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Thursday's Child: Ljubljana, Full of Grace
Everything you need to know about Ljubljana is written on the front of this church - in Latin. "Ave,
Gratia Plena!" it reads. "Hail, full of grace!" I'm sure the inscription was written with the holiest of intentions, but it's easy to imagine that it refers to the whole of this lovely city.
Probably the best-known church in the city is St. Nicholas Cathedral, also known as Ljubljana Cathedral. The frescoes on the walls date back to the early eighteenth century, and the fresco on the dome interior was painted in 1844:
One of the most beautiful pieces of artwork in the church is the door relief on the main exterior door. The pope visited Ljubljana in 1996 to commemorate 1250 years of Christianity in Slovenia. To celebrate his visit, artist Tone Demsar was commissioned to decorate the door with scenes depicting the history of Slovenia:
If you look up from anywhere in town, you'll see the castle that dominates the entire city. Ljubljana Castle served primarily as a defence against attacks from the Ottoman Empire. After its importance waned, it served as a hospital, a prison and low-cost housing for impoverished citizens. In the late 1960s, a project began with the purpose of refurbishing the castle, and later a funicular was built to facilitate visiting it.
Here's what I loved most about Ljubljana Castle: its coat of arms bears the symbol of a dragon, just as dragon statues appear throughout the city. According to myth, the Greek hero Jason and his band of explorers, the Argonauts, founded Ljubljana. After stealing the Golden Fleece from King Aetes, they sailed from the Black Sea through the Danube, finally reaching the Ljubljanica River. When they stopped, they were threatened by a fierce dragon. Jason fought with, and eventually killed, the dragon. The city of Ljubljana was built upon that site.
Enjoying dinner by the side of the Ljubljanica River.
14 comments:
- Valerie Gamine said...
Another hidden treasure - I love dragons, they appeal to something raw and ancient that dwells deep inside my soul. :)
- February 27, 2014 at 4:37 PM
- Juliana said...
Oh Beth...these pictures brought me memories...I remember driving to Croatia and stopped by Ljubljana...
Hope you are enjoying your week :D
- February 27, 2014 at 7:40 PM
- Belinda said...
These are stunning photos! What a beautiful place.
- February 27, 2014 at 9:02 PM
- Gloria Baker said...
Just beautiful Beth!!
- February 27, 2014 at 9:08 PM
Gorgeous photos!
- February 27, 2014 at 10:27 PM
- Barbara said...
Lovely photos of the Cathedral, Beth. It certainly is beautiful. And an adorable photo of you and the girls, too!
- February 28, 2014 at 7:22 AM
- vanillasugarblog said...
What a great photo of you Beth--you have the best skin!
I miss traveling I do!
Right now our part of the world is about 6 degrees with a nasty wind chill making it close to zero. The cold winter is not leaving anytime soon. Boo
- February 28, 2014 at 10:13 AM
- Beth said...
Thanks, Dawn!
And the cold winter isn't leaving us any time soon, either.
- February 28, 2014 at 9:39 PM
- Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...
Such an incredible guardian statue, very majestic :D
A great cultural experience!
Choc Chip Uru
- February 28, 2014 at 11:15 PM
Stunning photography! Love living through you on your trips.
- March 1, 2014 at 12:59 AM
- Joanne said...
All of the dragon depictions sound awesome! I love the myth behind them.
- March 1, 2014 at 7:07 AM
- Kathy said...
Beautiful photography! Love the dragon protector! Such a fun adventure!
- March 1, 2014 at 5:49 PM
- Angie's Recipes said...
A naturally beautiful and culture rich city! Thanks for sharing, Beth.
- March 2, 2014 at 6:14 AM
- Monique said...
Ljubljana is a place I was looking at including in a future itinerary and your post is just perfect to help me plan it!
Thank you!
- March 7, 2014 at 10:52 AM


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Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH52
A ultraportable new laptop
Mention the word "ultraportable" to any of your friends who are fans of gadgets and they'll refer you to an ultrabook. In the past few years, these devices have become sought after. But not only by people who know a lot about technology. Students themselves, and business employees, have given ultrabooks more attention than usual. With so many advantages, it was only normal to do so. Then hybrids started to appear. Such as the $999 Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH52. But we'll stop here before we give all info away.
Aluminum unibody
It was a given that the Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH52 couldn't escape being compared to others of its kind. But this device and the MacBook Air Thunderbolt not only share the same processor and price, they also have the display size, pixels and aluminum unibody construction in common. That can be awkward, but blame the manufacturer. The MacBook Air is the better of the two, obviously. The Zenbook UX21E-DH52, though, is the winner when storage space and memory have to be considered.
Asus' UX31 line had a lot of beauty to its name. The latest model we're reviewing here takes a leaf out of that and inserts it into its body. Compared to that series, the device we tested was considerably smaller. A piece of aluminum was considered enough to grace this product. The effect it has on the eye is very powerful. You won't forget the looks of this UX21E-DH52 even if you try. The stickers with Windows and Intel glued under the keyboard lend an air of modernity; other than that, they remember one of MacBook Air's slickness.
Solid design
To have some way of protecting your ultrabook is essential. Asus offers a sort of nylon sleeve that is perfect for that. We carried the device in it with pride.
To see how much resistance the display put for this review, we took it by its corners. No flexing happened. It's obvious that Asus made the unit as solid as would befit its reputation. That modern air we noticed a bit earlier continues with the AC adapter. It very much helps that it's not huge, that would have been a nuisance.
We generally liked the feel of the keyboard. However we disliked the stiffness we got from its buttons. A couple of times we got distracted by the noise the keys made. The touchpad got a more favorable performance. At least it made absolutely no noise and registered our touch faster.
Impressive sound quality
You will have some problems if you want to read text or see what icon does what. Their sizes are small, but, if your eyesight is good, then fine. The screen has a healthy dose of sharpness. We didn't escape the woes of reflection and we thought the brightness was too strong. To avoid mad power consumption, try and turn the value of that brightness down. As for colors, only the blacks are on the poor side.
We could breath freely once we spotted no bloatware. That's a major nerve-wrecking situation, even more so if you can't remove it. So thank you Asus for not adding junk to your UX21E-DH52. The fan is noiseless and the speakers produce superb sound.
The processor refused to give a speedy performance when we did some image editing in Photoshop. Everything else had good speeds. The battery test surprised us: its almost 5 hours of life were more than the 4 hours of MacBook Air.
Review conclusion
The Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH52 has some learning to do from its older siblings. It's still a very useful ultrabook that will get you far.

subset: commoncrawl


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Join - in Small Group Tour: 01 day tour starts from: $109
All incl. Transportation Hotel Pick up & Drop off + Luxury Speedboat + Insurance on boat + English speaking tour guide + Vietnamese Traditional Lunch + All entrance fees ticket + Mineral Water + Wet Tissue
Two hours south of Ho Chi Minh City lies Ben Tre, the so-called Coconut Capital of Vietnam. This quiet town, just across the river from the more developed city of My Tho, makes for a quaint getaway with its many fruit orchards, cottage industries and surprisingly rural villages just off the main highway.
Cruising through canals and along Saigon River, you will enjoy some typical Southern Vietnamese's activities such as: traditional music, cycling on village roads, rowing a boat, savoring honey tea, Mekong vodka, visit a coconut candy factory as well as gourmet lunch on Ben Tre island...
Let's see Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)!
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
You will be picked up at your hotel in HCM by comfortable minivan the to pier for the luxury speedboat to Mekong Delta (Ben Tre Provine). Enjoy a light breakfast, cake, seasonal fruits, enjoy the fresh air and understand the daily life of local citizens living along the river. Listening to a traditional kind of music, rowing boat dock by horse cargo. Visiting local market to discover local daily life, try typical fruits. Visit Hong Phuc coconut candy factory, bee-farm, observe how people raise bees for honey, Taste special wines (Snake/ Scorpion wine) of Ben Tre province. Enjoy your Vietnamese traditional lunch, Finish lunch and head to Saigon, Arrive back to Saigon to be dropped off at your place of stay.
Tour Departure Time: 7:30 AM
Tour Length: Approximately 5-6 hours.
Group Tour: Maximum 16 people.
– Adult: VND 2,560,000 per person
– Child (under 12 years old): 75% on Adult price
– Infant (under 3 years old): free of charge
(The above rates are not included mandatory Government Tax)
Private Tour: please contact us!
* ITINERARY: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh.
7:30AM Pick-up at the customers' hotel and transfer to Tan Cang pier by Saigon River Tour's comfortable minivan.
8:00AM Depart to Mekong Delta (Ben Tre Province) by luxury speedboat. When on board, enjoy a light breakfast of The Pat' a Chou cake with Lavie water & seasonal fruits, enjoy the fresh air and understand the daily life of local citizens living along the river
09:30am Arrive to Mekong Delta Area(Ben Tre province)
- Walk inside the local market to discover local daily life. A chance to see many local fruits, products and goods.This is great time for make photo.
- Try some of their typical fruits and keep cruising to Ben Tre province. (Real Mekong Delta Area)
- Experience the peaceful atmosphere of water region by rowing a small boat through
small canals with conical hat.
- Taste special wines of Snake/Scorpion(optional)
- Hearing the story about the local plantations and their " friendly"
- Enjoy a cup of honey tea from local family recipe.
- Listen to the Southern traditional folk music was handed down for over 100 years
(listed by Unesco as intangible cultural heritage of the world – Don Ca Tai Cu)
- Get on the Vietnamese Lambro Tuk – Tuk (vehicle using for schools and works),and
ride in the winding village road to see the local houses & gardens.
- Visit a small family business of coconut candies, hearing how they use every ounce
coconuts for their life.
1:00PM: Cruise to Riverside restaurant with panoramic view. After that, we will serve you
Vietnamese set menu lunch with delicious 7 courses, especially is Elephant Ear Fish(one very
special dish in Mekong Delta),rice -paper served with fish sauce and other dishes.
2:00PM: Finish lunch and head to Saigon
4:00PM: Arrive back to Saigon to be dropped off at your place of stay.
- Insurance on boat
- Entrance fees
- English speaking guide
- Lavie water and wet towels.
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- The pat a chou cake & seasonal fruits at local market
- Vietnamese traditional set menu lunch – 7 courses at Riverside Restaurant


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As media attention to alternative medicine increases, people suffering from cancer or other diseases may be more confused than ever regarding their effectiveness and safety. Although mainstream media sources often emphasize the lack of testing and possible side effects of various alternative cancer treatments, the risks of conventional options are typically ignored despite the growing body of evidence that supports the likelihood that they create more harm than good.
With a large percentage of cancer patients using one or more forms of alternative medicine, often in conjunction with traditional treatment options, access to accurate information about alternative therapies as well as the risks involved with traditional medicine is more important than ever.
Does the Media Exaggerate the Risks of Alternative Cancer Treatments?
A recent article in USA today has raised public concern over the potential risks involved with alternative cancer treatments, but are the claims justified? Sadly, such articles often instill a deep fear of alternative medicine in the hearts of cancer patients even though no comparisons are made between the risks of traditional therapies and alternative therapies. This is despite the significant, well-documented risks associated with traditional cancer treatments. In fact, far fewer adverse reactions to alternative therapies have been documented than reactions to chemotherapy and other conventional treatments.
While it is true that certain natural treatments can interfere with conventional medicine and treatment options, a comprehensive functional oncology program is designed for both conventional and holistic approaches to work together instead of against each other. These considerations can provide you a clearer perspective about the exaggerated media claims surrounding alternative medicine.
Alternative Cancer Therapies Are More Common Than You May Realize
Despite the downplay of their significance in the mainstream, recent studies indicate that over half of patients undergoing traditional cancer treatments were simultaneously using one or more types of complementary alternative medicines (CAM). Other sources indicate that the percentage may be as high as 80% of patients. In many cases, patients may not inform their primary care provider that they are indeed utilizing another form of medicine alongside their convention protocol.
Problems With Traditional Cancer Treatments
Despite growing criticism about the effectiveness and necessity of chemotherapy, the treatment still remains the protocol of choice following the majority of cancer diagnoses. In addition to giving most patients a sense of false hope, chemotherapy drugs are also associated with a long list of harmful side effects, including:
- Digestive issues such as nausea and vomiting as well as loss of appetite
- Loss of hair in addition to skin, fingernail, and toenail problems
- A decline in fertility and early menopause in women (sexual dysfunction issues are also common)
- Detrimental effects on the circulatory system, particularly the heart and blood
- A weakened immune system
- An increased risk of osteoporosis
- Kidney and bladder damage
- Emotional issues such as depression and/or anxiety
In addition to the questionable survival rates and dangerous side effects associated with chemotherapy, the incredibly high price tag to obtain these medications has bankrupted many cancer patients and their families. Even if you have insurance that will cover your medications, your co-pay segments alone can add up to unimaginable amounts.
Mismanagement of Cancer Treatment
Cancer is commonly thought of as a scary disease that you either have or you don't. However, hundreds of potential cancer cells appear in a normal human body every day. Usually, they are destroyed by the immune system and never cause any problems. Cancer only begins when the immune system fails to destroy abnormal cells.
What this means is that cancerous tumors are the result of a failing immune system. Therefore, cancer is a symptom of a greater problem, not a problem in and of itself. However, chemotherapy and other traditional cancer treatments actually weaken the already failing immune system.
Yet somehow, despite the harsh side effects and questionable effectiveness, most people decide to go along with their doctor's recommendations for chemotherapy treatments. Side effects of chemotherapy have been vastly normalized and deemed necessary to fight cancer.
Comparing the three and five year survival rates of patients who undergo conventional cancer treatments with those who have opted for a functional oncology protocol is quite telling in regards to how poorly managed most cancer protocols have become.
Alternative Therapies Present A Smaller Risk Than Commonly Portrayed
Although conclusive data regarding the overall safety of alternative cancer therapies is still under development in the medical community, the steady increase in the use of various forms of CAM without a high number of reported adverse effects indicates a relative margin of safety, especially when compared to the clearly documented risks associated with chemotherapy.
Educating patients and healthcare professionals about complementary alternative medicines is likely to bring about an improvement in overall patient mortality outcomes as well as an increase in general patient satisfaction and quality of life.


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|Up a level
Shashikala, Prakash and Karthikeyan, C and Renjith kumar, TG and Radhakrishnan, P and Ravikiran, PG (2014) Active Vibration Control of Composite Structures Using MicroBlazeTM Soft Core Processor on Virtex-4 FPGA. Journal of low frequency noise, vibration and active control, 133 (2). pp. 139-162.
Shashikala, Prakash and Krishna Mohan , Nutheti and Vinod , S Chippalakatti (2008) Design and development of high voltage high power operational amplifier using thick film technology. Sadhana, 33 (5). pp. 713-720. ISSN 0256-2499
Shashikala, Prakash and Venkatasubramanyam, DV and Kiran, PVR Sai and Om, Prakash Alone and Kumar, NK Shashi (2009) Active Vibration Control (AVC) Associated Microelectronics for a Fixed Wing Micro Air Vehicle (MAV). Project Report. NAL, Bangalore.
Shashikala, Prakash and Venkatasubramanyam, DV and Kiran, PVR Sai and Aravind, Pavate and Hemant, Kabra and Om, Prakash Alone and Bharath, Krishnan (2009) High Performance Compact FPGA Controller for Active Vibration Control of Aerospace Structures - Technical Report. Project Report. NAL, Bangalore.
Balasubramaniam, R and Siddappa, SV and Shankar, V and Saraswathi , Krishna and Ramakrishna, DS and Shashikala, Prakash (1987) Ground Resonance Test and Response analysis of HS 748 aircraft a Preliminary report. Project Report. National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore.
Shankar, V and Rajagopal, P and Shashikala, Prakash and Nagaraja , BV and Vijayakumar, PS (1999) Design and Development of Instrumentation for Active Vibration Control of Smart Aerospace Structures. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart Materials, Structures and Systems, 7-10 July 1999, Ninth National Seminar on Aerospace Structures.


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Our good deals
Not to be missed
History and Heritage
Sport and Mountains
The Crossroads of Tourist routes
With the family
Our region
Audio guides
Le Pays Rhin Vignoble Grand Ballon
Les visites virtuelles
Noël à Guebwiller en Alsace
Bed and Breakfasts
Holiday rentals
Groups and Mountain shelters
Camper van sites
Hébergement insolite au pied du Grand Ballon
Programme of events
Places to visit
Leisure activities
Outdoor activities
In winter
Guided visits
Practical information
Depending on the weather
Around and about
Book your activities
Farms and inns
Pâtissiers, salon de thé
Local products
Les vins d'Alsace
Half-day visits
Day visits
All inclusive holidays
Small group special offers
Specific request
Lautenbach and its hamlet Schweighouse make up a mid-mountain village located in the Haut-Florival, close to the town of Guebwiller (6km) and the Alsatian wine route. The St Michel collegiate also places it on the Roman route. The Route des Crêtes (Cliff Road), very close, beckons to you to explore the Markstein summits in both winter and summer (15km, alt. 1240 m) and the Grand Ballon (30km, alt. 1,424 m). Nearby, take advantage of the numerous specialities of the inns nestled in the heart of the mountain and leave with delicious farm products (cold cuts, cured sausage, cheese, dairy products, syrups, liqueurs, honey and much more). Lautenbach is renowned in particular for the autobiographical novel of the journalist Jean Egen (Le Canard Enchaîné, Le Monde) titled "Les tilleuls de Lautenbach". This local boy describes his village with enthusiasm as a prodigious creation. Lautenbach is an important stop during your stay in the Florival in your search for local products and an authentic heritage.
The Roman St Michel Collegiate, XIth c. The Chapelle de Saint Gangolphe, XVth – XIXth c. Explore the Natural Regional Park of the Ballons des Vosges The Route des crêtes (Cliff road) Hiking circuit: near the 'Chaudron du Diable (Devil's Cauldron) MTB circuit: Bollenberg circuit MTB circuit: Firstplan circuit MTB circuit: Saint Gangolphe circuit MTB circuit: Strohberg circuit Hiking circuit: fountains within fountains Hiking circuit: sandtone granite Hiking circuit: the Chemin Creux 'Hollow Lane' at Langrücken Hiking circuit: following in the footsteps of the Lautenbach chapter Fishing pond Florival recreational area: numerous structures for fun and sports Mountain guest houses Local products Events, excursions, activities: consult the events calendar
>Accommodation (guest houses, vacation rentals, youth hostels, refuge) coffee shops, restaurants, inns
Tourism packages: guided audio visit of the Lautenbach collegiate, independent visits with maps,guided visit of St Gangolph year round with reservation for groups Practical services: "le Beckala" picnic area. Accommodation (guest houses, vacation rentals, youth hostels, refuge) coffee shops, restaurants, inns, local products for sale Recreational equipment for children: Florival recreational area: swings, toboggans, wading pool, climbing net, boule pitch, skate park, picnic area, miscellaneous structures for fun and sport, multi-sport field, (tennis, basketball, volley-ball and football) Amenities/related services: free parking for cars, regular bus service, public toilettes
The "Fête du coucou" During the Saint Gangolphe pilgrimage, every second Sunday of the month of May, the traditional "fête du coucou" takes place. The pilgrimage starts with High Mass at 10am and the Salut au Saint-Sacrement at 5pm. Opening of the Chapelle of the 15th century with its frescoes from the Martin Schongauer era relating the life of St-Gangolphe, martyr of conjugal fidelity. Activities take place all day long near the Chapel with numerous stands including the traditional 'Kukukstand' with its 'coucou' and its 'Gloutris' in clay. Refreshments and restaurants onsite. Lunch served with reservation.
Rencontre Lutherie Danserie mét Müsik (String-instrument dancing event): folk festival Since 1983, in the month of June, this traditional folk and Celtic musical festival brings together groups from all over Europe for the listening pleasure of visitors who are increasing in number every year. Balls, concerts, dance and instrument workshops and stringed-instrument shows set the pace for this festive weekend, full of dancing and laughter. Other activities: see the activity guide
Key figures
GUEBWILLER Tourist Office 45 rue de la République - 68500 GUEBWILLER Tel.: 00 33 (0)3 89 76 10 63 Fax : 00 33 (0)3 89 76 52 72 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Worldwide Shipping Available
Inspired by peaceful and tranquil ocean infused with a tropical island energy. There are several layers of resin with a gold detail through out the middle. Lots of details to stare into and get lost in. This is one of my personal favourites!
10% of profits go to causes I believe in. I buy inspirational and life changing books for those in need and I am blown away and humbled by the "butterfly effect" this has. I also like to give to various causes close to my heart. One in particular is Operation Underground Railroad who are an incredible not for profit who rescue children from slavery and trafficking.
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To enquire about this artwork and to get a shipping quote please fill in the form below stating the name of the piece.


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Żywiec Beskids
|A view from Rysianka Mountain Pasture towards the Mt. Babia Góra
Żywiec Beskids (Polish: Beskid Żywiecki) located in the southwest of Silesia along the Slovak border, are among the tallest mountains in Poland after the Tatra Mountains. The highest peak is Babia Góra (1725 m a.s.l.). Tourist trails run through magnificent forests and glades from which enfolds a fascinating view over the Tatras and even Little Fatra in Slovakia.
|A view from Rysianka Mountain Pasture towards the Little Fatra Mountains
Linked to: Żywiec Beskids (continuation) and Rysianka Mountain Pasture


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UprisingBook - 2007
From the critics
Community Activity
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Haddix is a masterful writer. The history is spot on. The three women come from different backgrounds but they live in the same city and time and the movement for worker and women rights is important to all of them. The tragic ending evokes a sense of anger as much as sorrow to think that the fire could have easily been altogether avoided.
This book was very easy to get into. Once i picked it up i couldnt put it down because i had to know what would happen next. This book takes you through a period of a few years which makes you feel like you actually know the characters ! I highly recommend this book !
i didn't finish reading the bookyet... (i probably only read like, 64 pages?) but i love how they say "grazie grazie madonna mia!" ... one of my favourite phrases now...actually, i finished it! it was really good, and even though the ending was sad, i still liked it, very well written!
The book was boring at first, but it picked up the more I stuck with it. Tragic that things like this happen in the world... Glad my friend recomended this book. I love the author!
a really amazing book but the ending was really sad . an outstanding read
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Bonds has momentum headed into critical trial week
Over two weeks, prosecutors methodically worked to build a credible case that Barry Bonds lied to a federal grand jury in 2003 when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
Then, on Thursday, prosecutors called Bonds' orthopedic surgeon to the stand.
They regretted it almost immediately.
Legal analysts, trial watchers - even attorneys on both sides - all seemed to agree that Dr. Arthur Ting's testimony was disastrous for the government's case against the greatest home-run hitter in major league history and a symbol of baseball's so-called steroids era. The question now is whether the prosecutors can still get a conviction when the trial goes to the jury, which could happen this week.
Ting hurt the prosecution because he directly and repeatedly contradicted the government's star witness, former Bonds business partner Steve Hoskins.
In the first week of the trial, Hoskins testified that the doctor told him a 1999 elbow injury Bonds sustained was caused by steroid use. But Ting denied saying that. Ting also denied Hoskins' claim that the two had 50 conversations about Bonds' alleged steroid use. Ting denied having even one such discussion.
Federal prosecutor Jeffrey Nedrow conceded soon afterward, in an exchange with U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, that Hoskins was "impeached heavily."
Ting was one of the last witnesses the government planned to call. Observers said prosecutors were making good headway with the jury until then.
"With any trial it's always the last impression that is the most important," Robert Mintz, a prominent Newark, N.J., defense attorney, said in a phone interview. Mintz and many others have been following the trial closely as it is covered by dozens of reporters who file frequent updates throughout the court day.
Like other experts, he reached for a sports analogy to make sense of the trial's sudden and dramatic momentum shift.
"It was the sports equivalent off coughing up the ball on the 5-yard line," said Mintz, a federal prosecutor before going into private practice. "Suddenly, the other team has a chance to win."
Ting's testimony obviously buoyed Bonds' team. Ting was even seen shaking the hands of a member of the former slugger's entourage sitting in the first row of the courtroom after he stepped down from the witness stand.
Bonds lead attorney Allen Ruby, usually gruff and deadly serious outside court during the trial, had a smile for reporters during a break in the proceedings after Ting's testimony. The usually inscrutable Bonds, too, had a wide grin at the end of the trial day Thursday.
When the trial resumes its critical third week Monday, the government's last witness - anti-doping expert Dr. Don Catlin - is scheduled to finish testifying. Court staff is expected to read a transcript of Bonds' grand jury testimony from December 2003, and then the defense will get to call its witnesses.
Bonds' lawyers still have work to do. Hoskins wasn't the government's only witness.
The hitter's former mistress, Kimberly Bell, told the eight-woman, four-man jury that Bonds once told her he used steroids. She also discussed in great detail the physical and behavioral changes she saw the slugger go through that prosecutors attribute to steroid use - including outbursts and threats against her.
Colorado Rockies first baseman Jason Giambi and three former players testified that Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, had supplied them with steroids and detailed instruction on how to use them.
However, none of the players testified directly about the relationship between Bonds and Anderson, who is in jail for refusing to testify at the trial. Illston admonished the jury not use the players' testimony as evidence that Anderson supplied Bonds with steroids.
Meanwhile, Bonds' attorneys portrayed the ex-mistress as a scorned lover seeking revenge and they caught her in a few inconsistencies. In particular, Bell admitted that she was exaggerating when she told the grand jury that Bonds' testicles had shrunk by half late in their relationship.
Many legal observers expect Bonds' legal team to call just a few witnesses because they say the case is breaking Bonds' way- with one notable exception: count two of five in his indictment.
Bonds is charged with lying to the grand jury during his appearance in December 2003. He was called to testify what he knew about the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. That grand jury ultimately indicted five men with connections to BALCO, including Anderson, on steroids distribution charges and related counts. All five pleaded guilty.
Three of Bonds' charges accuse of him of lying when he denied knowingly taking steroids and human growth hormone. Another count charges him with obstruction of justice.
Count two is the "needle charge" and legal observers say it's the government's best chance for a conviction. Bonds is accused of lying during this exchange before the grand jury:
Prosecutor: "Did Greg ever give you anything that required a syringe to inject yourself with?"
Bonds: "I only had one doctor touch me. And that's my only personal doctor."
Bonds goes on to deny that Anderson - or anyone other than Ting - ever injected him with anything.
After Ting's testimony Thursday, prosecutors called Kathy Hoskins to the stand. She is the sister of Steve Hoskins, and worked as Bonds' personal shopper for two years ending in 2003.
Hoskins testified that before a road trip in 2002, she saw Anderson inject Bonds in the belly button.
Hoskins came across as likable, down-to-earth and - most important - credible. She said Bonds told her the injection was "a little something, something for when I go on the road. You can't detect it. You can't catch it."
On cross examination, Hoskins tearfully denied she was trying to cover up for her brother, who she claimed unfairly entangled her in the case by falsely telling investigators she saw Anderson inject Bonds numerous times.
"He threw me under the bus," Kathy Hoskins said, referring to her brother.
University of San Francisco law professor Bob Talbot said Kathy Hoskins' performance may have saved the government's case. He theorized that jurors could easily become deadlocked on the steroid charges and decide to convict Bonds only of lying about injections.
Several other observers agreed.
"The defense has to figure out a way of dealing with Kathy Hoskins' remarks," Vermont Law School professor Michael McCann, a sports law expert who has been following Bonds' perjury trial closely. "They can't appear to treat such a sympathetic witness harshly."
Nevertheless, the consensus among lawyers sitting in on the trial and watching it from afar is that Bonds' lawyers have worked hard to put their client in the best possible position headed toward the last week of trial.
"Right now, the Bonds legal team is in control," McCann said. "I think they feel confident that the government was not successful in showing beyond a reasonable doubt that Bonds' is guilty. I expect they will present a modest defense."


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For several days after coming home from work on September 17th, I did two things: ordered a lot on Seamless and played Grand Theft Auto V.
I decided to take my only vacation this year to do something I've always loved–getting lost in a world created by people who care about details as much as I do. To me the details are what separate great experiences from unforgettable ones.
GTA V is massive. It is a giant playground with a virtually infinite number of activities all wrapped around a world-class narrative. It features three protagonists that you can switch between at any time, and a story set in a reimagined Los Angeles. It has raised the bar for every video game (and entertainment property for that matter) moving forward.
There are dozens of reason to love GTA but one of my fascinations with the franchise is the effort and attention paid to the little things–the extra added good stuff that others might have dismissed as not worth the time. They add layers to the experience and build the identity of the game world, but may only be seen by a small few.
I love this. How considerate. Granted, the game had a blank check to do all of this, but I guess that's the point. What would you create if you didn't have to worry about budgets or deadlines?
GTA V might be the closest answer we have to that question today.
Here are a few morsels of amazing that I have experienced so far:
I received an alert on my real-world phone saying: "Chop has taken a dump; go clean it up." In the game, you get a Rottweiler called Chop. There is a companion iFruit (the game's own smartphone brand) app that lets you take care of him Tamagotchi-style. Feed him, throw the ball around, take him to the park, teach him tricks, and yes, clean up after him.
I bought $20k of stock in Tinkle (TNK), a telecommunications company listed on the BAWSAQ stock exchange. I'm not usually the investor type, but I got a tip from a guy I picked up off the side of the road who seemed credible.
I checked out some outdoor signage at the airport including this ad for the iFruit 9iX. GTA does not feature real brands–instead it has created a whole world of its own brands that are used to add a thick layer of satire.
I received a 10% discount at Warstock Cache and Carry for "Stalking" them on LifeInvader, the game's social network. As with current social networks, GTA's bevy of fake brands have taken over. There is no shortage of ridiculous posts from Sprunk, InkInc., and Redwood Cigarettes.
I am the proprietor of "Smoke on the Water," a medical marijuana evaluation center. It is one of the many properties in the game you can invest in. The first time I went there, Gin and Juice was playing over the store speakers.
In less than a week, I've amassed a ton of these little experiences. Each and every one a carefully crafted diamond that I pulled from the sand. On their own, they may appear as unassuming boosts to gameplay. Together, they are the parts that create a sum greater than pure genius.
Paul Potenzone is a gaming and marketing geek. He is also executive director of content and social strategy at kbs+.


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'Jersey Shore' Recap: Sammi Makes Amends And Snooki Gets Arrested!
This week's episode was one of the most insane we've ever seen! Snooki's drinking is out of control!
The cast of Jersey Shore has never been shy about getting drunk and acting crazy, but the Jan. 17 episode was totally over the top. Snooki will definitely have to deal with the consequences of her actions — in jail! Pauly D and J-Woww both called this the craziest hour of the season, and it will be hard to top!
First off, Sammi and Ronnie are still fighting, but what's new? Their squabble inspires Sammi to be more friendly, and before long she apologizes to both Snooki and Deena. But she doesn't even attempt to fix things with J-Woww — that feud will surely fuel much of the drama this season.
The gang then sets off to get wasted at Karma, and the insanity doesn't stop. After saying she's not going to drink, Deena gets hammered, falls on her face and is kicked out of the club within an hour of arriving. Pauly D runs into Danielle, his stalker from the first season of Jersey Shore — and she immediately throws her drink in his face. The best part of the evening? When J-Woww can't find a bathroom upstairs, she improvises and pees behind an empty bar! Eww!
Meanwhile, Snooki's day-drinking has spiraled out of control — she even ditches work to get trashed before lunch! When Snooki tells her boss Danny she will do anything for a beer, he tells her to chill out and get a cup of coffee instead. Ignoring his advice, she opts for shots at a bar – leaving her totally wasted on the boardwalk in the middle of the day. Luckily, J-Woww and Deena are there to keep an eye on her, but there isn't much they can do to intervene. Soon, Snooki is asking tourists where she can find the beach, although it happens to be right in front of her. As a crowd of people watch, she falls on her face and is escorted away in handcuffs by police.
How long will Snooki be in jail for? You'll have to watch Thursday's brand new episode to find out!


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As the 2013 season is drawing to a close, the S'Urachi team spent a relaxing morning at the beach and followed it up with a full afternoon of lab work and public presentation. Along with displaying our finds to local visitors and archaeologists, we also continued documenting our materials and organizing our data. Take a look below at some images from our lab work this afternoon!
Above, Ayla Çevik is labeling some of the many diagnostic sherds recovered from Trench D.
Aside from ceramics, we also recovered many faunal bones this season. Below Damia Ramis and Nuri van Dommelen organize our faunal remains and discuss the different species we have uncovered, including fox, cow, dog, chicken, sheep, goat, tortoise, pig, horse and ass.
For more photos, info and updates, check out our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ScaviSUrachi?fref=ts


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The Wolverine Raider Steel Toe 10-Inch Wellington boots go especially far up the leg, making them ideal for circumstances in which a person might be exposed to nasty weather or mucky surfaces on a regular basis. These boots are well suited to those in outdoor professions, or at least people who must frequently walk outside during the course of their work. However, they can prove useful for people of any profession.
These boots feature full grain leather up on top and are unlined. The midsole is lightweight, and the boots are contoured to allow as much flexibility as possible. When it comes to safety, one of the greatest assets of these boots is the steel toe, which protects toes from abrasions. Another is the Multishox rubber outsole, which is resistant to abrasions, oil and slippage. The traction that these soles offer make these boots perfect for stepping through spills and traversing wet ground. In addition to all these features, each boot has a removable insole that is fully cushioned, so your feet will be happy as you go about your daily business, even if you are on them all day. Why not get a pair for yourself and see how great they can be?
- Boot Height: 10 inches
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NPA Diversity
The National Postdoc's Diversity Statement
The NPA seeks to promote diversity and ensure equal opportunity and inclusion for all postdocs in the membership, leadership and activities of the NPA regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, disability, national origin, socio-economic status, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The National Postdoc's Statement of Inclusion
The NPA aims to advance the United States' research enterprise by maximizing the effectiveness of the research community and enhancing the quality of the postdoctoral experience for all participants. A diverse postdoctoral community has positive effects on research and teaching and enhances the work environment by offering broadened perspectives and encouraging critical thinking. It is therefore a goal of the NPA to create an environment that promotes diversity and inclusiveness, and to create opportunities for all of its members to interact with tolerance, understanding, and respect for others.
The NPA is committed to achieving diversity and inclusiveness among its constituency, and advocates equality for all postdocs, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, disability, country of origin, socio-economic status, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, in all disciplines at all organizations that train postdoctoral fellows. This commitment to diversity and inclusiveness extends to the practices and policies of the NPA, and the NPA strongly urges institutions to embrace this commitment as part of their individual missions.
The NPA strives to ensure that all members have open access and opportunities to contribute to the organization through leadership positions, involvement within the committee structure, and participation in annual meetings and other NPA sponsored events. The NPA promotes advocacy for increased diversity among postdoctoral scholars and fosters diversity through activities, policies, and practices that are attuned to this commitment.
Diversity Resources
The NIH Scientific Workforce Diversity Toolkit offers guidelines and best practices for institutions to adopt inclusive hiring practices for faculty searches.
The Women, minorities and persons with disabilities in science and engineering is a cumulative report published by the NSF every two years that analyzes education and employment outcomes of marginalized populations in science and engineering.
Check out a listing of diversity postdoctoral fellowships & opportunities, and other diversity fellowships compiled by NPA as a resource for underrepresented postdoc groups.
Pivot (need institutional license for access) and Funding Institutional (may need institutional license for access) are is also a good resources for searching funding opportunities.
Many institutions understand the benefits of diversity and would like to enhance diversity among its students, faculty and staff, including postdocs. The long-term goal is to increase the diversity of STEM faculty. In order to move qualified individuals through the pipeline these primary components are essential 1) recruitment 2) retention and 3) preparation for the next phase. Read More.
Over the past several decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of doctorates awarded to women, particularly in STEM. However, women continue to be underrepresented in tenured faculty roles, senior academic management positions, and senior positions in the broader workforce. It's important to understand the obstacles that impede the career transitions of postdoc women and how to alleviate those obstacles institutionally and through individual career development. To learn more visit the Resources for Postdoc Women page.
Caring for a family during your postdoctoral career can be a challenge - especially when you are new to an area and an institution. Often the best avenue for getting the information and support you need to thrive is to talk with with institutional postdoctoral fellows office and talk with other postdocs. This helps you find out what is possible and available at your current institution as programming and supports differ quite widely from one institution to another. The guides below also offer valuable information for postdoctoral fellows at all institutions. To learn more visit our Family-Friendly Postdoc Resources page.
Diversity Officers
The NPA is committed to addressing the diversity issues in the postdoc community. To assist in this effort, the NPA created the position of Diversity Officer. The Diversity Officer serves as the public face of diversity postdoc issues for the NPA, and is the primary resource and expert advisor for the NPA Board of Directors, the staff, and committees.
The specific responsibilities of the NPA Diversity Officer includes the following:
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Aguirre was appointed as an NPA Diversity Officer in 2020. To view his full bio please visit our Leadership page.
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Hand Hygiene Day - SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands
Each year on 5 May, the "SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands" campaign takes place as part of a major global effort led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve hand hygiene in healthcare settings.
Course on "Control of multidrug-resistant micro-organisms (MDROs) in health care settings"
The main objective of the course was to strengthen capacity in EU Member States for control of healthcare-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in acute health care settings and to promote the broadest possible implementation of appropriate methods.
Training course on control of multidrug-resistant micro-organisms in health care settings
ECDC is organising a short course on "Control of multidrug-resistant micro-organisms (MDROs) in health care settings". This training opportunity is addressed at healthcare professionals from European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries with current or future responsibility for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to MDROs working at national or local level. The course is offered by invitation only and participants are identified through the ECDC Coordinating Competent Bodies.


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David's Story
"I didn't even have a chance to hit the brakes."
David's story starts out with the driving of his son's car. On his way to pick up his son from school, he had nearly crossed the intersection in downtown Las Vegas when a woman in a another vehicle at a stop sign charged forward. She hit him head-on, resulting in a car accident.
Despite the circumstances of the accident, the woman claimed that David hit her. That's when he decided to call Richard Harris Law Firm.
Listen to actual client, David, describe his accident and find out how Richard Harris Law Firm helped him.


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Parliament speaker warns of a "serious crisis" if a new government is not installed soon.
|The political deadlock means Nepal cannot pass a budget, impeding crucial public spending in the poor country [AFP]
Nepal's parliament has failed for the sixth time to select a new prime minister, leading the speaker of the house to warn of a "serious crisis" if a new government is not installed soon.
The country has been without a prime minister since June 30, when Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned under pressure from the opposition Maoist party.
Sunday's failed attempt is the latest setback to attempts to form a new coalition government.
"The impasse has raised questions about the democratic system," said Subas Nembang, the house speaker.
"The country has been ruled by a caretaker government for two months, resulting in a delay to the annual budget."
Delaying the budget means crucial public spending cannot take place in one of the world's poorest countries.
'Serious crisis'
Nepal "is heading towards a serious crisis", Nembang said.
The Maoists, who fought a decade-long civil war against the state before transforming themselves into a political party ahead of the 2008 elections, hold the largest number of seats in parliament, but not enough to govern alone.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Maoist party leader who is better known as Prachanda, is attempting to court smaller rival parties in his stand against Ram Chandra Poudel, chairman of the centrist Nepali Congress, the second largest party in parliament.
But neither leader has been able to secure enough backing from smaller parties.
The Maoists are in talks with a grouping of four small parties that collectively hold 82 of the 601 seats in parliament, but no deal has yet been reached.
Dahal secured 240 votes to Poudel's 122 in Sunday's poll. The third-largest party, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), remained neutral in the vote and called on the two leading candidates to withdraw from the race and for the parties to open negotiations on forming a power-sharing government.
Nepal's parliament, or Constituent Assembly, was elected in May 2008 with a two-year mandate to complete the country's post-war peace process and draft a new national constitution.
But it has failed to complete either task, hampered by disagreements between the Maoists and their rivals.
Members of parliament voted on May 31 to extend its term to give them time to complete the constitution and the peace process.


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In other news: Lady Gaga threatens to sue over breast milk ice cream
Lady Gaga is asking a London ice cream parlor to stop selling "Baby Gaga," an ice cream made with human breast milk. The shop sold out of the flavor (pasteurized and mixed with vanilla pods and lemon zest; a serving sells for the American equivalent of $22.50) when it was introduced last week, but government officials confiscated the double-scoop treat over health concerns. Now Gaga is weighing in: Lawyers for the pop superstar contacted the owner and gave him until Wednesday to change the name or face trademark infringement, reports Britain's Evening Standard. The lawyers call the ice cream "deliberately provocative and, to many people, nausea-inducing." Shop owner Matt O'Connor said he's prepared to fight: "Since the dawn of time the word 'gaga' has been one of the first discernible phrases to come from a baby's mouth. This is why we chose the name."
The Reliable Source
| March 7, 2011; 12:02 AM ET
Categories: In other news...
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Seriously. Gaga is the name of my sister's first baby doll. She named the doll in the late 1950s! My sister still has the doll.
Posted by: ceciann | March 7, 2011 7:32 PM | Report abuse
I think Lady Gaga should be careful,Brian May and co could do the same to her.
Posted by: scouser69 | March 10, 2011 10:06 AM | Report abuse
I think Lady Gaga should be careful,Brian May and co could do the same to her.
Posted by: scouser69 | March 10, 2011 10:07 AM | Report abuse
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I choose this as a symbol for the whole of the Valencia Ring, the best DVD cycle to come our way since Copenhagen. It's a production that skilfully combines 21st Century video technology with the ancient myths that inspired the composer. With first rate singing and outstanding orchestral playing, it's a Ring to treasure, marred only by some infuriatingly fragmented camera work at times.
The Valencia Ring reaches its triumphant conclusion. While I have praised this cycle throughout I was beginning to fear that Padrissa and his team had peaked in Rheingold as it had produced a more dramatically involving experience than either Walküre or Siegfried. However they have pulled out all the dramatic stops to provide a thrilling culmination to the cycle where music and visuals work together to provide a hugely satisfying conclusion.
The huge video screens that have dominated the whole conception behind this Ring are put to outstanding use in Götterdämmerung, again providing visual leitmotifs that comment on the musical. Many of them are satisfyingly familiar: Brünnhilde's rock is largely the same and the organic picture of the gold as a child is back again. Furthermore the Rhinemaidens return in their watery pods, swimming, singing and demonstrating their phenomenal lung power. The film screens effectively convey the journeys in the opera: Siegfried comes down the mountain and rides along down the Rhine and his Act 3 narrative repeats his journey up the mountain to Brünnhilde's rock. Waltraute's arrival is especially atmospheric. This time, however, the world of men that we are shown is distancing and decaying. The Rhine is cluttered with discarded plastic bottles and Act 2 takes place before a bleak futuristic cityscape that reminded me of Blade Runner. The motif of the revolving globe returns, but this time it rotates in perpetual darkness rather than shimmering light. A vortex of life runs through the branches of the World-Ash and Waltraute's narrative, but it is gone when we enter the world of the Gibichungs whose hall looks disturbingly similar to Mime's forge. Their obsession with wealth and materialism is underlined by their costumes which are covered in symbols of every currency, something which is explored in detail in the very informative Making Of extra. In the Prologue Siegfried is still dressed as the Wälsung son of the forest, but when he arrives at the Gibichung Hall he is sterilised and dressed as one of them even before he takes the potion.
The simple scene painting works very well: the Rhine flows beautifully and we see lots of water-life that swims around next to the Rhinemaidens. Furthermore the final conflagration looks great: the screens lick with flame and we see the living Valhalla of Rheingold return and slowly disintegrate. However the most powerful image for me was the blood-letting of the sacrifices to the gods that accompanies Hagen's call to the Vassals and the arrival of Gunther in Act 2. As well as being a fantastically compelling image it provided an apt commentary on the barbarism of the scene being enacted below. The edgy, restless camerawork that had so irked me in Walküre and Siegfried is still present but this time I found it less annoying—maybe I'm just used to it, or maybe the action and pace made it seem less irritating.
Happily the musical performance matches the visual feast. Jennifer Wilson's Brünnhilde, one of the great strengths of this cycle, is as impressive as ever. She seems more human and vulnerable for the exchanges in Act 1 but she takes on eviscerating power in Act 2, even managing some biting sarcasm for the oath on the spear. The immolation is powerful and compelling, rising to a fully assured peak and a beautiful climax. Lance Ryan's Siegfried suffers from none of the insecurity that he has shown in Act 1 of Siegfried. In fact he seems to enjoy the challenge of this opera even more, sounding thrillingly heroic in Acts 1 and 2 but movingly vulnerable for the death scene in Act 3. He even manages an extended (and very exciting) high Hoihe as he calls to the vassals after the Rhinemaidens have departed. Salminen's Hagen dominates every scene in which he appears, black and menacing, conveying years of experience in this role and proving even more compelling than he had been for Janowski (RCA) or Levine (DG). His acting makes a virtue out of stillness, underlining Hagen's role as the malevolent puppet-master at the heart of the story. Gunther and Gutrune are sung well but with an element of distance that conveys their victimhood, and Wyn-Rogers' Waltraute is both beautiful and exciting. Norns and Rhinemaidens make a lot out of their scenes and Kapellmann's Alberich continues to impress, albeit briefly.
However, the real stars of this Ring have been the outstanding players of the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and this is, in many ways, their finest performance. Their virtuosity can by now be taken as read and their power in the climaxes is astounding, but it was their fantastic attention to detail that continually impressed me here. Listen, for example, to the flutes at the moment at the end of Act 1 when the flames rise up again, or the sleeked clarinet that accompanies the breaking of dawn in Act 2. The fantastic Dolby sound makes this all the easier to pick up and only adds to the virtues of this performance. Mehta, who had provided such distinctive thrust in earlier performances, continues to provide a strong hand but his conducting here lacks the nth degree of excitement that would push him into the superleague. The transitions are well directed and there is nothing at all wrong with the climaxes or long views, but there is nothing especially distinctive about them either. Still, in the presence of such fantastic playing this is little to complain about.
So now that the Valencia Ring has come to its conclusion here are a few reflections on the cycle as a whole: The idea of using the vast HD film screens to convey Wagner's world was, to me, very successful and highly convincing. It works better in some areas than others, and it is finest when commenting on the action rather than simply accompanying it—which it does best in Rheingold and Götterdämmerung—but it allows the performers to evoke the mythic and extra-human elements of the story that were so important to Wagner himself and so they raise this cycle above the suggestive and sometimes reductive efforts of Harry Kupfer or Patrice Chéreau—to me now very dated, however great its long-term significance has been. However it also goes beyond the mythical, thus setting it apart from the Met Ring which is fine but at times just looks daft and a tad dull. Copenhagen sets itself apart as a humanitarian, perhaps even feminist cycle, and I think that it sits well alongside this one as an entirely different interpretation that is still effective. The singing, playing and dramatic conception of the Valencia Ring works for me on almost every level and, while the camera direction is undoubtedly annoying at times, this is a Ring on DVD to live with and to return to again and again.
Visually, the production mixes imagination with excess. How much must this have cost? More on that presently.
This isn't a star-studded cast. Indeed, the only names that jumped out are Matti Salminen, sonorously menacing as Fasolt, Hunding and Hagen; Peter Seiffert, a lyric Siegmund; and Stephen Milling, an imposing Fafner. But the sheer consistency of the singing is impressive.
This or that singer may not be your ideal for a given role: Juha Uusitalo's Wotan hasn't the hugely luxurious tone of James Morris in his prime. Nonetheless, this is the rare Ring that hasn't a single vocal dog. Even the Loge isn't the usual nasal character tenor, but the surprisingly mellifluous John Daszak.
I've never heard a Brünnhilde at once as vocally ample and as secure as Valencia's Jennifer Wilson, or a Siegfried who commands a kind of heroic bel canto as stirringly as Lance Ryan.
Apparently conductor Zubin Mehta suggested the Catalan theater company La Fura dels Baus, led by director Carlus Padrissa, to stage this Ring. As now seems the norm, the basic look is sci-fi. There's next to no physical scenery, but high-tech video projections keep the eyes very busy.
There are some striking gestures. The Rhinemaidens splash and dive in transparent boxes of water. The evil smith Mime is turned into a mad scientist, in a diabolical laboratory. The gods and Valkyries bob up and down on cranes visibly manipulated by stagehands. (The gods just think they're in control.)
Wotan looks like a mountain man in Masonic drag. Siegmund and Siegfried favor animal-skin attire, and in Hunding's house, a rope-bound Sieglinde creeps around on all fours. (Well, Siegmund does remember their father, Wotan in disguise, as "Wolfe.")
Emblazoned with euro and yen signs, Hagen and Gunther are portrayed as money-obsessed market manipulators, an apt current image for evildoers. Once Siegfried falls under Hagen's spell, he adopts the Gibichungs' Wall Street nerd look…Hardly a minute passes without all sorts of stuff happening on those video screens, from abstract swirls to speeding airplane views over mountains…It's sung with rare consistency, though, and it's not boring. Mehta tends to favor leisurely tempos and a low dramatic temperature…But the young-looking orchestra plays very well, and both audio and video standards are very high.
This fluid, futuristic production, filmed during a 2007 run in the new opera house in Valencia, is filled with eye-candy images (Franc Aleu did the videos), starting from the opening of the first curtain in "Das Rheingold," when sinuous shapes of streaming water arc across the back wall while the Rheinmaidens splash and sing in tanks.
Flights of birds; showers of gold; a vertiginous mountainscape; and a sinuous silvery tree, its branches illuminated with floods of changing color, form just a few of the backdrops to action carried out by gods in sci-fi costumes standing in large cranes (Loge rides around on a Segway) and humans in aboriginal garb. Sieglinde, in "Die Walküre," sports a bone corset covering her torso, and her son Siegfried, like his mother, has dreadlocks and tribal tattoos.
High-tech, in short, is the stuff of the immortals in this conception; human beings are the building blocks of the new world order. The Rhinegold is initially depicted as a giant, golden human embryo projected on the back wall; Alberich, after he steals it, uses it to create a factory in which he hatches an army of golden soldiers, hanging unceremoniously from meat hooks and later doing double duty as a tangible embodiment of the Nibelung horde.
Valhalla is first presented as a projection of a metallic mesh in human form, and then embodied by a curtain of live bodies suspended from above, linking hands and feet to form a kind of physical macrame. Clusters of bodies represent the dragon; hold the torches of Brünnhilde's magic fire; and load down a huge swinging wrecking ball over the carnage of battle during the Ride of the Valkyries, while a mammoth globe spins on the back wall.
It's seductive to look upon, despite the annoying cutaway shots of Mehta conducting the orchestra at random moments, thus breaking the narrative thread. The balance between the human and the monumental is also occasionally skewed when the director focuses too much on the big picture, leaving key moments - the unveiling of Valhalla, the death of Siegmund - to take place on an empty stage while he prepares for a big visual crescendo a few measures ahead.
The music is in generally capable hands, allowing for the tendency of live recordings to even out vocal discrepancies and make voices sound bigger. Jennifer Wilson, the Washington native, is an impressive Brünnhilde, and I finally understood what the fuss was about Juha Uusitalo, the Finnish bass-baritone whose Wotan here sounds firmer than the subsequent work of his that I've heard. Lance Ryan is, if not a discovery as Siegfried, certainly a tenor to watch; though his parents, Peter Seiffert and Petra Maria Schnitzer (Siegmund and Sieglinde), sounded slightly pushed.
You might wish for a more subtle or profound conductor than Mehta - some of the leitmotifs sound bright and bouncy rather than freighted with significance - but he conducts with an energy that matches the general tenor of the production and represents an antidote to some of the drawn-out readings favored by other conductors. And the orchestra sounds quite good. A benchmark it's not; but for "Ring" fans, this is a set worth seeing.


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20 Monday 20th September 2010
Parents across Great Britain (especially those with young boys) can breath a sigh of relief this week. The leader of a well known, world wide paedophile ring has slipped out of the country. Ha! What a mockery the Catholic Church makes of itself, and common law. It still cannot get used to being held accountable for its actions. In times gone by if some one (like king Henry IV of Germany) opposed the Vatican's expansionist megalomania, a simple excommunication would bring them to heal. Now, in spite of damning evidence of conspiracy to cover up crimes against vulnerable children for the 'good of the Universal Church', committed by the current pope in his time as 'Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith', it seems as if not all that much has changed. Parliament intervened to block the campaign to get a warrant for the pope's arrest, just as George Bush did on another occasion in America, in 2005.
Apparently the main emphasis of the pope's state visit, aside from the odd Beatification and drinking blood with some Glaswegians, was to highlight the 'marginalisation of religion, particularly Christianity'. Erm, excuse me mister Benedict, sir, please don't spank me, but which other institutions enjoy the same impunity as the Catholic church, and £10million of public funding for state visits?
Not my chess club. Nor even the RSPCA, and they do some great things for dolphins. How about the 390,127 people who listed themselves as Jedi on the 2001 census form? Unlikely. Not even the Scientologists, oh how they dream of the day…
So stop winging about the march of 'aggressive secularism' and comparing atheists to Nazi's (even though you know very well what being a Nazi is all about, having been a member of the Hitler Youth). It's irrelevant, it may be that many great acts of kindness and altruism are carried out by religious organizations, but many atrocities are too, boring argument… blah blah blah. Stalin was an atheist don't you know? Remember Mother Theresa? Whatever. Red herring. What really matters is people are less inclined to believe peddlers of anachronistic fairy stories in 21st century Britain, and less tolerant of the privileged and molly-coddled position afforded them.
I understand that the church finds itself powerless to halt the ebbing decline of congregations in the UK, and that all pyramid schemes require the base to be larger than the pinnacle, and that the pope himself must be feeling the squeeze. The trouble is that this fashionable back lash against what is being painted as Richard Dawkins and his evil band of fundamentalist atheists seems more than a little out of touch with reality. But then that is essential tenet of religion after all.
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The Flower Man's Daughter Gets Married
This past September Nicolien "Nikki" Bongaerts, daughter of Joost & Alexandra Bongaerts married her love, Pete, in a beautiful, flower filled ceremony in Alta, Utah.
Florists' Review Magazine shared the story of the wedding in their December 2018 issue. The article was written by Alicia Schwede of Flirty Fleurs who, along with Shawn Chamberlain of Flower Bar Co., were the principal floral designers of the wedding.
We are pleased to share the article with you here:


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PlayStation Schools' Cup and Steph Houghton team up to support Girls Football Week
It proved a dream school day for over 70 pupils at East Manchester Academy as Manchester City and England women's captain Steph Houghton made a surprise visit to support the English Schools' FA (ESFA) PlayStation Schools' Cup.
As well as helping encourage female participation in the PlayStation Schools' Cup, the event coincided with Girls Football Week, which is an initiative set up by The FA. Now in its fourth season, the ESFA PlayStation Schools' Cup is the biggest schools' football tournament in England, featuring over 15,000 girls taking part in this year's competitions.
Steph Houghton, who recently captained Manchester City to their first ever Women's Super League title, gave the 70 pupils the chance to quiz her about her football career during a Q&A. As part of the visit, Steph spent time to put the 16 girls, aged between 13 and 15, from the East Manchester Academy team through a football training drill, ahead of the team playing in the next round of the PlayStation Schools' Cup. The young female players all jumped at the chance to get Steph Houghton's autograph at the end of the training session.
Steph Houghton explained: "I was delighted to be asked by PlayStation Schools' Cup to help support Girls Football Week. Being able to pass on some advice to the girls from East Manchester Academy certainly proved a fitting occasion to help increase female participation in football."
We would like to say a big thank you to Steph Houghton for being such a great inspiration for involving more girl footballers in this season's PlayStation Schools' Cup. Our appreciation also attends to East Manchester Academy for being such welcome hosts.


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5:55 pm
March 10, 2011
Started this thread so we can share what potting mixes we use in our pots (maybe different ones for diff plants) and our experiences & what we've gleaned from using these mixes while growing
- Also, to give opinions about readymade potting mixes in shops
- I've been severly limited by the amount of materials available & can be procured easily 🙁
atm I use around ;
1 part soil+compost
1 part coco peat
A little organic fertilizer mixed in like,.. vermicompost or fertile earth
- Am trying to get a hold of some perlite which would be a big help for some kinda herbs & plants
I generally get my soil+compost mix from a local guy at the market, who just sells it in bags (not branded or anything)
I had gotten a couple of potting mixes (branded) from gardening shops, just to check them out.
who knows what they put in them.. maybe just dirt.. & they weren't very good
i had bought one such bag from Ratanshi's for example.. & the whole thing was like just a blob of clay once water was added dunno how it could even be called a potting mix. The few plants i tried… fared very badly in. it.. one died. Imagine the state of the roots of a plant in something like that..it would've been more suited to making a few clay shapes with it..- Of course such heavy soils affect some plants more than others..but this soil was unusually clayish.
- upto now, the soil+compost mix i get from the local market guy is like many times better than any of the few potting mixes i got from gardening shops,
I often try out small things… like making a ball out of different soils (each diff soil in a diff ball) & keeping them like that for like 24 hours. (or sometimes till tehy completely dry)
some get harder than others, & drier than others….. some get more heavy & clogged when wet.. & some much more clayish than others.. etc.
This has helped me learn a little, like see the state of the soin inside when it becomes dry & also..decide if i might use a certain mix for some plant.
any advice about using charcoal bits in a mix ?
In Conclusion, i'd like to do more experimenting with diff types of soils & growing materials, with plants.
Anyone know of other materials ? Also if someone knows of places in bombay to get these materials…
many thanks
12:57 am
July 23, 2011
I have tried using just the compost you get in bags from the nursery... they have worked for some, but I am not sure if that is the right thing to do... I tried growing coriander in them, they grew, but i also noticed worms moving around in the moist compost 🙁
Is it recommended to mix them with soil for sure?
Or using just the compost would do...
12:33 pm
September 8, 2011
Is there a recipe of making potting mix using household ingredients?
I have access to plain uncultivated field soil. But getting perlite, vermiculite etc is a distant dream since I stay far from the city. Also I only have 2 windows with grills getting around 3-4hrs sunshine.So there is not much space.
Im so confused about the right soil from my plants. Whenever I get a good growing plant from the nursery, it always gets from bad to worse although I water sufficiently to just make the soil moist in the evenings.
Im so crazy after plants but need someone experienced to help me and im ready to do anything to make my plants grow great as Im only a beginner.
7:50 pm
December 17, 2010
Buy Khad from the same nursery where u buy d plants. Dig up a little of the soil around d plant, mix in a little of the khad (dried cowdung which is a very good fertilizer) and water as and when required. Dont just moisten it as water has to reach the roots of the plants which maybe deep inside so you need to water the plant enough for it to get fully wet. Maybe that is why your plants are not doing well. All d best.
12:03 pm
September 8, 2011
2:10 pm
November 13, 2011
Yes I agree with Shaheen, am using red soil and khad (cow dung) for my tomato plants they are growing well since last 1 month on my window grill. I used plastic bags with holes in it and put the soil. Put tiles on the grill and kept 4 bags of the tomato plants which were transplanted in these bags. I had just put the seeds removed from a tomato in the mud pot which had sprouted.
Read GG's post on growing spinach in cocopeat. I am trying that out with equal quantity of cocopeat and khad (cow dung). Let's see how it turns out in a month's time. Leaves have sprouted. The spinach sprouts get about 2 hours direct sunshine.
Hope it turns out well.
1 Guest(s)


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Video Event of the Week: Could Sony's Blu-ray or DVD of Angels and Demons, the profoundly silly DaVinci Code follow-up with Tom Hanks going head to head with The Illuminati, make the cut? Might Blue Underground's Blu-ray upgrade of Gillian Armstrong's wonderful coming of age in the outback flick My Brilliant Career, conceivably get the nod? Or -- and I'll stipulate that this is rather unlikely -- might Universal's various disc incarnations of Judd Apatow's latest mix of dick jokes and sentimentality, Funny People , by any chance be The One?
All worthy, to be sure, even (up to a point) that last, but for my money it's got to be the Criterion Collection's splendid new three-disc box set of kinescoped live TV drama (and comedy) classics from the 50s -- The Golden Age of Television.
The set, as you might have suspected, is based on the PBS series of the same name, which originally aired in the early 80s, and it features eight of the most memorable shows from a remarkably innovative era (1953-58) -- Marty, Patterns, No Time For Sergeants (which made Andy Griffith an overnight star), A Wind From the South, Bang the Drum Slowly, Requiem for a Heavyweight, The Comedian and Days of Wine and Roses. Many of the writers are icons today (Paddy Chayevsky, Rod Serling and Ernest Lehmann), there are early star turns by the likes of Paul Newman and Kim Hunter, and several of the directors (most notably John Frankenheimer) went on to do innovative work in 60s films. Many of the shows themselves became memorable films as well, although not always with their TV creative teams; Blake Edwards, for example, did the film adaptation of Roses, which apparently irked original director Frankenheimer no end.
Here's a brief clip from one of the most famous of the dramas -- Jack Palance in Serling's Requiem -- to give you an idea, especially if you're too young to remember what live television was like. (Criterion's transfer looks vastly better, BTW).
One thing needs to be said to put the set in perspective, however, which is that the whole Golden Age deal is just a tad bogus. All these shows are terrific, to be sure (there's a real sense of a new medium being born) and richly deserve Criterion's deluxe archive treatment, but the unglamorous fact is that they were anomalies in their day. Sturgeon's Law -- that 90 percent of everything is crap -- held as true for live TV in the 50s as any place else, and you could just as easily make the case for the 80s (after Hill Street Blues) or the current decade (The Sopranos, to pick just one example on cable) as TV's Golden Age.
That allowed, the set is an undeniable treasure trove, but if I had to pick just one of the shows for a desert island, it would have to be Lehmann, Serling and Frankenheimer's The Comedian. Apart from being one of the most devastating back-stage show-biz dramas ever, with a title performance by Mickey Rooney that will erase the memory of decades of the Mick's buffonish behavior for anyone who gets a gander at it, but it's also (ironically, in that it wasn't subsequently remade as a film) the most fluently cinematic thing in the set; a lot of it, in fact, plays like a warm-up for some of the more media-savvy sequences in its director's later The Manchurian Candidate.
Criterion's versions of the PBS shows (which, as previously noted, are surprisingly watchable given the technological limitations of the original kinescopes) come with the original interviews with many of the the principals, including Julie Haris, Piper Laurie, Palance, and Rooney; there are also new audio commentaries by directors Frankenheimer, Ralph Nelson, Delbert Mann and Daniel Petrie (Mann's track for Marty is particularly interesting).
In any case, you can -- and quite obviously should -- order The Golden Age of Television from Criterion over here.
That said, and because things will doubtless be pretty quite around here due to excess turkey consumption, here's a relevant and hopefully fun little project to keep us occupied for the rest of the weekend:
Best or Worst Big-Screen-to-Television or Television-to-Big-Screen Adaptation!!!
Arbitrary rule: None of the films based on the shows in the Criterion set under discussion are eligible. Sorry.
And my totally top of my head Top Five are:
5.Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (Spencer Gordon Bennett and Wallace Grissell, 1951)
Cheesy even by late serial standards, but worth noting in that it probably cost only marginally more to make than the no-budget TV show it was based on. Tragically, star Judd Holdren (above left) died in 1974 of poisoning by Z-Rays from Outer Space.
4. The X-Files: I Want to Believe (Chris Carter, 2008)
I really have nothing to say about this one, except that -- like most fans of the TV show and its previous feature film incarnation from 1998 -- I have decided to forget that it ever existed.
3. Speed Racer (Larry and Andy Wachowski, 2008)
A strong contender for worst big-budget movie ever made, but give its makers credit -- after this, nobody could talk about Post-Modernism as a serious esthetic ever again. An impressive accomplishment, obviously, although now that I think of it, a similar claim could be made for both of the Charlie's Angels adaptations.
2. Stargate: SG-1 (1997-2007)
Not only light years better than the preposterously stupid film it was based on (directed by Roland Emmerich, and we should have seen the rest of his ouevre coming) but for ten seasons the most consistently entertaining and least self-important sci-fi series in TV history. Honorable mention: Alien Nation (1989-90), which actually improved upon and enriched the concepts only hinted at in the otherwise highly entertaining sci-fi flick of the same name.
And the numero uno most perversely memorable TV-to-Film or Film-to-TV derivation obviously is --
1. Delta House (1979)
The Animal House spin-off, featuring almost everybody from the original film except John Belushi, which should have been a warning sign from the get. Remarkably, the series managed to survive for a surprising 15 episodes despite being almost 100 percent laugh free.
Alrighty then -- what would your choices be?


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About Control Techniques
As part of Emerson, Control Techniques is a leading manufacturer of motor control and power conversion technology for commercial and industrial applications. Their innovative products are used in the most demanding applications requiring performance, reliability and energy efficiency.
Unidrive M700
Unidrive M700 provides high performance motor control and ultimate control flexibility in order to satisfy the requirements of machine builders and high specification industrial applications.
Maximize throughput with superior motor control
- High bandwidth motor control algorithm for closed-loop induction, permanent magnet and servo motors – 3300 Hz current loop bandwidth and 250 Hz speed loop bandwidth
- Flexible speed and position feedback interface supports a wide range of feedback technologies from robust resolvers to high resolution encoders.
- Up to three encoder channels simultaneously e.g. 1 feedback encoder, 1 reference encoder and 1 simulated output
- MCi modules can eliminate the need for external PLCs and motion controllers
- Simulated encoder output can provide position reference for CAMs, digital lock and electronic gearbox applications.
Optimize system performance with onboard Advanced Motor Controller
- M700 incorporates an Advanced Motion Controller capable of controlling 1.5 axis. The motion functions are carried out 'on the drive' so that system performance is maximized.
Design flexible centralized and decentralized control systems
- MCi modules can be added to execute larger programs for advanced system control capability.
- Onboard PLC for logic programs
- Engineering Control Studio is an industry standard IEC61131-3 programming environment for efficient system design and configuration
- Integrated dual port Ethernet switch provides simple connectivity using standard connections
- Onboard real-time Ethernet (IEEE 1588 V2) uses RTMoE (Real Time Motion over Ethernet) to provide fast communication and accurate axis synchronization
- Three System Integration ports are available to fit additional fieldbus, position feedback and I/O options
Conform to safety standards, maximize uptime and reduce costs by integrating directly with safety systems
M700 has an integrated Safe Torque Off (STO) input and can accommodate an SI-Safety module for safe motion functions
For more information call us at 317-253-5900 or click here


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The museum is now open with new health and safety procedures like free timed tickets and required cloth face masks.
This year's Old Campus Trek on Saturday, April 7th has a full schedule of fun-filled activities for students and alumni of Wake Forest University. The day begins at 9:30 am with a casual coffee and social period, followed by a morning program presented by Mary Tribble (WFU '82), Senior Advisor for Engagement Strategies. A direct descendant of Wake Forest's first president, Tribble will discuss the courtship of her history-making great-great-great-great grandparents, Samuel and Sally Wait.
Guided tours of the Old Campus will be provided along with a picnic lunch. For the afternoon program, Dr. Ed Wilson will reflect on Wake Forest's past and discuss its future; Ben Weekly (WFU '18) and Addie Folk (WFU '19), who are members of the WFU Traditions Council and both descended from Old Campus alumni, will give a visual presentation.
Advance registration is required. Please contact the Alumni Office at 336-758-4278 or visit http://www.wfu.edu/alumni. For more information, call the museum at 919-556-2911 or email Executive Director Ed Morris at email@example.com.
For accommodations:
Candlewood Suites at 12050 Retail Drive (919-554-6901) is offering a group rate with a reservation cutoff date of March 23rd. The group name is WAKE FOREST BIRTHPLACE and the booking link is HERE.
Hampton Inn at 12318 Wake Union Church Road (919-554-0222) is offering a group rate with a cutoff date of March 16th. The group name is WAKE FOREST BIRTHPLACE and the booking link is HERE.
Sleep Inn at 12401 Wake Union Church Road (919-556-4007) is offering a group rate with a cutoff date of March 24th. The group name is WAKE FOREST BIRTHPLACE and the booking link is HERE.
We look forward to seeing you!
i'm ed
i'm interesting in attending the event at old WF tomorrow with Ed Wilson speaking. Jenny Puckett told me to contact some at this email address.
sorry I haven't registered. can my wife and I attend? I am a 1968 grad and 1971 grad of the Law School.
we would only be able to attend the lunch and talk by DR wilson.
i apologize for the latemess of this request and know we may not BE ABLE TO ATTEND BUT THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE BY call to my cell-336-414-7480 or email.
Ed Parker


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Nuchal fold
The nuchal fold is a normal fold of skin seen at the back of the fetal neck during the second trimester of pregnancy. Increased thickness of the nuchal fold is a soft marker associated with multiple fetal anomalies, and is measured on a routine second trimester ultrasound.
On this page:
It should not be confused with nuchal translucency, which is measured in the first trimester.
The predominant reason for measuring the nuchal fold is that it is a soft marker for aneuploidy. As an isolated finding, it has a likelihood ratio of 3.25 for Down syndrome9.
Other associations include:
- Turner syndrome
- congenital heart disease
- Noonan's syndrome
- Klippel-Feil syndrome
- Zellweger syndrome
- Cumming syndrome
- Robert syndrome7
- normal variant ( rare < 1% )
The proposed etiology of increased nuchal thickness is the result of hydrops or lymphatic obstruction.
Natural course
An abnormally thickened nuchal fold or even a cystic hygroma may resolve, especially toward the third trimester; however, the risk of karyotypic abnormalities is not reduced.
Radiographic features
Antenatal ultrasound
Nuchal fold thickness of >6 mm is abnormal on a routine morphology ultrasound performed at 18-22 weeks.
The nuchal fold is known to increase throughout the second trimester in a normal pregnancy, and may be measured during a broader window of 14 and 24 weeks when required. There is some controversy regarding the normative thresholds at the earlier and later gestations - some authors advocate the use of a nomogram 10, others suggest that the 6 mm upper limit may be appropriate up to 24 weeks 11.
Technical considerations
Nuchal fold thickness is measured on an axial section through the head at the level of the thalami, cavum septi pellucidi, and cerebellar hemispheres (i.e. in the same plane that is used to assess the posterior fossa structures). One caliper should be placed on the outer edge of the skin, and the other against the outer edge of the occipital bone. The ideal angle of insonation is at approximately 30o to the horizontal. This plane is less likely to produce a false positive thickened nuchal fold.
See also
Quiz questions
- 1. Locatelli A, Piccoli MG, Vergani P et-al. Critical appraisal of the use of nuchal fold thickness measurements for the prediction of Down syndrome. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2000;182 (1 Pt 1): 192-7. - Pubmed citation
- 2. Weissleder R, Harisinghani MG, Wittenberg J. Primer of diagnostic imaging. Mosby Inc. (2007) ISBN:0323040683. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Vintzileos AM, Egan JF. Adjusting the risk for trisomy 21 on the basis of second-trimester ultrasonography. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1995;172 (3): 837-44. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. (link) - Pubmed citation
- 4. Bluth EI. Ultrasound, a practical approach to clinical problems. George Thieme Verlag. (2000) ISBN:0865778612. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. Maymon R, Sharony R, Grinshpun-cohen J et-al. The best marker combination using the integrated screening test approach for detecting various chromosomal aneuploidies. J Perinat Med. 2005;33 (5): 392-8. doi:10.1515/JPM.2005.071 - Pubmed citation
- 6. Odibo AO, Sehdev HM, Gerkowicz S et-al. Comparison of the efficiency of second-trimester nasal bone hypoplasia and increased nuchal fold in Down syndrome screening. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2008;199 (3): 281.e1-5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.06.078 - Pubmed citation
- 7. Dähnert W. Radiology Review Manual. LWW. (2011) ISBN:1609139437. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 8. Cho JY, Kim KW, Lee YH, Toi A. Measurement of nuchal skin fold thickness in the second trimester: influence of imaging angle and fetal presentation. (2005) Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 25 (3): 253-7. doi:10.1002/uog.1847 - Pubmed
- 9. Agathokleous M, Chaveeva P, Poon LC, Kosinski P, Nicolaides KH. Meta-analysis of second-trimester markers for trisomy 21. (2013) Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 41 (3): 247-61. doi:10.1002/uog.12364 - Pubmed
- 10. Goynumer G, Arisoy R, Turkmen O, Yayla M. Fetal nuchal skin-fold thickness during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. (2015) Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 35 (2): 111-4. doi:10.3109/01443615.2014.937681 - Pubmed
- 11. Singh C, Biswas A. Impact of gestational age on nuchal fold thickness in the second trimester. (2014) Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. 33 (4): 687-90. doi:10.7863/ultra.33.4.687 - Pubmed
Related Radiopaedia articles
Ultrasound - obstetric
- ultrasound (introduction)
- obstetric ultrasound
first trimester and early pregnancy
- gestational sac
- yolk sac
- embryo/fetus
- amnion
- chorion
- beta-hCG levels
- ectopic pregnancy
- multiple gestations
- subchorionic hematoma
- failed early pregnancy
second trimester
- fetal biometry
- fetal morphology assessment
- fetal echocardiography views
- non-visualization of the fetal stomach
soft markers
- nuchal fold thickness
- ventriculomegaly
- absent nasal bone
- choroid plexus cysts
- enlarged cisterna magna
- shortened fetal long bones
- echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF)
- echogenic fetal bowel
- aberrant right subclavian artery
- fetal pyelectasis / fetal renal pelvic dilatation
- single umbilical artery
- sandal gap toes
- amnioreduction
- Doppler ultrasound
- umbilical artery Doppler assessment
- fetal middle cerebral arterial Doppler assessment
- fetal ductus venosus flow assessment
- umbilical venous flow assessment
- uterine artery flow notching
- nuchal translucency
- 11-13 weeks antenatal scan
- chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis
- placenta
- other
- first trimester and early pregnancy


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Behavior of Perch
Document Type
Publication Date
Publication Title
Biology of Perch
First Page
Last Page
The genus Perca includes only three species of fish, but they are ubiquitous and abundant in freshwater and brackish environments of the northern hemisphere, from North America to Europe and Asia. These species are important both ecologically and economically. In Biology of Perch, world-renowned specialists review and update the biology of these fish. The book opens with a review of the genetic makeup of this complex assemblage from early post-glacial dispersion to the colonization of new habitats. The influences of geomorphological and biological factors on the dispersal of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) are explored. Two case studies exploit unique historical databases to follow population dynamics of yellow perch and European perch (P. fluviatilis) and to demonstrate how fisheries and habitat management can drastically influence the fate of fish populations. Three other chapters are dedicated to the general reproductive physiology, parasitology, and behavior of Perca species. The third species, the Balkhash perch (P. schrenkii), is a rare and threatened species of the Balkans, and a chapter is dedicated to its biology. The book ends with a review of the use of Perca species around the world as sentinels of ecological integrity and biomonitors in ecotoxicological studies.
Recommended Citation
Couture, Patrice and Pyle, Greg, "Behavior of Perch" (2015). Biology of Perch, 230-250.


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Covid-19 Update - We are open as usual but please bear with us and the postal service. Read More...
Own part of Welsh history with these Welsh made miner's lamps
- They are working lamps, just add paraffin (not included)
- Made from cooper and brass
- Complete with handle so you can hang in your home or garden
- Made in Aberdare, Wales
- Weighs 264g
- Measures H: 10.5cm W: 5.5cm
- Presented in a gift box
A Little About the Maker…
The family run manufacturer of our miner's lamps has a real relationship with the coal mining business; they are the sons and daughters of former miners and the factory is situated right in the heart of the former Welsh Coal fields in Aberdare. They are the only officially Welsh company creating reproduction ornamental miner's lamps, which means when you buy one of our lamps you will own something that has a true connection with the mining heritage.
We aim to post your package by the next working day, but if you get your order in by 2pm between Mon-Fri we will try our best to post same day!
Please check to see if your gifts are handmade, as these have longer lead times. You can view this information in the product description tab.
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