• Trigeminal Neuralgia-neuropathological mechanism and treatment strategies.

    27 September at 18:46 from atlas

    TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA (TN) is also known as tic douloureux, prosopalgia or Fothergill's disease.It is a condition which is both under diagnosed, and misdiagnosed because of the nature of symptoms in the face ,and absence of headaches places it low on the differential diagnoses list.The symptoms are often dramatic and suggest dental or facial pathology unless the practitioner is aware of this unusual condition.it indeed has been poorly understood up until recent decades even amongst the Neuroscientific community.

    TN is characterised by episodes of sharp, lancinating,intense pain in one or more of the distributions of the trigeminal nerve in the face.TN often has triggers , which are germaine to the diagnosis, such as touching the face, a cold breeze on the face, shaving or a bed sheet brushing against the face at night.The potential for suspecting non-organic disease is obvious.In most case TN symptoms begin before age 50, although no age group is spared.

    It is a most unusual condition with a dramatic presentation with patients often terrified of opening the fridge at night with cold air on the face causing lancinating facial pain of intense levels.It can come in cycles with extended remissions, typical of many Neurological conditions .It is more common in women (2:1 to 4:3  F:M ratio) and it affects the right side of the face more frequently(about R:L 3:2).

    In many instances, the patients are investigated and treated for dental conditions,shingles,paranasal sinus disease or psychiatric conditions.Indeed, malignant skull base tumours can present with severe facial pain.

    In about 5-8 % of cases TN arises from a benign tumour in the cerebella-pontine angle such as a meningioma, epidermoid, or acoustic neuroma. In 2-3 % of cases it is due to multiple sclerosis, in the latter it tends to be bilateral.

    TN is due to cross compression of the trigeminal nerve at near its pontine  brain stem origin by usually an aberrant, ectatic vascular loop-usually of the superior cerebellar artery.Janetta described the now standard"Janetta's procedure' involving a suboccipital craniectomy, depressing the cerebellum inferiorly and medially and exposing the trigeminal nerve after coagulating bridging veins and dividing the arachnoid micro surgically.The loop is carefully microneurosurgically dissected away from the TN and a material such as synthetic sponge, teflon etc is placed to separate the nerve from the pulsating vessel.The success rate is of the order of 90-95% and the recurrence rate is 3-4% per annum.There are however significant risks including ataxia from cerebellar retraction, bleeding, meningitis (bacterial and chemical), facial numbness, deafness and facial paralysis.

    Treatment options include the above surgery , often referred to as 'MVD" (micro-vascular decompression),drugs such as tegretol, dilantin, lyrics, epilim, ended, baclofen etc-often with excellent long term results and good control with improved quality of life. Simple or opioid analgesics are rarely successful.

    Side-effects, failure or complications often lead the patient from the Neurologist to the Neurosurgeon for consideration of the more invasive, riskier but usually more successful treatments. These include: injection of chemicals such as glycerol into Meckel's cave through the side of the face(percuatneous glycerol trigeminal rhizolysis), balloon or radio frequency lesioning of the nerve again via a similar approach as the injection options.Gamma or Cyber knife radio surgery is gaining momentum as a treatment modality. These latter procedures whilst carrying less risk, tend to unfortunately have a higher and earlier recurrence rate.

    The patient with TN may well require a combination of treatments for this often chronic, relapsing and often disabling condition.The choice of treatment option will of course depend on the severity, chronicity, frequency of pain along with the patient's age and general medical status and expectations and consideration of 'benefit/ risk' ratio.Currently, most TN patients utilise medications such as Tegretol  and TCA or Lyrica along with Glycerol and sometimes a MVD.Investigations for TN include: CT, MR, MR Trigeminal neurography,MR cerebral angiography and careful neurologic and facial examination.

    Cyber or gamma knife radiosurgery is an exciting therapy being evaluated targetting the TN at its pontine origin.Availability is an issue with no such units in Queensland at this time.

    Patients MUST always seek and follow their own treating doctor's advice.


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Planetary Society Says Proposed NASA Budget Could Rejuvenate Space Exploration

Mat Kaplan
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1-626-793-5100

The Planetary Society gives the Administration's proposed NASA budget a thumbs up for its increased funding for space and Earth science, more Earth observation satellites, firm support for robotic exploration of the solar system and the development of the new Ares/Orion launch vehicles to replace the space shuttle.

“Many decisions have to be made by the new Administration,” commented Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society, “but the strong support for science and exploration makes it clear that President Obama indeed wants the American space program to inspire the world with new discoveries.”

The Administration announced initiation of a blue-ribbon independent review of the Constellation program architecture, led by former Planetary Society board member, Norm Augustine. Constellation is NASA’s exploration program to take humans back to the Moon and eventually to Mars. “The independent review may help advance recommendations that The Planetary Society made in its Roadmap to Space,” Friedman added. “We have advocated that more international cooperation be incorporated into plans for the human return to the Moon, and this review is a chance to introduce exciting milestones on the road to Mars.”

Those milestones could be a Sun-Earth libration (gravitational equilibrium) point, and successively more distant Near-Earth asteroids, followed by reaching one of the Martian moons, Phobos or Deimos. The Society has recommended that NASA should first test and develop interplanetary flight capability beyond the Moon, creating new distance and endurance records for human space flight, before committing to another lunar landing.

“We appreciate the strong support for space science and exploration, but urge stronger emphasis on Mars, said Jim Bell, President of The Planetary Society. “It is the only other world capable of supporting life that is within the reach of human explorers; the planet should be the target of a robust robotic program to pave the way for future human missions.”

Funding for human and robotic Mars exploration was cut by more than a half-billion dollars in recent years, and the Society is advocating restoration of those funds.

The Planetary Society supports the decision to stay the course towards the retirement of the shuttle. The Administration’s proposed budget included a commitment to retire the shuttle after planned missions in 2009 and 2010.

Having strongly advocated an international Europa mission for many years, The Planetary Society was also gratified by the specific support given to the new Outer Planets Flagship Mission to Europa. There is a high probability that an ocean exists beneath the icy crust of that moon of Jupiter.

The increased funding for Earth science and the addition of four new Earth observation missions was especially welcome, as the Administration’s budget tries to make up for deep cuts in Earth science over the past several years.

Bill Nye the Science Guy®, Vice-President of the Society, said, "Climate change is going to be profound, and right now we don't understand it as well as we need to. Making observations of the Earth from space is vital to our future. Everyone has to appreciate that NASA does a lot more nowadays than it did when it sent people to the Moon. The Planetary Society strongly supports adding money to NASA's Earth monitoring budget. While many of us might think of NASA missions being sent to study atmospheric systems on other worlds, we need NASA missions to gather data about our Earth now more than ever."

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The Land is our Mother - Vande Mataram

By Swami Ramswarupji I wish to display the same honour and respect towards the pious slogan of Vande Mataram as was rendered by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains etc. i.e. all the sections of society, in the struggle for freedom. The slogan of Vande Mataram has been the symbol of unity, security, non-violence, brotherhood and several pious qualities during freedom struggle. Then why can’t it symbolize the same qualities at present also? Now, it is our moral duty to find out the reason for not following Vande Mataram by all citizens; to destroy the same in the interest of unity of India. It may also be possible that most of the people do not know the meaning of such a beautiful poetry. So, it is mentioned below- Vande= adore/worship/regard, Mataram= mother. In Sanskrit, there is a root word (dhatu) “Vand”. When it is applied for oneself then it becomes Vande, which means I bow, pay obeisance, eulogize, honour, respect etc. “Aham” i.e., “I” word automatically precedes Vande pad. Hence, it automatically becomes “Aham Vande” i.e., “I bow”. The meaning of “Aham Vande” becomes I pay respect-give honour, as stated above. Now, after the words “Aham Vande” any word can be added. For example- (i) Aham Vande Pitaram i.e., I give respect to my ancestors. (ii) Aham Vande Bhraataha i.e., I give respect to my brothers etc. It should be kept in mind that words Aham and Vande are in singular number. Hence, when we say “Aham Vande Mataram”, it means I alone pay respect and give honour to my motherland. Hence, when all the citizens thriving on the motherland, unitedly and with love recite Vande Mataram, then in this way we all citizens individually pay our heartiest respect and honour towards the motherland, who gives us shelter and bestows us with wealth, food grains, medicinal herbs, gold, silver, minerals etc. In return, it becomes our selfless moral duty to always remain alert for her protection which would be the real Vandana (respect, honour). Is it not that in this way every Indian irrespective of caste, colour, creed, is doing the same and so he automatically fulfills the heartfelt requirement of saying Vande Mataram. In Vedas, God states that at the time of beginning of non-sexual creation, the earth (motherland) fulfills the role of mother by giving shelter and support to her sons and daughters, devoid of parents at that time and nourishes them with herbs, food grains and vegetation. Even at present the earth provides food, wealth, flowers-fruits, medicinal herbs, pure water etc., bounties impartially to all sections of society including Hindus, Muslims etc. That is why, in Vedas, She is said to be equivalent to our mother because she discharges her duties in the capacity of a mother. At present, the parents who give birth to their children, themselves, along with children derive life from earth-motherland and survive on it. The meaning of Hindi word- “Pooja” is also paying respect, honour etc. Now, if anybody, in the absence of knowledge of Vedas, distorts the meaning of Pooja in anyway, then he is free to do so in a secular country. But when we look towards our eternal and everlasting culture i.e., Vedas then the meaning cannot be altered. So, the eternal meaning of Vande will ever remain unchanged. To protect our motherland, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, i.e., all Indians, whenever the time has asked for sacrifices, they have not hesitated to surrender their lives, to serve the motherland. Atharvaved mantra 12/1/12 also educates us that Oh! men and women say (Bhoomihi Mata) i.e., earth is my mother (Aham Prithivyaha Putraha) I am the son of motherland. Hence, “Putra” means he who removes all the difficulties of his motherland, otherwise he is not a putra (son). So, God accepts only those as sons who remove the difficulties-sorrows of motherland. In the same Atharvaved mantra, God even states that cloud (Megh) is like our father for the reason, he gives us the pure water to survive. Have we got any power to challenge this eternal and everlasting truth made by God? That is, No. However, it may be a separate issue whether eternal and everlasting vedic preach emanates from God or not. The said matter may be proved by raising several debates of the learneds. So, truly speaking that in the absence of Vedic knowledge, we have become unable to judge that this land is our mother, as a result, instead of protecting her, her innocent sons and daughters have been slaughtered with gunshots, bombardments etc., have broken the heart of motherland into several pieces. More astonishingly, we see that through the bombardment by air, water etc. and using missiles, nuclear and Hydrogen bombs on the heart of motherland, her heart has shattered into several pieces. Are we able to give assurance to motherland that Oh! mother, do not weep, we shall shed our blood on your sweat to maintain unity and to wipe your tears. You see, vide Rigved mantra 10/18/10, our motherland gave us shelter in the crucial time when we were born without parents, at the beginning of non-sexual creation. That is why, in the said mantra, God has made unchangeable fundamental law to accept earth as motherland of all human-beings. This was the time when no present sects had come into being and due to the influence of the vedic culture, not only human-beings but all living-beings used to live in a united, peaceful and brotherly manner. So, we will have to think deeply that God in Rigved states that right from the beginning of the earth, i.e., in this earth from about One Arab, ninety six crore years ago, the earth is the motherland of all human-beings, which should be obeyed. Now, whom do we blame that in the controversies between the sects, political fights between the politicians and the public, where the knowledge of Vedas has been made to disappear. Even after dividing the heart of motherland into two parts, the selfish people were not satisfied but have been trying to hurt humanity, unity, brotherhood, peace, causing riots, fighting over petty issues and in this way are laying down more explosions on the heart of motherland to divide her into several pieces. The above quoted Rigved mantra states- (Bhoomim Mataram….) i.e., Oh! Soul, to take birth [without parents], obtain the shelter of motherland, who manifests several kinds of living beings in the nonsexual creation, under the administration of God. You see, at that crucial time, in the absence of parents, only the motherland holds the living beings on her surface and nurses then with her vegetation, herbs etc. So, at that time, in the form of mother only the land exists. In the next mantra God preaches that when the soul takes shelter of land as if he has entered the womb of mother then the upper layer of earth becomes soft / porous and rises up so that the body of soul grows up easily on the surface of the motherland. Thereafter the earth nurses them with vegetation, flowers, fruits, food crops etc. [At that time there were no parents, creation being non-sexual.] So motherland performs the role of a mother. And at that time, the said creation is born young and innumerable living beings take the shelter of motherland. That is why, in non-sexual creation the God has Himself declared this pious land as mother of all living beings. So, in freedom struggle all brothers and sisters gave the slogan of Vande Mataram as a symbol of unity. As a result, we got freedom from British rule. In view of the above if at present anyone does not want to recite Vande Mataram, then it is his own discretion. So, people should know the eternal truth first, its form, meaning and the idea and when such eternal truth will be taught to the citizens with love and affection then sure it would generate truth and brotherhood, which is the need of hour. (Also published in the Speaking Tree)


Effektiver Altruismus Berlin

Effective altruism is about using evidence and reason to find out how to best help others. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email contact@ea-berlin.org or attend one of our meetups. We’re looking forward to meeting you!

Regular meetup details:

We meet every two weeks and are usually a group of around ten people. You can find more information on Meetup and Facebook. If you would like to attend, please also subscribe to our newsletter.

Where to find upcoming meetups:
Donations made or influenced by the group:
AmountToWhenAny details (e.g. who donated)
€2700Center for Applied Rationality2014Aggregate member donations
€2414Against Malaria Foundation2014Aggregate member donations
€2250GiveDirectly2014Aggregate member donations
€458Your Siblings2014Aggregate member donations
€300Animal Equality2014Aggregate member donations
€250Schistosomiasis Control Initiative2014Aggregate member donations
€50Giordano-Bruno-Stiftung (CH)2014Aggregate member donations


Communication is essential to human beings. Human life and social organization depends on it. In the Master of Communication at the department of applied IT from the University of Gothenburg,  all aspects of communication are taught and the students acquire an advanced understanding of communication issues in various contexts and advanced knowledge about theories and methods useful in studies of communication in its context.

How do factors such as purpose, roles, medium, instrument and environment affect communication? Communication in classical and modern organizational theories are studied, which increases the understanding of how different activities influence communication within an organization.

Other courses of the program are the role of communication within different professional fields and the various professional demands on written and oral communication as well as the use of pictures in communication in business life, mass media, education etc. We learned about the communicative practice of leaders and the characteristics of successful organizing and get an enhanced comprehension of the relationship between leadership and communication with a special emphasis on the politics of everyday life in organizations.

Other important topics addressed during the education are communication technology, intercultural communication, a practical student project and the master thesis.

#thisisgu #wearecommunicators #120CP #lindholmensciencepark


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The Thread You Follow: Debra M Smith & Donna Sharrett

October 1 - December 20, 2016 Admission

Debra M Smith and Donna Sharrett are fiber artists who employ an eclectic and intricately technical practice that bridges the conventional divide between crafts and fine art. Both artists repurpose found fabric in their compositions, which is painstakingly cut and stitched together to form compatible, yet distinct, bodies of work. Sharrett employs a sculptural approach to explore memory and symbolic ritual in her circular assemblages. Smith takes a more painterly interest in the arrangement of her fabric scraps, and concentrates on the formal language of shape, color, and texture in rectangular arrangements that yield a cubist-inspired graphics.

The exhibition seeks to spark an aesthetic dialogue between Sharrett’s and Smith’s oeuvres by installing them in a single, large gallery that affords each a discreet but common space. The work of both is clearly slow to make and there is obvious care, patience, and skill. This is an essential and shared characteristic; however, while they explore similar media and processes, they diverge in terms of intent and presentation.  Sharrett’s assemblages invite close scrutiny and play to archetypal understanding; Smith’s compositions are best contemplated as unified wholes and offer stimulus for the viewer’s imaginings.

Donna Sharrett, who is based in New York City, combines sculpture, craft techniques, and non-traditional materials to create detailed objects that draw on the historical and symbolic significance of the circular form. In her Arrangements, these circular forms and compositions reflect the seamless continuum of ritual that binds the past to the present, and the present to the future. Mirroring the Buddhist mandala, the circle enveloped by the square background characterizes the infinite within the finite. Sharrett incorporates rose petals, synthetic hair, and rings, as well as old neckties, denim and other scrap fabric, buttons, jewelry, and dirt. The materials are chosen specifically for their symbolic values. A variety of needlework techniques are employed, including crochet, embroidery and needlelace, each serving to tie together the ideas of fragility and strength, power and beauty, loss and rebirth, beginning and end.

Debra M Smith, who maintains a studio in Kansas City, has the aesthetic sensibilities of a painter, but rather than applying pigment to a fabric support, Smith creates her compositions from a palette of already-dyed textiles. These she cuts by hand into geometric shapes, manipulating a limited range of colors and patterns within the grid of an intuitive, planar abstraction. Her practice involves the stitching together and overlapping of found silk fabric, primarily from vintage Japanese kimonos. Smith incorporates both dense and sheer cloth, which creates an interplay of translucent and opaque areas that add air, movement, and dimensionality to the work. Smith hopes that the historic nature of the fabric might connote another layer of meaning for viewers, suggesting an intangible narrative that disrupts the otherwise formal quality of the compositions with ghostly and poetic connections to the past.


Sino-India Internet cooperation can help dissolve mistrust

From K J M Varma

Beijing, Apr 5 (PTI) Internet cooperation between China and India can help dissolve the increasing mistrust between the two countries, state-run media here said today.

"As bilateral ties between China and India grow increasingly complicated and uncertain, cooperation between the two emerging Asian powers over Internet-related technologies is likely to provide a good platform to strengthen their future relations," an article in the state- run Global Times said.

If companies from China and India can take advantage of their economic complementarity in Internet-related sectors, then they could both possibly be strong enough to compete with top American tech brands like Uber and Amazon, the article said.

"China and India are twopowerful emerging countries in the world, and thus properly handling bilateral ties will not be easy. To dissolve strategic mistrust between the two countries, one effective way is in promoting economic complementarity to make sure both sides common interests far outweigh their differences," it said.

Economic cooperation has long been seen as the stabiliser for bilateral ties, and expanding common interests between the two countries now appears more important than ever, it said , referring to differences between the two Asian giants over the Dalai Lamas visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

The rise of Indias Internet-related sectors offers huge opportunities for China and India to enhance economic ties and expand their common interests, it said.

The mobile Internet market in India today is strikingly similar to that of China several years ago when tech giants Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings experienced rapid business expansion, the article said.

Those companies have been able to use their capital and technology in capturing market opportunities to help support local startups and business innovation in India, it said.

In March, Indian ecommerce and digital payment platform Paytm raised around USD 177 million from Alibaba, helping the home grown company sharpen its competitiveness against Amazon, it noted.

"However, Internet-related cooperation between China and India is still in its primary stage. Chinese companies have advantages in capital and technology, while Indian home grown enterprises have a better understanding of local markets and regulations," the article said.

"There is great potential for further cooperation, which could be a win-win for both," it said. PTI KJV ASK AKJ ASK

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NASA announced Thursday the selection of 21 new technology proposals pitched from small businesses and research groups within the United States as part of the second phase of its Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The selected parties are now able to enter negotiations for NASA contracts that are worth a combined total of about $15.8 million.

“Just as small businesses are driving our economy, technology is driving exploration,” said Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA, in a news release. “These selected proposals demonstrate the creativity of American entrepreneurs and, along with our other technology investments, will contribute to ensuring the U.S. remains a leader in technology development and space exploration.”

The different proposals discuss a huge variety of different technologies relevant to space travel and exploration — including novel propellant mechanisms. Cubesat designs, energy and power storage, habitation and life support, and instruments to study new worlds.

Each of the 21 proposals could do a great deal to advance spaceflight, but there’s a big difference between proposal and prototype, so we’ll have to wait and see which groups can turn their great ideas into great realities. Here are five of the most exciting selected proposals:

Subsurface Prospecting by Planetary Drones

This proposal is basically what it sounds like: sending an autonomous drone to other worlds to scan the surface for potential resources to extract from the ground. This is particularly useful for trying to see if there might be anything worthwhile in extreme environments where sending ground-based robots is unfeasible, and sending manned aircraft is too risky.

Strange but wonderful name aside, WINE is a collaboration between former NASA researcher and current University of Central Florida professor Phil Metzger, and elusive spacegun makers Honeybee Robotics. The proposal calls for a “new generation of CubeSats” that essentially calls for using 3D printing to build steam thrusters that act as a propulsion mechanism for the Cubesat.

Extreme Environment Ceramic Energy Harvesting/Sensors

Here’s a thought: use ceramics to capture waste and excess vibratory energy (like the mechanical disturbances caused by thrusters), and convert it into usable energy for spacecraft. This proposal is as audacious as it is strange, but if it works, we could one day see spacecraft ditch the aluminum casing for a ceramic shell.

Nanoengineered Hybrid Gas Sensors for Spacesuit Monitoring

Spacesuits are fitted head to toe with instruments designed to measure the biometrics of an astronaut and let ground control know if anything fishy is happening. This proposal suggests building those sensors out of nanotechnology, in order to measure trace chemicals and gases and more accurately detect gas levels and humidity NASA Greenlights 21 New Space Tech Proposals


Payment Compliance Team Lead

EUR35000 - EUR38000 per annum
20 Mar 2018
17 Apr 2018
ACC- PayCom- AS
Arianne Solorzano
Job Type
The biggest the primary role of the Payments Compliance Team Lead is to oversee and lead the project for success locally. The team lead will coordinate, help develop strategies, and provide solutions for escalations from their analysts in order insure deliverables, services, and SLAs are met.

Key Responsibilities:
* Lead and oversee all functions for local team.
* Build out strategies for processes and solutions for new tasks.
* Facilitate, run, and guide team meetings.
* Update client leadership with general status reports.
* Act as the career counsellor for analysts.
* Interface with multiple functional areas to investigate cases and acquire information
* Interpret evidence from multiple tools and systems to determine legitimacy of customer behaviour across multiple products
* Maintain records, prepare filings and prepare reporting information and metrics to be presented to management
* Work with the team on grey area cases and develop best review practices

Basic Qualifications
* Bachelor's degree in the field of business (or equivalent)
* A minimum of 3 years in compliance/fraud/AML experience
* A minimum of 2 years in operations and team management experience

Preferred Qualifications
* Hiring/Recruitment experience
* Escalation Management
* Consistent and timely reporting experience
* Strong volume monitoring and work delegation skills
* Effective communications, presentation, and information sharing skills
* Superior analytical and investigative skills combined with the ability to navigate through ambiguity in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
* Fraud and compliance experience
* Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or ACAMS certification
* Strong communication/organizational skills

If you are ready for this opportunity please send me your CV to and I will do my best to get you this job!!!

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The Islamic Society of North America has announced an ambitious commitment to combat climate change.

Catovic: "The responsibility to safeguard human life, to safeguard families, to safeguard the possibility of future generations having resources are among the requirements of the religion of Islam."

That's Saffet Catovic, board member of the Society's Green Mosque Taskforce. He says it's clear that burning fossil fuels causes harm to humans and the earth and that Muslims have a responsibility to act.

Read the complete original version of this item...


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Things to do in Quito

426 contributors

The top 213 attractions in Quito

Neighborhoods in Quito
Quito Old Town
This city can be called very colonial, with its streets frozen in time. The structures are living history. There's a lot of life, tourists from around the world in one place, many blocks to go and unparalleled cold weather gives a European look. A visit of the Gothic church was my way to finish the tour, seen from any part of the city, it is impressive and breaks with the colonial historic center.
Of Cultural Interest in Quito
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
The place doesn't have much, but the monument with the line of the equator deserves a photo with one leg in each hemisphere. Although it is not true, as it was later shown, with GPS, that the equator passes a few feet away. Off-site, one can visit another place, which is located the real line.
Viewpoints in Quito
The Panecillo
Look how the Equadorians like enormous images in their big cities. Each city has theirs and the capital is no exception. The fact is that it is impressive and gives amazing views of the city. If you are lucky you can see the volcanoes in the background of the city.
Cathedrals in Quito
Basílica del Voto Nacional
from its splendid towers you can appreciate the beauty of the city as well, in a sunny day, you can see some of the volcanoes that surround the city.
Squares in Quito
Church and Convent of St. Francis
The Church and Convent of St. Francis is part of the historic center of Quito, the best preserved and most beautiful historical area in Latin America. The Church and Convent of St. Francis was built on Incan ruins and are definitely worth a visit. The architecture is stunning, not just of the churches, but also the surrounding houses and buildings.
Streets in Quito
La Calle Ronda
It is undoubtedly the best choice for an after-dark drink and you find yourself in the historic town center. It is very heavily guarded by the tourist police, making it the safest area at night. It is full of history and bars where you can taste mulled wine and scrumptious pies or some pork crackling.
Of Touristic Interest in Quito
Teleferico Quito
This attraction has cost the Ecuadorians a packet. Climb up the side of the Pichincha volcano to the top of the cross Loma and from there to the summit of Pichincha Rucu, although for the latter route it is good to have spent several days in the city to acclimatise yourself a bit. If ther is a long queue you buy the express pass for $7 to avoid a long wait.
Nature Reserves in Quito
Ecuadorian Andes
I live in the capital of Ecuador and I could say that Quito has a good atmosphere, a very nice climate, the day is given according to the positions of the clouds. The sun always rises and sets at the same time. It's a long time since it started raining, hailing and covering the highest mountains in ice. Here it never snows, but now it's common to see White Mountains.
Gardens in Quito
Parque La Carolina
While most people go to La Carolina park to jog, skate or rollerblade, you can also go for a ride in a rowboat on the artificial lake. It's a nice place to row around the water surrounded by trees and reeds and feed the ducks. Especially great for children and couples.
Museums in Quito
Fundación Guayasamín Museum
This museum should not be missed if you visit Quito, the Chapel of Man and the museum shows the works by this artist. At the very least, it will surprise you and move you. His works make you feel different emotions, which are put as the names of of his paintings, tenderness, rage ..... Essential.
Palaces in Quito
Palacio de Gobierno
You have to queue to take a guided tour of the Palacio de Gobierno. The most surprising part is the mosaic depicting the descent of Francisco de Orellana. You can also visit the rooms and take a picture that you'll later receive signed by the president. Not bad.
Cathedrals in Quito
Cathedral of Quito
The Cathedral of Quito is in the old colonial part of the city, on the southern side of Independence Square. Until the sixteenth century, it was a simple country church with a thatched roof. They began to build a real cathedral in late sixteenth century. It was finished in 1565 and consecrated seven years later. The diocese of Quito was created in 1545. It is a very beautiful church. You can visit it outside hours of the masses, and can appreciate the Quito school, a style of religious art mixing Spanish and European techniques with the country's indigenous styles. In the church are the tombs of Marshal Antonio José de Sucre, and a few presidents of the Republic of Ecuador, as well as the bishops of the cathedral. The nneighbourhood is good by day because it is all bustling around, with lots of life in the square in front of the cathedral, but at night it's better not to go, because there is nothing, everything is closed, and it can even be dangerous if you alone.
Churches in Quito
Church of the Society of Jesus
The Church of the Society of Jesus will blind you with the sheer amount of gold leaf on its walls. The green and gold domes are visible from almost everywhere in the historic center of Quito. Between the pillars are hidden faces of Indians, and it is considered the most beautiful church in the country.
Squares in Quito
Gardens in Quito
La Alameda Park
La Alameda is the oldest park in Quito, formerly known by the Indians as "chuquihuada "(in Quechua, "spearhead"). It's located in San Blas in the center of the city and covers an area of 6 hectares. It's particularly beautiful at night, although there are clouds in my pictures.
Museums in Quito
Intinan Museum
An hour from the city of Quito is this special place on earth: LINE OF THE EQUATOR. The two parts to the world, the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. It has this name not because of the country the line crosses, but because its the highest point and hence its studies were conducted there to measure the curvature of the earth and other measurements. Even if there are no certainties in half the world, there are two halves! Separated by approximately 200 meters is the oldest line of Ecuador and the latest where the Intiñan Museum is. The most interesting thing of all is at the Intiñan Museum you can take a tour through some tests on the things happening specifically on the line. Like the water swirls one side or the other, depending on the hemisphere where you are, but on the equator line there's NO SWIRL! The other is the classic egg test (popular favourite) because due to the gravitational effect its easier to stand an egg up on a nail. I could not! But there are people who could. Thirdly is the power of force of both hemispheres by force against another. So if you try to walk the line blindfolded its very difficult to balance.
Churches in Quito
Capilla del Hombre
I came across this spectacular place, Capilla del Hombre (Chapel of Man), full of paintings by Guayasamin. This truly is art from the heart, and the great humanist created these pictures to promote human rights and to humanise our society.
Museums in Quito
Centro Cultural Metropolitano
The Centro Cultural Metropolitano is one of the most important museums in Quito. It has a variety of permanent and free exhibits, mostly centered around photography and tributes to world figures. Make sure to go with plenty of time as there's a lot to see. Check the website for the agenda.

The best things to do in Quito

The capital of Ecuador is a city full of cultural contrasts, stunning landscapes and monuments with great history. If you're wondering what to do in Quito, you'll soon find plenty of answers to your question. The mixture of building styles, contemporary and colonial, can be seen in a number of the best places to visit in Quito. Nature is one of the strengths of the city, which is surrounded by the Pichincha, Antisana, Cotopaxi, and Cayambe volcanoes, things to see in Quito that delight all visitors.

Among the most popular Quito activities is a trip to the statue of the Virgin of Quito. Nearby are the valleys of the Chillos and Tumbaco, Quito attractions visited by both residents and visitors.

The Basilica del Voto Nacional is another of the attractions in Quito along with the Metropolitan Cathedral, Church of the Compania de Jesus, and the Church of San Francisco. The historic center is the largest and best preserved of all South America. It has about 130 monumental buildings, so you'll never be short of historical stuff to do in Quito! Strolling through the churches, chapels, monasteries, convents, and colonial houses is a treat for the senses.

The parks provide even more things to do in Quito, especially Parque La Carolina, El Ejido, or Guanguiltagua Metropolitan Park. As for the nightlife, take yourself to the neighborhood of La Mariscal, considered the center of entertainment with plenty of restaurants, shopping and local Latin dance.

Visit Minube to learn more about this beautiful city.


American Flags Sale Mays Landing NJ 08330

American Flags near Mays Landing.

100% Made in the USA!

Folding the American flag.

The United States flag is a strong icon of American identification and also national pride. Referred to as Old Glory, the U.S. flag has a colorful history as well as has actually undergone many modifications from the very first main flag of 1777.

Today the U.S. flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red rotating with 6 white stripes. The stripes stand for the initial 13 colonies; the stars stand for the 50 states of the country. The colors of the flag are symbolic also: red signifies strength as well as valiance, white signifies purity and also virtue and also blue represents vigilance, determination and also justice. Nonetheless, the reason the Continental Congress originally chose the red, white, and blue colors was not explained in the resolution adopting the flag. Chroniclers think it was possibly a shade choice based upon the British Union Jack, which had formerly flown over the colonies.

Over time, some have actually attributed somewhat various definitions to the 3 shades, as an example, the shade red symbolizing the blood spilled to protect our liberty, however the essence of the original significance has been fairly regular from 1782.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

It is a lot more than the 3 shades or a “design”. Think of the areas around the world that the American flag has flown, think of the transformation it has actually undergone throughout the decades on American soil. It is absolutely humbling to think about all that was provided and compromised so that the American flag can fly easily across this nation.

The variety of rotating straight red and also white stripes has remained at thirteen except from 1795 to 1818 when fifteen stripes showed up on the flag to show the admission of Kentucky and also Vermont to the Union. In 1818, it was determined that including a stripe to the flag for each and every new state would not occur as it will make the flag appear crowded and it would make the flag unwieldy. It was agreed then that the flag would return to containing just thirteen stripes to represent the original colonies.

The American flag is an icon not only of strength, valiance, purity, innocence, vigilance, perseverance as well as justice; it is a symbol of liberty. Liberty that has been fought so hard for over the years. Freedom that has cost this nation and the households within so much, but it is still a sign to those desiring they had the freedom that the nation has.

Folding up the American flag.

This is America and its icon is the American Flag. This respectable symbol has actually been targetted at, set fire to, spew upon as well as stepped on, but she rises repeatedly. Although many Americans in the state of New Jersey happily fly the flag outside their homes and businesses every day, it is fitting that we, as a country, have reserved one specific day each year to recognize our flag and also to remember that it represents the ideals and values that we must strive to promote. May God bless America as well as those that defend her.

Mays Landing ZIP codes we serve: 08330


Eug. Hoffman - Heures d'ouverture
Lundi de 13h à 18h - Mardi à samedi de 9h30 à 18h

Il Magnifico

Lorenzo de' Medici (1449-1492 Firenze) the Prince of Princes, was an Italian statesman and the "de facto ruler" of the Florentine Republic, who was the most powerful and enthusiastic patron of the Renaissance. Also known as Lorenzo il Magnifico (the Magnificent) by his contemporary Florentines, he was a magnate, diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists and poets. He is well known for his contribution to the art world by sponsoring artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo. His life coincided with the mature phase of Italian Renaissance. As natural evolution of the Medici collection Visconti is proud to dedicate a special limited edition to the great statesman of the 15th Century.

The pen embodies the essence of the Renaissance period, combining exclusive and precious elements. Another magnificent masterpiece from Visconti symbol of the power of the Medici family over the rest of the known world. The cap is in solid 925 Sterling Silver finally chiseled with the old techniques handed down from Benvenuto Cellini the most prestigious jeweler of the 15th Century.

The body is the central heart of the pen as it is in solid Levanto reddish marble facetted in 8 sides as the baptistery in front of the Dome of Florence that was completed during Lorenzo being ruler of Florence. The choice of the marble was in line with the official colors of the Medici family that can be found in Palazzo Medici Ricciardi official residence of Lorenzo il Magnifico.

It comes together with the famous double reservoir filling system and the iconic 23Kt Pd nib.

Limited to 388 pieces

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Expert Juicing Advice That You Will Love

People who do not like the texture of fruits and vegetables often find that juicing is a more manageable alternative. You get to choose your own produce and create a beverage with real benefits to your health. Learn how to start creating your own healthy juice blends with the tips in this article.

If you’re juicing leafy greens for health benefits, adding a cucumber is a great idea. Most leafy greens have a strong, sometimes unpleasant flavor. Cucumber masks the taste and adds refreshing flavor to the drink. Using cucumbers with the peel on will add a lot of nutritional value to your juice.

If you’re creating juice for any health reasons, try adding dark leafy greens to them. Between half and three fourths of the juice content should be vegetables like chard, broccoli, or spinach. To give the juice a palatable taste, round it out with your favorite fruit juice.

If you are juicing your own apples, choose the ripest, sweetest ones you can find. Make sure to get rid of the bruises if you plan on using bruised apples. Apples come in many varieties, each with its own distinctive, sweet flavor. Popular varieties include Pink Lady, Gala, and Red Delicious.

Always keep your juicer in plain view on your counter. You will use it more if it isn’t put away. By keeping it visible at all times, you will be more likely to use it.

Before you get started juicing, do a little bit of research on the different varieties of fruits and veggies available. There is such a wide range of fruits and vegetables available, and they each have their own pros with regards to vitamins contained. Try to use a combination of vegetables and fruits that will provide you with your daily needs. Blending different types of produce ensures that you’re receiving a wide range of vital vitamins and nutrients. As an added bonus, you get to play around with various flavor combinations.

As you’ve read, juicing is an excellent way to consume more fruits and vegetables. You can take your favorite fruits and mix them together for great tasting drinks. The insights here will encourage you to develop your own techniques and you will be making nutritious, delicious juices in no time.


My experiments and development of the escaping space have produced some intriguing shapes and forms.  I have played with different contents of the frozen spaces, including salt and liquid acrylic as well as ink and water.  The effects have been quite different with the salt leaving crystals as the ink and water has evaporated and the solutions that have contained more acrylic have bled less than those with more ink content.  Some of the melts have sat and left a solid shape exactly where the cube has been left whilst some have run across the sheet telling a story as they spread.  I like how those that have not moved have escaped through the paper and left little trace as to where they have gone.  Here are some photos of those that have dried so far:


PCOS & Early Menopause

Updated March 23, 2017

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and early menopause are two very different conditions, despite the fact that they share many symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms associated with these conditions, such as irregular periods, it is important to visit your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis. The treatments are different, so knowing which condition you are dealing with is key.

The Facts: PCOS vs. Early Menopause

PCOS is associated with elevated levels of testosterone and affects approximately 10 per cent of women in their child bearing years. Most women with PCOS do have actual cysts on their ovaries, but not every woman with ovarian cysts develops PCOS symptoms.

Early menopause is menopause that begins before the age of 45. Note that there is a difference between early menopause and premature menopause. Premature menopause is menopause that begins before the age of 40.

PCOS Symptoms and Diagnosis

Women with PCOS experience irregular periods, obesity, skin problems including acne and patchy skin, and excess hair growth, especially facial-hair growth. In the long term, women with PCOS may have problems with insulin resistance, diabetes, high levels of lipids in the blood and heart disease. Infertility is also a problem.

PCOS diagnosis is done by taking a medical history, evaluating symptoms, and eliminating other conditions that could be causing similar problems, such as thyroid disease.

Early Menopause Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms associated with early menopause include irregular periods, hot flushes, joint pain, sleep disruption and mood swings. Some women also experience weight gain, especially around their midsections.

Early menopause is often caused by something specific, such as hysterectomy, or illness, so the menopause is predictable and easy to spot. In other cases, early menopause is diagnosed through symptom evaluation and blood tests to determine FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) levels.

PCOS Treatment

There is no one treatment that is used for PCOS. If you are overweight, losing weight can help mitigate some of the symptoms, although doctors are unsure why. Birth control pills are used to increase oestrogen levels. A medication for type 2 diabetes, Metformin, has shown promise is in reducing the elevated levels of testosterone associated with PCOS. Again, doctors are unsure why Metformin helps. Not all women can tolerate Metformin, which can cause severe nausea. If appropriate, infertility treatments such as Clomid are also used.

Early Menopause Treatment

Menopause cannot be reversed, but symptoms can be managed. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, can help hormones level off, but this treatment is not for everyone. HRT may increase the risk of certain cancers, so your doctor will work with your to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks based on your medical history. Healthy eating, exercise, getting enough sleep and seeking support from family and friends can also help you cope with the changes.

About the Author

Lily Welsh is a freelance writer from North Carolina, though she has spent much of her adult life living abroad. She is the Guide to Music Careers, and her work appears frequently in other Web-based and print publications. Welsh has worked in the music industry for 15 years and counting and holds B.A.s in international studies and economics.


Sunday, October 16, 2016

Italy Part II: Rome

I have always dreamed of going to Rome, the Eternal City. Rome was the second stop on my birthday trip. There is so much history in Rome, and history was the only subject that I really cared about in school. I have always been so fascinated with Ancient Rome, so being in Rome was a dream come true. Roma is definitely one of my top 3 favorite places in the world!

I took a very short one hour flight from Milan to Rome. The drive into Rome is absolutely magical. The cab driver was pointing out landmarks, such as Palazzo Venezia, and the infamous balcony where Mussolini gave speeches during World War II. He also mentioned that all of the buildings in Central Rome were at least 200 years old. Most people don't realize how enormous Rome is. I only stayed three and a half days, and I still didn't see everything there is to see.

 I absolutely loved my hotel, Boscolo Exedra Roma, an Autograph Collection Hotel. Boscolo Exedra Roma is a luxurious five star hotel, that exceeded my expectations. The sumptuous hotel is beyond elegant, flaunting original art and sculptures more than 200 years old on it's 18th Century exterior. The pictures above and below are views from each side of my balcony. I felt like I was in a movie standing on my balcony looking outside. Just like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.

Views from my balcony.

It was late afternoon when I arrived at my hotel. Naturally, I was hungry, and I wanted authentic Italian food. Boscolo Exedra Roma's main restaurant Tazio Restaurant and Bar, has amazing genuine Italian cuisine with the perfect balance between tradition and innovation. The weather was perfect, (not too hot), so I ate on the outdoor terrace that overlooks the gorgeous Fountain of the Naiads. I ordered one the best caesar salad's I've ever had in my entire life, a penne arrabiatta, and a red Merlot. I could seriously eat pasta and drink a glass (or two) of wine in Italy every day for the rest of my life and be happy.

The Fountain of the Naiads sits right in front of the Boscolo Exedra Roma. Built in 1880, the fountain sits at the Piazza della Repubblica.

The BEST tomato bread I have ever eaten at Tazio Restaurant and Bar.

After eating a delicious meal at my hotel, I wanted to explore the streets nearby. One of the things I love about Rome, is that there is a gelato store on every other corner. Similar to Starbucks in the U.S. The gelato in Rome is unbelievable. I will never eat gelato in the states ever again, because it will never taste or satisfy me like the authentic gelato in Italy. The gelato is life-changing!

A fresh fruit cart near my hotel.

Every alley and street is so photogenic.

Dress by Guess, cuff by Kendra Scott, sunglasses by Porsche Design.

The Palazzo delle Esposizioni is a neoclassical exhibition hall, cultural center and museum on Via Nazionale, just a few blocks from my hotel.

On my first full day, I woke up early and went to the first place I think everyone should see at least once in their lifetime - the Colosseum. The Colosseum was built in just ten years between 70-80 AD by over 60,000 slaves, and is the largest amphitheater ever built. It is estimated that the Colosseum could hold up to 50,000 - 80,000 spectors. The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests, and public entertainment such as animal hunts, executions, mythological dramas, and even mock sea battles.

The Colosseum remains an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. I am obsessed with the history of the Roman Empire, so being here was a huge and satisfying check off my bucket list. I even wore my Stuart Wetizman gladiator sandals because I wanted to be able to say that I wore gladiator sandals on the same marble ground that real gladiators walked on before they were killed, or killed their opponents.

Dress by RahiCali, shoes by Stuart Weitzman.

Sunglasses by Dior, necklace by Shashi, bracelets by Gorjana.

Fun Fact: The roman numerals above the arches were once painted red and were used as a seating system. Much like the modern day seating system used in venues today.

The Colosseum suffers from erosion, and damage caused by earthquakes and other natural disasters. The total amount of marble used for the construction of the Colosseum was estimated at 100,00 cubic meters.

The area beneath the Colosseum was called the Hypogeum (meaning underground). The hypogeum consisted of two-level subterranean network of tunnels and 32 animal pens. It had 80 vertical shafts which provided instant access to the arena stage for dangerous animals and scenery.

Is is often said that the Ancient Roman's technology was way ahead of their time. This can be determined just by examining the way the Colosseum was built. They were able to fill the arena's stage with water to recreate mock ship battles. Even the roof, or the "Velarium", was retractable, covering 2/3 or the arena, that acted as a ventilation system to catch the wind and create a breeze for spectors.

The Spanish Steps.

After visiting the Colosseum, It was lunch time. I was told to go to the Spanish Steps, where I could find a ton of restaurants and even better, the main shopping area. The Spanish Steps are a set of beautiful steps that in my opinion, are always covered with tourists.  I believe it is nearly impossible to actually get a photo of them without a single soul around. The area surrounding the Spanish Steps is my favorite part of Rome. Every little street has a cute restaurant with outdoor seating. You can find every boutique from Longchamp, to Louis Vuitton, to Gucci, to the original Fendi Roma in this general area. I have never shopped in a cuter area!

Fashion Café. So cute, right?!

Every restaurant offers outdoor seating on cobblestone streets.

Gnocchi is one of my favorite Italian dishes. The gnocchi in Rome is beyond amazing.

If you have followed me since day one, you know that I love Valentino, and Valentino is one of my favorite designers. I enjoyed visiting the first Valentino store, and it's headquarters that was conveniently located next to the Spanish Steps.

The entrance to Valentino Headquarters.

My second night, I went to Zuma Rome. I love Zuma Miami, so when I found out there was one in Rome, I had to visit! It's located right above Fendi near the Spanish Steps area. When in Rome, I highly recommend eating dinner here. It's a great break from eating all of those Italian carbs!

On my third and final full day in Rome, I work up early and visited the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain was extremely packed with people, it was difficult to take a picture there. It's gorgeous, but I will say, It's a lot more crowded than I had ever imagined it to be. It's definitely not like the movies, where you can just toss a coin behind you and make a wish. You may accidently hit someone with your arm, or be in someone's picture without even knowing it. I almost got sat on just sitting on the fountain's ledge taking a selfie. This was probably my least favorite attraction because of all of the people.
Top by WAYF, jeans by Marciano, bag by Christian Louboutin.

Sunglasses by Chanel.

A birthday gift to myself.

After taking a few pictures, and eating lunch around the Spanish Steps area again, I headed towards Vatican City. Once inside the border of Vatican City, I stopped by Castel Sant'Angelo, and The Bridge of Angels that graces the main entrance of the castle.

Castel Sant'Angelo.
The Bridge of Angels, or Ponte Sant'Angeleo.

In Rome, everything is spread out. Although you can ultimately walk to each attraction, I recommend taking a cab to most places. I took a cab into Vatican City, since it's a little further away from Central Rome. Vatican City is a city-state surrounded by Rome, and is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

When you think of Vatican City, you automatically think of the Pope. St. Peter's Square is the famous plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica, where people gather to see and hear Pope Francis, the current and 266th Pope speak.
Marble statues and sculptures from Ancient Rome are preserved in the Vatican Museums.

A view of the top of St. Peter's Church, or Papal Basilica from the Vatican Museum.

If you visit Vatican City, you must visit the Vatican Museums. If you visit, I highly recommend buying tickets online beforehand due to the long lines there. Like every other tourist attraction, the museums were crowded, but so worth seeing. I was reading online reviews the night before I visited, and people were saying that most people were rushing through each of the museum rooms, because at the very end of the tour is the famous Sistine Chapel.

The Gallery of The Maps.

 "The Last Judgement" is a hand painted alter wall by the Italian Renaissance master, Michelangelo inside the Sistine Chapel.

Between 1508 and 1512, under the patronage of Pope Julius II, Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling. He later returned in 1536 to paint "The Last Judgement"on the chapel's alter wall. It took him four years to complete this masterpiece, and it is definitely worth visiting in person. For those who don't know, the Sistine Chapel, is the chapel located inside the Apostolic Palace, the official residence to the Pope.

The Apostolic Palace, located in Vatican City, is the official residence of the Pope.

I didn't get to see everything there is to see in Rome, but that's a perfect excuse to visit Rome again next year! I really don't need an excuse to go, because the food, history, and fashion is enough to keep me visiting Rome for year's to come!

The beautiful Boscolo Exedra Roma at night.

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us polo vs ralph lauren Ardmore is the town that dried up

marc polo Ardmore is the town that dried up

Ardmore is a modern ghost town that wasn’t completely abandoned until the 1980s. Located 35 miles south of Hot Springs, time now stands still in this remote corner of the state with the iconic sprawling grasslands that the Midwest is known for.

“Ardmore is one of my favorite ghost towns because it is right on a paved road and is so intact. It is on a highway map so it is easy to show others.

In the old American West, wherever the railroad went, towns soon followed. Founded in 1889, Ardmore was one of these such towns that owed its existence to the railroad, only springing up when the Burlington Railroad decided to connect Omaha and Kansas City with Billings and the West Coast.

Unlike the Black Hills with its many natural resources and profitable mines, the plains of Ardmore were desolate and drinking water was scarce.

The well water quality was decent for steam engines to use but not suitable for human consumption. Instead, the train transported in drinking water. It was so dry in fact, that an experimental dry land farm was established there in 1911.

Circumstances like the Great Depression and Dust Bowl,
us polo vs ralph lauren Ardmore is the town that dried up
as well as the railroad no longer stopping in Ardmore, led to its eventual decline and abandonment.

“The reason the town was abandoned was the lack of good water. After years of still bringing water to the little town, they finally pulled the plug and no longer supplied fresh, drinkable water so the town dried up.”

Reimer became fascinated with the little town after driving through on his way to Nebraska. He looked online but couldn’t find any information about the ghost town, so he decided to write his own story.

“I’ve lived in the western states most of my life, and I’m familiar with old mining ghost towns,”he said. “That has a logical explanation the mines played out and people left.”

But Ardmore was different. The town wasn’t deserted until the 1980s. Reimer said he couldn’t find an answer as to why everyone left, so he researched and wrote his own book.

Reimer found Ardmore was founded by the railroad and, despite its best effort,
us polo vs ralph lauren Ardmore is the town that dried up
couldn’t survive the challenges of the 20th century like the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The loss of their railroad stop limited access to humankind’s most valuable resource clean water.


How to conduct a year-end risk assessment

Typically presented as a matrix, this analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats provides a logical framework for understanding how a business runs. It tells what you’re doing right (and wrong) and predicts what outside forces could impact cash flow in a positive (or negative) manner.

Internal factors

SWOT analysis starts by identifying strengths and weaknesses from the customer’s perspective. Strengths represent potential areas for boosting revenues and building value, including core competencies or competitive advantages. Examples might include a strong brand image, a loyal customer base or exceptional customer service.

It’s important to unearth the source of each strength. When strengths are largely tied to people, rather than the business itself, consider what might happen if a key person suddenly left the business. To offset key person risks, consider:

  • Purchasing life insurance policies on key people,
  • Initiating noncompete or buy-sell agreements, or
  • Implementing a formal succession plan designed to transition management to the next generation.

Weaknesses represent potential risks and should be minimized or eliminated. They might include high employee turnover, weak internal controls, unreliable quality or a location with poor accessibility. Often weaknesses are evaluated relative to the company’s competitors.

Outside influences

The next part of a SWOT analysis looks externally at what’s happening in the industry, economy and regulatory environment. Opportunities are favorable external conditions that could increase revenues and value if the company acts on them before its competitors do.

Threats are unfavorable conditions that might prevent your company from achieving its goals. Threats might come from the economy, technological changes, competition and increased regulation. The idea is to watch for and minimize existing and potential threats.

Need help?

Contact us for help putting your company’s risk framework together. We can guide you on how to use SWOT analysis to evaluate 2017 financial results and plan for the future.

© 2017


Caddell Prep Access Menu

Difference of Perfect Squares

In this video, we are going to look at how to understand the difference of perfect squares.

For example:
When given something like x^2-9, we can rewrite it as
To factor this, we will need two numbers that add up to 0 and multiply to -9. These numbers are 3 and -3. Therefore when we factor this, we will get
Generally, whenever we have x^2-b^2 we will always be able to factor it as
will always be factored as
For expressions more complex, such as
First, take the square root of the first term and place it in the front of each set of parentheses, and then take the square root of the second term and place it in the two parentheses with a plus or minus sign. This will be factored as

Video-Lesson Transcript

Let’s go over difference of perfect squares.

Let’s have some examples.

x^2 - 9
x^2 - 16
x^2 - 25

Difference is associated with subtraction. That’s why we have a subtraction sign here.

Perfect sqaures are numbers that are the squareroot of.

Difference of perfect squares means two perfect squares to be subtracted.

Let’s take a look at how to factor these.

x^2 - 9
x^2 + 0x - 9
(x + 3) (x - 3)

Next, x^2 - 16

x^2 + 0x - 16
(x + 4) (x - 4)

And x^2 - 25

x^2 + 0x - 25
(x + 5) (x - 5)

In general, the form is:

x^2 - b
(x + b) (x - b)

So if we have a perfect square

x^2 - \#
(x + \sqrt{\#}) (x - \sqrt{\#})

So if we have x^2 - 81

(x + 9) (x - 9)

And of course, this can be switched into

(x - 9) (x + 9)

It doesn’t make any difference.

This rule applies to all perfect squares.

For example:

4x^2 - 121y^4

Let’s find the squareroot of the first term then the squareroot of the second term.

So our answer is

(2x - 11y^2) (2x + 11y^2)

Look at this previous example:

x^2 - 9

Let’s draw two parenthesis and put an x inside each parenthesis.

If you solve that, the squareroot of x^2 is x.

Then the squareroot of 9 is 3.

So our answer is

(x + 3) (x - 3)

So for 4x^2 - 121y^4, we’ll find the squareroot of each term.

The squareroot of 4 is 2. The squareroot of x^2 is x. Then the squareroot of 121 is 11. Lastly, the squareroot of y^4 is y^2.


The Genetic Basis of Behavior: Burrow Construction in Deer Mice (Genus Peromyscus)

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Citable link to this page

Title: The Genetic Basis of Behavior: Burrow Construction in Deer Mice (Genus Peromyscus)
Author: Metz, Hillery
Citation: Metz, Hillery. 2015. The Genetic Basis of Behavior: Burrow Construction in Deer Mice (Genus Peromyscus). Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
Full Text & Related Files:
Abstract: Understanding how complex, adaptive behavior evolves is a major goal of biological research. Phenotypic differences between closely-related species often arise due to evolution by natural selection and can be a powerful resource for understanding biological diversity and its mechanistic underpinnings. In this dissertation, I capitalize on striking behavioral differences between two interfertile sister species of Peromyscus rodents. I pursue the proximate mechanisms underlying this behavioral adaptation by investigating both the ontogeny and genetics of innate differences in burrow construction behavior in Peromyscus polionotus and P. maniculatus.
In Chapter 1, I compare the ontogeny of burrow construction behavior of Peromyscus polionotus and P. maniculatus across early development. I find that P. polionotus begins burrowing precociously (as early as 17 days of age) compared to P. maniculatus (27 days of age), despite P. polionotus being physically smaller and less active in a wheel running assay. Furthermore, juvenile P. polionotus constructed long burrows complete with species-specific escape tunnels. Interspecific cross-fostering did not alter the developmental trajectory of either species, indicating that these differences are innate. Moreover, F1 hybrids followed the behavioral ontogeny of P. polionotus, indicating that precocious burrow construction segregates in a P. polionotus-dominant manner. Finally, I show that a quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with adult tunnel length in these species is predictive of precocious digging in recombinant F2 hybrids, demonstrating that either a single pleiotropic locus or a group of tightly-linked genes control behavioral differences across life stages in P. polionotus.
In Chapter 2, I dissect the genetic architecture of this complex behavior in adult animals using an experimental cross. By introgressing the burrow architecture of P. polionotus into the genetic background of P. maniculatus, I analyze the underlying genetic architecture of differences in burrowing behavior, and show that escape tunnels are likely a threshold trait. Next, I use a novel image-based analysis to collect measurements of burrow shape and demonstrate the utility of a more rigorous measurement of extended phenotypes.
Finally, in Chapter 3, I combine two forward-genetics approaches—QTL mapping and transcriptome analysis—to nominate specific candidate genes for the differences in burrowing behavior between P. polionotus and P. maniculatus. Using a large advanced backcross mapping population (n=751), I detect five QTL contributing to differences in burrow architecture between these species: three loci for entrance tunnel length variation, and two loci for escape tunnel length. In the transcriptome study, I focus on gene expression in F1 hybrids to detect allele-specific expression (ASE), as ASE in an F1 hybrid indicates cis-regulatory differences between the parental lineages. I find widespread bias favoring expression from the P. polionotus-allele in F1 hybrid brains, which may be a molecular reflection of P. polionotus-like burrowing behavior of hybrids. Finally, I use ASE to nominate candidate genes within the detected QTL regions, and find genes related to behavioral disorders, circadian rhythms, and activity patterns; these genes represent promising candidates for future functional studies.
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Turn Signal Upgrade

A while back I noticed that the amber turn signals on the Mustang did not shine at the same intensity. It was weird. I don’t know why I didn’t notice before, but I wanted to fix the issue. Today’s abnormal warm overcast Ohio weather provided that opportunity.

As you can see I found the problem immediately. The amber paint was flaking off. This is most likely due to the heat of the bulb itself. Only one bulb was like this, which is why there was a difference in the intensity of the amber color.

I upgraded to LED bulbs in both turn signals.

The LED bulbs are plug and play. As you can see, they look a little odd, but they work great. I picked the bulbs up at my local Advance Auto. It was a 10 minute DIY job. Just make sure you have a 7/16 deep socket or wrench (1995 Mustang GT).


FRCEM Overview

FRCEM Overview

FRCEM Overview

Previously the MRCEM examination was an essential pre-requisite for entry into ST4 training posts in Emergency Medicine in the UK. In August 2016 the examination structured changed and the FRCEM Primary examination replaced the MRCEM Part A and the FRCEM Intermediate Certificate examination replaced the MRCEM Part B.

The FRCEM examination is now made up of three main components:

  1. FRCEM Primary
  2. FRCEM Intermediate Certificate
  3. FRCEM Final Examination

The FRCEM Primary is a single best answer question (SBAQ) paper, consisting of 180 SBAQs. The paper is three hours long.

The FRCEM Intermediate Certificate is a short answer question (SAQ) paper, consisting of 60 three-mark SAQs. The paper is three hours long.

More information about the FRCEM examination can be found on the Royal College of Emergency Medicine website

What Doctors Are Saying

" MRCEM Exam Prep is an excellent way to prepare for the MRCEM. It is easy to dip in and out of and it's great that it works on my phone. There is a good broad coverage with in depth feedback after each question. " Dr Russell Ward, CT1 in Emergency Medicine, Guildford
" I found FRCEM Exam Prep very helpful when preparing for the primary examination. In my opinion this is the best online revision site available for this difficult exam. Thank you for providing this invaluable resource! " Dr Nebras Yahya, A&E Middle Grade, Surrey
"I am writing to thank you for the tremendous effort you people put in to develop and mature the FRCEM Intermediate exam resource. When I was taking this exam yesterday, it did feel for a moment that I am taking a mock at home. " Dr. Zohail Hassan, Emergency Medicine Doctor, Republic of Ireland,


Sowing ideas and daytime pages.

by justbekozlowski

Today I was given the task of writing down some basic information and a poem for each of the animals on the farm, chickens, cows, sheep, and pigs. I learned very quickly that I am much better at writing in the morning than in the evening.

Here is a taste of the type of nonsense I started to churn out:

Counting sheep,
Before you sleep,
Is a game to play in bed,
If you play it on the bus,
Then you’ll sleep there instead.

Then in the afternoon I helped make a cake which I can now confirm was delicious and then went to help outside.

Shortly after I discovered if you want to make someone feel unsettled as you leave them alone you should utter the words ‘be careful with the scorpions’ as you walk away.

Then I planted what I hope will be loads of broccoli.


Double Rooms

Traditionally decorated room, designed to offer comfort and relaxation during your stay. With stylish modern fittings, neutral coloured carpet and a modern private ensuite.

All our rooms have hairdryers, tea/coffee making facilities, electric kettle, flat screen TV and complimentary toiletries.

Facilities in all our rooms include:

Double Rooms Amenities Include: