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Published on December 6th, 2013 | by Karin11
Kids desk and cat toilet all in one
The desk is made of 2 Ikea PS lockers and one very long MDF board. We had one made with a length of 3,6 meters by 40,5 cm. Paint the board any colour you like and place it over the lockers. If the space between the lockers is very wide, it is best to support the plate with some sort of lath to avoid bending.
We have also created a cat flap in one of the lockers and now use it as a cat toilet. A small litter box fits inside the locker perfectly.
11 Responses to Kids desk and cat toilet all in one
You may love kids, you may love cats, but this combo is completely unacceptable.
I don't care how clean you think your house is, how clean you think your cats are … unaccepatable.
Cats are pretty clean, but not that clean. There are some smells, they track some litter and possible other contaminants.
I propose the owner has one of these the litterbox cabinets installed over the their personal bed …
That's disgusting!
It looks great, and cleaned out properly is going to pose no danger to you or your children. The people who freak out over enclosed litter trays either don't have cats or just don't clean them out properly. It's constant on this site…
A closed litter box is inside the cabinet, which is cleaned out daily. The cat goes outside as well, so it uses the box at night only. Also the kids aren't sitting here doing their homework. This is just a sidetable with some pencils on it in our kitchen. If the kids want to, they can sit here.
The comments have made me think about Toxoplasmosis, but if the litterbox is kept clean this should not be a problem. I'm not sure if I will keep the desk as it is. Perhaps another cabinet should replace this one, so the one with the litter box inside can be moved elsewhere.
LOL to compare baby shit with cat shit. Animal feces poses a higher disease and parasite risk. Plus, the turd is just left there, in a cabinet… But if you like doing homework or eating snacks next to toilets, to each their own I guess.
@Mike: Check this out "en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis". Baby diapers are harmless.
Unusual combinations are seen, in most cases, as creative but I'm not so sure about this idea! However, there must be a reason behind this hack which I don't see or understand, so I won't judge but I wouldn't do it myself.
I'm curious about those chairs. Are those old east german class room chairs? They look a lot like what I have in my memories.
Oh get over yourselves. The litter box is inside a closed cabinet. The kid is just next to it, not eating out of the litter box. Worse things happen when a baby shits its diaper.
Ok, is any else freaked out about this hack or is it just me?
It looks nice, but I personally would not want my desk anywhere near the litterbox nor would I imagine any kid. Plus, two siblings that close together doing homework? If it was my sister and I twenty years ago we would spend more time fighting with each other for space than actually doing homework.


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It seems the Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition has gotten a pretty significant price drop today. The handset first arrived back in December and while generally liked in day-to-day use, many complained about the price. It initially arrived with a $650 price point. As of today however, you can pick it up for $200 less.
This means the handset is down to $449. And to further entice buyers, Google is including free ground shipping. But while the price has dropped — you'll still be purchasing an oversized smartphone. As a reminder, the Sony Z Ultra GPe is sporting a 6.4-inch display. Thankfully that is Full HD at 1920 x 1080 with a 342 ppi.
Other spec related highlights for the handset include a 2.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8974 processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 3000 mAh battery, 2MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear-facing camera with an Exmor RS sensor. As with other Google Play edition handsets — the Sony Z Ultra is running a clean version of Android.
The handset originally launched with Android 4.4, however we quickly saw that updated to 4.4.2, which is where it remains today. Bottom line here, if you had your eye on the GPe Sony Z Ultra but held off due to price — now may be a good time to reconsider. But then again, we've also seen several other GPe handsets including the HTC One (M8) arrive in the Play Store since, and some of those may be more attractive at this point in time.
Those looking for a bit more on the Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition may want to check out our hands-on post from shortly after the release.
SOURCE: Google Play Store

subset: commoncrawl


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Bristol City v Derby County
BBC coverage
- How to follow:
- Final Score; BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; live text commentary on the BBC Sport website
Bristol City will be without midfielder Gary O'Neil as he serves a one-match suspension following his dismissal in Tuesday's loss at Sheffield Wednesday.
Defender Joel Ekstrand remains short of match fitness, but Wales full-back Adam Matthews (hamstring) could return.
Derby County defender Jason Shackell has been ruled out with a calf problem.
Forward Johnny Russell also has a calf injury and is out, but James Wilson should be fit and Andreas Weimann and Abdoul Camara are back in training.
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"Derby are probably in the top three biggest sides (in the Championship) if you add it all up, as far as attendances, budget and transfer fees and everything that goes along with that.
"They're big club and a great club – they just haven't had a great start. But we know how quickly that changes around.
"And look how close it is – you could throw a blanket over most teams after seven games."
Match facts
- The Robins are winless in their last six league meetings with Derby (D1 L5), losing the last four in a row.
- Tom Ince has scored seven goals in his last five league games against Bristol City, including his first ever English league hat-trick in the reverse of this fixture last season.
- Bristol City have won five of their last eight home league games (D1 L2), racking up 22 goals (2.75 goals per game).
- The Rams have only scored one goal in their last eight league games (excluding play-offs), including a current run of four games without a goal. They've haven't gone five or more goalless since December 2007 (a run of seven).
- Tammy Abraham has scored in three successive Championship games for Bristol City (four goals scored in those games), topping the goalscoring charts with six overall.
- Derby County are the only Championship side yet to score a goal in the first half.


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If they do, it will mean slower profit growth for newspapers.
By John Morton John Morton (firstname.lastname@example.com), a former newspaper reporter, is president of a consulting firm that analyzes newspapers and other media properties.
Profits soared for newspapers last year, thanks to a happy combination of strong advertising and relatively cheap newsprint. But as it has so many times in the past, newsprint is likely to raise its ugly head again this year and spoil at least part of the party.
Since the ups and downs in newsprint prices have such dramatic impact on profitability – newsprint accounts for 15 percent to 25 percent of newspaper operating costs – it is useful to recap what has happened in recent years.
In 1994, newsprint cost about $425 per ton, essentially the same price newspapers paid in 1980. This happy fact (for newspapers, not newsprint producers) stemmed from a major imbalance between supply and demand caused by several new newsprint plants starting up in Canada at the same time that advertising in North America became sluggish. With circulation generally on the wane, only advertising creates demand for newsprint.
That imbalance quickly evaporated, though, when advertising started to surge in the U.S in 1994. There was similarly strong demand in Asia, which buys a portion of its newsprint from North America. The U.S. newsprint price reached about $525 per ton by the end of 1994, then kept soaring until it reached $750 by the end of 1995.
Readers may recall that it was during this period of escalating newsprint prices that newspapers downsized with a vengeance in employment, news holes, special sections and other initiatives that had been designed to improve readership (see The Business of Journalism, November 1995). Several afternoon dailies disappeared during this period as well.
Then just as suddenly, the price slope changed downward, driven this time by new newsprint capacity coming on stream in Asia, weakening advertising volume in the U.S. and by publishers working down large inventories of newsprint bought at the earlier high prices. The price hit bottom at the end of 1996 at a little under $500 a ton.
When 1997 brought strong advertising growth (and with circulation ticking up a bit), prices started to edge up again, with one price increase in the spring and another announced for the fall. The fall increase really did not take hold until toward the end of the year, meaning that the average price for 1997 was about $560 per ton. This still meant that for most of the year, newspapers were paying less than in 1996.
This year, though, newsprint will cost more than it did last year. Already at least one producer has announced a $50 per ton increase for the spring. Unless there is an unexpected collapse in the economy, which would drive down advertising demand, there is likely to be at least some kind of additional increase. The newspaper companies offering their expectations for 1998 at the Paine Webber Media Conference last December estimated 10 percent to 15 percent increases in newsprint costs for the year.
The big unknown at this point is the impact of the financial turmoil in Asia on that region's newsprint consumption. If newsprint consumption there were to decline, some supply might be freed up for the North American market, from reductions in North American exports to Asia and increases in imports from Asia.
Another unknown is whether U.S. publishers will start rebuilding newsprint inventories, which are now at about a 35-day supply (inventories have been as high as 55 days in recent years). Buying newsprint in excess of what is being consumed would of course increase demand and help support price increases.
However the international pressures work out, it is probably significant that newsprint producers expect to raise prices this year and U.S. companies are budgeting for increases. If the expected increases come, newspaper profits will not soar at the 30 percent to 40 percent rate they did in 1997. Indeed, most of the companies at the Paine Webber Conference predicted significantly slower profit growth this year.
Several of the companies at the conference mentioned the challenges this year will bring because of costlier newsprint. I hope this does not presage another round of cost-cutting, since the industry still has problems, notably weak circulation, that scream out for higher levels of investment.
In fact, not much emphasis was placed on cost reductions at the conference. Rather, most executives talked about improving editorial quality and promoting circulation harder than in the past. Gannett said it would add an entire page to its key papers in l circulation building effort. Maybe, we can hope, the last newsprint-driven downsizing won't be repeated. l


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In Heroes Die and Blade of Tyshalle, Matthew Stover created a new kind of fantasy novel and a new kind of hero to go with it: Caine, a street thug turned superstar, battling in a future where reality shows take place in another dimension, on a world where magic exists and gods are up close and personal. In that beautiful, savage land, Caine is an assassin without peer, a living legend born from one of the highest-rated reality shows ever made. That season, Caine almost single-handedly defeated – and all but exterminated – the fiercest of all tribes: the Black Knives. But the shocking truth of what really took place during that blood-drenched adventure has never been revealed....until now.
Thirty years later, Caine returns to the scene of his greatest triumph – some would say greatest crime – at the request of his adopted brother, Orbek, the last of the true Black Knives. But where Caine goes, danger follows, and he soon finds himself back in familiar territory: fighting for his life against impossible odds, with the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance. Just the way Caine likes it.
Listen to more Acts of Caine.
©2008 Matthew Stover (P)2011 Audible, Inc.
"[A] twisty plot with intense violence and a strong narrative voice.... Stover has a gift for brutal, detailed action sequences, and Caine is at his most enthralling when he's fighting or discussing tactics." (Publishers Weekly)
"Not a finished piece"
In my opinion, this novel is not a finished piece. The length is less than half the previous two books. While not definitive, the book just ended leaving too much unresolved. It is an obvious segue way into more books in the series, but more than that, it leaves you the feeling that the book was rushed to publication unfinished just to get something out the door.
While, in general, I enjoy the series as it is well written and a unique concept, this book was a major stumble. The protagonist has devolved from a tough, self assured winner to a self pitying loser (at least in this portion). Perhaps if the book had been finished, we would be seeing a different outcome.
"Favorite series ever."
this is an amazing book. this series got me into audiobooks. read it for your own good.
"Maximum Badassary! Intrigue, Carnage, Philosophy!"
Real characters, two parallel stories with tight plot and inspired performance by Rudnicki.
Rudnicki was on FIRE when he narrated this series!
This is the most fun of the Caine series.
Young Caine vs the Young Black Knife Ogrilo
Birth of Caine in Boadeccan
Caine interrogated by Knights
Standoff at the Inn...
So damn many
Besides Caine, in this book, Knight Adar was a fun one. Rudnicki nails everything he touches.
This whole series is a must read! Best series of audio books ever produced.
"If U like Caine... must read!"
I've written multiple reviews with the Caine books & Stover has brought a hardcore, gritty, graphic, & unique fantasy series that takes place in a future where 'Actors' are sent to another dimension/timeline where they take on they're persona's learned from acting school but its all real, & 'Actors' actually earn the millions they get paid because they could get a 6-inch tusk buried into their head during their visit to a 'middle earth' like world
After this small review I've given all the books up to 'Acts of Caine II' 5 stars because Rudnicki is supurb, & I love the new angle Stover takes with his Character, where Caine is the best method actor & a real scumbag but still has a heart for a few. I guess if it was RPG I would classify his personality as chaotic neutral bordering on chaotic evil... & the lietrary passages written by Stover are absolutely bombastic & filled with profanity of a new kind! I fear for goats & other such animals when he's describing whats in Caines demented mind, BUT he also has these long stretches of philisophical wax & waning where u actually think a lil about what it means or could mean... in this particular book it has more action, the adventure 'retreat from the Boedecken (spelling?)' is highlighted in this novel so u see how Caine became a star but u also see a whole unique background help for studios in the crazy future... 'Blade of Tyshelle' has an end where there is some great verbal sparring between friends to go with disembowlment & ripping spleens out of people...
I recommend this book highly to hardcore fatasy novel readers looking for a really different reading experience & would warn off anyone who does not like gratuitis violence, bad language, & blasphemy lol... in my opinion Stover does good work & looking fwd to act III
"The Anti-Hero story continues"
If you like the first 2 books you'll probably like this addition to the series. Cain an mercenary actor from earth used to fight in a fantasy world for money and the amusement of the masses on Earth who lived his edited life experiences. Then he kicked them of the fantasy world. Now years later we learn about the events that made Cain the infamous figure he is and a hint at how his destiny was changed. Without giving much away the end of the book doesn't feel like a resolution or ending. I suspect that there will be another book to complete this story. Pretty gritty and dark. But fun too.
""My Will or I will not!""
Enjoyable first half of the final story in the Caine Trilogiy. The book has a slower pace than previous books in the series, but still able to build tension to the culmination. The complexity of this book and the philosophical questions that are raised do not detract from the story but adds an an extra dimension. Cannot wait to find out how the whole thing pans out!
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Do you have old phones, VCRs, broken MP3 players? Let's deal with those today.
Did you know you can recycle many electronics? Just try googling "recycle electronics" and your location to see if you have somewhere local you can drop them off.
There are also places you can send phones, even broken ones, to get a few bucks back. I believe you can also recycle at Best Buy and Verizon.


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Thursday's HIGHLIGHTS
Bruins 3, Blackhawks 0: Patrice Bergeron scored two goals, and Boston beat defending champion Chicago in the first meeting between the teams in Boston since the deciding game of the Stanley Cup finals.
Kings 3, Penguins 2: Drew Doughty scored early in the third period to give Los Angeles the lead for good, and the Kings beat Pittsburgh for their franchise-record tying eighth straight road win. The Penguins have lost three straight.
Blues 5, Wild 1: T.J. Oshie scored three goals for his first NHL hat trick, and Ryan Miller made 27 saves to lead St. Louis' rout of Minnesota.
Lightning 3, Islanders 2: Sami Salo scored against Evgeni Nabokov in the 13th round of a shootout to lift Tampa Bay past New York.


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Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes and for this event planner and bride-to-be it came in the form of two rustically chic chairs. "Great Gatsby" style has a fabulous ring to it, doesn't it? Just reading her eloquent description below will make you swoon, as will the images by Alissa Keane Photography. All of the personal touches from the mason jars, hay bales to the lovely lavender and floral arrangements by Nicole's Greenhouse & Florist make my heart skip a beat. Be sure to head to the full gallery for more homegrown wonderfulness.
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride... Dan and I were married at my parents' house in a small, rural town in New Hampshire. While getting married in Washington, DC, where we now live, might have been easier logistically, Dan grew up in Rhode Island, and I spent my childhood in that same house, so it only seemed right to start our lives together here, under the New England sky on a summer afternoon. As an event planner, I was excited to handle all the planning ourselves. At first though, I had a hard time relaying my vision to others. Luckily my good friend and I made a stop at one of our favorite furniture stores early on in the planning, and found something that helped... we turned the corner and literally gasped as we ran into the most gorgeous chairs which just so happened to be in the lavender and gold colors we had chosen for the wedding. They were the epitome of the vision I had in my mind, of this "rustic elegance" I was striving for. From there, everything fell into place and was centered around these beautiful chairs.
Twine, tall curly willows and fresh sprigs of lavender, paired with silky gold linens and crystal candlesticks. I dreamed of a summer garden party, Great Gatsby style. At the same time, I wanted relaxed and comfortable. Hay bales for cocktail hour seating, cupcakes with fresh berries, jars of homemade jam for table cards. The memories during the planning are endless… the phone calls with my mom at least once a day; my dad taking it upon himself to level off a large area of our back field for the tent; my aunt using her creative talents to help us put together our invitations; my grandmother painstakingly tying bows onto chairs; our close friends helping us stuff invitations; Dan's best friend putting us in touch with an old friend of his who ended up being our photographer; my roommate at the time calling me every time she was at a craft store; and, of course, my dad introducing me to his friend the dress designer, who ended up custom-making my dress. We really couldn't have had more fun if we tried.
Because of all the people who helped share the joy with us along the way, everything had so much more meaning. People's love, support and generosity was, and still is, simply overwhelming. We encountered people who will forever be a part of our lives, just because they were nice enough to share in our happiness and wanted to help make our wedding day the most amazing day of our lives. We feel so blessed, because it truly was. In the end, everything turned out exactly as we had envisioned… a beautiful, touching ceremony, surprising our wedding party with an ice cream pit stop at my favorite childhood ice cream stand, cocktail hour on the lawn under the open sky and dancing all night under a beautiful tent in the middle of our back field. A mix of burlap and lace, lanterns and mason jars, a wooden spool for a cake table next to a couture, checkered dance floor. All underneath a summer sky, and most importantly, surrounded by those we love.
Wedding Photography: Alissa Keane Photography / Ceremony: Sacred Heart Church in Concord, New Hampshire (603-225-6942) / Reception: Dell Lea Weddings & Events (The Bride's Family Home) in Chichester, New Hampshire / Floral Design: Nicole's Greenhouse & Florist / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Wedding Day Coordination + Management: Ryan Hayes of Blue Canary Events / Catering: Liberty Lane Catering / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Jacques Fine European Pastries / Wedding Invitations: DoubleClick Designs / Music: The Free Downloads / Wedding Dress: AJ Silva via Bravo Boutique in Concord, New Hampshire (603-856-7382) / Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride's Hair + Makeup: Salon K / Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bari Jay / Men's Suits: Perry Ellis


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Crash Site Revisited...
March 31 2010 at 3:02 PM
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Dave in Slidell (
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Simple, really
For the past two years, I've grown more and more curious as to the whereabouts of the crash, and I THINK I've narrowed the location down within a hundred feet. I work in New Orleans and live in Slidell, and often Hwy 90 to go home. On many occasions, I've slowed down, stopped, looked at mile posts, got out of the car, whatever. Here are my findings (please pardon the longevity):
I used Bob Walker's page as my primary source of reference, since it appears to be much more accurate and believable than other sites out there.
Bob says to look for mile post 292. Coming from New Orleans and driving east on Hwy 90, the mile markers are few and far between, probably due to Hurricane Katrina. I found markers 283 and 284 and then drove exactly eight miles from marker 284. The eight-mile point took me to the corner of Hwy 90 and Brazellier Island Rd. The Brazellier Island street sign is no longer there, but you can still see the road. It's blocked off with a big yellow gate.
From that point, I turned around and, using my calculator, figured out that Bob's quote of 2118 feet west of the site was right about four-tenths of a mile. I drove that distance, then stopped. There's a sign on the side of the road that reads 'Zone 2.' This location is where I believe the crash happened.
If I'm not mistaken, the Rigolets is the line that divides Orleans and St. Tammany parishes. The spot I found is about 6.3 miles before you get to the foot of the Rigolets bridge (coming from New Orleans). Bob said the crash occurred 23 miles from downtown New Orleans. This makes sense, since the site I found is about 26 miles from Lee Circle. And yes, that part of the highway is very curvy. The other side of the bridge is straight highway, without a curve for many miles. The reason people think the accident occurred in Slidell is probably because it happened close to the Slidell city line and miles from the heart of New Orleans. But technically, the crash was just a few miles within the New Orleans city limits.
By the way, the car was never driven on Old Spanish Trail, as some sites have reported. There was no need to do so, unless Jayne and her party detoured off Hwy 90 and drove into Slidell. Every indication shows that they stayed on Hwy 90, from the gulf coast all the way to the crash site. Yes, they may have stopped at the old White Kitchen restaurant, but even it was located on 90, on the edge of Slidell.
Bob Walker says he won't answer any emails asking about the location of the crash, but I did drop a line anyway, and asked him if my findings were correct. No reply. The only other possible sources of info that I can think of are the downtown library's newspaper archives, or even NOPD's archives, if you can find someone willing to help you look. If you find out more info before I do, please post it here or send me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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An entry for this weeks "Photo Friday" challenge, Retro. I ain't too happy with the shot, to be honest, however I do like entering the Photo Friday challenges, as they make me think about a theme or idea.
Gratuitous apologies to Pix, for ripping off the selective colour effect in one of her recent posts. Seeing the image reminded me that I wanted to learn how to do that in Photoshop. So now I know!


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MCMS loses one, wins others
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The loss of an $80 million customer has only strengthened MCMS Inc.'s resolve to bring in more OEM clients to bolster its sales and bottom line.
In fact, MCMS, a privately held contract electronics manufacturer based in Nampa, Idaho, is well on its way to accomplishing that goal. The midtier CEM lost its second-largest customer, Fore Systems Inc., late last year, according to chief executive Rick Rowe.
MCMS has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the Warrendale, Pa., networking company, for which the CEM provided complex printed-circuit boards and system-level assemblies.
Fore, now a part of Marconi Communications, has filed a countersuit that MCMS executives say has "no merit." A Fore spokesman declined to comment on the litigation.
"Fore decided to move certain end-of-life programs," Rowe said. "Anytime $80 million is pulled out, that's painful. We have other customers, but Fore dragged on our earnings."
For the second quarter of fiscal 2000, which ended March 2, MCMS' net loss widened to $9 million, or $1.99 a share, from a loss of $4.5 million, or $1.10 a share, in the year-ago quarter. Sales in the period fell 14%, to $99 million from $116 million. In fiscal 1999, MCMS had revenue of $432.7 million.
"The [recent] quarter was difficult as anticipated, but we're very pleased with how we've positioned the company for future growth," Rowe said.
Earlier this month, MCMS signed a manufacturing contract with Tachion Networks, an Eatontown, N.J., networking company. The agreement calls for MCMS to provide new-product prototypes, engineering services, complex PCBs, and systems assembly for Tachion's next-generation broadband- service solutions.
Last month, Digital Lightwave Inc., a Clearwater, Fla., maker of high-speed optical-networking solutions, and MCMS worked out a deal for the CEM to provide manufacturing capacity for some of Digital's components.
MCMS last month also forged a strategic partnership with Atmosphere Networks in which the CEM will offer a broad range of prototype and volume-manufacturing services to the Campbell, Calif., optical-networking company.
"We're winning a lot of new programs," said Chris J. Anton, MCMS' chief financial officer. "We don't need OEM divestitures to [improve] our growth rates. We've been succeeding with customers that are past the start-up phase and have contracts between $10 million and $30 million that aren't on the radar screen [of larger CEMs]."
MCMS has manufacturing sites in Nampa; Durham, N.C.; Penang, Malaysia; Monterrey, Mexico; and Colfontaine, Belgium; and an international procurement office in Singapore. Plans are under way to open a manufacturing operation in San Jose.
Last year, the CEM expanded its low- cost Malaysia plant from 36,000 sq. ft. to 118,000 sq. ft. Its combined manufacturing capacity is 641,000 sq. ft.
MCMS' U.S. expansion plans involve "growing with our customers," Rowe said.
Communications giant Cisco Systems Inc. is among MCMS' largest clients, but the CEM says its customer "sweet spot" are those in the $30 million to $80 million range. MCMS has four customers with contracts of more than $100 million.
"We're not disadvantaged by size. We have the same global footprint as the other [midtier] players," Rowe said, adding that he expects revenue to exceed $550 million this calendar year.
And just as privately held midtier CEM Manufacturers' Services Ltd., Concord, Mass., will go public this year, an MCMS IPO is on the horizon, according to Rowe.
"We could likely file an IPO in 12 months," he said. "This quarter was our low [point]. The worst is over."
MCMS entered the CEM business in 1989, a year after it had been spun off from Nampa-based memory maker Micron Electronics Inc.
At that time, a New York equity company, Cornerstone Equity Investors LLC, acquired 90% of MCMS for about $256 million. Micron Electronics Inc. California, a wholly owned subsidiary of Micron Electronics, owns 10% of the CEM.


text:
Norfolk's Coroner's Office is appealing for help to trace the next of kin of a man who died in early January.
George Rushbrook, 65, was found dead at his home on the Sutton Estate, Burnham Market, on Tuesday, January 7, from natural causes. He is believed to have two daughters who were last known to be living in the London area. Anyone with information is asked to contact 01553 665088.


text:
Next to the daughter-killing Agamemnon, Achilles was my least favorite character in "The Iliad." He alternated between sulking in his tents and slaughter, and seemed just a tad obsessed with his own honor.
The greatest fighter among the Greeks, Achilles famously withdraws from the field of battle after Agamemnon insults him by taking back a "war prize," the girl Briseis. (Somehow, no one ever bothers to ask her which invading murderer of her family she'd like to live with.) Without their preternatural killing machine, things go badly for the Greeks, with thousands of them dying because of Achilles' miffed feelings.
Also, the whole heel thing frankly struck the teenaged me as weak. Achilles spine, sure. Achilles carotid artery, absolutely. But a heel?
How accomplished is Madeline Miller's debut novel? Darned if she didn't make me like the guy in Song of Achilles.
Miller, a scholar of Latin and Ancient Greek, brings a remarkably conversational style to her Homeric retelling and manages to inject urgency and suspense into a tale whose outcome is already a foregone conclusion. Miller keeps the gods in her retelling, unlike other recent reworkings, such as Allesandro Baricco's "An Iliad" and the movie "Troy," which jettisoned the supernatural element of Homer's epic as unappealing to modern sensibilities.
Her narrator is Patroclus, Achilles' companion, whose death sparks a grief so great that the warrior returns to fight. Ordinarily, Patroclus is a minor player whose one act of heroism gets him killed.
Here, he's a prince who was exiled when he was 10 for accidentally killing another boy. Always a disappointment to his ambitious father, Patroclus is sent to live with King Peleus, Achilles' dad, and Achilles takes the lonely boy under his perfectly formed wing. The two grow up together and are educated by the centaur, Chiron, in the novel's loveliest idyll.
Eventually, they fall in love, much to the displeasure of Achilles' mother, Thetis, a sea nymph here reworked into a terrifyingly otherworldly creature who is simultaneously the world's most ambitious stage mother.
Thetis is determined that Achilles will be not just a hero, but a god, and Patroclus does not at all fit into her plans for world domination.
In Miller's version of events, Achilles goes off to war knowing that a prophecy has predicted his own death after he kills the Trojan hero, Hector. The war's 10-year length is seen partly as the teenager's way of buying time. "What has Hector ever done to me?" he asks throughout the novel's second half, an inside joke with Patroclus that ultimately takes on a terrible poignancy.
The characters of the Iliad are all seen through Patroclus's eyes, with the wily Odysseus, usually my favorite, too clever for the young man's own good. The Greeks' leader Agamemnon is, of course, still a Grade-A jerk. (I'm not sure even Miller could revise him to be more appealing.)
Ordinarily – although my Greek grandmother would disown me if she heard me say it – my sympathies lie with the Trojans, trying to defend their homes from merciless invaders. But so compelling is the "Song of Achilles," I barely spared a thought for Priam, Cassandra, Hector, and the others.


text: Dr John Edward Gilbert MB ChB MRCGP Dip Occ Med PGCE(HE) Institute of Clinical SciencesSenior Lecturer Physician Associate Programme Contact details Telephone+44 (0)121 414 6485 email@example.com AddressPrimary Care Clinical SciencesInstitute of Clinical SciencesCollege of Medical and Dental SciencesUniversity of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK John Gilbert retired from thirty one years in general practice. Formerly a GP trainer and medical tutor. Over the last three years he has worked as senior lecturer in the UK National Physicians Assistant (now Associate) programme at Wolverhampton University. In January 2014 he joined colleagues at Birmingham with whom he has worked to be part of a newly formed team at Birmingham to develop the Physician Associate programme. This will provide a new tier of health care professional in the NHS workforce who will work directly for doctors in various specialities including general practice. Qualifications Post Graduate Certificate in Education ( Higher Education), Wolverhampton University 2012 Diploma of Occupational Medicine,1995 MRCGP Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners 1989 MB ChB - Graduated in medicine at Birmingham University in 1974. Biography John has longstanding experience in general practice where h worked as a general practitioner in West Bromwich, Sandwell to improve health outcomes at grass roots level. Primary Care targeted major issues of morbidity including improving diabetic care, addressing the high incidence of ischaemic heart disease and promoting cancer detection. John worked in an area of ethnic diversity where health policies were proactive in addressing the health needs of ethnic minorities and asylum seekers. The area along with much of the Black Country has over the years undergone considerable regeneration. John worked to improve the facilities for patients and medical teams delivering primary care and with others secured a major building development to provide first class primary care services in the centre of West Bromwich. John developed medical education in the practice by setting up teaching for medical students, being a GP trainer and supporting nursing staff in obtaining nursing degrees, training for advanced nurse practitioner status and nurse prescribing. John worked over the years with colleagues on the Local Medical Committee, Primary Care Trust Board, Public Health, Locality Commissioning, Clinical Care Pathways and was Clinical Governance lead for Wednesbury and West Bromwich. John's experience was used at Wolverhampton University to give teaching from a GP perspective to physician assistant students, nurses, school nurses and health visitors. Teaching Physician Associate Studies on CANVAS General medical teaching for Physician Associate Studies Programme. Level of teaching is compatible with medical student teaching Curriculum coverage includes the theoretical basis of medicine ( anatomy, physiology, relevant biochemistry, pathophysiology, history taking, clinical examination, clinical skills and basic approaches to investigation and treatment of common problems as defined in the National Physician Associate Curriculum). Teaching emphasises an holistic approach and empathic approach to the patient Postgraduate supervision Current Physician Associate students all have a first degrees in biological sciences therefore are expected to work at Masters level standard. Other activities Medical tutor for PRIME ( Partnerships in Medical Education). This is a medical education charity and its tutors offer their services free of charge in developing situations to assist in both post-graduate and undergraduate medical education. I have done work in Romania, Armenia, Ethiopia and currently South Sudan. http://www.prime-international.org.uk Board member for a small charity Medic Assist International with responsibility for minor projects in South Sudan and Uganda http://medicassistinternational.org


text:
Previous Fragment Next Fragment
- Start of Business
- Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2011-2012
- Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2011-2012
- Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records Bill 2011, Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011
- Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Disability Support Pension Participation Reforms) Bill 2012
- Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Amendment Bill 2011
- Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Amendment Bill 2011
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support and Other Measures) Bill 2012
- Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2011, Road Safety Remuneration (Consequential Amendments and Related Provisions) Bill 2011
- Solomon Electorate: Darwin Housing
- Nelson, Professor Hyland (Hank), AM
- Hume Electorate: Floods
- Nurses
- National Rugby League
- Media
- Petition: Private Health Insurance
- National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Roberts-Smith, Corporate Benjamin, VC, MG
- Environment
Renewable Energy
(Abbott, Tony, MP, Gillard, Julia, MP)
Paid Parental Leave
(O'Neill, Deb, MP, Gillard, Julia, MP)
Carbon Pricing
(Hunt, Greg, MP, Gillard, Julia, MP)
(Danby, Michael, MP, Swan, Wayne, MP)
Carbon Pricing
(Hockey, Joe, MP, Ferguson, Martin, MP)
Goods and Services Tax
(Crook, Tony, MP, Swan, Wayne, MP)
Parenting Payments
(Burke, Anna, MP, Macklin, Jenny, MP)
Senate Vacancy
(Abbott, Tony, MP, Gillard, Julia, MP)
(Hall, Jill, MP, Shorten, Bill, MP)
- Renewable Energy
- Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012
- Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012
- Longman Electorate: Fishing
- Education
- Child Support Agency
- Politics, Friends of Frog Hollow
- Cowper Electorate: Village of Wooli
- Capricornia Electorate: Pensions and Benefits
- Solar Hot Water Rebate
- Health
- Murray-Darling Basin
- Makin Electorate: Parafield Airport
- Queensland: Wild Rivers Legislation
- Queensland: Wild Rivers Legislation, Northern Development
Federation Chamber
- Start of Business
- School Uniforms
- Insurance Industry
- Clean Up Australia Day, Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave, Teal Ribbon Day
- Duyfken
- Australia Day
- Deakin Electorate: Tinternvale Primary School
- Casey Electorate: Gladysdale Primary School
- Lindsay Electorate: Nepean Legacy
- Cowan Electorate: Northern Men's Shed
- Melbourne Electorate: Energy Infrastructure
- Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Amendment Bill 2011
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support and Other Measures) Bill 2012
Page: 2365
Mr FLETCHER (Bradfield) (18:29): I am pleased to rise to speak on the Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012. The question before the House this evening is not whether phoenixing—which is, I might say, a particular ugly word when it is used in this context—is a deeply objectionable practice. Of course it is deeply objectionable when company directors and managers use the corporate structure to defraud creditors. There is no question in the mind of anybody in this place as to whether phoenixing is a highly undesirable kind of conduct which ought be prevented to the maximum extent possible. The question before the House this evening is a more specific and precise one. The question is this: will the measures contained in this bill in fact be effective in dealing with the question of phoenixing—indeed, are they in fact linked in any way to the conduct of phoenixing?—or are they instead yet another example of a technique that is all too common from this government: the technique of identifying a problem and offering what is claimed to be a solution, which, on analysis, is found to be deeply deficient and ineffective? This technique is one that we see used all too commonly. I put it to the House that we are seeing this technique being used yet again.
I want to make three observations in relation to this bill in the time available to me. Firstly, phoenixing activity is of course highly objectionable and to be deplored. Secondly, there is no evident linkage between the measures contained in this bill and phoenixing conduct. Thirdly, the measures in this bill give a degree of additional discretion and additional power to a regulatory agency, ASIC, and that discretion and those powers can be exercised without the need to obtain, for example, a court order. In the coalition's view, that discretion and those powers are excessive.
Clearly, the scope of these powers and that discretion needs to be weighed against the effect that these measures will have in dealing with the evil of phoenixing. When on analysis we see that there is very little reason to have confidence that these measures will have any effect, that adds weight to the serious concerns that the coalition has about the excess of additional discretion and additional powers given to ASIC.
Let me turn to the first point that I want to make, which is that it is uncontentious that phoenixing conduct is to be deplored. The term 'phoenixing' is understood to mean in this context the transfer by directors of the assets of a company that has substantial debts to a new company of which typically they are also directors. To take a specific example, you might have a company called Paul Fletcher Ventures Pty Ltd that is engaged in dubious conduct and that has accumulated substantial debts.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Never!
Mr FLETCHER: I am merely raising the hypothetical possibility, Madame Deputy Speaker, I hasten to add. What that company might choose to do is to hide behind the corporate veil, move all of its assets to a new company, such as Paul Fletcher (Brave New Horizons) Pty Ltd, and carry on business under that new name. Creditors who have been dealing with the company under the old name will find that that company has no assets with which to pay the debts that it owes to them. That is, on any view, fraudulent and deceptive behaviour to be deplored.
It is deplorable in all circumstances, but one of the circumstances in which it is clearly most deplorable is when the creditors who are defrauded are employees of the company, who find themselves unable to recover entitlements that are owing to them, such as long service leave entitlements. Clearly, it must be absolutely galling for anybody in this circumstance to find that they have been defrauded while the directors of their company are now carrying on business—often under the same brand name—using a different company as a vehicle, and are therefore able to take advantage of the different legal personality of the new company and fail to pay the debts owed by the old company. Let us be clear: it is not contentious among members of this House that that is deplorable behaviour. But the question before the House this evening is whether the measures that are put forward in this bill will be effective in addressing that undoubted problem.
That brings me to the second point that I want to make to the House this evening, which is that there is, on analysis, no evident linkage between the measures in the bill and the conduct of phoenixing that we are all united in deploring. What are the measures contained in this bill? The key measure is that ASIC, the corporate regulator, is given significant new discretionary powers to wind up a company. There are several specific triggers which allow that power to be exercised. Those include: if a company is six months late responding to a compliance notice and has not lodged other Corporations Act documents in the preceding 18 months; if a company's review fee has not been paid within 12 months; or if a company has been re-registered in the preceding six months and ASIC has reason to believe it is in the public interest to place the company into liquidation. There are one or two other heads as well, but these are the major ones that I want to deal with. The critical point in analysing the provisions of this bill is this: there is no linkage on the face of the words of the bill between the powers it grants to ASIC and phoenixing conduct. Nowhere in the text of this proposed statute is there a requirement that ASIC must form a view that a company has engaged in phoenixing behaviour. Nowhere is there a requirement that ASIC must have a reasonable suspicion that a company has engaged in phoenixing behaviour. Nowhere in this bill, which purports to deal with the evils of phoenixing, is there even a definition of phoenixing. This is an approach to drafting which is, on any view, novel. When you consider that the word phoenixing appears in the title but virtually nowhere else in the language of the bill, it makes any reasonable inquirer highly suspicious as to what is going on.
The language of this bill, the structure of this bill and the drafting of this bill give every indication of a desire on the part of this government to be seen to be offering a solution to a serious problem without actually having come up with a practicable, effective, workable solution to a serious problem. This is not surprising. This government has tried on a number of occasions to get to grips with the problem of phoenixing but it has been unsuccessful.
Last year, for example, the government included a series of measures targeting some aspects of phoenix activity in the Tax Laws Amendment (2011 Measures No. 8) Bill 2011 and the Pay As You Go Withholding Non-compliance Tax Bill 2011. After examining the bills, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics made a unanimous and bipartisan recommendation that the government should not proceed with enacting those provisions. It said:
However, the committee notes that concerns from the business community and its representatives that the Bills potentially apply to the broad range of directors whether engaged in phoenix activity or not. The committee recommends that the Government should investigate whether it is possible to tighten the provisions of the Bills to better target phoenix activity.
The government subsequently withdrew those provisions from those particular bills and has yet to provide any indication as to how it will proceed with them. I would put it to the House that the analysis conducted by the House of Representatives economics committee, and the finding that those particular measures did not effectively target phoenix activity, are findings which would apply with equal force to the measures contained in the bill presently before the House.
What we have in the bill before us is the granting of an additional power to ASIC—that is, to wind up a company on ASIC's own motion without having to persuade a court of the desirability of doing so. There is no linkage to phoenixing and there is no requirement to form a state of mind or a suspicion that phoenixing is occurring—there is not even a definition of phoenixing. It is a heroic claim to describe this bill as dealing with phoenixing at all.
Let me turn to the third point which I wish to make. As I have argued, the provisions of this bill grant ASIC a very wide set of additional powers and discretions which can be exercised without seeking court approval. Let us consider, for example, the power to wind up a company if its review fee has not been paid within 12 months. ASIC might choose to use that power for a whole range of reasons which have nothing to do with phoenixing, including debt collection. I regularly receive complaints from constituents involved in business activities that ASIC's annual review fees are very steep. They seem quite disproportionate to the value of the services actually received by the businesses compelled to pay these fees. It is very easy to imagine how a statutory agency like ASIC might fall prey to the temptation of using this wide new power to engage in debt collection activity to follow up fees which have not been paid. There is nothing in the grant of this power which confines, restricts or links it to phoenixing activity, notwithstanding the claim that this bill is about phoenixing activity.
Statutory agencies like ASIC play an important role in the supervision of corporate activity. But that does not mean that the parliament, representing the people of Australia, ought to freely agree to hand ASIC more powers and discretions without careful scrutiny and without carefully weighing up the benefit to be obtained against the possible reduction of the rights and liberties of the companies and their employees, management and directors with which ASIC is dealing. If you are going to give ASIC additional powers and discretions, you need to make the case for how doing so is going to better allow ASIC to deal with the problem of phoenixing and produce better outcomes and a reduction of phoenixing activity. There is no persuasive case made in the explanatory memorandum. It is very hard to see how there could be such a case made when you have a set of provisions which are drafted with great generality and make no reference to phoenixing whatsoever.
I conclude as I began: there is no question that phoenixing is highly undesirable conduct. The coalition stands ready to support effective, practical, workable measures. The measures in this bill are not effective, practicable or workable; they simply give extra discretions to the regulator and the test as to why that should be done has not been met. (Time expired)


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Looking for laughter, music, fun and great food? A bit of Maynia might help.
Looking for laughter, music, fun and great food? A bit of Maynia might help.
The free carnival opens to the public this weekend aboard Camp Lejeune with live music and attractions from 5 to 11 p.m. May 16; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. May 17; and noon to 6 p.m. May 18 at W.P.T. Hill Field.
�It kind of brings the community together,� said MCCS Community Recreation Program Manager Angela Rodier.
Attendees park free in a field by the Goettge Memorial Field House, where signs and parking attendants will instruct them where to go.
Carnival rides, that cost $5 for an all-day unlimited pass, will be available and kids 2 and under ride free.
The event offers Mini Maynia for kids that includes bounce houses, a petting zoo on Sunday, and a touch tank with ocean animals from the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.
Kids can also find a new friend with the balloon creations booth; learn about gardening with the Mobile Garden, sing their hearts out at Karaoke and enter the Library Fun Zone.
Pony rides will be available Sunday.
Concessions wil be available for purchase, including pizza, hamburgers and sausage. Sweet treats for purchase include funnel cakes, cotton candy, candy apples, Sunshine Girls Lemonade, ice cream, italian ice
and Tatajo�s french pastries.
But the event offers plenty for adults as well, Rodier said.
In addition to carnival rides, adults can participate in a wine tasting on May 16 from 7 to 10 p.m., enjoy live entertainment from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. May 16, from 10 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. May 17, and from 1 to 5:45 p.m. May 18 on the main stage.
The 40 East band out of Wilmington will play on Sunday afternoon from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Band leader and one of the main vocalists Daniel McIntyre said 40 East is �very excited about being a part of Maynia.� The band plays everything from Carrie Underwood to Journey and Bruno Mars covers, making sure they have �something for everyone to enjoy,� McIntyre said.
This isn�t the first time for 40 East to play in the area, something McIntyre said they enjoy because they �want to develop our relationship with the military.� In fact, one song attendees of Maynia can be sure of hearing is God Bless the USA.
McIntyre promises a high-energy and interactive show, where kids and adults alike can dance and sing along to favorites such as Sweet Caroline. The members also don costumes in their festival set.
�We want to play your music,� he said. �I want you to go and leave and come back and say, �Man, did you see that band? They were awesome,�� he said.
Rodier said the MCCS Dance with Me Academy, which hits the main stage at 10 a.m May 17, will demonstrate the dances they are currently working on, and other entertainment includes a magician, live local bands, and karate and body building demonstrations.
At 6:30 p.m., Rodier said guests can don their glow-in-the-dark �warpaint� and watch a break dance performance to gear up for a Zumba workout and dance party from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
�They will have glow sticks out and the DJ is high energy,� Rodier said. �People just love to do Zumba.�
After Zumba, guests are invited to let loose with the dance party from 9 to 10:45 p.m.
New to the event this year will be the Red Bull Jams freestyle motocross demonstrations,� Rodier said.
The demonstrations, which take place at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. May 17, will offer audiences stunts and flips on ramps they set up on location.
�It�s amazing what they can do,� Rodier, who has seen the performance before, said.
Admission to Maynia is free; however, concessions and some activities must be purchased. Rodier said a handful of vendors will also be at the event selling arts and crafts and other goods. Some of those goods include the Scentsy air fresheners and a booth devoted to princess paraphernalia, such as tiaras.
For those without base access, you can still head out to the carnival after getting a visitors pass at the Main Gate Visitor�s Center. Valid drivers license, current vehicle registration and proof of insurance are required.


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Contemporary Society
Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson
Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries6:00pm | Saturday 16 March 2013
|£11 - £
|1 Hour
|Corpus Christi: Lecture Theatre
Choose this Ticket Buy The Books event id:125
About this Event:
Award-winning writer and documentary maker Jon Ronson is fascinated by madness, strange behaviour and the mysteries of the human mind. Here he collects together some of the best of his adventures. They include going on patrol with America's real-life superheroes, going to a UFO convention in the Nevada Desert with Robbie Williams, and asking a robot whether it had a soul. His travels have taken him to meet a man preparing to welcome aliens to Earth and a man who tried to split the atom in his kitchen.
Ronson is author of three bestsellers, Them: Adventures with Extremists; The Men who Stare at Goats (made into a Hollywood movie starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor) and The Psychopath Test.
Choose this Ticket Buy The Books event id:125


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text:
For many people looking to rejuvenate their skin and reduce some of the signs of aging, Botox has been a dream come true.
Once a secret of celebrities, Botox is now a common procedure for many men and women. This minimally invasive procedure is widely practiced and is an affordable alternative to extensive cosmetic surgery.
Botox is a Protein Compound
Botox, or botulinium toxin, is a protein compound most often used as a prescription injection that reduces the look of frown lines between the brows.
The medication is injected into the muscles between the eyes, relaxing them and reducing the appearance of a furrowed or frowning brow. These injections are temporary and require follow up treatment to maintain the look.
On top of reducing frown lines, Botox is also used to treat severe muscle stiffness in the wrists, arms, hands and fingers. It has been used to treat strabismus, or eye muscle problems, and blepharospam, an abnormal spasm of the eyelid.
Botox injections have also been shown to effectively treat excessive underarm sweating.
Botox vs. Fillers
Many people are unsure of the difference between Botox injections and fillers.
Botox injections relax the muscles and prevent them from furrowing together, creating frown lines. Fillers actually fill in the space in the brow area between the eyes, creating a smoother appearance.
Common fillers include Restalyne, Juvederm, and Zyderm, a bovine collagen. Fillers have been shown to be effective in decreasing the look of crows feet, laugh lines and wrinkles.
Choosing a Botox Specialist
Choosing the right doctor for your treatment is imperative.
Many people claim to be knowledgeable about Botox and capable of delivering the injections. Some even host Botox parties or operate from their homes and offer lower fees than doctors' offices.
As it is with any medical procedure, however, it's very important patients go to a certified Botox specialist.
Reputable physicians have a complex knowledge of facial aesthetics and anatomy and have extensive experience in providing Botox treatments.
If you're looking to confirm your potential surgeon's claims, there are several questions you should ask when interviewing a doctor or Botox clinic:
- How long have you been practicing? How many times have you performed Botox injections?
- Who will take over delivering my Botox shot if you are not available?
- Will there be someone on call to assist me if complications arise?
- Are there any of your past or present patients available who can give a testimonial to your services?
Candidates for Botox
The best candidates for Botox are men and women who suffer from muscle tension in the face. The ideal patient is in general good health, and is realistic about the scope and results of the procedure.
atients with neuromuscular disorders are usually not good candidates for the Botox injection procedure.
The Botox Procedure
Prior to getting Botox injections, your doctor should go over your medical history thoroughly with you and do a facial examination where you perform some simple facial exercises.
These exercises will help the doctor get a firm grasp of your muscular strength and flexibility. He may also ask about your expectations and goals for the procedure to ensure that you receive the desired results.
Make sure you give your doctor a clear picture of what you expect from the procedure.
The actual Botox procedure itself is relatively quick. The doctor will prep the injection site by cleaning it with a sterile solution.
Anesthesia is usually not used, but the doctor may numb the area to lessen any discomfort. Pain is usually mild and brief. The doctor will then administer several injections into the muscle area to relieve the tension and relax the area.
The entire procedure takes approximately 10-15 minutes. Most patients are able to resume normal activities immediately following the procedure. Many patients have their Botox injections done while on their lunch break.
Most patients report that recovery time is very quick and painless following Botox treatments. However, if there is pain following the procedure, a simple over-the-counter medication is usually an effective measure of relief.
If pain persists for more than a day, contact your doctor who will prescribe a stronger pain medication.
You should start to see improvement within days of receiving the treatment. Fine lines will continue to improve for up to 30 days following the procedure.
A drastic change in appearance is usually noticed by the tenth day following the injections. Effects of the treatment last for up to four months, but vary by patient and type of treatment.
Side Effects
As with any medical procedure, side effects may occur and vary in severity.
The most common side effects associated with the procedure include:
- Discomfort in the injection site and/or bleeding.
- Swelling, redness or puffiness in the injection site.
- Blurred vision, drooping of the eyelids or decreased eyesight.
- Dry mouth, headache, fatigue.
- Allergic reactions such as hives, rashes, wheezing or swelling.
- Puffiness and redness in the injection site is common.
Let your doctor know if you have a specific allergen prior to the procedure. If side effects persist, contact your doctor immediately.
As compared to conventional plastic surgery, the cost of Botox is relatively low.
The cost per injection treatment is usually around $450-$500, but this cost may vary according to geographic location and specific specialist.
Some specialists with a more extensive background may charge higher fees for the procedure. It is also important to factor in how many injections you will need to achieve the desired results.
Most patients receive the injections 2-3 times per year, so this will also be a factor in the overall cost of the injections.
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text:
The Firing Line Forums
The Hide
The Dave McCracken Memorial Shotgun Forum
> What does nickel plating do for shot?
View Full Version :
What does nickel plating do for shot?
August 14, 2007, 07:59 AM
Why nickel plated lead?
August 14, 2007, 08:06 AM
nickel or copper plating is supposed to make the shot pellets harder and less likely to deform on their fast trip down the barrel and through the choke tube. If it is rounder then it will tend to fly straighter and give better patterns.
A good number of turkey loads are plated and it seems to help.
From remington's website:
Utilizing a specially blended powder recipe, Remington's advanced Power Piston one piece wad and hardened copper plated shot, these new high velocity loads result in extremely dense patterns and outstanding knockdown power at effective ranges.
August 14, 2007, 06:51 PM
aside from starting w/ hard lead to begin with, the best coating that i've read about is nickle, copper being second. and yes, its to keep it as round and true as possible so is flys truer.
August 14, 2007, 07:53 PM
I've been using it for years. First copper now nickel or copper. It may be psychological but it seems to knock pheasants down better at range. I shoot either a 20 ga. double or a 28 ga. O/U. In the 28 I usually use 3/4 oz. # 6 lead out of the first barrel, choked skeet. The second is a 1 oz. load of plated 6's modified choke. The plated shot seems to work better at the longer ranges.
Brad Clodfelter
August 14, 2007, 08:05 PM
Well guys, what has been said is true. I seem to have better results with copper plated shot shooting better patterns at 40yds than the nickel plated shot. Also plating shot will give somewhat better penetration because the shot stays rounder while penetrating game and not flattening out as just lead shot alone, thus improving penetration.
I also will tell you that the Hevi-Shot shells that Remington loads will throw this round shot theory out the window. I have shot some of these in the 1 and 3/4oz #6 loads with I believe 3.5" shells out of my Browning Gold auto using I believe a .670 Comp-N-Choke choke tube and got a 98% pattern at 40yds. These loads shoot tighter than any lead shot. And they are irregular shaped and oblong shot. :confused: But seeing is believing.
August 15, 2007, 04:20 PM
I've always heard that plated pellets give better penetration through feathers and stuff, but I've never tested it. Anything that reduces deformation of the shot during its trip down the barrel is a good thing. Soft shot comes out like a bunch of frisbees. Just try some of those Dove & Quail Specials that are always on sale in August and you'll see what I mean. That stuff is junk.
Jeff Mulliken
August 15, 2007, 05:44 PM
I've dressed out and eaten a lot of ducks and geese shot with lead and copperplated lead.
The soft lead gathers a ball of feathers that reduce the penetration and make for a messy ball of feathers stuck in the meat.
Copperplated shot seems to get through the feathers without gathering a ball of them and cut right through he muscle. It was rare to find a ball of feathers in the muscle of birds shot with copperplated shot.
None of this matters now when waterfowling.....
August 16, 2007, 01:24 PM
That stuff is junk.
It isn't junk, it is just soft. If you want a wide pattern out of a tight choke, the promo dove stuff works great for that.
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text:
IHS raises chip market growth forecast
4 comments
The strongest semiconductor demand growth in 2011 will be driven by the wireless and mobile segments, buoyed by demand for smartphones, tablets and e-readers, resulting in 17.6 percent increase in related chip revenues. The IHS data processing category, driven by mobile computers will be the third-fastest growing semiconductor application market in 2011, with growth of 6.2 percent.
The much smaller industrial electronics segment will be the second-fastest growing semiconductor application market, with revenue rising by 7.3 percent. Sectors achieving slower expansion this year will include consumer electronics at 3.1 percent and automotive electronics at 3.0 percent.
In contrast, semiconductor revenue this year for wired communications is anticipated to contract by 1.7 percent, the only sector to suffer negative growth, according to IHS.
The fastest-growing semiconductor product segments in 2011 will be image sensors, NAND flash memory, light-emitting diodes, microprocessors, discrete components, sensors and general-purpose analog integrated circuits. Collective revenue from these products is projected to rise by more than 12 percent in 2011, with CMOS image sensors leading all products with 36 percent growth.
Related links and articles:
Gartner: chip market to grow 5.1% in 2011
WSTS raises 2011 chip market forecast
Japan 'actual' chip sales collapsed in April
Chip market grows, despite revision


text:
General Question
What on Earth is a Vector force diagram, and how do I draw one?
Asked by After_dinner_trivia (156) December 2nd, 2013
I have been asked to "Construct a vector force diagram, showing the interaction of the forces acting on an aircraft in a steady turn"
However I have never come across a vector force diagram before, and all the information I found via Google is difficult for me to understand, would anyone mind dumbing it down for me and explaining how to go about completing my task?
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Bucher Hydraulics Division produces valves that are mainly used in mobile applications in construction and agricultural machinery, as well as in wind turbines or industrial applications. Bucher Hydraulics AG Frutigen, located in the Bernese Oberland in the Swiss Alps, is one of the company's six competence centers; it specializes in cartridge and customized valves and valve manifolds. Each competence center is responsible for a separate area: design/layout/construction, prototyping and testing, serial production, sales, and aftersales.
Analyzing versions and running through what-if scenarios is quick and easy in FloEFD for Creo. Images courtesy of Bucher Hydraulics.
In the past when Bucher Hydraulics engineers built small- and medium-sized valves, they were able to obtain test results and optimize the products in a short time at reasonable costs from the prototyping and testing competence center. They didn't need to use flow simulation because they were able to quickly use real results.
But today's projects are for valves that deliver high flow and pressure at very low pressure drop within small dimensions. For these housings or manifolds, all the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations were being done at a specialized competence center. This was causing delays because of the turnaround time needed for handover from the designer to the operator (preparation of data files and explanation of the task), handover from the operator to the designer (visualization of the results and its explanation), and misunderstandings of task and interpretation that led to several repetition loops. To further complicate matters, the team was working with four different software programs for modeling, meshing, calculation and visualization, which needed dedicated people to use and maintain daily.
Bucher wanted simulation and testing software that would be easy to learn and use for the valve designer. The company also wanted quick and precise results with good and simple visualization, simple use of existing CAD-3D data, and a data repository that would include variants.
After reviewing the options, Bucher chose Mentor Graphics' FloEFD for Creo because it enables engineers to conduct fluid flow analysis inside the PTC Creo MCAD environment — and to simulate their designs quickly, efficiently and early in the process. Three design engineers were trained by Elinter Ltd., a reseller of Mentor Graphics solutions, on how to use FloEFD. They in turn trained two more engineers. Within a few months, Bucher organized a two-day training session (including a half-day of support from Elinter) for four more engineers from other competence centers.
Bucher found that the layout of valves has become automatically better, especially in regard to performance and costs, because its team can analyze more variations in the amount of time it used to take to analyze a conventional design without CFD. The first design is now much closer to the target, and optimization of the prototypes is much more efficient with FloEFD. Because of the good results and availability, Bucher uses FloEFD for the design of new products as well as the optimization of existing valves.
Custom valves created at Bucher Hydraulics.
Time is of the essence in today's global marketplace, and by enabling design engineers at Bucher to conduct what-if analysis and progress their designs quickly, the company is able to provide products that offer a great combination of functionality and high reliability — with a great price:performance ratio. DE
Editor's note: See the related commentary: "The Power of Simulation Driven by Design."
More Info


text:
OnMilwaukee.com recommends, Sept. 22, 2012
Almonds, new Mexican food and a movie that's so bad it's good. It's just the kind of combination that can only be found in our weekly OnMilwaukee.com Recommends.
Taco Loco inside El Rey – There's a new cafe in the El Rey at 5200 W. Oklahoma Ave. The grocery store opened last October, but the sit-down or carry-out cafe opened last week and has a very different feel from the popular Latin dining spot in the Chavez Drive location. This one is larger and brighter, with an entire wall of windows. The menu offers breakfast items like huevos rancheros and chilquiles from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nothing costs more than $6.99 and the items can be purchased a la carte or as meals with rice and beans. I recommend the fresh and crunchy tostadas. – Molly Snyder
Marcona almonds – If you are a nut nut have I got a tip for you. It's Marcona almonds, available from Whole Foods. Marcona are known as the "Queen of Almonds" and are imported from Spain. They are rounder, softer and sweeter than the almonds that are grown in this country. The almonds are roasted in olive oil and then sprinkled with sea salt. They also don't have that brown skin that is associated with almonds. They are a little pricey but not absurd, and they are a treat not to be missed. – Dave Begel
"The Room" at The Oriental – It's quite possibly the worst movie ever made, and it's returning to the Oriental Theatre in a blaze of glory and awkward sex scenes tonight. "The Room" has amassed its very own "Rocky Horror"-style cult following since its 2003 release, and it's already infamous for its snarky crowd participation and flying cutlery. Tonight's midnight screening is the second of two (the first of which took place Friday night) and will offer not only the movie itself, but appearances by writer/director/actor/producer/weirdo Tommy Wiseau and actor Greg Sestero. If you haven't been to a showing of "The Room" in the past, I highly suggest you invest in some plastic spoons and experience it for yourself. – Renee Lorenz
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Big Software: Finally DeadBy Deborah Gage | Posted 10-08-2009
Big Software: Finally Dead
Ever since the mid-1990s, when the Internet became indispensable, someone has been predicting the death of big enterprise software, with its high costs and daunting complexity. It certainly has come to pass that some of the biggest software vendors are now under pressure, which they attribute to the worldwide recession. Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, IBM and several others have all struggled this year. Yet others--including Google and Salesforce.com, whose products are licensed and run over the Web--seem to have weathered the recession pretty well.
What's going on? Is this downturn in the fortunes of the big-software companies a blip or a revolution? Are the buying habits of their customers--the notoriously conservative corporate CIOs--finally, and permanently, starting to change?
Many experts think that's exactly what's happening. "It feels like the PC revolution all over again," says John Sviolka, vice chairman of Diamond Technology and Management Consultants and a former professor at Harvard Business School. "Innovation was happening in the consumer space, and IT folks were on the receiving end. The same thing is happening now with smartphones and Web applications."
Driven by the need to cut costs, some CIOs say they are no longer able to tolerate $50 million ERP projects that might take years to install, let alone deliver a payback. "This is a challenging time for those of us in the auto industry," says Doug Tracy, the CIO of Dana Holding Corp. "If [vendors] can't work with us, we'll go with somebody more flexible."
CIOs, including Tracy, are looking at technologies they might not have considered a year ago: open-source software, software as a service (SaaS), social networking and even cloud computing.
Oil giant Sunoco is looking at dumping its corporate e-mail system for free, Web-based e-mail. Nationwide Mutual Insurance has set up internal corporate microblogs for its employees through Yammer, and is working on outsourcing parts of its operation, including human resources, through various other Web-based applications. "The recession helped accelerate some of the things we had in place, but the industry in general is moving this way anyway," says Nationwide CTO Srini Koushik.
However, all of the executives who talked to CIO Insight said they are proceeding with caution. They cited unresolved issues with Web applications, ranging from data security and integration to legal issues. The fact is, regardless of how untried a technology may be, users expect it to work. "The bar has been raised all over computing," Tracy says. "For a global company, it doesn't go down."
No technology is more hyped than cloud computing, which has inspired conferences, vendor coalitions and an endless series of press releases. Many vendors claim to have offerings in this area, though most CIOs believe the technology is still several years from maturity.
"I'm a keen believer that cloud computing will be a big player. But I'm not so naïve that I'm going to switch everything I have to it right now," says Peter Whatnell, CIO of Sunoco. "I think it's worth exploring." Whatnell says his team is looking at using Amazon's cloud service to build test and development environments to get a better understanding of how clouds work.
Koushik at Nationwide has gone farther with cloud computing, although he calls it a "buzzword" at this point. Nationwide has provisioned storage space on its network for insurance agencies that need to store images. Nationwide uses virtualization for the provisioning and a Web-based application similar to Mozy to allow access to the network, Koushik said. Agencies are billed based on how much capacity they use.
CIOs are more likely to try software as a service, which is better understood and simpler to use and requires no upfront investment in hardware or software.
The most popular applications this year are sales-force automation, human capital management, customer service and support, collaboration, blogs and wikis, and marketing automation, according to a survey of North American and European IT executives by Forrester Research.
SaaS applications can be especially appealing to small or new companies that don't have established ways of doing things or tons of accumulated data, says Stephen Lipka, the principal of consultancy Avatar Strategic Partners. One of his clients, a real estate startup, is trying to figure out how to integrate QuickBooks accounting software with off-the-shelf real estate management applications.
But Lipka warns that SaaS, like cloud computing, is not as simple as it appears. Look into the legalities of who owns the data, he says. What if you abandon your contract--is your data destroyed? In case you have to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley, where is your data backed up? If you choose to leave the SaaS vendor, how do you get your data out?
Some companies simply aren't ready for SaaS or cloud computing, he says, because their systems are too untidy or their business processes too complex. Another of Lipka's clients decided on a SaaS application for customer relationship management but needed extra features--and argued about which ones.
"We built it, and they didn't use 80 percent of the features they thought they would have to have," Lipka says. "Probably 60 to 70 percent of the development expense went to features they never used."
Long-Term Opportunities
As long as CIOs can steer their companies through the recession, though, carefully chosen new technologies are one good way to build for the future, several insiders say.
It's a good time for CIOs to experiment with technologies that can help lower their energy costs or run their businesses more efficiently or help attract new customers--as Nationwide did this spring, when it launched an iPhone app (see page 22)--by studying changes in customers behavior, Diamond's Sviolka says.
He looks at the cloud as a way to test new ideas. "Markets are super-concentrated and super-fast, but the cost of entering the game is low," he said. "You need to lower the minimum cost of a trial and then sit back and figure out how to pop something out of that great, gray mass into a smaller number of things that would hit. Once you start to see something take off, the cloud supports that."
Opening Up to SaaS
Opening Up
As the second global CIO in the history of Dana Holding Corp., which is more than 100 years old, Doug Tracy has a big job ahead of him.
The auto parts supplier has struggled in the economic downturn, so a priority is cutting costs. But Tracy, who joined Dana in April, also has to build for the future, and he thinks demand in the auto industry has finally bottomed out.
"The challenges make it someplace where you can have an impact," he says. "Also, when I look at what we have, it's in-house for IT. We've not mortgaged the home to a big outsourcing vendor, so that gives me the flexibility to shape the organization. I saw that as a great opportunity as well."
After years of acquiring companies with the idea of diversifying its holdings, Dana is now trying to centralize and standardize, and that includes IT.
Tracy has been holding "very pointed discussions" with technology vendors, he said, telling them that in order to get or keep Dana's business, they need to look past what they'll get from Dana next quarter.
"It's like walking into the emergency room and lying on the floor complaining of chest pains," he says. "There are people who will treat you, and then there are people who want to see if you have your insurance card before they decide to do anything."
He is also trying to find lower cost alternatives to the big vendors--companies and technologies that may not be included in Gartner's famous "magic quadrant." One such technology is software as a service (SaaS), which is appealing, he says, because you pay as you go without requiring a big purchase of hardware and software.
But Tracy is also wary of SaaS because there might be problems integrating SaaS projects into the rest of Dana's systems. "[Some SaaS vendors] will continue to do their own patching and upgrading, and they're not set up to do custom interfaces to your system," he says. "You have to be cognizant. There might be data you want out of that system that doesn't come through that interface."
So he will treat SaaS as good for filling a "point need"--something that's not critical to the company's operations.
Another technology he's been considering is open source. Nearly all companies use it in some way, he says--like running clusters of Linux and keeping Web environments on Apache servers--but he's been disappointed so far at the dearth of vendors making open-source infrastructure tools, nor is he impressed with what he's heard about open-source office products.
Tracy would buy open-source infrastructure tools--something that does infrastructure monitoring, for instance, or capacity management--because they'd save him money. But if the tools didn't work, Dana's customers would still be protected. "If they fall over, we keep the mess in-house," he says.
Open-source office, on the other hand, would have to work very well before he'd consider using it. He's heard from a colleague at another company that its open-source office project wasn't going very well. "If you're CIO, and you're answering the phone on why a spreadsheet doesn't work, that takes the conversation to a whole different level than you'd like to have," he says. "When it touches a lot of people, my risk tolerance is pretty low."
Ultimately, Tracy figures he can't let the bad economy dictate his strategy. In certain areas, Dana is hiring and expanding, and those areas will also be a focus for IT.
Shedding the Desktop
Shedding the Desktop
If you'd said even a year ago at Sunoco that you were dropping the expensive corporate e-mail system for a free Web-based service like Gmail, everyone would have been aghast, says Sunoco CIO Peter Whatnell.
But times have changed. The tough economic climate is causing many corporate managers to re-examine their capacity for risk--to ask what it would take to get them to agree to fewer assurances about how a service would operate in exchange for saving money.
At oil giant Sunoco, Web-based services would save several hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. "Previously it was a case of 'This is what I want--how much will it cost?'" Whatnell says. "Now it's, 'How much can I save and what are the consequences?'"
Whatnell is also president of the Society for Information Management, and he finds his fellow members thinking along these same lines. A service like Gmail is still not considered mainstream, he says, but it's growing in popularity: "It's a question of when, not if."
So Whatnell's staff is evaluating several Web-based e-mail services--Gmail, Microsoft Live, Yahoo! Mail--partly because many employees already use them at home and understand how they work, which would save on training costs. Most people use only a small number of features in software anyway, he says.
The IT staff's time is one consideration--Web-based e-mail services are so generic, they don't require much customization and would be easy to set up.
Another consideration is the sensitivity of the information these services would convey. Unlike individuals, corporations have to guard their intellectual property, comply with industry regulations and be prepared to make information available if they're subpoenaed in a lawsuit.
"Where is my data? Who's got it? How do I know it's properly protected?" Whatnell says. "Depending on the industry you're in and the sorts of data you're talking about, you might have a certain standard of what you can bear."
Whatnell's team has other money-saving plans. It is moving 60 of the company's smaller sites off the private telecommunications network and connecting them to Sunoco through the Internet over a virtual private network.
The staff has also considered adopting a Web-based office suite--Google Apps, Microsoft's upcoming Web-based version of Office or some other service. However, they are less serious about that than they are about the e-mail because office suite technology is not very mature. "It would have to be a substantive cost difference," Whatnell says.
Still, one of his ultimate goals for Sunoco is a virtualized desktop, which would eliminate desktop operating systems and applications and all the support and licensing and operating costs that go with them.
If an employee has a problem and called the help desk, "You don't send a technician who charges 72 bucks an hour," he says. "You send a guy from the mailroom with a new PC."
Virtualization on the desktop is also an immature technology, even though the promise of alternative desktops has been around for years. (Sun Microsystems with its JavaStation and Oracle with its Network Computer both tried to tackle the problem in the 1990s.)
For now, Whatnell's staff is evaluating how many applications are written in a way that they could perform well on a virtualized desktop. Even if it turns out that the company could drop only 80 percent of its conventional desktop applications and maintain the rest, he says, the trade-off might be worthwhile.
Old Insurance, New Technology
Old Insurance, New Technology
Last April, Nationwide--a company started in 1925 to provide auto insurance to Ohio farmers--became the first insurance company ever to launch an application for the iPhone. Its advantage didn't last long, however--State Farm launched a similar iPhone app less than two months later.
"Nobody was even talking about [an iPhone app] a couple of years ago, but now you can't live without it," says Srini Koushik, Nationwide's CTO. "Every insurance company has got to have something on the iPhone."
Nationwide's app, called Nationwide Mobile, allows its customers to start a claim immediately after an accident, while they're still at the scene. They can take and store pictures and other details, find an insurance agent, and call a tow truck or emergency services. If light is needed, Nationwide Mobile turns the iPhone into a flashlight. Several of the app's features are also available to people who are not Nationwide customers.
Koushik said he didn't expect the app to be as popular as it's been: In the first six weeks, with no marketing from Nationwide, it was downloaded around 30,000 times. It's had about 45,000 more since.
But mobile software can also place heavy demands on a company's IT staff, especially if they're not used to managing it. How widely an application will be used once it becomes public is hard to predict, and the infrastructure required to support mobile software is different from what's needed to support, say, a mainframe database that nobody outside the company will see.
iPhone apps are also trendy--they can spread or be dumped in favor of the next hot app, all within a matter of days. Nationwide wanted to move fast with Nationwide Mobile--once the marketing department had spotted the opportunity, the app was posted in Apple's iTunes store within 60 days.
That would have made a tight schedule for the IT staff, though, and Nationwide managers didn't want to guess too much about how the market for mobile applications will develop. So the insurer partnered to develop the iPhone app with a company that Koushik declines to name. The partnership allowed Nationwide's staff to focus on integrating insurance claims that are filed over iPhones into Nationwide's core IT systems, he said, and also on understanding the iPhone's software development kit.
The staff won't go much farther, though, until winners in the market emerge.
"Will Apple stay with AT&T? Will they be limited in how far they can reach?" he asks. "BlackBerry is there, and we're also seeing Windows Mobile coming in. I wanted to wait to see how many devices there are going to be."
A former Distinguished Engineer at IBM, Koushik has spent years trying to push new Web-based technologies. One of the top challenges companies will face, he believes, is training IT staffs for this new world.
That's because devices like the iPhone not only change how software is sold, delivered and used--they also change the nature of IT jobs. IT workers are no longer master craftsmen who build every service a company offers--they are people who tend to assemble services built by others, and they need to understand how the business side of the company works.
And while the Internet has made technology easier to use, it's also made more work for IT because it adds new layers of complexity--distributed networks with multiple servers, databases and so on. "We're treading water, all of us, but we're not winning," Koushik says.
Still, Nationwide is planning more mobile applications. The company is looking at other markets where mobile software could be useful while continuing to add more features to Nationwide Mobile.


text: Video News: Canada Madonna pays tribute to David Bowie with cover of Rebel Rebel – video Tributes to David Bowie have been flowing from all over the world since his death on Sunday. Madonna recently did her bit during her Rebel Heart tour, performing Bowie's Rebel Rebel in Houston, Texas. Madonna told the audience she 'wanted to pay tribute to the man who inspired her career', and urged anyone in the audience who hadn't heard of him to look him up. © DailyMotion - Thursday, January 14, 2016