text:
This is a very expensive option - I have read the data on the website and would like to know what would happen if I bought one and it didn't work. Have occasional one bar inside the house - horrendously expensive as it is, I might consider buying it if I could be guaranteed my money back if it didn't work. I'd hate to buy it and find out the reception was no better than it was before and it seems to me the only way to test it would be to install it.
Solved! Go to Solution.
Hi Jasnick,
I can't comment about your query in regards to a yagi antenna but I'm quite sure Telstra have a refund guarentee in regards to the rest of their antenna range if it doesnt' help your service.
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@jasnick wrote:
This is a very expensive option - I have read the data on the website and would like to know what would happen if I bought one and it didn't work. Have occasional one bar inside the house - horrendously expensive as it is, I might consider buying it if I could be guaranteed my money back if it didn't work. I'd hate to buy it and find out the reception was no better than it was before and it seems to me the only way to test it would be to install it.
If the product didn't meet your intended needs (ie: to extend the coverage inside your home) and you made Telstra aware of these needs, i would assume you are entitled to request a refund or replacement under the Australian Consumer Law.
Thanks Ben - I did try to discuss this with the guy at the Telstra shop but he wasn't even aware the product was actually available! Not a complaint as such as the service otherwise was great. Needed to update the phone anyway so am not actually any worse off and have a super-duper phone - just not inside!
I would have thought Telstra would have let staff know this was now available. He was aware it was coming but was a bit shocked at the price when I told him what it was.
I am going to start by reporting a black spot and go on from there.
Hi Jasnick,
I can't comment about your query in regards to a yagi antenna but I'm quite sure Telstra have a refund guarentee in regards to the rest of their antenna range if it doesnt' help your service.
Lathania wrote:
I can't comment about your query in regards to a yagi antenna but I'm quite sure Telstra have a refund guarentee in regards to the rest of their antenna range if it doesnt' help your service.
Its not a Yagi Antenna, its the Telstra Smart Antenna (ie: A repeater) that the OP is referring to
The awareness thing is this product, TMSA or Telstra Mobile Smart Antenna is not being pushed by Telstra as it is a fix for those that push Telstra for a solution to BOOST their 3G Next-G signal for phone and Data internet, which two boxes connected to a power point some 10 meters approx apart, with one at a window (WU) and the other unit at the coverage location (CU).
This product is not an advertised device, as it is "not a retailed product" as it is only delivered to the customer's address where it is intended to be used, when you go through mobile complaints, they put you through a rigorous round of questioning as to ask, do you really absolutely need one, with "mobile assurance" as they won't let just anyone have one!
Telstra shops are not aware of this device, as they are not told of its existence, as it is a need to know only product.
Call Mobile Faults to save a lot of phone time, ring (125111) and Technical Support (1800305307) to order a Telstra installed Yagi Antenna to make it work, when you don't get better than 2 bars of signal on your phone at your best window.
The cost is $720 or payments or $30 p/m for 24 months, a total of $720. A Telstra tech will set it up for a additional $84.
I have done many installs and they work brilliantly!!!!!
Covering up to 30m from the unit, only hindered by metal walls.
Good luck in perusing good signal!
These are my own comments and not of Telstra
I bought a smart antenna direct from Telstra to connect with an existing Yagi aerial - also supplied by Telstra. Both were also installed by Telstra so quite an expensive exercise - but worthwhile provided that it worked. Then...
With telephone (Nokia, iPhone, HTC we have vasty improved coverage. However, even though we had two bars coverage with the Yagi antenna and quite good Bigpond wireless mobile sppeds when our modem was direcly coupled to the Yagi, we can get absolutely no internet connectivity once we tried to connect using the smart antenna. After spending 10 hours and more trying to resolve the issue with Telstra support I got the complete runaround once someone decided (level 3 escalation) that the smart antenna was the problem. However, three weeks later we are still waiting for Telstra to get back to us with arrangments for a replacement or whatever.
IMO I would not spend $1300-plus on this solution unless you made absolutely sure that the tech did not leave your premises until both phone and internet connectivity are availalbe and working. In our case only telephony was testing and found to be working correctly.
If anyone has a comment on how to confiigure this so-called self-configuring device so that we do get internet connectivity I would be very pleased to hearr form them. But meanwhile I could not recommend believing all the information that is published by both Telsra and Netgear as to a fourfold improvement in internet data speeds - we got a total loss of any internet service - although - of course - we are still paying for it...
I don't understand why you need both? Could you connect to the Internet before using the so-called Smart Antenna?
I am still toying with the idea of getting one to save having to go outside and finding a suitable spot to make calls on my HTC. I still have a landline and use that for the Internet. No issues with that.
I thought the Smart Antenna was simply for improving the signal for mobiles phones.
(By the way I am writng this in Sydney using cable broadband but the problem installation is in central western NSW near Orange).
The YAGI antenna was installed because we could not get any coverage at all without. But we had to be hard-wired to the Yagi antenna to use it. This meant that there was only one place where we could get mobile reception or use the internet - which happened to be in a shed not in our house, because that is where the Yagi was installed. The smart antenna was intended to give us telephony and internet without having to undo/unplug the mobile phone (an ITC thing) and then connect the Bigpond modem when we wanted to use the internet, but also to give us coverage in our house rather than only in the shed, and to let us have both the telephone and mobile connectivity at the one time. It has not worked out that wayand IMO Telstra need to be a bit more proactive in dealing with this kind of problem. Unfortunatel I can get no sense whatsoever out of their telephone support people and Telstra provide no useful information with the antenna so you cannot even work out what the problem might be....
Sorry - a bit more information. Both Telstra and Netgear make it clear that the smart antenna is intended to also boost data speeds by 4 times - but we have gone from quite reasonable speeds with the hard-wired Yagi to nothing at all with the smart antenna - even thought the smart antenna is hard-wired to the Yagi. That actually is not quire correct - we can get a signal with the mobile broadband moden, but cannot achieve a connection to Google, Yahoo, Governemnt deparatments such as BOM, internet banking or anything else. That too is not quite correct - we did get a connection to Google once at about 0530 in the morning but it died after about 1 minute, and was so slow that it timed out... I continue to think that there is an underlying problem with the smart antenna but getting any sense or resolution with Telstra is simply not possible. If you do not need internet then maybe you will be happy with the product - I am quite disgusted with it as it does not peform in any way close to what Telstra or the manufacturer claim - but probably because the one we have is faulty.
I understand - same old story. I am in WA, fringe area for mobiles though next door neighbour has no problem!
Was thinking (only thinking!) that if we got a Smart Antenna we could use that and ditch the landline, but if you can't get Internet and Phone at the same time, looks like there might be a problem
Was in Sydney recently and had occasion to visit several Telstra shops re a problem with the phone recognising my simcard after returning from overseas, and I took the opportunity to mention the Smart Antenna - you should have seen their eyes glaze over! No-one had any answers.
Considering that repeaters are available for about $200+ - yes, I know they are illegal - I think the price Telstra is charging is a real rip-off.
Sounds like a faulty unit, does the internet work via your Mobile at all?
Yes - internet via mobile works fine...
The big problem is getting Telstra to even get back to me - after 10 hours on the phone to thier 1300 number, and someone actually stating that the antennae was the problem the next thing they say (after going around in circles again) is that it is working fine... I would have say that the next step is not going to contact them via a call centre - I simply cannot afford the time or the agony.
Wel, I think that $720 is a complete rip off if you are in an area where the Telstra map shows good coverage.
We have four mobile phones, landline and ADSL with Telstra. I am in Port Macquarie, and am appalled that I have to pay that amount to get decent mobile reception within my own home.
I agree! They should make them available at no cost to people like us who cannot get reception inside. If [illegal] repeaters are about $200, how come Telstra's antenna is so expensive!
I have just self installed a TMSA about a month ago. Had 1 bar at window with my phone. After mucking around a bit with location of the window unit and getting the separation distance better to the coverage unit (7-8 on cov unit) , it works like a dream up to around 10 - 15 metres from coverage unit. I then connected an omni style external antenna and have 2-3 bars on my phone up to around 20m from coverage unit which only gets better the closer I get to it.
My paperwork states that it will improve mobile reception, but they can not guarantee that nextg network speeds will increase but generally i have found it pretty good with 1.87Mbps to 5.35Mbps (rare) download but sometimes it just wont start at all and then I switch to my home wifi. (I bought the antenna for voice only)
Have had to move window unit due to overheating, the unit went into alarm mode (red flash on window unit) and shut down.
Today again I have a green flashing light which is "Unit is attempting to complete regulatory compliance" and it just stays like that for ever until i reset with the little button on the base of the window unit. According to my paperwork it looks like the network equip can adjust or disable the device when required. Resolution for this states "please check your device in a couple of hours" Overall i am very happy with the antenna as long as it stays connected which may be an ongoing problem. We will see. I am letting the problem develop at this stage as i can not guarantee my sanity trying to talk to someone who has never heard of this unit, been there done that.
I accepted the price was worth it and so I bought it. There are also passive antenna options available that are very cheap and work to some degree as they have limitations on distance. Regards Dave
May I ask why you had to buy an omni antenna as well?
I also have one bar at window.
Does the 10-15 metres coverage (from the coverage unit) extend through walls, say into another room or only in the one room?
Why did it overheat? Sun on window or what?
My issue is with my colorbond roof I suppose as I step outside and get 5 bars. So annoying !!!!
What was your reason for no mobile signal inside: fringe area reception or tin roof?
I had an omni already in place so i hooked it up after I had trouble with overheating. Antenna gives the booster unit even more signal to amplify I guess. I am in a fringe area (antenna required) on Telstra map, but we are only 2kms from tower behind a small ridge and very heavy rainforest. No mobile signal at all in house. Tower is a small solar powered repeater for our community.
I have colourbond on external walls and roof but very open style house and it still works well. It uses wifi between the units so it should be better for going through timber walls. House is double story pole home with window unit near top of gable, coverage unit is down stairs at ground level and the boosted signal is available every where, it just varies a bit, floor and internal walls are timber. The more you move the two units apart the stronger the broadcasted Nextg signal is. Without distance unit will not work.
Once window unit is in, hook coverage unit up to a long extension lead and go for a walk or plug the unit into a 240 outlet in different rooms etc until the coverage readout hits 8 or 9. Or locate the unit where you require the strongest signal. Once setup the further you move away from the coverage unit with your phone the less signal you will get. It wont be the same everywhere in your house.
Unit got hot from arvo sun hitting it. Moved it away from window a bit and signal dropped, hence the ext antenna hookup. (Yagi may even be better).
Telstra quoted around $550 to fit, so I self installed. I read the instructions, plugged both units in and turned on the powerpoint...Done.There also is a self install hotline number to help you, but I didnt ring it.
One note, because of the unusual angle of the ext antenna fitting on the unit you will need a SMA Male connecter fitted directly on the end of antenna cable. Will not fit with adaptors etc, 90 deg elbow SMA Male may also fit. Most antennas seem to come with an FME fitting which will not fit even with an adaptor.
I have no experience with this and have just researched online. Theres not much info. OE unit is a Netgear MSRB2500 from memory. I came across an excellent video showing how it works but cant find it. Regards Dave
"Telstra quoted around $550 to fit" ???
Just to fit or did that include the Smart Antenna? I thought they were $720 plus fitting if required.
I have a double brick one story with tin roof. 5 bars outside, 1 inside at front window, even though I am in a covered area according to the map. Treed area also. I think I would also self-install - how hard can it be?
I also have been researchng this issue for months. Its the price that is the stumbling block.
$550 was just fitting, we are a bit remote. If you have 5 bars outside your house the unit will work very well for you i reckon. I had to add ext antenna because I havnt got 5 bars outside.
If you can turn on a powerpoint your half qualified already. I took the $30 p/m x 24 repay option so it doesnt hurt so much. Ask them if they will accept it back if it doesnt work. I have heard they might. Be patient, you have to jump through some hoops with operators first. Also free delivery is super super quick via courier, ours was anyway. Good luck.
WeIt is really pleasing to hear that someone does get this ... antenna to do as TELSTRA claims - it is supposed to boost both voice and data. We are actually getting worse and worse performance - which simply reinforces the original conclusion - reached by TELSTRA - that the unit we were supplied with, and which WAS INSTALLED BY TELSTRA - is FAULTY. My next step - after trying to sort out the mess since installation on 4 September 2012 - is to try one more time with Telstra and to then go extremely public. $1300 totally wasted as far as I am concermed. I would suggest that TELSTRA can get well and truly -
Wally - what is your home situation - tin roof or whatever? Location? Its a lot of money if it doesn't work - plus all the hassle and aggravation!
I think people need to understand what the antenna does..... It will rebroadcast the signal from the network inside your home, but if there is congestion or issues on that network, then it won't give you "faster" speeds.
Situation is Rural Central West NSW - betweeen Mullion Creek and Kerrs Creek. Coverage map shows need for external antenna. We have two barts using YAgi Antenna when direct couple to a Telstra explorer phone, and quite good iBigpond internet under the same situation. However, aerail is on a shed some distance from our new house and we ensure there is a direct line of sight to the window unit throughb a glass window. If we ever get to the stage where it actually works I will put a window in the wall of the wshed so that we can secure the conrtents and the aerial. Meanwhile we ave to take the risk.. Telstra installer said will work fine - window unit is hard-wired to the YAGI aerial in the shed (which is metal - but we leave doors open.) Even with doors totally closed we get good coverage for telephony - a count of 9 on the indoor unit, or 7 with the doors open, with 2 bars on teh outdoor unit. However - as I have told Telstra/Bigpond untril I am blue in the face - we cannot repeat cannot get any sort of reliable Bigpond service using the smart antenna... Somertimes we get a very very very very slooow connection, which times out as soom as you try to do do anything - even though we are getting five bars on the modem... Have tried different browsers, pinged various sites, found all to be a bit of a mess - sometimes 4 time-outs, sometimes ony 2 of 4 - but regardless of times, we cannot get any kind of reliable data connection - even though the claims are clearly that data servies will also be improved. Even bought a new modem to seee if that helped - another $250.00... Still the ... system does not work. AS you can gather - I am totally disagusted with the whole con-job.
It does soundas though the issue you have is very similar. My problem is taht the whole idea of the smart antenna is to give me both telephone and broadband for business purposes. A second antenna is not particularly viable as we would have to hard-wire it from the shed roof too - and I am not sure what kind of interferance we would get...
My preference is to have the smart antenna work as Telstra claims that it does...
Thanks for your input
Thanks for the detail - this is the very first bit of sense that I have got in regard to the so-called smart antenna. If your suggestions are correct then I am just a tad unimpressed with the level of competence displayed by Telstra. I will have to look at how we overcome the situation, but a forest of aerials may be the only answer.
Thanks Dave _ I am looking into how I deal with the situation - sounds like I will need to move the Yagi and use a somewhat higher mast - then I can try a splitter. It would just be nice to know if it will work before I spend any more money geting coverage in an area that Telstra says is fine with an external antenna...
Wally 45
After months of deliberation and baulking at the price, went ahead and got one. Best I could get before was 1 bar at front bedroom window some of the time. I now get 2 and sometimes 3 at bedroom window but the second unit shows 7-9 which is what it is supposed to for a good result.
As for installation, I am sure you could do it yourself! Its only plug in. Put the window unit where you can get at least 1 bar and try the second unit in multiple places until you get a result of at least 7. I reckon that is all an installer would do anyway. I tried several places high up on top of cupboards and low down near the floor and in between, and got the best result near a window.
It is wonderful to be able to use a mobile phone as others can do but I still really resent the cost.
That's because Telstra are ripping us off because their's is the only option available in Australia. It's a bloody disgrace that we should pay over $700 to receive a service we are already paying for in our service charges. I need one and I only live 20km from my nearest tower!! Telstra should be providing these free of charge with a refundable deposit to protect against loss.
Hi yattalunga,
That isn't good to hear. Does the status light on the unit flash or is it solid? If its solid, which colour is it?
If the light is flashing green the Window Unit is competing regulatory compliance checks, this could take several minutes. Please make sure that the Window Unit is not sitting directly adjacent to a Wi-Fi device or cordless telephone, then wait for the Status Light to stop flashing.
If it is flashing red, the Window Unit has switched to a low power mode because the environment is too warm. Check if the vents are blocked or covered on the Window Unit. Move the Window Unit to a cooler spot and please wait and the Window Unit will start operating again when the environment cools down.
I hope this helps.
-Matt W
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Hi all,
There is no doubt that a lot of Telstra customers having difficulties with mobile services coverage. Getting good technical advice could be much improved.
Having said that I'd like to start one more pettition to bring Australian operators and Technicians back.
All the attach info is to assist you as a valuable Telstra customers in making correct decision which mobile antenna would suit your individual setup / situation. Whether you are located just on the metro fringes, rural or hills understanding basics of antenna attenuation / gain could very much help.
The fact is that the higher the gain, the more susceptible the antenna signal is to obstruction and interference. So here is a guide as to what the different radiation patterns look like and where different levels of gain will be your best solution.
High Gain : 11.1 dBi, 8.1 dBi
High gain antennas take all of the inputted signal and transmit it along the horizontal plane in a tight, narrow beam. Yes, the signal does travel further. This is a definite advantage in areas where the terrain is quite flat, provided there are few trees or buildings in the signal path. The narrow high gain signal will be obstructed by hills, trees and buildings. So in mountainous country or around dense city areas, high gain is not for you. Signal drop-out will be frequent.
Medium Gain : 6.1 dBi, 5.1 dBi
A medium gain antenna redistributes some of the signal that would have been sent vertically up and down and pushes it along the horizontal plane. This causes the signal to travel further, but still in a fairly wide beam.The signal is less likely to be blocked by hills or tall buildings, making a medium gain antenna the best choice for those in suburban areas and the larger rural towns.
Low Gain : 2.1 dBi
Unity gain simply means that the antenna pattern radiates in all directions equally, like a round ball.The broad omni-directional signal gets around and over buildings, hills, valleys and trees. Therefore, a low gain antenna is actually the best choice for those living in high rise city areas or out in bushy and hilly country.
There are typically 3 Yagi antennas recommend for different areas depending on their terrain type and distance. The other antennas listed here are suited to more unique situations.
It's also worth mentioning that all these antennas need to be plugged in to your mobile phone or modem with a patch lead. If your mobile phone doesn't support a direct connection you can instead use a cradle like you would in your car.
Below picture illustrates that if your house is within 3-5 km from the station but behind the hill - low gain antenna should work best as the attenuation pattern is more roundish and will reach the other side of the hill.
Some of the mobile antennas will work just fine and can easily be connected to the Universal Cradle I.E.
Smoothtalker Universal Cradle with Dash/Desk Mount and Antenna Connection - No Charger
Dash Mounted Universal Cradle with Antenna Connector
- Dashboard, desk, or table mounting
- High performance passive induction antenna connection (FME Male)
- Desktop 240V/12V Power pack available.
Why use an external antenna cradle?
Next time you're out-and-about look around you - every day thousands of Australians use external antennas to enjoy uninterrupted voice calls, fast 3G internet, and eliminate blackspots. If you're in a rural, hilly, low signal area, or you can't get a good signal indoors or in the car there's no need to tear your hair out over important phone calls dropping out half way - an external antenna is often all you need. This high performance cradle is designed specifically for the phone, and it's quick installation makes for a fast way to improve mobile service.
Smoothtalker cradles are renown for their low loss inductive antenna coupling, ensuring the highest possible passive signal boost for your mobile phone. The universal FME Male connector means your new cradle will work with any standard mobile phone antenna without the need for messy adapters or patch leads.
And checking network compatibility of the unit should give you basic confirmation that you've made the right decision.
|Telstra Next-G™ (850MHz)
|New Vodafone Network (850MHz)*
*Please check Vodafone Coverage Map.
|Optus Regional 3G (900MHz)*
*Please check Optus Coverage Map.
|All carriers - calls & text (900MHz)
|Telstra 4G (1800MHz)
|Optus 4G (1800MHz)
|All carriers - 3G internet (2100MHz)*
Please check your network's Coverage Map.
Best of luck
Great information there AW_99.
The Smart Antenna/ Repeaters are unfortunately designed more for "domestic" situations to improve coverage at certain locations within a building. Its pretty useful on its own , without an external antenna if there is sufficient signal available in a location somewhere around the home, like a window on the side of the house facing the cell tower.
Whilst not really intended for more common problems like weak signal in rural areas, the Cel-Fi repeater (Smart Antenna) can be used with a external antenna to improve connection in very low signal situations. by fitting either a Yagi or Omni antenna.
Most situations work better with the Yagi Style and a 16dBi with very low-loss LMR400 coax cable is the minimum requirement. These work great: smartantenna.com.au
But if the signal to your location is reflected, refracted off of surrounding terrain, such as could happen when you are located in a valley and/or where the signal you get may come from more than one cell tower location, an Omnidirectional Broomstick type antenna would usually work more reliably.
Thanks "Lemon"
Always glad to help. Perchaps my original post doesn't point in details to a "budget" solution to improve reception strength inside the house. I have achieved increased reception in my situation by buying reasonably inexpensive mobile antenna i.e GME (usually mounted on the vehicle's bullbar of the 4x4 or ute) and universal cradle - my is a Smoothtalker. It works well enough to give me 2-3 bars of reception - it does improve data (3G & 4G) signal strength as well. If you are handyman it can be installed on the roof of your house and via 5 meter cable connected to the inductive cradle (no power connection required). The requirement in this case will be to install the antenna on the side of the house facing the closest mobile tower (cell) and adjust it for the best signal strength. My one is 6dB but depends of the terrain, house location and how close is the tower - 3dB or 0dB may work better.
The currently supplied Yagi Antennas are rated @ 16 dB for the reception for farthest towers, at times up to 35 km away and less reliably to 50 km which can cause signal drop outs and very low data quality. I picked up a tower 200 km away and it would only be of use part of the day, no go!!!
The latest 16dB Yagi work can work on 700-3000 MHz which will cover any tower frequency for the perceivable future covering 3G, 4G 1800 MHz & 4GX 700 MHz etc, so the Yagi will be able to get the latest Generation of signal weather it is 5G or 6G in to the future.
For the moment Voice calls will only be on 850Mhz 3G and data on both 3G and 4G as the 4GX rolls out.
To get the best out of the 4G & 4GX is to use two Yagi Antennas half a meter apart on the same pole by a fully trained Telstra Contractor with a Guarantee on the signal availability and 12 months on the equipment, Ph 1800307305 Opt3. TMSA Opt 4.
On one install on a winery outside Rutherglen Vic, a customer from an 1800 MHz cell got a 4G signal with 56.5 Mbps down load with a 16 Mbps upload. These are the speeds coming for customers in 4G reception areas that are rolling out now since and before Jan 2015.
The winery still had to get a 3G TMSA with a third Yagi seperately mounted on it's own pole to get mobile reception in their shed.
View installs: www.wdtvandsound.com.au
Telstra Subby
Info is not of Telstra
You can ask for a "signal Survey" before going ahead.
@Ben_F wrote:
@jasnick wrote:
This is a very expensive option - I have read the data on the website and would like to know what would happen if I bought one and it didn't work. Have occasional one bar inside the house - horrendously expensive as it is, I might consider buying it if I could be guaranteed my money back if it didn't work. I'd hate to buy it and find out the reception was no better than it was before and it seems to me the only way to test it would be to install it.
If the product didn't meet your intended needs (ie: to extend the coverage inside your home) and you made Telstra aware of these needs, i would assume you are entitled to request a refund or replacement under the Australian Consumer Law.
You can twist their arm and get a payment schedule on the Yagi Install.
Also with the TMSA 4G (Telstra Mobile Smart Antenna 4G (Signal Booster)) can be paid off at $40 p/m over two years without paying more than the outright purchase price.
When any "Install" becomes a survey only, all the gear goes back. Don't recall anyone being charged for anything when an install doesn't go ahead.
Most all customers will be advised that if the signal is so low in their area that it is unlikely to work, or if there is too greater distance to a tower of over 35 to 50km max, otherwise you would have so such a variation of signal level all day, to the point of having some signal part of the day and then none, though the 3G voice signal most often remains long after data signal is long lost, otherwise they will try to do an install anyway if you press them.
Some signal is better than none, as 96dB is the cut off on a 16dB Yagi Antenna for the TMSA 4G/3G, if in doubt a survey request can be had. A good measure is 1 bar of signal just outside of your of your building. If the signal is much better than that then there is most likely to be metal or foil in your walls blocking signal, as brick, timber glass or anything else is fine.
There is now the new TMSA 4G and it does 3G signal boosting up to 30m with 5 Bars of signal up to 10-15m radius as well, out since the 2nd of June 2015 and it works extremely well at boosting any 4G signal for data on 1800MHz LTE or 700MHz 4GX, as it won't do both at the same time even if 3G data is non-existent, a 2 bars equivalent of 4G will give many times faster signal then 3G ever did without having to leave your device on the charger half the day.
So if your device does 4G 1800MHz LTE and the TMSA 4G is set on 700MHz 4GX for your local tower, your Phone wireless 4G LTE Modem, iPad 4G LTE or Tablet will only find 3G.
The newer devices sold since mid-2014 would be fine.
So if your devices where made earlier as such as the first 4G LTE iPad you will need a tower putting out 1800MHz with the TMSA set to 1800MHz.
Devices that will do 700MHz 4GX e.g. Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6. Then there is the iPhone 6S.
For that matter anything and any brand bought new in 2015. Tablet, phone (premium) and iPhone or iPad. Check before you buy.
But not the iPhone 5S, as it does 4G 1800MHz LTE.
smart antenna keeps dropping out, perhaps two units are too close together, only getting number 1 or 0 on second unit
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text: Xam Tattoo Artist Magazine Article Preview Issue #26 Phil Kyle: Would you recommend an apprenticeship to people knowing how difficult that is to do on your own? Xam: Totally and definitely. It's the only way. Not anyone can do it. Not everyone deserves it, people will still try it, like I did... Call me selfish if you want but there are too many of us now. It's out of control. Some will fail and most will keep doing shit forever. And that's it really... Xam: And some will make it through... PK: Do you think the people that made it through did so because they picked up things and techniques from people they have worked with? Xam: Yeah, for sure. It's something we are always learning anyway, even after 20 years. Yeah, if you think you know everything then you really don't know anything. When you think you know it all that's when the shit comes out and there are a lot of young people doing really good shit these days. You have to keep raising the bar. PK: True. When you flip through a magazine you see a lot of new stuff. Xam: Yeah, mostly technically well done but it's all the same... They can make a clean tattoo, but they all look the same... like there's no soul, I don't know if you get me? I don't know, I think they should go to the roots of a design, study and understand the basics before even trying to attempt a particular style. PK: Yeah, you don't look at a rose in a tattoo magazine to draw one; you find a real one or at least a photo of a real one and draw it from there.... Back when I started I didn't even know what the fuck the Internet was... We bought reference books. [Laughs]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Calculations show that the celestial visitor could be dazzlingly bright in November 2013 and be easily visible in broad daylight as it rounds the Sun.
Comet ISON is so named because it was first spotted on photos taken by Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok from Russia using the International Scientific Optical Network telescope.
It is currently very faint because it is out in the depths of space near Jupiter's orbit. But it will steadily brighten over the coming months until it passes less than two million km from the Sun on November 28.
That makes it a type of comet called a sungrazer, and there is a risk that the comet - essentially a giant ball of rock and ice, will break up when it makes that close approach.
But it could become brighter than the greatest comet of the last century, Comet Ikeya-Seki, which excited astronomers in 1965.
If it lives up to predictions, it will be many times more spectacular than the last bright visitor, Comet McNaught, which put on a good show by becoming as bright as Venus with a long bright tail from the southern hemisphere in January 2007.
Comet ISON, which has the official label C/2012 S1, appears to be on a nearly parabolic orbit which leads scientists to believe that it is making its first trip through the Solar System. This means it may have been dislodged from a vast reservoir of icy debris surrounding the Sun far beyond the planets, called the Oort Cloud.
It is a giant ball of rock and ice that is likely to be packed with volatiles including water ice that will erupt as brilliant jets of gas and dust when it is at its best.
The comet is likely to remain bright throughout late November and early December if it survives its close brush with the Sun. But astronomers are adding a note of caution by warning that sungrazers can be extremely unpredictable. Comet Kohoutek was a famous example of a comet that failed to live up to the hype in 1973.
Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said yesterday: "This is a very exciting discovery. The comet looks like it could become a very spectacular sight in the evening sky after sunset from the UK in late November and early December next year.
"Our members will be eagerly following it as it makes its first trip around the Sun and hoping to see it shining brilliantly and displaying a magnificent tail as it releases powerful jets of gas and dust."
Another comet is also set to put on a resonable show in the night sky next year.
Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) which was discovered by an automatic survey from Hawaii in June last year is expected to be bright in the evening sky after sunset next March and as bright as the brightest stars.


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LITTLE ROCK — Cherry picking football scores from opening weekend, there is a case to be made that Central Arkansas can beat Colorado and Arkansas can lose to Samford.
Only one of those outcomes can be pursued with a straight face.
Eastern Washington 49, Oregon State 46 and North Dakota State 24, Kansas State 21 received the most attention because Oregon State was nationally ranked and Kansas State was the defending Big 12 champion. Easy to miss was the fact that McNeese State, Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois, Towson, and Southern Utah beat South Florida, Iowa State, San Diego State, Connecticut, and South Alabama by a total of 77 points.
All members of the Football Championship Subdivision spotting Football Bowl Subdivision teams 22 scholarships, the winners were paid to go on the road and lose to FBS members. Instead, each of the seven deposited a six-figure check and inumerable image points. UCA will get $390,00 for traveling to Boulder, a segue to the twofold argument involving Arkansas teams:
UCA over Colorado is possible; Samford over Arkansas is not.
For starters, UCA is undeniably talented and will have extra time to prepare for the Buffaloes. Up one spot to No. 5 in the FCS poll this week, UCA opened the season with a rout on Thursday night. UCA coach Clint Conque has said his team "left some meat on the bone" when it lost last year in the second round of the FCS playoffs for the second year in a row and has made it clear that he believes the Bears can go deeper this year.
On the other side, Colorado had a program-worst 1-11 record last season. As a result, Jon Embree was fired and Jim MacIntyre was hired away from San Jose State, where he had turned around the program. Pac-12 member Colorado opened the season on Sunday, beating Colorado State 41-27 in front of almost 60,000 who turned out to see the in-state rivalry.
A year ago, Colorado followed up a season-opening loss to Colorado State with a loss to FCS member Sacramento State.
Samford is fresh from a victory over Georgia State, which moved up to the FBS this year by joining the Sun Belt Conference — counted by some across the country as victory No. 8 for the little guys. But, Georgia State only started playing football in 2011 and coach Bill Curry has said money was the reason the team ascended to the FBS.
Although it will be at least Sept. 21 against Rutgers before we begin to get a handle on these Razorbacks, Arkansas is far superior to Samford and I expect to see some players on Saturday who might not get on the field once Arkansas opens Southeastern Conference play.
Already, Clemson is on a fast track to play for the national championship and my pick to win the Southeastern Conference is looking square at 0-2 — the double-barreled repercussions from a 38-35 final that included big plays in the kicking game.
For Clemson, it was the instincts of walk-on cornerback C.J. Jones, who realized a Georgia punt was a live ball in the Clemson end zone, retrieved it, and advanced it to the Tigers' 9. For Georgia, it was a high snap that prevented a 20-yard field goal.
The rest of Clemson's schedule is pretty much about Florida State in mid-October and in-state rival South Carolina in the season finale. Georgia is home Saturday against South Carolina in the biggest game of the week in the SEC and the fact that the Bulldogs gave up four sacks against Clemson does not bode well when this week's opponent has Jadeveon Clowney and Chaz Sutton at defensive end.
Clemson will have to deal with its reputation for losing to an inferior opponent. Coach Dabo Swinney says his team is no longer susceptible to "Clemsoning." Maybe.
Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau.


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How does this medication work? What will it do for me?
Simvastatin belongs to the group of medications known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors ("statins"). It is used in addition to diet and exercise to lower cholesterol levels.
It is also used to decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death regardless of whether cholesterol levels are high or not for people who have coronary heart disease (CHD) or have other arteries in the body that are blocked, or for those who have diabetes and are over the age of 40. It is also used to treat people who have certain inherited cholesterol disorders.
Simvastatin works by blocking an enzyme that helps create cholesterol in the body. As a result, less cholesterol is made and levels of cholesterol in the blood decrease. Simvastatin lowers the level of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) and raises high density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good" cholesterol) levels.
The medication usually takes about 2 to 4 weeks to have a significant effect on the cholesterol level in your blood. After this time, your doctor will likely send you for a blood test to check for changes in your cholesterol levels.
This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
What form(s) does this medication come in?
How should I use this medication?
Before or when starting simvastatin, you should be placed on a cholesterol-lowering diet. If appropriate, a health care professional will discuss an individualized program of weight control and physical exercise with you.
The starting dose of this medication depends on your medical conditions and other medications you are taking, and can range from 5 mg to 40 mg taken once daily in the evening. The maximum recommended daily dose is 80 mg, which may be used for some people who have been taking this amount for a long time with no muscle problems or people at high risk of heart disease who have problems taking other "statins." The maximum daily dose may be lower for people taking certain medications.
The maximum dose for children and adolescents 10 to 17 years of age with inherited cholesterol disorders is 40 mg.
For best results in lowering your cholesterol, it is very important that you closely follow the diet suggested by your doctor.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Store this medication at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.
Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
Who should NOT take this medication?
Do not take simvastatin if you:
- are allergic to simvastatin or any ingredients of the medication
- are breast-feeding
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
- have active liver disease or unexplained increases in liver function tests
- are taking certain other medications, such as:
- "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole)
- protease inhibitors (e.g., boceprevir, ritonavir, telaprevir)
- macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin)
- medications containing cobicistat
- nefazodone
- gemfibrozil
- cyclosporine
- danazol
What side effects are possible with this medication?
Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
- abdominal pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- difficulty getting/maintaining an erection (men)
- gas
- headache
- nausea
- nightmares
- trouble sleeping
Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- blurred vision
- breathing problems (e.g., shortness of breath, persistent cough)
- memory loss
- signs of depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
- skin rash
- symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)
- symptoms of liver damage (e.g., yellow skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, or itching)
- symptoms of muscle damage (e.g., unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, or brown or discoloured urine – especially if you also have a fever or a general feeling of being unwell)
Stop taking the medication and seek medical attention immediately if any of the following occur:
- severe skin rash, including skin blistering and peeling (possibly with headache, fever, coughing, or aching before the rash begins)
- symptoms of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., swelling of the face or throat, hives, or difficulty breathing)
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.
Alcohol: People who drink large quantities of alcohol should be closely monitored by their doctor while they are taking this medication.
Diabetes: Simvastatin, like other medications in this family, may cause a loss of control of blood sugar levels and glucose tolerance may change. People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using this medication.
If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Grapefruit juice: Don't drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication, as it can increase the amount of simvastatin in the blood and increase the risk of serious side effects.
Kidney problems: People with decreased kidney function should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Liver function: Laboratory tests show signs of harmful effects to the liver that may occur for a small percentage of people who take simvastatin. When this medication is stopped, liver function usually slowly returns to normal. Your doctor will perform regular tests to check your liver function.
This medication should not be used by people with active liver disease or by people whose liver function tests are higher than normal. If you have a history of liver disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Muscle effects: In rare cases, serious muscle pain, cramps, and weakness have been associated with the use of statin medications (i.e., cholesterol-lowering medications whose names end in "statin," such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, or simvastatin), especially at higher doses. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- are 65 years of age or older
- are female
- are taking other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fibrates (e.g., gemfibrozil, fenofibrate) or niacin
- do excessive physical exercise
- have a family history of muscular disorders
- have diabetes
- have had any past problems with the muscles (pain, tenderness) after taking a statin medication
- have hypothyroidism (low thyroid) that is not controlled with medication
- have kidney or liver problems
- have undergone surgery or other tissue injury
- regularly drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks daily
Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps, or any brown or discoloured urine to your doctor immediately, particularly if you are also experiencing malaise (a general feeling of being unwell) or fever.
Pregnancy: Simvastatin should not be taken during pregnancy. It may cause harm to the unborn baby. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medication and contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if simvastatin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children less than 10 years of age or in girls who have not started menstruating.
Seniors: If you are 65 years of age or older, you may experience more side effects. Your doctor will monitor you closely while you are taking this medication.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
There may be an interaction between simvastatin and any of the following:
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2020. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Ava-Simvastatin


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Hmm, frozen fish sticks sure start off looking suspiciously like the protein blocks from Snowpiercer and you know how that turned out (if you watched the movie). But this is all fish! Minced cod, to be exact. The frozen blocks of fish supposedly trap the flavor and are presumably more efficient to ship.
Apparently, one of those pink-ish, beige-ish bars are 48cm long and can be turned into 85 fish sticks. That's a lot.
One day we will make a How It's Made infinite GIF loop of how to make an infinite GIF loop of a How It's Made program to start a chain reaction that will destroy the space-time fabric. Until then, enjoy Sploid's How It's Made Infinite GIF series.


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Gold Pure Royal Red L
Our noble Infinity roses are available in two different fragrance variations.
This is unique in Germany!
- "Rose Petal", a fine, natural rose fragrance with hibiscus
- "Rose Oud", a spicy oriental blend with peony and turkish rose
Pure Glam Collection- The finest boxes, handcrafted.
Our flower mail order presents you new boxes with exclusive fabrics from all over the world. We are the only suppliers with these artistic boxes. Our beautiful boxes are handmade and covered with the finest fabrics such as jacquard and velvet. The processing is just as high-quality as the metal logo applied afterwards. Our boxes are available in round and square shapes and in five sizes.
Luxurious Infinity Rose Flowerboxes with real, long-lasting noble roses.
Infinity roses do not need water!
Long-term "freshness"; as on the first day for 1-3 years.
Infinity Rose Flowerboxes are also very suitable for such places as boutiques, hotels, restaurants or medical facilities, because they do not require an annoying water change and, above all, are not wither away.
EndlessLove Flowerbox available in 5 sizes:
- Infinity Roses Flowerbox Size XS- Ø 5 cm; Height 9 cm 1 Rose
- Infinity Roses Flowerbox Size S- Ø 10 cm; Height 15 cm 4-5 Roses
- Infinity Roses Flowerbox Size M- Ø 15 cm; Height 15cm 8-10 Roses
- Infinity Roses Flowerbox Size L- Ø 20 cm ; Height 20cm 15-18 Roses
- Infinity Roses Flowerbox Size XL- Ø 25 cm ; Height 25cm 22-26 Roses


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Unintended Consequences of a Government shutdown
The unintended consequences of a government shutdown sometime lead to…. Love?
Sorry for no comic on Monday. It's been a chaotic week. But I've repented my evil ways (Some of them anyway) and regular updates will continue.
For the record, today's comic has nothing to do with politics. I actually can't stand politics. I'm just amused by all the people on both sides of the isle who blame Obama both seriously and ironically for everything.
I'd write more, but holy cow, I need to sleep.


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Encryption plugin for Grails
3% of Grails users
compile "org.grails.plugins:crypto:2.0"
grails install-plugin crypto
A Grails plugin with some Groovy wrappers for both Blowfish and PGP, as well as a tool class for generating random passwords, salting passwords when hashing them, and verifying salted passwords. Uses the Bouncy Castle encryption libraries.
Password ManagementMr. Smart Developer Says: "Storing plaintext passwords is EEEEEEVIL. Simply don't do it, because you're exposing your users to all kinds of potential threat, and may be tempted for evil yourself. If you aren't going to use some kind of externalized authentication service, then store your passwords salted and hashed."While Mr. Smart Developer is totally right, that's traditionally been difficult to do in Grails, because there's no easy way to salt and hash passwords. This plugin solves that.Password management utilities are found in cr.co.arquetipos.password.PasswordTools. In there are two sets of static methods for working with salted and hashed passwords:
The first method in each of these sets generates a String consisted of the salted and hashed password, and the second checks a submitted password (the first argument) against a salted and hashed password (the second argument).In addition, there are two utility static methods to return a random login and password:
saltPasswordBase64(String) / checkDigestBase64(String,String) saltPasswordHex(String) / checkDigestHex(String,String)
The set of allowed password characters are the alphanumerics along with "[email protected],;.-=+" (not including quotes). The set of allowed login characters are the alphanumerics along with just "." (not including quotes).
generateRandomPassword(int size=10) generateRandomLogin(int size=10)
BlowfishThe following encrypts a message with blowfish, and attempts to decrypt it with both the correct password and a bad one.
Encrypted values can also be returned base64-encoded, where there's an extra option to trim the result string.
String message = 'Hush hush' String password = 'DeVitto' String badPassword = 'Danny'// Encrypts the message as a byte array byte[] encrypted = Blowfish.encrypt(message.getBytes(), password) assert encrypted// Decrypts with the correct password, and compares def decrypted = Blowfish.decrypt(encrypted, password) assert decrypted String decryptedString = new String(decrypted)// Decrypted strings may contain trailing char(0)s decryptedString = decryptedString.trim()println "$decryptedString ${decryptedString.getBytes()}" println "$message ${message.getBytes()}"assertEquals decryptedString, message// Decrypting with a bad password returns null decrypted = Blowfish.decrypt(encrypted, badPassword) assert decrypted == null
String message = 'Hush hush' String password ='DeVitto' String badPassword = 'Danny'// Encrypts a message and returns it base64-encoded String encrypted = Blowfish.encryptBase64(message, password) assert encrypted String decrypted = Blowfish.decryptBase64(encrypted, password) assert decryptedassertEquals decrypted, message// There's an option to not trim the return value, even though the // default is to do so. In that case, the decrypted value may not // exactly match the original message decrypted = Blowfish.decryptBase64(encrypted, password, false) assert decrypted != message assertEquals decrypted.trim(), messageprintln "The following two rows should be different:" println "$decrypted ${decrypted.getBytes()}"// Decrypting with an invalid password returns null decrypted = Blowfish.decryptBase64(encrypted, badPassword) assertEquals decrypted, null
PGPKey generation and encoding:
For encryption, the following code encrypts a message in three different ways, which should all be equivalent. While the example returns the encrypted text as base64-encoded, a function that returns it as a byte array is also available (the equivalent call would be pgp.decrypt)
// Generates a PGP key pair def pgp = PGP.generateKeyPair()// Verifies that all values are present assert pgp assert pgp.keyPair assert pgp.publicKey assert pgp.privateKeyassertEquals pgp.keyPair.publicKey, pgp.publicKey assertEquals pgp.keyPair.privateKey, pgp.privateKey// Obtains the public and private keys, encoded armored-encoded String encodedPublic = pgp.encodedPublicKey String encodedPrivate = pgp.encodedPrivateKey// Creates PGP objects which contain only the public or private keys PGP publicOnly = new PGP(encodedPublic, '') PGP privateOnly = new PGP('', encodedPrivate)// Verifies that the previously encoded public key matches the // one from the object we just created with it assertEquals encodedPublic, publicOnly.encodedPublicKeyassert publicOnly assert privateOnly // Key created from the private key must have the public key as well assert privateOnly.encodedPrivateKey assert privateOnly.encodedPublicKeyprintln "From privateOnly:" println publicOnly.encodedPublicKey println privateOnly.encodedPublicKey println privateOnly.encodedPrivateKey
And this code encrypts a message and instead of returning the byte array base64-encoded, returns it encoded as armored text.
def pgp = PGP.generateKeyPair()String encodedPublic = pgp.encodedPublicKey String encodedPrivate = pgp.encodedPrivateKeyPGP publicOnly = new PGP(encodedPublic, '') PGP privateOnly = new PGP('', encodedPrivate)assert publicOnly assert privateOnlyassertEquals encodedPublic, publicOnly.encodedPublicKeyString message = 'Hush hush' /* Encrypts the message in three different ways: with the original key pair, with the one that only has the public key, and with the one that was generated from the private key. They will later be decrypted in several ways to ensure that all are equivalent. */ String encrypted = pgp.encryptBase64(message) String encrypted2 = publicOnly.encryptBase64(message) String encrypted3 = privateOnly.encryptBase64(message)assert encrypted assert encrypted2 assert encrypted3println "Encrypted number one:" println encrypted println "Encrypted number two:" println encrypted2 String decryptedPrivate = privateOnly.decryptBase64(encrypted) assert decryptedPrivateString decryptedBoth = pgp.decryptBase64(encrypted2) assert decryptedBothassertEquals decryptedPrivate, decryptedBoth assertEquals decryptedPrivate, messagedecryptedPrivate = privateOnly.decryptBase64(encrypted2) assert decryptedPrivatedecryptedBoth = pgp.decryptBase64(encrypted) assert decryptedBothString decryptedPrivate3 = privateOnly.decryptBase64(encrypted3) assert decryptedPrivate3String decryptedBoth3 = pgp.decryptBase64(encrypted3) assert decryptedBoth3assertEquals decryptedPrivate, decryptedBoth assertEquals decryptedPrivate, message assertEquals decryptedBoth3, message assertEquals decryptedPrivate3, message
In the case of a decryption failure, the decrypt function will return null:
def pgp = PGP.generateKeyPair()String encodedPublic = pgp.encodedPublicKey String encodedPrivate = pgp.encodedPrivateKeyPGP publicOnly = new PGP(encodedPublic, '') PGP privateOnly = new PGP('', encodedPrivate)assert publicOnly assert privateOnlyassertEquals encodedPublic, publicOnly.encodedPublicKeyString message = 'Hush hush' String encrypted = pgp.encryptArmored(message) String encrypted2 = pgp.encryptArmored(message)println "Armored 1:n$encryptedn" println "Armored 2:n$encrypted2n"
While the default encodedPrivateKey function returns the key encrypted with a blank passphrase, one can easily be added:
def pgp = PGP.generateKeyPair() def pgp2 = PGP.generateKeyPair()String message = 'Hush hush' String encrypted = pgp.encryptBase64(message) assert encryptedString decrypted = pgp2.decryptBase64(encrypted) assertEquals decrypted, null
The above code would fail in JDK6 because of a String.getBytes() problem. The solution would be to:import java.nio.charset.Charset....byte (+) xencrypted = Blowfish.encrypt(message.getBytes(Charset.forName("ISO-8859-1")), password)Similar for decrypt:String decryptedString = new String(decrypted,Charset.forName("ISO-8859-1"))BTW, Some how "UTF-8" does not work here
def pgp = PGP.generateKeyPair()String passphrase = PasswordTools.generateRandomPassword(10) assert passphrase assertEquals passphrase.size(), 10String encodedPublic = pgp.encodedPublicKey String encodedPrivate = pgp.getEncodedPrivateKey(passphrase)// ..... // The encoded key is later instantiated using the passphrasePGP privateOnly = new PGP('', encodedPrivate, passphrase) assert privateOnly


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It is Half-Blood Prince Day! The fandom is taking over Twitter. Join in!
Jul 14, 2009
Today is the day that the many thousands of us around the country will be lining up to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; it's been two years since we saw an HP film. The last time we did this we were only a week away from the release of the seventh book.
The HP Alliance is spearheading a campaign today to help the presence and good spirit of Harry Potter fans make an impact worldwide: What Would Dumbledore Do got a half-start last week but thanks to other important world activities didn't quite track the trending topics. So this is our last chance, guys – get ready.
It's all very simple. First, in all your tweets today tack this phrase onto the end of it: "#dumbledore http://tr.im/wwdd" (minus the quotes). The "#dumbledore" tag will start ratcheting the phrase up the ranks and the link will help spread the word. Then, when you see the film, make sure you say something like this (with the phrase Harry Potter in it as well):
Just about to see Harry Potter – in honor of #dumbledore we are taking over Twitter! http://tr.im/wwddJust saw Harry Potter – in honor of #dumbledore we are taking over Twitter! http://tr.im/wwddHarry Potter was awesome! In honor of #dumbledore we are taking over Twitter! #dumbledore http://tr.im/wwdd
VERY IMPORTANT: We will all be tweeting simultaneously AT 8:59pm PST – or 11:59pm EST! No matter what you are doing make a tweet at that moment!
You get the idea – anything with the phrase Harry Potter and the Dumbledore tag, and, if you can, the link. The Dumbledore tag is the most important part!
Let's do it! Starting now!


text:
A New Year's Eve Flask
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Personalized stainless steel flasks are great for the bridesmaids at the Bachelorette parties, gifting the Groomsmen at the Bachelor party and St. Patrick's Day!
- Holds 7 fl oz
- Heavy stainless steel
- Rust-resistant
- Not recommended for acidic liquids
- Fully removable, screw-down cap
- Hand wash. Do not place in dish washer.
- PLEASE NOTE: If our art or your upload contains the color white, it will not print and be reflected as the color of the item.
- All measurements are provided by garment vendor; vendor tolerance for all measurements is +/-10%
- All provided measurements are in inches
- All weight measurements are in pounds
Earn 14.87% when you sell this item.
Interested in Storefronts?
Interested in Storefronts?
Party on New Years eve with your own custom flask! Add any text and take this with you to all your parties and to the bars. No one wants to pay for overpriced drinks, so use this flask to hold all your whiskey, vodka or tequila.
Custom Text: CUSTOM | FLASKS | NEW | YEAR'S! | -for-


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Electronic waste from obsolete phones, cameras, computers and other mobile devices is one of the scourges of this information age. The circuitry and packaging is not only non-biodegradable but is laced with toxic substances such as heavy metals. Imagine, then, a computer that can be disposed of by simply letting soil bacteria eat it – or even, should the fancy take you, by eating it yourself.
Biodegradable information technology is now closer to appearing on the menu following the announcement by Fiorenzo Omenetto of Tufts University in Massachusetts, United States, and co-workers that they could create a laser from silk.
In collaboration with David Kaplan, a specialist in the biochemistry of silk at Tufts, Omenetto has been exploring the uses of silk for several years. He is convinced that it can offer us much more than glamorous clothing. It is immensely strong – more so than steel – and can be used to make tough fibres and ropes. In the Far East, silk was once used to pad armour, and in pre-revolutionary Russia a form of primitive bullet-proof clothing was made from it. It can be moulded like plastic, yet is biodegradable: silk cups can be thrown away to quickly break down in the environment. It is also biocompatible, and so could be used to make medical implants such as screws to hold together mending bones, or artificial blood vessels. You can even eat it safely, although it doesn't taste good.
What's more, all of this comes from sustainable and environmentally friendly processing. Spiders and silkworms make silk in water at ordinary body temperature, spinning the threads from a solution of the silk protein. Harvesting natural silk is one option, but the genes that encode the protein can be transferred to other species, so that it can be produced by bacteria in fermentation vats, or even expressed in the milk of transgenic goats. Turning this raw silk protein into strong fibres is not easy – it's hard to reproduce the delicate thread-spinning apparatus of spiders – but if you just want to cast films of silk as if it were a plastic then this isn't an issue.
Light fantastic
Perhaps some of the most remarkable, and apparently unlikely, potential uses for this ancient material are in high-tech optical technology – such as the type that forms the basis of optical storage and telecommunications. Using microscopic moulds, silk can be shaped into structures that reflect and diffract light, like those on DVDs – it will support holograms, for instance. Its transparency commends it for optical fibres, and Omenetto and colleagues have previously shaped silk films into so-called waveguides, rather like very thin optical fibres laid down directly on a solid surface such as a silicon chip.
But rather than just using silk to passively guide and direct light, they wanted to generate light from it too. And so this led to their idea of creating a silk laser.
In a laser, a light-emitting substance – the lasing medium – is sandwiched between mirrors that allow the light to bounce back and forth. The medium is brought to a light-emitting state by pumping in energy, typically using either another light source or an electrical current. Any light that is emitted is trapped by the mirrors, which triggers further emission as it bounces to and fro, very rapidly escalating into the sudden release of all the light in an avalanche. This puts all the light waves in step with one another, which is what gives laser light its intensity and narrowly focused beam. The beam eventually escapes through one of the mirrors, which is designed to be only partially reflective.
Silk doesn't absorb or emit light at the visible and infrared frequencies used in conventional telecommunications and optical information technology. So to make it into a fully working laser medium, one needs to add substances that do. Organic dyes (carbon-based molecules) are already widely used, dispersed in a liquid solvent or in some solid matrix, to make dye lasers. The researchers figured they could mix such a dye into silk. They used one called stilbene, which is water-soluble and closely related to chemical compounds found in plants and used as textile brighteners.
Nerve support
In collaboration with Stefano Toffanin and coworkers at the Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials in Bologna, Italy, Omenetto and colleagues etched a series of grooves about a quarter of a micrometre wide on the surface of a slice of silicon, which act as a mirror for the bluish-purple light that stilbene emits. They then covered this with a layer of silk spiced with the dye, and found that when they pumped this structure with ultraviolet light, it emitted light with the characteristic signature of lasers: an intense beam with a very narrow spread in frequency.
Making the device on silicon means that it could potentially be controlled electronically and merged with conventional chip circuitry. But that's not essential – silk-based circuits and devices could be laid down on other materials, perhaps on cheap, flexible and degradable plastics.
This isn't the first time that biological materials have been used to make lasers. For example, in 2002 a team in Japan made one using films of DNA infused with organic dyes. And last year, two researchers in the US and Korea made lasers from living cells engineered to produce a fluorescent protein found naturally in a species of jellyfish. But the attraction of silk is that it is cheap, easy to process, biodegradable and already used to make a range of other light-based devices.
There might be even more dramatic possibilities. Recently, Omenetto and colleagues showed that silk is a good support for growing neurons, the cells that communicate nerve signals in the nervous system and the brain. This leads them to speculate that silk might mediate between optical and electronic technology and our nervous system, for example by bringing light sources intimately close to nerve cells for imaging them, or perhaps even developing circuitry that can transmit signals across damaged nerves.
If you would like to comment on this article or anything else you have seen on Future, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.


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Quote:And here I thought no one would respond to my thread lol.
Quote:Well I realize that my poll questions weren't perfect, I wasn't trying to get too political, I was really just trying to ask if this is practical typed jkd or if it is just another school using the name to get people interested.
Quote:The instructor was taught by Jerry Poteet, who was a student of Bruce Lee's correct? With this information what do you guys think? Is this good enough "lineage"? Does anyone think that this isn't a good place to train? Thank you.
Artifacts from the Ryukyu Kingdom missing since WWII.
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Book presents photo tour of the Trans-Allegany Lunatic Asylum. A must if you're going to take a ghost tour!


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OVERLAND PARK, KS — The explosion of express clubs in the United States has become a double-edged sword for manufacturers who make products for locker rooms. On one hand, this trend has fueled the demand for cubbies and small lockers. On the flip side, however, it has snatched away potential sales from some manufacturers.
Space is at a premium in these clubs, so many owners of no-frills clubs swap lockers for cubbies, locker rooms for private changing areas, and spa-like bath products for standard shampoo and soap dispensers.
These smaller clubs also are often designed with an in-and-out mentality, which makes locker rooms unnecessary. Ninety percent of Snap Fitness members live within two miles of their club, so they often prefer to shower at home, says Peter Taunton, president and CEO of Snap Fitness.
"In our model, people aren't joining our clubs for the locker room facilities, and the shower amenities are not that big of a draw," Taunton says. "We would rather put that square footage into more exercise space and have a very efficient facility with state-of-the-art equipment."
Fitness 19 was one of the first club companies to take locker rooms and shower facilities out of its clubs, which measure from 7,000 to 10,000 square feet. By moving from full-scale locker rooms to traditional bathrooms with multiple stalls, the company lowered its price point for memberships, reduced overhead and committed more space to exercise equipment.
Curves also does not offer locker rooms. Instead, the clubs have bathrooms and changing rooms, which are often equipped with towels, deodorant and body spray.
Even though Snap Fitness does not have traditional locker rooms, some 15 percent of its clubs located in retail or office parks do offer 8-foot-by-10-foot personalized changing rooms and shower facilities. These rooms often include a bench, vanity, shower stocked with soap and shampoo, and a toilet, but no towels or hair dryers.
Anytime Fitness, another key-card club company, offers showers to its members, but none of the 1,300 4,000-square-foot clubs offer full-scale locker rooms. All of them have one men's and one women's changing room, each with a shower, sink and toilet.
Not all club companies, however, are downsizing their locker room facilities. Key Club Concepts, which owns four 7,000- to 10,000-square-foot key-card Vision Fitness clubs in New Hampshire and Maine, invests in full locker room and shower facilities in all of its clubs. When the company begins to license its clubs this year, it will require the licensees to dedicate at least 800 square feet to a locker room.
Although putting in showers and lockers can be expensive, these amenities are a valuable long-term investment, says Craig Annis, president and owner of the clubs, which he has run under the 24-hour key-card format for the last 17 years.
"Just because your operating format is different doesn't mean you have to cut out the basics," Annis says, "and in my mind, lockers and showers are one of the basics."


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No, seriously. This is the place where I usually point out what's new in the world of Monty Python, point out books and films and CD and other Python merchandise would be great gifts for the Python fan on your holiday shopping list and provide links to the stuff on Amazon to make your shopping easier. In return I (and other Amazon Associates) pick up a small commission to help pay for our sites. Today Amazon flat out cancelled my account and STOLE the money that was in it. When pressed for a reason Amazon could not provide an answer. The could not cite a single requirement that this site didn't meet, a single rule that it had broken or provide ANY legal justification for STEALING my money. This matter will be turned over to the authorities. Until then, consider this to be a warning. If you want to be an amazon Associate, DO NOT DO IT. If you are already an Amazon Associate, GET THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR ACCOUNT NOW before you're robbed.
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- 'Wavs of the Week' updated 2/3/13
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What is better to use for a course racing a twin tip or a surf board?
Any tips, information on course races?
http://www.kiteracing.comlivingston wrote:Any tips, information on course races?
No doubt at all - the Rocketfish will be WAY better for racinglivingston wrote:I will be going to a course racing so i am not in the mood of buying a board.
What about that north race ltd is it any good? Anyone tried it?
I my self have a cabrinha custom 133 X 39 and a north rocketfish 6''...i'll try them out if i get the chance before the race...
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Help patients 'rebound' by giving blood in March
In March, while basketball teams are fighting for the chance to be crowned champions, patients battling cancer and other illnesses are fighting for their lives. The American Red Cross asks blood donors to help patients rebound by making a lifesaving donation this spring.
Donors of all blood types are needed to help ensure that the Red Cross can collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations needed every day. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-RED CROSS.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
• YMCA in Hudson - 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., March 9
• American Legion Post 121, River Falls - 8:30 to 2:30 p.m. March 16
• Citizens State Bank, Hudson - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 16
• Mayo Clinic Health System in Red Wing - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 21
Medical cannabis study shows significant number of patients saw pain reduction of 30% or more
Forty-two percent of Minnesota's patients taking medical cannabis for intractable pain reported a pain reduction of thirty percent or more, according to a new study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health.
"This study helps improve our understanding of the potential of medical cannabis for treating pain," Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. "We need additional and more rigorous study, but these results are clinically significant and promising for both pain treatment and reducing opioid dependence."
The first-of-its-kind research study is based on the experiences of the initial 2,245 people enrolled for intractable pain in Minnesota's medical cannabis program from Aug. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016. Of this initial group, 2,174 patients purchased medical cannabis within the study's observation period and completed a required self-evaluation before each purchase.
Health care practitioners caring for program-enrolled patients suffering from intractable pain reported similar reductions in pain scores, saying 41 percent of patients achieved at least a reduction of 30 percent or more. The study also found that of the 353 patients who self-reported taking opioid medications when they started using medical cannabis, 63 percent or 221 reduced or eliminated opioid use after six months.
New traffic card allows communication between people who are deaf, law enforcement
The Minnesota Department of Human Services released March 2 a new tool to help improve communications between people who are deaf and law enforcement. The new two-way communication card provides guidance to officers and can help facilitate the interaction. "Minnesotans who are deaf and hard of hearing suggested this card, which we are confident can help to reduce significant communications barriers and also increase overall safety for both people with hearing loss and law enforcement,"Human Services Assistant Commissioner Claire Wilson said. The laminated document, which can be kept in the vehicle, identifies the person as being deaf or hard of hearing and offers a few key communication tips. It has graphics the officer can point to indicating what information they need, what violation occurred and what will happen as a next step, such as a warning, ticket or possible arrest.
"This is a valuable tool for both the deaf and hard of hearing community as well as law enforcement," Col. Matt Langer, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, said. "Any tool that helps with safety and communications is valuable." People who want the traffic card can send an email to dhhs.metro//edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-7438-ENG.


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HOUSTON — More than 200 American citizens have been killed since 2004 in Mexico's escalating wave of violence, amounting to the highest number of unnatural deaths in any foreign country outside military combat zones, according to the U.S. State Department.
The deaths included a 22-year-old Houston man and his 16-year-old friend who were hauled out of a minivan and shot execution style. They also included a 65-year-old nurse from Brownsville found floating in the Rio Grande after visiting a Mexican beauty salon and a retiree stabbed to death while camping on a Baja beach, reported the Houston Chronicle in a story published Sunday, which examined hundreds of records related to the deaths.
The State Department tracks most American homicides abroad but releases few details about the deaths. Most, however, occurred in border cities, including Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo, where violence has spiked with drug cartel feuds in recent years.
The Chronicle analysis showed some American homicide victims were involved in organized crime. At least two dozen American victims were labeled as cartel hitmen, drug dealers, smugglers or gang members. Others were drug users or wanted for crimes in the United States.
But in at least 70 other cases, the Americans were killed in Mexico while there on seemingly innocent business: visiting family, vacationing or living and working there.
Mexican Congressman Juan Francisco Rivera Bedoya of Nuevo Leon said he believes most American victims get killed after crossing the border for illegal activities or venturing into unsafe areas.
"Tourists visiting cathedrals, museums and other cultural centers are not at risk," he said.
'Travel alerts' for border communities
The State Department last year issued "travel alerts" for several border communities, warning that dozens of U.S. citizens had been kidnapped or killed in Tijuana, though it gave no details.
"We're not trying to scare anybody off, but we sure as heck want people to be aware of the dangerous conditions that they might encounter in certain parts of the country," said former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza in an interview before he left his post.
Meanwhile, Mexico said over the weekend that 100 more federal police officers had been assigned to the capital's airport following a series of assaults on travelers who exchanged money.
Five of the victims have been foreigners, including a French scientist who was killed.
Federal Police official Brig. Gen. Alfredo Fregoso said the reinforcement brings to 500 the number of federal officers patrolling the airport.
Prosecutors say at least 18 people who were recently robbed outside the airport were apparently followed after exchanging money inside.
The French scientist was shot in the head last month after assailants intercepted his car and stole $6,336.
Fregoso's announcement Saturday came a day after a Colombian man became the 18th reported victim.
Gruesome deaths
Across Mexico, more than 5,000 people were killed last year, authorities report. Some of the deaths of police and other public officials have been public and gruesome, with bodies posed in public places.
The Chronicle found that among the American deaths, at least 40 were killed and had their bodies dumped in the methods favored by drug cartels.
Few of the killers are caught.
Only about 20 percent of homicides in Mexico result in arrests, the Chronicle found in its analysis of data from the Citizens' Safety Institute. The Mexico City-based nonprofit surveys prosecutors across Mexico.
Records from the prosecutor in Baja California Norte, home to Tijuana, show none of the cases from 2004 to 2006 have been closed. More than 90 Americans have been killed in the state south of San Diego since 2003.
More on Mexico
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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LEXINGTON — Who are the Haydenettes?
They are not the Rockettes, famous for dancing at Radio City Music Hall. Nor the Raisinets, which are coated in milk chocolate.
The Haydenettes are the Boston Celtics of synchronized skating. They've won a record 21 national championships. No other team has won more than three. They've also captured three consecutive bronze medals in the world championships.
The Lexington-based team will perform as Team USA 1 in the 2013 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, Friday and Saturday at Agganis Arena. Twenty teams from 15 countries will compete in the sold-out event. (Team practices are Wednesday and Thursday. Those at Walter Brown Arena are open to the public).
The Haydenettes started in 1979 as a bunch of Lexington High School kids skating in a community center donated by Josiah Willard Hayden. Lynn Benson founded the team and served as head coach until 2005. In the beginning there were few competitions, with fewer rules.
"Really, everything has changed," said Benson, who still returns to practices to rally the troops. "Now the team is internationally recognized, they are recruited from across the country and all but two are not from Lexington. They come from all over the country. They're mostly college-aged students."
The squad is made up of 20 skaters, of which four are alternates.
"You have to be good at everything," said Haydenette coach Saga Krantz. "You have to be a good single skater, ice dancer, and a pair skater, and that's what makes a great synchronized skater. You also have to be extremely good socially to support people when things aren't going good."
Krantz wants the Haydenettes to be graceful and have courage but also to be separate individuals.
"I don't want them to be alike, I want them to work together,'' she said. "I love the energy of different personalities."
Krantz choreographs the routines, which are more complicated than traditional figure skating.
The Haydenettes are hip. They dance to Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Jay-Z. They go all out, all the time.
At a recent practice session in Lexington, 16 skaters whiz by from different directions. It looks like a four-way intersection without stoplights. They go full speed. One false move and it's a train wreck.
Krantz, who was an award-winning synchronized skater and director in her native Finland, knows the dangers.
"It's full of risks; anything could happen when you're attached to all the other skaters on the ice at the same time,'' she said. "If one person falls, the chance that they take someone else with them is huge."
Then there are the multiple lifts.
"The blade is so dangerous that when the girls go into the lifts, if anything goes wrong, head injuries and cuts from the blade happen,'' Krantz said. "You have to be alert, every single time."
In the world championships, teams get a one-minute warmup and then skate two programs, a short program of 2:50 and a freestyle of up to 4:40, which must include nine elements. If something goes wrong, there is no timeout to regroup.
"It's a serious sport," said Krantz. "They look cute and girly on the ice, they may giggle, but this, for them, is what they've been thinking of for years.''
These athletes know how to handle pressure.
"They're well-educated, they've done a lot of psychology training, so they won't be throwing up beforehand,'' said Krantz. "They will be 100 percent focused on performing well on the ice, getting to the podium, and helping the ISU push us towards the Olympics."
The International Skating Union designated synchronized skating as a figure skating discipline in 1994 and the first world championships were held in 2000. But it remains the only figure skating discipline not yet part of the Olympics.
"That's what we all dream for," says Noelle Pearson, 21, a senior at Framingham State University.
Synchro's popularity is rapidly increasing. In 2012, there were 579 synchronized skating clubs in the United States, according to US Figure Skating.
Still, there isn't any live television coverage of the championships. Slowly, the media perception of the sport is changing. The Haydenettes skated last month on the "Today" show.
But most sports fans don't know their names.
Wouldn't they be better off being solo artists such Michelle Kwan or Sasha Cohen?
"There's so few single skaters that make it to the top,'' said Krantz.
"There's also something to be said that when you win and skate great, you can share it with somebody, instead of being in your own kingdom,'' said Krantz. "This is for people that want to do something together and be something together.''
The Haydenettes have traveled the world. They have been to France, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Czech Republic, Croatia, and Hungary.
"The best part is we can all calm each others' nerves," said Kelly Ottaviano, 19, a Haydenette and communications major at Merrimack College. "We've already skated together for five years.''
Haydenette Jenna Longo, an accounting major at Bentley University, said their passion is off the charts.
"We wake up thinking of it and go to bed dreaming about it," Longo said. "A lot of my friends are Division 1 hockey players and their jaws just drop to the ground when they see us skate, they are so impressed with the athleticism and precision."
But more important is their team motto.
"Perform beautifully in life."
Stan Grossfeld can be reached at email@example.com.


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Climate Change and Russia Are Partisan Flashpoints in Public's Views of Global Threats
Public would like Trump to focus more on domestic policy than foreign policy
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U.S. Politics & Policy
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About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.


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One of the most common exploits aimed at your customers involves phishing attempts in which attackers seek to steal money, passwords and other sensitive information that can lead to a variety of malfeasance, including identity theft. These attacks focus on gaining the confidence of the victim, and persuading the victim to expose exploitable data. Popular attack vectors include email and social media, and typically link to malicious web sites.
RSA has recently issued a fraud report that provides some interesting statistics that can be useful in explaining the threat to your customers. Here are some of their findings.


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A couple of days ago, my dad asked me about a news report that said eggs are "really bad for your heart." He had missed most of the segment, but was taken aback by just how serious it sounded. As a dutiful egg eater, he was, of course, curious to know more.
If you enjoy eggs regularly, or even just on occasion, you might have been similarly startled by the news stories last week that reported egg yolks are harder on your heart than the now-infamous Double Down sandwich from KFC, or other similar artery-clogging delights. So what can the average person make of this debate? Here's a summary of the facts so far--so you can make up your own mind.
Eggs: the great debate
For years, eggs were painted as a culprit in the battle against heart disease. High in cholesterol at roughly 200 milligrams or more per egg -- note that all of the cholesterol is in the yolk--it was reasoned that high dietary cholesterol raised cholesterol levels in our blood, making us more prone to heart attacks and heart disease over time. (Various current guidelines recommend limiting dietary cholesterol to less than 200-300 mg per day.)
Then came a series of studies, both population and laboratory-based, that seemed to exonerate the egg as a cardiovascular risk factor. The first headline-maker came in 1999 with combined results from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and the Nurses' Health Study. Split by gender, the two studies followed some 38,000 men and 80,000 women for six and 14 years, respectively. At the end of the study, egg consumption was compared to risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiac events, including heart attack and stroke.
The results surprised many. Despite the high cholesterol content, consuming eggs was not related to coronary heart disease risk or stroke in either gender. Notably, however, diabetic men who consumed the equivalent of one egg per day or more doubled their risk of heart disease, while diabetic women consuming at least seven eggs per week saw one-and-a-half times more risk than their nondiabetic counterparts.
Since then, numerous other population studies have produced similar results. The 20-year Physicians' Health Study found no link between egg consumption and increased risk of heart attack or stroke. They did, however, find a 23 per cent increase in mortality risk for those consuming seven eggs per week or more, much of which was attributed to diabetics, who nearly doubled their risk of death by consuming the equivalent of an egg daily.
Ditto the same results for a study of nearly 10,000 adults, followed for 20 years, as well as a 14-year study of more than 9,000 Japanese adults. Most recently, the Health ABC (Aging and Body Composition) Study found a trend toward higher risks for those with the highest intake of both eggs and dietary cholesterol, but the result did not reach statistical significance (meaning it could still be due to chance). Once again, researchers found that the strongest relationship between egg consumption and heart disease risk was among older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Today's controversy
So where is the controversy? In a review published this month in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, three Canadian researchers raised concern that physicians, dietitians and even the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada have become too lenient in recommending eggs as part of a healthy diet. As a cholesterol-rich food, they reasoned, eggs have routinely been linked with an increased risk of heart disease in the various aforementioned studies -- at least among older diabetics -- and laboratory studies have demonstrated that dietary cholesterol can cause damage to the endothelium (lining) of the blood vessels in the heart, and induce an inflammatory state that can be considered a precursor for heart disease.
They also point out that the studies that have shown a lack of effect of eggs on heart disease risk in healthy individuals could be limited by short duration and lack of statistical power, and they also pointed out that a number of the studies demonstrating health benefits of egg consumption have been funded by egg marketing boards.
As a conclusion, the authors emphatically recommend egg yolks not be consumed without consideration to cardiovascular risk factors, especially type 2 diabetes, and then go so far as stating: "In our opinion, stopping egg consumption after a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke would be like quitting smoking after lung cancer is diagnosed: a necessary act, but late."
It's a strong statement, but it's made less meaningful when you consider that smoking is, by far, the primary risk factor for lung cancer, while eggs are one of literally dozens of potential -- and controversial -- risk factors for heart disease.
As for the concern regarding the length of the population-based studies, one could reason that, if you can't tease out a statistical difference after 20 years in tens of thousands of individuals, then perhaps the ultimate effect--if there is one -- is simply so small as to be inconsequential? (One study estimated the overall impact of eggs on cardiovascular disease to be less than 1 per cent.)
The bottom line
As with most things still being researched, the debate about eggs and cholesterol won't be going away soon. Those who follow this column know I tend to take a middle road with most things related to nutrition. There is so much noise out there that it's easy to get frustrated with seemingly contradictory information, and the reality is that eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight are by far the most critical issues when it comes to reducing the risk of diseases.
So based on the evidence I've seen, I'm going continue to tell most of my clients (and my dad) that they can enjoy eggs several times per week as part of a balanced diet.
- Jennifer Sygo is a dietitian in private practice at Cleveland Clinic Canada, which offers executive physicals, prevention and wellness counselling and personal health care management in Toronto.