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How to Do the Bart Simpson Hip-Hop Dance
Alright. So got my helper again. Tech is back. We're going to show you how to do the Bart Simpson. So again, Bart Simpson is one of those dances from back in the day that was named after the popular thing or person of that time. Simpsons were brand new. Bart Simpson was the man, he was the homeboy. So this dance was named after him.
So to start out we are going to go to the legs first. Let's start with the legs. You're going to turn your knees, and bend first, turn your knees to the right and you're going to step to the right. Bring it back left, center, together. Let's do that again. Right, center, together. Left, center, together. Good! Let's try that one more time.
We have right, center, together. Left, center, together. Great! So we're going to add some arms to this. Now your arms, you want to leave your arms behind. So when your knees are going to the right, your arms should be going to the left, okay? So, we're are going to try that slowly, just the first step. One, now and bring that arm in, two it comes up, good! To the left. Three, bring that arm in, and up four. Again, one and two, three and four. A little faster. Two, three and four. Yes!
Now add the head. You want to look at your elbows, if you see your hands you're looking the wrong way. Go one and two, three and four, look to the right, look to the left. Let's try that with music. Slowly first.
Bart Simpson with some sauce y'all.


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|Article Index
|Author Bio
|Book Reviews
|Discussion Questions
|Full Version
Author Bio
• Birth—June 25, 1963
• Where—Salamanca, Spain
• Education—B.A., Trent University, Ontario
• Awards—Booker Prize, 2002; Hugh MacLennan Prize,
Quebec Writers' Federation
• Currently—Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Yann Martel was born in Spain in 1963 of peripatetic Canadian parents. He grew up in Alaska, British Columbia, Costa Rica, France, Ontario and Mexico, and has continued travelling as an adult, spending time in Iran, Turkey and India. Martel refers to his travels as, "seeing the same play on a whole lot of different stages."
After studying philosophy at Trent University and while doing various odd jobs—tree planting, dishwashing, working as a security guard—he began to write. In addition to Life of Pi, Martel is the prize-winning author of The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, a collection of short stories, and of Self, a novel, both published internationally. Yann has been living from his writing since the age of 27. He divides his time between yoga, writing and volunteering in a palliative care unit. Yann Martel lives in Montreal.
Sometime in the early 1990s, Yann Martel stumbled across a critique in the New York Times Review of Books by John Updike that captured his curiosity. Although Updike's response to Moacyr Scliar's Max and the Cats was fairly icy and indifferent, the premise immediately intrigued Martel. According to Martel, Max and the Cats was, "as far as I can remember...about a zoo in Berlin run by a Jewish family. The year is 1933 and, not surprisingly, business is bad. The family decides to emigrate to Brazil. Alas, the ship sinks and one lone Jew ends up in a lifeboat with a black panther." Whether or not the story was as uninspiring as Updike had indicated in his review, Martel was both fascinated by this premise and frustrated that he had not come up with it himself.
Ironically, Martel's account of the plot of Max and the Cats wasn't completely accurate. In fact, in Scliar's novel, Max Schmidt did not belong to a family of zookeepers—he was the son of furrier. Furthermore, he did not emigrate from Berlin to Brazil with his family as the result of a failing zoo, but was forced to flee Hamburg after his lover's husband sells him out to the Nazi secret police. So, this plot that so enthralled Martel—which he did not pursue for several years because he assumed Moacyr Scliar had already tackled it—was more his own than he had thought.
Meanwhile, Martel managed to write and publish two books: a collection of short stories titled The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios in 1993 and a novel about gender confusion called Self in 1996. Both books sold only moderately well, further frustrating the writer. In an effort to collect his thoughts and refresh his creativity, he took a trip to India, first spending time in bustling Bombay. However, the overcrowded city only furthered Martel's feelings of alienation and dissolution. He then decided to move on to Matheran, a section near Bombay but without that city's dense population. In this peaceful hill station overlooking the city, Martel began revisiting an idea he had not considered in some time, the premise he had unwittingly created when reading Updike's review in the New York Times Review of Books. He developed the idea even further away from Max and the Cats. While Scliar's novel was an extended holocaust allegory, Martel envisioned his story as a witty, whimsical, and mysterious meditation on zoology and theology. Unlike Max Schmidt, Pi Patel would, indeed, be the son of a zookeeper. Martel would, however, retain the shipwrecked-with-beasts theme from Max and the Cats. During an ocean exodus from India to Canada, the ship sinks and Pi finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with such unlikely shipmates as a zebra, a hyena, and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.
The resulting novel, Life of Pi, became the smash-hit for which Martel had been longing. Selling well over a million copies and receiving the accolades of Book Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, and, yes, the New York Times Review of Books, Life of Pi has been published in over 40 countries and territories, in over 30 languages. It is currently in production by Fox Studios with a script by master-of-whimsy Jean-Pierre Jeunet (City of Lost Children; Amélie) and directorial duties to be handled by Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).
Martel is now working on his third novel, a bizarrely allegorical adventure about a donkey and a monkey that travel through a fantastical world...on a shirt. Well, at least no one will ever accuse him of borrowing that premise from any other writer.
From a 2002 Barnes & Noble interview:
• Life of Pi is not Yann Martel's first work to be adapted for the screen. His short story "Manners of Dying" was made into a motion picture by fellow Canadian resident Jeremy Peter Allen in 2004.
• When he isn't penning modern masterpieces, Martel spends much of his time volunteering in a palliative care unit.
• When asked what book was most influential to his career as a writer, here's what he said:
I would say Le Petit Chose, by the French writer Alphonse Daudet. It was the first book to make me cry. I was around ten years old. It made me see how powerful words could be, how much we could see and feel through mere black jottings on a page. (Author bio and interview from Barnes & Noble.)
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Αυτή η ανάρτηση είναι επίσης διαθέσιμη στο: Greek
For sale a 500 m2 plot in Perigiali, 170 m from the beach, 800m from Nydri, with a 545 m2 complex of rooms for rent, fully renovated in 2006, with spectacular views, consisting of a 2-storey building with 8 apartments of 30 m2 and 4 of 32m2 and a lovely garden where are 2 studios of 16m2, 2 apartments of 32 m2 , 1 studio of 20 m2, 1 bedroom apartment with wc and kitchen of 30 m2 and a 35 m2 reception desk, fully equiped. The complex provides wi-fi, parking, swings, patio, paved paths and storage rooms.Also for sale are 2 adjoining plots only 55m from the complex, with a total area of 600 m2, can build up to 480 m2 together, with wonderful view of the Princes' Islands.
New total price: 800.000 €
The complex is also for sale separately for 550.000 €.


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Tuesday - Wind Ensemble Tuba Sectional, 8:15a; Symphonic Band Woodwinds Rehearsal, 5:30-8:00p
Wednesday - Band Composite Photos taken in class* - BRING CONCERT BLACK; Wind Ensemble Low Reeds Sectional, 8:15a; Jazz Rehearsal, 3:30-5:00p
Thursday - Jazz Combo, 3:30-4:30; Wind Ensemble Brass Rehearsal, 5:30-8:00p
Friday -
Please check the CHARMS calendar for all additional Indoor Percussion/Guard dates.
Out candy bar fundraiser continues this week. After you sell your entire box, please submit the $60 in an envelope to the payment box on the band office door. ALL students are strongly encouraged to participate in this profitable fundraiser!
*Individual Band Photo Order Forms from Kay Brown Photography were distributed in class last week. Additional hard copies can be found in the band room. Money/orders are due on this day!


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25 September 2022
US Infantry and Armor Attack Drusenheim Bridge Jan 6, 1945. Elements of the 79th Infantry Division and tanks from the 12th Armored Division assault a bridge in Drusenheim, France. This action takes place shortly after the launch of the German offensive known as Operation Nordwind, Hitler's...read more
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Andre Berndt, Ph.D.
University of Washington
Andre Berndt is an assistant professor at the University of Washington in the Department of Bioengineering where he develops molecular biosensors for applications in neuroscience. He received his Ph.D. in biophysics from the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, after elucidating the molecular mechanism of the light-gated cation channel Channelrhodopsin-2. Based on this essential work, he extended the optogenetic toolbox by engineering various tools for controlling neuronal circuits by light. Andre Berndt continued his work as a postdoc at Stanford University where he identified the structural determinants of channelrhodopsin ion selectivity, leading to the design of a completely new channelrhodopsin. By merging biophysics and bioengineering with neuroscience, Andre aims to develop the most efficient and specific tools for interrogating neuronal circuits.


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I love thai food. Spring rolls are an easy and impressive introduction to thai cooking.
- Yield
- 4 people
- Active Time
- 20 minutes
- Total Time
- 20 minutes
- 8 rice spring roll wrappers (available in the asian section)
- 24-30 Basil leaves
- 1 bunch cilantro, trimmed to the base of the leafy part (cut off the bare part of the stem at the base)
- 1 bunch mint,trimmed to the base of the leafy part (cut off the bare part of the stem at the base)
- 1 head romaine, chopped very finely
- 2 cups bean sprouts
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 3 smallish cucumbers, quartered lengthwise
- 1/2 block extra firm tofu
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- slice tofu lengthwise into 1/2" x 1/2" x 4" or so strips. pour rice vinegar into a bowl, and soak tofu. In a shallow bowl, add hot water to 1" below rim. Working 1 skin at a time, dip into hot water and soak until flexible, about 1 minute. lay soft wrapper flat on a cutting board or clean surface. Working from the top of the board, fill the wrapper burrito-style, laying tofu and cucumber strips lengthwise, and placing alongside lettuce, stems of mint and cilantro, basil, carrot strips, and bean sprouts. Fold sides in over filling, and then roll wrapper from the top up and over filling, and continue rolling to roll downward, burrito style. slice spring rolls in center, and serve with thai peanut sauce.


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Avoiding Mistakes After A Car Crash
Even a low-speed car accident can leave the most stoic person shaken up. It can be difficult to think clearly in the moments, days or even weeks after a car crash. Many people make mistakes during this crucial time, which can have a negative impact on any claims related to the accident.
The following are some of the common mistakes people make following a crash. Avoiding these mistakes while protecting your interests with the help of a skilled lawyer at Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, can help ensure that your personal injury claim puts in the position to recover the full compensation to which you are entitled.
Mistake 1: Failing To Document The Damage
Cellphone technology means that nearly everyone has a camera in their pocket at all times. Use this to your advantage. Take photos of all of the vehicles involved in the accident as well as the surrounding scene. This helps preserve the evidence at the time of the accident. If you find yourself without a camera or if your phone was damaged in the accident, write down a description of what happened as soon as possible. If there are witnesses, be sure to get their names, addresses and phone numbers.
Mistake 2: Failing To Seek Medical Attention
Soft tissue injuries, head or brain trauma, and injuries to the neck or back may not be immediately apparent following an accident. Even if you are reasonably sure that you have suffered no physical harm, it is still important to seek medical attention. Your case is only strengthened by having as much documentation as possible.
Mistake 3: Accepting An Initial Insurance Settlement
Insurance providers make a big show of assuring you that they will be there in your time of need. The fact is, insurance companies exist to turn a profit. Their initial settlement offer may be well less than the full amount that you deserve. Never accept an insurance offer without first seeking advice from an experienced attorney who understands how to protect your interests and to advocate on your behalf.
Protect Yourself. Contact Us Today.
The most important thing you can do to help avoid making mistakes following a car accident is to schedule a free consultation with us as soon as possible. Call us at 724-330-4780 or contact us online. From our offices in Ambridge, we provide representation to people throughout the greater Pittsburgh area, including Beaver County.


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Cuomo knocks Jeb Bush for gun tweet
ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday criticized Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush for a tweet Tuesday of a gun with the word "America" under it.
Cuomo has been a supporter of gun-control laws and led an effort for the controversial SAFE Act in 2013. Bush's tweet of the gun, which had "Gov. Jeb Bush" inscribed on it, drew strong reactions on Twitter.
"I think unfortunately, too much of the politics is about a race to the bottom and playing to people's fears," Cuomo told reporters in Harlem when asked about Bush's tweet. "To say that a handgun is America, I mean, what are you trying to say?"
Cuomo has battled gun-rights groups since the SAFE Act was installed, and they held large rallies outside the Capitol to protest the measure. Attempts by Republicans in the state legislature to repeal or modify the law have largely failed.
The Democratic governor is supporting Hillary Clinton for president, and he attended a fundraiser for her Tuesday in Manhattan.
"No one is saying that the people shouldn't be allowed to have guns. Nobody is saying the Second Amendment is going to be knocked down," said Cuomo, who has said he owns a shotgun.
"We passed the smartest gun law in the country here and I'm proud of it, and we never talked about limiting a legal owner's rights. I'm a gun owner, and I sponsored the law."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio responded to Bush's tweet with a tweet of a corned beef sandwich from the newly re-opened Carnegie Deli under the word "America."


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2018 Annual Scientific Meeting Faculty Page
Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine, US Air Force Reserves
Distinguished Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Colorado School of Public Health
Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine; Lead Medical Officer, FDA/CDER/OTS/Office of Clinical Pharmacology/Division of Applied Regulatory Science
Colon had 28 years of law enforcement experience before his retirement at the rank of Major. He served in diverse roles during his career. In addition to his work at the fusion center, he has operated in an undercover capacity, developed and implemented statewide data projects, and served as a drug policy advisor at the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. He also assisted in developing drug policies and practices to strengthen law enforcement and public health efforts.
He developed the Drug Monitoring Initiative (DMI), which is now nationally recognized as a best practice. This innovative approach leverages disparate data sets and information from law enforcement and healthcare entities. An evolution of DMI was his design of the integrated Drug Awareness Dashboard (iDAD), which is intended to provide role-based access in real time to all constituents requiring drug data.
The Office of the US Attorney General, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Centers for Disease Control, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Governors Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum have leveraged Colon's expertise in this domain to present at national level conferences and panel discussions. Most of these entities have also included his data-collection and analytical methods in their publications.
In recognition of his collective efforts, he has received a Congressional Award, two New Jersey Attorney General's Awards, and various New Jersey State Police commendations; in addition, he has been nominated for the distinguished Trooper of the Year award.
His undergrad degree is in public administration from Fairleigh Dickerson University, and he is working toward earning a master's degree. His hobby is cycling and time trial racing.
Special Agent and Senior Operations Manager for Pharmaceutical Investigations, Office of Criminal Investigations, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD
Cummins began his government career as an auditor with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Audit Services. Cummins also served as an auditor and auditor-in-charge for the U.S. Army Audit Agency and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of the Inspector General. Cummins then turned toward a law enforcement career with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of the Inspector General and was responsible for conducting internal investigations prior to beginning his career with OCI.
As the criminal investigative arm of the FDA, OCI's mission is: to conduct and coordinate investigations of suspected criminal violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), the Federal Anti-Tampering Act (FATA), and other statutes including applicable Title 18 violations of the United States Code (USC); and to collect evidence to support successful prosecutions through the federal or state court systems as appropriate.
Prior to joining Pfizer, Dr. Donnelly spent 21 years as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, during which time he was assigned to the FBI Laboratory and the New Haven Divisions. As a Special Agent, Dr. Donnelly was responsible for the investigation of several high profile cases including: the Michael Swango, M.D. medical serial killer investigation, the Yale University bombing investigation and he was the Connecticut case agent for the Amerithrax (anthrax mailings) investigation. He has received several honors and awards from the FBI, the Department of Veterans Affairs and a number of United States Attorneys Offices.
Dr. Donnelly received his PhD in the areas of Pharmacology and Toxicology from Saint John's University, New York in 1990 and is also a registered Pharmacist in the state of New York. He has presented and published extensively in the field of Forensic Toxicology and lectures regularly to medical and law enforcement on the subjects of Health Care Serial Killers and Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals.
Senior Toxicologist, Toxicology and Environmental Health Advisor, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health
Marilyn Huestis, PhD, MS, AB
Senior Fellow, The Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp, Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Huestis & Smith Toxicology, LLC, Severna Park, MD
Professor Dr. Dr. (h.c.) Marilyn A. Huestis recently retired as a tenured senior investigator and Chief, Chemistry and Drug Metabolism Section, IRP, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, after 23 years of conducting controlled drug administration studies. She also was an Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD until 2017. Currently, she is a Senior Fellow at the Institute on Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, on the Steering Committee of The Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp, Thomas Jefferson Medical School, Philadelphia, PA, on the Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Science Advisory Board, Senior Scientific Advisor of NMS Labs, Consultant to the US Department of Transportation, and President of Huestis & Smith Toxicology, LLC. Her research program focused on discovering mechanisms of action of cannabinoid agonists and antagonists, effects of in utero drug exposure, oral fluid testing, driving under the influence of drugs, and the neurobiology and pharmacokinetics of novel psychoactive substances. Professor Huestis' research also explored new medication targets for cannabis dependence, including oral tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Sativex, a 1:1 ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. She has published 464 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and more than 500 abstracts were presented at national and international meetings. Professor Huestis received a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College (cum laude), a master's degree in clinical chemistry from the University of New Mexico (with honors), and a doctoral degree in toxicology from the University of Maryland (with honors). Professor Huestis received a Doctor Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki in Finland in 2010. Other important awards include National Safety Council's Borkenstein Award, to be given in February 2018, 2017 Sir Kenneth Standard Distinguished Lecturer for the University of the West Indies, 2016 Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Orator, Melbourne, Australia, 2016 Marian W. Fischman Lectureship Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, 2016 Saferstein Memorial Distinguished Lecturer at Northeastern University, 2015 Excellence in Scientific Research, Women Scientist Advisory NIDA Investigator Award, 2015 Norman P. Kubasik AACC Lectureship Award, 2015 Distinguished Fellow from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), 2010 The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) Alan Curry Award, 2008 American Association for Clinical Chemistry Outstanding Contributions in a Selected Area of Research Award, 2007 International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology (IATDMCT) Irving Sunshine Award, 2005 AAFS Rolla N. Harger Award, and 1992 Irving Sunshine Award for Outstanding Research in Forensic Toxicology. The journal Clinical Chemistry featured her as an "Inspiring Mind". She currently serves on the Organization of Scientific Area Committee on Toxicology, World Anti-doping Agency's Prohibited List Committee, Transportation Research Board Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs, and the National Safety Council's Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division Executive Board. Professor Huestis served on the National Commission on Forensic Sciences, and currently is President of Huestis & Smith Toxicology, LLC, Senior Scientific Advisor to NMS Labs, and a consultant to the Department of Transportation, among other organizations. She is past president of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, past Chair of the Toxicology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and past president of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists.
Joselito Ignacio, MA, MPH, CIH, CSP, REHS
CBRN Science Advisor, Federal Emergency Management Agency, CBRN Office, Response Directorate, Department of Homeland Security
David Jett, PhD
Director, National Institute of Health CounterACT Program, NINDS Office of Translational Research
Dr. David A. Jett is Director of the NIH Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Program, a program supported by a specific Congressional appropriation to the NIH for the development of new drugs and diagnostic tools for treating victims of chemical exposures during an emergency. He also serves as Program Director within the Division of Translational Research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). After receiving a Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr. Jett conducted post-doctoral research and subsequently joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health where he conducted research as a university professor for several years. Dr. Jett's scientific interest is in the impact of chemical agents on nervous system function, including the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cognitive and neural development. Specifically he has expertise and experience with pesticides and nerve agents. Dr. Jett is has authored many scientific articles and book chapters in the area of neurotoxicology and has chaired sessions and given keynote addresses at many national and international scientific meetings. He holds the position of Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Jett has served on White House and intergovernmental committees that set the nation's research priorities, as well as science advisory panels for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense. Dr. Jett's other major interest at NIH is training and programs designed to increase diversity in the neuroscience research workforce.
Ziad Kazzi, PhD
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University; President, Middle East North Africa Clinical Toxicology Association (MENATOX)
Born in 1975 and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. Kazzi trained in Emergency Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta (2000-03) where he served as a chief resident before completing a subspecialty fellowship in Medical Toxicology at Emory University, Georgia Poison Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. He is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology. Dr. Kazzi joined the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) between 2005 and 2008 where he served as a Medical Toxicologist for the Regional Poison Control Center in Birmingham and the Alabama Poison Center. Currently, he is an associate professor at the department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia as well as the director of the International Toxicology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at Emory University. He is also the assistant medical director of the Georgia Poison Center and directs the Environmental and Occupational Toxicology clinic at Grady Health System.
As an emergency physician and toxicologist, Dr. Kazzi specializes in the recognition, triage, and management of poisonings and holds a deep interest in the areas of Radiation and International Toxicology. He is currently serving as a board member of the American College of Medical Toxicology and chairs its International Committee and the Clerkship Council for Medical Toxicology. Dr. Kazzi has extensively lectured at National and International conferences and developed several curricula and training programs in emergency preparedness and response. He is an active and founding board member of the Middle East North Africa Toxicology Association and currently serves as its president
Arthur L. Kellermann, MD, MPH
Dean, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Arthur L. Kellermann is an American physician, epidemiologist, professor and dean of the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Kellerman served as director of the RAND Institute of Health and founded the department of emergency medicine at Emory University and the Center for Injury Control at Rollins School of Public Health. His writings include 200 publications on various aspects of emergency cardiac care, health services research, injury prevention and the role of emergency departments in providing health care to the poor. Kellermann is known for his research on the epidemiology of firearm-related injuries and deaths, which he interpreted not as random, unavoidable acts but as preventable public-health priorities. Kellermann received a Bachelor of Science with distinction in biology from Rhodes College (1976), an M.D. from the Emory University School of Medicine (1980), and an M.P.H. from the University of Washington School of Public Health (1985).
Vice President, Technical Fellow, and Director, Public Health Business Area, Leidos, Inc; Middle East North Africa Clinical Toxicology Association (MENATOX)
Michael Levine, MD, FACMT
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine; Chief, Toxicology Division, University of Southern California
Dr. Levine, a Southern California native, completed medical school in Chicago, and residency in emergency medicine at the Brigham and Women's/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. Following residency, he completed his medical toxicology fellowship at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. Currently, he is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, and also continues to attend part time on the in-patient toxicology service at Good Samaritan in Phoenix.
Charles McKay, MD, FACMT
President, ACMT
After graduating from both Dartmouth College and Medical School, Dr. McKay completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital. He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Denver General Hospital, and completed practice pathway preceptorships in Medical Toxicology at the Rocky Mountain and New York Poison Control Centers.
Dr. McKay is a medical toxicologist at Hartford Hospital and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where he is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine. He is a diplomat of the ABMT and the ABMS Toxicology Subboard. He is the Associate Medical Director of the Connecticut Poison Control Center and the Director of the Toxicology Fellowship at UConn. Dr. McKay also directs a toxicology consult service at Hartford Hospital and Connecticut Children's Medical Center (CCMC). As Medical Director of Occupational Health Services for Hartford Hospital and CCMC, he also evaluates questions of workplace safety and toxic exposure for 9,000 employees.
He has served on the ACMT Board of Directors since 2007 and is the Past Chair of the ACMT Practice Committee. Dr. McKay is active in biopreparedness efforts at the local and state level and has helped lead ACMT's participation in the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Terrorism Risk Assessment (CTRA) process. Dr. McKay is also the National Coordinator of the ACMT-ATSDR Regional Consultation Network.
Dr. McKay seeks "to develop sustainable practice opportunities for medical toxicologists." His interests lie in clinical patient care, occupational and environmental toxicology, biopreparedness, and training of residents and fellows. He also enjoys scuba diving and distance running.
Bruno Mégarbane, MD, PhD
Head, Department of Medical and Toxicological Critical Care, Lariboisière Hospital; President of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT), Paris-Diderot University
Bruno Mégarbane, MD, PhD is professor of critical care medicine at Paris-Diderot University and directs a research team at INSERM UMRS-1144. He is the head of the Department of Medical and Toxicological Critical Care at Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, in Paris, France. He is the current President of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT). He conducted several clinical and experimental studies in clinical toxicology, mainly regarding mechanisms of opioid-related respiratory toxicity, prognostic factors of life-threatening poisonings, and management of refractory cardiotoxicant poisonings using ECMO. He is a member of the EXTRIP group and an associate editor for the two journals Clinical Toxicology and Annals of Intensive Care. He published more than 275 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is a fellow of the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) and member of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT). He is an active member of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) and currently a board member of the French Society of Intensive Care Medicine (SRLF).
Lewis S. Nelson, MD, FACMT
Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Lewis S. Nelson, MD is currently Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, in Newark. He is a former President of the American College of Medical Toxicology and has served in various consultative roles with FDA, CDC, and DHS. He is an editor of Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, now in its 10th Edition. The focus of his publications and presentations are medication-related adverse effects, chemical terrorism, and toxicity of abused drugs. Until recently, Dr. Nelson was the Director of the Fellowship in Medical Toxicology at New York University School of Medicine.
Director, University of Arizona College of Medicine- Phoenix, Medical Toxicology Fellowship
Dr. Paulson received a bachelors degree in biochemistry with honors and with general honors from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. He received an MD degree from Duke University in Durham, NC. He did his pediatric residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospitals and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He also completed a fellowship in Ambulatory Pediatrics at Sinai Hospital.
Dr. Rose obtained his B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan in 2006. In 2010, he received his M.D. from Wayne State University School of Medicine, where he worked in basic neuroscience research with brain glia cells and inflammation. He went to Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina for his Internal Medicine Residency. He joined the University of Pittsburgh for fellowship in 2013 and joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in 2017.
Since coming to Pittsburgh, under the mentorship of Dr. Mark Gladwin, his major research focus has been developing an antidotal therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning. His work has led to publications in Science Translational Medicine and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Throughout his fellowship training, he simultaneously obtained an MBA degree from Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business. He helped to create a Biomedical Entrepreneurship MBA track in collaboration between CMU and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine. Jason lives with his wife, Michaelene, and dog in Pittsburgh, PA. His main interests outside of medicine are working on his new house, training his dog, and trying to keep up with all the latest in college football (particularly the University of Michigan – Go Blue).
Consultant of Pediatric Emergency and Medical Toxicology, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics; Director of the Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Steven Salzberg is the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University, where he is also Director of the Center for Computational Biology and a member of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine. His group's research focuses on the development of new computational methods for analysis of DNA from the latest sequencing technologies. Over the years they have developed and applied software to many problems in gene finding, genome assembly, comparative genomics, evolutionary genomics, and sequencing technology itself.
Their current work emphasizes analysis of DNA and RNA sequenced with next-generation technology. His blogs and other writing cover topics on the impact of science on society including the effects of pseudoscience, the problems of alternative medicine, the anti-vaccination movement, gene patents, and the influence of sports on higher education.
Dr. Schoch-Spana, a medical anthropologist, is a Senior Scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. She holds faculty positions at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University, and the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). Her areas of expertise include community resilience to disaster, public engagement in policymaking, crisis and risk communication, and public health emergency preparedness.
Since 1998, Dr. Schoch-Spana has briefed federal, state, and local officials, as well as medical, public health, and public safety professionals, on critical issues in health security. National advisory roles include currently serving on the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Resilient America Roundtable of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), and the NASEM Standing Committee on Medical and Public Health Research during Large-Scale Emergency Events.
Dr. Schoch-Spana has led research, education, and advocacy efforts to encourage authorities to enlist the public's contributions in epidemic and disaster management. Her studies have been influential in debunking myths about mass behaviors in the context of bioterrorism, reframing the management of catastrophic health events to include social and ethical-moral dimensions, and persuading leaders to share governance dilemmas with the public including how to allocate scarce medical resources in a disaster. She has chaired national working groups to produce peer-reviewed, evidence-based consensus guidance for authorities on how to partner with citizens and civil society in relation to bioterrorism response, influenza pandemic planning, and nuclear incident preparedness, and she has organized 3 national meetings on how to strengthen community resilience to extreme health events.
From 2003 to 2017, Dr. Schoch-Spana worked at the UPMC Center for Health Security; prior to that she worked at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies, starting in 1998. She received her PhD in cultural anthropology from Johns Hopkins University (1998) and a BA from Bryn Mawr College (1986).
Associate Director for Communications, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vivi Siegel, MPH, is the Associate Director for Communications for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice. In this role, she works with scientists and communicators to share information about air pollution and respiratory health; radiation, chemical exposures, natural disasters, and climate and health.
Her focus is on using risk communication principles to help stakeholders understand and deal with health uncertainties surrounding environmental events and exposures, and to take actions to protect themselves and others.
She has helped lead communications for a number of CDC's emergency responses, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria (2017), the Japan tsunami and nuclear disaster (2011), the multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis (2012), Hurricane Sandy (2012), and the Ebola response (2014). She has also participated in communications for CDC and ATSDR environmental health investigations around the country. Before working at CDC, Ms. Siegel worked as a newspaper reporter. She holds a BS in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Il. and an MPH in environmental toxicology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology Fellowship Director, SUNY Upstate
Dr. Sullivan is currently the medical director of medical toxicology and the fellowship director of the medical toxicology fellowship at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, NY. He also is the director of the Upstate Emergency Medicine Opioid Bridge Clinic, as well as the medical director for Syracuse Behavioral Health.
Dr. Sullivan currently is: a member of the Medical Advisory Panel to OASAS (Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Service); member of the New York DOH buprenorphine work group, and Emergency Medicine consultant SAMHSA
Associate Professor, The Toxikon Consortium/University of Illinois at Chicago
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Luanne Thorndyke is Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
She leads an office responsible for all matters related to faculty, including sponsoring faculty/leadership development; efficiently and consistently administering academic affairs (appointment, promotion, tenure); stimulating faculty recruitment and retention, leading efforts to promote recognition and satisfaction; supporting faculty diversity and inclusion; and spearheading efforts to advance women and promote gender equity. Under her leadership, UMMS was one of five medical schools nationally to receive a $250,000 grant for innovative work in career flexibility for medical faculty from the American Council on Education and Alfred Sloan Foundation.
Prior to joining UMMS, she was Associate Dean for Professional Development at Pennsylvania State College of Medicine and Assistant Dean of Continuing Medical Education. She established the Penn State Jr. Faculty Development Program, an initiative nationally recognized as a model for faculty development and mentoring, also implemented at UMMS. A graduate of Duke University and University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Thorndyke has broad experience in academic administration, programmatic development, and clinical leadership. A board-certified internist, clinical interests include women's health and geriatrics. Following residency training, she launched her career by establishing a community-based, primary care practice in Philadelphia that has continued for over 25 years. Scholarly interests include faculty development, mentoring, leadership and advancement of women, and faculty competencies. A highly sought after speaker, she has influenced many through numerous workshops, presentations, and mentoring/role modeling.
Thorndyke was elected Chair of the AAMC Group on Faculty Affairs (2012-13), and is also a member of the AAMC Group on Women in Medicine and Science, and the AAMC Group on Diversity and Inclusion. She was recognized by the American Medical Women's Association with the Elizabeth Blackwell Award in 2012, the Individual Leadership Award from the AAMC Group on Women in Medicine and Science in 2013, and the 2015 Outstanding Mentor Award from the UMMS Women's Faculty Committee. Most recently, she was awarded the prestigious 2016 Carole J. Bland Phronesis Award by the AAMC Group on Faculty Affairs. This award serves to honor members of the faculty affairs community who exemplify the spirit of phronesis through dedicated and selfless promotion of faculty vitality.
Jordan Trecki, PhD
Pharmacologist, Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Diversion Control Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Jordan Trecki, PhD is a pharmacologist in the Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Diversion Control Division, with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In his role with the DEA, Dr. Trecki specializes in novel psychoactive substances, including evaluation of their pharmacological properties, trends, detection, abuse liability, trafficking and status under the Controlled Substances Act. His most recent publications in Clinical Toxicology, The Journal of Emergency Medicine and the New England Journal of Medicine have focused on the severe adverse effects following the ingestion of various synthetic drugs. Dr. Trecki received his BS in biochemistry from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, a MS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a specialization in Biotechnology from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a PhD in pharmacology from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to joining the DEA, Dr. Trecki served as a neurotoxicologist with the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.
Paul Wax, MD, FACMT
Executive Director; Clinical Professor, ACMT; UT Southwestern
Along with his part time role as the Executive Director of ACMT, Dr. Wax is a Clinical Professor in Surgery (Emergency Medicine) at the University of Texas, Southwestern School of Medicine where he is a member of the Section of Medical Toxicology and Director of the Medical Toxicology Clinic. Before joining ACMT in 2008 as its Executive Director, and the University of Texas Southwestern in 2006 as a part-time faculty member, Dr. Wax had faculty appointments in the Departments of Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine from 1991-2001 and the University of Arizona School of Medicine from 2001-2006. Dr. Wax previously served on the Board of Directors of ACMT from 1998-2008 serving as ACMT President from 2006-2008. During this tenure he chaired the ACMT Education Committee from 1998-2002. From 2002-2006 Dr. Wax served as the National Director of ACMT's Consultation Network to support the ATSDR Regional Offices and was co-founder of ACMT's Chemical Agent of Opportunity course. From 1997-2006 Dr. Wax also served as one of the American Board of Emergency Medicine's appointee's on the Medical Toxicology Subboard. During this time Dr. Wax served as Editor of the Medical Toxicology Board Certification Examination as well as Chairman of the Subboard, and was also the primary author of the 2004 Core Content of Medical Toxicology. Dr. Wax has also served as a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control NCEH's Division of Laboratory Sciences and was a member of NCEH/ATSDR Board of Scientific Counselors from 2006-2008.
Robbert Zusterzeel, MD, PhD, MPH
Staff Fellow Medical Officer, Food and Drug Administration
Robbert Zusterzeel, MD, PhD, MPH is a leader in translational sciences regulatory research. In his current role as Staff Fellow Medical Officer in the Division of Applied Regulatory Science in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) he is mainly involved in assessing cardiac safety of drugs across the translational research spectrum. He earned a medical degree (M.D.) and a Ph.D. in cardiology from Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Dr. Zusterzeel also completed a master of public health (MPH) in epidemiology at Harvard University. He has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles related to assessing the safety and effectiveness of drugs and medical devices and predicting individualized response to therapies.


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Report: Plant Biologist Guilty of Misconduct
Investigators find that RNAi researcher Olivier Voinnet willfully misrepresented data published in several journals.
Jul 10, 2015
WIKIMEDIA, HOFLIPlant biologist Olivier Voinnet of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich, whose work was investigated following allegations of image manipulation, among other things, has been found guilty of research misconduct, according to an ETH Zürich report released today (July 10). Reviewing Voinnet's published work, investigators uncovered "willful [sic] misrepresentation of data," according to the report.
"It must be clear to all researchers at ETH that we do not tolerate conduct of this kind," Detlef Günther, vice president for research and corporate relations at ETH Zürich, said in a statement. "Voinnet failed to exercise the same care in publishing the data as he did when conducting and validating the experiments."
In the ETH statement, he apologized for his actions. "I take complete responsibility for all errors. I sincerely apologise for the uncertainty and difficulty this has caused members of my group and my colleagues," said...


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An Einhell Petrol Scarifier
As you are here, you are probably now, or soon will be, the proud owner of a new petrol scarifier. Congratulations.
We want you to get the most out of your scarifier, and enjoy using it efficiently and safely from the start.
That's why we have created this guide, full of basic tips and advice, and including answers to the sorts of questions new scarifier owners frequently ask, to save you time and give you confidence.
This way you can get all you want from your new purchase.
Assembly: Your new scarifier will arrive 'boxed' and there is a minimal element of assembly. This is usually limited to attaching the 'Handlebars' and 'Grass catcher' and you will have to put fuel and oil in. Then you should be ready to start work.
Manual: We understand that manuals can be difficult to read from time to time and translations are not always as helpful as they might be. However, do try to read manual/instructions as thoroughly as you can and keep them to hand, at least during early use.
Fuel: Your new scarifier almost certainly has a 4-Stroke engine, so Oil and Petrol are put in separate compartments, no mixing required.
Petrol: Modern fuel contains ethanol, which absorbs moisture and causes the fuel to deteriorate in as little as 30 days, causing damage and starting issues if left in the tank. Our suggested solution is either drain the tank if are going to leave it for a while or always add fuel stabilising additive to all fuel before filling up your tank. For the same reasons you should only put 'Fresh Unleaded Petrol' in your tank. Old fuel will degrade quickly if it has not already done so.
Oil: It is important not to under-fill or over-fill your machine. Please refer to your manufacturer's guidelines as to the quantity.
Regular oil changes protect your engine from damage and excessive wear. Do refer to your 'Engine' manual regarding schedules for regular oil changes.
Not all models come with oil in the box and none with oil in the tank. It is advisable to check and have some ready just in case. The type should be 10/30 Lawnmower Grade Oil, otherwise known as SAE 30.
Oil needs to be changed after the first 5 hours of use. Running in of the machine can cause minute particles of metal debris in the engine, which an oil change and flush removes safely.
Starting: If you are having difficulty starting your machine, it is always advisable to check the following:
- Ensure you are holding in the 'OPC Bar' (Operator Presence Control). If you are not holding this in you will be unable to pull out the recoil.
- If you have a 'Fuel Switch', please ensure this is on.
- If there is a 'Primer', check you have primed the machine.
- If there is a 'Throttle', check that this is fully on to start the machine and then reduce the throttle once the machine has started.
Throttle: Again, if there is a throttle on your model, do remember that it does not affect the speed of the machine, it simply reduces or increases the 'Revs' of the engine.
Storage: Scarifier engines are not waterproof. So make sure you store yours in a dry place, covered if possible.
Cleaning: Obviously, by its very nature, a scarifier is going to be pulling up a great quantity of grass and mud to rid your lawn of thatch and moss. Subsequently, there will always be wet and organic debris in and amongst the tines when you bring it into the shed, or wherever you store it.
Wet and rotting grass and mud can causes metal components to rust and grass and dirt in or around the engine can cause overheating and damage. Always make sure you clean the tines and the deck regularly and thoroughly.
You may need to tip the machine to clear the deck from beneath. Always tip from front to back so that the machine pivots/rests on the back wheels.
NB: Never tip from side to side as this causes the oil to flood the air filter. This can contaminate your spark plug and carburettor. In fact, as a matter, of course, be aware of where the oil and fuel tanks are situated and if possible, empty before cleaning.
Scarifying: You may not have used a scarifier before. Here are a few things to consider:
- Your first 'pass' over the lawn may look like a disaster. Do not worry. If you have followed the instructions you will have done the right thing even if your lawn looks a sight. It will heal and improve over time. As a customer put it...'The result obviously looks fairly devastating while we wait for the grass to start growing but many barrow-loads of moss and thatch were effectively removed so I am very pleased with the machine.'
- There will be a great deal of detritus pulled from your lawn, particularly the first couple of times you use your scarifier. The experience of many of our customers is that the grass catcher is never big enough. Do not worry about this, it is a common issue. The fact is it can be almost impossible to create a grass catcher big enough for the amount of material a good scarifier will remove. After you have scarified a few times and the organic material your remove reduces in volume, you will probably find the grass bag or catcher is adequate.
- The best time to scarify a lawn: This does, of course, depend on your lawn and many other factors, however, in general, late spring - somewhere around the middle of April to June and late summer early autumn - somewhere around late August to September are good times to do some light scarifying, not too deep. Then deeper, more aggressive, scarifying can be carried out in the Autumn, perhaps late August early September, maybe even early October depending on weather conditions.
This MowHow article offers more detailed information on scarifying.
Servicing: Don't forget that Annual Servicing is recommended by the manufacturers and is a requirement if you want to extend the guarantee beyond the first year. Out of tune engines and blunt blades can result in poor cutting, poor collection, and environmental pollution.
And finally, we'd like to thank you for your custom. We hope that these guidelines will be of assistance and that you enjoy using your new mower.
If you do have any concerns not covered by this article please contact us on firstname.lastname@example.com


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Friday, February 14, 2014
More items for the 1:12 tidbits stall....
9 comments:
Amazing amazing!ReplyDelete
I cannot stop gushing over your work and amazing talent - I hope you will make one for sale soon enough; I will be the first in line! :DReplyDelete
Ha, I am at this very moment working my way through a box of Maltesers! Mmm. You know, the sweeties you had seem far more interesting than the ones from my youth. I can't remember getting a toys in a sweet pack. I feel robbed!! harharReplyDelete
Me encanta lo realistas que te quedan los paquetes de chuches, perfectos.ReplyDelete
Un abrazo.
Villa Pulgarcito.
Hi Cindy,ReplyDelete
Your mini food work is fantastic!
I thank you for mentioning/introducing me Inkscape too... Such an awesome program <3
I do have a few questions I wonder if you would be willing to answer:
- How come some of your packets you mention are decal sheets and decal & paper?
- Are the ones only decal, actually done onto plastic or does the decal sheet give a plastic like surface?
- If decal only, do you leave the sheet whole? Backing and all?
Thanks in advance if you choose to respond :)


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AccuVision believes in giving back to our community. That's why in we participate in two charitable programs that help underprivileged people see clearly.
Sheriff's Youth Ranch
Sheriff's Youth Ranch is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of some of the 15 million at-risk youth. AccuVision is committed to assisting this group by providing eye exams and glasses to some of the young residents housed at the ranch each year.
Lions Club International
AccuVision helps Lions Clubs International, which has been collecting and recycling used eyeglasses for more than 60 years. It is the world's largest service club organization with 1.4 million members in more than 44,000 clubs in 185 countries. Lions Clubs specialize in working with the blind and visually impaired.
Other worthy sight related organizations are:
American Foundation for the Blind
Improves accessibility for the visually impaired.
Bright Focus Foundation
Funds research for macular degeneration and glaucoma, and provides resources to the community.
Healthy Eyes Healthy People
Public-private initiative to improve the eye and visual health of the American public.
Infant SEE Program
Affords a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment at no cost for infants in their first years of life.
Serves individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
National Association of Community Health Centers
The AOA is working to improve access to community health centers for eye and vision care services.
National Keratoconus Foundation
Increases awareness of Keratoconus and supports research.
One Clear Vision
Works with people that have Degenerative Vitreous Syndrome (DVS) / severe eye floaters.
Optometry Giving Sight
Supports programs that offer eye exams and glasses in poor and developing countries.
Prevent Blindness America
Provides vision screenings for millions of children and adults each year.
The Vision of Children Foundation
Is dedicated to the eradication of hereditary childhood blindness and vision disorders.
Vision Aware
Provides free information to those who suffer from vision loss and their loved ones.
Vision USA
Provides basic eye health and vision care services free of charge to the uninsured, low-income people and their families.
Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity
Provides vision care services to people below the poverty level around the world.


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Plenary Indulgence Granted to Members of the Militia of the Immaculata
A Plenary Indulgence is available upon enrolment in the MI
A Plenary Indulgence – the complete remission of temporal punishment in purgatory due to sin – is granted by the Church for enrolment in the MI.
This great honour was bestowed on the Movement by Pope Pius XI in 1926.
This great honour was bestowed on the Movement by Pope Pius XI in 1926.
To receive the indulgence, you must:
. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within the eight days preceding your enrolment;. Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion on the day of your enrolment;
. Pray at least an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father; and
. Renounce all attachment to sin, even venial sin, on your enrolment day


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has been doing the internet thang for a wee while.
You can find me at Knossos Networks, if you'd like to know me better professionally. There's also my unofficial CV, for a more opinionated, trumpet-blowing (well, tin-whistle blowing) version. If you want to know me personally, turn up to Thursday Night Curry and rant at me (expect to be ranted at back). You might be surprised at what I'm prepared to rave about discuss. Sarcasm and irony may be employed those who get too metaphysical without solid evidence. I apologise in advance.
This blog is somewhere to post occasional rants, off the wall ideas and so-on. I don't intend to get too personal. I'm a geek, and having opinions about things rather than people is what geeks do.


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Serverless has become a big buzzword of late, and with good reason. It has the potential to completely alter how developers write code.
They can simply write a series of event triggers, while letting the cloud vendor worry about providing whatever amount of compute resources are required to complete the job. It represents a huge shift in how programs are developed, but it's been difficult to find companies who were built from the ground up using this methodology because it's fairly new.
Blissfully, a startup that helps customers manage their Software-as-a-Service usage inside their companies, is one company that decided to do just that. Aaron White, co-founder and CTO, says that when he was building early versions of Blissfully, he found he needed quick bursts of compute power to deliver a list of all the SaaS products an organization is using.
He figured he could set aside a bunch of servers to provide that burst of power as needed, but that would have required a ton of overhead on his part to manage. At this point, he was a lone programmer trying to prove his SaaS management idea was even possible. As he looked at the pros and cons of serverless versus traditional virtual machines, he began to see serverless as a viable approach.
What he learned along the way was that serverless offers many advantages to a company with a bursty approach like Blissfully, scaling up and down as needed. But it isn't perfect and there are issues around management and tooling and handling the pros and cons of that scaling ability that he had to learn about on the fly, especially coming in as early as he did with this approach.
Serverless makes sense
Blissfully is a service where serverless made a lot of sense. It wouldn't have to manage or pay for servers it wasn't using. Nor would it have to worry about the underlying infrastructure at all. That would be up to the cloud provider, and it would only pay for the bursts as they happened.
Serverless is actually a misnomer, in that it doesn't mean there are no servers. It actually means you don't have to set up servers in order to run your program, which is a pretty mind-blowing transformation. In traditional programming you have to write your code and set up all the underlying hardware ahead of time, whether it's in your data center or in the cloud. With serverless, you just write the code and the cloud provider handles all of that for you.
The way it works in practice is that programmers set up a series of event triggers, so when a certain thing happens, the cloud provider sees this and provides the necessary resources on demand. Most of the cloud vendors are offering this type of service, whether AWS Lambda, Azure Functions or Google Functions.
At this point, White began to think about serverless as a way of freeing him from thinking about managing and maintaining infrastructure and all that entailed. "I started thinking, let's see how far we can take this. Can we really do absolutely everything serverless, and if so that reduces a ton of traditional DevOps-style work you have to do in practice. There's still plenty, but that was the thinking at the beginning," he said.
Overcoming obstacles
But there were issues, especially getting into serverless as early as he did. For starters, White needed to find developers who could work in this fashion, and in 2016 when it launched there weren't a large number of people out there with serverless skills. White said he wasn't looking for direct experience so much as people who were curious to learn and were flexible enough to deal with new technology, regardless of how Blissfully implemented that. – Read more


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The Sentinel
The Sentinel is the quarterly newsletter of the Nevada Civil War Volunteers. It contains articles about the goings on in the organization, as well as historical pieces about the Civil War and the State of Nevada. The Sentinel takes its name from the statue pictured below. It was dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic, and guards the graves of Civil War Veterans at Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City, NV.


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Address: 205 North 3rd St. Rear
New Baden, IL
Square Feet: 1000
Basement: No
Bed/Bath: 3/1.5
Rent: $800
Description: Cute and cozy completely remodeled three bedroom one and half bath home with wood laminate flooring and added new doors and trim throughout, new siding and gutter were added to give the home a new look. It is also only three blocks from the grade school.
Elementary School: New Baden
Middle School: Wesclin
High School: Wesclin
Contact Us


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SafetyNet 472
It with great sadness that we report there were another two work-related fatalities in Victoria in the past week. We extend our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and work colleagues of the deceased workers.
On a happier note: We look forward to seeing HSRs tomorrow night at the launch of the work for 2019 - see details, below.
Please send any comments, good or bad, or if you would like to share some news or have a story, tell us by sending an email here. (Please don't 'reply' to your email). Remember: To keep up to date and informed between editions of SafetyNet, go to our We Are Union: OHS Reps Facebook page, and for those who are HSRs and/or passionate about health and safety, join the OHS Network page, a safe place to raise and discuss issues: check it out and ask to join.
Union News
Worker fatalities
On Wednesday last week a 55 year old worker died at work after being stung by a bee. He was stung in the eye at SEM Fire and Rescue just before midday, and died less than an hour later, despite the efforts of paramedics at the scene. The Ballarat community is mourning the loss of a well-liked and active community member. Read more: The Courier.
The second fatality was a 55 year old truck driver who was killed on Thursday after being struck by his own truck while collecting a hire rubbish skip bin at a workplace in Kew. The driver had left the cabin of his vehicle when the truck moved and struck him before it crashed through a side fence and into a garage on an adjoining property. Source: WorkSafe media release
WorkSafe is investigating. These two fatalities bring the total to six (this currently differs from WorkSafe Victoria's tally of four).
Ask Renata
Hi Renata,
Can one refuse taking on the role of a safety rep? My daily duties as electrician are too much as I am the only one in the company. I don't get time to carry out the safety rep duties which are expected of me. Can I refuse?
The position of safety rep is a voluntary one. The HSR is elected by fellow workers in the DWG - but the person must agree to be nominated. While the role is unpaid, the rep is entitled to time to exercise powers and be released on paid leave to attend training and meetings. See Facilities and Time Off FAQ.
Further, an HSR has no 'duties' - rather the Act gives HSRs rights and powers to exercise those rights, but NO LEGAL DUTIES. The role of the rep is to represent the DWG.
See these pages on the site:
Most of the dozens of questions that have come in over the last fortnight have been heat-related. As we are likely to get more hot weather in the coming month, a reminder that heat can affect both indoor and outdoor workers. For more information, go to our FAQ on Heat and the longer Heat hazard page.
Please send any OHS related queries in to Ask Renata - your query will be responded to as quickly as we can – usually within a couple of days.
Asbestos News
High risk asbestos in WA schools
More than120 schools in Western Australia have an asbestos risk where the condition of the material is either severely weathered or has a high probability of disturbance. A risk rating system is in place for all WA public schools that still have asbestos materials, believed to be around 600, plus about 200 transportable buildings. Read more: Perth Now
Asbestos changed the lives of the Pilbara's Aboriginal people
An ABC radio program going to air this Saturday examines the deadly legacy of Wittenoom, particularly on the Aboriginal people who have one of the highest mortality rates from mesothelioma of any group, anywhere in the world. This is because they often did the most dangerous jobs; bagging the asbestos, loading and unloading it, and driving the trucks carrying the asbestos out to the port. Furthermore, the children played in it; rolling around in piles of asbestos in the gorge, chewing on it, hitching rides on top of the bagged asbestos on the trucks carrying it to port.
The mine closed in 1966, and almost everybody left - but not the Aboriginal people whose country it was. Tragically, their exposure to asbestos continued and people have died, including many significant elders and cultural leaders.
Read more: The ghosts of Wittenoom - how asbestos changed the lives of the Pilbara's Aboriginal people (Part One) ABC's Earshot
ASEA Matters newsletter
The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency has released its latest newsletter ASEA Matters [pdf]. In it there are a number of interesting items, including news of the organisation's enhanced Safety Hotline, and an 18-month jail sentence in relation to a fraud charge brought by NSW Police with the assistance of the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) over asbestos dumping. The court found the man had defrauded a construction company to the value of about $225,000 by providing false invoices regarding the disposal of waste (EPA Media Release).
Read more on Asbestos in the home and Asbestos in the workplace
International Union news
Global: BS programmes 'undermine' safety and solidarity
Global food and farming union federation IUF has issued a serious health warning about behavioural safety (BS) programmes at work. The union body notes: "Behaviour-based safety programmes, which are now the guiding method used by many companies, shift employer responsibility for maintaining a safe workplace onto workers by focusing on workers' 'behaviour' rather than the workplace hazards which are the source of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. They undermine union-based health and safety committees and workplace solidarity based on collective bargaining." IUF has a policy position opposing behaviour-based safety which also commits the global union "to develop programmes to educate workers on their dangers, among other measures." IUF says a new policy paper and summary, developed by its food processing division, "detail the destructive impact of these programmes and explain how occupational safety and health management systems which truly protect workers' health and safety are developed and implemented."
Read more: IUF news release. Policy paper [pdf] and summary [pdf], developed by the IUF Food Processing Division. Source: Risks 882. See our BBS Kit
Growing evidence nanomaterials are harmful
The growing evidence from animal studies that nanomaterials can be harmful to health should compel employers to eliminate or reduce exposure to the tiny particles through the hierarchy of controls – immediately, according to special guidance from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
Some studies have shown that mice developed pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis after exposure to single-wall carbon nanotubes, while some multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been linked to mesothelioma in mice, leading to the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifying them as "possibly carcinogenic to humans". Other animal studies have found that nanomaterials can move through the body, such as from the nasal cavity to the brain via the olfactory nerve tract,
ACOEM also warns that workplace exposure to engineered nanomaterials is unlikely to be confined to initial manufacturing processes, as it could also occur during "maintenance or modification activities, such as cutting, sanding, or drilling, which disrupt finished products or components fabricated with nanomaterials".
While the national code for Safety Data Sheets recommends including this information, ACOEM says in its guidance document (published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine): "At the present time, safety data sheets and other safety information that accompanies finished products may not reliably indicate the presence of engineered nanomaterials or their potential release during typical or atypical activities that may disturb or disrupt the product."
Read more: Fischmann, Michael, MD; Murashov, Vladimir, PhD; Borak, Jonathan, MD; Seward, James, MD ACOEM Task Force on Nanotechnology, Nanotechnology and Health [Abstract - The full article can be downloaded free from this page]. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Source: OHS Alert. Read more about Nanotechnology
Farm Safety Reports
A new farm safety report card compiled by Sydney University shows there were 68 farm deaths reported by the Australian media in 2017, a rise from the 63 in 2016.
The research, by the university's Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, showed tractors (13) and quad bikes (11) were the leading causes of death, making up more than 40 per cent of the total. Tragically, nine of the fatal cases (13 per cent) involved children aged under 15 years, with quad bikes involved in a third of these incidents. Download a copy of the report [pdf]. The report [pdf] for the period January - June 2018, shows a further increase - there were 49 fatalities compared to 45 in the same period the previous year.
OHS Regulator News
Victorian News Appeal against gaol term dropped
Maria Jackson, 72, of Foster in South Gippsland, sentence to gaol after an employee died when the forklift she was operating dropped a scrap metal bin on him, has dropped her appeal against her six-month sentence. She had been convicted and also fined $10,000 in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' court in December 2018. She then appealed the decision.
In February, 2017, an employee in his 50s died when an industrial bin carried by a forklift being operated by Ms Jackson at her scrap metal business in Foster fell on him. Ms Foster pleaded guilty to two contraventions of sections 24 and 32 of the OHS Act – for failing to ensure other people in the workplace were not exposed to risks to their health, and for recklessly engaging in conduct that placed others at the workplace in danger of serious injury. WorkSafe's full statement on the case can be found here.
WorkSafe issues new safety alerts
The regulator has issued a new alert, and updated an existing one for the health and community sector.
- Portable patient handling ceiling hoists (Update) - Information for employers about safe use of portable patient handling ceiling hoists.
SafeWork NSW new video
The NSW regulator has launched a new video on forklift safety - about six minutes long, it's a useful tool to ensure the necessary checks are made. Check it out here.
Safe Work Australia news
Virtual Seminar on Heat and Work Injury Prevention
SWA has today released its latest virtual seminar, where an experienced panel of work health and safety experts explore key issues on heat and work injury, including: the importance of developing and adhering to preventative strategies for working in heat, identifying hazards, implementing risk-management strategies, and the need for training and awareness across all levels of management.
Of the seminar, SWA says:
Heat is a hazard that can cause heat-related illness and increase the risk of work-related injury. Preventative strategies are needed for both indoor and outdoor work environments to address the risks working in heat poses for workers, as well as potential losses in productivity. Safe Work Australia and SafeWork SA have been working with researchers at the University of Adelaide, Monash University, University of Western Australia, Queensland University of Technology and SA Health, on a national project focused on preventing work-related injury in hot conditions. Researcher and educator Professor Dino Pisaniello opens the panel discussion with key insights from this research which sets the scene for industry experts to discuss the work-related injury in hot conditions. The panel agree that elimination and safe design should be a priority for decision and policy makers. Click here to check out the panel discussion.
Fatality statistics
As of the 24 January, 2019 there had been five fatalities reported by the state authorities to Safe Work Australia. The workers killed have come from the following industries:
- 1 Transport, postal & warehousing
- 2 Agriculture, forestry & fishing
- 2 Construction
To check for updates, and for more details on fatalities since 2003, go to the Safe Work Australia Work-related fatalities webpage and in particular, here.
DPP appeal increases bakery fine
Davies Bakery Pty Ltd, a Broadmeadows company producing bread, muffins and pastry has had a fine of $2000 increased to $15,000 after an appeal to the DPP.
The company was charged and fined the small amount without conviction following a July 2017 incident in which an employee trying to clear a jammed up 'proving' machine had his head trapped. He had been unable to free himself until a co-worker pressed the stop button and assisted him. He suffered facial fractures and eyesight damage.
The court found Davies Bakery had failed to ensure guarding prevented access to the danger areas of the machine. At the time, Davies pleaded guilty and was without conviction fined $2000 plus $4,115 in costs. On Appeal by the DPP, the County Court set aside the original Magistrates' Court decision and sentenced the offender, without conviction, to pay a fine of $15,000 - costs remained unchanged.
Hoarding company fined $60,000; loses appeal
DWI Pty Ltd is a company which manufactures, installs and removes hoardings in major shopping centres.
In March 2015 it was contracted to erect hoarding to cover the entire shopfront of the former Coles site at the Cranbourne Shopping Centre - installation, done over three nights, commenced 23 March, and was attached to a bulkhead, which in turn was attached to the ceiling. On or about 1 April 2015, DWI moved the hoarding about 0.5 metre out into the shopping mall, to allow more room for the works in the site, meaning it could no longer be attached to the bulkhead as it was to be demolished, so a wooden brace was made to affix the hoarding to the ceiling.
At some stage between 1 April and 5 May 2015 the roller door in the loading dock area at the rear of the former Coles site was removed, creating a large open area at the rear through which wind could funnel into the site.
At about 12.45pm on 5 May 2015, a 32 metre section of the hoarding collapsed into the mall area of the Centre. The collapse of the hoarding was captured on CCTV. The hoarding fell onto two display cars and a speciality shop, and caused injuries to several members of the public.
WorkSafe inspectors attended the site and an engineer also attended the site at WorkSafe's request and subsequently prepared an expert report which concluded the wind was "a significant contributing factor in the collapse of the hoarding. This could have been addressed by the use of an engineered solution supported by appropriate documentation to address the span and spacing of the hoarding panel framing, the method and number of connections at the top of the hoarding and an engineer's assessment of the appropriate wind loading for the circumstances of the installation".
DWI pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined $60,000 plus $18,217.97 costs. The company appealed the sentence - which was dismissed in the County Court. The the orders made by the Magistrates' Court were re-imposed..
To check all of the recent prosecutions, go to the WorkSafe Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage.
International News
Brazil: Dam collapse kills dozens, hundreds still missing
In what is Brazil's greatest environmental and OHS disaster, on 25 January a tailings dam at an iron ore mine in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, suffered a catastrophic failure. The dam is owned by Vale, the same company which was involved in the 2015 Bento Rodrigues dam disaster. The dam released a mudflow that advanced over houses in a rural area near the city. There have been 65 confirmed deaths so far, according to firefighters' count on Monday night, with another 279 people lost and likely dead.
Brazilian authorities have arrested five people: three employees of Vale SA and two other engineers working on behalf of the company. State investigators issued the five arrest warrants and seven search warrants, on suspicion of murder, falsification of documents and environmental crimes.
Environmental experts say such disasters could have been avoided: Stricter licensing laws and state oversight and the adoption of more modern technology could transform the Brazilian mining sector, making such incidents less likely.
Read more: Dozens dead and hundreds missing after dam ruptures at Brumadinho mine in Brazil. Brazil mining dam collapse sees five people arrested as Vale SA offers compensation. ABC news online. Brazil's deadly dam disaster may have been preventable National Geographic
Global: Future work report recognises 'fundamental' safety
A 'universal labour guarantee' including a recognition of workplace health and safety as a 'fundamental' human right is a central recommendation of a new report by the International Labour Organisation's Global Commission on the Future of Work. The report is the culmination of a 15-month examination by the 27-member commission, which is made up of leading figures from business and labour, think tanks, academia, government and non-governmental organisations. Co-chaired by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and Swedish prime minister Stefan Löfven, the commission last week outlined a 'human-centred' agenda for decent and sustainable work. This includes the universal labour guarantee that protects fundamental workers' rights, an adequate living wage, limits on hours of work and safe and healthy workplaces.
The report notes: "The international community has long recognised health as a human right. But in a world where almost 3 million workers continue to die every year as a result of occupational accidents and work-related diseases, it is time for safety and health at work to be recognised as a fundamental principle and right at work." Luc Cortebeeck, one of the three workers' representatives on the Commission, commented: "Regulation and protection of workers' rights is a must for the new forms of work. The employment relationship remains the centrepiece of labour protection and the Commission recommends the establishment of a Universal Labour Guarantee, with freedom of association, collective bargaining, freedom from forced labour, child labour and discrimination, and very importantly: adequate living wage, limits on hours of work and safe and healthy workplaces."
Read more: ILO news release. WHO news release.Work for a brighter future, Global Commission on the Future of Work, January 2019. Executive summary and full report [pdf]. Source: Risks 882


text:
Waldman is unsurprised that 88 percent of gun homicides are committed with handguns:
[D]espite the greater amount of attention given the assault weapons ban, it isn't the most significant proposal currently on offer; that would be universal background checks. And dropping the assault-weapons ban may end up being the price of getting other proposals through Congress. If the ban gets killed along the way, pro-gun members of Congress can tell their constituents they fought against the most visible restriction on guns being debated, and only signed on to more modest, common-sense (to use everyone's new favorite expression) reforms that everyone but the most extreme gun nuts can agree on. And that wouldn't be too terrible an outcome, provided the other measures pass.


text:
So, I lied. I couldn't take a break from baking, like I promised. I suppose grinding it out in my kitchen is just part of who I am these days. I truly take delight in going through my cookbooks and shelves and whipping up sweets that are different and pungent and spicy.
Plus, I love the way baking makes my little house smell like a home. There are times I catch a whiff of chocolate cake rising in the oven and I'm transported back to my childhood home, my mom pushing her children out of the small kitchen and back to the small yard.
Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies
(If you like either of these, you'll love them together. The salty sweetness is perfect with a glass of milk. Or a shot of Jose. Your choice.)
• 1 1/4 cups flour, sift or stir before measuring
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• ½ cup canned pumpkin
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside. Cream shortening, peanut butter, and sugars; beat in vanilla and egg. Stir in flour mixture, blending well. Add pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon last. Shape mixture into 3/4-inch balls; place on greased baking sheets.
Flatten each cookie with the tines of a fork; dip fork in flour periodically to keep it from sticking to the peanut butter cookie dough.
Bake peanut butter cookies at 375° for about 10 to 12 minutes. These will be cake-like in consistency. Be patient while they are baking! They are worth the wait.


text:
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate dropped below four percent for the first time since January 2018.
Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist, says, "While economic data points to continued strength, financial sentiment is weakening with the spread between the 10-year and the 3-month Treasury bill narrowing as fears of the impact of the trade war with China grow. Lower rates should, however, give a boost to the housing market, which has been on the upswing with both existing and new home sales picking up recently."
News Facts
- 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.99 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending May 30, 2019, down from last week when it averaged 4.06 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.56 percent.
- 15-year FRM averaged 3.46 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.51 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.06 percent.
- 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.60 percent with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.68 percent. A year ago at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.80 percent.
Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following link for the Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.


text:
The Indian Atleti are one step away from becoming the first champions of Indian Super League. The final of the ISL season is to played on Saturday against the Kerala Blasters in Mumbai.
Atlético and Kerala have met twice already this season. In Kolkata, the visitors drew 1-1, while the team managed by former England goalkeeper David James managed to snatch a 2-1 win in Kochi. The final will be a difficult game for our Indians.


text:
During the last week of July 2012, the travel bug epidemic once again spread in our travel group. The only medicine was to hit the roads ! July meant active monsoons in Hyderabad, monsoons meant a visit to the waterfalls and for those living in Hyderabad, the one destination for waterfalls in the monsoon is Kuntala Waterfalls.
NH7 – a class apart
Kuntala Waterfalls is the highest waterfall in Andhra Pradesh at 147 feet and is located in Adilabad district. From Hyderabad, Kuntala Waterfalls is a 270 kms drive on NH 7. Closer to Kuntala Waterfalls is another waterfall called the Pochera Waterfalls, this part of Andhra Pradesh is covered with dense forests and the Godavari River and its tributaries flow through these forests and hills forming cascading waterfalls at intervals. The Kuntala and Pochera Waterfalls are formed by the Kadam River, a tributary of the Godavari.
At 5.30 AM on 1st September, 3 Figos were flagged off from Hyderabad via Medchal onto NH 7. A drive on NH 7 is like cruising in a dream, this highway part of the North-South corridor is one of the finest highways in India ! It was a perfect morning, a little chill merging into the warmth of a glorious sunrise.
The drive was interrupted by frequent stops for pictures because the sunrise was too lovely to be left alone ! Before the sun could even reach its position for the morning, we had reached Kamareddy, our 1st pit stop for breakfast. There is a Haritha Restaurant here, while traveling in AP, Haritha Restaurants, run by the AP Tourism are the safest bet for good food.
A leisurely breakfast of idly, vada and dosa warmed up our tummies, the vending machine made tea played spoilsport though. The chef told us we were too early for a good cup of tea !
From Kamareddy, the road to Kuntala takes you through Dichpally (famous for an ancient Rama Temple), bypassing Nizamabad, past Armoor (the place has some unique rock formations, which makes the hills look like a huge pile of boulders) and Nirmal and finally Neredikonda. The landscape changes from Armoor as one enters Adilabad district, there are dense jungles all around, even the highway passes through thick woods. Some of the scenes are unbelievable and they pass you by when you least expect it, too quick to even click pictures, especially when 120 km/hr is the minimum speed.
The blue sky dotted with white fluffy clouds, dark green forests, the grey and white road – the kind of stuff you drew in art classes back in school !
The fact that we covered 255 kms in about 3 hours, should serve as a testimony to the NH 7 ! From Neredikonda, the road to the Waterfalls deviates from the NH. While the deviation to Kuntala comes first, we went a little head to visit the Pochera Waterfalls. The distance between Pochera and Kuntala is around 17 kms and waterfalls are on opposite directions.
Pochera Waterfalls
We reached Pochera Waterfalls by 9.30 AM, there were no other visitors that early in the day. Pochera Waterfalls are not very high but very charming and picturesque.
One can climb down close to the falls and sit on the rocks to enjoy the cool spray and listen to the gushing music of the falls. Since nobody was around, our group had the falls for ourselves and we loved every moment there.
After a marathon photo session, we climbed up a little further from where one can view the top of the falls.
The scenery around here was very pretty with the monsoon greenery being a feast for the eyes.
There is something to the merry, gushing sound of water that fills the mind with the tranquility it seeks, one finds that in abundance at Pochera Waterfalls.
Kuntala Waterfalls
After spending more than an hour at Pochera, we headed to Kuntala Waterfalls. As you descend the 400 odd steps leading to the foot of the waterfalls, you get a first glimpse of the Kadam River rushing down the slopes. There are two tiers to this waterfall. The first one is a small fall down the rocky slopes.
The river, then, gathers force and finally cascades down the cliff to form the Kuntala Falls.
One can view the entire waterfall only on reaching the foot of the falls and what a mesmerising beauty it is !
The Kuntala waterfalls gets its name from the mythological character Shakuntala, who is believed to have visited these falls !!
The beauty of this place is that one can walk in the river bed when the water flow is not very heavy, sit on the rocks under the shade of the trees and view the waterfall.
It is like sitting in a huge open-air theatre with NGC playing on the screen !
The flood water was muddy brown, the grass around was fresh green, blue sky, white clouds, black rocks – nature was showing off its multi-coloured beauty !
The flow of these falls depends on the release of water from the Kadam Reservoir. The uncertainty of the water release, especially in the rainy season makes Kuntala Waterfalls a slightly dangerous place if one ventured too far into the river or tried to climb on the slippery cliff at the source of the waterfalls. There have been many accidents around these falls because people tend to be too rash and adventurous, we ourselves saw a few people trying all kind of stunts up the cliff. You don't lose anything by being a little humble before nature, do you?
We sat watching the falls for a very long time, had a small snack and as mid-day neared, it got very hot and a huge water body meant very sultry weather.
We then walked on the rocky river bank which goes very close to the foot of the falls, a few of us slipped on the mossy rocks on the way. The mist from the force of the falls raises so high that you can't view the falls properly from there and one gets completely drenched by the spray. We tried our best to protect our cameras even as the photo enthusiast in us tried to click pictures through the spray. The results, obviously, were not so impressive.
When we decided to head back, reality hit us in the form of climbing 400 steep steps in the hot afternoon sun ! We had very little drinking water (though when we looked to our right, there was gallons and gallons and gallons of water rushing by) until we reached our cars and by the time we reached the top, we felt like warriors from a war ! There are a few stalls near the car parking area and we almost ransacked them for sodas, soft drinks and water !
Intoxicating lunch !
Kuntala does not have any hotels/eating joints nearby, the closest town is Nirmal, 40 kms away. It was 1.30 PM when we started from Kuntala Waterfalls, the idea was to stop at Nirmal for lunch. We reached Nirmal town around 2.30 PM and began looking for a restaurant. Nirmal is famous for woodden toys and Nirmal style of paintings. It is also an important town for trading and business. We discovered for all that Nirmal was, it was not a good place for food ! Every corner we turned there were bar and restaurants, the one normal restaurant we found was so over crowded that we could only hope to find a seat by dinner time !
Unable to find any other options at 3 PM, we went to the bar and restaurant to have lunch. It was most hilarious to sit in that bar that looked straight from the movies of 1970s and order vegetarian food (it being a Saturday, many in the group had vegetarian food). The place reeked of alcohol and everybody had red eyes through which they stared at us bewildered, wondering what 9 men and 3 women were doing in a bar and restaurant ordering rotis, dal and everything vegetarian! Even the waiter seemed demotivated to serve us, imagine working in a bar and restaurant and not serving drinks ! The glasses in which we were served water had alcohol brand names, one look at the names almost gave us a high ! This writer had to exercise immense self-control not to get carried away in wanting to taste the drinks – side effects of looking at people at the opposite table gulp down glass after glass of brandy.
The food was too good and easy on the pocket (some claim the bill was under charged). We quickly finished our lunch and stormed out of the restaurant for some fresh air. It was around 4.00 PM and we had lots of time on hand, so we decided to visit the Sriram Sagar Dam on the way back.
Sriram Sagar Project
Sriram Sagar Project, 56 kms from Nizamabad is a huge dam built on the Godavari River, it has 42 gates and even bigger than the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. It is very close to the highway and can actually be seen from the road.
From the Dam, Godavari River looks like a sea. We had read that the sunset views from here were lovely but it was only 4.45 PM and a full 1 1/2 hours before sunset. Having decided to try and get back home early and not wait for the sunset we walked on the dam (vehicles are not allowed on the dam) and got some fantastic views of the river glittering under the sun.
As the sun hid behind the clouds, the sun rays streamed out of the clouds and lit up a small patch on the river, one part of the river was dark and the other bright under the sunlight, we could even see the rain from the clouds in the distance – it was magical !
As we started back from Sriram Sagar, rain clouds gathered overhead and half way through rain lashed down at us. It was amusing to be driving in the heavy rain one minute and leaving the rain behind the very next minute. When you are traveling at 120 km/hr, you cross the rain bearing clouds rather quickly.
Around 6 PM, the sun got ready to set behind thick, black clouds and gave us the most beautiful sunset view from the highway. We stopped our cars on the roadside and clicked pictures of the sun set. In our excitement, we even stood in the middle of the road to get a better view, the oncoming vehicles must have freaked out to find random photographers in their way, they flashed their headlights and honked to warn us !
Now it feels a little risky but at that moment, getting a great picture was all that mattered.
An hour later, we stopped at the Haritha Restaurant at Kamareddy again for a cup of coffee and pakoda, having learnt not to trust the tea there.
The rest of the journey was uneventful, we reached Medchal by 8.30 PM and disbanded to proceed home with a happy feeling of a trip well concluded.