The very idea of mother is losing its meaning around the world, Georgian billionaire and political overlord Bidzina Ivanishvili has lamented in a recent interview, resulting in a growing global dependence on anti-depressants. While he has more pressing matters to discuss – not least, a wave of protests against his long rule – Ivanishvili could not resist the temptation to channel his inner Freud.
“Psychology is my favorite subject ever,” said Ivanishvili, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party. “My entire team has been begging me not to talk about psychology and motherhood” in previous media appearances, he admitted. Allowing that now may not have been the best time and place for it, either, Ivanishvili continued to hold forth on his belief in the deep links between motherhood and politics.
The hour-and-a-half interview, aired November 27, was intended to be Ivanishvili’s response on the political crisis that has gripped Georgia in recent weeks, as protesters have taken to the streets to demand an end to his rule after Georgian Dream failed to pass a critical election reform. But he saw the events as the manifestation of something deeper than mere electoral politics.
The rise of liberal gender-identity movements notwithstanding, Ivanishvili said that the role of a mother, as a cisgender female, is irreplaceable. The lack of a mother during childhood leads to a whole slew of issues in adulthood, and could explain why his political opponents are out in the streets, staging protests and demanding that he exit politics, Ivanishvili suggested.
The main problem of his political opponents, he went on, “is that they have no love for their homeland, though I believe they also have deeper issues” possibly linked to the lack of proper motherly love. “If I quit politics early, I will devote the remaining years to advising…Georgians to make sure that children are raised by mothers,” Ivanishvili said.
In protesters’ view, the problem is simpler: that Ivanishvili appears to have no intention to quit politics, but rather is maneuvering to extend the hold on power that he exercises through a pliant legislature, executive and judiciary.
In the past, Ivanishvili would invite the nation’s entire press corps to his hillside mansion for sit-downs that could last hours. This interview – with an obsequious journalist from the Georgian Dream-friendly Imedi TV – spoke to his increasing isolation.
It has long been Ivanishvili’s wont to digress from questions about his role as the country’s political godfather toward his fascination with psychoanalysis and the mother-child bond. “Children must stay with their mothers until they are three or four years old, so they can go through with the formation of their identity,” he said in a 2012 interview. “The biological birth must be followed by a psychological birth.”
Take former president and sworn enemy Mikheil Saakashvili, Ivanishvili said in this most recent interview. That man’s main problem was that he had no love in him, hence the mistreatment of citizens and institutions under his rule, Ivanishvili said.
As he has repeatedly, Ivanishvili dismissed the current protesters as pawns in the exiled ex-president’s unrelenting bid to return to power in Georgia. He advised the opposition, to which he referred as a collective “United National Movement,” Saakashvili’s party, “to quit banging their heads against the wall” as they have “zero chance of coming to power.”
The current anti-Ivanishvili movement, led by youth activist groups, in fact includes a mosaic of opposition parties and human rights groups, including a number of longtime Saakashvili critics and some of Ivanishvili’s own former allies. They have united around a demand to reform Georgia’s electoral law and make the parliament, now disproportionately dominated by Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party, more representative of the voters’ will.
But from the day he ended Saakashvili’s rule in 2012 and later effectively banished him from Georgia, Ivanishvili has relied on the ex-president as a bogeyman in times of crisis. Years have gone by since that landmark moment in Georgian history, Ivanishvili moved around many prime ministers, presidents (and massive trees), but Saakashvili remained his main defense against criticism of his own political record.
Taking the psychoanalysis theme and running with it, some of the interview’s viewers cast Ivanishvili’s preoccupation with Saakashvili as a Freudian rivalry. “The entire government has an inferiority complex in relation to Misha [Saakashvili],” said Gubaz Sanikidze, an opposition politician and erstwhile Ivanishvili ally. Saakashvili himself scoffed at Ivanishvili’s diminutive stature, pointing out that he is a bigger man in every sense.
Others see it as a psephological, rather than psychological matter. Framing the ongoing tension as the battle between Qotsi and Natsi, widespread pejoratives for Georgian Dream and United National Movement respectively, helps Ivanishvili play down alternative options on the ballot and engage in a Saakashvili scare campaign during elections.
Opinion polls suggest voter disenchantment with both parties and a hunger for an alternative or a diverse, multi-party government. Ivanishvili, however, claimed that the polls are completely off and again pulled in Saakashvili, saying that he controls the surveys. Ivanishvili lambasted the National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute, the U.S. organizations sponsoring the polls, for wasting American taxpayers’ money on botched surveys.
It seems ever more clear that Ivanishvili is in fact morphing into the kind of Saakashvili he always talks about, increasingly resorting to crackdowns on demonstrations, harassment of critical media and persecution of political rivals. In recent days, thuggish groups of Georgian Dream supporters, including government employees, have gone on the offensive against the demonstrations, attacking and beating anti-government protesters.
Georgian Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria told journalists on December 2 that the recent incidents were a throwback to 2011 and 2012, when Georgian Dream, then a newly formed opposition alliance vigorously opposed by the then-ruling United National Movement, faced violent attacks and harassment. She warned that these incidents could take the country into deeper political crisis. To defuse the crisis, Lomjaria called for revisiting electoral reform.


Netanyahu`s bomb prop `childish`: Ahmadinejad
Iran`s president sneered at Israeli`s presentation at the UN last week, calling the cartoon-style drawing of a bomb held up by PM Netanyahu "childish and primitive."
Tehran: Iran`s president on Tuesday sneered at Israeli`s presentation at the UN last week, calling the cartoon-style drawing of a bomb held up by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "childish and primitive."
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Israeli`s drawing of a red line to urge swifter international action against Iran`s nuclear programme was an intellectual insult to UN dignitaries.
"Red line, white line, black line and the like is for children. This is the level of this guy`s character," Ahmadinejad said at a news conference in Tehran.
"It was a primitive drawing, an insult to the audience ... It was a very ugly behaviour."
The Iranian president used the packed press conference to accuse Netanyahu of being a war-monger, saying of him: "Whoever talks of war is retarded."
At his speech last week before the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu flashed the diagram of a bomb with a lighted fuse to illustrate progress Iran has made in its nuclear programme, saying the country was approaching a threshold Israel could not tolerate.


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The rich got it wrong.
Despite a general sense of confidence in their financial readiness for retirement, affluent Americans might be overlooking critical tenets of retirement planning, according to a new Schwab survey
The company finds more than eight in 10 investors say they have a retirement plan in place, and 80 percent of these respondents say they are confident about their financial readiness for retirement.
However, when it comes to estimating how much money they’ll need once they actually retire, respondents say they’ll need on average around $66,000 in income annually, far lower than their current average income of about $115,000.
The survey also finds that, on average, respondents plan to work until they are 67 years old and expect to live to the age of 86, suggesting that they anticipate living off their retirement savings for less than 20 years. When asked directly how many years they anticipate living off of their savings in retirement, people say 21 years, on average.
Retirement confidence high

domain: sociology


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Two care companies have issued libel proceedings against Rochdale Council and its Labour leader Colin Lambert after he said that the borough was the “wrong place” to put vulnerable youngsters in private care and that their safety was not being “guaranteed”. The remarks were made last year after nine men were convicted for the illegal grooming of under age girls for sex in Rochdale.
Mr Lambert was widely quoted at the time as saying that the borough’s 41 privately-operated care homes were failing to protect the young people they are looking after. He said
“This is a scar and a disgrace on the country’s record of looking after its most vulnerable children. The council doesn’t know anything about the children who are sent to Rochdale and we do not know what is going on inside those care homes and have no right to find out. … Host councils do not ask if the needs of child are being met by the contract that they sign with the private care home operator. Rochdale borough, at the moment, in the current climate, is the wrong place to send these children, yet host authorities are doing exactly this”.
Meadows Care Ltd and Pathfinders Childcare Ltd have filed a joint High Court claim alleging that Councillor Lambert’s comments damaged the reputation of both companies. They contend that the words meant that the homes which run in Rochdale, which have been highly rated by Oftsed, were “dangerous, unsafe and damaging both to vulnerable children and society”
The claimants say that Lancashire and North Yorkshire county councils, the metropolitan boroughs of Calderdale, Doncaster, Kirklees, Rotherham and St Helens and the London Borough of Ealing stopped placements in Rochdale as a result of Councillor Lambert’s remarks.
The two claimants contend that they lost business worth more than £400,000 from eight local authorities. It said that Meadows lost £260,000 as a result of the remarks while Pathfinder is said to have lost £156,000.
Speaking on Mr Lambert’s behalf, Linda Fisher, deputy chief executive at Rochdale Borough Council said:
“The council is taking the matter seriously and the action will be defended.“
The claimants’ solicitor, Mark Manley told Local Government Lawyer
“Before issuing proceedings we requested that Councillor Lambert retract his comments and apologise but he was unwilling to do either and his comments are highly damaging, inaccurate and have cost my clients significant sums of money.
They are therefore determined to vindicate their reputations and in the absence of the serious allegations being retracted they were left with no alternative other than to seek redress from the courts.”
The claim raises a number of interesting legal issues.
First, there is the question of reference. Although it appears that Mr Lambert did not mention the claimant companies by name, his quoted words do appear to relate to all privately run care homes in Rochdale – which would, therefore, have covered those operated by the claimants. Whether this is sufficient to refer to the claimant is a difficult question on which we cannot express any view without having seen the way the case is put.
Secondly, and more interestingly there is the question of “public functions”. The two claimants were private corporations – but they may have been carrying out public functions. Under the principle in Derbyshire v Times Newspapers, public bodies cannot sue for libel. An unsuccessful amendment to the Defamation Bill sought to extend this principle to any corporation performing a public function. The proposed clause (rejected by the House of Commons and not forming part of the Defamation Act 2013) provided that
“Non-natural persons performing a public function do not have an action in defamation in relation to a statement concerning that function”.
In a blog post last week, libel reform campaigner David Allen Green, condemned the Government for refusing to accept this amendment. He argued that
“The extension of the so-called Derbyshire principle to private companies providing public functions was an important modernising measure. Under the Derbyshire principle, public bodies cannot sue for libel, as a matter of law. The actual case was in respect of a statutory corporation, but the principle has been developed to cover all public bodies, whatever their legal basis. It even now covers political parties. But the principle does not apply to the forms of outsourced services unimaginable in 1989 when the facts of Derbyshire occurred.
This means that companies (often with lucrative payments of taxpayers’ money) performing public functions can scare off critics with the threat of libel proceedings, which simply could not be possible if they were public bodies. This, of course, is unacceptable. Free and frank criticism of the performance of public functions by private companies should be uninhibited for the same reasons criticism of public bodies should be”.
The position is arguably not as clear as David Allen Green suggests. There are good public policy reasons for preventing public corporations stifling criticism by means of libel actions. Public bodies are subject to democratic oversight and scrutiny and the validity of criticisms of their operation can be tested in the appropriate democratic forum. The courts are unnecessary. Furthermore, public bodies do not usually trade and have no “commercial reputation” to protect. The citizens of Derbyshire are not going to look for alternative providers of public services if they read criticism of Derbyshire County Council in the press.
But the position may be different in relation to companies providing “outsourced” functions. They are commercial concerns with commercial reputations and businesses to run. If the amendment had been passed then such a company would, if falsely accused of wrongdoing in the press or elsewhere, have had no remedy (save in the highly unlikely event that the critic could be proved to be malicious).
This claim may be a case in point. If, on analysis, it turns out that the leader of Rochdale Council did wrongly condemn the claimant care home providers as providing an inadequate standard of care – and there is no libel defence available to the Council – then it is difficult to see why the claimants should not be compensated for any losses suffered.
It is clear that criticism of those performing public functions is a valuable form of speech which requires clear and robust protection. It is less clear that such bodies should be wholly deprived of any possible remedy in libel, however bad and unjustified the criticism turns out to be.

domain: news


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Monitoring pH as grapes approach ripeness helps ensure optimum varietal character of the grapes at harvest. Regarding taste, wines with lower pH exhibit increased astringency and increased sourness. Knowledge of pH is also important for proper control of sulfur dioxide levels. Wines above pH 3.6 are also at risk of bacterial instability.
The following chart shows that desired levels of SO2 needed for bacterial control depend on the levels pH.
Monitoring titratable Acidity as grapes approach optimum ripeness helps ensure optimal varietal character at harvest. Wines produced from grapes where the overall acid levels have become too low are often bland, flat tasting and devoid of fruit character. Adjustment of titratable acidity is important to optimize extraction of flavor components prior to fermentation.
Titratable Acidity and Harvest
Titratable Acidity (g/L Tartaric Acid) Harvest Notes
≤4.0 Monitor earlier next year.
5.0 Monitor earlier next year.
6.0 OK to pick for Dessert Wines
6.5 OK to pick for Dessert Wines and for red still wines
7.0 OK to pick for Dessert Wines and for red and white wines
7.5, 8.0 and 8.5 OK to pick for all wines
≥9.0 OK to pick for sparkling whites
Physiological Ripeness of the Grape
The appearance of the grape when aroma and flavor become apparent is considered for the texture of the skin and pulp, and the color of the skin, stems and seeds. Unripe berries are firm; ripe berries are plump, juicy, and retain their shape when squeezed lightly; overripe berries begin to shrivel, and will remain depressed when squeezed. If the skin is still green, the tannins are said to be bitter and harsh. As the tannins continue to develop, the color of the seeds darken. Liquification of the stems occurs as they go from green to a woody brown. At this point the vine is finished with the clusters and is storing resources for next season.
Physiological Ripeness as reliable indicator of when grapes are ready to be harvested is discussed on Trending Now on Accuvin’s Homepage.
Finally, BALANCE: The ratio of sugar to titratable acidity has been recommended as one method of judging optimum ripeness. The most balanced red wines are considered to be 30 : 1 Brix to Titratable Acidity ratio. For white wines a good ratio is 25 : 1, and for sparkling wines, 20 : 1.

domain: chemistry


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Images were captured in color @ 300 dpi, 8 bpc. Maps without color content were converted to grayscale in Photoshop. JPEG2000 derivatives were made from original TIFFS.
Original Call Number
No Known Copyright. The images in this collection are believed to have no known U.S. copyright or other restrictions. They are intended for non-commercial, educational use only. Please attribute this image to Special Collections and College Archives, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College.
This image has been selected and made available by a user using Artstor's software tools. Artstor has not screened or selected this image or cleared any rights to it and is acting as an online service provider pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §512. Artstor disclaims any liability associated with the use of this image. Should you have any legal objection to the use of this image, please visit http://www.artstor.org/copyright for contact information and instructions on how to proceed.

domain: library


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Son of mayor shot in alleged shootout with cops in jail arriving Friday morning
Stricter security measures have been laid out at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame to ensure the safety of suspected drug lord Rolando "Kerwin" Espinosa Jr. who is expected arrive from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday.
A three-layered security cordon was set up in Camp Crame for Espinosa the moment he arrives from the airport from 2 am to 3 am, said Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, spokesman of the Philippine National Police.
Espinosa’s father, Albuera municipal mayor Rolando Sr., was killed in an alleged shootout with policemen from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in an alleged encounter inside the Leyte sub-provincial jail last November 5.
There are two scenarios, said Carlos. One is Espinosa is to be presented to media upon his arrival in Camp Crame . The second is to have him rest first and face reporters later in the morning in a press conference.
Journalists who want to cover Espinosa in Camp Crame have to pass through three security inspections, said Carlos. The first layer is a registration desk in front of the Police Community Relations Group.
The second checkpoint is at the three entry points in front of the national headquarters and the last is at the main entrance door.
The camp's gate facing Boni Serrano Avenue is the only entrance open during the wee hours of Friday. Members of the press also have to be inspected and get clearance.
"All necessary preparations are being done," Carlos said in a news briefing on Thursday.
The young Espinosa is facing an arrest warrant from a Leyte court for possession of illegal drugs and firearms.
Medical examination and booking procedures on Espinosa will be done inside the Camp Crame .
PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, in an earlier interview, wants Espinosa to just stay in Camp Crame and just have the warrant returned by a representative. Emmanuel Tupas/DMS


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Summary: Dr. Eric Bricker’s “Controversies in Denials and Prior Authorizations”
The following article is a summary of Dr. Eric Bricker’s video titled “Controversies in Denials and Prior Authorizations.” We are publishing it in accordance with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act. He deserves full credit for this insightful information on Denials and Authorizations and how non-payment by carriers results in overall increased healthcare costs because of the revenue cycle management system. He illustrates how the “costs” to just get paid from third party payment – Fee for Service – is intentionally bad by design. Here is a link to the original content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6t099qa9iM
Introduction: As previously mentioned in our article: https://heartwoodadvisors.net/medical-underpayments-history-of-insurance-industry-to-lead-us-here/ on Medical Underpayments, insurers underpay billions of dollars to healthcare providers annually. The article provides additional evidence that the insurance industry has a financial incentive to deny healthcare to the insured supporting our claim and knowledge that they also underpay healthcare providers. Our medical underpayments solution ensures hospitals and doctors are at least getting 100% of the fees they deserve while helping them negotiate better contracts. We have many problems with our healthcare system. Legislation and insurance companies are part of that problem. It all contributes to the rising cost of healthcare in the United States.
Denials and Prior Authorization
Billing and collections in healthcare is incredibly expensive. It is referred to officially as revenue cycle management. Revenue cycle management sounds much more sophisticated. Billing and collections is hugely expensive for doctors and hospitals and other healthcare providers like physical therapists. One study from the Journal of the American Medical Association for an academic medical center in North Carolina, found that this academic medical center spent $99,000 per primary care physician just billing and collecting from insurance companies. In other words, $1 out of every $7 in revenue that they collected was spent on the actual billing and collection process itself. And that’s just for primary care. For other specialties such as emergency medicine. It can be as high as 25% of revenue is actually spent collecting the revenue. This is not due to “inefficiency and waste” on the part of the doctors and hospitals. This is part of the design of the US healthcare system and fee for service – third party payment. The incredibly expensive process of billing and collections in fee for service. Third party payment is completely by design. It is 100% intentional. Propublica had an article recently about Cigna denials. In other words, non-payment from health insurance companies where they have medical directors at various insurance companies across the United States, at Cigna just one single medical director alone denied 60,000 claims in one month. This expose of Cigna by ProPublica found that Cigna denied 300,000 claims over a two month period of time, which when you do the math on it, means that Cigna and their medical directors spent 1.2 seconds per denial. That’s called non-human review. Obviously it was a computer that was doing this, not a person. So where are these denials coming from? These denials are computerized implementations of medical policy. Medical policy is the fancy insurance term for you have insurance, but in these various clinical circumstances, we will not pay for care. It is not “medically necessary.” One example: We had one of our members who had a denial for an ophthalmologist visit where the ophthalmologist used a laser in the office for a particular diagnosis. The insurance company denied payment because they said you can’t use the laser to treat that particular diagnosis of the retina. You can use the laser for other diagnoses of the retina, but not for that particular one. And the ophthalmologist was like, that’s ridiculous. This is the normal standard of care! You can literally have over 80 pages of print about the variety of clinical situations where your insurance company will not pay. That medical policy varies by insurance companies. There are some clinical situations where Blue Cross will pay and for the exact same clinical situation, Aetna will not – and then vice versa – there might be certain clinical situations where Aetna will pay but Blue Cross will not.
The only state in America that says that medical policy has to be established by the physicians and the medical professionals themselves and cannot be established by the insurance company is actually California.
So in California, health insurance companies cannot come up with “their own” medical policy. It has to be established by professional societies of physicians and clinicians themselves. In every other state health insurance companies can just make it up. Of course the health insurance companies claim it’s clinically rigorous, but the point is, it was created by doctors that work for them. They then take software to then run through the ICD 10 and CPT codes and identify those clinical situations that per their non-coverage medical policy, and then they just deny coverage and they don’t pay – “non-payment.”
What is a CPT® code? The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes offer doctors and health care professionals a uniform language for coding medical services and procedures to streamline reporting, increase accuracy and efficiency. (Source: The American Medical Association) International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) is a diagnostic and procedure coding system endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). It replaces the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) that was developed in the 1970s. (Source: The American Medical Association)
Another form of “non-payment” by third party payers (i e insurance companies) is in the form of prior authorizations. So in denials, like in the case of that ophthalmology example I used, there was no prior authorization report. It just wasn’t covered, period. Prior authorizations are when, for certain services they will be covered. A knee or a hip replacement or for a cardiac stress test, it’ll be covered per the medical policy, but you have to ask permission in advance, and the patient has to meet certain clinical criteria in order for the knee replacement stress test in order to be covered. So UnitedHealthcare recently had an announcement that said that they were going to decrease the number of prior authorizations that they do from 13 million a year to 10 million a year. Prior authorizations – forget about whether you agree or disagree with the clinical criteria for the prior authorizations. They are incredibly burdensome from a time and resources standpoint by the doctors and the nurses that actually have to go through the prior authorization process. 13 million prior authorizations for only one insurer United Health Care, so let’s just say it takes one hour to do a private, (sometimes the health insurance, literally will put the physician practice on hold for hours) Assuming it only takes one hour (a huge underestimate) it takes 13 million hours a year to obtain prior authorizations. There are 2000 working hours in a year. If you divide 13 million by 2000, that is 6,500 FTEs that are required. So their full-time job is just getting prior authorizations from United, and that’s just one health insurance company! You’ve got Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, Molina… So United’s has stated they are going to decrease prior authorizations by 23%. That’s 13 million to 10 million a year. They realize the burden this is for doctor’s offices. Realize that this non-payments through prior authorizations is financially constricting the cash flow of the doctors and hospitals.
That’s Ok but, that’s a 23% decrease in the number of prior authorizations. That does not mean it is a 23% decrease in the amount of money that requires prior authorization. That is not 23% of the total claims spend that goes through the prior authorization.
Why? Because of what is referred to as the Pareto principle.
Everybody who works in healthcare finance should have a detailed understanding of the Pareto principle. In my opinion, it is healthcare finance malpractice. If you do not understand the Pareto principle. It’s the 80/20 rule, meaning that you have a chart here where you have the, let’s just say on the X axis, this is the number of prior authorizations, and they are broken down into five tranches of 20% each. So 20% of the prior authorizations, another 20% of the prior authorizations. Another, another, another. There’s five tranches. So this adds up to a hundred percent of the prior authorizations. Now, here you have the amount of money per prior authorizations because some prior authorizations are for procedures that only cost $250 and other procedures, other prior authorizations are for procedures that cost $250,000.
The point in the 80/20 rule is that 80% of the claims spend, or the reimbursement that requires prior authorization is in only 20% of the actual prior authorizations. And that is referred to as the Pareto principle.
It stratifies even more within that 20%. The top 4% of prior authorizations are actually responsible for 50% of the money that flows through prior authorizations. Now, notice the next 20% is only 12% of the dollars. The next 20% is only 5% of the dollars. The next 20% is only 2% of the dollars, and then the bottom 20% is only 1% of the dollars. That means that potentially if United decreased their prior authorization count by 20%, they would have only decreased the amount of money impacted by that decrease in prior authorizations by barely more than 1%. So now, is United going to choose this? 20%? Is 80% of the money that flows through prior authorization going to be impacted by their change? Probably not. It’s probably gonna be closer to the end of the money.
Plan Members Costs:
This same Pareto principle applies to plan members and costs.
- The top 20% of plan members drive 80% of the cost for the plan.
- The top 4% of plan members drive 50% of the costs for the plan.
- Notice the bottom 20% of plan members only drive 1% of the spend.
In other words, the bottom 40% only drive 3% of the spend. The bottom 60% of a planned population only drives 8% of the total spend. So when you talk about “engaging the population,” it’s important, it’s super important to know that it’s what part of the population are you engaging? Because if you’re engaging the bottom 60% of your plan members, then you’ll have almost zero impact on the plan’s cost, because that bottom 60% don’t generate any claims. So it’s not just the quantity of engagement that is important, it is the quality of the engagement. In other words, who are you engaging? It is very important that you understand the Pareto principle! So what are these prior authorizations that have very high dollar amounts associated with them? Some are orthopedic surgery and neurosurgeries ie. joint replacements like hip and knee replacements, and then spine surgeries for the lumbar spine and the cervical spine, also scoliosis surgeries. These are surgeries that cost upwards of $50,000 to over $200,000, close to a quarter million dollars for a complex scoliosis surgery. It’s for transplant, by far, the most common transplant is kidney transplants, kidney transplants below heart, liver, and pancreas transplants and lung transplants out of the water. So just know when you talk about transplants, the vast majority of those transplants are kidney transplants, which also cost over a quarter million dollars. Next is oncology. So for breast cancer and colon cancer and prostate cancer and lung cancer, those are the big cancers for a health plan, okay? For the surgery, for the chemo, and for the radiation, all of these require prior authorization. Remember, oncology is one of the top three diagnostic categories, so orthopedics, oncology, and then cardiac. So for pacemakers, i c d, which is an implantable cardiac defibrillator, it’s given to people who have congestive heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy. And then it’s also for stress tests and then for echocardiograms all require prior authorizations. There are many other medical procedures which require prior authorizations but they’re for much lower dollar amounts. The very high dollar amount areas of prior authorization are in these clinical areas. This is where the money is.
Why are denials and prior authorizations so important to a health insurance company?
If doctors and hospitals hate prior authorizations so much, and it costs them upwards of 16 to 25% of their revenue to actually do the prior authorized to actually fight the denials and the prior authorizations to actually get paid, then why in the world during negotiations don’t the doctors and hospitals negotiate out the denial and prior authorization process? They negotiate surgeries? Just don’t do prior authorizations. That could be part of the negotiation process. But obviously denials and prior authorizations are kept in the contracts because they are so important to the hospital’s, The doctors logic is that if you’re gonna put denials and prior authorizations in the contract, then you’re gonna have to pay me much more per coronary artery bypass graft. You’re gonna have to pay me much more per spine surgery. The doctors could say, instead of me paying me a quarter of a million dollars for a scoliosis surgery, then only pay me $150,000. But you gotta get rid of the prior authorization.
But the insurance company doesn’t want to do this because the denials and the prior authorizations are a very important thermostat to tightly control the medical loss ratio. Remember, the Affordable Care Act said that insurance companies must spend 80 to 85% of all of their premium on claims themselves, and they can then retain 15 to 20%, that 80 to 85% is the medical loss ratio.
You better believe the health insurance company keeps very close tabs on the claims that are being paid out, and they want that medical loss ratio to be as close to the 80 to 85% as humanly possible. Especially for publicly traded health insurance companies. They report their medical loss ratio and the Wall Street analysts look at that number with supreme importance. And if that medical loss ratio number is too high, the stock price is gonna get hammered. In order to have super tight control, because if you are a CFO at a health insurance company, then you need to make the numbers work.
If you need to adjust up or adjust down denials and authorizations in order to make those numbers work, you will. Here are the medical loss ratios for United, going back to Q3 2021, 80 3% Q4 2021, 83 0.7%. Look at that. Only 0.7% different q1 2022. The next quarter, 82% next quarter, 81.5%, 80, next quarter, 81.6%. Next quarter, 82.8%. Next quarter, 82.2%. They are remarkably consistent because they use denials and prior authorizations to fine tune the claim payments that are going out the door! And there is absolutely variability in medical care and claims coming in the fourth quarter (always higher) because that’s what people have met their deductibles therefore more claims are submitted.
You would expect more claims to be paid out in either the fourth quarter or in the first quarter of the subsequent year. You don’t see a change in the medical loss ratio quarter by quarter, because while there are changes in the size, and you know, when people are getting all their surgeries in the fourth quarter, the health insurance companies are intentionally adjusting their payment to smooth out the medical loss ratio through denials and prior authorizations.
What happened in Q3 and Q4 of 2021, COVID was still raging…
Remember that Covid didn’t start going away until the first quarter of 2022 during covid, paradoxically, the number of elective surgeries, drug replacements, knee replacements, the amount of cancer surgeries, the amount have cancer treatments, they all went down because the hospitals didn’t have the staff and the capacity, or they, for infection control purposes, they could not perform these types of procedures. You would expect the medical loss ratio in Q3 and Q4 of 21 and in q one of 22 to be lower. But then as Covid lightened up, and then as the knee replacements and the hip replacements and the spine surgeries and the cancer surgeries as they came back, you would expect the medical loss ratio to go up because more doctors and hospitals were filing more claims to make up for the lack of care that was provided during covid.
Notice what happened to the medical loss ratio? It didn’t go up.
It didn’t go up. 82%, 81%, 81%, 82 2%. It stayed remarkably flat. Why? Because the insurance carriers have the thermostat of denials and prior authorizations to tightly control. Regardless of how many claims are coming in, they can tightly go out through denials and prior authorizations.
This has significant implications for patients. When any patient goes to the doctor or the hospital, they sign a form that says that the patient is ultimately financially responsible for care. The doctor or the hospital will bill the insurance company, but if the insurance doesn’t pay, then the ultimate financial responsibility lies with the patient! Medical policy and denials essentially equals non-insurance coverage.
It shouldn’t be called medical policy. Medical policy is a completely deceptive term that should not be allowed to be used. This is non-coverage. There should be bright red letters, a non-coverage document that outlines the 80 pages of non-coverage, to call it Medical policy is intentionally deceptive!
Next up, prior authorization, again, people’s delayed or no insurance. So people don’t have insurance. They kind of have insurance. Insurance is the transference of risk. When you have medical insurance, you kind of have a transference of risk. But you have 80 pages of non-transfer of risk. In my opinion, there needs to be dramatic consumer protections to stop the deceptive practice of medical policy and prior authorizations. Listen, if you want to deny coverage and have non-coverage, that’s fine. Have non-coverage for 80 pages of stuff, but it needs to be excruciatingly clear to your plan members who are buying these policies, that this is 80 pages of stuff that your insurance will not cover, and that is never explained to people ever, and that needs to be explained front and center.
What’s the take home point for this? Non-Payment by carriers results in overall increased healthcare costs because of the revenue cycle management – Cost to just get paid from third party payment – Fee for Service – is intentionally bad by design.
Dr. Bricker (although he stated “It’s not going to change”) gave examples of Hospitals which have direct contracts with some companies like Walmart and implored employees in general to keep their HR departments aware of medical denials or prior authorizations because they are responsible for employee benefits.Find Out More About Medical Underpayment Solutions

domain: health


2014 Dodge SRT Viper – For Dodge owners, you could expect to find a great deal of things in your 2014 Dodge SRT Viper owners manual that you don’t need to really use. The fact is there are a great deal of things that can be discovered in these overviews that will prove to be extremely useful to you in the lengthy run. One such thing is suggested oil type and recommended tire pressure levels. In the owner’s manual, these are the things that you must do regularly. You have to ensure that both of them stay in good condition.
Once every three thousand miles or 5 hundred thousand miles, you should change your oil as suggested in the owner’s manual at least. Since it’s made up of synthetic hydrocarbons, the recommended oil type for Dodge engines is synthetic. This suggests that it will help in the exhaust procedure.
Exact same is the situation with the suggested tire pressure level. You should define the make, model, age, as well as height of your automobile’s wheels when asking for your tires to be serviced.
Another thing in your Dodge maintenance schedule is to examine the oil. This can be done at your favored oil change place or if you do not have one nearby, you can do it at your driveway.
Next off in your service schedule is to service your brake calipers. This is additionally pointed out in your manual. Make certain you follow your car care service schedule and have your calipers serviced at the scheduled intervals. Your brakes will certainly require to be inspected before each brake quit. If you have a clutch or pedal, you will require to have your clutch inspected and fixed annual too.
One of the most essential items detailed in the dodge owners manual is the car’s safety and security system. The 2014 Dodge SRT Viper owners manual additionally specifies that normal maintenance on the engine is a must.


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When I first started living independently, I figured out “How many kitchen utensils do I need?” There are so many options out there, and it’s challenging to distinguish the essential ones from the unnecessary ones.
I realized that having the right kitchen tools can make a world of difference. While the market is filled with sleek and trendy gadgets, I quickly learned that I only needed to buy some of them.
Starting with a basic set of utensils was more than enough to create delicious meals. So, here’s the perfect list to help you get started on your culinary journey.
How Many Kitchen Utensils Do I Need? The number of kitchen utensils you need can vary depending on your cooking preferences, but having a basic set of essential utensils such as knives, cutting boards, a spatula, and mixing bowls is a good starting point.
How Many Kitchen Utensils Do I Need?
When it comes to kitchen utensils, there are a few important items that every well-prepared kitchen should have. These essentials will help you easily accomplish a variety of cooking tasks.
- Strainer: A kitchen tool used for draining liquids from solids, typically used for pasta or washing vegetables and fruits.
- Measuring Utensils: Essential tools for accurately measuring ingredients in cooking and baking, including spoons and cups of various sizes.
- Kitchen Scissors: Versatile scissors are designed for various kitchen tasks like cutting herbs, trimming meat, or opening packages.
- Spatula for Fish: A specialized spatula with a thin, flexible blade, ideal for flipping delicate fish fillets without breaking them.
- Cheese Grater: A device used to grate or shred cheese into fine or coarse textures for adding to recipes or garnishing dishes.
- Vegetable Peeler: A handheld tool used to remove the outer skin or peel from vegetables and fruits quickly and efficiently.
- Chef’s Knives: High-quality, versatile knives with sharp, multi-purpose blades suitable for various cutting, slicing, and chopping tasks.
- Bowls for Mixing: Containers of different sizes are used for combining and mixing ingredients during food preparation and cooking.
- Sieve/Strainer: A fine mesh utensil used to separate liquids from solids or to sift dry ingredients for smoother textures.
- Chopping Board: A sturdy surface for cutting, chopping, and preparing ingredients, available in various materials like wood or plastic.
- Whisking Tool: A hand-operated tool with wire loops used for beating, whipping, and incorporating air into ingredients for aeration.
- Electric Mixer: An appliance used for blending, mixing, or whipping ingredients at high speeds, often used in baking.
- Cooking Tongs: Long-handled tools with pincer-like ends used for gripping and turning food items while cooking or serving.
- Liquid Measuring Container: A vessel specifically designed for measuring and pouring liquid ingredients accurately.
- Plastic Storage Containers: Containers made of plastic material, used for storing and preserving food leftovers or meal prepping.
What factors should be considered when determining the number of utensils you need?
The quantity of kitchen utensils required varies based on factors like your culinary practices, the dimensions of your kitchen, your household size, and your financial considerations.
The dimensions of your kitchen will impact the number of utensils you can conveniently accommodate and utilize. Compact kitchens may necessitate the use of space-saving, versatile tools to optimize storage efficiency.
Individual Cooking Styles and Preferences:
Take into account the kinds of meals you frequently cook and your preferred methods of cooking. If you enjoy baking, you might need additional items such as rolling pins, pastry brushes, and cookie cutters.
On the other hand, if you often prepare Asian dishes, a wok, and a rice cooker might be indispensable.
The number of individuals you cook for on a regular basis will impact the utensils you require. Larger households may necessitate additional utensils such as serving spoons, larger pots, and pans.
The amount of money you can allocate for kitchen utensils will determine the quantity and quality of items you can purchase. It is often advisable to invest in a select few high-quality utensils that are durable, rather than buying numerous low-quality ones that may require frequent replacement.
Caring for Your Kitchen Utensils
Taking good care of your kitchen utensils is essential to ensure they last long and perform at their best.
Cleaning on a Regular Basis:
Clean kitchen utensils after each use by hand or according to dishwasher instructions. Remove food particles, and thoroughly dry to prevent bacteria growth and rust.
Suitable Storage Practices:
To safeguard your utensils from moisture and heat damage, store them in a cool and dry place. Avoid overcrowding your storage area to prevent scratches and other potential damage to your utensils.
Regular Examination for Damage and Wear:
Regularly inspect your utensils for wear or damage, such as dull blades, cracks, or loose handles. Take immediate action to repair or replace any affected utensils to ensure they continue to function optimally.
Q:1 How many kitchen utensils does an individual typically need?
For cutlery, plan for two forks, one knife, and one spoon per person for a full-course meal. For desserts and appetizers, plan for two forks and two spoons per guest.
Q:2 What are the essential cooking utensils one actually needs?
Essential utensils include knives, measuring spoons, measuring cups, wooden spoons, fish turners, peelers, whisks, and tongs. These tools are versatile and necessary for various cooking tasks.
Q:3 How frequently should kitchen utensils be replaced?
Replace food utensils, including rubber spatulas, when they become scratched or damaged. Cracks and crumbling are signs that a new utensil is needed for optimal functionality and safety.
In conclusion, the number of kitchen utensils you need depends on factors like cooking habits, kitchen size, household size, and budget. Focus on essential tools like knives, measuring spoons, wooden spoons, and tongs.
Proper maintenance ensures longevity and optimal performance. Assess your needs and invest wisely in a well-equipped kitchen.
We hope you will be well aware of “how many kitchen utensils do I need”, after reading this comprehensive article. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below!

domain: food


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This guest post is written by Lori Lennon, communications coordinator and senior writer in the College of Science. You could say I am a little biased, but the scientists here in the College of Science at Northeastern University are doing some amazing research, which has offered up some pretty cool opportunities for them.
Photo by poptech via Flickr. I’m excited to introduce today’s guest blogger: Lori Lennon, science communications diva. That’s not her official title, just what I like to call her. Really, she’s the communications coordinator for the College of Science and she had the good fortune of attending IDEAS Boston at UMass…


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GOVERNING VS. VENTING….The Economist this week trots out a by now familiar criticism of Democratic strategy:
The Democrats’ attacks on Mr Bush seem misguided, both in principle and tactically. And it so happens that, if they gave the matter any thought, they would find they had much better grounds than these for criticising Mr Bush.
The Economist’s Republican-friendly Lexington columnist, writing about Al From and the decline of the centrist DLC, puts it this way:
Many of Mr From’s troops think that the next election is being lost. The conversation in the corridors was all about the continuing Howard Dean insurgency?and about the party’s more general drift to the left. Many people speculated that the 2004 election could be a disaster comparable to 1988 or 1972. Given a choice between governing and venting, the Democrats are going to vent.
….The biggest reason for the party’s leftward lurch, however, lies with the anti-Bush fury in the rank and file. The party faithful fume that their cowardly leaders in Washington, who supported the Iraq war, have provided an echo, not a choice. In Mr Dean they have finally found a man to express their fury.
I’ll confess that I have a hard time knowing where to stand on all this. Democrats have tried mightily over the past year to convince the press and the public that Bush makes a habit of shading the truth and pursuing policies that aren’t justified by the facts on the ground, but without much success. So now that they’ve finally found a subject where the charge resonates, they’re supposed to stay quiet just because the war was popular with a large segment of the public? That’s reason to be careful, of course, but surely the only way to defeat a popular president is to call both his policies and his judgment into question, even if those policies are popular. Maybe over time they will become somewhat less popular, no?
On the other hand, speaking more generally, Bill Clinton didn’t win his elections by large margins, especially when you take Ross Perot’s vote sucking into account, and 9/11 has clearly moved the country rightward since then. Common sense tells you that this means anyone more liberal than Clinton is vanishingly unlikely to beat Bush.
So: I think anger is fine right now, because it’s aimed mostly at the Democratic base, the only segment of the population that’s truly paying attention to the primary race at the moment. And chipping away at George Bush’s undeserved reputation for saying what he means and meaning what he says is also fine, even if some of the criticism is trivial. Eventually perhaps the criticisms will build up and sink in.
But later on, when the rest of the country does start paying attention, our candidate is going to need to tone down the anger, which probably doesn’t play well with a lot of the voters we need, and project a much more positive, centrist vision.
If Howard Dean can do that tap dance, maybe he can win. If he can’t, then Kerry or Edwards are better picks. For now, I’m still waiting and seeing.


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Income inequality is so now lopsided that eight men now own the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the world.
A top corporate CEO earns as much in a year as 10,000 garment factory workers in Bangladesh.
And the world's 10 biggest corporations together have revenue greater than the 180 poorest countries combined.
These findings by Oxfam, from a report titled An economy for the 99%, was released Sunday as the globe's leaders and the business elite traveled to Davos, Switzerland, for this week's annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The conference is partly aimed at eliminating extreme income inequality.
The study found that the richest eight people on the planet have net wealth of $426 billion — equivalent to what's held by the bottom half of the world's population.An Economy For The 99%
Yet the global inequality crisis continues unabated:
• Since 2015, the richest 1% has owned more wealth than the rest of the planet.
• Eight men now own the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the world.
• Over the next 20 years, 500 people will hand over $2.1 trillion to their heirs – a sum larger than the GDP of India, a country of 1.3 billion people.
• The incomes of the poorest 10% of people increased by less than $3 a year between 1988 and 2011, while the incomes of the richest 1% increased 182 times as much.
• A FTSE-100 CEO earns as much in a year as 10,000 people in working in garment factories in Bangladesh.
• In the US, new research by economist Thomas Piketty shows that over the last 30 years the growth in the incomes of the bottom 50% has been zero, whereas incomes of the top 1% have grown 300%.
• In Vietnam, the country‟s richest man earns more in a day than the poorest person earns in 10 years.


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Philadelphia to open a quarantine facility for people who can’t go home
Philadelphia officials plan to soon open a quarantine facility for people who cannot sequester themselves at home.
City Managing Director Brian Abernathy said Monday afternoon that officials have secured a site and are now recruiting people to operate it. City officials declined to say Monday if any of the 175 Philadelphia residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 are currently experiencing homelessness.
Details of the site such as its location will not be made public “to protect the privacy of those who might need quarantine,” said Mike Dunn, a spokesperson for the city.
The news came hours after local officials moved forward with a long-planned effort to clear a homeless encampment in the tunnels beneath the Center City convention center. The city moved forward with the plan despite guidelines issued Sunday by the Center for Disease Control that recommended against breaking up homeless encampments during the COVID-19 pandemic, angering some housing advocates who came out to protest what they describe as a “forced eviction.”
“I think it was unnecessary, especially because a lot of people are really worried about the virus spreading within homeless shelters,” said Sterling Johnson, one of the housing advocates who came to witness the shutdown on Monday.
But Liz Hersh, director of the city’s Office of Homeless Services, said that the clearing of the encampment accords with local guidelines around how best to serve unhoused people during the viral outbreak. She emphasized that the city did not just cavalierly move forward with their encampment shut down without regard for the COVID-19 outbreak. They evaluated the risks and benefits before deciding to still move forward.
“We did not go rogue here,” Hersh said.
Hersh draws a distinction between the expansive homeless encampments seen in many West Coast cities, like Seattle and Los Angeles, where dozens of people live under overpasses and in public parks.
Today, city staffers counted 16 people spread across the two convention center tunnels, she said. The small number allowed members of her team to work with the city’s Department of Public Health to screen everyone for symptoms.
Before shutting down the encampment, Hersh’s team performed an analysis of Philadelphia’s smaller encampments and determined that living on the street in the conditions at the convention center would make people far more vulnerable, she said.
“They really have very limited access to basic hygiene and sanitation, like regular hand-washing, which is still the main protocol for avoiding contagion,” said Hersh.
Under normal conditions, there are bathrooms available in Reading Terminal Market and a variety of other restaurants and coffee shops nearby.
The Hub of Hope is available, as are rest facilities in City Hall and the Municipal Services Building. Now they are all closed.
“People who live outside don’t eat regular meals, they don’t sleep in regular beds where they can be warm and safe and dry,” Hersh said. “Even under the circumstances, we really do think being inside increases the protective factors that we are able to offer someone.”
But advocates like Johnson said that the city does not have the capacity to safely shelter people in settings that could staunch an outbreak of coronavirus. Homeless shelters are a type of group-living facility, after all, and residents often don’t have their own rooms.
Johnson said that the people experiencing homelessness he spoke with at the Convention Center this morning told him that city outreach workers had offered living space, but they chose to stay in the encampments because they felt the shelters didn’t keep them far enough away from other people.
“I think there’s a worry about sharing facilities with large groups of people,” Johnson said. “Whether it’s an assisted living facility or nursing home or a dormitory, you just have greater exposure.”
Hersh said that the city is taking precautions to ensure Philadelphia shelters are as safe as possible.
They’ve moved beds further apart, even reduced capacity in some locations so there’s more space between residents. They have grab-and-go meals and provide education about hand-washing and coughing protocols.
If people are living outside, she notes, it would be harder to get them medical treatment.
“If someone does develop any symptoms, we know it right away, and we’re able to get them the medical treatment that they need right away,” said Hersh. “We think that being inside, under the circumstances, really does increase the protective factors that we are able to offer.”
Researcher Josh Leopold of the Urban Institute in Washington said he was surprised to hear that Philly cleared an encampment despite the new CDC guidelines. Even under normal circumstances, there are arguments for and against closing encampments. It basically comes down to what the conditions are in the encampments and what alternative housing is available. But for now, Leopold thinks the CDC’s guidance is fundamentally correct.
“If you’re talking about a highly infectious virus and a population that meets a lot of the risk factors for it, I think that changes the calculation,” said Leopold, a senior research associate in the think tank’s Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center. “I don’t think it’s a great idea.”
In California, state and local leaders have successfully negotiated with hotel owners to secure housing for unsheltered people.
In San Francisco, hotels are being used to quarantine both homeless people and infected health care workers, but Governor Gavin Newsom says that across the state, rooms would be used as housing to help accommodate the state’s staggeringly large homeless population.
“There are millions of hotel rooms that are vacant that can provide private … accommodations for people who need to get sort of out of these high volume shelters,” said Leopold.
WHYY is the leading public media station serving the Philadelphia region, including Delaware, South Jersey and Pennsylvania. This story originally appeared on WHYY.org.
WHYY is one of over 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push towards economic justice. Follow us at @BrokeInPhilly.


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Telecom operator Uninor is going to take an initiative called ‘Project Sampark’. It announced that it had received a grant of US$ 70,000 by GSMA’s Mobile for Development Foundation for the pilot phase of the project. It is a seven-month long project which seeks to address the socio-economic reasons behind gender mobile access gap and empower women through ownership and use of mobile phones.
An investment of about US$ 183,654 has been made in this joint initiative of Uninor and GSMA to enhance telecom industry in rural pockets of the country. Initially, the project will be launched in UP(West), UP(East) and Bihar, and after measuring its results and accessing the impact, the project will be rolled out in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. It targets to add 6,000 new subscribers in rural areas a month, with at least half of them being women.
Morten Karlsen Sorby, CEO, Uninor, stated, "The launch of ‘Project Sampark’ is a first step in the direction to using mobile connectivity to deal with the developmental challenge of gender disparity in mobile usage. This project will be truly path-breaking in its intent as well it will be self-sustainable, scalable and continue to provide livelihood opportunities for women while building awareness of the benefits of mobile connectivity."
About 40 women and four supervisors, mainly Anganwadi and ASHA supporters, would participate in the pilot phase of the project to be launched in 87 villages of Aligarh district of Western UP. These women promoters will sell mobile prepaid connections and recharge vouchers at the customer’s door step. An innovative product called ‘Jodi Pack’- a pair of SIMs linked to each other, sharing benefits of recharge or talk time top-up – will be introduced to appeal to male members of the family so that they&nb sp;allow women to own mobile phones.
Uninor operators will also spread awareness through street plays and outbound call centers to constantly serve onboarding new customers, handholding them to explain the usage and benefits of the mobile phone.
“We see this as a huge opportunity from an operator’s point of view. This is just not part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility, but a self-sustaining business model. This project makes commercial sense to us as well as become an important tool to provide women livelihood,” Rajeev Sethi ,Chief Marketing Officer, Uninor stated.
Uninor is majority owned subsidiary of Telenor Group – one of the major mobile operators


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Bam Huey Handspun Lace Yarn starts from 60% Merino 40% BamBoo fiber that I hand paint with Landscape Dyes, then hand spin into a 2 ply lace yarn. Bam Huey Handspun is soft yet strong making it great for next to the skin projects from socks to shawls.
The inspirtation for the colorway Moon Beams came from late night walks in the forest. The trees are so dark in the night and the light of the moon shines through almost blinding you with the bright blue and purple light. I couldn't bring you those Moon Beams, but here is my version just waiting to be knit into a lacy shawl to flutter in the moon light with you.
Is this listing out of stock? Need a larger/smaller skein? JUST ASK! I would be happy to spin up a custom order for you!
Details for this skein of Bam Huey Lace Yarn


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Reliable establishment is vital to ensure high levels of production and longevity from perennial pastures. Perennial pasture seeds are generally small with seedlings that are delicate and slow growing compared to most crops and many weeds. Greater care and attention to detail is therefore necessary to establish perennial pastures successfully.
The following checklist of eight critical steps will help you achieve successful establishment and reduce the risk of failure.
Optimum sowing times and species will vary with regions but the principles embodied in these eight steps will remain the same.
1. Select, assess and plan early - start at least 8-12 months before sowing
Key check: Assess the existing pasture, soil fertility, weed and pest risk
- Are the current pasture varieties well adapted and productive or should they be replaced?
- What livestock enterprise and potential pasture use is planned? – match these with appropriate species.
- Is a current soil test result available? – it can provide vital information to assist decision making.
- Is the soil pH and fertility level suitable for the proposed pasture? If not, reassess paddock selection, species, fertiliser, and need for lime or gypsum.
- What weed and insect pests need to be controlled? Competition from annual grasses is the major cause of poor establishment. Some weeds may need to be controlled over several years before sowing.
- Are any herbicide residues present that could affect the species being sown?
- Sowing equipment – ensure equipment capable of placing seed accurately is available and in working order.
- Budget carefully for the appropriate inputs – paddock preparation and sowing, herbicides, insecticides, seed, and fertiliser. Budget for fertiliser in subsequent years and extra livestock to make use of the extra feed grown.
2. Weed and pest control in preceding year(s)
Key check: Reduce weed seed reserves in the soil and insect pests by using techniques such as spray-graze, spray fallow, pasture-topping, spring fodder crops and integrated pest management procedures. This step must commence in the previous spring for autumn/winter sowing to prevent annual weed seed set.
- Is the boomspray calibrated and operating correctly?
- Are broadleaf weeds a problem? – consider the spray-graze technique.
- Are annual grass weeds a problem? Spray fallowing is preferred to spray topping because windy spring weather can prevent spraying at the correct time so that annuals still set sufficient seed to cause establishment failure during the following autumn.
- What insect pests are present or likely to be present that may affect establishment? Strategic spraying in spring, to reduce the adult population that produces over-summering eggs, is very effective in reducing red legged earth mite activity the following autumn but may not be as effective for blue oat mites. Insecticides may be added to the spray fallow or other herbicide applications provided the strategic timing of the insecticide is not compromised and is consistent with label directions. Other pests of seedling pastures such as lucerne fleas, scarabs etc. will require different control measures.
3. Pre-sowing cultivation or grazing
Key check: Manage the paddock for 3-4 months prior to sowing to reduce trash and maximise weed germination.
- Conventional sowings – use cultivation in conjunction with herbicides.
- Direct drill or surface sowings – graze leading up to the sowing period to keep pasture only 1–2 cm tall when using sheep or 3–4 cm tall with cattle.
4. Absolute weed & pest control - the most important factor for success
Key check: Allow full weed germination after the break of the season. Either cultivate or graze to keep weeds small while waiting for optimum sowing conditions. Remember both red legged earth and blue oat mites hatch after the autumn break especially when maximum day temperatures are below 20°C. They start producing eggs 6-8 weeks later.
- As a rule, don’t sow on the first rain of the season (as subsequent weed germination is likely to be a problem).
- Identify what weeds are present or likely to be present.
– either use the appropriate herbicide at label rates, or
– cultivate to achieve a firm, fine weed-free seedbed.
- Identify what pests are present or likely to be present and apply the appropriate insecticide. For earth mites, spray 4 weeks after the autumn break. This often coincides with the knock-down herbicide application prior to sowing.
- Where sowing into a dry seedbed is the only practical option (e.g. direct drilling cracking clay soils), good weed control in the previous season is paramount.
- Preferably sow without cover crops – these compete with the young pasture for moisture and light just like weeds.
5. Adequate soil moisture - enough for quick germination and survival of the sown pasture
Key check: Moisture extending from the surface to at least 20 cm
- Provide a firm, moist seedbed. This allows close contact between the soil and the seed. Seeds can then absorb moisture, germinate and emerge more quickly and reliably. (Arrows indicate direction of moisture flow.)
- Sow when conditions are best for germination and survival
– temperate perennials: from autumn through to early spring (depending on the district)
– sub tropical species: sow late spring to early autumn.
- Generally avoid dry sowing as it increases the risk of failure. Where dry sowing has been successful, competition from weeds has been minimal and germinating rainfall has been sufficient for seedling survival until follow-up rain has fallen.
- For temperate species which can be sown in the cooler months, adequate soil moisture is more important than time of sowing.
6. Accurate seed placement - neither exposed nor buried too deep
Key check: For direct drill sowings of most small seeded species, 5% of seed/fertiliser should still be visible in the row; for ploughed seedbeds, tilth over the seed should be no more than 1 cm deep.)
7. Monitor weeds & pests regularly after sowing
Key check: Look for pests and weed seedlings at 10-14 day intervals after sowing. This check is most often overlooked.
- Check pastures for pests regularly. For earth mites this may require close inspection on hands and knees and using glasses if needed for reading. Treat young pastures immediately if mites are found – many mites will probably not be seen.
- The likelihood of insect pests being present is generally greater in direct drilled than conventionally sown new pastures.
- Control weeds with selective herbicides or possibly with grazing in grassy situations.
- In direct drilled pastures under warm, moist spring conditions, slugs may be a problem. Slugs can be detected by placing wet paper under bags or boards at several sites. A registered insecticide is available for use at or after sowing if they pose a significant threat.
8. Initial & subsequent grazing
Key check: Are grasses 10-15 cm tall and well anchored and is there good soil moisture?
- Once grasses are 10–15 cm tall and under good growing conditions, a quick grazing will enhance tillering and root development. Graze heavily but quickly down to 2.5 cm then rest.
- Always allow grasses to set seed in the first year. Hay cutting is never recommended in the first year.
- Never graze newly sown pastures early under dry conditions or if grasses are poorly developed.
- Avoid grazing aerial or surface sown pastures before they set seed. They are rarely well anchored and are easily pulled out. Stock moderately in the following growth season (e.g. autumn for temperate species, spring for sub tropicals).
- Some pastures have specific grazing requirements (e.g. lucerne and chicory require rotational grazing for good persistence).
- Recent research suggests perennial grasses will be more persistent when rested, especially under adverse conditions i.e. given some form of rotational grazing at least for part of the year.
- The most efficient grazing system for any farm will generally involve a combination of set stocking and some form of rotational grazing.
Remember the most expensive pasture is the one that fails to establish properly.
Such pastures have reduced productivity and carrying capacity, are more prone to weed invasion and have a reduced capacity to combat various aspects of soil degradation. These deficiencies continue throughout the entire life of the pasture. It rarely pays back the cost of establishment and it eventually has to be re-sown.
Keys, M.J (1996) ‘Prime Pasture Establishment Field Guide’ NSW Agriculture booklet ISBN: 0 7310 5784 8. (Available from NSW Agriculture, PO Box 408, Queanbeyan 2620. Cost $20.)
Cornish, P.S (1984), ‘Soil physical requirements for germination, root development, plant production and survival’, Proceedings of the Riverina Outlook Conference, Wagga Wagga : 7.
Flemons, K.F., Cuthbertson, E.C and Cradock, F. (1963), ‘Drilling fertiliser with seed lifts early yields from coastal pastures’, The Agricultural Gazette, 74: 293.
Sund, J.M., Barrington, G.P. and Scholl, J.M. (1966), ‘Methods and depths of sowing forage grasses and legumes’, Proceedings of the 10th International Grasslands Congress: 319
Livestock health disorders
Pasture improvement may be associated with an increase in the incidence of certain livestock health disorders. Livestock and production losses from some disorders are possible. Management may need to be modified to minimise risk. Consult your veterinarian or adviser when planning pasture improvement.
The Native Vegetation Conservation Act (1997) may regulate some pasture improvement practices where existing pastures contain native species. Inquire through your office of the Department of Land and Water Conservation for further details.

domain: biology


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A note from our Commercial Director, Charlie Cox on the contribution required for the House of Lords Sub-Committee review.
It’s important that you, as a PSC contractor, are doing all you can to make sure you’re on the right side of IR35
Making sure all our customers are prepared and that determinations are being done and communicated throughout the supply chain effectively, will ensure a smooth transition come April.
From Artificial Intelligence to Robotics and Data Science, APAC remains as an irresistible magnet to global tech giants with its world-class innovation.
Following on from the successful and transformative year within technology that was 2019, 2020 is set to push the barriers even further in terms of technological trends.
Progressive Recruitment were delighted to attend and showcase at major technology event CEBIT Australia recently at Sydney's ICC.
Comprising of energy-rich nations – Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait – the Middle East can continue to expect massive growth, particularly for Kuwait.
An important message to any end client who is considering making blanket IR35 determinations.


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Drama Style Review: The Prime Minister & I
This is one of the shows that in my personal blog commentary I ended up commenting on clothes a lot. Like any good drama, the clothing is used to set up characters visually, just as the writers are doing through scenes. Though this show was by no means deep, it was heartfelt, and had a very grounded sense to it.
Partially because of the characters (have you ever met a more common-sensical hero?), but level of attention to things like clothing help make the world more real.
Let’s start with our Titular Prime Minister. As the grounded one, he actually changes the least over the course of the show. He’s well-dressed from the start. (Secretary Seo probably colluded with his wife to create this look.)
The structure of his suit is deliberate, though it’s not particularly loud. Because he’s not a tall man, they choose to buff him out around the chest with not just a suit blazer, but a wide tie (always tasteful) and often a scarf lining the coat for an extra layer.
He’s often in navy or lighter greys, because though occasionally demanding he’s not particularly stern. They also had to make sure to accentuate any youthfulness to him. In the scene when he gets “street clothes” to go into the club after his wife, we actually see him being both handsome and looking a little dated for his clothes. Suits do not do this.
We can see that he’s handsome because he’s got a fashion-aware choice of colors to his still-classic suit with tie and tiebar.
Then, we have the cameleon Yoona. At first I was a little skeptical, at her somewhat clothes-horse look. As the drama settles in, though, I realized that they use this to show Nam Da-Jung’s way of throwing herself into her role. As a paparazzi urban-hunter type reporter, she is both stylish and rough-and-ready—boots, distressed jeans, jackets.
The jarring notes, then, of her ridiculous “housedresses” show that she’s trying hard and it’s a little too hard. Kwon Yool rightfully cannot stand her pink-and-bunny-fur nightmare vision of what a cute but responsible housewife wears. And then she goes for Sound of Music on chaebol wife steroids…
(images from Korean Drama Fashion)
It’s an outward expression of her determination to make the relationship work, and also make the family work.
She settles into more of those neutrals, and outfits made up of actual chic clothing turned into a more traditional skirt-with-blouse look. It’s not an accident that when she runs away to stay with her dad she always reverts to jeans and sweaters, putting off her image. When she just visits him, she’s wearing First Lady outfits.
The other major character with an emotional barometer built into their clothing is Team Leader Kang.
Aside from his permanent face of woeful prettiness, he also wears a lot of black. It suits his position, as a starter aide, to be in only black with white, but he also wears out a series of navy, with choke-hold black turtlenecks, or tighter-wound scarves than the Prime Minister, and not in contrast colors.
As he truly falls for Da-Jung, some color enters, but still in a monochromatic scheme.
I specifically noticed, then, the scene in which he first wears a tweed in lighter tones, like in the photoset’s second row. It was not a particularly intense scene, but I thought “he’s made a clean breast of it and now is relieved”. His brother’s not recovered, but he knows that Kwon Yool is a good man, that he’s going to stick by him. That he’s not going to steal Da-Jung from him.
It could be a black moment for him, all discovered, all his ambition lost, but his dress tells us an important thing: no, his life has been black. He’s now in alignment with what he knows is right, and he can breathe.
I could be reading a lot into it, but seriously, who goes from all black all the time to a lovely Harris Tweed without a serious philosophical watershed?
I do love those lovely driving gloves, though I didn’t get a decent screencap. Is he hiding his intentions, as is apparently the symbology? I think he’s still in his maelstorm of “do I tell, I think I’m wrong” so it’s quite possible.
It’s interesting, from my perspective as someone studying emotional health, to note that he gets physically sick at his darkest moment. That Da-Jung comes as the only person he can rely on. This rings true to me—he’s so upset and conflicted that his body just gives him notice. And I think that though not much happens in this scene, the fact that he both doesn’t try to get Da-Jung on his side, or even make a move on her, is one of his critical moments of realizing that he wants to do the right thing.
After all, he really does admire Kwon Yool, even if he hates him for it. That’s why he keeps on setting out tests in watching how he acts as Prime Minister, to see what he’s really made of.
This is now too long, and I didn’t get to Secretary Seo, who is probably the best-dressed of all. I will note that I may have been looking for it, but she *does* start wearing flowy-er clothing as she leaves Kwon Yool. She dresses professionally once aide to the brother-in-law again. Her pantsuit as elected representative in her little moment in the epilogue? Does a much better job than the scene of establishing her as an independent woman, once again on her feet, and come into her own.

domain: artistic


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“We do our best to increase the sum of human knowledge as pertains to the story of starlight.”
Annie Jump Cannon: Celestial Computer
Annie Jump Cannon was the eldest child of Wilson Lee Cannon, a successful ship-builder and state senator, and Mary Elizabeth, his second wife. She was born in Dover, Delaware on December 11, 1863 and as a young girl became enthralled with astronomy from excursions with her mother who taught her the constellations. Cannon graduated from Wellesley College in 1884 where she studied physics and astronomy with famed professor Sara Whiting.
For the next eleven years, Cannon studied music and traveled. It was during this time, after a bout of scarlet fever, that she lost her hearing. Upon the death of her mother, she decided to pursue her interests in astronomy and went to Radcliffe College as a “special student” for two years. Edwin Pickering was instrumental in her obtaining this special status. In 1896, she joined the ranks of computers at Harvard College Observatory.
Cannon’s duties included cataloguing variable stars and classifying the spectra of stars in the southern hemisphere for the Henry Draper Catalogue project, the counterpart to Maury with the northern hemisphere. In her free time, Cannon poured over the observatory’s photographic plate collection, studying variable stars.
Possibly due to her deafness, Cannon was “recognized even during her lifetime as the world’s expert in identifying and classifying stars, with incredible accuracy and speed.” By the time of her death, she had classified up to 350,000 stars, at a rate of up to 300 per hour.
Cannon refined the cataloguing schemes of her predecessors, Fleming and Maury. With Fleming’s scheme, she reduced the categories to seven and arranged them by temperature, from high to low, leaving OBAFGKM. With Maury’s system, instead of lower-case letters, Cannon used numbers from 1-10 to reflect gradation within each category. Her category scheme was so “user-friendly,” it was officially adopted as the standard in 1910 by the International Astronomical Union. Today, with minor changes, Cannon’s system is known as the Harvard Spectral Classification.
Cannon worked at Harvard College Observatory for 45 years, until her death at age 77 from heart failure and arteriosclerosis on April 13, 1941. During that time, Cannon took over the duties as Curator of Astronomical Photographs when Fleming died in 1911. Cannon also published several volumes of catalogues, including her “Provisional Catalogue” in 1903, with a revision in 1907 listing 1,957 variable stars and their discoverers, the most complete list of its kind at the time. She also revised the Henry Draper Catalogue down to 8th magnitude, published in sections between 1918 and 1924.
Cannon was recognized by her peers for her contributions to astronomy. She received six honorary degrees, one from Oxford University, the first given to a woman, and was the first woman to receive the Draper Gold Medal. With the money she received from one award, the Ellen Richards Research Prize of the Association to Aid Scientific Research by Women, Cannon established an award to recognize contributions to astronomy by women.
Annie Jump Cannon, Wellesley University
Please note, the papers on this site are for your enjoyment only and are not peer reviewed. When originally written, they included citations. These have been removed to protect the innocent and to deter plagiarism. Also, please note that this site is monitored by Turnitin.com.


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Nothing beats a strong, mood setting soundtrack to bring the best out of a movie. It could be a brooding, ominous score to a horror movie, an Ennio Morricone spaghetti western theme, or a synthwave science fiction score. No matter what the movie is, the soundtrack is key.
We see a few excellent soundtracks pass through our hands here, and below are just some of the latest arrivals. You can view our entire selection in our store now.
Return Of The Jedi: 1983 US vinyl LP, featuring dialogue & music from the classic George Lucas space opera, housed in a stunning movie still picture sleeve complete with a 16-page souvenir full colour photo booklet. Thesleeve remains in its opened shrinkwrap and shows only minor wear to the opening edge and the vinyl has just a couple of hairlines, which do not affect play.
National Lampoon’s Animal House: 1990 UK issue of the 1978 14-track LP, featuring music from the soundtrack of the classic film, including Elmer Bernstein’s original score & further Rock & Roll gems, picture sleeve. The sleeve shows minimal wear & the vinyl looks barely played
Beverly Hills Cop: 1984 UK 10-track LP, featuring music from the soundtrack to the classic Eddie Murphy movie, including Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer & hits by The Pointer Sisters, Glenn Frey, Patti LaBelle, Danny Elfman &more. The picture sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear & the vinyl remains in excellent condition with few signs of play
Find more collectable soundtracks at eil.com, and if you are looking to sell items, contact 01474 815099
eil.com – the world’s best online store for rare, collectable and out of print Vinyl Records, CDs & Music memorabilia since 1987


U6620S switching power supply chip is a high-performance current mode PWM off-line flyback converter power switching application. U6620S switching power supply chip has a high-precision 65kHz switching frequency oscillator inside, and has a frequency jitter function to optimize EMI performance. The chip adopts green energy-saving mode and hiccup mode to work, which can guarantee a standby power consumption of less than 75mW.
U6620S integrates complete protection functions, including: VDD under-voltage protection (UVLO), VDD over-voltage protection (OVP), cycle-by-cycle current limit, short-circuit protection (SCP), overload protection (OLP), over-temperature protection, soft start, VDD Clamping and CS pin open circuit protection, etc.
Features of U6620S switching power supply chip:
Primary side constant current technology that can support discontinuous mode and continuous mode
±5% constant current accuracy; ±1% constant voltage accuracy
Standby power consumption<75mW
Fixed 65KHz switching frequency
Green power saving mode and hiccup mode work
Ultra-low starting and working current
Integrated frequency jittering function to optimize EMI
Current mode control with integrated internal slope compensation
Constant current technology with integrated line voltage and inductance compensation
Integrated self-healing mode protection function
The pin position analysis of U6620S switching power supply chip:
Pin 1 is the VDD IC power supply pin. Pin 2 is the ground of GND IC. Pin 3 is the FB feedback pin. Loop regulation is achieved by connecting an optocoupler to this pin. The PWM duty cycle is determined by the pin voltage and the current detection signal on pin 4. 4 CS current detection input pin. Pins 5, 6, 7, and 8 are the drains of Darin power MOSFET.
The recommended output power of U6620S switching power supply chip is 20W. U6620S switching power supply chip application: charger and adapter, motor drive power supply.


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Longaberger Co., famous for its baskets, has gone out of business after years of decline.
The company sent a note to its sales consultants Friday saying “Longaberger, at this time, has ceased operations,” according to The Columbus Dispatch.
CONTINUED COVERAGE: Basket maker Longaberger Co. is closing: 5 things we learned today
The note told sales consultants to “please take action as soon as possible” in contacting credit-card companies and also advised against attempting to place any further orders.
The Dispatch reported that Longaberger has been been hit with hard economic times and changing consumer tastes, falling into a slow decline for years from its peak when it had $1 billion in sales and nearly 8,000 employees.
A little under two years ago Longaberger left its famous basket-shaped headquarters building in Newark, east of Columbus, and late last year had moved 25 miles further east to Dresden.
The New York Stock Exchange suspended trading on the shares of Longaberger parent JRJR Networks, based in Dallas, less than a month ago.
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domain: finance


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Published: Sep 28, 2016Paignton Zoo's press officer, Phil Knowling, explains how the Great Big Rhino Trail is made up of many different colourful things, much like a mosaic.
My wife makes mosaics. She uses small coloured tiles, pieces of stained glass, ceramic beads and metal jewellery items. From this assortment of tones, textures and materials she creates beautiful, coherent images. My point being, the bigger picture can be made up of many different things.
This summer, The Great Big Rhino Project is Paignton Zoo’s bigger picture – and it’s made up of stories, photo opportunities, insights, surprises, video clips, quotes… These are our small coloured tiles, our pieces of stained glass, our ceramic beads and metal jewellery items. Some are happy, some are sad, but all are – we hope – interesting.
So far we have profiled artists, interviewed sponsors, told the stories behind rhino designs, celebrated creativity and decried vandalism. We’ve done stories about full-size painted rhinos, medium-size school and community rhinos and small, collectible ceramic rhinos. The Met Office and partners created a hi-tech rhino that can be controlled by Tweets; it’s in complete contrast to Blossom, a rhino delicately painted by botanical illustrator Kate Wilson with realistic and identifiable plants and animals. Publicity is a mosaic.
You can’t just bleat on about the desperate threats to wild rhinos for ten weeks – people will turn off. The trick is to find an easy way for people to engage with a difficult subject. Rhinos are killed for their horn, which is both worthless and worth its weight in gold. It’s a pointless, bloody waste. How do you make that fun?
Well, one way is to create a free public art trail of 40 life-size painted rhinos, put them out on the streets of Exeter and Torbay and invite people to find them. I grant you, it could be seen as an oddly superficial response to a grim and grave problem, but a free public art trail is easier for people to love than a rhino carcass with its face hacked off. And, by loving the trail of painted rhinos, we hope people will become more aware of the threats to real live wild rhinos and more sympathetic to their conservation.
Local businesses have responded in many ways. Some have stumped up hard-earned cash to become rhino sponsors. Others have done what they do best: for example, Bays Brewery have produced a Rhino Ale; the Cockington Chocolate Company has created a chocolate rhino that is being raffled to raise cash. Each to their own; play to your strengths. In that way a wide range of interesting, unusual, different and surprising stories can be used to build up the single bigger picture. Just like a mosaic…


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ANOTHER ROUND OF REPORT OF BRUTAL VIOLENCE COMING OUT OF LOFA COUNTY BETWEEN LORMAS AND THE MANDINGO ETHNIC GROUPS AGAIN.
Report emerging out of Liberia indicates that there was a brutal violence attack on the Mandingo community in the town of Zigidda, Lofa County. This incidence happened on Monday March 18, 2013 around the hours of 7 to 8pm. According one of the sources, Mr. Seleke Konneh, who was a also a victim of the attack; “it was during our regular evening prayer time when the town crier ran around with an announcement that the Lormas devil is about to come out and that everyone should be indoors. This was an unusual announcement of such ritual. The imam informed the Lormas community that shortly after our prayer, which should last for about 5 to 7 minutes, we will go indoors until such ritual is performed. However, this did not sound too good to our Lormas brothers and immediately, they started throwing stones both at those us standing outside of the mosque and on the zinc of the mosque as well.” This, according Mr. Konneh resulted into retaliation by them, which brought the situation under control somehow. Mr. Konneh furthered that to their surprise, the Zigidda Lorma community had communicated to the nearby Lorma towns to come in their defense against them (Mandingoes). By 3am, we (Mandingoes) came under a serious attack that led several people wounded and hospitalized, Mr. Konneh said. Commenting further, Mr. Konneh said that the Lormas attackers used spears, machetes, knifes and steaks to inflict wound on them. Almost all of our buildings and business were destroyed completely with everyone in the town living in fear, Mr Konned added.
Another source who preferred not to be named, informed me that during a ritual performance by the Lormas in keeping with their tradition in the town of Zigidda on the same day, four members of their members broke some rules and escaped from punishment. The leadership of the traditional ritual ordered that those men be brought back to face the required punishments. Unfortunately, only two of the men were caught while the other two headed to an unknown destination. According to this source, the men doing the chase went to one of the escapee’s home and beat up his pregnant wife who later delivered a pre-matured baby. While in pain as a result of the beating, the head of the Lorma ritual tradition had ordered that no one takes her out of the town until her husband returns, the source said. The source added that despite this announcement, a Mandingo fellow made his motorcycle available to have this pregnant lady transported to the Zorzor hospital for treatment. The assistance given to the humiliated pregnant lady by the Mandingo fellow, the source said, sparked up the brutal tension between the Lormas and Mandingoes communities in the town of Zigidda, Lofa County. Four of the wounded victims (all Mandingoes) are believed, to be hospitalized in Zorzor while the police are carrying on an intense investigation into the matter.
One would think that violence of such nature would not have taken place after a very nasty and brutal uncivil war in our country that lasted for about some fifteen years. While our country is sinking in an abyss of poverty with some good Liberians finding a sustainable ways to peaceful coexistence, national reconciliation and nation building, some individual Liberians are still drunk with spicy violence attitudes. Despite the fact of using the route violence with no success in the past, some individual Liberians will still not let go. I think it is about time we expunge from our hearts, the tough and ugly feelings for one another and move on as a peaceful nation. We have got to stop the attitude of see no evil, hear no evil and be truthful to ourselves as Liberians.


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Sometimes spicy, sometimes sweet,
But always a tasty, anytime treat.
When it's for breakfast, when it's for lunch,
You might find yourself eating more than a bunch.
Made with sausage, eggs, and cheese,
Or maybe lettuce and tomatoes, if you please.
Anyway you eat it, it's a yummy, tasty treat.
When you're hungry and don't know where to be,
Head on up to a taco restaurant,
Katherine Marie Duffer, Age 11
Katherine submitted this poem to the 2008 Poetry Competition and it appeared in that year's Young Pegasus Anthology. This could be your year to have a poem published! Visit the Young Pegasus Website to find out how.


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Long gone are the days that pumpkin flavor is only associated with fall. With the love for the pumpkin flavor, and the use of canned pumpkin, it’s becoming a staple of your diet all year long. Generally associated with Fall, the new cookbook Pumpkin it Up! by Eliza Cross is set to break tradition and give you ideas on how you can enjoy your favorite pumpkin year round.
We were sent a copy of the beautiful cookbook that instantly makes your mouth water. Inside you will find some of the more traditional approaches to using pumpkin, but the majority of the recipes are a departure from what you’d expect. From breakfast options, snacks and brownies or even Pumpkin Cheesecake French Toast. The cook book is beautifully laid out and complimented with delicious images that will inspire you to get in the kitchen and start cooking.
If someone tells you that you shouldn’t enjoy pumpkin year round, ignore them. Enjoy the delicious and healthy squash whenever you want, and try some new and inventive ways to enjoy the flavor as you go. Pumpkin It Up! will turn the biggest critics into believers that pumpkin is a year round food.
About Pumpkin It Up!
Amidst the pumpkin-flavor frenzy that occurs every fall season, Pumpkin It Up! is here to usher you through a full range of pumpkin possibilities. Discover sweet and savory ways to pumpkin up every meal from beverage to dessert. Pumpkin Tortilla Soup will please the pickiest of pumpkin eaters, and Pumpkin Tiramisu will tempt you to cook with pumpkin throughout the year.


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Our carbon and bamboo kit is easy to build, lightweight, and durable with the capacity for the following:
- Lightweight carbon lugs weighing 0.7kg
- 16 step-by-step build videos
- Illustrated and detailed A4 build manual
- Modular dropouts for direct mount disc, QR, single speed, and thru-axle.
- Finish in any colour
- Rack and mudguard fitting
- Up to 32mm tyre clearance
- Internal cabling
- Calliper brake bridge supplied
Build with a buddy - Save 15% on a second kit. The club began with people building together and we think it's the best way to experience the build.
Delivery and Brexit
We ship twice a week and aim to have your kit to you within 5 working days.
Brexit - We ship 80% of our kits internationally. All customers in the EU will have UK sales tax (20%) removed at checkout. On import, you will be charged your local sales tax by our courier.
Ask a question
Time to build
A total of two days to complete your build. One day to build the frame and apply the finishing and another day fit all the components (wheels, handle bars etc.) To order component packs click here to see options.
We offer complete support via telephone, e-mail, and video calls so you can always get in touch with any questions.

domain: hobby


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Red Fawn Stuffed Greyhound Sewing Project
15 designs by artbyjanewalker
All designs by Jane Walker
I have an Illustration degree from the Rhode Island School of Design, and I love creating my own original designs for fabric! "FABRIC COLLECTIONS" below allows easy viewing of related designs.
Your choice of red fawn brindle greyhound, or several other color variations available as fabric panels -- coordinating fabric also available.


Wiener Linien, which runs public transport in the Austrian capital Vienna, has ordered 62 of the shorter, 19.73m version of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro CapaCity bendybus.
The four-axle Capacity still has extra large proportions but takes second place behind the extended 21m L version, which recently found favour with Hamburg’s Hochbahn undertaking and Dresden (Global News, December). The CapaCity was introduced in 2007 as a 19.54m variant.
The Vienna CapaCitys have space for 48 seated and 120 standing passengers. Three additional outside cameras make them more manageable to drive. They are part of an order for 200 Citaros for Vienna that also include 12m rigids and 18m and Citaro G artics.