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Health Care System "In Pursuit of Excellence" Case Example
Covenant Health System, Maine
October 2008
The Organization
St. Mary's Health System is a member of Covenant Health Systems, and is one of the largest employers in Maine. Located in Lewiston, St. Mary's Regional Medical Center is a 233-bed acute care facility that offers a full spectrum of care and a "whole person approach" in meeting the needs of the Androscoggin County area.
St. Mary's mission is to "continue the healing ministry of the Catholic Church in the Spirit of St. Marguerite d'Youville by providing preventive, curative, restorative, and supportive services with compassion and respect for everyone." The Health System is committed to fulfilling four values as guides to its decisions and behavior: respect, excellence, compassion, and stewardship.
The Initiative - St. Mary's Center for Joint Replacement
In 2006, St. Mary's Regional Medical Center began a strategic planning process with a key focus on quality. Soon after the planning process began, a local orthopedic surgeon expressed a desire to create a center specializing in the unique needs of joint replacement patients. The concept was an opportunity for the medical center to develop a service which established a patient- and family-centered culture, different from a traditional approach. The medical center completely renovated hospital space, which formerly served as a medical-surgical unit. The Center was designed from the patient's perspective, using a combination of patient focus groups and a patient and family advisory council to reengineer the patient experience. These entities played an integral role in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the Center for Joint Replacement. From the physical layout of the Center to clinical protocols and daily routines, the advisors' input proved invaluable.
The end result was a Center with 16 quiet, private rooms with personal baths and wireless Internet access. The facility includes a rehabilitation gym designed to simulate the home environment, furniture that meets a patient's needs after surgery; healthy snacks available at all times for patients and families, and patient education designed to provide an accurate outline of the daily activities prior to admission. Additionally, an environment was established that is more respectful to the patient and their family by encouraging open and effective communication. The process views patients and families as vital collaborators in the care of the patient and in the success of the Center for Joint Replacement.
The new Center has become a model of excellence at the Health System, and has had a significant impact on the organization's long-term thinking and planning. The board's strategic planning process has become focused on ensuring real patient- and family-centered care, placing the same expectation on every St. Mary's service line.
The Patient and Family Advisory Council. Before beginning development of the Center for Joint Replacement, St. Mary's held a focus group with 20 to 30 former patients to discuss their experience, including pain management, their surgery experience, the coordination of services, and patient education. Following the focus group, St. Mary's selected five patients to serve as "patient advisors." Patient advisors came to the hospital every 2 to 3 weeks during the planning stages, and provided feedback about the admission process, pain management, coordination of care, discharge instructions, and transition out of the hospital.
During construction, St. Mary's created a mock room to enable clinicians and patient advisors to "test" the space and provide feedback to the architects. Patient critiques were very different from feedback from providers. The patients focused on room aesthetics and efforts to make it feel less sterile, but also on how the room would accommodate the patient's needs functionally. Patients moved around the room as if they had just had surgery, identifying issues providers hadn't observed. For example, a patient using a walker discovered the bathroom door couldn't close with the walker inside the bathroom.
The patient advisors also offered insight into many processes. For example, in the past, all patients were given an epidural for pain control during and immediately following knee replacement surgery. The approach had a 60 percent success rate, which was considered to be positive. However, patients complained that the experience was negative because their pain was not under control. The Center used the feedback to change their pain protocols, which empowered the patient by providing an opportunity to collaborate with the nursing staff to control postoperative pain and made their rehabilitation go more smoothly.
The Patient and Family Advisory Council continues to have a voice in the evaluation of the program. The group has access to and reviews performance/quality reports and patient surveys. They have agreed to assist the Center for two years and to provide mentorship for new advisors.
Preparing Patients and Families for Surgery. Although joint replacement patients have always received education prior to surgery, patient feedback from the focus groups and the Patient and Family Advisory Council determined that patients often were not properly prepared for surgery. Patients needed more information about what the experience would be like and what would be necessary for recovery.
To ensure that patients had the necessary information in advance, the Center began offering a two-hour class for patients prior to surgery. Part of the class involved determining each patient's discharge plan to help them transition back to home and continue with their rehabilitation exercises. At the same time, the Center expanded the time between patient consent for the surgery and the date of surgery from two weeks to four weeks, allowing patients more time to seek support for making the transition home. Since the class began in July 2007, patients who participate in the class prior to surgery have shown higher satisfaction rates and a slightly higher rate of discharge to home.
The Center also instituted a "coaching" program for the patient's family or friend who was going to assist with the patient's recovery at home. This program was instituted for several reasons. First, several Patient/Family Advisors had mentioned that they would have been more comfortable during their hospitalization if a family member was able to stay. The Patient/Family Advisors also reported that their families were ill prepared to assist with care at home. It was at this point that St. Mary's began to recognize the value and importance of involving families or friends in the patient's care. The "coaches" would be involved in all patient education sessions, instructed on how to perform care and assist patients with the home exercise program, and were invited to stay throughout the hospitalization if the patient and family member so desired. The outcome of this initiative has been better engaged families, higher patient satisfaction scores, and an increased number of patients who are able to go directly home after discharge.
Weekly Patient Satisfaction Report Card. St. Mary's contracts with a national organization that measures patient satisfaction; however, results are delayed by approximately three months. The Center realized that a minor change in treatment may have a significant impact on patient satisfaction, but that they might not find out for up to three months after the dissatisfaction had occurred. This could result in providers unknowingly providing care that caused other patient dissatisfaction for several additional months. To ensure a rapid response to patient concerns, the Center developed a weekly satisfaction report card.
The report card is based on information provided by patients at discharge the previous week, and allows the Center to make immediate adjustments. The survey asks patients detailed questions about their experience, the coordination of care, and pain management. For example, at one point a surgeon made a change to the pain management medication used. The surgeon believed that the new medication would be just as effective in managing pain as the previous medication, but patient concerns about pain control were immediately identified based on that week's patient satisfaction report card. The Center was able to identify a change in a medication was the source of the pain management problem and quickly responded to make adjustments, bringing patient satisfaction scores back up the following week. Thus, patients' feedback from one week will directly impact the care and service in successive weeks.
Ensuring Coordination of Care. Prior to developing the Center, joint replacement patients had the potential to get "lost in the system" as they were treated by multiple providers at multiple locations. To ensure a seamless experience, the Center hired a full-time nurse dedicated to coordinating patient care. The Care Coordinator nurse helps guide each patient from the time of consent, to the time of admission, and again after discharge. Patients know whom to contact should they have any questions about their care, or if they need assistance scheduling tests or follow-up appointments.
Having one contact point removes some of the uncertainty for patients and helps build a support system. The Care Coordinator also conducts rounds with physicians, providing continuity for patients.
In addition to a dedicated nurse, the services patients receive throughout their hospital stay are now scheduled in advance and coordinated. Before the Center was established, patient care in the hospital was not scheduled, so a physical therapist might come to a patient's room to provide care and find the patient had gone for a test (such as an x-ray). In addition, patients were frustrated because they did not know what their schedule would be, so they could not plan in advance for when to take pain medication, use the restroom, or visit with family. By ensuring that both the patient and their care providers know the daily schedule, providers are more efficient and can ensure that patients are properly prepared for upcoming appointments, and patients feel as if they have more control over their care.
Applying the Patient- and Family-Centered Concept Throughout the Medical Center. The success of the Center for Joint Replacement's patient- and family-centered approach has been embraced by the St. Mary's board and leadership. This new way of thinking is being applied in other parts of the organization, including three units currently under construction. The new emergency department, skilled rehab unit, and ambulatory care center projects are forming their own Patient and Family Advisory Councils. Throughout the development of each unit, patients/families and staff are asking themselves if each component is patient- and family-centered. Each time the question is asked, new ideas are incorporated, from signage to room design to parking.
Engaging Local Payers. St. Mary's is working closely with local payers to communicate the unique approach employed at the Center for Joint Replacement. For example, in 2007 a local payer was highlighted in the newspaper for sending their patients to Singapore for elective surgeries. St. Mary's invited representatives to tour the Center to learn about its patient- and family-centered approach. After learning about various aspects of the Center, the payer asked the Center to be a preferred provider for patients in their plan. This validated that the Center was on the right path in ensuring patient satisfaction as well as efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The Center for Joint Replacement's patient- and family-centered model has resulted in shorter lengths of stay and improved rates of discharge to home. In 2006, patients with primary knee replacements had an average length of stay of 3.5 days and a 44% discharge to home rate. In contrast, in the third quarter of 2008 primary knee replacement patients had an average length of stay of 3 days and a 75% discharge to home rate.
Improved Patient Outcomes Result in Lower Costs. A shorter length of stay not only lowers hospital costs, but also reduces patients' risk for hospital-acquired infections. In addition, by transitioning patients back home after discharge instead of to a skilled rehab facility, total costs are lowered even further.
The Patient- and Family-Centered Approach Identifies New Ways to Improve Care. Ongoing analysis of patient satisfaction and patient outcomes allows employees to continually make adjustments that improve patient care. For example, evaluation of patient data found that female patients tended to progress to walking more quickly than male patients. A deeper analysis of the differences in patient treatment helped caregivers recognize that by walking to the bathroom, female patients were recovering more quickly, while male patients' recovery was impeded because they were able to use a urinal in bed with minimal movement. To ensure a more speedy recovery, all patients now walk to the restroom.
Limitations Encountered. When the new model was first communicated to providers, their initial reaction was that they had always been patient and family-centered, and some were offended by the emphasis placed on something in which they already prided themselves. The Center brought providers to several Patient and Family Advisory meetings, and the providers quickly realized that the experience they thought they were giving patients and the experience that patients were receiving were very different. The challenge was shifting providers' thinking from doing everything for the patient to partnering with the patients.
In addition, determining the reporting structure for the Center's program coordinator took some time. While the coordinator reported to the Medical Center's Chief Operating Officer, the position also required interfacing with multiple leaders within the organization and at times there was no clear documentation about who should be included in reports and decisions. Developing a matrix-type reporting structure helped clarify roles and improve communication.
Finally, while the success of the patient- and family-centered care model has improved patient care and outcomes in the Center, patients do not necessarily receive care in the same manner when they are transferred to other departments within St. Mary's or to other facilities the Center partners with (such as rehabilitation or home health). Patients have expressed frustration that they do not feel as much in control of their care when they are in other care settings. For example, if a patient is transferred out of the Center due to additional medical needs, they still have the expectation that they need to continue to move to improve their mobility. However, the providers on the unit they are transferred to may not have the same understanding of the original care plan. In addition, providers in other departments or organizations may not have access to the patient's care schedule throughout the day, and have little or no knowledge about the patient's scheduled therapy appointments or tests. This lack of coordination of care and patient communication can lead to a decline in patient satisfaction.
Advice for Organizations Implementing a Similar Approach. When implementing a similar model to the Center for Joint Replacement, begin by clearly articulating the mission and long-term goals. Then utilize patient focus groups to guide decision-making, if possible, forming a smaller group of volunteer patients committed to helping develop and test the program.
Do not let clinicians or leaders focus too much on the latest equipment or technology. Rather, the focus should be on changing the patient- and family-centered culture and philosophy. To help with this shift, engage clinicians in the program development and encourage them to have meaningful conversations with the patient focus groups. It is critical that providers break through the denial of thinking that they are already patient- and family-centered, shedding light on what patients experience and helping providers understand why patients may not perceive existing care as patient- and family-centered.
Although St. Mary's has not calculated the actual cost savings to the organization, reducing average length of stay saves the Health System money. In addition, involving patients as part of the care team ensures that patients are in a safer environment. In this regard, patients and their families are more likely to make sure their medications are correct; are better able to recognize signs and symptoms of potential complications; are better able to understand and perform their exercise programs; and are more comfortable to ask questions in preparation for discharge.
Improved patient and family involvement and patient satisfaction also strengthens their relationship with their caregivers. From a risk-management perspective, if something does not go according to plan, patients are more likely to work with their provider to work out a solution.
Contact Name: Lee Myles
Title: CEO
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Tel: (207) 777-8802
Fax: (207) 777-8800
Contact Name: Len Farinas
Title: Program Coordinator, Center for Joint Replacement
Email: email@example.com
Tel: (207) 333-4733
Fax: (207) 333-4722


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There are many opportunities for you to visit BPP University Law School's centres across the UK, to find out key information about law career paths and your programme of interest.
BPP University Law School's open evenings are a mixture of presentations, informal discussions and interactive sessions that give you a taste of what studying law is like, and give you the opportunity to discuss your future legal career with practicing legal professionals.
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Mystique Illusion Spectacular
Ticket to Spectacular Magic and Illusion Show - $29.93 for a Concession/Child/Pensioner or $36.05 for One Adult (Valued from $49.91)
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the offer
Jaw-dropping magic, special effects and entertainment - find it at Michael Boyd's Mystique Illusion Spectacular
One child/concession/pensioner ticket is $29.93 (valued at $49.91)
One adult ticket is $36.05 (valued at $60.11)
Watch Michael Boyd, internationally acclaimed illusionist and Australia's Got Talent finalist
Witness all the magic (literally) at The Palms at Crown Casino Melbourne
Choose Monday 28 March or Tuesday 29 March at 8pm
Escape reality with a breathtaking spectacle, care of illusionist Michael Boyd and his show Mystique Illusion Spectacular. This two hour show combines a mixture of stunning dancers and hilarious comedy magic, not to mention escapes, levitations, transformations, special effects and mind blowing disappearances. A little bit of surprise and delight, if you will...
Oh, and there's also the acts that were designed and built by the same team that work alongside the famous David Copperfield - in a nutshell, get ready to have your mind absolutely blown!
What We Like
Buy multiple tickets for an extravagant night out with friends!
Runs for an hour and 40 minutes with a 20-minute interval
Kids tickets are valid for those aged 6 to 16 years
Check out the 'Fine Print' tab to see all terms and conditions that apply to this offer
The Fine Print
Valid for Monday 28 March or Tuesday 29 March 2016 at 8pm
When you click buy for your preferred location, you will be redirected to a third party website to purchase your ticket(s)
Please note, for admission to the event, you will require your official ticket which can be redeemed by immediately printing your e- ticket, mobile ticket or tickets can be collected from the box office
Members can purchase multiple tickets for themselves and as gifts for different recipients
For this event, a one-off handling fee of $7.95 per transaction applies as well as a delivery fee that ranges up to $7.50 on all purchases. The actual service/delivery fee may vary depending on the venue and method of delivery selected, or where you add other items to your basket
All ticket/item prices displayed for this event are subject to change at any time without notice
A payment processing fee of 1.95% applies to all purchases made by credit or debit card and is included in the price. A payment processing fee does not apply for purchases made through Ticketek agents or outlets when using cash, or when redeeming a Ticketek Gift Voucher
All ticket/item prices include GST, if applicable, and are quoted in AU$
Ticket orders purchased by credit/debit card are subject to credit/debit card approval and customer account verification
Third party website terms and conditions apply
Please visit ticketing site for more information about the performance
Kids tickets are suitable for ages 6 to 16 years
To view the Children's Policy please click here
Cancellations and non-attendance will forfeit the voucher
Not valid in conjunction with any other offer and not redeemable for cash
The Company
The Palms at Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006


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The Brown Daily Herald (BDH) is the Brown University student newspaper based out of Providence, Rhode Island. According to its Wikipedia entry, it is the second-oldest student newspaper among American college dailies. Brown University is an Ivy League school, the 7th oldest university in the United States. It is considered one of the finest universities in the nation.
This past Sunday BHD posted an article titled "From ghosts to ghostbusters, paranormal interest thrives in R.I."
As you will read from the article, they talk about the bustling paranormal culture that is thick in Rhode Island. That is to say the ratio of paranormal organizations and practitioners to the overall population is high. Much of the credit for Rhode Island's bustling ghost hunting community is given to SYFY Channel's "Ghost Hunters", for they hail from Warwick. The Ghost Hunters led an investigation at Brown University not too long ago, to the apparent delight of many people who are impressed by such undertakings.
In the middle of the article, author Gabrielle Dee offers this statement:
Understanding the paranormal consists not only of the creepy, otherworldly creatures that haunt the insides of closets, decrepit attics and corn fields that spaceships mistake as landing pads — it's a new vision of reality.
A NEW vision of reality? No. Paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs are as old as recorded history. They are very much culturally based. They adapt and morph in almost perfect synchronicity with societies and cultures through the ages.
As far as "reality" is concerned, I suppose you could argue that people's inherent belief in the unproven is the reality of the human condition. But reality as measured by science has filtered thousands of years of paranormal claims, with the collective sum of scientific evidence totaling Zero. None. Nada. Zilch.
The article goes on to mention another paranormal investigation group named RISEUP, a Rhode Island and Connecticut conglomerate (first I've ever heard of it, but no matter.) This particular group had these pearls of wisdom to offer:
It is important to keep in mind that paranormal sightings include an interpretive element, and depends on what the viewer perceives as real, he (the group's founder) said. Religious and cultural interpretations, which give rise to what people may perceive as paranormal, must be balanced with today's science and technology in a very logical manner, he added.
An interpretative element? The entire exercise of "ghost hunting" is interpretive. Ghost hunters whip out their recorders and thermometers and other devices with "ON" buttons and they think this is the epitome of scientific investigation. They take readings and they interpret readings based on their preconceived notions. If there is an "anomaly" of any kind, then that's a ghost in their book. This is exactly why ghost hunting is pseudoscience. They have all the trappings of science, and they claim they are being scientific. By scientific standards, they the polar opposite of good scientific practices.
And the statement about religion and culture being "balanced with today's science and technology in a very logical manner" … this is a very oddly phrased description. I agree that religion and culture is the driving force behind many people's "paranormal" experiences, but why it "must be balanced" with today's science and technology makes little sense to me. Apparently, I lack a "very logical manner" for not being able to understand exactly what is being said here.
So in summary: this article is horribly unimpressive on so many levels. It is poorly written. It has failed to adequately describe the activity of ghost hunting. It offered no skeptical perspective. It assumes ghosts are real. Their subjects offer no extraordinary evidence for the extraordinary claims being made.
But perhaps worst of all is the disappointment in that one of our nation's most impressive institutes of higher learning is catering to people's enthrallment with pseudoscience, and simultaneously, taking advantage of people's lack of understanding about how science REALLY works. And this is courtesy of an Ivy League university with its roots dating back to colonial times. King George III must be rolling over in his grave.
WAIT … I thought of one thing worse than my disappointment … I wish I could say I am surprised.


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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah higher education officials are among the latest voices urging attendance at this month's political party caucuses.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Utah Board of Regents championed the role of education in the state's economy and workforce training and said that schools require the support of lawmakers and the voters they represent.
"The benefits to our state as a whole and individual Utahns from higher education are undeniable," Bonnie Jean Beesley, board chairwoman, said in a prepared statement. "Our ability as a system to have the capacity to continue to provide access to an affordable and high-quality college experience depends upon the support of our elected officials. And that all starts at the caucuses this month."
Dan Campbell, board vice chairman, referred to the state's goal of having two-thirds of Utah's adult population holding a degree or certificate by 2020. State leaders are in agreement that a trained workforce is necessary to sustain Utah's growing economy, he said.
"All of us in higher education are working toward this goal, but it is clear that public support is critical, and that begins in the political process in March at party caucuses," Campbell said in a prepared statement.
The statement by the Utah Board of Regents follows one issued by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to its members, urging participation in party caucuses. Church leaders issued a similar recommendation during the 2012 elections, which was believed to have contributed to a surge in caucus attendance.Comment on this story
But this year's caucuses come during a time when the future of Utah's unique election process is in question. The statement by the state Board of Regents was released on the same day lawmakers approved SB54, a bill that would provide candidates with an alternate route to the primary ballot by collecting signatures, rather than being nominated by delegates at the parties' conventions.
The bill passed in the House with a 49-20 vote after roughly an hour of debate during which several lawmakers expressed a concern that an alternate route to the ballot would eventually lead to the end of neighborhood caucus meetings.
Members of the Senate later voted 21-7 in favor of the bill, which now goes before Gov. Gary Herbert for his signature.
The caucuses are March 18 for the Democratic Party and March 20 for the Republican Party.
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'American Idol' Standouts: 5 Singers To Watch
Feb. 28 and 29 saw a lot of action on American Idol. Not only did viewers sit through four hours of television, 24 scheduled performances and one surprise number, and countless incorrect assessments of greatness from the judges, but they were also charged with quite a tall order. In a matter of days, Idol fans have to pick favorites for the shrunken 10 vote-determined slots available for the top 24 contestants. We already saw (and felt) hearts breaking when the group went from 40 to 24, so this cut is even harder to endure. The results bandaid comes off tonight, March 1, but when it does there are five folks that had better be on that list.
And whether or not a glimmer of interest in the competition itself, these are singers you should really keep an eye on.
Deandre Brackensick
If you're not yet singing 17-year-old Deandre's praises yet, you're in denial or your ears are broken. To put it simply: he's kind of amazing. Despite his young age, he's learned to work all the intricacies of his fantastic voice, slipping between his silky falsetto and robust, buttery modal voice. Judge Randy Jackson professed his love for Deandre by calling him ready-made – something that puts him light years ahead of the rest. He knows how to choose the right songs for his unique voice, he knows how to work the stage, and he's comfortable letting loose in his performances. In short, he's everything you want in a performer, and at age 17, his talent can only grow from there.
Jessica Sanchez
All hail this Queen of Southern California. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm inclined to root for my fellow San Diego native, but the proof is in the performance. Somehow, out of this tiny, young, unassuming person comes a voice that can grab the attention of an entire national audience. Her performance of "Love You I Do" during Girls' Night was nothing short of breathtaking. Her energy is through the roof, yet she runs through the song and around the stage with the ease of pushing a shopping cart. She's just got it and if the votes don't reflect that, I'll personally call ATT to make sure whatever outages caused a dip in her votes gets fixed immediately.
Reed Grimm
If you can get past the scatting that apparently is a huge issue for a large chunk of Idol viewers, you can see that Reed is not only a unique presence in the competition, but a talented, truly musical performer. Idol may not be the right platform for his style, but we've seen a shift since someone like Season 10's Casey Abrams made his way through the ranks last season. The door has been opened, and if Reed can't make it to the top, hopefully he can at least crack it open just a little more.
Joshua Ledet
This kid can really, really sing. When he opens his mouth and that voice flows out, it's like some heart-wrenching spirit reaching out and plucking every viewer's heartstrings. It's hard to learn to connect onstage and it's doubly difficult to learn to connect onstage and through the television, yet Joshua just does it without looking like he's even trying. He's someone who needs to remain in our sights.
Phil Phillips
He's a bit of a 90s throwback and as much as I hate when Randy does it, I must say he's a little Dave Matthews-esque. But, the reason the almost retro vocal stylings work is because he's learned to place them in realms where they don't belong. His audition performance of "Thriller" is what really clenched it; he's continued to perform very, very well onstage, but there's something special about the way he breathes strange new life into songs that really shouldn't be his genre.
Who's in your top five? Let me know in the comments or get at me on Twitter @KelseaStahler And don't forget to check back here for our Top 13 rundown tomorrow!


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Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned last week that if New York City fails to control unsustainable employee compensation costs, it could find itself trapped in the same "downward cycle" as bankrupt Detroit:
"We are only a short distance from relapsing into decline, if we allow health care and pension benefits to crowd out the investments that make New York City a place where people want to live, work, study and visit."
Give Bloomberg credit for trying to inject a dose of fiscal reality into a mayoral campaign otherwise dominated -- on the Democratic side, at least -- by appeals to special interest groups, occasionally interrupted by fresh evidence of Anthony Weiner's surpassing weirdness.
But while the mayor intended to put his would-be successors on the spot, his speech also provided important reminders of the extent to which the city's bargaining position in ongoing contract negotiations has been hemmed in by Albany.
Bloomberg noted, for example, that state law has forced the city to continue giving pay raises to employees whose most recent contracts expired three or four years ago -- something union leaders invariably gloss over when they demand retroactive pay hikes the city can't afford.
The provision in question, known as the Triborough Amendment, creates similar costs and collective bargaining disadvantages for municipalities and school districts throughout the state. Yet Gov. Andrew Cuomo has made it clear he won't lift a finger to change the law.
Bloomberg also pointed out that the city has benefited from Gov. David Paterson's 2009 veto of legislation renewing a 33-year-old pension sweetener for city police officers and firefighters. Cuomo had a chance to emulate Paterson this year by refusing to renew an even older "temporary" binding arbitration law that undermines the city's ability to seek contract concessions from its police union. Unfortunately, the governor elected to placate labor -- keeping the arbitration law in place for three more years with only minor tweaks that won't help the city.
By all means, the mayoral candidates should feel pressure to explain what they'll do to stop New York from following Detroit into fiscal perdition. But a year in advance of a gubernatorial election, taxpayers shouldn't let Cuomo off the hook, either.
E.J. McMahon is president of the Empire Center for Public Policy and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.


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11/29/1999 (1:41 pm) by chiefgeek
Are you afraid of what could happen on New Years Eve as a result of Y2K?
11/29/1999 (5:29 pm) by admin
What most people forget about midnight on December 31st is that it will occur in distant parts of the world before it hits here. Japan, Australia, then through China, Russia, Europe, etc. We will be hearing reports all day long in the U.S. about the Y2K problems abroad at least 16 hours before they hit us. I think we will have a reasonably good idea of what to expect here after hearing about it in the news all day.
11/30/1999 (4:13 am) by admin
11/30/1999 (8:42 am) by admin
Y2k I will fear if before I'm out of beer :)
11/30/1999 (8:43 am) by Kyle Morton
I'm terrified actually--not of computers but people. There has been so much hype over y2k and "the end of civilization as we know it," that a lot of people are truly scared.
Most people (especially the technically challenged) don't realize that even if every computer in the world shut down, if people would just stay calm everything would be OK. Unfortunatly scared people a notorious for being anything but calm.
It could be a very intersting New Years.
11/30/1999 (3:01 pm) by admin
Y2K is going to be the biggest nothing that ever happend! I don't believe that armageddon will happen in the year 2000. Man invented the math behind the concept of time and if we would have taken one more year to figure out how to tell time we would be worring about this next year instead!
12/1/1999 (8:19 am) by Anonymous
I'm gunna be strapping, if that's any indication.
12/1/1999 (8:24 pm) by admin
With gats, or just leather straps?
12/5/1999 (4:29 am) by Anonymous
What I have not seen is that the people where to be there in 1900 so it sounds like they use the 4 digit year. So it might be a logic error not Y2K
12/5/1999 (12:43 pm) by admin
What I don't understand is why the big corporations and governments not suing Microsoft for the cost incurred by Y2K.
After all, several US states and the US government are suing the tobacco companies!


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Ben Portsmouth is About As Close to Elvis as it Gets [VIDEO]
Over my lifetime and career in radio, I've seen hundreds of Elvis impersonators. Some terrible, most good, but very very few who were excellent. I remember working with one who happened to be a chain smoker, and after every song he'd disappear, take a few drags, cough a little, then do another song.
Ben Portsmouth….is definitely great. Not only looking and singing like Elvis, he also has the moves down. The twitching of the fingers on his right hand, his foot movement, the way he handles the mike, and the side profiles. He's amazing. No doubt the best I've ever seen. View the video and let me know what you think. Enjoy.
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Sunday, March 11, 2012
The bubble finally burst for Washington and the Huskies were not invited to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Above, Tony Wroten reacts to missing his fourth consecutive free throw in the stretch run against Oregon State Thursday.
Photography home | Most viewed photos | Purchase photos | Video home
© 2012 The Seattle Times Company


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Use play to promote healthy cat claws! Petstages Wobble & Scratch toy offers a sturdy corrugated scratcher with unpredictable wobble motion - thanks to a double-sided, sphere-shaped toy in center. The corrugated material stands up to tough scratching while providing nail trimming and conditioning that improves nail care. The plastic center toy offers two sides so you can change up the appearance and activity for your cat. Ideal for stretching, too. 14" x 16" x 4.5" high.
Please click on "More Information" for playtime recommendations.


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With his first triple-double of the season, LeBron James capped off an NBA Finals that will go down as one of the best of all time.
Averaging 28.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, James put his Miami Heat team on his back in the Finals to deliver the team's second NBA championship.
Scoring 26 points with 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 5, there was no doubt at all that James would win the series MVP.
"It's about damn time," he said after the game as the tremendous promise James has shown throughout his career was finally fulfilled with a ring and a trophy.
When James announced he was "taking his talents to South Beach" in the summer of 2010, Heat fans expected a title right away. James and the Heat made the NBA Finals in the Big Three's first season together, but he shrunk in the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, averaging an un-LeBron-like 17.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
James put that behind him in the 2012 playoffs, though. He and the Heat came back to win three straight series in which they fell behind, something no team had ever done before. Trailing 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to Indiana, James scored 40 points in Game 4 to even the series. Then, facing elimination in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, James erupted for 45 points and 15 rebounds against the Celtics, saving the Heat's season again.
But James saved his best for the Finals. In Game 2, he helped even the series at 1-1 with 31 points. His go-ahead three-pointer in Game 4 came despite being hobbled by leg cramps. And James assisted on 8 different three-pointers in the deciding Game 5, punishing Oklahoma City for double- and triple-teaming him in the paint.
More importantly, James made an impact in the fourth quarters of the Finals. In clutch situations in the Finals (score within 5 points during the last 5 minutes), James scored 14 points on 4 of 7 shooting, with the Heat outscoring the Thunder by 16 points in 11 minutes. That is a far cry from 2011, when James did not score a single point in 18 minutes of clutch time.
"It means everything," James said after Game 5. "This is a dream come true for me. This is definitely when it pays off."
There are so many story lines on this Heat team, from Chris Bosh getting some redemption of his own, to the maturation of Mario Chalmers, to coach Erik Spoelstra proving his doubters wrong. But when the 2012 Finals are recorded in the proverbial history books, it will be the coronation of King James that takes top-billing.
From the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old to his post-Decision nadir in the 2011 Finals, James' journey to the mountaintop, alongside all those other NBA greats with championship rings, is complete.
Watch Miami Fans Party In the Streets


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I hope it work /w R7008SB, can't wait and find it out.
Although a few years ago I had good success with a 450 and a 5 blade head but that just used a standard tail gyro.
And Sunday I also completed my trex 500 to a 4 blade head and used the Align 3gx as got a great price on it ($100 new), it flys ok but does require a lot more tuning..
Look forward to see your 500 fly with the Naza.
I believe there must be some protocol difference as S.bus on the 7008 does not work with Naza-m or Wk-m either in Sbus mode.
Other then that I'm sure you will be very happy with it.. I am so far, but the proof is in the flying which I'm still yet to do..
As I said I'll report what I find good and bad
Tree trimmer
Have been looking at these lately since i have been flying FBL Blades and plan on doing some of my larger helis so far have just started to do my 600n with a dfc head and a beast will continue to watch you review on the NAZA H . recognized that yard from another or your videos so how did the tree trimmer fare ?? sorry but i did have a good laugh when i saw it
I'm hopefully aiming to fly mine by this weekend..
Arr yes my yard has been in a few vid's now, it's my testing ground.. But must admit you have lost me in the tree trimming?? Which one was that?
Here is a video of my Naza H.
Chaos 600 stretched to 700.
Turnigy SK3 480kv
YEP120 esc
KDE 115 mode 1 main gear 10 t pinion. ( now have 11t back on it )
I did a bit more tweaking since this video and I now have my camera rig on it. It's a very good unit and great bang for bucks value.
What % tail gyro gain is yours set at?
Valkman that was nice. it looks like you were getting a little buffeting by the wind when you were up higher. Down low, behind he wall was very stable. A little tweaking of the gains and you should be there. Thanks for the video.
Thanks guys. I got it a bit more dialled in since that video. Tahoe Ed you are right about the gains. The bobbing was on the elev so I turned that down a bit. Wind and rain here so no more test flights and I think the cheap bearings that are in the motor are on there way out anyway. Good job I ordered ceramic ones the weekend! I did not think they would last long. Also I had not done the auto trim in that video.
HH gain ( on screen ) is 32.
Altti Trim Left -8 Front 5
Autopilot Front/Back 80%, L/R 100%, Vertical 95%
FBL Gain Aile 140%, Elev 140%,
Cyclic rate 170
My auto trim is Aile 271, Elev 13. I will trim this again as it was not exactly calm out when I did that.
These are not final as I am still tuning it.
Here is a pics I just took.
Well after all this time, last weekend I managed to finish the installation, set-up and get a couple of flights in....
I have constantly been waiting on various parts and when one part turned up I needed another as it was an original Trex600 being converted to a DFC head and every part of the head was wrong and then when I did sort it out I couldn't get my YEP ESC to play ball, could not get the governor to work, so gave up, sold it and brought a Castle Talon ESC instead..
As this has been my 1st flybarless controller and head it has been a bit of a learning curve in it's self..
The Naza is very easy to install, they suggest getting it as close to the CG as possible, so I have placed mine on the bottom plate almost directly underneath the main shaft with the receiver just behind.. I've mounted the ESC on the outside of the frame due to the very short motor leads, but will be going in a fuz anyway.
All the servo's and ESC plug directly in to the NAZA and this in turn plugs in to the RX, very similar to other gyro's on the market.
The GPS plugs directly in to the Naza using a CAN BUS connector and is suggested to be mounted on the tail boom far enough away from electronics, then you connect up the LED Module, this also connects to the NAZA via a CAN BUS connector. As this displays various information, like weather it is in GPS or Atti mode and how many satellites it see's it need to be placed somewhere in view and also easily accessible because this is where the USB cable plugs in to do the setting up. Both of these are in temporary positions for me for now.
Once everything is installed the next step is to launch the software assistant and connect to the Naza LED Module using the supplied USB cable, I would advise at this point to disconnect the motor, either by unplugging the motor leads or taking off the pinion... ETC. This is only necessary if you are powering everything up from the main battery.
You can download the software assistant here (as well as a manual): http://www.dji-innovations.com/produ...a-h/downloads/
These are my setting from my installation, screen shots.
As a tip if you do download the software you can see some settings without needing a Naza plugged in and if you highlight each one it will give you a description of what it does (this is very helpful!)
At the bottom of every screen it shows, what flight mode it's in, more on this later.. And Gyro mode HH or Rate and what percentage it's currently set at.
Do not connect tail servo until you get to the Tail section in set-up this is so you can select the right settings for the tail before connecting servo.
Pic 1: This is the 1st screen you are greeted with, called Common, this shows you information and allows you to adjust certain flight parameters like gain settings, TX stick positions, Battery voltage and RX voltage (If using the PMU) You can also set low voltage alarms, if you wish, this will cause the LED to flash, when a pre-determined voltage is reached for main and servo voltages. It also shows you certain installation information, like how you have the RX wired up and mounting orientation, etc.. There is also an Advanced button.
Pic 2: Advanced screen shot, I haven't really adjusted anything under this Tab, I reduced Stick Boost slightly as it's going to be used in a scale heli, so not looking for quick reactions like a 3d pilot would want, other then that everything else has been left as default.
Pic 3: Under the Set-up tab at the top you will find these next screens, once you select this you will get a warning to disconnect motor, then you will see the Start screen, this shows a picture of how things connect to the Naza, if this is the 1st set-up it's advisable to click Restore factory settings then click Start.
Pic 4: Receiver: This lets you choose between connecting a regular type RX or a Futaba with S-Bus, the picture shows you how each one needs to be wired up, including different brands.. I'm using Futaba but unfortunately with the new 7008sb RX it is not recognised under S-Bus (DJi calls it D-Bus) I want to use this RX as it has built-in telemetry, so have wired it up traditionally.
Pic 5: Mode: Under this tab you setup a spare channel (Ch.7) to control flight modes, I have used a 3 way switch for Manual, Atti and GPS.. If you don't have a GPS then you will only need a 2way.. You will need to adjust end points to get the slider to high light blue under each flight mode.
Pic 6: Cali: This is where you calibrate your TX with the Naza, it learns your centre point and maximum stick deflections, Just hit start and move all the controls to there fullest positions then click Finish.
Pic 7: Mount: This is for mounting orientation of the Naza, just select the box which matches which way the Naza is installed, it can be 1 of 4, but not upside down!! After you have selected this you then need to measure the IMU (Naza main unit) And GPS.. How far from the CG they have been mounted, Positive number for in front, Negative number for behind, there is also an advanced tab which you will use if you had to mount it off to one side or another or height if mounted above or below.
Pic 8: Rotor: This lets you select which direction to tell the Naza the Head is spinning CW or CCW and if your using a flybar or flybarless head
Pic 9: Swash: Under this tab you select which servo configuration controls the Swash/Head When you set up the TX you select single servo on Fuataba that's called H-1, this screen then tells the Naza how the servo's are configured.. Under the Advanced tab, this lets your select either Analogue or Digital head servo's (not Tail) and adjust servo positions if it's not in the main screen (very unlikely but nice to have the option if you ever find an unusual helicopter I guess)
Pic 10: Servo: This lets you correct the servo direction for the Swash to make the Swash move up and down, with the throttle stick (this is not for left/right or Forwards/Backwards)
Pic 11: Trim: This is used to trim the swash plate to make it level, Ideally try and mechanical get the swash level if you can or as close as.. Pitch trim is used to give 0º at centre stick, this is for those that fly on a V curve, I don't so my centre stick is half throttle and 5º-6º pitch.
Pic 12: Mix: Cyclic Mix is used to change the direction the servo's move in to control the Ail and Elev, to make them move in the right directions, Swash Ring Limit controls the overall limit the swash will move when sticks are pushed in to the corners, reduce this to prevent binding, Collective Mix lets you change the direction of the swash to move the pitch up and down and how much overall pitch range is available, working range.
Pic 13: Cyclic: This is only used if you are using a flybarless head, Select normal,
Pic 14: Tail: At this point select the servo you are using under Servo Type, if unsure goggle your servo to find it's specifications, once you have selected the right servo type plug your tail servo in, then you can select rudder direction and adjust both left and right end points for the pitch arm on the tail, you want as much movement you can get but without any binding.
Pic 15: Feedback, this is to confirm everything is moving in the correct direction, you 1st have to switch the flight mode to either Atti or Gps then click on the image, it will animate it's movement, confirm the heli is following the same if it's moving in the oppisit direction hit reverse. once complete hit Finish, this will take you back to the Main Screen (Common).. This is the main set-up done
Pic 16: Tools: This tab at the top is for importing and exporting set-ups and also Calibration for IMU (Naza Main unit) Also you can do a restore to factory settings
Pic 17: Info: This tab at the top will give user info, Software version Firmware version.
You also must select governor mode on your ESC, if you have GPS then it is advised before 1st flight to calibrate this, go to an open space and away from anything that could cause the compass to get a miss reading, i'e away from anything metal or magnetic. Then flip the flight mode switch between 6-10 times rapidly and I always find finishing in Manual mode works best as soon as you see a constant yellow, begin calibration see Pic 18
Once you have done all the above triple check everything to make sure everything is working as it should and all bits are tight including ones backside before 1st flight...
ALWAYS TAKE OFF AND LAND IN MANUAL FLIGHT MODE, 1st flight should be used to check everything is working as it should and then try and complete the Auto Trim, this is best done in calm air, see Pic 19
in progress! (still to come is Tail gyro set-up, another day i'm afraid)
Last edited by topgearuk; Mar 26, 2013 at 04:26 AM.
So on Sunday after finshing it I couldn't wait any longer the only problem being is was blowing a gale @ 23mph guesting 39mph, 5c and raining... So that meant only one thing, I had to have my 1st test flight! lol
I'm not proud of my flying display here but will post it as it was the 1st flight.
Video's are 1st flight, about half way though I switch to Atti Mode
4th Flight same day but later on. Testing GPS
And 5th flight done last night. Testing GPS and auto trim done
Last edited by topgearuk; Mar 21, 2013 at 07:25 PM.
Thanks for the great info Top......much appreciated. Hope to see a vid soon.
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The incomparable Paris-Roubaix runs for the 111th time this Sunday. The legendary race is a celebration of days long past, a relic that offers dangers and challenges unseen elsewhere in most of today's other major contests. The trip is mostly a flat affair, but the rough cobbles, patches of mud, whirling dust clouds, fanatical spectators, and excessive length provide difficulties that no profile could display. Constant attacks at every juncture force splits and selections and require acute awareness at all times. A moment of lost concentration can also mean going down hard on the unforgiving surface. Experience navigating the difficulties and an extremely high tolerance for the bone-rattling pain of irregular roads are crucial at Paris-Roubaix.
51.1 total kilometers of cobbles lie along the 256 kilometer road from Compiegne to Roubaix. Some of those sections are in better shape in others, and each is given a rating (between one and five). The more difficult sections are often the site of attacks, with the race's three five-star cobbled sections quite likely to force selection. First among them, the wooded Arenberg Trench greets the peloton (or what remains by that point) after 161 kilometers. The 2.4 kilometer stretch is extremely rough, and after what might constitute a whole day's racing in a stage race, the abuse of riding over uneven stones takes its toll. The Mons-en-Pévèle is the next five-star section, 3 kilometers long with some sharp turns and generally a lot of mud, beginning around kilometer 208. Tom Boonen's awesome long-distance strike in 2012 was launched just before this section was reached; even if it doesn't launch the winning attack this year, it will still be sure to jettison a few riders from the pack. A few more easily rated sections follow the muddy stretch before the five-star Le Carrefour de l'Arbre is reached, the legendary 2.1 kilometers of uneven pave that must be overcome only 17 km before the finish line. It's hard to drop anyone after this point, so if the race isn't split up by the time the riders reach the Carrefour, expect fireworks from the riders hoping to avoid a sprint in the iconic Roubaix velodrome.
Contenders for the Cobblestone Trophy
Trek's Fabian Cancellara comes into Sunday's race looking to pick up his fourth cobblestone trophy (which is literally a cobblestone), and he enters the race as a big favorite thanks to both his resume in the classics generally and recent displays of current form. The four-time ITT world champion has one of the biggest engine's in the sport, making it nearly impossible to drop him. Holding his wheel is an immense struggle on this terrain. But any riders capable of hanging on then must beat him in a sprint, which he has shown quite an aptitude in recently. He won last year's edition by outsprinting Sep Vanmarcke after the two of them bridged a gap to Zdenek Stybar and Stijn Vandenbergh up the road, watched both of those riders run into spectators, and then continued on by themselves. This year, the sprinting ability that won him last year's P-R carried him to 2nd place in Milano-Sanremo in March, and it put him atop the podium of his third Tour of Flanders last week when he made it into the winning attack and won a sprint to the line. Defeating Fabian Cancellara will be a very tall order for the other contenders in this race: he has the perfect combination of current form, ability, and experience to win this race. Stijn Devolder is still uncertain for this race after a crash filled Flanders, but if he's here, he's a great second.
Tom Boonen has won Paris-Roubaix even more times than Cancellara; his 2012 victory after more than 50 kilometers riding solo is the stuff of legend. Various maladies kept him from contesting in 2013, but numerous results this year have shown that he has recaptured some form. Still, he has not quite returned to the level of two years past, and injury and personal misfortunes have made 2014 a difficult year; he was unable to hang with Cancellara in the Ronde. Paris-Roubaix is a different race, without the climbs of Flanders, and it may suit Boonen a bit more against the seemingly unstoppable Cancellara. What's more, while his ability to put up sustained power numbers might be somewhat reduced, he still looks quite handy in a sprint, and he learned years ago that the best tactic against Cancellara is to remain glued on that wheel and hope for a sprint. He will also have plenty of help from star-studded Omega Pharma-Quick Step. Niki Terpstra has been a very active and very successful rider this spring, following up a 2nd place at E3 Harelbeke with a 6th place at the Tour of Flanders. He was 3rd in last year's Paris-Roubaix, the next rider to cross the line after the Cancellara/Vanmarcke duo. Terpstra is a keen opportunist and an excellent soloist, and as one of a number of options on his team, he could benefit if the pack hesitates to follow. Zdenek Stybar was strong enough to still manage an 8th place despite running into a spectator last year. He hasn't made as big an impression on this classics season as I initially expected, but he does have plenty of form and the bike handling skills of a cyclocross world champion. He also has a quick finish. 29 year-old teammate Stijn Vandernbergh was the other major spectator casualty of 2013, but he enters this year's edition again on stellar form, having come in 4th in both the Ronde and E3 Harelbeke. He does not have the fastest sprint but he's very aggressive and at the very least, he's almost certain to try something on the tough cobbled sections.
The top challenger taking on favorite Cancellara and super-team OPQS is last year's runner-up Sep Vanmarcke. Just 25, the Belkin rider has already been on the podiums of Gent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, and obviously Paris-Roubaix, each time showing good cycling acumen for planning the successful attacks and the engine to make them. Unfortunately, on all three of those occassions, his fellow attackers outsprinted him to the finish line. In 2014, he has been in the top 5 of all three WorldTour cobbled races, as well as other big spring contests Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. His biggest challenge will be creating a real gap between other contenders, as a sprint finish simply will not do for him. I think he is one of the very few riders with a chance at getting ahead of Cancellara, and he will certainly give that venture a shot on Sunday. It's a big ask, but one thing is for sure: he is an excellent bet to be on at least one of the three steps on the podium. Lars Boom is a very high quality support rider.
Paris-Roubaix is a truly unique bike race, unlike any other in the grueling tests through which it parts participants. It is also unlike most of the other bike races that Peter Sagan, versatile as he is, has won in his life. Sagan did not ride this race last year. His 2011 attempt landed him 86th. The long, brutal days have challenged Sagan in his young career, and the flat parcours gives him fewer opportunities to gap the bigger riders. Still, counting out Peter Sagan is always a mistake. He already has a pair of fine wins on the WorldTour level, in Tirreno-Adriatico and at E3 Harelbeke, thanks to his good form in 2014. Winning a Monument is his central goal right now, and I think he will give this race 100%. He obviously has the sprint to beat most challengers if he makes it to the finish, and he's an expert bike handler for the difficult cobbled stretches. Whether he can survive the carnage of attacks is the real question. I don't think he will match Cancellara in Paris-Roubaix, but I don't think it's an impossible ask either.
Milano-Sanremo winner Alexander Kristoff added to his remarkable track record in recent Monuments last weekend when he came in 5th in the Ronde, rolling across the line by himself after a failed but spirited attempt to bridge to Cancellara's group. The Katusha rider has a special talent for sprinting after hard days in the saddle, and few are harder than Paris-Roubaix. Furthermore, P-R doesn't have the climbers of Flanders, which will play into his hands, as he is not an expert climber. 9th in 2013, Kristoff looks even better this year and more likely to hang on during the attacks or even make his own attempts to bridge if necessary. Of the favorites, he has one of the fastest sprints. If he's there at the finish, it's hard to see him not winning the cobblestone trophy. As usual, Luca Paolini makes a great second. Giant-Shimano's John Degenkolb is the other big name sprinter who might be considered to at least have a shot at being there in the finish. He held on as long as he could in Flanders but was ultimately dropped on the final climbs on the race. It won't be much easier in Paris-Roubaix, but the Gent-Wevelgem winner is on awesome form and on a good day and with some luck, making the final selection is not out of the question. If he can hold the right wheel to the end of the race, he's one of the fastest finishers on the start list.
BMC sends a powerful duo to the race in Taylor Phinney and Flanders runner-up Greg Van Avermaet. Phinney attacked early in 2013 but was unable to hold an advantage. He was twice winner of the U-23 edition of the race. The track star turned time trial specialist has a giant engine and he is handy in a sprint finish. He excels on the long flat days. Last week in Flanders he did an excellent job staying up the road for quite a while to keep the pressure of Greg Van Avermaet; Paris-Roubaix is definitely his style, and BMC will look to set him up for a strike more aimed at overall success here. Said teammate Van Avermaet is an excellent option as well, having ridden to 4th here in 2013. He looks in great shape in 2014, placing highly in a number of races even if he hasn't managed to come up with the victories he has sought. Fewer hills give him fewer opportunities to show off his quality climbing abilities, but this is a race that rewards aggressive riders, and Van Avermaet fits that bill. In years past, Thor Hushovd challenged for the win here a few times, coming as close as 2nd place in 2010; he's a bit past those golden years now, but the tough former World Champ deserves a namecheck at least. BMC has the talent to challenge the big favorites in this race.
Team Sky also sends a good squad, with Edvald Boasson Hagen and Bradley Wiggins the featured riders for the contest. Boasson Hagen has been riding very well lately, mostly in support, and his time trialing skills and top-notch finishing kick could land him in a great position in Paris-Roubaix. Meanwhile, Bradley Wiggins decided that he would ride the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix this year, and though he does not really have a history of success in this race, he looked pretty good at last week's Ronde van Vlaanderen. He's not among the favorites, but he has shown an exceptional ability to succeed when he sets his mind to goals most would deem overly ambitious. Moreover, this is a race that can be won by an elite time trialist, and Bradley Wiggins is among the best in recent memory in that discipline. Geraint Thomas is supposedly riding this race in support of his teammates, but if for some reason he finds himself in position to make a move, he's a very tough rider built for the days like these; his biggest knock is his propensity to crash, and Paris-Roubaix is nothing if not treacherous.
Back in 2009, Filippo Pozzato managed to finish 2nd to Tom Boonen in Paris-Roubaix. He was also the victor at E3 that year, and 5th in Flanders. Things haven't really gone the way the Lampre rider would have hoped in recent years, and he is yet to have much success this year, but he did finish with Degenkolb, Sagan, and Stybar in the small group chasing the attackers up the road in Flanders last week. Teammate Sacha Modolo seems unlikely to be there after such a tough day, but he's one of best sprinters in the race if that somehow happens.
Longer shots looking to animate the race include Wanty Groupe – Gobert's Bjorn Leukemans (9th in De Ronde this year, and 4th at P-R in 2007), Garmin's Sebastian Langeveld (10th in De Ronde this year, and 7th at P-R in 2013) and Johan Vansummeren (involved in a serious crash with a spectator, he had a rough Flanders this year, but he did win Paris-Roubaix in 2011 and has a host of other top 10s to his name), and AG2R's Sebastien Turgot (a surprise 2nd place here in 2012) and Damien Gaudin. Long shots to somehow hang with the proven hardmen and sprint it out include FDJ's Arnaud Demare (who looks very fast this season but who has not been able to survive the tough days to make it to the finish), Garmin's Tyler Farrar, Movistar's JJ Lobato, IAM's Heinrich Haussler, and Tinkoff-Saxo's Daniele Bennati.
No exhaustive preview can account for every possibility in a crazy race like Paris-Roubaix. A puncture or crash could instantly ruin the hopes of any of the big favorites and open the contest for new contenders. Still, through all the uncertainty, this race has been dominated by a select group of riders in the past several years; as difficult as it is to win Paris-Roubaix, and as large a role as chance can play over miles and miles of cobbles, seven of the last nine editions have seen either Tom Boonen or Fabian Cancellara victorious. Sunday will offer a great showdown between both of these heavyweights, and also between the now old guard they represent and the rising stars of Vanmarcke, Sagan, Kristoff and others.
VeloHuman Top 10 Favorites
Winner: Fabian Cancellara
Podium: Sep Vanmarcke, Tom Boonen
Other Top Contenders: Alexander Kristoff, Zdenek Stybar, Niki Terpstra, Taylor Phinney, Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Edvald Boasson Hagen
VeloHuman recently joined the Twitterverse! Follow @VeloHuman for more analysis and commentary during the race, and be sure to come back soon for post-race thoughts and previews of Amstel Gold, La Fleche Wallonne, and the fourth monument of the year, Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
-Dane Cash
Photos by Olivier Moindroit and Christophe Duhem.


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Podcast #219 - September 28th, 2009
Interview with Mark Edward
News Items: Premanand Statement, Dinosaur News, Nanotube Springs, Cameron and Comfort on Darwin, Couple Jailed over Homeopathy Death
Your Questions and E-mails: Spiritual Advice, Life Signs, Speed of Light
Science or Fiction
Who's That Noisy
News Items: Premanand Statement, Dinosaur News, Nanotube Springs, Cameron and Comfort on Darwin, Couple Jailed over Homeopathy Death
Your Questions and E-mails: Spiritual Advice, Life Signs, Speed of Light
Science or Fiction
Who's That Noisy
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
News Items
- Premanand Statement http://nirmukta.com/2009/09/22/premanand-in-abhirami-hospital-coimbatore/http://nirmukta.com/2009/09/22/premanand-in-abhirami-hospital-coimbatore/
- Dinosaur News http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=971 http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17859-fabulous-furry-pterosaur-unearthed-in-china.html http://www.dinosaur-world.com/tyrannosaurs/nanotyrannus_lancensis.htm
- Nanotube Springs http://www.physorg.com/news172758740.html
- Comfort and Cameron on Darwin http://www.theskepticsguide.org/sgublog/?p=1045
- Couple Jailed over Homeopathy Death http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/28/2698762.htm
Questions and E-mails
- Question # 1 - Spiritual Advice Hi SGU; all the way from Sydney, Australia! I have a question which is probably more applicable to Steven more than anyone else. As I understand it your stance on the afterlife is agnostic. How do you deal with a patient who wishes to consult in you about the spiritual afterlife? It probably goes without saying that the patient's state of mind takes the utmost priority, so a debate is obviously out of the question. Such issues, however, have made me uncomfortable in the past, and as a young medical student I would like to hear your take on how to talk to a patient through the matter although not necessarily pretending that I share their beliefs in the afterlife. I subscribe to something on the order of twenty podcasts a week, but yours remains my favourite. It keeps me sane during the long train rides to and from school. Thank you and keep up the great work; Jason
- Question # 2 - Life Signs Life signs and life force? I recently purchased season one of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and I'm loving it. It's particularly entertaining because every once in a while, something happens in the show, and I suddenly get a reference that you guys made but never quite understood until now. Throughout the show, they scan planets and vessels for life signs or life forms. It got me thinking. Knowing that chi and other such supposed life forces are scientifically untenable, is there some quality of living matter that sets it apart from nonliving matter in such a way as to feasibly make it remotely discernible to some kind of instruments? It seems to work on reptilian species, so it doesn't rely on body heat or anything quite as simple as that. I know Star Trek is famous for its technobabble and does have it's share of plain old impossibilities, but I'm curious about the plausibility of this aspect of the show. I guess I'm asking exactly how far I actually need to suspend by disbelief in this case. Thanks a bunch, guys. I'm off to tell more friends about your show! Your fan, Trinity Sean Melvin Valparaiso, Florida
- Question # 3 - Speed of Light I'll try to keep this short ... I'm sure you are buried in correspondence. I'm new to PodCasts, having purchased my first IPod about 9 months ago. But it it a great medium! I have a broadcasting background and appreciate this new media and it's potential. In fact, my IPod has just enough music to keep me amuzed when I'm not listening to SGU or some of the 'Stuff' PodCasts. Hands down though, y'all are my favorite and I'll listen to at least one show each day while at work or in my hooch (MilSpeak for an 8X20 steel box we call home!). All that said ... keep up the great work. Each of you has brought not only science, but critical thinking to the masses - no easy task and one long waiting in the wings until SGU came along. Here's the question if you should ever have time for it on the air. A friend and I are arguing over the answer. You're flying along in a spacecraft at the speed of light. You have a lightbulb in the ceiling of the craft. Can you see the light since it's speed is relative to the speed of the craft? And taking it a step farther, if you turn the spacecraft's headlights on, will they illuminate the asteroid just ahead of you or since the light being emitted has a relative forward speed of zero (based on the spacecrafts speed) would it look as if the light wasn't even turned on. OK ... wacky question, but sometimes we have too much time on our hands here in the desert! The suggestion deals with a recent story on Yahoo about a dead salmon responding to pictures of people when undergoing an fMRI. The link to the story is: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090927/sc_livescience/deadsalmonrespondstopicturesofpeople It's actually a pretty good story for a skeptical audience in that it's actually an experiment designed to encourage scientists and researchers to investigate thier results carefully because eventually noise will cause false positives. Almost like the 100-monkeys-100-typewriters theory. Again, thanks for the show ... and each of your committement to bring something special to your listening audience each week. I know this listener enjoys the energy, chemistry and synergy you bring to the broadcast ... uh ... I mean PodCast! Cheers! Lance Spangler FOB Bucca, Iraq (Once the worlds largest prison/detainee camp in the world - - at least until a week ago Wednesday
- Interview with Mark Edward http://www.themarkedward.com/ Mark Edward is a magician and skeptic and cast member of the Skeptologists pilot
Science or Fiction [ Show Answers ]
- Item # 1 Science Researchers find that hyenas significantly outperformed chimpanzees in a test of cooperative problem-solving. http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2009/09/hyenas.html
- Item # 2 Fiction New research finds that Scandinavians are descended from local populations that have lived in the region for at least a million years. http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/09/25/scandinavians_are_descended_from_stone_age_immigrants.html
- Item # 3 Science A new study shows that negative subliminal messages are more effective than positive subliminal messages. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090928095343.htm
Who's That Noisy
- Whos That Noisy Answer to last week: the sound of breathing with fluid in the lungs
Quote of the Week
- Quote of the Week 'When you hear hoofbeats behind you, don't expect to see a zebra.' - Theodore E. Woodward


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You've seen "The Bachelor"; now watch the backlash. Jason Mesnick, the straight-arrow single dad who dumped his fiance for another contestant in the reality show's season finale, is "the most hated man in America right now," the show's host, Chris Harrison, told E! Online.
Mesnick proposed to Melissa Rycroft on Monday night's show. But in the subsequent "After the Final Rose" special, which was taped six weeks after the proposal but also aired Monday, he told Rycroft he was dumping her because he still had feelings for runner-up Molly Malaney.


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Nothing tastes better than salsa made with fresh tomatoes, but when good tomatoes are not available canned ones make a great substitute. This salsa is so easy you can whip it together in about ten minutes and it keeps in the fridge for several days. We use it as a condiment for grilled or roasted meats, vegetables, and pretty much anything. It's healthy and delicious!
Start with 2 jalapeño peppers and 2 Serrano peppers—if you don't like it hot then leave out the Serrano peppers—a small onion or half of an onion, juice from one lime, 3 garlic cloves, 1/4 teaspoon cumin and about a cup of cilantro. You can throw in a pinch or two of sugar to cut the tomato acid.
Place everything in a blender and pulse a couple of times to start breaking down the peppers and onion. Then add the can of tomatoes, undrained, and pulse until the consistency that you like. I don't like chunky salsa so I pulse until it's a smoother consistency like in most Mexican restaurants. Stir in a little salt and pepper to taste and voilà, homemade salsa!
- 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes undrained
- 2 jalapenos stems removed, split and seeded
- 2 serrano peppers stems removed, split and seeded (use these only if you like it hot)
- 1 small onion cut into chunks
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- juice from one whole lime
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- Place all ingredients except tomatoes in blender and pulse a few times.
- Pour tomatoes into blender and pulse until consistency that you like.


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If an item you ordered from TextbookRush does not meet your expectations due to an error on our part, simply fill out a return request and then return it by mail within 30 days of ordering it for a full refund of item cost.
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All the information you need in one place! Each Study Brief is a summary of one specific subject; facts, figures, and explanations to help you learn faster.
List price: $14.95Copyright year: 2014Publisher: Interlink Publishing Group, IncorporatedPublication date: 8/1/2014Binding: PaperbackPages: 320Size: 5.00" wide x 8.00" long x 1.25" tall Weight: 0.682Language: English
Peter Phillips is the director of Project Censored & an associate professor of sociology at Sonoma State University. Phillips writes op-ed pieces in the alternative press & independent newspapers nationwide. He frequently speaks on media censorship & various sociopolitical issues on radio & TV talk shows, including "Talk of the Nation", "Public Interest", "Talk America", "Democracy Now!", & the "Jim Hightower Show".Robert Cole received his BSc. in Professional Physics from the University of Miami and his Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemical Physics from Iowa State University. He is a Technical Manager with AT&T Laboratories.
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We are a team of data scientists and information designers
who help you decide, engage, and convince with data.
Analytics is about decision-making. It's about finding and harvesting opportunities to reduce costs, increase revenues, and mitigate risk.
We have deep experience in predictive, spatial, and prescriptive methods. We're adept at machine learning, statistics, and econometrics. But we don't stop there. We own the adoption. We make sure the analysis useful and used.
Proper information design brings clarity and conviction to decision-making. It engages and captivates, reveals truth and removes doubt.
We build intuitive, interactive tools to explore complex data. We specialize in dynamic mapping, web dashboards, and immersive installations.
Through close collaboration with academics at the University of Alberta we've developed extensive expertise in the Emergency Services industry. If you're interested in these services please visit our Emergency Services site.
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Four arrested after McDonough County drug investigation
Fri, 04 Jul 2014 12:45:56 GMT —
A two-month investigation has now landed four people behind bars on drug charges in McDonough County.
Sterling Serano, 31, of Macomb; Aries Serano, 26, of Macomb; Margaret Williams, 60, of Macomb and Qiara Ferguson, 22, of Chicago Heights face charges of making and delivering cannabis, possession of pot and calculated drug conspiracy.
Police say the investigation came to a head on Tuesday when they executed three search warrants.
Authorities say during the search they found $5,900 and 667 grams of marijuana.


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Sarkozy backs Barroso for second go as EU commission president
By Honor Mahony
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has backed Jose Manuel Barroso to be president of the European Commission for a second term.
Mr Sarkozy, who has just taken on the EU's six month presidency, told a joint press conference with Mr Barroso: "If the question is 'Do I have a candidate?', the answer is 'Yes'. If the question is 'Is he sitting at the same table as me?', the answer is also 'Yes'."
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Sitting at the same podium in Strasbourg on Thursday (10 July), European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering also threw his weight behind Mr Barroso, saying: "I also have a candidate: He's in this room."
All three politicians come from the centre-right European People's Party, currently the biggest political family in Europe.
For his part, Mr Barroso did not acknowledge the endorsement directly but still managed to set out his political stall in a winding answer in which he concluded that he was not a "bureaucrat or a technocrat but (…) a democrat."
The Portuguese former prime minister, who has made no secret of his desire to see through another five-year term as commission president after his mandate expires in autumn 2009, appeared to appeal to other political parties to look for consensus on nominating the next commission chief rather than concentrating on the fact that he comes from a particular political party.
"The different political forces have to put forward their positions - and their divergent positions - but not in such a way as to jeopardise the need for consensus," said Mr Barroso.
He went on to remind his political foes that the commission is not like a national government, often with one political force, but "will always necessarily be a broad coalition with all the different parties represented in numbers because they come from different governments."
"We have to be careful in our interpretation of this as having anything to do with my position individually," said Mr Barroso.
Who's up for the job
The question of who will be next commission president is about the only area where governments can out aloud speculate about possible candidates, as other major posts – such as the EU foreign minister and EU president – have been put on hold since the Irish last month rejected the treaty that would create these positions.
The commission president is set to be chosen in light of the result of the European elections – meaning that EU leaders are likely to nominate a candidate from the political family that wins the most seats in the European Parliament in June 2009, a provision contained in the Lisbon Treaty that MEPs are keen to see used.
While the EPP will be battling to maintain its electoral supremacy, the Socialists – currently second biggest party – will be hoping to tear down their throne by cashing in on the fears that EU citizens have shown about globalisation and what it could mean for their jobs and livelihoods.
Mr Barroso is likely to be pleased by the support from a major country, but is also likely to remember that his nomination in 2004 only came about as an afterthought when Britain blocked the will of France and Germany to get their favoured candidate in.
In addition, Mr Sakorzy has proved fickle in the past. Earlier this year, he supported Tony Blair for EU president but then later changed his mind.
But the French president's comments will crank up the Brussels rumour mill as the political hue of the commission president will have knock-on effects for the other posts - particularly the EU president and EU foreign minister, which could still see the light of day if Paris and Berlin eventually succeed in getting the next EU treaty in place despite Ireland's referendum rejection on 12 June.


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"Remember the waterfront shack with the sign FRESH FISH SOLD HERE. Of course it's fresh, we're on the ocean. Of course it's for sale, we're not giving it away. Of course it's here, otherwise the sign would be someplace else. The final sign: FISH."
Related quotes
"It was a shack. It wasn't really where we wanted to be, but it was the best we could do at the time."
"Shack was inconsistent this spring, especially throwing strikes. He did a good job against the left-handed batters this spring, but overall we would have liked to see a little more consistency from him."
"What is being called the UN 'gender architecture' is more like a shack. Women need a bigger global house if equality is ever to become a reality."
"The torpid Chicken Shack records were unfortunately much more typical of British blues than early Fleetwood Mac had been."


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GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Mushrooms... people either love them or hate them.
In this Saturday's "Small Business Spotlight," we checked out Mississippi Mushrooms, an indoor farm in Northeast Minneapolis that grows hard-to-find specialty mushrooms and emphasizes using locally sourced organic byproducts.
Ian Silver-Ramp, founder, and Nik Prenevost, Cultivation Specialist, offered KARE Saturday some insights and tips about the world of exotic fungi and how to find some of the best varieties.
Check our their Sample Room Spring Risotto:
6 oz par cooked risotto(catabolic rice)
4 oz Mississippi mushroom mix (oysters, lions name)
2 tablespoon Shallot, small dice
2 teaspoon garlic, small dice
4 asparagus spears, biased cut
2 cups mushroom stock(made from mushroom stems)
1 oz goat cheese
1 oz butter
2 teaspoon fresh herbs (parsley, chervil, tarragon, chive)
2 teaspoon truffle oil
Pour small amount of oil in sauce pan and add garlic and Shallot. Sweat until translucent and add raw mushrooms and asparagus. Roast lightly. Add in par-cooked rice and mushroom stock. Stir with wooden spoon until rice is Al dente and creamy. Add butter, goat cheese and parmesan. Continue stirring and season to taste. Garnish with herbs, parmesan and truffle oil.
Each month KARE 11 News Saturday is featuring a different business in the "Small Business Spotlight". If you would like us to feature your business or a business that you patronize then you can contact the show.
Please email email@example.com with the name of the business, location, contact person email and phone number and why this business is special in your community. We would appreciate any photos or websites that would help us understand the importance of the business.


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Four years after the onset of the global financial crisis, investors are still wary of equity investing, even for long-term investors who say that saving for retirement is their top financial priority.
In an online survey of 850 adults in the U.S. between the ages of 21 and 50 with at least one invested account, 61 percent believe that investing in stocks is very important or important in helping them achieve their retirement savings goals. T. Rowe Price conducted the survey in August 2012.
A little more than half of investors surveyed said they have roughly the same risk tolerance they had before the financial crisis, but 37 percent said they refrain from investing in stocks because of current economic or market conditions.
Investors' reluctance to invest in stocks is reflected in data from the Investment Company Institute, which shows that net new cash flow into stock mutual funds was negative in 30 of the last 48 months, including 15 of the last 16, through September 2012.
Investors' aversion for stocks stands despite historical evidence showing that stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, have outperformed other asset classes with an annualized total return of approximately 9.8 percent between 1926 and 2011. Over the course of a long-term retirement savings program, an under-allocation to stocks could lead to shortfalls in investors' account balances, T. Rowe Price financial planners believe.
Eighty-one percent of investors surveyed said they are saving about the same or more than they were before 2008.
"Investors have experienced a lot of market turbulence and tough economic times over the last several years, so it's understandable from an emotional perspective that many of them – including younger investors – might be reluctant to invest in stocks," said Stuart Ritter, a senior financial planner with T. Rowe Price.
"But people with decades to go before retirement need to do their best to block out the noise of the day and focus on the long term. For investors with a long time horizon and enough tolerance for volatility, stocks have always been the best asset class for growth potential and for staying ahead of inflation."
T. Rowe Price is a global investment management organization with $574.4 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 30, 2012.


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Who wants to live in Africa ...?
Der Spiegel has an interesting article on European companies using Africa as a dump for toxic materials.
Some experts see Abidjan's toxic cocktail as Africa's biggest environmental scandal yet. But the odyssey of the Probo Koala reveals the scandal as a sordid story that unfolded in the heart of Europe.
It began on the afternoon of July 2. As the ship was unloaded in Amsterdam's petroleum port, a west wind carried its sharp stench into nearby residential neighborhoods, where residents notified the police. "This is the worst stench we have ever experienced here," said an employee of Amsterdam Port Services (APS), a waste disposal company.
APS took a sample of the black substance from one of the ship's tanks. Though declared as "waste water" used to clean gasoline shipping tanks, chemical analysis told a different story. The hydrocarbons in the material contained high concentrations of a substance known as mercaptan -- a substance which is found in some crude oils and is produced by decaying vegetable matter, which is highly toxic -- and smelly -- in high concentrations.
Authorities halted the unloading of the waste. The captain of the ship, which was Greek-owned and registered in Panama, angrily turned down a proposal by APS officials to dispose of the waste properly at special facilities in Rotterdam. The cost would have been about $250,000, plus another $250,000 in contractual penalties for the ship's likely delayed arrival at its next port of call in Estonia.
For executives at Trafigura, a Dutch oil trading company with annual sales of $28 billion, that cost was too high. Management decided to send the ship on its way.
Three days later, the Probo Koala set sail again, now bound for Estonia. Under international regulations governing the cross-border shipping of hazardous waste, German authorities should have been notified of the ship's passage to German and Danish waters. Amsterdam port officials did send an urgent message to their counterparts in Paldiski, an Estonian port, informing them that a ship with a "suspicious cargo" was headed their way.
The Probo Koala was also unable to get rid of its chemical soup in Paldiski, where it took on a shipment of gasoline bound for Africa. After unloading the gasoline in Nigeria, the Trafigura-chartered vessel arrived in the Ivory Coast in August. A company called Tommy, which had just been established in July, took delivery of the sludge which the European ports had turned away.
Read on if curious ...


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Edit Article
wikiHow to Manage Your Friends List on a Goodreads Account
Five Methods:How to Find Friends to AddHow to Add FriendsRemove a Friend from Your Friends ListHow to Write a Story about a FriendSelecting a User as a "Top Friend"Community Q&A
Goodreads.com is a site for books enthusiasts, aspiring writers, and authors. You can review books, create book lists, join in discussions, and even keep up to date on your favorite author. Adding friends is another thing you can do.
How to Find Friends to Add
1Log into your Goodreads account.
2Make sure you know the name of the person you want to add for this particular method to work.
3Go to your friends list, even if it's empty. You'll find it as a circular-shaped button at the far right corner of your Notifications bar at the top of all Goodreads screens directly to the left of either the default user icon or to the left of your personal profile icon.
4Look to the right of your friends list, and there will be the friend finder. You can search for friends through Gmail, Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, or friends of current friends. You can also search for them by their name or email.
How to Add Friends
1Find someone you want to add as a friend.
2Go to their profile page by clicking on their name. Below their personal information, there will be an "add as a friend" option.
3Be prepared to answer a question. Sometimes the user requires for anyone who wants to be their friend to answer a question. This can be for security reasons, or simply out of curiosity.
Remove a Friend from Your Friends List
How to Write a Story about a Friend
Selecting a User as a "Top Friend"
Community Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters leftSubmit
- You can always follow users' reviews instead of adding them as a friend.
- If someone on your friends list threatens you or does anything inappropriate, then remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them.


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12 common logo mistakes
A good logo can send your brand a long way. Learn about what makes an effective logo design by recognizing 12 design pitfalls outlined by graphic design blogger Jacob Cass. Here are just two:
- Too complex, too abstract: Simple logos are more memorable as they allow for easier recognition; however, for a logo to be memorable and stand apart from the crowd, it must have something unique about it, without being too overdrawn. Not only does simplicity make a logo more memorable, but it also makes the logo more versatile, meaning it can work over more mediums. For example, a logo should work on something the size of a postage stamp and on something as large as a billboard. Don't make your logo too abstract either.
- Relying on special effects or color: If a logo requires color or special effects to make it a strong logo, it's not a strong logo. To get around this, work in black and white first and then add the special effects or color later. This allows you to focus on the shape and concept rather than the special effects. Don't use drop shadows, embossing, or other layer styles to gloss up logos—a good logo will stand on its own. You can also make different variations of a logo to ensure it works in colour or grey scale.
Full story at Just Creative Design.
More design tips and tricks.Posted by Noelle Chun
Comments are off for this post.
I agree about simple – less is always more in my book for logo's!
[…] GuyKawasaki Sep 5, 2010 at 8:20pm 12 widespread emblem errors http://holykaw.alltop.com/12-common-logo-mistakes […]


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Hey guys!
II just quickly wanted to tell you all that Boom Jinx has a new podcast up (well it's been up a few days now.) It's awesome and you can listen to it for free on soundcloud by clicking here or you can download and subscribe to it for free in the iTunes Store!
It's what I'm listening too right now!
I've had this podcast episode on a few times over the last few days and I love it so I just wanted to quickly tell you all about it incase any of you didn't know that he has a podcast!
I didn't realise until about his 5th podcast that one existed! This is podcast 012 so you've not missed many episodes if you want to catch up!
My favourite track from this podcast is without a doubt Ilan Bluestone – Spheres, I can't get enough of that song!
If you're like me and can't sleep right now give the podcast a listen and come and let me know what you think! 🙂