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|H &F Register Officer Now at Hammersmith Town Hall
Move comes following council's sale of Fulham Town Hall
Hammersmith and Fulham Register Office has now moved to Hammersmith Town Hall in King Street.
Anyone wishing to register a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership must now visit the town hall on King Street, Hammersmith, and not Fulham Town Hall.
The new Hammersmith Town Hall Register Office also hosts citizenship services, civil partnership ceremonies, marriage vows renewals, naming ceremonies and a nationality checking service.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council recently agreed to sell Fulham Town Hall in order to reduce its historic debt and is in the process of moving all staff out of the building and into other council properties.
Fulham Town Hall will now be turned into a "lifestyle emporium" including shops, a restaurant and new homes by the new owners, American leisure and retail group Dorey Ventures.
Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents' services, said: "The Register Office plays a hugely important part in local life, used by residents at times of great happiness as well as sad times. We are delighted that we will continue to offer this vital service from refurbished offices at Hammersmith Town Hall."
The full address of the new Hammersmith & Fulham Register Office is:
All contact methods will remain the same:
July 13, 2012


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Why You Should Look For The Best SEO Companies in uk?
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subset: commoncrawl


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What temp would the rheostat get and where do you get the wire coil?
Temperatures are determined by the amount of current applied, thus they're variable Nickel-chromium wire is an item of commerce, since there are only a few suppliers left, Post 13988 (missing) (Rhodium: "It is forbidden to post sources in this forum!", Chemicals & Equipment) applies. Industrial suppliers can bee helpful. Become a toaster repairman, and start asking questions at electrical suppliers, some still have them hanging on the walls SWIL just buys the wire wholesale and winds his own coils Large scientific suppliers also carry nichrome wire
Post 13988 (missing)


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APA accredited School Psychology
August 18, 2018
The following notice is provided as a public service by the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation consistent with a Web listing…
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Accreditation Ultrasound Tech Schools
November 11, 2017
The school directory below includes 215 local universities, colleges and schools in the United States, which offer CAAHEP accredited diagnostic…
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Public Health School Accreditation
July 16, 2017
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the nationally recognized accrediting body for both schools of public health and public…
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Respiratory Therapist accredited Schools
July 2, 2017
Respiratory therapists must have a minimum of an associate degree from an accredited respiratory therapy education program. The Commission on…
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Accredited Online Middle School
June 2, 2017
Former CMASAS Student Thank you for your interest in our middle school program. While many online programs provide a basic core educational experience…
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Accredited Veterinary Tech Schools
May 7, 2017
A Veterinary Technician helps diagnose and treat the illnesses and injuries of animals under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. If you…
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ABA accredited Law Schools Online
April 25, 2017
A total of 205 institutions are ABA-approved: 205 confer the first degree in law (the J.D. degree); the other ABA approved school is the U.S…
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Accredited Online K-12 Schools
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Get with the high school program where you re number one. The K12 high school experience is one with exceptional courses, dedicated teachers…
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Accredited Gunsmithing Schools Online
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In gunsmithing training courses, students learn to use hand and machine tools to make and shape gun parts, and they learn how to read blueprints…
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ALA-accredited master's programs can be found at colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. These programs offer…
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What does an Accreditation School mean?
December 11, 2016
Accreditation (noun): certification that a school meets all formal official requirements of academic excellence, curriculum, facilities, etc…
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Free accredited Online High School Classes
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Why online with K12 is totally on the mark for so many families. Kindergarten through 12th grade students in most states are enrolled in online…
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There are 6 major accrediting bodies in the United States. Being accredited by any of the following agencies, means that the institution has…
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National High School is proudly accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement…
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Accreditation Online Ultrasound Technician Schools
October 12, 2016
When researching prospective schools to study ultrasound technology or sonography, you will probably be looking at several factors, like location…
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Roller coaster weather over the spring/summer of 2015/2016 proved a blessing for Hawkes Bay's Sacred Hill winery which ultimately produced a soft-textured 2016 Reserve Chardonnay featuring citrus, and stonefuit flavours with an added touch of nuttiness and creamy complexities.
Perfect with seafood and poultry, Sacred Hill suggests pairing this elegant wine with French tarragon chicken. See recipe below:
French tarragon chicken with crispy little potatoes and a citrus rocket salad
Serves 4
4 chicken breasts, skinless
4 medium sized agria potatoes, peeled
For the French tarragon sauce:
2 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp dried tarragon
1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon (if available or add a little more dried tarragon)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup white wine
1 cup cream
Salt and pepper to taste
For the salad:
100g rocket
2 oranges
2 tbsp slivered almonds
Preheat the oven to 180∞C (fan bake).
To cook potatoes: Cut potatoes into 2cm cubes. Place in a pot and just cover with cold water. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and bring to the boil over a high heat. Once boiling reduce heat to medium and boil for 8 mins. Drain and allow to steam out for several mins. Spread the potatoes out on an oven tray lined with baking paper and drizzle over 1 tbsp of cooking oil and season with salt. Jiggle the tray to coat well. Cook in oven for 15-18 mins or until crisp.
To make the French tarragon sauce: Melt the butter in a small pot over a medium heat and once melted stir in the garlic and allow to cook for 30 secs. Then add the tarragon and white wine and reduce the white wine by 1/2 before stirring in the lemon juice and mustard. Lastly add the cream and bring up to a simmer. Simmer for 2-3 mins to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
To cook the chicken: Remove the chicken breast from its packaging and pat dry with a paper towel. Slice off the tenderloin which is the loose piece of meat on the underside of the breast. Then slice the breast in half lengthwise down the middle to create two strips.
Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat and once hot add the chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 mins on each side to colour and cook through. Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour over the French tarragon sauce. Allow to simmer for 1 minute to heat the sauce through.
To prepare the salad: Place almonds in a small pan over a low heat and gently toast them by jiggling the pan continuously to prevent burning. Place rocket in a bowl. Peel the orange and then cut into segments. Scrape any orange juice from board over the salad. Arrange in the bowl with the rocket. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle over toasted almonds.
To serve: Arrange potatoes on plates or in a side dish. Place chicken pieces in bowls and pour over French tarragon sauce. Serve rocket, orange and almond salad on the side or as a garnish on top of the chicken.
This dish has been perfectly matched to Sacred Hill's 2016 Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay, a full-bodied wine with aromas of hazel and cashew nuts, lemon meringue and vanilla. Available from selected wine stores and supermarkets, RRP $24.99.


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The release originally planned for David Vincent's own label, prior to 'Altars of Madness', picked up by Earache and issued after the amazing debut. Another essential dosument of death metal.
1. The Invocation/Chapel Of Ghouls
2. Unholy Blasphemies
3. Angel Of Disease
4. Azagthoth
5. The Gate/Lord Of All Fevers
6. Hellspawn
7. Abominations
8. Demon Seed
9. Welcome To Hell


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Grow your conservation skills with a wildlife project in South Africa
Are you an animal lover who is passionate about protecting vulnerable species in their natural habitat?
The United Nations(UN) October 2018 report on climate change was a wake-up call for many on the destruction of the world's habitat and its impact not only on humans but on animal diversity throughout the world.
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Study wildlife conservation techniques in a game park
As a wildlife conservation intern, you will collect data and provide essential research capacity to assist with the safekeeping of the fragile ecosystem in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve.
You will be housed with other volunteers in a bush camp within the game park. Here, you will learn valuable skills in ecosystem conservation, as well as camouflage techniques for tracking animals in the wilderness. You will also acquire transferable leadership and teamwork skills while working with other volunteers.
Not only will these skills be invaluable in developing your career in the competitive field of animal conservation, you 'll come away with memories of an unforgettable adventure with a new community of colleagues and friends.
Ready to kickstart your career and make memories to last a lifetime? Get in touch with us today.
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By DONNA BALANCIA
Photos by HEATHER HARRIS
LOS ANGELES – Iggy Pop wrapped the U.S. segment of his Post Pop Depression tour at The Greek Theatre with a few more fans than he had — and maybe that was the simple idea.
Iggy is a master of appearance and that 69-year-old appearance is holding up well. He has the stance of a confident but undervalued pugilist who has paid the price for his uncompromising artistry.
But these days, his signature has been teaming with younger rockers to keep current, keep himself in the press and to stay sharp.
He's learned a thing or two after being knocked around on the ground. And maybe his time has finally come.
"I love Iggy, he really won me over," said a 20-something fan who was among the thousands at The Greek Theatre Thursday night. It was a sold-out last night of the Post Pop Depression tour he's shared with prominent band mates Josh Homme, Matt Helders and Dean Fertita, Troy Van Leeuwen and Matt Sweeney. Now it's on to Europe.
Iggy's Revolution
These days Iggy's goals are not as lofty as they were when he started a music revolution in the early 1970s. The excesses of success are for those younger than him, he's accumulated a great deal of wealth and he has a beautiful wife and home life in Miami. He doesn't party and he sticks to a regimen to make it through at least this one last big push on touring. And he could always use a few more fans.
The David Bowie Songs
It's no coincidence Iggy's band mates are at least 30 years younger than he is. The prolific punk rock progenitor was looking for a shot in the arm and just maybe a new raison d'etre. Yes he's been doing an amazing job as D.J. on BBC6 with insightful thoughts about a range of music. And he's been going through the catalogues of others.
But since the death of former collaborator David Bowie, Iggy has dusted off the classics from The Idiot and Lust For Life, which Bowie produced for him. While most Pop fans know "The Passenger," his beautiful tunes "Everything Will Be Alright Tonight," "Here Comes Success," and his own, less well-known rendition of "China Girl" have long been overlooked by the masses. These are songs that have gotten a lot of us through the tough times for a long time. So hearing them live is a treat; it's remarkable that Iggy is singing those songs in concert only now that Bowie is gone, and there is probably a reason.
Overbooked Star
During the days leading up to his outstanding show at The Greek, Iggy must have been overbooked as he made a harried appearance at Mr. Musichead art gallery in Hollywood, across the street from Guitar Center and the Sunset Grill. Many people arrived before the 6 p.m. start date for the showing of American Valhalla, the photos of Post Pop Depression.
Around 70 percent of the people who bought the $30-something ticket were disappointed to find out that by the time they walked through the gallery doors, Iggy, his wife, Nina, and Josh and his family had vamoosed out the back. After all, how much mugging for the cell phone camera can a guy do. He had to have had 22 different two- or three-word conversations with those in line, after all.
We didn't have the heart to stand there and stare and bother him with questions, seeing how Iggy looked a little drained from the experience. When we offered him some water, he responded with a decidedly polite "No thank you."
Then came the "How much longer?" to his manager.
And with that, the group was gone from the makeshift tent that held a range of black and white photos of Iggy in his Post Pop desert days with Homme boy and pals. The photos are lovely but clearly Iggy was the attraction here.
Connie, a friend of Iggy from the old days, said she wanted to see Iggy and didn't get the emailed update that came to ticketholders warning them if they wanted to catch a glimpse of King Pop, they had better arrive at 5:45 p.m. The email said Iggy and his team would be leaving for The GRAMMY Museum precisely at 7 "for a nomination."
And yes, while deserving of a nomination, we're not so sure that was entirely accurate. We're not aware The GRAMMY Museum gives out nominations for anything. Nonetheless, those who bought tickets to the gallery showing were bummed when Iggy and crew were not there. It's free admission to Mr. Musichead on any normal day.
Wayne Kramer on the Scene
A major positive: At Mr. Musichead, we got to have a good heart-to-heart with Wayne Kramer, founder of MC5 and that made the event well worthwhile. MC5 was the "big brother" band to The Stooges back in the 1960s Detroit. Wayne is a gem, who spoke to us at length about his charity work.
Read about Wayne's charity, Jail Guitar Doors
He's truly got a big heart and he's a remarkably humble guy, especially since Wayne and MC5 are arguably the true creators of that Detroit punk sound, as "Kick Out The Jams," is still the battlecry of every garage rock punk rocker wannabe, or never was, and even a dead music superstar or two.
Iggy and his crew piled into their black SUVs and jammed on out of the gallery. It's probably not Iggy's fault he was over boooked and that he and his crew tried to grab as much gusto from the Post Pop Depression tour push and the merch and monetizing opportunities. After all, Iggy came right out and said this would most likely be his last tour ever and possibly last album as well.
Iggy's not an easy one to get along with, say his pals. He's a perfectionist and a little hard-headed — possibly even a – gasp – Republican. Except for the Republican part, his idiosyncracies all probably come as a result of many years of leaping off the stage and sometimes not getting caught. He innovated an entire niche of rock music in the 1970s that those hippies and others just didn't understand. And it took a gargantuan effort to get where he is today.
We're talking about a guy whose first claim to fame was walking on the audience like Jesus walked on the water, and smearing himself with peanut butter. Even his bandmates, Ron and Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander, didn't see the peanut butter coming.
Iggy Pop, Gadget User
Iggy has come a long way from recording vacuum cleaners and blenders for that authentic sound of Detroit, from whence he hails. And The Greek Theatre is just about as far away as any performer could get from Detroit, on many levels.
You hear stories of rock stars and celebs donating money secretly to charities in their home towns, only to find out their benevolence upon their death.
Something tells us this will likely not be the case for Iggy, but he has definitely left an undeniable legacy of music.
"Iggy Pop feels underappreciated," said one longtime acquaintance. "People are coming to his shows now and that's wonderful. But even when 'The Passenger' had a modicum of success on the radio, Iggy couldn't grow the fan base. Maybe it was the marketing or something. I never thought the Halloween-style drip-letter posters at The Ritz that said 'Come see the Bizarre Iggy Pop' were going to draw them in. Especially when The Clash were playing up the street. It's like even though Iggy's one of the best performers in the world — and he was back then too of course — he couldn't reach the audience that today has come to appreciate him the most — and that's those people who are in their 50s now."
Commercial Appeal
But Iggy Pop is certainly making up for lost time.
In the last 10 years, Iggy has done more to promote himself to the mainstream than he did collectively over the course of his life.
He's headlined a record number of music festivals. He's a perfume model.
He was a pitch guy for a British insurance company teaming with a puppet that bears his name — a gig that brought him a hefty dose of ridicule but lots of money. Iggy's done voiceovers on kids cartoons and he even made then-judge Jennifer Lopez gaze admiringly when he performed on "American Idol."
Then there's the music. The classic "Search and Destroy," the anthem of every punker that ever lived, written by Iggy with longtime collaborator James Williamson has been featured in several movies including "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," several TV shows including "Lost," and "Dexter," video games like "Guitar Hero," and "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland," as well as the the new ad campaign for the Audi A4.
Iggy has some hi-falootin' famous friends, and hangs around with Henry, Johnny and Jim. Kings and queens. He even sat down for a meal with Tony Bourdain, who now uses "The Passenger" as the theme to his CNN show "Parts Unknown."
Iggy Pop and His People
Iggy said one of the reasons he likes to team with young people is because it keeps him fresh but he also said that when he partners with people like Kesha or Best Coast, he also gets a bit of free recording time also. But the Post Pop Depression album is by all accounts a self-funded project produced by the likeable desert rat Homme, who cuts a striking if not gigantic appearance, particularly when holding hands with the 5-foot-something-inch Iggy.
Iggy apparently doesn't discard his friends for no good reason, as at The Greek we ran into several old pals of his whom he'd invited to attend.
Mike Watt said he was honored to appear at The Greek, "Iggy asked me to come," Watt said.
One of the guys who have been there the whole time, Watt is a humble sort who simply loves the music. And he misses The Stooges. "I loved that band," Watt said emotionally.
Meanwhile, Iggy's new band is sharp, young and extremely cool, looking dapper in lounge jackets and dancing around him on stage. Successful musicians in their own right, the guys clearly enjoy reciprocal benefit of touring with the veteran Iggy.
Tossing the Mic
On stage at The Greek, Iggy still showed with great bravado the shades of the anger issues that got him here in the first place. With his advanced age, they come across as funny and cute today compared to the days when he really was an angry young man with issues and wild performance antics.
During the triumphant performance at The Greek last Thursday — a show that was completely entertaining and gave hints of what it must have been like to see him at The Ritz in the old days — he dropped F-bombs, shoved his hand down his pants, jumped into the crowd and beat up a microphone stand. Then a song or two later, he went and brought it back and cursed at it. When he stood it upright, it was bent in the middle and that got a laugh from the adoring crowds.
And maybe through his fits of celebrity, Iggy feels vindicated for all those years of starving, sleeping on other peoples floors and living a hard life — the most difficult life: That of an artist who won't compromise his work. On to Europe and a hearty Bravo to our own truly and uniquely American musician, and nevermore to be known as "The World's Forgotten Boy."


text:
|Project by camps764
|posted 07-21-2012 08:36 PM
|1545 views
|1 time favorited
|1 comment
Got an old pallet that some machinery came on. Once it was planed down it turned out to be blue pine. One of the boards split so I decided to try my hand at bow ties(butterfly) to reinforce and highlight the split. I figured if it didn't turn out I'd just toss it on the trash pile.
Cut all of the bow ties free hand on the band saw and then used the router to create the recesses for them.
Finished with BLO and a wipe on poly.
-- Steve
1 comment so far
#1 posted 07-25-2012 01:30 AM
That is just too cool. I love the inserts holding it from splitting any more…..........Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
Have your say...
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Baan Plai Haad
- 1141 m2 ft
WedLoading...H --, L --
WedLoading...H --, L --
WedLoading...H --, L --
- 24/7 Reception
- 24/7 Security
- Beachfront
- Fitness Centre
- Gardens
- In-House Restaurant
- Roof Terrace
- Sauna
- Sea Views
- Underground Parking
*Beachfront Living* Baan Plai Haad is the first project in Pattaya from one of Thailands most longest-established and respected developers, which was originally established in 1984 and listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 1996. Since then, the developer has completed 158 projects around the country ranging from million baht condos up to exclusive 50-million baht villas.
Located in Wongmat, the most exclusive part of Pattaya, Baan Plai Haad is located on a large plot which has direct access on to one of Pattayas most beautiful beaches.
Baan Plai Haad is an elegant, 31-storey, L-shaped tower a design which ensures that all but a handful of units have excellent sea views facing either north or west.
The development contains a total of 353 units ranging from 41m2 one-bedroom apartments, right up to the stunning 154m2 three-bedroom/three-bathroom duplex penthouses which top out at a price of THB 18.2 million.
Buyers at Baan Plai Haad have extensive green areas to enjoy between the tower and the beach. The developer is known for the elegance of the architecture and quality of their interior design, for which the company has won many awards over the past decade, so buyers can be assured that Baan Plai Haad will be a true five-star development both inside and out.
Among the many facilities available on site, buyers will have a total of three different pools to choose from, including a Jacuzzi at ground level and an infinity pool on the 30th floor, from which the views are guaranteed to be breathtaking. Other facilities include a fully-equipped fitness centre, complete with saunas.
For those wishing to invest in a five-star beachfront project and are prepared to wait until April 2015 for handover, Baan Plai Haad is good value compared to other options in this most desirable part of the city, and buyers can relax in the knowledge that the long track record of successful past projects from the developer guarantees that the finished product will be built to the highest standards.
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text:
Platinion Senior Human Scientist, BCG Platinion – Pittsburgh
At BCG, Innovators view the world from unexpected angles. They bring creativity and a fresh perspective to every challenge they face. Brett goes deep to understand challenges.
I see my path at BCG Platinion as helping to bring a designer and researcher's mindset to each case team and the broader organization. This expertise is applicable to every problem we solve for our clients.
I came to BCG through a small design consultancy and innovation lab called MAYA Design, which was acquired by BCG. I'm now part of three communities, each with their own forms of expertise: MAYA (digital design and innovation), BCG Platinion (IT implementation and risk management), and BCG (business and management consulting). In addition to providing support on any project, this varied expertise means I'm learning and growing on every case.
As I became part of these communities, the potential impact of my work has multiplied in size. Impact to me as a strategic designer means positive change in organizations and people's lives. When ideas are founded in design process, technology know-how, and a sound business case, they're primed for a life beyond the design studio. Nothing is more satisfying as a designer and researcher than seeing your ideas come to life and be useful to others.
Brett holds a technical communications degree and a master's in interaction design, both from Carnegie Mellon University.
One area where I excel is in understanding people as the basis for design and then translating that understanding to a product or service experience. This usually means starting with observing, interviewing, or otherwise collaborating with stakeholders, including the end user. This understanding gives the rest of my team the confidence to know they're solving for the right problem and providing an appropriate set of solutions. I then bridge the gap from research to making by putting pencil to paper (or the digital equivalent), and showing how we might design for the people we've tried to understand.
For career balance, I try to work on a variety of projects across sectors, playing a slightly different role in each. I've been a design researcher exclusively, a digital designer, and a project manager, to name a few roles. In terms of work-life balance, I try to do the bulk of my work during the day, with some evening work as needed, and I protect my weekends. BCG has this great notion of "team norms"—for every case, BCG encourages you to work with your case team to define your own norms and those of your team, and to explicitly discuss these with your team to align on the best way of working.
Messy and collaborative. At MAYA Design, we have a mix of assigned and open seating, meeting rooms (some are circular with floor-to-ceiling whiteboards in a configuration we call a "kiva"), nooks for impromptu meetings, and project spaces for ongoing case-related work. I'll usually spend a mix of time throughout those spaces on any given day, depending on the type of work I'm doing and people I talk to. Sharpies and sticky notes are probably not far from wherever I am.
Coming from academia, I wasn't sure how to run a consulting project or how to interact with clients. Without consulting experience, it can be easy to get tripped up on simple things like client communication, formality expectations, or how often to show work and the level of fidelity. I learned much of this from watching my mentor (and others) do it, trying it myself, and asking questions.
For me, innovation is a spectrum between meeting a human need in a novel way within existing paradigms on the one side, and structural or systems-level change on the other. It's not necessarily technological. An example of meeting a need within an existing paradigm is a computer keyboard that lets you press buttons in a more intelligent or convenient way. On the other side, you have things like ride-sharing services that potentially lead to fewer people owning cars, which fundamentally alters an economy as well as daily lives. When I work on a project, I try to think of new ways of solving problems through design on both ends of this spectrum, knowing that we'll eventually find the best fit for the client.


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Welcome to Wildwood RV Resort
About Us
SPECIALIZING IN SEASONAL CAMPING. Flat Rate only $1800. Extra large spacious lots with full hook ups and Free WIFI. Picnic table & fire ring included! Come and go all season. Call (717) 734-3656 to check on available sites. 1st come 1st serve! Our seasonal campers have some beautiful landscaped lots. Many are coming back year after year. There is no winter staging charge.
RELATIONSHIPS created at the PARK can last forever, generation after generation of your family can have great memories to cherish.
You can't roast marshmallows & mountain pies in a hotel room! What makes Wildwood RV Resort so attractive to both seasonal and weekend campers? People talk about the Quiet and Peaceful atmosphere which comes from having more seasonal campers and less weekend traffic. We get a lot of comments on how clean and well maintained the resort really is. Wildwood RV Resort is nestled in the scenic Tuscarora Mountains in western Perry County, PA conveniently located only 15 miles north of the PA turnpike, 1 hr west of Harrisburg, 45 minutes south of Port Royal.
Try our COZY CABINS with full kitchen and bathrooms, heat & air condition including WIFI. Civilized camping away from home!Find out more
Memories will be created from your front row seat to nature as you enjoy squirrels, rabbits, deer and wild game or sing along as the birds gently whistle a pleasant good day. Our spacious oversized lots allow plenty of room for personal relaxation and enrichment, yet close enough to enjoy the fellowship of the camp family if you so desire.
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Thank you for the cabin. We had a good 3 days to relax and scrapbook and drink coffee. Hope to see you again.
We enjoyed our camping experience very much. The grounds are well maintained & the sites are spacious. We highly recommend your campground!
We greatly enjoyed our stay and are excited to come back and explore the campground and make more family memories.
We like your campground very much and wish to remain at site 49 next year!


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K2M Group Holdings has launched its IPO after pricing its 8.825 million shares at $15 per share. The stock began trading Thursday on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "KTWO." Piper Jaffray, Barclays Capital and Wells Fargo Securities are the lead underwriters. Based in Leesburg, Virginia, K2M Group Holdings is a provider of solutions for the treatment of complex spinal pathologies. Its backers include Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and Ferrer Freeman & Co.
LEESBURG, Va., May 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — K2M Group Holdings, Inc. (the "Company"), a global medical device company focused on designing, developing and commercializing innovative and proprietary complex spine technologies, techniques and minimally invasive procedures, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 8,825,000 shares of common stock at a price of $15.00 per share. In addition, the selling stockholders named in the registration statement have granted the underwriters a 30-day option from the date of the prospectus to purchase up to 1,323,750 additional shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts. The Company will not receive proceeds from any exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares from the selling stockholders.
The common stock is expected to begin trading on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on May 8, 2014 under the trading symbol "KTWO."
The Company expects to receive net proceeds from the offering of approximately $120.0 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to retire all indebtedness outstanding under the notes held by certain of its shareholders, to repay all of the outstanding borrowings under its asset-based revolving credit facility, to pay all accumulated and unpaid dividends on its Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock and its Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Piper Jaffray & Co., Barclays Capital Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. and Cowen and Company, LLC are acting as co-managers.
The offering of these securities will be made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from Piper Jaffray & Co., Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 800 Nicollet Mall, J12S03, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, via telephone at 800-747-3924 or email at email@example.com; Barclays Capital Inc., Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY, 11717, via telephone at 888-603-5847 or email at firstname.lastname@example.com; and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, 375 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10152, via telephone at 800-326-5897 or email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
The registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About K2M
K2M Group Holdings, Inc. is a global medical device company focused on designing, developing and commercializing innovative complex spine and minimally invasive spine technologies and techniques used by spine surgeons to treat some of the most difficult and challenging spinal pathologies. K2M has leveraged these core competencies to bring to market an increasing number of products for patients suffering from degenerative spinal conditions. These technologies and techniques, in combination with a robust product pipeline, enable the company to favorably compete in the global spinal surgery market.


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I Loved these sheets, they were the softest cotton.
Great props were located in lots of places.
I have been having a great time styling and photographing shoes.
These great characters were thrilled to pose for me.
I was driving by and stopped the car as soon as I set eyes on them!
I found these old roller skates in an op shop,
brings back childhood memories
I visited the Lost And Found Market,
a warehouse with individually dedicated stalls of recycled clothes, shoes, household items. I will feature a few shots over the next few days.
Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Email Address:


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Under the direction of the Department Director and/or Charge Nurse, provides direct and/or indirect, safe and effective professional nursing care. Assumes responsibility for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating health care needs of all patients assigned. Provides nursing care to a patient population ranging from infant to geriatric, unless otherwise indicated. Works collaboratively with the health care team, is customer focused and strives to meet unit and hospital goals. Provides quality nursing care according to established practice standards and guidelines for the area(s) assigned. Must be willing/able to float to other (comparable) nursing units, as requested/needed.
Other Qualifications:
Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant�s or employee�s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Tenet will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.


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The United Kingdom office of the PennWell Corporation organises the Avionics Europe conference on 21 and 22 March 2012 in Munich, Germany.
Avionics Europe is a conference led event, with an exhibition, that looks at the future technologies, issues and hot topics that will affect the commercial and defence aerospace electronics industry. For example, one of the current hot topics of SESAR (and Next-Gen in the US) affects the defence aerospace industry as much as the commercial and the defence technology engineers are one of the professions involved in planning solutions towards this.
In March 2011, the conference saw over 200 delegates attend the range of conference sessions and technical workshops, who all benefit from the learning opportunities and knowledge sharing offered by the event.
The exhibition provides companies the opportunity to display and demonstrate their latest technologies and innovations, of which should be of interest to the defence technology engineer. In March 2011, the event saw 64 companies exhibiting and the organisers anticipate around 75-80 companies in March 2012.
For more information see: http://www.avionics-event.com
The Avionics Europe conference call for papers is available for download below. Until 31 August 2011 this call is open for the industry to submit abstracts for consideration. A committee of industry experts will review these abstracts in September and formulate the conference programme.
Members of the EDTA associations will receive 20% discount off the standard conference delegate fees when registering for the conference early 2012.
News and activities >


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Democrat Chris Coons squares off against Republican Tea Party media phenom Christine ("I'm Not a Witch") O'Donnell in the Delaware Senate debate.
Delaware Senate Debate: 13.Oct.2010 – University of Delaware, Newark
Christine O'Donnell's victory in the Republican primary for the Delaware U.S. Senate seat over nine-term Representative Mike Castle really stirred the political pot. O'Donnell is a Tea Party candidate with the backing of former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Her victory has drawn broad attention to the tiny state of Delaware (2009 est pop. 885,122). In the past couple of weeks, national news programs have broadcast from this state, which lacks its own network affiliated station. Rachel Maddow televised her show live from the Deer Park Tavern, a local bar/former lodging noted for hosting Edgar Allen Poe on one evening long ago. The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi recorded a segment, "Divided Delaware", showing the cultural dichotomy between "Northern" and "Southern" voters within the state. University of Delaware college students are abuzz with all the attention Newark's main street and campus have gotten.
But, sometime in the summer, UD's Center for Political Communication and Director Ralph Begleiter had the foresight to arrange debates between the as-of-then undetermined U.S. Senate candidates at the University. Unfortunately, it hadn't planned for the huge spike in attention and only reserved the smaller Mitchell Hall instead of the larger Bob Carpenter Center. Now, seeing CNN's truck parked outside the auditorium for a live broadcast and having a "pre-game" with Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room, Delaware students are witnessing firsthand their place at the "epicenter of politics".
Republican candidate, Christine O'Donnell was relatively unknown and untested on the political battlefield. Pinpointing her education is troublesome and lest I make an error, I shall avoid that minefield. She is an evangelical Christian, pro-life and a Tea Party member as mentioned. She has some knocks against her for mistakes made filing her taxes, for paying rent on her home from campaign coffers and for reportedly having classified information claiming China has machinations to take over America. Her first campaign ad begins with her declaring "I'm not a witch" and was recently parodied on Saturday Night Live.
Democratic candidate, Chris Coons, has a more sturdy background and also a small bio available. He earned his law degree from Yale and has worked as New Castle County Executive in Delaware for six years. An article of his from 1985 entitled, "Chris Coons: The Making of a Bearded Marxist" has drawn contention from opponents though the title is exaggeration. In it, he highlights how his political attitudes changed after a study abroad experience at the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
Why Mike Castle did not pull a Lieberman (I-CT) and run for Senate as an independent? He certainly held strong support with voters and has achieved a good deal of political clout. But Castle humbly accepted his loss and avoided becoming a spectacle; after receiving the results, he said, "The voters in the Republican primary have spoken and I respect that decision."
Going into the debates, Coons holds a double-digit lead over O'Donnell in the polls. Though neither has serious experience on the campaign trail, Coons has held a public position. O'Donnell on the other hand has shied away from interviews, but is likely to set her position forth during this public debate. So, with its two relatively green candidates thrust into the national spotlight, Delaware will witness these two square off in their first debate moderated by Delaware First Media Vice President Nancy Karibjanian with CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer as co-moderator.
Debate Pregame:
Prior to the debate, Blitzer recorded his show from outside Smith Hall with Mitchell as his backdrop. In the background, both candidates' supporters stood waving banners, chanting and mocking the opponent, shouts of "bearded Marxist" were heard and groups of witches were abound, but those for Coons seemed to outnumber O'Donnell's with just a cursory glance. However gay rights supporters outnumbering all the rest, offering some support for Coons, but mostly taking stabs at O'Donnell's platform. The vocal chords of chant leader, prompting the exchange, "What do we want? Equality! When do we want it? Now!", were noticeably deteriorating.
Public tickets for the event were distributed within ten minutes and I wasn't one of the lucky recipients. So, I sat amongst students and overflow media watching it from a lecture hall.
Debate Highlights/Bullets:
Students laughed after the first time O'Donnell offered to post statistics on her website.
O'Donnell emphasized the fact that Harry Reid (D-NV), embroiled in a close Senate race of his own, called Coons his "pet". Coons then distanced himself from the term by retorting that he is "going to be the bull dog for Delaware".
Coons avoided answering whether or not teachers unions were too powerful. He also wanted illegal immigrants to "learn English" on the course to earn residency.
Blitzer brought O'Donnell's outrageous past remarks up a couple of times, asking her why she started off the ad with "I'm not a witch" and what knowledge did she have about China's plan to take over America.
Following a question from a student about abortion, Coons, surprisingly (or maybe not?), said he supports a woman's right to choose but is "personally opposed to abortion".
O'Donnell made a tenuous link for cap and trade policies to the profit of Coons's family business, Gore, makes some sort of membrane used to make fuel cells.
Debate Analysis:
Chris Coons seemed the stronger candidate because he offered concrete examples and readily stated his position. He was willing to negotiate with the Taliban to create a government in Afghanistan in a hypothetical scenario, unequivocally wanted to repeal "Don't ask, don't tell" and wanted "full disclosure of campaign contributions".
Christine O'Donnell came across somewhat knowledgeable though she often took mainstream Republican positions on military/security issues and about activist judges. She tried to proclaim her allegiance to "the voters of Delaware" as an outsider to politics but those partisan talking points made it difficult to see her as any different. Also, she avoided taking a stance, particularly avoiding stating a position on evolution and was unable to come up with "recent" Supreme Court decisions she opposed (though "recent" may have been a poor descriptive).
O'Donnell called Coons jealous for not having his own SNL clip, earning laughs from students around me. Also, likely playing off the "pet" nickname, O'Donnell suggested Coons would walk the same line as Obama and Reid and just use rubber-stamp spending bills. And though she tried to shake off the witch comments and move forward, O'Donnell brought Coons's Marxist article into public awareness.
However, Coons was frequently tactless in disparaging O'Donnell. He repeated the phrase "there's so much to respond to" or that he did not understand her stance going so far as to say "if you can reconcile all those comments, you're an even more talented reporter than I think you are Nancy". He also jabbed at O'Donnell and "was sorry" she didn't attend an earlier debate at a hospital. These impetuous outbursts made him seem too dismissive of an opponent who has raised quite a bit of money.
Following the debates, representatives from both campaigns answered questions from the press. O'Donnell's representative claimed the Supreme Court decision on Kelo v. City of New London (regarding about eminent domain) was something she opposed. Then two University of Delaware political science professors, Dr. Jason Mycoff (seen in The Daily Show segment) and Dr. David C. Wilson (with the Center for Political Communications) offered additional analysis. It turns out neither candidate earned a strong affirmative win. That means Delaware voters are left to their own devises in deciding who to elect Senator in the upcoming weeks.
Links/Other Media:
Coons's Bearded Marxist Article
UD Center for Political Communication


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Effect of Atrial Fibrillation on Atrial Thrombogenesis in Humans: Impact of Rate and Rhythm
Author + information
- Received August 16, 2012
- Revision received November 18, 2012
- Accepted November 20, 2012
- Published online February 26, 2013.
Author Information
- Han S. Lim, MBBS, PhD⁎,
- Scott R. Willoughby, PhD⁎,
- Carlee Schultz, BHlthSc(Hons)⁎,
- Cheryl Gan, BSc⁎,
- Muayad Alasady, MBChB⁎,
- Dennis H. Lau, MBBS, PhD⁎,
- Darryl P. Leong, MBBS, MPH, PhD⁎,
- Anthony G. Brooks, PhD⁎,
- Glenn D. Young, MBBS⁎,
- Peter M. Kistler, MBBS, PhD†,
- Jonathan M. Kalman, MBBS, PhD‡,
- Matthew I. Worthley, MBBS, PhD⁎ and
- Prashanthan Sanders, MBBS, PhD⁎,⁎ (prash.sanders{at}adelaide.edu.au)
- ↵⁎Reprints and correspondence:
Dr. Prashanthan Sanders, Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), Department of Cardiology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Objectives We sought to assess the effect of atrial fibrillation (AF) on atrial thrombogenesis in humans by determining the impact of rate and rhythm.
Background Although AF is known to increase the risk of thromboembolic stroke from the left atrium (LA), the exact mechanisms remain poorly understood.
Methods We studied 55 patients with AF who underwent catheter ablation while in sinus rhythm; 20 patients were induced into AF, 20 patients were atrial paced at 150 beats/min, and 15 were control patients. Blood samples were taken from the LA, right atrium, and femoral vein at baseline and at 15 min in all 3 groups. Platelet activation (P-selectin) was measured by flow cytometry. Thrombin generation (thrombin-antithrombin [TAT] complex), endothelial dysfunction (asymmetric dimethylarginine [ADMA]), and platelet-derived inflammation (soluble CD40 ligand [sCD40L]) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results Platelet activation increased significantly in both the AF (p < 0.001) and pacing (p < 0.05) groups, but decreased in control patients (p < 0.001). Thrombin generation increased specifically in the LA compared with the periphery in both the AF (p < 0.01) and pacing (p < 0.01) groups, but decreased in control patients (p < 0.001). With AF, ADMA (p < 0.01) and sCD40L (p < 0.001) levels increased significantly at all sites, but were unchanged with pacing (ADMA, p = 0.5; sCD40L, p = 0.8) or in control patients (ADMA, p = 0.6; sCD40L, p = 0.9).
Conclusions Rapid atrial rates and AF in humans both result in increased platelet activation and thrombin generation. Prothrombotic activation occurs to a greater extent in the human LA compared with systemic circulation. AF additionally induces endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. These findings suggest that although rapid atrial rates increase the thrombogenic risk, AF may further potentiate this risk.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) confers a 5-fold increased risk of stroke in the absence of valvular heart disease (1). Although epidemiological studies have linked various clinical and echocardiographic risk factors to stroke, the exact mechanism of increased risk of stroke in AF remains poorly understood. Although the heightened risk of stroke after cardioversion has been attributed to atrial mechanical dysfunction, it has been increasingly recognized that AF may in itself exhibit a prothrombotic state (2). There have been suggestions that atrial flutter, a more organized rhythm, may also be associated with an increased risk of stroke (3). However, the mechanisms by which rapid atrial rates and/or rhythm contribute to left atrial (LA) thrombogenesis have not been well studied.
Several studies have found baseline regional differences in platelet activation and hypercoagulability in the LA compared with systemic circulation in patients with valvular and nonvalvular AF (4,5), suggesting local contributing factors. Animal studies have demonstrated increased platelet activation and endothelial dysfunction with acute AF (6,7). However, the acute effect of AF on thrombogenesis in the human LA has never been studied before.
We hypothesized that acute-onset AF results in increased prothrombotic risk (by platelet activation, thrombin generation, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation) within the human atria. Furthermore, we aimed to distinguish whether this effect was rate or rhythm related.
Study population
The study comprised 55 patients with a history of AF and 15 patients with left-sided accessory pathways as a reference group who underwent catheter ablation. Consecutive patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF who were in sinus rhythm (SR) ≥48 h before the procedure (by continuous monitoring) were included. Exclusion criteria were history of valvular heart disease, left ventricular dysfunction, previous myocardial infarction, unstable angina, surgical or ablation procedure within the preceding 3 months, congenital heart disease, chronic inflammatory condition, chronic infection, chronic renal failure, chronic liver disease, and patients on antiplatelet agents.
All patients underwent baseline transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography within 2 days of the procedure (8). All antiarrhythmic medications were ceased 5 half-lives before the procedure. All patients underwent anticoagulation with warfarin to maintain their international normalized ratio between 2 and 3 for ≥6 weeks before the procedure. Warfarin was stopped 7 days before the procedure and substituted with enoxaparin at a dose of 1 mg/kg twice a day until ≥12 h before the procedure.
All patients provided written informed consent to the study protocol, which was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
Electrophysiology study and ablation
Electrophysiological study and ablation were performed with sedation using midazolam and fentanyl. The technique used for mapping and ablation of AF in our laboratory was previously described (9). In brief, the following catheters were utilized for the procedure: 1) 10 pole catheter (Daig Electrophysiology, Minnetonka, Minnesota) positioned within the coronary sinus; 2) 10-pole circumferential catheter (Lasso; Biosense-Webster, Diamond Bar, California) to map the pulmonary veins; and 3) a 3.5-mm-tip externally irrigated ablation catheter (Thermocool, Biosense-Webster) for ablation. All patients underwent circumferential ablation of the pulmonary veins with the endpoint of electrical isolation. Additional substrate modification using either linear ablation (roofline and/or mitral isthmus) and/or ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms was undertaken in patients with long episodes of AF (>48 h), evidence of structural heart disease, or with a large LA (largest dimension > 57 mm).
Study protocol
For the clinical procedure, a conventional single transeptal puncture was performed using an SLO sheath (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, Minnesota) and a BRK-1 needle (Daig Corporation). The ablation catheter was advanced through the same puncture into the LA. Following transeptal puncture, and 5 min after intravenous administration of unfractionated heparin (bolus of 100 IU/kg), blood samples were simultaneously collected from the peripheral femoral venous (FV) sheath (systemic sample), right atrial (RA) sheath, and LA sheath. Samples from the RA and LA were collected with care using a slow withdrawal technique, with the sheath positioned in the midchamber. Patients were then randomized either into the AF group, pacing group, or to serve as control patients.
Of the 55 patients with a history of AF who presented in SR, AF was induced by burst atrial pacing in 20 patients, commencing at a cycle length of 250 ms and ramping down to loss of 1:1 capture. This process was repeated up to 3 times from 3 sites, as required. Another 20 patients underwent atrial pacing at 150 beats/min. The rate of atrial pacing was limited to prevent induction of AF. To control for the effects of the transeptal puncture and procedure duration, 15 patients served as a control group, who neither underwent AF induction nor pacing. After 15 min of AF, atrial pacing, or in control patients, blood sampling was repeated from the LA, RA, and FV. No ablation was performed before the completion of the study protocol.
In addition to the control group of AF patients, to evaluate the effect of transeptal puncture on prothrombotic markers, 15 non-AF patients with left-sided accessory pathways who underwent an electrophysiological study and transeptal puncture during this period were also recruited as a reference group. Blood samples were obtained from the LA, RA, and FV following transeptal puncture at baseline. With the same exclusion criteria, consecutive patients with left-sided accessory pathways and no history of AF were evaluated.
Blood analysis
Whole Blood Flow Cytometry
Blood was collected utilizing a slow withdrawal technique, with the first 10 mL discarded, and immediately transferred into citrated tubes. Flow cytometry was performed within 24 h. The surface expression of the platelet activation receptor, CD62P (P-selectin) was determined by flow cytometry using the CD62P monoclonal antibody. All monoclonal antibodies were obtained from BD Biosciences (San Jose, California). Citrated whole blood was diluted 1:9 in tris-buffered saline (10-mM tris, 0.15-M sodium chloride) before 5-μl antibody per 500-μl tris-buffered blood was added (5). After incubation, the sample was fixed by adding 400 μl of CellFix solution (BD Biosciences). The presence of platelet expressing ligands was determined using flow cytometry (FACSCanto, Becton Dickinson, Oxford, United Kingdom). Forward (size-dependent) scatter and 90° sideways (density-dependent) scatter were set at logarithmic gain, and platelets were identified on the basis of size using a platelet immunoglobulin bead suspension. For each sample, platelets were further identified using the platelet-specific CD42b antibody. The control ligand (mouse IgG2a-monoclonal antibody fluorescein isothiocyanate isotype control) was used to detect a nonspecific association and to define the threshold for activation-dependent binding.
Data acquisition and analysis was performed with BD FACSDiva Software Version 4.1.2 (Becton Dickinson). The threshold for nonspecific binding (the percentage defined with the immunoglobulin-G–fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate) was set at 1%. The percentage of platelets expressing CD62P (P-selectin) monoclonal antibody was defined as the fraction exhibiting specific binding. The intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV), interassay CV, and lower limit of detection for platelet P-selectin were 5.8%, 6.1%, and 1.1% positive, respectively.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
The obtained blood samples were centrifuged at 2,500 g for 15 min at 4°C and stored at −80°C for batch analysis utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thrombin generation was assessed by measuring thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complex (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Marburg, Germany). Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by measuring asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) (Immunodiagnostik, Bensheim, Germany). Platelet-derived inflammation was assessed by measuring soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota), as per company instructions. The intra-assay CV, interassay CV, and lower limit of detection for each marker were: TAT, intra-assay CV 4% to 6%, interassay CV 6% to 9%, lower limit of detection 2.0 μg/L; ADMA, intra-assay CV 5.7 %, interassay CV 5.3 %, lower limit of detection 0.05 μmol/L; and sCD40L, intra-assay CV 4.5% to 5.4 %, interassay CV 6.0% to 6.4%, lower limit of detection 4.2 pg/ml. All assays were performed in duplicate or triplicate.
Statistical analysis
All data are expressed as mean ± SD or number (percentages) for continuous and categorical variables, respectively, unless otherwise stated. Continuous variables were compared using 1-way analysis of variance. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher's exact or Pearson's chi-square tests as appropriate. Data were tested for normality and log-transformed as appropriate. A constant of 1 was added to ADMA values before log-transformation. To compare changes in the outcome measures over time between the sites within each group, a linear mixed effects model was fitted to the data. In the model, time, sampling site, and the interaction between time and site were fitted as fixed effects, whereas individual patients were fitted as a random effect. This model takes the repeated measurements over time into account. Where the interaction was not significant, this was removed from the model so that the main effects of time and site could be interpreted. To compare between treatment groups, data were pooled across sites. A linear mixed effects model was fitted to the data. In the model, treatment group and time and the interaction between treatment group and time were fitted as fixed effects. Differences between sampling sites in the reference group were analyzed using repeated measures 1-way analysis of variance. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. All data were analyzed using PASW Statistics 18 (version 18.0.0, SPSS, Chicago, Illinois).
Patient characteristics
There were no significant differences among the AF, pacing, and control groups with regard to age, gender, comorbidities, medications, and echocardiographic parameters (Table 1). There was no difference in mean ventricular rate between the AF and pacing groups.
Platelet activation
Platelet P-selectin increased significantly with both AF induction (p < 0.001) and pacing (p = 0.02), taking into consideration all sites, as shown in Figures 1A and 1B. However, platelet P-selectin levels decreased in control patients over time (p < 0.001) (Fig. 1C). There was a significant difference between the sites measured (p = 0.04) in the pacing group.
Thrombin generation
Thrombin generation (TAT) increased significantly in the LA and RA compared with peripheral samples in both the AF group (p < 0.001, site and time interaction) and the pacing group (p = 0.002), as shown in Figures 2A and 2B. Similar to the peripheral levels in the AF and pacing groups, TAT levels in the control group decreased with time (p < 0.001), with no differences in sites (p = 0.6) (Fig. 2C).
Endothelial dysfunction
ADMA levels increased significantly over time with the onset of AF (p = 0.008) (Fig. 3A). There was no change in ADMA levels with atrial pacing (p = 0.5) (Fig, 3B) or in control patients (p = 0.6) (Fig. 3C). There was no significant difference in ADMA levels between sites in the AF group (p = 0.2).
Platelet-derived inflammation
Soluble CD40L levels increased significantly over time with acute AF (p < 0.001), but were unchanged with atrial pacing (p = 0.8) and in control patients (p = 0.9), as shown in Figures 4A to 4C. There was no significant difference between the sites measured in the AF group (p = 0.7).
AF versus pacing
We compared intracardiac levels (LA and RA) of thrombin generation and platelet activation among the AF, pacing, and control groups over time, given the difference between intracardiac and peripheral levels. For ADMA and sCD40L levels, comparison was made among the groups, taking into account all sites, given that no significant difference in sites were found.
Intracardiac platelet activation was significantly elevated in the AF and pacing groups compared with the control group (Fig. 5A). However, the difference between AF and pacing was not significant (p = 0.9). Intracardiac thrombin generation was significantly elevated in the AF and pacing groups compared with the control group (p < 0.01), but no significant difference was found between the AF and pacing groups (p = 0.4) (Fig. 5B). In contrast, endothelial dysfunction was significant in the AF group compared with the pacing group (p < 0.05) and the control group (p < 0.05) (Fig. 5C). In addition, inflammatory mediator sCD40L was raised in the AF group compared with the pacing group (p = 0.01) and the control group (p < 0.01) (Fig. 5D).
Effect of transeptal puncture on prothrombotic markers
To eliminate transeptal puncture as a possible cause of the increased atrial prothrombotic markers observed in AF patients, a cohort of patients who underwent ablation of a left-sided accessory pathway was studied (8 men, 7 women; mean age 38 ± 7 years). Blood samples were obtained from the LA, RA, and FV following transeptal puncture. There were no significant differences in the levels of platelet P-selectin (in mean ± SEM) (log P-selectin 1.22 ± 0.07 in FV vs. 1.09 ± 0.08 in RA vs. 1.18 ± 0.07 in LA, p = 0.2), TAT (log TAT 1.29 ± 0.08 in FV vs. 1.23 ± 0.06 in RA vs. 1.22 ± 0.06 in LA, p = 0.2), ADMA (log ADMA 0.13 ± 0.01 in FV vs. 0.13 ± 0.01 in RA vs. 0.13 ± 0.01 in LA, p = 0.5), and sCD40L (log sCD40L 2.20 ± 0.05 in FV vs. 2.20 ± 0.05 in RA vs. 2.19 ± 0.05 in LA, p = 1.0) before or after transeptal puncture or between sampling sites in these patients.
This study provides new information on the relative contribution of atrial rate and rhythm to thrombogenesis due to atrial arrhythmias. By performing sampling from the LA, RA, and the peripheral circulation, it demonstrates the following: 1) rapid atrial rates are associated with increased platelet activation and thrombin generation; 2) AF, although also demonstrating changes in platelet activation and thrombin generation, additionally leads to endothelial dysfunction and activation of the inflammatory cascade; and 3) interestingly, these factors occurred to a much greater extent in the human LA compared with peripheral circulation.
Left atrial platelet activation with AF and pacing
Patients with AF are recognized to exhibit a prothrombotic state and abnormal platelet activation. This has been documented peripherally in various subsets of patients with AF (10–12). Platelets play an essential role in thrombogenesis by interacting with the endothelium, inflammatory cells, and proteins from the coagulation cascade (5,13). Platelet expression of P-selectin is commonly used as a marker of platelet activation (5). Platelet P-selectin expression has been associated with spontaneous echo contrast, presence of LA thrombus or embolic events, and silent cerebral infarction in patients with AF (6,14).
Although several studies have shown increased platelet activation in patients with AF compared with control patients (11,15,16), other studies have shown that the difference could be attributed to patient comorbidities (17). These inconsistent results could partly be explained by sampling from a heterogeneous population of AF patients, sampling from peripheral versus central sites, and by measuring at different times during AF rather than at a predefined time (5,15). In this study, the effect of AF was compared with each patient's individual baseline state, and sampling was performed in the LA at a predefined time. We showed that AF per se and rapid atrial rates resulted in elevated platelet activation.
In addition, platelet expression of P-selectin has been suggested to be linked more with acute changes in platelet activation (18). Although studies measuring patients with AF at a baseline state have yielded varying results, studies examining patients with acute episodes of AF have consistently shown the involvement of platelets (15,16,19). Our present findings are consistent with other studies in that platelet activation is enhanced in the setting of acute AF, after 3 to 12 h from peripheral sampling (16,19), and after 15 min from coronary sinus sampling (15). Platelet activation may thus play a role in the initiation of various prothrombotic pathways in the acute or paroxysmal setting.
Left atrial thrombin generation with AF and pacing
Increased thrombin generation reflected by elevated TAT levels has been found in the LA in patients with mitral stenosis and AF (4). In chronic nonvalvular AF, increased peripheral levels of coagulation markers have been demonstrated (10,12). Abnormal expression of coagulation factors in the atrial endocardium has been demonstrated in an animal model of rapidly paced atria and in human patients presenting with AF and cardiogenic thromboembolism (20,21). Akar et al. (15) found increased thrombin generation and platelet activation with AF induction from samples taken from the coronary sinus. In this study, acutely elevated thrombin generation was observed specifically at the LA and RA with the onset of AF and rapid atrial rates, which was not seen in the peripheral circulation. This study demonstrates that with the onset of AF and rapid atrial rates, the LA is significantly more thrombogenic compared with the peripheral circulation, and may explain the propensity for LA thrombus formation and cardioembolic stroke seen in these patients.
Endothelial dysfunction with AF induction
LA thrombus formation in AF has traditionally been attributed to atrial mechanical dysfunction (8,22,23). However, it is now accepted that multiple mechanisms contribute to LA thrombus formation. Abnormal endothelial function (endothelial dysfunction) has been shown in patients with AF and is a component of Virchow's triad for thrombogenesis (2,24,25). ADMA is an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and is known to result in endothelial dysfunction in experimental human studies (26). Nitric oxide has potent antithrombotic properties on the endothelium and inhibits platelet and monocyte adhesion (27). There is also evidence that ADMA mediates endothelial dysfunction through oxidative stress (26). Clinically, ADMA is associated with numerous cardiovascular conditions and is a predictor of mortality in cardiovascular patients (28,29).
The present study found that induction of AF was associated with increased ADMA levels both peripherally and in the human atria. The finding that induction of AF upregulates ADMA is consistent with animal models, such as the porcine AF model by Goette et al. (28). In another animal study, Cai et al. (7) demonstrated decreased atrial nitric oxide levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in a rapid atrial pacing model of AF, which was not seen in the control group of atrial pacing at 100 beats/min. Minamino et al. (6) found decreased nitric oxide levels with associated increased P-selectin expression on platelets in a canine model of AF. These findings suggest that endothelial dysfunction induced by AF, mediated by ADMA and the nitric oxide pathway, with resultant loss of its antithrombotic properties, plays an important contributory role to thrombogenesis in patients with AF.
Inflammation with AF induction
Inflammation is being increasingly recognized to play a significant role in the genesis and perpetuation of AF (24,30). C-reactive protein elevation is found in a stepwise fashion in patients with increasing AF burden (31). Studies also show that high-sensitivity C-reactive protein decreases after successful ablation for long-standing persistent AF, suggesting that AF itself may cause an inflammatory response (32).
Soluble CD40 ligand is increased in a number of cardiovascular settings (33). It is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of atherothrombotic disease and predicts mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes (33,34). CD40 ligand on activated platelets plays a pivotal role in inflammatory responses by inducing endothelial secretion of chemokines and expression of adhesion molecules, thereby promoting leukocyte recruitment (35). The CD40/CD40 ligand system has been proposed to provide an important link between inflammation and thrombosis (34). This study showed that the onset of AF increased sCD40L levels, which was not seen with rapid atrial rates alone. This study newly demonstrates that induction of AF in humans evidently results in an increase in inflammatory signals. This provides further insight into the link between inflammation and thrombogenesis in patients with AF.
Clinical implications
This study demonstrates that AF or abnormal rhythm per se confers additional prothombotic effects in the LA beyond the patient's comorbidities. These findings point toward the benefit of maintaining SR and provide an explanation for the "on-treatment" analysis of the AFFIRM (Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management) study, which found the presence of SR associated with a lower risk of death (36). The present study also explains why increased AF burden and subclinical atrial tachyarrhythmias (from implantable devices) are associated with increased thromboembolic risk (37,38).
The finding that rapid atrial rates increase platelet and thrombotic markers in the LA provides mechanistic insight into thrombogenesis in atrial flutters, which may differ slightly from AF, but nevertheless confer increased risk of stroke (3,39,40). Furthermore, AF potentiates the thrombogenic risk over that of rate alone by activating other mechanisms, such as endothelial dysfunction and the inflammatory cascade. This highlights the importance of other therapeutic modalities that improve endothelial function and mediate the inflammatory response, and the management of concomitant cardiovascular risk factors associated with AF (30).
Study limitations
With access to the human LA, the study would have been ethically impossible without the administration of heparin. Heparin is known to possibly affect TAT levels by initially enhancing binding before causing irreversible inhibition of thrombin's activity (41). In our study, TAT levels at all sites in the control group and at peripheral sites in the AF and pacing groups decreased with time after the administration of heparin, which was consistent with previous studies (15). However, despite decreased TAT levels in control patients and in peripheral samples with heparin, atrial levels significantly increased with AF and atrial pacing.
The half-life of TAT is 15 min (42) and that of ADMA is approximately 23 min (43), close to the study sampling time. However, previous studies in humans have documented acute changes in levels of platelet P-selectin at 15 min (15), TAT at 15 min (15), and ADMA when measured at 15-min intervals (44).
Underlying patient comorbidities could have contributed to the prothrombotic state. However, the study measured the effects of AF and pacing compared with each patient's baseline state. Hence, these results indicated that the effects of AF and high atrial rates were in addition to a patient's underlying comorbidities.
Ventricular rate in both AF and pacing groups were faster than the control group and could have contributed to the increased effects. However, other studies have demonstrated that patients controlled for ventricular rate either in a paced setting or in paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia did not show any significant difference in prothrombotic markers (11,15,19,28). The degree of rapid atrial pacing was limited to 150 beats/min to prevent inadvertent induction of AF. It is possible that the further findings observed in the AF group were due to its higher atrial rates, although this could not be explicated in the study.
Rapid atrial rates and AF in humans both result in increased platelet activation and thrombin generation. Prothrombotic activation occurs to a greater extent in the human LA compared with systemic circulation. In addition, AF also induces endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. These findings suggest that although rapid atrial rates increase thrombogenic risk, AF may further potentiate this risk.
This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid from the National Heart Foundation of Australia. Drs. Lim and Alasady are supported by Postgraduate Research Scholarships from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) and Earl Bakken Electrophysiology Scholarships from the University of Adelaide. Dr. Willoughby is supported by a Career Development Fellowship from the NHMRC. Drs. Lau and Leong are supported by Postdoctoral Fellowships from the NHMRC. Drs. Brooks, Leong, and Sanders are supported by the National Heart Foundation of Australia. Dr. Kalman has received research support from Medtronic Inc. and St. Jude Medical; has received a travel grant from St. Jude Medical; and has received Speakers' honoraria from Biotronik and Biosense Webster. Dr. Sanders has served on the advisory board of Bard Electrophysiology, Biosense-Webster, Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, Sanofi-Aventis, and Merck; received lecture fees from Biosense-Webster, St. Jude Medical, and Merck; and received research funding from Biosense-Webster, Boston Scientific, Biotronik, Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, and Merck. Drs. Willoughby and Sanders contributed equally to this paper as senior authors.
Presented in oral abstract form at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010, Chicago, Illinois, and published in abstract form (Circulation 2010;122:A17597).
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- asymmetric dimethylarginine
- atrial fibrillation
- coefficient of variation
- femoral vein
- left atrium
- right atrium
- sCD40L
- soluble CD40 ligand
- sinus rhythm
- thrombin-antithrombin-complex
- Received August 16, 2012.
- Revision received November 18, 2012.
- Accepted November 20, 2012.
- American College of Cardiology Foundation
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Math of ESP series…
More on my YouTube channel folks.
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(Authentic) POWERFUL PEOPLE "Truly" Serve Others WELL!
Greetings !!!! Ambit Energy the Home business/ service that is giving people financial freedon as well as free energy every month, saving them alot more on their electric/gas bill
To check out the business: www.awesome1.whyambitworks.com
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Serving the NY. TX. ILL. MD. PA. & NJ. areas.....CT opening in April, and Mass. right after.
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It's been six months since I started breastfeeding and though it's been tough at times, it's something I'm so glad I persevered with. For Arthur and me the benefits far outweigh anything else. I've been weaning him for a couple of weeks now (something I'll talk more about in another post) and it's made me treasure our feeds even more, as I know there will come a day when he just won't need them anymore.
Something I'm happy to admit is that if the option to express milk wasn't there, I'm not sure I'd have coped with breastfeeding so well or even been able to do it for as long as I have. I seem prone to soreness. I don't know if it's Arthur's latch or just my sensitivity but if I go a few days in a row breastfeeding without doing a couple of bottle feeds (with expressed milk) I end up feeling quite uncomfortable!
The specially designed teat helps to promote babies' natural latching, sucking and swallowing actions, so they can continue switching between breast and bottle without any problems. It also has an air ventilation system, designed to reduce air intake and the chances of colic. Arthur's never had any confusion and although he definitely prefers milk from me, he'll happily take a bottle without any fuss.
Expressing Breast Milk
Over the past six months I've trialled a number of different breast pumps, including both manual and electric and I've found that each type has its pros and cons. For example, whilst electric pumps are quick and require virtually no effort to use, they can be particularly noisy (at least the one I have is anyway) and some are rather on the pricey side.
Manual breast pumps tend to be a lot cheaper but you do have to put a bit of elbow grease into using them effectively. A good, ergonomic design is therefore essential and that's exactly what the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump* offers. I have to say I was a little dubious going back to trying a manual pump after the ease of using an electric pump but thanks to the specially designed handle, pumping was an effortless and pain-free process. I hardly needed to squeeze to work the pump and I also loved that it didn't make a sound. It meant I could express without Arthur getting upset that a plastic bottle was stealing his precious milk!
This particular pump comes with adjustable 2 phase technology, so you can adjust the pumping rhythm and simulate how your baby feeds from you, much like my electric pump does too. By mimicking a baby's feeding rhythm through the initial 'let down' phase and expression phase, you'll find that you can really help to maximise your milk flow.
Other things that can really help you to boost the amount of breast milk you pump include:
1. Looking at / thinking about your baby
2. Using heat (more on this below!)
3. Gently smoothing and squeezing your breast while you pump
4. Pumping while you feed baby on the other breast (can be a little tricky though!)
I managed to get 5oz in just over 5 minutes and couldn't quite believe it! I'm so impressed with the speed and ease of use of this manual pump. It's a great alternative if you don't want to splash out on an electric pump. I've personally found it works just as well as mine!
Storing Breast Milk
Once you've expressed your milk you can either use it straight away or store it for later. If you're storing milk in your fridge or freezer, I definitely recommend using milk bags, as they take up way less space than bottles. Lansinoh's milk storage bags* are a great size and have a label that you can fill in with your name (if you're storing milk at work) and date, so you know how long to keep it for. Breast milk can be stored in the fridge for up to five days and the freezer for six months (see the NHS website for more info).
Make sure you use the double seal to secure the bags and place them away from anything potentially sharp in your fridge or freezer. I once got a hole in a milk storage bag from another brand - needless to say I didn't enjoy spending an hour cleaning out my fridge that morning!
Banishing Boob Pain
The final thing I wanted to touch on in this rather long breastfeeding post is relieving boob pain. Mastitis and plugged ducts are quite common when you're breastfeeding but for me, the best remedy is heat. Taking a nice hot bath is preferable but from personal experience, I know when you've got a new baby, you're lucky to get a wash, nevermind a bath! So instead I recommend using something you can heat up in the microwave and pop over your affected boob. Up until recently I was using my microwave Beddy Bear but now I'm using the Lansinoh Thera°Pearl® 3-in-1 Breast Therapy packs* and I only wish I knew about them sooner!
To use the packs, you simply slip them inside the covers and pop each one in the microwave to heat up. You can then either put them in your bra (just check the temperature first) or pop one round your breast pump (securing it with the popper). The heat will not only help to relieve pain but also stimulate milk flow, allowing you to get rid of any uncomfortable blockages.
The great thing about the Lansinoh Breast Therapy pack is that they can also be frozen and used as a cold compress to help with swelling and engorgement. I'm yet to try this myself as the thought of an ice pack on my body currently sends shivers down my spine but if you're braver than me, the option is there! It goes without saying that if you are experiencing a lot of pain from breastfeeding or believe you may have Mastitis it's worth contacting your GP / breastfeeding support worker for advice.
So there we have it! A rather long post about breastfeeding but hopefully it'll be useful for any new mamas or mamas to be out there. A big thank you to Lansinoh for sending over these products for me to try out - I'm seriously impressed!
Have you got any tips you want to share or any concerns about breastfeeding? Let's talk! Feel free to leave a comment below, tweet me @meganjane03 or even drop me an email.
*PR Sample
*PR Sample


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Among all the rap artists that offer their music for free Revolutionary Rhythm from Los Angeles might be one of the names ranking at the top of that list. The successor to their incredible "The Art Gallery" was released a few days ago and goes by the name of "Raw Rhythm Vol. 1".
The group consists of DJ Million Faces and emcees Kid Million and Predominance. Their sound is the product of a nice blend of what everybody brings to the table. The mix of school beatmaking and the complementary flows of the two rappers creates a dope style of positive hip hop. From the great opener "Soul Motion" to slow tracks like "Day In The Life" or uptempo tunes like "Rock The Beat" you can find it all on this record - and you will always find it in a fresh sounding and uplifting fashion.
Get the full stream and free (as in "name your price") download on Bandcamp.


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FORMER touring professional Paul Donahoo has been appointed golf operations manager at Brookwater Golf and Country Club.
The 37-year-old started in his new role last month after spending seven years as assistant manager at Victoria Park Golf Club in Brisbane.
Donahoo is extremely familiar with Brookwater Golf and Country Club after spending a number of years at the Brookwater-based Queensland Academy of Sport.
During his playing days, Donahoo played the Australian and Asian circuit winning the Cairns Classic and the Pat O'Driscoll Real Estate/Tropical Auto Group Golf Classic at Capricorn Resort in Yeppoon.
Donahoo told Inside Golf he had developed a passion for business development.
"In my role, I want to re-establish Brookwater as the number one course in Queensland and within the top-15 in Australia for membership services, corporate days and tour groups.
Brookwater, which is located at Springfield 30 minutes from Brisbane's CBD and 45 minutes from the Gold Coast, is a Greg Norman-designed layout.
It remains one of the Shark's favourite courses in Australia.


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Massage Therapy – Longmont, CO
Service Area
We serve all of Boulder County and surrounding areas including Longmont, Boulder, Niwot, Frederick, Firestone, Lafayette, and Louisville. Michael has over 18 years massage therapy treatment experience serving the Longmont community and our clients experience a higher state of health, function, performance, and well-being.
Why Massage Therapy is A Part of your Healthy Routine
Massage is not a luxury, it is a necessity for healthy function of the body and mind. It is now believed that 80-90% of disease is stress induced so it is important to find a way to release this tension. The benefits are not only soothing, but beneficial to your long-term health and wellness. Neuromuscular Massage Therapy is a very specific comprehensive form of soft tissue therapy that releases trigger points in the muscles thus increasing strength and range of motion within the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, therapeutic deep tissue massage soothes the nervous system easing depression, insomnia and anxiety. Receiving Neuromuscular Massage and Craniosacral Therapy on a regular basis supports everyday wellness, and facilitates healing throughout the body. Our clients desire and experience a higher state of health, function, performance and well-being: athletes, weekend warriors, or chronic pain sufferers and those seeking their highest health potential.


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Larry Ridley has landed a job as sports director at WESH in Orlando.
Ridley is moving to Orlando from Boston, where he worked as a sports anchor and reporter for NBC-affiliate WHDH. Ridley left WHDH last month after the station decided not to renew his contract.
"I'm looking forward to it," Ridley said this week about his new job. "I'm definitely looking forward to the warmer temperatures."
Final details of the agreement are still being worked out but he will likely appear during WESH's weeknight newscasts. A father of four, Ridley is happy that his new job will allow him to spend weekends with his kids.


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Custom Sneeze Guards: What They are and Why You need Them
Serve Up Food In Style with Custom Sneeze Guards:
Your eyes light up when you walk into your favorite deli. The rows of ingredients lined across the aisle look so inviting. The only thing between you and your food is the clear see-through glass, that lets you look but doesn't let you touch.
These clear glass panels not only give you a peek into what's cooking but also keep your food safe from getting contaminated. They keep off air-borne bacteria and other pathogens that can contaminate your food. FDA has made sneeze guards mandatory in restaurants where food is on display
You must have seen sneeze guards at fast food chains like Burger King, Taco Bell, Subways and also at the ice cream parlor… if you've noticed they're not all the same size. The type of sneeze guard required would depend on the size of the restaurant, the kind of food served, and the space available.
If you're planning to get one for your restaurant, a custom restaurant sneeze guard is the perfect solution. Let's find out why:
- Since they are made to order, you get exactly what you want. This leaves no room for rework or corrections, saving you a considerable amount of time, energy and money.
- The sneeze guards available in the market are usually priced on the higher side. Custom sneeze guards not only offer flexibility in terms of designs but are also lighter on the pocket.
- Customized restaurant sneeze guards come with the option of choosing the kind of light fixtures you need. This helps your food look even more appealing.
- Sneeze guards glasses now come in a variety of choices. You can order an aluminum frame to hold a tempered, insulated or laminated glass for your custom sneeze guard. You can now also order sneeze guard glasses with custom thickness and curvature.
- A custom sneeze guard prevents vapor condensation and water accumulation on the inside of the glass panel, thereby keeping the food from spoiling.
There are many variations that you could choose from. We've listed a few choices here:
Portable Food screen: This design is ideal if you're planning to set up a mobile shop for the flea market.
Sneeze guard with display shelf: This one's perfect for cafes where there are food items on display.
Counter sneeze guards: If you're serving a buffet or have a salad bar that you want to display you could secure them with counter sneeze guards. It's got an extruded support system that makes it easy to fix on any surface.
Individual food covers: These are extremely popular for counter displays because they can be placed alongside each other, saving a lot of valuable space. These are ideal for small cafes with space constraints.
Serving your customers delicious and healthy food should be your top priority so that they keep coming back for more. And the best way to do that is to protect your display dishes with a custom sneeze guard.
Certified experts for installation of glass sneeze guards for your restaurant or cafe are a must. The technicians at Michael's Glass Company have been fabricating and installing glass and glass related products in Philadelphia and the tri-state area for over 30 years.
Give us a call at (215) 338-3293 for pricing information or contact us here. You could also drop in at 4625 Knorr St, Philadelphia, PA 19135… we open at 8 AM Monday through Saturday.


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Please fill out the details below to Enquire
This is a unique hotel in Dubai, due to the design of the interior and the excellent food and beverage facilities on offer for such a small hotel. The hotel has been a popular choice for guests to Dubai for many years and presents itself as one of the best 4 star hotels in the city. It is suitable for both families and tourists looking to explore the city. Beach transfers are available from the hotel upon request, subject to availability. AH 09/09 Located in the Bur Dubai district of Dubai, the hotel is centrally located for visiting the local attractions and for the number of bars in the vicinity. The airport is approximately 10 km away from the hotel, with the nearest public beach in Jumeirah being less than 15 km away. All the rooms are medium in size and well appointed, with each room having a small sitting area with a walk in closet. Although the rooms are suitable for corporate guests, the rooms are decorated to a high standard, with a more personal touch than can be found in many other chain hotels. This mid rise building is nearly 30 years old and has undergone a recent facelift. The hotel is famous for its food and beverage outlets, including Waxy O'Connors, one of the most popular bars in the city with Anglophiles. There are also Japanese, Russian and Irish restaurants in the hotel. On entering the lobby, one feels like one has entered a small, traditional hotel in the middle of England, with the only giveaway being the bright sunlight outside. There are numerous couches in the lobby, where guests may be served refreshments, and the area is enliveded by pictures of England in a bygone era.


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Three Associates will represent Visitation East at this Assembly and bring back information for the Maritime Associates. Bernadette Fegan (Halifax Associate) will join the Co-Coordinators in visiting Associate Groups this Fall to share the ideas that the speaker, Sr Nancy Sylvester (Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) provided at the Assembly on the topic of Contemplation and Contemplative Prayer.
For more info on Sr Nancy Sylvester's work, please visit her website at www.iccdinstitute.org/home/nancy-sylvester-ihm/.
47th Atlantic Seminar in Theological Education
June 14-19, 2015 at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus, Truro, NS
Guest Speakers are Diarmuid O'Murchu and Nancy Steeves
For info on this Seminar and Registration Form, please visit the Atlantic Seminar Theological Education site at www.astes.ca
Drawing from within the Franciscan tradition we will explore meditation as a transitional form of prayer (as do all faithful spiritual theologians) that draws us ever more deeply into relationship with God. With God's grace, we eventually transition out of this mode of prayer, into a more simple prayer, and then to what is known as infused "contemplation" to refer to either acquired/natural contemplation or affective meditation...