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Ear Blockage, Infections and Hearing Loss
In children, ear problems are quite common and may present with ear pain, ear blockage or ear discharge. One of the most common problems is due to impacted earwax which may form a small plug inside the ear and cause the sensation of blocked ear and some mild hearing loss. Earwax is made up of skin cells shed from the ear canal and has protective properties as it contains natural oils to coat the ear canal skin. The ear is usually a self-cleaning device as the skin lining the ear inside tends to migrate outwards to move most wax away from the inside.
Sometimes, wax does become trapped inside the ear due to the type and nature of wax, and shape of the ear canal. In these cases, a few drops of clean olive oil applied inside the ears can help to soften the wax to make it easier for wax to flow out on its own. If this does not work, then a visit to the Ear Nose Throat specialist is helpful to allow gentle cleaning of trapped wax and any infected debris with special tools under the microscope.
After a bad cold or flu, children (and adults) may sometimes get fluid building up behind their eardrums as the nose is connected to both ears by pressure tubes (Eustachian tubes). If this fluid becomes infected, then the child (or adult) may develop an ear infection which can lead to eardrum perforations ("holes") to cause ear discharge (liquid leaking out of the ear) and hearing loss.
Another risk factor for buildup of eardrum fluid and infections may be due to excess soft tissue growing behind the nose (adenoids). Having large adenoids is relatively common in young children and may also lead to snoring and trouble breathing at night (see Snoring and breathing issues in children ).
After careful cleaning of the ear, eardrops are prescribed to treat the infection fully. In eardrum infections, a course of oral antibiotics is usually prescribed. Simple advice to avoid ear infections are to stop digging one's ears and to keep the ears dry e.g. at showertime. Eardrum perforations which do not heal by themselves may need to be repaired with surgery to prevent further infection.


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Let's See What I Come Up With
Sometimes, hearing or reading things about focusing on the REAL message of the holidays wears me out.
Because, deep down, I think we all try to focus on family and love and giving during this time. But for some of us there is A LOT of family and love and giving and the REASON for the season can be overly stressful.
It's just really hard to be popular.
But if it is important to focus on family and friends, then I think it's important to show up to my grade school kids' Christmas show at 12:30. Then it's equally important to show up for my middle school kid's band concert that night at 6pm.
And there is the church party we go to and help out at so that everyone is fed and welcomed. Plus the women's meeting I'm partially in charge of. (If I don't show up, there will be no cake. Might as well cancel the whole thing.) We also enjoy throwing a skating party for my husband's patients. They get to skate, make some crafts, see Santa, eat cookies. It's a lot of fun. (Just an FYI: we kind of have it down but throwing a party for 200-400 people can take time.) We also do a few other things in the community in order to spread the spirit of cheer and happiness. I even volunteered to make a fruit salad for a gathering I don't plan on going to because there wasn't going to be enough food.
I think all of these things spread the spirit of the holidays. Being together; sharing; listening to children sing off key.
But that also means that we, as a family, together, loving one another, have 3-4 activities a week. This is doable. With constant ordering out of food, it's even not that hard. But it can get stressful.
And let's be honest: If there are no wrapped presents at all, the reason for the season would get a little squashed in disappointment. (I blame the parents' of my kids' friends. If THEY didn't give their kids anything, their kids wouldn't go to school and talk about their new toys and then I could give my kids a nice stick with a pocket knife and tell them to make a toy.)
So this year I'm not listening to or reading any "How to Focus During the Holidays" articles or podcasts. I've decided to use that time to wrap the gifts I purchased for loved ones.
On Thanksgiving.
Oh no, there's now a pet reindeer?? Don't tell my 7-year old….
Your last line is the best!

subset: commoncrawl


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Blog / Small Mistakes can be Costly!
Today I wanted to talk a little bit about Email. Okay, maybe "Talk" isn't the right word; how about "Rant"?
Well, Email is an amazing tool, a wonderful method of communication. Pretty much every single company in the world makes use of it, to some degree. Also, many people don't seem to know how it works.
If you think you know how email works, then see if you can answer the following questions correctly:
Do you know what BCC means and how it works?
How can this link to https://www.Google.ca not actually send me to Google? How can an Email written in Russian show up in perfect English?
If you couldn't answer all these questions, I'd say you still have more to learn about how email works. Being able to answer two of them, I'd consider that a pass, but still 'needs improvement'.
The simple truth of the matter is that there are a lot of people who really don't understand how email works. This is important, because not having good email skills can be costly, very costly. How does fine of 200,000 British pounds (343,000 CAD) sound for using TO rather than BCC sound? A small, yet very costly mistake.
Also, one that was easily avoidable with a little bit of education and awareness.
Email is rapidly becoming one of the primary methods for Attackers to initially infiltrate an organization. They can send infected attachments, conduct Phishing campaigns to gain login credentials, and more. It's simple to use and doesn't require a lot of specialized or expensive resources to setup (like designing a piece of custom malware.)
The reason these methods can be so successful is largely due to a lack of real understanding about how email works. This is true for end Users, but also a lot of email Administrators (I spent a few years doing Technical Support for a large company and became one of their Anti-Spam Gurus.) Everything from how emails get displayed, to how spam detection works, and how email gets delivered, is a magical black box to a lot of individuals.
If you're getting into a vehicle, nobody trusts their life to someone without a license. Yet, people blindly trust their company emails to people without any skills in that area and think nothing of it.
Treat Email as what it is: a powerful and flexible communications tool that can cause a lot of harm, when used improperly or maliciously.
Now I'm not advocating a license to use email. The car driving example was just that: an example. My message today is the same as always: Education and Awareness.
The prevailing attitude out there is that Email skills are a given and everyone "understands it." This is simply not true, and the sooner organizations recognize this, the sooner they can take steps to improve and better protect themselves.
If you have any questions about Email or Spam Filtering, please reach out to your TRINUS Account Manager for some stress-free IT.
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Cyberman.


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Hi Guys!
Today I have some crazy awesome nails to show you! This is for my next challenge in the Chrysler Ypsilon & Stylist Vice or Virtue Challenges!
If you missed my first challenge post make sure you check it out. You can also read all about what Chrysler are up to and join in the fun! Everyone is welcome to take part, so make sure you check out the challenges yourself! – I'd love to hear if you do any of them!
Chrysler have planned this fantastic campaign for their Ypsilon stylish 5-door city car. For those that don't know – Ypsilon is actually the greek letter Y. The story goes that the trunk of the letter Y represents our youth and as we reach adulthood we make the choice of taking the path of either vice or virtue… and this is where the idea of the challenges originated from! Research by Chrysler Ypsilon has found that a number of us would love to take the route of vice, but life pressures and fears of what others may think is preventing us from being more daring. Chrysler Ypsilon has partnered with Stylist.co.uk to launch the Vice vs Virtue campaign to encourage women to step out of their daily routine and Dare to be different!
So this challenge was to go to a nail bar and choose a crazy design to celebrate summer. This is totally up my street, you've probably noticed I'm a big fan of bright colours, the louder the better!
I booked my last minute (ahem) appointment and arrived at my local salon. The beauty therapist asked what I was looking for? I asked her to make my nails as bright as possible – go crazy I said! Do whatever you like! She looked at me with a raised eyebrow like I was some sort of crazy person. (Me? As if!… I also happened to be wearing a neon yellow top, with a neon orange kimono – I'm hoping she was thinking I was eccentric rather than just nuts!) She seemed a bit apprehensive so I assured her whatever she did would be fine, and to take it as an opportunity to experiment! Maybe use my bright clothing as inspiration!?
And this is what I ended up with! The most amazing neon pink nails, with bright yellow accent nails on the ring fingers, and neon stud details on my thumbs and ring fingers! The picture really doesn't convey the intense brightness of these colours, the pink especially. With the combo of these nails and my outfit, you'd definitely need sunglasses to look at me!
I've included a shot of my full outfit, just so you can see how crazy bright I looked! I love it!! All I need now is a tan, a cocktail – and a holiday in a hot destination!!
This is definitely not the most daring of challenges (skydiving, anyone?) but it is fun, and it is exciting not knowing what I was going to end up with. You should give it a go – dare to be different! 🙂
Beauty chrysler ypsilon Fashion Makeup Nail Art Nail Polish Review


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Inspiration strikes artist and sculptor Usha Ramachandran from almost everywhere. "It might be something I read in the newspaper, in a magazine; something I see on the road; something I experience, hear about; something on Facebook…," says Usha, with a sweep of her hand, in the direction of her many sketches and bronze sculptures, some of which will be on display at an exhibition titled 'Sketches n' Bronze' at the Art Gallery, Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum, from today.
Ever since the 62-year-old homemaker, who has always been interested in art, gave free reign to her creative side at 59 (once her husband, Ramachandran, retired from the civil service, and she had "lots of free time"), Usha has become known for her live-action sculptures in bronze. They capture moments in time such as a goalie diving to catch a football ('The Diving Save'), a young washerwoman in action ('The Little Laundress'), and so on.
Live action image
Her latest exhibition features eight of her new sculptures, one of the most outstanding being the 'Dancing Girl.' This particular bronze sculpture captures a coltish, long-limbed Bharatanatyam dancer in the midst of a performance. Actor-dancer Shobana…? "Yes!" she says with a delighted laugh. "It is one of my most challenging works yet. It was difficult to mould the mudras (hand gestures) as they appear in a photograph of the artiste I came across," adds Usha. Another interesting sculpture freezes in time, a man pedalling away on a bicycle, his scarf flying in the wind. This time around Usha has experimented with modernistic themes for her sculptures too. One of the more interesting ones is a teak wood carving of a woman's head, her tresses (or perhaps it's a shroud) in undulating, embossed bronze. Another in this series vaguely resembles the bust of an owl, its ears sticking up, eyes morose.
It was a chance meeting with a city-based artist and art teacher V. Satheesan, who had come to her maiden painting exhibition, that led Usha to bronze sculpting.
"He offered to teach me and gave me his contact number but I don't think he thought I was serious about learning to sculpt until I actually called him. My 'classmates' were five year olds!" recalls Usha with a laugh.
"Bronze sculptures are the work of many hands. I first model them with beeswax and then take them to Ayyappan in Chalai for casting (he uses the ancient technique of sandblasting), then I work on them and put in finishing touches and finally I take it to be polished by Kennedy in East Fort," explains the artist, who will also display 26 of her charcoal and pastel sketches at the exhibition.
"It's the first time I am exhibiting my sketches," says Usha, almost shyly. "Sketching is something that I do to relax," she adds. Among her sketches is a set of three on the destitute widows of Vrindavan, "inspired by a recent newspaper article on a woman abandoning her mother." The stark black and white images perfectly capture the loneliness and the vacuum-filled lives of these abandoned women. Another sketch depicts a typical "temple samvadham (discussion)," a common sight of yesteryear when men used to gather near the local temple to catch up with each other. Usha's take on the issue of migrant labour features a labourer dressed in pants and baseball cap harvesting paddy. A portrait of an old woman, her weather-beaten face crinkling into a frown is "inspired by a photograph by Thulasi Kakkat, a photographer with The Hindu."
The exhibition will be inaugurated by N.N. Rimzon today at 5.30 p.m. and is on till March 2, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contact: 2320666.


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The artistic director of London's Young Vic Theatre has said that he is "saddened" by some of the conversations he has heard about immigration in Britain since returning from America to take up the role.
Kwame Kwei-Armah was speaking at the announcement of the programme for his first season at the theatre after replacing David Lan at the start of this year.
An eclectic array of multi-media productions will begin with a musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, co-directed by Kewi-Armah.
This will be followed by Black Panther star and Tony-award winning writer Danai Gurira's play The Convert, which explores the impact of colonialism in 19th-century Rhodesia.
Also announced was a digital project called My England, where playwrights from across the country will celebrate Englishness by producing a series of short video monologues.
Kwei-Armah returned to the UK from America after serving as the artistic director of the Centre Stage theatre in Baltimore. He said that he noticed that the country had changed from the one he had left.
He said: "I feel like I have arrived back in a country that has moved forward and also kind of moved back.
"It is a nation that, in my humble opinion, may be in a bit of an identity crisis. It doesn't quite know what it was. It doesn't quite know what it's going to be post next year and our exit from Europe.
"In a way there is some part of my heart that is saddened to hear conversations about immigration, to hear conversations of Windrush children being sent back or deported or feeling under threat, to look at immigrants in this country and to see the fear that's in their eyes and that was in my mother's and father's eyes 40 and 50 years ago – all of that stuff feels like we've taken a step back.
"When it comes to speaking about Englishness we have a problem with it. It makes us sad and xenophobic. It makes us sound as if we're occupying space that's been weaponised by the far-right.
"I think there absolutely is Englishness – we learned that during Brexit. I just think we have to find a way of articulating it, find a way of being proud of it without any negative connotation."
Kwei-Armah's first season as artistic director of the Young Vic will begin with Twelfth Night in October. All Main House shows' first preview tickets will be sold for £5 via a TodayTix lottery, in a bid to change the traditional demographics of theatre audiences.
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The word pancake appeared in print as early as 1430. It is believed that the Romans, in the 1st century AD, ate sweet and savory dishes resembling the pancake made out of milk, flour, eggs, and spices. Around the 15th century is when people started adding ingredients such as wheat, buckwheat, or cornmeal.
Pancakes, mainly known back then as johnnycakes, flapjacks, or hoecakes, were mentioned in Amelia Simmons' American Cookery, which is a cookbook that many consider as the first all-American cookbook. It was published in 1796 and featured a recipe that calls for milk, "Indian meal," and molasses. Even Thomas Jefferson was known to be a huge pancake fan and sent a recipe home from the President's house in Washington DC. It is thought that what Jefferson was referring to was probably what we would consider a crepe in this day and age and what we consider a pancake was called a griddle cake back then.
Today, pancakes can be found everywhere in our culture. From dive diners in tiny towns to upscale restaurants in metropolitan cities making unusual twists to the patties, the life of a pancake is thriving. Current pancake trends in the U.S. consist of savory pancakes, which made the cover of Bon Appétit magazine in the form of "Savory Dutch Babies" earlier this year. Another example of this trend is the widely popular State Bird Provisions in San Francisco, which currently features three pancake dishes every night. The house signature cake is a sourdough batter flavored with sauerkraut, topped with whipped ricotta and Romano cheese. Across the country is Chez Sardine in New York City that serves stacks of pancakes layered with fish tartare, garnished with salmon and spicy yogurt.
Pancakes aren't just popular in America either. Thin, translucent pancakes called crepes originated in France but are also known in Hungary as palacsinta and in Italy as crespelle. The batter tends to be much thinner than the American version we are used to and you'll find both sweet and savory fillings in them.
Blintz (also known as blinchiki or blini) is derived from Eastern Europe. Although its characteristics fluctuate between regions, it is a yeasted batter usually made out of buckwheat, wheat, or millet flour that then gets mixed with milk or water after it's left to rise.
Dosa is the savory crepe-like pancake found in South Asia and is made from a fermented batter of soaked rice and urad dal (similar to lentils). Arepas are traditional Venezuelan and Colombian cornmeal patties that are often stuffed with cheese. Hotteok is a Korean street food version made from sweetened yeast dough that is left out to rise and then stuffed with syrups, caramels, and spiced nuts. Roti is found across South and Southeast Asia and are similar to what we may think of as flatbread.
- Q: What does buttermilk do to pancake batter?
A: Many pancakes from around the world are left to ferment for a slightly sour tang. Here in America, our version of that is including buttermilk in the recipe. This acidic ingredient helps keep baked goods moist and tender by breaking down long, tough strands of gluten. Buttermilk also works with baking soda to act as a leavening agent to produce carbon dioxide gas, which helps the batter rise.
- Q: What's the difference between pancakes and crepes?
A: The main difference between pancakes and crepes is that pancakes have a leavening agent (baking soda or baking powder) in the batter to help it rise while crepes do not. The result is thick, fluffy pancakes while crepes remain thin and will spread very thin when transferred to a skillet for cooking. There are more differences than that, of course, so find out out what those details are in our full Nagging Question article.
- Q: How long can you save pancake batter in your fridge?
A: Pancake batter can last in the fridge, sealed in an airtight container, for up to two days or in the freezer for up to three months.
- Q: What makes pancakes fluffy?
A: The leavening agent found in pancakes is what is going to help it rise into thick patties. To make sure your pancakes end up fluffy instead of overly chewy, make sure you aren't over-mixing the batter. If you over-mix the batter then the gluten from the flour will react and give you a chewy result.
Cooking Pancakes At Home
If you are planning to make pancakes, you'll need to make sure you have these basic ingredients on hand: flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, eggs, buttermilk, and butter. The flour is the main component of the pancake and it's what reacts with the liquid ingredients to form a batter. The sugar will help sweeten the batter slightly so you don't end up with bland pancakes and salt will help bring out the flavors. Baking powder is essential because it's the main leavening agent so you end up with thick and fluffy patties. Buttermilk will moisten the mixture to turn it into a liquid batter and butter is going to help it brown.
For best cooking results, use a pan or griddle on a stovetop. Make sure the pan is heated up before adding butter or oil so the pancakes don't spread too thin when poured.
To store leftover pancakes, wrap in foil or plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out, and refrigerate within two hours of making them. These leftover pancakes should be eaten within a day. To freeze, place sheets of wax paper between each pancake and place in a sealable freezer bag. These pancakes can be stored in the freezer for up to two months.
And finally, here are a few key tricks and tips to keep in mind when cooking up your next batch of flapjacks:
It's important to make sure your baking powder is no more than six months old, or else they may not rise correctly.
As mentioned earlier in the article, be careful not to over-mix, so you end up with fluffy pancakes instead of chewy.
It's time to flip your pancake when the bubbles that appear on top of the batter pop.
Avoid making the batter ahead of time as the leavening agent starts interacting with the ingredients right away and you will end up with less fluffy pancakes.
For more, check out 23 Pancake Hacks and Tricks That Will Change Breakfast Forever. Now that you are ready to whip up a batch of your own, here are seven essential pancake recipes (plus one bonus recipe!):
1. Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
Here is a traditional buttermilk pancake recipe for you to try out with all the new techniques you learned in this article. The batter is studded with blueberries and the cooked patties are drizzled with maple syrup. Bookmark this staple recipe for your next lazy morning around the house. Get our Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes recipe.
2. Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes)
Boxty is an Irish pancake that is made up of a mixture of mashed and grated potatoes, which results in an unusual texture. The ingredients are fairly basic, which allows it to pair nicely with almost any dish. Its simple ingredients also make it suitable for breakfast or dinner. Get our Boxty recipe.
Dutch Baby pancakes can seem intimidating at first, but if you have a cast iron skillet and know how to make pancakes, you can make this recipe! This recipe is flavored with citrus zest and topped with caramelized pears. Don't forget the powdered sugar to sprinkle on top! Get our Dutch Baby Pancake recipe.
These savory potato latkes stray from the traditional pancakes we are used to, as the main ingredient is potato instead of flour. These hearty fried cakes are for more than just Hanukkah and will warm you on any chilly evening. Serve them warm, topped with sour cream or applesauce. Get our Potato Latkes recipe.
5. Buckwheat Pancakes with Fresh Blueberries and Maple Syrup
The secret trick in this recipe is to fold the egg whites in for an extra fluffy batter that yields lighter pancakes. The buckwheat flour in this recipe gives the cakes a nutty flavor while the blueberries bring sweetness to the cakes. Get our Buckwheat Pancakes recipe.
These slightly sweet pancakes are perfectly flavored with sweet potatoes and nutmeg. The flavors work particularly well with maple syrup and they are the perfect fall treat. Get our Sweet Potato Pancakes recipe.
This recipe is not to be missed! Swap out buttermilk with fresh ricotta for an extra airy pancake. Lemon zest brings a bright flavor to these cakes. Get our Lemon Ricotta Pancakes recipe.
BONUS! Apricot Pancake Syrup
The perfect pancake is not worth making if you don't have the right toppings to accompany it! We have you covered with this simple apricot syrup that's meant to be enjoyed on a stack of pancakes (or waffles). The syrup has a slight bite from the ginger that is irresistible. Get our Apricot Pancake Syrup recipe.


text: High tech, new invention fishing lure that perfectly replicate the colours and patterns of European bait fish. These FISHIN' ADDICT lures feature innovative multi jointed sections, a shape that replicates realistic swimming action. 'Best Lures' Prize at World Fish 2013 Exhibition Highly durable with a good casting profile for accuracy and distance Easy treble removal aids storage, sharpening and scaling up or down based on target species Suitable for Fresh and Saltwater Targets big pike, perch and zander in European waters New in packaging 160mm / 40g / 5 segments Rainbow Trout pattern See our other fishing lures for catching predatory fish like Pike and Bass – imitating natural bait fish roach, perch, dace, chub and super bright. Tips and tackle http://fishinaddict.wordpress.com/


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Search the site
there. But alas, it was just a movie set, built for Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle, the new stoner comedy which some fans are calling Dude, Where's My Slyder? So, as usually happens with iconic
property and immediately filed affidavits on his behalf, claiming they were misled by wicked Joe Mihevc into supporting the bylaw against their wills. They're gone now, of course, and that comedy
squarely on publicity for the new comedy Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle, a film that must surely have the powers-that-be behind the Kansas-born franchise rubbing their hands together in glee
and a fitness instructor charted his changing health statistics. He captured it all in the first-person guerrilla style of Michael Moore. The movie begins as a comedy, but turns into something more
. The fact that much of the money from television dramas and comedies is earned from syndicated reruns, or that Broadway could support a successful play that exactly mimicked episodes from The Brady Bunch
Always sorry to hear about people losing their jobs, but Licks' burgers weren't all that good anyway (way over-spiced) and that order counter musical comedy just turned me off. I went a few times
fluency: what is seen simpler, is perceived to be more true Collaborators Collective bargaining Collective bargaining used in franchise agreements Comedy Comments on article are interesting Commercially


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On the heels of several initiatives aimed at getting users to share more information, Facebook is making sure users know who can see the information they share: close friends, networks, or the general public.
The initiative is called a "Privacy Checkup" and it is being rolled out to every one of Facebook's 1.28 billion users. The feature will go through every part of a person's Facebook page to be sure users are aware of who can see their information. In addition, all new posts will be shared with "Friends Only" by default. This appears to be a step away from Facebook's previous actions regarding privacy, and comes at a time when privacy advocates are pressuring tech companies to make policies less complicated.
The next time users log onto Facebook, the social media site will guide users through every detail of their profile to ensure they are aware of who can see what data. This includes sharing information such as e-mail addresses and phone numbers, as well as double-checking that users are aware of what applications can access their Facebook account. Users can still decide what audience they want to share each individual post with, but the menu has been simplified. On the mobile app, "audience" now appears highlighted at the top of each status update separate from location, and feeling and activities options.
Previously, the default audience for posts was "Public," as Facebook attempted to make the site a more open flow of information, especially about current events, similar to Twitter.
Now it appears that Facebook recognizes social media users are still interested in sharing information about their lives, but want transparency as well as autonomy over their level of privacy.
"While some people want to post to everyone, others have told us that they are more comfortable sharing with a smaller group, like just their friends," Facebook says in a blog post announcing the change. "We recognize that it is much worse for someone to accidentally share with everyone when they actually meant to share just with friends, compared with the reverse."
A few weeks ago Facebook also rolled out "Anonymous Login," which allows people to log in to a third-party application that works with Facebook without allowing that application to see any of the user's information.
"[Facebook has] gotten enough privacy black eyes at this point that I tend to believe that they realized they have to take care of consumers a lot better," says Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, a nonprofit research and advocacy group, to the New York Times.
That being said, Facebook is still interested in encouraging sharing on its social media site and mobile app. In the past few weeks, Facebook has released a relationship status "Ask" button, an "I Voted" button for upcoming elections, and a "Nearby Friends" feature that lets users locate friends in their vicinity.


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Over our working life we have, on occasion, been commissioned to make memorial pieces. These are, by their nature always highly personal and poignant. It has been a privilege to work with Nick,Mandy and Chloe Gazzard, and their wider family, in creating a memorial bench for Hollie, who was murdered in Gloucester in 2014.
The bronze inscription to Hollie surrounds a revolving 'friendship' globe for sitters to roll while having a quiet contemplative moment.
The Hollie Gazzard Trust www.holliegazzard.org has been set-up to work with local agencies in promoting awareness of domestic abuse and knife crime, and to fund and support young hairdressers, a job Hollie loved.
Sweet chestnut; plaque in bronze; globe and fixings in brass.
3m long, 900mm tall and 700mm deep.


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Intellij 5.0 project loading performance unacceptably slow Follow
We have been using IntelliJ since 4.0 here at Alcatel, Canada, with the majority of the group using 4.5.2. Since IntelliJ 5.0 seems to be getting more stable, I decided to give it a try over the past few weeks (latest try - build# 3496).
Our project has about 29000 classes, with some classes having greater than 10000 lines (on account of being code-generated). Because of the nature of the code, and dependencies, multi-modules does not help - hence the whole source is loaded as a single-module project.
In the IntelliJ 5.0 builds that I have tried (including # 3496), initial project loading takes close to an hour and a half. The same project takes about 25 minutes in IntelliJ 4.5.2.
Subsequent project restarts are comparable. Project loads with IntelliJ 5.0 were done with ALL inspections off (just in case they were causing the slowness) whereas they were on in IntelliJ 4.5.2. Moreover, CVS updates again cause the IDE to freeze for 30+ minutes with 1 CPU pegged.
Tests were conducted on a hyper-threaded 3.0 Ghz Dell Pentium, with 3 GB of RAM (/3GB disabled), with de-fragmented MFT and disk (SATA 150). Both IDE versions were started with Xmx set to 892 Mb.
Are there any plans on addressing this? This is a major road-block for us to recommending upgrading to Intellij 5.0 internally.
In the IntelliJ 5.0 builds that I have tried (including # 3496),
initial project loading takes close to an hour and a half.
this isn't a normal behavior for sure (I'd say 25 minutes is equally bad).
Similary sized IDEA project loads itslef in 10 minutes or so with Xmx set
to default 192m.
Could you please try to take a CPU load snapshot for the faulty process so
we can see what's wrong there?
To enable the stuff add the following line to the idea.exe.vmoptions prior
IDEA is started: -Xrunyjpagent:port=10100
Make sure it's on separate line indeed. Disable Settings|General|Reopen last
project on startup so you'll go to the 'welcome screen' as IDEA starts up.
There should be 2 additional buttons on the toolbar: one for taking memory
dump and the other for CPU profiling. Press that for CPU snapshot and open
your project normally. As the project gets loadded press the same button
again. A zipped snapshot will be saved to your user home directory. Upload
it to ftp://ftp.intellij.net/.uploads or mail to firstname.lastname@example.com and we'll
see how the problem could be worked around/solved.
Maxim Shafirov
"Develop with pleasure!"
More numbers...
I just managed to drop down IDEA project loading time from 220 to 190 sec.
But you see, it wasn't that bad initially.
Maxim Shafirov
"Develop with pleasure!"
Thanks Max... I have sent you a CPU snapshot as requested.
Please sign in to leave a comment.


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- Understanding QUEST functions and applications
- C5.0 concepts and practical applications
- Understanding information gain
- Random forests
- Boosting and bagging
- Costs and priors
Skill Level Advanced
- [Keith] Decision trees are without a doubt the most common predictive analytics modeling technique. Hi, I'm Keith McCormick. I've been building statistical and data mining models for 25 years and virtually every real world project that I've completed has involved decision trees at some stage of the project. I'm really excited about this class because by continuing the discussion that began in Decision Trees Part One, we can truly do a deep dive into the subject. In this course, we'll cover the QUEST algorithm and how it uses statistical tests in building its models.
We will also explore the C5.0 algorithm and its many features like winnowing and global pruning. Finally, we'll get a chance to discuss advanced topics that apply to all decision trees, like boosting, bagging, and misclassification costs. Let's begin.


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Aundri can't stop dreaming. She closes her eyes and can barely tell the difference between her nightmares and her real life. Her dreams are interferring with her waking life, and the issues in her waking life seem to be the main source of all the strange dreams. Can Aundri take control of her problems,or will the line between her real life and her dreams become permanently unrecognizable?
Lately, and My Dreams is about Aundri Martin who cannot seem to keep her dreams and real life straight. In the beginning of her story, Aundri is caught in a horrible dream that involves taco day at the cafeteria and an angry stomach. But I won't spoil it. As we go through a typical week in Aundri's life, we see that she takes a back seat in all of her relationships--from her husband to her best friend to her mother to her co-workers. Instead of speaking up for herself, Aundri doesn't want to rock the boat. Although she doesn't say anything aloud, her internal dialog is hilarious. Written in the first-person present tense, the reader experiences everything at the same time as the main character. It's entertaining to try and figure out what's real and what's a dream and what crazy thing Aundri might think next. Although there are a lot of dream sequences, it is not hard to follow.
It is a very funny book with a sense of humor that comes from Aundri thinking and sometimes saying a lot of things we wish we could say in real life. I especially loved Aundri's relationship with her sister. And those crazy dreams reminded me of some of my own. It is a quick read that I definitely recommend for some good laughs and maybe discovering what your dreams mean. But be advised, there are some racy parts in there.
Adult audience
Where to Find
Available as an ebook for FREE through Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Available in print through Amazon.
Goodreads May 2, 2012 - June 6, 2012.
Blogariffic Blog Hop hosted by Princess Reviews coming May 13-19, 2012.


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Advice, Support & Resources
Shrewsbury College Business Solutions
Shrewsbury College offers training courses and Apprenticeships to hundreds of sole traders and larger organisations in Telford, Shropshire and beyond. Our staffs wealth of industry experience means they understand your sector working together we'll find the best solution for your business.
The best place to find government services and information:
- Business and self-employed Tools and guidance for businesses.
- Employing people, Includes pay, contracts and hiring.
- Money and tax, Includes debt and Self Assessment.


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Price: $7.99
Quantity: 1 available
Book Condition: Very good
Extra shipping charges may apply to this book
Stock Description
"One of the truest and most original new voices in American letters," as Kent Haruf has written, Mark Spragg now tells the story of a complex, prodigal homecoming.
Jean Gilkyson is floundering in a trailer house in Iowa with yet another brutal boyfriend when she realizes this kind of life has got to stop, especially for the sake of her daughter, Griff. But the only place they can run to is Ishawooa, Wyoming, where Jean's loved ones are dead and her father-in-law, the only person who could take them in, wishes that she was too. For a decade, Einar Gilkyson has blamed her for the accident that took his son's life, and he has chosen to go on living himself largely because his oldest friend couldn't otherwise survive. They've been bound together like brothers since the Korean War and now face old age on a faltering ranch, their intimacy even more acute after Mitch was horribly crippled while Einar helplessly watched.
Of course, ten-year-old Griff knows none of this-only that her father is dead and her mother has bad taste in men. But once she encounters this grandfather she'd never heard about, and the black cowboy confined to the bunkhouse, with irrepressible courage and great spunk she attempts to turn grievous loss, wrath, and recrimination-to which she's naturally the most vulnerable-toward reconciliation and love.
Immediately compelling and constantly surprising, rich in character, landscape, and compassion, "An Unfinished Life" shows a novelist of extraordinary talents in the fullness of his powers.
Title: An Unfinished Life
Categories: General Fiction,
Publisher: Knopf: 2004
ISBN Number: 1400042011
ISBN Number 13: 9781400042012
Binding: Hard Cover
Book Condition: Very good
Item: 500.00 Item
Seller ID: 0122967


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Japan has the capital and needs to pull out of China, which has been its major destination. India, on the other hand, desperately needs capital especially for infrastructure, argues Rajeev Srinivasan.
March has two big anniversaries for Japan: March 11, 2011 is when the giant Tohoku/Fukushima earthquake/tsunami killed some 19,000 people. March 10, 1945 is the day of an even bigger catastrophe: The American fire-bombing of Tokyo, which resulted in an estimated 100,000 deaths, and made 1 million homeless: Bigger than the initial toll of Hiroshima.
The fact that the country has recovered from these is a testament to their iron will and discipline, and this is something India should learn from them.
In fact, Japan is signaling that it wants friendship with India. The recent visits of both Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in December, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in January, were not celebrated by the chatterati with anywhere near the symbolic importance they deserved.
In my opinion, these were quite likely to be the most important visitors in the last decade or so; certainly more so than the much-ballyhooed visit by United States President Obama.
Critics may carp that there have been false dawns in Indo-Japanese relations before. I was personally disappointed that when an earlier prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, made overtures, India was unwilling or unable to take them forward.
Read: An Indo-Japanese strategic alliance
But hope springs eternal: Maybe this time there really is far greater urgency to cooperate.
The reason is that both India and Japan are changing in ways that dramatically emphasise their complementarity. Each has what the other lacks. Besides, there is a deep civilisational affinity between the two, and none of the well-cultivated rancor that some East Asians have for Japan. Thirdly, the two share a common goal: The containment of a rampaging China.
But the Indian government failed to take full advantage of the recent visits. If I am not mistaken, the Japanese Emperor hardly ever travels out of the country; and according to Brahma Chellaney, geostrategist and Japan expert, in the 2,600 years of the Japanese monarchy, this is the first time one of their Emperors visited India, even though Japanese are positive towards India as the Holy Land of the Buddhist faith.
Abe made his second trip in a few months, this time as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. The reception, however, was distinctly low key. Instead of Manmohan Singh himself breaking with protocol and meeting Abe at the airport, it was a junior minister, Rajeev Shukla, who did it.
The Japanese, exquisitely sensitive to 'face', would have considered this a snub.
The rest of Abe's January visit also did not set the world on fire: there were no earth-shaking agreements inked. It seemed as though the two sides were just going through the motions: The Indians acknowledging grudgingly that Japan had just gone out if its way to offer its hand in friendship.
Perhaps, Abe was keenly aware that Singh is a lame duck; maybe he was saving his best for the new government, post May.
This is a shame, and is a lost opportunity for India. For this is perhaps the most opportune time to push forward boldly with an Indo-Japanese alliance. For one thing, the Japanese are throwing off 60 years of reticence, and considering how to re-position themselves in the Indo-Pacific region as a power to reckon with.
For another, they have soured on China, and wish to invest their money elsewhere, possibly in India.
There are many hurdles that make the Japanese reluctant business partners for Indians. The Nikkei Asian Review bemoaned the lack of punctuality, habit of making empty promises, the regulatory jungle, the lack of high-quality Japanese food, the amount of empty talking Indians do, and the class hierarchy in India as either baffling or difficult for the Japanese to deal with Indians.
An Indo-Japanese partnership, which may be incorporated into the Security Quadrilateral (Japan, India, the US, Australia) that Japan has proposed, may grow into a strong regional mechanism to keep the Chinese under control, just when they are attempting to turn the East China Sea and the South China Sea into Chinese lakes using their rapidly expanding naval power.
This is an era in which Japan no longer feels confident about the implicit American security umbrella under which it has prospered ever since World War II. The lacklustre American reaction to China's bold move of creating an air defense zone conveniently covering the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands has shown that the US has no stomach to take on China even in peacetime; the question of the US going to war with China to help Japan doesn't even arise.
One of the big issues in the US-Japan relationship is the post-war constitution that was written by the occupying American forces. It forced Japan to forswear the right even to defend itself, in Article 9, which Abe has vowed to overturn.
Chinese sabre-rattling in the East China Sea (as well as the South China Sea) has alarmed the pacifist Japanese. Article 9 says '... land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the State will not be recognised.'
This is all good, and it reminds me of the Panchasheel (the five moral precepts in Buddhism), but these good intentions are now running up against a bellicose China. As things stand, even the relatively innocuous discussion of India producing the amphibious search-and-rescue aircraft named the ShinMaywa US-2 (used by the Japan maritime self-defense forces) is debated as a possible violation of Article 9.
Maritime security, and the right to free passage in the high seas, especially in the Indian Ocean shipping lanes from the Straits of Hormuz to the Straits of Malacca (through which the vast majority of both India's and Japan's energy imports pass) is an area where the two countries see eye to eye.
The other major area of mutual interest is commercial. Japan has the capital and needs to pull out of China, which has been its major destination. India, on the other hand, desperately needs capital especially for infrastructure.
The $100 billion, 1,454 kilometre Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor, with four new ports and seven new cities, is the model: This should transform the western part of the country. There is a similar Chennai-Bangalore IT/auto corridor planned.
On a smaller scale, there is the drinking water project in Thiruvananthapuram, funded by Japan. Similarly, there are other major infrastructure projects where there could be synergy.
India is the fourth largest recipient of FDI from Japan, with $14.5 billion. Trade has tripled between 2005 and 2012, to $18.5 billion. However, there is a long way to go: each country only accounts for about 3 per cent of the other's total trade ('Why India and Japan are becoming closer', Nikkei Asian Review, January 2014).
Over a thousand Japanese companies have invested in India. One of the biggest investments was Daichi Sankyo buying Ranbaxy for $4.6 billion (although this may have gone sour with the latter's problems with the US authorities, and also allegations that the deal was priced too high).
On the other hand, Suzuki has seen its (now wholly-owned) venture with Maruti become the market leader. Mitsubishi Electric talks about its sales growing 40 to 50 per cent a year, while Hitachi held its global board meeting in India recently.
There is really only one complicating factor: Japan's extreme allergy to India's nuclear programme (perhaps understandable in a country that has faced Hiroshima and Nagasaki). This is acting as a serious deterrent to warming relations. However, Abe himself is generally pro-nuclear and is bringing back the nuclear power plants mothballed after Fukushima.
If he can persuade his parliament, the Diet, to ratchet down tensions, that would ease the way greatly.
Thus, on multiple fronts: Security, industry and culture, this is a perfect match with two partners that complement each other well. The Indian government would do well to not drop the ball.
On the other hand, if the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi were to come to power, he and Abe, both nationalists, would get on better.
At last, the vision of Nobusuke Kishi, Abe's grandfather and a former PM, and a friend of India, would be fulfilled.


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Fresh Home Grown Vegetables
Frugal gardening is learning new ways to save money when gardening. This article will show how easy it is to grow fresh vegetables in your back garden from seed. Have you thought about doing this?
There is nothing better than walking into your garden and picking your own salads and vegetables knowing they are fresh and more important, free from chemicals. More important, the taste is better than those that you buy in the local supermarket.
These days we never know where the produce is grown when buying from supermarkets. Therefore, by having your own fresh grown produce is healthier than bought produce. In addition, you have fresh salads and vegetables ready to pick when unexpected visitors arrive.
We can all become frugal gardeners when growing fresh vegetables. Either buy small plants in punnets from the nurseries, grow some vegetables from recycled ones, although I will tell you about that later. Plus grow them from seeds, which is the reason for writing this article.
What you Need to get Started
Growing fresh vegetables and fruit in your garden is very easy and it will not be expensive. If on a budget start simple and buy one thing at a time.
Three main things you need:
- Good quality soil
- Good fertilizer.
- Choose good quality and healthy seeds
Always buy fresh seeds, not old stock as they may not grow.
Use your own
For the first time gardener, try to obtain seeds from the old market gardeners or friends. Or save money by using seeds from the produce from last year. These days many of the seeds are treated so they will not reproduce. Yes the plants will have good leaf growth, although gardening is about producing and these plants will not produce fruit. So bear this in mind.
How to Grow Butternuts and Pumpkins
Anyone can grow these in your back yard from seeds. The disadvantage is that most of these need a lot of space in your garden.Credit: © T Photos
Planting seeds - Dig up an area forming a circle with raised edges. Plant the seeds inside this circle, keeping them about twelve inches apart. You can plant extra for when some do not grow, and then weed out the weakest plants. The raised edges help to keep the water in that area.
Growing your own Zucchini from Seeds
The beauty of growing zucchini is they take up less room than pumpkins. Therefore you can grow them in a large planter on your back patio or in the garden. Plant seeds similar to the pumpkins.
Ideas for cooking and eating zucchini
- Cut when small and pickle them, then store in jars
- Let them grow larger, then stuff and bake in the oven with a mince, onion and spice filling. That is the best way.
- Slice and fry in the pan
- Cut or dice, then boil in the pot.
- You can use them in stews, Quiche or pasta dishes. Zucchini is a very versatile vegetable.
Best Seeds for the Kids Garden
Kids Love to Help in the Garden
Kids will love to get involved in growing fresh vegetables, with their parents.
Children love playing in the dirt, although they lose interest quickly so need plants that grow fast.
Radishes - fit into this category because they grow in about six weeks from planting to harvesting.
Baby carrots- do not take long to grow, although not as quick as the radishes.
Another idea is to encourage them to grow their own herbs. That will give them more options, and these can also be grown from seed.
Planting Radish seeds
Form a shallow trench either with a stick or your finger. Because Radish seeds are tiny it is best to tip a few out on your hand. Then sprinkle the seeds into the trench. Cover with soil and water. If you have planted them too thick, you can thin by pulling the weaker plants out.
Types of Radishes
There are several types and shapes of radishes. Radishes are mainly found in two colours red and white, and grow in round or long shapes.
Be cautious as some rashes have too strong a taste for children. If left in the garden too long they will have a stronger and sometimes bitter taste. Therefore, best to pick early.
Saving your Seeds
Amazon Price: $8.95 $3.59 Buy Now
(price as of Jul 28, 2015)
No Bees in your Garden
If you have no bees, then try pollinating your own vegetables.
Pumpkins, butternuts have larger flowers, hence easier to do this. However, you can still do it with cucumbers except this is fiddly.
How to pollinate flowers
Look for the female flowers with fruit underneath. Now look for the male without any fruit. Pick that one and pluck off the large petals, leaving the stamen sticking up.Credit: © T Photos
Open the female flower carefully, and slip the male stamen inside and close the flower. Be careful not to pull or knock the female flower off the plant. That is all you need to do. Now just watch them grow and produce for you.
Growing Vegetables all Year
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(price as of Jul 28, 2015)
Growing Cucumbers from Seed
Different Types of Cucumbers
There are many types of cucumbers: Although I will only mention the Lebanese and the normal garden variety. The long thin Lebanese one you see in the supermarket is always wrapped in plastic. I find this one keeps a lot longer in the fridge.
The other most common one is the garden one. This is often darker and thicker than the Lebanese.
Both these cucumbers are easy to grow from seed. Always save good strong seeds from both of these types of cucumbers from previous year. Let them dry out and if the growing season is over store in a dry position in a plastic bag until next season. As the growing season varies from different countries I will leave that for you to check your gardening guide. Always plant before spring to have them growing for the summer.
Cucumber seeds can be planted about eight inches apart. About 30mm deep, then cover with soil and water. These can be grown along a fence (which I prefer as you can see the fruit easier) or on the ground. Keep in mind that this allows the slugs and snails easier access to the cucumbers.
Tips to reduce pests and bugs
- Spread crushed eggshells to discourage snails
- Place half eggs shells in garden to attract white moth to lay their eggs in them.
- Plant other flowering plants in between your vegetables.
- Grow garlic in between vegetables to discourage pests.
- Crush garlic and place in spray bottle and spray over vegetables.
There are many other ways of saving money by recycling and regrowing bought vegetables. Some of the ones you can recycle are: Bok Choy, Celery, Spinach and onions
You can also grow potatoes and sweet potatoes by replanting them when they start to shoot.


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Writing Routines/Mechanics
- Do you have a writing routine? How often do you write?
-I do have a writing routine. I try to write every day, at least 2k, though I don't always end up writing this much, it is definitely my goal. (Otherwise I would never finish anything)
- How long typically does it take you to finish a piece?
-I used to be terrible, I would start things and then take OVER A YEAR to finish them, but now I am much better. It typically will only take me 2-3 months to finish something.
- Do you use outlines? Are you a pantser or outliner? Can you do both?
-I am some sort of hybrid of both. I usually make a general outline of where my book is going, though not with too much detail and the nitty gritty info is subject to change. You know how characters go, always running off in one direction with guns blazing without permission.
Writing Inspirations/Process
- How do you come up with story ideas?
-I usually get my ideas from everyday life like most writers. I find inspiration in the simplest things. Like a man walking down the highway. A catch phrase that clicks into something in my mind and spurns a plot theme, a picture. Things like that.
- Do the characters just come to you or does it take a bit of work to get them straightened out?
-I have to say both on this one. I have had characters come to me, whole and full of their own issues, while I have had others that have taken longer to evolve.
- Do you completed a first draft and then revise or do you revise as you go?
-I typically revise as I go, though this doesn't mean that I don't make changes when I go back over it, before sending it out to beta readers.
- Are you ever worried about offending anyone with a character or plot choice? How does that effect your writing?
-Oh, girl. All the time! My characters seem to want to do things that people would find crazy, awkward, or just down-right wrong. I try very hard to let them do what they want, because in reality, that's what people do and I like for my characters to feel as real as possible.
- Do you have pen name? (Don't worry, not asking you to share your real name.) How did you pick your pen name? What made you decide to have a pen name?
-I use my real name. I considered using a pen name when I first started writing, but found that I wanted my real name to be associated with what I had written. I found it to be more rewarding.
- How do you deal with rejection letters?
-Rejection letters are a part of being an author and they have helped me grow. I wouldn't be the writer I am today without a whole plethora of rejection letters.
- How do you feel about reviews? Do you read your reviews? How do you move on from a horrible review?
-I definitely read reviews. Like rejection letters, it is the bad reviews that help me grow as writer.
Writing Genres/Heat Levels
- What genres do you write now? What genres would you like to write/branch out to in the future?
-All I write is romance (of course I am a romance junkie! Lol) I have spaced myself out across several different romance genres though. Historical, contemporary erotica, and paranormal.
- Heat Levels. What heat levels do you write? Can you write multiple heat levels? Are there any heat levels that you feel uncomfortable with?
-I usually write toward a higher heat level. There are always some graphic scenes in my books. ;)
- Do you write BDSM? How do you feel it is portrayed in books today?
-I don't write BDSM, but I love to read it. I don't know much about the BDSM world, not enough to write a book about it, but I find it very interesting.
Writing: Types of Stories
- What length of stories do you write? Do you find certain lengths of stories sell better than others? Do you prefer to write a certain length over others?
-I have written a novella, a novelette, a short story, and a novel. LOL, so I can be versatile. As far as what sells better, I'm not really sure, but I know that I, as a reader, prefer to read books of novel length, so I don't plan on writing anything short in the near future…though that doesn't mean it won't happen. ;)
- Have you written any pieces in an anthology? Does it help get more readers to standalone books? Do you think anthologies sell well?
-I have had the privilege of being a part of one anthology. The HerStory anthology that came out in March 2013. To be honest, I loved this experience. I got to work with a bunch of amazing authors and got the chance to expand my writing circle. Definitely something that I would like to do again in the future.
- How do you feel about series? Do you think they sell better? Are easier or harder to write?
-I love series. I love to read them and I'm currently writing one right now the first of my paranormal series will be published later this year with Dragonfairy press. For more info click here. I think they are a great way to build an audience as a writer, but I also have found that they post challenges to the writer because you definitely have to have continuity.
Writing Background
- What type of formal training have you had with writing? Do you think it has helped or hindered you?
-I am a junior in college and an English major. Focusing on English has definitely helped with my writing. I have been exposed to a lot of classical pieces through school as well as learned how to perfect my writing as a whole.
- When did you first start writing? Do you remember your first story? First genre?
-My first story that I wrote was titled Beautiful Nightmare. A paranormal novel that ended up being over 125k. WOWZA. It is unpublished and is horribly written, lol. It was my first though, and I will always love that story.
Writing Support Groups/Forums/Nanowrimo/Networking
- Have you done nanowrimo or any variation of nanowrimo? Do you think it helped or hindered you? Do you plan on doing it in the future?
-I haven't tried out nanowrimo, but I would like to in the future. I think it is a great idea and opportunity to band writers together and get stuff done!
- Do you do writing sprints? Do you think they help?
-I haven't done sprints before, but they do seem to help out others. I have considered giving it a try, though I just haven't yet.
Thank you so much for having me Sally!
Megan's debut novella is a Historical Holocaust Romance titled Forbidden Angel.
Blurb: When captured by the Nazis, Sarah finds herself in a concentration camp that not only brings her closer to death...but closer to love.
Sarah Brenner, a young Jewish woman, is terrified when she finds herself in the heat of a railcar bound for a work camp in Nazi Germany. For years she, along with her mother and sister, had hidden from the SS, but no one could hide forever. Her hatred for those who have enslaved them is ever-growing, especially when they arrive and she encounters the shockingly handsome Nazi doctor who can't seem to keep his eyes—or hands—off her.
Aurel Rothstein is not your everyday concentration camp physician. The endless prisoners and lack of care he's allowed to give have made him numb to the work he so coveted. It isn't until he comes face to face with a beautiful prisoner that his heart becomes involved with his job—a forbidden and fatal move to any Nazi.
When a vile soldier takes direct interest in Sarah, she will be forced to make a choice that will change her life forever: ignore the pull toward the handsome doctor or give in to the forbidden passion he awakens with only a look. Either way they both risk everything...
Buy on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Angel-ebook/dp/B00AOF9U6Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356715861&sr=1-1&keywords=megan+d+martin
Author Bio
Megan D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. In her spare time she enjoys decorating her house with strange things that do not match, playing her old school Nintendo Entertainment System, and buying fish for her many fish tanks.
Website: http://www.MeganDMartin.com
Blog: http://www.MeganDMartin.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormegandmartin
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Megan_D_Martin
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6656963.Megan_D_Martin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/115096823539939478098/posts
Instagram: http://instagram.com/meeegann
Vine: Meeegann
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormegandmartin
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Megan_D_Martin
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6656963.Megan_D_Martin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/115096823539939478098/posts
Instagram: http://instagram.com/meeegann
Vine: Meeegann
Thank you so much Megan, for stopping by! :-)


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The Challenge Just a couple of years ago, interest rates were enticingly low. From June 2003 to June 2004, businesses delighted as the federal-funds rate (what the Fed charges on overnight loans between banks) stayed at an unheard-of 1%. Using debt to finance a business was a savvy choice.
Since that June, though, the Fed has raised interest rates at every meeting, and the federal-funds rate is up to 4%. Alan Greenspan has indicated that will continue, as has his expected successor, Ben Bernanke, who has pledged to "maintain continuity with the policies and policy strategies established during the Greenspan years." Bernanke's first Fed meeting will be in March (pending Senate approval).
That continuity means, presumably, tempering economic growth and inflation worries through still higher interest rates. Macroeconomic Advisers' Prakken predicts that the economy's slight dip after the hurricanes will reverberate into fast growth in the first part of 2006. The employment rate will rise as Katrina victims find work, and reconstruction activity will boost GDP growth (everything that was destroyed in Katrina will be counted as new contributions to the economy as it is rebuilt). Plus, outside of the Gulf devastation, the economy is pretty strong, with good production growth and consumption. "Before these storms, we were telling clients the fed-funds rate would be up to 4.5% by spring," says Prakken. "Now, we're saying 4.75%."
The high interest rates may be good economic policy, but businesses are groaning. "My biggest concern is the change in interest rates," says Irene Cohen, CEO of FlexCorp Systems, a $48 million company that manages temporary workers for large corporations. "As far as I'm concerned, it's out of control. And we know that it keeps coming."
What You Can Do In a service business like Cohen's, higher interest rates necessitate being careful with cash flow--"We watch it practically hourly," she says. In businesses with higher fixed costs, though, stronger cautions are necessary. Those that have been hedging the prices of raw materials by stocking up on them are stopping. And the low-inventory, just-in-time approach, which has traditionally been popular in high interest rate years, should prove popular once again. "The name of the game is low inventory, low carrying costs, more of a just-in-time environment with regard to raw materials," says logistics company CEO Jarrett. Businesses should also be wary of applying for loans and refinancing debt, and of buying new assets, since the cost of capital is rising.
Another way to hedge against interest rates is by outsourcing, offshore or domestically. "I think rising interest rates can cause some interesting things to happen in the U.S.," says Jim Franke, president of eTelecare Global Solutions, a $101 million call center company based in Monrovia, Calif. "I think that could further increase the amount of outsourcing that's done in total. If a company wants to hire a bookkeeper, for example, that would mean investing in a computer, desk space, and salary. But when interest rates rise, the cost of financing that investment rises--so it might be more attractive to outsource that function and just pay for the hours used."
Outsourcing converts fixed costs--the computer, the salary--into variable costs. If fixed costs are high, then even if sales plummet, companies are stuck with them. Changing some of that to variable costs means companies are less likely to get slammed by sales fluctuations.
What Insiders Watch
- The Federal Reserve's fed-funds rate. It's announced after each Fed board meeting.
- The Chicago Board of Trade fed-funds futures contracts, which are insiders' bets on where the Fed will move rates at its next meeting
- The yield curve for government bonds, which are examined as indicators of future rate changes and economic vitality (most financial sites track this, including stockcharts.com/charts/YieldCurve.html)


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If you live with animals, like animals or want to know the answers to these questions, then this warm, challenging, funny and, above all, deeply moving talk is a must watch.
As Dr Melanie Joy explains in a series of fascinating thought experiments, understanding what underlies our views about animals frees us to make more conscious choices about how we treat them.
Parental discretion is advised, as the talk addresses issues related to farming and slaughter.
Inspired? Find out more about how most animals are raised for food in Australia and how you can make kinder choices.
If you do too, join others who are making a kinder world for animals possible. Sign the pledge.


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Christie Hudson, PT, DPT
Christie is the head of our PT Department here at Access. Christie received her Professional Doctorate from Arcadia University in 2011 and she has been a Licensed Physical Therapist since 1996. Christie is one of the few Physical Therapists in the area to also obtain her Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency Certificate, which she completed at Emory University in 2004. Christie pioneered the Vestibular Rehabilitation program for Exeter Hospital, and provided care to patients in acute, sub-acute, home and outpatient therapy settings. Her clinical experience intervening at all phases of care gives her a unique and extensive perspective of the scope of dizziness and imbalance dysfunction on the physical, psychological, and functional aspects of a person's life. In her free time, Christie enjoys being outdoors and staying active.
Jennifer KUPIEC, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Jennifer is a Physical Therapist with extensive training and research experience in the field of musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Jen received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2013 from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2017, Jen became a certified orthopaedic clinical specialist (OCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. In addition, Jen is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Her clinical interests are in the comprehensive injury management of sports medicine and orthopaedic diseases and conditions. Jen was trained in the use of the Graston Technique in 2013 and incorporates this into her regular practice. She is currently working towards her Manual Therapy Certification through the University of St. Augustine. During her free time, Jen enjoys soccer, running, and spending time with friends and family.
Kirstin Dodge, DPT
Kirstin graduated from the University of New England with her Masters in Physical Therapy in 2002. As an elite gymnast, skier and multisport scholar athlete she fell easily into the field of physical therapy. In 2008, Kirstin graduated from University of Southern California with her Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy. Kirstin is a skilled manual therapist and utilizes multiple tools and approaches in treating all patients including multiple core stabilization techniques, taping methods and motor control exercises, and is recognized as a spine-specific therapist. Kristin is certified in many treatment techniques, including Graston Technique and dry needling. In 2014 Kirstin became the Exeter office physical therapist lead working with Christie Hudson to manage the department and keep our clinicians on the cutting edge of orthopaedic physical therapy practice. In her free time Kirstin enjoys dance, alpine skiing, hiking, Pilates, and digital photography.
Andrea Murray, PT, DPT
Andrea is a 2008 graduate from the Physical Therapy Doctorate program at Husson University in Bangor, Maine. Prior to working at Access Sports Medicine she worked in a small hospital setting located in Maine where she gained experience in orthopaedics, neurological rehabilitation, sports medicine, and wound care. Andrea has a special interest in treating shoulder, hip and pelvic disorders. She uses multiple manual skills in therapy, including the Graston technique and Muscle Energy Techniques. During her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, fishing, and hunting.
Annie Ruffus, PT, DPT, CSCS
Annie graduated from the Physical Therapy Doctorate program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2007 and earned her BS in Engineering from Tufts University. Her interests lie in the principles taught by the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) and its application to common orthopedic overuse injuries. She continues to take advanced coursework through PRI to expand these skills. Annie is currently a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is also a Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) through the American College of Sports Medicine. Her treatment philosophy aligns with ACSM's Exercise is Medicine initiative that stresses the importance of physical activity in maintaining physical and emotional health. Outside of the clinic, Annie can be found with her family in the mountains, in the ocean and digging in her yard.
Russell Wheeler, DPT
Russ is a 2010 graduate from the Physical Therapy Doctorate program at Columbia University. His clinical specialty is in orthopaedics. During his graduate education, Russ received supplementary training in the areas of Mulligan Manual Techniques, Cervicogenic pain, Rehabilitation of sport injuries, and Management of foot and ankle disorders. As a student, he performed extensive research in areas of Lateral Epicondylagia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Achilles Tendionpathy and Adhesive Capsulitis. Russ completed his undergraduate studies in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology at the University of New Hampshire. During his time there he participated in several internships for strength and conditioning, sport performance and cardiac rehabilitation. In his free time he enjoys weightlifting, racquetball, football and ultimate Frisbee.
Kelley Conley, PT
Kelley is a Licensed Physical Therapist with extensive experience in outpatient orthopaedics. She has experience evaluating and treating outpatient orthopaedic patients while utilizing manual therapies, therapeutic exercises, patient education, and modalities. She is excited about the opportunity to help Access patients at both the Rochester and Dover locations. In her free time Kelley enjoys golfing, hiking, kayaking, hot yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
James Fugarazzo, PT, ATC
James is a Licensed Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer who specializes in optimizing the healing process through therapeutic exercise and manual skills, including spinal mobilizations, adjustments and restoring balance to the body. He received his Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Merrimack College in 2007 and then moved to California where he worked as an Athletic Trainer for the University of California Berkley rugby lacrosse and gymnastics teams. James moved back to Boston to complete graduate school at Northeastern University and graduated with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2013. When he's not working James enjoys surfing, snowboarding, walking his dog, and mountain biking.
Jennifer Halstead, MS, PT
Jen completed both her undergraduate and graduate training at Northeastern University in Boston. She earned her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy in 2000. Jen has been a therapist with the Access team since 2001. In addition to working in sports medicine, Jen has brought her knowledge and experience from working as a part-time homecare Physical Therapist since 2004 to our clinic. Her background working with cancer, heart surgery, stroke, transplant, and total joint replacement patients greatly vary her knowledge base. Jen's experience makes her a very well rounded PT; however she does have a special interest in treating shoulders, knees, and correcting deviations in gait. She particularly enjoys working with runners and athletes returning to sport. In her free time, Jen stays busy traveling, boating, snowmobiling, and running.
Andrea Hrynchuk, PT
Andrea graduated from University of Vermont in 1984, and has worked in various concentrations including spine and head trauma rehabilitation, wound care, Occupational Medicine, and general inpatient and outpatient care. She has been at Access specializing in orthopaedics and sports medicine since its inception in 1998. She enjoys treating shoulder, knee, hip and ankle injuries and specializes in running injuries and running analysis. Certifications include Personal Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, and Graston Technique. Andrea enjoys a full gamut of outdoor activities including hiking, backcountry, downhill and Nordic skiing, kayaking, cycling, snowboarding and running.
Kristen White, PT
Kristen graduated from the University of New England with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy in 1996. Kristen is a specially trained therapist who has been dedicated to treating patients with neck/back pain and headaches for over 15 years. She utilizes manual therapy skills that include Joint Mobilization, Myofascial Release, Cranio-Sacral therapy, and Muscle Energy, as well incorporating postural education and core stabilization exercises. Kristen takes a holistic approach to assessing and treating spine patients as these injuries can impact all aspects of an individual's life. Kristen enjoys downhill and cross-country skiing, boating, hiking, yoga, and walking her black lab.
Amanda Sheehan, PT
A native of North Adams, Massachusetts, Amanda received her bachelor's degree in health science in 2007 and her master's in physical therapy in 2008 from Quinnipiac University.
She has always had a passion for outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine. She incorporates Maitland based manual therapy, including spinal and peripheral joint mobilization as well as Kinesiology tape, and Graston technique. Amanda's special interests lie in shoulder, patellofemoral, and total joint rehabilitation. She enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her children and family.
Anne T. Cantillon, PTA
Anne graduated from the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Newbury College in 1993 after completing her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Plymouth State College. Anne comes to Access with over 20 years of experience and a diverse background working with acute multi-trauma, amputee, arthritis, neurological, oncology and orthopaedic patients. Anne is trained in the Graston Technique and Myofascial Decompression (cupping). In her free time, Anne enjoys hiking, biking, and skiing.
Michelle R Higgins, PTA, CPT
Michelle graduated from Becker College in 1994 as a Physical Therapy Assistant & has worked in a wide range of settings. She has experience in pediatrics, aquatics, neurological rehabilitation, and specializes in general orthopaedics and sports medicine. Michelle earned a Personal Trainer Certification through ACE in 1999 & obtained her Graston Technique Certification in 2010. Her hobbies include triathlons, mountain biking, downhill skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and roller-blading.
Melissa Levi, PTA, LMT
Melissa graduated from the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Hesser College in 2000 as well as the Massage Therapy program at The Institute of Therapeutic Arts in 1990. She has over 16 years of experience in the Outpatient Physical Therapy setting and enjoys incorporating manual therapy techniques including the Graston Technique, therapeutic exercise and patient education in her practice. Melissa has been at Access since 2015. Outside of work she enjoys fitness, kayaking, cooking, reading and knitting.
Rick Madden, PTA
Rick is a graduate from Becker College. He assisted in the development of our Work Conditioning program, and our Back School where he teaches classes on the 4th Wednesday of every month. He educates patients on the anatomy of the spine, proper body mechanics and corrective posture. He is experienced in techniques such as Myofascial release, Cranio-Sacral therapy, Kenesio taping, McConnell taping, and Graston Technique. He has 12+ years' experience here at Access treating post-operative and sports related injuries.
Angela Lanzillo, PTA
Angela comes to Access Sports Medicine with 15 years of outpatient experience. She received her associate degree from CCRI in Newport, RI and has trained with McKenzie-certified and Mulligan-trained physical therapists, as well as athletic trainers focusing on core stability and ACL injury prevention. Although her roots are in Lynn, MA. — the proud home of marshmallow fluff! — she now calls Gorham, NH her home. In her free time, Angela enjoys hiking (she's hiked all 48 4,000 footers in the White Mountains!) and is involved with AbilityPLUS, an adaptive ski program where she assists people with special needs. She also enjoys yoga, cycling, kayaking, running and cheering on the Boston Bruins.
Tyler Swett, ATC
Tyler graduated from Plymouth State University in 2006 where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training. While at Plymouth, Tyler had the opportunity to work with a variety of athletic teams including football, wrestling, field hockey, and lacrosse. Tyler has experience working with a wide range of physical therapy patients and was trained in the use of the Graston Technique in 2010. He also has two years of experience working in a high school setting with numerous high school athletes.


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Using Patents as a Genealogy Resource
Have you discovered that your ancestor was an inventor? Did you know that their patent records can provide you with some great genealogical information? Let's take a look at how patents can be an excellent genealogy resource!
Genealogical information found in patent records include:
First and last name of the inventor
Each patent in the U.S. must contain the first and last name of the inventor or co-inventors and their address. You may be able to find a maiden name or evidence of name changes either through marriage or legal name changes. As always, keep in mind misspellings of a person's name and search for variations of your relative's name. Some files may contain a page at the end with error corrections; however, because it was an additional fee to make corrections, this will not be included in all patent records.
Picture of the invention and signature
You may be interested to see a picture of your relative's invention as well as their signature. Keep in mind that in some cases their attorney may have signed on your ancestor's behalf.
Citizenship status
Many patents may contain the citizenship status of the applicant. If your ancestor submitted several patents over time, you may note a change in citizenship. This could possible lend clues as to when your ancestor became a U.S. citizen.
Change of address
If your ancestor held several patents, take note of any address changes. Because each patent requires the current address of the inventor at the time, you may be able to track your ancestor's movements. They may have moved within or between cities or states. You may even be able to map out a timeline of your ancestor's movements!
The assignee can tell you whether your ancestor transferred their legal rights to the patent to another person or organization. In many cases, the assignee is the inventor's employer. This could possibly provide you with clues into your ancestor's occupation and place of work.
In the case of the inventor's death, a relative may be listed as the executor or administrator. Information here can include the relationship between the inventor and the executor (widow, child etc.), the executor's occupation, citizenship, a list of heirs and other useful information.
How do I find patents?
In the U.S., patents are issued at the federal level with unique patent numbers. Therefore, you can easily find patents online through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or Google Patents. If you are looking for patents outside of the U.S., the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office also offers links to searchable databases overseas.
File Wrappers
For a fee, you can request a copy of the file wrapper. The file wrapper is a folder of all application papers for the applicant. This includes documentation between the applicant and their attorney and the patent examiner. You may even find documentation about the commercial success of the invention.
Don't forget to add any documents you may find to your ancestor's Geni profile to share with others! Perhaps you may want to add your ancestors to our Inventors and African American Inventors projects and become a project collaborator!