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Category Archives: Europe
I've never developed much of an affinity for Dublin. It's not that there's anything wrong with it, it's just that there's nothing to draw me here. It's a city of writers: Joyce, Wilde, Shaw, and so on. But frankly they're … Continue reading
Titanic Belfast
Titanic Belfast is a visitor center opened in 2012 adjacent to the Belfast docks where Titanic was constructed. It is, without doubt, the best visitor center I've been to. Our day began with a short tour of downtown Belfast, a … Continue reading
After Linda's push to get "Tree" (AKA "A Bug's Life") open at Animal Kingdom, we were able to slip away for a transatlantic cruise. On Friday we picked up a rental car at Disney and on Saturday we packed it and … Continue reading
Porto isn't far from Vigo—just 84 kilometers—but it's a different country and different wine-making. Our shore excursion took us to the Douro Valley, two hours away, where port comes from. Although port is named after Porto, the city has nothing … Continue reading
Vigo is one of the southern most cities in Northern Spain, located only 20 miles from Portugal. It is Europe's main hub for shipping fish, and the 10 mile long harbor is filled with platforms used to raise mussels, oysters … Continue reading
After a workout Friday morning we spent a restful day on the ship. originally we had a dinner scheduled in a Michelin-starred chef's kitchen, but it was cancelled, and since it was rainy we decided to spend the day on … Continue reading
I've been struck on this "wine themed cruise" by how little the other passengers know about wine: basically that it has alcohol in it and isn't beer. Today's excursion to Margaux included a few passengers who seemed to know their … Continue reading
The last time I was in Bordeaux, I stepped off the ship onto the main street along the waterfront. This time our ship is larger, and we are docked two hours away, in Le Verdon. This obviously makes every shore … Continue reading
Livarot and Calvados
Linda's birthday! Morning workout in the gym and then buffet lunch. Salad bar is okay, nothing spectacular. Our tour today is all about fermented apples and cheese. First stop is the Graindorge Fromagerie, which by coincidence is an Alcorn McBride … Continue reading
We got up at 10:00 am, but I'm going to use the one hour time change between England and France as the excuse. They have a nice assortment of workout machine on the gym, although I realized that when Linda … Continue reading
Eddie Manning's limo service provided our transfer to Southampton, and despite the skepticism with which we viewed the mountain of luggage for the five of us, it fit easily into the back of the seven-passenger Mercedes van. We were at … Continue reading
Natural History and Pied-à-terre
After a lazy morning Linda and I took the tube to Kensington for an Indian lunch at the lovely Bombay Brasserie, then walked to the Natural History Museum to visit the dinosaurs. The Natural History Museum is BIG. It must … Continue reading
The Phantom of Westminster Abbey and Clos Maggiore
Linda and I spent today on our own while our friends were off doing other stuff. We slept in and then found a nearby teeny tiny Japanese restaurant, Ichi-Ricki, for lunch. I'm glad the reviews I'd read warned me it … Continue reading
We're off to London for a few days before heading out of Southampton on a twelve night wine cruise. This was Linda's first experience with the airline beds that recline all the way, and they certainly make a difference; we … Continue reading
Barcelona, Spain
Disembarkation in Barcelona is amazingly easy. We simply strolled down the gangway, pointed out our bags to a porter, and were ushered to a taxis. No immigration, no customs. By 10 am we were at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona. … Continue reading
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Aix-en-Provence, France
Our final shore excursion of the cruise took us from the dock in Marseilles into Provence. Our first stop was in the Luberon region, at the Val Joanis winery. We toured their award winning gardens and the cellar (a 200,000 … Continue reading
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Monte Carlo, Monaco
I'm never sure whether to call this place the city of Monte Carlo or the country of Monaco, because they're almost the same thing. The city nearly completely fills the valley that is this country. In fact, from our cabin … Continue reading
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Livorno, Italy
Two quiet days recuperating on the ship, with not too much to look at, since Livorno was heavily damaged during WWII and hasn't been rebuilt with anything but functionality in mind. The first day was raining all day, so our … Continue reading
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Civitavecchia, Italy
Well, Rome's port isn't the most attractive place in the world. It's also not particularly close to Rome, almost 2 hours away in traffic. As it turned out, it didn't matter, because I got sick and had to get some … Continue reading
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Amalfi, Italy
Today we arrived in Amalfi, a picturesque city on the Italian coast that shares its name. Contrary to reports, the shops were almost all open, even though it was Sunday, a last chance for the shopkeepers before the season ends. … Continue reading
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Taormina, Sicily
We spent a pleasant couple of hours in Taormina, a medieval city converted to a pedestrian tourist shopping street, on top of a hill in Sicily. The weather has warmed up to 71, and we had an alfresco lunch at … Continue reading
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Santorini, Greece
Today we visited one of the most scenic places I've ever encountered, the Greek Island of Santorini. We arose at sunrise to discover the ship sailing into the caldera of a giant volcano. We were tendered to a remote spot … Continue reading
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Patmos, Greece
Patmos is a small Greek island in the Southeastern Aegean. It wasn't on our itinerary, but because of a strike in Rhodes to protest the Greek financial situation, that port was inaccessible, and Patmos was substituted. I don't know what … Continue reading
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Kusadasi and Ephesus, Turkey
The port in Kusadasi was certainly busier than the last time we were here, when we were the only ship. Either things are quieter in the Middle East or people have just gotten used to it. No circling gunboats this … Continue reading
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Filippi and Kavala, Greece
The ship was rockin' and rollin' last night, I guess still feeling the effects of a cyclone over the Black Sea. It was still raining when we docked a bit late in Kavala, a hillside community in Macedonia (Northern Greece). … Continue reading
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This is our first time on Oceania, although they are owned by Regent, a high end line Dani and I once took for an enjoyable Mediterranean cruise. The Insignia is a beautiful ship, with by far the nicest finish work … Continue reading
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New York to Istanbul
With a lull in Linda's projects for Disney, she was able to get away, so for her birthday we booked a cruise in the Mediterranean. When Delta changed their flight schedule, our connection through JFK became dangerously short, so we … Continue reading
Qaqortoq, Greenland
Greenland is a land of small towns, and this one's population is about the same as the cruise ship's. It was pretty funny watching 3000 passengers try to fit into the town's only gift shop.
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Polar Ice Cap
That dirty snow you see in the gap is the beginning of the polar ice cap. Check it out before it melts.
Posted in Greenland Comments Off on Polar Ice Cap


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Scrambled Eggs With Bison Sausage, Potatoes, Yams & Apples
A perfect dish for a brunch or light lunch. The yams and potatoes add a great contrast in color, taste, and texture. The apples and hickory-smoked sausages compliment each other deliciously.
- Prep Time:
- 20 Minutes
- Cook Time:
- 55 Minutes
- Serving:
- 4
- 2 baking potatoes, sliced ¼ inch
- 1 large yam or sweet potato, sliced ¼ inch
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 crisp apples, Fuji or McIntosh, or your favorite eating apple
- 4 hickory smoked bison sausages, sliced
- 8 eggs
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Toss potatoes and yam with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet pan, and roast for 40 minutes.
- Dice apples, leaving the skin on for color and fiber, then add to the top of the roasted potatoes evenly, and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Remove and keep warm.
- Sauté sausage slices in a skillet over medium high heat until lightly browned, about 5-8 minutes. Do not add any additional fat as the sausages will brown nicely on their own.
- Add the eggs, which have been whisked together, and scramble until done to your likeness.
- To Serve: Using a spatula, scoop the yam, potato, and apples mixture onto a serve plate. Top with scrambled eggs and bison hickory smoked sausages, and enjoy!

subset: commoncrawl


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VIDEO: Engine Change Timelapse
Sabre Motorsport perform an Engine change on Cameron Dance's #17 Formula First at the third round of the 2015 Manfeild Winter Series.
Sabre Motorsport perform an Engine change on Cameron Dance's #17 Formula First at the third round of the 2015 Manfeild Winter Series.
Sabre Driver Callum Crawley holds a 23 point lead in the 2016 Manfeild Winter Series with one round to go. Callum took two second place finishes in a hard fought round. The Team had no mechanical issues during the weekend and had a useful days testing in
Just when the Sabre Team thought they had one hand on the Winter Series Trophy, the mechanical gremlins stepped in forcing a quick engine change between races one and two. But it was not enough we lost the momentum and had to settle for P2,P3, and P4 in t
Sabre Motorsport have two seats available for the NZ Formula First National Championship Series. This eight round series is the most competitive Series in NZ Motorsport. Calendar; 22/23rd October 2016 Manfeild 19/20 November 2016 Taupo 28/29th January 201
The Team had three cars to run at the First round of the Summer Series. Friday testing was an open test day but we still managed 5 Sessions and by the end of the day the times across the field were very close, so there would be no room for errors in Quali
The second round of the HI-Q NZ Formula First Summer Series was held at the Taupo IRC Meeting over the November 19/20th 2016 weekend. The Sabre Team had put in a lot of very productive work following round one. All engines returned to the dyno to be maxim
The Team were running four cars this round, with the new addition of Billy Frazer, Billy joined the Team following a successful Test at Manfeild Pre Xmas. The Sabre Driving Squad were underdone when it came to Mileage and experience on the Hampton Downs T
The forth round of the HI Q Components Formula First National Championship Series took place at Taupo's TRS round. The Team were running four cars this round, we had a couple of problems over the weekend with a rod end failure, and believe it or not
Round 5 was at Manfeilds IRC Meeting Feb 18/19th 2017. Testing Friday was wet all day so we managed to get the cars set up for wet conditions, the humidity however was giving us grief when it came to fuel tune and I left the track Friday night not confi
Round six of the HI Q Components NZ Formula First National Series took place at Hampton Downs Speedworks event last weekend. This was an unusual meeting with perhaps a twilight feel about it. The Team were not allowed access to the venue until 7.00am Frid


text: I did a search for a feedback thread on Brazilian here, but I couldn't find one. So I thought I would start one myself. I just recently sold Brazilian a TF from my sale thread and no problems whatsoever. I've also made numerous transactions with him and I have NEVER had a problem with him whatsoever, both buying from and selling to. I give my highest recommendation to him


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Kindness to a father will not be forgotten (Sirach).
Dear MetLife,
My son, Ben, is a resident freshman at Notre Dame this year, and he's not making use of any of our vehicles while living on campus. Consequently, he's not driving at all, and I called you recently to inquire about taking him off our auto insurance policy to save some dough.
Your agent (let's call him "Eric") was very kind – although I thought it was a little strange that he neglected to comment on my son's good fortune at becoming a domer. Regardless, Eric informed me that Ben could not be removed from our policy until he obtains a policy of his own first – a MetLife rule.
You'll forgive me for grumbling a bit – finances are tight these days, both for my son and for us. Still, I guess your rule makes sense, what with your risk/benefit analyses, amortization tables, and the liabilities involved. Anyway, Eric was savvy enough to offer me a conciliatory gesture: A discounted rate for full-time college students who only drive occasionally, mainly while home during breaks. The gesture worked – I was consoled – and I asked Eric to see if our family qualified for the special rate.
When he came back on the line, Eric indicated that he was all set to enroll Ben in the discounted program. "Just a couple questions," he noted. "First, is your son attending a college 100 miles away from home or more?"
Now there's an interesting question.
Technically, Ben is a mere 5 miles away from home – within walking distance really. Unlike most parents dropping their firstborn off at college, I didn't have to take time off from work last fall to make a road trip with a van full of boxes and suitcases. Instead, it was a short ride up Miami Street and then over to Eddy and Notre Dame Boulevard – we were there in 15 minutes. I dropped Ben off, drove home, changed from jeans into Dockers, and headed to the office.
So, no, Met Life, he's not 100 miles or more away from home. Not even close – at least in terms of geography. In fact, when Ben asked me to meet him at Notre Dame's bookstore for coffee last week, it required only a minor detour off my daily commute, and I gladly obliged.
"You buying?" I asked cautiously, after placing my order for a bagel and a schmear. Ben grunted, and the lady behind the counter laughed. I laughed, too, but I still let him pick up the tab.
As we ate our bagels and sipped our coffees, we talked. I shared a bit of what was going on at home, but I mainly listened, relishing the exorbitant luxury of a tête-à-tête with my collegiate son. Physics, chemistry, calculus. (Are you kidding me? Way over my head…but do continue.) A seminar on classic literature, plus his work-study jobs and life in the dorm. "And did you see that game last night?" he asked – the big one against Duke. "Here, check out these three-pointers" (photos on his phone) – "unbelievable!"
Then it was time for me to get on to work, and Ben to class. "See you later, dad." No big deal, right? Almost like he never left home.
Why then, I ask you, the tears as I drove away – where did those come from? Just a few miles from home and work, and close enough to drop by for a chat, but the reality of the true distance between us hit me like a sledge that day. Can you see it, too?
I mean, here we are, MetLife: I'm in South Bend, and my son, grown to manhood, is a student at Notre Dame – just across town, sure, but embracing a life hundreds of miles away from my own. He's learning new things, making new connections, and exploring new ideas well beyond me.
In short, Ben's moving on, declaring his own direction, sifting through the influences from his youth and retaining only those that meld with his fresh start. How much further away could he be from my day-to-day existence? It could be 1,000 miles – a million even – and it would still be the same.
At least it would feel the same – I don't suppose you offer an auto insurance discount for that, do you?
On the other hand….
All this is precisely what we signed up for as parents. We love our children, devote ourselves to their formation and upbringing, and then we work ourselves out of a job if everything goes right. "What father is not pleased with the first tottering attempt of his little one to walk?" asked George MacDonald, and then he linked that question with its corollary: "What father would be satisfied with anything but the manly step of the full-grown son!" Agreed.
Besides, in my case? I'm blessed with a full-grown son who sought out his dad for a meal and conversation, and so I've nothing to be whiny about – indeed, I've got every cause to rejoice! That pause last week over coffee and bagels wasn't just a privileged luxury; it was an incalculable gift of grace and a profound sign of filial love. There might be a yawning gap between our daily lives these days, but it's a gap that my son chose to bridge of his own volition.
So, never mind, MetLife. Leave our policy the way it is. It's a bargain reminder that he's not so far from me after all.


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Brokerage Firm Nomura upgraded BJ's Restaurants Inc. (NASDAQ:BJRI) shares from Neutral to Outperform rating while increasing their price target from $37 to $44.
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. owns and operates casual dining restaurants.
Investment Analysts at Nomura upgraded ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE:SERV) shares from Reduce to Buy rating with a price target of $69.
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. engages in the provision of residential and commercial services.
United Fire Group Inc. (NASDAQ:UFCS) shares were upgraded by analysts at Sidoti from Neutral to Buy rating with a price target of $54.
United Fire Group, Inc. operates as a holding company, which is engaged in the business of writing property, casualty insurance, life insurance and selling annuities through a network of independent agencies.
Disclaimer: The disclaimer is to be read and fully understood before using our site, or joining our email list. CRWE.Info is not a registered investment adviser. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. Investors should always conduct their own due diligence with any potential investment, with independent research and other professional advice. Read full disclaimer at http://www.crwe.info/disclaimer/


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LUCKNOW, India - Dust storms and heavy rains lashed huge swaths of northern India, killing at least 22 overnight, an official said Tuesday.
An additional 89 people died in unseasonal rain and dust storms in Uttar Pradesh state last week, police spokesman Surendra Srivastava told The Associated Press in the state capital Lucknow.
Srivastava said bad weather caused "havoc" on Monday as strong winds of more than 70 miles per hour (113 kph) and heavy rains swept through the state, uprooting trees and electricity poles and destroying mud-brick houses.Story Continues


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Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve Its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere
Share your pictures, videos, and stories from your visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on our social media. We might even feature you in one of our promotions!
Let function and fashion collide with spirit with this NFL Team Nike Lockdown half-zip jacket!


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Mill Valley Office
1040 Redwood Highway Frontage Road
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415.412.7471 Lotte
415.464.7484 Sarah
415.412.7471 Lotte | 415.464.7484 Sarah
Team Lotte and Sarah
Sarah and Lotte are a super dynamic team of world-class realtors with a deep knowledge of the unique, high-stakes luxury market in Marin County. Both Sarah and Lotte are longtime San Francisco-Marin residents who have raised children in both public and private schools, and are fantastic resources on Marin County and San Francisco. With extensive backgrounds in business before beginning respective careers in real estate and an international perspective (Lotte is a native of Denmark), they pride themselves on working tirelessly for their clients, with a unique blend of light-hearted humor and fierce negotiating strategy. Together, Lotte and Sarah support numerous local charities, including the Community Land Trust of West Marin (CLAM), and on their time off like nothing better than exploring local roads and trails, either running or biking.


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First cast image and airtimes revealed for Radio 4's Neverwhere adaptation!
The first episode of Six will air Saturday March 16th on Radio 4, and is an hour long. The following 5 episodes, with a run time of 30 minutes each, will then hop over onto Radio 4 extra from Monday March 18th.


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The Challenge
The North West had the highest number of children known to have been placed in care in 2013, at 18% (Office for National Statistics). Recent research by the Department for Education shows that 21% of children subject to a child protection plan and 28.5% of children in need during 2015 – 16 were based in the North West.
There is much work to be done with children and families in the region. This provides social workers with plenty of opportunity to actively influence the trajectory of a child's life and contribute to the overall wellbeing of the community, granting them a high level of job satisfaction. Given the diversity in the region, social workers have found that working here provides an exciting challenge and a chance to work with myriad families of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, providing them with a well-rounded experience and education.
Key statistics
- With 40% of children living in poverty, Manchester has the second highest levels of any local authority in the UK (End Child Poverty 2016).
- In the North West, 220 looked after children were convicted of a crime before their 18th birthday (UK GOV 2016).
- Only 14% of children in need in the North West achieve 5 A*- C grades at GCSE including English and Maths (UK GOV 2016).
- In the North West, 30% of children in need are persistently absent from school (UK GOV 2016).
- There are over 112,000 children in need across the North West (UK GOV 2016).
Living here
The geographical location of the North West is one of its most attractive qualities. It combines the rugged landscapes of the Lake and Peak Districts with the seaside charm of Blackpool and the urban bustle of Liverpool and Manchester. There really is something for everyone here, but if you ever feel like exploring further abroad you will find we have great rail links to the rest of the country and two international airports.
Rent varies across the region depending on location, but generally ranges from £300 to £800 per month.
Key benefits of living in the region
- Affordable rent.
- Manchester, the UK's third largest city, has a thriving music scene and nightlife as well as excellent shopping facilities.
- Manchester has a diverse arts and cultural scene, and is home to the Manchester Art Gallery, Museum of Science and Industry and the Whitworth Art Gallery.
- Manchester was voted the best UK city to live in according to the Global Liveability Survey which scores 140 cities worldwide in the areas of health care, education, stability, culture and environment and infrastructure.
Participants in the region
We will be placing around 52 participants from the 2018 Cohort in local authorities across the region.


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Feb 21, 2018
Evan Weber, Founder of Experience Advertising, joined me to chat on my podcast, This is Affiliate Marketing with Shawn Collins.
Episode 73
I wanted to learn more about the real Evan, so I asked him a variety of questions I figured he had not been asked in previous interviews.
We discussed...
Links from this episode
Thank you for listening
Please leave a comment or feel free to contact me. And if you enjoyed this episode of This is Affiliate Marketing with Shawn Collins, please share it.


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Wirefly helps you save on cell phones and plans by offering innovative comparison tools so consumers can make educated choices. Start saving today with Wirefly!
Wirefly helps you save on Internet service by offering innovative comparison tools to compare Internet providers in your area.
Test your current internet connection with our speed test and see what services your provider can handle. Find out your download speed, upload speed, latency, and more.
Test Your Internet SpeedInternet Speed Test
Health insurance is a type of insurance that helps cover costs of expensive health, surgical, and medical costs. Among the many different types of payment medical providers support, your health care insurance can help reimburse what you paid or directly pay the provider itself. One of the easiest ways to help compare health plans in Mashantucket, CT is to receive your own free online quote via Wirefly. This is an easy to use and helpful service that can make finding and signing up for health insurance simple.
You can easily identify which health care plans are available to you through either your private insurance or your job's employers. If you're a senior citizen you can view your plans through Medicare and if you are part of a low income family you can view your plans through Medicare or Medicaid. However, another thing to keep in mind is what level of health care coverage you require. If you need to cover more serious injuries or preexisting conditions you will need higher-costing plans versus those who only need anticipate fewer health care needs.
It is so hard for a person to predict what he might need in the form of health care services. People can evaluate what has occurred in recent years to anticipate what might happen in the years to come. If an individual is health and does not go to the doctor very often a low-cost plan will probably be adequate. However, if a person suffers from numerous health problems and are forced to go to the doctor regularly, they will need insurance that provides excellent coverage.
Catastrophic only insurance is the cheapest type of insurance offered in Mashantucket, CT. Individuals who are healthy and do not need regular visits to the doctor might want this type of insurance coverage. If a person has an emergency, this insurance will pay some of the bill. However, people who regularly participate in high-risk activities or who might have a dangerous profession, will want insurance coverage who will pay for trips to the emergency room or visits to the doctor.
If a person wants a low deductible, he will pay higher premiums for coverage. If an individual wants full coverage health insurance, he will pay a higher price each month. However, the insurance will pay most of the bill when medical issues arise. With full coverage, the insured should be able to see a doctor for whatever is needed, or he will be able to visit the emergency room for drastic situations. Therefore, when considering an insurance plan in Mashantucket, CT, people need to look at their way of life and past health problems to determine what they need to pay for health insurance. It is important for people to have basic coverage, and then they can decide what they can afford to add.
Those searching for health insurance plans in Mashantucket, CT have many different types available. Some will have similar levels of coverage, but ease of use could vary significantly from plan to plan. It can be tricky to understand how types of plans work, considering choices include HMO, PPO, POS, HSA, HRA, FSA and MSA plans. The key is knowing the basic differences between all these plans.
With a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan, the policyholder selects one primary care physician to handle all his healthcare needs. The first step in getting any type of healthcare is going to this primary care physician, who evaluates the policy holder's situation and then refers him to a specialist when necessary. One benefit of HMO plans is that they tend to cost less in terms of monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. There also aren't any deductibles. However, networks are also smaller and not all doctors will accept HMO plans.
A preferred provider organization (PPO) plan allows the policyholder to select any primary care physician in his network, and networks usually have a large number of healthcare providers available. The policy holder doesn't need to get a referral to see a specialist and can instead make an appointment with a specialist in the network at any time. This flexibility comes at a cost, as PPO plans also include deductibles and copayments. There is an annual limit on how much coverage the policyholder can get per year. While PPO plans provide some financial assistance on health care costs if the policyholder sees an out-of-network doctor, it's better to stay in network for more financial coverage.
A point of service (POS) plan serves as a balanced mix between an HMO and a PPO plan. The policyholder chooses a primary care physician from a network of a decent size, and there are no deductibles for in-network coverage. Copayments for in-network coverage are low. Out-of-network healthcare will result in much higher deductibles and copayments, though.
While the three plans mentioned above are the most common types, non-traditional health insurance plans in Mashantucket, CT are also available. These include health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement account (HRA), health flexible spending arrangement (FSA) and medical savings account (MSA) plans, all of which work similarly. The policyholder or his employer put money into a tax-exempt savings account, and he can then use that money to pay medical costs. These plans are very flexible. Some even roll over unused funds from one year to the next.
A premium is the monthly payment you need to make to be covered by health insurance in Mashantucket, CT. Your insurance carrier does not refund your premiums irrespective of whether you are using the insurance or not.
Deductibles are the additional payments you are supposed to make to a primary care physician before your insurance provider begins paying for your medical expenses. A deductible is an annual financial obligation you have to commit to prior to receiving medical benefits from your insurance carrier. Out-of-pocket expenses refer to the amount of money you are required to spend before your insurance provider pays your whole bill.
Deductibles and your out-of-pocket expenses start a fresh at the beginning of the year. For example, if you have a $5,000 deductible, and your out-of-pocket expenses amount to $2,500, and you have the same insurance coverage at the beginning of a new year, your deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses will start at $0. However, there are some packages in Mashantucket, CT, that enable you to roll over any paid deductibles to the next year.
Copayments, also known as coinsurance, are the payments you make for medical visits. For example, if your coinsurance when visiting a doctor is $30, each time you visit your primary care doctor, you will be expected to pay $30. The insurance will cater for the balance if any services rendered are featured on your plan. Copayments are usually not subject to a deductible.
Insurance carriers also have maximum lifetime benefits in their plans. This means that there is a maximum total cost that an insurance provider will pay for a person's health care. When this maximum limit has been reached, the insurance no longer pays for your medical claims.
Your work status affects the type of health care cover you can access. If you are employed in a large organization, you will probably be included in their group health care plan. While there is no law requiring employees to join a group health plan, they are cheaper than private insurance.
If you are unemployed or self-employed, you can purchase a private or individual health coverage. For seniors who are out of work, you can receive financial aid through government sponsored Medicare. Individuals with low income can also get financial aid through Medicaid.
When choosing a health insurance plan, you should check with your doctor to determine what plans they accept in Mashantucket, CT. You should also inform your doctors when you change your insurance coverage, and also check with your provider if you have any questions on the services covered in your plan.
One of the smartest decisions you can make for your well-being and the safety of your family is ensuring that you have health insurance. Numerous factors affect your health insurance coverage and rates, but using Wirefly simplifies the process of obtaining a quote for health insurance in Mashantucket, CT. All you need to do is enter your ZIP code.
While it is possible to cut the cost of health insurance coverage in several ways, it is crucial to avoid cutting out essential parts of coverage. For instance, if you are hoping to start a family in the future, you should make sure to select a plan that includes maternity coverage so you do not run into trouble trying to obtain it later. It is also important to ensure that you are not skimping on necessary coverage in order to save money. In the end, insurance premiums can be costly, but nowhere near as expensive as out-of-pocket medical expenses. Wirefly helps you in finding the insurance plan in Mashantucket, CT that is best suited to your needs.
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We had friendsgiving last weekend. It was awesome, albeit small. But the people who did come were awesome and the food was great. Really what more can you ask for?
Tag Archives: Cherries
Cherry Leather
Pitting cherries is messy work. And everyone loved it! I went home to my parent's house last week and we made tropical ice pops and delicious cherry leather while I was there.


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Home > News & Events > Inactive Financial Institution Letters
Inactive Financial Institution Letters
[Federal Register: August 21, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 162)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 50881-50902] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21au00-37] [[Page 50881]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part VII Department of the Treasury ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Office of Thrift Supervision ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Federal Reserve System Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CFR Part 14, et al. Consumer Protections for Depository Institution Sales of Insurance; Proposed Rule [[Page 50882]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 12 CFR Part 14 [Docket No. 00-16] RIN 1557-AB81 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 12 CFR Part 208 [Docket No. R-1079] FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 12 CFR Part 343 RIN 3064-AC37 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Thrift Supervision 12 CFR Part 536 [Docket No. 2000-68] RIN 1550-AB34 Consumer Protections for Depository Institution Sales of Insurance AGENCIES: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and Office of Thrift Supervision, Treasury. ACTION: Joint notice of proposed rulemaking. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of Thrift Supervision, (collectively, the Agencies) are requesting comment on proposed insurance consumer protection rules. These rules are published pursuant to section 47 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA), which was added by section 305 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the G-L-B Act or Act). Section 47 directs the Agencies jointly to prescribe and publish consumer protection regulations that apply to retail sales practices, solicitations, advertising, or offers of any insurance product by a depository institution \1\ or any person that is engaged in such activities at an office of the institution or on behalf of the institution. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ ``Depository institution'' means national banks in the case of institutions supervised by the OCC, state member banks in the case of the Board, state nonmember banks in the case of the FDIC, and savings associations in the case of the OTS. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DATES: Comments must be received by October 5, 2000. ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC): Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., Third Floor, Washington, DC 20219, Attention: Docket No. 00-16; FAX number (202) 874-5274 or Internet address: firstname.lastname@example.com. Comments may be inspected and photocopied at the OCC's Public Reference Room, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on business days. You can make an appointment to inspect the comments by calling (202) 874-5043. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board): Comments, which should refer to Docket No. R-1079, may be mailed to Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20551 or mailed electronically to email@example.com. Comments addressed to Ms. Johnson also may be delivered to the Board's mail room between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. and to the security control room outside of those hours. Both the mail room and the security control room are accessible from the courtyard entrance on 20th Street between Constitution Avenue and C Street, NW. Comments may be inspected in Room MP-500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., pursuant to Sec. 261.12, except as provided in Sec. 261.14, of the Board's Rules Regarding the Availability of Information, 12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): Send written comments to Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary, Attention: Comments/OES, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20429. Comments may be hand delivered to the guard station at the rear of the 17th Street building (located on F Street) on business days between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Fax number (202) 898-3838). Comments may be inspected and photocopied in the FDIC Public Information Center, Room 100, 801 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20429, between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on business days. Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS): Send comments to Manager, Dissemination Branch, Information Management & Services Division, Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552, Attention Docket No. 2000-68. Hand deliver comments to the Guard's Desk, East Lobby Entrance, 1700 G Street, NW., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on business days. Send facsimile transmissions to FAX Number (202) 906- 7755 or (202) 906-6956 (if the comment is over 25 pages). Send e-mails to firstname.lastname@example.com and include your name and telephone number. Interested persons may inspect comments at the Public Reference Room, 1700 G Street, NW., from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Comments will also be posted on the OTS Internet Site at ots.treas.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OCC: Stuart Feldstein, Assistant Director, or Michele Meyer, Senior Attorney, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, (202) 874-5090; Asa Chamberlayne, Senior Attorney, Securities and Corporate Practices Division, (202) 874-5210; Stephanie Boccio, Asset Management, (202) 874-4447; Barbara Washington, Core Policy Development (202) 874-6037, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. Board: Richard M. Ashton, Associate General Counsel, Legal Division, (202) 452-3750; Angela Desmond, Special Counsel, Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation, (202) 452-3497; David A. Stein, Attorney, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, (202) 452-3667, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20551. For the hearing impaired only, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), contact Janice Simms, (202) 872-4984. FDIC: Keith A. Ligon, Chief, Policy Unit, Division of Supervision, (202) 898-3618; Michael B. Phillips, Counsel, Supervision and Legislation Branch, Legal Division, (202) 898-3581; Jason C. Cave, Senior Capital Markets Specialist, (202) 898-3548, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20429. OTS: Robyn Dennis, Manager, Supervision Policy, (202) 906-5751; Richard Bennett, Counsel (Banking and Finance), (202) 906-7409; Mary Jane Cleary, Insurance Risk Management Specialist, (202) 906-7048, Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington DC 20552. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On November 12, 1999, President Clinton signed the G-L-B Act into law. [[Page 50883]] Section 305 of the Act \2\ added new section 47 to the FDIA, captioned ``Insurance Customer Protections.'' This section requires the Agencies jointly to prescribe and publish in final form, by November 12, 2000, consumer protection regulations that apply to retail sales practices, solicitations, advertising, or offers of insurance products by depository institutions or persons engaged in these activities at an office of the institution or on behalf of the institution. Section 47 directs the Agencies to include specific provisions relating to sales practices, disclosures and advertising, the physical separation of banking and nonbanking activities, and domestic violence discrimination. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ Pub. L. 106-102, sec. 305, 113 Stat. 1338, 1410-15 (to be codified at 12 U.S.C. 1831x). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 47 also requires the Agencies to consult with the State insurance regulators, as appropriate. The Agencies circulated a working draft of this proposal to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and, on June 29, 2000, met with NAIC representatives to discuss the proposal. These proposed rules reflect certain comments received from the NAIC in that meeting. The texts of the Agencies' proposed rules are substantially identical. Any differences in style or terms are not intended to create substantive differences in the requirements imposed by the regulations. The Agencies request comment on all aspects of the proposed rules and on the specific provisions and issues highlighted in the section-by- section analysis. Section-by-Section Analysis The discussion that follows applies to each of the Agencies' proposed rules. Given that each agency will assign a different part to its insurance consumer protection rule, the citations are to sections only, leaving citations to part numbers blank.\3\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The Board's proposed rule would be a new subpart of the Board's existing Regulation H, and not a separate regulation. Accordingly, the sections of the Board's proposed rule are numbered consecutively. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section ____.10 Purpose and Scope These proposed rules establish consumer protections in connection with retail sales of insurance products and annuities \4\ to consumers by any depository institution or by any person that is engaged in such activities at an office of the institution or on behalf of the institution.\5\ A number of issues that clarify the scope of the rule are addressed through specific definitions discussed below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ These proposed rules are not intended to have any effect on whether annuities are considered to be insurance products for purposes of any other section of the G-L-B Act or other laws. That question depends on the terms and purposes of those laws, as interpreted by the courts and the appropriate agency. \5\ The Agencies note that other State consumer protection rules also may apply to bank and thrift insurance sales. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For example, section 47 gives the Agencies discretion to determine whether the Act's consumer protections should extend to a depository institution's subsidiary in other circumstances. The Agencies have determined to apply the proposed rules to subsidiaries only if they are selling insurance products or annuities at an office of the institution or acting ``on behalf of'' the depository institution as defined in the rules.\6\ A more complete discussion of when a person is engaged in insurance activities ``on behalf'' of the depository institution is set forth below in the definition of ``covered person.'' In addition, the Agencies intend to cover insurance and annuities sales activities on the institution's Internet web site and other forms of electronic media. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ OTS does not intend the requirements of this part to apply to other savings association operating subsidiaries or service corporations by effect of 12 CFR 559.3(h). OCC does not intend the requirements of this part to apply to other national bank operating subsidiaries by effect of 12 CFR 5.34(e)(3). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section ____.20 Definitions a. Affiliate. The proposed rules use the definition of ``affiliate'' that is used in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA),\7\ which, in turn, refers to section 2(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (BHCA).\8\ Companies are affiliates if one company controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another company. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ 12 U.S.C. 1813(w)(6). \8\ 12 U.S.C. 1841(k). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- b. Company. The proposed rules use the definition of ``company'' that is used in section 3 of the FDIA,\9\ which, in turn, refers to section 2(b) of the BHCA.\10\ A ``company'' includes corporations, partnerships, business trusts, associations and similar organizations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ 12 U.S.C. 1813(w)(7). \10\ 12 U.S.C. 1841(b). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- c. Consumer. The proposed rules define ``consumer'' as an individual who obtains, applies for, or is solicited to obtain insurance products or annuities from a covered person. Section 47 uses the terms ``consumer'' and ``customer'' interchangeably and without appearing to draw distinction between the two terms. These proposed rules use the term ``consumer.'' The Agencies request comment on whether the definition of ``consumer'' should be expanded to encompass all retail customers, including small businesses. The Agencies also seek comment on whether to limit the definition of consumer to individuals who obtain or apply for insurance products or annuities primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. d. Control. The proposed rules use the definition of ``control'' used in section 3(w)(5) of the FDIA,\11\ which, in turn, refers to section 2 of the BHCA.\12\ Under this definition, which is used to determine when companies are affiliates, a company has control over another company if: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ 12 U.S.C. 1813(w)(5). \12\ 12 U.S.C. 1841. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The company directly or indirectly controls 25 percent or more of any class of the company's voting securities; (2) The company controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors or trustees of the company; or (3) The Board determines that the company exercises, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of the company.\13\ For purposes of the definition of ``control'' in these rules, the reference in section 2 of the BHCA to the ``Board'' means the ``appropriate Federal banking agency,'' as defined in section 3(q) of the FDIA.\14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ 12 U.S.C. 1841(a)(2). \14\ 12 U.S.C. 1813(q). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- e. Covered person or you. The term ``covered person,'' or ``you,'' is critical in determining to whom the requirements in these proposed rules will apply. As defined in the proposed rules, a covered person means any depository institution or any other person selling, soliciting, advertising, or offering insurance products or annuities to a consumer at an office of the institution or on behalf of the institution. A ``covered person'' may include any person, including an affiliate, if the person or one of its employees engages in such activities at an office of an institution or on behalf of an institution. For purposes of this definition, a person's activities are ``on behalf of'' a depository institution if: (1) The person represents to a consumer that the sale, solicitation, advertisement, or offer of any insurance product or annuity is by or on behalf of the institution; (2) The depository institution receives commissions or fees, in whole or in part, derived from the sale of an insurance product or annuity as a result of cross-marketing or referrals by the institution or an affiliate; [[Page 50884]] (3) Documents evidencing the sale, solicitation, advertising, or offer of an insurance product or annuity identify or refer to the institution or use its corporate logo or corporate name; or (4) The sale, solicitation, advertising, or offer of an insurance product or annuity takes place at an off-premises site, such as a kiosk, that identifies or refers to the institution or uses its corporate logo or corporate name. The Agencies note that the second prong of the ``on behalf of'' test--the receipt of commissions or fees--does not include situations in which the institution receives a fee solely for performing a separate service or function that may relate to an insurance sale (such as processing a credit card charge for the insurance premium, or performing recordkeeping or payment functions on behalf of the affiliate) where the fee is based on that service or function and is not a share of the commissions or fees derived from the insurance product or annuity sale. The Agencies seek comment on the proposed definition of covered person and specifically on those activities that would cause a person to be considered to be acting ``on behalf of'' an institution. The Agencies also invite comment on whether the following should be considered an activity on behalf of the institution:
|Last Updated 08/29/2000


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SME Safety Solutions are a Health and Safety consultancy service offering practical, cost effective solutions to businesses across the North West. SME Safety Solutions are a Health & Safetyconsultancy service offering practical, cost effective solutions to businesses across the North West. Commited to meeting the needs of clients through the provision of quality professional health and safety advice; SME Safety Solutions will deliver services tailored to meet your specific business needs.
We are an experienced change management consultancy giving tailored support and assistance to a wide range of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors that are facing an everincreasing number of modernisation challenges. We deliver capacity and team building support including interim management and can provide in-house training, mentoring and coaching support. The Consultancy is committed to promoting good practice and social policy that tackles exclusion and allows opportunity.
Show businesses near Darwen


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TTE already tested this turbo upgrade on the Urus last year. Consider that a year of durability testing and now they are moving to apply the turbo upgrade to the entire EA825 V8 platform.
In theory, that means the C8 Audi RS6/RS7, 971 Porsche Panamera GTS/Turbo/E-Hybrid, Lamborghini Urus, D5 Audi A8 60, D5 Audi S8, and Bentley Continental GT V8.
Product Highlights:
- Original Genuine BorgWarner turbochargers as the base part
- Original Genuine actuator
- Original Genuine Diverter
- Upgrade BorgWarner Billet Milled compressor 6+6 Blade
- BorgWarner Turbines clipped
- Plug and Play installation as IS38 turbocharger
- Very Early Response & Spool
- 800 PS+ Capable
- Proven TheTurboEngineers quality
- Single parts finely balanced then components assembled and core high-speed VSR balanced
- Supplied with a balance test result document
- Made in Germany


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5622 W Main St.
Directions Kalamazoo, MI 49009
If you're looking for a new compact car that is affordable, efficient and packed with great features, then be sure to take a look at the Subaru Impreza. This vehicle offers an agile ride and a number of features that add comfort and convenience. It also offers great performance that you might not expect from a compact car, making the Impreza and excellent choice.
Some other compact cars like the Honda Civic also
offer affordable prices and exciting features. So what makes the Impreza stand
out from the crowd?
The Impreza has a lot to offer that makes it stand out. Our favorite thing about it is the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System, which monitors road conditions and distributes power to the wheels as needed to maintain traction and help you enjoy great performance in a variety of conditions. This feature is not available on many other compact cars, giving the Impreza a leg up on the competition.
To find out more about what the Subaru
Impreza has to offer, be sure to visit our Kalamazoo, MI
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>>>> Browse Subaru Impreza Inventory


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Blueberry bushes (Vaccinium spp.) are wonderful to have in the backyard for a handy, healthy snack for the kids or for cooking tasty blueberry muffins and pancakes. The berries can also be frozen to enjoy in the off season. They are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 9, depending on the variety. Good fertilizer is necessary for healthy, productive blueberry bushes. You will need fertilizer that contains the most important nutrients and soil conditions that will allow the blueberry bushes to absorb these nutrients.
Keep it Green
Nitrogen and potassium or potash, listed on fertilizer bags as the first and third numbers, are the most important nutrients for basic shrub growth. They are macronutrients. Nitrogen is required for the shrub to grow tall with lush, green leaves. Potassium is important for the general health of the shrub. It improves the shrub's resistance to diseases and insect attacks as well as drought conditions and cold winter temperatures. Magnesium and calcium are macronutrients that are also important for healthy shrub stem and leaf growth. Iron, manganese and zinc are micronutrients that are important for good chlorophyll production, which makes the leaves a nice, healthy green and better able to conduct photosynthesis. They are required for vigorous shrub growth.
No Mushy Blueberries
Phosphorous is the most important macronutrient for healthy flowering and fruit production. It is the second number listed on fertilizer bags. Phosphorous is also necessary for strong, healthy root growth. Calcium is another macronutrient that is important for healthy stem and leaf growth as well as good, firm blueberry production. Boron is a micronutrient that is important for healthy bud break and blueberry size.
All Fertilizers are Not the Same
The type of nitrogen in a fertilizer is very important for blueberries, notes the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Use fertilizer with nitrogen in ammonium form, which may be listed on the bag as NH4 +. A complete 7-7-7 or 10-10-10 fertilizer with ammonium sulfate or potassium sulfate should be all the blueberry bush needs to grow and produce berries. Apply the fertilizer in early spring and again in late spring for the first two years. Give each shrub 1/8 cup each time during the first year and 1/4 cup each time in the second year. From the third year on, give each shrub 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups of fertilizer, depending on how quickly they are growing. Ideally, the soil should be tested for nutrient levels before deciding on a fertilizer. Excesses in many nutrients can be very harmful and as Floridata states, blueberries are easily killed by too much fertilizer. Boron, for example, should not be applied without a soil test as excess levels are toxic to blueberries. It can burn leaf edges and young shoot tips, notes Oregon State University. Excessive nitrogen or the wrong type of nitrogen will burn the roots.
Don't Tease the Blueberries
Soil pH is as important to blueberries as nutrients. The soil pH must be between 4.5 and 5.4. If the pH is lower or higher, the blueberry bushes may not be able to absorb some nutrients like iron and zinc, even if they are present in the soil. This will cause the leaves to develop chlorosis and turn yellow. Test the soil pH six months to one year before planting the blueberry bushes. It can take that long to adjust the soil pH. Mix sulfur into the soil to lower the pH or lime to raise the pH. The amount required will depend on the soil type and how much the pH needs to be adjusted.


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April 03, 2020
Small-scale artisanal gold miners have a path out of poverty; and consumers win too.
Submitted by: Marc Choyt
Posted: Jun 25, 2014 – 09:00 AM EST
Tags: gold, mining, fair trade, tanzania, conflict minerals, jewelry, economic development, sustainability, poverty, community development
By Marc Choyt
In early May, I visited small-scale gold miners in Tanzania who are seeking fair trade certification.
On site, I met with colleagues in from England and Fair Trade Africa, who have been working hard over the past two years to build an understanding of fairtrade* standards and principals with the miners on site. The purpose of the visit was also to bring jewelers and miners together to discuss what was needed to bring fairtrade African gold to market.
I was invited to Africa as a commercial representative from North America because of my work as an activist jeweler. My wife, Helen Chantler, and I own Reflective Images, and we focus on fair trade jewelry.
We are painfully aware of how much of the sourcing of gold, silver and gems for jewelry has funded conflicts killing millions, destroyed indigenous communities and massively poisoned ecosystems. Even if you don't wear jewelry, it's likely a part of the gold in your smart phone or your computer has dirty gold or conflict gold from small-scale miners.
Earthworks' "No Dirty Gold" campaign showed us how to link the impact of mining to jewelry effectively. Jewelry is a repository of culture with tremendous emotional and spiritual value. Think about what a wedding ring means. Yet we have to offer consumers a positive option.
We can do this by supporting traceable and transparent fairtrade gold from small-scale artisanal miners.
There are about 25 million artisan, small-scale gold miners worldwide, a quarter of whom are children and women. They supply anywhere from 15 to 25 percent of the global gold supply, mainly through a black market. These figures are estimates because the miners almost always work illegally and without regulation within their countries.
For decades many have tried to devise a way to transform the small-scale mining activities into a sustainable economic development initiative. But the challenges have been daunting. Governments prefer dealing with large multinational mining companies, which can be monitored and taxed. Yet they export all but a minute value of the mineral out of the country and provide few jobs.
Fairtrade gold transforms small-scale gold mining from a resource curse to an economic development initiative. Fairtade gold from South America was introduced in 2011 and now Fair Trade International is expanding into Africa.
The fairtrade gold model works with poor, small-scale miners; an operation of 40 to 60 people might mine between three quarters of a kilo and a kilo of gold a month. The ore is then crushed into fine powder with machinery.
Then the gold needs to be concentrated in the crushings, which is done either by hand or through sluices in containment ponds. Mercury is then mixed with dirt, gold and water creating an amalgamate, a solid compound of mercury and gold, which could be between 70 percent and 90 percent pure gold.
Worldwide, small-scale gold mining uses 1,400 metric tons of mercury annually. I have spoken with environmental leaders in North America who have some objection to fairtrade gold because of its use of mercury.
Ultimately, fair trade's goal is to eliminate mercury use entirely. Operations that do not use mercury will even receive a significant premium for their "eco" gold. Yet we have to set obtainable goals that are realistic. The miners do not have the money to invest in new equipment that would eliminate mercury.
In the meantime, instead of using frying pans used to cook plantains to cook the mercury out of the gold, a retort is used to safely prevent the mercury from escaping into the environment. The mercury can then be reused.
These days, a kilo of gold might have a value of between $40,000 and $45,000. But the miners rely on middlemen who buy gold at up to 30 percent under its real value. Also, because refining methods are not efficient, miners leave another 25 percent of their gold in the rock tailings.
They make between $100 and $300 a month and often struggle to even feed their families. They are sitting on a gold mine, working incredibly hard and still stuck in a poverty cycle.
When fair trade gold standards are in place, gold is purchased initially at 95 percent and eventually at 98 percent of the international spot price. Additionally, a $2,000 per kilo premium is paid back to the community, which can be used as the miners choose. With the premium and additional revenue, better equipment can be purchased which can then lead to another 20 percent worth of gold from the ore.
With auditable fair trade principles and standards that support empowered producers and ethical international business people, small-scale gold mining can become an economic driver that alleviates poverty and preserves the environment. Money stays in their local economy. And, more radically, the miners have control of the full economic resources garnered from their own land.
The miners we met with were leaders, eager to share what they had learned with others. Slowly, over the next five to 10 years, with the support of the North American consumer market, I am certain we will see a profound and positive shift in the zones where these pilot projects are taking place.
But our trip was also about building greater community around common values of ecologically responsible mining as well as economic and social justice. To listen to the miner's stories of how they struggled and to see how much they had achieved was incredibly moving.
Fairtrade gold will be formally introduced in the North American market this Fall. When jewelers have it, they can point to the hole from which it was actually dug and say the wedding ring is profoundly helping artisanal miners live much happier, healthier lives.
As for the customer, what could be better than wearing a wedding ring, that in its very sourcing, represents a more beautiful world?
* Note re: the use of "fairtrade" vs. "fair trade": The word fairtrade is trademarked so it can be used referring to gold, like fairtrade gold. When talking generally about fair trade, then the two words are separate—such as, they are seeking fair trade certification.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by CSRwire contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of CSRwire.
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16 May From Growth Mindset to Ethics and Data Privacy Mindset
10 Jan CSE Forecasts Top 10 Sustainability Trends for 2018
20 Nov Holiday With Purpose: Working to End Gender-Based Violence in Fashion Supply Chains


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What is Motherspace?
Motherspace is a drop-in group that takes place on Mondays between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. The group is a place for women to come with their baby until he/she is crawling. Grandmothers and lesbian partners are also welcome to come along with the mum and new baby. The group is facilitated and mums are introduced to each other to help make friends. The relaxed, informal atmosphere helps mothers to feel comfortable – to share their highs and lows of parenting. We know that keeping to a time schedule with a baby can be tricky so mums are welcome anytime between 2.30-4.30pm.
Certain dates are earmarked for talks that centre around a specific topic of babycare and these dates will be posted on our general Facebook page as well as on our website. On these dates the format of Motherspace will differ from the sessions but you are still welcome to come along and enjoy refreshments and the space.
How will it benefit me?
The group gives mums an opportunity to meet with other women in those first few months after birth. Mums can share experiences and tips; ideas can be bounced off other mums. The group is an opportunity to receive information and support while making new friends. There is a Facebook group that is just for women who attend Motherspace. This enables mums to contact each other and meet up outwith the session if they wish to do so.
Will it benefit my baby?
Babies are social little people and it is never too soon to make friends. Friends made in the early days are friends to play with in the park in the future. Babies can be fascinated by other babies. Often they will look at each other, reach out and sometimes make sounds to get the attention of the other babies in the room.
Motherspace is facilitated by Liz who has over 10 years experience of working with groups. Women are introduced to each other and are offered a hot drink and biscuits. Although the group is unstructured, Liz finds out if there are any particular parenting issues that mums are facing and leads the discussion around these.
If women attending the group identify that they would like a more structured session from time to time eg a discussion around weaning, Liz identifies a date and this is made available to mums via the Facebook group and the PPC website.
More Information:
Motherspace is a free drop-in group but welcomes donations to cover refreshments and resources used (suggested donation £2). There is no need to book. The group occasionally does not run on some prominent public holidays. The rare dates that the group does not run are posted on the PPC website.
There is a Facebook group that mums who attend Motherspace are able to join. Dates on when particular topics will run are posted on this and also it can be used to keep in contact with everything in the group outwith the meetings.
What Women think about the sessions:
"There is a good balance between it being relaxed and structured. It is nice to feel a bit taken care of and being offered tea and biscuits."
"It's a nice balance, not a class but not just a social. There is no pressure to do anything which allows it to be very baby-led, so it makes it ok to come even if you are having a rubbish day."
"You can come with or without a problem to share and you don't need to fit into any criteria. It's a very non-judgmental space."
"I enjoy the session as it's nice and relaxed and informal. It's a chance to hear how other people are dealing with parenthood. It's good to know that you are usually all going through the same thing!"


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Joe Coors Jr., a businessman and one-time congressional candidate whose great-grandfather founded the Coors family beer empire, died Thursday from stroke complications. He was 74.
"The entire family is deeply saddened by Joe's death," his brother Pete Coors, the vice chairman of Molson Coors Brewing Company, said in a statement.
Coors was deeply involved with the family business, founded in 1873 by Adolph Coors Sr. He served as president, chairman and CEO of its ceramics and industrial company, now called CoorsTek. Coors retired in 2000 but kept working, including as a manager for the family trust, Keystone Holdings.
Once called the "black sheep" of the American brewing dynasty by The Denver Post, Coors was initially ostracized from playing a key role in his family's company. Coors and his wife told the newspaper in 2012 that the exile was because of their decision to marry before Coors finished college.
Coors ran for Congress in 2012 from his home state of Colorado. Coors, a Republican, declared in a tongue-in-cheek campaign that he was "not a beer." He lost to Democratic incumbent Ed Perlmutter.
Senator Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican, said Friday on Facebook and Twitter that Coors was "a dedicated family man whose love of Colorado will be missed."
"When I introduced Joe to other members of Congress when he ran for office, it wasn't difficult to see he was a natural leader of our great state," Gardner wrote. "Joe was passionate about Colorado, and although he had a great sense of humor, he was entirely serious about the future of our nation."


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- About us
- Products
- Quality
- Services
- Sustainability
- Careers
- News
- Contact us
Product Name : Organic Bilberry juice powder
Flavor : Fresh Bilberry Flavor
Brand : ORGANICWAY
Appearance : Purple powder
Drying Method : Freeze Drying, spray drying
Specification : 100% organic or conventional
Bilberry is a perennial, ornamental shrub that is commonly found in various climates in damp woodlands and moorlands. In the United States they are known as huckleberries, and there are over 100 species with similar names and fruit throughout the Europe, Asia and North America. The English call them whortleberries. The Scots know them as blaeberries. Bilberry has been used as a medicinal herb since the 16th century.
Bilberry is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species
Product feature:
The quality of the starting material is an essential prerequisite,since it may affect all the subsequent phases. Hence GMPs are applied already from these early steps to guarantee the characteristics of the final product. At this stage,there are a number of measures we employ:
√ supplier inspection and qualification
√ area selection
√ control of:
– harvesting period and harvesting method
– drying conditions
– storage
√ botanical identification of the fruit
√ quarantine of the biomass under monitored conditions
√ microbiological analysis
√ chemical analysis
√ control of contaminants, including:
– pesticides
– aflatoxins
– heavy metals
Only after all of these controls will the raw material be released for further processing or rejected due to non conformance with our strict requirements.
Protect and regenerate retinal purple (rhodopsin), and cure patients with eye diseases such as pigmentosa, retinitis, glaucoma, and myopia, etc.
Prevent the cardiovascular diseases
Quench free radical, antioxidant, and anti-aging
A treatment for mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of mouth and throat
A treatment for diarrhea, enteritis, urethritis, cystitis and virosis rheum epidemic, with its antiphlogistic and bactericidal action.
Our passion is delivering innovative, cost-effective ingredient solutions to keep you ahead of trends. Let's see what's possible working together. Whether you operate on a global or local scale, we'll work to keep you ahead of trends and improve your profitability.
Our product consultant is technically trained on all of our ingredients and they are chock full of ideas on how you can make your product better. Add to that our extraordinary customer service and you will have an ingredient supplier unlike any other. Contact us, let us change the way you think about your ingredient supplier.


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I've been buried in emails, projects, ideas and ongoing life changes over the last two to three years. It's a bit crazy, all my life – events and ideas have moved me from one place to the next, never really allowing me to stay in one place for awhile. I realized the only way to have time to process, reflect and be thoughtful about what's next is to make space. We get so caught up in burying our schedule under a bunch of events and meetings, that we can easily forget to make space.
I was forced to make space during this winter and it has been the most refreshing feeling ever. I took a month off from meetings and got to work on a bunch of little things I've been meaning to do in a long time:
- Clean my email box of emails going back to 2013
- Subscribe to a tech solution that makes email, archiving, client tracking seamless!
- Get rid of clothes that I don't wear
- Buy a new, practical wardrobe!
- File my receipts in a filing cabinet with folders!
I know these are not exciting but wow it felt amazing starting the new work year not worrying about the past and knowing where things are.
It even helped me make space to write again! Can't wait to start sharing again. There are a lot of exciting new things in the business coming up! Looking forward to rest of this great year.


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Samuel Fytton Crowder, Private 28046, 1st Bn. Grenadier Guards
Killed in action 1st December 1917 in France
Samuel Fytton Crowder was baptised on 29 May 1887 at St Peter's Church, Macclesfield, the son of Emma and Joseph Crowder, a clogger of 77 Chestergate. In 1901, thirteen-year-old Samuel was employed as a stable boy and living at 14 Copper St with his widowed mother and older sisters Sarah (34), Emma (23), Eliza (21) and Mary (18).
In 1907 Samuel married Mary Elizabeth Cooper at St Thomas Church, Henbury, and by 1911 the couple had a two-year-old son, Albert, and were living at 96 Chester St, Blackburn.
Samuel enlisted with the Grenadier Guards in Manchester, and after training was drafted to France.
Private Samuel Crowder has no known grave and is commemorated on panel ref. 2 on the Cambrai Memorial, France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Samuel Crowder, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Private Samuel Crowder is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials.
An 'In Memoriam' notice was printed in the Macclesfield Times on 29 November 1918 by his wife, in remembrance of the first anniversary of Samuel's death:
CROWDER – In ever loving memory of Pte Samuel Fytton Crowder, 1st Batt Grenadier Guards, who was killed in action Dec 1st 1917. "Duty nobly done." From his loving wife, Mary. 3 Fletcher St, Hulme, Manchester.
Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers (Find My Past): St Peter's Church, Macclesfield
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
CheshireBMD: Marriages
WWI British Army Medal Rolls Index Cards
Soldiers Died in the Great War (Find My Past)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Times: 29 November 1918


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It's no secret yogurt could possibly be considered a power food. It's also no secret this foodie option can do wonders on the skin. So, we whipped up a very easy recipe of our own that will save you money and do your face and body some goodness.
We won't get into so much technicality as we are no pros in food chemistry. But from a consumer knowledge point of view, yogurt may be beyond a power food. Per WebMD, yogurt that contains active and live cultures may help gut problems such as lactose intolerance, constipation, diarrhea, colon cancer, and inflammatory bowl disease. Its goodness even extends to help against vaginal infections such as yeast. Studies are still underway on how this bacteria is good for our gut. Per a discussion with NPR, a study by Jeffrey Gordon, professor of pathology and immunology at the Washington University School of Medicine concluded that the yogurt strains doesn't recolonize but it does alter what is happening in our gut. So yes a small ingestion of yogurt bacteria can effect the properties of the gut community.
How to understand 'Good' and 'Bad' bacteria?
Good and bad bacteria in our gut may compare to playing cops(good bacteria) and robbers(bad bacteria). The more good cops you have in your gut the less robbers they are. Good bacteria may help with digestion, consume bad bacteria and boost immune system.
The Good(Bacteria) Guys
Also knows as 'Probiotics' which translates from Greek to 'Prolife' referring to live bacteria. Now that we a bit of bacteria understanding lets look at yougurt labels and those super long ingredient names. Not every yogurt is the same and without getting to detailed on the reasons why, just keep in mind that the longer a product is in a store shelf, the more preservatives it may contained and the less nutritional value it may hold. In reality fresh food doesn't live long. Here is a very simple break-down on the good guys (bacteria) that is common but not limited in yogurt:
Lactobacillus bulgaricus (l. Bulgaricus)
A good bacteria that lives in your intestinal lining and helps fight the bad guys by producing its own 'natural antibiotics'
Streptococcus Thermophilus (S. Thermophilus)
This bacteria loves warm places and may help alleviate symptoms of lactose intolerance. It is also used to as a starter.
Lactobacillus Acidophilus (L. Acidophilus)
A bacteria that breaks down food, helps with nutrient absorbtion and fight bad organisms that cause diarrhea.
Acidophilus Bifidus
Basically this bacteria stimulates the immune system to stop an infection before it occurs.
Lactobacillus Casei (L. Casei)
A bacteria that is produced by the body and found in yogurt. It aids against diarrhea.
Yogurt is made of what else?
Milk! Now that you have good bacteria, you need the most nutritional milk to get the most benefit from your yogurt. There is this whole debate about drinking raw, pasteurized and ultra-pasteurized milk. What's the difference? Simple, pasteurized is boiled at a higher temperature for a period of time and then cooled to kill most of its micro organisms. Ultra-pasteurized is heated at an even higher temperature. Both of these process are done to give milk a long shelf life and according to the FDA avoid the occurrences of disease. In raw milk its basically straight from the cow, goat or sheep with all its microbes and it has a very short shelf life of approximately 5-7 days. If you ask us, anything that lives and is not properly stored(whether raw or pasteurized) or eaten before it expires can cause an illness because obviously it will grow bad bacteria. So, we leave this decision up to you. What we really need to be concern about is the care and feeding of the animals our milk is coming from. If the animals eating habits are poor and infused with hormones, regardless of what heating system we use, we are digesting their poor health which then in turn reflect on us. This is where the term 'grass-fed' comes into play. Basically, it is exactly that. Cows that eat pasture instead of a processed diet. Cows that are grass-fed equates to healthier milk in terms of vitamins and healthy fat. Another fact and decision to think about.
Yogurt For The Face
Finally to the fun part! Sorry we were a bit rigorous on you. We promise not make this too long. Other then the good bacteria, yogurt contains protein and it is doubled in 'Greek yogurt' According to Fitness magazine, the protein in yogurt keeps the skin firm and wrinkles at bay. This happens because of the lactic and alpha hydroxy acid content in yogurt. So, that's one benefit! Now, also because of its live cultures, yogurt can kill bacteria and exfoliate which makes it ideal for acne-prone or dull skin. If you ever run out of face cleanser or you want to go straight natural, yogurt makes a good cleanser.
The Recipe
So much talk about yogurt! Let's make our own. Raw milk will be our first preference but we know this is not widely available and even illegal in many states across the U.S. so we opted for our second choice. We chose a milk from a local farm(available at our grocery) that although it pasteurizes (at a low temperature) its milk, it comes from grass-fed cows. For yogurt, we chose Fage, it is less chemically processed and contains no pectin or preservatives. But our first choice would have been raw yogurt. The recipe to make yogurt out of raw milk and raw yogurt bacteria is different. So don't try this recipe for it.
3 Cups of milk
3 Tablespoons of yogurt -- yogurt must be plain, full fat works better and label must say it contains live and active cultures.
Sauce pan
Glass container with lid
Candy Thermometer
1. Heat the 3 cups of milk to a temperature of 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to stir while warming at a low flame. Once it has reached this temperature, remove sauce pan from fire and let the milk come down to 105 Fahrenheit.
2. Put 3 tablespoons of yogurt and one cup of the 105 degree Fahrenheit milk into the glass container where you will be storing it and whisk it until all yogurt is dissolved.
3. Pour in the remainder of milk
4. Cover the glass container with a lid and then wrap it with a towel and put it inside the oven to incubate at 100 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 hours. If your oven is ice cold, before you begin the yogurt making process bring up the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and turn it off. Once it has cooled down to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, put in the covered toweled yogurt to incubate. Yogurt bacteria is quite sensitive and needs its right warm temperature to grow.
It wasn't that hard you see! Our final picture is our homemade yogurt with also homemade strawberry preserve without pectin. After every batch save 3 tablespoons of yogurt to make your next batch. If by the 4 or 5 batch your yogurt is watering down, start with fresh again with fresh yogurt culture. Enjoy!
References: Streptococcus thermophilus, Missouri S&T Biology Dept., What is Acidophilus Bifidus?, Live Strong, Lactobacillus, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Library of Health, The Benefits of Yogurt, WebMD, Probiotic Power: Why The Secret To A Healthy Belly Is Paved With Good Bacteria, MindBodyGreen, What is Lactobacillus Bulgaricus?, Live Strong, Does Probiotic Yogurt Really Affect Digestion?, NPR, Cow's Milk Grass Fed, WH Foods, The Good-Skin Diet: 10 Foods for Healthier Skin, Fitness Magazine


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"Don't hold your breath for voters in Switzerland to reverse slumping gold prices.
On Nov. 30, the Swiss will vote on a referendum to decide whether the Swiss National Bank's mandate should be changed to bulk up on bullion holdings and never sell.
The Wall Street Journal's Andrew Morse reports that support for the measure is dwindling, according to a poll released Wednesday:
The poll, which was conducted by the gfs.bern group, shows 38% of respondents in favor of the Save Our Swiss Gold initiative, down from 44% in an earlier poll. Meanwhile, 47% of respondents said they were against the initiative, up from 39%.
Those results aren't doing gold prices any favors as the yellow metal slid 0.3% to settle at $1,183.60 on Wednesday."
*This information is solely an excerpt of a third-party publication and is incomplete. Please subscribe to the referenced publication for the full article. This is not an offer to buy or sell precious metals. Investors should obtain advice based on their own individual circumstances and understand the risk before making any investment decision.


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It's high time
The Pregnant clouds emptied themselves
The wind had commenced combing the nearby bushes
The polythene had had their wings widely spread in the sky
And to the tune of the wind they dance
As I long to prosper in your fruit, and show forth you
O Lord
More than the wealth of the land,
What the world offers, matters not,
It's all like crumbling sand
It has no substance for sustaining life
Of eternal value, I mean
Its only use is for the temporal
In fulfilling worldly dreams
But one day soon it will all be gone
As if it had never been
And when we're standing without it all,
What in us will be seen?
For worldly wealth has no real value,
Nor character to strive for,
For we are nothing when all is revealed
If we lack the fruit of the Lord, and don't show forth him
I'd rather have the qualities of God,
The fruit of His Spirit inside, and show forth him
For it's His character that will remain
When we enter eternal life.
Aaron A. T.


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Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong flatly laid out his New Year's resolution on Dec. 31, tweeting, "my mission for 2016? to destroy the phrase 'pop-punk' forever.'
Now, with the Revolution Radio album due in two days, Armstrong is going into more depth. In a not-yet-online interview with U.K. magazine Kerrang! (via NME), the 44-year-old whose band hit the scene in 1990 says:
"I've always hated the phrase 'pop-punk.' I think it's a contradiction in terms. Either you're punk, or you're not. [The tweet] was not directed at any of the band [described this way], it's just that it's too singular a term for my tastes."
Armstrong also says he came up in a scene of radically diverse sounds, none of which sounded alike. "In fact, it was important that we were different from one another. And now we have pop-punk. And I hate that phrase. It lacks diversity."
Revolution Radio, led by the single "Bang Bang," is Green Day's first album in four years. Watch them debut some of the tracks live right here, then watch New Found Glory talk about the resurgence of pop-punk, which is, fun fact, a phase Billie Joe Armstrong hates:


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blujeen is an American restaurant and wine bar delivering inspired comfort cuisine. blujeen's cuisine and dining room are inspired by the generations of home cooks, "the ladies" who understood the importance of maintaining tradition while growing from your roots. We blend soul, southern, and classic American cuisine. blujeen is a sleek, elegant yet casual, neighborhood restaurant. Enjoy hand picked wines from a mostly American list, craft brews, ciders, and specialty cocktails. Come in and journey with us as we remember, reinvent, and create new traditions.....from our roots.
2143 Frederick Douglass Blvd.New York, NY 10026
(212) 256-1073


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Mike Trout will win the AL Rookie of the Year. The only question will be where the 20-year-old Trout's season ranks with the greatest rookie seasons of all time.
He also deserves the league MVP.
When Trout was called up on April 28, the Angels were in last place, standing at 6 wins and 14 losses, and riding a 5-game losing streak. Since then, the Trout-led Angels are 51-33 and leading the wildcard race.
Trout himself? Leading the league in batting at .353, leading the league in stolen bases with 31 (and caught only 3 times), second in OPS (Slugging Average plus On Base Average). And when you factor in his hard-to-hit-in home park and look at his road numbers, he leads everyone—by a lot.
And he plays Centerfield.
Trout is clearly the best player in the league, and has spearheaded the Angels to a playoff run.
Trout deserves the MVP.
Not bad for a rookie who cannot legally drink.


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I has this friend what sends me articles on autism from time to time. Now that I'm in a new flat and I got my Internet connected, I were able to check them emails he sent me I didn't get to read yet. One were about this here study done in some place called Saskatchewan.
Now I looked that up on the Internet seeing as it don't sound like a real place, and I were surprised to find out that in Canada they got this part of the country what's called that.
Then I read the article he sent me and I'm wondering how obvious something has to be for some people that they spend money on studies like the one I just read about.
Ya, seems that a study were done about parents of children with autism, and how they suffers from extreme fatigue. Anyone what's got autism or what's got a kid with autism knows how tiring autism is so the study were just one of them government make-work projects.
But I imagine that what most doesn't know is how tired Rion McNeally is from being locked up at East Burmington Hospital. If you want to do something important for Autism Awareness Month, share the link to this here blog and let people know what's going on with Rion.
Don't forget to use the usual hashtags when you does share.


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Last issue of TNI: ICTSD introduces BRIDGES Africa, and ECDPM presents GREAT insights
After ten successful years, we have decided to stop producing Trade Negotiations Insights and Eclairage at the end of this year. This is the final issue. We thank you for your interest in our coverage of (nearly!) everything related to trade and sustainable development, and hope that TNI / Eclairage were helpful for your work.
But there is reason to rejoice! From January 2012, The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) will provide TNI / Eclairage readers with new publications. We feel they will serve you better by more effectively addressing the regional and global trade and sustainable development reality as it has evolved over the past decade.
ICTSD will expand its coverage of the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, responding to reader demands for more detailed and region-specific analysis. African issues will be covered in a new monthly periodical called BRIDGES Africa in English; and we will also continue production of our unique Francophone African publication Passerelles. As a complement to these analyses we will produce a continuous flow of insightful news related to African trade and development issues available online starting in January 2012. (http://ictsd.org/news/bridges-africa/)
ICTSD will also expand its coverage of the Asia Pacific region with BRIDGES Asia Pacific while coverage of the Caribbean region will continue through Bridges and Puentes. In addition a new thematic news stream BRIDGES Integration will cover regional and bilateral trade and integration agreements globally. Each of these publications will bring you original and top quality analysis from the regions with the cross cutting analysis and context that readers expect from the Bridges series.
ECDPM introduces GREAT Insights, a new monthly which will focus on Governance, Regional integration, Agriculture and Trade issues in Africa and other developing countries, hence broadening the scope of the current TNI. Naturally, trade and development issues will continue to feature prominently, and the regular EPA Update will remain. GREAT Insights will gather expert analysis and commentary from a wide variety of stakeholders with different perspectives. We will release the first issue in late January, and cover the African Union Summit on Intra-African trade (www.ecdpm.org/great)
As a TNI subscriber, you will continue receiving BRIDGES Africa and GREAT insights. If you are not a current subscriber these publications, you can subscribe for BRIDGES Africa or for GREAT Insights. You can also register for ICTSD new resources here or ECDPM resources.


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Each year in the United States, roughly 1.7 million cases of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) cause an average of 99,000 deaths and cost hospitals around $20 billion, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. Research on this subject has often focused on how nursing and physician practices can reduce these rates. But building environment conditions also play a vital role too. From design to maintenance, engineering can help prevent HAIs and ultimately improve patient health and satisfaction.
Architectural teams must keep in mind that once constructed, hospitals and their mechanical systems have to function optimally for several decades to achieve this goal. Plus it is crucial for mechanical engineers and designers to understand the clinical environment and how patient care is provided. To do so, it's important to first understand how a building will be used, how doctors and nurses will actually use a space and how to meet stringent indoor air quality requirements, and then design all systems to be easily maintained and operated over time. Here are a few clinical needs to keep in mind while designing hospital space:
Air quality
During invasive procedures like surgery, air quality plays a crucial role in protecting the patient from airborne infectious agents, especially in spaces where dirty air can come into contact with an open incision. Good air quality depends on adequate filtration, the volume of new air, and pressurization.
The concept of indoor air quality is relative, depending on location. For example, a surgery unit is more critical than a basic care patient room, which is more critical than an ultrasound room. It's important to serve each of these spaces with different air handling and distribution systems to minimize the risk of infection while maintaining efficiency.
Another important factor that contributes to the transmission of HAIs is humidity. In oxygen-enriched environments like surgery, low humidity creates the risk of static discharge and possible fire. Conversely, if humidity is too high, there's a risk of growing harmful organisms like mold or bacteria that cause HAIs. Keeping humidity within the ideal range of 20 to 60 percent is extremely important for patient safety.
One solution is to place the humidistat in a location that's both easily accessible and provides an accurate reading of the patient's immediate environment. The sensor would also be connected to the HVAC building automation system and allow for continuous monitoring.
Designing for maintenance
Poor maintenance is also a leading cause of environmental conditions that lead to HAIs. Examples include loose filters allowing air to pass by without filtration, old filters not changed until they're clogged and blocking needed airflow, and dangerous outgrowth of mold on filters that leads to dirty air reaching patients.
Designers have the opportunity to facilitate proper maintenance by understanding how systems will be operated both at the clinical and facilities levels. Specifically, particular attention should be paid to the space that's being served, the patient population, the size and type of filters required for protection, and how filters and filter racks fit in ducts so there are no gaps.
In short, designing mechanical systems with a focus on patient outcomes has major benefits. Implementing these strategies are small decisions that can result in positive results that can be magnified over the lifetime of a hospital. (Image via Shutterstock)
Source: Dan Swanson | Designing Healthcare Environments To Prevent HAIs | July 23, 2014 | HealthCareDesignMagazine.com