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Research Article | Open Access
Fatemeh Tahghighi, Mohamad-Hassan Moradinejad, Yahya Aghighi, Reza Shiari, Seyed-Reza Raeeskarami, Farhad Salehzadeh, Vadood Javadi, Vahid Ziaee, "Evaluation of 10-Year Experience of Wegener's Granulomatosis in Iranian Children", International Scholarly Research Notices, vol. 2013, Article ID 694928, 4 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/694928
Evaluation of 10-Year Experience of Wegener's Granulomatosis in Iranian Children
Wegener's granulomatosis or granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA) is an uncommon chronic systemic vasculitis in children. The aim of this study was to describe pediatric patients with GPA in Iran. We studied records of all patients with GPA diagnosis who were referred to all Iranian Pediatric Rheumatology Division from 2002 to 2011. A total of 11 patients (5 females and 6 males) enrolled in this study. In children less than 15 years old, the prevalence of GPA is 0.6 per million. The mean age of GPA diagnosis was 11 years and average delay diagnosis was 20 months. Mortality rate was 18.1% due to pulmonary vasculitis and infection. The most common organ system involvement was upper and lower respiratory tract involvement (81.8% and 63.9%, resp.). Other common manifestations were renal (36.3), skin (27.2%), and eye involvement (18.2%).
1. Introduction
Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a chronic systemic vasculitis mainly affecting the upper and lower respiratory tracts and kidneys that usually involve small to medium-sized arteries [1]. This condition that also known as granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA) was described by McBride in 1897 as a midfacial granuloma syndrome, but the complete picture was described in 1930s [2, 3]. This vasculitis was characterized by the formation of necrotising granuloma in the respiratory tracts and necrotizing pauci-immune glomerulonephritis. The triad of upper and lower respiratory tract inflammation and renal disease are characteristic for GPA.
The etiology is unknown, but it is usually associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) that was detected in predominantly cytoplasmic form (cANCA). The peak incidence of GPA is in the fourth to sixth decades [4–6] and it is rare in children, so both the American college of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria [7] and the subsequent Chapel Hill consensus conference (CHCC) disease definitions [8] are based largely on adult data. Recently, a consensus committee of pediatric rheumatology and nephrology experts, under the auspices of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the Pediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS), proposed a system of classification for vasculitis that took into account existing pediatric knowledge and experience [9].
At onset, nonspecific complaints of fever, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss are very common. A large majority of children with GPA present with multiple organ involvement.
There is no comprehensive study on GPA in Iran. So, the aim of this study was to describe pediatric patients with GPA from all pediatrics rheumatology divisions of Iran to analyse the variety of clinical manifestations seen and to compare the data with other published series.
2. Material and Methods
We studied records of all patients with GPA diagnosis who were referred to all Iranian Pediatric Rheumatology Division from 2002 to 2011. Data included age, gender, age of onset, delay in diagnosis, clinical features before diagnosis, and clinical signs observed at diagnosis, laboratory and histopathological findings, imaging findings, and response to treatment. We used the EULAR/PRES criteria [9] to confirm the diagnosis. The patient was considered to have GPA when three of the following six criteria were present:(1)nasal, oral inflammation, or sinus inflammation;(2)abnormal chest radiograph or chest CT scan; (3)abnormal urinalysis including signification proteinuria;(4)granulomatous inflammation on biopsy or necrotizing pauci-immune GN on biopsy;(5)subglottic, tracheal, or endobronchial stenosis(6)PR3 ANCA or cANCA staining.This study was approved by local ethical committee of Children's Medical Center, pediatric center of excellence in Iran.
3. Result
During 10 years of study, 11 patients with GPA diagnosis were admitted in all Iranian Pediatric Rheumatology Division. Five patients were female (45.4) and 6 male (54.5) with male/female ratio of 1.2 : 1. During this period, almost one third of the population (17,680,000) is less than 15 years old. The prevalence of GPA was 0.6 per million. The mean age at primary symptom onset was 9.7 (range 4 to 15) years and the mean age of GPA diagnosis was 11 (range 6 to 15) years. The average delay diagnosis was 20 months; this index was 6 months and 23 month in died and alive patients, respectively. Ten of 11 children fulfilled EULAR/PRES criteria and one patient was diagnosed based on the clinical picture typical of the disease. The mean duration of follow-up for living patients was 6.4 years. Two patients died (mortality rate 18.1%) including a female patient after 2 weeks of diagnosis with pulmonary hemorrhage and another male patient after 12 months of diagnosis with proptosis and orbital pseudotumour. Final diagnosis for the last patient was disseminated fungal infection after retroorbital granulomatous mass due to fungal infection.
Initial clinical manifestations of our patients are summarized in Table 1.
At onset, fatigue as a nonspecific complaint was very common (81.8%). The most common organ system involvement was upper respiratory tract (81.8%) and lower respiratory tract involvement was seen in 63.9%. Six children (54.4%) had abnormal imaging in chest X-ray or chest CT-scan. Renal involvement was observed in 4 children (36.3).
The eyes involvement was seen in 2 patients, one of them had proptosis due to a retroorbital granulomatous mass (showed on biopsy), and the other patient had periorbital cellulitis.
Skin involvement was observed in 3 children. Two patients had necrotic lesions that one of them presented with pyoderma gangrenosum. In skin biopsy, they showed necrotizing granuloma and leukocytoclastic vasculitis and 3rd one had a nonspecific rash. Gastrointestinal involvement was found in 3 patients that one of them showed follicular gastritis in biopsy.
Laboratory Markers. Cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (cANCA) or proteinase-3 (PR3)-ANCA was positive in all patients and p-ANCA (MPO) was positive in 2 patients. ANA was positive just in one patient. Two patients had thrombocytopenia (67000 and 95000) without active bleeding. Antiplatelet antibody was negative in thrombocytopenic patients.
4. Discussion
The aim of this study was a comprehensive report on GPA in Iranian children. The peak incidence of GPA is in the fourth to sixth decades [4–6] and it is rare in children and the main reports on WG are in adult patients. Mortality rate in our study was 18% and it occurred during 1 year after diagnosis. This rate was 20.8% and 27% in other studies [10, 11]. Luqmani et al. reported higher mortality rate during the first year after diagnosis [10]. Similar to Luqmani et al study, the causes of mortality in our study were infection and vasculitis, but unlike their findings anyone of our patients didn't have renal failure [10]. Some factors have been studied as predictors of mortality in GPA. Higher age (>52 y) and renal involvement have been a positive effect on mortality rate, while the ENT involvement has had an association with a longer survival [10, 11].
Onset of GPA before 10 years old is uncommon. The mean age at diagnosis in our group was 11 years (rang 4 to 15) that was older than reported by Belostotsky et al. (6 years) [12]. The mean age at GPA diagnosis was reported 14.2 years (range 4 to 17) by Cabral et al. [13].
In our study, male/female ratio was similar to that reported by Stegmayr et al. [14] and adult literature [15–17], but some studies reported a significant female predominance in their patients [12, 18–21].
Similar to other studies, fatigue and malaise were the most common symptom in our patients [21, 22]. Respiratory tract is the most common involvement in GPA. In our studies, upper and lower respiratory tract was affected in 81.1% and 63.3% patients, respectively. This rate was very different in other studies. Chinese patients had 51.9% and 77.8% [23] and Rodrigues et al. [20] reported 64% and 36% upper and lower respiratory tract involvement, respectively. Sometimes respiratory tract involvement needs surgical intervention. Eustaquio et al. reported 25% respiratory tract involvement with airway lesions and surgical interventions [17].
In Belostotsky study renal involvement was 3 times in children after 5 years in comparison to less than 5 years old [12]. Renal involvement has been reported very different in children between 53 and 88% [12, 23] and this rate was less frequent than in adult (85%) [15]. It seems that renal involvement is more frequent in adult than in children. In addition, early diagnosis and treatment may prevent nephritis and progress to end stage renal disease. Similar to Cabral report, in our group microscopic hematuria was the most common involvement [13].
Eyes were affected in 2 of our patients (18.8%). This rate was very different from 25 to 60% in other studies [12, 18, 20, 21]. In Chinese series ophthalmic involvement was more frequent in p-ANCA positive patients [23]. Skin lesion is uncommon symptom in GPA. In our case series the rate of skin involvement was 27.2%. In other study this rate was 11–48% [20–22].
5. Conclusion
GPA is a rare rheumatologic disorder in Iranian children with prevalence less than 1 per million children. The mortality rate was 18.1% in our study. GPA should be considered as a rare diagnosis in children with chronic respiratory involvement in concomitant with other organ involvement such as eye or renal involvement.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
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Copyright © 2013 Fatemeh Tahghighi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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The Cairngorms National Park is a magical place to escape to for your holidays. The most popular way to do this is to rent a lovely house or lodge as a twosome or chill with friends and family in plush surroundings. A hot tub seems to be the cherry on the cake to staying in one of these amazing places in the Cairngorms. Hot tubs in the Cairngorms are a great way to relax and there is nothing better than sitting outside in the warmth of the hot bubbling waters, taking in the amazing views with snow falling silently around!
Here we explore some of the best hot tub views you can find in the Cairngorms National Park.
Downie's cottage has possibly one of the best locations in the Cairngorms sitting high above Braemar and accessed by an unmade track (they leave a 4×4 for you to borrow for access). Sitting in the hot tub here is pure bliss, taking in the views over the village and watching the squirrels on the feeders.
2.Croft Kincardine, near Boat of Garten
This amazing log cabin sits overlooking the River Spey just south of Boat of Garten. The private and secluded grounds are home to a hot tub perfect for relaxing in after a day of fishing on the Spey.
3.Tullochgorum Lodge, near Boat of Garten
Tullochgorum Lodge hot tub enjoys amazing panoramic views across the River Spey to the Cairngorm Mountains. Located on a cattle farm, you might occasionally have some company of some four-legged friends.
4.Glenbeag Mountain Lodges, Glenshee
The mountain lodges at Glenbeag in the 'Glen of the Fairies' as Glenshee is often known, sit in a stunning position on the hillside at 1100 feet above sea level. Book a lodge in winter and enjoy the views of the snow capped mountains surrounding you after a fun packed day on the ski slopes.
The outdoor hot tub and sauna hut are set in the pine forest with views out to the Cairngorm Mountains. Stay at the 5 star Old School in Carrbridge and kick back in style. If you are lucky the red squirrels might pay you a visit.
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@mylovebirdart stayed at the ultra relaxing Old School House in #Carrbridge and captured this shot #visitcairngorms Take us there now!! #cairngorms #cairngormsnationalpark #scotland #scotspirit #visitscotland #highlands #logcabin #hottub #sauna #nature #travel #holidays #picoftheday #instascotland #igerscotland
Set amongst the ancient pine forest, the Lazy Duck is truly a hidden gem with wood fired hot tub and sauna. Sit in the hot tub and take in views of Bynack Mor, one of the prominent munros in the Cairngorms range. The Lazy Duck is the place to take time out and recharge your batteries living a more simple life.
Glen Clova in the Angus Glens is a tranquil spot well placed for walking and exploring the South East of the Cairngorms National Park. After a long day in the hills you can retire to your luxury lodge and ease your muscles in the hot tub as you look out across the Glen.
8. Mountain View Lodge, near Kincraig
The Mountain View Lodge hot tub looks out over Loch Insh and the Spey Valley. Sitting in complete isolation you can enjoy the stunning views over the ever changing landscape. You can always dry off in the sauna next door. This lodge has it all!
These are just a few of the amazing properties which feature a hot tub in the Cairngorms. You can check out the full list of properties with a hot tub in the Cairngorms here.
Did you enjoy this article? Why not share it then!

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With time, a building will begin to lose its luster. To keep your home from losing its appeal and functionality, and to renew your own enjoyment, investing in a remodel is an economic solution. Ford Builders does remodeling in Lake Placid, NY. My home improvement service will take care of every part of your home, including the kitchen, bathroom, garage, patio, living room, and bedrooms. Remodeling makes property management easier and makes living in your home more enjoyable.
At Ford Builders, I provide a wide variety of remodeling services. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling will make two of the most popular rooms in your house functional and appealing to you and your guests. In your kitchen, I can install hardwood or tile flooring for water and stain resistance, new counter tops, and an island for a very open concept look. In your bathroom, I can do a walk-in shower with tile walls and heated flooring for extra comfort in the morning.
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Remodeling your home will help you give it that personal touch and make it more durable and appealing than ever. With Ford Builders, residents of Lake Placid, NY can take their worn down properties and give them new life.For service or more information, reach me by phone and let me show you what I can do for you.
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Beware of These Top 10 Investment Scams (Updated List for 2011/2012)!!!
HAT TIP: Ric Edelman (Education / Investing Your Money) Beware of These Top 10 Investment Scams – Follow your nose. If an offer smells fishy, it's probably bad. Updated December 2011 Recent worries about the economy, coupled with poor investment performance, … Continue reading


text: Gotz George, Acclaimed German Actor, Dies at 77 12:46 AM PDT 6/27/2016 by Scott Roxborough FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Getty The star of the Oscar-nominated comedy 'Schtonk!' was best known for his role as Inspector Horst Schimanski on the hit TV crime show 'Tatort.' Gotz George, one of Germany's best known and most beloved actors, whose life and career were a reckoning with his country's dark past, has died after a brief illness. He was 77. One of the country's most versatile performers, George found success on stage, television and film and across all genres. He played an outlaw, a serial killer and Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, but also a camp gay lover in Rossini, a satire on the German film scene. In the Oscar-nominated comedy Schtonk!, he played a sleazy tabloid journalist responsible for passing off as real the forged diaries of Adolf Hitler. George was nominated seven times for the German Film Awards, Germany's equivalent of the Oscars, and won four times. In 1995, he won the Volpi Cup for best actor at the Venice Film Festival for The Deathmaker. But in Germany, George will always be remembered as Horst Schimanski, the cop from Duisburg on the long-running TV crime show Tatort. A rough-hewed, working-class policeman who spoke in the thick local Ruhr dialect, the character was a revelation for German television at the time. George kept returning to the role, playing Schimanski in 48 episodes of Tatort over the course of 32 years. George died June 19, but his death was kept secret until he was buried in Hamburg over the weekend. His fans took to Twitter on the news of his death, and #goetzgeorge was a trending hashtag throughout the day in Germany. German justice minister Heiko Maas said that with the passing of George, "our country loses one of our great character actors." Adieu, Schimmi. Mit Götz #George verliert unser Land einen unserer großen Charakterdarsteller. #Schimanski #schtonk pic.twitter.com/ALLDAdpyrl — Heiko Maas (@HeikoMaas) June 26, 2016 As the son of two of Germany's best known theater actors, Heinrich George and Berta Drews, Gotz George was literally born to act. He was named Gotz after his father's favorite role, that of the adventurer-poet Gotz von Berlichingen in the play of the same name by Goethe. But his father's legacy was a more complicated one. A star in the 1920s, Heinrich George appeared in films such as Fritz Lang's Metropolis and the 1931 version of Berlin-Alexanderplatz. As a member of the Communist party, he was initially banned from working when the Nazis came to power. But the elder George reached an agreement with the regime: He was allowed to keep working and became a vocal supporter of the Hitler regime. He even starred in several Nazi propaganda films, including the infamous Jud Suss. After the war, he was arrested by the Soviets and sent to a concentration camp, where he died in 1946. Though Gotz George was only 8 years old at the time, his career can in part be read as a way of coming to terms with what his father, and his country, did during the Nazi regime. He played Fritz Lang in Death Is My Trade, a disturbing 1977 biopic of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Hoss, and he portrayed Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele in Nothing But the Truth in 1999. One of his last roles was playing his own father in George, a 2013 TV movie that many critics saw as Gotz George's attempt to rehabilitate his father's reputation. "You were always ahead of me, you were always better, most obsessed," George said, addressing his dead father in a TV documentary. Few who saw the younger George act would agree. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Scott Roxborough email@example.com sroxborough


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In an absolutely stunning development, little known state legislator, Deb Fischer, badly beat two GOP rivals in Nebraska's primary yesterday. She will face Democrat Bob Kerrey in the general with a Senate seat up for grabs. A preliminary poll released by Democrats showed Fischer up by double digits over Kerrey. But that's a story for later.
In addition to Fischer, the Nebraska GOP primary included the state's attorney general and establishment-backed Jon Bruning and conservative state treasurer, Don Stenberg, supported by Club for Growth and the Senate Conservative Fund. It is estimated that Stenberg and his supporters spent $1.3 million while Bruning and pals coughed up $1.2 million on the campaign. Amazingly, Fischer's costs have been estimated at a mere $400,000. As a result, Fischer was left for dead weeks ago. How did Fischer mount a comeback, take a majority of the vote and leave the GOP-establishment scratching their heads?
Well, both Bruning and Stenberg have some baggage to be sure, while Fischer's personal demon — voting for a gasoline tax hike — was minimized by an otherwise consistently strong state voting record. Bruning and Stenberg, having notable financial support, viewed one another as the true adversary and squared off against each other, ignoring Fischer. The mutual punishment they dished out damaged each of their campaigns while Fischer was left, for the most part, unscathed.
And, of course, there was Palin power.
While GOP big-shots like Jim DeMint, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee and Rand Paul endorsed either Stenberg or Bruning as candidates, Sarah Palin was the only "national name" to endorse Fischer. A note of endorsement sent from Palin to Fischer on May 8th was released to the media the following day. In effect, Fischer went from nobody to the GOP primary winner in a week. This is the second time this month Palin has punished the GOP establishment — she endorsed conservative Richard Mourdock before his win over moderate Richard Lugar.
The current political power of Palin is astonishing. Missing some races early during 2010, Palin was mocked and ridiculed by both the GOP establishment and Democrats. But there can be no denying that her track record of endorsements – Rand Paul, Nikki Haley, Richard Mourdock earlier this month, now Fischer to name a few – has staggered the GOP-establishment like a crisp shot to the chin.
Ultimately, however, the high stakes battle for the right to define the future of the GOP is still unresolved. Karl Rove is a seasoned veteran and he and his beltway boys will not go down easily. Palin, to her credit, has vastly improved her politics and has avoided blunders that the establishment can pounce on to discredit her. She's also on a hot streak.
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"The Center for Science, Technology, Medicine & Society is hosting a February workshop on negative emissions technologies with The Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment and co-sponsor ASU LightWorks, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University. The purpose of this workshop will be to provide an introduction to CDR/NETs approaches. The primary objective will be to help non-governmental organizations in the environmental, food, land-use and forestry sectors develop positions on such technologies as they increasingly become part of the climate policy debate. The workshop will include a series of presentations on these technologies, as well as ample time for questions and discussion. It will culminate in a group scenario exercise."


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Welcome to Carroll University! The vision, values, imperatives and goals of the Carroll University Department of Public Safety (DPS) are to be a full partner of Carroll University trained and dedicated to serving the campus community consistent with the university's mission, values and principles. We strive to provide a safe and secure environment for the entire Carroll community. The DPS offers a wide variety of services to assist students, faculty and staff members in their day-to-day living.
In accordance with Clery reporting guidelines, Carroll University compiles an Annual Security Report (ASR) and Fire Safety Report. This report is designed to inform, educate, notify and alert the campus community of the current programs, policies and procedures related to crime awareness and reporting at Carroll University. The DPS reports statistics concerning on-campus incidents involving criminal offenses reported to local police agencies and officials of the institution. These crimes include robbery, arson, criminal homicide: manslaughter by negligence, criminal homicide: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, sex offenses, aggravated assault, burglary, hate crimes and motor vehicle theft.
The Carroll University DPS initiates immediate notification to the campus community upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students, staff or faculty members occurring on the campus, unless issuing a notification will compromise efforts to contain the emergency.
Kevin Kober
Director of Public Safety


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Publication Charge
Start from volume 10 no 1, 2018, Jurnal Infotel charges a published paper as is shown by below scheme.
- Cost paid by Author with Indonesia citizenship is
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- DOI registration for each paper.
This cost also includes submitting, peer-reviewing, editing, publishing, maintaining and archiving, and allows immediate access to the full-text versions of the articles.


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A Scottish politician attempted to board a flight as Captain Kirk
When pseudonyms go wrong.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond resigned on Friday after the country voted against seceding from the United Kingdom. Salmond was a vocal supporter and leader of the Yes campaign for Scotland's independence.
Scotland voted 'No' to independence on Thursday. Now, the country must consider some key questions. Paul Mason's report from Glasgow.
With just eight days to go until the referendum that could break up the UK forever, #Indyref –- if you want to follow it via hashtag –- is the only game in town.


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Educational work at the Fungarium is just at the beginning. Currently, we read two courses related to mycology for master students of the Yugra State University.
The organization of the Mycological Society was started in 2018. Currently a Mycological Club of Yugra was formed and organizes meetings, forays, and seminars about mushrooms and mycology in the region. See more information about the club activity Клуб гриболюбов Югры (in Russian with short English abstracts).
See also:
- Self-education program for coming students without training in mycology
- Courses read in YSU for master students
- Student projects in mycology based on Fungarium
- Для самых маленьких (Children corner)
Last update: 16.02.2019


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Recently released confidential files kept by the Boy Scouts of America have shown details of over 20 years of allegations of, cover-up of, and refusals to report molestation of boys participating in the program. An investigation of over 1,600 files reviewed by the Los Angeles Times revealed decades of cover-ups and forced resignations when volunteers were suspected of abuse, even when the men admitted to the charges.
The details are contained in the organization's confidential "perversion files," a blacklist of alleged molesters, that the Scouts have used internally since 1919. Scouts' lawyers around the country have been fighting in court to keep the files from public view.
As The Times reported in August, the blacklist often didn't work: Men expelled for alleged abuses slipped back into the program, only to be accused of molesting again. Now, a more extensive review has shown that Scouts sometimes abetted molesters by keeping allegations under wraps.
In the majority of cases, the Scouts learned of alleged abuse after it had been reported to authorities. But in more than 500 instances, the Scouts learned about it from boys, parents, staff members or anonymous tips.
In about 400 of those cases — 80% — there is no record of Scouting officials reporting the allegations to police. In more than 100 of the cases, officials actively sought to conceal the alleged abuse or allowed the suspects to hide it, The Times found.
In 1982, a Michigan Boy Scout camp director who learned of allegations of repeated abuse by a staff member told police he didn't promptly report them because his bosses wanted to protect the reputation of the Scouts and the accused staff member.
"He stated that he had been advised by his supervisors and legal counsel that he should neutralize the situation and keep it quiet," according to a police report in the file. Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep 2012.
The Boy Scouts of America fought the release of the documents, stating that details of the files "may still negatively impact victims' privacy and have a chilling effect on the reporting of abuse." To watch the complete statement, visit the BSA website.


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I have really been wanting to find more ways to use pork. One of the best that I've discovered is cooking pork in a slow cooker. Other ways of cooking it can dry it out and make it tough. But this savory pork tenderloin is really tender and moist.
Using the crock pot is a quick and simple way to create healthy meals and skip the fast food takeout line. A slow cooker makes cooking so simple because there is typically minimal preparation. All you have to do is let the meal cook all day and voila, a simple and delicious meal. It is quick prep that won't leave you slaving away in the kitchen all day.
If you are going to use store bought cream of mushroom soup in this recipe, then opt for a variety that is organic and either gluten or grain free. The Portobello mushroom soup from Imagine is grain free and does not contain GMO ingredients or pesticides. Pacific Foods Organic cream of mushroom soup is gluten free. If you can, homemade is best, but these are two options that are better than most store bought versions of this soup!
Definitely a winner in my house. I hope it is a winner in your home as well!
Recipe Ingredients
- 2- 2 1/2 lb pork tenderloin with all visible fat trimmed. thawed
- 1 1/2 cups of cream of mushroom soup or 1 can organic cream of mushroom soup
- 2 tbsp brown or Dijon Mustard
- 2 tbsp minced onion
- 4-5 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 3 tsp coconut aminos or fermented soy sauce
- 1 tsp Herbes de Provence
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp unrefined sea salt
Recipe Instructions
- Spray crock pot with organic olive oil cooking spray.
- Place pork tenderloin in crock pot.
- In a small bowl add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Pour over top of the pork.
- Cook on low for 6-7.
Recipe Notes
- I do not recommend cooking this on high because it tends to dry out the pork. Cooking on low will assure that you end up with nice moist pork.


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Tucked beneath the sage
Reflections of stars above
Shine forth from the sand
Tiny Oasis: A Haiku about a starlily
Tucked beneath the sage
Tucked beneath the sage
Reflections of stars above
Shine forth from the sand
Have you been pining away wishing you knew more about porcupines? Well today is your lucky day! Here's everything you ever wanted to know about the North American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, but were afraid to ask.
The North American porcupine ranges throughout most of Canada and the western United States south to Mexico. They also live in the northern Great Lakes and northeastern United States regions.
North American porcupines are a large rodent with black to brownish-yellow fur and distinct quills that cover most of their bodies. They range in weight from 11 to 30 pounds and measure 24 to 36 inches in length. Porcupines are excellent climbers with short strong legs, long claws, and hairless soles on their feet. They have a small head and rounded ears.
Porcupines can be covered with as many as 30,000 quills. The quills are solid at the base and tip but have a sort of spongy texture in the middle. They are barbed at the tip and used for defense. Quills are not thrown at another animal. Porcupines raise their quills, release a nasty scent, and lash out with their tail if an animal approaches too closely. The porcupine releases quills that become embedded in the skin and expand with body heat. Quills that hit a sensitive area may cause death.
Porcupines are very vocal. Their calls include a variety of moans, grunts, coughs, wails, whines, shrieks, and tooth-clicking. Vocalizations and scents are used to attract mates. They have poor vision but a good sense of smell.
Porcupines are usually a solitary animal that is mostly nocturnal. They occasionally den with others in winter months. They do not hibernate. Dens are made in caves and decaying hollow logs and trees.
Both male and female porcupines defend a territory, though males do so more actively. Mating occurs in October and November. Males fight over females and display their "weaponry" on their backs and tails. An elaborate mating dance is performed for the females. Gestation last seven months and the young "porcupettes" are born with soft quills. The quills ordinarily harden in about an hour. North American porcupines usually have a single porcupette. Young porcupines begin to forage when they are just a couple of days old. They generally stay with their mother for about five months.
Porcupines are herbivores and they feed on leaves, twigs, buds, fruit, nuts, and bark. Their herbivorous diet makes them crave salt so they sometimes chew on the handles of human tools and structures. They also eat de-icing salt deposits on roads.
Predators include mountain lions, lynx, bobcat, coyote, wolves, wolverines, fishers, and great horned owls. Fishers use hunting techniques that minimize their chances of getting poked by the quills. Porcupines are long-lived mammals and can live up to 18 years in the wild and 23 years in captivity.
Porcupines live in many different habitats from sea level to high elevation. They live in deciduous and coniferous forests, open tundra, and desert environments.
North American porcupine population levels are stable in most of their range but localized populations have been affected by several factors. Higher populations of predators, such as fishers and mountain lions, have caused lower porcupine numbers. Changes in logging management practices and pest infestations may affect their food source. Occasionally this animal will be hit by vehicles when it is trying to cross a road. In the past they were poisoned due to their habit of foraging on crops such as trees and corn.
Native Americans incorporated the porcupine into their mythology. Tribes associated the animal with traits such as cautiousness, humility, modesty, and luck. Porcupines were used as a food source and their quills were used as decorations on clothing and other items. Lakota women would throw a blanket over a surprised porcupine and retrieve the quills it had released into the blanket to use in their quillwork.
In the Spring, the flocking begins.
Flocks alighting,
Optics focusing.
Nature's fireworks on display
Exploding in a timeless rhythm.
Wings fluttering,
Voices trumpeting.
Welcoming visitors to share
In a celebration of Spring.
Flocking to Malheur.
Maybe Newberry National Volcanic Monument can light its own candles for its 25th birthday celebration. It's young as a monument and is also young in geological terms.
The amazing, and appropriately named, Big Obsidian Flow feature was formed a mere 1,300 years ago. You can walk up a trail that winds through a massive mountain of sparkling obsidian. When I say massive I mean MASSIVE – 380 million cubic yards! From a distance, the landscapes appear to be a real life version of Mordor. Up close, the shimmering reflections all around you are dazzling.
If you are at the Monument on a clear day, you might want to drive up Paulina Peak. When the Newberry volcano erupted 7,000 years ago, it collapsed and formed a caldera. Paulina Peak is what is left of the volcanic peak. It is 7,983 feet tall but was likely 500-1,000 feet higher before the eruption. If the weather cooperates, you will get a glimpse of peaks in Washington state and California from its summit.
Be forewarned that the road up is "primitive." In this case, primitive means that parts of the road consist of bone-jarring washboard. The view from the top is worth it though.
From the top of Paulina Peak you get a great view of Paulina Lake and Twin Lake. These two lakes formed in the caldera created after the Newberry volcano erupted. Hot springs are present at both of these lakes. There are plenty of places to camp nearby. If you're into fishing, the lakes have a plentiful supply of kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, and Atlantic salmon.
The road into this area is closed during winter near the Ten Mile Sno-Park but there are a lot groomed trails for winter activities. I went snowshoeing there on February 20 for the Winter Recreation Celebration. The Discover Your Forest group once again hosted free guided walks. Our group was small but there was a lot to see there. It's a much different habitat than Mt. Bachelor. There were snowmobiles using some of the trails but the cross country skiing and snowshoeing trails had light usage.
The last big events planned around the 25th birthday celebration of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument occur between June 30 – July 4th. There will be a re-dedication of the Monument. On July 4th there will be a fireworks display in La Pine. It will celebrate the 10th anniversary of La Pine, the 30th year of the Frontier Days celebration, and the 100th anniversary of Deschutes County.
I have covered parts of the Monument in past posts. See Lava Lands Visitor Center , Lava Butte , and the Lava Cast Forest .


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The human pin cushion
Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya trip report – pre-trip
The flights
Coconut Grove
The rain forest
Nigeria Air and Sheraton
Flight problems and ATM fun
The trip home
The trip home took me from Nairobi, Kenya to Amsterdam on KLM. It was a 777 with really narrow seats. There was an automatic water dispenser on the exterior of the bathroom area which I thought was quite cool. I originally had an economy comfort seat booked but moved to an exit row aisle seat instead. I never sleep on planes and always prefer to control my own destiny in regards to getting up out of my seat and therefore an aisle is my preferred seat.
There was a short two hour layover in Amsterdam, and then my next flight was Amsterdam to Detroit on an Airbus 320. On this flight, for breakfast they had an organic omelette. On a side note, I'm still skeptical on whether eating anything organic is actually beneficial to you. Maybe it's the skeptic in me, but given the fact that you can charge a premium for something organic, it seems that human nature would kick in and that people would fake being organic just to make more money. Personally I can't ever tell a difference between eggs and range free eggs or whether a vegetable is organic or not. I realize that the red bell pepper's at Costco that are the size of my foot must have had some sort of modification – but is that really harmful? I don't know. I'm sure there's some intrinsic overall benefit to eat organic but I personally don't go out of my way to try to. This time I was in economic comfort rather than exit row aisle seats – however personally I can't really tell any difference.
The last flight was Detroit to Salt Lake City, with 3 seat and 3 seats and I grabbed an exit row aisle again.
Final thoughts on my first trip to Africa. I would definitely personally return to Ghana and Kenya. Nigeria was a little too crazy for me. The massive amount of people everywhere – Lagos just seemed a little too busy for my personal tastes.


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Can I re-start my business using a Creditor's Voluntary Liquidation?
Liquidation and re-start is achievable using a Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation. It can be done within the law quickly and smoothly.
When a company is placed into liquidation all its contracts and relationships end. This doesn't mean that the business that operates within the shell of the company can't be uplifted and placed into a new company taking the good bits' forwards and starting afresh.
Are there any restrictions on re-starting the business of a liquidated company?
There is no automatic restriction on a Director of an insolvent company being a Director of another company meaning that you can start a new limited company and become a Director of that company.
However, if you want to start a new company using the same or similar name as the liquidated company, there are certain restrictions.
The limitations on re-use of a company name
As a Director of a limited company which has been placed into insolvent liquidation, you are restricted from using the same name or a name so similar to suggest an association under Section 216 of the Insolvency Act 1986. This applies to the company name and any associated trading names or styles. There are various penalties for not complying with the legislation.
There are few exceptions to S.216 and one of those would be to purchase the whole or substantially the whole of the assets of the company from the liquidator. You would then be required to write to all of the creditors of the existing company and place an advert in the London Gazette to advise that you are to become a Director of a company with a same or similar name.
Transfer of Goodwill and Assets
You should not transfer the assets of the insolvent company into a new limited company without making or intending to make payment for them. An independent valuation will need to be obtained to ensure that you are paying a fair price for the assets to avoid criticism from the creditors of the insolvent company.
The existing company will then be liquidated and the liabilities will remain as a creditor of the company in the liquidation except those for which Directors have given a personal guarantee.
This is only a brief summary, for more information or advice contact the Timothy James Partnership.
Added: 24 May 2017 11:50
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text: Packed with features, the high-end Centroid merges style, comfort and technical prowess into one all-conquering package. If to cap or not to cap is your question, fear not, you can have it both ways with the Centroid's toe strap; and as for the ankle strap, well, it's as comfortable and secure as a padded cell. And you have the advantage of not having to be mad to get in these. Quite the opposite, actually. The J.I.B. highback works in together with the straps and ramped gas pedals to give speedy response yet also allow a fair deal of tweak for getting your bone on. The baseplate is fully also cushioned to take the sting out of nails landings, all of which add up to make the Centroid a good choice for the savvy rider.


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Arizona Enterprise Service Platform - Tenant (AESP)
Billing Code:
This is a new service.
A new technology stack being engineered from the ground up to provide Agencies a scalable, secure, and high performance cloud platform for applications, code, API's, and other modern web frameworks. AESP can be isolated to individual Tenants where an Agency has complete control of the environment. Alternately, an Agency can participate in ASET's Tenant where the health of the environment is actively maintained, allowing time and resources to be devoted to the Agency's Applications and API's. AESP is built atop Amazon's AWS infrastructure, and takes full advantage of their associated security and performance Software
Billing Unit:
Current Rate:


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Amid speculations on retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, former Test cricketer Chetan Chauhan today said the veteran batsman still had hunger for runs and was the best judge when to call it a day.
"Tendulkar still has hunger to play cricket," Chauhan told PTI.
Chauhan, who partnered with legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar for a long time before retiring from the game in 1982, said Tendulkar was the best judge himself to call it a day at a right time.
"Though he (Tendulkar) has not scored a century in Test matches for the last two year, but he still has a lot of potential and hunger to keep playing the game", Chauhan, who was here in connection with a run organised by BJP's sports wing, said. He himself is President of BJP's national sports cell.
The former Test opener said that Gautam Gambhir had chance to return to the national team.
Chauhan, who played 40 Tests, said Virat Kohli had tremendous potential as India's future captain.
"He (Kohli) proved himself as a good captain in the recent West Indies Tri Series which India won and also at Zimbabwe tour," the cricketer-turned BJP leader said.
"His (Kohli) aggressive attitude and cool head even in trying times makes him a fit candidate to lead team India in future," Chauhan said.
About cricket in Bihar, Chauhan said that the state had produced some good crickters like Saba Karim, Amikar Dayal and Avinash Kumar. He paid a visit to cricket academy run by Dayal at St Xaviers school here and encouraged youngsters.
He expressed displeasure over fight between different crickering bodies in the state for affliation to the BCCI.
Chauhan urged them to come on one platform under former cricketer and BJP MP Kirti Azad.


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BRUSSELS (Reuters Life!) - The European Union released its pan-European social survey on Tuesday and the results show that while most Europeans are fairly happy with their lives, the economic downturn has hit them hard.
The Eurobarometer survey, the first conducted in the wake of the economic and financial crisis, quizzed more than 25,000 people across the EU during May and June last year and it found economic issues were front and center of their concerns.
The survey was conducted at a time when statistics showed the EU economy was contracting by around 5 percent year-on-year.
Respondents were worried about the outlook for jobs, the cost of living, the affordability of energy and housing, and the way public administrations are run across the 27-nation bloc.
An overwhelming majority in 23 member states indicated overall discontent with the economic situation, with respondents in Latvia, Hungary, Ireland and Greece the most dissatisfied. Only Denmark, Luxembourg, Cyprus and the Netherlands registered "satisfaction," and even then it was limited.
"Public opinion is also pessimistic about the coming year, with negative ratings outweighing positive ones in almost all European countries," the survey compilers said.
"Developments in these aspects of everyday life over the last five years are viewed in similarly negative fashion, with the prevalent feeling among Europeans being that the general situation has deteriorated rather than improved since 2004."
Yet while views on the general situation across the European Union were largely downbeat, on a personal level many respondents said they were satisfied with life.
The most positive responses came -- perhaps unsurprisingly -- from the three Scandinavian countries surveyed: Sweden, Finland and Denmark. But there was also positivity among the Dutch and to an extent those in Cyprus and Belgium.
The most negative about their personal circumstances were the Hungarians, the Bulgarians, the Romanians and the Greeks.
The survey tried to capture Europeans' expectations for satisfaction with life in the coming 12 months by looking at the difference between the proportion of those responding that life will get "better" and those answering "worse."
The better-worse index score for the EU as a whole come in as +10 -- on a scale between -100 and +100 -- which suggests that Europeans broadly expect their lives to get better in the coming year, if not by very much.
Reporting by Sangeeta Shastry, editing by Luke Baker and Paul Casciato
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Paul Clinton, PLA
Landscape Architect
Paul Clinton is a Professional Landscape Architect, Wetland Delineator, and Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control. He is involved in all aspects of landscape design and construction and is responsible for project management from planning through design and construction. Mr. Clinton is experienced in site plans, landscape design, permitting, environmental assessments, natural resources, stream restoration, native planting, Section 404 permitting, and construction and maintenance of wetlands.


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The Triumph Basketball Club has announced they will be hosting tryouts on August 17 & 18, 2018, at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Center to identify players to be added to the rosters for the 2018/2019 season. As a program focused on development, they are looking for players who will fit the team culture based on respect, hard work and accountability. The players are provided with excellent opportunities to train & compete: locally in league and exhibition play, on the AAU circuit, and in high-level grassroots tournaments around Canada and the USA. Our players understand that these opportunities are earned, not guaranteed, and this year, Triumph will have teams representing the following age groups:
Underclassmen – 13U/14U (2005/2006) - NEW TEAM
Coordinator: D. Nepon (@davidnepon)
Assistant: N. Naseri (@nadernaseri_)
Freshmen – 15U (2004)
Coordinator: B. Kankam
Assistant: D. Nepon (@davidnepon)
Junior Varsity – 16U (2003) - NEW TEAM, NEW COACH
Coordinator: D. Leonard (@daronracharleonard)
Varsity – 17U/18U (2002/2001)
Coordinator: D. Leonard (@daronracharleonard)
Assistant: S. Wesley (@whereiswesley8)
- Tryouts for ALL age groups will begin at 6:00 pm on Friday August 17th, and go until 9:00 pm (3 hours).
- Additionally, a second session will begin at 12:00 pm on Saturday August 18th, and go until 2:00 pm (2 hours).
- (As we are using the entire facility, courts will be assigned based on the attendance of each age group.)
- If selected, players will have 24 hours to accept the their position and submit their player information package.
- There will be a mandatory meeting with parents on Monday August 20th, 2018, to discuss the upcoming season.
- (Time and location of the meeting will be provided by email to the parents of the players selected)
For additional information, the following resources are available, including information on our coaches:
Website (NEW): www.triumph204.com
Instagram: Triumph_204
Twitter: Triumph_204
Facebook: Triumph Basketball (@TriumphBasketball204)
Email: email@example.com


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Streaming content is the natural endpoint for entertainment content. The many conveniences that come from streaming outweigh the concerns about a lack of 'ownership' for the consumer of the media they consume, data throttling once net neutrality is a distant memory, and the quite justified concerns over subscription fatigue due to the sheer amount of streaming services on offer.
The reality is that ease of use trumps all of those, particularly for casual consumers, and as infrastructure and internet penetration improves further the proportion of people using streaming services will only grow. Last year Ofcom reported that nearly half of UK households now have access to at least one television streaming service, as the number subscribing to the most popular services "increased from 11.2m (39%) in 2018 to 13.3m (47%) in 2019". That doesn't take into account the number of households that also subscribe to a music streaming service like Spotify, either.
However, that isn't to say that streaming is necessarily a good fit for every medium. It works well for low-data, passive mediums like audio and television. Even Netflix's ambition Black Mirror special, Bandersnatch, which was effectively an experiment in interactive television content in the vein of an adventure game, was possible through Netflix's infrastructure. But the reality is that the technology and infrastructure to stream many video games isn't there yet – despite some serious investment from big players.


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One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. (Public domain image; licensed under CC0)
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Second Sunday after Pentecost
Mark 2:23--3:6 Commentary
by Matt Skinner
These two controversy scenes -- one in the grainfields and one in a synagogue -- are very important for understanding the Gospel of Mark as a whole.
| Bible Text
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Commentary
by Vanessa Lovelace
The Sabbath is usually only associated with rest. However, the Sabbath also emphasizes freedom from enslavement.
1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20] Commentary
by Valerie Bridgeman
Have you ever thought you heard someone call your name in a crowd; or turned around thinking you heard a voice, but no one was there?1
Psalm 81:1-10 Commentary
by Robert Hoch
Psalm 81 does not begin with a crisis but with a covenant memory, the memory of God's faithfulness and a jubilant call to worship (verses 1-5).
2 Corinthians 4:5-12 Commentary
by Lois Malcolm
This short cryptic passage presents us with a synopsis of what life in Jesus the Messiah looks like.
A Sabbath Perspective
by Karoline Lewis
June 03, 2018
This past week was the 26th Festival of Homiletics in Washington, D.C., "Preaching and Politics." An appropriate place and theme for times such as these, but for many ...
SB608 - Second Sunday after Pentecost (Ord. 9)
Discussion on texts for Second Sunday after Pentecost (June 3, 2018): (Gospel) Mark 2:23--3:6; (First Reading) Deuteronomy 5:12-15; (Semi-continuous First Reading) 1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20]; Psalm 81:1-10; (Second Reading) 2 Corinthians 4:5-12. Recorded with a live audience at the Festival of Homiletics, Washington, D.C., for WorkingPreacher.org.


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"When men hire themselves out to shoot other men to order, asking nothing about the justice of their cause, I don't care if they are shot themselves." ~ Herbert Spencer
On a recent flight to Boston with a layover in Baltimore, I witnessed, firsthand, and in living color, American military idolatry in action like I have never seen before.
I was just beginning to wonder why boarding was being delayed for my flight to Boston when a Southwest agent announced over the PA system the reason why. Turns out that the body of a dead U.S. serviceman was being loaded on my plane in Baltimore for the trip to Boston.
Some passengers began looking out the airport windows to get a glimpse of what was taking place. I kept reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
The agent requested that everyone stand and observe a moment of silence while the body of a "fallen hero" was loaded on to the plane. I kept reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
The agent said is was a "solemn honor and privilege" to transport the remains of a "proud patriot." I kept reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
Most of the passengers stood in silence and looked out the windows. I kept reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
I noticed that some of the passengers looked like they were about to cry. I kept reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
Gun Control and the Se... Best Price: null Buy New $5.95 (as of 11:36 EST - Details)
The agent explained that when we arrived in Boston no one would be allowed off the plane until the serviceman's remains were removed from the plane with full military honors. I kept reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
The agent asked the passengers to maintain a spirit of reverence during the flight. I kept reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
After a delay of about 15 or 20 minutes, we were able to board the flight to Boston. I have never been on such a quiet airplane flight. It seemed like even the babies and small children were quiet.
When the plane landed in Boston, I saw a group of servicemen (and women) in their uniforms. We waited about 10 or 15 minutes for the body of the dead serviceman to be taken off the plane and loaded into a vehicle for transport. You could hear a pin drop. I began again to read LewRockwell.com on my phone.
The pilot then exited the cockpit and spouted some pious platitudes about the military and honoring the fallen. I kept reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
I did not made a scene, criticize the military, denounce U.S. foreign policy, say a word, or deliberately draw attention to myself in any way. Whether in the airport or on the plane I just sat minding my own business and reading LewRockwell.com on my phone.
I don't protest at military funerals, chastise members of the military, or insult veterans. I just write articles in which I point out the evils of the military, try to keep people from joining the military, encourage military personnel not to reenlist, instruct Christians about the incompatibility of Christianity and military service, and try to stem the tide of military idolatry that is so rampant throughout the country.
But I don't enjoy writing articles like this. The deceased no doubt has parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and friends—all of whom are grieving over the death of their loved one.
But someone has to say it. And since I've said enough about the military over the years—and received my share of criticisms, cursing, swearing, verbal attacks, and physical threats for it—it might as well be me.
Should we honor slain U.S. servicemen? Did they die protecting U.S. soil? Are they fallen heroes? Did they die fighting for our freedoms? Were they keeping us safe from terrorists? Did they die protecting our rights? Should we be thankful for their service? Did they die in defense of the country? Did they fight "over there" so we don't have to fight "over here"? Did they die patrolling U.S. coasts? Were they supporting and defending the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic? Did they die for a noble cause?
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Absolutely not.
I told you that someone has to say it.
The U.S. military—whatever it once was—has, for many years, simply been the president's personal attack force to bomb, invade, occupy, and otherwise bring death and destruction to any country he deems necessary.
Fallen U.S. soldiers are not heroes. They deserve no glory, honor, and praise. They were not defending the United States. They were not fighting for our freedoms. They were not protecting Americans from credible threats. They were not keeping us safe from terrorists. They were not supporting and defending the Constitution.
Fallen U.S. soldiers died unnecessarily, needlessly, senselessly, in vain, and for a lie. They died a pawn in service to the state. They died for the military/industrial complex. They died for a reckless, belligerent, and meddling U.S. foreign policy that is deeply flawed, and has been for over a hundred years.
Since it is not honorable to serve in the U.S. military and engage in unjust and immoral wars and military adventures, I cannot engage in honoring the fallen.


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Bethany School has adopted a policy which promotes healthy food choices at school. This can be seen in our school lunch menu, where all foods and beverages are in accordance with federal standards with regard to sugar, fat, and sodium content. White bread has been replaced with wheat; gatorade and juices are gone from the cooler; fresh fruits and vegetables are being chosen as snacks instead of chips and popcorn. While ice cream is still available one day per week (on Fridays this year), all of the options are low-fat.
Changes were made in other areas, too. Teacher rewards and incentives are not of the sweet, sugar-laden variety. Bake sales are not permitted. Extended Day snacks are always healthy choices.
Room parents are asked to coordinate only healthy snacks for class holiday parties with the exception of no more than One sweet treat. Products containing nuts should be avoided. (Only snacks organized by our Room Parents may be brought to school for these events. Any additional sweet treats will be sent back home with the parent/student who brought them in). It is important that we ensure a safe and healthy environment for students with food allergies and to reduce the likelihood of a severe or potentially life threatening allergic reaction. Therefore, all food sent into school for classroom snacks and class parties must be purchased from a store, in the original wrapper, and labeled with nutrient and ingredient information.
Parents are welcome to join their child(ren) for lunch on any day (we ask you sign in at the office, first). You are welcome to bring an outside lunch with you, however we ask that parents not bring food for children other than their own. We also ask that students not share their food with other students at any time while on campus.
We know birthdays are reason to celebrate, and we are happy to recognize students' birthdays in weekly chapel services and with the opportunity to purchase a birthday book for the library. Teachers provide age-appropriate recognition for their students, as well. However, we do not allow birthday treats, food items or non-food items, to be sent in from home.
Many factors were considered in these decisions including concerns of food allergies, disruption of class time, and exclusion of others.
We hope you will understand and support this effort, as we work to make Bethany School a positive learning environment and educate our students on making good choices for a healthy lifestyle.
For a printable version of our policy, click here: Food Policy


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Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community -- a lot more than just musicians, but of course they're in there too.
Who? Breye "7x" Kiser is best known as the driving force behind Provision, one of Houston's longest-running and most respected electrogoth acts. Kiser, like all great EBM frontmen, hits the stage like a bolt of lightning, holding court over the intense beeps and boops crafted by his wife Jen "Skully" Kiser and Matt "Maddy" Willis.
Provision's latest CD, A New Revolution lives up to their whole, incredible catalog, but reaches deeper into the world of rejection and redemption. It's dance music to celebrate the death of death itself, set to segments of the greatest speech in the history of film.
Provision is just one of the many bands Kiser has been a part of for the last two decades, as well as Underground Netwerk Intelligence, In Blue, Bamboo Crisis, The Mirror System, Prominence, and T3I. He's been a promoter, booking agent and resident DJ for clubs like The Cellar and Atomic Café, and run labels like Section 44 and Kathodik Records.
Home Base: Kiser is known in town for a staunch adherence to being able to provide his own equipment at a moment's notice, which is why Provision practices at his home in Cypress after years of renting space in Francisco's. He also maintains his own recording studio, Red Square Digital.
When it comes to performance, though, Kiser is most at home at Numbers. Not only have some of the best moments of his own career happened at the Grand Old Gothic Lady, most of his biggest influences and favorite bands have graced its stage.
Good War Story: "While touring the U.S. in 1997 with Bamboo Crisis, our tour van broke down," Breye begins. "Luckily we were able to coast into a gas station in Tallahassee, Florida, when it happened.
At first we thought it was just the belts, and it was nighttime with no auto-parts stores open; so we had to wait until morning to assess everything. The next day the battery was dead, and I used an old trick my dad taught me to figure out it was the alternator that had gone bad.
The band was really freaking out and thought our tour was done. But I was able to fix it myself. I was the only one in our band and crew that knew how to work on cars. I started working on cars with my dad when I was eight years old.
A lot of people don't really know that about me. I got a kick out of watching my bandmates freak out all night, and talk about this was the end for us on that trip.
Why Do You Stay in Houston: "Since the late '90s I've toured the U.S. six times," says Kiser. "I've seen what's out there, and I don't think people realize how great Houston truly is. A lot of my friends have moved away to L.A., NYC, Chicago, etc... Big cities where they think they'll be happy because of some incredible scene they have come up with in their mind.
"Most of them end up moving back because they realize it wasn't truly what they'd imagined."
Music Scene Pet Peeve: "Bands who think they are better than everyone else with the whole rock-star mentality and attitude," offers Kiser. "We've been fortunate to open for many of our biggest influences and sadly, you sometimes find out that those you admired and [who] influenced you are nothing but pricks that feel the world owes them something.
"It's been a real eye opener for me personally," he continues. "I just wish that bands would realize they got to where they are because of their fans, and never forget that when it comes to performing and being personable in public. If you think you are too cool to come out and meet fans and sign a CD or take a picture, then maybe you should really ask yourself why you are doing music and performing live in the first place."
Five Desert Island Discs:
- Psyche, Unveiling The Secret
- Xymox, Twist of Shadows
- Ministry, Twitch
- Depeche Mode, Some Great Reward
- The Hunger, Leave Me Alone
Best Show Ever: "May 7, 2011 with Clan of Xymox at Numbers in Houston, Texas. Clan of Xymox is my second-favorite band ever, and all of the members of Provision are big fans," Breye says. "I think that translated into an energy that just exploded onstage. We won over a lot of new fans that night who'd never heard of us.
"People still talk about that show to this day and how great our performance was," he says. "And doing it at Numbers here at home, in our favorite venue; was just the icing on the cake."
First Song You Fell in Love With: "Depeche Mode's 'People Are People,'" Kiser answers. "I heard it at the skating rink when I was ten years old. The message in the lyrics was universal, and that was the moment that I knew I wanted to create music with a message that people around the world could identify with.
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"And the sounds were ones that I could not identify, and I was completely intrigued as to how the song was constructed," he adds. "That curiosity led me to purchasing my first synthesizer and drum machine at age 13. The rest is now history."
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St. Martha & Mary's Anglican Church Leuven is a parish in the Church of England, Diocese in Europe and a member of the KU Leuven Lifestance Network.
© 2015 St. Martha and St. Mary's Anglican Church. All rights reserved.
Designed by: J. M. Law. Maintained by: A. Bolger (English) and T. Vermeer (Dutch)


text: LGU Nabunturan receives funding from the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region XI. The funding worth Php 492, 500 will be used for the construction of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at the dumpsite in Prk. 2, Barangay Linda and for the procurement of a shredder to be utilized in the municipality. EMB hands over the cheque to OIC Municipal Accountant Reyneria Marfe, Office of the Municipal Treasurer Staff Helen Delgado, and Municipal Environment and National Resources Officer I Designate Geraldine Pizaras on October 28, 2016 at the Ritz Hotel, Obrero, Davao City. Photo by ERS


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|What can I say? I love wine and beer... but I'm ready for some time apart.
However, I've fallen into the habit of doing what a lot of the people in my friend group do, which is to get to the end of the day and immediately grab a cold beer or pour a glass of wine as a way to take the edge off and relax. It's something I find myself looking forward to in the early afternoons when my email has piled up or I've had a frustrating conversation: Just five more hours and then that glass of Merlot is yours! The daily drink has become a habitual reward.
I don't think a drink a day is necessarily bad or wrong. However, I'm the kind of person who (for better or for worse) doesn't like to feel controlled by anyone or anything. I was starting to have the strange sense that I was obligated to quaff that happy hour beverage. It became something I just did, no questions asked. That worried me. Who was in charge: me, or the booze?
So that's my main reason for embarking on a Dry June: to break the daily drink habit, be more in control of my choices, and find other ways to decompress.
Aside from that, I also want to build speed and endurance as a runner, and I've heard that ditching alcohol can support that goal. Alcohol causes dehydration; dehydration impairs running. I already live in a dry climate where I'm constantly struggling to consume enough fluids, so drinking beer and wine does me no favors in that respect. If I'm being completely honest, I'm also hoping that I'll naturally drop a couple of pounds now that those empty calories are out of the picture. I don't diet, ever, and I don't care about losing weight to meet societal standards of how a woman should look, but if I'm a little lighter, I'll be a little faster and a little less prone to injury.
Plus, May was a boozy month. As I wrote in my May budget recap, several of our friends came through town, and our activities included brewery-hopping and imbibing. I feel the need to reset. My liver will appreciate a vacation.
Lastly, I'm hoping to save some money. I estimate that we spend somewhere between $60-$100 on alcohol every month, depending on how often we go out to restaurants. Not drinking means we can accelerate our savings or debt repayment. Another win!
So here's how it's going so far:
I started Dry June a few days before the beginning of June. Even though we still had half a bottle of wine on the counter and a couple bottles of IPA in the fridge, I felt ready to go for it - so I did. I'm now on day eight and so far it's been much easier than I thought it would be. I was expecting to feel a bit lost without my nightly beverage, but so far that hasn't been the case (except for yesterday, when I satisfied my craving with some kombucha). I've been distracting myself with other things like making dinner, reading, and running. I know that this might get more difficult if I'm out with friends, but so far I've managed to avoid activities that involve drinking.
The Dry January articles I read all touted the myriad benefits of ditching alcohol: less bloating! Weight loss! Clearer skin! So far I don't see evidence of any of that, but what I did notice almost immediately was improved sleep. Throughout the past few months, my sleep has been pretty crappy: at times I've had trouble drifting off, and at other times I've found myself waking up multiple times during the night. But over the past week, I've been waking up less, having more vivid dreams, and feeling more rested and alert during the day. I'd forgotten how great good sleep feels.
I'm also digging this opportunity to pursue another personal goal and to push myself out of my comfort zone. It's not just about the alcohol. It's about growth and challenge. I've been craving that lately - challenge in my personal life. A chance to learn more about myself.
If you've ever done a challenge like this, let me know how it went. And if you haven't, what do you think? Would you ever do a dry month?


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We're going to PAX East!
vr00mie Hidden Achievement last edited by
We are so very excited to be part of the Indie MEGABOOTH at this year's PAX East! If you are attending and have not yet played DFCO, stop on by and check it out. We hope to see you there!
To see the full lineup of great games at the booth, go here.
And if you haven't seen the other great news, we announced the release date for the Ra Crossover expansion, bringing Hank Walker: Alias Ra as a new character deck! Coming next Friday, March 16!


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Oh no she di'int!
Look! Larry and I take Left, Right and You seriously, but we don't put all that much stock in ourselves because well…nobody else does. But whenever a guest comes on the show and answers our questions in a thoughtful and direct manner, we take that very seriously.
So when 66th District State Rep candidate Carolyn Schofield ripped an Allen Skillicorn Left, Right and You answer completely out of context, Larry and I were not amused.
For purposes of full disclosure, not only is Allen also a 66th District State Rep contender, but he toiled as the right half of Left, Right and You for a number of years. With that caveat issued, anyone who listened to the show back then can tell you just how contentious our relationship can be.
But back to the matter at hand.
Schofield sent out a mailer claiming that, in response to a question about Rauner possibly having to go along with a tax increase, Allen said, "That's a time when I need to sit on my hands." That quote may technically be true, but it's not nearly the whole story.
The question actually was, "What three things should any State Rep always keep in mind." The point being that the direction the candidate takes is equally as important as the answer itself. To my surprise, the man I once considered to be quite the political ideologue, answered it perfectly.
Allen said that his tenure as Kane County Deputy Republican Chairman taught him that there are times you need to shout from the rafters, there are times you need to move the process along, and there are times when you need sit on your hands.
So I added something to the effect of, "To resolve the current budget impasse, some Republicans are probably going to have to go along with some sort of tax increase." That's when Allen talked about sitting on his hands.
But what he clearly meant was, there times you press your point, there are times you go with the flow, AND THERE ARE TIMES YOU NEED TO COMPROMISE, a concept which is often lost on even veteran politicians. Please consider Springfield for the perfect example.
In no way did Allen hint, imply, or suggest he wouldn't fight a tax increase as Ms. Schofield's mailer would have you believe. He simply noted that the only way to get to that political promised land is through a series of well-crafted compromises. And if enduring a short-term tax hike was part of that equation, then so be it.
And that is absolutely the correct answer to that question.
We will talk much more about Ms. Schofield's mendacious ways on today's (3/10) Left, Right and You, but I do find it particularly egregious when a politician turns a good answer into something nefarious. It clearly speaks to character and the capacity to govern, or the lack thereof
I'm still wondering how she's going to turn the State around after accepting over $50,000 in union campaign contributions. Vote for Allen folks, he's clearly the better choice.


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Given Alan Pardew's pre-match comments, expressing resentment at the way he was sacked by the Saints, this match was expected to have a bit of needle.
But nobody expected the referee to be knocked out and, in the closing minutes, a touchline bust-up which, as Pardew noted, owed something to the onset of panto season.
To put things into perspective, ref Mike Jones was accidentally whacked in the face by Moussa Sissoko after the Magpies midfielder had been been shoved by Saints keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Jones ended up with a nosebleed after crashing to the ground – but did not take any action against either player.
"The ref's got a bloody nose," said Pards. "But he's patched himself up for the Christmas party. To be fair, he took it in good heart."
Pardew's staff didn't take Morgan Schneiderlin's lunge on Massaido Haidara in good heart however. Jones booked the Saints sub, but what followed – pushing and shoving and allegations of spitting – was condemned by the vistors' coach Mauricio Pochettino.
"It was not good for football," said the Argentine boss. "We will try our best for it not to happen again. This is football. These things happen. Especially in English football, which is a very physical and competitive game. It's high intensity and any spark can lead to what happened. But let's try to stay calm."
This incident, which led to goalkeeping coaches from both teams being sent off – Andy Woodman and Toni Jimenez – shouldn't detract from an exhilarating tussle which ended with both sides sharing the points.
Newcastle should have opened the scoring when Yoan Gouffran nicked the ball away from Gazzaniga and set up Loic Remy for the easiest of chances but Calum Chambers cleared off the line.
Gouffran showed his compatriot how to finish when he was gifted a goal a quarter-of-an-hour later. Mike Williamson headed Mathieu Debuchy's free-kick into the visitors' box straight to Jos Hooiveld – but the Southampton defender connected with thin air, allowing Gouffran to round Gazzaniga and score his sixth goal of the season.
Southampton rarely troubled the Newcastle defence in the first half. But Pochettino's men showed a great deal more urgency after the break following a double substitution which brought on Adam Lallana and Schneiderlin.
Schneiderlin immediately teed Steven Davis up – and the Northern Irish midfielder's magnificent 20-yard volley clipped the post.
Saints got a deserved equaliser when they broke quickly after Davide Santon had needlessly given the ball away. Lallana passed to Rodriguez on the halfway line – who then played a crisp one-two with Davis before calmly finishing.
The goal spurred the Magpies into action and Gazzaniga did well to prevent Debuchy quickly restoring the home lead.
But then the keeper messed up a clearance and presented Remy with an open goal – and, as in the first half, the Frenchman fluffed his lines.
Ironically, it was only when Saints record signing Dani Osvaldo was replaced by Lallana that they looked dangerous.
Why didn't he start? "Adam had a slight injury," said Pochettino.
"I think we dominated the second half and could have scored some more goals."


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Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving! There were at least 4 marathons that took place yesterday, including The Victoria Marathon, which I participated in. I think Thanksgiving is a perfect time for a marathon, the cooler weather is great for running and there's so much good Thanksgiving food to eat after! This is what I did last week for my taper:
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: 10 minutes easy, 10 mins @5:00/km, 2 x 3 mins @4:45, 8 mins @5:00, 10 mins easy. This was done at the start time of the race.
Wednesday: 30 mins easy with The Sport Chek Robson Training Club.
Thursday: 10 mins easy, 8 mins @5:00, 3′ @4:50, 90 seconds @4:40, 10 mins easy. This was also done at the time the race would start.
Friday: OFF
Saturday: 20 mins easy. It was pouring rain and I ran to this alley off Granville that is brightly painted in pink and yellow.
Sunday: Race Day! I will post a recap about this tomorrow, get ready for a long one! In the meantime, I will continue to lie in bed since I can't walk very well and eat all the food!
Total Weekly Mileage: 34km + marathon = 76.2km


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Unlike most of us, subatomic particles don't gain weight as they get older. The mass of these tiny bits of matter has remained constant over the last 6 billion years, recent astronomical observations indicate.
Believe it or not, but whether an electron was lighter or heftier in the past is a question of fundamental importance. Variations in particle masses and other so-called constants of nature, such as the speed of light, may help explain the mystery of dark energy and determine if hidden dimensions exist.
"Some theorists claim the physical constants should have varied over time," said Christian Henkel of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany. "This is something that is part of the modeling of the universe."
Henkel and his colleagues have placed new limits on wavering constants. By observing the absorption of radio waves by molecules in the early universe, the researchers have shown that the mass ratio between two particles — the proton and the electron — has not changed from its present value by more than 2 parts in a million.
The results, reported in a recent issue of the journal Science, call into question previous measurements that claim to have seen variations in this mass ratio.
Sniffing out ammonia
Henkel came to study varying constants after he and some colleagues detected ammonia in a galaxy "halfway across the universe," he told S[ace.com. Such a faraway object offers a glimpse back in time, because the light we see from it now left the galaxy billions of years ago.
It was the first time this molecule had been seen so far away. The team identified the ammonia by its absorption of radio waves from a bright object called a quasar, located behind the galaxy. Only later did they realize that this absorption could provide information about the fundamental physics in the early universe.
Slideshow: Month in Space: January 2014 "Ammonia is a molecule with a very special structure," Henkel explained. It looks like a pyramid (or tetrahedron) with three hydrogen atoms forming the base and one nitrogen atom on top.
Although most other molecules rotate faster when they absorb the energy from radio waves, ammonia actually flips inside out, with the nitrogen moving from above the hydrogens to below.
This flipping depends strongly on the ratio between the mass of the proton and the electron. Knowing this, Henkel's team compared their ammonia data to other molecules in the same galaxy and found the ammonia absorption had not significantly shifted from where it was expected to be.
The implication is that 6 billion years ago, protons weighed roughly 1,836 times more than electrons, just as they do now.
A changing world
"It is a puzzling result, but I am sure they did a thorough job," said Wim Ubachs of Vrije University in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ubachs was one of the astronomers who wrote a 2006 research paper that claimed to see a change (20 parts in a million) in the proton-electron mass ratio. The experiment was similar to the current study, but in this case the molecule was not ammonia, but hydrogen.
At face value, the two observations disagree, but Ubachs pointed out that his group's results correspond to a much earlier time, more than 11.5 billion years ago.
It is possible that the mass ratio changed in between the two measurements. Indeed, there are theories that the fundamental constants varied after the Big Bang but then stopped once dark energy (a hypothetical energy that produces a force that opposes gravity) began accelerating the expansion of the universe some 6 billion years ago. Some of these models claim that dark energy is somehow responsible for variations in the constants. Others, based on string theory, assume that extra spatial dimensions (beyond the three we can see) cause the constants to fluctuate in value.
To prove any of these wild ideas will take a lot more data; both Henkel and Ubachs have fresh observations that are in the process of being analyzed.
"We hope that the upcoming results will shed more light on the issue, which is very intriguing indeed," Ubachs said.
© 2013 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.


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He defended his company from President Donald Trump's statements about an alleged stance against his government.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, defended his company against President Donald Trump's allegations of an alleged stance against his government.
Zuckerberg has been on the defensive for weeks over revelations that Russian agents bought ads on Facebook and created fake accounts to inflame political tensions in the United States before the 2016 presidential vote.
In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg said that both Trump and the Liberals were disgusted by Facebook's ideas and content during the campaign.
"This is how a platform works for all ideas," said Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg noted that the 2016 campaign was the first in the United States, where the Internet was the main way the candidates communicated and said that the ability of candidates and voters to interact was a good thing.
He also noted efforts to "get the vote" that had prompted nearly 2 million people to register to vote.
In the same post, Zuckerberg said he regretted saying after the election that it was "crazy" to think that the disinformation on Facebook changed the outcome of the election, adding that the comment was "contemptuous."
Trump's tweet criticized Facebook as "anti-Trump" and suggested that the company might have colluded with other media opposing it.
Facebook is part of the investigations of both Congressional chambers and special adviser Robert Mueller are carrying out Russian influence in the 2016 elections.
Facebook asked Wednesday to testify before two separate parliamentary committees. It is unclear whether Zuckerberg or other executives will appear.


text: Removing Barriers to Female Education In rural Nepal, gender remains a major barrier to education. Some families do not believe in educating daughters, while others cannot afford the basic uniforms and resources that they need to attend school. These obstacles can prevent girls from staying in school and enrolling in high school. As a result, across Nepal, 72% of men can read and write compared to only 49% of women. At UWS, we're committed to educating both boys and girls alike. That's why we're excited to announce the launch of a new project in Nepal, focused on enrolling more girls into our existing schools, and helping them to stay in education. girls The Goal In Nepal, we currently have 25 primary schools in the Sankhuwasabha and Gulmi districts, and many more in development. A key challenge that we face across these schools is female drop-outs, with many girls leaving school by the time they reach puberty. We want to ensure that as many girls as possible stay in our schools and continue on to secondary school. support The Barriers In rural Nepal, girls face a range of barriers that prevent them from staying in school and enrolling in secondary education. Early marriage - Nepal has the 3rd highest rate of child marriage in Asia, with 37% of girls married before the age of 18. The majority of these girls live in rural areas in which we operate. Child marriage undermines efforts to improve girls' education, as many female students leave school to marry and start a family. Health and sanitation - A lack of information about proper menstrual hygiene, as well as cultural restrictions during menstruation, affects girls' access to education. Only one third of government secondary schools have separate toilets for girls. A shortage of female teachers - Only 15% of teachers in Nepal are female. Without positive female role models, young girls have less incentive to stay in school. Cutting across all of these factors are issues of poverty and cultural norms which means girls are not encouraged to continue with their education beyond a basic level. support The solutions In order to effectively tackle these barriers we want to support girls in remote communities to enrol in, and stay in, our schools. Throughout 2019, we are rolling out a new programme tackling barriers to girls education across Nepal. This will include: Community outreach - Our team will work with local communities to identify households where girls are not attending school. They will visit families to understand the reasons behind this, discuss the benefits of girls education, and work with them to enrol their daughters into school. Provision of resources and uniforms - We will provide newly enrolled girls with a 'starter pack' containing resources and stationery, as well as school uniforms. Families often can't afford these basic items. Menstrual hygiene support - By providing menstrual and general hygiene education, and gender-split latrines in all UWS schools, we can help girls to continue learning during their period. As a result, girls will not fall behind with lessons, keeping them in school. Building aspirations - By delivering secondary education information sessions and employment workshops in all UWS schools, female students can learn about the opportunities that education can lead to. As many female staff as possible will be hired to lead this project, to create a supportive environment for girls. We're looking forward to welcoming hundreds more girls into our schools this year and supporting them to stay in school. We would like to extend a special thank you to The British & Foreign School Society for sponsoring this programme. s Tackling barriers to female education in Cambodia


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Used car dealership in McAllen, TX
With well more than 50 years of automotive sales experience under our belts, almost anyone looking to take home a quality pre-owned vehicle in southern Texas has probably done business with Payne Pre-Owned McAllen or knows one of our satisfied customers from the McAllen area.
The process for buying cars, trucks or SUVs is more intense and time consuming than ever. Information will be flying at buyers in any number of ways and sorting through it to find the most relevant can be a challenge. Our sales professionals are extensively trained to be listeners first. Only through developing an appreciation for each individual can a sales associate truly be useful tool.
Payne Pre-Owned McAllen has developed a customer-first methodology for placing the right person, in the right vehicle at the right price which is often copied but never duplicated. With literally thousands of vehicles to choose from, it's rare for a buyer to walk on our lot and leave in the first vehicle they see. Our sales team can help walk shoppers through their daily life and identify areas where a certain vehicle can help make things easier.
The only thing more important than having insurance is having the right amount of the right insurance. Before a customer leaves the Payne Pre-Owned McAllen facility, they can have the opportunity to meet with a representative from the Payne Insurance Group. Our products cover more than just car insurance in McAllen. We can offer options for home, life and commercial insurance. The potential exists for discounts to be found by bundling various policies together. Payne Pre-Owned McAllen is a one-stop shop for almost everything a car buyer needs to hit the road safely.
The Payne Pre-Owned McAllen pre-owned inventory spans all of today's top manufacturers like Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Ford, Cadillac and Chevrolet, plus many more. We also have the most popular foreign brands to choose from as well.
Payne Pre-Owned McAllen has solutions from daily drivers to dream cars. Our extensive pre-owned inventory has something to offer almost any potential, current or returning Payne Pre-Owned McAllen buyer. Customers from McAllen as well as Mission, Edinburg and the Rio Grande Valley are just a short drive from getting their next favorite car from the team at Payne Pre-Owned McAllen.


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Stoke City have unveiled their new home and away kits for the 2014/15 season.
The Potters will wear the Warrior strips from August, with the manufacturers taking a modern day approach on the tradition of the club.
The iconic red and white striped home shirt remains, but the colours have been applied using sublimation print; while the striking light blue away strip draws inspiration from various era's of the clubs history.
Collared shirts - from the 1940's - are blended with the front black panel sash of the 1970's, in a fresh, modern twist, using bold block designs.
Boss Mark Hughes - who saw his side hammer Aston Villa 4-1 on Sunday - was impressed with the new designs.
He said: "Stoke City is known over the world for their red and white stripes and one of the most important things for the fans is staying true to the heritage of the club.
"Warrior has done just that with the home kit and brought back the sash on the away shirt - that I'm told featured in the 1970's - is a nice touch that I am sure the fans will appreciate."
The manufacturer has also paid homage to the town's 'potteries' history with the 'Ready to Fire' campaign, focusing on the famed ceramics industry.
And Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross was impressed with the new jersey's, hoping they can also improve performances on the pitch.
He added: "The red and white kit is part of Stoke City's identity and not only does Warrior's design look good, it also feels and performs great from a player's perspective."