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12:30 pm
Caillou "Caillou Shows Responsibility" Borrowed Book: Miss Martin agrees to loan Caillou a preschool book, as long as he promises to take good care of it. Caillou agrees, but when he returns home he soon realizes the book is gone. Oh no! He lost it! Feeling badly, Caillou goes to great lengths to recreate the book - only to find out he left it in the preschool's playground. D
1:00 pm
Barney & Friends "A Game for Everyone, A Sports Adventure" Barney, Baby Bop, BJ and the kids are planning a Sports Day in the park. When they meet Jill, a new friend who is too shy to participate, Barney explains that Jill might just need a little encouragement to join the fun. In the end, Sports Day is a huge success for everyone. D
1:30 pm
Thomas & Friends "Sounds and Smells" O the Indignity - Gordon is horrified when Sir Topham Hatt announces that he is to take charge of Whiff's Waste Dump for the day. Gordon arrives at the Waste Dump and decides that the only thing for him to do is to hide when other engines arrive at the dump. Gordon just cannot be seen at such a smelly place! As the day progresses, Gordon hides from Spencer, Diesel and Thomas. D
2:00 pm
Curious George "Surprise Quints/Muddy Monkey" George keeps Mr. Quint busy while everyone prepares for his party. George refuses to take a bath.G
2:30 pm
Martha Speaks "Martha's Market/Bye Bye Burger Boy" Martha's Market - Martha pitches in to run Tio Jorge's market when everyone else is busy. Will Martha and her canine coworkers be able to satisfy their customers' needs? Or is a staff of dogs in a store full of food a recipe for trouble? Vocabulary: (E) market, stock, inventory, display, order. Bye Bye Burger Boy - Burger Boy, the gang's favorite childhood restaurant, is going out of business. D
3:00 pm
The Electric Company "Lost and Spaced" At the school science fair, Lisa and her Skeleckian friend Dax get shrunk down and trapped inside their project - a perfect model of the solar system!. D
3:30 pm
WordGirl "The Pretty Princess and Mr. Big Power Hour/Clean Up in Aisle Eleven" The Pretty Princess and Mr. Big Power Hour - WordGirl's wildest dream has come true: she's part of an episode of Pretty Princess. It seems like the perfect situation until we realize the villainous Mr. Big is behind this scheme. WordGirl must escape the grips of Mr. Big's remote control in order to save the city. D
4:00 pm
Wild Kratts "Kerhonk" When Martin's and Chris' Creature Power Suits unexpectedly get jammed in Proboscis monkey mode and the top monkey of the troop is injured protecting a youngster from a crocodile, the Kratt brothers find themselves stepping into the injured monkey's role. While Aviva nurses the monkey back to health, Chris and Martin must keep the troop together and soon discover the important communication function of the proboscis monkeys strangest feature - his huge, droopy, bulbous nose! They uncover some of the different methods animals utilize to communicate important information to each other. D
4:30 pm
Cyberchase "The Grapes of Plath" A terrible cyberglitch afflicts the young prince of the Crab Kingdom and the CyberSquad must cure him and stop Hacker before all is lost. D
5:00 pm
Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman "Arrgh - All Me Eggs Are Cracked" Sammy and Jay go to the Florida Keys to search the ocean floor for a Ruffman family treasure and Harsha and Sam's challenge is to work at a grocery store and compete in a grocery-bagging showdown. D
5:30 pm
Nightly Business Report Tonight on Nightly Business Report - the slowest jobs growth in 9 months sends stocks lower. What does it all mean for the economy and the markets? Earnings season kicks off on Monday. NBR looks at how this profit season is shaping up. D
5:56 pm
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6:00 pm
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7:30 pm
Need to Know MARIA HINOJOSA ANCHORS. Need to Know examines how behavioral economics is being utilized to encourage low-income workers to save. Correspondent William Brangham reports from Vermont how workers who have repaid emergency loans through automatic paycheck deductions continue to take the lower amount in their paychecks and save the difference after the loan is paid off. D
8:00 pm
Idaho Reports 2013 Host Greg Hahn, with a panel of news professionals, plus political analysts, examines the week's events at the Idaho Legislature.G
9:00 pm
Michael Feinstein's American Songbook "Show Tunes" The singer, pianist and music archivist presents three new AMERICAN SONGBOOK productions. Stephen Sondheim, Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole appear in this episode. Sondheim reveals composers he admires and shows some home movie footage of the original Broadway Follies production. Lansbury reflects on her Broadway career, and Ebersole performs show tunes.G
10:00 pm
Michael Feinstein's American Songbook "Let's Dance" Feinstein explores the marriage between music and choreography, illustrating this with footage of film icons Fred Astaire, who is rehearsing on set, and Gene Kelly, shown in his Broadway debut in the original Pal Joey production. Liza Minnelli, who knew both Kelly and Astaire, discusses their unique styles and techniques.G
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text:
Anniversary Flowers
More Than Words...
Flower Arrangement
Show her you love her more than words can say with a beautiful bouquet from Heavenly Cakes and Flowers! We specialize in delivering your love... So order flowers online 24/7 or call our shop today. (Order early to ensure that your preferred flowers are delivered on time.)
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Iowa Graduate Schools for Masters in Financial Planning
Masters in Financial Planning Schools offer programs built to prepare graduates to help individuals meet their life goals through the proper money management. A financial planning masters degree program thus often includes coursework in investment strategy, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement.i
Masters in Financial Planning Schools: Overview
One of the primary degrees featured at Masters in Financial Planning Schools is the MSFP – Master of Science in Financial Planning. Students could also study to earn a Masters in Finance with a concentration in areas such as wealth management or financial planning.
Schools such as partner, Bentley University may have financial planning Masters programs where students could pursue a MSFP in tandem with a graduate certificate in a related area such as taxation. Whatever your professional goals, make sure to search with them in mind.
About the MSFP
A MSFP program is generally planned-out for students who aspire to pursue career paths such as financial planners, investment advisers, or money managers. As a result, curriculums are often both holistic and focused, with some theory and practice. For instance, there is often a course where students are asked to develop financial plans and/or portfolios for hypothetical clients.
On one hand, participants often take a wide range of technical and quantitative courses to foster an ability to analyze information and solve real-world financial problems. Students could also become familiar with the legal and regulatory environment in which financial planning occurs as well as relevant licensing, reporting, and compliance requirements.
Other courses might enable students to develop key ethical and interpersonal skills. These are often vital to build successful client relationships, and to work effectively with colleagues,
individually, or in teams.
Additionally, on-campus Masters in Financial Planning programs may emphasize both written and oral presentations, teamwork and hands-on practices. Students may also have access to information technology resources such as a "Trading Room" and other facilities for accounting and business.
In some grad schools, MSFP students may be required to complete a total of 30 credits, 18 of which may be devoted to compulsory classes, with the rest devoted to electives. Compulsory courses could cover the following.
- Professional Financial Planning Practice
- Investments and Capital Accumulation
- Benefits, Compensation and Retirement
- Trusts, Gifts and Estates
- Financial Planning Process
- Federal Taxation of Income
Elective topics could enhance the required coursework, and tailor studies to professional interests. Some examples could include courses in portfolio management, elder-planning techniques, psychology, insurance and wealth preservation. Make sure to check out individual schools for more options.
About the MSF
A Master of Finance program is typically planned-out to provide breadth of knowledge in a range of essential financial areas and in-depth skills in a chosen focal area. Financial planning and investment management are two such emphases. A final project often reflects a synthesis of coursework and a student's ability to problem solve.
Regardless of the concentration, MSF programs typically have students first take a series of compulsory finance topics. Frequently, these are intended to help participants learn to use financial information to make business decisions. Take a look at some examples below, then follow up with individual schools.
- Investment Theory and Practice
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Corporate finance
- Banking
- Financial markets
- Risk Management
On top of the basic courses, a MSF often provides a list of available electives in one's chosen focus area. Students who pursue a Wealth Management Masters degree might, for instance, take courses in global investment, fixed income analysis and treasury options.
Students who choose a focus in financial planning may be required to take a series of courses based on CFP guidelines if their goal is to pursue that certification. For instance, at partner, Kaplan, the Master of Science in Finance with a concentration in financial planning is a CFP Board-Registered Program in financial planning education.
Aside from their course requirements, students might need to complete assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects. Together this type of curriculum could enable students to develop the proficiencies to find solutions to real-life financial situations.
CFP Schools
Regionally accredited schools may feature MSFP programs that are registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. Students enrolled in these programs often take required courses to be able to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.
The CFP exam is the gateway to becoming a Certified Financial Planner and is one of four criteria CFP candidates must pass to earn their credential (along with ethics, education and experience).ii Currently, the CFP exam covers ten major topics.iii
- Principles of financial planning
- Insurance planning
- Risk management
- Employee benefits planning,
- Income taxes and retirement planning
- Investment and real estate planning
- Debt management
- Planning liability
- Emergency fund reserves
- Statistical modeling
MBA CFP schools are those where students could study to earn a Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis in financial planning as per CFP guidelines.
What is a Certified Financial Planner?
Certified Financial Planners have successfully passed the CFP Exam. Per the BLS, "Certifications can enhance a personal financial advisor's reputation and can help bring in new clients." iii
If this is your goal, you may want to work towards a Masters degree in Financial Planning at a grad school that provides the requisite education.
11% of Certified Financial Planners (CFP) have a professional degree. iv
What is a Financial Advisor?
A financial advisor is someone who counsels clients and helps prepare financial plans. To do this, s/he has to listen to clients' goals and use sound knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate.
Other aspects of this profession involve an ability to assess clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. Some students may enter the field with a Bachelors degree, but for advancement, the BLS states that "a master's degree and certification can improve one's chances."iii
Application Information
While admission requirements to Masters in Financial Planning Schools vary, some universities may consider the entirety of a candidate's application. This might include prior work experience, test scores, personal learning goals, and other factors, such as type of program one is applying to.
As an example, applicants to partner, Kaplan University's MSF program are required to have a bachelor's degree in finance from an accredited institution. Or a minimum of 30 semester/45 quarter credit hours in undergraduate coursework across the ACBSP's Common Professional Components (CPC).
Apart from application fee and completed form(s), applicants may need to submit other materials. See below for some examples, then make sure to check individual finance schools' criteria.
- Transcripts (Bachelors degree with school-set GPA and undergrad major)
- Resume
- Essay(s)
- GMAT or GRE Scores (unless waived)
- TOEFL/IELTS Scores for International Students
- Letters of Recommendation
Why Earn a Masters Degree in Financial Planning on Campus?
Today's financial planning graduate program is often planned out to meet the schedule needs of at-work professionals. Students may be able to take class in the evenings or on weekends, part-time or full-time.
On campus participants may form new networks and could learn first-hand how to persuade others, listen attentively, and speak effectively. All valuable assets for the aspiring financial planner.iv
Masters in Financial Planning Schools may also attract recruiters from local (and/or global) businesses. Students may have the opportunity to make important connections, and possibly pursue internship experiences in their community.
Contact Masters in Financial Planning Schools
Set filters for city, state or country to locate grad schools for financial advisors. Compare financial planning Masters programs, then easily contact schools directly with one click.
[i] bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/personal-financial-advisors.htm | [ii] cfp.net/become-a-cfp-professional/cfp-certification-requirements/education-requirement | [iii] bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/personal-financial-advisors.htm#tab-4 | [iv] onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2052.00
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- Some of the nation's most affordable tuition rates, from a private, nonprofit, NEASC accredited university
- Qualified students with 2.5 GPA and up may receive up to $20K in grants & scholarships
- Multiple term start dates throughout the year. 24/7 online classroom access
- Cedar Rapids, IACedar Rapids, IA
Purdue University Global
M.S. in Finance - Financial Planning
Develop financial plans, evaluating the appropriate principles, concepts, and frameworks for financial decision making. The Master of Science in Finance with a concentration in financial planning is a CFP Board-Registered Program in financial planning e...
- Des Moines, IA
- Davenport, IA
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Iowa State University
Family Financial Planning
On-line curriculum; program consists of 42 semester credit hours for the MFCS-family financial planning; or 18 credits for the family financial planning certificate.
- Davenport, IADavenport, IA
Kaplan University
M.S. in Finance - Financial Planning
- Urbandale, IA
- Mason City, IA
- Cedar Rapids, IA
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text:
8 Badminton Players Expelled From Olympic Doubles
Indonesia's Olympic team leader says eight female badminton doubles players have been disqualified from the London Games after trying to lose matches to receive a more favorable place in the field.
Erick Thohir tells The Associated Press on Wednesday that the Indonesian team will appeal.
FULL COVERAGE: 2012 Summer Games
The Badminton World Federation investigated two teams from South Korea and one each from China and Indonesia. It accused them of "not using one's best efforts to win a match" and "conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport" in matches Tuesday night.
Hearings on the accusations against Olympic badminton players are going on at this hour in a hotel near the Wembley Arena badminton venue.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


text:
Parent Directory | Revision Log
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a quicky attempt at making authors actually useful. Fairly complete from what I can see. Basically walked the changelogs, cvs logs, etc.
Initial revision
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text: Our bookshelf is full of invaluable resources to guide you on your journey to simplicity. They're a great starting point before diving into a new diy project or making a lifestyle change. Find helpful how-to books for canning and preserving food, raising chickens, living without electricity, making home remedies and completing do-it-yourself tasks. For cooks and homemade chefs, discover mouth-watering recipes from breakfast to suppertime, even for campfire cooking. Then browse our children's section to share the gift of storytelling with little ones. You'll find some old favorites you may remember from your own childhood. Get ready to turn the page and discover something new.


text: Somatic Cell Count in DHI Herds Averaged 200,000 in 2012 May 14, 2013 09:24 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By News Release Email Source: National Mastitis Council Each year, test-day data from all herds enrolled in Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) somatic cell count (SCC) testing in the United States are examined to assess milk quality on a national basis. During 2012, the SCC in DHI herds averaged 200,000 cells/ml. This compares to 217,000 in 2011; 228,000 in 2010; 233,000 in 2009; 262,000 in 2008; and 276,000 in 2007. National average test-day herd SCC has declined every year since 2005, and every year except one since 2001. Forty-two states had lower average SCC than reported the previous year; five states had higher averages. A few Mexican herds tested through the US system were included for the third time. Variation among states remains large. State average SCC generally was lower than the national average for mountain and western states, and often higher for a few southeastern states. Differences between adjacent states were substantial, which suggests that factors such as mastitis control practices and genetic selection are impacting state differences. The current federal SCC regulatory limit in the US is 750,000. In many other major dairy countries, the SCC limit is 400,000. The overall percentage of herd test days that exceeded 400,000, 500,000, 600,000, and 750,000 during 2012 were 12.0%, 6.1%, 3.3% and 1.5%, respectively, which was lower for all levels than during 2011. The 1.5% of 2012 DHI herd test days that were higher than the present legal limit for bulk tank SCC in the US may overestimate the percentage of herds that shipped milk exceeding the legal limit because milk of cows treated for mastitis is excluded from the bulk tank even though included in DHI test data. The percentage of herd test-days that exceeded the legal limit also would have been higher than the percentage of herds that were rejected from the market because market exclusion only occurs after repeated violations. As herd size increased, milk yield generally increased and SCC decreased. During 2012, the average test-day SCC in herds with fewer than 50 cows was 200,000 compared to 222,000 in herds with 100 - 149 cows; 195,000 in herds with 500 - 999 cows; and 168,000 in herds with over 3,000 cows. The typical seasonal pattern was also evident. Average SCC increased from May through August and declned quickly from September through November. The lowest average SCC was in November and December. Click here for report details, including individual state averages and history since 1995. Back to news


text:
Since I have a tool that can generate all the needed files for a music mod, I used it to make a music mod. Tested and works with the new client.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz73VZ ... sp=sharing
Right now it contains a lot of music from Steven Universe. I also plan to add music from Homestuck and Undertale in future releases. Anyone have requests for other shows and games?


text:
The Lovely Bones
Did you read it? Did you love it?
I loved it. Fiercely loved it. And I don't understand – why must a book become a movie? I remember being at work and not working. Reading instead and crying over my keyboard at the end, and Erin sitting next to me rushing me through. And two days later she did the same thing. Pushed aside work to read. And then wept. And then of course we had to have a ciggie. And felt better. But worse.
Now Hollywood comes along to kill it a little, though I suppose under Peter Jackson's treatment, optimism is warranted. And now Rachel Weisz has signed on to play mom, forgoing the Mummy 3 in favour of more dramatic flair. Excellent decision.
But I swear, if it's the obsequious, nerve-grating Dakota Fanning as Susie Salmon...
It Will Be Mutiny.


text: Where to Stay in Copenhagen Between the people, the canals, the skittering bicycles, and the brightly colored buildings, Copenhagen, Denmark is a friendly city, and it is surprisingly easy to get around considering its size. Copenhagen's neighborhoods each have their own identity, and it's worth taking a minute to find the one that matches your matches your style and budget. ... Read Full Article


text:
From guts to brains – eating probiotic bacteria changes behaviour in mice
From "gut feelings" to "having some guts", English is full of phrases where our bowels exert an influence upon our behaviour. But these are more than metaphors. There are open lines of communication between brains and bowels and, in mice at least, these channels allow an individual's gut bacteria to steer their behaviour.
The latest evidence for this "gut-brain axis" comes from Javier Bravo at University College Cork. He fed mice with a probiotic bacterium called Lactobacillus rhamnosus, often found in yoghurts and dairy products. The bacterial menu changed the levels of signalling chemicals in the rodents' brains, and reduced behaviours associated with stress, anxiety and depression.
Probiotic bacteria – those that benefit their host – are the subject of sweeping, hand-waving health claims. But beneath the breathless marketing hype, there is some intriguing underlying science. For example, some trials have found that probiotics can help to alleviate the mood symptoms that accompany irritable bowel or chronic fatigue syndrome. To that end, Bravo wanted to see if L.rhamnosus could influence the brains of normal, healthy animals.
Bravo found that his mice, after regularly eating Lactobacillus, were more likely to spend time in the exposed parts of a maze (a common test for anxiety symptoms) than those who ate bacteria-free meals. They were also less likely to drift motionlessly when plopped into water (a common test for depressive symptoms). And during stressful situations, they built up lower levels of stress hormones.
The bacteria also boosted the role of GABA, a restraining chemical that downplays the buzzing of excitable neurons. GABA works by docking with receptor proteins, and Bravo found that Lactobacillus increased the numbers of these receptors in parts of the brain associated with learning, memory and emotional control. The GABA system is involved in several stress-related mental conditions. For example, animals with depressive symptoms have lower levels of GABA receptors in the front of their brains, and one group of anti-anxiety drugs works by enhancing the effects of GABA receptors in humans.
It may seem odd that bacteria in an animal's gut can control what happens in its brain, on the other side of the body. But the two organs have a direct line between them – the long, branching vagus nerve, which transmits information from the gut and other visceral organs to the brain. When Bravo severed the vagus nerve in his mice, Lactobacillus lost all of its influence. It changed neither the rodents' behaviour nor their GABA receptor levels.
Bravo's study is the latest in an accumulating body of evidence showing that gut bacteria are little backseat drivers for their hosts. Earlier this year, I wrote about work from Rochellys Diaz Heijtz at the Karolinska Institute, who showed that germ-free mice without any gut bacteria behave differently to mice with a normal complement. They were more active, less anxious and more likely to take risks. And when Heijtz transplanted the gut bugs from normal mice into sterile babies, the recipients behaved in the usual cautious way when they grew up. A few months later, a Canadian team led by Karen-Anne Neufeld found similar results.
These studies showed that gut bacteria can affect the way a mouse's brain develops at a young age, and Bravo expands upon them in two important ways. First, he showed that inoculations of Lactobacillus can change the behaviour of normal, healthy mice, as opposed to artificially sterile ones. Second, he showed that this works in adults, rather than just in babies.
Premysl Bercik says, "This is a very nice and well done study." Bercik also works on the "gut-brain axis" and in one of his earlier studies, he showed that antibacterial drugs could alter the behaviour of the same strain of mice that Bravo worked on. Those drugs greatly increased the levels of naturally occurring Lactobacillus in the rodents' guts, and Bercik suggested that these microbes might have driven the changes in behaviour. Bravo's new results support that idea.
The fact that doses of gut bacteria can change adult behaviour has important implications. John Cryan, who led the study, says, "It is highly plausible that probiotic agents in the future could be used to treat mood and anxiety disorders." After all, his study has shown that these bacteria play around with the same brain chemicals in the brain that antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs do.
This doesn't mean that eating a lot of yoghurt will sort out a bout of depression. The idea of using gut bacteria to treat disorders isn't far-fetched; after all, some doctors have already managed to treat people with gut infections by giving them "faecal transplants". However, when it comes to the brain, the science is still in its early days.
Bravo still doesn't know how the bacteria use the vagus nerve to influence the brain, only that they do. Nor does he know how long the effects on GABA and behaviour would last, or how the microbes affect other chemical signals within the brain. And critically, all of these experiments have been done in mice. No one knows if the same thing applies to humans.
"We have no reason to expect that the same would not apply to humans," says Cryan. "However, such clinical studies need to be carried out." However, he cautions that not all probiotics do the same thing and he warns against overinterpreting the results of the study.
Reference: Bravo, Forsythe, Chew, Escaravage, Savignac, Dinan, Bienenstock & Cryan. 2011. Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain regulates emotional behavior and central GABA receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve. PNAS http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1102999108
An introduction to the microbiome
Comments (22)
"Probiotic" is an invention of food industry, not some real property!
This study mayby shows that Lactobacillus rhamnosus has that influence
on mice, but please why do You aid that "probiotic" nonsense?
Georg, What do you have to back up your claim? I used to have constant nearly crippling stomach problems until I started taking probiotics.
It would be interesting to look at the microbial flora of individuals with unique behavioral control (or lack there of) to see if there is some influence of the nervous system on the microbes. We could compare the microflora of buddist monks to med students for example.
It's an interesting to see that gut flora can really influence behaviour, but it would be lovely to know why. What are these bacteria releasing? And could that be a better treatment for depression than the bugs themselves?
George, I understand your displeasure with the supplement and yogurt industry, but the word probiotic is in my microbiolgy and nutrition textbooks.
Omega-3 cured my lifelong anxiety disorder. I thought it was a coincidence at first. Over the past 8 years, I've tried to stop taking it many times. Then a few days later I'm absolutely miserable again. The difference is day and night.
Thankyou scienctist! You hard work is appreciated! Finally a cure with no side effects. However I think maybe omega-3 is addictive
@Corriellen, how much did you take each day?
While there is some solid reporting here there is one statement that is factually inaccurate.
Mood symptoms are not part of the CDC diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, although like any other severe disease, depression and anxiety are a normal reaction to having contracted a severe disease that has no cure.
And like any other disease sometimes the physical symptoms of disease are mistaken for the far less severe and specific criteria for mood disorders further muddling the scientific literature and confounding study results.
Can microbial flora affect mood disorders? This is a bit obvious, but if the patient does not have a mood disorder, then no it is unlikely to make any difference.
Sub-grouping patients with and without mood disorders and doing double blind trials would have to be done to create an evidence base.
And what works in mice does not always work in humans. Mice are simply one way to keep expenses down compared to other animals that more closely mimic human reactions.
Interesting, but a long way from being proven to make a difference in humans.
I wonder if gut bacteria differ significantly between obese and normal weight people.
Probiotics definitely prevent TD. I used to get horribly sick ever time I went to Mexico, now with the help of probiotic supplements and yogurt, no problems.
@Laura, like Ed Young says, what works for me doesn't work for everybody. If you're on heart medication then you need to ceck with your doctor before taking large doses. I have reccomended Omega-3 to a lot of people but it didn't work for them. Maybe i have an omega-3 metabolism deficiency or something odd like that. I've been considering contacting someone who is researching omega-3's relationship to anxiety and submitting myself to a study or something. I'd personally like to know why it works for me. I don't think scientist have been able to pinpoint why, they just know that it does work for some people.
@ Ed – You are correct. I missed the word accompanying. My apologies.
I still think this line of thinking has a ways to go before I would consider it evidence-based. But if scientists don't pursue ideas then they never know whether they will pan out or lead to other discoveries that could put scientists on the right track.
Science is definitely a fascinating process. Cool slide show.
Ed thank you for excellent reporting on an important topic.
I recall attending an international probiotic conference in Montreal in 2002 and during the lunch breakout I found myself sitting with a group of young microbiologists – when I said that I was interested in the gut-brain connection and mood as influenced by bacteria, they looked at me as if I had landed from Mars…a decade later and it is finally starting to heat up.
btw, although the contemporary work on gut bacteria and mood/behavior can be traced to Mark Lyte's landmark paper showing that miniscule levels of C. jejuni causes anxiety (Lyte, et al. Anxiogenic effect of subclinical bacterial infection in mice in the absence of overt immune activation. Physiol Behv 1998), if you go back even further it was dermatologists John Stokes and Donald Pillsbury that laid out a nice theory connecting the brain and gut (as well as the skin) in 1930…much of it has been confirmed to one degree or another.
see the open access paper I recently co-authored with dermatologist Dr Whitney Bowe – Acne vulgaris, probiotics and the gut-brain-skin axis – back to the future? Gut Pathogens 2011
as Goethe said – everything has been thought of before, but the difficulty is to think of it again…
and for Anne, a clinical trial of probiotics and major depression is now recruiting @ Mass General (Harvard) – see "Study of Probiotic GanedenBC30 for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Major Depressive Disorder" at clinicaltrials.gov
Hopefully Ed will have even more exciting reports in the future…
Does not the microbe T. gondi (cat feces) change the behavior of infected mice ( i.e., making the mice unafraid of the scent of a cat when they would normally be petrified)?
This isn't the first gut microbe or set of microbes that has been found to mediate behavior in infected individuals.
Thanks for the fascinating report. The thought that bacteria can alter behavior is mind boggling. But, what if bacteria have been influencing our behaviours all along, just that we haven't make the connection? After all, gut bacteria have been quietly producing neurotransmitters ever since humans walk the face of this planet until scientists discovered it one day.
Not in any way contesting the report – just having a thought about it.
What affect has the bacteria had from the mouse's point of view?
In the world of a mouse, he is now more likely to space out in public, and not react as quickly when startled or uncomfortable. Just because we see beneficial changes from the context of our world, doesn't mean that this is a positive step for the mouse.
When you think of pain and body functions as a massive influence on mood, does anyone really understand yet what's happening in there? Somehow your body is taking physical sensations and converting them into a worldview for your consciousness – somehow they help create your emotions, opinions, and personality.
Personally, i feel that for as much as we do know, and much more that we are on the cusp of comprehending, consciousness still largely remains in the realm of philosophers.
Would a wild mouse react the same way to this supplement? Lab mice are very domesticated. I'm curious to see what this does to a more self-sufficient organism. Would they become blissed-out, reckless, space cases, or just a slightly more "centered" omnivore?
As a final stab in the dark – isn't it likely that the natural selection is mutual? That the most successful digestive ecosystem of any species or group is the one with hosts that survive. In nature, there's no intentional selection of foods for the "benefits"… Macaws don't eat dirt off cliff because they heard about it on Oprah. Over a long period of time, the ones that ate more dirt just managed to stay alive longer and have more sex. Maybe the improvement was just in personality. The tough guys got bigger, or the nicer guys always got laid, or the females formed a supportive social structure. Maybe it was something subtle.
In that case, would they even want to improve on it?
Then again, they don't have McDonalds.
We've changed what we eat and how we live so drastically over the last century, and at such a rapid rate over the last few thousand years, that i'm not surprised the first world especially is plagued with chronic complaints. I think probiotics are a good idea. Their effect sounds mostly positive and it's not like they're the only thing influencing our brain function these days.
I thought this was crazy, and probably didn't apply to humans for some reason, until I was on antibiotics for 4 weeks and suddenly out of the blue had the Big Bertha of anxiety attacks! I couldn't go to court (I'm an attorney) and face the big bad judge. I went to a doc, who did tests, bp pretty normal, ekg good, blood flow 97% for an old bat, pretty damn good. So what was wrong with me? I had forwarded this article to a friend who knows about these things, and he called and reminded me of it when I told him about my horrible attack. So I'm gonna go get some unsweetened yogurt (I'm a no-carb paleo), even while I'm still on antibiotics! Maybe something will get as far as my brain so I can function!
After reading a few of the responses, I must put my 2 cents in about CFS. I am a life-long fibromyalgia sufferer (another auto immune disorder). When I started eating paleo, the pain and depression disappeared! After almost 60 years of pain, disability, depression, etc. Same with my daughter. And we lost 25 and 30 pounds respectively. These disorders were not evidenced on skeletons that are over 10,000 years old (when farming was invented). (Uti is 6,000 and has musculo-skeletal evidence of arthritis, and had a grain breakfast before he was killed and frozen)
And lastly, you affect the effect.
Ive been using Probiotics for years. I'm not talking about yogurt – I don't eat yogurt. I use VSL#3, fabulous, and I have changed, significantly. I don't need a case study to tell me otherwise. I like the author, the scientist – and I agree with the possibility that good bacteria swimming, floating – living whatever they do – help my brain function better. I mean take a look at an image of the central nervous system, the "gut" also known as the second brain – with all of those nerve endings there – well it make sense to me and the large vagus nerve as the major highway to both – well it seems logical to me.
I love science, but when I hear scientists ignorantly bark about the human experience – because it lacks some 50 year case study – uncontrolled – I get bored quickly. If I notice a difference, that's all that matters and I am intelligent to make that decision. About mice….I am open to the efforts of science and the use of technology to offer up information that gives me more to think about than an arrogant doctor or scientist. Great work!
I recently got off antibiotics because I had been getting a lot of painful gas and constipation and loose stools. I started taking probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii), and several days after that, I started to feel happy. There was a marked change in my mood which I could not explain. I also notice that I am feeling much more relaxed. I looked up "probiotics and depression" on the internet, and I was thrilled to find out about the connection between probiotics and mood! This is amazing! I also have almost no abdominal symptoms.


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Season Ticket Pricing Around Baseball
Continuing with my countdown to Opening Day, there are 74 days left, which gives fans plenty of time to purchase season tickets to their favorite team. To help you choose, or just to save you from hundreds of clicks across thirty different websites, I've compiled all season ticket and benefit information in this single blog entry for you.
I've left a link to the benefits of each team after my pricing and benefits description. Enjoy.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves have some really affordable tickets for their full season. Fans can choose any seat in the Upper Box level for $471. Even better, an Upper Pavilion Season Ticket is only $370. Outfield seats are $1132 per ticket. The Braves benefits are well worth it as they offer on field batting practice, including warming up in the pitcher's mound, shagging fly balls in the outfield, and a behind the scene tour.http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ticketing/season_tickets.jsp#tab4
Miami Marlins
The Marlins are christening a new ballpark this year, and have signed lots of high priced free agents to keep expectation high and fans in the seats. The cheapest season ticket is in the upper deck and costs $810. Tickets in the outfield cost $1,012.50 for the upper deck sections and $1215 for the lower level. The benefits offered are very vague. There's a short generic list on the webpage that includes 10% off in the team store.
New York Mets
The Mets cheapest season ticket is $972 – to sit way up in the very upper deck of the outfield (left field). If you wanted to sit in the outfield and catch a home run, those season tickets are $2,341 per seat. Perhaps some awesome benefits could offset the price? A look at their webpage shows a 15% off discount in the team store, and an opportunity to exchange tickets. Additionally, the Mets allow STH early access to Citi Field, but only on Saturdays and Sundays. If you spend the $972, they'll also throw in a Citi Field tour. Meh.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are a large market team, and their prices reflect it. The cheapest season ticket costs $1,316 to sit in the nose bleed seats. Outfield seats are a whopping $2,794 per ticket. Yikes. The Phillies are one of the top drawing teams, so they don't need to offer good benefits to get folks to buy season tickets. On their benefits page they list a Season Ticket Holder Picnic along with the standard exchange dates that all teams offer. I'm happy I don't live on the eastern side of PA.
Washington Nationals
The cheapest season ticket for the Washington Nationals would cost $815 – and that's to sit in the Upper Outfield Gallery. If you'd like to sit in left field or right field for your season tickets, well, that would run you $1,630 per seat. Pricey. As far as benefits, the Nationals will give a STH a Ticket Holder ID which entitles them to 15% off. Other perks include Free Spring Training Tickets, an exchange program, complementary tours, and other "events." The Nationals do offer fans to take batting practice on the field, but only if you have a fortune invested in the club and you are a Suite Holder. No one else gets to hit.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs aren't even selling season tickets. They only offer a season ticket holder waiting list.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds offer upper deck Kroger Bleacher seats for $632 if you pay before January 13th – afterwards its $672. Seats in left field cost $1,584 ($1,665 after 1/13) , and a right field season ticket costs $1665 ($1746 after 1/13). The Reds also have a decent benefits package. Full season ticket holders get to take batting practice on the field, receive early access to Great American Ballpark (30 minutes, and give away free RedsFest tickets. The on field batting practice almost makes spending $672 worth it alone. I was a Reds partial season ticket holder in 2010 with a 13 game plan. I thought that getting into GABP 30 minutes early would be a huge advantage, but it really isn't, because the Reds allow tour groups in even before the season ticket holders, so there was always a bunch of people in there when I ran in.
Houston Astros
The Astros were the worst team in baseball last year, losing 106 games. Surely they'd have affordable tickets? Not really. The cheapest ticket way up in View Deck II is $1,079. If you'd like to sit in those infamous Crawford Boxes and catch shallow fly balls, I mean home runs, it'll be $3,071. Right field is a bit more affordable at $2,241. OK, so the Astros ticketing prices aren't that great for a terrible team. Their benefits are alright though. They give away a Free Group outing of 20 tickets to each season ticket holder, as long as you attend the game in April or May. Each season ticket account also gets 2 free Spring Training tickets. As for their events, season ticket holders can watch batting practice early before the regular gates open on selected dates and they get their own Season Ticket Holder gate. Other perks are an MVP card that gives the holder 15% off and a few other standard perks.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are taking deposits on full season plans, and only have the pricing per game available. Their cheapest ticket is $12 per game for an already existing season ticket holder, which comes out to $972. To sit in the outfield, you'd have to buy a loge bleacher ticket, which would run you $1377. However, if you're a new season ticket holder, you'd have to pay $1539. Welcome aboard! Pay a $162 tax for joining! The Brewers drew over 3 million fans in 2011, so they really don't need to concern themselves with awesome benefits. They give fans the opportunity to order additional tickets before the public, flexible exchange options, and the chance to buy playoff tickets. That's about it.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates have one of the most affordable season ticket plans. Their cheapest season ticket costs $399. Left field bleacher seats only cost $699 per seat. Center and right field seats are $1,053. In addition to being affordable, the Pirates have lots of great benefits such as: Early entrance to PNC Park on Monday-Saturday, Taking Batting Practice on the field, play catch on the field, take batting practice in the PNC Park batting cages, Piratefest tickets, a Food and Beverage credit ($50), 15% off at the clubhouse store, and 2 Club tickets (more tickets if you have more than one season ticket. The Pirates great prices and benefits make me feel lucky that the Pirates are my home team despite their miserable play on the field.
St Louis Cardinals
It's almost February, and the Cardinals are still taking deposits. Click on the seating and pricing option, and there is no pricing information available. Get with it Cardinals.
The Cardinals benefits are extremely generic and bland. Season ticket holders get an ID card to give them a discount at the team store, and that's about it.http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ticketing/season.jsp#benefits
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks offer an upper deck seat for $498. Their left and right field seats are all priced at the same rate, $996, not bad for a defending Division Champion. The Diamondbacks have the best benefit of all, opening the gates early for season ticket holders on Monday through Saturday games.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies benefits are generic and pale in comparison with some other teams, so let's get right to the pricing. The Rockies cheapest season ticket is $640 in the upper deck. Left Field Pavilion seats are $1,120 and right field box seats are $1280.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been going through some tough financial times recently, so widening their season ticket base would definitely be beneficial to them. For the first year in 2012, season ticket holders will be allowed into Dodger Stadium early to watch batting practice. I've heard that it will be a full hour before the rest of the gates open. Additionally, fans get to play catch after some games on the field. When I looked at their season ticket prices, I was struck by how affordable they are. Seats in the top deck are $405. Left field pavilion seats are only $729 – the same as the Cleveland Indians and almost as cheap as the Pirates. Right Field is $1215.
San Diego Padres
The Padres website has said check back soon for 2012 Ticket Prices for over a month. Seems to me that their ticket staff is just lazy. For a team that finished in last place in their division in 2011, they should get motivated and provide some interesting and affordable ticket options. I'm not sure what a 'let's wait until a couple weeks before opening day to unveil our 2012 ticket prices' will do in terms of brining in new customers. No joke – the Pirates had all of their 2012 ticket prices out and were recruiting 2012 season ticket holders in AUGUST last year. The Padres benefits listed were still for 2011. Their unused season ticket exchange program is terrible, with only 5 exchange dates. Although nothing is listed here, I do believe that they allow season ticket holders early entrance to Petco Park.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants are completely sold out of left field season tickets ($1750) and Arcade (Right Field, $2500) season tickets. The cheapest ticket available was a $1775 upper deck season ticket, although there is a $1000 ticket that is sold out. The Giants offer some perks such as 20% off, and invitation to special events, but after looking at every team's benefits, they all start to look the same.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles call Camden Yards their home, considered one of the better ballparks in baseball to watch a game. Season ticket holders get early access into the entire seating bowl of Camden Yards, whereas non season ticket holders are confined to right field for the first half hour. Also, the Orioles give away free Spring Training tickets along with free minor league tickets and ballpark tours. Additionally, season ticket holders get Free Admission to Area Museums. The cheapest season ticket at Camden Yards is $988 on their website, with left field being $2025 and right field being $1215.
Boston Red Sox
There aren't even any season ticket links on the Red Sox website, so…
New York Yankees
After looking through dozens of seating categories, the Yankees cheapest season ticket is $1620, and it is Grandstand level seating in the upper deck. The season ticket map is ridiculous with lots of different pricing for yellow sections, so I can't really tell how much an outfield season ticket would be, but it looks like it'd be $5670. By the way, the Yankees benefits are extremely generic.
Tampa Bay Rays
The cheapest Rays ticket costs $930 for an upper deck seat. That seems pricey for a team that struggles to draw fans despite being in contention consistently the past couple years. An outfield seat costs $1506. For individual games a confusing 4 tier pricing approach is used, so it's better to buy a season ticket. For example, a seat in the upper deck could cost $9, $12, $17, or $19, depending on the opponent. Their benefit lists the opportunity to enter through a season ticket holder gate, but says nothing about early entrance to batting practice. I'm thinking it might be like Washington, where there's a special gate for STH, but everyone still gets in at the same time. Not much here, no wonder no one goes to their games, despite a great team.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are offering season ticket holders the benefit of entering the stadium early to watch batting practice from a designated Season Ticket Holder Area (it better be in the outfield somewhere). It sounds like it could be a deal where you just stand on the field though. The cheapest Blue Jays ticket is $635 Canadian. ($616 US) Outfield seats for $1907 Canadian. ($1861 US)
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox cheapest season ticket is $974, and it looks like the cost is $2270 to sit out in the outfield bleachers. The White Sox benefits are vague and generic and list season ticket holder gifts and events as one of their top benefits.
Cleveland Indians
The Indians offer some decent benefits, such as a Suite for free (includes 16 tickets) which is a $2000 value. They also give away a free Terrace Club Membership, and Free Club seats to one game. Their cheapest ticket is $648 in the upper deck, but you can get a left field bleacher season ticket for just $729. Right Field and Center Field seats are $1701 per season ticket.
Detroit Tigers
Detroit was hit hard by the recession, and still hasn't recovered. It looks like the Tigers had Skyline season ticket plan for $5 per game which has sold out. So, the cheapest season ticket a ballhawk can purchase now is in the upper deck and costs $1294. But get this, for only $5 more, you can buy a bleacher ticket in the outfield for $1279. Outfield box cost $3317, and RF Grandstand cost $2021, and the Comerica Park was inconclusive as to where these sections are located – its all just one color.
The Tigers have the most important benefit available this year. From their website: "Exclusive Season Ticketholder early entry to select games." That's important, because in the past Comerica Park has been a 90 minute stadium – meaning that they open their gates 90 minutes before the first pitch, one of the latest opening times in the majors. STH also have their own gate.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royal host the All Star game in 2012, making their season ticket base grow. The cheapest season ticket is $648 for seats known as Hy-Vee Outfield. An Outfield box seat is $1863 per ticket. They Royals have a long list of benefits, but most of the best ones, such as taking batting practice on the field are for the big spenders. It'd be nice if they'd open their gates early to season ticket holders, since KC has the latest opening time of any stadium in the majors. The best benefit of all is getting an All Star Game strip with tickets to the Futures Game, Home Run Derby and the All Star game.
Minnesota Twins
Currently the Twins are only taking deposits, but they list their cheapest ticket as $11 in the upper deck. Seats in the outfield are $22 per seat. That's $891 for their cheapest seat, and $1782 for an outfield seat. The Twins offer some cool benefits such as giveaways throughout the season. They also let season ticket holders in early on Monday-Thursday to watch batting practice from right field, but it appears that a limited amount of fans that can participate, so you have to be pre-chosen. Everything seems that way. Batting in the cages indoors? Sure, but they only select 18 season ticket holders. How about take batting practice on the field? Sure, they offer that too – to 12 season ticket holders. http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ticketing/sth/gen/benefits.jsp
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels saw their season ticket holder base jump 4,000 in the week after the signings of Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson. Their season ticket prices are $9.50 for the cheapest seat in the View All Star Upper Deck Area ($769.50 for the season), and $17 for left field ($1377) or $14 per game for right field ($1134). The Angels benefits are standard and boring.
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics cheapest seat is a bleacher seat which costs $720, that's also prime home run territory, all the way from right to left field. The A's benefits suck. Buy season tickets and get a pin. Whoop dee doo.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners cheapest season ticket is $1025 for a left field bleacher ticket. Not bad. Its the upper bleachers in left field though. If you want to sit in center or right field, well that'll be $1754. The Mariners offer nothing to get excited about benefits wise. Nothing stands out here.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers have a season ticket plan for only $334 in the upper deck (Grandstand reserved). Now THAT'S a bargain! The Rangers have also been known to have a season ticket holder gate that opens early and lets season ticket holders in before the public, although they don't advertise it on their benefits page.
74 more days!


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Back in the day, when Canucks hockey pretty much ruled my life, I remember sitting around with the regular group of buddies, and being so excited when the Canuck drafted Pavel Bure. My friends and I followed every detail of the story. From anxiously awaiting word from the NHL after other teams filed a protest of our pick claiming Bure was ineligible, to the politics of getting him here. The first night he stepped on the ice for the Canucks is one of my most vivid Canucks memories. As we all know, Bure came as advertised and to this day is the most talented player that has ever worn a Canucks uniform, in my opinion.
There's a new Russian hope at training camp this year and after a few training camp sessions and a nice two goal performance against what was basically a roster of AHL players and juniors, Sergei Shirokov is turning a lot of heads. There are even fans comparing him to the "Russian Rocket".
Now that I'm a bit older, I'm excited by Shirokov too, but not enough to make comparisons like that.
The Canucks drafted Shirokov 163rd overall in 2006, and this past summer signed the talented Russian after he decided to forgo more guaranteed money in with CSKA Moscow to pursue and NHL career with the Canucks. Shirokov wanted to play so badly in the NHL he filed a lawsuit against his Russian team when they decided to try an block him from leaving.
"At the end of the day, this kid said: 'I want to play in the National Hockey League and I'm prepared to do whatever I have to,'" Canuck assistant general manager Laurence Gilman said. "He's on an entry-level, two-way contract. He understands he has to compete for a spot and if he's unable to make our team, he'll play for our minor-league team."
That determination is admirable, and by all reports Shirokov is putting his talents on display so far in camp, but do we need to heap the pressure of being the next Bure on him? Is that even fair? How about we just look forward to what the first Shirokov can do?
Shirokov is a smallish player, listed at 5'10", 176 pounds. He had 17 goals and 41 points in 56 games last season in the KHL. There are many who claim he's played against men for a couple years now in Russia, and that he should be able to adjust to the pace and grind of the NHL quickly, however not many rookies can accomplish that. The NHL plays twice as many games as the KHL, not including playoffs, and it hosts the best players in the world. Shirokov, if he makes the team, is likely going to find that a big adjustment.
Then there is the culture.
His english is spotty at best, and there aren't any other Russian players on the roster and the adjustment will be massive.
There is no doubt that Shirokov possesses the talent and determination to play in the NHL. There is also no doubt his scoring talents would be a welcome addition to the Canucks offensive depth and trhe club and it's fans would love nothing better for him to jump right in and bring fans out of their seats.
So start thinking of nicknames and order your Shirokov jersey. Just don't be surprised if the transition from promising prospect to Canucks superstar take a little longer than a few training camp sessions and a minor league exhibition game.
Quick Hits:
- The Canucks made their first cuts of camp today.
- Please make sure to come and join us at the first Official Canucks Tweetup for this season at the Hurricane Grill in Yaletown tomorrow at 7:00.


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Learn More About Fish Finders
Bring In Your Catch: Learn More About Fish Finders
Make the most of your time on the water with industry-leading fish finders from DICK'S Sporting Goods.
Fish finders are an important tool for any angler. These devices emit sound waves, which reflect off fish and other objects below the surface. A transducer detects the sound wave and signals to the angler that a fish is near.
Today's fish finders are equipped with innovative features. Think high-definition touchscreens, personalized mapping and sonar imaging, wrapped in a sleek, compact device. Find your new fish finder from the brands experienced anglers trust, like Garmin®, Raymarine® and Humminbird®. Shop all fishing gear and tackle from DICK'S Sporting Goods today.
Expert Advice
Think about these factors when selecting your fish finder:
Transducers are the heart of your fish finder. This is the component that emits and receives sound waves. The transducer sends a signal into the water, where it bounces off various objects. The signal is sent to the main unit of the device, where it is translated into a picture.
Screen Color & Resolution is an essential factor in your selection. Color screens are the new norm on today's fish finders. A color screen enables you to more easily decipher objects in the water, giving you valuable insight into your game fish. Also consider the amount of pixels on your screen—the more pixels, the greater level of detail you can see. LED backlit screens provide brilliant visual display, particularly for fishing in low-light conditions.
Usability includes the design of your fish finder. Waterproof, shock-proof devices are highly durable. Choose a fish finder that's sleek, lightweight and compact, so it fits comfortably on your vessel.
Your device's transducer emits sound waves at a cone-like angle. The cone angle of your device refers to how wide a beam is projected from the bottom of your boat into the water.
The sound wave spreads as it gets further from the transducer. The wider the cone, the larger the coverage area, but the as the cone angle spreads, sensitivity diminishes. A 20-degree cone is considered a versatile angle for fishers who frequent different water depths. More advanced devices come with double and triple beams, ideal for scanning deep water depths.
For seamless use, choose a fish finder that can connect to available WiFi. Some devices come with apps that let you wirelessly synch waypoints and hotspots. Built-in Bluetooth technology lets you remotely operate your fish finder, while GPS technology provides added functionality.


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Monday, January 17, 2011
Free crochet hair clips and hair elastic pattern
Crochet Flower Hair Clips and Hair Elastics Pattern by Mel Paton (Mel P Designs)
Yarn: worsted weight
Hook: 4mm
Other: small buttons
1. Chain 2. 5 sc into 2nd ch from hook. Do not join.
2. (ss, sc, 3dc, sc, ss) all into 1st sc.
3. (ss, sc, 3dc, sc, ss) all into next sc.
4. Repeat row 3 for a total of 5 times, you will now have 5 petals.
5. Leave a long end for sewing. Use end to sew a button to the middle and to sew onto a hair clip or elastic band. Finish off and weave in ends.
Easy huh? If you've enjoyed this pattern or found it useful, I would love to here about it!
♥ Mel.
34 comments:
I just made a TON of these to attach to bobby pins. Love the pattern...it's so easy and quick! Thanks! :)ReplyDelete
JUST what I was looking for! They are adorable. I used pearls for the center... :) ThanksReplyDelete
I am making the flower clips and hair elastics and using them for stocking stuffers.I'm also including them in the Christmas giftshoeboxes that I am making for the local women's shelter. Thanks for your creativity and sharing your pattern.ReplyDelete
Love this pattern. Thanks! I have tried a few others that just didn't turn out quite right but this one was great!ReplyDelete
LOVE THIS PATTERN! So easy!! I have another flower pattern that looks similiar to this when done but is harder to do. THANK YOU!!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing the flower pattern, Mil. Looking forward to make these for my grand daughter!ReplyDelete
Sorry, Mel! Not Mil!!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 18, 2012 at 3:27 AM
This is a great little flower. Great for decorating small items. Thanks a lotReplyDelete
Sue, England
Que lindas!!!!!!, y fáciles de hacer.....ReplyDeleteReplies
- AnonymousAugust 7, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Love it but can't find a needle that will through the button holes? Any suggestions.Delete
- AnonymousAugust 8, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Still looking for a needle. Can anyone suggest where to find one?Delete
Hope you got a reply before this. But if not...I just use a regular needle and thread to attach the buttons.Delete
- AnonymousNovember 21, 2015 at 11:01 PM
or yould use a needle threader through the buttonholesDelete
- AnonymousAugust 9, 2012 at 8:05 PM
Love the simplicity.Thank you,HildaReplyDelete
- NittynattynooOctober 14, 2012 at 10:06 PM
wow, thankyou. I have just made these in a silk ribbon and put a small mother of pearl button in the middle and they look very vintage. I cut out a card shape and put a pair on with some stamped gold flowers on and decorated with a ribbon bow and they will make a great present.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 7, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Just made I thanks so much for the pattern!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 20, 2013 at 3:14 AM
Thanks so much for the pattern, its fast and easy :)ReplyDelete
Thanks for the pattern. Been making a few of these to go on clips for the summer fair. xReplyDelete
Needed something quick to make for a craft fair - this proved to be perfect. ThanksReplyDelete
So pretty! I featured a link to your pattern on Moogly this morning: http://www.mooglyblog.com/crochet-hair-accessories-12-free-patterns/ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for sharing your pattern!
- AnonymousJune 18, 2013 at 7:32 AM
Thank you so much this is a great pattern. I made tiny flowers with a size 7 hook and embroiderie floss. Love it! They are the perfect size for embellishments on cards. SO cute!ReplyDeleteReplies
What a great Idea would love to see a picture!Delete
Just curious - how much would you price these for???ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing this pattern they are so cute!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 5, 2014 at 6:46 PM
Great pattern quick & easy. Thanks! Jean, Queensland, AustraliaReplyDelete
Can u show me how you attached the flower to the clip pleaseReplyDelete
Have made these to use for the flower girl at my daughters wedding. Thank you.ReplyDelete
Great pattern.... One simple pattern I ended up after checking out lot of tutorials...ReplyDelete
I love the pattern! Thank you so much!ReplyDelete
I love the pattern! Thank you so much!ReplyDelete
Super cute and easy. Thank you for sharing.ReplyDelete
Been crocheting for 45 years and not familiar with abbreviation "SS". Is that slip stitch?ReplyDelete
I crocheted a flower at the end of a chain to make a quick bookmark. Thankyou!ReplyDelete


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Henry Prescott Rawls "Harry", age 60, suddenly of a heart attack on June 1, 2012 of Phila. Harry is survived by his mother Hope Rawls and his siblings, Tom, Stephen, John, Hope, and May. Relatives and friends are invited to a service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave., Phila., PA 19118, Saturday, June 16th at 10:30AM.
Jacob F. Ruth Funeral Home


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Opinion: Egypt's Liberals Adrift
WSJ Bartley Fellow Ahmed Feteha on the dilemma facing liberal Egyptians. Photo credit: Associated Press.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... most of brotherhood Morsi ... Army Will ... the are good options for the Crocs well was not an asset to them the question this one and it was mine ... I now live in the bin and Egypt ... and ... on the one hand you have done the Muslim Brotherhood which is ... I'm still Islamist group it's a fundamental religious group ... called the bill might need to ... and that you have not me which is ... I'm ... in ... an institution that's not really known for of for being ... freaky sheeting creme in the second cylinder statement yet so love so here you have to choose between and something that's bad and something that's ... less than ninety s and then ... it's not on the situation ... I how since adhesives liberals and and and there are many of them all over the country get caught in a situation why isn't there ... someone why wasn't there someone who ... feel rose to the top of this democratic process the country went through last year ... well it's it's the it's the it's the Sunday ... of complicated question I guess mum that the thing and that the thing about Egypt's ... slimmer than I use this windy and very cautiously ... let's call them them them on this and so in the second is and and also it is is closest to ... the main legal handgun and a platform to the can and that this that the people ... to ... be done ... for now for example and ... they're mobilizing anyway hence the president ... but they have nothing to offer the people after the president said that ... okay with going to violently anti Islamist but what do we actually offer ... the new deal had been sold and thus have the cousin the problem Ever since well Mon El bared ie a collegues is the most famous faces today with the liberal movement ... has been nominated to negotiate a kiss between the two sides ... I does he have that kind of legitimacy that could ... potentially see him lead a country one day errors that the US are seen as a joke among ... my student loan well yes images and see but that's that's among the day's ... slide and a section of the of the protest movement when no ... one ... seems to have that done then need to ... um and support is actually the only which is seen as an ... aside is it too is a solution to the treaty was that the push to move forward ... and that's actually not that AEM ... and ... a good situation to be and nineteen ... erm ... so ... now that the old is this kind of a kind of open foot flat on me for a full on muted color ... and if them if the Muslim Brotherhood just maxed out okay it isn't the Army in China was a CC by saying yes yes ... I it's each was a tough situation now is insane because ... he wasn't windy responsible for an economy that's falling apart said he doesn't want ... another revolution people in the streets me ... is the public here and in the labor movement in the streets constrain him and anyway what I'm in the rain in a tough situation I mean ... he's the one who started the Seine and then it yesterday he just said ok ... I'm I'm I'm stepping in and he couldn't think of not doing don't do that that so ... it's it's not a minute isn't that the situation I guess he is ... he has is own custody says maybe he is an ambitious man many things he can do better ... then than even this be the censors and on and on and on needed in the past in the past two-and-a-half years ... so ... this had this has to be seen whether he and ... he manages to going to move things forward ... and I don't think you need new ones to lead the dignity and ... Semites who want more love them and ... call it the ... rules and controlling it and he really unique noting the congee a YouNow system so ... I said the shots I know what ... what what does one ... who does what one man ... you can play politics is your friend that got lesson thirty seconds left you have friends families colleagues back in Egypt are they worried that the situation could turn violent quickly hopeless cause they are because ... this loans nowadays and and and so on this in the few corners and we don't know how old they might react so on ... it remains to be seen whether the middle with a mini is seeing me divine is in the coming days ... ok it was for John Farley thought meant to say thank you so much for the update to a comeback against him


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1 Minute Vegan Chocolate Mug Brownie
8 Easy Vegan Microwave Desserts You Can Cook In A Mug
1 Minute Vegan Chocolate Mug Brownie
Posted by Preety at 8:45 PM
3 comments:
- OurJaipur.Com said...
Very Nice Looking Interesting, Have a Nice Day. . . :)
- December 23, 2013 at 3:30 AM
- easyfoodsmith said...
Microwave desserts are definitely great when one wants to indulge in a dessert but is falling short on time. All the variety offered by you sounds fabulous.
- January 20, 2014 at 10:04 PM
- Reshma Sanjeev said...
Preety, Looks yummy and the recipe looks so easy to prepare. I have to make this.
- January 29, 2014 at 11:33 AM
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United States Bankruptcy Court to Honor its Volunteers
For many years, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts has called upon the members of the bar to volunteer their services to help indigent parties who need the relief that the Bankruptcy Code can provide. Private attorneys, legal services providers, and bar associations have responded to that call and in doing so, have helped thousands of individuals navigate a complex legal process and assisted the court in its administration of justice. This year, the Court is pleased to announce that it will publicly honor the many volunteers who have assisted the indigent in the bankruptcy court with two forms of recognition.
First, the United States Bankruptcy Court is establishing a Pro Bono Recognition Honor Roll. This Recognition Honor Roll will acknowledge the commitment of individual attorneys to pro bono legal work. Attorneys who certify that they have met the specific criteria established by the Court's Pro Bono Legal Services Advisory Committee will receive mention on the Court's Honor Roll. Participation is entirely voluntary. Those attorneys who submit certifications by September 15, 2013 will receive a letter of acknowledgement and appreciation for their commitment to pro bono legal work, will be listed on the Pro Bono Honor Roll on the Bankruptcy Court's website, and will be invited to attend a recognition event at the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse on October 23, 2013.
Second, the United States Bankruptcy Court has created Pro Bono Recognition Awards. These awards will recognize the pro bono contributions by individual lawyers, law firms, government attorneys, corporate law departments, law students, law schools, legal service agencies and other institutions in the legal profession that have improved the availability of or delivered volunteer legal services in the District of Massachusetts. At least four regional awards will be given: Western Division, Central Division, Eastern Division and the Cape, Islands/South Coast Region. Nomination guidelines may be found on the court's website at www.mab.uscourts.gov. The deadline to submit nominations is August 1, 2013.
The Bankruptcy Court encourages participation in these programs and requests that this information be shared with colleagues, members, faculty or anyone who may be interested in this program.
We are happy to answer any questions you might have regarding the Awards Program, Honor Roll or the certification. Please feel free to contact James Lynch, Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court, at 617-748-6609.


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Now Viewing:
microSD Card: Supports 32GB SDHC CardNot Supported
This item is noncancelable and nonreturnable.
The MegaView 2 Series 3MP Indoor/Outdoor IR Day/Night Bullet IP Camera with WDR & 8 to 22mm Telephoto P-Iris Lens from Arecont Vision is capable of capturing images in Full HD resolution at full video frame rates of 30 fps and up to 2048 x 1536 at 21 fps with MegaVideo processing technology. It offers H.264 and MJPEG dual compression support with simultaneous streaming for reduced bandwidth and storage requirements while delivering full frame rates and resolution without sacrificing image quality. With bit-rate control, the CPU load is decreased at both the client (decompression) side and the server/storage side, allowing lower bandwidth and storage relative to MJPEG. Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) allows for compatibility with media players such as Apple QuickTime, VLC, and others.
The camera features integrated Day/Night capability with adaptive noise-cancellation that automatically switches from color to black/white operation to increase sensitivity at night or in unlit spaces. In addition, the 4 IR LEDs allow you to view clearly up to 197' in complete darkness. This camera features a wide dynamic range of up to 100 dB at full resolution that balances light and dark areas in the same scene, such as in the lobby of an office building or the loading dock at a distribution facility.
The MegaView 2 series camera combines features remote focus, remote zoom, day/night, and P-Iris capabilities. The camera can be installed without locally adjusting the field of view or focus. All lens operations can be remotely controlled from the head end to refine the field of view and focus of the scene for easy local installation. Short or full range focus scan functions analyze the local or full scene to determine the best focus for the chosen field of view. P-Iris functionality provides better depth-of-field in varying lighting conditions.
The camera is housed in a vandal-resistant aluminum cylindrical enclosure with IP66-rated weatherproofing and is PoE (IEEE 802.3af) compliant. The camera is PSIA compliant and features privacy masking, extended motion detection, and flexible cropping.
|Image Sensor
|Optical Format
|Pixel Pitch
|2.2 μm
|Minimum Illumination
Color (Day Mode): 0.3 lux
Color Binning (Day Mode): 0.15 lux
B/W (Night Mode): 0 lux, IR sensitive
Full FOV: 2048 H x 1536 V
1/4 Resolution: 1024 H x 768 V
|Dynamic Range
|WDR up to 100 dB
|49 dB maximum
|Frame Rates
At Maximum Resolution: 21 fps (2048 x 1536)
Cropped: 30 fps (1920 x 1080) & 41 fps (1280 x 1024)
Binning Mode: 21 fps (1024 x 768), 27 fps (800 x 600), 31 fps (960 x 540), & 32 fps (640 x 512)
|Motorized 8 to 22 mm, 1/2.7", F1.6, RZ, RF, P-Iris, H-FOV: 32 to 12°
|Compression Type
H.264 (MPEG-4, Part 10) / Motion JPEG
21 levels of quality
|Network Interface
|100Base-T Ethernet network interface
|8 non-identical streams
Industry Standard: PSIA Conformant
Listings: UL (CB)
FCC Compliance: 47 CFR 15 Class A
Environmental: RoHS, REACH, WEEE
Markings: (CE) EN55022 Class A, EN55024,EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3, EN60950-1
Mechanical: IP66 (EN60529)
|IR Illuminator
4 x 850nm LEDs
IR Angle: 33° (no external power required)
|IR Distance
|197' (60 m) maximum
|Power Consumption
|12.4 W maximum
|Alarm Input / Output
|General purpose opto-coupled input
|Power Over Ethernet
|PoE 802.3af, Class 2
|Auxiliary Power Input
|12 to 48 VDC, 24 VAC
Die-cast aluminum cylindrical (bullet-style) housing
IP66 weather-proof standard
Vandal resistant
|Easily adjustable 3-axis mount with 360° pan, 90° tilt, and 360° z-axis adjustment
Operating: -40 to 122°F (-40 to 50°C)
Stable Image: 32 to 122°F (0 to 50°C)
Storage: -40 to 140°F (-40 to 60°C)
|0 to 90% (non-condensing)
|Dimensions (H x W x D)
|4.7 x 4.7 x 11.1" (11.9 x 11.9 x 28.2 cm)
|3.9 lb (1.8 kg)
|Packaging Infoxzudyucdezteufcryes
|Package Weight
|5.25 lb
|Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
|13.6 x 7.5 x 7.2"


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An article that originally apeared in Meininger's Wine Business International
Sometimes one of the best ways to understand a situation is to approach it obliquely. The view from underneath or above can suddenly provide a clarity that was previously frustratingly absent. That, at least, is a conclusion I came to when working on the Wine Travel Guide to the World, a book published in late 2006 that was aimed at consumers who travel and enjoy wine. The focus, in other words, was on "wine tourism".
But the moment you set those two words down on paper – or make them a major discussion point at a conference (and I've spoken on the subject at several such events), it becomes clear that they mean very different things to different people, countries and regions.
A fascinating illustration of these different attitudes is provided by a pair of the world's most dissimilar wine regions. On the one hand, there's Bordeaux, home to some of the most illustrious wine estates in the world and, in itself, a brand whose name is familiar to almost anyone anywhere with even a shallow knowledge of food and drink. On the other hand... there's Queensland. This part of north eastern Australia is not quite as well known for the wine it produces. Indeed, even within Australia, you'd be hard put to it to find a wine enthusiast who could name as many as one of Queensland's 150 or so wineries.
But now compare the way these French and Australian region approach the matter of wine tourism. For a clear-headed view of the Bordeaux attitude, one of the very best places to look is a thesis published last year by Marc Torterat Wine as part of his Master of Business Administration. Torterat focused his attention on one part of Bordeaux: the Graves and Pessac Leognan. This area, close to the city of Bordeaux itself, is home to Chateau Haut Brion, arguably the world's oldest wine brand (thanks to its 17th century promotion in Britain) and Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte, the highly successful chateau-hotel-restaurant-and-spa. Torterat's paper is invaluable because there is so little authoritative information available from other, official sources. Type "Queensland" and "wine tourism" into a search engine, however, and you find a detailed website created by the state government, and aimed at producers, complete with headings such as "The Need to Plan for Tourism" and "What is a tourism development plan?". All 150 wineries are listed on the website, with their contact details, information on what they offer visitors and, where relevant, links to their websites. The entire effort needs updating – as the case for many winery websites – but it serves as a handy aid both for anyone considering visiting the area, or for wineries thinking about how to take advantage of the the potential tourism has to offer. Usefully, it challenges the winery owners to take the business of wine tourism seriously: "A marketing campaign may very well produce results, but if the tourism infrastructure and product does not meet visitor expectations, then the response will be short lived. Visitors may travel to the area once but never return".
Back in Bordeaux, as I say, information is less easy to come by. While researching this article, and having just received an email that described the Medoc as "exceptionally gifted" in wine tourism, I telephoned the Bordeaux regional tourist office to ask for some statistics. How many wine tourists take advantage of the area's exceptional gifts? I wondered. The representative – who preferred not to be named – responded directly. "We have no idea". I was a little surprised. The Napa Valley, I pointed out has recorded its wine tourist numbers carefully, noting growth from 15m in 2002 to 20 million in 2005, with spending rising from $1.3 billion to $2 billion. Surely Bordeaux has some kinds of statistics to set alongside these. "No", came the answer. "If you can persuade the chateaux to tell us what they are doing, I'd be very grateful. We contact them and we try to get information back, but it never comes".
Marc Torterat had slightly better luck than I did, discovering a total potential market of 450,000 visitors (based on interviews with tourism professionals in the region) and an actual number of 100,000 visitors for the region as a whole. This figure, however seems questionable when once learns that Chateau Mouton Rothschild (which does record the number of people who pay to enter its chais) welcomes some 18,000 of them. Are we really to believe that nearly one visitor in five join an organised group tour or make their own appointment to see around and possibly (for an extra €8.50) taste? According to Torterat, other classed growths in the Medoc report 5-8,000 visits.
While it would be useful to have some more accurate statistics for Bordeaux vineyard visits, Marc Torterat, who is now a consultant in strategy and marketing, makes a very perceptive point about wine tourism in general. "wine is not necessarily the first motive in visiting a region. For example, heritage is the dominant motivation for visiting the region of Burgundy, wine being only fourth. In Bordeaux, seaside recreation and visiting the Atlantic Ocean come before wine and food, being listing fourth.... This means tourists would require other types of attractions and would visit wineries along other sites". In this respect, regions like the Medoc perform doubly poorly. On the one hand, the chateaux generally offer little beyond the chance to taste wine and possibly look at barrels - in many cases, there is not even the opportuity to buy – but on the other, the region is poorly stocked in alternative activities. The Hunter Valley, for example, offers golf courses and garden resorts; in the Médoc it is often hard even to find a restaurant.
Any analysis of the way wine tourism is viewed in the Old and New Worlds reveals that in Europe, most producers focus on the business of tasting and selling, most probably placing a significant amount of their effort into annual festivals at which all of the producers of a village or region gather to show off their wares, possibly alongside foods and handicrafts. In the New World, there is a far greater emphasis on offering a broader experience at the winery on a daily basis. Winery restaurants – a rarity in France – are commonplace in areas like Marlborough in New Zealand and Margaret River in Australia. And where food is not offered, there is often a picnic or even a barbecue area where visitors can cater for their own needs. The best explanation for this difference in approach may lie in the traditional European notion of "to each their own craft". Many French producers have only recently even begun to bottle sell their own wine. Historically, the job of a vigneron lay in tending vines and crushing and fermenting grapes. The process of transforming the wine into cash consisted of negociating with a broker or merchant. Once one understands this basic attitude, it is easy to comprehend why wine labels are often so unadventurous (usually being bought from a local printer "off the peg"), and why the very thought of setting up a restaurant is a total anathema. The contrast with, say, the newer wineries of Patagonia could not be more striking. In that southern part of Argentina, selling food for money is an almost inevitable part of the initial business plan.
In the New World, there seems to be a far greater readiness to consider what the Queensland authorities call "tourist expectations" in a broader way. It is revealing to look at the criteria that were recently established in the Rhone Valley for its "Welcome of Quality" "Welcome of Service" and "Welcome of Excellence" ratings that wineries are invited to apply for.
Those wineries that want to be considered for a "Welcome of Quality" have to offer cleanliness, a place to park, "at least one correctly functioning toilet and a water distribution point available to its visitors", chairs, a tasting (using wine glasses and apprropriate temperatures), a spittoon and non-alcoholic drinks for children (though not carbonated examples). To be considered "excellent " - the highest possible rating – the bar is not raised very much higher, The glasses must now be crystal, englidsh must be spoken (and available on the mandatory) website and the staf should have some training and be able to "offer other services: arranging visits to other wine making cellars, restaurant reservations and booking accommodation". Little, in other words, that will set one "excellent" winery apart from its neighbours.
The idea of an oficial, regulated system of wine tourism seems, though, to appeal to the European industry, in direct contrast to the laisser-faire attitude of the New World. And, while winemakers in the the Antipodes and Americas go their own way, benefitting from, but not relying on generic local websites and promotional bodies, in Europe, there seems to be a preference for officially-structured organisations. Perhaps the best known of these is a body called "The Global Network of Great Wine Capitals" that was launched in 2003 and brings together Melbourne, Bordeaux, Porto, Cape Town, Florence, and two cities that are apparently known as Bilbao-Rioja and San Francisco-Napa Valley. Santiago was also briefly part of the group, but dropped out at an early stage, to be replaced by its neighbour on the other side of the Andes, Mendoza. The aim of the network is to build "business networks and relationships in the viticulture industry" and to "encourage international winery tourism, as well as economic, academic and cultural exchanges between these famous capitals of wine".
In fact, the group's highest profile activity has been in running a series of annual conferences and the creation of a set of "Best Of Wine Tourism" awards which are listed on the – greatwinecapitals.com – website and promoted through a limited amount of advertising and public relations and a colourful brochure which can be viewed on, and downloaded from, the website. The awards, for categories ranging from "Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices" and "Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences" to "accommodation". "architecture" and "parks" reveal much about the differences between the various regions. Not to mention the fact that the organisation was established by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce (rather, revealingly, than either the tourism or wine promotional organisations).
The prizes are given by an unnamed "international panel" which seems to have an interestingly Gallic and generally European bias. Of the 210 awards made since the announcement of the 2004 list in 2003, 40, nearly a fifth, have gone to French entrants. Spain, Italy and Portugal have 34, 31 and 24 respectively, while Australia has to make do with 21 and the USA a mere 12. But when one considers the winners themselves some more interesting facts emerge. First, there is the fact that the same names seem to appear with curious regularity from year to year, making it easy to imagine that the number of entries is limited. But second, and more curiously, in France awards are given for Best Winery Restaurant to establishments such as Chateau Grand Moueys that actually have no restaurant at all but would cater for a party if required. Hardly what one might consider "wine tourism" as we know it.
The issue of wine tourism is, however, set to become a far more important issue over the next few years. For many – and I would say most – wineries, the business of welcoming visitors and sellling them wine will no longer be an option. It will be a necessity for survival. As routes to market become ever more narrow and prices are squeezed downwards by wholesalers and retailers – not to mention currency fluctuations. And, as producers globally struggle to escape the tyranny of Parker Points, the appeal of direct sales will inevitably grow. And as it does, my guess is that there will be a major move by European producers to learn the tricks of wine tourism from their New World counterparts. If they haven't left it too late.


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modern toys
bounce + lounge
rock + roll
wooden toys
playmats + hideouts
rattles + teethers
outstanding tents
vitra miniatures
wooden toys
naef animal puzzle
naef ornabo
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naef spiel
naef labyrinth
naef magnaef
naef wood collection
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naef cubicus
naef diamant
bauhaus chess set
bauhaus building game
bauhaus jumping jack
bauhaus peg dolls
bauhaus optical mixer
rocking lamb
animal box: bull
animal box: llama
animal box: polar bear
animal box: rhino
animal box: walrus
animal box: whale
croc pile
micro cubebot set
extra large cubebot
medium cubebot
small cubebot
guthrie cubebot
julien cubebot
hanno the gorilla
hanno jr
simus the rhino
ursa the bear
ursa minor
galileo telescope
magno large radio
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sedici pesci
sedici animali
alexander girard wooden dolls
eames plywood elephant miniature
torch large flashlight
torch medium flashlight
alarm dock
wooden toys
bauhaus chess set
Play; using one's senses (site, touch, and sound) to interact with an object while experiencing the changes in light and shadow, proportion and rhythm, depth of field, etc.
The objective for Naef toys is to produce play objects that unify quality design and superior swiss craftsmanship. This has been their focus for more than 50 years and will remain their goal well into the future. Naef demands extreme precision and quality in the manufacturing of their Swiss Made objects. Each product is inspected by hand before being packaged and shipped to customers all over the world.
Naef quailty products begin by specifically selecting woods that will not shrink or warp and will remain durable over time. All of Naef's painted products are made using non-toxic varnishes or clear coats.
Manoeuvre... This game of chess with clean lines is typical of timeless Bauhaus style. Josef Hartwig�s chessmen, designed in 1923, have characteristically reduced forms which, in contrast to commonly used figures, are symbols based purely on the function and form of the manoeuvre of each piece. Cubes, cylinders and balls lead you move by move to checkmate.
� superior swiss craftsmanship
� durable wood that will not shrink or warp over time
� made using non-toxic varnishes or clear coats
� board measures 14.17 x 14.17 x .51 inches
� box of 32 pieces measures 17.32 x 2.95 x 1.77 inches
Usually ships in 1-2 weeks
bauhaus chess set


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Mobile technology has broadened our horizons in so many ways. Applications on smartphones and tablets even have become useful to homeowners who are remodeling or redecorating their homes. These handy apps, available through Apple"s iTunes Store or the Android"s Google Play, can help the design process, keep your project organized and do a lot of your work on the go.
This incredible app measures your rooms and draws your floor plan by taking photos. The tutorial video helps you get started. Also check out the site"s details on using the floor plans for commercial use.
Here"s how it works: You take a photo of the corners of a room. This allows the app to measure the walls and doors, identify the shape of the room and draw a floor plan.
For more than one room, you assemble them with your finger and the app will align the rooms, manage the wall thickness and door coherence.
Add photos, furniture and comments to customize your room. Then "publish" on the Web for an interactive floor plan. The app also can generate jpegs and pdfs.
Free for iOS. Visit sensopia.com.
This is a great app to gather ideas and inspiration in the initial stages of your home"s design. It assists in putting together a visual collage of styles that you like and want to incorporate into your home. These images can be given to your design professional to communicate what you like, which is often difficult to put into words. You can choose a specific room or style, and the app will pull up hundreds of selections.
Free for iOS. Visit houzz.com.
iHandy Carpenter
Check out this 5-in-1 handy carpenter toolbox, which is sleek and gorgeous with its wood grain and lighting effects. The tools include a surface level (to level any flat surface), bubble level (just like you see in home-supply stores), steel protractor (measures angles from 0 to 180 degrees), steel ruler (with both inches and centimeters) and a plumb bob (verify verticality of walls or lines).
$1.99 for iOS and Android. Visit www.ihandysoft.com.
Photo Measures Lite
After taking a photo or using an old image, you can draw measurements directly onto the image with Photo Measures and save it. Think about when you are out shopping for furniture, and find a sofa you love. Snap a photo and save the dimensions or export to your email. Then go home and make sure it"ll fit!
$4.99 for iOS. Visit bigbluepixel.com/photo-measures.
Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap
Inspiration can be found in fashion, travel and other interiors. This splashy app can help you with color insight and determining paint colors for your interiors. Basically take a picture of your muse, then this app will match specific Sherwin-Williams paint colors to it.
Free for iOS, Android and BlackBerry. Visit sherwin-williams.com/architects-specifiers-designers.
Do you need help in organizing your project? This app helps you by creating a "notebook" to manage your remodeling or redecorating project. In your notebook, you could take notes, create to-do lists, store budget items, keep ideas, store vendor specifications, accumulate contracts from subcontractors, keep important emails, record voice reminders and snap photos of the project progress.
Free for iOS and Android. Visit evernote.com.
Michelle Jennings Wiebe, principal designer of Studio M in Tampa, Fla., can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.