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SHALLOWATER Landon Tanner scored 16 points and had three of his team's seven 3-point goals, and Cooper edged Muleshoe 56-54 Friday night in the finals of a mini-tournament that decided the District 2-3A boys' third playoff berth.
The Pirates (14-16) earned a shot at Sanford-Fritch (25-3) in Class 3A bi-district. They will play at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Canyon.
Muleshoe (10-21) got 20 points from Lincoln Riley but saw its late push for a playoff spot come to an end. The night before, Riley scored 24 points to help the Mules past Littlefield 52-46 in a semifinal game.
Cooper benefited from better scoring balance as Brian Cloud stepped up with 14 points and Nathan Sehon and Darby Brown contributed 10 apiece.
Brennan Broyles and Landon Sheets both had eight points for Muleshoe.
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CHICAGO, April 19 (UPI) -- Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has denied a report he would retire if his contract is not re-negotiated.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday the eight-year veteran wants a new deal.
"I never said that I was going to quit," Urlacher told the Chicago Tribune. "Reports like that are why I choose not to speak to the media."
He has four years left on his existing contract, which will pay him $57 million.
The report added that an unnamed league source said Urlacher's agents have asked the team if they could explore a trade and that he is threatening to retire because of neck and back problems.
He is not participating in voluntary off-season workouts and is threatening to be a hold out at mini-camp in May.
In 2007, he failed to make the Pro Bowl for the first time despite a team-high 158 tackles and being the NFL's first player ever with five sacks and five interceptions in the same season.

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Prominent developer blasts Norwich's efforts to foreclose on her properties
Norwich - City officials will start tax foreclosure proceedings on more than two dozen properties owned by prominent downtown developer Janny Lam, who owes more than $342,000 in back taxes under several ownership company names.
Lam late Wednesday lashed out at Mayor Peter Nystrom and city officials, saying they are singling her out when hundreds of city property owners owe back taxes. She said no one else has done as much to renovate downtown buildings and bring new businesses, including restaurants and retail shops, to Main Street.
Lam owns and has renovated numerous historic downtown landmarks, including the former Chelsea Landing restaurant building - the oldest downtown building - the former Heritage Discovery Center on Main Street, the former Elks Club mansion house and the Lerou Building next door to Otis Library.
More modern buildings are part of her holdings as well, including the Thames Plaza office complex that houses U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney's office and numerous apartment houses in downtown and on Jail Hill.
Many of her buildings are occupied with restaurants, small businesses and residential units, but Lam fell behind on property taxes with the recession. She made payment plan arrangements with city Tax Collector Kathy Daley.
But Lam again fell behind on payments and failed to keep to the payment plan to a point where Nystrom said the city couldn't wait any longer to start foreclosure action.
Nystrom said city officials have instructed Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll to start title searches on the 26 buildings owned by Lam's companies as the precursor to foreclosure. The lis pendens to start the foreclosure has not yet been filed, but Nystrom said that would come after the title searches.
Alderman H. Tucker Braddock said he met with Lam Wednesday to discuss the problem. Braddock supports Lam and hopes to find a solution to the problem.
Lam owed $7,300 monthly in the payment plan, and she said she made a $5,000 payment in July.
"She's a business lady who came to Norwich, and she's working very hard in Norwich," Braddock said, "and she's bought some properties in our community that no one had done anything with for years. I think she has done a remarkable job turning them around."
Lam said the economy hit her hard. While all of her apartment units are occupied, many tenants have lost their jobs and have fallen behind on rent. She estimated that only 20 percent of her tenants are paying in full.
A Japanese restaurant that opened in the former Elks Club building has closed, owing her back rent as well.
"I collect very little money up front so they can open a business in Norwich," Lam said of the several businesses that now occupy her buildings.
"(Nystrom) is going to ruin everything. I am trying to bring in job opportunities to the city."
Lam said if you divide the total she owes in back taxes by the 26 buildings, the figures would be similar to many other property owners who have fallen behind.
"Why does the mayor need to put my name in the papers?" she said. "It's not fair."
"I'd like to work with her and keep her in the community and find some amicable solution to solve the problem that she's in," said Braddock, a retired Greeneville business owner. "She has some beautiful properties, but nothing is moving in our city right now."
Norwich buildings, shopping center approved for tax foreclosure auctions
Costco a no-go in East Lyme and controversial shellfishing in the Niantic River
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Debut Author, Employee of Canton Township, Credits Move to Michigan for First Book
Janet Morris Grimes, an employee of Canton Leisure Services, credits her husband's job transfer for forcing her surrender to her dreams of becoming an author. Her first book, The Parent's Guide to Uncluttering Your Home, was released in May of 2011.
"Since the sixth grade, I knew I wanted to be a writer," Grimes admits. "But life happened, and between work and raising kids, my publishing dreams were placed in a box in the garage. I rediscovered many of my old articles and stories in that box as we moved. Twenty years had passed, but I was still touched by what I read. I yearned to learn how to write for a living, so I found a conference sponsored by American Christian Writers just a few hours away."
The writing conference could only be described as 'taking an equivalent of 20 writing courses at one time.' Grimes could not jot down notes fast enough to absorb all that she learned. "I came away from that experience knowing two things for certain. 1) I could no longer keep myself from writing, because the beast had been unleashed. And 2) no one knew how to do this when they first started. So, why could I not also become a writer, and published author, as well?"
"Writing was the easy part. Understanding the business of publishing, and learning how to market myself came much more difficult," says Grimes. "But, I committed to writing every day, on a myriad of projects that kept me awake at night; stories begging to be shared with the world."
Soon, Grimes answered an ad for a 'Book Writer.' for Atlantic Publishing. After submitting some writing samples, and bidding on several projects, she was awarded one of them. "Atlantic Publishing is known as a Book Packager, or Book Producer. They had the title and a basic idea of what questions they wanted answered with this project, and they hired me to do the research, interview the experts, and get it written, all within a tight, six-month deadline. 65,000 words, numerous edits, and a year later, I am an author!"
This is a different path to publishing than most writers take, and Grimes still has many of her own projects ready to submit to agents and publishers. "In order to be a writer, you must sometimes determine what needs to be written, and write that first. So even though this book is not about me, The Parent's Guide to Uncluttering Your Home is packed it with helpful information that I wished I had known when my children were little."
"At the end of the day," Grimes reflects, "I'm not satisfied unless I've created something new, something moving, something that will hopefully touch the heart of another. I can hardly keep up with all the ideas in my head now. Unleashing the beast sent me in a hundred different directions at once. I guess the next step is to tame this beast."
Grimes also entered the world of public speaking, a healthy companion to any writer's dreams. She joined the Canton, MI chapter of Toastmasters in 2010. "I've always wondered if my words could capture a face to face audience. If I could write them, could I also learn to speak them and present them in a way that mattered?"
"There is no substitute for experience,"
"I want my words to matter, whether written or spoken, and whether my audience is made up of adults, teens or children. It's not about me, but rather about the message."
"So for today, my message is this," says Grimes. "Dreams are powerful, and were never meant to be ignored. My writing dreams never went away, even if I did neglect them for several years. I never completely stopped writing, even it was an extended letter to a loved one."
In January of this year, Grimes also started a part-time job working as a Front Desk Attendant at Summit on the Park, for Canton Leisure Services. "I was thrilled to find a job, but what I found, instead, was a community. I think my family is finally starting to fit in here quite nicely."
"My life, my career, and my future will never be the same because of this move to Michigan, because I am now an author. A local author, I guess you could say, from two states; Tennessee and Michigan."
For additional information on Janet, visit http://janetmorrisgrimes.com or http://abbandoned.com.
# # #
Abbandoned Ministries is the writing and speaking ministry of author Janet Morris Grimes, who leads others to seek God, as Abba, during times of abandonment. For additional information visit http://janetmorrisgrimes.com or http://abbandoned.com.
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Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith linebacker Kanyia Anderson is inching closer to a decision. In fact, the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder believes it could be as soon as a matter of few weeks before a decision comes.
"I'm thinking about it," he said. "I may decide soon. I actually may make it before the first game of the season."
That first game is on August 25th against Byrnes (S.C.).
Article Continues Below
Anderson hasn't visited anywhere recently, but claims to be focused on two schools at this time.
"I don't have any new offers," he said. "I have the same six; California, Furman, Cornell, Richmond, Old Dominion and James Madison.
"Right now, my top two are Old Dominion and California of course."
Why those two?
"I like Old Dominion," he said. "They made the big move to Conference USA and we stay in contact a lot. They have a good coaching staff and they really love me. That is a big part of recruiting, the coaching
staff and being in contact. We have a good relationship.
"As for California, that's a dream school," he said. "I can't throw them out the window and not consider them. It's a dream."
Anderson has mentioned a desire to take official visits, but is still up in the air on that fact.
Regarding the season, Anderson is looking ahead.
"I'm working hard getting ready for this year," he said. "I don't really have much to prove. I just want to win another statechampionship and do my part on the team to help make a repeat."


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Time to put those earbuds that you're using away, and get serious about music-listening. If you'd like to improve your audio experience, then you'll surely appreciate this opportunity to win the SOUL by Ludacris SL150 headphones, which come with comfortable full-ear cup, and precise audio balance in order to deliver an authentic and rich sound for your tunes.
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- Have you ever broken the screen of your phone and what did you do to fix it?
We'll choose one lucky fellow next Monday (July 23) who will win the SOUL by Ludacris SL150 and the Werx Android smartphone screen replacement kit. We'll contact them via the email address that they used to register on PhoneArena.com.
*Update July 23, 2012* We have drawn the lucky winner - congratulations smak425 - please check your email for details!
Giveaway terms:
- By entering this promotion, participants agree to be bound by these terms and that the decision of Phone Arena is final and binding in all matters relating to this promotion.
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- Phone Arena accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury or disappointment suffered by any entrant resulting from entering this prize draw or by the entrant's acceptance of the prize.
- Phone Arena reserves the right to alter, amend or foreclose this Free Prize Draw without prior notice in the event of unforeseen circumstances, which make this unavoidable.


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The avalanche of excellent roots-music releases over the last 12 months has been but one facet of a banner year for Celtic culture on this side of the Atlantic. The phenomenal success of the Riverdance road show starring enigmatic master stepper Michael Flatley and the blooming of Celtic music and arts festivals nationwide have likewise turned scores of white folks on to their unique cultural history.
Surprisingly, the rush to cash in on the interest in all things Celtic has produced remarkably few turkeys among the flock of CDs, especially where the compilations are concerned. Putumayo World Music's Women of the World Celtic II is one such shining example. A follow-up to the eclectic label's fine 1995 release Women of the World Celtic, Celtic II covers a good deal of international turf, traveling to such outposts of Celtdom as Newfoundland. This thoroughly modern batch of recordings also tilts toward the experimental, with world beats and electric arrangements updating the traditional numbers and bringing the originals into the 21st century. Though potential culture clashes loom throughout, they never really surface, even when Eithne Ni Uallachain backs her South Ulster ballad "Ta Se Aside from Ivers and Karen Matheson, who fronts the popular folk-rock band Capercaillie, most of the artists on Celtic II have had little exposure stateside. But all deserve attention, especially Mary Jane Lamond, who recklessly combines hip-hop, funk and traditional Gaelic singing while being backed by Celtic-grunge fiddler Ashley MacIsaac; Welsh folkie Julie Murphy and her punchy acoustic band Fernhill; and Pamela Morgan, who has now embarked on a solo career after several years with Newfoundland's groundbreaking band Figgy Duff.
Though Celtic II emphasizes vocals, the lasses still get a few chances to show off their instrumental skills. Natalie MacMaster, for example, has a command of the renowned fiddle style of Cape Breton that shouldn't surprise anyone, given that her father, Buddy, is a legend in those parts. What does jolt the senses is her updating of what until now has been a staid tradition. Under MacMaster's bow, "The Drunken Piper" becomes as universal as alcohol itself. Similarly enchanting is Cristina Crawlay of the duet band Touchwood, who wields a mean bouzouki in a Pentangle-inspired traditional number, "Sovay." And the Brooklyn-born Ivers shatters any lingering stereotypes about the inability of women musicians to burn the strings as passionately as the testosterone crew. (*** 1/2)
If Celtic II has a fault, it's that it's a bit skimpy at 12 cuts and a mere 44 1/2 minutes of music. Shanachie Entertainment's Voices of Celtic Women does better by tipping in at a healthy 15 tracks and 72 minutes of song, with nary a throwaway note. One quarter of Holding Up Half the Sky: Women's Voices from Around the World (a four-CD release available separately or in a box set), this Celtic portion is easily the equal of the others. Many of the songs have been culled from previous Shanachie releases, but that doesn't prove constricting, because while the label has expanded into African, reggae and other musical genres, its primary focus has always been Irish, and its catalog offers no shortage of great selections.
Voices gets plenty of mileage out of its retreads. Maura O'Connell's "Maggie," on which she's backed by the contemporary folk group De Dannan, previews her shift from a traditional singer to her current, poppier sound. And though Triona Ni Dhomhnaill long ago left both the Bothy Band and Ireland with her brother Michael for some expatriate adventures in Oregon, her '70s version of "The Streets of Derry," with piper Paddy Keenan providing a mournful companion to Dhomhnaill's clavinet, remains as fresh, sweet and perishable as a ripe fig. Maire Ni Bhraonain, who in recent years has drifted with her band Clannad into New Age stardom, adds an ethereal twist to the traditional Gaelic ballad "Rise Up My Love."
Though focused on established performers, Voices gives a nod to the upcoming generation of Celtic artists. American Talitha MacKenzie takes the Scottish art of puirt-a-beul (instrumental music that uses the voice as the instrument) and melds it with brash electronics and horns; her take on "Fill lu O" would probably play better in a dance hall than a folk club. Meanwhile, Karan Casey, a transplant to New York from County Waterford, shows why, in just a few years, she has managed to establish herself as a mainstay of the Big Apple's Irish scene. Cathy Jordan of the next-wave folk band Dervish contrasts some of Voices' more solemn offerings with a zippy children's song, "Little Pet."
As the Voices title implies, this collection pays little attention to the stringed side of life. Two of the tracks are a cappella, and most of the rest feature sparse instrumentation. Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, who's the only artist to appear on both Celtic II and Voices, has but a keyboard between her and the naked truth. Somehow, though, the complex and clever arrangements so favored by most modern Celtic folk bands aren't missed at all. (****)
Those intricate arrangements are, however, in evidence on Blasta!: The Irish Traditional Music Special, another Shanachie offering. Though the CD title implies some association with a television program -- or, perhaps, a live-concert-production-turned-CD -- the primary link between the tracks on Blasta! is the same as between those on Voices: They've all appeared on previous Shanachie discs. Indeed, many of the artists are the same as well: Triona Ni Dhomhnaill, Paddy Keenan, Clannad and De Dannan contribute, as do Dolores Keane and Ni Dhomhnaill's sister Maighread.
But it's the other artists that elevate Blasta! to a worthwhile status. Fiddler Paddy Glackin joins production guru and former Bothy Band member Donal Lunny for a sparkling duet that combines the ancient heart and modern head that make Irish music so timeless. On "The Mason's Apron," Colm Murphy plays the bodhran, a hand-held Irish drum, with alacrity, while on another cut, pennywhistle all-star Mary Bergin proves equally adroit on her instrument. On the vocal side, the highlights are provided by relative newcomers Noirin Ni Riain and Aoife Ni Fhearraigh. Ni Riain joins the monks of County Limerick's Glenstal Abbey in a cleansing, devotional example of unison singing. Ni Fhearraigh, who hails from the northwest Donegal Gaeltacht, an area that has produced a number of famed women singers (including Enya), adds her voice to that number with a lushly textured Gaelic love ballad.
Though the individual parts are fine, Blasta!'s mix as a whole doesn't hold together particularly well, despite the CD insert's claim that the songs were "especially chosen to represent the range and beauty of the Irish music tradition." That tradition is simply too much to handle in one bite, especially when restricted to the output of one label. Still, there's enough here to whet the average appetite. (***)
By contrast, the Blue Plate Music label's Celtic Music: Live from Mountain Stage doesn't even pretend to be anything other than what it is: a mix of tunes that were broadcast as part of Mountain Stage, a weekly public radio program emanating from Charleston, West Virginia (not picked up locally, alas) that has been serving up an eclectic selection of folk and roots music for almost a decade. Applying a liberal definition to the Celtic moniker, this disc tosses everything into a jumble. Emma Christian accompanies herself on harp for a soft, traditional Gaelic song, and is then followed by a blast from Black 47, a rough-hewn Irish-American folk-rock band that reeks of the Pogues. A plaintive Luka Bloom sings moonily of "Dreams in America," while the Tannahill Weavers tackle a traditional song in typical full-throttle fashion. The acoustic tones of Altan and Andy Irvine contrast with the motorized originals of songstress Eleanor McEvoy and the Oyster Band.
Live from Mountain Stage certainly tests the tolerance of narrow-cast taste buds, but it may whet a few new ones in the process. Unfortunately, at only 11 entries and less than 45 minutes, the experience will be as short-lived as a pint of draft Guinness. It may be that Mountain Stage has only hosted 11 artists that could be vaguely construed as Celtic, but even so, would it have been too much to ask for the label to tack on an encore or two? (***)
On the other hand, it would have been a lot to ask of a label to assemble a Celtic disc that includes 37 tracks and a 64-page, full-color booklet with biographies and other pithy details. But that's exactly what Ellipsis Arts has done on Celtic Mouth Music, a remarkable collection of Gaelic scat by an even more remarkable collection of singers. Known variously as diddling, lilting, jigging, peurt-a-beul, kan ha diskan or some other poetic name (depending on where in the Gaelic world you are), mouth music has evolved over the centuries to a highly refined -- and highly funky -- art form. Its primary goal, however, has never changed: to provide dance music when no instruments are available.
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Switching between archival and contemporary recordings, some with bare-bones percussion accompaniment, Celtic Mouth Music manages to keep the pace quick enough to avoid cognitive dissonance -- though very little, if anything, on this disc will be familiar to most listeners. Generic it ain't, and when listening to Mouth Music an open mind (as well as accepting ears) is of the essence. Still, few releases explore so thoroughly the absolute power of the human voice. Mouth Music's well-researched history and great booklet design and photos alone justify the price of admission. (**** 1/2)
The CDs mentioned above cover a lot of ground, but even so, they merely skim the surface of what's out there, all of it readily available to those willing to seek it out. And you can expect plenty more where that came from, since a wealth of old material is still stowed away in independent-label vaults just waiting to be dusted off and reissued. With a vital modern Celtic music scene of global proportions taking shape, labels should continue to churn out a full range of styles and sounds -- so long as economics allow them to do so.
-- Bob Burtman
***** Pint of Guinness
**** More black than tan
*** Fine draft ale
** Watney's Red Barrel
* Bud Light


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EuroFab450 is an ambitious dream
7 comments post a comment
Many parties need to buy-in to Malcolm Penn's dream of European manufacturing on 450-mm diameter wafers if it is going to happen. And Europe, facing eurozone implosion, needs radical thinking and risk-taking.
I don't think common manufacturing platforms across all parties are necessary for a jointly owned and operated 450-mm wafer fab. A 450-mm More-than-Moore fab in particular would have to support a large number of processes but there might be advantages in finding common ground and common processes. The bigger obstacle is making joint ownership work. This has usually prooved problematic in the long term. There is also a lack of the risk-tasking spirit that existed at the birth of the European experiment and which drove such things as GSM cellular mobile phone technology and the Megaproject and JESSI.
I am sure the EU/EC is aware of a need to reinvigorate European manufacturing and value creation in areas like nanotechnology and the need to do something to prevent manufacturing continuing to drain east. The European companies tend to just want R&D support for their nearer term technologies on 300-mm wafers. I don't see Carlo Bozotti of STMicroelectronics, Rick Clemmer of NXP Semiconductors or the incoming Reinhard Ploss at Infineon Technologies changing that position any time soon.
And with regard to Penn's idea of a 450-mm fab to given European companies an advantage behind the leading-edge there are yet more hurdles to be overcome.
More-than-Moore technologies for the most part do not require 450-mm diameter wafers and in some cases are positively uneconomic on such large wafers. It is not practical that an entire chip product's lifetime requirement can be produced on just a few wafers. Indeed there is discussion in the MEMS community that 300-mm wafers are still way too large for any designs and that 200-mm wafers are only just becoming the sweet spot for consumer MEMS with applications that need high volumes.
We should remember that Moore's law when originally coined was an economic argument and not a technical one. The only way I can see 450-mm wafers being used for the smaller volumes and wafer area required by many behind-the-leading-edge technologies would be if there was a business model change so that multiproject wafer runs could become more mainstream, rather than a prototyping vehicle.
That could happen (see Adapteva close to sampling 28-nm, 64-core coprocessor and InvenSense opens up process to enable fabless MEMS) but again is probably not a sufficient condition. There are arguments regarding amortization of investments which mean that the newest, most expensively produced wafers should be used for the largest die with the highest value per silicon area. Older written-down fabs running smaller wafers have always been used to run older processes and chips with lower selling prices.
The best hope I see is that the bureaucrats in Brussels can call in some favors with the likes of Intel and Globalfoundries, who want to be good European citizens, to have a leading-edge volume 450-mm wafer fab be located in Dublin or Dresden.
The full report can be downloaded from the European Commission's website at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/nanoelectronics/documents/450mm-final-report.pdf
Related links and articles:
News articles:
European report considers 450-mm More-than-Moore fab
InvenSense opens up process to enable fabless MEMS
Adapteva close to sampling 28-nm, 64-core coprocessor


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Google's new Cloud Connect gently lulls MS Office users cloudwards
Last week Google launched Cloud Connect a free plug-in for Microsoft Office that provides a number of cloud-based functionalities (such as collaboration sharing revision history and syncing) to users of Word Excel and PowerPoint. As Shan Sinha Google Apps Product Manager said on the Google Docs blog "there are still many people that are tied to desktop applications and haven't experienced the numerous benefits cloud applications [bring]".
The plug-in is available to users of Microsoft Office 2003 2007 and 2010 running on Windows XP Vista or Windows 7. (According to Google a Mac version is not available at this time due to a "lack of support for open APIs on Microsoft Office for Mac".)
True to its slogan ("Teach your old docs new tricks") the plug-in once installed enables users to sync Office documents to Google Docs without leaving their Office application. Once a supported Word Excel or PowerPoint file is uploaded and synced with Google Docs from within Office it is given a unique URL which can be shared with other users who are then able to collaborate on the document editing it in turns or simultaneously as they wish. Sharing of read-only versions is also supported.
In the event of an edit conflict between two separate users you are able to choose which set of edits to retain and edits made while a user is offline can be incorporated into documents when online access is restored. Revision history keeps track of every individual sync so you can roll back to an older version of a file if you choose to do so.
Edit conflicts can be resolved by users electing which set of changes to retain.
In essence Cloud Connect provides some pretty hefty competition to Microsoft's own Office companion cloud platform Office Web Apps and one which directly (if invisibly) ties into the Google Docs ecosystem. It'll be interesting to see how this development affects the productivity software sector as a whole – and whether its subtle beckoning of desktop Office users towards Google Docs' online functionalities ultimately results in some Cloud Connect adopters actually abandoning Office. This could be one plug-in that eventually sees Microsoft users plugging out.


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Doctor insights on:
My Period Is 8 Days Late Am I Pregnant
My breast are not tender, but my period is 8 days late, am I pregnant?
Family practice: Yes you could be. You don't have to have breast soreness to be be pregnant. Perform a hpt. See your dr if needed. ...Read more
Menstrual Cycle (Definition)
The menstrual cycle begins with the shedding of the uterine lining, resulting in bleeding from the vagina. A few weeks later, one ovary releases an egg and the uterine lining thickens in preparation for a potential pregnancy. Pregnancy can occur at this stage if sperm fertilizes the egg. If the egg is not fertilized, the egg will leave your body and ...Read more
My period is 8 days late could I be pregnant?
Y: Yes. Do home pregnancy test.Get a more detailed answer ›
Period is 8 days late, took preg test nov 9th morning & was neg. Could I still be pregnant or is there another reason I am late?
Late period: Yes you could be pregnant and it is too early for the test to show. Repeat in a week/do blood level. Could also be variation or thyroid thyroid (check TSH), check prolactin as an adenoma ca nstop periods, may need sonogram to check for polycytic ovaries. F/u w/doc ...Read more
My period is 8 days late. I took a home preg test 2days ago and it was negative. Could I be pregnant? What else could it be? Please help
Periods vary: stress, medication activities and many other things can affect periods ...Read more
As of today my period is 8 days late and I have taken 4 home tests (1 this morning) and all have been negative. Could I still be pregnant?
Not if negative: Home pregnancy tests are very accurate. They are the same tests used in a doctors office. They can detect a pregnancy 7-10 days after conception. If you doubt the result you can repeat it in 1-2 days. If you were pregnant the hormone level would rise enough for detection. After this much time clearly you are not pregnant. See your doctor for irregular periods. ...Read more
I am 24 years old, and my period is 8 days late. How likely is it that I am pregnant? Or is there something else that could be causing this?
Possible: A missed or late pregnancy is the first sign often a woman has. Take a test, they are fast and reliable. If test is negative, consider re-take in 5-7 days if still no period. Otherwise, missed period may be due to changes in hormones this month. See a doctor if it bothers you or continues for > 3 months. ...Read more
I am 54 years old, and my period is 8 days late. How likely is it that I am pregnant? Or is there something else that could be causing this?
Menopause: Whether you are 47 or 54, the beginnings of menopause is as likely as pregnancy. If you did not have unprotected sex, it is definitely the most likely reason. Do a test when the time is right - also see a doctor for an exam to help you make the best decisions for how to handle this time in your life. Best wishes! ...Read more
I am 49 years old, and my period is 8 days late. How likely is it that I am pregnant? Or is there something else that could be causing this?
No longer to Guess: We live in a world where we no longer guess. The physicians here will defer and only recommend that you get a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are found at nearly every store you can imagine where you live. Once a period is delayed and if you could be pregnant then it is time to test and time to stop wondering. ...Read more
My period is 8 days late and I the pt is negative, also don't av any symptoms of pregnancy, except virginal pain what do you think could b the cause?
Not pregnant: Your tests are negative indicating you are not pregnant. Irregular periods are one of the most common problems obgyns treat. If this is one time problem it usually resolves on its own. If this is a recurring problem you should be evaluated. Infections ; hormonal changes can cause spotting. There are many options available to help regulate the menstrual cycle. Schedule a visit. ...Read more
My period is 8 days late, and I've taken two tests that have come back negative, My partner and I didn't use protection, could I still be pregnant?
Unlikely now: Certainly, we all are very eager for accuracy and speed when it comes to the diagnosis of pregnancy. It is unlikely that you are pregnant - given the negative preg. Test at this time of your missed cycle. It does take approximately one week after a missed menses to begin to reliably verify a pregnancy by a urine test. Consider retesting in one week. Avoid medications until then. Good Luck! ...Read more
Period is 8 days late and throughout the time I was feeling sick, my period comes on the day today, could I be pregnant or is something wrong w/me?
Either: If your periods are normal, do a pregancy test to find out. If negative get checked to help determine the cause. ...Read more
My period is 8 days late. Have Dihaerea for the past two days. Cramping. What are the chances I'm pregnant?
Possible pregnancy: Check a pregnancy test.Get a more detailed answer ›
I had my tubes tied 2004 but my period is 8 days late. I am always regular, I have had all of the symptoms of pregnancy?
Could be ectopic: You should take a pregnancy test and if positive then go see your OB/Gyn as soon as possible. Sometimes sperm can get through the scar tissue and can cause an ectopic pregnancy. ...Read more
My bf and I had sex. He used a condom & didnot cum. Period is 8 days late. Its usually 9 days late. Is there pregnancy possibilities?
How to get pregnant?: You cannot get pregnant if there is no exposure to semen. Why are you asking this question? Am I missing something? ...Read more
My breast are really sore my period is 8 days late I'm I pregnant or just having a late period?
Test: You might be. There is only one way to tell right now - get a pregnancy test. A home pregnancy test, available in many stores, can give you the answer. Follow the directions carefully. ...Read more
My period is 6 days late, am I pregnant?
Maybe. Maybe not.: Pregnancy is the most common cause of a missed period. If not pregnant, other causes of a late or missed period include: excessive weight loss or weight gain, increased exercising, emotional stress, having an illness, traveling, medicines (especially birth control pills), hormonal disorders, etc… A visit to one's Ob-Gyn doctor is a good idea if symptoms are persistent, recurring, or worrisome. ...Read more
My period is 2-3 days late am I pregnant?
Hpt: There isn't a way to know without a pregnancy test. ...Read more
My last period was sept 29th it ended October 5th im 4 days late. Am I pregnant?
Possible: If you are sexually active, you can be pregnant. Get a pregnancy test. ...Read more
Home pregnancy Said negative. Period is 2 days going on 3 days late. Am I pregnant.?
Not sure: I suggest you repeat the pregnancy test 1 week after a missed period. ...Read more
My last period was Sept 29 - Oct 5 and my period is 4 days late am I pregnant?
Possible: Pregnancy is a possibility, although there can be multiple reasons for being late. The way to know is to get a test! ...Read more
Pregnancy (Definition)
When your due date arrives, you will be more than ready to have your baby! Most women deliver the baby somewhere between 37 and 42 weeks. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, only 5% of babies arrive on the exact due date. Approximately 7% of babies are not delivered by 42 weeks, and when that happens, it is referred to ...Read more
Menstrual Period (Definition)
Menstrual period is a medical term for the monthly bleeding ...Read more


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With 'Sea Marks,' waiting for the big one
LENOX — Baby boomers, especially women, may remember the late Gardner McKay as the hunky hero of the 1959-62 TV series "Adventures in Paradise.'' Quickly tiring of Hollywood glamour, McKay threw over a promising career to resume his true calling, that of world explorer (once his contract was up, he headed straight for the Amazon). He also took up writing, and one result was the 1971 play "Sea Marks,'' a rarely produced work that director Daniela Varon found compelling enough to revive under the auspices of Shakespeare & Company.
Set in the late 1960s (a time, obviously, of great cultural upheaval), it's an old-fashioned, sentimental tale about a lonely, middle-aged Aran Islands fisherman who strikes up a pen-pal relationship — and eventually a romance — with a similarly lonely publishing underling in Liverpool. He espied her at a local wedding, while affecting a nonchalant pose with his arm plunged into the punch bowl.
The latter image is as good as any to suggest the gentle humor that laces this somewhat fantastical script, which melds both sides of Tolstoy's famous dictum about all great literature being reducible to one of two stories: A man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town. In this modest endeavor, we get both.
We encounter Colm Primrose (Walton Wilson) as he's soliloquizing in his seaside croft cottage. Set designer Kiki Smith cutely suspends two dollhouse versions of the lovers' abodes to indicate locale. This plodding scene eventually shifts to Timothea Stiles's tidy parlor, where the object of his sudden affection (pretty Kristin Wold) reads aloud his initial feeler letter.
Wilson takes a long time to establish rapport with the audience. It's Colm's shyness talking, perhaps, but Wilson starts out with eyes so downcast and/or unfocused, he gives the impression of being blind. He starts to open up as Colm does, when — after a year's correspondence and another distant-relation wedding visitation by Timothea — he accepts her invitation to leave behind the only world he has known, a sheltered, tradition-bound spot spared the slightest incursion of modernity, and brave the big city.
She's a bold one, inviting this raggedy and (one presumes) odiferous near-stranger to come cohabit with her. Timothea is also ambitious, planning to package what she perceives as Colm's "touch of the poet'' and ride his coattails — or rather his frayed, stained Aran sweater — to literary glory.
Wold plays Timothea so sweetly, and makes such a touching case for her desperate bid to vault beyond her hardscrabble upbringing on a "mean little farm'' in Wales, that it would seem churlish to fault her machinations. Besides, Colm is looking at one sweet deal! Fame, fortune, and a demonstrative main squeeze (before Timothea came along, this self-described "spinster man'' admits to never having "courted''), all on the basis of a few metaphor-heavy musings about the mysteries of the sea.
But how can Colm — now akin to a beached merman — resist the call of his muse?
It's not exactly an insurmountable predicament, and thus not dripping with drama. But amazingly, Wilson — and by extension, McKay — pulls off an 11th-hour tour de force when Colm addresses a Liverpudlian literary salon with a fiery jeremiad about the primacy of knowing one's place, in every sense. It's as if suddenly we'd been transported into one of Brian Friel's better plays. This one impassioned moment more than makes up for the foregoing lulls, inevitable in any fishing expedition.
Sandy MacDonald can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus was in San Diego last week and met with the U-T San Diego Editorial Board to talk about the handling of military sexual assault cases, Fallujah and NAASCO's importance to the Navy. Here are condensed and edited excerpts of the interview.
Q: One of the things discussed over the last year was the military sexual assault prevention issue. What is your position on the Gillibrand amendment, the proposal by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to remove military sexual assault cases from the chain of command? We'd also like to ask, as sort of a devil's advocate, what would be the harm of that, putting the prosecution power in the hands of the military lawyers instead of the commanders?
A: I'm going to go a little broader and then I'll come back and answer your specific question. I think one of my first acts was I appointed a sexual assault prevention coordinator in my office who reports directly to me. And I think we are getting down the road of figuring out what works in this because you know this is an attack. This is a crime. When a sailor or Marine raises their hand and swears to defend the United States they also are promising their shipmates that they will protect each other. If somebody was walking through taking shots at sailors or Marines at random, we'd do something about it. This is the same thing. This is a crime. And we take it extraordinarily seriously. We're seeing things that are beginning to work. We're trying to do things to make sure that people know, sailors and Marines know that it's not just enough to "not" commit a sexual assault. They've got a responsibility to step in if they see something that might be developing. We've also supported very strongly some changes to the law that now have been made. One is that court martial-convening authorities should not have the ability to overturn verdicts. The second is Article 32 hearings, which happen before the court martial to see if there are grounds for a court martial, have turned into full-blown evidentiary hearings. And when Article 32 was set up it was to protect the rights of the defendant. In the civilian world the parallel is the grand jury. And so rules of evidence have moved along pretty far and you've got a lot of discovery now. So you don't have to have this thing. When somebody would come forward and say they were a victim of sexual assault they would go on the stand and defense attorneys would attack them, sometimes mercilessly, about their sexual history, about the circumstances, and things like this. One of the pushes that I encouraged and now Congress has passed is that these things are going to be probable cause hearings. Victims do not have to testify. And, finally, on the notion of putting charging power in the hands of an attorney, an attorney is going to make that decision based on the probability of success at trial. And there have been instances where the legal counsel to the convening authority recommended against court martial — not because they didn't think there was probable cause to believe that a crime had been committed, but because they had evidentiary problems. Somebody hadn't been read their rights early enough. Or there may be evidence that couldn't be brought forward. And so they would recommend no court martial because the chances of success, they think, were not great enough because of some of these evidentiary problems. Well, the convening authority said no. We're going to convene a court martial and we're going to do it, not only because we think we can get a conviction, but also to send a message to that command that we take this seriously. And to send a message to the victim that if you come forward, we are going to take this seriously.
Q: So you're opposed to the Gillibrand amendment in part because you think it will not lead to enough trials because of what you just described.
A: I do think that commanding officers need to retain the power to convene those court martials because there are times when they will proceed with a court martial whereas an attorney, for example, would not because of evidentiary problems or things like that.
Q: What do you do about the whole issue of command influence, because as you know, one of the complaints is that a commander might favor the person who has been accused of doing the crime because of a prior relationship and that the victim feels like there wasn't a dispassionate decision made about whether to charge?
A: I think you're going to have that issue no matter who has the convening authority because of previous relationships and things like that. I think that commanders now understand how serious this is and they are not going to just say, "no prosecution," and it will go away. I think that is a better way to do it.
Q: We recently wrote about Fallujah. As you know, Camp Pendleton Marines were a large part of the force that fought those battles in 2004 and Ramadi as well. And some of those we interviewed said that they felt like it was sort of a kick in the butt to see al-Qaeda take over Fallujah. They felt their buddies had fallen, or spilled blood, for nothing, at this point. What is your reaction to that.
A: Well, No. 1, it's understandable. I mean, Secretary Kerry announced that we're sending some aid to Iraq. But the chaos, some of the things that have happened in places like Fallujah, are disappointing on any number of levels, not the least of which is those Marines who fought so well and so bravely. And you can only go so far. I can't even imagine how it feels for a Marine who fought there.
Q: Are you optimistic we'll be able to reach an agreement in Afghanistan so the same thing won't happen there?
A: I hope so. I've made 12 trips to Afghanistan and talked to our commanders there. I think that the Afghans are doing a pretty good job. The Afghan army and the Afghan national police, as well as the Afghan local police, are stepping up in some pretty impressive ways. But I think there is going to be some sort of training, advising, residual force for some time in the future. Even the president says that, and even our military commander said it. It is in the Afghans' best interest, I believe, and it is in our best interest that an agreement be reached. I think there's support in Afghanistan.
Q: In a consolidation effort to make the defense of our country stronger and obviously enable the Navy and Marine Corps and all the other branches of the service to perform as well as possible, is there any portion anywhere in the world that we are currently positioned that perhaps you would consider pulling back from?
A: It's not pulling back from, but it's putting more emphasis, putting emphasis on the Western Pacific, putting emphasis on the Arabian Gulf. And what that does is it means perhaps fewer assets in some other places, fewer assets around Africa, perhaps, or around South America.
Q: You were asked this morning about the shipyard issue in San Diego, the (Barrio Logan) ballot measure that's coming up. Basically, you said you didn't really want to be involved in local politics. But can you talk at all about what impact this may have?
A: I went a little further than that now. I said because it was on the ballot, I did not think it was appropriate for me or the Navy to take a side. It's for the voters of San Diego. Then I repeated what I said from almost the day I got this job, which is I want to protect the industrial base. I want to make sure the Navy gets the ships it needs and I want to make sure that we repair the ships that we need to do the mission of the Navy. And San Diego, and NASSCO, are very important in that effort. And that whatever happens in this vote, we're going to keep working with NASSCO. We're going to keep working with the ship repair industry and all the businesses that we do, and with the city to make sure that we get the ships that the Navy and the nation need, that we get the repair work done, and that we protect those folks who are out there today, the industrial base that is so important to us.
Q: Understood, but do you believe this community plan as it is now will adversely affect your ability to work with NASSCO and the industrial base?
A: That's where I'm not going to take a side.


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People's Sexiest Man: Channing Tatum
Must have been those stripteases in Magic Mike. People magazine named Channing Tatum 2012's Sexiest Man Alive after the 32-year-old actor had a breakout year, starring in the hit comedy 21 Jump Street. "My first thought was, Y'all are messing with me," Tatum said. A former stripper, Tatum is married to actress Jenna Dewan-Tatum and is currently in training to play an Olympic athlete in next year's Foxcatcher.


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The Orioles are expected to announce the signings today of between 10 and 12 picks taken last week in the First-Year Player Draft.
The Orioles have begun contract negotiations with their second-round pick, University of Virginia right-handed pitcher Branden Kline, who I profiled in this story. They hope to begin talks with their top pick, LSU pitcher Kevin Gausman, by late this week.
The most recent picks to come to terms with the club are Lex Rutledge, a left-handed pitcher taken in Round 6 and Brady Wager a right-handed pitcher taken in Round 9.
Rutledge went 1-4 with a 6.81 ERA in 35 2/3 innings this year at Samford University, but has a fastball said to be in the mid- to high 90s and was rated as the draft's 148th-best prospect by Baseball America.
Wager, from Grand Canyon University in Arizona, was 7-4 with a 3.75 ERA in 13 starts and 84 innings this year with 31 walks and 78 strikeouts.
Here are the picks that we have reported agreements with so far:
* Round 3 - High school SS Adrian Marin
* Round 6 - Samford LHP Lex Rutledge
* Round 8 - Michigan State OF Torsten Boss
* Round 9 - Grand Canyon University RHP Brady Wager
* Round 10 - Dallas Baptist SS Joel Hutter
* Round 19 - High school LHP Josh Hader
* Round 23 - Fresno State RHP Gene Escat
* Round 25 - Auburn IF Creede Simpson


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Posts Tagged 'Spring Garden'
Spring Has Sprung, Albeit Early!
Our gardens are in over drive and early as with the rest of the tri-state area. We may still get frost though, so don't plant your more tender annuals or fruit trees until May 15th to be safe!! Our Magnolias and bleeding hearts were roaring in March! Crazy! Even the [Read More]


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(Note: This is the second of a four-part series.)
In 1972, it was Us vs. Them when the original Team Canada squeaked past the godless Soviets in the historic Summit Series.
Four years later, Darryl Sittler's overtime goal against the Czechs won the inaugural Canada Cup for a team that still ranks as the greatest collection of all-star talent ever to don the Maple Leaf sweater.
Between those two epic clashes, unjustly dismissed as somehow less significant and today all but forgotten, was the so-called 'Friendship Series' — the World Hockey Association's gallant attempt to carve out its credibility in an eight-game series against the Soviet national team in September 1974.
In the wake of the Summit Series debacle, nobody believed the two-year-old WHA had a snowball's chance in hell of even being competitive. Yet when GM Bill Hunter and head coach Billy Harris assembled their hand-picked squad in Toronto in mid-August, there was a quiet air of confidence.
Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe were there. J.C. Tremblay and Gerry Cheevers, too.
There were even three veterans from the '72 series: Frank Mahovlich, Paul Henderson and Pat Stapleton.
After the Big 7, however, most of the rest of Team Canada '74 was faceless, even to hardcore hockey fans. A handful — Johnny McKenzie, Ralph Backstrom, Mike Walton, Marc Tardiff and Bruce MacGregor — had played in the NHL long enough to have made an impact, but who were the rest of these guys?
Serge Bernier and Barry Long? Tom Webster and Wayne Dillon? Pat Price and Smokey McLeod?
"My biggest concern was to help make sure we weren't disgraced," Howe recalled in a 1997 interview for my book Big Bucks & Blue Pucks.
"The guys on the team knew what we were capable of doing, but the media had written us off even before we got to training camp.
"That was a little unsettling, especially considering how many young guys we had. And don't forget, the Russians had been building for two years off what they learned in 1972. They were much better prepared."
In retrospect, Howe's pre-tournament observations were uncannily accurate.
What turned out to be the most crucial factor in the final outcome — one win and three ties for the WHA, four wins for the Soviets — was that the Russians so thoroughly went to school on the lessons they'd learned two years earlier.
The opening game in Quebec City was one of the most entertaining international contests ever.
Twice Team Canada held one-goal leads, only to see the Soviets fight back. Late in the second period, Paul Shmyr took a penalty for cross-checking and 10 seconds later Vladimir Petrov put the Soviets ahead 3-2.
Team Canada attacked furiously through the first half of the third period, but Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak weathered the storm.
With six minutes left, Hull, playing on a line with McKenzie and Andre Lacroix, notched his second goal of the game to even the score.
Then, with 40 seconds remaining, the line of Backstrom, Howe and Mahovlich launched one last desperate assault.
Howe knocked down two defenders to retrieve a loose puck just inside the blue-line, then fed a perfect pass to Mahovlich in the slot. The Big M deked the sprawling Tretiak, but his hurried shot zipped wide of the top corner.
A Team Canada win instead of a tie in the opener would have dramatically changed the rest of the series. As it was, Canada triumphed 4-1 in Game 2 in Toronto, but then some lineup juggling led to an 8-5 loss in Game 3 in Winnipeg.
Harris rested Cheevers and put Don (Smokey) McLeod in goal. Howe, Mahovlich and starry defencemen Rick Ley and Brad Selwood were likewise scratched.
The opening period of Game 4, two nights later in Vancouver, was a classic. Hull beat Tretiak three times on four shots and Howe and Mahovlich sniped singles as Team Canada roared to a 5-2 lead after 20 minutes. But over the last two periods the Soviets kept pecking away and finally battled back for a 5-5 tie.
When the series shifted to Moscow for the last four games, it was a different Team Canada.
Only once did the WHAers manage to be on even terms heading into the final minute of play. That was in Game 7, when Canadian referee Tom Brown, ruling time had expired, waved off a goal by Hull that would have meant a 5-4 victory.
After dropping the first two in Moscow by scores of 3-2 and 5-2, Team Canada needed to win Game 7 to retain any chance of a split.
Had Hull's goal been allowed (a videotape later showed the Soviet timekeeper let 11 seconds tick off the clock during third-period stoppages), the WHA squad still had a chance to win Game 8 — in which case the series would have ended with each team getting three wins and two ties.
To this day, some members of Team Canada '74 maintain the outcome of Game 7 was preordained by what happened at the end of Game 6, when Rick Ley was goaded into throwing punches at Valerie Kharlamov.
Ley and several of his teammates had to be restrained when some of the Russians responded by kicking, spitting and spearing, even as a phalanx of Soviet police surrounded the Team Canada bench.
But at least those guys got to play.
The most awkward to explain casualty in Moscow was Team Canada defenceman (and future Edmonton Oiler) Pat Price, the No. 1 pick in the WHA amateur draft two months earlier, who had signed a $1.3 million deal with the Vancouver Blazers.
The 19-year-old Price, who probably wouldn't have seen any game action anyway, was knocked out of the series when he sprained his ankle after ... ahem ... falling off his platform heels. Very '70s!
"I'm not really used to them, and I tried to run," Price sheepishly told a TV interviewer.
"I just tipped over. Boy, was it ever embarrassing!"
Pt. I: Oct. 7, A League of Their Own
Pt. III: Oct. 9, Skating into History


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Grammys: Score one for Taylor Swift
The Grammy arms race is on. Eight-time nominee Taylor Swift scores the second Grammy for best country album for "Fearless." (Still no Kanye.)
The reigning Queen of Pop, Beyonce, looks stunning as she makes her entrance with a gang of storm troopers. She slays with her mash-up of "If I Were a Boy" and Alanis Morisette's "You Oughta Know." I think she did that at KeyArena last Spring. I'll have to double check that set list.
But did I just hear a promo for T-Pain performing with Slash before the commercial break? What? Just when I thought the Grammys …


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I'm Aimee!
My mom went into labor with me during Monday Night Football. I was born loving the game. Ironically I was born and raised in Kentucky by a father who is a die hard UK Football fan (yes they exist) and a Mississippi State Mom. As a young girl I decided my team would be the Gators! I am and will be a gator fan until the end of time... through the good and bad!
Although I am a HUGE Florida fan, I love all SEC Football (except for Tennessee and that annoying "Rocky Top")!! It is by far the toughest conference in the nation and seasons like this past one make me love it even more.
I live in Indianapolis where I am earning a masters degree in social work. Therefore, I am now becoming more interested in the NFL and enjoy watching the Colts play. Football season is my favorite and I will watch whatever game is on, but my heart will always be in the NCAA.
Some personal facts about me...
Pet Turtle (Hank) of 17 years
Graduate Student
Dave Matthews Band
WKU Hilltopper Alum ('06)


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Sauber names De Silvestro as 'affiliated driver'
The Sauber F1 Team has announced that Simona De Silvestro will become an affiliated driver. It's a first step in her ambition to get into an F1 race seat for the 2015 season following 4 years of IndyCar racing.
The 25-year-old Swiss left for the US when she was 18 to drive in the Formula BMW USA series in 2006 and the Atlantic Championship from 2007 to 2009. Over the past four years De Silvestro has been driving in the IndyCar Series. She won the prestigious Indy 500 "Rookie of the Year" Award in 2010 and became the first woman to earn a podium finish on a street circuit in IndyCar.
This year she is taking the next step in her career by joining a preparation programme with the Sauber F1 Team, with the goal to gain her super licence and prepare for a race seat in Formula One for 2015. The programme will include on track testing, simulator training, as well as mental and physical preparation.
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal: "After four years in IndyCar, Simona's ambition is to enter Formula one in 2015. We regard her as a very talented race driver, and we, therefore, decided to take her on board as an "affiliated driver" and support her on her way to the pinnacle of motorsport."
Simona De Silvestro: "This is a major step towards me achieving a life-long dream and I'm so happy to have the opportunity to take this step with such a great team. The Sauber F1 Team is a team with a legacy and the only Swiss team in Formula One, which I think makes this even more exciting. I can't thank Monisha Kaltenborn and Peter Sauber enough for their support and belief in my abilities and for giving me this chance. I'm thrilled to have this extremely unique platform on which to prepare myself to take on the challenge."


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I Am a Student Nurse
Personal Stories, Advice, and Support 87 People
Public speaking course ends this week I'mtrying to do a final exam, submit a persuasive speech and complete all assignments by the end of the week. Four week courses are hard😝
Feeling awesome I got a 94 on my third medsurge test, finals next week.
submissivenurse 31-35, F 3 Responses 9 Sep 18, 2015
I Have A Year And A Half To Go To Be Fully Qualified!I should have worked harder at school, and then perhaps I would be having an easier time with my training here at the hospital!My student nurse status often means I work on processes which are purely functional. The difficulty can be working while wearing stockings rather than...
Nurseynurse16 18-21, F 1 Response 0 Nov 9, 2011
Not Sure About Nursing CourseI studied nursing (RN) before in my country for about 3 years and now i'm doing another 3 years nursing away from home. I was so excited and eager to be a nurse before but now i feel like nursing is getting boring and i'm not interested anymore unlike before BIG ...
jon87 22-25, F 1 Response 0 Oct 2, 2009
I can't do math in my headbut I can on paper .Any ideal what to do or what nurses do that have the same issues ???
kellner27 18-21, F 0 Mar 26, 2016
Enrolled in my school,it's s private college and for 21 months I will be working towards my RN degree. It's one class each month but it will be intense and I am definitely up for the challenge..
My Experience As a Last Year Student Nursei'm in last year right now and i have a lot of experience..involving life..and it is really depressing me to think that mistake is all around us, this story happens in male surgical ward..i'm happen to be the student nurse incharge with my other friend,around 1 o'clock i...
dejayana 22-25, F 1 Response 0 May 11, 2008
Just starting the bridge program.I have been in the nursing profession 10 years. I have been a LPN for five of those years and I'm moving up the ladder by finally getting my RN. I start orientation tomorroe
So I am in public speakingand it's online I did my speech on nursing since I'm so passionate about it.
I am moving on to med surge 2,passed my.first hesi test and I'm so feeling great.
submissivenurse 31-35, F 4 Responses 3 Sep 24, 2015
For the Love of PeopleI am a first year student nurse and just yesterday I found out that my internship in March will be in hospice care. I didn't get to choose my field of work, but this would have been my first choice. I am very excited. I've always known I've wanted to do something in medicine and...
AllysonH 18-21, F 5 Responses 1 Jan 27, 2009
Anyone else struggle with school?I am a full time CNA and part time in college. I decided to try and get my RN. I one day hopefully want to work in pediatrics. But anyway, I am struggle in Anatomy. This is the only class left I need before I can apply for the nursing program. I understood math and chemistry and...
FordFan2008 26-30, M 0 Feb 18, 2014
It is really hard not having anytimefor my kids. In between work and school, I feel like I never have anytime left. But I graduate on the 27th of this month!!
amyh217 31-35, F 1 Response 3 Jun 7, 2014
Hesi test I really really hate you!I'm so damn pissed off right now. A darn test doesn't make you a good nurse or not, I am already a damn good LPN but no I have to take these stupid *** tests which don't prove ****!!
submissivenurse 31-35, F 2 Responses 2 Sep 16, 2015
I had a great day at clinical,watched a cardiac catheterization and got to see how the icu works, was a nice day.
submissivenurse 31-35, F 5 Sep 15, 2015
rocked my test today,at the end of adult health, med surge next month. yay..
submissivenurse 31-35, F 3 Responses 7 Aug 17, 2015
Monday- weekly journal presentations Tuesday-hospital rotation Wednesday- lecture and exam Thursday - lecture and 2 exams Friday- hospital rotation Saturday&Sunday- get ready for Monday Saturday-Wednesday- graveyard shift at work 9 more months to go.
StdntNurseJay 22-25, F 1 Response 1 Aug 20, 2014
Started a Program But Decided to MoveIt is no suprise to me that I rarely finish something that I start from childhood with the only exceptions of becoming buddhist and getting a bachelor's degree. I have been trying to go to nursing school for three years now and I applied to a community college in...
Bellezza 26-30, F 1 Response 1 Jul 3, 2008
8wks Away From GraduationI'm in my last semester of nursing school and im freaking out!!!! soooo much work crammed into one semester with a lecture test every other week....but im happy that this madness is finally comin to an end! im excited for graduation and scared all at the same time....im scared of...
Daddigirl 31-35, F 0 Mar 6, 2013
So i'm three classes in,my teacher is a bipolar psychotic biotch, I am always stressed out, my appetite is allover the place, a year of this and it will be worth it I just have to keep telling myself this...
submissivenurse 31-35, F 2 Jul 30, 2015
Sitting here staring blankly at thispharmacology book...wish they'd publish these things in English :/
StdntNurseJay 22-25, F 2 Jun 8, 2014
I finished Adult Health with a B,went out got drunk with classmates to celecrate at chili's, a week off now ..uay
submissivenurse 31-35, F 1 Response 0 Aug 21, 2015
Today was first day of medical surgical nursingclinical orientation. I was up at 5 @m, nothing like being up *** early, taking two tests yuck.. I hate hate dosage calculations test, so frustrating. I can guarantee nurses on floors can't do the math!!!
submissivenurse 31-35, F 1 Response 6 Aug 31, 2015
Am I On The Wrong Path?Am I on the wrong path? Well I am finally studying to get into nursing school, at long last, 3 years hence and after wasting nearly 2 forced years into becoming a teacher, I am at last doing what I want to do. Then how come I feel like crap, how come I am...
hereweare99 22-25, M 3 Responses 0 Feb 10, 2012
I'm Going to Take My First Case This Week :dso, my nursing course is a 2 yrs course , which compresses about 10 modules into 1 semester. Anyway this is my 3rd semester and i haven't taken 1 case yet, this makes me super stressed out since my classmates in other hospital have been taking one to two case already...
getting buzzed, a much needed destressor,that's right **** you hesi you can't tell me ****#
submissivenurse 31-35, F 2 Responses 3 Sep 16, 2015
ModifiedMamaofTwo 18-21, F 1 Aug 10, 2015
I'm not a nursing student yet.I'm about half way done with my prereqs. I want to go into surgical/transplant nursing. I eventually want to do disaster relief or become a travel nurse.
2infinityandbeyond 26-30, F 0 Nov 19, 2014


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HARMAN Wins Two EISA "Best Product" Awards
The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA), composed of 50 special interest magazines from 19 countries focusing on photography, A/V products, home theatres, and mobile devices, has recognized two HARMAN products with prestigious "Best Product" awards for 2010. HARMAN is pleased to announce that the Harman Kardon HKTS 60 home theatre speaker system and the JBL MS-8 car audio integration kit have been awarded best-in-class designation.
Every year, the EISA Awards applaud the newest products on the market that combine the most advanced technology, the most desirable features, the ultimate expression of design, the most satisfying ergonomics and the greatest value for their price. EISA awards are presented to products released in Europe within the past 12 months and deemed representative of their product category by a judging panel composed of editors of EISA-affiliated magazines specializing in that product division.
This 5.1 home theatre speaker system combines fine sound with stylish design, with each of the components making up this package boasting a luxurious, high gloss finish. The five satellite speakers convince with a clear, realistic and dynamic sound that ensures movie dialogue is easy to follow just as background detail is allowed to develop a tremendous sense of atmosphere. Rich in technology, the dual flat-panel midrange drivers in HK's satellite and centre speakers reduce distortion and unwanted reflections. The subwoofer has adjustable volume and phase and includes an 8in driver and 200W-rated amplifier, delivering an impressively deep bass from such a compact cabinet.
Click here to view the EISA video summary.
European HT Loudspeaker 2010-2011 – Harman Kardon HKTS 60BQ/230
The newest technology in OEM car audio integration, the MS-8 will accept speaker level signals from any OEM head unit including vehicles where traditional system building is next to impossible. The system employs smart features such as radio controlled remote control, auxiliary display and binaural microphone. It takes just 10 minutes for the built-in calibrator to automatically optimize crossover settings, frequency response and time alignment, providing a realistic soundstage to listeners in any seat of the vehicle. A sophisticated device for sophisticated vehicles.
Click here to view the EISA video summary.
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My Nonprofit Reviews
Review for Serenity Horse Rescue, Inc., Springboro, OH, USA
She has up root now located in tipp city, ohio... State route 201. The horses does not have a stall they have no field to run or eat anything. They are no longer housed or have bedding. It is an opened shelter that is beat up, got holes and garbage all over it. Too many animals around and unable to care for them. She hoards and hoards all these animals and unable to care for all that she does have. 3 little puppies, 4 pigs, a calf, 15 horses, 4 geese, 3 alpacas, and a donkey.... All that on a 11.7 acre land.
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To tweet this news, copy and paste http://bit.ly/Hhl2mr to your Twitter handle with the hashtag #MasterCard, #entrepreneur and #Youth
London, UK, Tuesday 10 April 2012 – MasterCard today announced a new partnership with The Prince's Trust to help tackle youth unemployment across London and the South East through entrepreneurship. MasterCard's support will help The Prince's Trust to transform the lives of young people, enabling them to make a positive contribution to the local economy by equipping them with the skills to improve their future prospects.
As the latest Patron supporter of the youth charity, MasterCard will provide funding in the 2012-2013 financial year to support up to 94 young people through The Prince's Trust's innovative Enterprise Programme, while the company's employees will actively participate in volunteering and fundraising activities.
The Enterprise Programme enables young people aged 18-30 who are interested in self employment to test their business ideas, or identify whether self employment is the right choice for them. Depending on the outcome, they can receive the support and, where needed, the financial assistance to start a business, or help in achieving a different goal in employment or training.
Marion King, President of MasterCard UK & Ireland, said:
"We're delighted to be working with such a prestigious charity in the UK. The Prince's Trust's Enterprise Programme aligns perfectly with our global drive to improve financial inclusion through entrepreneurship and we hope our support can help secure sustainable livelihoods for the young people taking part this year. We're also getting behind this as an organisation by creating a number of exciting volunteering and fundraising opportunities for our employees."
Laura Wyatt-Smith, National Head of the Enterprise Programme at The Prince's Trust, said:
"The Prince's Trust is extremely grateful to be working with MasterCard. At a time when youth unemployment has reached record highs, their support will enable The Trust to work with some of the most disadvantaged young people across London and the South East to help create the next generation of entrepreneurs."
During 2010-2011 financial year, The Trust helped more than 5,576 young people through the Enterprise Programme, with over 800 based in London and the South East. More than three quarters of them successfully moved into training, education, employment or self employment.
MasterCard's philanthropic efforts are focused on furthering financial inclusion through entrepreneurship. Supporting entrepreneurship helps individuals overcome barriers to financial inclusion and ultimately achieve positive economic outcomes for themselves, their families and their communities. Through MasterCard's core competencies, technology, people and charitable giving, the company helps make a difference to people's lives around the world.
– Ends –
About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard's products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the conversation on The Heart of Commerce Blog and subscribe for the latest news.
About The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust helps change young lives in the UK through practical and financial support, developing skills as well as confidence and motivation. Since the charity was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1976, it has helped over 650,000 young people across the UK and continues to support 100 more every working day. More than three in four young people helped by The Prince's Trust move into work or training. Further information about The Prince's Trust is available by calling 0800 842 842 or at www.princes-trust.org.uk.
For further information, please contact:
Doyel Maitra, Communications, MasterCard UK & Ireland
Tel: +44 (0)7912 579087, firstname.lastname@example.com
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The comparison of SrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ-CeO2 and SrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ-YSZ composites for use in SOFC anodes
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Composites of Nb-doped strontium titanate mixed with yttria-stabilized zirconia or cerium oxide in 50:50, 70:30 and 85:15 weight ratios were evaluated as possible anode/electrolyte interface materials for solid oxide fuel cells in terms of chemical compatibility, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. It has been shown that composite samples prepared by typical powder-mixing methods remain single-phase up to 1400°C. The electrical conductivity of these composites, regardless of their composition and fabrication conditions, is lower than the conductivity of pure SrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ, but in most cases sufficient for solid oxide fuel cells anode application. The best properties are found for samples reduced at 1400°C for 10 h in H2 atmosphere. The observations made by scanning electron microscope suggest that the grains of both phases are well-distributed throughout the whole volume of the investigated samples, and that the composites with CeO2 better adhere to the electrolyte surface. The electrical results confirm that composites with at most 30 wt % of YSZ/CeO2 phase fulfill the anode requirements. However, the fuel cell performance tests indicate that the application of composite with CeO2 results in the lower power density than the application of the composite with YSZ.
KeywordsSolid oxide fuel cell Nb-doped SrTiO3 Anode Composite
1 Introduction
The dominant anode material for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) application is a Ni-YSZ (metallic-ceramic) composite of Ni and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The cermet has many advantages, such as high catalytic activity, thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) compatible with the electrolyte (YSZ) [1] and high value of electrical conductivity [2]. However, it is also sensitive to deposition of carbon on the surface, which blocks the anode reaction, and can be poisoned by sulphur [2, 3]. These problems limit the possibility of using Ni-YSZ for carbon-containing fuels. Moreover, Ni-YSZ can undergo microstructural changes during redox cycles, which can reduce the three-phase area and thereby reduce the electrode activity [2, 3].
There is a strong need to find an alternative to Ni-YSZ cermets for SOFC applications. The most promising materials are perovskite-related structures, such as SrTiO3. Substitution of a rare earth element (e.g. yttrium) into the A sublattice of SrTiO3, or a transition metal (e.g. niobium) into the B sublattice, increases the electronic conductivity of the material [4, 5]. It has been shown recently that the samples in which 2% of titanium is substituted with niobium: SrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ (STNb2) have the highest conductivity in comparison with the other investigated compositions [5]. The conductivity of strontium titanate may also be increased by introducing the strontium vacancies [6] and by annealing the material in reducing conditions (e.g. the NH3 atmosphere) [7]. Due to its high electronic conductivity, doped SrTiO3 may be competitive to Ni-YSZ as a SOFC anode material. However, at present the ionic conductivity and the catalytic properties of SrTiO3 are not sufficient for anode application [8]. Moreover, the SrTiO3 anode tends to delaminate from the electrolyte surface [9, 10].
The aim of this work is to eliminate these limitations. The idea is based on an analogy to Ni-YSZ anodes. The high temperature firing of the nickel cermet allows the YSZ phase from the anode composite to sinter with the YSZ electrolyte. As a result, a seamless interface between the anode and the electrolyte is formed, and channels, which allow ionic conduction into the electrode, are created [11]. In the case of perovskites, the composite of perovskite phase and YSZ applied as an interface layer is expected to reduce the delamination processes and increase the triple phase boundary (TPB). In consequence, it should improve the mechanical stability of the anode/electrolyte interface and may result in the increase of fuel cell performance.
Another possible composite material for use at the anode/electrolyte interface is a doped-SrTiO3/cerium oxide or doped-SrTiO3/gadolinia-doped ceria (CGO), in which ceria offers the dual benefits of conductivity and catalytic activity. Both doped and undoped ceria are mixed ionic and electronic conductors at low oxygen partial pressure. CeO2-x has high values of oxygen surface exchange and presents an n-type conductivity of about 1 S/cm at 900°C in oxygen partial pressure of 10−18 atm [8]. In this paper only results obtained for undoped ceria will be presented in order to avoid additional complications from possible reactions between Gd2O3 and SrTiO3 phases. Moreover, pure CeO2 seems to fulfil necessary requirements of ionically conducting component of composite.
There are various methods of composite preparation. Samples produced by a typical mixing powders method present both mechanical and electrical advantages. However, Ahn et al. [10] suggest that the process of YSZ / CeO2 impregnation with STNb2, instead of mixing powders, will provide sufficient electronic conductivity even if conductive phase is lower than 30-vol%. They observed that a non-random structure is formed in which the electronically conductive component (STNb2) coats the YSZ / CeO2 backbone. On the other hand, it is reported [10] that it is difficult to produce mechanically strong composites based on the porous YSZ / CeO2.
In this paper the properties of the composites of SrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ with YSZ or CeO2, prepared by mixing powder method, will be presented and discussed. The possibility of using these composites at the SOFC anode/electrolyte interface has been examined.
2 Experimental
Composites of xSrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ-(100-x)CeO2 (STNb2-CeO2) and xSrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ-(100-x)YSZ (STNb2-YSZ) (where x = 50,70,85 wt. % of STNb2) were fabricated at various temperatures of calcination (1200–1400°C) and reduction (1200–1400°C) in hydrogen for up to 10 h. The 50, 70 and 85 weight % of STNb2 correspond to 58, 77 and 89 vol.% of STNb2 in the case of STNb2-CeO2 composites, whereas in the case of STNb2-YSZ composites such weight ratios correspond to 54, 73 and 87 vol. % of STNb2, respectively.
The SrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ ceramic was prepared using a conventional solid-state reaction method. SrCO3 (Sigma Aldrich), TiO2 (Sigma Aldrich) and Nb2O5 (Fluka) powders were mixed in the suitable stoichiometric ratios and ball milled with ethanol for 24 h. After drying the mixture was pressed into bars (~280 MPa) and calcined in air at 1200°C for 12 h. Then, the pellets were reground to obtain better samples quality, uniaxially pressed at 560 MPa and sintered at 1400°C for 12 h in air. The SrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ samples prepared in this way were ball milled again to obtain a fine-grained anode powder. Then the powder was mixed in a proper weight ratio either with YSZ (8-mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia, Daiichi Kigenso HSY-8) or with CeO2 (Fluka) powder in a ball mill for 12 h. This final ball-milling step is necessary to disperse the two phases of the composite. Indeed, we find that if we use a mortar, rather than the ball mill, the grains of electronically conductive (STNb2) phase agglomerate, creating large islands that are isolated from each other. To obtain porous samples the composite powder was mixed with starch (5 wt. %).
To improve the electrical properties all of the samples after the synthesis were reduced in dry hydrogen at various temperatures (1200°C–1400°C). For comparison, some samples of each composition, before the reduction, were sintered at 1400°C for 3 h in air. Such processes of initial heat treatment in air strongly influence the porosity. The values of porosity vary in the range of 10% to 35% and are presented together with the conductivity plots in the further part of this paper. The thickness of the bulk samples was approximately 1 mm, while of the thin layers was approximately 50 μm.
To examine the materials in the operating fuel cell the powders were mixed with 5 wt % of carbon black and the organic binder. One layer of composite paste (approximately 15 μm thick) and 2 layers of STNb2 anode paste (approximately 30 μm thick) were painted onto the surface of dense 0.8 mm thick YSZ electrolyte. In order to burn out the organic binder, the cells were calcined at 700°C for 3 h in air. Then they were reduced at 1400°C for 10 h in dry hydrogen. Finally, the La(Ni,Fe)O3 cathode material was deposited on the cells. Cathode was sintered during the operation of the cell. All the cell measurements were taken at 800°C using humidified (3% H20) hydrogen as a fuel and air as an oxidant.
The composites were examined using various methods. The phase composition of the bulk samples was analyzed by an X-ray diffraction method by the X'Pert Pro MPD Philips diffractometer using Cu Kα (1.542 Å) radiation at room temperature. The electrical conductivity of bulk samples was measured using the four terminal DC method over temperature range of 400–950°C in humidified hydrogen. The measurements were performed at constant heating and cooling rates (2°C/min) on bar samples with parallel 9907 ESL silver electrodes. The current–voltage (i-V) curves of operating fuel cells were obtained by a Solartron 1260 Frequency Response Analyzer coupled with Solartron 1294 Impedance Interface. The morphology of the samples was characterized by the Philips XL30 scanning electron microscope (SEM), using secondary electron (SE) and back-scattered electron (BSE) detectors. To recognize the elements and their distribution in composite samples the Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was performed by the EDAX Sapphire® spectrometer in particular points of each sample. The density of the samples was measured with the Archimedes method assisted by vacuum saturation.
3 Results and discussion
The SEM observations also suggest that the phase distribution is not influenced by heat treatment. It appears that the heat treatment changes only the density of the samples. Specifically, density increases with the temperature of initial calcination / reduction.
For the STNb2-CeO2 composites (Fig. 9), in which the addition of CeO2 phase was to improve the catalytic properties of the material, the same tendency is observed. However, the conductivity of the 85STNb2–15CeO2 sample is considerably higher than that of 70STNb2–30CeO2.
In order to mix the advantages of both STNb2-YSZ and STNb2-CeO2 composites there is an idea to infiltrate the STNb2 or STNb2-YSZ anode support with CeO2 solution instead of mixing powders. Such process may prevent the creation of YSZ (Ce,Ti) dense layer responsible for the fuel cell performance's decrease and should be investigated further.
It should be also noticed that a higher cell performance for all samples is expected when reducing the thickness of the electrolyte and using better cathode material. Moreover, the catalytic activity of anode can be additionally increased by infiltrating it with small amounts of a catalyst, such as Ce, Ni, Co, Ru, Pt and Pd. These catalysts decrease the polarisation resistance of anode and some of them (e.g. Ce, Ru) improve the anode tolerance to sulphur containing fuels [15, 16].
Another fact that should be considered, is the mechanical misfit between the composite components. This appears to be especially important for STNb2-CeO2, because the resistance to layer cracking and delamination during reduction-oxidation decreases with the increasing CeO2 concentration [8, 12]. Koutcheiko et al. [8] reports that it is caused by the contraction of the CeO2 lattice parameter in less reducing atmospheres. The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of composites consisting of yttrium-doped strontium titanate and cerium oxide is very similar to the TEC of YSZ (10.3 × 10−6 K−1 [8, 17]), at least in the temperature range 50–1000°C and in air [8]. However, the value of the TEC increases in a reducing atmosphere, and the higher the concentration of CeO2 in the composite, the higher the TEC of composite material [8]. We observed, in the present work, that this mismatch results in the cracking of bulk pellets and in the delamination of composite layers from the YSZ electrolyte support. Mixing with starch to increase porosity minimizes this problem for samples with 15 and 30 wt. % of CeO2. However, even with the increased porosity, composites with 50 wt. % of CeO2 are still mechanically unstable and not suitable for SOFC application. The problems with TEC misfit between the composite and the YSZ electrolyte do not take place for STNb2-YSZ.
4 Conclusion
The electrical and structural properties of xSrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ-(100-x)CeO2 and xSrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ-(100-x)YSZ (where x = 50,70,85 wt. % of SrTi0.98Nb0.02O3–δ) have been studied, with particular attention given to their potential for use at anode/electrolyte interfaces in SOFC. The XRD analyses demonstrate, that in all investigated composites there is no reaction between the components. The required conductivity level is obtained for at least 70 weight % of perovskite phase content. The best properties were observed for samples reduced at 1400°C for 10 h in H2 atmosphere. The SEM analysis confirms a good dispersion of both phases in the investigated composites. Although the STNb2-CeO2 composite material (with at most 30 wt. % of CeO2) presents very good mechanical and electrical properties from the fuel cell point of view, it results in a slightly lower fuel cell performance than STNb2-YSZ composite. To conclude, it can be stated that both composites are noteworthy.
This project is partially supported by Ministry of Higher Education under the grant No. N511 376135 and National Science Center under the grant No. NCN DEC-2011/01/N/ST5/05579.
Open Access
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.
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If you've noticed that your dryer isn't working as efficiently lately, there are a few problems that could be plaguing it. It could be due to a dying motor, but more than likely, it's due to the dryer being clogged with lint that isn't caught by your lint trap. The Lint Lizard attaches to your vacuum to help eliminate this problem, but how well does it work?
Click Here for the Best Lint Lizard Alternative
- Over 40 inches long
- Attaches to any standard vacuum
- Cheaper than a mechanic
- Can prevent fires
- Improves energy efficiency
- May not solve all dryer problems
- Requires a vacuum to operate
What is the Lint Lizard?
The Lint Lizard is an attachment designed to be used with any standard home vacuum. At over 40 inches long and with a skinny profile, it is able to reach deep into the recesses of your dryer. It's these areas where lint, dust and debris collect that are not trapped by your dryer's lint trap. Using the power of your vacuum, the Lizard is able to suck up this formerly impossible to reach lint. This allows your dryer to work unimpaired, which can prevent many of the most common problems associated with dryers.
Using the Lint Lizard is as simple as following a few steps. Step one is to plug in your home vacuum and grab a hold of the handheld hose. Next, insert the Lizard wand attachment until it is securely in place. Since it has a tapered end, it should fit almost any vacuum hose. The last step is as simple as turning on the vacuum, inserting the Lizard into the lint trap area of your dryer, and reaching in deep until all of the lint is sucked up. You can even go outside your home and vacuum the air vent. Cleanup is as easy as emptying your vacuum's bag or canister.
Every order comes with one attachment in the standard green color. Currently, there are no other colors available. The main attachment is made of a durable plastic that is designed to be resistant to breaking or shattering. Each package also comes with instructions on using the device as well.
Features and Benefits
While the Lint Lizard is really only responsible for one specific purpose, the benefits it allows you are many fold. The main feature of the Lizard, as previously stated, is that it cleans out the deepest areas of your dryer, freeing it of lint and other debris. By cleaning your dryer completely, you are able to put less stress on the motor and moving parts of the dryer. A clogged dryer is known to work much harder than a clean one, which leads to wet clothes and significantly longer drying times. A clogged dryer can even lead to the motor giving out entirely. These problems are all but non-existent with a clean dryer, and that's what the Lizard gives you.
Click Here for the Best Lint Lizard Alternative
Having a more efficient dryer also means that you'll spend less money on your energy bill. Since the dryer will be unimpaired, it will require less time to dry clothes. This results in less electricity used, meaning less money you'll have to pay. Depending on your dryer, your dryer may even consume less power when it is running when clear of debris. This power efficiency combined with lower maintenance costs means the small investment you make in the Lint Lizard can really pay off.
Another important issue to consider is that a clogged dryer can be extremely dangerous. Most dryers have warnings advising to make sure the lint trap is always cleaned between every use, and this is because a clogged dryer can catch on fire. These fires can not only damage your dryer and vent, but could even endanger your entire home. In the worst case scenario, it could even lead to death or injury. That's why keeping your dryer clear of clogs is important for not only basic maintenance concerns, but for safety reasons as well. With the Lint Lizard in hand, you won't have to worry about a sudden fire taking everything you hold dear away from you.
Issues and Concerns
Since the Lint Lizard is merely an attachment, it is remarkably free from any major issues. There are some areas where some may find minor fault, however. First off, be aware that not every dryer issue or problem is due to lint clogs. As such, the Lizard will not be able to solve every problem you may have with your dryer, just those associated with clogs.
Another issue is that it requires you own a vacuum in order for it work. This isn't much of an issue since nearly every home has a vacuum, but it may be a concern to some.
Sales and Deals
If you've already decided that the Lint Lizard is for you, then you may want to know where you can get the most bang for your buck. Finding discounts on the actual price of the device may prove difficult since it is already reasonably priced, so your best option is finding bundles or free gifts with purchase of the attachment.
For these deals, the official store seems to be the best. For example, right now they are offering a two-for-one deals in addition to a bonus duster. These offers may change, however, so you may find other deals that may suit your interests more.
The Lint Lizard is a truly unique product that is well-designed and truly solves one the most common problems in households today. It isn't perfect, but it does a really nice job of functioning as it's supposed to. Cleaning deep in your dryer and it's vent can be nearly impossible without a device like this, and when a clogged dryer can lead to dangerous situations like a house fire, it is important to have. The Lint Lizard could save you more money in the long run, and it may even save your life, so spending a small amount of money now is a worthwhile investment for any family.


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Car key limits young drivers' speed
A programmable car key that can limit a driver's speed and stereo volume has been developed by Ford for the Fiesta. MyKey is for parents who want to protect teenagers from the risk of a fatal accident. "MyKey allows Fiesta owners to set sensible restrictions for young drivers and delivers peace of mind for parents," a spokesman for Ford said.