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Sensory enrichment exercise: roll playdough snakes
Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2000 Sep;10(1-2):177-83.
Cortical activations in primary and secondary motor areas for complex bimanual movements in professional pianists.
Jäncke L, Shah NJ, Peters M.
PLOS One. 2012;7(12):e51900. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051900. Epub 2012 Dec 26.
Differential grey matter changes in sensorimotor cortex related to exceptional fine motor skills.
Stoeckel MC, Morgenroth F, Buetefisch CM, Seitz RJ.
These studies compared proficient pianists to non-musicians on a tapping task, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The conclusion of the study was that the pianists completed the task with perfect accuracy and more quickly than the non-musicians. More importantly, the study showed that the pianists used fewer neurons to complete the task. Other studies confirmed that proficient pianists were connecting fewer brain areas when performing. When a person's brain is able to reach peak performances with less energy and fewer neurons, then the brain can assign the saved energy to connect new areas for additional learning and growth.
These studies demonstrate that practicing organized finger movements leads to the growth of reliable pathways which can be used in other organized movement needs, leading to enhanced performance and capacities.
We have applied the results of laboratory research to create the exercise Roll Playdough Snakes which develops dexterity in both hands using a simultaneous task with specific positions for all the fingers. It is important for the person doing the exercise to hold their hands up at eye level to maintain their focus.
Like most of our exercises involving fine motor finger skills, this is actually a speech development exercise. Speech is the result of several brain activations: visual, auditory, memory and fine motor.
The first result of this exercise is to increase the neuronal density for the non-dominant digit combinations such as the thumb and ring finger. Without the expected migration of efficient new neurons toward weak neighboring areas in the brain, this result would be moderately interesting to not interesting enough to justify the time and effort.
Research has shown the brain's ability to grow and build new connections in response to information (this process is called neuroplasticity). Scientists have observed that non-essential, effective connections and neurons will migrate towards less efficient areas of the brain. In the case of finger and hand fine motor pathways, the closest areas are the speech centers. By repeating this exercise every day for two weeks, your child's finger skills will increase and the fine motor connections required to strengthen the speech areas of the brain will increase as well.
Speech depends on the fine motor abilities of the tongue, the muscles on the inside of the mouth and the lips. These muscles will only perform the organized movements needed to produce sounds and words when the brain is ready to take charge thanks to efficient pathways. Providing effective and reliable connections for fine motor control is an essential step that we take by prompting organized migration from a very populated brain area to its less efficient neighbor.
How growth happens
This exercise stimulates growth by presenting four challenges to overcome through practice:
- Separating your fingers during the fine motor exercise.
- Extending the fingers that you are not using.
- Focusing on the pincer action between the thumb and each opposing finger requiring particular motion and control skills.
- Focusing visually on the activity.
None of these actions is a common movement, consequently, they will stimulate brain growth over time in order to be able to complete the task successfully. It will generally require several exercises with this particular purpose and combinations of sensory-motor requests to achieve the ultimate goal of improved speech, while the child may never be able to execute the exercise task perfectly.
As your child gets better at doing the activity, he will no longer need to use all the new pathways his brain has built, so his brain can then use those pathways to strengthen other areas, such as speech.
Learning any new skill improves the brain in one capacity or another. Repeating a focused exercise that requires complicated combinations of sensory-motor tasks will prompt growth both in the working areas of the brain and their neighbors.
This very targeted exercise requires time and patience, and your child's effort to do this exercise is an essential component of the learning process.
Join 3,000 families in over 60 countries who have used Sensory Enrichment Therapy™ to help boost brain development in their own homes.
More reading
- Human Brain Mapping 2004 Jul;22(3):206-15.
Reduced recruitment of motor association areas during bimanual coordination in concert pianists.
Haslinger B, Erhard P, Altenmüller E, Hennenlotter A, Schwaiger M, Gräfin von Einsiedel H, Rummeny E, Conrad B, Ceballos-Baumann AO.
- Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 2009 Sep;53(3):424-31.
Loss of fine motor function correlates with ataxia and decline of cognition in cerebellar tumor survivors.
Rueckriegel SM, Blankenburg F, Henze G, Baqué H, Driever PH.


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Just for Ramadan
Ramadan Desserts are the perfect treat after a satisfying Iftar. With our Pistachio flavored dessert and cream, strawberries, and pineapples make every meal and gathering truly special this Holy Month. Sending to your friends, family and loved ones in Lebanon has never been easier. (Serves about 15 persons).
|15 persons
|Pistachios flavor with creme, strawberries and pineapple fruits.

subset: commoncrawl


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PETRAMAR SRL is a company that manufactures and sells customized and naval flags all over the world. Our production, made entirely at our offices, is entrusted to highly qualified staff with a great deal of experience and able to work according to both traditional and avant garde processes. We provide an exceptionally wide range of products: Flags, flag accessories, crests, banners, standards, PVC capes and covers.
Yrityksen verkkosivusto
www Pääsivusto


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Every Brand Has a Story, and It Begins With "Why?"
July 24, 2017 • 2 minute read
July 24, 2017 • 2 minute read
Whether it is internal or external, the core purpose of any communication effort is rooted in your business' story and brand. Today, the best marketing campaigns focus more on a relatable narrative and less on the promotion of a particular product or service, so developing your business' story is imperative to any marketing campaign.
As much as we would all like for our stories to tell themselves, the best authors of that narrative come from within. Daunting? Initially, it can seem so. But luckily, it doesn't have to be difficult.
First and foremost, take inventory of your audience who would be most concerned with understanding your business' story. No matter your regional scope, you can break your client base down into two categories: current clients (past transactions) and prospects (growth goals). Between these categories, how your business is perceived is circulating through the minds of your clients in one of two ways:
While it is a very broad client or customer breakdown, it can significantly help convey your story and ultimately your promotional efforts.
What doesn't change between these two groups, however, is your story of why you do what you do.
We all have a job to do. Ultimately, every single business is providing a service that helps solve an immediate need.
We all have needs, and we are all looking for a service that helps whittle down such a list. What makes businesses unique is the manner in which their services are able to help clients or customers check off needs.
The process of figuring out what your story is does not have to be overly complex. Start at the core by answering who, what, where, how and why.
What service do you provide? Bam. You have your purpose that solves the what.
Second question that naturally follows is: How are we different? Bam. You now have your how and who.
Whether it comes to you easily or not, it is always a good idea to cross check with your current and past clients by asking them to tell you their perspective of the purpose of your business. Not only can this help clue you and your stakeholders in on what service your business has historically been successful in providing, you can also calibrate your messages to ensure what you want to say is actually resonating with your audience. This is the why that helps differentiate what you do.
You already have your where (if this is vague, refer to the address you receive mail), and all of these combined—who, what, where, how and why—inform who you are.
And, let's not forget that while we differ in our approaches, at the end of the day, we are all providing the same service for the greater good of the world: Putting food on the table.


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Gregory Oed, RMT, RTT
"Routine Health Maintenance and Pain Management"
Gregory operates Touch Alchemy in the Metropolitan Baltimore area. Educated at the Baltimore School of Massage in Baltimore, Maryland, he is Nationally registered and registered in the state of Maryland as a massage therapist and Thai therapist. Gregory offers many Thai therapies including Thai Massage, Thai Acupressure Therapy, Thai Herbal and Aromatherapy Treatment, Thai Myofascial – Deep Tissue Massage, and Thai Reflexology.
Gregory studied Nuad Boran Thai Massage (in the Shivagakomarpaj Lineage) at the Tao Mountain School of Thai Massage and Herbal Medicine and the Thai Institute of Healing Arts.
Gregory is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association, Thai Healing Alliance International and is Red Cross Certified CPR & Adult First Aid.
Comments and Responses:
"For the first time in years I go days without pain"
"Never has anyone communicated so well with my anatomy"
To contact Gregory for massage see his profile.


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Research Article | Open Access
Enrico Schirru, Fabrice Danjou, Lucia Cicotto, Rossano Rossino, Maria Doloretta Macis, Rosanna Lampis, Rita-Désirée Jores, Mauro Congia, "Anti-Actin IgA Antibodies Identify Celiac Disease Patients with a Marsh 3 Intestinal Damage among Subjects with Moderate Anti-TG2 Levels", BioMed Research International, vol. 2013, Article ID 630463, 6 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/630463
Anti-Actin IgA Antibodies Identify Celiac Disease Patients with a Marsh 3 Intestinal Damage among Subjects with Moderate Anti-TG2 Levels
A new diagnostic tool (algorithm-1) for coeliac disease (CD) permitting the diagnosis without performing the duodenal biopsy has been recently proposed by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). It combines symptoms associated with CD, high anti-transglutaminase type 2 antibody (anti-TG2) levels, anti-endomysium-IgA antibodies (EMA), and at-risk HLA. Our aims were (i) to evaluate retrospectively in 227 individuals (149 CD patients and 78 controls) the algorithm-1, (ii) to reduce the number of duodenal biopsies among CD patients for whom algorithm-1 is not applicable through the addition of antiactin IgA antibodies (AAA-IgA), and (iii) to evaluate prospectively algorithm-1 and AAA-IgA in 50 patients with suspected CD. Algorithm-1 identified 70 out of 149 CD patients with Marsh 3 lesions. Adding AAA-IgA to the remaining patients with anti-TG2 levels comprised between 4 and 10 times upper limit of normal (ULN) allowed the detection of further 20 patients with a Marsh 3 damage. In our prospective study, algorithm-1 identified 23 out of 50 patients, whilst further 7 were recognized adding AAA-IgA. We confirm that algorithm-1 may avoid the duodenal biopsy in many CD patients and underscores the usefulness of AAA-IgA in reducing the number of duodenal biopsies in patients with moderate anti-TG2 levels.
1. Introduction
Coeliac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated systemic disease, triggered and maintained by dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals, characterized by a variable small intestinal villous damage and by different clinical manifestations [1].
Recently, a synopsis summarizing some of the evidence statements and recommendations of the guidelines in CD diagnosis for use in clinical practice has been formulated by a working group within the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) [2].
An important statement of these guidelines is the development of two new algorithms for CD diagnosis based on (i) the presence of symptoms and signs suggestive of CD in children and adolescents (algorithm-1) and (ii) the absence of symptoms and signs in persons at genetic risk for developing CD (algorithm-2).
We have considered in the present work the most interesting of the two new algorithms, algorithm-1. It allows diagnosis of CD without performing the duodenal biopsy in children and adolescents with symptoms and signs suggestive of CD, anti-transglutaminase type 2 antibody (anti-TG2) levels >10 times upper limit of normal (ULN), and positive confirmation tests of anti-endomysium-IgA antibodies (EMA) and with the presence of at-risk HLA-DQ2 or -DQ8. If all these requirements are fulfilled, the diagnosis of CD is confirmed, gluten-free diet is started, and the patient is studied for improvement of symptoms and decline of autoantibodies. A later gluten challenge in these patients is not required [2].
However, it has been established that symptomatic CD patients with elevated degrees of intestinal damage may also have anti-TG2 levels lower than 10 times ULN [3, 4]. Therefore, a high number of symptomatic CD patients with anti-TG2 levels lower than 10 times ULN, and to whom algorithm-1 cannot be applied, still necessitate a duodenal biopsy.
Since anti-actin IgA antibodies (AAA-IgA) directed against actin filaments are strongly correlated with total or subtotal intestinal atrophy [5, 6], we hypothesized that serum measurement of this autoantibody may contribute in increasing the number of patients who can avoid a duodenal biopsy.
Aims of this study were (i) to evaluate retrospectively in 227 individuals (149 CD patients and 78 controls) the performance of algorithm-1, (ii) to reduce further the number of duodenal biopsies among CD patients in whom algorithm-1 cannot be applied with the addition of AAA-IgA, and (iii) to evaluate also prospectively the performance of algorithm-1 combined with AAA-IgA levels in 50 individuals with symptoms suggestive of CD.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Patients
Our group consisted of 163 consecutive Sardinian CD patients (121 females, 42 males, ratio females/males 2.9, mean age at diagnosis 8 years, and range from 2 to 18 years); 149 presented symptoms suggestive of CD (Table 1), whilst 11 were not included in the study because they were asymptomatic and, for this reason, not belonging to the algorithm-1. Also, three patients with IgA deficiency, a well-known condition complicating the interpretation of the serological pattern of CD, were excluded. All patients were diagnosed according to ESPGHAN criteria [7] and were recruited from subjects attending the ambulatory of the Pediatric Gastroenterological Unit in Cagliari, Italy, between 2005 and 2012. A further group of 78 individuals with persistent significant gastrointestinal symptoms, already characterized by upper digestive endoscopy and small bowel biopsy [6], were used as non-CD subjects. All 227 individuals were characterized for histopathology, anti-TG2, EMA, HLA typing, and AAA-IgA.
An additional group of 50 patients with symptoms suggestive of CD according to the new ESPGHAN criteria [2] were prospectively diagnosed to evaluate the ability of the combination of algorithm-1 plus AAA-IgA to further reduce the number of intestinal biopsies (Table 1).
Informed consent was obtained from subjects (or from their parents if minor) participating in the prospective study.
2.2. Anti-TG2
Anti-TG2 was dosed using the ELIA commercial kit-ImmunoCAP (Phadia, Milan, Italy) after serum dilution when necessary. Results were expressed in times upper limit of normal with a cutoff of 7 U/mL.
EMA was determined by immunofluorescence (Delta Biologicals, Rome, Italy). Results were expressed by intensity of immunofluorescence from 0 to 4. With the aim of reducing false positives, only a strong intensity of immunofluorescence (2 or higher) was considered positive.
2.4. HLA Typing
To type for HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles [8], HLA Olerup SSP Molecular Typing Kits (Roche, Sweden) were used according to the manufacturer's instructions. The identification of the various DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 haplotypes in CD patients was performed following the segregation of HLA haplotypes in families [9]. In this study, the two forms of HLA-DQ2, termed DQ2.5 and DQ2.2, respectively, were considered separate because the risk of coeliac disease conferred by DQ2.2 is lower than that conferred by DQ2.5, unless it is expressed together with DQ2.5 [10, 11].
2.5. AAA-IgA
AAA-IgA is an immunofluorescence serological test developed in our laboratory that has been validated in a multicenter study [5, 6] as a useful marker of an elevated grade of intestinal damage associated with CD. Results were expressed by intensity of immunofluorescence from 0 to 4. With the aim of reducing false positives, only a strong intensity of immunofluorescence (2 or higher) was considered positive.
2.6. Histopathology
For each patient, 2 or more biopsies were taken from the second/third portion of the duodenum (at least a minimum number of 4 samples), and at least 1 or more biopsies were taken from the duodenal bulb [2, 12]. Intestinal villous atrophy has been graded according to the Marsh classification [13], modified by Oberhuber in types 3c, 3b, and 3a, 2, 1, and 0 [14], always by the same board-certified pathologists.
2.7. Statistical Analysis
The frequencies of outcomes were analyzed using the chi-square test where appropriate. A value < 0.05 was considered significant.
3. Results
The one hundred and forty-nine CD patients and 78 controls were classified in 3 different Subgroups according to algorithm-1 based on the presence of symptoms and signs suggestive of CD, anti-TG2 levels, positivity for EMA and for HLA-DQ2 (in cis or in trans), or -DQ8 (Figure 1).
We found that all patients with symptoms and signs suggestive of CD, anti-TG2 levels >10 times ULN, positivity for EMA and for HLA-DQ2 (in cis or in trans), or -DQ8 had coeliac disease with a Marsh 3 atrophy (Subgroup 1 of Figure 1). This Subgroup consisted of 70 of the 227 subjects.
As far as the HLA associated risk was concerned, three out of the 227 subjects expressed the DQ2.2 molecule without DQ2.5. One of them had anti-TG2 levels higher than 10 times ULN and showed a Marsh 3c histopathology, whereas the remaining two patients had an anti-TG2 level under 10 times ULN and a Marsh 0. These patients were not considered further because the low number did not consent to draw any conclusion.
Among the 227, seventy-six CD patients were included in Subgroup 2 that differed from Subgroup 1 only for the anti-TG2 levels lower than 10 times ULN (Figure 1). It is important to note that Subgroup 2 included 17 patients with potential CD since they were positive for CD specific antibodies and at-risk HLA but they did not show the histopathological changes associated with CD [2]. The remaining Subgroup 3 consisted of the seventy-eight control individuals (Figure 1).
Based on these data, the association of AAA-IgA with severe intestinal damage was evaluated in all three Subgroups. As expected since AAA-IgA is a marker of severe intestinal damage, a higher frequency of positive AAA-IgA was found in Subgroups 1 and 2 that included the CD patients compared to Subgroup 3 that included the controls. However, we found that in Subgroup 1, the addition of AAA-IgA to algorithm-1 did not offer any further useful information as only 76.5% of the CD patients, already defined by algorithm-1, had a positive AAA-IgA.
Conversely, the addition of AAA-IgA to Subgroup 2 increased the correlation with Marsh 3 histopathology (; ), and it became complete when the range of anti-TG2 comprised between 4 and 10 times ULN values was chosen. On the contrary, for values of anti-TG2 lower than 4 times ULN, a number of AAA-IgA false positives were observed (data not shown). Using this strategy, further 20 CD patients of Subgroup 2 with Marsh 3 histopathology (Figure 2) were identified. Finally, in Subgroup 3, only 3 out of 78 controls were AAA-IgA positive.
In the prospective study, twenty-three out of 50 patients were detected by algorithm-1 and the intestinal biopsy was not performed. For the remaining 27 subjects, the addition of AAA-IgA in those with anti-TG2 values comprised between 4 and 10 times ULN, allowed the detection of further seven CD patients with a Marsh 3 intestinal damage (Table 2). In patients with anti-TG2 levels lower than 4 times ULN, only an incomplete association between algorithm-1, plus AAA-IgA and Marsh 3 intestinal damage was found.
In all 50 patients, including the 23 CD diagnosed with the algorithm-1 and the 7 diagnosed with the addition of the AAA-IgA, gluten-free diet progressively caused a reduction of anti-TG2 levels and disappearance of the symptoms.
4. Discussion
The new algorithm-1 recently reported by ESPGHAN [2] suggested that in the diagnosis of CD, duodenal biopsies could be avoided in children and adolescents with CD associated symptoms, high anti-TG2 levels, and positivity for EMA and at-risk HLA. The aims of the present study were to confirm the reliability of algorithm-1 and to further reduce the number of duodenal biopsies by adding the serum measurement of another marker of intestinal damage (AAA-IgA) [6, 15, 16].
In our retrospective study, we found that the algorithm-1 would have avoided the duodenal biopsy in 70 out of 149 CD patients (Subgroup 1 of Figure 1). We also found that all the 70 CD patients had a Marsh 3 grade of intestinal damage. This finding confirms, as previously suggested, that anti-TG2 level >10 times ULN is strongly associated with the most severe intestinal damages [17, 18]. On the other hand, we noticed that algorithm-1 was not able to detect with sufficient accuracy a Marsh 3 damage when the values of anti-TG2 were lower than 10 times ULN. In fact, among the 76 subjects of Subgroup 2, differing from Subgroup 1 only for anti-TG2 levels less than 10 times ULN, a variable degree of intestinal damage ranging from Marsh 3 lesions to Marsh 0 was found.
Since numerous studies have reported a strong association of AAA-IgA with severe CD intestinal damage [6, 15, 16] and since the likelihood of CD is unequivocal when a villous atrophy of Marsh 3 is found [13, 14], we measured the AAA-IgA in Subgroups 1, 2, and 3, with the aim of identifying those subjects having Marsh 3 intestinal histopathology.
The most important result was obtained by the measurement of AAA-IgA in Subgroup 2, where positivity for AAA-IgA and a Marsh 3 lesion was restricted to subjects having a level of anti-TG2 antibody comprised between 4 and 10 times ULN (Figure 2). This strategy allowed the identification of 20 additional CD patients with a Marsh 3 lesion (Figure 2) in whom the duodenal biopsies could have been avoided.
Whereas a wide range of sensitivity and specificity values of AAA-IgA have been reported, questioning its utility in the screening for CD [19], our data suggest that the best usage of AAA-IgA measurement in the diagnosis of CD is not as an isolated test, but in association with anti-TG2 values comprised between 4 and 10 times ULN.
When the anti-TG2 antibody titer is higher than 10 times ULN, the association with a Marsh 3 lesion is complete, and no other test should be requested; low values of positivity for anti-TG2 are found also in non-CD patients affected by other autoimmune pathologies as well as infections, tumors, myocardial damage, liver disorders, and psoriasis [20, 21].
Our retrospective results were confirmed by our prospective study, in which a cohort of 50 patients with suspected CD underwent to algorithm-1. Indeed, all 7 AAA-IgA positive patients who had anti-TG2 values comprised between 4 and 10 times ULN showed a Marsh 3 intestinal damage.
5. Conclusions
Our findings confirm that the duodenal biopsy may be omitted in a significant number of CD patients by the application of algorithm-1. In addition, we show that positivity for AAA-IgA in children and adolescents with anti-TG2 antibody levels comprised between 4 and 10 times ULN may further reduce the number of duodenal biopsies.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
This study was funded in part by ASL8 (deliberazione n° 576 of 13/05/08).
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WordPress 5.3 introduced a new feature to help ensure the site's administration email remains current. The default site admin email is the person who initially created the site. Ownership can change over time. This helps make sure the current owner is getting the necessary emails. By default, administrators will see this screen once every 6 months.
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Well well well....another bazaar.. If you like Schutz shoes you'd better visit this bazaar ; it will last from 1-10 of December and I am sure that we all are going to find little treasures. Girl's need in shoes never ends..that's our nature..but we can fill our wardrobe in our terms! Please remember: Bazaars are a bit dangerous for shoe lovers! bring a friend with you to advise you well and avoid exaggerations.
|An old Schutz but beloved one


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As you dig into your member area, you'll be able to review a brief summary of what The Vital 7™ is all about. Now, you can begin to dig into your videos and be on your way to completing your first series. You can choose to work on more than one series at a time. For example, you can choose to work on your Shoulder Mobility and the Squat series, and so on. Each video is released to you on a weekly basis, to ensure you're working on the movements before advancing to a more difficult stretch or exercise. The intro series can be watched at anytime.
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Share your flare with the community, comment on the video, or check out the leaderboard to see where everyone's at! As you earn points, see how you match up with other members in the Rockstar Hall of Fame.
The Vital 7™ program is based off of 7 fundamental movements developed by, physical therapist, Grey Cook MSPT, OCS, CSCS, RKC.
- Deep Squat: Shows us your full body coordination, core stability, postural control and your functional mobility/stability of your hips, knees, and ankles.
- Hurdle Step: Shows us your mobility/stability of your hips, knees and ankles also you pelvis and core stability. The Hurdle Step is a necessary for movement increasing speed and timing.
- Inline Lunge: Shows us your mobility/stability of your hip, knee, ankle and foot plus the flexibility of your back and thighs. The Inline Lunge is a necessary part of slowing down and changing direction.
- Shoulder Mobility: Shows us your mobility of your shoulders and how well they work with your upper back.
- Active Straight Leg Raise: Shows us the mobility of your hip extension, the flexibility of your hamstrings/calves and the stability of your pelvis and core.
- Trunk Stability Push Up: Shows us how quickly your core responds and it's stability.
- Rotary Stability: Shows us how quickly you stabilize when shifting your weight. The Rotary is a necessary part of your climbing pattern.
If you are recovering from an injury and are no longer in acute pain, we may be the solution for you. Are you ready to get back to your active lifestyle? Do you want to learn how your body works and be educated about it? We are looking for self-disciplined go-getters who are ready to put in the work and make change happen!
We generally work with active professionals in their late 20's-50's recovering from foot, knee, hip, and lower back injuries. We have worked with basketball players, bicyclists, cross fitters, hikers, paintballers, runners, skiers, social and professional dancers, surfers, swimmers, volleyball players, weightlifters, and yogis.
Anything you want!! You could even wear your pj's—that's the advantage of being at home. In general, just wear something comfortable you can move around in. Shoes aren't necessary.
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We went through several rounds of research with many of our clients and we found that many of these movements are helpful to everyone. The best part is if you have a problem area - you can revisit any track to refine the movement and continue to feel better.
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The Bulgarian Commission for the Protection against Discrimination (CPD) has organised a National Legal Workshop dedicated to the application of anti-discrimination legislation. This workshop marks the fourth of its kind since 2007.
The event will take place on 28-30 October 2010 in Varna, Bulgaria. It represents an unique opportunity for magistrates, lawyers and judges at national level to meet, gain and exchange knowledge and practical skills in solving discrimination cases. The event is organised under the Progress to Equality Project VS/2009/0384 with the support of the EU Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - PROGRESS. A significant part of the workshop will take the form of a 'moot court' on discrimination cases. Participants will be divided into six groups and work on cases from the CPD.
Speakers for the event includethe following:
For more information please visit the CPD's website. Alternatively, please email Margarita Spasova.


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etienne voss/iStock/Getty Images
Pork tenderloins are a nutritious source of protein, iron and potassium, and they are versatile enough that they can be cooked in a number of different ways, including on your stove top. Keep in mind, however, that the cooking technique will differ from that of an outdoor grill. You can grill the pork tenderloins on your stove as long as you use the right pan. Serve the pork tenderloins with baked apples or steamed vegetables for a tasty and well-balanced meal.
Cut the pork tenderloins into slices, if necessary, using a sharp knife.
Season the sliced pork tenderloins with salt, pepper and your choice of dried herbs and spices, such as rosemary, thyme or celery seed.
Preheat the grill pan for three to five minutes over medium heat.
Oil the grill pan with a thin layer of cooking oil. Use a basting brush or folded paper towel to evenly coat the entire bottom surface of the pan.
Place each pork tenderloin slice into the preheated grill pan. Use a pair of tongs to reduce the risk that you'll burn your hands or wrists working so near a hot pan.
Allow the pork tenderloins to cook for two to three minutes, turning a quarter turn halfway through if you want the attractive grill marks on your meat.
Flip the pork tenderloins over and continue cooking them for two to three minutes more until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Transfer the grilled tenderloins to a serving platter and allow them to rest for at least three minutes before serving them.
- Grill pans work best when you're cooking dry meats, according to Steven Raichlen, author of "Raichlen's Indoor! Grilling." If you marinade the pork tenderloins, drain them and scrape any tiny pieces of the marinade from the meat before grilling them, Raichlen recommends.
- Serve your grilled pork tenderloins with your choice of nutritious sides, such as baked potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes or steamed vegetables.
Writer Bio
Sara Ipatenco has taught writing, health and nutrition. She started writing in 2007 and has been published in Teaching Tolerance magazine. Ipatenco holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education, both from the University of Denver.
Photo Credits
etienne voss/iStock/Getty Images


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This is not an easy article to write… and there are many ways of getting this wrong, or misinterpreting my intentions. This is a very personal article which does somehow relate to my fascinations with diabolical horror, religion and spirituality in my personal experience; please bear with me. – H.B.G.
My obsession with the story Rosemary's Baby, as popular novel and film, goes way back into my pre-teen days; and my love of diabolical and occult horror in general goes back even earlier. After a brief look at this website my profound interest in Rosemary's Baby will become quickly obvious. I won't try to explain this general attraction towards occult horror; but, I first ought to try to express why I think this particular story has had such a lasting and personal significance to me.
I sympathize with the character Rosemary Woodhouse because she is a Madonna figure; or maybe, at first, after the horrific revelation at the end of the story, a reluctant Madonna. She loves her unborn child and does everything within her power to protect it from a perceived threat of harm from a coven of witches. After the discovery of her baby and the revelation of it's satanic paternity, and after the initial shock wears off a bit, Rosemary comes to accept and love the child just as she always did. As she always knew she would.
This causes sympathy at the end of Rosemary's Baby for those sensitive souls who contemplate the mystery within the story. This is the main point: the limitless reaches of Mother Love, of complete parental acceptance of a child despite it's demonic appearance or diabolical destiny. We question if it is not in fact a happy ending, or… what?!
As a youth I felt terribly flawed, imperfect, weak, and worse than worthless. My family loved me but I was "different." Midwest American society and religion, in the form of my Protestant upbringing in a small city, was ever quick to point out a particular damning spiritual defect I noticed within myself, a defect I was desperate to conceal as much as possible. But to broach this topic is to open a whole other can of worms I choose not to deal with here.
That a mother or father could love such a "damned" thing despite it's "sinful" nature flies in the face of God and becomes heresy. Therefore, I developed heretical ideas and beliefs at quite a tender age. Stand unashamedly, even defiantly, before The Almighty with your child – whatever his or her nature, is one way of looking at it. After reading and watching Rosemary's Baby, I wanted to have a devil baby myself, a child which would otherwise be shameful or unwanted, and love it as my own, and bring it up to be whatever it was meant to be, in perfect love and understanding. Like that devil baby image I saw on junior high classmate's Black Sabbath t-shirts back in the eighties. I would have loved to care for Rosemary's Baby. Now, in hindsight, I know it was my own self I wanted to love… but couldn't. A monstrous view of myself caused by small-minded religious trauma.
Fast forward through years of spiritual questing, learning, depression, art, a little therapy – professional or otherwise, some very strange and wonderful religious and occult experiences and wide ranging experimentation and different relationships, and I'm now a married father of two beautiful children (one boy, one girl) living in Japan, until the birth of our third child last October, just a couple days before Halloween… It seemed only natural for us to call her Rose Marie, Marie being a family name on my mother's side, asides from the 50th anniversary of Ira Levin's diabolical fable.
We knew Rose Marie was a girl. We knew she would be delivered via c-section just as our previous two were because that's the way it's done in Japan. We knew the c-section was scheduled to be October 30th – also known as Devil's Night (natural birth would have been a week later on November 6th – my own birthday). We knew Rose Marie was destined to be a Scorpio – like her daddy. We were a little surprised when the maternity clinic staff decided to do a c-section earlier than scheduled – on the 29th – due to my wife's condition. We blamed it on the typhoon we were experiencing. What we didn't know and were totally unprepared for was that Rose Marie had one extra chromosome number 21, technically called Trisomy 21, commonly referred to as Down syndrome.
We were not told right away. Not sure what the standard practice is in Japan but it was two days after the delivery, on Halloween, after they unexpectedly relocated baby Rose Marie from the maternity clinic to a university hospital. Quite possibly nobody on staff wanted the burden of breaking the news to me, the father, in English. We were told there were some concerns about our baby's oxygen levels, but she is doing alright. I was so busy looking after my other two that my time with our newest baby those first days was very limited. I thought she looked a bit funny but I thought nothing of it since all newborns look strange.
After being admitted into the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and washing my hands I found two serious faced doctors standing by one of a dozen or so plastic bassinets and incubators waiting to see me. The first doctor spoke English and asked me if I noticed anything different about this baby from my other two children. Somewhat bewildered, I looked at my baby and commented something about her eyes… it wasn't possible for her to open them yet on her own, and her cheeks seeming swollen. All newborns look funny and squished after all. The first doctor (the second one didn't speak at all, as I recall, probably not confident enough in his English ability) asked if I noticed something different about her ears, that they were set a little lower than normal. The bridge of her nose slightly squashed, a lack of muscle tone, the presence of extra skin on the back of the neck….
The word "shock" is appropriate here. You could have knocked me over with a feather were I not so numb and dumb. Did I stop breathing? I don't remember what was said – something about more tests being needed but that Down syndrome was likely. But that there didn't seem to be any heart problems or other immediate concerns, and she seemed strong. The doctors faded away into the background to leave me with my baby.
"My explorations into the occult and mysticism have taught me much, one of the greatest and most persistent being to release fear and to embrace the darkness; it has so much wisdom to offer."
I stood there in the NICU of a foreign land staring down into a plastic bassinet at a little creature resting uneasily with tubes and wires attached. Beeping, crying sounds, and staff speaking in Japanese in the background around me as they tended their precious charges. I was alone with this tremendous revelation, my wife back at the maternity clinic still recovering from c-section surgery – probably very worried. A chair was brought over and I was told to sit down.
I sat there and stared at Marie-chan. I laid my big hand lightly on her little body, above her heart; my hand covered her entire torso. I had no clue as to what to do. I was feeling a very heavy weight being dropped on my shoulders as I looked at her squished and swollen features. After a little time a nurse approached and asked if I'd like to hold her. "Can I ?" I asked, stupidly.
Can I? Can I do this?
I was so careful because of an IV tube and wires attached to monitors. So small and helpless. I held her. She was so light, so fragile. Happy Halloween, Mr Gardner. Trick or treat?
Such darkness. Such heaviness overwhelmed me. An unspeakable darkness. My hands hesitate to type for fear to implicate myself and my own dreadful thoughts. An evil born of fear and ignorance conjured the worst ideas into my head, then. Ideas masquerading as merciful, which must have been fairly common actions in the time of our ancestors a few generations back when faced with such a situation, when there were fields to till and mouths to feed and back-breaking labor and no time or economy for compassionate nursing.
But this is my baby. The little Scorpio girl I'd been expecting. My little Rose Marie. Were my parents still alive how would they react? They adored their grandchildren.
I wanted to comfort the flawed and helpless little creature in my arms. She was surrounded by strangers, all good staff, I'm sure, but it's their job. They weren't family, and could not be completely loving, as such. They have enough to keep them busy. How to do it? I stared at the cartoon fish, frogs and animals on the walls and over at the industrial sink. I tried not to stare at the other babies in the NICU, some looked much weaker and in more need than my little one. Well, I've always sung to my babies, or hummed, when so small, a way of affirming to the little consciousness snuggled in my arms that a caring presence was there. But at that moment, believe it or not, I could not think of a single lullaby, not a one could come to mind or memory! My brain and tongue were frozen. Now, of course, I can list them all: Hush Little Baby, Rock-a-bye Baby, Twinkle, twinkle little star…. But nothing, not a lyric or tune came to mind.
Irony of ironies, only one lullaby came to me as I sat holding my youngest in that NICU in Osaka University Hospital: the opening and closing lullaby theme to the film Rosemary's Baby; the "La la la la…." sung by Mia Farrow herself. I began to hum it quietly, that sad, sweet, haunting and somehow comforting tune, as I looked down at my youngest, my Rose Marie.
Link to listen:
Krzysztof Komeda – Lullaby – (Rosemary's Baby – 1968) sung by Mia farrow
My explorations into the occult and mysticism have taught me much, one of the greatest and most persistent being to release fear and to embrace the darkness; it has so much wisdom to offer.
Under the respectfully-distant-but-ever-at-hand-presence of the NICU staff I was able to change Rose Marie's diaper and to bottle feed her that first Halloween. I feared the bond which I felt forming. I wasn't sure I could nurture this bond. (Can I? Can I do this?) That night, Aidan and Lily, our two others at home with my mother-in-law, danced around a candlelit Jack O' lantern as I stared numbly at the grimacing face of the flickering pumpkin. Trick or Treat, indeed. But those first few weeks following the birth were very difficult and dark and full of a bleak sadness for us.
"We now consider ourselves lucky, blessed, chosen."
Fast forward to today. Rose Marie is nearly nine months old now and doing very well, despite the regular "irregular" digestive trouble common among Trisomy 21 babies. My wife and I have come a very long way since last Halloween; we have discovered a new kind of normal (whatever that means!). Rose Marie, or Mari-chan, is a special light in our lives and we cannot imagine life without her. We have reached epiphany after epiphany. About half of babies born with Down syndrome require neonatal heart surgery or some sort of digestive tract surgery. It is about a one in a thousand chance to get a baby with Down syndrome. Most do not even make it to full term and birth. We now consider ourselves lucky, blessed, chosen. Rose Marie is an angel who has enlightened our souls, and her smiles and giggles and cuddles are absolutely enchanting. She dispels the darkness and has ushered in so much light and opened us up to a wider world. It is amazing how the human heart can adapt, change, grow… how a tremendous spiritual upheaval which dashes the soul upon the rocks of harsh physical reality, shattering it apart from the frail and selfish ego, can strengthen one and raise the spirit higher.
Thanks for reading.
You can follow Rose Marie on instagram:
Follow Rose Marie on Instagram
If you enjoyed this article please consider following our Devil May Care Page on Facebook
and our Rosemary's Baby 50th Anniversary Page on Facebook


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The Big Bang, a new musical by composer Jed Feuer and librettist- lyricist Boyd Graham which was seen this fall at the National Alliance of Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals, will begin previews at Off Broadway's Douglas Fairbanks Theatre Feb. 12 for a Feb. 24 opening. Eric Krebs and Nancy Gibbs will produce. Bang is about two writers pitching their new extravaganza -- the history of the world from Big Bang to the year 2000 -- at a backers' audition in a borrowed Park Avenue apartment.
Feuer and Graham will play the two writers, and Graham will also direct. Bang was one of ten productions seen at NAMT's festival in alternating rep, Sept. 26-27 at Off-Broadway's John Houseman Theatre and the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre.
--By Robert Simonson
and Kenneth Jones


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Jimmy Adams Here are more comments to add to those I gave last time on Edward Winter's critique of my new book Gyula Breyer: The Chess Revolutionary. Golombek on Breyer Pages 384-385 quote extracts from three Times columns by Harry Golombek (1975, 1977 and 1978),…Read More
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CANCELED: Free guided nature walk at Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Canceled due to high wind forecast
Was: Saturday, October 15, 9:30am - 11:30am
Meet At:
Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Notes: Meet inside Nature Center
Contact Info:
Two walks every month; dates and times vary
By: Margaret TuskoVolunteers from the Friends of the Nature Park are guiding free walks through the park every month. Walks take 1-1/2 to 2 hours and start from the Nature Center. The walks will go rain or shine but may be cancelled for high winds. Wear clothes and shoes that can handle muddy trails. Feel free to bring cameras and binoculars. No need to sign up in advance--just show up at the scheduled times. This is a moderate 1-1/2 to 2 mile walk suitable for all ages and abilities.


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Ullal, Sep 5, 2014: Abhishek Poojary (26), a resident of Sundaribhag in Ullal, who was riding a bike was assaulted by miscreants at Basthipadpu in Ullal police station limits on Sept 3, late night. Members of Hindu organisations and BJP workers gheraoed Ullal police station on Sept 4, alleging the police failed to prevent repeated untoward incidents in Ullal.
The youth, was travelling to his home from a gym in Thokkottu, along with his friend Shivaraj on a bike. Two miscreants who came from behind stabbed Abhishek near Basthipadpu. He was seriously injured and was admitted to a private hospital in Mangalore. His kidney was removed as it was damaged by the weapon used.
Police Commissioner R Hithendra visited Ullal police station on Sept 4. The BJP workers who thronged at the station alleged the police failed to nab the culprits. They accused that workers of Hindu organisations were repeatedly targeted in Ullal. BJP Block President Chandrashekhar Uchil warned of staging a huge protest if the police fail to nab culprits.
Reward to the informer : U T Khader declared a cash reward to the person who informs the identity of culprits who assaulted the two youth at Ullal on Sept 3, night. Assuring of not revealing the identity of the informer, he said that he would give the reward amount to the informer voluntarily and not on behalf of the government. Expressing concern over the increased number of murder attempt incidents in Ullal limits, Khader requested general public not to lend ears to communal forces that are trying to spoil peace in the town, rather co-operate with police to nab the culprits. "The assault took place within two km radius of Ullal police station which suggests that culprits are not bothered about law. I have directed the police commissioner to take steps to alter the police set-up so as to avoid any criminal activities. The police have been asked to control the menace of increased anti-social elements," the Health Minister Khadar said.


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Physical and Physiological Attributes of Female Team Handball Players
Physical and physiological attributes of female team handball players
The main purpose of this article is to review a series of studies (N = 18) on the physical characteristics, physiological attributes, throwing velocity and accuracy, and on-court performances of female team handball players. Studies were selected from a computerized search in electronic databases (Pub Med, SPORT Discus) as well as from a manual search. Five main findings emerged from this review: (1) a tall and heavy build was advantageous in team handball--mean height ranged from 165.9 [+ or -] 3 cm to 179 [+ or -] 4 cm and mean body mass ranged from 62.4[+ or -]6.2 kg to 72.0[+ or -]6.3 kg; (2) V[O.sub.2]max values of female players were between 47-54 mlkg-hmin-1; (3) throwing velocity was higher by as much as 11% in elite female players compared to amateur female players; (4) during 90% of playing time, heart rate (HR) was above 85% of HRmax, and the average V[O.sub.2] was 79% of VO/max in female players; and (5) on-court distance covered averaged approximately 4 km and varied between 2-5 km in female players, depending on the playing position of the player. Most of the studies reviewed were cross-sectional, and only a few reported data on on-court performance. There is a need for additional manipulative studies to determine the influence of various training programs on game performance. In addition, conditioning programs that develop power and strength should be emphasized, and attention should be given to the player's playing position and skill level.
| Women in Sport & Physical Activity Journal|
Jan 1, 2011
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Edinson Cavani's brother has claimed that he would like to see the Napoli striker move to Spain this summer.
The Uruguay international has been linked with a host of top sides, including Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
And his brother has admitted that he is unsure what the future holds forCavani.
"Edinson is very keen on Naples," Walter Guglielmone told Radio Kiss Kiss. "And that has been enhanced by the 101 goals he's scored so far.
"I do not know if he will remain, but I do know that he loves the city.
"The goal of all great players though is to play for a great club.
"Real Madrid are interested, but the release clause is very high so there are difficulties.
"I personally would like to see him in Spain."


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Today is the one-year anniversary of the fire at our parish school. It happened the evening of February 21st, 2012, which was Fat Tuesday that year. Here is some local press coverage of the anniversary.
Oconto Falls – A year after fire devastated their school, the Saint Anthony community in Oconto Falls gathered Wednesday to think not about what they've lost but what they've gained.
"We have experienced the grace and compassion of our God through his people and have become stronger in our faith because of it," said Principal Rosemary Marifke.
But this day was as much about looking forward as it was about looking back.
Students are anxious to move into a new and improved Saint Anthony School building, where work is well underway. It includes new heating and electrical systems, a new office area, and lots of bright, open windows.
"We really looked at what our needs were for the present and the future. Our building was built in 1957, and it was built for a previous set of needs, so we're really upgrading and updating a lot of the facility," says Father Joel Sember, Saint Anthony Parish.
Sember says the experience has served as a lesson to students about the power of forgiveness and what their community is really made of.
"We're more than just our buildings. We keep nice buildings, we want to have a nice presence in the community, but who we truly are is a community of faith that can survive anything," he explained.
Construction is set to be finished in June, in time for the 2013-14 school year.
From WBAY News Channel 2 on 21 Feb 2013


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Editor's Note: Get out the barbecue sauce! In celebration of National Barbecue Month, we've talked to Dan, our grill expert and department manager at Lehman's. He has shared with us some grilling advice and yummy mealtime inspiration. Dig in!
Grilling – it's not just for hot dogs and burgers any more.
Who doesn't love an old-fashioned barbecue? Outdoor cooking is as American as apple pie. Whether you live in the country or are grilling on your apartment patio, cooking outside connects us all with the great American outdoors. And the taste of grilled food is out of this world. At Lehman's, we carry a gigantic assortment of grills, barbecues, smokers, pellets, recipes and accessories that will let you enjoy years of thrilling grilling. Continue reading


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Rep. Mark Sanford to Introduce Obamacare Replacement Plan
South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford is taking the lead on new legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Continue Reading Below
In an interview on FOX Business Networkâs After the Bell, the House Freedom Caucus member said he hopes to get a new plan passed before the end of the year.
âThis is the companion bill to what Sen. Rand Paul has introduced on the Senate side,â Rep. Sanford said.
Sen. Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, has introduced an Obamacare replacement plan that eliminates the mandate and provides a tax credit of up to $5,000 per person to be used as part of a health savings account.
Sanford said having people spend their own money can impact healthcare pricing and under Obamacare, people were not paying ahead of time based on anticipated risk.
âWe are fundamentally changing the way you prepare for the notion of a preexisting condition and pay for it,â he said.
Sanford said the current system doesnât offer âtrue insurance,â which doesnât provide money into a plan that prepares you for an unwarranted health risk.
âInstead of people paying it [insurance] for years and then sadly, tragically they get cancer, itâs the âwait until they get cancerâ to go on insurance so you donât have the power of compounding,â he said.
The House Freedom Caucus members are pushing for a swift repeal of the Affordable Care Act with almost no support from Democrats. Sanford said there is no incentive for Democrats to help the GOP come up with a suitable plan, and allowing Obamacare to fail will hurt a lot of people in the process.
âI think Republicans are right to say âletâs come up with a plan that begins to address this,â though it may be painful politically,â Sanford said.


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Maybe it was the temp of 160F or the ammonia gas, but somehow I got the notion that I could cook in the compost bin and had to figure out IF and HOW I could pull it off.
How to get compost pile hot:
A hot compost pile is a delicate balance, and sometimes a freak accident, which is how I got this foolish notion of using it to cook food. It is the combination of ingredients, moisture, mass and air.
- Ingredients: Entire books are written about the ingredients and ratios for compost. For hot composting, it takes lots of finely-chopped greens. I get a garbage can of grass clippings each week when Odilon, our friendly neighborhood gardener, happily disposes of our neighbors' grass clippings into our compost bin. Grass is a nitrogen-rich "green" ingredient has to be mixed well with compost "browns" like dried leaves, wood chips, straw (preferably chopped). I have gotten very hot compost with materials like straw bedding from sheep, and mushroom compost (which is woodchip mixture used for growing mushrooms). I keep browns on the side and mix in.
- Moisture: A balancing act between too wet and too dry. It should be damp. If you grab a handful, you should be able to squeeze a little water out. Others describe it as a damp wash cloth.
- Mass: A small pile will never be able to get hot. I have gotten hot compost with as little as 2/3 of a cubic yard (3ft x 3ft x 2ft) This is enclosed in a bin which also helps retain the heat.
- Air: Straw and wood chips also help form air pockets and keep the grass from matting up. Then I turn my pile from either twice a week or every other day to get more air mixed back in. To get hot, your compost pile needs a few days to sit and build up heat.
Why to NOT make compost that hot!
While having a compost pile at 160F/71C is good if you want to cook a meal, it is not as good if you want to use it for your garden. Somewhere above 130F you will start to smell ammonia. This is your compost pile releasing nitrogen into the air. But you want nitrogen in your garden, not in your disgusted SO's nostrils! When I am not cooking dinner, I add dirt to my compost pile which helps absorb the ammonia and regulates the temp down to 120F. In his book "Gardening When It Counts" Steve Solomon has an excellent discussion on composting, and how dirt acts like the cooling rods in a nuclear reactor to control the process. He recommends compost piles to be about 5% dirt, and I probably end up at this amount when I keep adding dirt to cool it down.
What else could you do with compost at 160 degrees?
Beleive it or not, there are REAL trials being run on how to use compost heat being used on a farm. It's a large PDF file to download, but really worth reading and very educational.
There were many other questions about this video that were asked on Twitter. If you want me to go into more details on other parts of the process, please add a comment and I'll be happy to answer your questions, including (heaven forbid) post the recipe.


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Being woken up at 5.30am by the sound of a distant fire alarm on Friday morning as I tried to sleep off my jet lag was not what I expected when I returned from Kenya. Even worse was discovering the reason for the alarm: the Royal Clarence Hotel was on fire. This handsome building on the Cathedral Green survived Hitler's air raids which flattened whole sections of the city centre including a large number of historic buildings and a section of the south side of the cathedral. As a result the hotel, this grand old lady of Exeter, which has hosted dinner parties, wedding receptions and family gatherings for generations enjoys an iconic status.
The fear was that a change of direction in the wind would cause the fire either to spread to the shops on the High Street or to jump south-east across the medieval alleyway that separates the Royal Clarence from St Martin's Church and the row of historic houses on the south side of the Green. This was how the Great Fire of London spread in 1666. And of course, barely a 100m away sits our wonderful cathedral.
36 hours on the fire is still burning. There are some 160 fire fighters here not only from Devon but from Cornwall and Somerset too, valiantly trying to get the blaze under control. Much of the façade has already collapsed and the Chief of Operations has just informed me that they are pretty certain the rest will collapse shortly. It is a miracle that no one has been killed or hurt, and I pay tribute to the firefighters and emergency services. Normally the Cathedral Green is packed with friends and families picnicking or drinking coffee at tables outside the Clarence, catching up on life. Today there is no laughter only silence and the sound of falling masonry. It feels like we've said goodbye to an old friend.


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Successful project management require clear organization , careful planning, and good execution . How were each of these trait shown in this rescue example?
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Photochemical reactor modeling: a case-study problem. Although radiation is important in heat transfer, an analogous model can be used in the design of photochemical reactors. The modeling of these reactors….
Secondary-emission measurement: a case-study problem. An indirect way of measuring of secondary emission from ponds or large bodies of water used in waste treatment is to measure the concentration and….
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on an inclined susceptor: a case-study problem. An important application of convective mass transfer theory is in CVD processes employed to coat surfaces with thin films….


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A generous donation has enabled a pioneering fertility programme to help even more couples desperate to start families.
The Leamington-based Life FertilityCare Programme was able to buy a state-of-the-art ultrasound scanner thanks to a £7,000 donation from Stratford-upon-Avon members of the charity. Staff celebrated the purchase at the clinic on March 3 to thank Stratford Life group's Stewart Bell, who made the donation in memory of his late wife, Barbara.
Among those present were Life national chairman Professor Jack Scarisbrick and trustee Nuala Scarisbrick. The Life FertilityCare Programme has enabled over 100 couples to have the families they thought were impossible, with success rates equal to that of IVF.
It provides counselling, support, and natural family planning services using Natural Procreative Technology which helps couples understand and improve their fertility.
Dr Anne Carus, FertilityCare Physician, said: "I am absolutely delighted that due to the generosity of Stratford-upon-Avon Life we now have this ultrasound scanner. It will greatly assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of our patients with problems with fertility and those looking for help with natural conception."
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Join Our Fabulous, Hip & Eclectic Crowd In Glendale! We Feature Live Music Nightly with No Cover !!!! Join Us For Wine Tasting Every Tuesday Night! Visit Us For Lunch And Enjoy A Gourmet Grilled Panini With Salad & Top It Off With Gelato, or Enjoy A Selection From Our Full SUSHI Menu! We Carry In Stock Over 400 Wines, From Californian Boutique Wineries To Top Selections From Around The World, At Lower Than Retail Prices. Buy your wine from us for your next event.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
LCWB presents: An Evening with Marlborough wine maker Jules Taylor!
You asked for it and we have delivered! An evening with Marlborough, New Zealand world re-known wine maker Jules Taylor on Thursday, May 26th, from 7 to 9 pm.
Begin the evening with Graham Beck's Brut Sparkling.
Jules Taylor:
Pinot Gris
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc
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One way we celebrate the winter season in the North Phoenix, AZ area is to take advantage of the wonderful weather that normally hovers in the 65-75 degree range. We also consult our list of potential hikes in other areas for those days that may also be unseasonably warm.
This situation arose recently when we learned that the afternoon temperatures in Cottonwood, AZ were going to be in the seventies. We had earmarked Dead Horse Ranch State Park, which is part of the Verde River Greenway, as a hiking destination.
The sign to the park is a bit ambiguous so if you are entering Cottonwood from the South, take the first right-hand turn right after the sign. It is a bit clearer coming from the other direction.
The one trail we had highlighted for our journey this day was the Lime Kiln Trail which seemed to be the most popular. The trail is used by horses and dirt bikers, but on this day it was lightly traveled and was not bothersome.
After a short walk up the trail, looking in a westerly direction, the surrounding mountains came into view.
While the trail is an easy one, there were some mild ups and downs. The adjacent areas had some pretty hills with colorful reds and whites.
As you can see from the picture below, the trail is very clear and relatively clean. There was little, if any, boulder scrambling required.
As we gained some altitude, we could look back at the hills and see Jerome (yellow arrow), just to the right of center in this picture. Jerome would be a worthy stop after a hike with its unique stores and restaurants although there are certainly a number of interesting eateries in the "old town" section of Cottonwood which has undergone a Renaissance in recent years.
Some of the sections reminded us a bit of Sedona, with the red rock outcroppings.
As we hiked further upward, I stopped to look at the town of Cottonwood sprawled out below the park.
This was one of the steepest inclines we encountered, but it was very short.
A side section of the hill pictured above was used by more adventurous bikers who wanted some challenging terrain; notice rocks and rough spots.
There are beautiful colors in the hills of Arizona even in the more northern areas during winter. The yellow creosote bush stands out in juxtaposition to the dormant plants, reddish earth and blue sky.
This is the desert version of driftwood. I appreciate the haphazard art created by nature's random placement.
The park has a number of camping areas and with that comes the apparatus of civilization cutting through the wilderness.
While the trail map we had lacked some specifics, there were signs along the trail to serve as guides and help hikers find their way. We weren't going to complete the entire trail on this day, but we did take a side jaunt to see the less than remarkable rattlesnake wash overlook. Perhaps in the spring, the foliage would provide a more scenic view.
This was a rather straight stretch of the trail alongside a meadow; love the colors!
Prickly pear cactus (Opuntias) are prevalent in the southwest and often grow in a tall candelabra type shape. This particular species was quite red and low growing. Perhaps the elevated and open location, with potentially more winds, kept it from growing upward. Spreading in a horizontal habit gives it an appearance of a caterpillar crawling across the ground.
Here's another picture of the surrounding terrain and flora.
We didn't notice it on the way up, but on the return trip there was a sign calling attention to the actual lime kiln.
Currently this is what the inside of the kiln contains…
Here is what the kiln looks like from the trail.
As we left the trail and headed for the parking lot, I stopped to take a picture of this stately tree which I am guessing is a cottonwood. The pipe to the right is a water flume draining water into a more natural catchment area.
Although the car was only a few steps away, I noticed several groups of ducks in the lagoons which seemed to be popular fishing spots. I couldn't resist trying to capture a few pictures for my American Birding Association checklist and picture archive. I had a decent picture of a coot, but not a good one so off I went.
Not a coot, but a Ring-necked duck.
Notice the bright orange eye!
Oh yes, there were some American Coots as well…
** NOTES ** The location of the Lime Kiln trailhead is not very well marked. If you park near the lagoon closest to the horse stables, the trailhead is to the left as you head in the direction of the stables. There is a trail stake to mark the beginning. After a short walk, you will need to cross a bridge which is where the water flume picture above will be located.
ARIZONA STATE PARKS & Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Facility Information – Dead Horse Ranch State Park
- 675 Dead Horse Ranch Rd, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
- Hours: 7AM – 6PM Daily
- Amenities: Passenger vehicle parking. Restrooms
- Length: 2.1+ miles
- Elevation change: Mild (based on the first 2+ miles)
- Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
- Use: hiking, biking, picnic area, playground, fishing and horseback riding
Read more Hiking and Exploration posts HERE
All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.
©Jeffrey B. Ross – 2018 – JBRish.com


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– Psalm 96
Sing to Him a new song
Sing to Him, all the earth
Sing to Him, whose name is blessing
Tell it among the nations
And among all the peoples,
Each day carries his message.
He is greater than words
More awe-full than other gods.
For the gods of the people are small gods
But sky, God made
In his house strength flows
From the light and beauty of His face
Be devoted to Him, families of mankind
Devote to Him, strength and light
Devote to Him, the beauty due His name
Carry your offering to his house
Worship Him in Holy company
Earth! Tremble before Him
Say among the nations "God is"
Meaning in the world is established
Truth will be the measure of people
Translation © Rabbi Edward Feld and Rabbi Arthur Gould 1971


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Characters: Sam, Dean, John
Rating: PG-13 for language
Summary: Life and times of Sam Winchester, with a little help from Pink Floyd.
Author Notes: First SPN fic, seems like been writing this for ages. Should have two more chapters, this week hopefully. (Or will change my name from Rachel to WIP-el *glares at self*)
Sam (Broken Bow, Nebraska)
"Well, big boys don't cry Sammy. You ever see Dean cry?"
That he could honestly shake his head to. He sometimes wonders why his eyes often get teary but Dean's never do. And Sammy wants to be big and strong like Dean, he really does.
Did… did Dean forget him?
Uh-oh, that didn't help. His lip is quivering painfully again.
Footsteps to his right. Heavy, like hiking boots and he knows who it is. He slides down his seat and before Mrs Stewart can say "Sam wait!" he is already running towards the two approaching grownups.
Sammy just shrugs. Dean can see he's giving it a serious thought.
Next chapter >>
A/N: Lucifer Sam is a psychedelic rock masterpiece by Pink Floyd, released 1967. You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDXZv6bWmNk
Sammy is four years old. He loves fruit loops, loves driving his tricycle round and round in circles, and Doctor Seuss. He is pretty sure he loves his brother too. He knows this because every morning when Dean drops him off at pre-school he feels his chest tighten like he wants to cry. And it doesn't go away until Dean picks him up few hours later. He is not so sure about his dad though, the man's not around so much.
Sometimes Sammy dreams of a woman with hair as bright as sunshine and wonders who she is. Mrs Stewart at his play school is a woman too, but her hair isn't yellow. Its not all black either, has spots of white here and there. Sammy wonders what that color is called.
One day in September, Dean doesn't come to pick him up. He waits with Mrs Stewart for an hour, that's how long it takes for the big hand to come back to twelve again. And still no Dean. His throat is aching now and his lower lip quivers. Biting it doesn't help, only makes his jaw hurt more. But he is not going to cry, dad won't be happy if he did.
"Do you want to be a big boy Sammy?"
Sammy isn't quite sure what that means, so he says the one thing he knows his dad likes to hear.
"Yes sir."
"Like Dean?"
The little face brightens up, Dean he understands."Yes sir, I do!"
And wins a smile from John Winchester in return.
"Well, big boys don't cry Sammy. You ever see Dean cry?"
That he could honestly shake his head to. He sometimes wonders why his eyes often get teary but Dean's never do. And Sammy wants to be big and strong like Dean, he really does.
So he sits, quietly, without fidgeting besides Mrs Stewart. And watches the big hand ever so slowly move back down to six. What could possibly be wrong?
Did… did Dean forget him?
Uh-oh, that didn't help. His lip is quivering painfully again.
Footsteps to his right. Heavy, like hiking boots and he knows who it is. He slides down his seat and before Mrs Stewart can say "Sam wait!" he is already running towards the two approaching grownups.
Sammy wraps himself around the nearest leg and a firm hand lands on his little head.
"Daddy, Dean forgot to take me home."
Sammy is pouting, not happy at his brother's horrible betrayal but nobody is listening to him. They go on rattling in loud, fast-too-fast words about eight year olds ("Hey, I'm four!") and too much responsibility ("Re-pon-si what?") and social services.
Sammy's mouth opens in an o-shape but no sound is made. Social services. He's heard that one before.
Guess it was time to move again huh?
Guess it was time to move again huh?
By the time they get home, Sammy's chest is hurting more than he ever thought possible. John didn't say a word all the way, his lips pressed together like when he's just about starting to get sick of Sammy playing his new drum set. And he obviously doesn't care that Dean forgot to pick him up.
When they drive up, Dean is standing at the doorway, his elbows straight and his hands gripping each other tightly. He comes to the truck to open Sammy's door and Sammy is prepared with his bestest glare, 'How dare you?', it says. Lip sticking out just the way he knows will make Dean do whatever he asks for.
Dean reaches in, grips Sammy under his arms, pulls him out of the truck… and sets him down on the ground! Turns back to close the truck door and all this while, doesn't even look at him!
"What happened Dad?"
And now Dean follows their father back inside, not even bothering to see if Sammy is trailing after him or not. Which of course he is, as he always does, but that's not the point. Hello to you too, brother.
Sammy wonders if he turned invisible like the Whos and that's why maybe his family doesn't know he is right here. Why else would they keep saying Sammy this and Sammy that without actually talking to him?
After awhile its pretty obvious, even to a four year old, that he wasn't needed. Sammy quietly slips into the bedroom he and Dean share and sits on his bed, dangling his feet. That's when he notices them… the bags and the boxes.
So they are moving again.
A snivel escapes but he stops the next, and the one after that. His chest hurts, but he wasn't going to cry because daddy won't like it. He knows the truth now.
His family is planning to leave him behind when they move this time.
Last time they moved, they left his play tent and tunnel back in Michigan. And before that his racing car bed in Ohio. Maybe he got too big to fit in the truck too.
Sammy has his head between his hands and lowered to his knees when Dean finds him.
He hears his big brother do that thing when he breathes in so deep it comes out in a big gush, like a baby wind.
"Sammy I'm sorry. The principal called dad and wouldn't let me leave to come get you."
Sammy doesn't reply. Just raises his head to look at his brother. Dean always gets this look in his eyes when he's fooling around. But its not there now.
Dean sits beside him, his feet don't dangle though, and he looks straight ahead.
"I'm not doing so well in class. Am not smart like you kiddo."
That's… that's impossible. Dean is the smartest person Sammy knows. He always has answers to all his questions, even when dad doesn't have any.
"Don't make ess... ex... don't lie."
Dean frowns. He hardly ever frowns. "What?"
Sammy gulps. "You didn't come because, you didn't want to."
"Sammy no, that's not true."
And this time Sammy can't hold the sobs, he needs to let go or his chest might just burst.
"Why can't you take me along?"
Dean gets up and kneels before him.
"I saw the boxes, you've already packed everything. You and dad were going to go and leave me with Mrs. Stewart!"
And the tears start in earnest. He doesn't care anymore if he's being a little boy. He doesn't care snot is running down his nose.
"I will be good! And I won't take too much space. Please take me along Dean, please??"
Through the water in his eyes he can't see the look of devastation on his big brother's face.
"Sammy! How could you even think that we'll leave you behind?"
He snivels, wipes at his nose and lips.
"So… you're not?"
Dean is so loud he wants to cover his ears. "NO dufus! Never ever ever!!"
That should make him feel better, right? Why does he just want to cry some more? His voice is reduced to a whisper, so low Sammy can barely hear himself speak.
"Then, why didn't you come for me?"
Dean (Broken Bow, Nebraska)
Dean is eight years old, and has the weight of the world on his little shoulders. Okay, maybe not the whole world. Sammy is his world. And he bears the burden more than happily because while the kid can be a pain in the ass sometimes, he still is his baby brother. Ever since… since mom, he's felt responsible. And its not like anyone ever specifically told him to. He just knew in his heart that this is what he's meant to do.
He dreams of her often you know. That's more than one night a month, he's been counting. And in his dream she kisses his forehead, brushes his longish hair back from his forehead. Watch out for Sammy, she says.
His dad is his world also. And while John Winchester is a proud, strong man and a doting father to his sons, he isn't the most dependable man when it comes buying milk or doing laundry or cleaning up like mom used to. So, Dean does it. Helps out in every way possible. If only to get that one benign look that softens his dad's face. Makes the shadows go away, if only for a little while.
"My boy, what would I do without you?"
Dean lives for those words. And for those smiles. On his dad's and his brother's faces.
"Then, why didn't you come for me?"
Sammy isn't smiling right now. God, he's miserable. How the hell does a four year old assume his family would just up and abandon him?
"Oh, Sammy…"
It's all about patterns, his dad says. Of course Dean knows that's in a completely different context. But it sorta applies doesn't it? A pattern was broken today, Dean's always there and today he wasn't. And given the level of paranoia that practically bleeds out of their father and into them every single day…
Dean knows what to do. Its what mom used to do. Or dad sometimes does even now when Sammy gets fussy.
He stands up and gathers the four year old into his arms. Pulls him up from the bed until Sammy remembers the drill and wraps his little legs around Dean's waist and little arms around his neck. Buries his face in the shoulder and quietly cries his heart out.
"Shh… I'm sorry I couldn't make it. Never again okay?"
He rubs the trembling back through the thick green jacket. Something pricks behind his eyes so he squeezes them shut for awhile, just long enough to make it go away.
"I'm never going to leave you, you hear me Sammy?"
The sobbing is muffled but still there. Dean rocks from side to side.
"I promise. Pinkie swear."
Sammy just grips him tighter, like he still doesn't believe.
"Hush Sammy. Don't cry. Don't cry."
Sammy tries, he really does.
"Come on kiddo, don't make me sing please?"
At that, a scrunched up face looks up. Hazel eyes as wide and woeful as… oh, Dean doesn't know… a lost puppy?
Dean knows that look. Dean dreads that look.
Rolls his eyes and pushes the little head back into his shoulder.
"Okay okay… which one?"
Sammy looks up again. Suspiciously."You don't sing so good."
"I do too!"
Sammy just shrugs. Dean can see he's giving it a serious thought.
"Row your boat?"
Aargh. No way. Dean shakes his head apologetically.
"Umm, spider song?"
"Okay. Spider man, spider man, does whatever a spider can…"
"Not that spider song! The itsy bitsy one."
Oh. Hell no.
Dean may be eight, but he's got taste. He's got a boombox and cassette tapes his parents were once massively into back when… when mom wouldn't do the dishes unless there was music playing, and Dean often caught his parents dancing and kissing (gross!) in the kitchen. Of course, dad doesn't go near those tapes anymore.
Sammy is fidgeting again. Rests his head back on the larger shoulder in resignation.
"It's okay if you don't want to."
Dean rolls his eyes up towards heaven and lets out a big sigh.
"Hey, how about Lucifer Sam?"
The wet face brightens up big time. "Cool!"
Dean has to smile at that. Gently wipes away the tear tracks and keeps rocking.
Starts humming a catchy little ditty, one he found on one of Mary's old tapes and has his little brother enthralled for weeks now. Sammy loves this quirky Pink Floyd number almost as much as Dean does. Something about a cat called Sam.
"Tada dum! tum tum tum tum…"
Something that makes absolutely no sense.
Lucifer Sam, siam cat.
Always sitting by your side
Always by your side.
That cat's something I can't explain…
Always sitting by your side
Always by your side.
That cat's something I can't explain…
The snivels are history, Sammy is relaxed and a complete deadweight in his brother's arms. But Dean needs him animated, smiling… the smile he lives for. A purely selfish need really.
"Dude help me out with the guitar here."
"Tada dum! Tum tum tum tum…"
"C'mon Sammy…"
"Tada dum! Tum tum tum tum…"
Sammy smiles, Dean rocks.
Ginger, ginger, Jennifer Gentle you're a witch.
You're the left side
He's the right side.
Oh, no!
You're the left side
He's the right side.
Oh, no!
Sammy loves the 'Oh, no!' He puts his hands on each cheek for it every time. And Dean laughs every time.
His chest is unclenched at last. His restless mind finally at peace. So what if they're moving again. As long as he and Sammy are together, they are going to be just fine.
That cat's something I can't explain...
That cat's something I can't explain...
Next chapter >>
A/N: Lucifer Sam is a psychedelic rock masterpiece by Pink Floyd, released 1967. You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDXZv6bWmNk


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Q. What's wrong with my Fiddle-leaf fig?
Sorry your Ficus lyrata (Fiddle-leaf fig) is not doing well. Ficus repotting is best done in spring time and your plant is stressed by having been repotted too late in the season. Now that the days are shorter there is less duration of light and plants slow down their growth. These plants like slightly cramped root conditions and your fig is in too big a pot at a time of low growth.
In spring if there are a lot of roots coming through the drainage holes, and the appearance of a network of fine roots on the surface, it's probably time to repot. When maximum convenient pot size has been reached, top-dress plants annually (instead of moving to a bigger pot) with fresh potting mixture. Topdressing is just removing a couple inches of potting mixture and replacing with fresh. Looks like you will have to return to the original pot.
Courtesy of the NYBG Plant Information Service


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Gould's Series Concludes in Love and Marriage Gregarious Rose Lehman, who's always the life of the Amish youth singings, is determined to marry the bishop's son, Reuben Byler-until the handsome Army buddy of her future brother-in-law shows up in Lancaster County. In comparison to Trevor, Reuben seems downright boring. Trevor shares Rose's sense of fun and adventure, and her easygoing disposition. When her sister Lila's buggy is rear-ended and Lila is horribly injured, Rose finds herself with more freedom than she's ever experienced. Everyone is so concerned about Lila that no one realizes Rose is sneaking out with Trevor. Except for Reuben. But in his usual passive way, he doesn't confront her, nor does he address the situation with her Dat or anyone else in the district. Rose appreciates Reuben's discretion, but she also resents it. Part of her relishes the freedom she's found with Trevor, but the other part of her wishes Reuben would "fight" for her, as much as any Amish man would. Too late, she realizes the foolish choice she's made. Has she ruined her best chance at love, or is there another path to happiness she just hasn't seen yet?
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by Leslie Gould
by Wanda E. Brunstetter


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Nashville Industrial Mid-Century Etagere Bookcase
Nashville Industrial Mid-Century 64-Inch Wide Large Open Etagere 11-Shelf Pipe Bookcase Metal With Reclaimed Wood FinishDescription
The asymmetrical etagere/bookcase design has multiple levels of large and small shelves perfect in form and function. Sleek and chic this open bookcase shows off your library plants decor items and cookware in style! It complements and adorns any room it is placed in; be it the living room bedroom kitchen office or study. The Nashville industrial yet mid-century design melds rustic beauty of fine-grain reclaimed/aged finished sustainable solid Paulownia (lightest to strongest ratio wood species in the world) wood and the edginess of industrial metal. The metal structure is comprised of aircraft grade recyclable aged aluminum and flash plated fittings. This unique and chic bookcase is a breeze to assemble and makes for a great conversation piece for any loft studio office or home. Choose from three options of fine aged metal and wood finishes to suit your decor and individual style. With a low VOC finish recyclable metals sustainable wood and 100% recyclable packaging your home and planet are sure to beam a healthy smile in approval!
Our Promise
For every Nashville bookcase/etagere you purchase the manufacturer promises to plant seven trees on your behalf in areas such as Madagascar Haiti and Nepal.
Product Care
Care of Fine Finishes for Indoor Wood and metal Furniture. Finishes are resistant to minor everyday hazards; however some precautions are necessary to maintain the beauty of your wood furniture:-Dust with a soft clean cloth slightly moistened with water and dry completely with another clean cloth always rubbing with the grain.-Avoid contact with cigarettes hot dishes and harsh solvents such as nail polish alcohol and moisture.-Use pads beneath accessories and when writing or eating.-Remove spills and smudges immediately.-Do not leave pliable plastic materials on a wood surface; they can damage the finish.-Do not place furniture near heat outlets windows or in direct sunlight.
Wood is a product of nature- and as such will display natural characteristics and variances that are unique to each cut of wood. These characteristics (such as knots) are an integral part of the charm and beauty of real solid wood - no two pieces are alike! This adds to the character of each piece and are not to be misinterpreted as defects. To provide the look and feel of our product we gave our furniture a distressed reclaimed and aged finish. These finishes can vary in texture and coloration from the color presented on swatches available above.Made From Aircraft grade Aluminum. Assembly time required - 2 people up to 35 minutes. 1 year limited warranty excluding wood Product Height - 73" Product Width - 64" Product Length - 12"
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A landlord who ran multiple property companies but failed to declare his income or that he was a company director to HM Revenue and Customs has been sentenced for evading £281,000 in taxes.
Michael Charles Waddingham - currently the director of two companies and owner of 17 properties throughout England - has been sentenced to two years in jail suspended for two years plus an additional financial penalty of £200,000 in addition to the £281,000 tax he has already repaid.
He had admitted failing to submit any Self Assessment tax returns between 2008 and 2012.
An HMRC investigation found he had not submitted tax returns for several years; failing to declare rental income, that he had been a director of seven land and property development companies and had income above £100,000 per year due to the directorships.
Waddingham was also the part owner of several racehorses and is currently the director of a betting syndicate - another registered company.
Following his arrest in 2015, HMRC forensic accountants worked with his own accountants to calculate the total Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax that he owed.
Waddingham was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court earlier this month; HMRC has recovered all the tax he stole and he has six months to pay the additional £200,000 financial penalty.