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If you care for children in any capacity, you've probably experienced that feeling of such intense frustration that you want to throw a tantrum yourself. Or maybe it's just me, but I doubt it. Many, if not most, foster/adoptive parents endure this phenomenon uniquely, as our children often exhibit extreme behaviors resulting from trauma. These behaviors may seem (individually or simultaneously) ridiculous, overdramatic, out of the blue, irrational, confusing, irritating, inappropriate,scary, destructive, concerning, or heartbreaking, and they frazzle our nerves to the point we feel we can't take it anymore.
To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed by how quickly and intensely I become upset when my fourteen-year-old son acts out. I have this bad habit of reacting to what is being said and done (the surface level stuff) rather than taking half a second to put the situation into its proper perspective. However, particularly with kids who have withstood past trauma, having the correct perspective is essential to effective parenting, otherwise we might end up responding to a problem that isn't the actual problem.
With the irreplaceable help of my wife (who has way more emotional intelligence than I will ever have), I've developed four statements to help me keep perspective when I'm tempted to fly off the handle. You'll notice that in the previous sentence I didn't use language like "effectively implemented" or "perfected," because I'm still working on getting this whole perspective thing down. That being said, I have discovered that, when I actually take the time to put a situation into perspective, I'm able to remain appropriately calm and respond to my son more competently.
So without further ado, here are my four reminders to help me keep perspective in tough situations:
1. Remember the iceberg.
You've probably heard about how there's far more to an iceberg than what's visible above the water and about how the vast majority of an iceberg's mass exists underwater where it can't be seen. Most likely you learned this, not in any science class, but in the context of human behavior. The point of the iceberg analogy is this: what you see of a person's behavior is powerfully influenced by the beliefs, past experiences, emotions, and stressors obscured beneath the surface. If I come home from work and snap at my son for drinking half of two cans of Dr. Pepper, there's probably more going on with me than mere frustration over the wasting of what amounts to 25 cents of soda.
However overworked this analogy may be, it's still a helpful clue for interpreting the behaviors of our children, especially when they have previous traumatic experiences undergirding their actions.
Here's a recent example from my own life. I picked up my son from a youth group event and noticed that he wasn't wearing the overshirt he'd been dropped off in. Naturally I asked him about it, and he responded angrily and disrespectfully. It was tempting to get upset about the fact that there was no reason for him to speak to me that way, but thankfully I took a second to consider what was beneath the behavior. He had slept over at his friend's house the previous two nights, and it was my wife who picked him up from his friend's house and dropped him off at his youth group event while I spent time with a friend who was in town. Thus it had been three days since I had last seen him. Couple that with his history and fear of feeling abandoned and you can understand why he felt upset. Because I acknowledged the underside of the iceberg, I was able to respond to the actual problem (him feeling abandoned) rather than the perceived problem (him being disrespectful because I didn't want him to forget his shirt).
Because you haven't been your child's parent their whole life, you may not be familiar with every past experience that forms the submerged portion of their iceberg. However, I believe the more time you spend with your kids, the more you'll come to understand the stuff going on underneath that affects the stuff going on above. You may not be able to figure out well-defined specifics, but hopefully you can identify trends that suggest what's happening below. Knowing that there's more going on than meets the eye is key to keeping perspective when challenging situations arise.
2. I signed up for this.
I've gone on record as stating that I hate when people tell me "you signed up for this" when I explain the complex struggles that come with foster/adoptive parenting. Nevertheless, this is an important aspect of my own self-talk when I need to keep perspective while my son pushes me to the edge. It's true, after all; I did sign up for this. No one forced me or bribed me to become a foster parent and subsequently an adoptive parent. Fully aware of the potential hardships that foster/adoptive parents often face, I still made this choice. Now, it's important to point out that I don't remind myself that I signed up for this as a way of blaming myself for the difficult circumstances I must now occasionally face. Rather, it is another way of regaining perspective, this time regarding myself.
There's a reason I filled out an interest request to become a foster parent even though the mere thought of it was terrifying. There's a reason I kept attending the training classes even as the instructor highlighted the adversities that come with raising children from traumatic backgrounds. There's a reason I kept chipping away at the voluminous licensing packet even while working professionally with families whose foster children were bringing utter chaos to their otherwise peaceful homes. There's a reason I brought the boy who's now my son into my family even with his history of disruptions due to behavior. There's a reason I said yes when he asked to be adopted even though our age difference is only twelve years. There's a reason I continue to stand by him even when he drives me to my breaking point.
There's a reason I signed up for this: I believe it matters and it's worth it. Even on those days when it doesn't seem like it matters and it doesn't seem like it's worth it, I have to remind myself that I became a foster/adoptive dad because, in my best moments, I still do believe it matters and it's worth it. I don't remember where I read it, but there's some sort of quote that claims that what's true in the light is still true in the dark. I agree with that wholeheartedly, which is why I remind myself that I signed up for this.
Why did you choose to become a foster or adoptive parent? What motivations led you to this lifestyle? Hold on to those and remind yourself of them when things get so dark that you can't figure out why you should keep going. You signed up for this for a reason. Don't forget that!
3. I'm not alone.
For whatever reason (and I can't prove this scientifically), it seems that humans tend to be able to handle more when they know they're not alone. It's like that scene in The Lord of the Rings when Frodo speaks in a real awkward third person: "Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam." Somehow, knowing that we are not the only ones going through something gives us strength to carry on. It's that way if you're trying to get the Ring to Mordor, and I've found it's also that way if you're a foster/adoptive parent.
Whatever my son happens to be doing, he's not the first child to do it. Whatever I happen to be feeling, I'm not the first parent to feel it. There's a certain peace in the realization that my experiences are not completely new and there are countless other parents who have faced the same situations and yet made it through. It also helps that I'm friends with a couple other foster/adoptive dads I can rant to whenever and who will have my back no matter what. Having the support of people who've been there before and who know what it's like is a crucial component of my ability to persevere.
As a spiritual person, I also take great comfort in knowing that Jesus has felt similarly. Jesus knows what it's like to love someone else so much that you can hardly contain it. Jesus (or perhaps in this case I might be better served to say God) knows what it's like to feel rejected when his children don't acknowledge him as Dad. Jesus knows what it's like to serve and serve and serve and feel like he's getting nothing in return. Jesus knows what it's like to have his children (or, when he was on earth, his disciples) continually fail to get it no matter how many times or how many ways he explains it. Jesus knows what it's like to take on pain he doesn't deserve so that the ones he loves can be healed.
I've always approached my faith very intellectually, so much so that I could never really say that I'd "felt" Jesus before. But now that I'm a foster/adoptive dad, I can honestly say I have. It's those moments when I feel rejected, hurt, furious, anxious, and unappreciated that I feel the love of Jesus surrounding me and whispering, "You're not alone."
4. It's supposed to hurt sometimes.
My final reminder to myself is this: if it hurts, that's okay because it's supposed to hurt sometimes. Loving someone genuinely requires making yourself vulnerable to be hurt; otherwise, you'll be closed off and unable to truly love with the amount of force and wildness that love naturally begets. If we're constantly trying to protect ourselves from being hurt by our children, then we're probably not loving our children the way they need to be loved. Therefore, sometimes (not always) feeling hurt can be an indicator that we're doing something right.
We're not just hurt by our children though. There's hurt to be had all over the place in the foster/adoptive journey. For instance, I never knew just how affected I would be by my child's trauma history, but the sheer weight of it was jarring. I also had no clue how much I craved being called Dad and how much it hurts to be called all sorts of names (affectionate or otherwise) but never Dad. These things are not my child's fault, yet they hurt nonetheless. But hurt isn't always a bad thing. I had a professor in college (an adoptive dad himself) who said that suffering causes more growth than any other human experience, and that, while we should certainly try to mitigate as much suffering as possible, we shouldn't count out the benefits it can provide.
Raising these kids is hard and it can be painful. Of course, you shouldn't seek out pain where it doesn't exist, but experiencing it isn't the end of the world either. As I said earlier, it might just be proof that you're on the right path, because if we try to preclude all the pain this lifestyle may cause, then we're likely precluding the love our children need.
What do you do to keep perspective when your kids are acting out? Comment below or chime in on our Facebook page to share your parenting expertise with the rest of us!


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The Bluebelle study: a feasibility study of three wound dressing strategies in elective and unplanned surgery
Funder: NIHR/HTA
Sponsor: University Hospitals Bristol
Status: Published
Wound infections occur commonly after surgery, leading to pain, discomfort and inconvenience for patients and increased healthcare costs for the NHS. There is controversy about the role of wound dressings in preventing infection. Although frequently used in adults after surgery, it is rare to apply dressings to wounds after surgery in children. A recent scientific review found no evidence to suggest that covering surgical wounds with dressings in adults and children reduces the risk of wound infection, or that any particular wound dressing is more effective than another. However, most of the studies identified for this review were small and had design faults. The studies also used different methods to define and measure wound infections.
Bluebelle is a feasibility study consisting of two phases. Phase A included interviews with health professionals and patients to explore views and acceptability about types of dressings and/or not using a dressing, with the aim to understand current practice in relation to dressings for particular procedures. We also wanted to develop a valid method for assessing wound infection, as the current methods vary and lack good agreement.
In phase B we conducted a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) to determine how easy it is to recruit participants into this type of study, whether expected recruitment rates can be met and whether the method for assessing wound infection developed in Phase A is valid. A total of 394 participants were randomised into the pilot RCT. The results of the study are currently being written up for publication, and information from the study will be used to decide if a large trial comparing wound dressings with no dressings is possible. The results will be published in 2019. If feasible the main trial is likely to include over 1,000 participants and will compare the effectiveness of different types of wound dressing in general and obstetric surgery.
Further information can be found here: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/social-community-medicine/centres/surgical-research/research/pilot/bluebelle/
Phase A results paper http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/9/e012635
Phase B protocol paper https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-017-2102-5%20#trialsjournal
Final results paper https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/hta/hta23390#/abstract
Phase B Results paper https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31932387
Chief Investigator: Prof. Jane Blazeby
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Gastric Bypass, adjustable gastric Banding or Sleeve gastrectomy surgery to treat severe and complex obesity: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial
Funder: NIHR/HTA
Sponsor: University of Bristol
REC number: 11/SW/0248
Status: In Follow Up
Obesity is an increasing health problem in the UK. Current national guidelines recommend that surgery is considered for people with severe and complex obesity. This surgery is known as bariatric surgery. Three of the most common types of bariatric surgery operations are: the adjustable gastric band ('Band'), the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ('Bypass'), and the gastric sleeve ('Sleeve'). At the moment, health professionals do not know which of these three operations is the most effective for long-term weight loss and improvement of health problems and quality of life.
The By-Band-Sleeve study is aiming to compare the three different types of operations to find out which is most effective. The results of this study will be used to improve the information available to people considering bariatric surgery in the future, which will help with decision-making between health professionals and patients. The results will also be used to inform NHS commissioners about the most effective and cost-effective operation.
The By-Band-Sleeve Study is currently running at twelve hospitals: Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals, St James University Hospital (Leeds), University Hospital Southampton, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Musgrove Park Hospital (Taunton), Royal Cornwall Hospital (Truro), Heartlands Hospital (Birmingham), Queen Alexandra Hospital (Portsmouth), Royal Derby Hospital, North Bristol, Homerton Hospital (London) and St Mary's Hospital Imperial College (London).
Adults who are referred for bariatric surgery at any of these hospitals can take part in the study. Patients are given some information to read about the study and the chance to discuss it with the health professionals on the team. Those who agree to take part will have an equal chance of being assigned a gastric band, a gastric bypass, or a gastric sleeve. This allows the three types of operations to be compared in a balanced way. Participants will be told which operation they have been assigned to several weeks before their actual operation date. It is planned that 1341 patients will take part in the study in total.
After surgery, participants will be followed up carefully, including regular weight checks. They will be asked to complete questionnaires about their quality of life and use of healthcare. Some participants will also be interviewed about their experience. Researchers will also ask participants to provide two blood samples for future research into obesity, in addition to the samples people would give as part of their normal care. All participants will be followed up by the study team for three years.
The study is coordinated from the Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit at the University of Bristol and involves a team of experts, including researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford, and Southampton, and health professionals from each of the study hospitals. The started in 2012, active recruitment will take place until September 2019, and the study will end when the final patient as completed follow up. The study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme (ref: 09/127/53).
As of September 2019, recruitment to By-Band-Sleeve reached its target of 1341 randomised patients and is therefore in the follow up phase. With recruitment completed there is now the opportunity for patients to take part in a By-Band-Sleeve sub-study – the Metabolomics Study. The aim of this study is to find out how the body responds to weight loss following bariatric surgery. The study involves donating a small sample of blood before surgery and again one year later. These samples will be used to look for small molecules whose levels change with weight loss.
We anticipate the By-Band-Sleeve/Metabolomics study will be recruiting at these hospitals: University Hospital Southampton; Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton; Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro; Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham; Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth; Homerton Hospital, London; St Mary's Hospital Imperial College, London; Southmead Hospital, North Bristol Trust.
Adults who are referred for bariatric surgery (gastric band surgery, gastric bypass surgery or sleeve gastrectomy surgery) at any of these hospitals and meet the eligibility criteria for the study can take part. Patients will be eligible regardless of the type of surgery they are planning to have. Patients are given some information to read about the study and the chance to discuss it with the health professionals on the team. If patients decide to take part in the study, their operation will take place in the same way that it would normally. All participants will be followed up by the study team one year after their surgery.
The study is led by Professor Nic Timpson and coordinated by Dr Laura Corbin both of whom are based in the Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol. They are supported by the main By-Band-Sleeve study team from the Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit at the University of Bristol. The Metabolomics Study started in September 2019 and will end when the final patient has completed follow up and all data has been analysed. The study is funded by the Wellcome Trust (ref: 202802/Z/16/Z).
Chief Investigator: Professor Jane Blazeby
Study coordinator: Dr Graziella Mazza
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.by-band-sleeve.bristol.ac.uk
By-Band-Sleeve twitter
The CIPHER Study (Phase B)
Status: Recruiting
During abdominal surgery it is sometimes necessary to create a stoma to divert faeces or urine from the intestinal or urinary tract into an external pouch or bag. Unfortunately, the formation of the stoma can be associated with future complications, including the risk of developing a parastomal hernia (PSH). A PSH is a hernia immediately adjacent and related to the stoma that occurs when the muscle in the body wall splits; contents of the abdomen, e.g. fatty tissue or intestine, can be forced through the split in the muscle causing a bulging of the skin. PSH are relatively common and affect approximately 40% of patients within 2 years of their bowel surgery.
Complications of PSH can be severe and are known to negatively influence patient quality of life. Specifically, PSH can make it difficult to attach stoma bags which can cause the bag contents to leak and smell, irritate the surrounding skin and make patients anxious and avoid social situations. PSH can also cause pain and serious problems, e.g. bowel obstruction, which need emergency treatment in hospital. PSH are difficult to manage and in most cases treatment involves specialist stoma care with expensive appliances. In some cases, a surgeon may reoperate to repair the hernia but additional surgery is itself a risk factor for recurrence of a hernia. Stopping a PSH forming in the first place is therefore very important.
Both patient and surgical factors are believed to influence the development of PSH. Of the surgical factors, the size and shape of the incision in the body wall, the use of mesh when the stoma is formed and, if mesh is used, exactly how mesh it is used, have all been described as potentially important considerations. However, the way in which surgeons create stomata is very varied and research is needed to investigate whether these factors influence the risk of developing a PSH. This is the aim of the CIPHER study.
The CIPHER study aims: (a) to establish the incidence of symptomatic and radiologically confirmed PSH during a minimum of 2 years follow up; and (b) to evaluate the effects of key technical surgical steps when a stoma created on the risk of developing a PSH. To achieve these aims, some preliminary research (Phase A) needs to be carried out to enable the main study (Phase B) to be designed optimally.
Objectives of Phase A are:
A1 To define key technical surgical steps when a surgeon creates a stoma and how these steps vary between surgeons.
A2 To develop a questionnaire for patients to report symptoms of PSH.
Objectives of Phase B are:
The latest site newsletter can be read here.
Use of data in future research:
When you agree to take part in a research study, the information about your health and care may be provided to researchers running other research studies in this organisation and in other organisations. These organisations may be universities, NHS organisations or companies involved in health and care research in this country or abroad. Your information will only be used by organisations and researchers to conduct research in accordance with the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research.
Your information could be used for research in any aspect of health or care, and could be combined with information about you from other sources held by researchers, the NHS or government. Where this information could identify you, the information will be held securely with strict arrangements about who can access the information. The information will only be used for the purpose of health and care research, or to contact you about future opportunities to participate in research. It will not be used to make decisions about future services available to you, such as insurance. Where there is a risk that you can be identified your data will only be used in research that has been independently reviewed by an ethics committee.
Chief Investigator: Mr Neil Smart, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Study Coordinator: Hana Tabusa
E-mail: email@example.com
Evaluation of multi parametric magnetic resonance imaging for characterising lymph node status, peritoneal and liver metastasis in pancreatic cancer
Funder: David Telling Trust and UHBristol Research Capability Funding (RCF)
REC Number: 16/SW/0105
Status: In Follow Up
Whipple's procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is the most common operation to treat pancreatic cancer. It is a complex procedure, involving the removal of part of the pancreas and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). The operation is only beneficial if the cancer has not spread outside the pancreas. Doctors currently determine whether the cancer has spread by using a computed tomography (CT) scan to take pictures of the pancreas and surrounding organs. The CT scan does not pick up small tumours, so some patients have surgery unnecessarily, since their cancer spread can only be assessed visually when the abdomen is opened at surgery. In these patients the Whipple's procedure does not go ahead.
The EVALUATE study is looking at using another type of scan, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, to determine if small tumours that may have spread from the pancreas can be picked up.
The study will recruit 30 patients who are referred for surgery and ask them to undergo a MRI scan before surgery at CRIC Bristol.
The MRI will be assessed after the patients have had their surgical treatment. Doctors will attempt to identify from the MRI scan whether the cancer has spread and make a decision based on the MRI if the patient should have been referred for surgery or not.
The decision to proceed with the surgery based on the MRI scan will then be compared with the same decision made by the surgeon at surgery. If the MRI is good at doing this, it will improve the decision making process and prevent unnecessary surgery in some patients who are currently referred for a Whipple's procedure.
Chief Investigator: Mr Reyad Abbadi, Consultant Surgeon, Bristol Royal Infirmary
Study coordinator: Jon Evans
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Information on the GAP Study can be found here
Chief Investigator: Dr Ben Gibbison
Lead Applicant: Professor Chris Rogers
Study coordinator: Sarah Baos
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Information on the INSPIRE study can be found here
Randomised Oesophagectomy: Minimally Invasive or Open
Status: In Follow Up
Oesophageal (gullet) cancer is relatively common in the UK. If detected early, it may be cured with surgery (oesophagectomy). Different surgical approaches are routinely used to treat oesophageal (gullet) cancer – open surgery or combined open and keyhole surgery ("combined surgery"). The approaches are very similar, both approaches aim to remove the cancer and replace the gullet with the stomach. 'Open surgery' is performed by making large incisions in the abdomen and the chest. 'Combined surgery' is performed by making a large incision in the chest and 4 to 8 small cuts in the tummy. In both approaches sometimes incisions may be made to the neck.
The operation is complex and although the benefit of surgery is survival, surgery is followed by a reduction in health quality of life. At the moment we do not know which surgical approach is best for removing the cancer and for the patient in terms of recovery. The ROMIO study aims to find out which is the best surgical approach to treat oesophageal cancer.
Half of the patients who take part will be treated with "open surgery", the other half will be treated with "combined surgery". The results of each group will be compared to see if one surgical approach is better overall than the other.
The ROMIO trial will recruit 406 patients in total, at 8 surgical centres which will allow important differences in surgical recovery to be detected. We will also collect data, to allow a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of the two approaches to provide information relevant to policy making in the NHS.
Comparing open and minimally invasive surgical procedures for oesophagectomy in the treatment of cancer: the ROMIO (Randomised Oesophagectomy: Minimally Invasive or Open) feasibility study and pilot trial
Protocol paper https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e030907
Quality Assurance Protocol paper https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/3/e026209
The latest site newsletter can be read here and there is also a patient newsletter available here
Chief Investigator: Mr Paul Barham, Consultant Upper GI Surgeon, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Study coordinator: Liz Ward
E-mail: email@example.com
Surgical Interventions to treat Severe Pressure Ulcers
Funder: NIHR HTA
Funder reference: NIHR127850
Sponsor: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Status: In set-up
Study Summary
Pressure ulcers mainly affect older people confined to a bed or chair, however younger or seriously ill patients with limited movement can be affected. Pressure ulcers range in severity from red skin to deep wounds through muscle to bone. They have a major impact on quality of life and are a costly problem for the NHS.
Common treatments for pressure ulcers include pressure relief and dressings. Surgery can be used to try and close deep pressure ulcers but in the UK this treatment is uncommon. It is not currently clear which patients may benefit from surgery and which of the different ways of doing the surgery seems best.
The SIPS study will involve three workstreams. The first will update literature reviews in this topic and survey healthcare professionals who manage severe pressure ulcers. The second will analyse data collected routinely in the NHS to describe the care currently provided to patients with severe pressure ulcers. The third is a consensus process among both healthcare professionals and patients to make recommendations about treatment with surgery.
Privacy Notice
Contact Information
Chief Investigators: Prof Barney Reeves and Dr Jo Dumville
Study Managers: Maddie Clout and Abby O'Connell
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Twitter: @SipsStudy
A Randomised Controlled Trial of Scaffold InSertion and MIcrofracture Compared to Microfracture Alone for the Treatment of Chondral or Osteochondral Defects of the Knee (The SISMIC Study)
Funder: NIHR HTA
Funder reference: NIHR127849
Sponsor: North Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Status: In set-up
Study Summary
Knee injuries are common and can lead to pain and disability. Injuries to the smooth cartilage that lines the ends of the bone in joints can cause ongoing problems as the cartilage does not have a blood supply and rarely heals once injured. 10,000 people a year in the UK have a severe articular cartilage injury that warrants surgical treatment. There are two main ways in which these injuries can be treated surgically, the first is to try to address the symptoms without trying to restore the cartilage; such as cleaning (debriding) the area or replacing the damaged area with an implant. The other way is to try to repair or restore the cartilage in the damaged area. Cartilage does not grow back on its own, so an operation known as "microfracture" can be done to encourage the cartilage to grow. A surgical tool is used to make perforations in the bone in the damaged area which allows blood and bone marrow to seep out of the holes, encouraging healing. A "scaffold", which is usually made of the same material that makes up most of the cartilage (collagen), can be added, termed Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC). The scaffold is secured in place and acts as a template for new cartilage to form on. It is not clear if using a scaffold improves the outcome for patients. Using scaffold makes the operation more complex (approximately 20 minutes longer) and the cost of the scaffold adds approximately £900, so it is important to establish if adding a scaffold results in a better outcome for patients and is cost-effective for the NHS.
The study will find out whether adding the scaffold is worthwhile or not for patients with knee articular cartilage injuries. Over 2 years we will aim to recruit 176 patients from at least 16 hospitals, who will be randomised into two equal sized groups. One group will have microfracture alone and the other will have microfracture plus scaffold (AMIC). Everything else will be the same for all patients. Both groups will be followed for 2 years by clinical review and questionnaire and information about quality of life, the symptoms and pain in the knee, complications of surgery, need for further surgery and costs to the NHS and patients will be collected.
Funder acknowledgement: This study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research-Health Technology Assessment Programme (NIHR127849). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Chief Investigator: Michael Whitehouse
Trial Co-Ordinator: Holly Mckeon
E-mail: email@example.com
A randomised controlled trial to establish the clinical and cost effectiveness of expectant management versus pre-operative imaging with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in patients with symptomatic gallstones undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at low or moderate risk of common bile duct stones: The Sunflower Study
Funder: NIHR HTA, Ref 16/142/04
REC Number: 18/YH/0358
Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Surgery to remove the gallbladder is required if it contains gallstones that cause problems. About 70,000 operations are performed annually in England. Sometimes, gallstones cause other problems if they pass from the gallbladder into the nearby bile duct. Then it is necessary to remove the bile duct stones before or during the gallbladder operation. Because of this, patients requiring gallbladder surgery are assessed for risk of bile duct stones. If the risk is high, further tests are done to identify if bile duct stones are present. If the risk is moderate or low, then it is uncertain whether further tests to look for bile duct stones are necessary. As a result, some surgeons choose to perform tests and others don't.
The Sunflower Study will find out whether testing for bile duct stones before gallbladder surgery is worthwhile or not in patients with a low or moderate risk of having stones. Patients who consent to participate will be divided into two groups. One group will go straight to surgery (i.e. no additional test) and the other will be tested before surgery. The 'straight to surgery' group will have twice as many people in as the 'tested' group to reduce the number of extra tests performed. Both groups will be followed up for 18 months and information about the need for treatment of bile duct stones, complications of surgery and costs collected.
You can follow all the latest study news and updates on Twitter: @SunflowerStudy
Summer 2019 Newsletter
Chief Investigator: Professor Giles Toogood
Study Manager: Maddie Clout
E-mail: email@example.com
Website: http://cteu.bris.ac.uk/sunflower

subset: commoncrawl


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Legislation includes increased funding for U.P. schools
State Rep. Beau LaFave and the Michigan House today approved a bipartisan agreement to help K-12 students safely return to school this fall.
LaFave, of Iron Mountain, said the plan will allow school districts to determine the best course of action for their students, be it online, in person, or hybrid instruction, based on consultations with local health departments.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has put an additional hurdle in front of many of students, parents and teachers alike as the upcoming school year nears," LaFave said. "There's been much uncertainty surrounding whether or not schools resume in-classroom instruction or take learning plans online. If we've learned anything from this public health crisis, it's that certain regions across Michigan have been impacted more than others. A one-size-fits-all approached is not the solution our schools need, our parents want or students deserve. Instead, we are empowering schools to work with local health departments to establish protocols that best work for their community. We need to give our schools the flexibility they need to provide robust learning plans that help maximize student learning while balancing the importance of public health and safety."
LaFave also said providing parents with the opportunity to voice their concerns is crucial to keep the school district and community informed of needed adaptations and hold locally elected officials accountable. Under the legislation, school boards will be required to reexamine and recertify how they are delivering instruction to students at their monthly board meetings for the duration of the 2020-21 school year.
Additionally, local benchmark assessments will provide detailed information to parents and teachers about where a student needs additional help to ensure they stay on track. Under the plan, if districts determine that it is safe to offer in-person learning, they are encouraged, but not required, to prioritize in-person instruction to K-5 students.
As the coming school year will also pose significant additional costs to school districts as they work to impose new safety standards and innovative teaching methods, the Legislature previously dedicated a total of $583 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to Michigan schools, including:
- $350 per student across the board, ensuring schools have the resources they need to educate children.
- More than $50 million in hazard pay for educators who have been flexible and innovative in the face of unprecedented change.
- $18 million for safety measures and local benchmark assessments to ensure kids stay on track with learning.
The plan now advances to the governor's desk for consideration.
State Rep. Beau LaFave today testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of his plan to clarify Michigan's state laws to protect the private property rights of Michigan residents.
Rep. LaFave talks about discussion in the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday on his HB 5540, which would limit Department of Natural Resources searches of private land in Michigan to certain parameters in the absence of a warrant.
The Michigan House Military, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee today approved a bipartisan plan authored by state Rep. Beau LaFave, of Iron Mountain, which would hold the communist Chinese government financially responsible for the pandemic they knowingly unleashed upon the state of Michigan, United States and world.
© 2009 - 2020 Michigan House Republicans. All Rights Reserved.
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"This choice – the agony of the people sent to offshore centres, or deaths at sea – is a false dichotomy. This is not a Sophie's choice-scenario where we are forced to choose between two unbearable options. There are alternatives; they are just not being implemented."
For the past three years we have been told by the Australian government that offshore processing on Nauru and Manus Island is necessary to deter others from making the dangerous journey to Australia by sea.
We have also been fed the line that this alone is not enough, and intercepting boats and returning the people in them is an indispensable part of the strategy to save lives at sea and to smash the predatory business of people smuggling.
This choice – the agony of the people sent to offshore processing centres, or deaths at sea – is a false dichotomy. This is not a Sophie's choice-scenario where we are forced to choose between two unbearable options. There are alternatives; they are just not being implemented.
In the wake of the latest reports detailing the abhorrent conditions on Nauru and the recent announcement that the offshore processing centre on Manus Island will finally be closed, a shift has taken place in the public debate on the efficacy of offshore processing.
It has become increasingly apparent that detaining people in deplorable conditions on Nauru and Manus Island has no relation to the steep decline in boats trying to reach Australia. We are not seeing people arrive in boats because the government's Operation Sovereign Borders policy mandates the interception of boats on the high seas, and the return of their human cargo to whence they came.
As this realisation takes hold, some people are arguing that we can close the offshore processing centres and end the suffering of the people in them, but only if we maintain Operation Sovereign Borders.
However, is the policy of interception and return acceptable and humane? People on those boats are denied access to a proper refugee status determination, and subjected to 'enhanced screening' or an attenuated assessment process. Without a proper assessment, the Australian government cannot genuinely determine whether it is safe to return people to their country of origin, and risks breaching the international principle of non-refoulement, the cornerstone of refugee protection.
JRS recognises the need for a pragmatic but principled solution to the status quo – after all, countries have a right to secure borders, and to regulate movement across those borders. That right, however, cannot be allowed to render void the right of people to cross borders to seek asylum under the conventions of international law. It also should not countenance the return of people to countries where they may face persecution, harm, and violations of their human rights, or where they cannot receive a fair and timely hearing of their asylum claims.
Crucially, stopping the boats seriously undermines the international protection regime. This regime only works when all states respect a person's right to seek asylum by keeping their borders open to those fleeing persecution. It relies on states not to penalise those people without the correct documentation for legal entry into their countries. Most importantly, this regime depends on every country respecting the international legal principle of non-refoulement – the right not to be returned to persecution.
The boats can most certainly be stopped but this should not be achieved by force. The Australian government must first work with its neighbours in the region to remove the need for people to take dangerous journeys in the first place.
If displaced people in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand were given access to employment, health services, education and access to a fair, timely asylum process, they would be less likely to risk their lives trying to reach Australia on the open seas. By protecting and fulfilling the fundamental rights of people seeking safety, the boats would stop by themselves.
By Oliver White, Assistant Director, Jesuit Refugee Service
For in-depth analysis on this topic read Why stopping the boats does not solve the problem and Stopping the Boats Part II – A Threat to the Architecture of Protection.


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FXStreet (Bali) - While there are still comments from certain hawkish Fed officials, which may still misleadingly keep the hopes of a Fed rate hike in 2015 alive, market participants have, since the last disappointing Oct US NFP report, made their verdict.
Fed fund futures show growing pessimism on rate hikes
Based on CME Group 30-Day Fed Fund futures prices, a tool used to express the market's views on the likelihood of changes in U.S. monetary policy, the probability of a March 2016 rate hike currently stands at 50%, down from 54% pre-US retail sales data on Wednesday, which saw, yet again, another downbeat number, adding to the collection of negative US fundamentals from recent weeks (of high impact, we saw dovish FOMC minutes, US NFP, PMIs, pending home sales).
USD longs run for the exit
As the market keeps pricing out chances of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, the US Dollar should remain heavy across the board as perma USD bulls unwind long positions amid evidence of low rates for longer in the US. Worth mentioning that since the USD has enjoyed a multi-month bullish cycle, should the market lose further confidence on the ability of the US to set higher rates, there might still be some major bearish USD moves to be seen.
Supporting the fundamental justification of lower rates for longer in the US, a research piece from SF fed gained some traction on Wednesday, concluding that on current financial conditions, the natural rate in the US is -2.1%. See research paper.
For more information, read our latest forex news.


text: The end of our FREE web promotion is quickly approaching! We've given away 100's of ads and upgrades – all with no obligation for anything, this is truly a "something for nothing" type of event. If you haven't already done so, please visit www.seniorlivingguide.com/freeadvertising.tpl and fill out the super simple form, we'll take it from there. If you HAVE already done so, CONGRATULATIONS, you truly are a savvy marketer and got FREE advertising for your community or service!


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This is the second time Raja Petra, a father of five and part of the Selangor royal family, has been detained under ISA, which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
We have been callin g for the abolishment of this draconian act and yet again it is being used!
Is there no justice in this country as the government can just arrest and detain us, Malaysians at their whims and fancy.
The ISA, which human rights groups have pushed to have abolished, provides for renewable two-year periods of detention without trial and is normally used against suspected terrorists.
It has also been used to lock up opponents of the government, and last year five Hindraf leaders were detained three weeks after mounting a mammoth rally in the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25.
And earlier today the The Sun (news media), Sin Chew Daily and opposition PKR's party organ Suara Keadilan was asked to show cause for allegedly "manipulating and playing up numerous sensitive issues". Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said that show-cause letters had been issued to several newspapers for failing to adhere to the ministry's media guidelines.
Sin Chew carried a report prominently featured on top of its page three today over the fact that it was asked to show cause by the ministry.
The daily, caught in a nationwide maelstrom, has came out strongly in defence of its reporter who stands accused of misreporting comments made by Ahmad.
The top selling Chinese paper was accused by the Umno chieftain for misconstruing portions of his campaign speech during the Permatang Pauh by-election where he was said to have allegedly called the Malaysian Chinese as squatters.
Is all this a "CRACKDOWN" on the people and the nation or is the BN government trying to use "scare" tactics?
What is the real objective as this will anger the people further and already there is so much unhappiness over the running of the country and the government.
"Why are the people Angry?
Because of injustice and you endlessly impose your oppressive laws,
That is why they can't take anymore."
~Lao Tzu~
Read more on ISA HERE


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This indoor grow room is ready for plants!
Suggested Plant Count
6-9 plants in 3 or 5 gallon pots.
Electricity Cost
$10.80 per month on average (click to learn more)
Grow Tent Size
48" x 48" x 83" - (95" height with included 12" extension)
Highly Portable
Pack up your grow with ease and move to a new location if necessary.
Quality Parts
Only the highest quality components are included in our packages giving you harvest after harvest, year after year. Each component was selected to work together for optimal performance, increasing efficiency and yield.
Expert Support
Grower to grower support from seed to harvest. Give us a call or shoot us an email if you need help.
- Overview
Gorilla Grow Tent Product Documents
Gorilla Grow Tent™ 4 x 4 Assembly Instructions
Premium Quality, Yet Affordable For All Growers - Check Out The New Gorilla Grow Tent 4' x 4' 250 Watt LED-X Grow Tent Kit!
The 48" x 48" x 83" footprint of the included heavy-duty Gorilla Grow Tent is ideal for growing 6-9 large plants from seed to harvest. The full-spectrum Covert LED-X Grow Light only pulls 250 watts from the wall, while evenly spreading the light over the plant canopy due to its unique multi-bar open fixture design. This makes it so the plants at the edges of your garden will still have full coverage from the lighting, whereas most fixtures fail in this aspect. The plug-and-play set-up of the tent and light means you'll be up and running in no time. When the new Covert LED-X is used with the optional Covert Master Controller, you'll have control over on/off times, high temp shut-off, dimming up to 50%, and control in up to 2 separate zones or rooms.
Low heat, low energy consumption, and high yields are just a few of the reasons LED lighting is considered the best option for grow tents. Regardless of what size tent you need, there is an LED option for you. With the included Covert ventilation kit, you will never experience any heat or humidity issues. This is just another reason why our grow tent packages are the perfect match for all home growers. No more worrying, we've got you covered!
Everything you need and nothing you dont
We've made choosing an LED Grow Tent Kit very easy. No more trying to determine what products are designed to work together, our kits include products that were hand-picked by our staff, which also grows in these ourselves! We know how great these kits are, and you should too!
Our base grow tent systems include the main necessary components such as a Grow Tent, LED Grow Light (with timer and hangers), Ventilation System (with air circulation clip fan), and a Humidity/Temperature Monitor. All other items are available as add-ons, which we breakdown for you lower down in the description.
The Grow Tent Kit Includes:
- Gorilla Grow Tent 4' x 4' Heavy Duty Grow Tent
- Covert LED-X 250 Watt Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light
- 6" Inline Exhaust Fan
- 6" Carbon Air Filter
- Fan Speed Controller
- 6" Ducting with clamps
- 6" Clip Fan
- Light Hangers
- Light Timer
- Thermometer / Hygrometer
Included: Gorilla Grow Tent 4' x 4' Heavy Duty Grow Tent
Gorilla Grow Tents are professionally designed grow tents that are ideal for experts and perfect for beginners. The expert configuration positions ducting ports where they should be. Large EZ View windows offer easy grow snapshots without compromising your environment. The doorways offer 360-degree convenient access. The larger layouts provide frustration free maneuvering. Thick material and large double cinching ducting ports make maintaining an ideal growing space a snap. Grow easy on yourself. Grow Gorilla.
Constructed with 1680D thread density fabric (compared to 200D-600D) is up to 9x denser than any other grow tent, making it Ideal for experts and perfect for beginners. Gorilla Grow Tent features all steel poles with steel interlocking pins for a frame that is up to 2-5x stronger than any competitor's tent frame. Diamond Reflection Technology, redistributes up to 30% more lumens, creating less waste & giving your plants more of what they need to thrive.
Learn more about the worlds best 4' x 4' Grow Tent here.
Want to learn more? Here are some recommended articles from our learning center
Gorilla Grow Tent 4' x 4' Specifications:
- Dimensions: 4' x 4' x 6'11"
- Height with 1 ft. Extension Kit: 7'11" (included)
- Height with 2 ft. Extension Kit: 8'11" (sold separately)
- Weight: 50 lbs.
- Canvas Density: 1680D
- Pole Diameter: 19mm
- Door Quantity: 1
- Ducting Port Quantity: 6 (11" Double Cinching)
- Electrical Port Quantity: 2 (3")
Gorilla Grow Tent Optional Accessories:
- High CFM Kits - The high CFM kit is to help prevent your indoor grow tent walls from sucking in due to high amounts of negative pressure from exhaust systems.
- Extensions Kits - Increase the height of your tent for more growing space.
- Trellis Netting - These perfectly sized durable nylon trellises with hooks that easily attach to any diameter pole, creating a sturdy support structure for the heaviest flowers.
- Gear Boards - It snaps to your existing tent poles and maximizes space by removing floor items from your growing area. Hang oscillating fans, expensive meters, and monitors up off your floor.
Included: Covert LED-X 250 Watt Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light
With only 250 watts pulled from the wall, the all-new Covert LED-X series grow light provides a complete full spectrum ideal for the vegetative stage through the flowering phase, resulting in increased crop quality and yields over similar wattage LED's on the market. The design of these fixtures allow light to be spread throughout the entire footprint more evenly, reducing hotspots and delivering uniform levels of photosynthesis flux density, or PPFD.
For more information and specifications about this LED, checkout the product page for the Covert LED-X 250 Watt Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light here.
The 250 watt Covert LED-X is designed to cover a vegetative footprint of up to 5' x 5' and 4' x 4' in flower. These low profile, lightweight fixtures are perfect for grow tents or smaller grows. All Covert LED-X Series lights are controllable with the optional Covert Lighting Controller (sold separately).
NOTE: Included with the grow light are light hanger ratchets and a light timer.
Included: Ventilation System - the heat, humidity & odor solution.
The ventilation system is a crucial component of your grow tent kit, and will help manage excess temperature, humidity, and odors. Your garden is a living breathing system that needs to take in the fresh air and expel waste air and heat. This is especially important in an enclosed environment like a grow tent. This is why the Covert Ventilations System is a must-have.
To go along with the ventilation kit, we have included a clip fan(s) to help circulate air and "make your plants dance". Keeping the air circulating in your tent will strengthen stems, keep temperatures and odors to the minimum, and help discourage pest and disease development. If you want to learn more, check out our post on grow room atmosphere and ventilation.
Optional Add-Ons & Enhancements:
- Choose between Soil or Hydroponic growing methods
- Plant Nutrients & pH Control
- Grow Tent Air Intake Kit
- CO2 Enrichment Kit
- Seedling Starter Kit
- Garden Scissors
- Trellis Netting
Optional: Choose Your Growing Method - Soil vs. Hydro
Now that you have your base grow tent kits products, you'll need to make an important decision - what will your growing method be?
Loyal to the soil or hyped on Hydro?
You can choose between a complete hydroponic system or traditional soil and pots. If you are a new grower, you are probably better off with a complete grow tent kit for soil. Once you have a few grows under your belt, and feel more confident in your abilities, you can always upgrade to a hydroponic system.
Hydroponics is appealing for a number of reasons, with the main one being decreased time to harvest, less water used, cleaner growing conditions, and more. This style of growing can be really fun, but it is challenging. There is a steep learning curve and lots of moving pieces, so if you aren't willing to dedicate plenty of time and energy to your grow, stick with the lower maintenance option - soil.
Learn more about Hydroponics from our awesome learning center articles here
Optional: Add Accessories & Upgrades
While this is really all you need to grow (besides nutrients), you will inevitably need some accessories along the way.
These include scissors for pruning, trellis for training, propagation supplies for starting seeds/clones, and CO2 for boosting growth and yields.
You will need many of these at some point, so why not grab them while you're here?! If you don't see the accessories you are looking for, don't worry. We have everything you could ever need for your grow tent, so just reach out to us or browse our site for it.
Optional: Add Harvest Supplies
The final step in building your LED grow tent is adding your harvest supplies. You can grab drying racks, trimming equipment, and even extraction equipment!
Many growers procrastinate on grabbing harvest equipment because it's so far down the road. But, it makes so much more sense to just grab everything you need right now, and then you don't have to worry about anything down the line!
Most of what we have presented in this LED grow tent kit builder is for hand trimming, but there is a good chance you may want a trimming machine, especially for the larger grow tent sizes.
If that is the case, we have trimming machines for every size grower! We also carry bucking machines, extraction equipment, storage supplies, and much more.
- Tech Specs
Brand Gorilla Grow Tent SKU GGT44-LED-KIT Weight (lb.) 108.76 Length (in.) 48 Width (in.) 48 Height (in.) 83 Lead Time Due to social distancing requirements, tents ship in 3 weeks & other items ship in 24-48 hours Prop 65 No Grow Tent Size 4ft x 4ft Lighting Type LED Lighting Brand Covert Suggested Plant Count 6-9 Exact Dimensions 48" x 48" x 83" - (95" height with included 12" extension) Est. Electricity Cost /mo $10.80 Interior Material Diamond Reflection Technology Exterior Material 1680D Thread Count Terylene Canvas Ducting Ports (6) 11" Ducting Ports Electrical Ports (2) 3" Electrical Ports Windows (2) Small Windows Doors (1) Large Door Vents (3) Air Vents Estimated Life Hours 50,000 Hours Suggested Lighting 600 Watts or Equivalent Exact Watts 250 Watts Voltage 120/240 Volt Frequency 50/60Hz Amps 2A UL Listed No Warranty 1 Year
- Reviews
Gorilla Grow Tent 4' x 4' 250 Watt Covert LED-X Grow Tent Kit Reviews
- good value
I just finished up my first run with this new tent time I ordered in late summer. The set up was pretty easy and the products are legit. I just needed help hanging the fan and filter, but the tent was easy.
My first run which I did in fox farm soil and earth juice nutrients came out FIRE! I honestly did not even check ph once lol. I just filtered my water with a hydrologic small boy and it was super easy. I forgot to water a couple of times when I went out of town but they still were okay probably because they were in 7-gallon containers so they were still slightly moist.
One thing I would say is it would be nice to do an automated drip system so they are watered mostly on their own. That way my stoner self can space out and still be okay.
I suggest to order this kit and you'll be pretty damn happy like i am, and i don't usually write reviews but they sent me an email asking and I realized i was content with this purchase.


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001kitchen Island Designs
Kitchen island designs are not only limited in the ones designed with big kitchens because there are also islands which are made to be suitable for small spaces too. If right now you are dealing with the very limited space in your kitchen area and you do realize that an island is still necessary in there as prep space, here are some design ideas of kitchen island which may be beneficial for you.
Here is important advice on kitchen island designs. We have the finest resources for kitchen island designs. Check it out for yourself! You can discover 001kitchen Island Designs guide and see the latest Best Types of Kitchen Island Designs for Small Space in here.
Back to Best Types of Kitchen Island Designs for Small Space


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- Home
- Notice from Everzon Store
- 2020 Spring Festival Holiday Anouncement
2020 Spring Festival Holiday Anouncement
venerdì 27 dicembre 2019 18:13:55 Asia/Shanghai
Dear customer,
To celebrate the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Everzon Holiday Schedule is as below
Jan.22nd - Jan.31st
During the holiday, you are welcome to place orders as usual. Customer service and shipment will resume on 1st Feb. Wish you good health! Family happiness! Prosperity!
Happy New Year! Enjoy shopping at Everzon!
1. There is No customer service during the holidays. Customer service is available from Feb.1st
2. We will try our best to arrange shipment ASAP. It will take 3-4 days to ship out backlogged orders(except pre-orders & stockout order) when we back to work. Thanks for your understanding and patience
3. Normal paid orders (except pre-orders & stockout order) before Jan. 15th-18th can be shipped before the holiday. We will deliver stock orders in the first.
4. Shipping Date also depends on logistics company holiday, you can check below form:
|Logistics Company Holiday Schedual
|Singapore post
|Taiwan Express
|USA Express
|EU Express
|17th Jan -3rd Feb 2020
|24th Jan-29th Jan 2020
|13th Jan-31st Jan 2020
|15th Jan-1st Feb 2020
|17th Jan-3rd Feb 2020
|17th Jan- 1st Feb 2020
|20th Jan-1st Feb 2020
|Euro Special Air Line
|YAMATO Battery Line
|Southeast Asia Express
|UC Express
|19th Jan-1st Feb 2020
|19th Jan-1st Feb 2020
|18th Jan-1st Feb 2020
|18th Jan-1st Feb 2020
|15th Jan-1st Feb 2020
Everzon Team
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VOOPOO Argus GT 160W TC Box Mod
34,74 €
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text: Power Zoom Zoom × Backup Battery Case External Power Bank Charger Case AED 100.00 AED 100 https://www.letstango.com/backup-battery-case-external-power-bank-charger-case Key Features Compatible with Samsung S5 Capacity: 3800mAh Output: 5.0V / 1.0A Input: 5.0V / 1.0A Charging time: About 5 hours DELIVERY Order in next -1hrs 9mins and receive it within 12 Working Days Warranty No Warranty Sold by Stepintex Trading Share Read Blogs Sold Out Notify Me × Success! You will be notified when this product is back instock! visa mastercard amex cash Free Delivery For AED 200 and above Pay your way Cash On Delivery,Credit Card & more 100% Genuine Vendor sourced & brand new Get Rewards Earn Upto 100 reward points Earn 40 Earn 70 Earn 100 Overview Specification Review Product Details The Smart Battery Case is engineered specifically for Samsung S5 to give you even longer battery life and protection. Attach the battery case to your phone, and then press the power button. The battery case will begin charging your phone. Press the power button once to check the battery level. The illuminated LED will show the battery level.Assembly: ● First, pull out the top cover.● Slide your phone gently into the battery case, and make sure the phone is well connected to the micro USB 2.0 connector of the battery case.To charge the battery case: ● Connect the charging cable to the battery case's USB input interface, and then connect the cable to a USB charger.● Press the power button once to charge the phone and battery case simultaneously. The battery case is fully charged when all four LED indicator illuminated and stop flashing.Notes:● When charging the battery case with the phone attached, the phone battery will be charged first. After the phone battery is fully charged, charging of the battery case will begin.● When charging the battery case with the phone attached, data transfer is supported. Specification Manufacturer Power Warranty No Warranty


text:
Instant travel leads!
We have compiled a list of 1 000 000 leads in this gig from over 25 Travel and Vacations related websites from the US ! Find many new clients for your products or services, enjoy a fantastic resource for your email marketing campaigns! Includes first, last name, email and phone.
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Delivery: Download


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The paper presents a practical example of improving quality and occupational safety on automated casting lines. Working conditions
on the line of box moulding with horizontal mould split were analysed due to low degree of automation at the stage of cores or filters
installation as well as spheroidizing mortar dosing. A simulation analysis was carried out, which was related to the grounds of introducing
an automatic mortar dispenser to the mould. To carry out the research, a simulation model of a line in universal Arena software
for modelling and simulation of manufacturing systems by Rockwell Software Inc. was created. A simulation experiment was carried out
on a model in order to determine basic parameters of the working system. Organization and working conditions in other sections of the line
were also analysed, paying particular attention to quality, ergonomics and occupational safety. Ergonomics analysis was carried out
on manual cores installation workplace and filters installation workplace, and changes to these workplaces were suggested in order
to eliminate actions being unnecessary and onerous for employees.JO - Archives of Foundry Engineering L1 - http://journals.pan.pl/Content/102050/PDF/afe-2017-0093.pdf L2 - http://journals.pan.pl/Content/102050 PY - 2017 IS - No 3 KW - Quality management KW - Automation and robotics in a foundry KW - Application of information technology to the foundry industry KW - Modelling and simulation of production systems KW - Work ergonomics A1 - Kukla, S. PB - The Katowice Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences VL - vol. 17 JF - Archives of Foundry Engineering T1 - Improving Quality and Occupational Safety on Automated Casting Lines DA - 2017 UR - http://journals.pan.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=102050 DOI - 10.1515/afe-2017-0093 ER -


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21 " Strand of 6mm green glass and white pearls, silver spacers, green marbled agate pendant on sterling bail, fish clasp & ring,with earrings.
Perfect length for over or under the collar.
Love these pearls, with their smooth even finish, slinky weight and glossy shine. Nice contrasting matte smoothed green serpentine agate quartz rectangle puff pendant.
Earrings to match , all 925 sterling silver. Fun fish clasp in the back.
One of a kind.
1-2 business days
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 7 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 14 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
I can change the ear wires on most earrings if you prefer different findings than the item is photographed in, such as clips or leverbacks. You must request this on your order, and it would be helpful to send a conversation email. If the change requires an additional charge, such as changing from silver plate to 14k gold, I will contact you before continuing.


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Just a couple of days after Samsung unveiled their new flagship Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone at this years Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014 event currently running from February 24th -27th in Barcelona.
Goophone has wasted no time cloning the new Samsung Galaxy S5 which is now being advertised on their website priced at just under $300, after just two of seeing the new Galaxy S5 smartphone.
The new Samsung Galaxy S5, Goophone clone is equipped with a 5-inch FHD 1080P screen, 1920 x 1080 pixel display and powered by a 2GHz MediaTek MT6592 true octa-core processor, supported by 2GB RAM and 32GB ROM, with support for microSD card expansion if required.
Goophone explains on their website: "Goophone has always been forward best smartphone. With new design, this new generation Goophone S5 you have never seen it. Goophone S5 is world's first smartphone powered 2GHz MediaTek MT6592 true octa-core processor, along with 2GB DDR3 RAM, bring better operating experience to us."
To recap the new Samsung Galaxy S5 is fitted with a 5.1-inch display offering users a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and is powered by a powerful quad-core 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset with Adreno 330 GPU supported by 2GB of RAM.
Other features of the new Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone include a 16 megapixel camera for photos and videos, with 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for further expansion when required.
For more information on the new Goophone S5 clone jump over to the Goophone website for details.
Source: Engadget


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That was one of my favourite things about visiting my mom when she was down in Mesa - rosemary bushes EVERYWHERE. it smelled heavenly. :)Also - I love that your dog has a hockey name. As a Canadian that warms my heart - dogs, hockey and sewing. This place is perfect. :)
Thanks for commenting! I try to respond to comments by email, but if you haven't allowed blogger to show your email address, I can only respond to you here.


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I have sold a plot in Delhi in November of 2010 for Rs. 30 lacs (This plot was purchased in 2006 for Rs. 10 lacs). I want to understand what is my tax liability? Also I have purchased another flat in July 2010 (construction linked payment) in joint ownership with my son. If I am making the payments for this flat to the amount which is equal to the sale price of the plot,within a period of one year, then will I be exempt from Capital gains tax?
asked Sep 02 '11 at 10:42 by DarshanK 16●1●1●2
You will be able to save income tax on long term gain as per section 54F.
Below is the long term gains and income tax computation:
Sale Year = 2010-11
Indexed Purchase price = 1000000 x (711/519) = 1369942
To save this tax fully, your share in new residential property must be more than sale consideration of plot (30 lacs). If its less, income tax would be applicable on proportionate basis of gain.
If possession of new house is not taken before income tax return filing of financial year in which gains occur, whole sale consideration amount has to invested into capital gains account and payment to builder/seller should be done from there.
Also, following conditions have to be fulfilled:
answered Sep 02 '11 at 18:10 by Pankaj Batra 5.2k●3●20
Hi Pankaj, Thanks for these details. The new property / flat that I have purchased is the only property in my name (jointly owned with my Son) after selling the old plot (which was co-owned with my wife). However, this flat is currently under construction with a possible possession by June 2012 (which is less than 2 year of selling the old plot). In between November 2010 (date of sale of property) and April 2011 I have made payments of 30 lakh rupees to the builder for this new flat. However, these payments were made from Saving bank account that I hold jointly with my Son. Please suggest in such a case will I get the tax exemption for the capital gain on the property. Secondly, I accidentally missed declaring the sale of this plot in my income tax returns filled for year 2011-12. Is there a way that I can file for amendment of my income tax returns and declare the sale of plot. Please suggest what is the procedure for doing same. Thanks, Darshan
(Sep 02 '11 at 23:28) DarshanK
First, as old plot was co-owned by you with your wife, there will be tax liability for both of you (gains will be divided among you and your wife). If both wants to save tax fully, each one will have to buy property worth 15 lacs atleast. You may buy in joint ownership worth 30 lacs.
(Sep 02 '11 at 23:38) Pankaj Batra
If your wife does not buy new property, she would have to pay 20% income tax on 8.15 lacs (her share of gains). As you have already made payments to builder for amount more than your part of sale consideration, you may skip investing in capital gain bonds, but you need to file revised return now showing plot sale. You should show capital gains and exemption under section 54F.
(Sep 02 '11 at 23:44) Pankaj Batra
Since the payments that I have made for new flat were from the Savings bank account and not the capital gains account, will I be able to claim tax exemption for the portion I have re-invested. Please suggest. Thanks, Darshan
(Sep 02 '11 at 23:46) DarshanK
yes, you would be eligible. Capital gain accounts is required if same if done after return filing last date (31st July).
(Sep 02 '11 at 23:47) Pankaj Batra
Also can my wife re-invest the 50% of the consideration amount (i.e. 15 lakh) in some other property within the next 1 year (less than 2 years of sales of our plot) to claim tax exemption.
(Sep 02 '11 at 23:50) DarshanK
Yes, she can invest in residential house property to save tax. Other conditions will remain same as were in your case. But she would have to deposit the amount into capital gains account as July 31 has passed. In case you only made whole payments while buying old plot and she was joint owner without any contribution, then you can treat whole gain to you and she won't have to do anything.
(Sep 02 '11 at 23:54) Pankaj Batra
Thanks Pankaj. My wife is a house-wife and she was a just co-owner in the plot but did not make any financial contributions in purchasing the old plot. As mentioned by you, it seems in that case I can re-invest the entire 30 lakh rupees that I received from selling the old plot. Also since I have already done the same before July 31, 2011, it seems I will be exempted from the capital gains for the sale of my plot. Please confirm. The only thing as I understand from your message is that I need to fill amendment for my income tax returns for the previous year and claim exemption under Section 54F. Please confirm if my understanding is correct. Thanks a lot for your help and expert advise. Darshan.
(Sep 03 '11 at 00:01) DarshanK
Yes, your understanding is correct. Still you may consider to consult a tax professional experienced in property matters while filing return, in order to avoid any irregularities.
(Sep 03 '11 at 00:04) Pankaj Batra
Hi Pankaj, Thanks for your help.
(Sep 03 '11 at 00:25) DarshanK
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Childcare Network #180
4300 John Tyler Highway
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 253-2562
Current Inspector: Tiffany Harris (757) 403-3045
Inspection Date: June 7, 2016 and June 24, 2016
Complaint Related: Yes
- Areas Reviewed:
- Comments:
An unannounced complaint inspection was initiated on June 7, 2016 and completed on June 24, 2016. The complainant reported concerns regarding special care provisions and emergencies. An inspection of the facility was conducted, documentation was reviewed and obtained and interviews were held with staff and other collateral witnesses. Based on gathered information, there is a preponderance of evidence to support the allegation, therefore this complaint has been determined to be VALID. There were other violations found that were not reported. Areas of noncompliance are identified on the Violation Notice.
- Violations:
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-140-A Complaint related: No Description: Based on record review, in four of four children's records reviewed, the licensee did not ensure that each child shall have a physical examination by or under the direction of a physician before the child's attendance or within one month after. Evidence: During the inspection conducted on June 7, 2016, there was no documentation of physical examinations in the records for Child #1-Child #4 (start date as indicated in the record for these children was 1/20/15). Plan of Correction: In the future we will ensure that applications are filled out upon enrollment and all documents are received before attendance.
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-60-A Complaint related: No Description: Based on record review, in three of four children's reviewed, the licensee did not ensure that each enrolled child had a record that contained all required information. Evidence: During the inspection conducted on June 7, 2016, the records for Child #2-Child #4, did not include viewing proof of the children's identity and one parent's name, address, and employment information. Plan of Correction: In the future we will ensure that applications are filled out upon enrollment and all documents are received before attendance.
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-490-C Complaint related: Yes Description: Based on inspection of the facility and interviews with staff, the licensee did not ensure that when children at the center have been exposed to a communicable disease listed in the Department of Health's current communicable disease chart, the parents shall be notified within 24 hours or the next business day of the center's having been informed unless forbidden by law, except for life threatening diseases, which must be reported to parents immediately. Evidence: During the inspection conducted on June 7, 2016, it was verified through multiple staff interviews that parents were not notified within 24 hours or the next business day when there was at least one confirmed case of a communicable disease that affected both buildings at the facility. According to documentation obtained from the center, the communicable disease was confirmed by a physician on 5/16/16. Plan of Correction: We will ensure that all illnesses are posted immediately upon notification.
A compliance history is in no way a rating for a facility.
The online compliance history includes only information after July 1, 2003. In addition, the online compliance history includes information regarding adverse actions that may be the subject of a pending appeal. An adverse action is not final until a provider has exhausted or waived all due process rights. For compliance history prior to July 1, 2003, or information regarding the status of pending adverse actions, please contact the Licensing Inspector listed in the facility's information. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is not responsible for any errors in or omissions from the compliance history information.Virginia Quality is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early care and education facilities serving children ages birth through pre-K. Eligible child care facilities must be fully licensed, licensed exempt and a VDSS subsidy vendor, or a voluntary registered day home and a VDSS subsidy vendor. Only programs enrolled in Virginia Quality will display a rating. Virginia Quality contact information for your region is available at the following link Regional Contacts.


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6Easy Ways to Care For Your Aging Furry Sidekick
© dormiteca
Aging is inevitable in all species, including your four-legged companion. Dogs are generally considered seniors at the age of 7. This depends on each breed, as smaller dogs tend to age slower than big ones. More and more people are opting to adopt older rescue dogs. If your puppy has grown into an old buddy, or if you are thinking about rescuing an older dog, these tips will help you keep them happy.
As dogs grow older, they require more care, love, and attention. In this article, you will find 5 helpful tips on how to make sure that your dog is living a happy life.


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The never-ending task of tidying and cleaning can be minimised by altering the space in which you dwell. Here I provide you with some top tips on how to create a minimalist living space and where to begin.
Choose A Theme
When we moved in to our flat, it was completely unfurnished. We had an abundance of possessions but owned little furniture. Starting from scratch, we utilised Pinterest and Instagram to gain inspiration for the theme of our space. We both fell in love with the minimal look of crisp and clean white and soon created an open yet warm living space from there. We were inspired by the Scandinavian style of white surfaces and beech wood with a hint of colour through mustard yellow furnishings. By choosing a theme from the beginning, we were able to keep in line with what our vision was and stick to a budget too.
Minimise Clutter
Creating a minimalist space comes with the act of decluttering. With minimal possessions, you can do more and build a more conscious and distraction free lifestyle. Before we worked on transforming the space, we decided on what we needed and what we did not. After minimising possessions through selling or donating to charity, we were free to start from scratch. Owning less means that you can have clearer surfaces which in turn makes cleaning a minor and more simple act. Clutter-free surfaces keeps the mind clear and a makes space for a happier environment.
Utilise Storage
As surfaces become less cluttered, you will need storage units to store your belongings. This isn't to say hoard and hide unwanted possessions, it is a matter of creating an organised storage system to keep things in order. Ikea is fantastic for providing material boxes that slot perfectly into bookcases and side units to keep books, DVDs and electrical items tucked away from sight.
Quality Over Quantity
When selecting the items you wish to display, it is more about quality over quantity. Select items that have sentimental or practical value that add to the space rather than detract from it. Keep in line with your space's theme and be harsh when it comes to selecting those objects.
Add Your Personal Touch
Nobody wants to live in a space that doesn't feel like home. We may aim to replicate a room straight out of an IKEA catalogue, but in reality, we have to make it ours. We have added our own touch to our minimalist space by using a wall hanging that reflects our music taste in addition to our love for entomology and Dotwork art. The mustard cushions add a splash of colour and warmth to the room and make it feel cosy.
How will minimise your living space?
What steps can you take today to do so?
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"Fan Since The Green and Red"
Ruff and Fitz, that was the best we could do?, VA • Angola • 41 Years Old • Female
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A-Very Different View on the Avery Situation.
Posted 10:10 PM ET |
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In today's new NHL the structure of the organization and the quality of the personnel manning the front offices are as important as the players that don the jerseys for the drop of the puck.
A team with meddling owners can wreak havoc to a team's chemistry and the coach's ability to lead the team in a common direction. In the classic example of a conflict of interest, some owner's tireless efforts to increase revenue force them to undercut their chain of command and leave a feeling of instability throughout the organization.
Case in point The Tampa Bay Lightning's owners dictating the ice time received by the highly touted rookie player Steven Stamkos, in attempt to drum up revenue.
A team with a soft general manager can continually move valuable young prospects and hemorrhage draft picks in a futile attempt to speed up the progress of the team through the acquisition of big name free agents. A GM without the respect of his peers will habitually come out with the short end of the stick on trades.
Case in point any Islander's general manager, over the past decade and a half.
A team with a wish washy coach can quickly turn disastrous, as the players begin to revolt and refuse to put forth the effort demanded by the coach. Whether the coach is over bearing and obnoxious or the coach thinks it is still the early 90's, a bad coach will effectively neutralize any amount of talent and make a good team, play bad.
Case in point, John Tortorella and Barry Melrose. (*Sorry Tampa fans, I'm not intentionally bashing on you guys.)
I'm sure you are all as sick of the name Sean Avery as I am, so instead of the industry standard arguments of freedom of speech versus inappropriate behavior, I am not going examine Avery's ridiculous comments, or the NHLs equally as inappropriate response to the situation, but rather the way in which the Dallas Stars organization handled the matter.
As I stated above, the decision making hierarchy of an NHL organization can make or break a team. The Dallas Stars organization was recently thrown a curve ball by a notoriously bad apple, one Sean Avery, and they made a royal mess of things. From the moment Avery made his now infamous "sloppy seconds" comment, the Stars organization, as a whole has stumbled every step of the way.
As a long time Devil's fan, I have grown accustomed to the Lamoriello way of running things. Lou Lamoriello is the personification of class, self discipline and integrity. Things are done one way, his way. Internal conflicts are not permitted to fester. Employees working for Lamoriello, be it a pretzel vendor or future hall of famer Martin Brodeur, are not permitted to air the teams dirty laundry or speak out against any decision made by upper management. Lou rules with an iron fist and any player that can't deal with that is shown the door. Whether it's a fourth liner looking for more minutes, Mike Danton; or a premier center that didn't like to practice, Jason Arnott; Lamoriello will not accept any challenges to his authority and that attitude permeates down through the ranks of the New Jersey Devils. The New Jersey Devils are often described as hard working, dedicated to excellence, patient, and above all else, disciplined. Do you think it is a coincidence that those very words could be used to describe the man behind the curtain? No, the attitude of upper level management is reflected in every facet of the organization, which brings me back to the Dallas Stars.
The Dallas Stars owner, Tom Hicks and co-general manager Brett Hull in a failed attempt to save face, knifed Sean Avery in the back and simultaneously shattered any measure of trust and cohesion that existed in the Dallas Stars locker room. They immediately began questioning Avery's value to the team, his contributions on the ice, and even went so far as to ponder about his continued roll as a Dallas Star. These two men took very private criticisms and ponderings and made them public news, just as fast as the words were able to escape their self serving mouths. To compound the issue, the coach, Dave Tippett, jumps on the gravy train and throws more kerosene on the fire by more or less saying, Avery isn't welcome back. Absolute bush league move by all three of those men. To further prove my theory that good, or in this case crap attitude flows down hill, look at the response of the players. The comments made by several of the Dallas stars are common knowledge at this point so I won't bother reiterating them, but to cut a team mate down, to the media, when you were too cowardly to confront him face to face, speaks volumes about the real atmosphere in Dallas's locker room, and likely shows why they are quickly dropping in the western conference standings.
Sean Avery got what was coming to him, and I for one couldn't care less. I am less than ecstatic by the NHL's reaction, but that is a whole different blog. You can't blame Avery for being Avery. He is the same player he was when the Detroit Red Wings shipped him off, but the Stars knew what they were buying, and really showed their true colors during this whole saga.
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February 2008
Is Johnny on the spot, or is he not?
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December 2008
A-Very Different view on the Avery situation.
A-Very Different View on the Avery Situation.


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The fourth annual free "Jazz on the Lawn" series outside Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main St., will premiere Sunday, August 9th with Upright Cabaret.
Concerts are scheduled on four Sundays this month from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring jazz and world music performances. The series is presented by the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division.
Upright Cabaret will bring some of the top vocalists of Hollywood and Broadway together for a live performance August 9th. The Cabaret plays host to Tony Award-nominee Valarie Pettiford, who has had a distinguished career as a "Fosse Dancer," working with Fosse in
Dancin' and Big Deal.
She was last seen on Broadway in Fosse, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Her other Broadway and national tour credits include Sophisticated Ladies and the 30th anniversary tour of West Side Story.
She made her West End debut in Chicago as Velma Kelly, opposite Chita Rivera, and in 2005, she was "Queenie" in Michael John La Chuisa and George C. Wolfe's The Wild Party, for which she received a Garland Award.
On television, she has had recurring roles on House of Payne, The District, and Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and she has appeared on Criminal Minds, CSI Miami, Bones, Frasier, The West Wing, and The X-Files. Pettiford has also appeared in such films as Stomp the Yard, The Wiz, and The Cotton Club. Currently, she is performing in Guys and Dolls at the Hollywood Bowl.
Upright Cabaret boasts one of the most extensive and diverse rosters of talent in the country, including Broadway divas, talented troubadours, cabaret performers and Hollywood notables, a Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division spokesman said.
The group features stars from shows such as Wicked, Xanadu, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Hair.
Other concerts scheduled are Grupo Falso Baiano (August 16th), Double G (August 23rd) and John West (August 30th).
Jazz on the Lawn attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the show. Parking is conveniently located at the Santa Monica Civic Center (free after 4 p.m.).
Soft drinks and water are available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center, a youth arts and recreation center providing educational and
cultural arts programs designed by teens for teens.
For additional information on the Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division and the Jazz on the Lawn series, www.arts.santa-monica.org/.


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Friedrich Christian (Sept. 5, 1722- Dec. 17, 1763) was the eldest surviving son of King August III and Queen Maria Josepha of Saxony/Poland. Traveling incognito as Comte de Lusace, he departed Dresden on May 13, 1738 in the company of his sister, Maria Amalia, the new Queen of Naples, for a four-week journey via modern-day Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia to arrive in Naples on June 22, 1738. Following a cure on Ischia (July 12-Sept. 23, 1738) and a period of recuperation in Portici and Naples (July 23-Nov. 15, 1738), the prince sojourned for a year in Rome, residing in Palazzo Albani alle Quattro Fontane (Nov. 18, 1738-Oct. 14, 1739). After Rome, he toured Tuscany, Lombardy and the Veneto (Oct. 14-Dec. 21, 1739) before floating into Venice for six months in Ca'Foscari (Dec. 21, 1739-June 11, 1740). Prior to returning to Dresden on Sept. 7, 1740, the prince spent two months in Vienna with his grandmother, Dowager Empress Wilhelmine Amalie.
|Mon., May 12, 1738
|Dresden to Pillnitz
|Tues., May 13
|Pillnitz via Zehista to Lovosice CZ
|Weds., May 14
|Lovosice to Prague
|Thurs., May 15
|Fri., May 16
|Prague to Nesbeky
|Sat., May 17
|Nesbeky to Tabor
|Sun., May 18
|Tabor via Jindrichuv Hradec to Nova Bystrice
|Mon., May 19
|Nova Bystrice CZ to Pulkau AUT
|Tues., May 20
|Pulkau to St. Pölten
|Weds., May 21
|St. Pölten to Turnitz
|Thurs., May 22
|Turnitz to Mariazell
|Fri., May 23
|Mariazell to Bruck
|Sat., May 24
|Bruck to Gratz
|Sun., May 25
|Gratz to Maribor SLO
|Mon., May 26
|Maribor to Celje
|Tues., May 27
|Celje to Ljubljana
|Weds., May 28
|Ljubljana to Vipava
|Thurs., May 29
|Vipava to Palmanova IT
|Fri., May 30
|Sat., May 31
|Palmanova via Codroipo to Pordenone
|Sun., June 1
|Pordenone to Treviso
|Mon., June 2
|Treviso to Padua via Venice
|Tues., June 3
|Weds., June 4
|Padua to Rovigo
|Thurs., June 5
|Rovigo to Ferrara
|Fri., June 6
|Ferrara to Faenza
|Sat., June 7
|Faenza to Rimini
|Sun., June 8
|Rimini to Pesaro
|Mon., June 9
|Pesaro to Loreto
|Tues., June 10
|Loreto to Tolentino
|Weds, June 11
|Tolentino to Seravalle
|Thurs., June 12
|Seravalle to Spoleto
|Fri., June 13
|Spoleto to Terni
|Sat., June 14
|Terni to Civita Castellana
|Sun., June 15
|Civita Castellana to Monterotondo
|Mon., June 16
|Monterotondo to Zagarolo
|Tues., June 17
|Zagarolo to Velletri
|Weds., June 18
|Velletri to Priverno
|Thurs, June 19
|Priverno to Gaeta
|Fri., June 20
|Sat., June 21
|Sun., June 22
|Gaeta to Naples
|Sun., June 22 – Sat. July 12
|Sat., July 12 – Tues., Sept. 23
|Tues., Sept. 23 – Sat., Nov. 15
|Sat., Nov. 15
|Naples to Castiglione
|Sun., Nov. 16
|Castiglione to Priverno
|Mon., Nov. 17
|Priverno to Velletri
|Tues., Nov. 18
|Velletri to Rome
|Tues., Nov. 18, 1738 – Weds., Oct. 14, 1739
|Rome [April 20-23, Nettuno; May 4-10, Frascati; Sept. 22 Tivoli]
|Thurs., Oct. 15
|Rome to Soriano
|Fri., Oct. 16
|Soriano to Viterbo
|Sat., Oct. 17
|Viterbo to Radicofani
|Sun., Oct. 18
|Radicofani to Siena
|Mon., Oct. 19
|Tues., Oct. 20
|Siena to San Romano
|Weds., Oct. 21
|San Romano to Livorno via Pisa
|Thurs., Oct. 22
|Fri., Oct. 23
|Livorno to Pisa
|Sat., Oct. 24
|Sun., Oct. 25
|Pisa to San Romano
|Mon., Oct. 26
|San Romano to Florence via Ambrogiana
|Tues., Oct. 27 – Thurs., Nov. 12
|Thurs., Nov. 12
|Florence to S. Piero a Sieve
|Fri., Nov. 13
|S. Piero a Sieve to Firenzuola
|Sat., Nov. 14
|Firenzuola to Bologna via Pianoro
|Sat., Nov. 14 – Sat., Nov. 21
|Sat., Nov. 21
|Bologna to Modena
|Sat., Nov. 21 – Weds., Nov. 25
|Weds., Nov. 25
|Modena to Parma
|Weds., Nov. 25 – Sat., Nov. 28
|Sat., Nov. 28
|Parma to Piacenza
|Sun., Nov. 29
|Piacenza to Lodi
|Mon., Nov. 30
|Lodi to Milan
|Mon., Dec. 1 – Sat., Dec. 12
|Sat., Dec. 12
|Milan to Cavernago
|Sun., Dec. 13
|Cavernago to Brescia
|Mon., Dec. 14
|Brescia to Desenzano
|Tues., Dec. 15
|Desenzano to Mantua
|Weds., Dec. 16
|Thurs., Dec. 17
|Mantua to Verona
|Fri., Dec. 18
|Sat., Dec. 19
|Verona to Vicenza
|Sun., Dec. 20
|Vicenza to Padua
|Mon., Dec. 21
|Padua to Venice
|Mon., Dec. 21, 1739 – Sat., June 11, 1740
|Sun., June 12
|Venice to Portogruaro
|Mon., June 13
|Portogruaro to Gorizia
|Tues., June 14
|Gorizia to Oberlaubach
|Weds., June 15
|Oberlaubach to Oberbourg
|Thurs., June 16
|Fri., June 17
|Oberbourg to Celje
|Sat., June 18
|Celje to Maribor
|Sun., June 19
|Maribor to Graz
|Mon., June 20
|Graz to Bruck
|Tues., June 21
|Bruck to Neustadt
|Weds., June 22
|Neustadt to Vienna
|June 23-Aug. 31
|Aug. 31
|Vienna to Pulkau
|Sept. 1
|Pulkau to Zlawing
|Sept. 2
|Zlawing to Tabor
|Sept. 3
|Tabor to Nesbeky
|Sept. 4
|Nesbecky to Prague
|Sept. 5
|Sept. 6
|Prague to Aussig [Usti nad Labem]
|Sept. 7
|Aussig [Usti nad Labem] to Dresden


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Year One had a wonderful 'land' to their Fur, scales and slime topic when they visited Boydell's Dairy Farm in Wethersfield.
The sun shone brightly as we became farmers for the day, learning about milking the cow (and some adults and children were brave enough to have a go!), feeding the calves, lambs and poultry and enjoying close encounters of the feathery, woolly, bristly and hairy kind. We were even lucky enough to meet a cria (baby alpaca) who was just days old, and very sweet he was too.
We had our packed lunches before getting the chance to paddle in a stream and clamber on trees and a 'troll bridge'. As is becoming something of a Katherine Semar Infant School tradition, a tiny goat kid adopted us and followed us about all day.
Upon leaving, staff members heard the children talking about what a wonderful day it had been. "This has been the best day EVER!" exclaimed Jan.
As ever, thanks to Farmers Roy and Kylie and their team for a great educational day out.


text: This is one of he last watches I am selling which we leased to the Mad Men television series. This Arios Direct read digital displays amazing condition. The manual winding movement was cleaned and is accurate. The chrome plated case measures 40.5mm. across. Own a piece of television history and a cool watch!


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The Big 5 - Make Your New Goal One Or All
As a marathoner you probably have heard the phrase "the big 5" before. It refers to the biggest 5 marathon races in the world: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London and New York City. These big 5 are about so much more than just the race themselves. They are about the camaraderie, the event itself, and the enthusiasm of people from all around the world. These marathons are the epitome of people from all walks of life coming together for a common cause, to push their own limits and collectively to push each other. There is nothing that is more inspirational than to go to these 5 marathons and take the sights, sounds and excitement in the air.


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A Geek Girl and Grey's
In the wake of its season 13 finale, I can't help but feel as enamored with Grey's Anatomy as I did when I first committed myself to the Shonda Rhimes way of life a mere five years ago during my sophomore year of high school. My relationship with the show has been steady and enduring—nothing at all like those I've had with practically every other TV show I've ever loved and, at times, hated. Grey's represents everything I've come to love about storytelling and, more specifically, storytelling by and for women.
Grey's Anatomy is not a typical geeky fandom. I know this, but sometimes I wonder if that is because it's been publicly declared a show for women time and again. After all, it's overly dramatic. It's overly emotional. It's scientifically inaccurate, for wizard god's sake! After all, we all know that the primary purpose of dramatic television is to deliver cold, hard medical facts. Joking aside, I know we know that that sort of myopic criticism doesn't hold up as reason to dismiss an entire show and its fans, but I still worry. I worry that there's less room for shows like Grey's in geeky discourse because it's a full-time job to work against that kind of emotional-equals-uncool patriarchal conditioning.
My point is that Grey's Anatomy deserves a Han-shot-first level of geeky attention. It's a women-centric story that prioritizes the complex development of its characters' emotional lives over strictly believable plot development. (You just have to ignore the number of near-death catastrophes Mer has personally experienced). I love Grey's because it's more about the characters and their relationships with each other than it is its hospital backdrop. We see the characters hurt each other and support each other, break up with each other and keep coming back to each other. It's one of the most realistic representations of long-term interpersonal interaction I've ever seen. Maybe this seems overly feminine to outsiders because it's one of very few popular stories that centers women's experiences.
Grey's Anatomy deserves a place in our world because it's about us. Nerding out about it is a subversive act. Not only was it created by the most successful woman showrunner of all time, but it depicts women who are both wildly emotional and wildly competent. Imagine using the same "geeky" online spaces, irl spaces, language, and memes that sometimes overtly exclude us to celebrate something that is so clearly for us. To rank Grey's Anatomy among our more traditionally geeky faves is to continue reclaiming and adapting this subculture to be more safe and inclusive for our community.
In closing, I implore you to spend a little time during this season break loving Meredith Grey and her fellow doctors at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital. You won't regret it, and, in doing so, you'll be sufficiently prepared when season 14 returns this fall.
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