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Antipsychotic Withdrawal Symptoms, Signs, and Detoxification
Antipsychotic abuse has increased as benzodiazepine prescription numbers drop. Learn the common symptoms of abuse and withdrawal for antipsychotics here.
- Access to licensed treatment centers
- Information on treatment plans
- Financial assistance options
When you think about substance abuse, you probably think of substances such as heroin, cocaine, and alcohol—not psychiatric medications. Although they aren’t abused as commonly as illicit drugs, antipsychotics can be abused, and are in fact-finding their way onto the streets.
The lure of antipsychotics may be different from other types of substances that come to mind. Growing research suggests that antipsychotic misuse is attributed to its calming effects on the brain and body as opposed to causing feelings of euphoria.1 People who struggle with anxiety and sleep disorders may be prone to misusing antipsychotics because of this.1
Medical professionals are becoming increasingly concerned about the potential for misuse of antipsychotics including quetiapine (often referred to by the brand name Seroquel). Changes in prescribing practices over the past century may shed light on the increase in antipsychotic use.1 As awareness has spread about the potential dangers of benzodiazepines and barbiturates, practitioners have changed their prescribing practices, which has led to the prescribing of more antipsychotics.1
What Are Antipsychotics?
Antipsychotics are mainly prescribed to treat mental health disorders that have psychosis as a main symptom, such as bipolar disorder, severe depression, and schizophrenia.2 Antipsychotics do not cure mental health disorders, rather they help alleviate certain symptoms.
There are two categories of antipsychotics: first-generation and second-generation antipsychotics. First-generation antipsychotics are also called typical antipsychotics or neuroleptics and include medications such as fluphenazine, perphenazine, haloperidol, and chlorpromazine.2
Second-generation antipsychotics, also known as atypical antipsychotics, were developed after first-generation antipsychotics, and several can treat a broader range of disorders.2 Some common second-generation antipsychotics include risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and olanzapine. Quetiapine, also known by the brand name Seroquel, is a medication that can be used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar depression, mania, and unipolar depression; it can be used alone or combined with other medications. It also can be used to help prevent manic or depressive episodes in people with bipolar disorder.3
Antipsychotics are sometimes used with a combination of other medications to treat various other mental health disorders. These can include depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).2 In fact, growing research is suggesting that atypical antipsychotics combined with antidepressants (especially SSRIs) can help improve the symptoms of drug-resistant depression. Low doses of second-generation antipsychotics combined with SSRIs can improve the antidepressant effects of SSRIs.4 Risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic, has been shown to be an effective adjunct treatment for PTSD and OCD.5
Like most medications that treat mental health disorders, antipsychotics influence various chemical transmitter systems in the brain. First-generation antipsychotics block a certain type of dopamine receptor, specifically the D2 receptors. Second-generation antipsychotics also block the D2 receptors, but, in addition, they block certain serotonin receptors. Some newer second-generation antipsychotics actually partially activate the D2 receptor rather than blocking it.6
Individuals can respond differently to the same medication, so it may take trials with different antipsychotics to find the right fit for an individual.2
Are Antipsychotics Abused?
Studies suggest that the most commonly abused antipsychotic is the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine (also known by the brand name Seroquel).1 Misuse of a prescription drug includes when a person obtains a prescription medication off the streets or from a friend or family member (as opposed to obtaining their own prescription from a medical provider), faking symptoms to obtain a prescription, using medication more than directed by the prescriber, or otherwise using it in a way that was not directed. Signs that quetiapine is the most commonly misused atypical antipsychotic include that it has street names and black market value, that individuals will fake symptoms to obtain it, and that individuals will snort quetiapine or inject it into their veins.1
Atypical antipsychotics are sometimes used to treat withdrawal symptoms from substances such as cocaine, alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines. However, research has not found consistent evidence that this is successful. Furthermore, some case studies suggests that quetiapine can cause drug-seeking behaviors. 1
Individuals may be more likely to abuse antipsychotics in restrictive environments such as jails and prisons since obtaining drugs off the street and obtaining controlled substances like opioids and benzodiazepines from medical providers generally aren’t options.1
Do Antipsychotics Cause Withdrawal?
Although you may have heard the term “withdrawal,” the term “antipsychotic discontinuation syndrome” may be new to you. Antipsychotic discontinuation syndrome is a name for the collection of symptoms that may occur when someone suddenly stops an antipsychotic or drastically lowers their dose.
A person may stop taking their antipsychotic medication for various reasons, such as because the medication is (or is perceived to be) not effectively treating symptoms, because it is causing unbearable side effects, or because the person does not think they should be taking the medication or do not agree with how they were instructed to take it.7
Symptoms that may be experienced during antipsychotic discontinuation syndrome include:7
- Vomiting, nausea, and/or diarrhea
- Difficulty sleeping, restlessness, anxiety, and/or agitation
- Runny nose
- Problems with muscle movement including involuntary muscle contractions, inability to stay still, and/or uncontrollable movements
Antipsychotic discontinuation syndrome symptoms generally appear within the first few days after you stop use or significantly reduce use.7 The symptoms tend to be the most severe around the one-week mark and subside after that.7
The limited research that does exist suggests that up to 40% of the people who stop taking antipsychotics, including first- and second-generation, may experience antipsychotic discontinuation syndrome.7
Discontinuation of clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, has been shown to have more severe symptoms, including rebound psychosis, than discontinuation of other types of antipsychotics. Clozapine discontinuation is also associated with more rapid onset of symptoms.7
As previously mentioned, antipsychotics are sometimes prescribed with other types of medication, such as antidepressants. Suddenly stopping or significantly decreasing an antidepressant can cause an antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Therefore, if an individual suddenly stops both an antidepressant and an antipsychotic medication, they may experience additional withdrawal symptoms or more severe symptoms. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome symptoms may include:10
- Gastrointestinal issues.
- Sensory disruptions.
- Dizziness and/or trouble with balance.
- Anxiety and/or hyperarousal
- Trouble sleeping.
- Flu-like symptoms
When people who are prescribed antipsychotics for psychotic disorders stop taking them, some relapse, meaning that their psychosis returns. However, some patients are able to sustain a psychosis-free existence after the cessation of antipsychotics. Several studies show that only 25%–55% of patients with schizophrenia who stopped taking antipsychotic medication experienced the relapse of symptoms in the first 6 to 10 months after they stopped taking them.9
How to Safely Stop Taking Antipsychotics
You may wonder if you should stop taking antipsychotics. Beginning and discontinuing the use of antipsychotics is a quandary faced by doctors treating patients with psychosis. Research has yet to determine the best practices for the management of schizophrenia over the long term.
You should never stop or change how you take your medication on your own. Talk to your medical provider prior to any medication changes or cessation of use. If it’s an emergency, such as if you are having severe side effects, call 911. Medical professionals can monitor your symptoms as well as provide guidance on safely titrating your dose. Research indicates that gradually lowering the dose of antipsychotics can decrease antipsychotic discontinuation syndrome symptom severity.7
When stopping or switching antipsychotics, medical providers may prescribe additional medication to help prevent or lessen the symptoms of withdrawal.11 Keep in mind that there is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to safely and effectively stopping or switching antipsychotics. Symptoms that were being treated with the antipsychotic, such as psychosis, depression, and agitation, can re-emerge after you stop taking the antipsychotic medication. Discuss any symptoms that develop with your healthcare provider.11
Short-term risks of stopping your antipsychotic medication include antipsychotic discontinuation syndrome and the return of symptoms that were being treated. Long-term risks can also include the return of symptoms.
Treatment Options for Antipsychotics
If you are using an antipsychotic as prescribed by a medical professional but would like to stop it or switch to something else, talk with your healthcare provider. If you struggle with misusing antipsychotics, you may need substance use disorder treatment. Options for treatment providers include general mental health care providers and providers that specialize in substance use disorders specifically. Treatment may be offered in an inpatient and/or outpatient setting.
If you suffer from a mental illness and also struggle with misusing antipsychotic medication, you may want to consider a treatment setting that specializes in integrated care for co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders are when a person has both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder. For individuals with co-occurring disorders, integrated treatment that addresses all psychiatric disorders provides better results.12
Severe depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia can have severe symptoms. Those symptoms combined with withdrawal symptoms can be especially challenging. Staff in facilities offering integrated treatment should have specialized training in treating mental health and substance use disorders and the symptoms that accompany both. If you have been misusing antipsychotics and are addicted to other substances, substance use disorder treatment is especially important.

domain: psychology


Interview | EVA Design Firm Helps Rebuild Haiti
London based design firm EVA (Emergent Vernacular Architecture) is making good on its manifest to create ethical and socially-aware design. The team of Jeannie S Lee and Andrea Panizzo have endeavored to help dig Haiti up from the rubble of a devastating and debilitating earthquake that brought the island nation to its knees. And while architecture firms lending a hand for humanitarian aid might seem like a flash in the pan or the flavor of the month for good deeds, helping others is essentially a part of the DNA for EVA.
Most recently the team visited the migrant camps of Calais before the camps were bulldozed to smithereens by the French government. So being a part of the solution is not a new venture for the year-old firm. Haiti is an investment on both a personal and professional level for the design visionaries.
We had an opportunity to chat with Andrea Panizzo while he was on a work site in Haiti and discover much of what it’s like building viable accommodations for a community in the throes of a humanitarian crisis.
CRAVE: Why are you a designer? What led you to your current drive to build and render the work that you undertake at EVA?
ANDREA PANIZZO: It was during my years of training, that I started realizing the great potential behind the role of an architect. When I started EVA with Jeannie Lee, over a year ago, we instinctively understood that we wanted EVA to be a research-based practice. The design goal is aimed at identifying and highlighting an existing pattern and upgrading the space into a landmark for the community.
Much of what we see about EVA via the site references humanitarian endeavors. Haiti must present its own unique set of challenges and rewards. When and how did Haiti become a part of the discussion at EVA? What was the process that ultimately led to EVA working with the communities to rebuild there? What sort of accommodations are being erected?
EVA was founded after I first arrived in Haiti in 2011. In fact, the work was undertaken during the early years. Port-au-Prince is eventually what made me decide to start an architectural studio on my own. I guess I like to work in challenging contexts and to establish a process to support communities through architectural design. The needs of people living in an informal settlement, educational inequity or this current immigration crisis in Europe are for instance among those social problematics that I think designers could really help with. We are currently working on different projects with Global Communities, American Red Cross, and USAID, most of which are under construction: a school for disabled children in Delmas 32 (a large-scale slum in Port-au-Prince), three public spaces in Carrefour Feuille, (another informal neighborhood which has much suffered from 2010 quake), a regional headquarter for the Haitian Red Cross and two public spaces in Caracol in Northern Haiti.
What is some of the feedback the Haitian community has given you in the wake of the earthquake about how they would like to rebuild their lives?
On one level the reality is that with, or most likely, without us (professionals) Port-au-Prince is growing informally, and Haitians build their neighborhoods themselves. However, on the smaller scale of our projects, we constantly receive feedback from community members and from builders on how to best integrate the design within the
existing context. Without those, there is no process. The key lies in keeping the conversation with the communities always open. The ultimate beneficiaries have to be involved in the design process, from the brief to the post-occupancy. I am so curious to go back to Haiti in ten years’ time and learn how the public spaces we designed will be used, and if they had a real impact on the community.
A crisis of another kind is the migrant crisis sweeping through Europe. You recently visited Calais to see firsthand what was happening at the migrant camps. Why were you driven to go to Calais? What were some of the takeaways from what you saw there? Anything inform how you might render design in the future, particularly in a humanitarian crisis?
We ultimately decided to go to visit the camp in Calais with the aim of observing and to trying to understand the situation with our own eyes. We read a lot about the Jungle, but what we saw, in reality, was surprisingly unexpected. Despite the obvious low-cost construction technologies of what has been pictured by the local authorities as a temporary camp, this community showed clear evidence of being a permanent phenomenon of human space occupation: informal retail and barber shops, restaurants, mosques and churches had been built to provide the community with a sense of identity and ownership, while migrants were waiting for formal processing.
It was disappointing indeed to see the new camp made out of shipping containers to house 1,000 refugees, built by the local authorities. It represents to us a missed opportunity. The containers are set up like dormitories and there are no kitchen facilities.
It is fenced and controlled like a detention center with no communal spaces. We just wanted to observe and learn more about the current situation, and our intent is not to make premature speculations; however a question is redundant. Local authorities don’t want a permanent settlement. And residents are not intent on staying. Could the solution lay in providing a permanent human infrastructure to house temporary residents? According to UNHCR, 17 years is the average length of stay in a refugee camp. It is unsustainable not to work together and to provide better alternatives.
Has the design community been conspicuously absent from conversation? If so, why do you think? What needs to happen to bring more architects and designers into the discussion about helping in the migrant crisis or in humanitarian crises in general?
To us, the architectural community has not been absent but has not particularly contributed to the conversation either. We believe the solution is not to provide a premature design response, but to analyze and study valuable alternatives, as architects and designers could play such a key role in this complex situation by coming up with solutions that bridge political acceptability, economic feasibility, and dignity.
What does EVA have next on the horizon? Any other camps you imagine to visit?
We will soon start the design of new public spaces and community centers in Canaan (Haiti), a settlement that started as a small post-quake tent camp of internally displaced people (built by the Haitians) and quickly grew into what is now the third-largest metropolitan area in the country.
If we have the opportunity we would like to visit the MSF camp in Grande-Synthe and the second largest refugees’ camp in the world, Zaatari, in Jordan, which houses over 80,000 Syrians. We don’t yet know where this research about the refugee crisis is going to lead us, but we are definitely interested in undertaking a deeper analysis and understanding how we could effectively assist other organizations and local institutions.


text: A vehicle in those circumstances not only bounces up and down, but rotates about an axis near its CM. The CM is generally near the center of a vehicle. The farther one sits from the rotational axis, the greater the tangential velocity (similar to sitting near or far from the fulcrum of a seesaw), as discussed on page 134. Thus, sitting near the middle of the vehicle, near the CM, provides a relatively smoother ride. Life pro tip: if you are prone to seasickness, having a cabin near the center on your cruise ship might make you happier.

domain: travel


**Editor's Note: Click here for our most recent list of hottest selling smartphones to see how the iPhone fared against the competition.**
A new report says that Apple's iPhone 6 – likely to be released later this year – won't feature a camera sensor with a resolution higher than 8-megapixels. That's to the chagrin of iPhone-owning photo-philes who have seen other manufacturers, notably Nokia, unveil handsets sporting cameras with much better resolution.
That, however, doesn't mean that the camera won't get an upgrade. Analysts with Nomura Securities told the China Post that image stabilization will be better on the iPhone 6 (which might be called the iPhone Air) than on the 5s, the 2013 version of Apple's iconic device. Improvements in flash, software and aperture size could all help you take better photos, so all is not lost if the number of sensor megapixels remains the same.
Follow senior online managing editor @Craig_Galbraith on Twitter.


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Unlike in the U.S., where the White House is required to produce, regularly, an official document outlining its national-security strategy, the Jewish state has never released any such statement, although one or two reports have come close. Yaakov Amidror has thus attempted to articulate the unwritten doctrines that have long guided Israeli strategists. Underlying his vision are certain basic, and unchanging, facts about the country’s situation:
Israel . . . will forever face a yawning gap between the size of its resident population and that of neighboring countries. The latter all have been hostile to Israel’s existence in the past, and some remain so. Israel always will be a small country in size, and hence hypersensitive to any loss of territory and to high-trajectory (artillery and rocket) fire—unlike most of her neighbors.
Israel can never reach a “fall of Berlin” moment in the Middle East, i.e., it cannot attain a decisive victory in war, such as that of the allies in World War II—a moment that would radically transform the political culture of the region [and] the desire of neighboring nations and organizations to annihilate of the state of Israel. This means that no victory in any war would ensure, once and for all, that Israel again will not face threats to its existence. Moreover, Israel’s first defeat may well be its last, certainly so if its territory ends up being conquered by Arab or Islamic forces. This is not the case for any Arab country which Israel might defeat or whose territory it might occupy.
These realities lead to many important conclusions, among them:
Israel . . . must aspire to defensible borders, i.e., lines of defense that enable the IDF . . . to parry an offensive by any hostile coalition until the reserves are called-up. Contrary to the claim that “territory has no value in the age of missiles,” the geographic dimension of Israel’s national-security concept is extremely important, and even more so in the missile era.

domain: politics


Play more games–and see more art! International Tabletop Day is coming up on April 29. Tabletop Day is a day dedicated to playing board games and having fun with friends and family, with events all over the world.
The Thinker: A CMA Blog
guest artists podcast Contemporary Art exhibitions Caravaggio textiles Photography Events Collection interview Special Exhibition Parade the Circle five things happening this week The Cleveland Museum of Art conservation #get2knowcaravaggio Paul Gauguin: Paris Exhibition wari community arts this week at cma Video music birthday treasures of heaven performing arts curator African Art international university circle Gauguin this week at the cma Education playlists museum behind the scenes visitors art film Cleveland


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Funny and bubbly. Those are the perfect words to describe Ylona Garcia when we met her during her album launch last September 7 at ABS-CBN. The 14-year old Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) 737 Teen Edition 2nd Big Placer now tagged as the Next Teen Superstar confidently faced the press with the over-all album producer Rox Santos.
At such a young age, Ylona displays great talent as she’s also into songwriting. In fact, one of the songs in her album, Win the Fight, was composed inside the PBB house. From being a front act for Filipino artists performing in Sydney, Australia (Martin Nievera, Sarah Geronimo, Gary Valenciano and Toni and Alex Gonzaga) when she was just nine, Ylona now has her own nine-track album of pop love and inspirational songs entitled “My Name is Ylona Garcia.“
My Name is Ylona Garcia is now available on Spotify (Ylona’s included in the Spotlight list of hottest new cats for 2016). For more information on the album, visit Starmusic.ph.

domain: entertainment


Custom made chin rest for Violin and Viola
Don’t play through pain! Don’t accept an ill fitting setup on your instrument!
As a performing and recording concert violinist and teacher, I’ve experienced first hand how a poorly fitting violin can limit your potential, cause pain and long term disability.
A historical first in the string world, this unique fitting process (patent pending by Frisch and Denig) is designed to enhance physical comfort and therefore, technique and sound. The Alpert Studio is currently the only officially authorized source for this service in Southern California.
A lifetime of comfortable and healthy playing
In most cases, a custom fitted chin rest will eliminate or minimize the need for a shoulder rest, and will create a healthier, more intimate and more comfortable playing experience. Fitting is currently available for full size and fractional size. A one to two hour in-studio fitting session (generally scheduled on Saturday mornings) costs $100. You’ll receive the full specifications and instructions to order your chin rest, and a customized playing analysis.
To schedule a fitting session, call Bill Alpert at 909-754-4015


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Woundtech provides technology-enabled wound management services. Our mission is to ensure that anyone, anywhere can get access to world-class wound care.
“Treating wounds in a hospital or clinic is expensive and difficult for the patient. We have created a better, more efficient way to treat wounds by bringing the clinic to patients where they live. Our telehealth platform makes this possible, as it brings together all stakeholders: health care providers, patients and the insurance companies. The platform also allows us to capture valuable data about wounds and their treatment, which we then carefully analyze to provide better, more personalize approaches.”Dr. Jeffrey GalitzChief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer

domain: medical


Hearing set on water system.
All decline pension, insurance now.
Toledo, county, state, and federal government officers will be closed Friday and Monday.
Man serving in prison, cousin accused in Toledoan’s death.
Dogs remain available at the Lucas County Canine Care & Control Office, 410 South Erie St., Toledo.
A compilation of recent Lucas County births, deaths, marriage licenses, and divorces granted.
Incidents happened in North, West Toledo.
St. John's Jesuit's Harrison Riggs scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Titans to a 76-50 win over Whitmer in Three Rivers Athletic Conference play tonight at St. John's. Vincent Williams finished with 15 points and Joey Fretti added 12 for St.
The University of Toledo men's basketball team held on to defeat Loyola (Ill.) 74-70 tonight at Savage Arena. Senior guard Jonathan Williams led the Rockets (6-6) with 24 points. Jaelan Sanford added 11 points and Steve Taylor Jr. had 10 points and
Blast leveled stalls, left rescue workers to comb through debris.


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READING GROUP: NEWCOMERS 2
The Newcomer's Reading Group 2 meets on the first Tuesday of every month.
PLEASE BE AWARE: This data base is for the TRAVERSE CITY store only. Not every searchable book on this site is in our store's physical inventory. Please check the book's availability line for verification.

domain: literature


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Just The Beginning Leggings
These stylish faux leather leggings are sure to stand out at your next yoga class! You can't go wrong with the timeless black color, while the unique textured material is so chic! It's so easy to stay stylish and comfortable while working out, running errands, or walking the dog with this lightweight material! Add a tee or tank for the perfect look!
84% Poly Microfiber, 16% Spandex
These run small - please size up!

domain: hobby


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You don’t have to be a railfan to feel absolute joy and wonder at this beloved holiday trainspotting show that includes trains wending their way through nearly 200 replicas of NYC landmarks. But if your passion for locomotives is ignited by the miniatures, follow up with a Holiday Nostalgia Ride — for the cost of one Metro ride —every Saturday in December from the New York Transit Museum.
KWANZAA: A REGENERATION CELEBRATION
Since 2006, The Apollo Theatre has celebrated Kwanzaa with this annual festival centered on family, community, and culture. This year, the ticketed event takes place on Saturday, December 30th and will include a live performance from Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, as well as other music, dance and spoken word performances.
Reserve Your Holiday Getaway in NYC Today


Metro Atlanta added 72,500 people in the past year, growth that boosted the region’s population to 4.6 million but is at a slightly slower rate than in the previous two years, according to estimates released Wednesday.
Fulton, the region’s biggest county, added the most at 16,700, the largest single-year growth in the region. Gwinnett grew by 15,100; DeKalb, 8,500; and Cobb, 8,100, the Atlanta Regional Commission said.
Meanwhile, Cherokee and Henry counties saw the top two growth rates at 3.2% and 2.5%, respectively. Cherokee added 8,200 people, outpacing Cobb County for the first time. Henry grew by 6,100, its biggest annual increase this decade. Both counties have doubled their populations since 2000.
Driven, in part, by a surge in multifamily housing, Atlanta’s population added 10,900 residents, pushing its total to 470,000.
The 10-county region’s 1.6% growth is slightly down from the 1.7% rate in 2018 and 1.8% in 2017.
Several factors could be at play. For example, the flow of people entering the metro Atlanta job market has been slowing. Nearly two dozen cities — including Charlotte, Nashville and Phoenix — have pulled ahead of Atlanta in attracting newcomers.
In-Depth: Atlanta slips in attracting newcomers as domestic migration slows
More: Metro Atlanta jobless rate drops to 3.5% in July
“The Atlanta region’s growth remains strong, driven by our diverse economy and great quality of life,” Doug Hooker, the ARC’s executive director, said in a prepared statement. “But to ensure our region’s future success, we must continue to invest in our region’s infrastructure and tackle key issues like housing affordability and equity.”
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Duende (n.) the mysterious power of art to deeply move a person. “Heightened sense of passion.”
It is incredibly brave to sit in the stillness of something beautiful. We dare to open our hearts to the isolation of depth within our own mind’s eye. Our emotions can be one of the purest, yet most vulnerable acts of our humanity.
We breathe in light, then exhale all that distracts us from our joy. That is where our true passion resides.
We have the gift of grace as a gentler place. We don’t have to be loud, or pushy or in a constant state of oneness with the awe inspiring world around us. Sometimes, too much is just too much.
We can simply, be.
We often speak of our vulnerable state of being as a super power, yet only the strongest are the duende’s of our world. Those who understand the power of gentleness intertwined with being swept away by the beauty that is all around us.
Our passion for aesthetic wonder is not to be taken lightly.
Our aesthetic world is as critical to our wellbeing as our ability to find gratitude for all things. We do this in order to process healing, find thanks in what we have as well as to honor our life experiences.
To Feel Deeply
To delve into the depths of what we feel, while holding ourselves in a space of consciousness, we allow ourselves to explore our six senses without fear. To be fully and holistically present in our experiences, we must also become conscious of how each experience makes us feel.
Human beings have been given the ability to create music, visual art, movement through our expressions. We have been given the gift of sensation and perception. When we lack sight, we gain nuance in sound. The human body is a wonderland no machine can replicate.
We the duendes have often times in our modern world, been discounted. Our value has been considered secondary to the critical minds that create lab coat sciences; precision in numbers, or practical applications of rules, designed by few, yet followed by many.
We have forgone our realization that the sound of the wave; the sight of a falling star; the wonder of light glimmering on water, are all there for us to absorb.
We are made of the stuff of passion as well as logic. One balances the other. Each emotion is a piece of the heart that beats in the rhythm of the earth itself. To heal from pain is to allow love to course through our veins. To celebrate life, we feel an emotional connection to each other. One cannot hate while also loving.
We do not fear death, while also fully embracing life. We do not hurt each other, while holding ourselves in a place of peace. Authentic, genuine, fully balanced and calibrated sentient beings have no urge to outshine one another.
We shine with each other. We feel, therefore we are.
About the Author: Karen Henry is a former university professor and now author of Indelible Women: The OM [Original Me]. She owns Henry Healing and Ink, Honey Press, a boutique Indie publishing house. Karen’s been a positive psychology practitioner since 2007.
“We Are The Positive Psychology People”
Find out more about positive psychology courses and training at


This serene urban home is embraced by its garden in the inner Sydney suburb of Glebe. The heritage house with its contemporary extension is organized around a tranquil central courtyard, merging indoor and outdoor spaces. This courtyard expands the living areas, while side courtyards offer contemplative and food-producing spaces. This functional family garden features a lawn, trampoline, basketball hoop, and a vegetable patch with a native bee hive. It serves as a peaceful hub connecting and concealing various home activities. Utilizing sandstone blocks from the house’s foundations, existing materials were repurposed for hardscape elements, reducing the need for new resources. Twin Set by Emily Simpson Landscape Architecture.


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Plans for the Ottumwa City Council to discuss the Elbow Room in downtown Ottumwa did not take place during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Councilman J.R. Richards made a motion to turn the item over to the City’s administrative team. The team is being asked to come up with a legitimate solution and present it’s decision to the council at it’s next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on December 16th.
City attorney Joni Keith told the council she is in the process of dealing with the owner of the establishment but declined to go into any details.
The Elbow Room has been the scene of several disturbances over the past several months. This as the city is spending thousands of dollars on the city’s façade program to improve the image of the 300 block of East Main Street.
Also during the meeting, being no objectors at a public hearing, the council approved a resolution to sell a portion of the city’s parking lot at the intersection of Market and River Drive to River Hills Community Health Center. The health center will purchase the property for the sum of one dollar and plans to construction a two story building to it’s existing building. River Hills will pay the cost of a survey and all closing costs. In addition River Hills will pay for the removal of the public restrooms located adjacent to the health center’s current building.
Action taken by the city council will allow River Hills to consolidate its services and remain the downtown location that will assist in the rehabilitation of the area.

domain: news


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When it comes to cocktails, my husband and I usually stick to the classics. A typical weekend night begins with a gin martini for him and a Sazerac for me. When we lived in Richmond, we really only got creative when we went out – and really, we were spoiled with craft cocktails from Saison, Heritage, and The Roosevelt. But since we’ve relocated, save for a couple of spots like Napa and Co. and Luxe, it’s been a bit harder to keep us happy out at the bars (unless we go into the city of course).
So this weekend, we decided to take on the creativity matter in the comfort of our apartment. Some of our favorite ingredients this Fall have been Carpano Antica Formula, Fernet Branca, and Laird’s Applejack, so we figured why not put them all together. Other than helping pick out the ingredients, I really didn’t have a hand in this recipe. All props go to my husband – he’s the one who does the cocktail mixing around here, I’m just the taste tester. 😉
A bit of a warning – this cocktail is a boozy one so proceed with caution. We call it Locke & Keynes for a few reasons:
- Stamford’s early nickname “Lock City” was a result of the Yale Lock Manufacturing Company producing cylinder locks in the South End.
- My husband is a finance junky and as such, much of our life together revolves around finance and economics and anything related to finance and economics. Zzzz…
- John Locke – social contract, natural rights, individual liberty, theory of value, supply and demand, etc.
- John Maynard Keynes – one of the founding fathers of modern macroeconomics, fiscal and monetary policy, etc. etc.
Makes one cocktail
1 ounce Laird’s Applejack
1 ounce Willet Copper Pot Still Reserve (or the bourbon of your choice)
1 ounce Carpano Antica Formula
1 barspoon Fernet Branca
Chill a cocktail glass in the freezer. Partially fill a shaker with ice. Add in the applejack, bourbon, vermouth, and Fernet. Stir well, until the mixture is very cold. Strain into the chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a flamed orange peel. Enjoy!


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The Importance of Design
She’s from Wisconsin and enjoys cheese and writing (not necessarily in that order), plays the piano, and believes that all design disciplines are connected and that communication is fundamental to developing solutions. With nearly 10 years of professional experience from creating identity systems, exhibition design, and user-centered research, Allison McCulloh Karas understands how to approach a design problem. It is her passion and one of the reasons she is currently pursing her master’s in graphic design at the College of Design.
Karas is a 2008 graduate of Iowa State University with a B.F.A. in graphic design. She worked as a designer at Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) in Chicago, IL. While at SOM, she collaborated with multiple disciplines including architects, interior designers, engineers, and landscape architects on a variety of projects. She strategized print and digital visual communications for urban design, architecture, high performance design, interior design, and business development. “As a designer, you need to clearly and effectively present visual solutions – in simple terms, clean graphics – to communicate the message. At SOM, I helped tell their story with books, presentations, and exhibitions. I realized I wanted more,” Karas said. “When I looked around, people were teaching, working in agriculture and so many other big things. I decided to find a way to make graphic design bigger.”
This passion and need to utilize graphic design to make a difference led her to the College of Design. Karas was inspired by the design process used by architects and how they look at things on such a large system and scale. Working with projects focusing on urban planning, she was exposed to the benefit of multiple disciplines coming together to solve problems. “In this environment (urban planning), you are working on such large problems and the need to solve major things. NC State stood out because of all the disciplines and the importance they placed on working together. I also loved the opportunity of the large university setting which allowed me to take additional courses such as anthropology.”
Karas is currently a teaching assistant for undergraduate typography and graphic design theory at the College of Design. She also taught a course during Design Camp last summer and has developed and presented a hands-on interdisciplinary curriculum workshop for the Design Lab for K-12 Education. Her most recent courses were targeted toward high school students and focused on graphic design and branding. At the core of both of these lessons is that different ideas, objects, spaces, and memories combine to form a design system and emphasis that design is involved at every point of the process.
During last summer’s Design Camp, Karas taught a design foundations course which encouraged students to explore design thinking. The theme of the camp was Food and Sustainability. Individual lessons were intended to bring a different disciplinary approach to design and to reinforce that all design problems are connected no matter what discipline you practice. Using the theme, Karas developed a creative exploration of a cafeteria setting. The premise was to have students think broadly in their interpretation of a cafeteria and all the approaches of design that can influence and change a cafeteria, including the food packaging, the serving line, the physical space, the tables, walls, and chairs.
Karas had students model the cafeteria space in 3D using recycled food containers such as egg cartons and cereal boxes. Her hope was that through this process, the students would understand and appreciate the many approaches that could be configured to create the space in addition to working collaboratively to make decisions. Building upon this lesson, she moved to a 2D mapping project where students were encouraged to identify touch points of where there could possibly be breakdowns or issues in the experience within the cafeteria. In other words—where design could improve the experience. Objects considered were chairs or furniture that could be better positioned or designed, improved signage, and the incorporation of a robotic machine that delivered or dispensed your meal.
“I’ve learned that not every student or person interprets your design problem the same. Everyone has a different or unique understanding. I learned this through teaching. It was interesting and unexpected to see some of the students’ interpretations,” she said. And it’s the interpretation of a problem or solution that provides better problem solving when the collaborative process is incorporated. Each person can bring a unique perspective or interpretation to the project that allows for a wider reach of ideas, which leads to conversation and the generation of even more ideas.
For the workshop, Karas’ intent was to use the influence of graphic design and the concept of branding to inspire students to think differently using design thinking. The course title was Breaking and Building a Brand and provided the opportunity to view design and brand through a new lens. “Brand is not just a logo, it’s so much more. I wanted a way to push this idea and teach them a take-away method,” Karas said.
Because the workshop is a six-hour class, Karas realized that using software was not an option. However, the workshop still had to be hands-on. Her goals were to provide individual and group setting interaction, teach students something that they could utilize again, and incorporate sketching, writing, and ideation. Students had the opportunity to use the design process and core visual design principles to break down what makes up a brand, and then use this learned knowledge and understanding to create (or recreate) an identity of their own.
Karas divided the workshop into different lessons. Each lesson would lend itself to the next so that students could further explore design thinking. She introduced game cards from “On the Line,” a product that Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Dr. Derek Ham helped design during his PhD at M IT. She modified the intent of the original game in order to guide students through the process of communicating a word or message with the use of pattern or image. “How do you convey active, cool, fast, or different words that they thought should be strong in the identity of the brand they were creating?” Kar as said. The process of using these cards and organizing them in a way that the final image was reflective of a specific word or emotion was just another way Karas inspired these students to think about design and how to convey a message.
Karas introduced logos that were both easily and not easily identifiable with the intention of providing an opportunity to move past any bias. From the visuals of the logos, students were asked to brainstorm words that were reflective of the brand and then think of the opposite and how they would visually present it. “When you think of Target, we immediately visualize the red target,” Karas emphasized. “I showed them other marketing visuals from Target such as ads and flyers which showed them that there are different ways to present the brand and the idea.” Karas had students explore the many different ways a brand is being represented including radio ads, the physical space, and other recognizable forms.
“The whole workshop was on branding and how it can be seen as something that is expensive or limiting. As graphic designers we are building brands and visual identities; however, the application of these brand elements such as the website, the physical space, and the logo are part of our everyday lives. The interactions—these all together form a system. The system approach and the user experience is so important,” she said.
Making graphic design bigger is important to Karas but she also wants to influence the students she taught. “As designers, our future problems are too complex to solve and we need to engage other people in this process, not just designers. We need to be comfortable approaching others in a more collaborative way. It’s important that if you are interested in design, you need to find ways to build upon this. It’s the process that builds up to collaboration, not just the programs – you need to think bigger.”

domain: artistic


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RED BANK TO RAZE HOUSE AT BOROUGH HALL
Red Bank officials said Wednesday that they’re soliciting bids to demolish a former home at 106 Monmouth Street, which sits at the edge of the municipal complex.
Owned by the borough since the late 1990s, the house has been used for record storage and as an unofficial gym for police officers, but is no longer needed by the town and has fallen into such disrepair that it’s not worth rehabilitating, said Mayor Pasquale Menna. The demolition will create extra parking spaces, he said.
Historian Randy Gabrielan has a 1953 photo of 90 Monmouth, then an auto dealership and office building, with the house visible in the distance, in one of his books available online. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)


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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — Legendary guitarist Frank Gambale has just concluded a traveling acoustic guitar clinic in Asia. Beginning in China and ending in South Korea, the tour gave audiences a rare glimpse into Gambale’s acoustic guitar prowess and inspirational wisdom. It also spotlighted the Frank Gambale Luxe Signature Model, an acoustic-electric guitar by Cort. Ideal for all types of playing from high speed soloing to strumming folk songs because of the unique strings and action set up. The Luxe is a truly unique acoustic envisioned by the man himself. Spanning three weeks, the Gambale clinics traveled to nine venues in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and South Korea.
Audiences at these venues varied from experienced, gigging guitarists to self-taught players. They all came to watch and learn from Gambale, a GRAMMY® Award-winning innovator and the originator of the “Gambale Sweep Picking Technique.” Gambale has written hundreds of songs published on more than 20 albums. He has toured internationally with his own groups, as well as the band Vital Information and several of jazz pianist Chick Corea’s bands. A “musician’s musician,” Gambale has authored many of the popular and best selling guitar instructional books and DVDs ever produced which have had a huge impact on guitar players’ musical understanding worldwide. His styles vary from rock, funk and jazz, to R&B and some Latin and Brazilian influences. Through his collaboration with Cort, Gambale set out to create an acoustic guitar for electric guitarists.
I really love being involved in the design of guitars. So I had a lot of ideas for this guitar, and I’m very happy to say that Cort listened to all of my ideas.
Gambale told an audience in Jakarta.
He explained how a lot of guitar companies approach musicians for sponsorship and maybe change only one feature on a pre-existing model, and put their name on it with no innovation. However, Cort allowed Gambale to start from scratch, making this a unique collaboration. He specifically wanted a small-bodied, concert-style guitar with a big tone. He also wanted the instrument set up to his specifications—low action from the factory, extra-light strings, and a plain G string that can be bent.
Cort also achieved Gambale’s ideal sonic quality by using fine materials. The Luxe Signature Model has a solid Adirondack spruce top and a flamed Australian blackwood body—a material that nods to Gambale’s roots. The neck is solid mahogany, while the fingerboard, bridge and headstock are ebony. Gambale designed a custom wood rosette and a unique inlay on the neck that takes design cues from the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 30s. Inspired by his daughter, he also added a three-jeweled design on the headstock. The Luxe has a sonically enhanced UV finish and is equipped with the L.R. Baggs EAS-VTC EQ. This electronic system is invisible because the volume and tone wheels are tucked inside at the top of the soundhole.
“Cort has delivered a really beautiful instrument, and it plays like a dream! All Frank Gambale Luxe come set up from the factory exactly the same as mine, which was very brave of Cort to take this chance. It is the first guitar of its kind to come from the factory set up with this kind of custom light gauge strings and low action. This is amazing to me in 2016. In my opinion acoustic guitars are generally way too hard to play with standard factory set up. It’s time to change that. It’s a simple thing, but it has never been done before. I want people to pick up the Frank Gambale Luxe, and not want to ever put it down. No fatigue, no sore fingers just straight to playing and the joy which a beautifully set-up guitar brings to the player, right from the factory!” Gambale said. As a point of comparison, he added “Cort’s Luxe matches the quality of a Martin or Taylor for a fraction of the price.”
To learn more about the Frank Gambale Luxe Signature Model by Cort, visit cortguitars.com.
About Cort Guitars
Cort designs, manufactures and delivers some of the finest guitars and basses to musicians and music enthusiasts all around the world. Over the past 50 years, the company has worked with some of the largest and most well-recognized guitar companies in the industry, as well as artists of international recognition. Cort remains focused on providing instruments that will last generations with the best workmanship possible, the best materials and components, and the best service long after the instruments have been purchased. For more information, visit www.cortguitars.com.
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My Postcrossing cards to show you this week are:
A nice beach views for Jenny in USA and Olga in Belarus.
A moose for Karola in Finland (she said she liked moose) and for Viktorija in Latvia some nice views of our town.
Katerina in Lithuania is a taylor and wanted pictures of nice clothes and Simona in Germany likes local views.
I hope I have made them happy with my choices 🙂


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A short or long holiday, taking a break is always a good idea, so enjoy a stay in the Christmas holidays at Molecaten in Overijssel.
Come to Overijssel! The reed beds of the Weerribben-Wieden, the polder landscape of the IJssel delta and the woods on the hills of the ‘Sallandse heuvelrug’ are definitely worth discovering. Be amazed by the special and cultural character of Overijssel. The combination of Hanseatic cities by the IJssel and the agricultural hinterland creates beautiful memories of your holiday in Overijssel.
The Christmas holidays with their twinkling lights everywhere are perhaps the most enjoyable. The extra days off make the weekends nice and long. It is even more pleasant to spend the weekend or the mid-week between Christmas and New Year at Molecaten. Book a merry Christmas holiday online!
Geen resultaten gevonden. Ga naar: OverijsselChristmas holiday


Mar 5, 2015
Numerous driving assistance systems offer support in the CLA Shooting Brake and reduce the driver's workload. Its standard features include the ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system and the radar-based COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS with Adaptive Brake Assist.
The CLA Shooting Brake boasts COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS as standard. The system extends the functionality of COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST with the addition of autonomous braking to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions. If the driver fails to act when a risk of collision is detected, despite the warning lamp in the instrument cluster and the intermittent acoustic alert, the system will automatically trigger braking. The vehicle speed is thus already significantly reduced. Depending on the speed in relation to the vehicle in front, this intervention may be enough to avoid a rear-end collision with vehicles that are driving more slowly, stopping or stationary, or significantly mitigate its severity.
The latest generation also includes the standard-fit ATTENTION ASSIST: Operating within an extended speed range (60 to 200 km/h), it uses a five-stage bar display to visualise the driver's current attention level. The system's sensitivity can be varied via the "Assistance" menu in the instrument cluster. If the "Sensitive" setting is selected, the system warns the driver earlier.
A series of further assistance systems can be added to this:
- Adaptive Highbeam Assist : when vehicles are detected ahead of or oncoming to the vehicle, this system automatically dips the beams and adjusts the range of the headlamps appropriate to the distance. The driver benefits from a longer dipped beam range and does not generally need to switch manually between main and dipped beam.
- Active Parking Assist including PARKTRONIC: makes entering parallel and end-on parking spaces and also leaving parallel parking spaces easier. The electronic PARKTRONIC monitors the front and rear ends during manoeuvring and warns the driver if it detects a risk of collision.
- Intelligent Light System (ILS): with five light functions, automatically adapts to the weather and light conditions and the driving conditions. ILS comprises bi-xenon headlamps with variable light distribution and dynamic headlamp range control for country roads, motorways and heavy fog, active light function, LED daytime running lamps and a headlamp cleaning system.
- Blind Spot Assist: detects vehicles in the critical zone by means of two radar sensors located at the sides at the rear of the vehicle and warns the driver by displaying a red triangle in the exterior mirror. If the turn indicator is actuated the red triangle begins to flash and a warning tone is emitted.
- Lane Keeping Assist: a camera behind the windscreen detects carriageway markings and can recognise if the car is about to leave a detected lane unintentionally.
- Speed Limit Assist: a camera fitted behind the windscreen detects speed limit signs at the roadside and compares this data to information contained in the GPS system or the digital map. The relevant speed limit is then displayed in the instrument cluster.
- Brake Hold function (standard): when stopping, for example at traffic lights, the driver merely has to press the brake pedal slightly more firmly once (and can then take his or her foot off the brake) to keep the brake engaged until moving off again. The brake is released automatically when the driver steps on the accelerator.
- Reversing camera: integrated in the handle strip on the tailgate, the reversing camera features a wide-angle lens. When reverse gear is engaged, the image from the camera is transmitted to the screen of the Audio 20 system or the COMAND system. Static and dynamic guide lines assist the driver during manoeuvring. For protection against soiling the camera only leaves its housing when in use.
- DISTRONIC PLUS: radar-based proximity control supports the driver at speeds between zero and 200 km/h by automatically adjusting the distance from the vehicles in front. In doing so it is able to apply the brakes to bring the vehicle to a complete standstill and also accelerate it again. As a result, the system is also particularly convenient in stop-and-go traffic. If the system detects that the distance is being reduced too quickly, it warns the driver with both visual and acoustic signals. Available in conjunction with 7G-DCT.
- Cruise control with Speedtronic: the cruise control maintains the preset speed. The additional SPEEDTRONIC function ensures that the saved speed is not exceeded. Both functions come as standard with the 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission and are optionally available for the models with manual transmission.
- Traffic Sign Assist: helps the driver to obey the traffic regulations. This assistant (standard in conjunction with COMAND Online) is able to recognise speed limits and no-overtaking restrictions, as well as the end of such restrictions. This information is displayed in the instrument cluster and in the map view of the COMAND display. Having detected the respective traffic sign, the system sends out visual and acoustic warnings from the instrument cluster if the driver starts driving the wrong way down a one-way road, e.g. on a motorway slip road (wrong-way warning function).
 In conjunction with Intelligent Light System


NEARLY 1,000 empty and derelict houses have been bulldozed in Burnley since the start of the Elevate housing programme.
Burnley Borough Council has produced a “balance sheet” of work done under the Housing Market Renewal Programme in recent years in some of the poorest parts of Burnley. Work included:
l The clearing of more than 940 vacant and derelict houses to make way for new housing which has been built in Burnley Wood, Stoneyholme and Daneshouse and South-West Burnley.
l More than 1,500 properties in the Elevate areas face-lifted to improve their appearance.
l The expected 15 year programme, started in 2003, has now been cancelled by the coalition government.
A spokesman for Burnley Council said: “All households and businesses in Burnley’s Elevate areas are to receive a newsletter about the work that’s been done through the scheme.
“The neighbourhood report from Burnley Council tells it like it is. We admit there are big challenges ahead with more work needed to regenerate our neighbourhoods, improve properties and boost the housing market.”
Burnley Council’s spokesman added that community facilities had been improved in each of the Elevate areas, and community groups supported.
“Looking ahead, we are committed to chasing every opportunity to bring further investment into the borough as a whole and priority neighbourhoods – whether through future government programmes, or private business investment.”


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Mary probably lived all her life tied to a thick heavy, rusty chain, covered with a piece of green rubber in the spot around her neck.
He was freed from this torment and came to us to have the opportunity to live a life as any dog deserves, not as a sadist forces a dog to live.
She is a beautiful and sweet dog, still trying to understand what it means to have her basic needs met – needs she didn't even know she had. Good food, safety and warmth, and a basic daily routine that includes doing things with people, working with them and trusting them.
She will need time to balance mentally, for now she is functional, and she is happier than she has ever been. She gets along very well with other dogs, and they help her start engaging with people for now.
With proper guidance, patience, and basic training without haste and without demands that she cannot cope with, she will become even more balanced and even happier.
She is treated for erlichia, anaplasma and heartworm- legacies of her previous life.

domain: pet


Employers interested in establishing for-credit or non-credit programs of study for the development of their employees are invited to contact the Apprentice and Employee Development Center.
- Design of customized certificate programs for employees based on the College’s for-credit classes or will assist you in developing non-credit programs to augment existing college programs.
- In cooperation with the Virginia Department of Labor and industry, technical assistance with start-up of apprentice programs, including registration.
- Coordination of apprentice related instruction (ARI) for sponsoring employers.
- Incorporation of apprenticeship, company- and industry-specific training into custom Associate in Applied Science degrees.
CCWA will lead the effort to create/expand apprenticeship opportunities. Read more in the release from Governor Terry McAuliffe.
We assist employers, industry groups and unions with registered and non-registered apprentice and employee development programs, including classes in the following areas:
- Air Conditioning
- Architectural Engineering Technology
- Automotive Technology
- Building Construction
- Computer Numerical
- Diesel Mechanics
- Glazier Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanical Maintenance


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Gaining Index-based Insight
A stock index acts as a sort of microcosm for an economy, market, or a particular sector, making it as easy to track a broad scope of securities as it would be to track a single stock. When an index falls, it means that the average price for the stocks included in the index has dropped. Some stocks in the index may grow even as the index declines, but it still signals a stronger general downward trend among the tracked stocks.
When working with the stock market, it is important to keep tabs on inflation, which constitutes an important task for any investor. Inflation level determines the various rates that influence the economy as well as, ultimately, the bond market’s yields. Price stability, however, does not mean zero inflation, but is more about having a predictably low rate of price growth that only fluctuates within a narrow corridor. The difference between a forecast and the growth target indicates to what extent the regulator should adjust its monetary policy. As a result, the inflation target is typically a set value, currently residing at the 4% mark. All further actions taken by monetary authorities to regulate interest rates are aimed at achieving this target.
Another type of stock indices are bond indices. Keeping track of major bond indices is useful as they help keep a finger on the pulse at all times and quickly assess the performance of the entire market or its individual segments with a single indicator, instead of tracking the dynamics of numerous bond-related issues. The best benchmark for measuring your investments’ performance is the total return indices. Unlike price indices, total return indices take all the investor’s returns into account.
Tracking the market via stock indices
Luck factor is practically eliminated in the stock market, but stock quotes can be affected by an ongoing situation in a certain industry or by geopolitical events. These changes do not happen by chance, even if it is impossible to take all factors that could influence the share price of a particular company into account. The main point is to be as informed as possible, study the market to make predictions, then formulate or update a successful model or strategy.
When planning to buy securities of any company, it is necessary to at least study its competitors by comparing the target company’s indicators against theirs. It may be a minor company with great prospects. For example, to grow twofold, a large company needs to make a huge effort, while its smaller competitor would only need to open a new branch in another city.
Relying on just one company and its securities is a lost cause. Unless you plan on going bankrupt, keeping “all eggs in one basket” is not an option. That’s why a good investor needs to be able to put together a decent investment portfolio. Some securities can drop in price or rise in value, in which case you will need to rebalance by buying more or selling some of the previously acquired securities.
What to pay attention to when working with securities?
Investors keep an eye on economic prospects and earnings posted by major companies via the S&P500, or “the barometer of the U.S. economy.” Its decline is a signal of deterioration in financial markets and the overall economic situation.
Аnother interesting stock index that is directly related to the S&P 500 is the volatility index VIX or, as it is also known, the Fear Index, which reflects traders’ expectations of the S&P 500 broad market index for the next 30 days or, more precisely, its implied volatility. The indicator is calculated based on the bid and ask quotes for the index option contracts.
The S&P 500 and VIX have an inverse correlation: whenever the market is falling, the volatility index is rising, and when the market is growing, the volatility index declines. The basic theory is that, if the VIX is above 40-45 — it indicates a panic in the market and that investors are fleeing risky assets. If the VIX value falls to 20 or goes even lower, the markets obviously see a rising trend.
Insight gathered from working with stock indices:
- A view of the general market situation. By looking at a single index value, an investor can immediately understand the general market trend, whether there are more buyers or sellers in the market, if the stock prices and bond yields are going up or down, and so on.
- Understanding the current economic cycle. How investors behave in stocks, bonds, and currencies largely illustrates the general state of the economy and their future expectations.
- Identifying the most promising and growing industries and market segments. Thanks to industry indices, you can understand which industries feel the best now or will be the beneficiaries of growth in the nearest or somewhat distant future.
- Evaluating the results of their investments. To understand how successful an investment has been, investors often compare their results to an index. The main goal for most investors is to earn a return at least in line with the index, but, if passive players invest in index funds for this purpose, then active investors, on the contrary, try to outplay the market. In practice, however, not many investors find relative success.
Stock market index applications
Stock market indices are useful for several key reasons:
- Tracking popular stock market indices can give you an overview of the stock market as a whole;
- Tracking lesser-known indices can help you see how a particular market segment is performing compared to the market at large;
- If you don’t want to invest in individual stocks but simply want to match the general market performance, a cost-effective way to generate solid returns over time is to invest in index funds that track the stock market indices you use.
Stock market indices offer simple investment opportunities that even novice investors can use to participate in the long-term success of the stock market. They help facilitate the understanding of how the market works without having to follow the ups and downs of each individual stock.
How to make money on stock market indices?
Indices cannot, in fact, be bought or sold like, for example, stocks. But one can make money on them, using certain derivative financial instruments:
- Index futures. When you buy or sell an index future, you are conditionally buying or selling shares issued by a group of companies included in the index. This tool is often used by investors to diversify risks;
- Index CFDs, a more affordable option for traders. CFDs can be traded using leverage. Thus, even with small investments, you will have access to the stock market. Another advantage of CFDs is that they are available in the classic MetaTrader 4 and MT5 trading terminals.
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domain: finance


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Manchester, N.H.—Aug. 22, 2012—Enterprise fleet management solutions provider Cadec Global Inc. appointed transportation industry veteran Pete Allen as Chief Executive Officer of the company.
Allen is responsible for all areas of operations and for furthering the significant progress Cadec has made both in terms of enterprise-class product development and customer satisfaction over the past year—since Cadec was acquired by investment firm BlackBern Partners. Jon Bernstein, previously Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Cadec, is appointed as Executive Chairman and will remain active in managing the company.
“Cadec has remained a constant technology innovator in this space for 35 years,” said Allen. “Everyone in the industry—myself included—watched as Cadec delivered PowerVue Enterprise, which sets the stage for the next generation of fleet management. It’s a very exciting time for the company, and I’m thrilled to be back and playing a part in its future success.”
Most recently, Allen served as Senior Vice President, Global Sales at telematics company Inthinc. He has also served in senior executive roles at GreenRoad Technologies (formerly Drive Diagnostics) and XATA Corp. Earlier in his career, Allen was a sales manager with Cadec.
“Over the past year, we have transformed Cadec’s business in nearly all areas and put the company on a course for continued growth and success,” said Bernstein. “What drew BlackBern to Cadec initially were its outstanding core technology architecture and loyal customer base. We’ve since built a strong business around that core architecture by completing and delivering much-anticipated new features, rebuilding the user interface and developing a new hardware roadmap leveraging the latest technologies. We also overhauled customer support in order to provide better and faster service to our valued customers.”
Allen will attend Cadec’s upcoming User Conference, scheduled for August 26 to 28 in Chicago, to meet customers, learn more about their needs and share more detail on his vision for the future of the company.
“At this juncture, with a solid foundation for growth established, the Board decided it was time to bring in a fleet management industry expert to help bring the business forward,” continued Bernstein. “We feel extremely fortunate to have hired Pete, who has lived and breathed transportation technology throughout his career. He has a deep understanding of the needs of our customers and the markets we serve.”


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Irish Rail accuses unions of blocking training of new DART drivers
IRISH Rail has accused unions of blocking the training of nine new DART drivers.
The accusation came after the NBRU and SIPTU threatened industrial action if the company refuses to reduce its 540 drivers’ working week.
Irish Rail said it is willing to address all issues arising from an independent report recommended by the Labour Court that was discussed at talks yesterday.
The report included recommendations on driver productivity and their working week.
It was commissioned by the court following a four hour stoppage last October and a last minute postponement of a further strike the following month.
However, Irish Rail said a “continuing organised withdrawal of cooperation” by drivers with the training of new drivers must be addressed.
“Nine trainees in DART are being prevented from completing training, affecting the company’s ability to respond to the needs of customers in the future,” it said in a statement.
It said unions have already withdrawn cooperation with a new 10-minute DART service.
“Non-cooperation with training has emerged on multiple occasions as we seek to increase the number of drivers to meet future service requirements,” it said.
“This prevents us from growing our business and our revenue, which ultimately damages our finances, restricting our ability to address employee aspirations for improved earnings, the subject of a separate claim.”
It said continuing “frustration” of training is unsustainable if it is to "progress" the drivers’ concerns.
Meanwhile, driver unions are demanding that their working week is reduced from 43 hours to 35.
The independent report recommended more detailed discussions after comparing their working conditions with their UK counterparts'.
It found that a 35 hour working week over four or five days is the norm in the UK, but Sunday work can be voluntary or obligatory.
The working week in Northern Ireland, it said, is 38.5 hours, but drivers have higher pay scales.
It said any new arrangement that might be agreed would have to take into account the totality of the drivers’ terms and conditions, as well as any extra costs or savings that would be made.
A reduction in Irish Rail drivers' working week to 35 hours would mean their pay would become fully pensionable.
Currently, just 39 hours of pay is counted towards their pension, but drivers work between 39 and 43.5 hours a week.
In a statement, the General Secretary of the NBRU, Dermot O’Leary, and SIPTU official Paul Cullen said the independent assessors’ report has thrown up some challenges for drivers.
"As recently as July 15th the Company committed to engaging on all issues contained in the Independent Report, which emanated from a Labour Court Recommendation following industrial action last autumn, Irish Rail has now decided to set its face against the preeminent Industrial Relations institution of the State by thumbing its nose at the recommended course of action to engage on all of the disputed issues, inclusive of Past productivity, reduction of the working week and improvements to terms and conditions"
Mr O'Leary and Mr Cullen went on to say:
"Both Unions today agreed at the WRC to also discuss the issue of Driver Training as part of the agenda set by the Labour Court Commissioned Report with the understanding, similar and consistent with industrial relations norms, that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, we will as a matter of course return to the WRC tomorrow morning in the hope that the Company will engage on the comprehensive agenda set out in the Report, failure to so do will result in an immediate ballot of our members for Industrial Action"

domain: law


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While showing concern for Modi, Advani rejected the statement by Dr Kalam that he (Kalam) had faced objection from NDA government while visiting Gujarat during post riots period in 2002.
"NDA had never opposed former president APJ Abdul Kalam's decision to visit Gujarat at the height of riots in 2002," reads Advani's blog which he wrote on Sunday, Jul 8.
"Last week, the media carried some select news items based on a book of memoirs titled ‘Turning Points', written by former Rashtrapati Dr. Kalam. I was surprised to find reports supposed to be based on the book about Gujarat in which Vajpayeeji was being found fault with for trying to protect the Narendra Modi Government," Advani wrote in his blog.
"Dr. Kalam's book has not been released as yet. But I have been able to procure Chapter Nine of this book captioned "My Visit to Gujarat". Dr. Kalam says that his visit to Gujarat in August 2002 was his "first major task" after taking over as President," added Advani.
The BJP leader further quoted few more lines from 'Turning Points' - "Many apprehensions were expressed, among them that my visit might be boycotted by the chief minister, that I would receive a cold reception and that there would be agitations from many sides. But, to my great surprise when I landed at Gandhinagar, not only the chief minister, but his whole cabinet colleagues and a large number of legislative members and administrators including the public were present at the airport. I visited twelve areas - three relief camps and nine riot-hit locations where losses were high. Narendra Modi, the chief minister, was with me throughout the visit. In one way, this helped me, wherever I went, the type of petitions and complaints and as he was with me I was able to suggest to him that actions be taken as quickly as possible."
Quoting above lines from Kalam's book, Advani claimed, "I have often felt that in India's political history no political leader has been as systematically and viciously maligned as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Bhai Modi. Do not these reports also reveal a conscious effort at vilification."
Clarifying Atal Bihari Vajpayee's stand on the issue, Advani stated, "the Prime Minister's casual query "Do you consider going to Gujarat at this time essential" as the P.M. wanting to stop the President from going to Gujarat? Dr. Kalam has also referred to apprehensions he had heard that his visit may be boycotted. Dr. Kalam's actual experience was totally different."
Once again praising Modi, Advani said, "Modi and his government enthusiastically cooperated with Dr. Kalam. Yet no newsman thought it worthwhile to report these complimentary observations of his!"


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We do a lot of joint book reviews, but Autumn is going to start writing some on her own, starting with Of Fire and Stars. She’s excited for her first solo book review so please remember she is 11 and be kind. Oh, and this post contains affiliate links to Amazon. You will not be charged extra for purchasing through these links but we will receive a small amount from the sale. Purchasing through our links helps keep our blog operational!!
I recently read Of Fire and Stars and was blown away by how much I loved it.
Normally i’m not big into romance books, especially teen ones. I feel they are always overdone, the man and/or woman is just a non relatable character, they’re all hot and sexy, and go too in depth. None of them truly illustrate real life love stories, everything is always a happy ending. Just, no. Not my thing.
When my first Owlcrate came I opened it to find Of Fire and Stars. I read the inside cover and grimaced, it was about a princess named Dennaleia. Her future was planned out for her since she childhood including moving to Mynaria to be married to a prince. In the new setting she has to learn to control her powers as well as her emotions. Then there was an assassination and it was up to Dennaleia and her new friends to solve it.
My mom told me “just give it a try Autumn, it sounds good! There’s magic in it and it’s about two women who are into each other.” I caved, read it, and ended up loving the book. Thank you, Mom, you were right.
Some people may find the beginning slow but I enjoyed it because it gave me time to get into the character’s shoes. The writing style was beautiful and I liked how each chapter switched perspectives. You really got to know them and how they felt about each other and different issues in the book.
After reading I realized it was kind of a mystery, but I won’t spoil it! The bond that grows between the characters gradually becomes more and more involved and you become wrapped up in the book until you are at the last chapters and stay up till midnight reading to the end. Of course I didn’t do that, Mom, I was just creating an example *cough* NOT *cough*. Normally I can read books faster but that book took me longer because it made me want every detail, every emotion, make sure I didn’t miss anything.The magic is incorporated in a fashion where it is apparent and is used throughout the book but it isn’t the main point, making it an easier bridge into other genres.
The Verdict on Of Fire and Stars
If I were to create a top 10 list of my favorite books this one would definitely be on it.


TEXT 647-360-0026 OR
Pure unadulterated vintage tone designed and engineered to the highest possible standards. Marshall is releasing 3 new handwired models, the Astoria Dual, Astoria Custom and Astoria Classic. See them in action below:
The Astoria Dual has two footswitchable channels and it switches from vintage pure-valve cleans, to higher gain harmonic distortion, to dirty-sweet overdrive. Combine this with an FX loop which is footswitchable and for more performance flexibility it also gives extended tonal shaping.
The Astoria Custom has a a single channel for tone seekers who want it vintage but with the convenience of contemporary features and switching: footswitchable valve driven FX Loop, footswitchable gain boost, and tone shaping pull switches.
The Astoria Classic is a single channel amplifier geared to players who want loud, clean valve tone, and is the perfect pure value tone for players who enjoy boutique pedals.


- 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with support for millions of colors
- Supported resolutions:
1440 by 900 (native), 1280 by 800, 1152 by 720, and 1024 by 640 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio and 1024 by 768 and 800 by 600 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio
- 128GB flash storage
- 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache
- 4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Size and Weight
- Height: 0.11-0.68 inch (0.3-1.7 cm)
- Width: 12.8 inches (32.5 cm)
- Depth: 8.94 inches (22.7 cm)
- Weight: 2.96 pounds (1.35 kg)2
Graphics and Video Support
- Intel HD Graphics 5000
- Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors
- Thunderbolt digital video output
- Native Mini DisplayPort output
- DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (sold separately)
- VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
- Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)
- HDMI audio and video output using third-party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (sold separately)
- 720p FaceTime HD camera
Connections and Expansion
- Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
- Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps)
- MagSafe 2 power port
- SDXC card slot
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi networking;3 IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
- Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
- Stereo speakers
- Dual microphones
- Headphone port
- Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone
Keyboard and Trackpad
- Full-size backlit keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement) with ambient light sensor
- Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control; supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
Battery and Power4
- Up to 12 hours wireless web
- Up to 10 hours iTunes movie playback
- Up to 30 days standby time
- Built-in 54-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
- 45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter with cable management; MagSafe 2 power port
Electrical and Operating Requirements
- Line voltage: 100-240V AC
- Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz
- Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
- Storage temperature: -13° to 113° F (-25° to 45° C)
- Relative humidity: 0% to 90% noncondensing
- Operating altitude: tested up to 10,000 feet
- Maximum storage altitude: 15,000 feet
- Maximum shipping altitude: 35,000 feet
MacBook Air and the Environment
Apple takes a complete product life cycle approach to determining our environmental impact. Learn more – MacBook Air and the Environment
MacBook Air is designed with the following features to reduce its environmental impact:
- Highly recyclable aluminum enclosure
- Meets ENERGY STAR 5.2 requirements
- Rated EPEAT Gold6
Apple and the Environment
Learn more about Apple’s dedication to reducing the environmental impact of our products and process. Or read our Product Environmental Reports for detailed information on the environmental performance of every Apple product.
Apple takes a holistic view of materials management and waste minimization. Learn more about how to recycle your Mac.
DECLARED NOISE EMISSIONS in accordance with ISO 9296
|Sound Power Level
1 B = 10 dB
|Sound Pressure Level
|Hard drive accessing||N/A||N/A|
|CD drive accessing||N/A||N/A|
- LWAd is the statistical upper-limit A-weighted sound power level (rounded to the nearest 0.1 B).
- LpAm is the mean A-weighted sound pressure level measured at the operator position (rounded to the nearest dB).
- 1 B (bel) = 10 dB (decibel).
- Logic Pro
- Final Cut Pro X
Displays and Adapters
- Apple Thunderbolt Display
- Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter
- Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
- Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter
- MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter
AirPort and Wireless
- AirPort Extreme Base Station
- AirPort Express Base Station
- AirPort Time Capsule
- Apple Wireless Keyboard
- Apple Magic Mouse
- Apple Magic Trackpad
- Apple USB SuperDrive
- Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
- Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter
- AppleCare Protection Plan
- Apple USB Ethernet Adapter
- 1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less.
- Weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
- Based on an IEEE 802.11ac draft specification. Wireless Internet access requires a base station or other wireless access point and Internet access; fees may apply.
- Testing conducted by Apple in May 2013 using preproduction 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-based 13-inch MacBook Air units and preproduction 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-based 11-inch MacBook Air units. The wireless web test measures battery life by wirelessly browsing 25 popular websites with display brightness set to 12 clicks from bottom or 75%. The HD movie playback test measures battery life by playing back HD 720p content with display brightness set to 12 clicks from bottom or 75%. The standby test measures battery life by allowing a system, connected to a wireless network, to enter standby mode with Safari and Mail applications launched and all system settings left at default. Battery life varies by use and configuration. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information.
- PVC-free AC power cord available in all regions except India and South Korea.
- MacBook Air achieved a Gold rating from EPEAT in the U.S. and Canada.
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Removing the leaves from tomato plants is a relatively simple procedure that traditionally has involved manually cutting the older leaves from the lower part of the stems. The process is performed on a weekly basis on commercially grown tomato crops to promote the ripening of the tomatoes. However, the unpredictability and high cost of the manual labor involved in the process and finding a motivated workforce for this monotonous task recently led a consortium of commercial tomato growers in the Netherlands to join forces with automation specialists at Priva to create an alternative solution. The culmination of their efforts has resulted in the development and optimization of a robot that provides tomato growers with an economically viable alternative to manually de-leafing tomato crops grown in greenhouses.
According to Dr. Tomas de Boer, the mechatronic design engineer within the Priva development team responsible for the design of the system, the Kompano Deleaf-Line robot travels on existing tube rails down lanes in the greenhouse which is populated with tomato plants spaced at intervals on either side of the tracks (Figure 1). The robot, which is fitted with a vision system and a telescopic cutter moves from plant to plant in a sequential fashion, identifying and then removing the leaves from each one.
Figure 1: The Kompano Deleaf-line robot travels on a tube rails in the greenhouse which are populated with tomato plants spaced at intervals on either side of the tracks. The robot, which is fitted with a vision system and a telescopic cutter moves from plant to plant in a sequential fashion, identifying and then removing the leaves from each one.
In the development of the system, engineers at Priva needed to ensure that the vision-based robotic system could perform continuously during day and night in the challenging environmental conditions found in commercial greenhouses. Hence the system needed to be capable of identifying small green leaf petioles - or the stalks that attachs tomato leaf blades to their stems - in a sea of other green leaves, and operate under a variety of lighting conditions, ranging from bright sunlight or artificial light to the complete absence of light during the night.
To solve these challenges, the developers chose to build the vision system around a pair of stereoscopic cameras mounted on a moveable platform, together with a telescopic cutting arm. The stereo cameras - which were each custom built from two pairs of Chameleon3 cameras with OnSemi 1280 x 1024 resolution Python sensors - capture a wide field of view from the left and right side of each tomato plant. (Figure 2).
Figure 2: The vision system for the robot uses a pair of stereoscopic cameras mounted on a moveable platform together with the telescopic cutting arm. The stereo cameras - which were each custom built from two pairs of Chameleon 3 cameras with OnSemi 1280 x 1024 resolution Python sensors - capture a wide field of view from both the left and right hand side of each of the tomato plants.
"To enable each pair of stereo cameras to capture reliable images of the tomato plants regardless of the lighting conditions in the greenhouse, the system employs a Xenon strobe light which illuminates the plant. As the strobe emits light every two seconds, the strobe triggers the stereo cameras to expose images at 30 microsecond intervals. This enables the system to capture a uniform set of images each time," said Dr. de Boer.
Once the two stereo cameras have captured a pair of images, they are transferred over a USB interface to a PC running the open source Ubuntu operating system and the Robot Operating System (ROS), an open-source software framework hosted by the Open Source Robotics Foundation, Inc. (OSRF) for creating robotic applications across a variety of platforms.
Bespoke image processing functions inside OpenCV are then used to process the images from both sets of cameras to identify the location of leaves in the tomato plants in a certain height range previously defined by the tomato growers. Having identified the location of the leaves, the image processing software then calculates the exact three dimensional co-ordinates of their petioles, which need to be cut by the effecter at the end of the robotic arm.
The co-ordinate data generated by the image processing software is passed to the Robot Operating System (ROS), which transfers the data to a set of intelligent servo drives that power motors that drive the telescopic robotic arm to the correct location on the plant. Once it reaches its destination, the end effecter then cuts the petioles, removing the leaves from the tomato plant (Figure 3).
Because the pair of stereo cameras are mounted on the same platform as the robotic arm, once the arm moves to cut one specific set of petioles, the cameras are also moved to a new location, where they capture a further set of images of the plant from a different perspective.
"These new images are processed in parallel during the cutting operation to identify any further leaves that need to be removed from the plant in any subsequent operation. The iterative procedure continues until the system cannot detect that any further leaves need to be removed from the plant. After performing a final check, the cutting operation ceases, and the robot moves along the tracks to the next plant in the greenhouse," said Dr. de Boer.
Figure 3: Once the location of the petioles on the tomato plant has been determined by the image processing software, the data is used to drive the telescopic robotic arm on the robot to the correct location. Once it reaches its destination, the end effecter then cuts the petioles, removing the leaves.
At the present time, the developers of the Kompano Deleaf-Line robot are working with members of the tomato growing consortium in the Netherlands to finalize a pre-production prototype of the system.
Those members who worked with Priva will be the first to take advantage of the system when it finally becomes available at the beginning of next year. Depending on the number of robots that are ordered by the consortium, it will then become available for other tomato growers from June 2017. As of June this year, it is also possible to pre-order the robot online.
In use, the de-leafing robot is expected to be capable of maintaining 0.75 to 1 hectares of tomato plants, depending on the density of the leaves on their stems. In larger facilities, growers can either choose to work with multiple robots or to combine the automated system with manual labor.
According to Dr. de Boer, the tomato de-leafing robot will be the first of many robots that the company plans to develop for the horticultural marketplace. These next generation systems will automate other labor intensive tasks, such as the harvesting of vegetables like cucumbers.
About Priva Group
Priva creates a climate for growth. The company leads the way in the development and production of technology for the optimization of environmental conditions and process management. Priva provides solutions for horticulture, building automation and anything in between with a unique combination of software, hardware and services.


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Deep voice talent of a professional nature with abilities for deep narrations, sexy and fun for commercials, smooth and professional for all types of presentations with diction's for voice overs, pod-casting, greetings, messages, on-hold voice recordings, voice mail, radio and television voice overs, promos, Internet, audio books, singing either solo or with music background and character voices. Offering over 35 years of radio and tv experience.
My training included School courses in Speech, Arts and Music. 35 years of VO experience. On air personality in morning markets, afternoon drive, evening markets as well as weekend promotions and specials from top 20 markets in a variety of formats.
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Edward L. “Ted” Widmer, the director of the John Carter Brown Library, a rare books library at Brown University, is stepping down from his post, in part to take a job as senior adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the university announced last week.
He’ll also serve as an assistant to new Brown University President Christina Paxson, focused on special projects.
Director of John Carter Brown Library (Brown U.) Joining Hillary Clinton’s Staff
Filed by September 16, 2012on