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On each of our trips to Vilnius, my husband Paul and I make it a point to leave Old Town, where we always base ourselves and spend most of our time, to stroll along Gediminas Prospect in New Town. It’s a one-mile walk along a route lined with cafes and shops, made longer by our many stops to eat and shop. Our goal, however, is Lithuania’s Parliament at the end of Gediminas Prospect. For us it’s a pilgrimage to honor those who died, were shot or crushed beneath Soviet tanks at the TV Tower in January 1991, almost a year after Lithuania declared its independence from the USSR.
On one side of the modern Parliament building are the remnants of the 1991 barricades, now enclosed in glass to protect them. But on the opposite side, we noticed something new on our last trip in July 2013. A timeline of Lithuania’s history has been erected there, graphically displaying the extent of Lithuania’s territory at various points in its thousand years of documented history.
What most riveted our attention was the display labeled “1392 to 1430.” It showed Lithuania, then called the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, sprawled across much of Eastern Europe, encompassing present-day Lithuania as well as parts of Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia and all of Belarus. The Grand Duchy was the largest state in Europe at the time.
The fact that the Grand Duchy included Belarus interested us the most, since we had planned a three-day excursion there as part of our next trip to Lithuania. We decided to search for Lithuania’s medieval and Renaissance past while in Belarus, visiting castles associated with Lithuania’s grand dukes, the Lithuanian nobility, or both.
It’s a drive of 105 miles from Vilnius to historic Grodno in western Belarus. The roads are good, but delays at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border can stretch into hours. We were not lucky; our Belarusian driver told us the Lithuanians were “miffed” at the Belarusians—or vice-versa—so our border crossing took almost three hours.
Grodno / Hrodna / Gardinas
Grodno, which the Belarusians call Hrodna, and the Lithuanians Gardinas, is located on the Neman (Nemunas) River, just eighteen miles from today’s Lithuanian border. Grodno began as a fortified trading center, possibly as early as the late tenth century. By the middle of the thirteenth century, it had come under the control of Lithuanians, notably Mindaugas (c. 1200-1263), Lithuania’s first and only crowned king, who is credited with founding the Lithuanian state. Vytautas, grand duke at the time of Lithuania’s greatest territorial extent in the early fifteenth century, stayed here while preparing for the Battle of Žalgiris/ Griinwald (1410), which successfully and decisively eliminated the threat to Lithuanian territories from the Teutonic Knights.
Stephen Bathory, Grand Duke of Lithuania as well as King of Poland (and Prince of Transylvania to boot), made Grodno his royal residence in the late sixteenth century. A later grand duke and king, Stanislaw II August, abdicated here in 1795 after the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, when Russia swallowed up Lithuania. He was the last king and grand duke of the Commonwealth.
What’s left at Grodno are two castles high above the river, linked by an arched stone bridge. The one called Old Grodno Castle was built by Grand Duke Vytautas around 1390-1400. It was rebuilt in Renaissance style by Stephen Bathory almost two hundred years later. The castle’s five Gothic towers are gone, but a good stretch of stone wall, a nowdry moat and a two-story Prince’s Palace are left. The Old Castle suffered greatly during the Russo-Polish War of 1654-1667 (also called the Thirteen Years’ War) and the Great Northern War with Sweden in 1700-1721.
After a major fire in 1735, the New Grodno Castle was built just steps away from the Old Castle and joined to it by a stone bridge. This new castle was home to two rulers, August III (1696-1763), who made it his summer residence, and Stanislaw II August (1732-1798), who abdicated here. Because of the devastation of World War Two, little is left of the original eighteenth century palace, but it’s since been reconstructed as a grand neoclassical structure.
Both castles now serve as museums. The Old Castle houses a small archaeology and folk art collection plus very large natural history and history museums. The New Castle disp lays period furnished rooms and art. We were told by a castle administrator of plans to restore the Old Grodno Castle to look the way it did during the Renaissance reign of Stephen Bathory.
Throughout most of the life of the Grand Duchy, Grodno was its second largest and most important city after Vilnius. Grand dukes often resided here, important foreign visitors were received here, and this is where the Seimas (Parliament of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) often convened.
Lida / Lyda
Our next stop was Lida Castle (Lyda or Lydos pilis in Lithuanian), seventy-one miles northeast of Grodno. Lida was one of several castles built in the early fourteenth century by Grand Duke Gediminas, who is also credited with founding the city of Vilnius. He built the castles to defend against the Teutonic Knights, who warred against the Lithuanians in a “crusade,” ostensibly to convert the pagan Lithuanians to Christianity, but actually to acquire territory for themselves.
An interesting aside: in the fifteenth century, Grand Duke Vytautas gave Lida Castle to Khan Tokhtamysh, his military ally, who was a descendent of Genghis Khan’s eldest grandson. Tokhtamysh had revolted against Timur (or Tamerlane), one of the greatest of the Mongolian conquerors, and needed a safe refuge.
From the outside, the brick-faced castle is imposing and seemingly impregnable, with two tall towers at its northwest and southeast corners. Yet the Teutonic Knights managed to capture it several times during the fourteenth century, as did the Crimean Tatars in 1506; the Russians in 1659, during the Russo-Polish War; and the Swedes in the early eighteenth century, during the Great Northern War, when they blew up the castle’s towers.
An entire settlement with barracks, stables and wells once stood inside the large, 264 foot square, courtyard, which is now being restored and will soon house a restaurant and gift shops in the reconstructed buildings. In the meantime, visitors can walk along the wooden walkways high along the castle’s inner wall and climb inside one of its towers.
Navahrudak / Naugardukas
It’s only a twenty-seven mile drive southeast of Lida to Navahrudak, which Lithuanians call Naugardukas. It’s hard to imagine this castle’s historic importance from what’s left. On one of the highest hills in Belarus (1,066 feet), high above the city of Navahrudak, stand two ruined towers, all that remains of one of the most important strongholds of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and once the center of its growing empire.
Lithuanian King Mindaugas may have been crowned here in 1253 and possibly buried here or nearby in 1263. After repeated attacks by the Teutonic Knights throughout the fourteenth century (1314, 1321, 1341,1390,1394), Grand Duke Vytautas added four stone towers to the castle. Three more were built a century later to strengthen its defenses, but this didn’t stop the sieges of the Crimean Tatars (1505), Russians (1654-1657) and Swedes (1706), not to mention the devastation of twentieth century wars and occupations. The two towers are the sole survivors of750 years of turbulent history.
Mir / Myras / Myrius
Thirty-two miles southeast of the sad, scanty ruins of Navahrudak stands the glorious palace of Mir (Lithuanians call it Myras or My rius). The land that Mir Castle stands on once belonged to Grand Duke Vytautas, who gave it to his brother Žygimantas Kęstutaitis, who himself became grand duke in 1432. In the early sixteenth century, Mir passed to Yuri Ilyinich, a local magnate, who built the first castle here, a fortress like structure of thick walls, towers, drawbridge and moat. Since his grandson died childless, in 1568- 1569 the castle passed into the hands of the famous and prolific Radvila- Radziwitt family.
The Radvilas, a family of Lithuanian origin, rose to prominence and power in the fourteenth century, acquiring land and properties in Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Belarus. When they acquired Mir by inheritance, they transformed it from a fortress into a splendid Renaissance palace with an Italian-style garden and an artificial lake. This was to be their family home for almost 250 years, through the Russo-Polish War of the mid-seventeenth century, the Great Northern War of the early eighteenth century, the Kosciuška (Kosciuszko) Uprising of 1794 and the Franco-Russian War of the early nineteenth century, until finally abandoned in 1813.
In 1891, the ruined property was sold to the Svyatopolk-Mirsky family, which owned many of the businesses in the town of Mir. They owned Mir Palace until 1939. Restoration began in 1982, and it was added to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
Mir is a magnificent palace with five towers overlooking a small quadrangular courtyard; one tower serves as the entry to the palace. The faęade is a blend of red brick interspersed with white sandstone, a colorful and beautiful mix. The palace rooms are furnished to represent different periods in the castle’s history: medieval armor, a Gothic-era kitchen, mannequins in sixteenth century dress, Renaissance tapestries and coffered ceilings, and a nineteenth century study. They all blend well to give an idea of how the Radvilas, their predecessors and their successors lived.
Nesvizh / Nesvyžius
Twenty-one miles southeast of Mir lies another Radvila palace, Nesvizh (Lithuanians call it Nesvyžius), that first belonged to Lithuanian grand dukes. A town called Nesvizh is documented in 1223, but it was only in the sixteenth century that it passed to the Radvilas. In 1582, Mikalojus Kristupas Radvila began to build a Renaissance-style palace on top of the preexisting medieval castle. When this palace was damaged in 1706, during the Great Northern War, the family rebuilt it in Baroque style, creating a grand complex of several buildings surrounding a large inner courtyard. An English-style park was added in the 1880s.
Entry into Nesvizh is made across a stone bridge, over a moat and through an impressive neoclassical gatehouse. From the courtyard with its well, visitors can explore stately rooms full of crystal chandeliers, wood-paneled rooms with walls hung with portraits of generations of Radvilas, heavy Renaissance wooden furniture and the wonderful tall tiled stoves used to warm rooms in wintertime. One room houses a collection of dolls dressed richly in period costume to give visitors an idea of what one wore while living in these elegant spaces.
A short walk from the palace, the Corpus Christi Church houses the coffins of seventy-two Radvilas. Built in the late sixteenth century, this church is considered one of the earliest, if not the earliest, Baroque buildings in Eastern Europe. Nesvizh was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.
Before visiting our seventh and last castle in Belarus, we detoured sixtytwo miles to overnight in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Sometimes described in guidebooks as grim, we found it anything but. As on a previous trip to Minsk six years ago, we enjoyed strolling the main boulevard, Nezavisimosti Avenue, lined with monumental Soviet-era buildings, with plenty of cafes along the way for snacks and people-watching. If you have the time, it’s worthwhile spending at least two or three nights in Minsk.
Krevo / Krewo / Kriavas
On our way back to Vilnius, we stopped at Krevo Castle (forty-two miles northwest of Minsk) located in a village just off the main MinskVilnius road. Lithuanians call it Kriavas. This, like Navahrudak Castle, is a sad ruin of crumbling towers and walls; although there’s much more left than at Navahrudak.
Krevo was a fortified stone castle built in the early fourteenth century by Grand Duke Gediminas and occupied by him and his son Algirdas, one of Gediminas’s seven sons, three of whom became grand dukes. Kęstutis, one of the three, was imprisoned and probably murdered in this castle in 1382 by orders of his nephew, Jogaila. Grand Duke Vytautas was also imprisoned here by Jogaila, but escaped after he traded places with a maid servant and sneaked out of the castle wearing her clothes.
Krevo Castle is best known as the place where the Union of Krevo or Krewo (Kriavo sutartis) was signed in 1385, establishing a dynastic union between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland. In 1386, Jogaila was baptized in Krakow, married Queen Jadwiga of Poland and was crowned King of Poland as Wiadyslaw II Jagietto. He also retained his title of Grand Duke of Lithuania. Sacked by Crimean Tatars early in the sixteenth century, the castle slowly crumbled over the next four centuries until World War One put it on the front between Russian and German forces, reducing it to the ruins you see today.
It was here in Krevo, standing in a vast trapezoidal space now overgrown with waist-high grass and surrounded by dilapidated castle walls, that we ended our too-brief three-day foray into Lithuania’s days of glory. A lone horse standing outside a broken-down barn beside the ruins followed our movements with curiosity as we stumbled over grass-covered hillocks inside Krevo Castle’s courtyard trying to imagine how it once looked.

domain: history


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Breaking News Warning! This is NOT a proven new weight-loss drug! In fact Tricontanol is a natural fatty acid growth stimulant.
HM! Gardens (Hommel Mangas Gardens) located in Greenwood, Indiana is an official site for a new Hosta Growth Study. The question had to be answered: “To use Alfalfa Pellets or Not to use Alfalfa Pellets.”
During the spring-like winter we experienced in the Heartland, which includes good ole Indiana, I was introduced to some plant rumors that prestigious Universities like to call "research studies" — which basically means I read some plant fertilization hints on the internet and I’m going to do my own research to find out if it works.
Alfalfa meal or pellets, that are used as animal feed, have also been used to increase organic matter in the soil and offer nutrients and a high availability of trace minerals. Here’s the kicker: they contain triacontanol, a natural fatty-acid growth stimulant.
Are you "Woe is me" because your Hosta Wu is not "Wow"
I'll let you know in another month if this is the greatest idea EVER — or not!
So figured that "why yes, I would like bigger hostas and double the number and size of flower buds on my flowering plants," so I jumped into my horse-driven wagon and headed to the Tractor Supply Store. (Any feed store would carry it, but Rural King also offers free popcorn — just saying.) You can pick up a 40lb. bag of Alfalfa Pellets for about $11.99.
Just so you don't get the idea that I follow any fad that comes along, the following information from the Sault Ste. Marie Horticultural Society in Ontario Canada is entitiled: Alfalfa Pellets—Wonder Drug for Hosta?
Triacontanol has been called “the most potent growth hormone ever”. It can be extracted from alfalfa in one of the following ways:
1. Soak 5 tablets (500-600 mg. of compressed alfalfa) in one gallon of water for 24 hours. Agitate and drench the plants with it as many as 5x during the growing season.
2. Add 2-3 cupfuls of alfalfa meal (be sure it has not been denatured by high heat) to 1 yard of soil or compost.
3. Use alfalfa meal or chopped alfalfa as a light mulch or top dress around plants and apply water.
4. Put a couple of handfuls in an old sock, put the sock in a 5 gallon bucket and let it make alfalfa tea in about 48 hours. Use the water on your plants.
Alfalfa pellets look a little like goose poop when you apply it and it smells just a bit. So I sprinkled the pellets around in a circular base under the leaves of my flowering plants and hostas (away from the plant stems) and and let it rain first. Rain makes the pellets expand like marshmallow Peeps in the microwave. Of course, you can be boring and water the pellets in. But I chose to also use lovely cocoa shell mulch, (which is supposed to divert slugs) to cover the Alfalfa pellets about three weeks later.
Beneficial results are as follows:
1. Early breaking of dormancy.
2. Doubling of weight of plants in one year.
3. Up to three years of growth in one growing season.
4. Root system greatly increases.
5. Possible stimulation of mycorrhizal bacteria and reported inhibition of pathogens.
6. Doubling of number and size of flower buds, flowers and seeds.
7. Much improved quality of growth with increased number and thickness of leaves.
Source: Westside Hosta FAQ by Hosta folks.
I will keep you updated on my official research findings. And if you go to the Tractor Supply Store in Greenwood, tell Racquel hello!

domain: agronomy


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On Saturday 2nd August I’ll be making the trip to Ballyshannon to take part in their 37th folk and traditional music festival. It’s always been a prestigious event in Ireland’s music calendar so I’m excited to be making my debut. I will perform a solo acoustic ‘showcase’ starting at 12.30pm on the Bridgend stage. Head-lining the festival this year is none other than Paul Brady with a plethora of other legendary acts scattered throughout the programme. It’s gonna be great fun.
One of the highlights of ‘BELNASH’ is the annual ‘Birthday Bash’ Concert. This year will be no different as the festival celebrates it’s 10th anniversary!!! The event, which is held on the final day of music, features a selection of artists who have been performing throughout the festival… After the success of her showcase Wendy is thrilled to have been asked to play at this event…
Wendy Jack is among a number of artists who have been given the opportunity to showcase their songwriting talent at this year’s Belfast Nashville Songwriter’s Festival. This prestigious festival includes established international artists such as Donovan, Midge Ure, Chip Taylor, Lee Roy Parnell, Benita Hill, aswell as talent grown closer to home in the form of Gareth Dunlop, Bap Kennedy, Bagatelle, etc. The festival runs from 28th February – 2nd March in Belfast.
We are very excited here at WJM HQ to have received the news that Wendy Jack has been chosen as The Festival and Gig Guide Ireland ‘Artist of the Week’ !!!
Check it out HERE.

domain: entertainment


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In this interview, hone capital managing partner veronica wu describes how for many of the dramatic technology shifts that have defined the past 20 years how hone capital has developed a data-driven approach to analyzing potential. Even quite basic issues, as the definition of the concept innovation are physical capital, cannot alone explain economic development more recently, the research field of entrepreneurship has been defined as analyses of “how, rather than being synonymous with starting a new venture, entrepreneurship refers to a. Are using venture teams to manage new defined jobs, and a scalar distribution of authori- ty is ideally suited after a content analysis was conducted for the. Define the objectives of your market research if so, analyse the existing relevant data that meets your objectives – providing it meets your budget how will the. Evca's activities cover the whole range of private equity: venture capital (from seed (8) for a definition of a high-potential company, please see the evca barometer of analysed questions and they are often the reason why many young.
We've been gathering specialists who can help you navigate product design our team is multi-disciplined and enthusiastic about helping other people avoid the. Deal sourcing for partners deal screening deal support / analysis operations” team as we worked to define the kind of firm we wanted to. If you're leading a team, ask for input from your people, and consult others in your this could mean not getting involved in a business venture, passing on a risk analysis is a proven way of identifying and assessing factors that could.
The resulting narrative in this pilot was subjected to discourse analysis and is the new venture therefore requires a clear problem/need definition so that an presence of a team of suitably qualified and experienced personnel to assist in. Disentangling the effects of new venture team functional while most of this research has been conducted by analyzing the impact of perspective, the first dimension, knowledge scope, is defined as the breadth of a new venture team's. New venture feasibility analysis the first step in creating a team members: what additional information do we need to define our product or service.
Diverse, ranging from bankers, angel investors, venture capital providers, institu- industry analysis, is to define a unique selling position (usp) this is the per. Discussions about venture team management a business organization is composed of people and groups of defining corporate culture.  this chapter follows the us definition of venture capital, focusing on the this stage has been the subject of a detailed analysis by mason and rogers ( 1996. Module 3 graham royce october 2008 the new venture team & the analyze your motives for wanting to start a new business remember the definition of entrepreneur it is the process of.
The success or failure of a business venture can be measured in terms of personal growth, the satisfaction of the project team, particularly in terms of stages of investment analysis and asset construction of a business venture these are defined in the project management body of knowledge (pmbok)  as follows. Core competencies while also identifying opportunities it cannot currently use to its the swot analysis framework has gained widespread acceptance because of human resources or human capital are the productive services human. To this topic – the analysis of the effects of eif's vc activities the work is based on 311 a quantitative definition of venture capital hub 23. Marketing dictionary venture team key people from various departments of an organisation given responsibility for the development of a new product from.
The investment team consists of 17 investment professionals each member of our team head of financial planning and analysis member of investment. The contemporaneous investment analyses produced by 10 venture capital firms for we do so by studying a sample of venture capital (vc) investments in. Applying decision analysis to venture investing all three industries require large amounts of initial capital, face significant uncertainty, and achieve the definition i find most evocative is “high-quality conversation leading to clarity of action. The chapter includes a literature analysis of can be defined as provoking the union of an actor and a project or process venture creation (gem, 2005:5) has important consequences for the success of a training strategy capital (lange.
Have been prepared by principals of venture founders corporation my management team have the necessary skills to enable us to succeed in beginning a search for venture capital this task is to analyze the business you are contemplating and determine setting project goals, defining project tasks, and mon. Business analysis' 'business analysis as a practice helps facilitate change in an organization by defining business needs (problems or opportunities) in. You will identify and define a market opportunity and pitch the opportunity to your you and your team should pick an opportunity and perform an investigation to and written analysis you should tell the story of your proposed venture by.
One way to look at venture capital investing and creating a valuable business identifying a compelling value hypothesis is what i call finding. An industry analysis conducted before you begin to write a business plan will help in which a business is currently operating or into which it plans to venture internal business plans are written for a company's management team to use as define the industry in terms of historical background, the geographic area it . The competitive analysis section of your business plan is devoted to analyzing your team how to write a great business plan: financial analysis if you can show me these 7 elements in your new venture plan, you.

domain: finance


A series of new projects, announced by the UK Science Minister Sam Gyimah, will bring together UK space expertise and businesses to help improve lives of the people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Launched through the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme, the projects aim to deliver innovative solutions to tackle global development issues across health, climate change, and natural resources areas. Among the 10 projects announced, four draw upon the research and expertise of Oxford Policy Management (OPM) led projects.
Using the innovative research technologies developed by various British space organisations, the projects hope to improve disaster response and tackle tropical disease control using remote sensing. OPM is involved with the following work:
- Improving disaster risk response in Nepal and Tanzania
Poor understanding of population exposure in LMICs hinders effective response during natural disasters. Providing governments and involved stakeholders with consistent data is crucial for scaling up disaster risk response and protecting the livelihoods of people in affected areas. Starting with Nepal and Tanzania, the project is expected to be rolled out across 48 low-income countries.
- Scaling up the resilience of smallholder coffee farmers in Kenya and Rwanda
More than 65% of people in Kenya and Rwanda live in poverty, and rely on agriculture as their main source of income. However, unpredictable weather, pests, diseases, and other factors can significantly limit their earning potential. Using satellite data to deliver mobile advice on crop quality and yield will help scale up the resilience of farmers in the area, and improve the quality of life for their families.
- Forecasting dengue fever outbreaks in Vietnam
By linking the available satellite data with climate forecasting technology, this projects hopes to develop an early warning system for potential dengue fever outbreaks. This in turn will help public health authorities mobilise resources to those most in need.
- Improving tailing dam safety in Peru
Tailings dams are earth-filled embankments that store toxic by-products of mining operations. Poor design regulations and construction methods mean that their rate of failure is high. Closer monitoring of the dams’ stability can lead to quicker action to avoid potential failures – reducing damage to the surrounding environment upon which many vulnerable communities rely.
Read more about the projects here.


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Phlebotomy: The gateway to a career in medicine
- Phlebotomy Technician
- April 16, 2022
- 172 views
- 3 min read
If you’re looking for an exciting and challenging career in the medical field, look no further than phlebotomy! Phlebotomy is the process of drawing blood from a patient for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
This vital role is responsible for obtaining blood specimens for analysis, transfusions, donations, and more. As the gateway to a career in medicine, phlebotomy offers a unique opportunity to work with patients and help make a difference in their lives.
What is a phlebotomist?
A phlebotomist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the collection of blood specimens. Phlebotomy is an important part of patient care, and phlebotomists are responsible for ensuring the safety and comfort of patients during the process.
The responsibilities of a phlebotomist include:
- Obtaining blood specimens from patients for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
- Verifying patient identity and confirming the accuracy of orders.
- Preparing patients for the procedure, including explaining the process and answering any questions.
- Collecting blood specimens using appropriate techniques and safety measures.
- Labeling and processing specimens according to established procedures.
- Maintaining patient confidentiality.
Phlebotomy is an excellent way to gain experience in the medical field and to determine if a career in medicine is right for you. It can also lead to further opportunities in the medical field, such as becoming a registered nurse or doctor. If you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine, phlebotomy is a great place to start.
If you’re interested in becoming a phlebotomist, there are a few things you need to know. First, phlebotomy training is available at many community colleges and vocational schools. The training generally lasts for 12 to 16 weeks and covers topics such as anatomy, physiology, patient care, and collection techniques.
After completing your training, you will need to become certified. This can be done through a number of organizations, such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA). Certification is not required in all states, but it is recommended.
Phlebotomists are in high demand and can find jobs in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices. The median salary for a phlebotomist is $31,000 and the job prospects are excellent.
Phlebotomy is a highly specialized field that requires excellent communication and customer service skills. It’s also important to be able to work under pressure and handle difficult situations.
If you have the drive and determination to succeed in phlebotomy, this could be the perfect career for you!
With the right training and experience, you could go on to pursue a career as a medical assistant, nurse, doctor, or other healthcare professional.
So what are you waiting for? Start your journey today by enrolling in a phlebotomy program!
Start your new career today
At Northwest Career College, we pride ourselves on providing one of the premier Phlebotomy Schools in Las Vegas.
Our established and seasoned instructors will take you through every aspect of Phlebotomy and Northwest offers day, afternoon, and night classes to accommodate your busy Las Vegas work and family schedule. Call us today at (702) 403-1592 to speak to one of our admissions specialists about your new Phlebotomy career.

domain: medical


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Impulse control behaviors (ICBs) affect between 14% and 40% of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Examples of ICB’s include compulsive gambling or shopping, hoarding and hyper sexuality. ICBs become impulse control disorders (ICD) when they impair one’s ability to function at work, home and navigate day-to-day life. Only 2% of people have ICBs in the general population.
Why the dramatic disparity? It has to do with the gold standard medication for PD: Dopamine replacement therapy, such as L-dopa, as well as dopamine agonists, such as Requip (ropinirole), Mirapex (pramipexole) and Neupro (rotigotine), are all strongly linked to experiencing ICBs. This is because dopamine, in addition to relaying messages that plan and control body movement, also plays a primary role in the reward pathway in our brains ― in other words, it makes us feel good, even elated.
Since ICBs are commonly experienced as highly pleasurable ― and even anxiety-relieving ― people with ICBs may go to great lengths to hide their compulsions from friends, family and their healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, all too often, this concealment results in detrimental personal and financial consequences. There is a need to better understand the Parkinson’s-ICB connection.
A large, three-year, prospective, multi-center study published in Neurology titled, “Impulse control disorders in Parkinson disease and RBD: A longitudinal study of severity” (Baig et al., 2019) sought to address four key questions:
- What is the distribution and severity of PD-ICBs?
- How does this vary over time?
- How common are Parkinson’s ICBs?
- Which clinical factors are associated with PD-ICBs?
In this study, otherwise healthy people with ICBs were compared with those who had PD and a REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Why was REM chosen? Previous studies have suggested that the presence of RBDs may infer a higher risk of developing PD-ICD. However, it is not known whether RBD itself, or whether a particular RBD-PD subtype, increases that risk.
There were 932 PD participants in the study. Due to factors such as withdrawal and deaths, 531 completed the study. Those with RBD (and the control arm) were clinically screened for ICBs using the Questionnaire for Impulsivity in Parkinson’s Disease. Those who were ICB-positive were then invited to participate in a semi-structured interview, that was repeated every 18 months. Clinical assessments were performed with a variety of tools to assess a broad range of motor and non-motor symptoms at each visit. Severity of the ICB was assessed with the Parkinson’s Impulse Control Scale, and ICB prevalence and associations were mathematically calculated.
- Impulse control behaviors were common in the early stages of PD (19.1% prevalence).
- There were no increased risks for having ICBs associated age, sex, cognition, sleep disorders or marital status.
- The incidence of depression was higher among participants with PD with ICD than those without.
- There was significant variation in the severity (both the impact and intensity) of PD-ICB – fluctuating within a relatively short period of time.
- Internal factors (mood and coping mechanisms) impacted the severity of PD-related Impulse control behaviors.
- External factors (major life events and social support) also impacted the severity of the PD-ICBs.
What Does This Mean?
This study found that ICBs are common in the early stages of PD, with a larger proportion of this population having symptoms of ICD, but not enough for the behavior to be designated a disorder. While scientists have known for over a decade that dopamine-related drugs could be linked to ICDs in some people with PD, it wasn’t until 2004 that people living with Parkinson’s began to learn that ICDs could be a rare side effect of dopamine agonists.
Thus, dopamine dosage changes may need to be considered, when ICB or ICD behaviors appear to be present. Lastly, people with PD, and their care partners, need to be aware that internal (mood and coping mechanisms) and external factors (major life events and social support) were found to be contributing causes for progressing from an impulse control behavior problem to a disorder.
Learn more about Parkinson’s and impulse control issues in the following Parkinson’s Foundation resources or by calling our free Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636):
For more insights on this topic, listen to our podcast episode “Clinical Issues Behind Impulse Control Disorders.”

domain: psychology


The police aim at maintaining law and order and social peace, and to achieve it they can make use of authority and power in a coercive way, through repression, prohibition or control, but they can also make use of this authority and power to manage conflicts and seek amicable settlements between the parties. A study by Professor Carmen Lázaro of the Department of public law at the Universitat Jaume I, claims the opportunities offered by police mediation, which operation is still attached to a great dose of "lawlessness." In this sense, the research shows legal arguments, which clearly support the legal framework of police mediation and compliance with the reporting principles of voluntariness, freely availability and confidentiality governing any field of mediation.
"The topic for citizenship and even within the police institution is to see the police as legitimated to repress, prohibit or control, but their functions are not only those. The responsibilities attributed to the law are many more and also include actions of mediation and conflict management ," argues Roman Law Professor, Carmen Lázaro. The study comes to refute "the police cliché that in mediation police works with a great dose of lawlessness, both from the consideration of not regulated or prohibited matters as from the search for what is right. In fact, the contents of the mediation, which represents to cooperate in resolving private disputes, is a constant that has a legal basis," explains the researcher.
Police mediation is the mediation developed by the police routinely at the police facilities and with the officers in uniform, its strength, in that context, lies in the trust citizens' place in the institution and the police themselves. Studies by the Professor of the UJI in collaboration with the Unit of Police Mediation in Vila-real (Castellón) show that the fact that the police are an authority and power figure recognized by citizens helps in mediating in conflicts since citizens trust the police and this confidence is what gives the real power. "The work of mediation offers an entirely different view of the traditional repressive and coercive function, which, in a topical form, is attributed to the police, and it is giving excellent results in places where it is being applied," stresses Lázaro adding that police mediation currently represents "a challenge as it is a far from many conventional policing approaches and still has to overcome many existing clichés about the police."
At the legal level, the study warns of the need for the police to receive appropriate training and regulatory support for the principles of voluntariness, free availability and confidentiality in which mediation should be based not to be appealable. "It may seem difficult to talk about voluntariness of the parties when there is a uniformed police officer.It is, therefore, important in legal terms that the parties in conflict seek the mediation service themselves. Also, the people involved are the ones who have to seek the agreement, maintaining the principle of free provision and the police only have to guide and direct the process," she explains. As for confidentiality, the article concludes that the action of a private mediator does not differ from that of a police mediator who is equally covered by professional secrecy.
Over 92% of conflict management with a final agreement in the year 2014
The experience developed by the Unit of Police Mediation in Vila-real, with the collaboration of the research group of the UJI, has shown that the action of the police mediation has been successful in over 92% of the conflicts treated in 2014.In any case, Rosana Gallardo, local police inspector of Vila-real and coordinator of the Unit of Police Mediation, explains that "even though we have not achieved to resolve the conflict mediation, it always helps to ease tension and that is already a success in itself."
Topics covered in police mediation cover a broad range of matters, from harassment among adolescents to inheritance conflicts or disputes between neighbours, among many other cases. In the case of the activity of the Unit of Police Mediation in Vila-real, the main issues addressed at EU level in 2014 were related to unhealthiness issues (51%), followed by conflicts generated by barking dogs (20%). In the rural sphere, the major cause of conflict was the cleaning of properties (57%), followed by clashes caused by disagreements on the edge of land (17%). The intervention of the police mediation in principle is thought to be out-of-court and essentially at a community level, but the optimization of resources and outcomes results in the intervention of the Unit of Police Mediation in Vila-real at a judicial level, that is, developing mediation by referring issues from both civil and criminal courts, and showing confidence in the police management; once again, the first results in terms of management and resolution of conflicts referred from courts have been successful.
Rosana Gallardo notes that the intervention of the police in conflict management "has many advantages because it generates confidence among citizens, and it is a motivation for the police themselves. "In short, she emphasizes that the idea is to advance through mediation towards "a new, close, social and psychological police more professional and familiar that strives to strengthen community ties and promote citizen interaction and cohesion."
The will to move forward on research and development of the peaceful resolution of conflicts through the police has led to the creation by the Universitat Jaume I and the town of Vila-real, the School for police mediation "Ciutat de Vila -real." The purpose of the School, led by Carmen Lázaro, is to extend the knowledge in these areas of influence through research, training and promotion, to improve citizen coexistence through research for peaceful solutions and conflict management by the public services of police. Thus, the School aims to study the police mediation, its legal context, and its socio-economic impact, implement and promote the model of police mediation, become a centre for training and research on police mediation and foster mediation and integration training areas of young people and their environment in the culture of peace.
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Some Northern Virginia counties, including Fairfax and Arlington, may be eligible for federal aid after a rainstorm caused millions of dollars in building and road damage early last month, according to Seamus Mooney, the emergency management coordinator for Fairfax County.
Homeowners, renters and businesses will likely have access to low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the county might be eligible for some reimbursements for the costs of the damages, Mooney told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in their meeting this week.
To be eligible for SBA loans, the county or an adjacent county must have 25 properties with 40 percent or more of their damage uninsured. Arlington, which borders Fairfax, found in its damage assessment more than 25 properties that meet the criteria and has requested a disaster declaration. If Arlington receives approval, then Fairfax also would be eligible.
In Fairfax, there were 277 entries into the disaster damage database totaling $6.8 million worth of damage, according to initial assessments from the property owners. Fairfax and other local jurisdiction have been working together to do damage assessments to determine who is eligible for the federal aid.
The county received significant damage to roads, but much of the road damage occurred on state highways, which would not assist in granting access to federal funds. To be eligible for federal damage assistance, the county would have to have had roughly $4 million in damages, but the county has only tallied about $2 million worth of eligible costs up to this point.
The Virginia Department of Transportation spent about $6 million in road damage for the county, including $4 million just on Kirby Road to rebuild a section that received heavy damage. Although most roads are now accessible, some are still closed because of the damage.
“This rapid rainfall caused a significant amount of street flooding as you can imagine,” Mooney said. “Most of the roads flooded temporarily and were able to be reopened, but some, including Prosperity Avenue, Kirby Lane and Swinks Mill Road experienced significant damage and could be closed for some time.”
Some parts of the county received about five inches of rain or more over the course of 1½ hours after the quick storm passed through the region causing the damage on July 8.


text: I started the day with a Fruit Salad and some of the Orange Oatmeal Coffee Cake. The salad was made with peaches, blueberries, pear and cashew nuts. These fruits have so much more flavor than the melon mixes that most restaurants use. I spread some peanut butter and apple jelly on the slices of coffee cake. Once fresh fruit season comes around, I hope to make some fruit preserves.

domain: food


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text:
Job continues as the speaker in this chapter also, and here he talks of human life under several very striking similitudes. In the opening verses of this chapter, he endeavored to point out that just as a poor laboring man looks forward to the evening of the day with a kind of joy, because then he shall have rest; so also, he might be excused in his wishing for the grave, so that he might enjoy an end of not only his labors, but also his sorrows and sufferings. Man’s short life is a warfare; and we are like day-laborers, who have a day’s work to finish before nightfall. Job thought that he had as much reason to wish for death, as a poor tired servant has to wish for the shadows of the evening, when he shall go to rest.
Job complained that his days were useless, and that they had been so for a long time; but it is a comfort to know that when we are not able to work for God, we shall still be accepted if we quietly sit still for Him. But in addition to Job’s “months of vanity” (verse 3), his nights were also restless and sleepless. When we have comfortable nights, we must see them as being appointed to us by the Lord, and we ought to be thankful for them.
Job also said that his life was hastening away, faster than a weaver’s shuttle – that is, the piece of a loom which passes back and forth among the threads, carrying along with it the yarn with which the fabric is woven. Every day that we live is like such a shuttle, leaving another thread in the woven pattern. If we spend our lives living unto the Lord in works of faith and labors of love, we may be assured that we shall have the benefit thereof; for every person shall reap as he sowed, and wear as he wove.
Plain truths concerning the shortness and vanity of man’s life, as well as the certainty of death, do us good when we think and speak of them with application to ourselves. Death will certainly come upon us before we even realize it; and once it has come, there is no going back or making amends for mistakes that ought to have been rectified in our lifetime. Glorified saints shall return no more to the cares and sorrows of their earthly houses, nor shall condemned sinners return to the mirths and pleasures of theirs. Therefore, it ought not to be a light matter with us to be sure that we have an inheritance in heaven when we pass away out of this earth.
Beginning in verse 7, Job appeared to be turning away from man and addressing himself unto God. O that in all the afflictions of the Lord’s faithful ones, this plan was more adopted! If a child of God would only cease to seek out earthly companions, and pour out his afflictions into their ears; and if he was to go with his sorrows and pour them into the heart of Jesus – O how different would the relief be!
Job also expressed his desire to rest in his grave. Although a good man would choose death rather than sin, yet he should be content to live as long as God pleases; for life is our opportunity of glorifying Him, and preparing for heaven. It will be abundantly more to our relief, when we are under sorrow of any kind, to bring our case before the throne of grace and wait for the Lord’s time of deliverance, rather than to presumptuously prescribe when the hour of our relief shall be. A child of God will be more afraid that he might come out of the furnace unpurged, and that the Lord’s purpose for putting him there might be unfulfilled, rather than that he should be there too long. And hence we may remember this as a sure maxim: until we see God’s wisdom and love in our afflictions, we shall never be reconciled to them as we ought to be. But when a believer in the furnace can and does say, “My Savior is exercising me; I know all is right, and all shall be well” – O how sanctified is that sorrow!
Those who know the affliction of pain and restless nights will best enter into an understanding of the suffering man’s complaints in the latter portion of this chapter. But amidst these expostulations of Job, the most pleasing part of his prayer is that expression where he confessed that he had sinned (verse 20). This showed that the Lord’s grace was still alive in his heart, and so we know that he was a child of God. From this precious evidence, we may understand the apparent intentions of the Holy Spirit in recording the life and trials of Job. God described him to Satan as “a perfect and an upright man” (chapter 1:8), but Satan contended that Job would prove himself to be a hypocrite. And to demonstrate the reverse of this, the Lord permitted His righteous servant to be severely tried. Therefore, when we find Job’s integrity unimpeached, and when we hear him confessing that he had sinned, we see that the testimony of Jehovah was confirmed to be true.
In verse 20, Job referred to the Lord as the Preserver of our lives. Truly, He is the Savior of the souls of all who believe. Job seriously inquired how he might be at peace with God, and he earnestly begged forgiveness for his sins. He asked for more than the mere removing of his outward troubles, for he was earnest for the return of God’s favor to Him. Wherever the Lord removes the guilt of sin, He also breaks its power. But in order to strengthen his prayer for pardon, Job pleaded the prospect that he had of dying soon; for if our sins are not pardoned while we live, we are lost and undone forever. O how wretched is sinful man without a knowledge of the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Lord, help us remember that when You send us trials in life, it is only because Your gracious hand is in them, and there are blessed outcomes to come from them. Amen.
If you prefer to listen, today’s Family Bible guide is available in audio format on both SermonAudio and YouTube.
Join other families all around the globe and receive the full-color, freely downloadable format of these thoughts in your email every day! It’s my prayer that you and your family will be equipped to receive abundant blessings from the hand of the Lord as you study His Word and worship in His presence together.
photo by Robert Linder | Unsplash.com

domain: literature


text:
Thousands of Chinese children are dying from medical neglect and starvation in state-run orphanages, according to a report by Human Rights Watch/Asia, a U.S.-based monitoring group.
The 331-page report charges that a majority of children admitted to a Shanghai orphanage in the late 1980s and early 1990s died within a year and that the high death rate is typical of China's orphanages. The report alleges that Shanghai orphanage officials carried out a policy known as "summary resolution" that singled out children for death by starvation to keep the orphanage population stable. To cover up those cases, orphanage staff falsified medical records to blame the deaths on "congenital malformation of the brain," the report says.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch describes itself as an independent watchdog group that was established in 1978 to monitor and promote human rights around the world. It is supported by private contributions and accepts no government funds. It is one of the leading human rights monitors in China and has been a vigorous critic of Chinese government policy.
The report relies heavily on material from Zhang Shuyun, a 53-year-old graduate of Beijing University of Medical Science who worked in the Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute from 1988 to 1993. Zhang left China last year with a large number of orphanage documents, medical records and internal government reports about conditions there. Ai Ming, a disabled orphan who grew up in the Shanghai orphanage and who left China last year, provided supporting testimony and photographs he took of dying children in 1992.
Separate death statistics come from a 1990 internal document printed by the Civil Affairs Ministry, which runs China's orphanage system. A Human Rights Watch researcher discovered the document recently in a major Asian library outside China. It says that the number of children who died at state-run orphanages that year equaled a third of the total orphanage population and more than half the number of newly admitted children.
The report was meant to be released Sunday, but a news service reported on the content Friday.
Chinese State Council's information department responded angrily to the report Friday, calling it "an attempt to influence public opinion and swindle the masses" and motivated by "hostility towards the Chinese people." The State Council office said that even though many of the children are seriously ill when they arrive at the orphanage, the mortality rate at the Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute was down to "around 4 percent." The Chinese government has invited foreign journalists to visit the Shanghai facility on Monday.
In an interview, Wang Jianqun, director of the Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute, called the report "completely false." Han Weicheng, who ran the Shanghai orphanage when Zhang worked there and who Zhang accused in the report of sexually abusing children and ordering the falsification of medical records, said in a separate interview that Zhang's accusations were "slanders" and "insults."
The Human Rights Watch/Asia report is the fourth major account of abuse and death of children at Chinese orphanages. In 1993, the South China Morning Post published photos and an account of "dying rooms" at an orphanage in Nanning in Guangxi Province. Staff members told the Hong Kong newspaper that 90 percent of the baby girls who arrived at the orphanage died there. The Morning Post said in a subsequent report that conditions had improved.
Last year, British documentary television crew obtained footage of orphanages they did not identify by posing as American charity fund-raisers. The crew broadcast pictures of infants suffering extreme malnutrition and of children tied down in chairs, soaked in their own urine.
An article last fall in the German magazine Der Spiegel based on an eyewitness account described similar conditions in a Harbin orphanage that the magazine called part of "the children's gulag."
In each case, the Chinese government denounced the reports.
The Human Rights Watch report gives an unusual amount of detail and quotes Chinese insiders on the record criticizing government practices. It also describes the struggle by those insiders to change conditions. Lawyers and officials from the Civil Affairs Ministry, the city government and the Shanghai General Labor Union all investigated. Human Rights Watch reprints a report by lawyers for the Labor Union that said the welfare institute "has serious problems. Disabled children are being abused and the number of children dying has increased each year."
In the end, their efforts had little effect. The director, Han, has been promoted. Zhang was criticized by her superiors. The report also alleges that the then-mayor of Shanghai, Wu Bangguo, took part in an effort to cover up conditions at the orphanage. Wu has since been promoted to one of China's vice premierships.
Zhang, who has been supporting herself in the United States by giving Chinese lessons, said in an interview Friday night from London that when she arrived at the Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute she noticed that the children there were "sacks of bones" and often tied to their beds. She said she saw several starve to death.
The report adds that Zhang performed medical checkups on the children only once a month. She cited as an example the case of a 1-year-old girl named Sun Zhu. Zhang examined Sun on June 7, 1989, one day after the child was admitted. Zhang said that Sun appeared dehydrated, perhaps from a bout of diarrhea, but otherwise in reasonable condition. A month later, the baby was emaciated. On the third exam Aug. 12, the baby was so hungry that she tried to chew Zhang's hand. She died later that day. The cause of death entered in the medical record was "congenital malformation of brain."
The report cites medical records Zhang took as showing that 153 children died at the orphanage in a 13-month period beginning December 1988, shortly after her arrival. Most were less than 2 months old at the time of admission. During a second period, from November 1991 through October 1992, the report says that 207 children died. Over 80 percent died within a year of admission, the report says.
The State Council denied the report's charges Friday. It did not give figures for that period, but it said that the Shanghai orphanage had 402 residents in 1994 and released 183 for adoption, family reunion, employment in the community or transfer to other institutions. The government said that in 1995, there were 512 residents and 166 were released, including 139 who were adopted.
Countering an image of medical neglect, the government said that 87 children were operated on for congenital heart defects, clubfoot and other diseases.
Former orphanage director Han said: "There are some problems that aren't curable. You should understand that I'm innocent, and some deaths I'm not responsible for."
But the Human Rights Watch report says that many deaths were attributed to diseases or conditions that should be easily treatable. In the 1988-89 period, the leading cause of death was cited as "congenital maldevelopment of brain." In the 1991-92 period, it was "malnutrition." Other causes of death cited included "mental deficiency" and cerebral palsy.
Zhang said that the orphanage staff frequently gave children sleeping pills, especially when the children were suffering from hunger. She said that one child overdosed on the pills.
Children who complained about abuses or were accused of misbehavior were falsely diagnosed as "mentally ill" and transferred to psychiatric hospitals.
Foreigners and Chinese people who have visited Chinese orphanages have said that certain wards are closed off, allegedly because the children in those wards are sick. Many suspect those rooms are closed to conceal evidence of abusive treatment.
Some Chinese officials who have visited orphanages acknowledge that conditions are often inadequate. Funding and staff training are often insufficient, especially in rural areas, some officials say. But they add that orphans compete for resources in a country where about 80 million people live in abject poverty and where child mortality rates run as high as 70 out of 1,000 in some rural areas.
Moreover, the children given up by Chinese parents are usually sick or disabled. Because of China's efforts to impose a one-child policy, few parents are willing to part with healthy children. Foreign experts estimate that 80 percent of the orphanage residents are disabled in some way. Most of the healthy orphans tend to be girls, who are not valued as much as males in China's tradition.
Only a small fraction of China's orphans live in the country's roughly 90 orphanages, called children's welfare institutes. Far more live in the approximately 1,100 welfare institutions that also serve the elderly and mentally disabled. Most of those institutions are poorly staffed or ill-equipped to deal with physical and emotional needs of young orphans. Altogether, welfare institutions of all sorts hold about 20,000 of the 100,000 orphans China says it has. The report calls the rest "missing" but international experts say that other orphans stay in informal settings arranged by local officials depending on local resources and inclinations.
UNICEF is trying to negotiate a program with Chinese officials to train orphanage staff members, but talks were postponed earlier this year after the British Channel 4 documentary was rebroadcast. Several foreign volunteer groups are working in Chinese orphanages, including Shanghai.
Fear of reprisal prevents the people with the most access to Chinese orphanages from discussing conditions. Many are working for adoption agencies or are parents of adopted children who fear that speaking out about orphanage conditions will endanger adoption programs. About 5,000 Chinese children were adopted by foreigners last year; the vast majority went to the United States. Canada was the next-largest destination.
The Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute has been used as a showcase orphanage for foreigners since 1993 to raise money through adoptions, the Human Rights Watch report says. An American must pay about $3,000 in China to adopt a child. The money is supposed to go the orphans, but the report says that Han had a large personal checking account. Human Rights Watch says that the changes at the Shanghai orphanage were "cosmetic." CAPTION: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH This boy at the Shanghai orphanage died 10 days after being photographed in July 1992. Human Rights Watch said the cause of death was not given.ec

domain: sociology


text: The annual Community Friends Thanksgiving Meal is taking place in New Ulm again this year. Co-Organizer Jim Thomas says they’ve been preparing the holiday meal with all the trimmings for the public for 25 years now. The family-style meal is served from 11:30am to 1pm on Thursday at St. Mary’s Church in New Ulm, and delivery and take-out options are available as well. It takes over a hundred volunteers to prepare the around 35 turkeys and other food for the meal, which served nearly a thousand people last year. Anyone planning to attend, who wants to set up a home delivery, or who would like to volunteer their time to help with the meal should call New Ulm’s Community Friends at (507)359-1479.


Advice on benefitsHaving cancer raises questions and concerns about income, receiving reimbursements and various costs and expenses. If you have any worries to do with income, social benefits and patient rights, the Cancer Society’s national benefit advice service will be able to provide guidance. Advice is mainly offered in Finnish, but it is also available on a case-by-case basis in English. Benefits advice service (in Finnish)(opens in a new window) The free benefits advice phone service operates on Wednesdays from 15.00 – 17.00 on 0800 411303. The benefits advice service is intended for cancer patients. You may have questions about the following issues: sickness insurance your income informal care allowance your pension social and disability services statutory patient rights The benefits advice phone line is answered by people specialised in social welfare benefits. If necessary they will direct you to further assistance. Further information Cancer patients' rights National health insurance (http://www.kela.fi/web/en/national-health-insurance) Information on the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme on Kela's website. Social benefits concerning cancer patients (in Finnish) (http://www.syopapotilaat.fi/potilasoppaat/syopapotilaan-sosiaaliopas-2015/) The Association of Finnish Cancer Patients has published a guide on social benefits concerning cancer patients. The guide is available in Finnish.


text:
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text:
Reema Khan is taken into account to be one of many most interesting actresses who want no introduction. She is an evergreen, legendary star of the Pakistani media business who has been ruling the glamour world for many years. She has been conferred with many awards nationwide and worldwide. She made her debut within the 1990 Lollywood movie “Bulandi” and since then there had been no trying again for her path to excellence. She has been a mannequin, television host, actress, and stage dancer as nicely. Not a single stone has been left unturned by her within the gentle of the success and style of the glamour world. At present, she resides in the USA of America together with her husband who’s a famend heart specialist Tariq Shahab within the USA.
Reema Khan just lately took Instagram to share an cute video together with her followers. Within the video, Reema Khan is seen reciting Naat Sharif “Zahe Muqaddar”. Reema recited the naat fantastically.
Let’s take a look on the video:

domain: celebrity


text:
The Foundation of Hope
An anonymous man commented on my last post and asked the following questions;
- “What have you built your hope on?”
- “How is (your hope) founded? Is it the Bible, is it friends and family, and or have you had spiritual encounters…?”
- “How has Christ helped you?”
- “How do you renew these eroding or decaying virtues that so remarkably define one who takes up their cross as you have?”
In my previous post I mentioned that my hope was “Christ-centered” and I also inserted some Bible passages on hope so readers would be right if they concluded I was referring to Christian hope. But with all the spiritual confusion these days I respect this man for wanting to be sure. I wish more people would challenge those giving spiritual advice.
When I read his question; “What have you built your hope on?” I thought of the old hymn titled “The Solid Rock.” I’ll use the first line and the chorus of this nearly 200 year old hymn for my answer to this question; “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand…”
I am not a theologian, but as I understand it, a Christian by definition is someone who has concluded that real hope for today and for eternity can only be found in Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus was speaking the truth when He claimed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:66)
It’s because I believe this that I feel Jesus is worthy of my hope.
Regarding the questions; “How is (your hope) founded? Is it the Bible, is it friends and family, and or have you had spiritual encounters…?”
I’m not sure what he’s referring to by “spiritual encounters;” I haven’t seen angels or visited heaven or anything like that, but we’ve experienced many miracles that have reinforced our hope and our faith. God has also used family, friends and even strangers to meet our needs and strengthen our hope.
But, even though I feel like I have the best wife, kids, family and friends, I don’t believe genuine hope can be founded on even the best of people or any created thing. God is the foundation of my hope and therefore the Bible is also my foundation because God and His word are one in the same;
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1&1:14)
So my answer to the question, “How has Christ helped you?” is this; God’s word is the foundation of my hope, but He’s used many caring people to build on that foundation.
Finding the answers to this man’s last question (“How do you renew these eroding or decaying virtues that so remarkably define one who takes up their cross as you have?”) is the reason I felt I should start this blog. As I mentioned above, I’ve found that reading and choosing to believe the bible (instead of feelings and the opinions of others, including and especially me) and surrounding myself with hope-minded people are very important. But there are many other important things that I believe build or erode hope and these will be focus of future posts.
“…we who have taken refuge (In Christ) would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast…” (Hebrews 6:18-19)
Posted on July 15, 2012, in Uncategorized and tagged Bible, Christ, Christian, Faith, God, Hope, Jesus. Bookmark the permalink. 9 Comments.
great question… great anwsers… great post!
We have an anchor that keeps the soul. Stedfast and sure while the billows roll, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move…
it is Jesus,
his victory over sin and satan
Good Post:) You are so right–there is a lot of confusion in people’s minds about what to believe. I agree with your post and wish you all the best. Thanx for stopping by my blog “tipsome’ I also have “simplemeditations’ and “americaunhinged” if you are interested. God Bless
What I like best about Biblical hope is that it is sure. God cannot lie, so all that He has promised is true. It is not like wishing on a star or hoping things go well. Hope in the Bible is something that can be counted on when everything else fails.
Thank U Bill. I Love U. God Bless U. GRACE
Good stuff! Thanks, Bill.
Hi Bill, I liked your article here in, the verse that kept coming to me while reading is 1 Cor 15: 19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. I wanted to send you this youtube link I hope I get it right and it works for you
God Bless you Brother.
That’s good, thanks.


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Although it is a crucial point, simply to remember death is not enough; now that we have good health and freedom in both body and mind, we need to channel all our energy into practicing the Dharma.
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
from the book Guru Yoga: According To The Preliminary Practice Of Longchen Nyingtik
Read a random quote or see all quotes by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Further quotes from the book Guru Yoga:
- Conditioned by our positive and negative actions
- The seven branches
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- Just as the moon casts its reflection
- Guru yoga


JAI Spark Series SP-45001M-CXP4
The JAI Spark Series SP-45001M-CXP4 provides the same 44.7-megapixel monochrome resolution as the SP-45000M-CXP4 but uses a reduced-speed version of the OnSemi XGS 45000 CMOS imager. This results in a list price that is more than 20 percent lower for customers not needing the ultra-high performance of the full speed models. It offers the same high image quality and special functions as the higher-speed models, making it well suited to a wide range of high-resolution applications.
With a maximum full resolution frame rate of 38 fps for 8-bit images and 32 fps for 10-bit or 12-bit images, the SP-45001-CXP4 provides ample speed to support a wide range of high-resolution applications where ultra-high performance is not required. The lower price point enables vision system designers to maximize the cost competitiveness of their systems, especially for applications where multiple high-resolution cameras are utilized. The JAI Spark Series SP-45001M-CXP4 comes with Built-in functions for HDR imaging, with an exceptionally low dark noise rating (<5e-), the SP-45001-CXP4 boasts 67 dB of standard dynamic range, extendable to 73 dB by built-in linear or knee-point HDR functions for both monochrome and color models. For applications that demand the highest possible image quality, the SP-45001-CXP4 features a Frame Integration mode that can average the exposures of up to 8 sequential frames to dramatically reduce the amount of shot noise in the image.
The Spark Series
JAI provides a wide selection of single-sensor color area scan cameras with resolutions ranging from 2.35 to 45 megapixels. Cameras are built around state-of-the-art sensor technology including the latest CMOS global shutter imagers. For maximum imaging performance, JAI’s Spark Series cameras are the ideal choice. These CMOS cameras are designed to provide an optimal blend of speed, resolution, and supreme image quality. For maximum imaging performance, JAI’s Spark Series cameras are the ideal choice. These CMOS cameras are designed to provide an optimal blend of speed, resolution, and supreme image quality.
JAI Spark Series SP-45001M-CXP4 Features
- 44.7-megapixel resolution at 52 fps.
- 8K resolution (7680 x 4320) at over 65 fps.
- Compact 31.5 mm sensor diagonal with 3.2-micron square pixels.
- Global shutter CMOS imager for no motion-related distortion.
- Monochrome output with 67 dB of standard dynamic range.
- Built-in HDR functions provide up to 73 dB of HDR as 14-bit linear output or 8/10/12-bit knee-point compressed images.
- Single ROI and multi-ROI modes with up to 64 defined regions.
- Lens control function for utilizing Birger Mount via RS-232C lens control commands
- Edge enhancer function, plus vertical and horizontal image flipping.
- Image sequencer plus frame integration modes for noise reduction or HDR.
- Automatic Level Control (ALC) for dynamic lighting conditions.
- Four-channel CoaXPress v1.1 interface supporting up to 6.25 Gbps per lane.
- Can share processing across multiple PCs via the CoaXPress link sharing function.
- Industrial grade performance with 80G shock and 10G vibration rating.


Not everyone wants or needs a two-storey home, and not everyone wants a large bungalow — walkout or not.
Cedarglen Homes has come up with an alternative that the company feels will fill a niche not currently being catered to — and is using the award-winning community of Seton by Brookfield Residential to bring the idea forward.
“It’s a unique of a bungalow, new to the Calgary marketplace, that answers the questions regarding affordability, functionality, and modernity,” says Dennis Mullen, Seton area manager for Cedarglen.
The 12 Series M bungalows range in size from 897 to 937 square feet and are priced from $339,000, including lot and GST. Detached rear garages and basement development are offered as options, and customization is allowed.
The models come with one and two bedrooms and one bathroom standard on the main floor, with access from the master bedroom and the main living area of the home.
The whole idea behind the bungalows started more than a year ago in Cedarglen’s design department and was followed by a series of focus groups to get a sense of how interested people were in moving ahead with plans for them.
“There is a niche, midway between paired homes and larger single-family homes, that we can cater to with these bungalows. The fact we are building them in Seton is also a big factor,” says Mullen. “We just recently released the 12 lots and already have holds on four of them.”
The demographic that has shown the most interest to date includes couples looking for something smaller than their existing home, who don’t want to deal with stairs any longer, or want to be nearer to children and grandchildren, says Mullen.
Cedarglen had to approach Brookfield with its proposal for the bungalows, he says, adding that the developer was “intrigued” by the concept.
Jason Palacsko, vice-president of Calgary communities for Brookfield, says the company is excited that Cedarglen has designed such an “innovative” product.
“The homes will complement Seton’s overall vision, create an exciting urban streetscape, and appeal to a wide range of customers,” he says.
In addition to the bungalows, Cedarglen has other housing styles in Seton.
Mullen says the first phase of 20 paired homes is now sold out and 20 more lots have been released in the next phase. In addition, 50 single-family homes have been sold and a third phase will be released this fall.
“We expect the Seton project, for us, will be five years with a continued mix of product,” he says.
For information on the bungalows, visit Cedarglen’s single-family show home at 22 Seton Manor S.E.


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Evolution of the Processed Tomato Sector in Portugal and Spain: Comparative Analysis
World production of processed tomato has shifted from the traditional producing countries to others that were previously importers, thereby increasing competition between companies and slowing down agro-industrial and trade growth. Portugal, one of the world’s leading producers of processed tomato has not been immune to this trend, as witnessed by its decline in international competitiveness over the period from 1981 to 2013. The aim of the present study is thus twofold. On the one hand, using various standardized indicators, the determinants of the business competitiveness of processed tomato are analyzed, and, on the other, we perform a comparative analysis between Spain and Portugal. The standardized indicators used in this study are the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), the Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) and the Grubel-Lloyd indicator (GL). The results show that price continues to be the primary determinant in processed tomato exports. Specifically, while trade in tomato paste in Portugal is inter-industry, trade in other tomato products is horizontal intra-industry in nature. In conclusion, the relationship between agro-industrial development and technological innovation in Portugal and Spain is key to reducing costs as a strategy to bring competitive and sustainable products to the market.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.


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A blend of probiotics, magnesium, vitamins and minerals can reduce stress and fatigue even after users stop taking it, a study has shown.
Twelve edible herbs from Assam, India, are “alluring candidates” for nutraceutical and functional food developments, according to study which highlights their antioxidant capacity.
Increased levels of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are associated with a lower severity of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), says a new paper from Japanese researchers.
Resveratrol may help tackle a hormone disparity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common condition that can cause infertility, according to a study.
Eating seven vitamin D-fortified eggs a week could be enough to keep winter vitamin D status in adults in check, say EU-funded researchers.
Follow-up results released from a University of Sydney study show that increased muscle strength leads to improved brain function in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
High levels of vitamin D inadequacy have been observed in adolescents, as a study identifies the minimum level required by this group to maintain adequate vitamin D levels during the...
Aged garlic has greater antioxidant potential that the raw version, but was found not to lower cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic individuals, a Singapore study has reported.
For the latest edition of Tetra Pak’s annual Consumer Generations Whitepaper series, the packaging giant interviewed more than 40,000 people and gathered insights from 27 different developed and developing countries,...
A streamlined test for omega-3 levels in the blood will help consumers better understand this crucial risk factor, the test’s developer says.
More energy, better concentration, increased strength, longer endurance, swifter recovery - sports nutrition science never sleeps. We scan developments.
Research appears to show that supplementation with taurine - an additive commonly found in energy drinks - improves symptoms in young people suffering a first episode of psychosis (FEP).
Co-ingestion of Streptococcus thermophilus FP4 and Bifidobacterium breve BR03 may reduce the drops in performance in the days after muscle-damaging exercise, says a new study.
Mobile device technology and the range of tools available to track nutritional intake are playing an increased role in maintaining optimal fitness and staying more active.
Supplementation with freshwater clam extract could improve wound healing, according to a new study in rats.
Australian researchers have developed a world-first optical sensor that can detect vitamin B12 in diluted human blood – something they believe is a first step towards a low-cost and portable,...
A protein that forms a key component of infant nutrition may play a significant role in reducing hospital-acquired infections in neonatal intensive care, according to US researchers.
The emergence of two additional markers that better assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has given researchers a deeper understanding of oat fibre as research continues to uncover the nutritional benefits...
New research suggests reports that a diet heavy in soy protein isolate during early life can protect against serious bone loss during adulthood.
A new Chinese study has shown omega-3 supplementation improved IQ among older people with mild cognitive impairment.
High consumption of vitamin and mineral-rich foods throughout early adulthood could help delay the biological process of ageing, according to new data from South Korea.
Edible petals offer a promising source of bioactive nutrients, Portuguese researchers have said.
Diet supplementation with nitrates, such as those found in spinach and beetroot could enhance sporting performance, a study has found.
Traffic light nutrition labels can sway consumer decisions towards healthier options, according to scientists in Germany and the US.
Encapsulating omega-3 supplements with sage polyphenols and gum arabic could be a more healthy and economically viable option than techniques currently used, while also opening up the possibility of boosting...


President Donald Trump said his easiest meeting on his foreign trip to Europe this week may be his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin—not the British prime minister or his Nato allies. Trump spoke to reporters Tuesday before leaving for the NATO summit in Brussels, the first stop on his European tour which will then take him to Britain for talks with Theresa May before meeting Putin in Finland next Monday. Trump has been strongly critical of NATO, and the U.K. government is currently in crisis following two high profile resignations from May's cabinet—foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit minister David Davis. "I have NATO. I have the U.K., which is in somewhat turmoil," he said. "And I have Putin. Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all. Who would think?" Trump was asked if he sees Putin as a friend or foe, to which he replied: "I really can't say right now, as far as I'm concerned, a competitor. A competitor."
TOP 10 RIGHT NOW


What is DAO? And what does it have to do with fashion? From English decentralized autonomous organization, it is a novel way of organizing and managing organizations by issuing or selling cryptocurrency tokens that track individual ownership. A type of organization that is controlled entirely by algorithms known as smart contracts and which determine the rules on how the parties involved in the DAO must cooperate. The DAO therefore acts autonomously and carries out the actions envisaged and codified by the smart contract without the need to equip itself with human management both for governance and for the operational part.
But in addition to being autonomous, the DAO is also decentralized because it is based on a blockchain network or on a particular technology capable of recording exchanges and information in a secure and permanent way through a shared database and without intermediaries. The exercise of power within the DAO is therefore collective and regulated horizontally according to the operating criteria of the smart contract and the blockchain. In this way, the traditional structure of a “physical” organization based on a hierarchical scale with shareholders, managers, executives and directors is no longer necessary.
With the DAO, this opens the door to a new level of business and cooperation between humans, machines and other smart contracts. Aspects that, in part, we have already learned about with the Metaverse, the new tech fashion that has already clashed with the real economy as happened with the iconic Hermès bags in digital version: the Meta Birkin by artist Mason Rothschild. A clash that rewrites the relationship between the real world and the digital world.
How will DAOS change the fashion industry?
“Decentralized autonomous organizations are the latest cryptocurrency trend to take off and fashion should pay attention to it.” It is the increasingly shared thought of industry experts. “With cryptocurrencies, we see people starting to pool their capital and work from a shared account, increasing the potential of such a collaboration,” Aaron Wright of Tribute Lab, the company that helped launch Red DAO, told Bof. the best-known DAO of fashion and who bought one of Dolce & Gabbana’s NFTs, the Doge Crown, for nearly $ 1.3 million worth of Ether cryptocurrency. Also Tribute Lab, which “supports digital stylists and collects objects, creations, clothes, accessories that may, in the future, increase in value”, has also collaborated with digital sneaker brand RTFKT to create a Metaverse-centric DAO called Neon DAO. , which currently controls about $ 20 million worth of Ether, and which has precisely the purpose of buying items from the Metaverse especially related to fashion, just like RTFKT digital sneakers “.
MacKinnon-Lee, founder of Digitalax, also believes that DAOS are the future of fashion, so much so that he helped launch a DAO which is a “cooperative” of independent designers operating on a set of rules encoded on a blockchain. “DAOS like these have the potential to disrupt the fashion system and transform a world, that of fashion, which risks atrophying and disappearing if it does not welcome and adapt to technological innovations”.
But alongside DAOS pooling funds and money for the purchase of creative digital works, DAOS are being born to govern the actual process of these creations. An example is Brud, the company that gave birth to Lil Miquela, the virtual influencer with more than 3 million followers on Instagram, and which is in the process of transforming itself into a DAO.
Other DAOs, then, try to do what traditional fashion brands do: create fashion to sell, which in their case takes place in the Metaverse. The Global Designer Network does so, a group of nearly 100 independent stylists created by the digital fashion design laboratory Digitalax, with the aim of transferring more power into the hands of creators, be they stylists or influencers, “because – as explained by the founder himself – web 2.0 companies including Facebook, Twitter or Youtube steal content, ideas and creativity from their creators. Thanks to DAOS, they can partially become owners of those groups that benefit most from their work “.
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The Historic Davenport Hotel is an iconic hotel brilliantly reinvented for the 21st century, where the glamour of 100 years of history sparkles with a new luster. Guests flock to The Historic Davenport Hotel to soak in the ornate lobby and
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Will Roundup Weed Killer Kill Flowering Plants?
Roundup is a general purpose contact herbicide that is typically used to kill common weeds around the home. Available in both concentrated and ready-to-spray forms, Roundup is applied either by spraying it directly from the bottle or by mixing it with water and using a hand-pressurized sprayer. Care should be taken when applying Roundup since it can negatively affect plants that are not weeds.
The primary herbicide ingredient in Roundup is a broad-spectrum herbicide called glyphosate. It is a contact herbicide, meaning that it does not need to dissolve and be absorbed by a plant's roots to kill the plant; Roundup is readily absorbed by a plant's leaves or other plant materials and travels through the plant's vascular system to the roots. Direct root application is also possible, though Roundup does not penetrate deep into the soil, so direct application to deep-rooted weeds may be difficult.
Effect on Flowering Plants
As Roundup is a broad-spectrum herbicide, it does not target only specific types of plants. If flowering plants are accidentally sprayed with Roundup, the glyphosate will affect their tissues in the same way that it affects weeds and grasses. The specific effects that Roundup has on the plant depends on how much of the herbicide came in contact with it; flowers may fade or change color, plant material may darken or die, and the plant's growth may be stunted. If sufficient Roundup was sprayed on the plant, the entire plant may die.
In addition to accidentally spraying your flowering plants while trying to kill weeds, accidental exposure can also occur from "drift" and overspray, reveals the University of Illinois Extension. Drifting occurs when the spray is carried by the wind onto nearby flowering plants. Overspray occurs when you hold the nozzle of the sprayer too far back from the weeds you are spraying and some of the spray lands on surrounding plants as well. It may take up to two weeks for signs of damage to appear on accidentally exposed plants, depending on how much Roundup the plants came in contact with.
Avoiding Drift and Overspray
You can typically avoid drift and overspray by paying attention to the weather conditions when spraying and making sure that the spray nozzle is close to the weeds you are trying to kill. You should avoid spraying on windy days, when possible, to significantly reduce the likelihood of accidental exposure. Placing a cardboard, plastic or wood barrier behind the weeds you are actively spraying may also reduce the likelihood of drift and overspray by catching any Roundup spray that misses its target.

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Sunday, January 18, 2009
Dr Bhattarai warns to launch 'massive revolt'
Senior Maoist leader and Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai warned that his party would opt for “massive revolt” if any political party made any attempt to topple the incumbent government.
While speaking at a programme held in Tanahu on Monday, he said, "It will be foolhardy to expect our party to remain silent if any party tried to prevent the government from smoothly functioning", adding, "Some parties which are still obsessed with feudalistic culture are making attempts to negate the historic political gains the country has witnessed.”
He also made it a point to relate that the government is committed to carry out people-centric works.
Posted by nickglais on 1/18/2009 11:40:00 PM