your power protection components when I can get one at a discount store for $15?
» I'm not in a high-lightning strike area — why should I worry about power protection?
» Will a power protection component protect me against a direct lightning strike?
» What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?
» Can I plug one surge protector into another to expand the number of outlets at my entertainment center?
» Can I use extension cords with my power protection component?
» Do I need a special type of power protection component to handle my digital satellite TV system?
» Should I use a separate power protection component for additional satellite receivers in other rooms in my house?
» How can power conditioning improve my HDTV's performance?
» What is power regeneration, and how is it different than power conditioning?
» What does an isolation transformer do?
» What's connected equipment insurance?
Q: Does my power protection component have to be turned on to work?
A: That depends on what you want it to do. Your gear will be protected from damaging surges and spikes if it's connected to a properly installed power protection component, even if the component isn't turned on. However, in order for any power conditioning features to work, the power protection component must be turned on.
Q: What is a ground loop?
A: A ground loop can happen when two or more components are connected to each other with signal cables (like RCA patch cords), and also plugged into separate AC outlets. This links the components in a circular path or "loop," and because the components have separate AC grounding paths, a small amount of AC current may actually travel back through the signal cables. This unintentional grounding through the signal cables causes interference that can be heard and seen through an audio/video system.
A ground loop is usually heard as a low hum coming through your system's speakers, or seen as faint horizontal lines or bars on your TV screen.
Ground loops usually occur under the conditions described above, but they can also involve telephone or coaxial lines. Electrical codes in the US and Canada require that all wires entering a structure (electric, telephone, cable, satellite, etc.) be common grounded to the same electrode. Ground loop interference can be annoying, but more importantly, a ground loop can indicate a potentially dangerous wiring problem that should be corrected by an electrician.
Nearly all of the power protection components we sell on Crutchfield.com provide ground fault detection. If one is detected, we strongly recommend consulting a licensed electrician as soon as possible.
Q: I only have a 2-prong outlet — can I use a power protection unit with a 3-prong plug?
A: You can use a power protection unit with a 2-prong adapter to prevent surge and spike damage. However, doing so will invalidate the power protection unit's connected equipment insurance policy. It's best to use a 3-prong outlet whenever possible.
Q: Why should I buy one of your power protection components when I can get a power strip at the drugstore for less than $15?
A: It's true that you can find multi-outlet power strips for as little as $15. But these models aren't equipped to fully protect your gear from spikes and surges. Also, they typically don't feature any kind of power conditioning, and in many cases can actually introduce noise into your system. And don't forget the warranty — the power protection components we carry have lifetime warranties and most include substantial connected equipment insurance coverage.
Q: I'm not in a high lightning-strike area — why should I worry about power protection?
A: Even if you think a direct lightning strike is unlikely, don't rule out the need for power protection. There are other types of damaging surges that have nothing to do with lightning, like the voltage spikes that can occur when the power is restored after any type of outage. Even the less catastrophic, and more common, types of power anomalies, including over-voltage and under-voltage, can cause damage over time. And electromagnetic and radio frequency interference can hinder your system's performance without the help of a power protection component with line conditioning.
Q: Will a power protection component protect me against a direct lightning strike?
A: The power protection components we offer have extremely fast reaction times (less than one nanosecond in some models). In most cases, they will protect your connected equipment from damage in the event of a direct lightning strike. The strike may damage or destroy your power protection unit, but it will covered by its warranty if it was properly installed. In the rare cases where the power protection component fails, any connected equipment is covered under the applicable connected equipment insurance coverage.
Q: What is voltage regulation?
A: Fluctuations in the AC line voltage in your home happen day and night, and you're probably not even aware of most of them. But over time, these fluctuations can harm the delicate circuitry in modern audio/video gear, limiting its performance or lifespan. A line conditioner with voltage regulation stabilizes the AC power it sends to the components that are plugged into it, keeping voltage within a narrow range to ensure optimum performance.
Q: What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?
A: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) component contains built-in batteries that provide a few minutes of power allowing sensitive electronic gear to shut down properly during a sudden outage. This helps prevent the loss of personalized settings in your audio/video components, such as channel programming in your satellite receiver. A UPS can also eliminate the need to reset components with internal clocks, such as DVRs, every time the power goes out.
Q: Can I plug one surge protector into another to expand the number of outlets at my entertainment center?
A: Possibly, though since some power protection components offer up to 12 AC outlets, "daisy chaining" multiple units together shouldn't be necessary. When daisy chaining, it's possible to add too great a current demand on the first power protection component, exceeding the load it was designed to carry. If that happens, the unit may go into "protect" mode, not allowing any power to pass through to your components. We recommend selecting a model that will accommodate all of your components in any given location.
Q: Can I use extension cords with my power protection component?
A: Yes, but for the warranty and connected equipment insurance to be valid, you'll have to use an extension cord approved by the power protector's manufacturer. This applies whether you want to use an extension cord between the wall outlet and the power protection unit, or between the power protection component and your gear.
Q: Do I need a special type of power protection component to handle my digital satellite TV system?
A: Yes. Although many power protection units have coaxial cable jacks, you'll need coaxial inputs specifically designed to handle a satellite signal. The voltage that normally travels between your dish and satellite receiver can be much greater than the voltage found in a typical cable TV signal. In fact, the difference in voltage might be great enough to cause a cable-only power protector to break the connection. Only a power protection model designed to accommodate digital satellite signals will be compatible with these higher voltage levels. A model designed for satellite TV also needs a phone jack input to protect your satellite receiver from surges that can enter through the phone line.
|A satellite TV system needs power protection for the AC line, the satellite dish and cable/antenna feeds, and a phone line.
Q: Should I use a separate power protection component for any additional satellite receivers I have in other rooms in my house?
A: Absolutely. If, for example, you have a dual-LNB satellite dish with two signal cables coming into your home, each cable will need to pass through a power protection component. If you're splitting your satellite signal to feed a second TV, the length of the cable will be susceptible to the introduction of electronic noise on the way to the second room. Your second satellite receiver will also need its own protection from spikes, surges, and interference. The best solution is to also use a power protector with a line conditioner to protect your second receiver and filter out the noise from the extension cable.
Q: What is power conditioning?
A: Power conditioning (also known as line conditioning) filters out interference that can negatively affect the performance of your system. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is caused by strong nearby electric fields generated by other devices that draw a lot of power, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders. EMI can add a buzzing or a hum to your system's sound, and appear as "snow" on your TV. Radio frequency interference (RFI) comes from radio stations, microwave towers, cell phones and other such devices. RFI can be heard as pops and clicks through your speakers, and can also cause "snow" on your TV's picture.
Q: How can power conditioning improve my HDTV's performance?
A: Interference from unconditioned power can cause a number of problems for your display. You may see intermittent lines or occasional flashes as the power fluctuates. Dropout can occur if the signal is disrupted. Power conditioning addresses these issues, but its greatest benefit is more subtle.
The electronic noise level your display receives affects its ability to render black. This background white noise dilutes black, softening it to gray — which dulls the overall image. Power conditioning minimizes noise, so your TV produces darker black. This increases the clarity and contrast of the image, making it appear cleaner and more detailed.
Q: What is power regeneration, and how is it different than power conditioning?
A: Think of it this way. If we were talking about purifying water, then power conditioning would be the equivalent of pouring dirty water through one or more filters. Power regeneration would be the equivalent of heating the water to turn it into steam, leaving all the impurities behind, then cooling the steam in a separate chamber to yield pure distilled water.
For high-end audio/video components, even a small amount of interference can impact performance to a noticeable degree so it's important to get power that's as clean as possible. A power regenerator takes the AC power that comes through the line and uses it to create its own power to send to your equipment. Incoming AC (alternating current) is converted to DC (direct current) to strip off electronic noise. The DC is then regenerated as AC through circuitry that tightly controls the power flow, eliminating as much variation as possible. This regenerated power has virtually none of the noise or fluctuation of the original current.
Q: What does an isolation transformer do?
A: Found in higher-performing line conditioners, an isolation transformer's job is to transfer electricity from your home's AC power to your audio/video equipment while isolating your gear from the power source. Isolation transformers reduce electrical noise, and can often cure ground loop noise problems.
Q: What's connected equipment insurance?
A: In addition to providing a warranty for the power protection unit itself, reputable manufacturers will also include connected equipment insurance at no additional charge. This insurance covers damage to your system resulting from the power protector's failure. The value insured can be quite high, but it's usually stipulated that all connections to and from the protector were properly made and that only the type of components the protector is designed for are covered.
BB from new yorkPosted on 6/20/2016
I live in old apartment that is not grounded; not up to code and it won't be brought there anytime soon. Is there any power conditioner (or the like) that will work in a system that is not grounded? Only has load and neutral lines available.


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JR wrote:With ever better flying premium plastic disc becoming available all the time the benefits of cycling base plastic discs become fewer. For me having the same shape in the disc for left straight and right shots is not mandatory nor sought after but it might be for some. Base plastic tend to have ok grip tackiness wise and recently there have been tackier and tackier primo plastics and rubber becoming available. Price depends on the mold and how often you lose discs. Rocs are very long lasting in dx. At least is you can live with sanded smoother damaged discs. Putters and mids ladt longer and still around rocks and broken glass dx will not last.
I have had a z Pred get sliced a fifth of an inch deep on the first throw probably from hitting broken glass hyzered. Lose a disc and base plastic is cheaper but it takes a longer time to break it in where getting more discs and cycling longer or giving discs to friends to break them in.
I have never been exclusively and mostly not much of a cycling player. I have tried it and with each year i can fill the gaps even with tacky discs that are primo. I have always made by with primo discs with occasional blow ups. The danger of which gets less each year.
Even primo discs change especially on rocky courses. Some molds and slower speeds last longer than others. Leos in champ are slick in adverse conditions but last years.
I would go as far as saying that now people can manage to be lazy and buy just right flying primo discs that are not compromises in grip and durability. Is this the first year for that i think not if you can manipulate flight.
Edit late turns are not easy to get with primo discs but are easier with base plastics. That difference has not been bridged so well.
itlnstln wrote:It's so rocky around here that I have to cycle premium plastics. Star plastic is great for cycling. I've become especially adept at repairing discs using heat to "remold" gouged disc edges.
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tiltbillings wrote:Google jon kabat-zinn. He is the father of "secular" mindfulness meditation in terms of its therapuetic potentials. He is someone who has seriously done the practice and is a reliable source.
Ben wrote:Hi everyone
This is a request for assistance. I am seeking some resources to commence a 'mindfulness meditation' program at the school my wife and I work at. Its going to be a program that my wife will be directing but she's asked my help. She's a psychologist and has done MCBT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) and other 'mindfulness' workshops and the school is keen to incorporate 'mindfulness' into staff and student wellbeing programs. The thoughts we have about the program at this stage, is that she will lead classes in mindfulness meditation for both staff and students.
I could probably take the mindfulness meditation 'classes' myself but a complication is that due to the requirements of my "tradition", we're not permitted to teach unless we are authorised to do so. I have a profound sense of loyalty to my teacher and I would not do anything to sever my relationship, however noble the intention.
The other complication is that it is a Church school. While they are progressive enough for the school chaplain to invite me to come and introduce Buddhism to their students, I know that teaching "Buddhist" meditation at the school might be a source of complaint and criticism. Launceston is afterall, a very 'churchy' place and in some ways, still very conservative.
So, while I am not intending to lead meditation, I do want to support my wife in being able to direct her to quality resources. So this is where you come in. Do you know of any good mp3 or other audio resources that provide step-by-step instruction for, say, anapana-sati? Ideally, it should be 'secular' in treatment but I am happy to consider some resources that might be 'light' on the Buddhism. And who knows, for some people it could just sow the seed of Dhamma.
Thanks in anticipation.
tiltbillings wrote:Google jon kabat-zinn. He is the father of "secular" mindfulness meditation in terms of its therapuetic potentials. He is someone who has seriously done the practice and is a reliable source.
Joy of Being: guided meditations and music
Graham Williams and the Lifeflow Meditation Centre with music of Ross Edwards.
ABC Atmospheres 476 6800
This beautiful four-disc set from ABC Classics' ambient label comprises three discs of guided meditations and one of music: a short extract from music by leading Australian composer Ross Edwards introduces and closes each meditation and the last CD presents that music in full.
Graham Williams left Adelaide to study music in France but studied Tibetan Buddhism there as well, going on to ordain as a Tibetan lama and to study in the Burmese tradition. He set up the Lifeflow Meditation Centre in Adelaide on his return to Australia but the meditations he presents here show no trace of Buddhism as such, focusing entirely on the relaxation techniques.
The first three discs present a series of nine 'spot meditations', brief exercises which can be done anywhere in about half a minute, and a sequence of longer meditations (12 to 26 minutes). The spot meditations go through awareness of sound in the immediate environment, so that it can be accepted rather than fought; body position, to gain alert but restful physical balance; shoulder stretch and neck massage, to relax the muscles that signal (and contribute to) mental tension; and a simple breathing exercise. The first of the longer meditations is a relaxation exercise which combines and extends some of the short exercises, and then Disc 1 closes with an extended movement meditation.
Disc 2 begins with a basic 'Watching the Breath' meditation and continues with a breath-counting variation and two extensions which invite the meditator to visualise the breath flooding and energising the whole body, 'feeding your body with the breath … drinking it in to your whole body'. The first meditation on Disc 3 extends the preliminary relaxation routine into a full body scan, guiding the meditator around his/her body, bringing sensations to consciousness and constantly reiterating two points: 'if your awareness drifts away, gently bring it back' and 'whether the sensations are pleasant or unpleasant, just let them be, just watch them'. The second, 'Washing Mind and Body', leads the meditator to visualise a warm gentle rain washing right through the body and rinsing away physical tensions and negative emotions, while the last two, 'Acceptance and Kindness' and 'All-embracing Kindness', cultivate positive feelings towards oneself and the world respectively.
Anyone who has learned meditation in any of the Buddhist traditions will recognise most of the techniques presented here, and yoga practitioners will recognise the others. Williams' biggest practical departure from his sources is in posture: he does allow people to sit on cushions on the floor if they prefer, but he assumes that most will sit on a straight chair. It is a very reasonable choice which removes a large but inconsequential barrier between Westerners and meditation
The teachers (we hear several) have obviously refined their pacing and choice of words with years in front of classes, and their guidance is excellent. Each meditation is introduced by a routine of settling the posture and accepting the sounds in the vicinity – a good idea, since routines aid consistent practice – and book-ended with a minute or two of music. The music is treated respectfully and appropriately in that it introduces and closes each track but not used as background.
The unique conjunction of meditation and contemporary art music here is due to the shared history of the teacher and the composer: Graham Williams (a distinguished pianist in his other life) and Ross Edwards were friends in university days. They went separately to Europe but found they had much in common after they returned, as each of them radically re-defined his practice, of meditation or music, to fit it to the Australian psyche.
The selections on Disc 4 naturally emphasise the contemplative side of Edwards' work rather than the ecstatic. The best known piece will be the soaring Dawn Mantras, written for performance on the sails of Sydney Opera House on the first morning of the new millennium. Six of the others are drawn from his concertos for guitar, violin, piano and oboe, all in excellent performances by Karin Schaupp, Dene Olding, Dennis Hennig and Diana Doherty with major Australian orchestras. The other two are Yanada for unaccompanied oboe (Doherty again), and the Chorale from Enyato I. All in all they make a lovely introduction to the composer's work.
The music is beautiful and the whole package is superb. Experienced meditators will find The Joy of Being rewarding, but it really stands out as a perfect introduction to meditation for mainstream Australians. It bypasses any potential cultural or religious obstacles and it presents all the basics of meditation very simply and clearly in a calm, welcoming ambiance.
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