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If you're looking for prairie/grasslands scenery you can't do much better than central South Dakota. Along with rolling hills, vistas that stretch forever and plentiful grass you will find amazing skies that complement the scene below them.
Both of these photos were taken within a few miles of the Missouri River near Pierre/Fort Pierre.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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This is the Roman Imperial Standard of the Byzantine Empire (AD 330-1453). The crown with the cross at the top surmounting the double-headed Imperial Eagle represents the authority of the God-anointed Emperor, who ruled with the Orthodox Church's blessing; the double-headed eagle itself represents the symphonia/harmonia/cooperatio of the Orthodox Church and the Imperial State, governing and leading the Empire in tandem, one in politics, the other in religion. The eagle on the left, holding the sword in its talons, represents the Imperial State led by the Emperor, and the eagle on the left, holding the imperial orb and cross, represents the Imperial Orthodox Church led by the Patriarch of Constantinople.
According to A.V. Soloviev's 1935 "Les emblèmes héraldiques de Byzance et les Slaves", (Seminarium Kondakovianum), the interpretation of the tetragrammic "BB BB" emblem's symbolism is as follows: The two traditional readings of the four "B"s, Βασιλεὺς βασιλέων βασιλεύων βασιλεύουσιν and Βασιλεὺς βασιλέων βασιλεύοντων βασιλεύει (both meaning "King of Kings ruling over the kings/rulers") were demonstrated by the Greek archaeologist and numismatist Ioannis Svoronos to be later interpretations by the 17th-century historian Marcus Vulson de la Colombière. Svoronos himself proposed three alternate readings: Σταυρὲ βασιλέως βασιλέων βασιλεῖ βοήθει ("Cross of the King of Kings aid the emperor"), Σταυρὲ βασιλέως βασιλέων βασιλευούσῃ βοήθει ("Cross of the King of Kings aid the ruling city [Constantinople]"), and Σταυρὲ βασιλέως βασιλέων βασιλεύων βασίλευε.
As you can recognise, this symbol did not die with the fall of Constantinople in May 1453, but was adopted by many Orthodox states positing themselves as the successor states to Byzantium; most notably, Imperial Russia (1547-1917, Russian Empire 1721-1917) as well as Serbia, Montenegro, the Holy Roman Empire, etc. Here is a magnificent gold double-headed eagle in the former Russian Imperial capital of Saint Petersburg:

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi everyone!
This is Karen and I am back with another Mixed Media page! This month, I wanted to do something totally different and have fun.
I've been getting in the holiday mood more and more lately and when I pulled out the layered stickers in the Winter Wonderland line, I decided they would be the focus of my mixed media page for this month.
I then went to the On the Sunny Side line and pulled out those layered stickers, too. I knew I wanted to use the houses so I created a base for my page by painting the bottom part green (for grass) and then the rest
blue (for sky.)
I then put down the "summer" houses on one side and the "winter" houses on the other.
I added some snowflakes, a birds and a butterfly, and a crocheted doily for the sun.
My next step was to paint the right side grass white as if it's covered by snow.
Then I painted a little on each of the layered stickers, the doily, and the chipboard so it would all blend in better. A few letter stickers and my page was done:
The stickers read: Summer or winter, make a point to celebrate your life in all its seasons.
A super-sweet and simple page that took very little time. Here are some detail shots of summer:
and winter:
If you haven't played with the layered stickers in your art journaling, that's my challenge for you this week.
Pull them out and play!!
Thanks for letting me share my page and please leave me a comment with your pages too, I'd love to see them.
Supplies:On the Sunny Side:layered stickers;Winter Wonderland:layered stickers, chipboard accessories;The Sweetest Thing -Honey:crocheted doilies


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After this past harsh winter I noticed this spot on our house where it looks like some soffit panels had fallen out. Honestly, I'm not sure what was in the space prior; I never found any panels on the ground if it'd blown down. And there's no lip really, just a nail as if maybe whomever set it up originally just nailed a piece onto the roof frame or something?
I'm looking for suggestions on what I should fix this with. Do I get a soffit panel and nail it over the spot? Just get some plywood and nail it there? Should I be putting something inside the empty space first before sealing it up? Ultimately I just want to seal it up to keep any potential critters and pests out, plus it was probably leading to some of the drafts over the winter!
Here are some pics:


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This is a platform for our affinity group, our squat Positivenest, our projects like Program Awakening, and the videos and posters manufactured by Spirit of Squatters Collective and a few others. Our idea is to bring a lot of positive messages and constructive solutions to the alternative movement. We try to avoid pessimistic news, except when we are fighting for freedom of speech. Real life starts when we turn off our computer, our tv, etc. If you want to contact us, email email@example.com
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It has been two months now since I was handcuffed, blindfolded and taken from my home. Today news has reached Ofer Military Prison that the apartheid wall on Bil'in's land will finally be moved and construction has begun on the new route. This will return half of the land that was stolen from our village. For those of us in Ofer , imprisoned for our protest against the wall, this victory makes the suffering of being here easier to bear. After actively resisting the theft of our land by the Israeli apartheid wall and settlements every week for five years now, we long to be standing along side our brothers and sisters to mark this victory and the fifth anniversary of our struggle.
Ofer is an Israeli military base inside the occupied territories that serves as a prison and military court. The prison is a collection of tents enclosed by razor wire and an electrical fence, each unit containing four tents, 22 prisoners per tent. Now, in winter, wind and rain comes in through cracks in the tent and we don't have sufficient blankets, clothes, and other basic necessities.
Food is a critical issue here in Ofer, there's not enough. We survive by buying ingredients from the prison canteen that we prepare in our tent. We have one small hot plate, and this is also our only source of warmth. Those whose families can put money in an account for us to buy food, do so, but many cannot afford to. The positive aspect to this is that I have learned how to cook! Tonight I madefalafel and sweets to celebrate the news about our victory. I cannot wait to get home and cook for my wife and children!
I was arrested in my slippers, and to this day my family has been unable to get permission to supply me with a pair of shoes. I was finally given my watch after repeated requests. For me this is an essential way to keep oriented; it was unbearable not being able to see the rate at which time passes. Receiving it, I felt so overjoyed, like a child getting his first watch. I can barely imagine what it will be like to have a pair of proper shoes again.
Because of our imprisonment, the military considers our families to be a security threat. It is very hard for our wives, children and extended family to visit. My friendAdeeb Abu Rahmah , also a political prisoner from Bil'in, cannot receive visits from his wife and one of his daughters. Even his mother, a woman in her eighties who is currently in bad health, is considered a security threat! He is afraid that he will not see her before she dies.
I am a teacher and before my arrest I taught at a private school in Birzeit and also owned a chicken farm. My family had to sell the farm at a loss after I was arrested. I don't know if I will have my position at the school when I am released.Adeeb 's family of nine is left without their sole provider, as are many other families. Not being able to care for our loved ones who need us is the hardest part of being here.
It is the support that I receive from my family and friends that helps me go on. I am grateful to the Palestinian leaders who have contacted my family, the diplomats from the European Union and to the Israeli activists who have expressed their support by attending my hearings. The relationship we have built together with the activists has gone beyond the definition of colleague or friend, we are brothers and sisters in this struggle. You are an unrelenting source of inspiration and solidarity. You have stood with us during demonstrations and court hearings, and during our happiest and most painful occasions. Being in prison has shown me how many true friends I have, I am so grateful to all of you.
From the confines of my imprisonment it becomes so clear that our struggle is far bigger than justice for only Bil'in or even Palestine. We are engaged in an international fight against oppression. I know this to be true when I remember all of you from around the world who have joined the movement to stop the wall and settlements. Ordinary people enraged by the occupation have made our struggle their own, and joined us in solidarity. We will surely join together to struggle for justice in other places when Palestine is finally free.
Missing the five-year anniversary of our struggle in Bil'in will be like missing the birthday of one of my children. Lately I think a lot about my friend Bassem whose life was taken during a nonviolent demonstration last year and how much I miss him. Despite the pain of this loss, and the yearning I feel to be with my family and friends at home, I think that if this is the price we must pay for our freedom, then it is worth it, and we would be willing to pay much more.
Abdallah Abu Rahmah
From the Ofer Military Detention Camp
Bilin weekly demonstration reenacts the Avatar film
Date: 12/02/2010
(en) The village of Bilin reenacted James Cameron's new film Avatar during todays weekly demonstration. Five Palestinian, Israeli and international activists were painted blue, with pointy ears and tales, resembling the Avatar characters. Like Palestinians, the Avatars fight imperialism, although the colonizers have different origins. The Avatars presence in Bilin today symbolizes the united resistance to imperialism of all kinds.
Todays non-violent demonstration was again met with excessive violence by the Israeli army. Sound bombs and tear gas were used, leaving four people directly injured by the canisters. The canisters were shot directly at the protesters, which is in violation with the IDFs firing regulations. Many other activists suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Before coming to Bilin, Israeli activists reported that police were present at their carpool meeting point. Their IDs were checked and some cars reported they were followed by the police. At the Rantis checkpoint, they were delayed once more and activists were obliged to continue their journey by taxi.
Bilin has reason to celebrate this week. Yesterday, preparations for the construction of the new Wall began, which returns 30 per cent of Bilins land to the village. Iyad Burnat, Head of the Bilin Popular Committee speaks of a victory: We feel relieved and feel the non-violent resistance is successful in its aim. Nevertheless, we will continue our struggle against the occupation as Bilin still has another 30 per cent of land that is confiscated by Israel.
Next week Bilin will have a special demonstration, celebrating five years of non-violent resistance and expects a large number of demonstrators. Bilin calls for all its supporters to invite people to join in next weeks demonstration.
(sk) Protestujúci palestínčania, izraelčania a zahraniční aktivisti z palestínskej dedinky Bilin dnes protestovali proti palestínsko/izraelskému múru prezlečení ako Na´viovia z Cameronovho filmu Avatar.
Watch online / Pozri si to online:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/4mgtxryjmhj/Bilin Reenacts Avatar Film 12-02-2010 By Haitham Al Katib.mp4


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How War For The Planet Of The Apes' Bad Ape Is Important For The Franchise's Future
Among the new characters War for the Planet of the Apes is introducing is Bad Ape (played by Steve Zahn), a chimpanzee who's smart like the apes in Caesar's tribe, but has been living on his own. The War trailers have presented Bad Ape as being eccentric because of his time in isolation, but according to director Matt Reeves, the character is important to the future of Apes reboot series because he represents the wider world of Apes beyond Caesar and his followers. Reeves explained:
When Caesar released the ALZ-113 gas at the primate shelter, he boosted the intelligence of all its inhabitants, and most of those apes have been the core members of his tribe in the years following. But as the ALZ-113 virus (contracted by Will Rodman's neighbor, Douglas Hunker) spread across the world and killed off most of the human population, it would also seem that it functioned just like the concentrated gas and increased the intelligence of all apes elsewhere, whether they were wild or lived in captivity. So Caesar's tribe is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to ape society in this brave new world, but as Caesar learned when he battled Koba in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, just because apes are all smart doesn't mean they'll all get along. You know, like how it is with humans.
Matt Reeves also laid out to Yahoo Movies that while this reboot series is still a long ways away from meeting up with the original Planet of the Apes movie, War for the Planet of the Apes does set up how Earth as we knows it is on a trajectory to turning into the alien-like world seen in the 1968 blockbuster. Reeves continued:
War for the Planet of the Apes will wrap up the conflict between apes and humans that began at the end of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, with Caesar leading the apes and Woody Harrelson's Colonel McCullough leading the humans. Bad Ape will presumably aid Caesar to the best of his ability during the story, and the outcome of this war will determine what becomes the dominant species on Earth.
You can watch the video below to learn about Bad Ape's background before catching the third Apes reboot entry.
War for the Planet of the Apes hits theaters on July 14.
Connoisseur of Marvel, DC, Star Wars, John Wick, MonsterVerse and Doctor Who lore. He's aware he looks like Harry Potter and Clark Kent.
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Ten Best Educational Games for Mobile Phones
Kidroid - Android
Many educational games for mobile phones are aimed at the toddler market, because 3-5 year olds
respond so well to imagery when they learn. When everything is in colorful game form, kids don't even know they are learning at all. Kidroid is a perfect example of this, featuring beautiful graphics of animals and other recognizable objects to keep a child's attention. You can match images together, read or listen to an object name, and then match the image. The great feature this game has over similar ones is that it has voice recognition, so your child can say their answer. The only downside is that it is a little basic, and won't challenge a toddler for very long.
A free demo version is available, and the full game is available for around 3GBP/5USD.
Smart Educational Games - Blackberry & Symbian
The best thing about Smart Educational Games is that it is genuinely suitable for both adults and children, the touch of a button changes
the difficulty level instantly. Games are based around the 4 sections of: geography, mental awareness, calculating speed, and improving your memory. The graphics are beautiful, and the games and puzzles are genuinely all the better for it. The games are extremely varied, from sliding puzzles, to quick fire quizzes, to shooting games, and many more. Games can run in either portrait or landscape mode.
Available on BlackBerry and Symbian platforms. SEG is available to purchase from ovi, or find a freeware version for BlackBerry phones.
Kids Cashier - Symbian
Kids Cashier is a unique offering, ensuring that the often missed 6-9 year age group is catered for. It is also good for introducing the subject of money, and is essentially "playing shops" on your mobile phone, whilst teaching your children math. As it is based around money, obviously decimal places come in to play making maths more difficult, but learnable in this fun environment. You are given a price that is displayed on the cash register, and a certain amount of coins or notes, and you need to decide which money to hand over. What change you will then get, adds to the fun. You can also choose something to buy from the store, bearing in mind what cash you have been given. The graphics are quite fun, and it is a good buy. Available from the ovi store.
MathsBrain - Symbian
MathsBrain is as simple as educational gaming gets, but nonetheless, does what it says it will do. Supremely addictive, and frustrating, for adults and children alike. This is not just a game that will appease adults, even though it's really a child's game, it is genuinely suitable for all ages, and the difficulty setting can be changed according to age. You are given what essentially looks like a calculator, with maths problems appearing at the top of the screen - your job is to solve the problems as quickly as possible. There is also a feature that allows you to compete with others all over the world. A basic game, but one of the best maths games available for the mobile phone. Available free from the ovi store.
Britannica Kids Apps - iPhone
Britannica Kids apps for the iPhone, take educational games on mobile phones to a whole new level - but then again for £4.99 for each app, they probably should do! For ages 8-12, there are currently 3 apps in the Britannica kids series, focusing on dinosaurs, volcanoes, and ancient Egypt. Perfect if your child's class is looking at one of these particular topics over the course of a term, but I would suggest not worth the price, for just one homework assignment. As well as games within the app, there are also videos to view and stunning photography to bring learning to life.
Games in this series include brushing off layers to reveal artefacts, quizzes, memory match game, and shaking your mobile phone to break up jigsaws, that you then have to put back together again. There is also a map feature that allows you to zoom in, and find where the pyramids are in the world, for example. Purchase from itunes.
Children ABC series - Android
A range of apps aimed at youngsters, the Children ABC series of educational games, promotes letter recognition, and helps with early spelling. There are a number of
applications in the series, including: animals, nature, color, fruits, number & shape, food, sport and vehicle that cost $1 each, or you can access the ultimate package, that contains them all, for $3.
A child can touch the letters for them to be spoken out, and other features that make learning fun for toddlers are included such as the animals version that has animal noises on it. Your child can flip the phone to progress to the next screen, although as toddlers fidget about a lot this can happen without them meaning to, which can be highly frustrating. Apart from comments about the cow looking like a dog, most users find that this is a good app for learning with younger members of the family.
Garfield Train Your Brain - Symbian
Not just another brain training game, but a great looking educational game for your cell phone, with Garfield as your guide.
Although it is obviously cartoon based, don't let that fool you - this is definitely one of the best educational games for adults and teenagers. There are the usual settings, for difficulty etc, and also a great deal of language choice, so if you fancy a game to test your French or Spanish then head to the settings menu. A training section that covers the usual maths, visual, logic and memory, with a "test your IQ" feel to them. There are then challenges and tests you can progress to. A high score not only wins you a gold medal, it also means you have unlocked new games. The only downside is that it is so fast you don't know what you are supposed to be doing sometimes, but that is all part of the challenge. Be prepared for some rude comments from the orange feline, if your score isn't up to scratch. Some of the easier maths and visual tests are suitable for younger children too. Free from the ovi store.
Kids Numbers and Math Lite - Android
This is one of the many games aimed at improving the education of preschoolers, and foundation stage learners. This
edition concentrates on numbers and math, and is available in 6 different languages, so older children could find it helpful for learning numbers in Spanish, French, German, or Japanese, as well as English. As well as basic "learning numbers", there are fun games to do including touching the balloon that contains the highest or lowest number, as well as basic addition and subtraction. For children in early school years, there are also more advanced exercises, and number match games. All these options are easily selected from the user friendly menu, and the more points you score the more games you can unlock. Definitely one of the best android games, aimed at children.
Lite edition available free from androlib.
Kiddo - Symbian
Not just another game to promote toddler education, this gaming option contains quite a few added extras that belie it's apparently
simple looking interface. Kiddo teaches the basics of alphabet, numbers, and words to prepare your child for school, with highly appealing and colorful graphics. Learning is all done in a fun way, so that your child just thinks that they are playing. Images, music, voice recognition, and use of the keyboard are all employed to get the educational message across, and keep the child engaged throughout. There is also a brilliant childlock feature, that means you can hand over your handset, safe in the knowledge that no calls, or deleting of files could take place. A brilliant free download from ovi.
Flashcard Champion Basic Math - iPhone
One of the better educational games for mobile phones that cover math, Flashcard Champion caters for the oft neglected age group of 4-11 year olds. Your child can practice their basic maths skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, answering as many questions as they can within a certain time frame. Highly customizable, with sound effects on/off option, how many questions get asked, and difficulty levels, all making it possible to keep a family of children happy with just one educational game. Smooth animations and sound effects add to the fun learning environment, as does the capability to store high scores.
Flashcard champion is available from itunes.


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Lost Treasure!
Your little scallywag will love these wall letters to adorn his room. Each letter boasts a unique design that will give you a custom look you'll love seeing on the wall. With pirate ships, palm trees and treasure chests, any pirate themed room will be complete.
Shipping: Standard: $15.00


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From dreams to keys – we're ready to be your reliable team in every step of the project, from your first ideas to the finalized building.
We build timber frame houses. For those who dare ask for more.
Dimmer homes are a breath of fresh air in the construction industry. Literally.
Commercial buildings
Restaurants and guesthouses could always do with the gust of fresh air that wooden buildings offer. Ask us how we can optimize these kinds of buildings.
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Do you have endless lists of ideas and new technologies appeal to you? Perfect! We're here for you, prepared to give you advice and find the best solutions.
Our mission
To deliver to our clients in Europe high-quality, energy-efficient, and environmentally-friendly houses.
We are committed to making the world a better place. We do our part by building environmentally-friendly homes that are tailored to our clients' needs, budget, and expectations.
We believe in the future of wood structure buildings. That's why we want to redefine and redirect the course of the house- building the industry by eliminating all the fears related to wood.
We believe in our friendly houses and we make sure that, even before they get to us, all the materials are chosen with your future and ours in mind. We love wood and we know that, by using it, we owe it to nature and the communities where we buy it. We believe that safety and comfort are not mutually exclusive. Every day we look for new ideas and techniques to offer you safe, comfortable and energetically efficient houses. We know how you can't wait to move into your new home.
Our Values
Certified for your benefit
Our company is EC, ISO 9001 and IQ Net certified. This means all our products are in compliance with the European quality standards and parameters. Dimmer is recognized both in Europe and the rest of the world as a trustworthy business partner.
We love constructional details, the happy faces of our clients when the job is done and to make high-quality buildings. Quality is both the basis of European certifications and the premise that we start with when we create every product.
For more information about our certifications and what's it like to work with us, call
Our Services
Our Projects
Coruna wooden home features an ample terrace, perfect for sunbathing for a few hours, for a barbecue with friends, or for a lovely game of hide-and-seek with the kids. The house was built in a tourist favorite spot in Spain.
Ajaccio wooden home features a complete thermosystem comprised of basaltic wool and larch on the exterior and plasterboard for its interiors. a solution with great insulation performance.
There's a douglas exterior finish on the Villonne wooden home, thanks to its endurance against the sea's salinity (this is relevant for the area where this building has been completed). The interior is plated with plasterboard.
Valldoreix wooden home is medium-sized, with modern architecture, featuring a terrace on its first floor.
With modern architecture and large windows, Gordes wooden home meets all the requirements of a family home where everyone is in love with nature.
Pont de Salars wooden home is ideal for people who love nature and its benefits.
You always get nervous when choosing something for your home, but when you choose the team to build it, the pressure feels even greater. At Dimmer, I found an exceptional team of professionals, prepared for every scenario and patient with all my questions.


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I held my hand up in front of my face. I moved my fingers.
I couldn't see anything at all. Nothing. I couldn't detect the slightest hint of movement. The darkness surrounding me was perfectly complete.
I tried to keep my breathing under control. The faster I breathed, the more oxygen I used up, and the less time I would have to live.
That's what I'd heard about being buried alive, anyway. I didn't see why it wouldn't be true.
Not that it really mattered whether I'd have just a few minutes to live or an hour. One way or another, this was it. I tried hard to accept the fact that I was going to die soon, that my life was going to end, that I was already beginning to suffocate. But it just didn't seem like it could be real, no matter how hard it was getting to breathe the air.
I reached out and touched the rough wood only a few inches in front of me. I could feel its raw, grainy texture. The scent of freshly-cut pine was overwhelming.
This was real.
When I was a kid I used to think that the most horrifying way to die would be to be buried alive. Worse than drowning, worse than getting killed in a car accident, worse even than being burned to death. The pain of burning would be unimaginably excruciating, I knew. But the horror wouldn't quite compare to suffocating inside a narrow, hot box beneath six feet of heavy dirt.
I even used to promise myself that I'd never get close to a coffin as long as I lived. Inviting even the remote possibility of ending up trapped inside one seemed like a stupid risk to take.
And yet somehow here I was. I'd let it happen.
I felt around for my cell phone and clicked it on. The screen's dim light glared.
The battery was now almost completely dead. I'd lost count of how many times I'd tried checking my phone for a signal. Nothing had changed; there was no service this far underground, and there wasn't ever going to be.
I clicked off the screen.
Once again I was lost in darkness.
It all started two days earlier when Morgan fell into a coma.
I don't know if it was because her mind just shut down from the trauma of being attacked by Mr. Hershel, or if it was because of some other reason which I didn't fully understand. But right after I saw her curled up in Ian's lap in my car, his arms holding her tightly and their lips somehow pressed together, Morgan convulsed briefly, then collapsed.
Ian tried to wake her.
"Morgan?" He shook her, and when she didn't wake he lightly slapped her face. "Morgan? Sweetheart, you need to stay with me! Morgan!"
But she wouldn't wake up.
I threw the spare clothes I'd grabbed into the back and squeezed beside Morgan, who was now lying slumped and unmoving in the passenger seat.
Ian raced us back to my parents' house. All the way there I did my best to keep talking to Morgan and calling her name into her ear, like Ian told me to do. But every time I gave her another series of brisk slaps, my best friend's head only rolled back down against her shoulder.
In the middle of all this, Ian tried to explain what I'd just seen going on between them. "I don't know what happened," he said. "I don't understand. I was trying to comfort her and suddenly her hands were all over me. And then she was kissing me. After everything she just went through." He shook his head emphatically. "I don't know why she would do something like that."
Everything about Ian's tone should have told me that he was telling the truth that Morgan had just started pressing her body against his and kissing him, out of the blue. But now, honestly, I couldn't be totally sure. The Ian I knew was an extremely honest person, but that didn't mean he was incapable of lying to me. I wasn't naive. After Morgan had told me at the fair that she was cheating on Jason with someone she couldn't name, and after I'd found Ian's hoodie and gun in my car where Morgan had slept, and after I'd just watched the way she'd been kissing him, I couldn't shake the idea that Morgan and Ian had been secretly sleeping together before all of this had started.
For now, I tried not think about it. Somehow I'd find out the truth later, but not now. More than anything else I was terrified that Morgan might die. She still wasn't waking up.
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The best singer-songwriters, guitar players and flamenco artists of the city gather in flamenco clubs. On these stages you can enjoy a show full of emotions where flamenco singings, as the Taranta, join the clapping in time, dancing and the noise of flamenco shoes tapping.
As the cafés with entertainment were the places chosen by miners to enjoy flamenco singings during their short spare time, flamenco clubs are still a gathering point for all those who love this art.
NB: We are not responsible for the changes produced in the establishments. If your business is not included or you want to change something, email us at: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Did you know that Kate Middleton did her own wedding makeup? Well ... you can too! To show you how easy it is to do your own wedding makeup, we have an easy seven step tutorial on how to re-create a flawless bronzed wedding look. Don't worry we will tell you what to buy as well. Remember ladies, practice makes perfect so be sure to test your look out several times and take selfies to ensure you got your wedding look down to a science.
Now on to the tutorial designed by makeup artist Denise Elliott Makeup Artistry! All captured by Christie Graham Photography.
[show_boutique_widget id="132616"]
Keeping your skin hydrated is very important, as it will make the foundation look smooth and natural! Moisturize first and then apply primer. This will minimize pore size and hold the foundation throughout the day.
Products: Bobbi Brown Hydrating MoisturizeGiorgio Armani Primer
1. Prime the lid: Apply to the entire lid. This will prevent any creasing.
2. Cream eye shadow: Apply a cream shadow from lash line to the crease.
3. Powder eye shadow: Apply eye shadow in the crease creating contour and depth to the eye.
4. Gel liner: Apply the liner for the outer corner of the eye to the inner corner. The trick is to apply it as close to the lash line as you can.
5. Mascara: Before applying always curl your lashes. Start applying at the root of the lashes and wiggle the brush while you sweep the lashes upwards.
Helpful Tip:
Always do eyes first before concealer! Eye shadow will cause fallout under the eye area. Once you finish the eyes, use a q-tip and use eye cream to clean the eye shadow fall out.
Eye cream: Bobbi Brown Hydrating eye cream Eye primer: Laura Mercier Eye Basic Cream Shadow: Laura Mercier Gold Metallic & Laura Mercier bronze eye shadow Gel liner: Bobbi Brown Gel or YSL gel liner. Mascara: L'oreal voluminous or YSL
Apply corrector to neutralize under eye darkness. Then the concealer is applied over top to brighten.
Corrector: Bobbi Brown Concealor: Giorgio Armani Concealer
Apply with foundation brush or beauty blender (if you want lighter coverage). Start in the center of the face and blend outwards making it blend right into the jaw line. Use a powder brush to apply the powder by pressing it into the skin setting the liquid foundation. Also, don't forget to set the under eye area where you applied corrector/concealor.
Helpful Tip:
If you have the pressed powder, bring it with you for touch-ups during the day if you get oily in the T zone.
Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous silk (For oily skin: Lasting Silk UV Foundation)
Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent loose/pressed.
Brows are key as they frame your face. Fill brows from the edge of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. Having the arch lined up with the middle of your pupil means your arch is in the correct shape.
Brow Pencil: Shu Uemura brow pencil
Apply the bronzer first. Apply the bronzer from the top of the forehead, on the side of your temples and then sweep underneath your cheekbones and down to the neck. It's like making a number "3" motion with your brush. Apply blush on the apples of the cheeks. For a highlight on the check bones use Bobbi Brown shimmer brick.
Bronzer: Bobbi Brown Blush: Nars Shimmer Stick: Bobbi Brown & Shimmer Brick
Lightly line with liner, apply lipstick to add color, and top with gloss for shine.
Lipstick: Giorgio Armani Gloss: Bobbi Brown Lip Liner: Bobbi Brown
Makeup: Denise Elliott Makeup Artistry Photography: Christie Graham Photography Model: Alicia Quan of Alicia Fashionista


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Clyde H. Helphrey
Clyde H.
Clyde H. Helphrey, 84, of Centralia, Mo., formerly of Windsor, Mo., and Warsaw, Mo., died Sunday evening, January 26, 2020, at his home in Centralia.
He was born December 2 1935, in Castle Rock, Colorado, the son of Clyde Homer Helphrey Sr. and Bessie Pauline (Reed) Helphrey. On August 9, 1958, at the First Baptist Church in Warsaw, Mo., he married Virginia Fay Ferguson and she survives of the home.
Clyde served in the United States Army for over 21 years as a truck master. His service included both the Korean Conflict and serving two tours during the Vietnam War. After retirement from the military, he drove a truck for MFA in Windsor for 2 years and then worked on the Alaskan pipeline for one summer. He then worked for Boeing at Whiteman Air Force Base and then in Wichita, Kansas for 16 years. He was a member of Sturgeon Baptist Church in Sturgeon, Mo., and had also attended Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Warsaw. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the VFW Post 15026 Kansas City, Mo.
In addition to his wife Virginia, survivors include 2 sons, John E. Helphrey (Linda), Yukon, Oklahoma; Lynn H. Helphrey (Ruby), Suffolk, Virginia; 2 daughters, Melodie A. Benton (Randy), Spring Hill, Florida; and Carman J. Rowan, Centralia, Mo.; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; a sister, Marjorie Hunton, Green Ridge, Mo.; a half-brother, Clyde Leslie Helphrey, Shawnee, Oklahoma; and several nieces and nephews.
No services are planned at this time. Burial will take place in the Laurel Oak Cemetery at a later date. The family suggests contributions to the Laurel Oak Cemetery and may be left in care of the Hadley Funeral Home, Windsor. Condolences may be left online at www.hadleyfuneralhome.com.


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I'm a football player, a quarterback with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. I'm used to pain. You get hit, you get up and keep going.
But I'd never felt anything like the pain that ripped through my gut that January afternoon in 2004. One minute I was sitting in my lounge chair at home watching TV, the next minute I was doubled over. Not even Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis hitting me from the blind side hurt that bad. For a few minutes, I could hardly breathe. Finally the pain went away.
I'd just sat up again when it came back, worse than before. I was sweating and shivering at the same time. "Mary, come here," I called to my wife. "I feel like my stomach's about to explode." She had to help me up from the chair.
The next 24 hours, the pain came and went in waves. Then it stopped. Some kind of nasty bug, I figured, and put it out of my mind.
I had to focus on getting in top shape, stronger than I'd ever been. My goal that year was to finally win the starting job at quarterback, a job I'd been dreaming of—and working for—almost all my life.
I still remember the day I fell in love with the game. I was six. My mom took me to my older brother Anthony's football practice. The sunshine, the guys running around in their uniforms, the smell of the grass—everything about it was magic. This is me, I thought. This is what I want to do when I grow up.
Not only did I want to play football, I wanted to be the quarterback, the team leader. By middle school, I was. My mother might not have understood the x's and o's, but she understood my passion. She felt the same way about nursing, lifting her patients' spirits, tending to their bodies and souls.
She was always telling me I could achieve anything I dreamed if I believed in myself and in God. Not that I should expect everything to come easy.
"You've got to put in the effort, then trust in the Lord. With his help, you'll succeed," she said. "Don't let anything keep you down."
Mom didn't. Not when she and my father got divorced and she had to raise us on her own. Not even when she got breast cancer.
"My strength comes from my faith," she told me. I didn't really know what she meant, not then, but I know I never once saw her spirits flag. Right to the end—she died when I was 14—she had joy in her heart.
Her example and my brother's—Anthony put his own life on hold and moved back home to raise my younger sister and me—drove me. I dedicated myself to football in high school, picked my coaches' brains, trained like crazy, stuck to my guns about playing QB even though some college recruiters wanted me to try tight end or fullback because of my size.
I didn't let up in college, at East Carolina University, where I became the starting quarterback partway through freshman year. My teammates might chill out at the dorm after practice. I studied game tape, did extra workouts.
Okay, I'll admit, I didn't spend all my time outside the classroom at the football complex—I also met and fell in love with another student named Mary Knox, a tennis player who was as much of a sports nut as I was.
My extra effort paid off. In April of 2002, my senior year, the Jaguars selected me in the fourth round of the NFL draft. There were no guarantees, but their starting quarterback was nearing retirement. They drafted me expecting I'd replace him in a year or two.
I spent the 2002 NFL season on the bench, but I felt so close to achieving my dream, it was almost like heaven. I worked harder than I had in college, training, watching game film, peppering the veterans and the QB coach with questions. I soaked up as much knowledge of the pro game as I could.
"When I get my chance, I want to be ready," I told Mary, who, by then, was my wife.
But then came the 2003 NFL draft. The Jags had a first-round pick and they chose Byron Leftwich, the most heralded QB to come out of college that year. Mary and I heard the news on the car radio. I almost drove off the road. "I guess they just don't believe in me," I said.
Mary gave me a look, kind of like Mom would have. "He still has to beat you out."
He did. I tried my best, but Leftwich won the starting job. The job that was supposed to be mine. I was relegated to backup again. My confidence took a hit. For the first time I questioned my ability. I wondered about the dream I'd had since I was six. What if I'd gotten it wrong?
Watching from the sidelines as Leftwich led the offense, I had plenty of time to think. What I thought about, mostly, was my mother. That inner strength of hers, I could really use some of it now. I remembered how she used to tell me, With the Lord's help, you'll succeed.
One night toward the end of that trying season, I lay in bed and prayed. Not that I'd take over as the starter, but that I could be as strong as Mom had been. I asked for faith like hers. I woke up feeling reinvigorated. Next year—2004—would be my year. Hand in hand with the Lord, I'd find my way back to the field.
That's why I shrugged off that bout of abdominal pain in January and stepped up my workouts. But two months later, when I reported to Jacksonville for the team's off-season conditioning program, I still didn't feel right. The trainer sent me to a gastroenterologist. The doctor ran a bunch of tests and took X rays. He told me I had something called Crohn's disease.
"Just give me whatever pill I need to clear it up," I said. I figured if I'd never heard of it, it couldn't be that serious.
But it was. The doctor explained that Crohn's is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the small intestine, making it all but impossible for food to pass through. "No one knows exactly how or why you get it," he said. He'd put me on medication to control the inflammation, but there was no cure. It was a disease I'd have to live with.
I called Mary and told her the diagnosis. By the time I got home, she'd printed out a ton of information from the internet. She looked worried. "Dave, a lot of people who have Crohn's don't do that well maintaining an active lifestyle."
We'd see about that. The medication helped. I modified my diet. No more spicy food, roughage or sweets that would irritate my small intestine. Within a few weeks I felt well enough to go out to a Thai restaurant with my teammates. Big mistake. I awoke in the middle of the night vomiting. Mary found me curled on the bathroom floor, so wracked by abdominal cramps I couldn't move.
"I'm taking you to the E.R., Dave." She had to help me—her 250-pound NFL quarterback husband—into my clothes.
I was laid up in the hospital for four days, unable to eat a thing. They put me on IV fluids. Still I dropped 30 pounds. I felt weak, woozy. Mom kept floating in and out of my thoughts. Maybe it was because I was light-headed, but I swear, one night it felt like she was right there beside me.
I started talking to her. "I need you to be here. Help me come through this so I can live my life the way I know you want me to—with strength, confidence and faith."
Then it hit me. I wasn't talking to my mom so much as praying to my heavenly Father, trusting him with my life the way Mom did with hers. I told Mary about my prayer. "I think I finally understand what Mom meant about strength coming from faith," I said.
I ended up having surgery to remove a section of my diseased intestines. Six weeks later I was on the field again, practicing hard, getting back into game shape. "I don't know what's in store for me," I said to Mary, "but I know in my heart I can play." When Byron Leftwich went down with an injury in November, I was ready to step in.
On game day, I jogged out of the tunnel onto the field at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. The roar of the crowd fired me up. We played Detroit. The game had plenty of drama. We pulled ahead early, then the Lions caught up and sent us into overtime. I threw a touchdown pass to win the game. The crowd roared even louder. It was every bit as magical as the day I discovered football.
That was five years ago. I'm the starting quarterback for the Jaguars now, living the dream God put in my heart. My Crohn's is under control. It might flare up again, but I'm not worried. I know with the Lord's help, I can handle whatever happens.
It's like I tell kids who share my disease: You might have Crohn's, but it doesn't have you. Don't let it keep you down. Go and live your dream.
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滇南毛蕊山茶 dian nan mao rui shan cha
Year-old branchlets with pubescence becoming black; current year branchlets yellowish villous. Leaf blade larger, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, to 15 × 6 cm, secondary veins abaxially visible to rarely slightly raised or impressed. Bracteoles and sepals velutinous on both surfaces. Filaments glabrous or inner ones sparsely pilose. Fl. Dec-Jan, fr. Sep-Oct. 2n = 90*.
● Forests; 1500-2900 m. C Yunnan (Jingdong).
Treatments in Other Floras @ www.efloras.org
Interactive Keys by Xiangying Wen
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Looking for a local Christmas tree farm, tree lot, sleigh ride, Santa visits, reindeer or hayride in Nebraska? Just select your area in the list or map below. If you are looking for an automatic Christmas tree watering device, see this page
And if you know of one I missed and want to add it or correct the information, or provide feedback about a farm or the website , please let me know!
After Christmas, click here to find how how and where to easily recycle or dispose of your Christmas tree! And to recycle used, broken or old Christmas lights and electronics See this page for local options to easily recycle your Christmas holiday lights. There are affiliate links on this page. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.
September 2022: In a normal year, most Christmas tree farms are open up to Christmas Eve; but this year many farms are selling out of trees and closing early for the season, and some decided not to open at all, due to all the COVID19 restrictions. Some are only open on weekends, or only have hayrides, Santa visits (if they can get a Santa) and events on weekends. Demand will be high since people have been locked down and not allowed to do much - but you CAN go to farms. And a farm may be the only place you can take your kids to see Santa. Of course, check with the farm BEFORE YOU GO; hours, tree supplies, prices, everything is changing daily!
And next Spring, you'll want to take your children to a free Easter egg hunt - see our companion website to find a local Easter Egg hunt - (www.EasterEggHuntsAndEasterEvents.org) . It's the ONLY website that is updated every Easter for all Easter Egg hunts in the U.S.
Click one of these areas (or click on the map further down this page)
Cutting a Christmas tree in a national forest is a tradition for many residents of the Rocky Mountain Region. First, locate the forrest nearest you. This link has a easy to use map to find trees you may cut in a national forest in your area . Just hover (position) your mouse over the mouse on that page in your area. Next, you'll need a permit. Call the office of the closest Ranger District to the area you want to cut in to verify that they are offering Christmas tree cutting permits. This link has the contact information for those offices .
Do you know of any Christmas tree farms or other special Christmas and winter events in Nebraska? Please tell me about them - Click here to write to me!


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Training in autistic spectrum disorders is crucial in order to achieve an early diagnosis. However, the number of papers describing this training is limited. This study describes the level of knowledge among paediatricians from tertiary care hospitals in different regions of Spain and detects areas that need improvement.Material and method
A total of one hundred and fifty-seven (157) paediatricians working in tertiary healthcare hospitals located in three different regions in Spain consented to complete an online questionnaire divided in three sections (socio-demographic, knowledge about childhood autism, and opinion). Data were analysed using SPSS version 15.Results
The total mean score of participating paediatricians in the questionnaire was 20.34 (±2.43 SD) out of a total possible score of 23. Approximately two-thirds (65%) of paediatricians scored more or equal to the mean score. The knowledge gap was found to be higher with symptoms of repetitive behaviour patterns, concept of autism, and comorbidity, with no statistical significance. There were no differences in paediatrician scores within different socio-demographic groups. Just under two-thirds (64%) of paediatricians subscribed to the opinion that their own knowledge about autism is limited, and there is a significant lack of knowledge about facilities in every region.Conclusions
There is a sufficient level of knowledge about autism among paediatricians in tertiary healthcare, although a lack of awareness about the management of these patients, with poor coordination between the different specialists that are involved in their treatment. Efforts should focus on achieving a better coordination between these specialists, and update the knowledge gaps identified.
La formación en trastornos del espectro autista (TEA) por parte de los pediatras es esencial para su diagnóstico precoz. Sin embargo, son escasos los estudios que han cuantificado este conocimiento, por lo que el objetivo principal es determinar el nivel formativo sobre TEA entre pediatras de atención hospitalaria en diferentes comunidades e identificar aspectos a mejorar.Material y métodos
Un total de 157 pediatras de atención hospitalaria de 3 comunidades autónomas completó el cuestionario online sobre TEA, estructurado en 3 partes (sociodemográfico, nivel formativo y opinión). Los datos fueron analizados con SPSS (versión 15).Resultados
La media ± desviación estándar de puntuaciones en el cuestionario fue 20,34±2,43 (puntuación máxima posible: 23). Un 65% puntúa en todos los dominios igual o superior a la media. Los conceptos menos conocidos son: patrones restringidos de conducta, concepto general TEA y comorbilidades posibles. No hay diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto a las puntuaciones entre diferentes grupos de pediatras según variables sociodemográficas. Un 64% de los pediatras opina que su conocimiento sobre TEA es limitado. Destaca un desconocimiento importante sobre la disponibilidad de recursos, presente en todas las comunidades estudiadas.Conclusiones
Existe un adecuado nivel general de conocimientos sobre TEA entre los pediatras, pero un deficiente conocimiento en la parte práctica del manejo de estos pacientes y en la coordinación entre los diferentes equipos que participan en el cuidado de estos. Los esfuerzos deberían centrarse en lograr una buena comunicación entre estos equipos y en mantener actualizados los conocimientos sobre TEA a todos los niveles.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are biologically-based disorders characterised by abnormalities in two domains: social communication/interaction and the presence of stereotypic and repetitive patterns of interest and behaviour.1–3 They are usually diagnosed during childhood, so it is essential that paediatricians be knowledgeable of them.2,3
In recent years, the concepts of autism and Asperger syndrome have been evolving towards what is currently considered a continuous clinical spectrum.1,4,5 These disorders are difficult to delimit into specific categories, which is consistent with emerging genetic models of ASD that propose the presence of polygenic interactions, polymorphisms, copy number variants and regulation by epigenetic factors. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V) published in May 2013 consolidated the term ASD; it replaced the DSM IV category of pervasive developmental disorders, excludes Rhett syndrome (which is currently considered a specific genetic disorder that happens to have a few overlapping symptoms) and does not differentiate between childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (they are all comprehended in the term ASD).1,4,5
The diagnosis of ASD is essentially clinical and based on the presence of persistent deficits in social communication and interaction and restrictive, repetitive and stereotypic patterns of behaviour, interest or activity, hyper/hyporreactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment.1,5 The symptoms must be present since early childhood, although they may be undetected until social demands exceed the restricted capabilities of the child. In addition, the most novel aspect introduced by the DSM V is a dimensional measure of severity based on levels of functioning that can be used to determine the position of the individual within the continuous spectrum.1,4,5
The prevalence of this group of disorders has been increasing in recent years, and they are also frequently associated to other diseases and mental illnesses.2,6–9
Although at present there is widespread awareness of the importance of early diagnosis1–3,7,9–13 and ASD is a frequent reason for seeking paediatric care both in primary care and hospital settings, paediatricians have different levels of knowledge of ASD, and this can lead to feeling of helplessness in both health care providers and the families of patients that seek care after detecting warning signs.3,7,9,10,12–21 Furthermore, few studies have measured this knowledge among paediatricians in Spain (a few studies have been published in other countries, some of them even in the adult population, and assessing general knowledge about ASD in different health care settings12,13). Table 1 lists the studies published to date on the knowledge of ASD in different types of health care workers and different subsets of patients. Overall, these studies have reported an inadequate training on ASD, an incomplete knowledge of the possible diagnoses, and a lack of competence in the management of children with ASD in individual practitioners.2,6,10,12,17–21 To date, there are few published studies that focus solely on the training level of paediatricians, and as far as we know, none such study has been published in Spain.
List of studies on the knowledge of health care workers about autism spectrum disorders published to date.
|Research team
|Year published
|Population with autism spectrum disorders
|No. of health professionals under study
|Type of professionals studied
|Salient findings
|Zerbo et al.9
|Physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses
|Adequate level of symptom recognition/lack of training and education
|Bakare et al.12,13
|2008, 2009
|Health care workers in tertiary care settings
|Low-level knowledge of symptoms/greater training in psychiatrists
|Garg et al.10
|Family physicians
|Variability in physicians' self-perceived skills/age of doctor, personal interest in ASD and country of graduation are relevant factors
|Golnik et al.7
|Family physicians and primary care paediatricians
|Need for more training and improvement of primary care
|Hartley-McAndrew et al.2
|Doctors, nurses, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and teachers
|Knowledge on symptoms and diagnosis below recommended level
|Khanna and Jariwala8
|Lack of general knowledge on autism/need for more thorough training
|Rahbar et al.17
|General practitioners
|Lack of training on symptoms and diagnosis/better training in younger physicians
|Igwe et al19
|Paediatric and psychiatric nurses
|Gaps in general knowledge about autism/lack of training
|Imran et al.11
|Psychiatrists, paediatricians, neurologists, family physicians, psychologists, speech therapists
|Better detection of ASD symptoms among non-medical providers/lack of training
|Heidgerken et al.18
|Psychiatrists, speech therapists, psychologists, family physicians, paediatricians, neurologists
|Adequate and accurate knowledge of DSM IV criteria
|Bruder et al20
|Family physicians
|Lack of training on autism in adults
|Eseigbe et al.21
|Paediatricians, psychiatrists, general practitioners
|Adequate knowledge in paediatricians and psychiatrists in tertiary level hospitals/low-level knowledge in general practitioners
For all of the above, the main objectives of this study were:
- 1.
To determine the level of knowledge about ASD of hospital-based paediatricians in different regions of Spain (Autonomous Community of Valencia, Community of Madrid and Region of Murcia).
- 2.
To determine how hospital-based paediatricians perceive their own knowledge of ASD.
- 3.
To learn the opinion of hospital-based paediatricians regarding the availability of information on the diagnosis and management of these patients.
- 4.
To determine the main changes needed in the educational curriculum to contribute to improving the knowledge of paediatricians and to the early detection of ASD in each region under study.
We made a brief questionnaire available to paediatricians (adjunct physicians and residents) working in various Spanish hospitals distributed through three autonomous communities: Autonomous Community of Valencia, Community of Madrid and Region of Murcia (Table 2).
Sociodemographic variables of participating paediatricians.
|Sociodemographic variables
|Age group (years)
|51 (36.6)
|47 (33.8)
|13 (9.3)
|50 or more
|28 (20.1)
|Sex M/F
|37 (26.6)/102 (73.3)
|Paediatric specialty
|Paediatrics resident
|55 (39.5)
|General Paediatrics Adjunct physician
|27 (19.4)
|Paediatric Neurology Adjunct physician
|10 (7.2)
|Adjunct physician in a different paediatric specialty
|47 (33.8)
|Years of experience in Paediatrics
|1–5 years
|70 (50.3)
|6–10 years
|20 (14.3)
|11–15 years
|17 (12.2)
|16–19 years
|4 (2.8)
|20 years or more
|28 (20.2)
|Previous work experience with ASD patients
|Yes, 59 (42)/no, 80 (58)
|Hospital employing respondent
|Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia, general hospital)
|59 (42)
|Hospital Universitario de Móstoles (Madrid, secondary care level)
|31 (22.3)
|Hospital General Universitario Santa Lucía (Cartagena, Murcia, secondary care level)
|6 (4.3)
|Hospital Rafael Méndez (Lorca, Murcia, secondary care)
|2 (1.43)
|Hospital Nisa 9 de Octubre (Valencia, secondary care level)
|1 (0.71)
|Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor (Vallecas, Madrid, secondary care level)
|17 (12.2)
|Hospital General Universitario de Elche (Alicante, secondary care level)
|10 (7.19)
|Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja (Alicante, secondary care level)
|7 (5.03)
|Hospital Universitario del Vinalopó (Alicante, secondary care level)
|2 (1.43)
|Hospital General Universitario de Alicante (general hospital)
|1 (0.71)
|Hospital Público de Sagunto (secondary care level)
|3 (2.15)
The questionnaire was structured based on the study objectives, taking into account the DSM V diagnostic criteria for ASD and comparing our questions with items used in similar studies in the literature. As has been done in other studies,13 we structured the questionnaire into three parts (Appendix B1–3):
- 1.
Sociodemographic (SDASD questionnaire): includes demographic data of participating paediatricians, including sex, age, paediatric specialty, years of professional experience, prior experience with ASD patients, and hospital in which they worked.
- 2.
Knowledge about ASD (KASD questionnaire): further divided into four domains with questions assessing the general knowledge of health care workers about ASD.
- 3.
Opinion on the currently available care for patients with ASD (OASD questionnaire): questions to explore the opinion of health care workers regarding the availability of information on the diagnosis and management of these patients, as well as the training of specialists, in their particular geographical regions.
We administered the questionnaire using Google Forms, which allowed paediatricians to complete them online and submit them directly to the author. We sent the link to the online questionnaire to all professionals that agreed to participate, emphasising that they did not need to consult any educational materials before completing it.
We analysed the data using the Google Forms tools and SPSS version 15. We calculated the mean, median and mode for the total sample for the items in the KASD questionnaires, and compared sociodemographic data by means of ANOVA to assess the association between the knowledge of ASD and the different sociodemographic variables. We also calculated the absolute frequency and percentage of the different opinions assessed in the OASD questionnaire.Results
A total of 139 paediatricians completed the questionnaire and were included in the study. Seventy-three percent were female, and the highest proportion corresponded to the 20-to-29 years age group, followed closely by the 30-to-39 years group. Consequently, most of the paediatricians (39%) were Paediatrics residents-in-training (MIR). We ought to highlight that 58% of the surveyed paediatricians reported having no past experience with patients with ASD. Table 2 summarises the rest of the sociodemographic variables.Questionnaire on the knowledge of autism spectrum disorders: description of the survey results
- –
Domain 1 (knowledge about deficits in social interaction and communication): our results showed adequate knowledge, with paediatricians answering a mean of 92% of questions correctly. The areas with the most errors had to do with the difficulty engaging in joint pretend play (22 incorrect answers) and the belief that all patients with ASD will have language impairments (9 incorrect answers).
- –
Domain 2 (restrictive or repetitive patterns of behaviour): the percentage of correct answers was lower in this domain (mean, 86%). The aspects paediatricians were most knowledgeable of were the presence of stereotypic movements or the repetitive use of objects/language (94% answered correctly) and the presence of very restricted interests (91% answered correctly). However, the percentage that answered correctly declined to 81%, 82% and 85%, respectively, when it came to the aversive responses to specific sounds or textures (25 answered incorrectly), hyper/hyporreactivity to sensory inputs (24 answered incorrectly) or inflexible adherence to routines (19 answered incorrectly).
- –
Domain 3 (other features that inform the diagnosis): 19% of paediatricians answered incorrectly when asked about the onset of symptoms in patients with ASD.
- –
Domain 4 (which examined finer details of the definition of ASD and the presence of comorbidities): the domain in which paediatricians had the largest percentage of incorrect answers corresponded to questions regarding comorbidities (potential association or lack thereof with intellectual disability or epilepsy), as well as the concept of neurodevelopmental disorder (44% of paediatricians did not define ASD as such). However, a high percentage answered correctly (95%–98%) when it came to differentiating autism from schizophrenia and regarding the importance of early diagnosis of patients with ASD and it being essentially a clinical diagnosis.
The highest possible score of the KASD was 23 (9, 5, 2 and 7 for each domain, respectively) and the lowest possible score was 0.
The mean ± standard deviation of the scores obtained by participating paediatricians was 20.34±2.43, the median was 21 and the mode 23. Table 3 shows the mean scores obtained in each of the domains.
Mean score by domain.
|Knowledge area
|Total possible score
|Score mean±SD
|N (%) of paediatricians that scored at or above the mean
|Domain 1
|Deficits in social interaction and communication
|110 (80)
|Domains 2
|Restrictive or repetitive patterns of behaviour
|112 (80)
|Domain 3
|Other features used in diagnosis
|103 (74)
|Domain 4
|Definition of ASD, comorbidities
|104 (74)
|Full questionnaire
|91 (65)
We did not find significant differences in the mean score of the KASD based on any of the sociodemographic variables under study. We found the highest difference between the scores of Paediatric Neurology adjunct physicians (21.2±2.17) and those of residents in Paediatrics (19.70±6.28), but it was not statistically significant (P=.20) (Table 4).
Correlation between scores and sociodemographic variables.
|Sociodemographic variables
|Mean KASD score
|ANOVA (one-way)
|Age group
|20–29 years
|F-ratio: 1.55; df, 3
|30–39 years
|40–49 years
|50 years or more
|F-ratio: 0.01; df, 1
|Paediatrics resident
|F-ratio: 1.55; df, 3
|Adjunct in general paediatrics
|Adjunct in paediatric neurology
|Adjunct in a different paediatric specialty
|Years of experience in paediatrics
|F-ratio: 1.20; df, 4
|20 or more
|Previous professional experience with ASD patients
|F-ratio: 0.11; df, 1
|Autonomous community
|Autonomous Community of Valencia
|F-ratio: 1.27; df, 2
|Region of Murcia
|Community of Madrid
Below, Table 5 summarises the answers given by paediatricians regarding their perception of their own knowledge of ASD and the resources available in their regions.
Number and percentages of the different answers of paediatricians regarding their perception of their own knowledge of ASD and the resources available in their region.
|I do not know
|Is adequate multidisciplinary management of the social and health care needs of patients with ASD available in your region?
|49 (36.3%)
|51 (37.8%)
|35 (25.9%)
|Autonomous Community of Valencia
|6 (27%)
|6 (27%)
|10 (45%)
|Region of Murcia
|24 (40%)
|27 (45%)
|8 (13%)
|Community of Madrid
|19 (35%)
|18 (33%)
|17 (31%)
|Do you think you have sufficient training or resources for the early diagnosis of ASD?
|46 (34.3%)
|88 (65.7%)
|How would you rate your knowledge and skills in the area of ASD?
|Deficient: 87 (64%)
|Sufficient: 39 (28.9%)
|Adequate: 9 (6.7%)
|Should there be more education on ASD during residency and training activities?
|Yes: 132 (97.8%)
|No: 3 (2.2%)
|Is there a specific protocol for the referral and followup of patients with ASD in the region where you work?
|65 (48%)
|50 (37%)
|20 (14%)
|Autonomous Community of Valencia
|4 (18%)
|11 (50%)
|7 (32%)
|Region of Murcia
|36 (61%)
|20 (34%)
|3 (5%)
|Community of Madrid
|25 (46%)
|19 (35%)
|10 (18%)
The most frequent answer is displayed in bold face.
As the table shows, 64% of paediatricians believed their own knowledge of ASD was limited, and that they did not have sufficient information or resources to diagnose ASD early. Nearly all paediatricians stated that there should be more training on ASD during the residency period or in subsequent years, and when it came to how it should be delivered, the preferred options were: rotations in Paediatric Neurology/Psychiatry, rotations in early intervention centres, and the availability of protocols for ASD screening and the management of these patients.
We ought to highlight the lack of knowledge regarding the available resources, as 48% of paediatricians did not know whether there was a specific protocol for referral and followup in their region, and 36% reported not knowing whether adequate multidisciplinary care was available for these patients (25% of respondents answered that they believed that it was not available).
As for the two questions regarding the resources available in each region, Table 5 shows the distribution of the answers by autonomous community. The most salient finding was that Murcia was the autonomous community in which the highest percentage of paediatricians reported that such treatment was available (45%), although a similar percentage (40%) answered that they did not know. In the Autonomous Community of Valencia, 45% of respondents answered that multidisciplinary treatment was not available, and this percentage was very similar in Madrid (33%, 31% and 35%, respectively, answered that it was available, was not available, or did not know).
When it came to whether there was a protocol for the referral and followup of patients with ASD in their region, the percentage of paediatricians responding that there was one was highest in the autonomous community of Valencia (50%), while Murcia was the autonomous community where the highest percentage of paediatricians did not know whether there was one (61%), followed by Madrid.Conclusions
The mean score in the KASD questionnaire of participating paediatricians was 20.34±2.43, while the maximum possible score was 23. Thus, this was a high score that indicated an adequate knowledge of paediatricians about ASD (a total of 91 paediatricians [65%] had a score at or above the mean in every domain).
Although the studies published to date have not focused on the field of paediatrics and have been conducted in other countries, we ought to highlight that the level of knowledge found in our study exceeded those reported in similar works.12,13
We found that the main problem areas involved the concept of restrictive or repetitive patterns of behaviour (fewer paediatricians knew about the aversive responses to certain sounds or textures, hyper/hyporreactivity to sensory inputs or inflexible adherence to routines) and in the definition of ASD and the presence of comorbidities, the latter being the question which paediatricians most frequently answered incorrectly. We also ought to highlight that 19% of paediatricians answered the question regarding the onset of symptoms in patients with ASD incorrectly, a particularly relevant aspect given the importance of early diagnosis in these patients.
We did not find noteworthy or statistically significant differences in questionnaire scores between subsets of paediatricians (by age, sex, work title, years of experience etc.), unlike what has been described in other studies.12,13 We found the greatest difference between the scores of paediatricians working as adjunct physicians in Paediatric Neurology and those of Paediatrics residents, with the former scoring higher, as would be expected, but it was not statistically significant. When it came to the number of years of experience in the field of Paediatrics, the group with six to ten years of experience scored highest, which could be explained by, on one hand, the short time elapsed since the MIR residency training period and, on the other, the years of experience as an adjunct in Paediatrics.
Despite the good results observed in the questionnaire scores, paediatricians generally reported believing that training in ASD was lacking, which is consistent with previous studies on the subject. Sixty-four percent of paediatricians stated that their own knowledge of ASD was limited and that they did not have sufficient training or resources for the early diagnosis of ASD.7,10,12–16 Most considered that education on ASD should be expanded during residency or in subsequent years. Another important finding was that there was a considerable lack of knowledge as to the available resources in the different regions under study, which probably contributes to the feelings of insecurity and lack of control in the management of these patients. We found this lack of knowledge in every autonomous community under study, and the prevailing response of paediatricians as to whether there was a protocol for the referral or the specialised management of patients with ASD was either that there was none, or that they did not know.
According to the data presented above, paediatricians have an adequate general knowledge of ASD, but there are deficiencies in their knowledge about the management of these patients and in the coordination between the different multidisciplinary teams that participate in the care of these patients, which lead to incomplete and deficient care delivery in these patients. Thus, future efforts should focus on achieving adequate communication between these teams (paediatricians, educational institutions, administrations, early intervention) and in keeping the knowledge of ASD updated in order to develop a well-organised system to provide expeditious, efficient and—to the degree possible—convenient care for children with ASD and their families.Conflict of interests
The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.
We thank all the paediatricians who have participated in the study for their dedication and effort with the purpose of improving the care offered to patients with ASD and their families.
Please cite this article as: Martínez-Cayuelas E, Ibáñez-Micó S, Ceán-Cabrera L, Domingo-Jiménez R, Alarcón-Martínez H, Martínez-Salcedo E. Nivel formativo sobre trastornos del espectro autista (TEA) entre los pediatras de atención hospitalaria. An Pediatr (Barc). 2017;86:329–336.


text:
Pete Seeger: Folk singer continues to connect families with music
Pete Seeger, the American folk singer, talks to TV host Stephen Colbert about two forthcoming albums, inspiring one mother to reminisce on his work and how it continues to unite her family and, she hopes, the American family.
| Norfolk, Virg.
American folk singer Pete Seeger, still going strong at 93 with a new album coming out in September, was on the "The Colbert Report" last night. And I am making it a point to sit the kids down in front of the computer today to experience the moment when generations looked as if they would collide, but instead, merged. Because to "everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven," and it's time to talk about the music the birds in our family trees sing to our children.
The reference in my opening was to Mr. Seeger's song, which he recorded in 1962, but was made popular by The Byrds the year I was born, 1965. The line from Ecclesiastes in the Bible was his – and later my – anthem about the quest for peace, equality, and civil rights, calling for patience in the face of adversity.
"A time to be born, a time to die / A time to plant, a time to reap / A time to kill, a time to heal / A time to laugh, a time to weep ... A time for love/ a time for hate/A time for peace, I swear it's not too late."
Seeger is promoting his book "Pete Seeger: In His Own Words," released last month and is a collection of letters, articles, and lyrics. He talked with Stephen Colbert about two albums to be released on Sept. 25: "A More Perfect Union," a record that will feature Bruce Springsteen, Tom Morello, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris; and a two-disc set called "Pete Remembers Woody," a tribute to Woody Guthrie's centennial, according to Billboard magazine.
There are moments frozen in time that we will never forget, those of tragedy, like Sept. 11, and joy, like the birth of a child. There are songs like that, too. Music from our childhood that, when played or sung, bring back not only the moment, but also the freshness, power, and inspiration of youth. Seeger's songs are among these and perhaps the reason that he is still going strong.
My kids know Seeger's work from the songs I sang to them while we lived aboard a sailboat when they were young and the wind was fresh. My kids know the songs from the days that I am angry with political decisions. "Mom's singing Seeger," they say. "She's probably going to go protest something"
I know Seeger's songs from "Sesame Street" and growing up in Manhattan in the mid-1960s, going to school with Mrs. Lee Roth teaching, "You can be a patriot, support our service men, and still wish they were home." Mrs. Roth brought classmate Shawn's father, just back from Vietnam, in and he sang with us Seeger's tune, "If you love your Uncle Sam, bring 'em home, bring 'em home."
Then the class sang, "If I had a Hammer," which Mr. Seeger co-wrote with fellow Weaver, Lee Hays, the song about unity, justice, and peace. "If I had a hammer. If I had a bell, I'd ring it in the morning / I'd ring it in the evening all over this land / I'd ring out danger! / I'd ring out warning! / I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land."
The moment I will never forget is when we sang the song Seeger popularized, but didn't write, "We shall Overcome." Shawn was African American, my first serious crush in first grade, and I can still see his face as he learned the words. None of us knew them at the start of the song, but by the end we would never forget.
I am not suggesting unrealistic, smarmy family sing-alongs, but maybe it's time to stop humming quietly alone to the iPod and start singing out loud again. There's a woman in the neighborhood who walks along the busiest intersections, rain or shine, singing out loud to the world. She does it because she says it makes her feel the power of the Lord and herself.
"When music's in you, sometimes it gets too big to keep to yourself. You got to share," she told me.
Seeger's songs have always been those kinds of songs. I hope he gets Mr. Colbert to sing to his children. Let us be united in song, if in no other way and perhaps even in this modern world with all its woes, we shall overcome.


text:
Last modified: 2020-07-31 by ian macdonald
Keywords: china | kulangsu | gulangyu |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors
International Settlement of Kulangsu (Gulangyu) at Amoy (Xiamen) was
established in 1903 and abolished in 1943. It was governed by a Municipal
council. I assume the Kulangsu International Settlement Municipal Council had a
flag like the Shanghai International Community
did. I know there was a police badge and that a municipal seal was authorized.
From http://www.historic-shanghai.com/gulangyu-the-story-of-chinas-other-international-settlement:
"The International Settlement was established in 1903 and governed by the 13 countries of the Gulangyu Municipal Council, .... By 1938, Japan's designs on Amoy (and China) had culminated in the Japanese occupation of Xiamen; Gulangyu remained an International Settlement until its occupation in 1942. Extraterritorial privileges officially ended in 1943 with treaties signed by Chiang kai-shek, but the Japanese occupation, lasted until 1945,"
Map: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/china_city_plans/txu-oclc-6573019.jpg
Ben Cahoon, 6 April 2017
image located by Ben Cahoon, 6 April 2017
Image of Kulangsu Municipal Police Badge:
Ben Cahoon, 6 April 2017


text: Nancy A. Olson first came to southeastern Vermont to attend Windham College in Putney. She felt so at home in the area that she returned to Putney in 1972 to start her adult life. After teaching English and journalism at Brattleboro Union High School for 35 years, she retired in 2013. Since then, she has freelanced for the Brattleboro Reformer, UpCountry Magazine, and The Commons. Words have thrilled her since childhood. Writing about Clarina Howard Nichols has been fascinating.


text:
Year end – What is the year end?
Year end – also known as an accounting reference date – is the completion of an accounting period. At this time, businesses need to carry out specific procedures to close their books.
Are you at the end of your financial year? Debitoor invoicing software helps you create instant financial reports in just a few clicks. Try Debitoor free for 7 days.
In the UK, an accounting year does not necessarily correlate with the calendar year. For personal tax purposes the fiscal year is set by the government - starting April 6th and ending on April 5th the following calendar year. This tax year is the same for everyone in the UK, although the deadline for submitting Self Assessment tax returns might vary for certain individuals.
For limited companies, the financial year is set according to when the company was incorporated. In the UK, companies are given an accounting reference date (ARD) which refers to the last day in the month the company was incorporated. The ARD is the end of the financial year, and the new financial year starts the following day.
For example, if a company incorporated on 20th of May, their ARD would be the 31st of May. Their financial year would therefore run from June 1st – May 31st.
It is sometimes possible for a company to change their year end. This will normally affect their accounting period for corporation tax.
Year end adjustments
Year end adjustments, also know as end-of-year adjustments, are accounting procedures carried out at the end of the financial year. These procedures are key to creating a company's financial statements such as balance sheets and profit and loss statements.
The number and nature of year-end adjustments depends on how thoroughly a company maintains its books throughout the accounting year. Common year-end adjustments may include:
- Depreciation and amortisation charges to fixed assets.
- Reclassification of entries. For example, a long-term debt may become due within a year so should be reclassified as a short-term debt.
- Adjustments based of external audits. For example, an auditor may find that a company has over or understated their inventory. The company should therefore correct the entry to reflect the accurate assessment.
- Accrual of unrealised expenses and revenues.
Year end in Debitoor
With Debitoor invoicing software, you can enter your own accounting year by selecting the dates your company's financial year begins and ends.
If you're reaching the end of your financial year, Debitoor can produce automatic financial reports such as a profit and loss statement, a balance sheet and VAT report, making end-of-year adjustments quick and easy.


text:
New filament materials are always exciting, but that doesn't mean there's nothing left to get excited about with older, more mature and trustworthy materials like PLA. The Stick Filament team certainly saw room for some good ol' innovation when they developed their filament interlocking system.
By incorporating plug/sheath connectors on the ends of filament sticks, colors can be mixed for multicolor prints. It's extremely easy to connect them, and their stick format makes storage especially convenient; no need for spools. And it comes in PLA, HIPS, and glow in the dark. For those that are into rainbows and tiedye, Stick Filament is definitely worth a try.
Pretty, eh? There are a couple quid pro quos, though. Currently it's only available in 3mm; 1.75mm is in beta testing. And I don't know if this stuff will work with bowden extruders as the retraction would probably pull the pieces apart. Maybe it'd work. I'd try it but my extruder is 1.75mm. If you'd like to try it sample packs containing 75 sticks of PLA filament in 5 colors (15 sticks for each color) with a total weight of 250g are available for about $18. Let me know if you try it.


text:
J. Hadyn Peacock is a licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. He is the founder of The Chinese Medicine Clinic in Longmont, CO, where he treats musculoskeletal pain, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and sports medicine injuries.
Board Certification
- National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- BS – University of Georgia
- MS – Oriental Medicine, Southwest Acupuncture College, Boulder, CO
Clinic Information
The Chinese Medicine Clinic
385 Main St, Unit D
Longmont, CO 80501


text:
Samsung Foundry has revealed (via KitGuru) that it will begin volume production of its 10nm FinFET node in late 2016 (with the chips hitting the shelves sometime in 2017). We have also previously heard from TSMC about stepping up their production to 10nm in 2016 as well. This leaves only Intel, which is slated to start production somewhere late 2016 to early 2017 with products coming in 2H 2017.
Marketing material from Samsung. @Samsung Public Domain
Samsung adds 10 nanometer to the roadmap, ramps to volume in 2016
Samsung has stated that the process will have smaller transistor fin, transistor gate and interconnect pitches smaller than the existing 14nm node, but if historical data is any indication, Intel will be the only company to have a true 10nm node in this time frame. The shrinking of these critical factors is what constitutes a process upgrade since it allows for higher density and a more cost effective process. Samsung had the following to say on the occasion:
"We have a full PDK [process development kit] and silicon-verified IP available, and are, currently, running MPWs [multi-project wafer] now for our lead customers," With mass production scheduled from late 2016 we are excited about this next phase of our foundry business. Early designs activities have already sparked some interesting discussions." via KitGuru
Samsung has previously demonstrated a 300mm wafer that was fabricated on its 10nm technology. Trial production is scheduled to begin sometime in late 2015, while volume production for the commercial chips will begin in 2016. The more closer Samsung is to a true 10nm process, the more yield problems it will face if it ramps prematurely. However, it being Samsung, it has the option to simply brute force low yields by spending more capital - something it could choose to do to undermine Intel's lead.
TSMC's 16nmFF is actually just 20nm with FinFETs so 10nmFF should be on par with Intel's 14nm node. However, both Samsung and TSMC nodes have not completed the specification phase, so it is premature to say how much exactly. But as I have stated many times before the market won't care about the quality of the chips. It is doubtful that they will look at the technological differences between TSMCs/Samsung's 10nm a true 10nm node - rather see Intel's lead diminish.


text:
Bitcoin Price Drops 22% in Four Days As Infighting Goes Public
From a Sunday high of nearly $20,000 per digital coin, Bitcoin dropped more than 22% to a price as low as $15,262 on Thursday afternoon. Some see the drop as fallout from long-unresolved problems with Bitcoin's infrastructure, and the increasingly intense civil war it has produced in the cryptocurrency community.
Some recent Bitcoin buyers have described trying to actually use bitcoin for purchases, only to run into the reality of the network's absurdly high transaction fees. Those fees have risen steadily for years due to crowding on the network.
The long-running fight over how to fix the issue hit the mainstream as never before yesterday, when cryptocurrency pioneer Roger Ver appeared on CNBC. Ver was promoting Bitcoin Cash, a fork of Bitcoin created to address the digital currency's scaling problems. Ver warned viewers that bitcoin could see "a mass exodus of people rushing for the door." At the same time, a CNBC Twitter account was accused of "shilling" thanks to tweets that appeared to support Bitcoin Cash.
Get Data Sheet, Fortune's technology newsletter.
Almost simultaneously, the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase announced that it had halted trading in Bitcoin Cash over concerns that the exchanges' employees may have engaged in insider trading—another possible shock to investor confidence.
The conflicts and imperfections of the cryptocurrency world are nothing new, and neither are huge price dips—Bitcoin has seen two similarly sharp drops in just the last two months. And long-term supporters are optimistic that fixes for the underlying crowding issue, particularly a new feature known as Lightning Network, are on the way.
The more pressing question, though, is whether a mass of new investors, attracted by this year's massive price run-up, will stick with Bitcoin through such big short-term losses.


text:
California show opens on Thursday
The West Coast's largest collection of big yachts will be on display April 3-6 at the 41st annual Newport Boat Show, returning to Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach, Calif.
The annual exhibition is known as California's largest show, presenting more in-water boats than any other West Coast venue, according to organizers.
At the 2014 event, show-goers will be able to step aboard and compare the unique features of more than 200 pleasure boats including new models, as well as ocean-tested brokerage yachts that come preloaded with amenities.
"We're expecting this to be the largest show we've had in seven or eight years," show producer Duncan McIntosh said in a statement. "More new models and products will be on display than we've seen in nearly a decade. The fleet of in-water larger yachts — 70-feet and above — continues to grow while the number of accessory exhibits is outstripping our ability to accommodate them all."
This year's event will offer more than 400,000 square feet of floating dock exhibits and boardwalk displays, plus a huge selection of boating accessories, electronics, gear and services.
The 2014 Newport Boat Show will feature the newest vessels to reach the Western United States, including the Prestige 500 fly, the new 85-foot Ocean Alexander, the pleasure boat Lady Diane and the 42-foot Nordic Tug, Khotoso.
Back for a second time at the show is the 108-foot vessel Argo, which will be on display by Rick Obey & Associates. Jackie Gleason's former boat, Savoy, is also making a comeback to the show and will be shown by Scott B. Jones.


text:
GFAA has had success in two bids to Aberdeen City Council for funds to support new developments around our site. The monies will go towards improvements in the general amenities for all members in the years ahead.
As we will be participating in the Its Your Neighbourhood Programme in the coming year, ACC has agreed to contribute £400 towards the purchase of Public Liability Insurance, paving slabs, sand, greenhouse staging and hand-tools for use with the Community Garden Poly-tunnel. This will allow us to set the Poly-tunnel up to support wider use by groups and individuals for classes, workshops and communal growing activities, e.g. for pupils visiting from Kaimhill Primary School and within the RGU Community Garden and Student Plot projects.
ACC have also awarded us £400 from their Small Projects Fund to help with the purchase and construction of Larch composting bins to be used in connection with our new Dry Composting Toilet and for the purchase of associated signage and information boards.
We are obviously delighted with this continuing support from Aberdeen City Council as we try to develop our site and its amenities and widen community participation and knowledge of the health and environmental benefits of working a plot.
Thanks go to Stuart for alerting me to this good news story.


text:
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EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of its world premiere at SXSW today [March 11], the VHS documentary has signed with Cinetic Rights Management for US representation.
Josh Johnson's Rewind This! has signed with Cinetic Rights Management for US representation.
The independent documentary, which charts the cultural and historical impact of VHS, is one of the buzz titles of SXSW and receives its world premiere today [March 11] at the festival.
Sales consultant Evokative Films worked on the deal for IPF Productions.
Rewind This! is the first feature film from Texas-based IPF Productions and shot in North America as well as abroad, including a two-week shoot in Japan. The film was partially funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, which saw $23,000 raised from a $15,000 target.
Alongside its world premiere at The Paramount Theatre, Rewind This! also screens at SXSW on March 12, 13 (both at the Violet Crown Cinema) and 16 (Topfer Theatre).


text:
VFD for industrial agitator
I. Overview
The liquid agitator has a wide application in the manufacturing process of the chemical industry and so on. The industrial agitator will consider having a certain allowance in design according to the requirements of the service condition. When the industrial agitator is in practical operation process, it is not required to always work with the maximum revolving speed. In many circumstances, it can work in not full load status. The traditional industrial agitator usually conducts no regulation or regulates the speed in mechanical method. The speed regulation in mechanical method will increase the loss of the industrial agitator. Meanwhile, the industrial agitator will work in fluctuating status. Furthermore, it will also work in the status of "big rated power with small load power", which is quite not economic. The motor power of the industrial agitator in operating under the frequency conversion speed control is similar to its characteristics of the revolving speed and pump load. Using VFD for speed regulation will obtain a substantial energy saving rate.
II. The advantages of ATO VFD control
- The start-up of the VFD belongs to soft start. It can reduce the impulse current in starting. It has stable start and even agitation. Furthermore, it has intelligent protection, which can reduce the damage to the devices.
- Different revolving speed can be adopted according to different technologies. Meanwhile, it can achieve a good energy saving efficiency.
- Low frequency and big torque. The torque can be regulated automatically to realize the agitation of various raw materials.
- Distinct structural design and independent air duct design enable it to be suitable for the serious occasions with humidity and dust.
III. Parameter setting of ATO VFD
|Function code
|Set value
|Selection of frequency setting channel
|CI analog quantity seting
|Operating command channel
|Terminal operation
|Set the revolving direction
|0 0
|Reversal is allowed
|Acceleration time 1
|Set according to practical condition
|Deceleration time 1
|Halt mode
|Freely halt
|Selection of the function of the input terminal X2
|External reset input
|Times of malfunction self recovery
Note: Multi-step speed and simple PLC operating program can be set according to the technological requirement.
Buying an ATO VFD for energy saving now, 10 hp VFD, 40 hp VFD, 150 hp VFD...


text: World Urban Parks has members who are National Bodies for Parks and Recreation in their country. This network is key to developing, sustaining, and incorporating urban parks into our cities as the world's urban population countries to grow. This network comes together multiple times a year for the National Round-table Meeting where key issues and topics are covered my leaders in the field. The National Associations below are World Urban Park members.