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Do you need water damage restoration services in Oxnard, California? If you're experiencing any sort of water or fire disaster you're probably stressed out and quite possibly feeling completely overwhelmed. JW Home Care is California's best damage restoration company you can count on to quickly return everything back to normal. We have well trained and conscientious technicians that are specialist in flood restoration, water damage restoration, mold remediation, and fire damage restoration. We're ready with 24 hour emergency service and fast response throughout the Oxnard area.
As a water damage company our highly trained cleaning and damage recovery experts can restore your furniture and other possessions as well as the building itself. Of course we're an insured and fully licensed water damage company. Unlike national franchises we are a local business that always provides a personal touch and care.
24/7 Fast Response Flood Services (805) 210-8455
Flood Damage Removal
Whether a basement flood or rainwater coming in over the doorstep, flood damage restoration begins with rapid water removal. That's often combined with the need for professional sanitation treatments. Even if there no sewage is involved, any water will be teaming with bacteria and viruses after about a day. Flood damage repairs can only get going after everything's clean and safe and wetness is well on its way out.
Water Damage Removal
Just a soggy carpet is actually more than everyday carpet cleaning can deal with. Liquid will have already soaked down into the subfloor and will soon be causing problems. And with anything more, water is likely to be wicking up inside walls. So we start with specialized water extraction gear to remove up to twice as much liquid, knocking at least a day off dry out time. Then to pull out that deeply soaked moisture we provide complete structural dry out with refrigerant dehumidifiers for absolutely complete water removal. Along with water damage repair we can also finish up with final disinfecting and neutralizing odors.
Mold Remediation
Whether you've needed flood damage removal or merely had an overly-humid bathroom it's important to take mold removal seriously. Besides being ugly it deteriorates building materials and can cause a host of health problems, some of them very serious. Our mold removal services meet all regulations and code requirements to keep everyone safe. We'll begin with all the proper isolation and air-filtering preparations then proceed with the best mold removal methods for your particular circumstances. That often includes completely removing affected porous materials, so our mold remediation can include repairs along with musty odor removal.
Fire Restoration
Fire damage removal requires training, skill, and knowledge. Way more than the average Oxnard restoration company has. Safety concerns and mitigating against further destruction are top priorities. After the hoses are rolled up, immediate water damage restoration is also near the top of the list. Smoke and odor removal are another task that must be completed as soon as possible. Otherwise smoke compounds will have soaked in so deeply that they can't be removed, leaving you with lingering odors that could last for years. Our crews are also ready with mold remediation services, debris cleanup, and so on. Finally, fires produce a long list of toxic compounds, so everything must be hauled away and disposed of properly as toxic waste.
Disaster Preparation for Oxnard, CA
A summary shown on http://www.usa.com/oxnard-ca-natural-disasters-extremes.htm totals extreme events within 50 miles of Oxnard California for the years 1950 through 2010. So far we've been fortunate with only 60 incidents of floods, 9 of high winds, and 13 wildfires. Although we've experienced 164 earthquakes at magnitude 3.5 or higher, our "Earthquake Index" is roughly half that of the overall average for California. Even so it's always wise to be prepared. You can download a helpful preparedness guide from the Oxnard Fire Department at http://fire.oxnard.org/divisions/disaster-preparedness. In addition to storms, floods, and fires it also covers earthquakes, tsunamis, and more.


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Supermodel CINDY CRAWFORD shows off her 80's supermodel dance moves for Polish clothing giant Reserved in video Choreographed and Directed by the talented Gordon von Steiner. Crawford is modelling for Reserved's short film retro inspired collection of cool t-shirts and showstopping power suits.
The video comes with a striking lokbook shoot, see more images from the shoot starring Cindy:
Model Cindy Crawford
Director & Choreographer Gordon von Steiner @gvsgvs
Director Of Photography Stuart Winecoff
Makeup Artist Isamaya Ffrench
Hair Stylist Akki Shirakawa
Stylist Jay Massacret
Set Designer Andy Hillman
Steadicam Yousheng Tang

subset: commoncrawl


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Nokia S60 Emulator Integration with Netbeans 5.0
April 27th, 2006
Hello guys, I just downloaded the Nokia S60 SDK for developing MIDP based applications for java mobile phones. Netbeans proved its mettle here again in terms of recognising the SDK and freeing me of all troubles. I downloaded the S60 SDK here and netbeans 5.0 here. CarbideJ is not required if you are going to develop on top of netbeans.
That said, i will tell you how to integrate the S60 SDK into netbeans.
1. Goto Tools–>Platform Manager and click on the "Add Platform" button.
2. Select "Java Micro Edition Platform Emulator" in the new dialog box and click on "Next".
3. If the IDE is unable to locate the S60 platform folders, click on "Find More Java ME Platform Folders…" button and point it to the location where you have installed the SDK.
4. Click on Next. It will detect the installed platforms. Click on Finish and we are done. Close the Java Platform Manager.
Now, go to File–>New Project. Select "Mobile" on the left pane and "Mobile Application" on the right pane. Give it a name. On the next screen click on the "Emulator Platform" combo box and you will be able to see the installed emulators.
Thats it! we are done. You are up and ready to build beautiful applications for MIDP phones in just 4 steps 🙂


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Project Info
Barn Stabilization
Jack and stabilize American Barn frame and install new native oak sills. Repair broken or rotted post bases. Lifted center posts up to 22" from their respective low points and put loft back in alignment with the balance of barn.
Click images below to make larger.


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- Join over 1.2 million students every month
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- Level: AS and A Level
- Subject: Business Studies
- Word count: 12570
I will be comparing the difference between types of ownership and the industrial sector it operates in. I will also look at different activities taking part for a business including daily activity, stakeholders and how location is chosen.
Extracts from this document...
INTRODUCTION I this assessment I will be comparing the difference between types of ownership and the industrial sector it operates in. I will also look at different activities taking part for a business including daily activity, stakeholders and how location is chosen. I have selected two different businesses to accomplish this portfolio set questions and conclude with my own perception to 'How Business Develops'. I have compiled information from variety of sources and publications on how business develops. I've researched in the library, used the college Internet and gained information from my teacher. The areas I will be analysing are: 1. Business theory- a description of types of ownership 2. Industrial sectors and trends 3. Description of business attitudes 4. Location 5. Stakeholder 6. influences on business PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY The private limited company more commonly recognised as Ltd would need a minimum of 2 owners to start and have up to maximum members. The share invested can only be transferred by agreement from existing shareholders. The private and public companies abide by Memorandum of Association Company rulebook that consists of: * The name & address of the registered office * Company activities * Type and amount of capital which has been invested to set up the company The companies also have an Article of Association, which gives you an insight into working of a company. This includes: * The procedure that have to be followed at the Annual General Meeting (known as an AGM) * Duties of the direction of the company and voting rights of the shareholders * How profits and losses are distributed among shareholders & how company officers will be appointed * Accounts will be kept and recorded * Rules and procedures for issuing shares and for transferring shares to other people When these tow procedures have been drawn up it produces a birth certificate for the company. A privet limited company would be recognised by the word limited after the Ltd written after the business name. ...read more.
Participation in activities would unable a monopoly for the company as people would recognise the good deeds the Co-op has done and there is a good chance of the public visiting there stores. So these activities would be common but it wouldn't be tackled on a daily or weekly basis but would be done depending on what cause it is for. ENVIROMENTAL MANAGEMENT As charities and fundraisers are a good way to boost company figures and name environmental issues have the same effects if tackled right. But this is not necessarily true as it may enhance image in short term but it may also increase profits long term so its important to be involved in this as it would have short and long term affects. In this section I will analyse the key factors to why location managers choose to locate their business in a particular area. I have broken the location facts into different sub-headings, as this would give a better insight to why location is chosen. BMW For BMW I've chosen to look at a Leicester showroom, as it would help demonstrate and assess the reasons why BMW have situated them in that area. INFRASTRUCTURE As from observing the map it shows the showroom is located near busy motorway links reaching from Nottingham to south London. The area situated has much car drivers who will be consistently driving up and down the motorway and may spot the showroom. So the situated area is directly to the customers that it is trying to attract and by visiting the located area personally it is evident that the showroom is very big and can be seen for quite some distance. The location is easy accessible for customers who may want to visit the showroom and also being near the city centre it would not be very hard to find. It also allocated on the main road so passers-by would be able to see the showroom and cars on display. ...read more.
While Co-op consumers would want their food products to be of good hygiene and the prices to be affordable. The customer's views would vary because of the type of products and services they both offer. Customers of the Co-op would care more about the daily activity and how the Co-op keeps to reasonable prices, as the main objective is to serve the local communities. On the other hand the views differ even more as BMW customers would care more about the long-time commitment from the business as vehicles is not something u eat so their would be more depth of a view on after-sales services. The shareholders of the BMW would have great interests on how much vehicles are sold throughout the UK. They would also care on how well the business is doing in each area and what is going to be done to make it profitable which leads to increased expenditure of customers. The shareholders might have a big stake in their local BMW showroom, so they might have many ideas and views they would want to put forward these contrasts from the Co-op, as they have no shareholders. The reason they differ is because of the ownership. A PLC company allows the shareholders to have a less great say than with Co-op, as the business is co-operative and run by its members that have no shareholders. The members of the Co-op would have equal say to anyone else involved inside the business. The suppliers for both companies would share the same interests in the sense they would want regular goods ordered from both businesses. The BMW suppliers would bring BMW products from their own manufacturing firms. This is different from the Co-op suppliers, as the business would buy a variety of products from different companies. So suppliers would still want both businesses to order goods regularly but differ according to the company. But Co-op do tend to sell their own branded products so there is not much liability so the different brand suppliers and contrasts with BMW showroom. ...read more.
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Playing by Ear
tunes in to Antarctica
By David Templeton
IN LESS THAN 10 DAYS, Sonoma composer Douglas Quin, having checked and rechecked his necessarily minimal baggage and high-tech recording equipment, will board a plane destined for Christchurch, New Zealand. After a brief stopover, he will catch a military transport bound for McMurdo Air Force Base on Ross Island on the Ross Ice Shelf off the coast of Antarctica.
There, after several days of intensive safety training, Quin will spend six austral summer weeks working outside in temperatures ranging from a balmy 32º to 10º Fahrenheit--that's 22º below freezing, warm for Antarctica. His tasks will include boring holes in the ice, through which aquaphones will be lowered on 30-foot cables into waters teeming with coccolithophorids and krill. He will mount parabolic microphones on stainless steel poles to record the shudders of the ice. He will aim boom mikes in the direction of lovesick seals. And that's not all.
"I'll be celebrating my birthday on the ice," he says, clearly thrilled, an unstoppable grin spreading across his face. "I'll turn 41 in the company of Weddell seals and penguins."
Quin, a renowned musician, composer, naturalist, and "sound artist," is a former teacher whose decade-long interest in bio-acoustics--the pursuit and acquisition of uncontaminated natural sounds, often requiring 200 hours of field recording for a yield of 15 minutes of usable sound--have led him from the Brazilian rain forests to the plains of the Serengeti to the tundra of the Alaskan Arctic.
These sonic forays into the wild have resulted in thousands of hours of field recordings. Much of this auditory information is employed within Quin's imaginative musical compositions, such as Oropendola: Music by and from Birds (available in CD from the Dutch label Apollo Records), an evocative weaving of bird song, insect vocalizations, electronic music, and the more traditional instrumentations of flute and clarinet. He has composed similar nature-music hybrids for the Lawrence Pech Dance Company in San Francisco and for dozens of music festivals and radio stations throughout America and Europe. His efforts have brought him numerous awards, fellowships, and grants.
An art and theater instructor at Georgetown Prep School in Rockville, Md., until August of 1995, Quin relocated to Sonoma County, where he now works with fellow bio-acoustics pioneer Bernie Krause, the man whose recordings helped lure Humphrey the Humpback Whale from the San Francisco Bay. Wild Sanctuary, the company Krause started several years ago, has set the industry standard for sound-based environments for zoo, museum, and aquarium exhibitions. With a digitized library of hundreds of thousands of distinct creature and habitat sounds, Wild Sanctuary is a bit like a candy store in which Quin is the sweet-toothed kid.
And sweet indeed is the anticipation with which Quin awaits his upcoming Antarctic adventure, a prestigious honor made possible by the National Science Foundation's Antarctic Artist and Writer's Program. The result of this excursion, in addition to the fresh data he'll be bringing back to Wild Sanctuary, will be a soundscape composition titled Australis/Borealis: Sounding Through Light, combining the sound recordings and a chamber ensemble complete with chorus. While "on the ice," Quin will upload sounds and images, along with weekly journal entries.
"I feel so thrilled to have been invited by the National Science Foundation to be a part of this process," Quin says. "It's a very enlightened, and I think important, component to the overall work in Antarctica." Each year, a handful of artists in a variety of disciplines are sent to this ultimate Southern destination, to experience and translate a part of the world that most of us will likely never see. Quin's co-explorers will include a photographer and a children's picture-book author.
"In some ways, this program brings together two disciplines that have been divided from Leonardo da Vinci on. This is a way for people, through art, to understand science."
As an added distinction, Quin will be the first such honoree to visit Antarctica with the intention of collecting its sonic qualities.
"I have a narrow window of only a few weeks during which the male Weddell seals are very vocal as a part of their breeding cycle. They have 12 different types of vocalizations in 34 different categories.
"To be able to take that sound, to give it a musical voice," he continues, "that's going to be one of my challenges, and may present a different facet of their sounds."
Quin will not be after vociferous seals alone, but the full spectrum of Antarctic life.
"I'll visit the penguin rookeries," he grins. "Emperor penguins, Adelle penguins. I'll record the songs of whales and pelagic birds--skuas, petrels, albatrosses. Anything that makes sound."
Separate from the utterances of the continent's many creatures are also the remarkable sounds of the continent itself.
"The ice breaking up along the sea edge, that breaks up in the late spring, just when it's turning to summer," Quin says. "Fissures cracking along. Farther inland, I'll record the glacial ice streams and also the calving of icebergs as they break off from the tip of the glacier.
"There's a lot of sound out there," he says, waving an arm presumably toward the earth as a whole. "Most of what we know of the world we've learned through hearing. When I think about what I'm about to do, to record natural sounds in an environment this inhospitable, I know what a lofty goal it is. I've heard people say that once you've seen Antarctica, it changes you somehow.
"Of course, all things are reliant on the weather," he adds. "It could close in for a couple of months and be nothing but summer raging blizzards. In which case the only sound you'll hear is the sound of one person's teeth chattering."
[ | MetroActive Central | ]
From the October 10-16, 1996 issue of the Sonoma Independent
This page was designed and created by the Boulevards team.
© 1996 Metrosa, Inc.


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As 3 style conscious parents, the editors here at Daily Essential have been fans of Whistle & Flute Clothing for a while now, so we're thrilled to be able to feature them in our 'Brand Spotlight this week.
Whistle & Flute Clothing is a line of modern, stylish and affordable children's apparel inspired by Japanese kawaii characters, modern design and typography.
The collection is designed by husband and wife duo, Ryan and Miranda McCullagh. Ryan is a graphic designer specializing in apparel printing and Miranda has half of a fashion-design school degree, an artistic eye and an intuition for design trends. These two lovebirds first began working together creatively in the indie-pop band, The Paper Cranes and they have carried that passion to their work on Whistle & Flute.
Designed for kids and adults, this range of hip, cool and contemporary clothes will have you and your mini me's looking like the trendiest duo on the block. We love big time!
Q// Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
A// Hi, I'm Miranda. I've been married for 10 years this year to Ryan. We have 2 kids, Aki who is 3 and Archer is 1.
Q// Could you tell us a little bit about Whistle & Flute Clothing?
A// Whistle & Flute started because we wanted to make our then 1 year old Aki some cool t shirts. Ryan is a graphic designer and I went to school for fashion design so it started as just something fun we did.
Q// Why did you call it Whistle & Flute Clothing?
A// Whistle & Flute is cockney rhyming slang for suit of clothes. We also just liked the name. I played flute in high school and was a huge band geek so I might have been a little biased 😉
Q// Which three words sum up what Whistle & Flute Clothing stands for?
A// Modern, Unisex, Fun
Q// What sparked your interest to become involved in fashion and open your own boutique/label?
A// Since I was a little girl I made clothes for my stuffies and then as a teenager for myself (pillow case skirt anyone? Haha) I went to fashion design school but I dropped out because I realized I didn't like to sew or pattern make (just design). Once Aki was born the spark of creating something was re-born and so was Whistle & Flute.
Q// Where do you go for inspiration and what inspires you?
A// Kawaii and Japanese street fashion and modern art inspire a lot of our designs.
Q// What do you keep in mind when piecing together items for new season collections?
A// We don't do your typical themed season collection. We come up with a handful of items we love and release them.
Q// Tell us about your design process?
A// Usually I (Miranda) have an idea for what I'd like on a shirt and Ryan sits down and brings it to life on illustrator/photoshop. Then we work together editing and working out a few different variations before deciding on one. We scrap a lot of ideas.
Q// What is Whistle & Flute Clothing's signature? And what items are synonymous to the brand?
A// Our kawaii cloud and Je T'aime shirts were our first designs and still some of our most popular.
Q// What kind of parent is buying your products?
A// All kinds! I think our designs appeal to almost everyone. How can you say no to that little kawaii smile?
Q// How important is social media and bloggers for you and Whistle & Flute Clothing?
A// It has been everything to our business. Without our online community of parents and bloggers we wouldn't have been able to spread the word about our brand.
Q// What 5 Instagram accounts inspire you the most?
A// @house_of_mia, @jetaimekyan are two of my inspirational friends. Everyone I follow I get inspiration from in some way.
Q// What are your favourite trends for the current season?
A// I don't follow trends too closely as we hope our designs can outlive trends but I have been having to resist buying all of the cute coveralls/rompers this season.
Q// What is your personal style?
A// black on black on black.
Q// Do you have any future plans for Whistle & Flute Clothing? Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A// We are starting to manufacture our own pieces and I'm really excited about that! We have limited number of rompers being released for summer and are working on some amazing harem sweats. We hope to expand into home goods as well!
Q// Finally, What's one piece of fashion advice you can share with our readers?
A// For kids I like to keep it comfortable. If you wouldn't want to play in it neither do they.


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Rock 'N' Roll Billboard Finalists!
March 22nd, 2013
Our crack Figment editorial staff has looked through all of the great billboard entries we received, and we've narrowed it down to these 5 finalists whose designs have been sent to our guest judge author/photographer Robert Landau. Robert, as you may know, is an quite an expert on Rock 'N' Roll Billboards having just published his book "Rock 'N' Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip." If you haven't checked out his book we suggest you do!
Here are the finalists in no particular order:
Temple's Children "Fine Line Between Sorrow and Betrayal" Billboard
Design by Tyman
Eccentric Arcade "Under Your Skin" Billboard
Design by frizbee
x-muffin-x Billboard
Design by FuriousGrace
Red Flames Rising "Theory of Red" Billboard
Design by TMTYTF
Let's Not and Say We Did "Japanese Euphemism Song" Maxi-Single
Design by poppinfresh
So now it's in Robert's hands. Check back to see who wins!
5 Responses to "Rock 'N' Roll Billboard Finalists!"
frizbee Says:
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:26 am
Well, I'm probably gonna lose. If the Red Flames Rising billboard doesn't take the top spot, I'll be shocked.
TMTYTF Says:
March 23rd, 2013 at 1:36 pm
I'm so excited to see the final results of this contest. I honestly wasn't planning on designing any billboards. Then I realized how cool a rock n' roll billboard would look on the front page of figment for a month, which was my main motivation. I had first designed one for Stonekrank's Unstoppable album and didn't think I would do any more. But then, I decided last minute to design one for Theory of Red. I even got one in for Daisy May's Thrash Punk Superstar, but the Theory of Red billboard turned out best. It's essentially a widescreen version of the same cover with a slightly modified design, which looks great with the full wingspan of their eagle. Btw, thanks frizbee for the kind words. I dig all the other finalists' billboards (especially Muffin's).
poppinfresh Says:
March 23rd, 2013 at 10:24 pm
I am blown away by the other submissions! Best of luck to everyone, and may the best billboard win…
FuriousGrace Says:
March 24th, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Good luck guys. I will probably lose this one since I was super sick when I put mine together and forgot that it was to promote an album not just the band. The image is from "Some like it in the pot 9 days old" though so ummmm yeah. I totally meant to do that >.>
Childofalma Says:
March 27th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Damn those are all really, really good.


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I-pads makes treatment process easier for docs at Manipal Hospital
The entire healthcare scenario seems to have undergone a sea change with the coming in of newer technology and gadgets. Some might have a notion that new gadgets are just meant for entertainment purpose, but this is not true, if used in the right perspective it can ease one's work. This is what the usage of I-pads by few doctors at Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road, Bangalore have proven. Even when they are on the move, in case of emergency doctors are able to retrieve information of patients and direct patients accordingly and vice-versa.
It has been about five months with the starting of pilot project where in seven doctors in the hospitals from different speciality- internal medicine, nephrology, plastic surgery and oncology have been using the facility. The I-pads are 100% touch based software which works with the wi-fi network at the hospital premises. Nandkishor Dhomne, VP-IT and CIO, Manipal Health Enterprises said: "The doctors who are using these I-pads on a pilot basis are using it for managing both out-patients as well as the inpatients. All of them are having a positive response. Keeping the good response in mind by November end we have planned to cover the entire hospital staff in our Old Airport Road branch.
Relating about its working Nandkishor said: "The I-pads are totally touch based and zero percent typing unlike the desktops or laptops and has speech recognition with medical dictionary. The i-pads system also has drug database integration with drug to drug and drug to allergy interaction. The printed prescription to patients are integrated with patient application and patient portal. This has automatic ordering to pharmacy, laboratory and radiology unit of the hospitals which is integrated with the hospitals information system (HIS), laboratory information system (LIS), pharmacy and medical report documentation (MRD). Through this system real time clinical analysis are available, thereby making the assessment procedure quicker."
For the in-patient service, the i-pads are helpful in providing bedside access to patient information, progress notes, integration with speech to text, viewing of vital trends online, integrated with the hospital information system (HIS) laboratory information system (LIS), pharmacy and medical report documentation (MRD). One of the most important advantages using this system is, it reduces the discharge summary time for patients who otherwise have to wait for hours together to get their documents from one department of the hospitals to another. "This will be an ongoing process. In another18 months we are planning to take it forward to 400 doctors across all Manipal group doctors."
Dr Sudarshan Ballal, Medical Director and Chairman, Medical Advisory Board, Manipal Health Enterprises who is one among the seven doctors using the tabs says: "The i-pads are totally touch based and has the greatest advantage of mobility. Information about patients can be retrieved even from remote place instantly. Based on the feedback from the doctors using it on pilot basis and trying to do away with the glitches we will be introducing it among all other doctors."


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Asked by Sharon
Is There An Alternative To Prednisone?
I have chronic asthma and have been on 20 mg of prednisone for more than 20 years. Is there another drug that can replace prednisone for this kind of long-term use?
Many people are stuck on prednisone for long periods of time. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that anything currently available could replace it completely, but some drugs are also sometimes used to reduce dependence on prednisone. They include methotrexate, Arava, and the anti-TNF drugs such as Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade. These are very strong drugs as well and must be used with caution, but sometimes they can have good effects when taken in small amounts or as a short-term alternative to prednisone.
According to a study published in the July 2007 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, two Chinese herbal supplements - ASHMI and FAHF-2 - were seen to have some effects that were similar to those of prednisone on the signs and symptoms of asthma and food allergies, respectively. Depending on the advice of your doctor, ASHMI might be a supplement you could try to ease both your asthma symptoms and your dependence on prednisone as a long-term therapy.
Keep in mind that I am not a doctor and can't diagnose you here or tell you how these options would affect you. Always check with your doctor before taking any medication or herbal remedy.
Here is come other information you might find useful.
Prednisone Oral Precautions and Side Effects


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7th June 2012
19th October 2020
Hospitality operators are increasing footfall and customer loyalty with creative offers
12th October 2020
How can data-led insights enhance the guest experience and increase revenue in your business?
1st October 2020
Once a meal is out for delivery, the customer experience is literally out of your hands. How to ensure brand standards are upheld?


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Ovarian Cancer Action needed a mobile app version of their paper symptoms diary. They wanted to provide women with an easy and discreet way to keep track of their symptoms on the go and the ability to present these to their GP in order to start a conversation. This included recording the severity of their symptoms. They felt a mobile app could add value by being able to notify women if their symptoms were persistent and frequent and advise them to visit their GP.
When women are diagnosed in the early stages of ovarian cancer they have a 90% chance of surviving for more than five years but this reduces to 22% when diagnosed in the later stages. An app would allow women to present their GP with a summary of their symptoms, hopefully increasing their chances of an earlier diagnosis. It was also important that the app was reusable for women who wanted to monitor their symptoms for recurrence, as well as for women whose family history puts them at risk.
To help them improve the user experience of the app after initial release and for their own research, Ovarian Cancer Action wanted to be able to monitor usage.
We helped Ovarian Cancer Action prioritise the core app features to work within their budget. This process also helped us to deliver a streamlined and simple experience for adding and reviewing symptoms. We created a tabbed interface to allow users to easily switch between their diary, an information area and their summary report.
Symptoms can be added to the diary as they're experienced or retrospectively, with a few quick selections. The summary section displays a succinct report showing the number of times a symptom has been experienced and it's average severity, for the past 30 days or less. This ensures women always view an up-to-date report, allowing the app to be reused each month. The report and diary can be exported to an email with the click of a button.
A notification system alerts users if they have entered any symptom persistently over 30 days, advising them to visit their GP. They can visit the information area for more advice and to access supporting website content, such as the BRCA risk tool, a simple questionnaire we previously developed for Ovarian Cancer Action which allows users to assess their gene risk level.
We added analytics to the app to enable Ovarian Cancer Action to anonymously track the behaviour of individual users. This has already produced insightful data on which symptoms are being experienced most frequently and the average severity of these. They can also track the number of women who have been notified to visit their GP and how many have emailed a copy of their report.
In the 2 ½ weeks since launch, the app has had...
- 162 unique users
- 251 sessions
- 2,209 screen views
- 455 symptoms added
- 14 women notified to visit their GP
Although ovarian cancer does have definitive symptoms, they can be quite subtle and are sometimes mistaken for other problems. The Symptoms Diary App allows women to track any symptoms you're experiencing over time and will help them convey any concerns to their doctor, so that you can both get a diagnosis as soon as possible.Katherine Taylor
Acting CEO for Ovarian Cancer Action
The app also received some glowing reviews from the Ovarian Cancer Action supporters:
"Very easy to use … Overall, I think it is really cool! I like the colours and layout and I like that is doesn't overcomplicate the diary and that there is just a small amount of necessary information. I think the best thing about it is that users can record their symptoms discreetly and conveniently"
Zoe J, Supporter
"It was very useful to have on my phone and be able to update wherever I am. Very simple to use. Plenty of explanatory text, not too much. I couldn't break it no matter how hard I tried."
Anon, Supporter
"A great little app that if enough women know about it will genuinely help women get an earlier diagnosis."
Lou, Supporter
Electric Putty were a dream to work with as usual, they managed to resize our ambitions to fit our budget resulting in an easy-to-use tool that will hopefully help to save lives.Nadine Woogara, Digital Manager
Ovarian Cancer Action
We're always looking for interesting new web design projects to get stuck into. If you have your own project on the go, we'd love to be on your shortlist.
Send us your project brief and we'll be in touch soon with a quote.


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Read the full article
This article was originally published in issue #11
To read the article in its entirety, view the digital magazine
Patrice Vigier is unquestionably one of the world's great guitar makers - and his basses? Many consider them equally as good and maybe even better. Dan Veall samples Vigier's Arpege IV and Passion V. Did they rock his world?
Top French luthier Patrice Vigier has been making guitars and basses since 1978 from his company head quarters in Grigny, France and has amassed a huge following of fans of his basses. We have two wonderful basses from Vigier's workshop in this issue for review. They are both stunning instruments that not only look the part but sound great too. Both the Arpege 4 and Passion 5 models feature premium tonewoods and electronics that really help each shine with their own musical character. They differ tonally, so I think a closer look is needed to help you choose the right model.
First up, the Arpege IV with it's beautiful amberburst finish is a visually stunning instrument. The front facings of the body and headstock are flame maple. This top quality wood has been allowed to dry and settle for three years. The top and maple back wood sandwiches a large slice of alder, which looks great through the translucent and clear finishes typical of Vigier. The amberburst colour is coated with a glossy and hard wearing finish making the bass look every bit as tasty as it sounds.
I've been lucky enough to play a few Vigier basses and I have always been enticed by the feel of the neck. It's described as a 'D' shape, yet it is quite a small 'D' in comparison to some instruments that would feel clubby in comparison. The neck really is slim, I'd liken it to a Jazz neck width but a bit more substance to it. Taking a look at the documented specifications, 40mm width at the nut and a mere 56mm right up the dusty end seems to beare this out. Whatever, it's a great feeling neck with a tidy and expertly finished fret job on both models. The neck construction is a multi-laminate of maple and graphite bringing rigidity and stabilisation to the neck as well as sustain and resonance.
Up at the headstock end of the bass, Schaller tuners with a very smooth response anchor the strings in place as they pass through the perfectly cut teflon nut. A zero fret maintains optimum string height as well being hardened to reduce string wear. These are all nice touches that really show an attention to detail missed on instruments made to a budget and which will in the long term save you money as parts are less likely to wear out or break. 24 Frets are mounted on a Phenowood fretboard. Phenowood is 'phenolic resin impregnated with cellulose' - a product that Vigier developed for fretboard material themselves.
Down at the body end of business, the bridge pieces are of the individual mono rail 'quick release' type set at a spacing of 19mm. I really like these and they are certainly favoured amongst many luthiers as well as being used on some production instruments. They are said to improve sustain and harmonic response; not that this bass is in any way lacking in that department, but it's still an added bonus to see quality hardware on board.
On the subject of hardware, the electronics that come with the Arpege 4 are interesting and a great idea that you don't see that often. I'll come back to that in a moment, but first, let's start with the pickups. The specification for the Arpege IV on the Vigier website (which I have to say is very detailed!) describes that this model features a pair of Delano 'single, twin coil inline' pickups. These are passive and have a really lovely open sound to them. A single coil tone, but no noise at all under our studio lights and equipment. Panning between the pickups with a flat EQ setting shows up a nice variety of tones without an undue thinness from the bridge or woolliness in the lows from the neck position in comparison. A great place to start before adding some of that super EQ. Yes the preamp is a little special on this model: two three band equaliser systems! There's a Bass, Mid and Treble control per pickup and they work independently of each other. This is a great idea! I mean, how many times have we wanted to boost the bass on the bridge pickup because it doesn't carry the same low end weight as a neck mounted counterpart? Or drive the mids and upper frequencies on the front pickup to make it cut through more? Seems a perfect way to alleviate tonal limitations of pickup positioning without making the other pickup suffer when using a single EQ system. It's a little unusual and something I wasn't sure was totally necessary when I first took a look at the bass but after playing them for a while, I have to say that it's a brilliant idea and makes a great deal of sense.
In playing the instrument sat on my lap, the Arpege is well balanced and doesn't neck-dive - indeed it was effortless and a joy to play in the seated position. At 3.8Kg (average) for the Arpege 4, it is not the lightest instrument on the market, but isn't going to cause any problems at all for most.
So now let's take a look at the Vigier Passion 5 string and see what sets it apart from the 4 string Arpege model we have just been looking at.
The main differences are subtle, but enough to make either instrument stand alone tonally. Once again the bass features the same wonderful multi-laminate maple neck, secured to the body with five inset screws. The body shares the maple facings and alder sandwich, but in this review model bore a clear lacquer finish so that the wood grains are clearly visible and uncoloured.
Obviously, this instrument has the extra string - a Low B that feels solid and well defined. Certainly that's the result of the beautiful construction and quality hardware, as the bass is still only a 34" scale. A lot of manufacturers and luthiers seem to favour a longer scale lengths as it can improve the tone of the lower strings. In the Vigier's case though, it shows that you can still use a 34" scale length and maintain a good sounding B string. Personally, I like the 34" scale length and would naturally include that as a specification on any bass shopping list and I am sure many others would too. It could be helpful for those making the step from four to five strings for the first time.
The Vigier Passion bass neck carve and string spacing would also be comfortable for those wanting to make the switch, too. The 'D' shaped neck carve is used on this model also and once again, certainly in my huge hands, it feels quick and very easy to navigate!
The Passion model features the same soapbar pickups as found in the Arpege 4. This time however, for a different tone completely, Vigier favours a position closer to the bridge for both soapbars. Overall I think this gives the instrument a bit more bite and less 'plummy' lows. Enter the EQ system to add some low end girth in and there are no complaints here whatsoever. The Passion basses don't feature the same dual three band EQ system but I feel that with the pickups being closer together at the bridge, it might not be necessary.
Like the Arpege, the Passion 5 is not heavy though it does feel substantial. The Arpege on paper weighs in at 3.8Kg, the Passion 5 in at 3.9Kg. Not much between the two in fact.
Plus points of both instruments would certainly be that they are well balanced and deliver a good strong bass tone straight out of the box thanks to the use of premium materials and electronics coupled with flawless construction. I really enjoyed getting used to the dual three band EQ system too.
It's great to play basses that aren't just following the rest of the pack with endless 'P' and 'J' clones and to see a luthier extending the art by using interesting construction techniques. These two Vigiers both carry premium price tags, so you would expect a very level of attention to detail and flawless performance. And that's exactly what you get!
This article was originally published in issue #11
To read the article in its entirety, view the digital magazine


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As well as being a building code safety requirement for staircases, balconies and decks, balustrades also give the homeowner an opportunity to put forward an attractive design that can make a stunning feature of their balconies and stairs.
And when it comes to wrought iron, ordinary staircases can be transformed into extraordinary ones with wrought iron balustrades. These create a real focal point in the home with their symmetry and geometric design.
As the premier manufacturers of all things iron here in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Dean Wilson Iron shares some of the various design options that homeowners have when choosing to work with wrought iron balustrades.
Indoor and Outdoor Balustrading Options
Wrought iron balustrades can be used on both indoor and outdoor staircases. Our outdoor options can also match the fencing surrounding your home to give the property a uniform look.
When it comes to the indoor balustrades along your staircase, there is a huge array of designs to choose from which can be as simple or detailed as you like. Some designs include:
- Scrolls and Spirals
- Double Helix Twists
- Oval, Round or Square insets
- Classic Vertical Bar Balusters
- Floral and vine inspired designs
- Wavy & Curved vertical balusters
- Horizontal rectangles below bannister and vertical balusters below
- And so many more artistic designs (see our Balustrade Gallery)
When it comes to the popular designs many of our customers choose the classic straight up and down bars which frame their staircase and create a sought after linear symmetry. Best of all the beauty of wrought iron is that it can incorporate a decorative twist or feature design in the centre of the bar. These bars are also available in a variety of widths and can be spaced close together or further apart to create different effects.
Iron = strength + durability – in all conditions
Customers can also be assured that their outdoor wrought iron balustrades for outdoor staircases or balconies are durable, strong and designed with the outdoor environment in mind. This means that they will stand up to the elements whether it's rain, wind or just heat, wrought iron will stand the test of time.
While it can be difficult to visualise exactly the design that would best complement your staircase, make no mistake that ordinary staircases can be transformed in grand staircases with wrought iron.
To start seeing some of the staircase balustrade designs the Dean Wilson Iron team have been responsible for click through to our Balustrading Gallery or call us on (07) 3814 0076 to discuss some options to have you inspired by iron in your home.


text:
Born In:
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Passed in:
Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick, Canada
Passed on: 26/06/2012
Published in the Summerside Journal Pioneer.
The death occurred as the result of a highway accident in Cap-Pelé, N.B., on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, of Brian Procter of Summerside, aged 44 years. Born in Brantford, Ont., he was the son of Doreen (Belson) Procter, Brantford, Ont., and the late Robert Procter. Survived by his wife Michelle (Doucette) Procter; daughters Jessica and Rebecca...
Born In:
Cap-Pele, New Brunswick, Canada
Born: 06/02/1931
Passed in:
Cap-Pele, Ontario, Canada
Passed on: 10/04/2012
Published in the Telegraph Journal.
ALVA CRAIG LORD Alva passed quietly at CASTEL DES FLOTS BLEUS, in Cap-Pele, NB on April 10th 2012. Born in Cap-Pele, daughter of the late Rodolph and Alma Doiron. Alva, a long time seamstress, Sewing Instructor at NBCC in St. Andrews who loved to Quilt. She was a member of the United Baptist Church, a long time member and Past President of...
Born In:
College Bridge, New Brunswick, Canada
Born: 07/02/1921
Passed in:
Cap-pele, New Brunswick, Canada
Passed on: 06/03/2010
Published in the Moncton Times & Transcript.
Alyre Bourgeois of Cap Pele and formerly of College Bridge passed away on Saturday March 6, 2010 at the Dr. Georges L. Dumont Hospital at the age of 89. Born February 7, 1921 in College Bridge, he was the son of the late Dominique Bourgeois and the late Philomene Belliveau. He worked as a cement finisher for Abbey Landry Construction for 41...
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text:
99 Cent iPhone Recession Case Gets a Makeover From You [Pics]
Who can forget the iPhone Recession Case that costs just a buck? The lure of owning such a real-life buzz-generating case, with Sharpie script, was enough to make the geek in me whip out my credit card for the insignificant $1.98 charge.
Case-mate's not ready to let the iPhone Recession Case die off just yet, so they've started the Recession Case Photo Contest to inspire owners to decorate their cardboard cases and turn them into works of art. Anyone can enter the contest - those without the case can download a file - by uploading their artistic creations to the Case-mate gallery and soliciting friends on Facebook and Twitter to vote for their machination. The case creation with the most votes will win a Suzuki moped from the 80s, on which the winner can sport their fabulous retro cardboard case.
The contest is in full swing, and we're already seeing some hot designs that make the iPhone Recession Case look sexier than ever. We've included a few of our favorites below.
Hot iPhone Recession Case Designs
Bling bling design from Kevin K
Flame Fish design from Christopher Ipswich
The money I saved...Geico Spoof design from Jeff
Robot Love design from Mandy
[via CNET]


text:
Dutch Spyker Cars takes over GM's Saab brand
Issued on: Modified:
The Dutch car manufacturer Spyker is to buy General Motors' luxury brand Saab. The transaction, expected to be closed in mid-February, will "secure a sustainable future" for Saab and should preserve jobs.
AFP- US automaker General Motors said Tuesday it had agreed to sell its Saab brand to Dutch luxury sports car manufacturer Spyker.
"Today's announcement is great news for Saab employees, dealers and suppliers, great news for millions of Saab customers and fans worldwide and great news for GM," GM vice president for corporate planning and alliances John Smith said in a statement.
"General Motors, Spyker Cars and the Swedish government worked very hard and creatively for a deal that would secure a sustainable future for this unique and iconic brand, and we're all happy for the positive outcome."
There was no immediate confirmation of the deal from Spyker.
GM said that under the agreement, Spyker will form a new company -- Saab Spyker Automobiles -- that will seal the future Saab brand, adding that the transaction was expected to close in mid-February.
The troubled US auto manufacturer said the Swedish government was currently reviewing the transaction, which will be subject to customary closing conditions, and a related request for guarantees of a Saab Automobile loan requested by the European Investment Bank.
Previously announced moves to wind down activities at Saab will be immediately suspended, GM said.
The Dutch financial market regulator suspended trading in Spyker shares on the Amsterdam stock exchange at 1245 GMT on Tuesday "pending (a) press release" from the sportscar maker, bidding for Sweden's Saab.
Spyker's shares gained 2.84 percent Tuesday to reach 3.91 euros (5.51 dollars) at suspension, having risen more than 60 percent on Monday.
"Throughout the negotiations, GM has always had the hope to find a solution for Saab that would avoid a wind down of the brand," said Nick Reilly, president of GM Europe.
"We've worked with many parties over the past year, including governments and investors, and I'm very pleased that we could come to such a good conclusion, one that preserves jobs in Sweden and elsewhere. GM will continue to support Saab and Spyker on their way forward."
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text: Life span: 04/15/1817 to 02/01/1884TabsLife SummaryFull name: Mary Ann Day BrownPlace of Birth: Washington County, NYBurial Place: Madronia Cemetery, Saratoga, CABirth Date Certainty: ExactDeath Date Certainty: ExactGender: FemaleRace: WhiteSectional choice: NorthOrigins: Free StateFamily: Charles Day (father), John Brown (husband)Relation to Slavery: White non-slaveholderOther Affiliations: Abolitionists (Anti-Slavery Society) Census SnapshotSlaveholding in 1860: 0Marital status in 1860: Widowed Note Cards Mary Ann Day Brown (Reynolds, 2005) ScholarshipUnlike the erratic Dianthe [Lusk Brown], Mary would prove to be a rock of stability for John Brown. Staunch and stoical, she set a tone of quiet courage that would influence the whole family. At the time of her marriage she was only half Brown's age and four years older than his oldest son, but her stepchildren would always call her "Mother." She would endure the deaths of nine of the thirteen children she had with John Brown, including four in one terrible week in 1842. Only four of her children outlived her. She stood behind her husband in times of poverty, long separation, and mortal danger. During his trial friends suggested that she try to save him by testifying that he was insane. She replied flatly, "It would be untrue, and therefore impossible." David S. Reynolds, John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights, rev. ed. (New York: Vintage Books, 2005), 49-50. Mary Ann Day Brown (Wilson, 1918) ScholarshipA second marriage was contracted on July 11, 1833, his bridebeing Miss Mary Anne Day, daughter of Charles Day of Whitehall, New York. Thirteen children were bom of this union ; seven of whom died in early childhood ; two — Watson and Oliver — were killed at Harper's Ferry. Hill Peebles Wilson, John Brown Soldier of Fortune: A Critique (Boston: The Cornhill Company, 1918), 28. Mary Ann Day Brown, Letter From John Brown (Wilson, 1918) ScholarshipImmediately after Brown's incarceration, a movement was started by Mr. Higginson to have Mrs. Brown go to Harper's Ferry to visit her husband. But when the information reached Brown, he peremptorily forbade her coming; wiring Mr. Higginson: "For God's sake don't let Mrs. Brown come. Send her word by telegraph wherever she is." This arbitrary action should not excite surprise. There was no atonement that Brown could make for the ruin which he had wrought: for the dead who would never return. There were no words that he could say which would carry consolation to this woman's stricken heart, nor was it possible for him to make any rift in the clouds of her unutterable woe. He shrank, instinctively, from a presence of the bleeding heart of the woman whom he had wronged. November 9th, he wrote to Mr. Higginson: If my wife were to come here just now it would only tend to distract her mind TENFOLD; and would only add to my affliction; and can not possibly do me any good. It will also use up the scanty means she has to supply Bread & cheap but comfortable clothing, fuel, &c for herself & children through the winter. DO PERSUADE her to remain at home for a time (at least) till she can learn further from me. She will receive a thousand times the consolation AT HOME that she can possibly find elsewhere. I have just written her there & will write her CONSTANTLY. Her presence here would deepen my affliction a thousand fold. I beg of her to be calm and submissive; & not to go wild on my account. I lack for nothing & was feeling quite cheerful before I heard she talked of coming on — I ask her to compose her mind & to remain quiet till the last of this month; out of pity to me. I can certainly judge better in the matter than any one ELSE. My warmest thanks to yourself and all other kind friends. God bless you all. Please send this line to my afflicted wife by first possible conveyance. Hill Peebles Wilson, John Brown, Soldier of Fortune: A Critique (Boston: The Cornhill Company, 1918), 381. Mary Ann Day Brown, visting Harpers Ferry (Wilson, 1918) ScholarshipFrom the home of Mr. J. M. McKim, in Philadelphia, November 21st, Mrs. Brown addressed a letter to the Governor asking for the "mortal remains of my husband and his sons'' for burial, to which he replied as follows: I am happy, Madam, that you seem to have the wisdom and virtue to appreciate my position of duty. Would to God that "public considerations could avert his doom," for The Omniscient knows that I take not the slightest pleasure in the execution of any whom the laws condemn. May He have mercy on the erring and the afflicted. Enclosed is an order to Major Genl. Wm. B. Taliaferro, in command at Charlestown, Va. to deliver to your order, the mortal remains of your husband "when all shall be over"; to be delivered to your agent at Harper's Ferry; and if you attend the reception in person, to guard you sacredly in your solemn mission. With Tenderness and Truth, I am Very respectfully, your humble servant, HENRY A. WISE. Under the authority of this letter, Mrs. Brown, in company with Mrs. McKim and Mr. Hector Tyndale arrived at Harper's Ferry, November 30th. There she received a telegram from the Governor giving her permission to visit her husband, alone, on the following day, stipulating that she return to Harper's Ferry the same evening. Hill Peebles Wilson, John Brown, Soldier of Fortune: A Critique (Boston: The Cornhill Company, 1918), 392. Mary Brown, Overview of California Trip (Libby, 1989) ScholarshipAfter a severe Iowa winter, when Annie and Sarah returned from their last formal schooling, 47-year-old Mary, her four surviving children and two small grandchildren joined a wagon train for California. Their journey, begun in April of 1864, would take six months, fraught with not only the normal dangers that plagued westerning families but also hazards unique to the family of abolitionist John Brown. Because their emigration was of great interest to the reading public, pro-Union reporters eagerly - and perhaps, in retrospect, thoughtlessly - published the route plans of the Browns in newspapers read by those on both sides of a bitterly-divided nation still at war. Jean Libby, "John Brown's Family and their California Refuge," The Californians 7, no. 1 (1989): 16. Events Date span begin Life span End Event 06/14/1833 06/14/1833 John Brown marries Mary Ann Day 11/08/1859 11/08/1859 Mary Brown arrives at James Miller McKim's home in Philadelphia 01/01/1863 01/01/1863 Mary Brown decides to move to California in 1863 10/01/1864 10/01/1864 Mary Brown arrives in Red Bluff, California 02/01/1884 02/01/1884 Mary Brown dies in San Francisco, California Major TopicsHarpers Ferry Raid Documents Author Docs Date Title 01/23/1860 New York Times,"The Colored People and John Brown's Widow," January 23, 1860 Subject Docs Date Title 12/29/1859 San Francisco (CA) Evening Bulletin, "The New Crusade against the Union," December 29, 1859 Addressee Docs Date Title 11/14/1859 Frances Watkins Harper to Mary Ann Day Brown, November 14, 1859 Images Mary Ann Day Brown Mary Ann Day Brown, detail Mary Ann Day Brown, circa 1870 Mary Ann Day Brown, circa 1870, detail Bibliography Chicago Style Entry Link Rosenberg, Daniel. Mary Brown: From Harpers Ferry to California. New York: American Institute for Marxist Studies, 1975. View Record Fox, Theron. After Harper's Ferry: John Brown's Widow - Her Family and the Saratoga Years. Saratoga, CA: Saratoga Historical Foundation, 1964. View Record Reed, Karen. The Widow Brown after Red Bluff. Red Bluff, CA: Reed, 1968. View Record Libby, Jean. John Brown's Family in California. Palo Alto, CA: Allies for Freedom, 2006. View Record Libby, Jean. "John Brown's Family and Their California Refuge." Californians 7, no. 1 (1989): 14-19, 22-23. View Record McFarland, Gerald. "A Legacy Left Behind." American History Illustrated 19, no. 1 (1984): 21-25. View Record Bofinger, Minnie. California Haven for John Brown's Widow. Tehama County, CA: S.I. Bofinger, 1900. View Record Goodwin, Karen. Mrs. Mary Anne (Day) Brown. Red Bluff, CA: Goodwin, 1968. View Record Hampton, Kathlin. Mrs. John Brown. Red Bluff, CA: Hampton, 1967. View Record Phay, Wilbert L. John Brown's Family in Red Bluff. Chico, CA: Association for Northern California Records and Research, 1986. View Record


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The iris sphincter muscle, also known as the pupillary sphincter or sphincter pupillae, is a muscle located in the colored part of the eye called the iris. The sphincter muscle fibers are located near the pupillary margin and are slightly anterior to the pigmented epithelium of the iris. It encircles the pupil of the iris and functions to constrict the pupil in bright light via the pupillary light reflex or during accommodation. By controlling the diameter of the pupil, the iris controls the amount of light that reaches the back of the eye at the retina.
The iris is a circular, pigmented diaphragm that lies anterior to the lens in a coronal plane. It is attached peripherally to the ciliary body, with its unbound central border forming an aperture known as the pupil. The iris divides the space between the cornea and the lens into two chambers: anterior and posterior. The anterior chamber is bound by the cornea and iris. The anterior chamber communicates through the pupil with the posterior chamber, which is bound by the iris, ciliary processes, zonules, and lens. A fluid substance known as aqueous humor fills both chambers.
The iris, via the sphincter pupillae, is a part of the accommodative reflex. The accommodative reflex of the eye is an involuntary response when visual focus switches from an object at a distance to one that is closer. The reflex is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system, and involves three actions - alteration of pupil aperture, lens shape, and convergence. The sphincter pupillae causes narrowing of the pupil in order to prevent diverging light rays from the corneal periphery creating a blurred image.
The vertebrate eye is made up of tissue from various embryonic origins. The lens and the cornea originate from the surface ectoderm. The retina and the epithelial layers of the iris and ciliary body originate from the anterior neural plate.[1] Within the stroma of the iris, the sphincter pupillae and dilator pupillae muscles develop from optic cup neuroectoderm, along with the iris epithelium. In contrast, the ciliary muscle, which is responsible for changing the shape of the lens, is derived from overlying mesenchyme. The optic cup is neuroectodermal in origin and gives rise to the neuronal retina, the retinal pigmented epithelium, the epithelial layers of ciliary body and iris, and the iris musculature.[2]
Ocular blood flow is controlled both via direct autonomic influences on the vasculature of the optic nerve, choroid, ciliary body, iris, and indirect influences on retinal blood flow.[3] The iris is supplied by the anterior ciliary arteries, the long posterior ciliary arteries, and anastomotic connections from the anterior choroid. The majority of the venous drainage from the anterior segment of the eye drains into the choroid posteriorly and then into the vortex veins.
The iris sphincter muscle receives its parasympathetic innervation via the short ciliary nerves which lead to pupillary constriction (miosis) and accommodation.[3] The parasympathetic fibers that serve the sphincter muscle originate from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus of cranial nerve III. The signal synapses in the ciliary ganglia become terminated on muscarinic receptors of the muscle fibers.
Reciprocal function is largely the responsibility of sympathetic innervation, which comes from the superior cervical ganglia. The sympathetic fibers help promote sphincter muscle relaxation, which is critical for periods of low-light or night vision. Sympathetic innervation from the superior cervical ganglion project to the dilator muscle of the iris via long ciliary nerves to control pupil dilation. The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems work in opposition to constantly adjust pupillary aperture.[3]
There are two muscles of the iris and they both consist of smooth muscle. The sphincter muscle contracts the pupil in a circular motion while the dilator muscles enlarge the pupil by pulling the iris radially. An area called the iris collarette is the thickest portion of the iris where the sphincter muscle and dilator muscle overlap. While the collarette is typically flat, there are cases in which this structure can be rather prominent.[4]
Aniridia is characterized by iris hypoplasia and has been shown to be associated by mutations in the PAX6 gene.[5] Usually involving both eyes, it can be congenital or caused by a traumatic injury to the eye. Isolated aniridia is a condition that can be associated with low vision, macular or optic nerve hypoplasia, cataracts, and cornea changes. Aniridia also can be associated with WAGR syndrome or Gillespie syndrome. [6][7]
Surgery to the iris sphincter is done for functional or cosmetics issues. In general, surgery is warranted if the patient is having photophobia or blurry vision that cannot be controlled with drops. Patients can use pilocarpine drops to decrease the size of their pupils if some function of the sphincter remains. Reading glasses may also be necessary if the patient cannot accommodate. If inflammation is present after a trauma, the patient should be treated with steroid drops until resolved and re-assessed for sphincter function.
Adie tonic pupil is a neuro-ophthalmological disorder distinguished by a lack of response to light and a pupil that is tonically dilated but is able to respond to accommodation.[8] It is usually a benign entity. A variety of causes (usually infectious) lead to Adie tonic pupil and result from damage to postganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic innervation to the eye which results in an inability to constrict the iris sphincter muscle. It is more common in women and manifests unilaterally in 80% of cases.[9] Adie's tonic pupil has been reported in the literature to be associated with a number of associated syndromes, including Adie syndrome, which involves diminished deep tendon reflexes.
Iridoplegia is the paralysis of the sphincter muscle of the iris. Many times, it is a result of direct trauma to the orbit but can also result from inflammation or even from eyedrops. There are three types of iridoplegia:
It is important to differentiate the ptosis in Horner syndrome from damage to the oculomotor nerve. In Horner syndrome, the ptosis occurs with a constricted pupil due to loss of sympathetic innervation to the eye (inability to dilate leads to constriction). This is compared to damage to the oculomotor nerve where the ptosis is accompanied by a dilated pupil (due to damage to the parasympathetics and inability to constrict via the sphincter pupillae).
An iris coloboma is a hole in the iris usually due to incomplete closure of the fetal fissure during organogenesis. Colobomas can range from a simple hole in the iris to more severe involvement of the posterior pole, a coloboma of the optic nerve of the choroid of the retina.[10] Colobomas also have a clinical association with CHARGE syndrome, which is a rare heritable disease cause by mutation in the CHD7 gene that regulates chromatin remodeling.[11][12]
Traumatic mydriasis is usually the result of blunt injury to the eye and can present with iris sphincter tears that alter the shape of the pupil in the affected eye. Treatment initially involves cycloplegia to prevent posterior synechiae in patients with iritis. Patients are then observed clinically for the return of function. If the function does not return, and the patients are symptomatic, surgical intervention can be considered. Ocular trauma can also cause pupillary miosis though this is less common than mydriasis and tends to be related to anterior chamber inflammation.
|Graw J, Eye development. Current topics in developmental biology. 2010 [PubMed PMID: 20691855]
|Tamm ER,Ohlmann A, [Development of the human eye]. Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. 2012 Sep [PubMed PMID: 22932837]
|McDougal DH,Gamlin PD, Autonomic control of the eye. Comprehensive Physiology. 2015 Jan [PubMed PMID: 25589275]
|Li S,Liang L, Protruding Iris Collarette. The New England journal of medicine. 2017 Mar 16 [PubMed PMID: 28296615]
|Yahalom C,Blumenfeld A,Hendler K,Wussuki-Lior O,Macarov M,Shohat M,Khateb S, Mild aniridia phenotype: an under-recognized diagnosis of a severe inherited ocular disease. Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie. 2018 Aug 30 [PubMed PMID: 30167917]
|Fischbach BV,Trout KL,Lewis J,Luis CA,Sika M, WAGR syndrome: a clinical review of 54 cases. Pediatrics. 2005 Oct [PubMed PMID: 16199712]
|Hall HN,Williamson KA,FitzPatrick DR, The genetic architecture of aniridia and Gillespie syndrome. Human genetics. 2018 Sep 22 [PubMed PMID: 30242502]
|Karadžić J,Jaković N,Kovačević I, Unilateral Adie's Tonic Pupil and Viral Hepatitis - Report of Two Cases. Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo. 2015 Jul-Aug [PubMed PMID: 26506756]
|Jaja Z,Laghmari M,Lazrek O,Daoudi R, [Isolated Adie pupil: about a case]. The Pan African medical journal. 2015 [PubMed PMID: 26213604]
|Zerkaoui N, [Bilateral iris coloboma]. The Pan African medical journal. 2018 [PubMed PMID: 30123404]
|Hudson A,Trider CL,Blake K, CHARGE Syndrome. Pediatrics in review. 2017 Jan [PubMed PMID: 28044040]
|Jyonouchi S,McDonald-McGinn DM,Bale S,Zackai EH,Sullivan KE, CHARGE (coloboma, heart defect, atresia choanae, retarded growth and development, genital hypoplasia, ear anomalies/deafness) syndrome and chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a comparison of immunologic and nonimmunologic phenotypic features. Pediatrics. 2009 May [PubMed PMID: 19403480]


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Susumi Inamine emerged victorious in the closely watched mayoral polls in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.
Inamine's re-election deals a setback to long-delayed plans to move a US marines air base to the city just weeks after Okinawa's governor approved the deal.
During his campaign, Inamine vowed to remain a staunch opponent of relocating the US Marinese Corps Air Station Futenma from Ginowan to the less-crowded city up north.
The US and Japan agreed in 1996 to move the Futenma air station to Nago, but many Okinawans objected to the plans and said they want the base off their island completely. The current air base was planned to be relocated because of concerns about aircraft noise, accidents in civilian areas and crimes such as rape.
Washington saw a sliver of hope when Okinawa governor Hirokazu Nakaima gave the green light for land reclamation to build a new base, whose runways would extend over water in Henoko Bay from the US military's existing Camp Schwab.
Inamine, 68, defeated former Okinawa Assemblyman Bunshin Suematsu, 65, who was for relocation plans.
"This election was easy to understand. It was about one issue, the Henoko issue, and whether you were for or against the new base," Inamine told supporters. "The people have spoken and they have said no."
About 84 percent of Nago residents oppose moving the base to Henoko, according to the latest opinion polls. Abe's pro-relocation Liberal Democratic Party attempted to woo voters with promises of additional development funds for the city.
Inamine received support from traditional anti-base opponents and voters who were angered by what they saw as a backroom deal between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Nakaimo to sell out Nago in exchange for 346 billion yen in development assistance in fiscal 2014, as well as a promised 300 billion yen annually for Okinawa until 2021.
By Maesie Bertumen
Image of protesters in Ginowan: Chris Davis/Flickr


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Australia-Indonesia War
From eRepublik Official Wiki
Australian-Indonesian War
This war was the Australian response to the Second Indonesia-Australia War, during which Australia lost Western Australia. The motion to declare war on Indonesia was officially passed by the Australian Senate on April 26, 2010 [1].
On 888 (April 26, 2010), Australia was officially at war once more with Indonesia
Battles Fought
So far there has only been one battle in this war - the Battle of Western Australia.
This battle ended with a Victory for Australia, who successfully took back the region. The Battle Hero for Australia in this battle was Widdows9000, who did 64967 damage. The Battle Hero for Indonesia was NicoSianipar (who did 55219 damage).


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Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
Study information
Scientific title
Study hypothesis
The application of BiPAP autoSV™ to patients with Heart Failure (HF) and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) will:
1. Improve daytime left ventricular ejection fraction
2. Improve exercise capacity, daytime activity, daily symptoms of HF and SDB and oxygen saturation
3. Decrease both the central and obstructive component of the Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI), B-type natriuretic peptide levels and ventilation during exercise
Ethics approval
This study has been approved by the ethics committees of all four sites:
1. Germany (Universty of Regensburg) - Protocol approved by the Ethikkommission an der Universitat Regensburg on 12th April 2007 (ref: 07/011)
2. UK (Prince Phillip Hospital) - Protocol approved by Dyfed Powys Local Research Ethics Committee on 2nd January 2007 (ref: 06/WMW01/57)
3. France (Clamart Hospital) - Protocol approved by the Comite de Protection des Personnes Il-de-France VII on 14th March 2007 (ref: 2007-A00014-49)
4. Canada (Hopital laval) - Protocol approved by the Comite d'ethique de la recherce de l'Hopital Laval on 11th April 2007 (ref: 20157)
Study design
Randomised parallel open-label trial with blinded evaluation of outcomes
Primary study design
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Not specified
Trial type
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Heart failure with sleep disordered breathing
This is a randomised parallel, open-label trial with blinded evaluation of outcomes involving four centres of 12 weeks BiPAP autoSV™ and optimal medical management versus optimal medical management alone. The BiPAP autoSV™ is intended to augment breathing by supplying pressurised air through a patient circuit. It senses the patients breathing effort by monitoring airflow in the patient circuit and adjusts its output to assist in inspiration and expiration. This assistance is provided by the administration of two levels of positive pressure. During expiration, pressure is variable positive or near ambient. During inspiration, pressure is variable positive and always higher than the expiratory level.
Intervention type
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Left ventricular ejection fraction, measured at baseline and three months.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Six-minute walk test
2. Borg Scale
3. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ)
4. Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ)
5. 36-item Short Form health survey (SF-36)
6. Fatigue severity scale
7. Epworth sleepiness scale
8. The Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI)
9. Obstructive AHI
10. Central AHI
11. Mean oxygen saturation
12. Daytime activity
13. Glomerular filtration rate
14. B-type natriuretic peptide cardiopulmonary exercise test
All secondary outcomes measured at baseline and three months.
Overall trial start date
Overall trial end date
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Participant inclusion criteria
1. HF due to ischaemic, non-ischaemic or hypertensive cardiomyopathy diagnosed by a cardiologist
2. Aged 18 to 80 years
3. Impaired exercise capacity (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class II or III)
4. Objectively impaired left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, assessed by echocardiography
5. Stable clinical status and stable optimal medical therapy according to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology for at least four weeks
6. An AHI greater than or equal to 20 per hour of sleep assessed by in-laboratory polysomnography
7. Written informed consent
Participant type
Age group
Not Specified
Target number of participants
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Unstable angina, myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery or hospital admissions within the previous three months
2. NYHA class I or IV
3. Pregnancy
4. Contraindications for BiPAP autoSV™:
a. mean supine Blood Pressure [BP] less than 60 mmHg
b. inability to clear secretions
c. patients at risk for aspiration of gastric contents
d. history of pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum
e. a history of epistaxis
f. causing pulmonary aspiration of blood
5. Patients on or with indication for oxygen therapy
6. Severe restrictive and obstructive airways disease
7. HF due to primary valve disease
8. Awaiting heart transplant
9. Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent
10. Diurnal symptoms of SDB requiring immediate treatment
Recruitment start date
Recruitment end date
Countries of recruitment
Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Klinik und Poliklinik fűr Innere Medizin II
93042 Regensburg
Sponsor information
Respironics Inc. (USA)
Sponsor details
286 Site
1740 Golden Mile Highway
United States of America
Sponsor type
Funder type
Funder name
Respironics International, Inc. (France)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2013 results in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23222879
Publication citations
Arzt M, Schroll S, Series F, Lewis K, Benjamin A, Escourrou P, Luigart R, Kehl V, Pfeifer M, Auto-servoventilation in heart failure with sleep apnoea: a randomised controlled trial., Eur. Respir. J., 2013, 42, 5, 1244-1254, doi: 10.1183/09031936.00083312.


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Recap of recent news:
NYU students unsafe at Abu Dhabi campus?
John Sexton, president of the prestigious New York University NYU, was asked by the United Arab Emirates, gay rights group over the ethics and conduct regarding their flagship Abu Dhabi campus, which NYU is preparing to expand. Recently, Sexton answered dismissively to NYU professors raising concerns if gay students would be unwelcome in Abu Dhabi, where the law provides up to 10 years in prison for same-sex relations. (Emirates gay rights group slam NYU for promoting campus in UAE | Gay Star News.)
Ugandan priest suspended; target of anti-gay campaign
The Archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, has suspended cleric Fr. Anthony Musaala, who authored a document criticizing Catholic Church colleagues in Uganda, accusing them of sexual immorality and crimes. Fr. Anthony, is no stranger to controversy, and has been known for his popular gospel singing, for being a target of anti-gay exposure himself and speaking out against attacks on gays in Uganda. (Ugandan Catholic Priest suspended for speaking out against sexual immorality and crimes | O-blog-dee-o-blog-da)
Also see: Father Anthony Musaala speaks about his suspension by Ugandan Catholic Archbishop
Homophobia-free Healthcare Centers
From Uruguay comes the Homophobia-Free Healthcare Centers video "¿Cuál es la diferencia? What is the difference?," in Spanish with English subtitles. It is aimed at raising awareness of health-care providers about serving LGBT people, especially the problems caused by assuming that a gay or lesbian patient is heterosexual. It consists of brief enacted representations of medical encounters, seeking to encourage thought and a critical analysis of professional practices.


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Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honour to interview Melissa Seymour, a writer, novelist from New South Wales, Australia, the author of "Mel's Fantasy Life" (2016) and "Mark's Real Life" (2017). Hello Melissa!
Melissa: Hi Monika, Thanks, I now reside in Melbourne, Victoria, which is an awesome place to live.
My novels have been renamed for a new broader website I have discovered. The names are now "Mel's New Life" and "Mark's Pathetic Life"—that is due for worldwide release July 30th, 2017 as I have made some minor adjustments.
"Mel's Fantasy/New Life" is the first in my series, each part allows the reader to use their imagination as I stop sections abruptly. I also end each part on a Cliff-Hanger to hopefully maintain interest.


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Adapting a Low Sugar Diet into a Busy Lifestyle
Sugar is a culprit that we sometimes don't consciously take. This can't be less true for people whose lifestyles are forever on-the-go. That bowl of cereal for breakfast? It has more sugar than you think. Prepared a salad for lunch? Sugar is certainly in the dressing. Skipped the carbonated drink for a refreshing pineapple juice at a fast food chain? You've guessed it right.
People who work 9 to 5's and endlessly peruse subways are the ones who usually fall into the sugar trap. So how do we avoid this in the name of a healthier lifestyle?
Secret 1: Intermittent fasting
You might be wondering how fasting and a low sugar diet could go hand in hand. "Won't I be limp by the end of the day?" you might ask.
If you set specific times as to when you will be consuming sugar – and other things such as carbs and protein – you'd have better luck minimizing your consumption. Skipping a bagel for a snack because you're in a fasting period will help you dodge a whole lot of sugar consumption.
Secret 2: Looking at the small things
Think about the number of candies that you keep in your pocket, multiplied by the amount of sugar in each, and you might just be carrying a full-on caramel vanilla sundae in your pants.
Busy people are guilty of nicking a sweet treat every hour or so to "take a break" from workload. If you're the type who really needs something in their mouth or hands from time to time, why not try sips of lemon water instead?
Secret 3: Take the matter in your own hands
Anything manufactured is likely to have added sugar. If you're hesitant or simply don't have the time to prepare all your meals and shop at health stores, you're in for a challenge.
Take a look at easy-to-prepare recipes and you might just discover a cooking hobby. You might try this during weekends at first and see the difference. But one thing's for sure – you're avoiding excessive sugars from pre-packaged food that you usually get from convenience stores.
The Bottomline
Adapting a low sugar diet comes in many ways and there are good reasons to add it to your lifestyle. Overall better health, increased metabolism, clearer skin, and a sharper mind are just some of the benefits. Dieting is not about avoiding certain food groups and depriving yourself of little pleasures. We're not telling you to skip all the sugar and count how many grams you've consumed during the day – awareness of what's in the food you take is simply the key.
Related News
Adapting a Low Sugar Diet into a Busy Lifestyle
Sugar is a culprit that we sometimes don't consciously take. This can't be less trueRead More
Creative Strategies to Encourage Diabetic Kids to Eat Healthy
Diabetes remains a growing concern, affecting more than 13,000 young people each year. The diabeticRead More


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Holidays and more is certified and honoured by the Greek central for tourism.
Holidays and more go China
After long and arduous negotiations, we have completed the first contract with a Chinese travel company from Chengdu a 5 million city in China. We hope for good business and have met the Chinese as friendly and professional business partners. The program for the travelers from China consists of 2 days Athens, Meteora, Delphi, Thessaloniki and last but not least. The Chalkidiki with their unforgettable sandy beaches The educational trips are rounded off with a visit to the monastic republic of Athos.
Holidays with our pets
For all guests who do not want to do without their dog during their well-deserved vacation, there is this category.
More infos here
Coming soon the dream villa Eden
The Villa Eden, a unique composition of taste, elegance, exclusivity and luxury in one of the most beautiful regions of Greece, with a view of the monastic republic of Athos. Villa Eden has repeatedly been the hot spot for fashion photographers. Also for international films you will be used as a movie set. An unforgettable experience.
Beach Villas Blue Waters
Our Beach Villas are located about in halkidiki sithonia at Ormos Panagias 50 metes from the fine sandz beach. We offer in house beach chairs , canopies or umbrellas . Our tastefully and luxuriously appointed villas offer WIFI , international television , kitchen , multiple air conditioners , dishwasher and private garden .
More infos Here
Motor boat for self-driving.
The most successful day trip of the last years.
- Blue Lagoon - the original- The pirate nest Pirgadikia- Stonecutter beach - unbelievable- Into the sunset - fascinating
More information here.
Ticketbooking for your pirate tour !
Book your tickets for your pirate tour to Mount Athos or for a swimming tour online and save up to 20%.
More Information here.
The Road House.
To the Holidays and More company also belongs one of the most beautiful beaches in Psakoudia. There we run Road-House.
Holidays and more now on Youtube.
Visit our Youtube channel and explore our videos of Chalkidiki.
Visit Holidays and more on Youtube.
Die Holidays and more on the road
Holidays with your beloved Harley.
Unforgettable excursions, suitable accommodations and last but not least our ROAD HOUSE
Write us.
Excursions in Halkidiki !
Hardly a holiday destination can offer as much as Greece and especially Halkidiki. Centrally located Psakoudia offers so many opportunities to sweaten your leisure time with excursions and activities.
Immerse yourself in the world of the Orient!
Let yourself be bathed in hot water and a lot of foam on our heated marble stones. Feel free to ask from our physiotherapists for a partial or full body massage.
More info here.
Kayaking trip in the Blue Waters
Paddle a day with friends, your family or alone with our kayaks in the Blue Lagoon in Vourvourou.Turquoise blue, warm waters, powdery sand beaches and if you are lucky dolphins.An unforgettable day with pictures and experiences that are looking for the same.
More infos
Sailing with Holidays and More !
Visit with our sailing yacht the most beautiful beaches of Halkidiki and make a trip to the monastic republic of Mount Athos. Discover monks, seagulls, crystalclear water and powderfine sand. Experiences, that your will never forget.
Telephone inquiries :
0030 - 23710 - 51102Fast, reliable and in English. Of course we can call your back.
Athos pirate tour
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Pirate tour with the "Menia Maria", an original replica of a pirate ship from the 16th century.Adventure - pirates - seagulls - dolphins - monks and as the highlight Mount Athos with its century old history and its impressive monasteries. Let us carry you off to an adventure that you won't find elsewhere. Immerse yourself into the 2000 year old history of the Orthodoxy and the Christianity. Spend a day with us on the "Menia Maria III" amongst pirates and dolphins. Get to know Mount Athos with its monasteries and visit together with us the "city of heavens"(Ouranoupolis), the link between the worldly and the spiritual world of the Orthodoxy. Furthermore this is one of the few opportunities for women to get so near to the monastic republic of Athos as the "Avatos" applies on Athos for 1000 years thus women are not allowed on the holy mountain. A day, like no other will enter your book of life and thus remain unforgettable. A day full of emotions and impressions with so many great photo motives, that your friends at home will turn green with envy, when they see your pictures. An experience for old and young.Visit us at our office "Holidays and More Touristic Info" and book this unique experience for you and your co-travellers).
Look forward to a day with many experiences and other surprises. The only thing you have to do is book and be in a good mood on the day of the excursion.
Send us your request and we will confirm your booking as soon as possible.
For bookings please use our contact form.
In this sense: Johohoho !
Your rental car in Halkidiki
From the airport Thessaloniki, Hotel, Apartment and Studio in whole Chalkidiki. No credit card needed. Fast, easy and safe. For 3 days only from 63.- € !
More info
Reviews Contact


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Here's this week's featured article from the Cyber Doll House. Our next newsletter will be sent out January 5, 2007. I wish everyone much joy over the holidays, and a gentle ride into 2007!
Extra Large Dolls - Dress Sleeve and Collar Patterns
Here are the pattern pieces for the sleeve and collar pattern for making dresses to fit approximately 25 inch (62.5cm) dolls, including the Raggedy Ann doll.
More resources -
Best Recommended Doll Making Books
Here are my recommendations for books for your doll making library - including patterns for dolls, clothes and teddies, and sewing and crafting techniques.
Please visit Dollmaking.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Doll Making. To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Doll Making located here -
Enter our sweepstakes daily and win $50 in Doll Miniature Supplies from BellaMiniatures.com. You must be 18 or older and a resident of the US or UK -
Inspiring quotes -
"Dreams are necessary to life." ~Anais Nin
"Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." ~Jane Goodall
Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!
Happy Holidays,
Susan Kramer, Doll Making Editor
One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com
BellaOnline is looking for writers! Here are a few of the topics
that are available for you to write for :
African American Lit | Aids / HIV | Allergies and Colds | American Regional Cuisine | Asthma | Bowling | Caribbean Culture | CBS Soaps | Classic Rock | Codes & Cyphers | Cooking for Kids | Crochet | and more!
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To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click on the link below:


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Performance measurement at DHL Solutions: towards an improved performance measurement system consisting of relevant and well-designed measures
Abstract: During the past decades, the competition for many businesses has moved from
just being based on price to include such factors as: quality, service
innovation and flexibility. Managers keep track of the performance on such
factors by means of performance measurement. This process is a way of
measuring how well the organization carries its strategies and objectives
into effect. Since the environment has changed and strategies have changed
with it, many companies need to redesign their existing performance
measurement systems with respect to the objectives they follow today.
This thesis is carried out at DHL Solutions in Sweden and aims at improving
their current view on performance measurement, their performance
measurement system and instituted individual measures by conceptualizing
the existing theories on the subject and adjusting them to fit the
situation in the organization. The most fundamental recommendation on the
subject presented in the literature is that performance measures should be
directly derived from the current strategies followed. Also, the entity of
individual measures should be integrated in a balanced system where
managers monitor multiple dimensions of performance simultaneously. These
two recommendations are the underlying principles of this thesis.
In the Swedish organization of DHL Solutions, there are many weaknesses in
the current performance measurement process. Including: weak relationships
between measures and overall strategies: ill-defined dimensions of
performance (such as productivity and quality): lack of system-view on the
issue of performance measurement (i.e. an unbalanced system): and the fact
that individual measures are not always well-designed.
To overcome these flaws in the present performance measurement process,
this thesis puts forward four recommendations for DHL Solutions to follow
in order for them to improve this whole process. Recommendations one and
two argue that they should integrate a systematic process for strategic
management in their organization where strategies and objectives are
formulated and translated into operationally relevant actions (including a
tailored measurement package for tracking the progress of the selected
strategies). The third recommendation states that DHL Solutions in Sweden
should use the so called performance pyramid as a framework for the
integration of performance measures in a balanced system. Finally, the
fourth recommendation states that they should make use of the performance
measure record sheet as a means to ensure that all instituted as well as
new individual measures are relevant and well-designed.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE ESSAY. (in PDF format)


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The United Nations refugee agency says 3,000 refugees from the Central African Republic, CAR, have crossed the border to Chad over the past two weeks.
The agency says the refugees are fleeing a new wave of armed raids, looting, and house burnings in lawless areas of the northeastern CAR.
It says they blame the violence on rival military forces and bandits known as the zaraguina who rustle cattle and kidnap children for ransom.
The refugee agency says a total of 14,000 people from the Central African Republic have fled to Chad this year. Before the latest influx, Chad was already host to some 45,000 CAR refugees at four sites in the south.
The new refugees have been staying in the small Chadian town of Maya. The refugee agency plans to begin moving them Friday to a temporary site near the village of Dembo, some 25 kilometers away from the border.
There, the U.N. plans to distribute tents, blankets, food, and other supplies.


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Using LED glowsticks, flashlights, even fireworks, combined with time-lapse photography, light graffiti artists create a unique tagging that wraps around objects dimensionally, allowing them to tag in a way they'd never be able to with spraypaint. (watch the video below). But in my opinion Julien Breton 's light Calligraphie has stunning results!
Julien Breton's light Calligraphie
1 of


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Building on the foundation of Schools as Centres of Care & Support, Zambia's CSTL programme has grown the original project from 40 schools in two provinces, to 120 schools in five provinces; 15 schools were selected to participate in the baseline study.
CSTL in Zambia has resulted in improved participation of teachers and community members, bigger budget allocations for support activities and the formation of partnerships with key stakeholders – particularly in the areas of psychosocial support, nutrition and health, water and sanitation, safety and protection, infrastructure development, and teaching and learning materials. The CSTL essential package is being incorporated into the national standards and guidelines for improving the quality of education in Zambia, which will result in increased provision of these services.
Practical evidence of improved services includes the upgrading of infrastructure of five community schools. Previously, they were grass-thatched structures, but they have been provided with modern facilities and trained teachers – the result of which is increased enrolments. The school nutrition programme has improved school attendance and retention, as well as learning outcomes in such schools. In addition, stakeholder partners have increased their provision of material and welfare. For example, at Ndake Primary, 280 bicycles were provided to learners who had to cover long distances to get to school, which enables them to attend regularly. Efforts such as these have translated into improved access and retention for vulnerable children.
As a build up to the next phase of CSTL, Zambia envisages the following: scaling up CSTL programme interventions to all schools through the National Standards and Guidelines on Improving Quality of Education in Zambia; increasing the partners in the National Coordinating Unit in order to expand the provision of care and support services; increasing the budget allocations for bursary support to orphans and vulnerable children; improving teacher and community participation in the provision of care and support services, especially at school and community levels; integrating and harmonizing regional best practices into national plans.
Activities such as these will foster the achievement of the two national goals. These are, to improve the enrolment, retention and learner achievement of vulnerable learners through:
- Strengthening the responsiveness of the education systems
- Mobilizing school communities to provide care and support to vulnerable children


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Hi there! Hope you are doing great, and that there's some helpful startup tips in this week's post:
Mind Your Messaging
Kinda along the lines of what I mentioned in last week's post about 'Always be demoing', don't snub the trusty 'ol trade show, either. Last week we did our first exhibiting event at Market NY Expo at the sprawling Jacob Javits Center in NYC. And y'now what? It was awesome! We met great people, networked, got some biz dev stuff in the hopper (reseller program, anyone?) and some awesome feedback. For instance, our booth graphics said "All Your Apps…On One Dashboard. Free!" Several folks thought we were in the apps business, as in creating mobile apps. Good take away.
I was also reminded that people who visit your booth at a trade show almost never read your copy. They could stand there for minutes, scanning all your material and still ask "So what do you do?"
Free Should Mean Free
Another one? People have some serious concern about what 'free', as in business freemium, means. Many thought it must mean we are going to make money from selling ads within the app. No way! Once we told them certain folks would eventually pay us for more Insights or advanced features, they were satisfied. So we need to make that crystal clear in our communications.
Cohorts Are Important!
Get yer cohorts over heh! Hey these reports should drive your business, and we've discussed the value of cohort analysis in previous posts. We are setting up ours now, including the time between when someone initially signs up for Dasheroo to when they connect their first insight, and most importantly (especially when we launch our billing solution!), Initial Signup to a Paid Account. If you aren't instrumenting your biz on cohorts you are leaving money on the table!
Automation is Necessary
I learned a great lesson! With the rapidly growing number of new users we are getting (thanks!), I cannot any longer manually review and enter into our CRM solution Salesforce, each person. I really really enjoyed doing that, as it gave me so much insight into the profile of our users – the type of business, where they are located around the world and so on. I personally researched and entered our first 2,500 users. But now, it's an automated script right from our database into SFDC.
So the lessons are: 1) get your user data under control or die. Like I said, we're now pumping in all our signups into Salesforce. But that's only the first step. I'm looking at InsideView as a solution to appending all the vital information like company name, company size, & geo. 2) Although this will automate what I used to do manually, I will always do some random, manual spot checks to make sure I never lose sight of the type of users we are attracting.
Have an awesome week and keep on Dasherooing.