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|Dear Colleagues:On July, 24, 2015, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will release updates to FastLane that may impact the way you work.
As part of NSF's efforts to reduce the workload associated with manually compliance checking proposals, NSF continues to focus on implementing automated proposal compliance checks. The next series of automated proposal compliance checks will be released in FastLane on July 24 to ensure that proposals submitted in response to Program Solicitations comply with requirements outlined in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (Chapter II.C.2 of the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)).
The new set of automated compliance checks in FastLane will trigger warning messages if the following proposal sections do not exist for proposals submitted in response to a Program Solicitation for the applicable funding mechanism type (Conference, Equipment, Ideas Lab, Facility/Center, and Fellowship):
– References Cited
– Biographical Sketch(es)
– Budget Justification: Primary Organization
– Budget Justification: Sub recipient Organization
– Current and Pending Support
– Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources
For example, if a Conference proposal submitted in response to a Program Solicitation does not include the Current and Pending Support section (required for certain solicitations), FastLane will trigger a warning message directing the proposer to review the requirements specified in the solicitation.
Warning messages will not prevent a proposal from being submitted. However, proposals that receive error messages will not be able to be submitted.
Please note that the new set of compliance checks are in addition to the compliance checks that currently exist in FastLane. You can view a complete list of FastLane auto-compliance checks, including the new set, by clicking here. The list specifies which checks are run depending on type of submission (GPG, Program Description, Program Announcement, or Program Solicitation) and funding mechanism (Research, RAPID, EAGER, Ideas Lab, Conference, Equipment, International Travel, Facility/Center, or Fellowship). It also specifies whether the check triggers a "warning" or "error" message for non-compliant proposals.
Additionally, proposers submitting through Grants.gov should be aware that Grants.gov will allow a proposal to be submitted, even if it does not comply with these proposal preparation requirements. Should NSF receive a proposal from Grants.gov that is not compliant, it may be returned without review.
We encourage you to share this information with your colleagues. For system-related questions, contact the FastLane/Research.gov Help Desk at 703-292-HELP (x4357) or email@example.com. Policy-related questions should be directed to email@example.com.
Thank you,
The FastLane Team at the National Science Foundation


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Chem 125 - Experiment II
Solution Color
Experiment II - Solution Color, Absorbance, and Beer's Law
Goals of Experiment II
Questions you should learn from this lesson and know before going into lab
Questions you should learn in lab
Experiment Goal
Obtaining an Absorbance Spectrum
In obtaining an absorbance spectrum, you are getting a graph representation of how light is interacting with a solution, and how that relates to the solution color. This interaction is very important in scientific and medical fields and that color can give a lot of information. The color of a solution can give information on concentration of chemicals, how much acid is present, if a reaction has happened, or even if something has gone bad or not. In the following pages, you will learn how obtain an absorbance spectrum for each of the samples you prepared, and use that spectrum to relate to why the solution is the color that it is.
Terms you will need to know for the experiment
Concepts you will learn
How does light interact with a solution?
What types of light will a solution absorb or transmit?
How are absorbance and transmittance related?
How do absorbance and transmittance relate to the color of the solution?
Skills you will learn
How to use a spectrophotometer
How to obtain an absorbance spectrum
How to use that absorbance spectrum to relate to solution color
Obtaining an Absorbance Spectrum
Solution Color
Watch the video below which shows how to prepare a solution.
The solution made was Cu(NO3)2 where the cation was Cu2+. You will notice that the solid was blue, and the solution it made in water, was a blue color. Many times when you look at data in the CRC Handbook, it gives you the color of the SOLID form of the compound.
Match the following solid colors with the solution colors you would expect.
Show/hide comprehension question...
Did you match the right colors?
There are many things that can change a soluiton color. Many of them are based on the placement within the periodic table, and how it is set up.
Another aspect that can effect the color of a solution is the charge of the cation. Take a look at the video below.
Notice that the Vanadium solutions are all different colors, but they are all the same cation. The difference is that the cation has a DIFFERENT charge, which changes the electron configuration, and how light interacts with the solutions. This will be very important for future experiments involving redox reactions, as you are changing the charge of the cations. More on that later!
When you're in lab, look at the solutions that you make. Some questions you can ask yourself as you're making them are:
Obtaining an Absorbance Spectrum
Light & Solutions
Most of the light that all of you see, like the light from the sun, is white light. But did you know that the light coming from the sun is made up of many different colors?
It's time you are introduced to Mr Roy G. Biv, the keeper of the colors!!
White light is primarily made up of these seven colors, but the color is different at each wavelength.
You will see the individual colors of each of these wavelengths.
Bright White Light!
When you look at a solution, there is light from all around interacting with it. This is how you are able to see the soluton color.
Much of the time, you are seeing how things interact with white light. This light is the light that comes from the sun, and many light bulbs.
It is comprised of all the colors of the rainbow (ROY G. BIV)!!! But what does that have to do with solution color? The color of a solution depends on how the light (of many colors) interacts with the solution, and is a combination of colors from that rainbow!
Below shows how white light would interact with a sample that you have.
1). All the colors of light in white light, hit the solution.
2). Each wavelength of light interacts with the molecules in the solution.
3). Some colors of light are blocked by the molecules and Absorbed, while others pass through and are Transmitted
A questions to consider:
What do the transmitted colors represent?
If you have a sample of a blue solution, what color light would be the most transmitted?
Obtaining an Absorbance Spectrum
The Absorbance Spectrum
You've looked at what light does all at once, but for many things, including this experiment, the light is broken down into wavelengths. Each wavelength has its own color. When you see how each wavelength of light interacts with the solution on its own, you can generate an absorbance spectrum (graph) for your solution.
Each wavelength can absorb differently, below is an example of how that happens.
1). The different colors of light hit the solution one at a time.
2). Each color of light interacts with the molecules and some part of the light is Absorbed, while the rest is Transmitted.
3). The amount of light that is transmitted is different for each wavelength.
4). The amount of light that is Transmitted passes through the solution to the detector.
5). The machine then can convert the amount of light that is Transmitted into the amount of light that was blocked or Absorbed by the solution.
As the light interacts with the sample, you can ask yourself.
Once the light interacts with your solution, you can graph it, much like this spectrum of Chlorophyll A
Try this Activity below with an absorbance spectrum
A question to think about:
Absorbance vs. Transmittance
Absorbance and Transmittance are related. As one goes up, the other goes down
Absorbance is the amout of light that is blocked by sample molecules
Transmittance is the amout of light that passes through the solution.
But HOW are they related?
Obtaining an Absorbance Spectrum
Laboratory Details
You will take each of the solutions you already made, and create an absorbance spectrum for each one. To do this you will use the spectrophotometer to select a wavelength of light and measure and record the absorbance of the sample at that wavelength.
Use the labeled picture below to guide youself through the steps for taking an absorbance measurement.
1). Tune the spectrophotometer to the desired wavelength
2). Load a cuvette with the solvent used in your sample
What did you use to make your solution? Water? Acid? Base? This is your solvent, and this is what you will use to tare the spectrophotometer.
Make sure the clear sides of the cuvett are in the direction of the light.
3). Place the cuvette in the spectrophotometer, and close it. Then tare the spectrophotometer.
This is just like taring a balance. You are telling the spectrophotometer that whatever light it is measuring, should be equal to zero absorbance.
4). Once the spectrophotometer is tared, then remove the solvent cuvette, and load a cuvette with your sample. Record the absorbance value that it gives you.
5). This procedure NEEDS to be repeated at EACH wavelength.
Absorbance is different for EVERY chemical at EVERY wavelength, so every time you change one of them, the spectrophotometer will need to be tared
Once you have your data all recorded, then you can plot each of your absorbance spectra
Y-axis will be the absorbance values
X-axis will be the wavelength
Look at the absorbance spectra that you create.
- Look at the maximum absorbance in your graph
- Look at the minimum absorbance in your graph
- What color are your solutions?
Show/hide comprehension question...
Experiment Goal
Generating and Using a Calibration Graph
Calibration Graphs are used to determine many things. In this experiment you are using a calibration graph to relate absorbance and concentration. They are used in many fields to relate a quantity with something you can physically measure. In the lab, you will prepare standards of a known concnetration, and plot a calibration graph. You will then use that graph to figure out the concentration of an unknown sample.
Terms you will need to know for the experiment
Straight Line
Line of Best Fit
Concepts you will learn
What is a dillution factor?
What is a line of best fit?
What is a calibration graph and how do you use it?
Skills you will learn
How to dillute samples
How to generate and plot a calibration graph
How to work with the calibration graph to be able to determine an unknown
Generating and Using a Calibration Graph
Beer's Law
In the example of a calibration graph for this experiment, you are plotting absorbance vs. concentration, as opposed to an absorbance spectrum where you are plotting absorbance vs. wavelength. But how are wavelength and concentration related to absorbance? They are all related in through the Beer-Lambert Law.
The main absorbance equation is the Beer-Lambert Law which is:
Where A is the absorbance
ε is the molar absorptivity constant. This is different for every chemical, and at every wavelength
l is the path length, the distance of solution that the light has to travel through
c is the concentration of the solution
The absorbance is based primarily on those three factors
Molar Absorptivity Constant
The Molar Absorptivity Constant is specific for every single solution, and at every wavelength. When you are taking an absorbance spectrum, and measuring the absorbance at different wavelengths, this is the only factor that is changing, as the concentration of the solution remains the same, and so does the pathlength. The path length of each vial is the same, and the concentration of each of these solutions is the same, yet the solutions are all different colors and will therefore absorb very differently. The only difference to change the absorbance, is the Molar Absorptivity Constant.
Questions to think about:
- Would the absorbance change if you use a different solvent?
- Which of the three factors would be affected by the change in solvent?
Path Length
The path length also affects absorbance. With a longer path length, the light has to travel through more solution, and can hit more molecules, and be absorbed. This would make the aborbance increase and have less light transmit through makeing the solution appear darker.
The pictures below show how solutions appear when you look through a longer pathlength.
The image to the left shows a container with three compartments. Each compartment has the same solution but filled to different levels. When looking through the solutions horizontally, they all appear the same color because the path length is the same for all three. However, when you look at the image to the right, where the view is from the top, you can see that the solutions get darker as you move from left to right. The pathlength is increasing. There are more molecules in the way of the light, so more light can be absorbed and less will be transmitted to your eye.
This can also be seen in absorbance spectra, where as the pathlength is increased, the absorbance is also increased.
Using this information, and the spectra in the figure, see how the path length would effect the absorbance in the following questions.
Some important information is that path length is rarely ever changed away from 1.0 cm.
The last component of Beer's Law, is concentration. Concentration effects the absorbance very similarly to path length. If the concentration of solution is increased, then there are more molecules for the light to hit when it passes through.
As the concentration increases, there are more molecules in the solution, and more light is blocked. This causes the solution to get darker because less light can get through.
Generating and Using a Calibration Graph
The Calibration Graph
When you take an absorbance spectrum, you are looking at the absorbance based on wavelength. But when making a calibration graph you are looking at the absorbance based on concentration.
The two plots above are an Absorbance spectrum on the left, and a calibration plot on the left.
Both are plotting absorbance, but the spectrum plots it vs. wavelength (molar absorptivity constant) and the calibration plot is vs. concentration. When you take an absorbanc spectrum, the molar absorptivity constant is changing up and down and all around, but when you are working with a calibration plot, and are only changing the concentration, it shows a linear relationship between absorbance and concentration.
Beer's Law ONLY is linear at LOW concentrations!
If the absorbance of your sample is above 1.0 you will need to dillute your sample in order to lower the absorbance
You cannot extrapolate your calibration line, because there is a deviation from a straight line at higher concentrations.
Having trouble with straight lines? Not to worry, here are some very helpfull sites to help you out! :)
- For information on "The Equation of a Straight Line"
- For information on "Best Fit Line"
- For information on "Scatter Plot with Fitted Regression Line (Excel)" 2003 Format
Generating and Using a Calibration Graph
Now You Try!
Now try opening a plotting progam and try making a calibration plot of your own. Please use the following values.
The Wavelength used for this calibration graph was 410nm REMEBER THIS!!!
Make sure to include the following whenever you make your calibration graphs!
ALWAYS make sure they are labeled!
- Title (Include wavelength used)
- Axis
- Axis Titles
- Line of Best Fit
- Equation of the Line of Best Fit
Hint for plotting a line of best fit!
Make sure to FORCE your best fit line to go through the origin
Beer's Law has an intercept through the origin, so your best fit line should reflect that.
Another way to find the slope of a line, when you do not have a fitting program available, on a test for example, would be to calculate the slope. This would give you a less accurate slope, but would still be acceptable when a fitting program is not available.
IMPORTANT NOTE!!! On ANY Report or Exam, ALWAYS show your work when you preform any calculation!
Generating and Using a Calibration Graph
How to Work with Plots
You have two different plots, your absorbance spectrum on the left, and your calibration plot on the right. The calibration plot is like taking a vertical slice through the all the absorbance spectra at the specific wavelength 410nm. The wavelength 410nm was a very good choice for the calibration plot, but how do you know which wavelengt is the best wavelength, based on the absorbance spectrum?
Choosing Your Wavelength
Look at the images above. The left is an absorbance spectrum of 0.13mM plastocyanin, while on the right is a calibration plot at two wavelengths.
Is the slope of the calibration line at 550nm greater than, less than, or equal to the slope at 600nm?
You can choose any wavelength to create a calibration plot, the only differerence will be the slope of the line.
When you actually choose your wavelength to create your calibration graph, you would generally like to choose a wavelength where there is room for the concentration to decrease. Look at the spectrum above. Do you think 450nm would be a good wavelength to use for a calibration graph? You would not choose that wavelength because when you lower the concentration, you would not be able to see much of a difference in the absorbance, and the calculations would be inaccurate. You would most likely want to choose wavelengths like 600nm or 250nm where there is a lot of room for absorbance change.
Generating and Using a Calibration Graph
Using your Calibration Graph!
Now for the fun part! Using the calibration plot that YOU made from the data two pages ago. We are going to determing the concentration of an unknown solution. Make sure you have your plot ready, because here we go!
Here's a typical problem. You take 3mL of your unknown sample and 7mL water and mix them together. The dilluted sample gives an absorbance of 0.432. What is the concentration of the initial unknown?
Where do you begin?! Well, you have your calibration graph, and it SHOULD look something like this, all properly labeled.
1). You have an absorbance, and you have a straight line equation that relates absorbance to concentration. This is the line of best fit through your data.
2). Now this is the absorbance of your DILUTED solution. But what was the concentration of your ORIGINAL solution? Remember you dilluted it once, so you can use the Dilution Equation
Ready to try one on your own?
Need some practice? Here are a few more problems. Try to figure them out on your own!
Common Errors In Calibration Plots
Final Thoughts
You're Done! See you next experiment!
For questions please attend the office hours of the GSI's or contact Nancy Kerner

subset: commoncrawl


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Support the Union: It's the Fair Thing
Think about the relationship between a government and its citizens. Each of us approves of many of the decisions made on our behalf by our elected representatives, but disapproves of others. Imagine the foolishness of trying to have a society where each person decided things based only on what was best for him or her individually.
The fact is, we all benefit from understanding that the only practical way to live together is to have a group of people with common interests making group decisions. So each of us pays taxes, with the understanding that our pooled funds generally are used for the common good. In most cases, it's simply not practical to allow individuals to "opt out" of society's decisions.
You, for example, may not have school-age children, but it would hardly be realistic for you to pay a slightly lower percentage of taxes because you don't directly benefit from (or even approve of) spending on public education. Or you may have a neighbor who doesn't think that the stop sign on the corner is really necessary, but you sure want her to obey it if your kid is trying to cross the street.
-- Adapted from The Union Members Complete Guide, by Michael Mauer


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Posts Tagged 'SNIP'
Why Scopus has introduced SciMago JR and SNIP
This paper introduces two journal metrics recently endorsed by Elsevier's Scopus: SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) and Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP). SJR weights citations according to the status of the citing journal and aims to measure journal prestige rather than popularity.
It presents the main features of the two indicators, comparing them one with another, and with a journal impact measure similar to Thomson Reuters' journal impact factor (JIF).
The journal impact factor, developed by Eugene Garfield as a tool to monitor the adequacy of coverage of the Science Citation Index, is probably the most widely used bibliometric indicator in the scientific, scholarly and publishing community. However, its extensive use for purposes for which it was not designed has raised a series of criticisms, all aiming to adapt the measure to the new user needs
In January 2010, Scopus endorsed two such measures that had been developed by their partners and bibliometric experts SCImago Research Group, based in Spain (…), and the Centre for Science and technology Studies (CWTS), based in Leiden, Netherlands, (…). The two metrics that were endorsed are SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) and Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP).
Compared to other main fields, life sciences and health sciences tend to reveal the highest SJR and RIP values. Compared to the basic, JIF-like RIP (raw impact per paper), SJR tends to make the differences between journals larger, and enhances the position of the most prestigious journals, especially – though not exclusively – in life and health sciences.
The fact that Scopus introduced these two complementary measures reflects the notion that journal performance is a multi-dimensional concept, and that there is no single 'perfect' indicator of journal performance.
Additional resources:
Lisa Colledge, Félix de Moya‐Anegón, Vicente Guerrero‐Bote, et al. SJR and SNIP: two new journal metrics in Elsevier's Scopus. Serials: The Journal for the Serials Community.Volume 23, Number 3 / November 2010. Pages: 215 – 221


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This system design is for partial greywater dispersal, such as the reuse of wastewater from a laundry and/or bathroom
GRS WaterSave System / WaterSave Tank-Dripper
About the GRS Watersave Tank-Dripper System. Approval number GW0403
This system design is for partial greywater dispersal, such as the reuse of wastewater from a laundry and/or bathroom. The GRS Watersave Tank-Dripper System comprises four parts. Initially, greywater is diverted from the normal waste stream, then it passes through a sedimentation tank, into a pump chamber, and finally the wastewater is dispersed throughout an interconnecting substrata dripper system.
GRS Tank System
(a) New tanks Greywater from the laundry and/or the bathroom should first pass into an appropriately sized settling or sedimentation tank.
Tanks are usually made from concrete or polyethylene (CT and GT series respectively).
A larger tank, typically 1200 x 1200 mm, will need to be used for larger households and greywater volumes.
(b) Using a Disused Septic Tank In sewered areas, an existing (dis-used) septic tank may be able to be used as the settling tank for a particular greywater dispersal system.
You may have to check with the local authority and/or Health Department if you intend to do this. In most houses a two tank system is used.
The larger tank is used as the greywater sedimentation tank and the second, smaller, tank is the pump tank.
Dripper System
(a) Pump tank
After the greywater has been allowed to settle for a day or so in a concrete or polyethylene tank, it passes into a pump chamber or tank.
This has to have at least 250 L capacity, but GRS suggests a larger tank to enable 200 to 300 L of wastewater to be pumped at any one time.
This is the preferred watering regime for most plants; the garden beds get watered every few days rather than a small volume every day.
A sump (submersible) pump with float switch, such as those produced by Pumpmaster, Onga or Grunfos, will be used. A water level warning device will be fitted to enable an audible and visible signal to be heard and seen if the pump should fail.
A 240V power source may need to be installed nearby to operate the pump.
(b) Irrigation System
The recycled greywater will then be pumped to areas of the garden through standard irrigation pipe to a network of substrata drippers.
A purpose-built biomatt filter is also placed before the dripper system to remove any hair or other solids which may be inadvertently pumped from the tank.
The dripper pipe is nominally Netafim pipe Tiran 17 (purple coloured dripperline). Drippers at typically set at 300 mm spacing and deliver 8 - 10 L/h.
The typical area required for dripper irrigation is calculated by dividing the greywater volume by 10 L/m2/day. e.g. 100 L = 10 m2 of irrigation area. It is anticipated that several different garden beds can be watered in sequence.
A rotary K-Rain distribution valve is used to shift water to different irrigation zones. Each line (lateral) has either a manual or automatic flushing valve on the end of the line to flush residual solids.
At least one vacuum breaker is installed at the highest point in the irrigation layout to prevent problems with wastewater dispersal. A 100 mm layer of mulch is to be placed on top of the irrigation dripper pipe.
To Know More about GRS WaterSave System Please click here
Contact Supplier for more information


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Time: Sunday 8th January 17.00 GMT, (12.00 EST, 11.00 CST etc)
Griffin Mountain
Session seven. Shaken by the death of a warrior at Scaleyback Castle, the party are now in possession of the island and couple of big piles of dung. What next?
An ongoing saga now with a more than full player roster, but if you want a place on the substitute list by all means sign up.
Rules: A somewhat tweaked version of RQ2, contact me and I'll send you the details.
GM: Barry Blatt (who looks remarkably like The Mekon, arch-nemesis of Dan Dare)
Contact me on firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Vegetable SHARES | 2018
Note: details for 2019 will be posted soon
Organically-grown produce, direct from a local farm. Food with nutritional integrity, fresh, full of flavour and vitality.
And with it: support to easily turn your weekly produce into delicious meals. Your farmer (who loves and understands "real food") will provide:
Cooking tips
Storage tips
Practical ways to fit home-prepared, nourishing meals into your busy schedule
Our best tips for getting picky eaters to willingly eat more vegetables!
Comments from last year:
"I can put my mind at ease, knowing that I'm going to have a fridge full of tasty produce!"
"I love not having to think about groceries. We like the weekly mix with lots of staple vegetables, and occasionally something new to try."
"We like the ability to customize our box, and the variety that we get to choose from each week."
"It's so convenient to get all of our produce (plus some other groceries) in one place, and the fact that it's all grown without chemicals takes away our worry about what's in our food."
This year's core offering is a Vegetable Share, based on the most popular produce here. It's a smaller pre-packed box than we've offered in previous years, so that you have more flexibility to add other types of produce each week that specifically meet your family's needs.
What You Get With a Vegetable Share:
6 weekly boxes in the Spring // 16 weekly boxes in the Summer, with seasonal, delicious salad greens, bunched greens and a couple of the most popular vegetables at that point in the season (eg, asparagus in the spring, heirloom tomatoes & cherry tomatoes in the summer)
Option to add on other produce each week (paid monthly through the season, to lower your up-front cost)
First dibs on all other farm-produced goods
Option to add on the best fruits, meats, cheese, flour, etc that we can source (on a monthly basis)
Access to a private members' area on our website, for recipes, tips and support
Invitation to a farm Open House in the summer
Will you be on vacation during the summer? Wondering what happens if you forget to pick up your box? How much food is in a box? What kinds of vegetables will be available? The exact dates your produce will be ready?
Those questions (and more) are answered on our Vegetable Share FAQ page.
Our Vegetable Shares can be picked up at 4 locations:
On the farm (near Iona Station / Shedden) Friday afternoon and Saturday morning
St. Thomas: tentatively Saturday morning
London: tentatively Thursday afternoon
Kilworth: tentatively Thursday afternoon
We'll deliver to a central pickup location in town, to save you the trip out to the farm (though… we hope you'll come to see us here sometimes too!) Home delivery is also an option - learn more about our delivery zones here. We'll set definite pickup times closer to the start of the harvest season.
Length of our seasons:
Spring: early May to mid June (6 weeks)
Summer: late June to early October (16 weeks)
High Summer: mid-July to mid-September (8 weeks)
Wondering what kinds of vegetables you'll receive through the season? Check out the harvest calendar for an overview of the produce we're planning to harvest this year.
Steps to register for your produce:
Choose your pickup location
Choose your Share type(s), and submit the Registration form
Send your deposit or payment to secure your share
Add our email address to your "approved" folder (check your spam or promotions folder if you don't see our email in your inbox within a few hours)
We're offering some extras!
All Vegetable Share members will have access to a private area on our website where we'll post recipes, food prep tips, cooking tips and other helpful hints that are relevant to what you're receiving from us that week.
You can ask questions, post your own recipe successes and meal-planning tips, and see what others are doing with their weekly produce. It's kind of like a private Facebook group, only it's on our website.
For those who sign up for both a Spring AND Full Summer Share, AND, if we receive your full payment by March 10th, you'll receive a bonus Share mid-June (which is the week between the Spring and Full Summer seasons).
More FAQ
How do you know if this (or any) CSA / Vegetable Share program is right for you? It's not for everyone. Read about what makes a family or household a good fit for a CSA / Vegetable Share program.
Or, if you'd like to know more about the nitty-gritty of how it all works, read about how a CSA / Vegetable Share program works.
Most of the produce that you'll receive in your Vegetable Share is grown at Bee Loved Gardens. A few crops will be sourced from another local, organic farm that is using similar biological and regenerative growing practices as we use here. We're very satisfied with the quality of what they're producing, and the collaboration helps us all: farmers and consumers alike. More about our collaborations here.
If you have any questions, get in touch! Call during business hours, or send an email and we'll get back to you within a day.


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YA Fantasy
Behind the Stars #1
My Rating: 4 stars
Right now you can download this for FREE on Amazon HERE
Prentiss Puckett is certain of three things:
-Graduation is two weeks away.
-Summer only gets hotter in south Mississippi.
-She's getting a job with air-conditioning.
She did not expect to be kidnapped walking to work.
And she never expected to become a hero.
My 2 Cents
Captive is the first installment of a serial, Behind the Stars. I didn't know too much about it going in, which was probably a good thing, because that's really helped the suspense!
In this first part, Captive, Prentiss is a fairly ordinary hick type girl. She has a boyfriend, Jackson, knows all about farming (Jackson's supposed to inherit his Dad's farm eventually, so all their plans include that) and also works part time with the town vet. Its these skills that become very important later on.
On a normal routine day, Prentiss is kidnapped and wakes up to a "farming concentration camp" is the best way to describe it. Its full of kids from her town, including her brother and some other friends, but Jackson is not there. No one knows what's going on, but they are assigned work shifts in the dairy barn, potato fields, and corn fields. They also appear to have been drugged as most kids seem almost zombie like.
Prentiss is not one of these kids. She spends most of this installment trying to figure out how to bust out of the camp. But what she learns just creates more questions...
So far I'm liking this story. The mystery element really has me hooked, and I really like Prentiss as a character. We also get flashbacks of her and Jackson, whom I like as well. I have a few theories as to what's going to happen next, but nothing concrete. I can't wait to find out!


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Leonardo DiCaprio thinks that Justin Bieber is a 'little twit', a source revealed to Star. Leo gave Bieber the brush off at Gotha nightclub during the Cannes Film Festival. 'Justin was strutting his stuff all over the club, walking around shirtless and scoping out chicks.
But when he heard that Leo was there, and the bevy of girls in his VIP area, Justin sent his goon to ask Leo's permission. Justin was nodding and smiling in Leo's direction,
But Leo just shook his head no and waved him off. He thinks Justin's a little twit. Leo doesn't want or need photo ops with publicity-hungry manufactured pop stars.'


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Lincoln MKT Power Steering Rack FOR SALE
The Lincoln MKT Power Steering Rack is an important part of the steering mechanism that turns the car's wheels. It includes a piston that has two fluid containers on either side which have ports to intake and expel the hydraulic fluid. The fluid is compressed by the steering pump and delivered to the rack at a high pressure. The steering wheel, whose torque is sensed by a spool-valve, is connected to a torsion bar. When the steering wheel is turned, the torsion bar twists. The spool-valve then opens one of the fluid ports in the piston. This makes the pressurized fluid enter one side of the piston cylinder while the fluid on the other side flows back to the reservoir. This action pushes the rack to one side to turn the vehicle's wheels in the required direction. The direction in which the rack is pushed is opposite to the direction in which the vehicle needs to be turned. The power steering fluid level should be checked regularly to ensure the proper functioning of the rack.
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A significant fire or incident at your property can have a devastating impact on business. Liberty offers protection against the financial costs of repair, machinery breakdown and loss of revenue caused by business interruption.
Clients in a range of industries benefit from our unique approach, where underwriters, risk engineers and claims professionals work as a cohesive team to enhance our service.
At a glance:
- Capacity of US$150m
- Access to a specialist public relations management service is available where Liberty writes 100% on eligible contracts.


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The Register: Windows XP SP2 features security crater - report
Basically, a malicious program can add a new WMI provider to the root\SecurityCenter namespace - an instance of AntiVirusProduct or FirewallProduct. Windows XP SP2's Security Center may then report that an anti-virus product or firewall product is installed and working correctly, even when one is not.
The mitigation, though, is that WMI is indeed read-write - for Administrators. PC Magazine's original article (attributed to eWeak by The Register's pet hack) makes this clear.
I was thinking along the lines of changing the ACL on this namespace so that only LocalSystem is able to create new providers, but failed since the ACLs are inherited - but you can't clear the inheritance in the MMC WMI Control snap-in (it's in the Computer Management console). However, this would only add a small hindrance since by default on XP SP2, at.exe still exists and still allows you to do
at 23:39 /interactive cmd
to get a command interpreter running as LocalSystem:
Process primary token
This is a unrestricted token
Token type: primary
Token ID: 0x25066b9
Authentication ID: 0x3e7
Token's owner: BUILTIN\Administrators (alias)
Token's source: *SYSTEM* (0x0)
Token's user: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM (user)
Token's primary group: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM (user)
(dumptoken from w00w00.org)
This only works if you're an administrator, of course.
And if you think about it, most WMI providers get registered with WMI by an installer, running as an administrator. I'm not too sure about the default ACL for the root namespace which allows Everyone to modify provider information, though.
Anyway, what's the point of misreporting the firewall or antivirus status? A program running using a token containing the Administrators group SID (or, loosely, running as an administrator) can punch a hole in the firewall using the firewall administration API - how many users will regularly check the list of exceptions? It can normally install a device driver. It could install a file-system filter driver below the anti-virus filter driver in the disk driver stack and remove any trace of its own code (you'd probably need to add another one above to add the code back in so it could run).
The true mitigation, as for most things, is to run as a regular user. Don't run as a member of the Administrators group.


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Park House In Brisbane, Australia
Shaun Lockyer Architects created this contemporary park house in the beautiful city of Brisbane, Australia. The kitchen, living room, and dining room are intentionally very spacious, so, they can fully optimize the indoor and outdoor living experience. The park room on the topmost floor helps envelop residents in a sense of drama and volume while personifying the best of subtropical indoor/outdoor living. The color of the wood works extremely well with the canopy lights they have installed throughout the house.


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MAJOR excitement!!!
David Macklovitch has been nabbed as one of mrporter's Men of Note to list his current favourite tracks. Literally nearly melted to the floor when I saw it. [swooon]
Click HERE to read the article for yourself.
Firstly he paid tribute to Duck Sauce, for obvious reasons. You can't really not big up your own brother!
But it was his fondness for Fleetwood Mac that made me go all gooey on the inside. I LOVE Fleetwood Mac. They are my all time faves due to my induction to their sweet musik during my childhood. In fact (although this is not strictly a FM track), I used to obsessively twirl around in an almost hypnotic state to Lindsey Buckingham's Trouble. [sigh]
I cannnot, literally cannot believe that Chromeo will be performing at Wireless this summer! Literally does not compute! If I don't see them play all summer I will be seriously bummed!


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Home prices dip: Wilmington-area home sales and prices continued to slide in February compared with a year earlier, the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors (WRAR) reported on Thursday.
Carolina Beach Lake: Carolina Beach Town Manager Tim Owens said this week the town is moving forward and has hired an environmental firm to gather information on permits required by environmental agencies and cost estimates for dredging Carolina Beach Lake and making other improvements.
In other news, three women are running for the GOP chair in New Hanover County… New Hanover High graduate James Goodnight is the 142nd richest person in the world, according to Forbes' latest list of the world's billionaires… A state panel advising Gov. Beverly Perdue on developing a comprehensive offshore energy strategy for North Carolina is revising its schedule of meetings…. and the chief of the Topsail Beach Volunteer Fire Department urged town commissioners Wednesday to rehire former Fire Marshall Roger Hawkins, saying his absence has hurt fire safety.
Don't forget to interact with our Cape Fear Watchdog$ political bloggers at Facebook.com/CapeFearWatchdogs


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When folks think of travel jobs, almost immediately, they will think of travel brokers. What makes Greecefully a successful travel service provider is a sure set of characteristics that focus on creating memorable experiences moderately than cheap holidays. When you consider the cost of your holiday a bit of additional expense within the form of ample travel insurance coverage cowl would appear a prudent step. Trump suspended travel to the United States from Syria, Iraq, Iran and 4 different nations on nationwide security grounds.
The White House has stated the transfer to put a a hundred and twenty-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on residents from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, is to protect U.S. residents. Accountable travelers generally are typically excessive spending travelers owing to their larger-value by way of staying true to the environmental policies.
Journey Travel Companies may also help you in budgeting and planning short journeys on weekends which is atleast better than sitting in a room the entire 12 months. If you happen to shouldn't have travel insurance coverage then it is advisable to store round and discover one of the best travel insurance provider in your journey. The … Travel More


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Accessibility tools
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"The European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize® on 10 December 2012, in recognition of six decades of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.In a ceremony at Oslo City Hall, the Presidents of the three main EU institutions - José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament - received the diploma and the medal. The event was attended by some twenty EU Heads of State or Government. Various ancillary events took place in Oslo from 9 to 11 December 2012.Please note that this best-of does not include the actual prize giving ceremony for reasons of copyright. For the images of the ceremony, please contact Nobel Media AB, Sturegatan 14, Box 5232, SE-102 45 Stockholm, Sweden."


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Below is a selection of
bespoke Wedding Invitations....
Created during 2013!
Our Invitations come
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Card Size is around 10 cm x 21 cm
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and Flat Postcard style for the Evening.
The choice is entirely up to the couple
and there's no reason why each format
cannot be used for both... Ideal
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Contact me (Sue Simpson) on 01609 776 866
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We have many more designs at the shop
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what you are looking for, share your ideas and see what we can come up with.


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The Earth has existed for about 4.5 billion years old, but animals did not appear until 540 million years ago. This period is called the Palaeozoic era, and lasted from 540 million years ago until 245 million years. The next period in the Earth's development started 245 million years ago and lasted until 65 million years ago, at which point about 80 to 90% of all animals were killed, with the main exception being birds. This was the Mesozoic era. After it came the Cenozoic era which began about 65 million years ago and is the period we live in now. During this time mammals diversified into an amazing variety of creatures, of which a large percentage are long since extinct. Below is a table laying out these periods in the earth's development in greater detail. They will be used to show the development of the platypus and at which stages its ancestors existed.
Paleozoic era
544 to 245 million years ago
Mesozoic era
245 to 65 million years ago
Cenozoic era
65 million years ago to today
544 to 505 mya
245 to 208 mya
65 to 1.8 mya
505 to 440 mya
208 to 146 mya
1.8 mya to today
440 to 410 mya
146 to 65 mya
410 to 360 mya
mya = million years ago
360 to 286 mya
286 to 245 mya
In 1985, the fossil of an opalised lower jawbone with 3 molar teeth (Steropodon Galmani) was found in New South Wales, Australia (Grant, 1989). It was an early ancestor of the platypus which existed about 110 million years old. This means that there was a platypus-like animal alive in the Cretaceous period, around the time of the dinosaurs. It is the oldest mammal fossil that has been found in Australia, so far.
The next possible ancestor of the platypus was discovered in Patagonian sediment that was over 60 million years old (Thwaites, 1991). It was a fossil tooth that has been dated to about 62 million years old.
South America and Australia used to be joined together. During the Earth's development, they eventually separated to form their own landmass. No other fossils have been found in South America that can be linked to the platypus. There have been no suggestions as to why the platypus continued to evolve in Australia but died out in South America after the two continents separated.
Fossils of other platypus ancestors have been found. Three of them are Obduron Insignis, Obduron Dicksoni, and Obduron Species A, which were all discovered in Australian sediments. These animals existed between 15 and 25 million years ago. It is thought that all of them kept their teeth into adulthood, hence the name Obduron, which means enduring teeth. These species are different to the present day platypus, because it does not have teeth, only a plate to grind its food. The Obduron Insignis is the most recent of the three platypus relatives and it is though to have existed about 15 million years ago (Grant, 1989).
Fossils have been found of the present day platypus (Ornithorhynchus Anatinus), with the oldest one dating back to about 100,000 years ago, which is the Quaternary period.
Fossil evidence has shown that the platypus has ancestral connections to animals that lived in the Cretaceous period. One question that arises is how did the platypus evolve into the animal it is today. Two theories have been suggested to explain the way in which the platypus and other monotremes, e.g. echidna, has evolved in relation to two other mammal groups; the marsupials, e.g. kangaroos, and the placentals, which are animals that use a placenta to aid the rearing of their young.
The first (Theory B) is that relatives of the monotremes formed their own evolutionary branch that was distinct from the development of both the marsupials' and the placentals' relatives. This is thought to have occurred over 135 million years ago, at the beginning of the Cretaceous period. Then at some point between 135 and 65 million years ago, the marsupials and the placentals divided to go their own evolutionary route.
The second theory (Theory A) was first proposed by Gregory (1947), but did not become popular until the 1970s (Hamilton, 1988). His proposal was that at some point between 135 and 65 million years ago, the monotremes and the marsupials separated from the placentals, causing them to evolve in a different way. After this the monotremes and marsupials separated from each other. These two theories are shown in the diagram below
The evidence to support Gregory's theory is that the reproductive processes of both the marsupials and the monotremes have a remarkable similarity. The embryos of both groups are at some stage encased in a shell during the gestation period. In the case of the monotremes this occurs for the whole gestation period, but for marsupials the shell is only present for two thirds of the gestation period.
The Aboriginal population had known about the platypus for many centuries. But it was not until 1797 that the Europeans discovered them. The first scientific examination and description of the platypus was made by George Shaw. He gave the platypus the name - Platypus anatinus. He published his findings in Naturalists Miscellany vol X in 1799. This is his description:
"The animal exhibited on the preſent plate conſtitutes a new and ſingular genus, which, in the Linnæan arrangement of Quadrapeds, ſhould be placed in the order Bruta, and ſhould ſtand next to the genus Myrmecophaga.
Of all the Mammalia yet known it ſeems the moſt extraordinary in its confirmation; exhibiting the perfect resemblance of the beak of a Duck engrafted on the head of a quadraped. So accurate in the ſimilitude that, at firſt view, it naturally exhibits the idea of ſome deceptive preparation by artificial means: the very epidermis, proportion, ſerratures, manner of opening, and other particulars of the beak of a ſhoveler, or other broad-billed ſpecies of duck, preſenting themſelves to the view: nor is it without the moſt minute and rigid examination that we can perſuade ourſelves of its being the real beak or ſnout of a quadraped.
The body is depreſſed, and has ſome reſemblance to that of an Otter in miniature: it is covered with a very thick, ſoft, and beaver-like fur, and is of a moderately dark brown above, and of a ſubferuginous white beneath. The head is flattiſh, and rather ſmall than large: the mouth or ſnout, as before obſerved, ſo exactly reſembles that of ſome broad-billed ſpecies of duck that it might be miſtaken for ſuch: round the baſe is a flat, circular membrane, ſomewhat deeper or wider below than above; viz. below near the fifth of an inch, and above about an eighth. The tail is flat, furry like the body, rather ſhort, and obtuſe, with an almoſt bifid termination: it is broader at the baſe, and gradually leſſens to the tip, and is about three inches in length: its color is ſimilar to that of the body. The length of the whole animal from the tip of the beak to that of the tail is thirteen inches: of the beak an inch and half. The legs are very ſhort, terminating in a broad web, which on the fore-feet extends to a conſiderable diſtance beyond the claws; but on the hind-feet reaches no farther than the roots of the claws. On the fore-feet are five claws, ſtrait, ſtrong, and ſharp-pointed: the two exterior ones ſomewhat ſhorter than the three middle ones. On the hind feet are ſix claws, longer and more inclining to a curved form than those of the fore-feet: the exterior tow and claw are conſiderably ſhorter than the four middle ones: the interior or ſixth is ſeated much higher up than the reſt, and reſembles a ſtrong, ſharp ſpur. All the legs are hairy above, and naked below. The internal edges of the under mandible, (which is narrower than the upper) are ſerrated or channelled withnumerous ſtriae, as in a duck's bill. The noſtrils are ſmall and round, and are ſituated about a quarter of an inch from the tip of the bill, and are about the eighth of an inch distant from each other. There is no appearance of teeth: the palate is removed, but ſeems to have reſembled that of a duck: the tongue alſo is wanting in the ſpecimen. The ears are auditory foramina are placed about half an inch beyond the eyes: they appear like a pair of oval holes of the eighth of an inch in diameter; there being no external ear. On the upper part of the head, on each ſide, a little beyond the beak, are ſituated two ſmalliſh, oval, white ſpots; in the lower part of each of which are imbedded the eyes, or at leaſt the parts allotted to the animal for ſome kind of viſion; for from the thickneſs of the fur and the ſmallneſs of the organs they ſeem to have been but obſcurely calculated for diſtinct viſion, and are probably like those of Moles, and ſome other animals of that tribe; or perhaps even more ſubcutaneous; the whole apparent diameter of the cavity in which they were placed not exceeding the tenth of an inch.
When we conſider the general form of this animal, and particularly its bill and webbed feet, we ſhall readily perceive that it muſt be a reſident in watery ſituations; that it has the habits of digging or burrowing in the banks of rivers, or under ground; and that its food conſiſts of aquatic plants and animals. This is all that can at preſent be reaſonably gueſſed at: future obſervations made in its native regions, will, it is hoped, afford us more ample information, and will make us fully acquainted with the natural hiſtory of an animal which differs ſo widely from all other quadrapeds, and which verifies in a moſt ſtriking manner the obſervation of Buffon; vizs. that whatever was poſſible for Nature to produce has actually been produced.
On a ſubject ſo extraordinary as the preſent, a degree of ſceptiſm is not only pardonable, but laudable; and I ought perhaps to acknowledge that I almoſt doubt the teſtimony of my own eyes with reſpect to the ſtructure of this animal's beak; yet muſt confeſs that I can perceive no appearance of any deceptive preparation; and the edges of the rictus, the inſertion, &c. when tried by the teſt of maceration in water, ſo as to render every part completely moveable ſeem perfectly natural; nor can the moſt accurate examination of expert anatomiſts diſcover any deception in this particular.
The Platypus is a native of Auſtralaſia or New Holland, and is at preſent in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Dobson, ſo much diſtinguished by his exquiſite manner of preparing ſpecimens of vegetable anatomy."
On later pages Shaw adds the following:-
"In the deſcription of the animal called Platypus, in a preceding number of this publication, I obſerved that ", a degree of ſceptiſm is not only pardonable, but laudable; and I ought perhaps to acknowledge that I almoſt doubt the teſtimony of my own eyes with reſpect to the ſtructure of this animal's beak." I therefore recommend to the attention of thoſe who may be equally zealous in the inveſtigation of a point ſo intereſting, the deſcriptions given by Pallas, Guldenſtedt, and Lepechgin of an animal, not indeed very rare in ſome parts of Europe, but which ſeems to have been hitherto but indifferently figured, and, till lately, but very imperfectly described, viz. the Sorex maſchatus Lin. In this animal, in ſome particulars, an evident approach ſeems to be made to the Platypus; and though the ſtructure of the feet differs as to exact ſimilitude, there is yet a general reſemblance; except that the authros above mentioned repreſent the hind feet as much more widely webbed than the fore; the contrary of which is the caſe in the Platypus: the tail is alſo of a widely different appearance. It is undeniable however that no animal would ſo well anſwer for an experiment of ingenious deception as the Sorex moſchatus. Upon the whole this paradoxical quadraped muſt be left to future inveſtigation, and we muſt be content at preſent to remain ignorant of its real nature."
This first sighting of the platypus was made on the banks of a lake near Hawkesbury River, New South Wales. This platypus find was recorded by Lieutenant-Colonel David Collins in his "Account of the English Colony in New South Wales" p in 1802. He describes it thus:
"The Kangaroo, the Dog, the Opossum, the Flying Squirrel, the Kangaroo Rat, a spotted Rat, the common Rat, and the large Fox-bat (if entitled to a place in this society), made up the whole catalogue of animals that were known at this time, with the exception which must now be made of an amphibious animal, of the mole species, one of which had been lately found on the banks of a lake near the Hawkesbury. In size it was considerably larger than the land mole. The eyes were very small. The forelegs, which were shorter than the hind, were observed, at the feet, to be provided with four claws, and a membrane, or web, that spread considerably beyond them, while the feet of the hind legs were furnished, not only with this membrane or web, but with four long and sharp claws, that protected as much beyond the web, as the web projected beyond the claws of the fore feet. The tail of this animal was thick, short, and very fat; but the most extraordinary circumstance observed in its structure was, its having, instead of the mouth of an animal, the upper and lower mandibles of a duck. By these it was enabled to supply itself with food, like that bird, in muddy places, or in the banks of the lakes, in which its webbed feet enabled it to swim, while on shore its long and sharp claws were employed in burrowing; nature thus providing for it in its double or amphibious character. These little animals had been frequently noticed rising to the surface of the water, and blowing like the turtle." (Fleay 1980, pp.xiii-xiv)
Three years later Thomas Bewick (1805) made one of the first drawings of the platypus, with it he wrote the following description:
"Is found in the fresh water lakes . . . about the size of a small Cat, it chiefly frequents the banks of the lakes; its bill is very similar to that of a Duck, and it probably feeds in muddy places in the same way; its eyes are very small; it has four short legs; the fore legs are shorter than those of the hind, and their webs spread considerably beyond the claws, which enables it to swim with great ease; the hind legs are also webbed, and the claws are long and sharp. They are frequently seen on the surface of the water, where they blow like a turtle: their tail is thick, short and very fat." (Fleay 1980, p.xiv).
The first platypus specimens reached Britain in 1798. Some of them were skins, others were stuffed, but they were all thought to be fakes. This was because the Chinese were selling "mermaids" to the visiting sailors. These "mermaids" were created from the mummified bodies of monkeys that were cleverly attached to the tails of fish by the local taxidermists. At a later date some specimens, which had been preserved in spirit, were sent to Britain. This made it easier for the scientists to believe in the existence of such an animal, and it gave them the opportunity to begin to examine its anatomy and physiology.
Everard Jones was one of the first people to dissect a platypus and he published a paper in 1802 to this effect (Barrett, 1944). He ruled out any possibility that it was a fake and ensured that it was without doubt a member of the animal kingdom, but he did not resolve the mammal, reptile, and other creature paradox.
There had been rumours before, especially from the indigenous population, that the platypus laid eggs, but as usual there was a lot of scepticism about this strange animal. The first sighting of such an event was observed at Woods Point, Victoria in 1864 where a captive platypus laid two eggs. However, it took another 20 years before W.H.Caldwell (1884; Barrett, 1944) proved the egg-laying ability of the platypus beyond all scientific doubt. It had taken almost a century for the scientists to decide that the monotremes (platypus & echidnas) were mammals, but were a separate group within this class.
The platypus has been called a variety of different names. The aborigines called it mallangong, boondaburra and tambreet. With the arrival of the Europeans the platypus was given other names such as duckbill, watermole, duckmole and platypus. In 1799, George Shaw was the first to attempt to name it scientifically, when he called it Platypus Anatinus, which means flat-footed and bird-like. The platypus is not actually flat-footed but it could seen as being so, because its webbed feet make it look flat-footed.
The German anatomist Blumenbach later changed the name to Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus (a paradox of an animal with a bird-like mouth), because it was found that a beetle had all ready been given the name platypus (Barrett, 1944). The next change in the platypus' name was to Ornithorhynchus Anatinus, which means duck-like animal with a bird-like mouth. However, the name platypus was the one preferred by most people, which is why it has remained.
In the 1800s, the platypus was hunted for its fur. Due to their size it would take many pelts to make anything useful, e.g. a full-length coat requires over 70. This had a devastating affect on the platypus population, to such an extent that the Government introduced laws to protect them and conservation programmes to increase their numbers.
Barrett, C., 1944. The Platypus. Robertson & Mullens: Melbourne.
Bewick, T., 1805. A General History of Quadrupeds. 4th edition. Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Collins, D., 1798. An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales. 2 vols. Cadell & Davies: London.
Connolly, J.H., Canfield, P.J., McClure, S.J, & Whittington, R.J., 1999. Histological and immunohistological investigation of lymphoid tissue in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus Anatinus). Journal of Anatomy. 195. pp.161-171.
Fleay, D., 1980. Paradoxical Platypus: Hobnobbing with duckbills. The Jacaranda Press: Milton, Queensland.
Grant, T., 1989. The Platypus. A Unique Mammal. New South Wales: New South Wales University Press.
Hamilton, G., 1988. The Platypus. Australian Geographic. 12, pp.50-67
Meng, J., & Wyss, A.R., 1995. Monotreme affinities and low-frequency hearing suggested by multituberculate ear. Nature. 377, pp.141-144.
Thwaites, T., 1991. Duck-billed Platypus had a South-American cousin. New Scientist. 131(1783), p.13.
If anyone has any additional information that I could use, please e-mail it to me.


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What I Did On My Winter Vacation (Delenir)
Hello friends! It's good to be back after the winter holidays! As I mentioned, I took a break from blogging to try some hardcore Japanese-ing! I wanted to make December all about action rather than theory or preparation. The best way to explain is of course with photos! Switching entirely to iOS for my mobile … Continue reading
Technical Speak Introdution
Thank you for everyone who voted on which words they'd like to hear most. You can expect each posts to have vocabulary (with kanji included), explanations, and usages in sentences. Surprisingly we had the following results: Philosophy 18% The following are 12%ers. Computer Science Computer Engineering Mathematics Archaeology And that my friends is the main results of … Continue reading


text: Today I embarked on the next part of my journey to helping people better their lives. Once again, I've signed on with NASM, and this time it's to further my fitness education as a Weight Loss Specialist. Following the WLS certification, will most likely be the CES cert (Corrective Exercise Specialist) as I find a lot of people have some sort of injury or imbalance that needs special attention. For now though, it's the WLS cert. And away we go!


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An open letter to clients and partners:
As many of you are aware, Parker Management Consulting Incorporated (PMC) has proudly delivered services to the public and non-profit sectors since 1998. Our firm has consistently focused on providing high quality consulting services to clients, and building strong, long lasting relationships. I'm very proud of our track record, and have certainly enjoyed the journey thus far.
Late last year, we identified the need to take a new direction with our firm. In doing so, we are delighted to announce that PMC has agreed to be acquired by OPTIMUS | SBR, a leading Toronto-based management consulting firm that provides advisory services customized to address strategy, process, and project management needs to public and private sector organizations across Canada. PMC is now a Division of OPTIMUS | SBR.
This new arrangement provides three distinct advantages that will help to meet our clients changing needs in a comprehensive full service manner.
- Additional subject matter expertise across a variety of industries to provide more insightful and focused thought leadership.
- A broader pool of resources, experience, and knowledge that complements and enhances our existing capabilities, and allows for a more fulsome range of service delivery.
- A clear and sustainable roadmap for the future via inclusion in a larger firm with a diverse client base across broader public sector, healthcare, financial services, energy, and infrastructure organizations.
I would like to personally thank you for your continued support and interest in PMC over the past eighteen years. It has been a pleasure working with you and I look forward to continuing our relationship now that we have joined OPTIMUS | SBR.
This exciting development sets the stage for us to strengthen our delivery of quality services, and we are all very excited about the positive impact it will have for our clients.
In the meantime, I invite you to visit OPTIMUS | SBR online at http://www.optimussbr.com or continue to contact me at email@example.com.
Best regards,
Jim Parker CMC
Parker Management Consulting


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(1) A Convention in Scotland
A convention held in Glasgow, Scotland in the 80s.
|Faircon '78
|July 1978
|Faircon '79
|July 13-15, 1979
|Faircon '81
|July 24-27, 1981
|John Brunner, Ken Slater
|Faircon '82
|July 23-26, 1982
|Naomi Mitchison
(2) A convention in New York City
See Silvercon
|This is a convention page. Please extend it by adding information about the convention, including dates, GoHs, convention chairman, location, sponsoring organization, external links to convention pages, awards given, the program, notable events, anecdotes, pictures, scans of publications, pictures of T-shirts, con reports, etc.
page revision: 5, last edited: 07 Jan 2018 21:27


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The year 2012 is going to be end after a day and 2012 will be remembered as a wonderful year for fashion. According to New Straits Times, The big changes have been seen in the world of Fashion because of new trends brought by famous and popular Fashion Houses like Christian Dior, Tiffany and Co., Bvlgari, Gucci, Tom Ford, Prada and Hugo Boss.
In February 2012, Raf Simons has been selected as the creative head of Christian Dior. Among all the brands, Christian Dior has scored maximum marks by fashion and style critics. Hollywood's Female celebs adore and love to wear Gucci and Dior gowns on Red carpets like Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lopez, Emma Watson and many more. Princess Kate remain in the centre of attention because of her Fashion Sense and style.
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See All Newsletters
September 2007
Hello Everyone!
I love Fall. The pace quickens after the summer, routines are
established and classes and events are underway. I want to tell you about a
class that I took with a fascinating physicist. Read all about him below.
I saw a great bumper sticker in Sedona AZ a few months ago.
"Quiet women don't change the world." Well the same
expression also applies to certain men.
It has been a busy few months for me. The editing process of
my book is underway. I'm excited to see how The Body Knows ...How to
Stay Young will turn out. The book is all about aging vibrantly and
healthfully. It will be released early summer 2008.
Check out my fall schedule below. I look forward to meeting
all of you soon.
If you are interested in learning the craft of medical
intuition, register for my Medical
Intuitive Training October 26-28 in Bellingham Washington.
Plan to join me in Seattle WA September 29 or Portland
OR October 12 - 14.
Free Teleseminars take place on Monday nights
at 5pmPDT/8EDT. Register here.
Health and vitality are so important to me. My newsletter is
an important way for us to stay connected. It is my great joy to continue
to be in touch with you through this newsletter and to help you to stay
motivated on your path to optimum wellness.
I also want to let you know that when I mention a product or
service, I am only doing it to tell you about something that I think is
worthwhile. I do not have any financial affiliations with any of the
services or products I recommend.
Blessings, Caroline
In this issue
· Medical Intuitive Training - October 26-28
· An Interesting Time Clock
· Physicist Nassim Haramein
Weight Loss
Event/Readings :
Seattle WA - September 29
Lecture/Readings/Workshop :Portland OR - October 12-14
Click here
for complete fall schedule.
Medical Intuitive Training - October 26 - 28
Click here
for details.
An Interesting Time Clock
This fascinating world
clock was sent to me by my client Kathy Abarr in Montana. Kathy has
sponsored several of my workshops in California and Idaho. This clock
will show you what is going on in our world, just how fast the pace is
and how precious life is - so make the most of it. Thank you Kathy.
Take a look.
This may take a few moments to load.
Physicist Nassim Haramein
Once in a while you
encounter someone who really captivates your imagination, your brain and
your heart.
I had the priviledge of attending a workshop given by Naseem Haramein a
physicist who thinks out of the box.
There is a biblical
expression. "And a litle child shall lead them." This refers to
innocence, inquisitivness, belief in the unknown and a keen desire to
understand the unexplainable. Naseem is one such person and he is turning
the world of physics upside down.
In the world of science,
just like the world of medicine, education, politics and religion there
is a code or an unwritten law that the party line, the way things have
always been, is not to be tampered with. Then along comes a creative
brain like Nassim Haramein who questioned current reasoning and had the
guts, the intuition and the knowlege to buck the scientific party line.
Friends introduced me to
a video of one of his presentations about 18 months ago. I knew there was
a DVD in the works and I was anxious to see it. The universe delivered
and I was so fortunate to be able to see Nassim in person at one of his
presentations in the Pacific Northwest. He is brilliant, funny, totally
charming and personable. He makes physics understandable. He shows that
there is a reason, a science and a formula to everything known and
unknown in the universe.
His expertise is the
exploration of space time which has led him to a coherant understanding
of the structure and model of the universe and our existence in this
universe. Nassim points out inconsistencies in our current concepts of
physics and how alterations are necessary to unify the four forces of
nature, biological evolution and consciousness. Now other scientists are
beginning to sit up and take notice of his theories.
Haramein combines ancient
wisdom and cutting edge scientific research. He parallels ancient codes
left in documents, ancient texts, colossal monuments and sacred sites.
His truly fascinating work could prove to be one of the most important
and exciting discoveries of our time.
I encourage you to buy
his DVD set, follow it through to the end and marvel at how one man could
crack a complicated scientific code.
To order his DVD,
Crossing the Event Horizon visit www.theresonanceproject.org
Please note:
Statements in this newsletter have not been reviewed by the FDA. Never
start or stop any treatments, programs or medications without first
consulting your medical doctor.
Medical Intuitive Training - October
Would you like to learn
how to tune into yourself and others? My Medical Intuitive Training takes
place for three full days -October 26 - 28 in Bellingham Washington, a
beautiful city 1 1/2 hours North of Seattle and 1 1/2 hours South of
Vancouver B.C. Canada.
Call 800-575-6185 to
Come and learn how to
develop this gift. Find out how to hone your own intuitive skills and
"see" into the body. This training is not the domain of a few
gifted people. It offers valuable information and techniques for the lay
person and professional.
Again this year I am delighted to have Dr. Wayne Topping, author,
lecturer and master kinesiologist, and my husband Gary Leikas R.N., OCN,
BSN to co-present with me.
Dr.Topping is a Touch for
Health Faculty Member, Biokinesiologist and Founder of Wellness
Kinesiology. He teaches in 22 countries and has an extensive
international following. No wonder people fly in from all over the world
to access his wealth of knowledge. His techniques for tapping in to the
body's wisdom are very impressive. You may be interested in Wayne's
post-conference classes offered in Bellingham October 29, 30 and 31. He
also offers CEU's for RN's and LMT's. visit www.wellnesskinesiology.com
for details.
During the training,
participants will spend 3 days tapping into the body and exploring the
exciting world of medical intuition. As well, each participant will
receive a medical intuitive reading or recheck which is included in the
registration fee.
Call 800-575-6185 to
Cost: $525.
21 CEU credits for LMT"s and RN's are available with an optional 2.5
CEU's for the Friday evening event.
Click here
for more information.
Join our mailing list!
[ ][Join]
email: email@example.com
phone: 360-527-3311
web: http://www.carolinesutherland.com


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Partial Wedding Planning Package
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This package is for the couple who has already started their wedding planning but has found that they some extra guidance during the planning process. Krista will be there to recommend vendors and keep you on task throughout planning the remainder of the details. This package differs from Complete Planning, because couples have already booked their venues and hired some of their vendors.
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Includes Wedding Day Management:
Greeting and directing the other vendors as needed
On site direction of and assistance with ceremony and reception set-up
- Placement of couple's person items (guest book, card box, champagne flutes, cake knife)
- Placement of escort cards, guest favors, table numbers
- Placement of other simple décor (candles, pictures frames, signage, pre-assembled centerpieces)
- Additional fees may apply for more extensive set up assistance
Coordinating the ceremony and reception based on the timeline
Transportation of items from ceremony to reception
Distributing final payments and/or tips to vendors (client provides the checks made out to each specific vendor ahead of time)
Transporting gifts onsite after dinner
Packing up couple's personal items
Includes up to 8 hours of assistance on the wedding day (additional hours can be added for $75/hr)
Travel fees may apply depending on wedding location
Pricing Starts at $2,500


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In 30 years, we've brought the arts to over 800,000 people!
228,000+ have viewed art in The Arts Center Galleries
18,000+ students of all ages have taken classes
466,220+ people have attended an event funded by our grant program
78,000+ people have rung in the New Year with us
Saratoga Arts has paid artists over $2,290,000 in grant awards, teaching and performance fees, and art sales!
© Lawrence White
John Van Alstine (image left), born in 1952, grew up in the southern Adirondack Mountains. He received his MFA from Cornell University in 1976. Van Alstine's work has been exhibited widely in the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia. He has completed many major outdoor sculptures, including his most recent for the Beijing Olympics. His work is in the collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art, Denver Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art in Portugal, The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian in D.C and many more. Since 1987, Van Alstine has lived and worked within a nineteenth-century industrial complex on the banks of the Sacandaga River. For more about Van Alstine and his work, visit johnvanalstine.com.
Noah Savett (image right) lives in Gansevoort, NY, where he owns and operates a steel fabrication plant. He spends equal time, as a sculptor, working out of his studio in Saratoga Springs. Savett's work has been widely exhibited in both group and solo exhibitions; his pieces are also on loan and part of private collections, including SUNY Plattsburgh and the Arts Center in Saratoga Springs; go to noahsavett.com for more information.
Tempered By Memory was created by sculptors John Van Alstine and Noah Savett, in collaboration with a team of volunteer ironworkers and crane opperators. The sculpture would not have been made possible without the enthusiasm, passion and commitment of our volunteer ironworkers and crane opperators. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all those who gave their time and expertise to create Tempered By Memory.
Or call 518-584-4132


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Product Description
18k White Gold 0.47ct Diamond 10.97 grams Size 9 Eternity Band
Copyright Philadelphia Watch Company 2014
Privacy & Terms | Shipping & Returns
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are property of their respective owners. Philadelphia Watch Company is a separate entity not affiliated with the mark owner. Display of any mark does not suggest endorsement or sponsorship by mark owner.


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Entries in Instructor/Studio Profiles (34)
Pilates Pro Newsfeed: Studio Owner Spotlight
Some of our favorite Pilates news stories that I come across when rounding up the Pilates Pro newsfeed are the great profiles local papers have done on Pilates studio owners. Not only are they fun to read, but they help raise the awareness of Pilates and put a personal face on a local business. Last week, Allison Weyand, owner of Studio Core in Saginaw, MI, was interviewed by the business section of a Michigan news site. Here are a few of Alison's answers to questions about her business (read the full article here):
• Best way to keep competitive edge: To always be one step ahead. Finding the best quality clothing, teachers and exercise. I like competition - it pushes you to be better.
• How do you motivate people: Positive energy - they feed off your energy.
• Best business decision: Taking a leap of faith and investing in Pure Barre.
• Worst business decision: I didn't do my research on a project associated with the business.
• Biggest management myth: That you have all the answers.
• What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago: To trust myself more and not let negative personalities bring me down.
• Three greatest passions: Making people feel better about themselves, my family and living life to the fullest.
Here are a few more Pilates studio owner profiles we've found in the last few months:
Q&A with Zayna Gold of Boston Body Pilates
68-year-old parks pilates instructor still going strong
Pilates studio attracts clients
Sue Dalton believes fitness is life
Suzette Smith: From hedges to the heights
Core in the carriage house
Instructor is off to a rolling start
Continuing Ed: The Alexander Technique
"Continuing Ed" is our regular look at workshops, programs and other methods of exercise and bodywork that can enhance your skills as a Pilates teacher.
By Nicole Rogers
The Alexander Technique is a method for reeducating the mind and body to eliminate unnecessary tension. It focuses on changing unhealthy movement habits in everyday life, creating a more relaxed, enjoyable and energetic experience.
The Alexander Technique is popular with musicians and performers. F.M. Alexander (1869-1955), the creator of the technique, was an Australian Shakespearian actor who suffered from chronic hoarseness. Through intense self-observation and experimentation, he conquered his hoarseness and developed what he called the primary control. According to the American Society for the Alexander Technique, "He named this relationship the primary control because he perceived it as primary in controlling posture, breath and movement."
People with chronic pain, back problems, arthritis, asthma, repetitive strain and carpal tunnel syndrome have found particular success with the Alexander Technique. The medical community has widely endorsed the method, as well as respected scientists such as Dutch ethologist Nikolaus Tinbergen, who noted Alexander's discoveries in his 1973 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine acceptance speech. Clinical studies have even proven some of the Alexander Technique's benefits. Suffice it to say, this is a form of body education that is well established and respected and will be around for a long time.
Heather Snyder, a nationally certified Alexander Technique teacher and Pilates instructor and founder of The Graceful Body, a studio in New York, agreed to answer a few questions about the Alexander Technique and how it affects her as a Pilates instructor. She is a graduate of the Manhattan Center for the Alexander Technique, and she received her Pilates certification from Romana Kryzanowska.
Continuing Ed: The Feldenkrais Method
"Continuing Ed" is our regular look at workshops, programs and other methods of bodywork that can enhance your skills as a Pilates teacher.
By Nicole Rogers
The Olympic gold medal-winning Italian fencing team recently revealed Feldenkrais as their "secret weapon," and many others rave about the benefits—pain and stress relief, enhancement of artistic and athletic performance, improved posture and balance. But it may be easier to experience Feldenkrais than to explain it.
The method was invented by a man named Moshe Pinhas Feldenkrais, with a long and impressive resume including degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering, a D.Sc. in physics from the Sorbonne, work on a Van de Graaf generator used for atomic fission experiments, and extensive knowledge of Judo and Jujitsu. Before his death in 1984, Feldenkrais taught small groups of practitioners to continue teaching the method we know today as Feldenkrais. Now there are approximately 6,000 practitioners around the world.
The Feldenkrais Method is an educational system designed to improve awareness through movement. The Feldenkrais Institute of New York puts it this way: "An integration of biology, neuroscience and psychology, the Method explores the biological and cultural aspects of movement and posture, and how habitual ways of moving, feeling, and acting can constrain us to a small portion of our potential." In other words, as humans we ordinarily learn to move well enough to function, but our abilities to function with greater ease and skill remain to be developed. The Feldenkrais Method teaches—through movement—how we can improve our capabilities to function in our daily lives.
There are two ways in which Feldenkrais is taught:
Awareness Through Movement – group classes
Functional Integration – a hands-on, one-on-one session with a practitioner
O-Sel Nyima is a Pilates instructor and Feldenkrais practitioner in Brooklyn, NY. She invited me to her home to explain more about Feldenkrais and how it enhances her Pilates instruction.
Pilates Careers: Working in a Clinical Environment
As the U.S. population grows older, and as the medical community gains a greater understanding of the benefits of Pilates, more Pilates professionals may have the opportunity to work in clinical settings with special populations. I sat down with one such instructor, Steven Fetherhuff, and asked him to share his experiences as one of two Pilates instructors at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery's Integrative Care Center in New York.
Q: How did you initially find out about the Pilates program at the Integrative Care Center?
A: A colleague of mine, Sarah Faller, approached me about it. I used to work with Sarah at Alycea Ungaro's studio. She's the Pilates coordinator for the Integrative Health Care Center, and when she told me about it I was like, "That's exactly what I want to do!"
Recession Survival Guide: Tips from Top Pilates Studios
By Nicole Rogers
With so many conflicting reports, it's hard to tell whether the United States is truly in a recession or if we are just dangerously close. But one thing is certain—it's on everyone's minds.
It is especially on the minds of the small business owners and freelancers in the Pilates community. Could Pilates be one of the first things to drop from our clients' budgets? Articles with titles like "It's Not So Easy Being Less Rich" and "Is The Economy Making Us Fat?" suggest this possibility. Both explain how even the wealthy have been choosing to cut back on perceived "luxuries" like fitness.
I was curious to see how some prominent, successful studio owners across the country were doing in this economy, and what advice they could give from their years of experience with economic ebs and flows. While the current economy seems to have taken a dive from coast to coast, it is clear that people handle their money differently depending on location.
Alycea Ungaro of Real Pilates in New York, Lora Anderson of Pilates Studio City in Los Angeles and Stacy Sims of Pendleton Pilates in Cincinnati were kind enough to share their experiences and solutions in a tough economy. Thankfully, across the board, there seems to be as much good news as bad.
Pilates Pro Newsfeed: Bay Area Pilates Meetup
Attention San Francisco Pilates instructors: In case you haven't heard, a group of your colleagues is forming a new group called the Bay Area Pilates Collective with the goal of "bringing together Bay Area Pilates studio owners, professionals and aficionados to meet and brainstorm about our profession and vision for the future of the Pilates industry." Special guests for the first meeting include Marie-Jose Blom, Nora St. John and Elizabeth Larkam, and discussions will entail shaping a voice for the Bay Area Pilates community, scope of practice and the line between employees versus independent contractors. All area instructors are invited; the event will be held at EHS Pilates Studio (1452 Valencia St.) on Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. RSVP: 415-285-5808.
More Pilates-Related News
• Think you have a killer Teaser? If so, you can show off your form (and win an MVe Chair!) in Peak Pilates' Teaser Photo Contest. The deadline is Sept. 1.
• A Philly Pilates studio is having success with a pilot program for Parkinson's patients.
• Ana Cabon shares her thoughts about how Pilates can boost fertility on a conceive online podcast.
• A New Zealand Pilates instructor is awarded a grant to develop a training program for Pink Pilates, a program for women recovering from breast cancer.
• New York instructor Rebekah Rotstein is interviewed about practicing Pilates safely with osteoporosis.
• A Cirque du Soliel performer turned Pilates instructor calls Pilates a "life saver."
• Pilates instructor Claire Roberts discusses how she founded Power of Pilates, a UK business that operates classes in Earley, Reading and Wokingham.
• A dieting blogger gets hooked on Pilates.
• Man with foot fetish assaults New Hampshire Pilates and yoga instructors.
Pilates Goes to College
Just a few years ago, Kim Gibilisco, a choreographer, dancer and Polestar- and Stott Pilates–trained instructor, was teaching private Pilates sessions in her Manhattan studio. Today, she is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Shenandoah University, in Winchester, Virginia, and the woman responsible for bringing a Mat certification program to the school. Here she discusses how she came to be SU's Pilates Program Coordinator and where Pilates fits in the university setting.
Pilates Pro Newsfeed: Pelvic Fitness
Top Story: A new concept in micro-focused spas has come to New York: pelvic fitness. While the idea behind Phit—which stands for "pelvic health integrated techniques"—might sound new (and uncomfortable) to some women, Pilates instructors already know the benefits of getting "in shape from the inside out." But Dr. Lauri Romanzi's services go beyond Kegel workouts—the board-certified gynecologist is also offering electrostimulation, nonsurgical labial contouring, vaginal tightening surgery and labiaplasty. I'll stick with my Seated Legs exercises, thank you very much.
More Pilates-Related News
• Foam roller sales have doubled in the last few years.
• High-end hotels are adding Pilates to their offerings.
• First-generation teacher Ron Fletcher shares his thoughts on Pilates in The Guardian: "The trouble with this work, in general, is that people mistake it for an exercise regimen, and it's not. It's an art and it's a science and it's a study of movement."
• A Brooklyn yoga instructor gives new meaning to "phoning it in."
• An inspiring story about a disabled Pilates instructor
• Peak Pilates' master trainer Colleen Glenn is profiled as one of Boulder's "local health pros.
Pilates Pro Newsfeed: Pilates Beats Yoga for Balance
Top Story: US News Touts Pilates for Building Balance in Elderly
A study about the effectiveness of yoga for preventing falls has some experts skeptical. Debra Rose, codirector of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence at University of Southern California, told US News that the improvements in coordination and motor skills that Pilates and tai chi provide are more effective at preventing falls when walking.
Athletes Still Love Pilates
LA Dodgers' James Loney is using Pilates to "stay ahead of the curve" on the baseball field, while Philadelphia 76ers' Maurice Cheeks introduced his entire basketball team to Pilates. Golfers in South Africa are also getting into the method.
More Pilates News
• Read the story of Dolly Kelepecz, a former showgirl who brought Pilates to Las Vegas.
• Is Feldenkrais "creeping into the consciousness of American households?" The Detroit Free Press thinks so—here's its in-depth look at Feldenkrais, complete with a 5-minute audio guide.
Pilates Pro News Feed: UK Edition
The British press is buzzing with more than just news of Prince Harry—we did a little digging and found a bevy of Pilates-related stories from the UK.
Britons Are Leaving the Gym
Memberships are plummeting at British gyms, which have "been elbowed aside by yoga, Pilates and outdoor boot-camp-style programmes such as park circuits," according to The Times.
Pilates Wear Reviewed
The Telegraph takes a look at Manuka Life, a line of yoga, Pilates and meditation clothing. It's only stocked in British stores, but they will ship to other countries, including the U.S.
London Physio Clinics a Great Place to Work
Congrats to Sports & Spinal Clinics of London, which was listed No. 65 in The Sunday Times' Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work for 2008. This group of seven physiotherapy and rehab clinics incorporates Pilates into its clinical work and offers Pilates classes.
Cricket Player Paul Collingwood Credits Pilates
"I've got a Pilates bench that looks like a torture device," said the stylish Collingwood in the Daily Mail.
…And in American news…
Instructors everywhere will appreciate this nice profile of Rosanna "Nahnie" Barberio, a dancer-turned-Pilates-instructor who left New York to start a studio in Lansing, MI.