text:
(State College) -- Penn State's Board of Trustees could welcome new members and vote on new rules when the school officials convene this week for meetings.
Trustees will gather in committees starting Thursday before assembling as a full board Friday.
They're likely to discuss proposed revisions to university governance rules, including making the state's governor and the university president non-voting members.
Voting also closes Thursday in the election for three board seats held by alumni.
That election has received scrutiny from factions of vocal alumni and former football players unhappy with how trustees handled the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, including the firing of the late coach Joe Paterno and the NCAA sanctions.
Alumni election voting results are scheduled to be announced Friday.
As a note of disclosure: WITF President and CEO Kathleen Pavelko is a candidate for the board.
Published in News
Tagged under Board of Trustees, board of trustees, Jerry Sandusky, jerry sandusky, Joe Paterno, joe paterno, penn state, Pennsylvania State University, PSU, psuback to top
Support for WITF is provided by:
Support for WITF is provided by:


text:
15 Mar 2017
Jobs at SIRIM QAS International
Job Description
SIRIM QAS International under SIRIM Berhad, the corporate agency responsible for quality assurance in Malaysia is currently seeking qualified candidates to fill the following positions:
Senior Executive
You will be placed within the International Business Section of the Product Certification and Inspection Department. This job requires you to be responsible in the areas of product certification, inspection and testing and other related tasks. To qualify for this job, you should possess:
- a degree in engineering or science or in a related discipline from a recognized institute of higher learning
- at least 6 years of working experience in related areas
- willing to relocate to Manama, Bahrain as and when required
- Computer literate and good communication skills
Executive – Marketing and Branding Section
This job requires you to be involved in the corporate marketing and branding for the organization. This job requires you to have:
- at least a degree in Graphic Design, Creative Multimedia, Digital Media, Web Design or in related isoclines
- at least 1 year working experience in related areas
- well versed with applications like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, HTML, CSS, WordPress, Joomla and other multimedia software
How to apply?
To apply for the positions above, submit your applications online or send them to:
Block 8, Level 2, SIRIM Complex,
1, Persiaran Dato' Menteri, Section 2, PO BOX 7035,
40700 Shah Alam, Selangor
- Posted by: Reena
- Company: SIRIM QAS International
- Location: Anywhere
- City: Selangor
- Job type: Government
- Salary: not mentioned
- Job category: Engineering, manufacturing & production
- Tags: No Tags
- Job expires in: Endless

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I am pretty sure my life style and haven't changed. I am getting more headaches than usual. I rarely get headaches. And, I am feeling depressed so much of the time. I haven't had the pleasure of the 'lift' from Suboxone the last few days, either.
I know I come here and talk about similar things, like how I feel (or don't feel) on the Suboxone.
Also, and this one is a serious one - I am getting cravings a lot. I'd say easy every day for the past couple of weeks. I'm not saying I am craving all day, every day, but, something has changed-and that's what I am looking at. WHY are things different. I've talked to some people, from here and not on the site here, and the conversation seems to roll around to spiking my dose up. I'm at 18mg. I have heard from others where they have found it necessary or helpful when they've spiked up their doses. Some of gone up a lot, some just added another 2mg., or even less.
I feel like I am fighting each day to stay 'happy', but every day I am feeling depression. What I was enjoying so much for the first few months on Suboxone was how I felt less depressed. It was like my a/d' (citalopram 20mg) was working with the Suboxone.
I am so totally confused. I want to cry, if I could, and I can't and that doesn't help at all!
help? ;-(
Why are my emotions all over the place, lately?
- Asked
- 22 Feb 2012 by lady from T.O.
- Updated
- 27 February 2012
- Topics
- headache
I am pretty sure my life style and haven't changed. I am getting more headaches than usual. I rarely get headaches. And, I am feeling depressed so much of the time. I haven't had the pleasure of the 'lift' from Suboxone the last few days, either.
Responses (6)
I really can't say a whole lot about Suboxone but I am on Methadone and I feel the same way sometimes. I'd like to tell you there is a magic pill or something to make you feel better but I can't. All I can recommend is try to change your attitude on certain things. It doesn't matter what. Just anything at all. Thats what I do and sometimes it helps. Good luck.
I felt exactly the same during my taper of subutex. Try to keep yourself occupied. I got so emmotional, and had to push myself to do anything. Just take it hour by hour. You will get through this, I took ibufen for the headaches. good luck.
Hey lady from T.O. I'd be depressed also if I was living in Toronto. Just kidding. Ha! :-0) I really can't offer you an answer. Nature of the beast? You did go through a fairly good period. I remember, you posted several weeks ago and you mentioned you were doing well. Try and get out, do something. Go to the islands if you can. Spend some time at Honest Ed's. Spend some money. I just remembered you mentioned that you were begiining to see a Psychiatrist. Is that helping at all? Or just a blah visit, give me the Citalopram, talk to you. Take care now, bye bye then,pledge
thanks for dropping in, my peeps!
I am doing all of the above, actually. I have also been somewhat agitated and anxious the past several mornings.
As I said I have 'looked over' if I have added, taken away anything to my daily schedule. I'm not just talking about medications; I'm including my daily schedule. It's the same, if anything I am doing a bit more lately. As you know I spend time with my aunt at the retirement/assisted living building she now lives. I always take the stairs to her place on the 3rd floor. What I have been doing the past week or so is going up the stairs to the 5th floor on my tip toes, to add a bit more work to my legs and bottom. That's a good thing.
By the time I get to the 5th floor my legs are wobbly, though, yesterday I did it twice, anyway. I believe in pushing myself, especially when it comes to any time of exercise.
I have to re-read the side effects of Suboxone, again. Maybe 18mg. is too much? Maybe I need more for a while-I have no idea. I'm not keen on having to go up, even if it is for a short period of time. After all, I'll find myself back on 18mg. at some point, won't I?
I really do not like feeling like each day is a bloody chore! Yes, I know; change my perception and all. What happened to all those good days where I looked forward to waking up each day and was ready and eager for whatever the day had in store for me.
I hope this is just a passing thing. I really can't imagine having to live like this, not again.
It's almost noon on Thursday, I've taken 8mg. of my 18mg. dose. I am listening to my body very closely. Do I feel better after taking it-and I took it over an hour ago. Well, barely.
I just need to come here and vent. Thanks to all of you for not getting sick and tired of my similar complaints!
Sometimes, just laying it down in words, here, does help- a bit!
Hey Ranee, just print all this out & talk to your doc about it. They are the best to find out if you need to lower or up your dose afterall. You have to be honest about tne cravings, the agitation, depression & all of it. They will know what is best. Maybe they eill add an antidepression drug or some of that order to make you feel happy again. I hate seeing you so miserable... Mary
I am on an a/d. I take 20mg of Citalopram. It might be time to go up on my dose. I will talk with my family doctor about this.
MOST of my emotional issues are stemming from the fact I have NOT got that energy boost from my Sub lately. It's as simple as that. I hope this is temporary and I will get it back. Really, though I hate to admit it, it is the biggest thing which has been keeping me going.
I've been doing some soul searching lately, and I am telling myself I have to NOT feel sad without that energy boost, or that I will get through without it.
Oh yes, Ranee, you do need to kick your own butt once in awhile! That being said, I want to watch you try to do that! hehe I need a vacation anyway & look at the fun we could have shopping together.Not so funny tho' if you are you right now, I know, but that is going to be the end result is it not? Eventually you will have to deal with life on a daily basis without the subs. One day at a time, is all any of us can do, girl. Take it one day at a time. I think maybe you need an increase of your a/d too! Obviously you are feeling pretty low lately. That's the first sign if you will remember when you first started taking it. I wish you the best & hope you feel better soon, but you know where we are, right? Mary
This might be a shot in the dark, but have you have your thyroid checked lately? That could answer all your questions. It might not have a thing to do with the meds you take, but that your thyroid has given out, which is quite common in women. You get depressed, tired, constipated, etc. If you look up the symptoms of underactive thyroid, you might find that you 'fit' that profile. In that case, I would ask your doc for a T-3, T-4, and a TSH. Don't let them get away with just one of the tests, because especially with a new diagnosis, they need to see the entire picture.
If you already take thyroid supplements, you might need to up your dose. Mine needs checked every three months!! It keeps going up and down on the dosage and I am NEVER stabilized. Sometimes it takes a change of medicine to a different brand also.
Good luck!
Good idea my friend! Glad to see you posting more, ahem... Mary
I never thought of that. I am due to have some blood work done, anyway.
I'll look into that and let you know.
Thanks for the heads up!
Mary, ;-))
Ranee, good luck!!
Yes, a very good idea, & make sure they do a whole panel not just a T4 which is the usual as Ellen mentioned... mary
Ellen, hehe :o)
You know I was also wondering if they might have changed the brand of Suboxone that you are on? I agree that it is a really good idea to get your thyroid checked also. I know that can make you feel like you can't put one foot in front of the other. I was wondering too how long you've been on the a/d? Sometimes the dose needs to be upped on that after a while. I know I'm not telling you anything new. Just agreeing with some of the things others have already said. Just wanted to add my 2 cents for what it's worth and let you know I care. Good luck and I hope you find some answers soon.
Big hugs and much love -Terri-
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar Questions
Vistaril - Can this drug make you feel lost and not in control of your emotions? I am on it, and I?
Updated 18 Dec 2009 • 2 answers
Is anyone dealing with a spouse that is detoxing?? Please help me to understand the emotions?
Updated 6 Dec 2010 • 1 answer
Does anyone out there have no emotions while taking prozac?
Updated 11 Aug 2013 • 5 answers
Friends, can water changes from 1 place to other place cause constipation?
Updated 2 Mar 2015 • 1 answer
Do anti-seizure meds cause lack of emotions?
Updated 22 Mar 2018 • 1 answer


text:
by Drew Martin
There is an interesting "Techwise Conversation" on IEEE Spectrum, Is Micropublishing the Death of Publishing – or Its Salvation? It is conducted by Steven Cherry with Thad McIlroy, James Morrison, and Philip Parker. McIlroy is an analyst and consultant for the electronic publishing industry. Morrison is a writer/editor/designer, and the brilliant Australian behind The Caustic Cover Critic blog. Parker is a professor of marketing at INSEAD, and author of hundreds of thousands of titles by way of his patent (7266727), which supports his invention for,
"Automatic authoring, marketing, and/or distributing of title material. A computer automatically authors the material."
"Automatic authoring, marketing, and/or distributing of title material. A computer automatically authors the material."
At first (the first few times I listened to his part of the interview) I could not wrap my head around what he was talking about. It seemed so post-human. Parker creates algorithms that create books from cover to cover in a matter of minutes, including a table of contents and supporting charts for the relevant information. The algorithms mimic the process of how an economist would gather and compile data. Cherry questions Parker whether his books with titles such as Webster's Slovak-English Dictionary and 2007-2012 World Outlook for Wood Toilet Seats (which sounds totally absurd) are typical. Parker replies,
The most interesting part of the interview was Parker's insight on genre,
"Yeah. The basic idea, this is kind of the thought process of automation, is that you don't create a software to write books or videos or PC games. We do all formats, by the way; it's not just books. But you do it by genre, so you have to say, well, fiction versus nonfiction, and you could say, well, let's do nonfiction. And then within nonfiction, well, there's different types. There's genres, there's bibliography, there's biographies, there's crossword puzzles, there's dictionaries. And then what you have to do is you say, no, that's not really true. There's no such thing as a bibliography; there's an annotated bibliography. And then you say, no, there's not really an annotated bibliography; there's a sub-subgenre called Cambridge-formatted annotated bibliography, etc., etc.
And as you drill down within a genre and you can no longer find a subgenre, typically at that level you'll discover that authors, the people who do them manually, actually follow very formulaic patterns. And that's true for poetry and other types of writing styles as well. And so that's what I meant by "genre," is that you drill down to the point at which there's a formulaic approach to authoring in that domain."
This leads to a conversation about poetry, with Parker commenting,
Shakespeare wrote a sonnet, No. 76, which was a type of metapoem, where he kind of complained a little bit that he was stuck using the same formula in writing his own poems. So it's a metapoem because it's about himself and the poem itself. We took that concept and created algorithms of a computer program writing sonnets, stating it cannot write a sonnet properly, but doing so, it writes a sonnet properly. So it follows the iambic pentameter formulation, has the exact correct number of lines. It's highly constrained writing once you get down to that level."


text:
Challengers to a $283 million cost increase request by SCE&G said Wednesday the utility provider rushed into the $10 billion construction of two new reactors for its Jenkinsville plant amid ample cautionary signs to slow down or stop altogether.
SCE&G, the state's largest utility, rejected those claims, declaring that nuclear energy production remains the long-term, most cost effective technology available to fulfill the state's existing and future energy needs, especially given the utility's recent coal plant phase-out and what SCANA chief Kevin Marsh said is the likelihood the price of natural gas won't remain so low.
In a two-day hearing before the South Carolina Public Service Commission, all sides in the battle over nuclear energy and power rate increases had their say, including the public.
Now, the eight-member commission will review whether the cost increases the utility seeks are prudent and should be paid by ratepayers, making a decision probably by early November.
Digital Access for only $0.99
For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today.
"Those are costs that are within the original budget presented to the commission," Marsh said. "We're $550 million below that ($6.3 billion). These costs we believe are necessary and prudent in order for us to operate this plant effectively and in a safe manner."
The Supreme Court, in answer to a complaint by ratepayers, directed SCE&G to go back to the commission for any "contingency" spending the project requires, after denying the company an automatic $400 million contingency accessible without commission consent. Low financing rates for the project have SCE&G's financial portion of the project at $5.8 billion now, instead of the $6.3 billion original cost, Marsh said.
Led by the Sierra Club conservation group and large-scale industrial energy users in South Carolina, the challengers told the Public Service Commission that SCE&G ignored red flags ranging from design issues with their chosen reactor model to failure to do thorough cost analyses of the combination of alternative energy sources such as abundant and inexpensive natural gas that could have served the same purpose as a nuclear plant.
The result of ignoring those warnings and red flags has led to the new funding requests the conservationists call cost overruns.
"They have not done their jobs as prudent managers, and the commission must get them to do their jobs as prudent managers – and right now, because if they spend another billion dollars, and you'll never be able to change it," said Mark Cooper, a nationally known utility and rate analyst. "This is the last chance."
Cooper, who testified as an expert witness for the conservationists, said, "Guaranteed cost recovery is nirvana for utilities." As a result, SCE&G officials signed on for project responsibilities without knowing the costs involved, then, out of deference to SCANA shareholders, moved quickly to transfer their risk to ratepayers, Cooper said.
"From my point of view the Baseload Review Act is being interpreted to shift all these risks," Cooper said. "We got their attention. We clearly got their attention, but that's not enough. They gotta do it right."
According to Cooper, the conservationists' claims represent a fundamental question: In a capitalist economy, a person who has made a decision about a big investment gets up every morning and asks, 'Does this still make sense?' Cooper said.
"Because if things have changed and it doesn't make sense, they're not going to be able to recover their costs in a competitive market. And that's the standard we use for utilities. We haven't changed that standard."
The Baseload Review Act "carved out a safe harbor" for SCE&G to come back to the commission and ask for advance cost recovery, Cooper said, "but it didn't change the underlying standard."
The utility first asked the commission for additional funds – a $174 million cost increase – for the project in 2010.
"In 2010, they should have come in and said, "This doesn't make any sense anymore," Cooper said.
But Marsh said the two new reactors and their costs still make great sense for power production and for ratepayers.
"You see two groups of people here today," Marsh said. "Some people are just opposed in general to nuclear power and they would like for the commission to cancel the project because they don't think nuclear is the way to go.
"There are other people that believe that the nuclear plant should be canceled and we should go with natural gas supplemented by wind and solar energy."
Marsh, who also has been in the nuclear business for more than 30 years, said his company considered all those options when it brought the nuclear plant proposal to the commission back in 2008.
"The foundation for the nuclear plant is that we need power that is available 60 percent to 70 percent of the time – what we call baseload generation, available 24 hours a day whenever you need it." Neither the sun nor wind is available in South Carolina all the time, Marsh said, and wind is four times costlier than nuclear and solar is eight times costlier, he said.
While natural gas prices are low today, it is a carbon emitter Marsh said, and prices can fluctuate greatly. Nuclear plants have a 60-year life expectancy.
Cooper told the commission that even with the $2.4 billion SCE&G has put into the project already, which, if prudent, the Baseload Review Act considers to be recoverable from ratepayers, proper analysis indicates the proper thing to do is stop the twin-reactor project and find less expensive energy alternatives, Cooper said.


text:
Children of Thunder or War in the Ivory Kingdoms.
Yoritomo Kazuya
A cheerful ronin who followed his Lord to the Mantis Clan, and now serves him from the shadows
Rank 7
Ronin (1)
Kitsune Ranger (5)
Sniper (1)
Sta: 4
Wil: 5 Earth: 4
Str: 3
Per: 3 Water: 3
Ref: 4
Awa: 4 Air: 4
Agi: 4
Int: 3 Fire: 3
Void: 4
Honour: 6.3
Status: 4 (House Guard)
Glory: 6.6
Way of the Land: Ivory Kingdoms (Singh, Cheiron, Rajput, Rumas) (2)
Language: Ivindi (1)
Wary (3)
Child of Chikushudo: Eyes of the Owl / Panther's Moves (7) (Unsettling Visage)
Luck (2 ranks)
Friend of the Elements: Earth
Crystal-Edge Katana
Blessed Ivory-tipped split-sword
Blessed Ivory short-sword
Given opportunity to swear fealty to the Yoritomo – no longer ronin
Black Sheep
Sworn Enemy
Dark Secret
Ronin Rank 1: Gain +2k0 to Stealth Rolls
Ranger Rank 1: +1k0 to all rolls when tracking or folowing a trail, +2k0 if within woodland, jungle or similar environment. When in woodlands etc, may roll Lore: Bushcraft at TN10 to locate edible material for one adult human per day. Raises may be made for additional people, up to School Rank + 1
Ranger Rank 2: +1k0 to attack and damage rolls. +1k0 additional in woodland/jungle. If in woodland/jungle and enemy are unaware, add 1/2 Hunting or Hunting -3 to damage rolls.
Ranger 3: While outdoors, re-roll Per rolls to notice ambushes / potential danger. Gain 1k0 bonus to such rolls for allies as well. If successful, gain an additional round to perform actions and +5 Initiative.
Ranger Rank 4: Swords + Spears – SAA. Woodlands/Jungle = ranged attacks with Knives/Spears/Han-Kyu – SAA
Ranger Rank 5: Spend void point – either double armour TN + 1 simple action OR disengage from combat – Water Ring x10 free move, stealth TN 20 to vanish. 1k1 to opposed detection rolls, 3k1 in woodlands.
Sniper 1: Attack with Yumi as simple action, may ignore target's natural reduction and 1/2 magical reduction
1,2,3 – 1
4,5,6 – 2
7,8,9 – 3
Athletics (Swimming, Climbing) 7
Sincerity 3
Stealth (Ambush, Sneaking) 10
Investigation (Notice) 7
Defense 7
Kenjutsu (Katana, No-dachi) 9
Hunting (Trailblazing) 5
Kyujutsu (Han-Kyu) 6
Lore: Bushcraft 3
Lore: Ivory Kingdom 3
Lore: Engineering 3
Medicine (Wound Treatment) 3
Knives 3
Sleight of Hand 5
Battle 5
Jiujutsu 1
Meditation 5
Lore: Ebon Hand 1
Mastery Abilities:
Athletics: 3: Moderate Terrain no reduction/Difficult Terrain reduces Water by 1
5: No movement penalties, regardless of terrain
7: Add 5 feet to one move action
Stealth: 3: Simple Move Actions Water x 5
5: Simple Move Actions Water x 10
7: Free Move as Normal
10: Free Raise to Stealth
Investigation: 3: 2nd attempt to Investigate with no TN increase
5: +5 to Contested Investigation Rolls
7: 3rd attempt
Defense: 3: Retain Def/Ref roll for consecutive Full-Defense
5: +3 Armour TN in Def/F-def
7: One Simple Action in Def
Kenjutsu: 3: Increase sword damage rolls by +1k0
5: Draw as Free action
7: Damage explode on 9
Hunting: 5: +1k0 to Stealth Rolls in wilderness
Kyujutsu: 3: Stringing a Bow is a Simple Action
5: Maximum Range increased by 50%
Battle: 5: Add Battle rank to Initiative
Striking as Air: In Def Stance, add Air Ring
Breath of Wind Style: Initiative +2 every Reaction round
Veiled Menace Style: Add Stealth rank to Armour TN
Han-Kyu with Str 2: Small, Range: 100', TN +10 if used from horseback
Light Armour – Forest Green: Armour TN +5, Reduction: 3, Increase TN of Athletics and Stealth Rolls by 5
Assorted Arrows (10 Fleshcutter / 4 Armour Piercing)
3 Tanto: Small, 1k1
Daisho set:
Katana: Medium, Samurai, 3k2, spend Void to increase damage 1k1 (Crystal Edged)
Wakizashi: Medium, Samurai, 2k2, May be thrown up to 20'
Rugged clothing
4 Parangu: Medium, Peasant, 2k2, inflict more than 30 wounds = breaks
Camoflage Face-paint
One weeks rations
Travelling pack:
50' Rope
Medical Kit
Bottle of Water
Grappling Hook
Parchment and Charcoal
Fishing Pole
3 Koku
1st Singh Ranger Clothes / Weapons
Yumi Str 3
Khanda 3k3
23 Dinar
Blessed Ivory split-sword Ivory tips 1k2 -1 reduction, crystal blade 3k2
Blessed Ivory short-sword 2k2
Kazuya is a cheerful man, who has served his Lord for many years, and continues to serve him now he has became Champion of the Mantis Clan. Out of place anywhere but the wilderness, Kazuya avoids his Lord's Court as much as possible, instead preffering to spend his time perfecting his tracking skills, occasionaly working with the Tsuruchi Bounty Hunters.
His most recent trips have taken him to the Ivory Kingdoms, and he has borne witness to the growing troubles in that land, advising his Lord that Mantis involvement may become necessary.


text:
the 10-crown store
In today's referral logs, we have a search for "trendy socks" and another one for "mullet coffee table book". I'm so happy I could just pee. But speaking of socks, I needed a cheap disposable tablecloth today so I went down to the Danish equivalent of the venerable Dollar General to hunt for one. Of course I didn't find anything close to what I was looking for, but I did find some pretty incredible socks. They're orange, with a picture of a voluptuous disco woman on the top and the words "sool babe" written in yellow across the foot. For 10 crowns, I couldn't refuse, and I also picked up a pink pair that says "girls are best friends". They were made in the U.K.
Europe is so surreal sometimes.


text:
I'm Marissa.
Originally from Porterville, California, a small town located between Bakersfield and Fresno. Lately, I have found myself consuming agriculture and water related documentaries as they both affect the local economy of my home area. And even though I now live on the east coast, you can still find me making time to visit family in the greater Los Angeles area, or in Greeley, Colorado. I'm 100% a proud small town girl from a farming community.
I enjoy bungee jumping, reality tv, beer, magazines, social media, campaigns, blogging, telecommunications, data analysis, politics, and planning my next international adventures. Oh, and anything tacos-related has my heart.


text:
A cleaning service can often make quite a difference, especially when it comes to tile and ground cleaning in Bournemouth. In this area, not many cleaning services may specialize in tiles and grout, but those that do definitely have a lot to offer.
It is also important to realize that tile and grout cleaning can be a difficult practice, and even though equipment may be available to help you turn it into a DIY project, it is usually best to call in the pros to handle a cleaning job that requires the experience of a qualified cleaner.
The Benefits of Tile and Ground Cleaning in Bournemouth
When done right, tile and grout cleaning can bring numerous benefits to most homeowners. Almost every household has some kind of tiled area, either in the bathroom, outside, in the kitchen, or even encompassing entire hallways.
Here are just a few exceptional benefits you can gain by choosing the best solutions provided by services facilitating tile and ground cleaning in Bournemouth:
It would be a great pity to allow your beautiful tiles to gather dirt and mildew that can ultimately lead to damaging results and stains that you might have great difficulty in removing after a certain time has passed. As such, it's far better to call a professional cleaning service as soon as possible, to take care of the problem now, with just a couple of hours of work
Why Choose a Professional Service?
Now many would ask, why should you choose a professional service, and possibly pay more just for a few hours of cleaning – not to mention covering even more costs for a recurring service – when you can buy tile and grout cleaning equipment at one of your local stores, or order it from an online shop? The answer is experience.
Many professional cleaners have extensive training and experience both in hard floor care and restoration. So aside from basic cleaning and maintenance, they can also make your tiles look brand new, even if they have been slightly damaged with the passing of time.
Also, no matter what you can buy at your local store, it usually can't beat the hi-tech, commercial grade, multi-stage machinery that some services use. Tile and ground cleaning in Bournemouth is quite advanced these days, and you simply need to call some of your local cleaning agencies to find out more about the remarkable cleaning solutions they have in store.
Finally, aside from cleaning even the smallest amount of dirt and grime present on your tiles, expert cleaners can also deliver quality finishes and anti-slip solutions, while making sure your tiles are in line with the latest health and safety standards applicable to the Bournemouth area.
There are many other great advantages – such as the ability to have tough mould and mildew removed with ease, and without damaging your tiles – but, of course, you also have to make sure to hire a local cleaning service that specialises in this type of work.
The Best Available Local Services
While it is important to hire a local cleaning agency that can quickly send you a few reliable technicians to work on your tiles, there's also a matter of professionalism involved. Fortunately, there are a few exceptional cleaning services in the Bournemouth area that will easily be able to comply with your requirements and quality standards.
One of the best available companies is TotalClean Solutions – we provide virtually every practical type of cleaning service you can think of. Our technicians are highly trained to deal with even the most difficult problems related to hard floors and tiles, and the service itself is fast, convenient and easy to use.
With our solutions related to tile and ground cleaning in Bournemouth, you can rest assured that even the toughest stains, dirt and mould can be removed from your tiles quite swiftly - and what's even better is that you won't have to pay exaggerated amounts for the service either.
Address: Bournemouth
Call: 01202 509 337
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
2018 Copyright The Carpet Butler | Search Engine Optimization by Local SEO Express Bournemouth


text:
- Research
- Open Access
Comparison of the osmoregulatory capabilities among three amphibious sea snakes (Laticauda spp.) in Taiwan
© Cheng et al.; licensee Springer. 2013
- Received: 29 November 2012
- Accepted: 14 June 2013
- Published: 4 October 2013
The three species of amphibious sea snakes (Laticauda semifasciata, L. laticaudata, and L. colubrina) in Taiwan were described as having different habitat affinities from terrestrial to marine. In this study, the osmoregulatory capabilities of three species were compared to test if their capabilities were associated with different habitat affinities.
The sea snakes were transferred from a terrestrial environment to freshwater (FW) or seawater (SW) for 1 week, and then, Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activities of the salt gland (sublingual glands) and kidneys, the water content of the muscles, the body fluid osmolality, and Na+, Cl−, and K+ concentrations were measured. Results showed that the body fluid osmolality, Na+ and Cl− levels, and muscle water content of most marine species, L. semifasciata, remained relatively constant, and the NKA activity of its salt gland was approximately threefold higher than those of L. laticaudata and L. colubrina. In both L. semifasciata and L. laticaudata, NKA activities of the salt glands were higher in SW than in FW; however, no significant change was found in L. colubrina (the most terrestrial species).
This study suggests that the NKA activity of the sublingual gland is associated with salt excretion, and the three species possess different osmoregulatory strategies which are associated with their habitat affinities.
- Sea snake
- Salt gland
- Osmoregulation
- Na+/K+-ATPase
Secondary marine animals are groups that originated from freshwater (FW) or terrestrial habitats and have recolonized the marine environment (Vermeij and Dudley 2000; Willmer et al. 2004). When a marine invasion occurs, salinities of marine environments pose a strong physiological barrier to these animals. The osmolality of seawater (SW) is appropriately 1,000 mOsm/kg; however, most terrestrial vertebrates maintain their body fluids at appropriately 250 to 450 mOsm/kg. In hypertonic marine environments, vertebrates experience challenges of dehydration and salt accumulation. For successful habitation, various osmoregulatory tissues and organs have evolved in marine vertebrates in response to osmotic challenges. Salt glands are specialized organs for salt secretion in marine vertebrates including birds, reptiles, and elasmobranches (Schmidt-Nielsen 1958, 1960; Oguri 1964). Nasal salt glands and rectal salt glands were respectively described in marine birds and marine elasmobranches (Burger 1965; Peaker 1971). In reptiles, several kinds of salt gland are found: lachrymal glands in sea turtles and terrapins (Dunson 1970; Hudson and Lutz 1986), nasal glands in marine iguanas (Dunson 1969), lingual glands in crocodilians (Taplin and Grigg 1981), and sublingual and premaxillary glands in marine snakes (Dunson et al. 1971; Dunson and Dunson 1973, 1979). In marine teleosts, the gills are the major organ for salt excretion (Evans et al. 2005).
The physiological mechanisms of salt secretion were explicitly studied in the gills of marine teleosts (Marshall 2002; Evans et al. 2005; Hwang and Lee 2007) and in the salt glands of marine birds and elasmobranches (Riordan et al. 1994; Silva et al. 1997; Shuttleworth and Hildebrandt 1999; Hildebrandt 2001). In the gills of marine teleosts, mitochondrion-rich cells (MRCs) actively secrete internal Cl− and Na+. Three ion transport proteins were found to play critical roles in salt secretion: Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), the Na+/K+/2 Cl− cotransporter (NKCC), and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-like Cl− channel (Marshall 2002). Basolateral NKA pumps Na+ out of MRCs, and the accumulated Na+ is extruded by an electrochemical gradient through a paracellular pathway. The Na+ gradient of MRCs drives the NKCC to carry Na+, K+, and 2 Cl− into MRCs. Then, the accumulated Cl− in MRCs diffuses out of cells via the Cl− channel on the apical membrane (Marshall 2002; Evans et al. 2005; Hwang and Lee 2007). In the salt glands of marine birds and elasmobranches, the three transport proteins of NKA, NKCC, and CFTR were also identified in secretory principal cells, and their mechanism is similar to that of the fish gills (Hildebrandt 2001).
The sublingual gland of sea snakes secretes a concentrated salt solution after salt loading, suggesting that it is the salt gland of the sea snakes (Dunson et al. 1971). The sublingual gland lies on the ventrolateral surface of the tongue sheath, and its morphology is similar to those of the other salt glands in marine birds and elasmobranches (Babonis et al. 2009). Recently, NKA and the NKCC were immunolocalized to the basolateral membrane of principal cells in the sublingual gland of three species of the sea snakes (Laticauda spp.), suggesting that the mechanism of salt secretion in sea snakes is similar to that of the other marine vertebrates (Babonis et al. 2009). The three species of amphibious sea snakes (Elapidae: Laticaudinae) are distributed at Orchid Island (Lanshu in Chinese) and Green Island (Ludao in Chinese) off the southeast coast of Taiwan. They were described as having different habitat affinities in previous studies (Lillywhite et al. 2008, 2009). Laticauda semifasciata (Reinhardt) is the most marine species. On the contrary, L. colubrina (Schneider) is the most terrestrial species (Shetty and Shine 2002). L. laticaudata (Linnaeus) has an intermediate habitat affinity. Lillywhite et al. (2008) measured the dehydration rates of the three species in air and found that the rate in L. colubrina (the most terrestrial species) was lower than those in the other two species. Moreover, the skin permeability to water also differed among these species (Lillywhite et al. 2009), suggesting that their water regulation is associated with their habitat affinities (Lillywhite et al. 2008 2009). However, the osmoregulatory capabilities of the three species in response to osmotic challenges have not been fully investigated. In this study, we attempted to further examine their osmoregulation and test if there is an association between their physiological performances and habitat affinities. NKA activities (which are a parameter for the activity of salt-secreting organs) of the salt gland and kidney, body fluid osmolality, ion concentrations, and muscle water content were analyzed in the three species after subjecting them to hypertonic (SW) and hypotonic (FW) challenges.
Animal collection and experimental protocols
Three species of adult male sea snakes were mainly collected from Orchid Island, Taiwan, and a few L. laticaudata and L. colubrina were collected from Green Island, Taiwan, in August to September 2009 and April to August 2010. The animals were captured by hand in shallow coastal inlets and were transported to the laboratory of National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. The body length and weight of the three species were respectively 104.2 ± 1 cm and 532.3 ± 18 g for L. semifasciata, 91.4 ± 1 cm and 165.0 ± 7 g for L. laticaudata, and 89.7 ± 1.7 cm and 200.6 ± 11 g for L. colubrina. The animals were kept in plastic tanks (36.5 × 23.3 × 15.6 cm, one individual per tank). Each tank contained a plastic basin (15 × 20 × 8 cm) filled with dechlorinated tap water for drinking and soaking during 1 week of acclimation. Then, five to eight individuals of each species were initially sampled (representing the pretransfer condition), and the remainder were randomly transferred to FW (dechlorinated tap water) or 32 ppt SW (prepared using artificial sea salt, Instant Ocean™ powder, Crystal Sea, Baltimore, MD, USA). The salinity of the water was monitored with a refractometer (PAL-06S, Atago, Tokyo, Japan). During FW or SW acclimation, the animals were confined to the water but could expose their head to breathe. Five to eight individuals of each species were sampled after 7 days of acclimation in FW or SW. In a preliminary study, several individuals were acclimated to FW or SW for up to 14 days, and we found that some of them became inactive probably due to starvation and osmotic stress. Therefore, we chose 7 days of acclimation for sampling. The animals were not fed, and the water temperature was kept at 27°C with a 12-h light and 12-h dark photoperiod during the experimental period. In this study, all animals were treated in accordance with the protocols approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of National Taiwan Normal University (permit no. 93013).
Tissue sampling
The animals were anesthetized with ice and euthanized by decapitation, and their body fluid was collected from the opening of vessels into microtubes for analysis of osmolality and ionic concentrations. The sublingual gland and kidneys were excised and stored at −80°C for NKA activity measurements. A lateral trunk muscle was excised for water content measurement.
Measurement of body fluid osmolality and ionic concentrations
The collected body fluid was immediately centrifuged at 6,000×g for 5 min, and aliquots of fluid were stored at −20°C for the analysis of osmolality and ionic concentrations. The osmolality was determined with a vapor pressure osmometer (Wescor Model 5520, Logan, UT, USA), and Na+, Cl−, and K+ concentrations were determined by a biochemical analyzer (Vitro 5.1 FS, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, USA).
Water content of the muscle
Surface water and blood on the muscle tissues were cleaned off with tissue paper. The water content was determined by calculating the percentage weight loss after drying the tissues at 100°C for 3 days (Huang et al. 2010).
Protein extraction from the salt gland and kidneys
Salt gland tissues and kidneys were separately homogenized in a homogenizing medium consisting of 25 mM Tris-HCl (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA), 0.25 mM sucrose (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), 20 mM EDTA (Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA), and 0.4% sodium deoxycholate (Sigma, pH 7.4), which contained protease inhibitors of 3.31 mM antipain (Sigma), 2.16 mM leupeptin (Sigma), and 63.86 mM benzamidine (Sigma) in an aprotinin saline solution (5 to 10 trypsin inhibitor units/ml, Sigma) using an ultrasonic processor. The protease inhibitor and homogenizing medium volumetric ratio was 1:200. Homogenates were first centrifuged at 4°C and 6,000×g for 15 min and then centrifuged at 4°C and 20,000×g for 20 min. Fresh supernatants were immediately analyzed for NKA activity. Then, 5 μL of the supernatant was further diluted to 50 μL with deionized water. An aliquot of 10 μL of this mixture was further diluted to 800 μL with deionized water. This diluted supernatant was well mixed with 200 μL of protein assay solution (Bio-Rad). Total protein levels were determined with a spectrophotometer (U-2001, Hitachi, Japan) at a wavelength of 595 nm.
NKA activities of the salt gland and kidneys
The method of measuring NKA activity was as described in a previous study (Tsai and Lin 2007). Briefly, NKA activity was assayed in a ouabain-containing reaction medium of 20 mM imidazole (Sigma), 130 mM NaCl (Merck), 10 mM MgCl2 (Merck), and 1 mM ouabain (Sigma) at pH 7.4 and ouabain-free reaction medium of 20 mM imidazole, 100 mM NaCl, 30 mM KCl (Merck), and 10 mM MgCl2 at pH 7.4. The mixture was supplemented with 100 μL of an ATP stock solution (25 mM Na2ATP, Sigma) and incubated at 37°C for 15 min. Ten microliters of protein extraction was added to 400 μL of reaction medium. The reaction was stopped by adding 200 μL of an ice-cold 30% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) stock solution (Merck). The reaction mixture was centrifuged at 1,640×g and 4°C for 10 min, and the supernatant (500 μL) was collected. The NKA activity was calculated as the difference in the inorganic phosphate (Pi) content between the ouabain-containing and ouabain-free reaction solutions. The Pi concentration was determined by Boting's color reagent (560 mM H2SO4, 8.1 mM ammonium molybdate tetrahydate, and 176 mM FeSO4, all from Sigma) with a spectrophotometer. Ice-cold Boting's color reagent (1,000 μL) was added to the supernatant (500 μL) and incubated in a 20°C water bath for 20 min, and the absorbance of the solution was measured at 700 nm. The NKA activity was expressed as μmol Pi/mg/protein/h.
Statistical analysis
All values are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Values were analyzed by a t test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc honest significant difference (HSD) test conducted using JMP 7 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Differences were considered statistically significant for p values of <0.05.
Body fluid osmolality
Body fluid ion concentrations
Muscle water content
NKA activities of the salt gland
NKA activities of the kidneys
The sea snakes are usually subdivided into two subfamilies (the Hydrophiidae and Laticaudinae) which originated from terrestrial elapid ancestors. However, the two subfamilies do not form a monophyletic group; instead, they represent two separate marine invasions in evolutionary history (Keogh 1998). The Hydrophiidae is comprised of fully marine species. However, the Laticaudinae (including one genus and eight species) is comprised of amphibious sea snakes (Cogger and Heatwole 2006) that forage in the sea but return to land to digest food, shed their skins, rest, and reproduce (Heatwole 1999; Brischoux et al. 2007; Brischoux and Bonnet 2009).
The three sea snakes (L. semifasciata, L. laticaudata, and L. colubrina) in Taiwan are also amphibious species, and they prefer to rest on coastal reefs with freshwater fountains (Liu et al. 2012). A previous study (Lillywhite et al. 2008) measured the dehydration rates of the three species when they were out of water and found no difference between L. semifasciata and L. laticaudata, whereas that of the L. colubrina was significantly lower than those of the other two species. Surprisingly, the dehydrated sea snakes were found to drink diluted SW but not full-strength SW. The salinities of the water they chose to drink also differed; L. semifasciata drank 30% SW, L. laticaudata drank 20% SW, and L. colubrina drank the most diluted SW (10%). This finding explains why these species prefer to stay on coastal reefs with freshwater fountains. In the present study, we further found differences in their osmoregulatory abilities. In the most marine species, L. semifasciata, osmolality, [Na+], and [Cl−] were relatively constant after FW and SW acclimation (Figures 1, 2, and 3). However, in L. laticaudata and L. colubrina, osmolality, [Na+], and [Cl−] significantly increased after SW acclimation, and values of these parameters in the SW groups were significantly higher than those in the FW groups (Figures 1, 2, and 3). These results suggest that the three sea snakes have different osmoregulatory capabilities or strategies to respond to osmotic challenges.
Compared to euryhaline teleosts (Jensen et al. 1998; Kelly and Woo 1999; Lin et al. 2004a, b, 2006; Scott et al. 2006; Chew et al. 2009; Huang et al. 2010), fluctuations in body fluid osmolality and ionic concentrations were relatively small in the three sea snakes subjected to salinity challenges. Changes in osmolality are about 50 to 100 mOsm/kg in teleosts, whereas they were only about 20 mOsm/kg in these sea snakes (Figure 1). In teleosts, the problem of osmotic and ionic gradients is exacerbated by the presence of the gill epithelium, a large, thin tissue used for efficient gas exchange and passive movement of water and salts (Evans et al. 2005). In contrast, the sea snakes are air breathers, and their skin is impermeable to Na+ and slightly permeable to water (Dunson and Robinson 1976; Lillywhite et al. 2009). Therefore, the body fluid osmolality and ionic composition were relatively stable in these sea snakes subjected to salinity changes.
NKA plays a critical role in salt secretion by branchial MRCs of marine teleosts (Hwang and Lee 2007). It is well documented that euryhaline teleosts regulate branchial NKA activity in response to salinity changes (Marshall 2002; Evans et al. 2005). In euryhaline teleosts such as salmon (Tipsmark et al. 2002), eel (Wilson et al. 2007), tilapia (Lin et al. 2004a), and spotted green pufferfish (Lin et al. 2004b), branchial NKA activity was reported to increase in response to hypertonic acclimation. In euryhaline elasmobranches such as the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas and Atlantic stingray Dasyatis sabina, NKA activity of the rectal salt gland was significantly higher in SW than in FW (Piermarini and Evans 2000; Pillans et al. 2005). In sea snakes, NKA activities of the salt gland in several species were reported in early studies (Dusnson and Dunson 1974). However, little is known about the regulation of NKA activity in the sea snakes subjected to salinity changes. In an early report (Dunson and Dunson 1975), no significant difference was found in salt gland NKA activity of the yellow-bellied sea snake Pelamis platurus acclimated to SW and FW. In this study, we found that NKA activity was higher in SW-acclimated than in FW-acclimated L. semifasciata and L. laticaudata (Figure 6), suggesting that NKA is critical and upregulated for salt secretion by the sublingual salt gland. Interestingly, responses of salt gland NKA activities to salinity changes varied among the three species, suggesting that they might have different strategies to cope with osmotic challenges.
In the most marine L. semifasciata, the NKA activity of the salt gland was approximately threefold higher than those of the other species before transfer, and it was downregulated after transfer to FW (Figure 6A) but did not significantly change after transfer to SW. We suggest that this species has high NKA activity and a high salt-secreting capability to cope with SW challenges, and this capability is associated with its marine affinity. With a high salt-secreting capability, it can drink 30% seawater (Lillywhite et al. 2008) and excrete redundant salt. On the other hand, it can still maintain its osmolality and ionic levels in FW, indicating that hypotonic water is not a limiting factor of its distribution.
In the most terrestrial L. colubrina, NKA activity was lower than that of the L. semifasciata and did not respond to SW or FW acclimation, implying that L. colubrina might have a low capability to excrete salt (Figure 6C). However, its osmolality and ionic concentrations remained relatively constant after acclimation. Since this species has a lower skin permeability to water than the other two species (Lillywhite et al. 2009), it might also have low permeability to salt and use a passive strategy to cope with osmotic challenges instead of an active regulatory strategy. In the wild, it probably drinks low-salinity water from freshwater fountains and stays on land a longer time to prevent salt loading. In addition, only [Cl−] but not [Na+] was elevated in L. colubrine after transfer to SW, suggesting that L. colubrine might have a lower permeability to Na+ than to Cl−.
Due to lacking Henle's loop, marine teleosts, elasmobranches, and reptiles cannot produce highly concentrated urine (Hill et al. 2004). In marine reptiles, early studies suggested that the kidneys of the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus and olive sea snake Aipysurus laevis are the primary site of sodium and water reabsorption rather than salt excretion (Benyajati et al. 1985; Yokota et al. 1985; Kuchel and Franklin 1998). In addition, a recent study on L. semifasciata and other marine snakes showed that the distribution and abundance of the NKA protein and messenger RNA in the kidneys did not significantly change after salinity acclimation (Babonis et al. 2011). In the present study, the renal NKA activity of the kidneys was lower than that of the salt gland and did not respond to salinity changes (Figure 7), supporting the kidneys not being involved in salt secretion in sea snakes.
This study suggests that the NKA activity of the sublingual gland is associated with salt excretion, and the three species possess different osmoregulatory strategies which are associated with their habitat affinities.
We thank Dr. Yeong-Choy Kam and Dr. Tsung-Han Lee for supplying the osmometer and Dr. Leslie S. Babonis for the anatomical knowledge. This work was support by a grant (NSC97-2621-B-003-004-MY3) from the National Science Council, Taiwan.
Authors' Affiliations
- Babonis LS, Hyndman KA, Lillywhite HB, Evans DH: Immunolocalization of Na + /K + -ATPase and Na + /K + /2Cl - cotransporter in the tubular epithelia of sea snake salt glands. Compar Biochem Physiol A 2009, 154: 535–540. 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.08.022View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Babonis LS, Miller SN, Evans DH: Renal responses to salinity change in snakes with and without salt glands. J Exp Biol 2011, 214: 2140–2156. 10.1242/jeb.052852View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Benyajati S, Yokota SD, Dantzler WH: Renal function in sea snakes. II. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium excretion. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Compar Physiol 1985, 249: R237-R245.Google Scholar
- Brischoux F, Bonnet X: Life history of sea kraits in New Caledonia. Mem Mus Nat Hist Nat 2009, 198: 133–146.Google Scholar
- Brischoux F, Bonnet X, Shine R: Foraging ecology of sea kraits ( Laticauda spp.) in the Neo-Caledonian lagoon. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 2007, 350: 145–151.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Burger JW: Roles of the rectal gland and kidneys in salt and water excretion in the spiny dogfish. Physiol Zool 1965, 38: 191–196.Google Scholar
- Chew SF, Tng YYM, Wee NLJ, Wilson JM, Ip YK: Nitrogen metabolism and branchial osmoregulatory acclimation in the juvenile marble goby, Oxyeleotris marmorata , exposed to seawater. Compar Biochem Physiol A 2009, 154: 360–369. 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.07.005View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Cogger H, Heatwole H: Laticauda frontalis (de Vis, 1905) and Laticauda saintgironsi n. sp. from Vanuatu and New Caledonia (Serpentes: Elapidae: Laticaudinae) - a new lineage of sea kraits? Rec Aust Mus 2006, 58: 245–256. 10.3853/j.0067-1975.58.2006.1452View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Dunson WA: Electrolyte excretion by the salt gland of the Galapagos marine iguana. Am J Physiol 1969, 216: 995–1002.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Dunson WA: Some aspects of electrolyte and water balance in three estuarine reptiles, the diamondback terrapin, American and "salt water" crocodiles. Compar Biochem Physiol 1970, 32: 161–174. 10.1016/0010-406X(70)90931-XView ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Dunson WA, Dunson MK: Convergent evolution of sublingual salt glands in the marine file snake and the true sea snakes. J Compar Physiol 1973, 86: 193–208. 10.1007/BF00696339View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Dunson WA, Dunson MK: Interspecific differences in fluid concentration and secretion rate of sea snake salt glands. Am J Physiol 1974, 227: 430–438.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Dunson MK, Dunson MA: The relation between plasma Na concentration and salt gland Na-K ATPase content in the diamondback terrapin and the yellow-bellied sea snake. J Compar Physiol 1975, 101: 89–97.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Dunson WA, Dunson MK: A possible new salt gland in marine homalopsid snake ( Cerberus rhynchops ). Copeia 1979, 1979: 661–672. 10.2307/1443875View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Dunson WA, Robinson GD: Sea snake skin: permeable to water but not to sodium. J Compar Physiol B 1976, 108: 303–311. 10.1007/BF00691678View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Dunson WA, Packer RK, Dunson MK: Sea snakes: an unusual salt gland under the tongue. Science 1971, 173: 437–441. 10.1126/science.173.3995.437View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Evans DH, Piermarini PM, Choe KP: The multifunctional fish gill: dominant site of gas exchange, osmoregulation, acid–base regulation, and excretion of nitrogenous waste. Physiol Rev 2005, 85: 97–177. 10.1152/physrev.00050.2003View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Heatwole H: Sea snakes. Malabar: Krieger Publishing; 1999:30–45.Google Scholar
- Hildebrandt JP: Coping with excess salt: adaptive functions of extrarenal osmoregulatory organs in vertebrates. Zoology 2001, 104: 209–220. 10.1078/0944-2006-00026View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Hill RW, Wyse GA, Anderson M: Animal physiology. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates; 2004:685–719.Google Scholar
- Huang CY, Chao PL, Lin HC: Na + /K + -ATPase and vacuolar-type H + -ATPase in the gills of the aquatic air-breathing fish Trichogaster microlepis in response to salinity variation. Compar Biochem Physiol A 2010, 155: 309–318.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Hudson DM, Lutz PL: Salt gland function in the leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea . Copeia 1986, 1986: 247–249. 10.2307/1444922View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Hwang PP, Lee TH: New insights into fish ion regulation and mitochondrion-rich cells. Compar Biochem Physiol A 2007, 148: 479–497. 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.06.416View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Jensen MK, Madsen SS, Kristiansen K: Osmoregulation and salinity effects on the expression and activity of Na + , K + -ATPase in the gills of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.). J Exp Zool 1998, 282: 290–300. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-010X(19981015)282:3<290::AID-JEZ2>3.0.CO;2-HView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Kelly SP, Woo NYS: The response of sea bream following abrupt hyposmotic exposure. J Fish Biol 1999, 55: 732–750. 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1999.tb00714.xView ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Keogh J: Molecular phylogeny of elapid snakes and a consideration of their biogeographic history. Biol J Linn Soc 1998, 63: 177–203. 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1998.tb01513.xView ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Kuchel LJ, Franklin CE: Kidney and cloaca function in the estuarine crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus ) at different salinities: evidence for solute-linked water uptake. Compar Biochem Physiol A 1998, 119: 825–831.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Lillywhite HB, Babonis LS, Tu MC: Sea snakes ( Laticauda spp.) require fresh drinking water: implication for the distribution and persistence of populations. Physiol Biochem Zool 2008, 81: 785–796. 10.1086/588306View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lillywhite HB, Menon JG, Menon GK, Sheehy CM 3rd, Tu MC: Water exchange and permeability properties of the skin in three species of amphibious sea snakes ( Laticauda spp.). J Exp Biol 2009, 212: 1921–1929. 10.1242/jeb.028704View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lin CH, Huang CL, Yang CH, Lee TH, Hwang PP: Time-course changes in the expression of Na, K-ATPase and the morphometry of mitochondrion-rich cells in gills of euryhaline tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ) during freshwater acclimation. J Exp Zool A 2004, 301: 85–96.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Lin CH, Tsai RS, Lee TH: Expression and distribution of Na + , K + -ATPase in gill and kidney of the spotted green pufferfish, Tetraodon nigroviridis , in response to salinity challenge. Compar Biochem Physiol A 2004, 138: 287–295. 10.1016/j.cbpb.2004.04.005View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Lin YM, Chen CN, Yoshinaga T, Tsai SC, Shen ID, Lee TH: Short-term effects of hyposmotic shock on Na + /K + -ATPase expression in gills of the euryhaline milkfish. Chanos chanos Compar Biochem Physiol A 2006, 143: 406–415.Google Scholar
- Liu YL, Chen YH, Lillywhite HB, Tu MC: Habitat selection by sea kraits ( Laticauda spp.) at coastal sites of Orchid Island. Taiwan Integr Compar Biol 2012, 52: 274–280. 10.1093/icb/ics085View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Marshall WS: Na + , Cl - , Ca 2+ and Zn 2+ transport by fish gills: retrospective review and prospective synthesis. J Exp Zool 2002, 293: 264–283. 10.1002/jez.10127View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Oguri M: Rectal glands of marine and fresh-water sharks: comparative histology. Science 1964, 144: 1151–1152. 10.1126/science.144.3622.1151View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Peaker M: Avian salt glands. Phil Trans Roy Soc Lond B 1971, 262: 289–300. 10.1098/rstb.1971.0094View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Piermarini PM, Evans DH: Effects of environmental salinity on Na + /K + -ATPase in the gills and rectal gland of a euryhaline elasmobranch ( Dasyatis sabina ). J Exp Biol 2000, 203: 2957–2966.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Pillans RD, Good JP, Anderson WG, Hazon N, Franklin CE: Freshwater to seawater acclimation of juvenile bull sharks ( Carcharhinus leucas ): plasma osmolytes and Na + /K + -ATPase activity in gill, rectal gland, kidney and intestine. J Compar Physiol B 2005, 175: 37–44. 10.1007/s00360-004-0460-2View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Riordan JR, Forbush B, Hanrahan JW: The molecular basis of chloride transport in shark rectal gland. J Exp Biol 1994, 196: 405–418.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Schmidt-Nielsen K: Salt gland in marine reptile. Nature 1958, 182: 782–785.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Schmidt-Nielsen K: The salt-secreting gland of marine birds. Circulation 1960, 21: 955–967. 10.1161/01.CIR.21.5.955View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Scott GR, Schulte PM, Wood CM: Plasticity of osmoregulatory function in the killifish intestine: drinking rates, salt and water transport, and gene expression after freshwater transfer. J Exp Biol 2006, 209: 4040–4050. 10.1242/jeb.02462View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Shetty S, Shine R: Philopatry and homing behavior of sea snakes ( Laticauda colubrina ) from two adjacent islands in Fiji. Conserv Biol 2002, 16: 1422–1426. 10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.00515.xView ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Shuttleworth TJ, Hildebrandt JP: Vertebrate salt glands: short- and long-term regulation of function. J Exp Zool 1999, 283: 689–701. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-010X(19990601)283:7<689::AID-JEZ7>3.0.CO;2-TView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Silva P, Solomon RJ, Epstein FH: Transport mechanisms that mediate the secretion of chloride by the rectal gland of Squalus acanthias . J Exp Zool 1997, 279: 504–508. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-010X(19971201)279:5<504::AID-JEZ14>3.0.CO;2-7View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Taplin LE, Grigg GC: Salt glands in the tongue of the estuarine crocodile Crocodylus porosus . Science 1981, 212: 1045–1047. 10.1126/science.212.4498.1045View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Tipsmark CK, Madsen SS, Seidelin M, Christensen AS, Cutler CP, Cramb G: Dynamics of Na + , K + , 2Cl - cotransporter and Na + , K + -ATPase expression in the branchial epithelium of brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) and Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). J Exp Zool A 2002, 293: 106–118. 10.1002/jez.10118View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Tsai JR, Lin HC: V-type H + -ATPase and Na + , K + -ATPase in the gills of 13 euryhaline crabs during salinity acclimation. J Exp Biol 2007, 210: 620–627. 10.1242/jeb.02684View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Vermeij GJ, Dudley R: Why are there so few evolutionary transitions between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems? Biol J Linn Soc 2000, 70: 541–554. 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2000.tb00216.xView ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Willmer P, Stone G, Johnson I: Environmental physiology of animals. Malden: Blackwell Publishing; 2004:393–443.Google Scholar
- Wilson JM, Leitao A, Goncalves AF, Ferreira C, Reis-Santos P, Fonseca AV, da Silva JM, Antunes JC, Pereira-Wilson C, Coimbra J: Modulation of branchial ion transport protein expression by salinity in glass eels ( Anguilla anguilla L.). Mar Biol 2007, 151: 1633–1645. 10.1007/s00227-006-0579-7View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Yokota SD, Benyajati S, Dantzler WH: Renal function in sea snakes. I. Glomerular filtration rate and water handling. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Compar Physiol 1985, 249: R228-R236.Google Scholar
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


text: The daughter of wealthy Manhattanites Joe (Woody Allen) and Steffi (Goldie Hawn), D.J. (Natasha Lyonne) has to contend with her extended family after her parents' divorce. The entire clan is abuzz about the impending wedding of her half-sister, Skylar (Drew Barrymore), and her fiancé, Holden (Edward Norton). However, when gruff former criminal Charlie (Tim Roth) enters the picture, things take an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, the lovelorn Joe pursues the beautiful Von (Julia Roberts) in Europe.


text:
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Missive To A Customer #2
Thank you for visiting our store today. We appreciate your patronage. Really, you could have stayed at home and bought books off of the dreaded Amazon, but you didn't, so thank you.
We know you had a pleasant visit, because we've watched you. We greeted you when you came in and offered assistance. We helped you find that regional book you were looking for and that thriller for your husband. Really, if we can say so without sounding braggadocios, we were pretty on point.
So imagine my befuddlement when you stormed up to my register to complain about how utterly "rude" two of my coworkers were being.
First, I don't know what you expect me to do about it. I'm not a manager. Actually, one of the people you were complaining about was the manager on duty (MOD, as we say). All I can do is apologize, but it's not like I'm going to pass it on to my boss or anything.
You know why?
Yeah, you know why, because you told me.
You were mad that the two employees didn't stop what they were doing to go make your husband a coffee. Granted, our cafe is supposed to remain open to serve coffee. I got that. But let's examine the situation a bit further, shall we?
What were the two employees in question doing, ma'am? Were they joking around? Gossiping instead of working? Throwing books at you? No? Then tell me what they're doing.
They're on their knees, scraping chunks of neon orange kiddie barf out of the carpet.
You want them to stop cleaning a noxious biological substance to make your husband coffee? SERIOUSLY?! Poor hubby-wubby can't wait, like, three minutes to get his shot of Joe? And what person in their right mind wants their coffee made by a minimum-wage barista with unidentified orange splatters and half-digested pasta noodles sticking to their rubber gloves?
So I'll smile apologetically and murmur something about being sorry about your experience, but I really just want you out of my store. Feel free to come back, but with a better attitude, please. We have enough nastiness polluting our store (the poor carpet!) without help from you.
Go ahead. Add your own customer service horror stories. You know you want to. :)


text:
Investment in South Africa's water resources needs to double in the next 10 years if the country is to meet the growing demand, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said on Monday. "It's going to require a lot of money but the demands require us to put more funding into water infrastructure but at […]
Tag Archives | 6000l tank
Investment in South Africa's water resources needed
By admin on August 28, 2012 in Harvesting Rainwater, JOJO, jojo tank prices, JoJo Tanks, jojo tanks products, JOJO TENKE, jojo water tank, JOJO WATER TANKS, LOCAL TANK DEALERS, plastic water tanks, RAINWATER, RAINWATER HARVESTING, RAINWATER TANKS, saving water, South Africa water, storing water, TANK STANDS, TENK, WATER, WATER CONSERVATION, water quality South Africa, WATER SAVING, water storage, WATER TANK, water tank dealers, water tank installation, WATER TANK PRICES, water tanks, water tariff increase
Read full story • Comments are closed
Smart hand pumps promise more reliable water supplies in Africa
By admin on June 10, 2012 in green technology, JOJO, jojo tank prices, JoJo Tanks, JOJO TENKE, jojo water tank, JOJO WATER TANKS, LOCAL TANK DEALERS, plastic water tanks, RAINWATER HARVESTING, RAINWATER TANKS, SUSTAINABLE, TANK STANDS, TENK, WATER, WATER CONSERVATION, water storage, WATER SYSTEMS, WATER TANK, water tank dealers, WATER TANK PRICES, water tanks
Rural communities across Africa may soon benefit from improved water supplies thanks to mobile phone technology. UK researchers have developed data transmitters that fit inside hand pumps and send text messages if the devices break down.
Read full story • Comments are closed
Custom Search
- Fear of a dry future for Cape Town June 27, 2018
- What is Raw Water, and is it healthy? January 7, 2018
- Rainwater Harvesting Calculator – South Africa December 29, 2017
- Lowveld Dam Levels – Watch out for the 2017/2018 dry season March 29, 2017
- Climate Watch for South Africa March 29, 2017
- Washing Machine Water Efficiency March 26, 2011
- Don't Let your Swimming Pool Backwash Water Damage the Environment May 11, 2010
- The Use of Wind Turbines vs Solar Power in South Africa May 8, 2010
- The FIFA World Cup's Carbon Impact June 4, 2010
- What is a Natural Swimming Pool? May 6, 2010


text:
It seems like nudism amongst family members is more common than one would think. This story is in response to the one about the family that wanted to try a nudist vacation
Unlike the other story, my experience with family nudism was one of necessity. It happened about 40 years back. I was an older 14 (birthday just a month away), my sister, a young 13 (her birthday just a month past). My mom needed someone to watch us three or four days a week that summer while she worked. Latch key kids didn't exist in those days; parents were as worried and protective about kids our age as younger ones.
She talked to a neighbor friend, whose kids my sister and I played with, over coffee one morning. About a week later, the neighbor lady called and had a suggestion for our mom. After she hung up the phone, our mother had a really funny look on her face. Later that night, her and our dad had a quiet discussion after dinner after they hustled us out of the house so they could talk in private.
The next day, she sprung an outlandish idea on my sister and me. Mrs. Smith (made up name) had offered to let us stay at her house through the day, no charge. I remember my mother stammering a bit when she was talking to us. There was one catch. The Smith family were nudists. We didn't necessarily have to join in, but Mrs. Smith felt that we ought to know. And that we would probably feel more comfortable without our clothes around their family. My mom asked us what we thought. Naked in front of strangers?? We talked about an hour, my sister was blushing when I looked at her, and I knew that my face was red too. Finally, my mother said that the only way to know if we could do it was to try if for ourselves. And that she wouldn't ask the two of us to try something if she couldn't do it.
She told us to go to our rooms, undress and then come down to the living room wearing towels. It seemed almost surreal. I was going to be naked in front of my sister and my mom. Our dad had gone to work that morning. After undressing in my room, I managed to get myself down the steps. I didn't get erect or anything, at least not right away.
When I got downstairs, my mom was waiting for me, wrapped in a towel, knotted under her arm. A few minutes later, my sister came down, wrapped up similarly. Mine was at my waist. We all sort of just grinned at one another, but I remember looking anywhere but at my mom and my sister. Finally my mom said on the count of three. We did it. My mom had full and heavy breasts and a thick patch of hair down below. Her ass was smooth and shaped like an upside down heart. My sister even had a little fan of hair at her legs, but much lighter than my mom's. Her little titties were more like swells on her chest. Her butt was slender and smooth. Seeing them was all it took. I had a boner that beat any boner I ever had to that point. I could feel myself getting red from down around my ankles. Mom and my sister giggled and mom assured me that this was very normal. Not that I knew why then, but her nipples were sticking out like pencil erasers. I noticed that my sister's boobs were pointy too.
We were to stay that way for the rest of the day. After an hour or so of my boner sticking out, my mom suggested that maybe I wanted to go to my room for a while. I was barely in my room with the door shut before I was stroking on my five inch rod (those stories where a 13 or 14 year old kid has a nine inch erection-yeah right!!). I splashed my cum all over my bedroom floor and it was the best orgasm I had to that point. I mopped it up with my underwear and went back down, without an erection. I recall that my sister came down after me and then we had lunch. Later we all played a board game. Looking at Mom sitting there, I felt myself getting hard again, but I managed to control it until I got back upstairs.
We all got dressed before Dad got home and when Mom related our experiences that day, he smiled and suggested that we try it again the next Saturday, all together. That night my sister I talked about that first day, and she confessed that she went to her room too that morning when I did, and played with herself until she came.
Maybe I'll relate what happened with the 'Undress rehearsal' that Saturday, and then later, the following week when my sister and I went to the Smiths house that first day.


text:
I've had these wonderful shelving units with cubes/bins for over a year now. They are perfect for stashing anything and everything into. However, the kids never had any idea what was in them, so they would...
(a) go ignored (meaning toys were not played with) or
(b) get dumped out to see what was inside (meaning a nice big mess for me to clean up) or
(c) my lovely "helpful" husband would shove anything on the floor into any bin looked good that day (meaning yet another unorganized hidden mess).
A couple months ago I had the idea to take pictures of the inner contents. Great idea, right? Sure, but I couldn't come up with a way to attach the pictures with anything but packaging tape (too tacky, I wanted cute!). A couple nights ago it hit me: contact paper and ribbon! I put contact paper on both sides of the pictures, hole-punched, and tied ribbon to the handles of the cubes. It's cute, it's organized, and (everyone cross your fingers with me here) will help my kids play with and put away their toys!


text:
I just wanted to give you all a quick update on the blog and podcast. As you've no doubt noticed, I haven't been writing or publishing new episodes as regularly as I usually do. If you've guessed that has something to do with the recent birth of my daughter Sylvie, you'd be right. 🙂
I feel like I'm just now getting back in the saddle. The plan is to return to a more regular schedule for the podcast and blog. Starting next Tuesday, a new episode of the podcast will be published every other week. Blog articles will be published – for the most part – every other week on either Thursdays or Fridays.
Since I've retired The Healthy Skeptic name here on the blog, Danny and I are also planning to rename the podcast. We haven't settled on a name yet (if you have any ideas, leave them in the comments section.) This won't affect the feed or your subscription to it. One day you'll just notice that it has a different graphic and name.
I've also got a couple of exciting projects in the works. It's too early to say much about them, but I can give you a little hint. One is related to weight loss for those who've tried everything without success and the other is related to creating your own customized Paleo-type diet – rather than following a canned approach. I'll keep you posted as they develop!
Happy Fall!
Like what you've read? Sign up for FREE updates delivered to your inbox.I hate spam too. Your email is safe with me. By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy.


text:
Daily Archives: January 16, 2012
Are Religious Private Schools Exempt From EEOC Laws?
A great read byJeremy T. Simons, Esq. for the Clearwater Florida Patch.
I know the rule around the water-cooler: Don't talk about religion, sports, or politics. I am going to break all three rules.
Here is the link to the case that is the subject of this article: Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC, released on Jan. 11, 2012. Constitutional lawyers will agree or disagree on its meaning and application. I will say that the Court's opinion has a great discussion on the history of the First Amendment and why it became such a cornerstone of our country.
First, let me outline the rough facts of the case before the United States Supreme Court to set the stage. A teacher was hired at a religious private school and for many years taught non-religious subjects. She eventually went through religious-related training and then became, for lack of a better word, "certified" in religious teachings. She still taught the normal non-religious subjects, but she taught religious subjects as well. It is important to note that non-certified teachers taught religious subjects also, but she was a "called" teacher in the religious subjects.
The teacher had an ailment in 2004 that prevented her from continuing her duties for a period of time. The school, which was connected with a church, asked her to resign and agreed they would continue to pay her health insurance. She refused, showed up to work, was terminated, and filed a lawsuit based on discrimination for her health issues under federal and state law.
The question before the Supreme Court, which matters to our religiously-based private schools, is whether the teacher could be fired based on her disability. The issue creates a conflict between freedom of religion and termination of employment based on discriminatory reasons. I believe there was little doubt the teacher was terminated because of her disability even though she was cleared by doctors to continue her duties.
Religion won unanimously. In essence, the Supreme Court held that the government, in this case theEEOC, could not interfere with decisions made by the Church (the school) on hiring and firing of people who are ministers of the Church. Because the teacher served in a minister-related capacity, the Americans with Disability Act did not apply. As with every United States Supreme Court decision, the argument, logic, and discussion is much more complicated than what is appropriate to discuss in this article.
I can see the faces of the wonderful Patch.com editors and the attorneys I know right now. Their faces are asking one question: how does this affect me and how is this relevant to my community? How does a case that originated in Missouri and was finally decided in Washington, D.C., affect my local church or parochial school? Let me just suggest some points for consideration.
- This was a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court. In a time when political parties are fighting within themselves, the body of nine Justices agreed. Rarely do all Justices agree, much less in such high profile cases.
(Scalia and Thomas appointed by Regan; Thomas by H.W. Bush; Ginsberg and Bryer by Clinton; Chief Justice Roberts and Alito by G.W. Bush; and Sotomayor and Kagan by Obama). This will be a tough decision to overturn by future opinions.
- Let the Constitutional lawyers disagree, but I see this as opening up a new door to hiring and firing practices for many other entities related to religion if there is some minister-related activity. Where the employee's primary job is not religious, but there is a religious-based function, does this case extend further and allow for discriminatory practices? Can we avoid the EEOC by simply associating with a church?
- What about religion-based assisted living facilities, political groups, television programs, or perhaps part-time employees? What about small-businesses that hire ministers to sell products such as books or literature?
While this decision does not go so far as to resolve future disputes in other areas of religion, it certainly extends the separation and church and state.
I have stated previously that I am not a Constitutional law attorney. However, this Supreme Court opinion will be (or absolutely should be) reviewed by every religiously-based private school, employee, and parent in your community. This absolutely affects the way these schools will hire and terminate employees.
I know I am supposed to put the most controversial issues front and center in articles, but I had to lay the foundation. I ask this hypothetical question: Let us assume that a minority woman with a disability teaches Sunday school at her local church and gets paid for her services. She gets paid for the sole function of teaching religion to young children by the church or the school. A new person takes over the church and terminates her based on her race, gender, or disability. Should the freedom of religion protect the church or should the EEOC protect the Sunday school teacher?
For the members/parents/employees/administrators/supporters of our private-school system and churches, this is a case to take notice of. Let me be clear that I highly respect freedom of religion and at the same time highly disagree with discriminating based on religion, gender, age, race, or disability. I personally cannot reconcile the moral implications of this decision and how it affects either view.
I broke the religion rule, Tim Tebow "tebowed" the Steelers (sports), and politics are part of government. I am three for three this week.


text:
Sheffield Wednesday forward Marco Matias has won the Football League Mitre Goal of the Year award for his stunning strike against Leeds United.
The Portuguese beat off the challenge of Michael Duckworth of Hartlepool United, Oxford United's Kemar Roofe, Jermaine Beckford of Preston and Reading's Danny Williams to pick up the prize at the glittering Football League Awards ceremony in Manchester.
The goal, early in the campaign, saw Matias pick up a long ball from Liam Palmer, flick it over his shoulder and the head of a Leeds defender before rifling in off the underside of the bar from an angle.
Even in a year when Wednesday fans have been spoiled by superb goals, this one was something special.
Matias said after picking up his prize: "It is very special. I am proud of myself and I want to thank everyone at Sheffield Wednesday, my family, my girlfriend and everyone who voted for me."


text:
Transfer pricing: operational guidance: governance: what types of enquiry are within the governance?
What is covered - and what is not
The transfer pricing governance (see INTM481030) applies from 1 April 2008 to any enquiry or potential enquiry where TIOPA10/Part 4 (formerly ICTA88/SCH28AA) or the arm's length principle may be invoked, so it covers
- transfer pricing of goods and services
- post-return thin capitalisation
- private equity leveraged buy-outs
- attribution of profit to permanent establishments (but not the question of whether a permanent establishment exists)
- Advance Thin Capitalisation Agreements
The transfer pricing governance does not apply to
- Advance Pricing Agreements
- Mutual Agreement Procedure/Competent Authority work
- Petroleum Revenue Tax issues
despite the fact that Transfer Pricing Group (TPG) resource is sometimes used in this work. These areas are subject to their own separate governance.


text:
Rouge et NoirJanuary 06, 2014
Recently my heart cannot take it anymore, I really want to convert back again to Visual Kei wtf
Blame this rock heart! (T_T)
Also cos recently I get hooked with Abingdon Boys School and can't stop listening to them! Hence the feeling is unstoppable. Thanks for being a girl, we have privilege to put make up more than boys
Also.. *cough* I wanna appear handsome once in a while, on this blog LOL
Did I make it? hahaha
Anyway here's my zoom up make up. I havent done this make up for a while so I'm a little nervous with the result ^_^;
Point of my visual kei make up =
Thin eyebrow going straight upward; I concealed the rest of my eyebrow with cream foundation and powder
Next, I use gel liner to cover my entire eyelid, then set and blend it with black eyeshadow to create gradation
To emphasize and give more impact on eyes, I use red eyeshadow underneath my eyes
Lens is Lunatia Brown from Japan Softlens . It has slight red color that's suitable for this look in my opinion
Also, I concealed my lip color with foundation, it gives more manly effect
I wonder if I am kakkoii or handsome enough for you, ladies *wink* FML lol
Okay, now, I'm back listening to more V-Kei songs!! Viva Rock lol
My mom will be angry again HAHAHA.. She prefers me going for cute feminine look. It's not that I hate it, but there are times when I want to have something different
After all, changing your look is so fun!! So step out of your comfort zone on make up, and try something different!


text: I have recently changed from a Trace 1153 to a Mesa Boogie 1x15 (Diesel I think), and I am finding that I have to turn my amp up a lot further to get a usable volume. Does anyone know if Boogie cabs are significantly less efficient than Trace Elliot. The Trace was rated at 200W Max and the Boogie is 500W. Is lower efficiency a penalty of higher power handling or are the two things unconnected? Unfortunately I have changed bands at the same time so possibly the guitarists are playing louder. Any advice appreciated.


text:
Dental Health Month!
Feb 02 2018
February is Dental Health Month! During the month of February, all dentals are 10% off and we are offering FREE dental exams.
Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall
Mar 29 2017
Hello Friends! We have recently gotten word that there has been a recall of certain Blue Buffalo dog food. You can read all the details in this article. If you…
Looking for a good home!
Feb 01 2017
Friends, We have recently learned of a cat that needs a good home. If you, or someone you know, is interested in this sweet boy then please let us know!…
Fleas can survive (and thrive!) during the winter months…YIKES!
Jan 18 2017
The calendar says that winter is well and fully under-way, but the weather outside says otherwise. Temperatures are reaching upwards of 70 degrees, and we're pulling out t-shirts and shorts…
Looking for a good home!
Jan 13 2017
We are sharing this for a friend of Dr. Thorne. If you, or someone you know is interested, please let us know! We want these babies to find a good…
Want to know what your dog is REALLY thinking??
Jun 30 2016
Tips & Tricks
Mar 17 2015
SAFETY TIPS Take the stress out of going to the vet! We love our cats and only want the best for them, but the mere thought of having to get…
Parasite Control-Why is it important?
Mar 17 2015
Cats and dogs are equally at risk to become infected with internal parasites. Though most pet owners assume that if they keep their pet contained strictly in the house that…
Article from Preventative Vet
Mar 17 2015
Knock Knock. Who's there? Possibly a cat! It's likely not "news" to you that cats like warm places. However, what you may not realize or think about on a regular…


text:
By Bruce Adams
Through years of observation I have noticed something that appears to be a very interesting phenomenon. The phenomenon, of which I speak, is the widespread teaching and acceptance of an erroneous understanding.
Jesus once said,
John 3:3-7
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, You must be born again.
The process of re-birthing is perhaps one of the most widely misunderstood concepts known to those who have been educated or exposed to Christian religious dogma. Not only is the process of re-birthing mostly misunderstood by many but the actual occurrence of authentic re-birthing is not a certainty for everyone who considers themselves to be a Christian. This is why Jesus spoke the following.
Matthew 7:22-25
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!
Why would Jesus have said to those who prophesied and cast out demons or performed miracles in his name, he never knew them? Although many were sincere and followed
the doctrine taught by their religions, no one becomes reborn who hasn't gone through a genuine transformation first.
Re-birthing, as Jesus taught, is the act of moving from the sleeping or unaware state some call death, back to the awakened and aware state called Life in the here and now!
By going beyond his ego/judgmental mind, Jesus was teaching the process of re-birthing.
The idea that accepting Jesus spilled his blood will somehow create a rebirthing in others is a misconception that clouds or obscures true understanding.
In Reality, anyone who wishes to experience themselves from the awakened state must emulate those who have come here to teach their brothers and sisters how to be in this world but not of this world. The key is not to worship any God but to worship God alone.
So what does this have to do with worlds colliding? While watching the news today, I happened to see something that I never gave much thought to in the past. On the weather channel, they were showing the destruction from the latest rounds of tornados in the mid- west. As I sat there and listened to what caused the tornados, it occurred to me that there was a very similar experience we go through when opposing energies clash.
For those who may not be aware of it, tornados are created when a warm air front and cold air front come together. In much the same way, when your ego personality and your spirit come together there is a collision of sorts and a lot of friction. This is what Jesus was warning his followers about when he said in the Gospel of Thomas;
"Whoever is close to me is close to the fire, and whoever is far from me is far from the kingdom."
Those who believe that they can hold onto their attachments to the things of this world and actually become reborn would do well to consider what the Apostle Paul was saying in Thessalonians.
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first…" 2 Thessalonians 2:3
The falling away that Paul spoke of is not usually experienced without a clashing between the ego and the spirit which in turn usually creates what could be described as a collision between worlds.
Regardless of your path or what religion you practice, if you wish to awaken yourself and live awakened in this world you may find yourself reinterpreting your view of reality itself!
More to come…
Love and Light,
Brother Bruce
Prophet or Madman


text:
The gods gladly accepted the invitation, and clad in their richest garb and with festive smiles, they appeared in the coral caves at the appointed time. None were absent save the radiant Balder, and the evil Loki. In the course of the feast however Loki appeared in their midsts like a dark shadow, and when bidden to depart he ranted his evil passions in a torrent of vindictive lies towards the gods.Then without reason, Loki suddenly turned upon Ægirs servant and slew him. At this wanton crime the gods in fierce wrath drove Loki away once more, and threatened him with dire punishment should he ever appear before them again.
Scarcely had the Æsir recovered from this disagreeable interruption to their feast, when Loki came creeping in once more, resuming his slanders with venomous tongue. He taunted the gods about their weaknesses and shortcomings, dwelling maliciously upon their physical imperfections, and deriding them for their mistakes. In vain the gods tried to silence his abuse but Lokis voice rose louder and louder, and he was just giving utterance to some slander about Sif, when he was suddenly cut short by the sight of Thor's hammer angrily raised in the air by an arm whose power he knew full well, and he swiftly fled away.
Knowing that he could now never have any hope of being admitted into Åsgard again, and that sooner or later the gods seeing the effect of his evil deeds would regret having permitted him to roam the world, and would try either to bind or slay him, Loki withdrew to the mountains. There he built himself a hut with four doors which he always left wide open to permit a hasty escape if so needed. Carefully laying his plans he decided that if the gods should come in search of him he would rush down to the neighboring stream and change himself into a salmon, thus evading his pursuers. He reasoned however, that although he could easily avoid any hook, it might be difficult for him to affect his escape if the gods should fashion a net like that of the sea-goddess Ran.
Haunted by this fear, he decided to test the possibility of making such a mesh, and started to make one out of twine. He was still engaged upon the task when Odin, Kvasir, and Thor suddenly appeared in the distance. Knowing that they had discovered his retreat Loki threw his half-finished net into the fire, and rushing through one of his ever-open doors he leaped into the waterfall. So in the shape of a salmon he hid among some stones in the bed of the stream.
The gods finding the hut empty were about to depart, when Kvasir perceived the remains of the burnt net on the hearth. After some thought an idea came to him, and he advised the gods to weave a similar net and use it in searching for their foe in the neighboring stream. It would be like Loki to choose such a method of baffling their pursuit. This advice seemed good and the gods quickly made such a net. Once the net was finished the gods proceeded to drag the stream. Loki eluded the net at its first cast by hiding at the bottom of the river between two stones and when the gods weighted the mesh and tried a second time, he escaped by jumping up stream. A third attempt to catch him proved successful, but as he once more tried to get away by a sudden leap, Thor caught him in mid-air and held him so fast that he could not escape. The salmon whose slipperiness is well known in the North, is noted for its remarkably slim tail and Norsemen attribute this to Thor's tight grasp upon his foe Loki.
Loki now sullenly resumed his normal shape, and his captors dragged him down into a cavern where they bound him fast. They used as bonds the entrails of his son Narve, who had been torn to pieces by his brother Vali, whom the gods had changed into a wolf for the purpose. One of these fetters was passed under Loki's shoulders, and one under his loins, thereby securing him firmly hand and foot. Yet the gods not feeling quite satisfied that the strips would not give way so they changed them into iron.
Skadi, the giantess, who had joyfully watched the fettering of her foe now fastened a serpent directly over his head so that its venom would fall drop by drop upon his upturned face. But Sigyn, Loki's faithful wife hurried with a cup to his side, and until the day of Ragnarok she remained by him, catching the drops as they fell and never leaving her post except when her vessel was full and she was obliged to empty it. Only during her short absences could the drops of venom fall upon Loki's face, and then they caused such intense pain that he writhed with anguish, his efforts to get free shaking the earth and producing the earthquakes which so frighten mortals.
"Ere they left him in his anguish,
O'er his treacherous brow, ungrateful,
Skadi hung a serpent hateful,
Venom drops for aye distilling,
Every nerve with torment filling;
Thus shall he in horror languish.
By him, still unwearied kneeling,
Sigyn at his tortured side,—
Faithful wife! with beaker stealing
Drops of venom as they fall,—
Agonising poison all!
Sleepless, changeless, ever dealing
Comfort, will she still abide;
Only when the cup's o'erflowing
Must fresh pain and smarting cause,
Swift, to void the beaker going,
Shall she in her watching pause.
Then doth Loki
Loudly cry;
Shrieks of terror,
Groans of horror,
Breaking forth in thunder peals
With his writhings scared Earth reels.
Trembling and quaking,
E'en high Heav'n shaking!
So wears he out his awful doom,
Until dread Ragnarok be come."
Valhalla (J. C. Jones).
In this painful position Loki was destined to remain until the twilight of the gods, when his bonds would be loosed, and he would take part in the fatal conflict on the battlefield of Vigrid. There he would fall at last by the hand of Heimdall, who would be slain at the same time.
When the gods were reduced to the rank of demons by the introduction of Christianity, Loki was associated with Saturn, who had also been shorn of his divine attributes, and both were considered the prototypes of Satan. The last day of the week, which was held sacred to Loki, was known in the Norse as Laugardag, or wash-day, but in English it was changed to Saturday, and was said to owe its name not to Saturn but to Sataere, the thief in ambush, and the Teutonic god of agriculture, who is supposed to be merely another personification of Loki.
Such ends my tale of Balder and Loki. I hope that you have enjoyed.


text:
|Koo Ja-cheol, front, applauds after scoring a goal in the second half of a friendly game against Serbia at Munsu Football Stadium in the southern city of Ulsan, Tuesday. Korea and Serbia tied 1-1.
By John Duerden
South Korea continued preparations for the 2018 World Cup, Tuesday, with a solid 1-1 tie against Serbia at Ulsan World Cup Stadium. A second half penalty won and converted by Koo Ja-cheol earned the host a share of the spoils after Adem Ljajic put Serbia ahead.
The situation continues to look a little brighter for Korea and coach Shin Tae-yong. After just one win in eight previous games in 2017, the team has bounced back in the past four days to defeat Colombia, ranked 13th in the world, and tie with Serbia, placed 27th.
Coach Shin went with the same 4-4-2 formation that worked so well in Friday's win. The same fluency was not quite there against a robust Serbian team though the defense, featuring Kim Young-gwon and Jang Hyun-soo held firm.
What was more encouraging was the performance of Cho Hyun-woo who made his first appearance as goalkeeper. The Daegu man had an impressive debut and offers an extra option to Shin.
In attack, Son Heung-min and Koo, not really a striker, were struggling to find space. With Serbia bigger and more physical than the talented Colombians, Korea were in danger of being outmuscled.
After a tight first half, Serbia, who made a number of substitutions early in the second half unlike the host, took the lead after 59 minutes. A swift counter-attack caused problems for the Korean defense and there was former Roma and Inter Milan midfielder Adam Ljajic to score.
Just three minutes later however, Koo was fouled in the area, or so the generous Chinese referee Ma Ning seemed to think, even if not many others did, and the Augsburg man stepped up to convert the penalty successfully.
Korea pushed forward to look for the winning goal with substitute Lee Keun-ho stretching the Serbian backline and Son Heung-min missing a couple of late chances but both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils. It was not a vintage performance from the Asian team but a decent result and display against tough opposition.
Korea's next tests come in December's East Asian Cup in Japan, a round-robin tournament that features the host, China and North Korea. With only Asian-based players available for selection, it gives coach Shin a vital opportunity to take a look at the resources available to him once more.
But before that comes the draw in Russia on December 1. When Korea finds out the teams it will have to face next summer, then the tournament really will be feeling very close indeed. At the moment all is looking a little brighter when it comes to the national team.