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Developed By: iNFOTYKE
Funds plea to repair bridge at Wahkhen
SHILLONG: The Wahkhen Tourism Promoters Trekking Society has urged the state government, the Deputy Commissioner (Relief), East Khasi Hills and the Tourism Department to immediately extend relief fund to the society for reconstruction of the bamboo bridge leading to the tourist trekking destination.
The Wahkhen trek is known for its indigenous bamboo bridge engineered by two locals of Wahkhen — Roget Buhphang and Nising Khongjirem.
The heavy rainfall on Monday washed away the bridge over the Wahrew river.
The bridge acts as the main gateway to Mawryngkhang, which is considered as the “king of stones” and a wonderful trekking destination for tourists situated at Wahkhen village, in Pynursla.
The secretary of the society, Dmuising Khongjirem, said the washing away of the bridge will be a loss to visiting tourists.
According to the Entry Register of the Society, the number of tourists visiting the site was 731 in January, 754 in February, 714 inMarch, 563 in April and 392 in May.
Khongjirem added that the society lacks sufficient funds for proper re-construction of the bridge although it has temporarily repaired it allowing tourists to visit the place again.

domain: geography


Following a decision by the City of Inverness Area Committee to retain a Spaces for People measure in Academy Street until permanent improvements are made, Highland Council Officers have been working to identify the most effective solutions for the intervening period that can facilitate safer, wider footpaths.
Work will be undertaken on Academy Street to replace the lane separators with a socket installed directly into the road surface that bollards will be fixed into.
Works will commence following the delivery of the sockets expected late next week.
In the interim period traffic cones will be installed between lane separators to ensure the space is used as intended, as a widened footpath.
A report updating Councillors on further potential improvements to the street (again to retain the space until permanent measures are implemented) will be brought to the City of Inverness Area Committee’s November meeting.


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Hong Kong Brand "Island Workbench"
We start our brand in Cheung Chau Island (One of Island in Hong Kong) . Our inspiration base on stories and life experiences in this Island. Collaborating with people and restart manufacturing studio in Cheung Chau. We develop different interesting projects to design and sell our “made in Cheung Chau product” to worldwide.
This hand knitted is one of our signature product made by cotton fabric.
And collaborated with women live in Cheung Chau.
We provide silver leather match with grey or white fabric.
Size B Handkniited bag (Silver Lather)

domain: design


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Poor, but Rich: Burkina Faso
The aforementioned is not just the story of the unpleasant exit of the greatest leader the country has even seen, but also the story of the death of those sincere efforts aimed at rewriting the destiny of this land. If this land lacks happiness, peace and basic resources like food and water, need not to look anywhere else for the answer. It is in the aforesaid paragraph itself.
Though confused, the people of this land now know what they are facing now is the natural outcome of their own deeds. Yet, they are not ready to ditch hope. That confidence deserves appreciation. The people of this land now look tourism as an opportunity to regain what they missed due to their ignorance in the past. This time, they are a bit more vigilant, it seems.
Bobo-Dioulasso, Arli National Park, W National Park, Ouagadougou, Gorom Gorom, Sindou, Lake Tangrela and Ziniare are the main tourist attractions of this country.
Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city in the country, is the most popular tourist location. It attracts all kind of travelers alike. It is where travelers normally go to enjoy nightlife. Live music and dance performances are the prime attractions here.
Arli National Park is a beautiful wildlife park. Hippos, monkeys and African wild dogs are the common animals found here.
W National Park is another famous park located in the country. It is popular for the presence of migratory birds. It is known as bird watchers’ heaven. Numerous migratory birds visit this heaven every year. The park authorities arrange trekking trips for the visitors. It is worth participating in these trips.


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Michael Easton is an accomplished artist. He is an actor, a screenwriter, a poet, a director, a photographer, and more recently he has become a writer of some of the most impressive graphic novels I've ever read. Between 2008 and 2010, he and artist Christopher Shy, of Studio Ronin fame, have collaborated on a 3-volume graphic novel he calls SOUL STEALER, published by DMF Comics.
The media kit for SOUL STEALER summarizes the series: “In a universe divided by good and evil, one man has been able to sustain life for over 3000 years, driven solely by the power of undying love. Armed with the ability to bring back souls from the underworld, Kalan must now fight the most dangerous and potent forces the world has ever known, as he wanders the Earth—through the past and into the present—on his near-impossible search for Oxania.
A shocking and breathtaking journey through darkness, madness, and ultimately hope, Soul Stealer explores a vivid, remarkably unique world drawn from the deepest recesses of human imagination.”
In my review last year of the first two volumes, I described the series in this way: “There are elements of Frankenstein and Faust but also Icarus and Orpheus. Couple these elements with the grand barbaric fantasy of Robert E. Howard and bring it all into a modern apocalyptic fictional fantasy world replete with preternaturally empowered assassins and automatic firearms and you have just a superficial glimpse at what writer Michael Easton has created here. The emptiness and self-loathing that drives Kalan, is so profoundly human and relatable that the extremes of sadness, love, hate, and confusion that bombard him are felt by the reader.”
I stand by every word I wrote last year in that review of the first two volumes, SOUL STEALER and SOUL STEALER: BLOOD AND RAIN. The conclusion, SOUL STEALER: LAST TO DIE, was finally published in June and is an emotionally satisfying conclusion to this grand myth of epic poetry. Easton and Shy once again somehow reach right down into my emotional core and tap right into those archetypal elements that make this story resonate. The eternal love between Kalan and Oxania is just one part of it. The sadistic Apis Bull and the horrors of eternal life, love, and death drive the horror. Visually beautiful, this is graphic storytelling at its best. SOUL STEALER is a horror story and a love story and a mythological fairy tale and an action-packed thriller. But for me, the poetry of words and the beauty of the art are what make this story more than just another comic book.
So, today, I wanted to enter into a conversation with creator/writer Michael Easton and talk a little deeper about SOUL STEALER and pick his brain a little about this wonderful book.
Keith: I need to begin with a little bit about SOUL STEALER, from my own personal perspective....
You know how much I love this thing...
Michael: I look forward to your thoughts. I like when people have a personal reaction to it.
Keith: ...but like I said when I reviewed the first 2 volumes, it is an emotional reaction for me. I rarely feel true emotion in graphic novels. I mean sometimes I may get grossed out, or think something is really cool, or it might tickle my intellect. SOUL STEALER reaches down into my Jungian subconscious and pulls out a totally emotional response in me.
"Oxania. You are my Eden. My Eros. My Elysium. Whether I live or die. I am you. I decay in you. I grow in you. I cover the earth."
It encapsulates an eternal love in those brief words.
Michael: First off, thank you.
Someone described it as "heartbreaking" and I like that. There's a time and a place for everything and sometimes we need a little heart ache.
Keith: I agree. This work is particularly dark, gothic, and brutal....but there's a beauty of spirit that permeates. It's love, in its myriad forms, not just romantic love, that is brought to the fore in the third volume. I sense an almost Rouseauian romantic in your writing but it walks side by side with Sade's brutal carnality.
Michael: Man, you are too kind. To be mentioned in the same breath...
Keith: However, I can't help doing that because of the mythical aspect of the universal story you are telling here. It can just be a cool, superficial, apocalyptic barbarian tale...or if you let it sing to you, you will find it reaches into the archetypal realm of literature in ways that I've rarely, if ever, seen with the graphic novel as a medium (although William Blake practically created Graphic Novel-esque epic poetry with his illuminations).
Michael: I had read Jungs RED BOOK, or tried to, before writing SOUL STEALER 3. His thoughts on “synchronicity” played a subconscious part in crafting the first two books.
Keith: That's synchronicity in and of itself. This is my quote on my Facebook page: "I subscribe to what Jung calls synchronicity. Things happen in complex patterns of apparent coincidence, noticed by the keen eyes of the artist." — Camille Paglia
Michael: Damn. I wished I'd said that.
But that's what it is. Getting raw and laying it out there. That's what I love about Blake or Baudelaire.
Love truly is, in all forms for better; for worse — a form of madness.
Keith: I'm finding more and more that I see the world around me through the same prism. And I think SOUL STEALER speaks to me because of that. Which is part of why I said I wanted to talk to you a little more about the book, but also I am curious about the pathway that brought you to this project particularly?
Michael: The original idea for Kalan came out of one quote, "How far would you go to back someone you love?"
So you've got to be a little f***ed up; a little wounded to begin with, to be thinking that way.
Keith: Did you come across that quote somewhere or did it just pop into your head and germinate?
Michael: Came to me in the night. Either in a nightmare or possibly in another one of those drunken stupors.
Keith: Drunken stupors and nightmares...Mary Shelley conceived the Frankenstein Monster in a nightmare... is there a more archetypal character in literature?
Michael: My favorite movie as a kid. I love what Johhny Cash said about Frankenstein's Monster, that here was this monster made up from all these bad parts, but he's still trying to do good.
Keith: My second favorite quote (also on my FB page) is from Shelley's novel: "My main trouble was that I had no sense of humor." — Frankenstein's Monster
Michael: That one I saw. That's why we can be friends...
Keith: Speaking of friends...
Your artist on this project is Chris Shy and Peter Straub's name keeps popping up connected with you (including your upcoming Vertigo project THE GREEN WOMAN). How did you connect with these two men as a creative partner with each one...in very different contexts?
Michael: Around the time my publisher was sending me samples of artists for SOUL STEALER I found a book in a bargain bin at the old Virgin Record store in Los Angles called RONIN: THE ART OF CHRIS SHY. And I said I wanted this guy. They said, "He doesn't do comic books" and sent over more samples. Good guys. Talented. But it's like we were talking about earlier; I like all kinds of comic books but sometime they're just goofy and irreverant. I wanted this to be void of irony (tough in cynical times), and at no time could it be irreverent. So, it was my wife who said I should send him an email and I began the processes of talking him into it.
With all due respect to all the others, there isn't another artist in the world who could have captured SOUL STEALER better than Chris.
I needed to create a world in which anything is possible, and Chris creates without boundaries or limitation.
Keith: Oh I agree. This is a marriage of words and images that is poetry to look at. His use of different tonal qualities..especially the recurrence of deep purple in this third volume evokes majesty and divinity as the story comes to a conclusion. It's a fantastic book just to look at. There's action, romance, beauty, horror, and it all has real emotional impact even without the words. His depictions of hellish afterlife or pseudo-afterlife are at times gruesome yet again, his technique is so good, I can't help but be moved by them.
Michael: Every color we talked about — the texture, the tone. We talked about Bosch paintings, movies like "Ran”, plays like “Faust” and artists like Frazetta. Chris has got a motherf***er for a library in his head. And then the two big ones we bonded on: Tarkovsky (which I just submerged myself in his journals on art and film as a young writer) and Ridley Scott's "The Duellists," which was the basis for the Kalan/Apis Bull rivalry.
Keith: All those influences are there on the page, yet the work is still unique. As a general rule, I find it difficult to really "feel" an artist who paints digitally...but I find Chris to be the exception that proves that rule. I swear I can feel blood and sweat on every page...as I do with you in the writing side.
Michael: Chris has no fear. He's willing to bleed on the page with you. What more could you ask for in a creative partner?
Keith: Nothing more. It's why this works.
Michael: The biggest thing with Chris' art was to make sure to not get in the way of it. Sometimes you can make people feel the suggestion of something in just a few words, then let them sit back and absorb the images on their own...let it seep in. Allow them to be overcome...poetic but vague is the place for me.
Keith: I believe that is what makes the work, as a whole, effective. In SOUL STEALER, there are many pages with little to no actual words, but much is said in the imagery. Much that is left to the reader to interpret. This is why SOUL STEALER rises above the fray into the arena of true literature...in my mind at least...and I'll keep pushing that conclusion on anyone who's willing to listen to me.
Michael: As for Straub. Here's what it's like writing with Straub. Coleridge said the difference between a writer and a poet is the writer puts words in the right order a poet puts the right words in the right order...
Straub is a poet.
I'm trying to be the writer.
Keith: What does it mean to you...to be...a “writer”?
Michael: Kerouac wrote something that is forever etched on my soul, and I may be paraphrasing a bit: “To know nothing matters after all, to know there's no difference between rich and poor. To know eternity is neither drunk nor sober to know it young and to be a poet.”
I think my characters then are forever poisoned by this; forever under the influence of it.
Keith: The poison of Kerouac and the “Beat” generation is not necessarily a bad thing insofar as attaching more depth and personal expression to writing rather than, say, a Grisham-esque formulaic approach to having a best-seller. The works that endure are writ because the artist will burst if he or she doesn't express what is gnawing at their soul.
Michael: Irreverant right? It has it's place but in too large a dose makes everything trivial. It's all becoming disposable.
Keith: That sense of irreverancy, of the absurd, is part of the balance that makes a work of myth able to relate to the modern reader. It's not a wink but more a recognition of the absurdities of life and the situations we sometimes find ourselves in because of love...taken to the extreme in this story, of course.
Without delving too much into the waters of artistic intention and interpretive meaning, could you briefly share your thoughts on the three main characters of Kalan, Oxania, and Apis Bull and their relationships to each other? One thing I am particularly curious about is the genesis of the characters and their relationships to each other.
Michael: The origin of characters and story exist mostly in the notebooks I kept, dating back to 2000, in which I sketched out most of SOUL STEALER. Looking through these notebooks themselves is probably the best way to understand the, mostly random, thoughts I had on character, structure and the world I wanted to create.
Stylistically I was looking to create a true fusion of word and art. Thematically, meditations on death are equally about life.
Eternal love. I decay in you. I grow in you. I cover the earth.
I wrote that this is a story about love and loss. The bond of lovers, love of family, love of nature, of gods and heaven. Pain and Triumph. This is a world in which fantasy and horror coexist...gothic and brutal but grounded by wonder..."Enchanted evil." The hard line between good and evil is easily breached.
In this story, nothing is as it appears. Use Masks, armor, deformities to hide characters true self then reveal them later to be the least of what the reader expected.
The storyteller as manipulator.
The characters of Kalan and Apis Bull are two-sides of the same: Apis Bull is a monster outside. Kalan is the monster within.
Kalan begins as a hero, arrogant and brave. A leader of men. He is reduced to an outcast, a loner, living in his own head. Existing in shadows, paranoid and mad; he is haunted by demons he can never defeat.
He is made up of many pieces. He represents the good in us trying to control the desires within.
Apis Bull is deformed, orphaned, and fed upon by animals. He is born into pain. He will rise to become leader of his people. the nomads and Freaks.
He represents Kalan's opposite. The reader does not have to sympathize with Apis Bull, just understand him. Ask yourself, if given the circumstance would you be any different?
Oxania is the woman that haunts your dreams – the wild and the unattainable. She is sometimes beautiful, sometimes corrupted beauty. She knows you; you never know her.
She will become the assassin.
Altimus is the accomplice, the sidekick, who becomes the leader of the band. He is a Rock Star. Joe Strummer.
Not sure if that helps but perhaps it gives some insight into SOUL STEALER origins...
Keith: And finally, what's Michael Easton got coming up in the way of comics and graphic novels?
Michael: With regard to the future, THE GREEN WOMAN is to be released in October by DC/Vertigo and is available right now for pre-order on Amazon. We are humbled by early reviews (Robert Rodriguez on THE GREEN WOMAN: "John Boltion is a god and Straub and Easton write about evil like it was their own invention").
I'm currently working on a freelance project called CREDENCE. (Detective Danny Credence has a gold shield and some dubious morals. An insolent man in a profane society, the madness doesn’t stop when he walks out the precinct doors.) It's a bit of inspired, politically incorrect madness. Completely twisted but raw and strangely beautiful. Sam Peckinpah would like it.
Keith: I've read an advance copy of THE GREEN WOMAN and I agree with Rodriguez's assessment. Again, thank you Michael for being so open and willing to share your thoughts on not just SOUL STEALER, but art and writing in general. This work is something to be proud of and I'm glad I can be a voice out there to encourage more people to give it a shot and read it...and experience it.

domain: artistic


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♠ Posted by Emmanuel in Cheneynomics at 7/22/2010 09:49:00 PMIt's not often that I agree with the famed development economist Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia on much of anything, but he's now delivered a pretty damning indictment of the senselessness of US stimulus. (This contribution is yet another in the series of op-eds run by the FT on the stimulus versus austerity debate.) First, he compares the rudderless way the US has gone about its activities in relation to China, which has carefully studied what sort of infrastructure improvements the PRC needs in order to grow. Yes, there are good reasons why China is leaving America in a trail of dust. Next, he slams calls for further (undirected) stimulus as spending good money after bad in throwing everything against the wall--including a lot of pork--to see what sticks. Call it the revenge of Yerkes-Dodson:
Despite the evident need for a rise in national saving after 2008, President Barack Obama tried to prolong the consumption binge by aggressively promoting home and car sales to already exhausted consumers, and by cutting taxes despite an unsustainable budget deficit. The approach has been hyper short term, driven by America’s two-year election cycle. It has stalled because US consumers are taking a longer-term view than the politicians.So no and never--the US McMansion-superconsumption complex should never be reflated since it's not likely to work. It didn't before, so there's no reason to think it will now. On its current path, America will have hell to pay largely of its own making. If we could only get Sachs to be a full-time critic of the United States' fiscal policies instead of a leading voice in calling for massive aid...
By contrast, the administration’s interest in boosting investment has been haphazard. Mr Obama has shown a strange inability to articulate an operational and forward-looking policy framework in signature areas such as healthcare, energy, climate change, and long-term fiscal policy. At a time when China is building hundreds of miles of subway lines, tens of thousands of miles of highways, a couple of dozen nuclear power plants, and a network of tens of thousands of miles of high-speed intercity rail lines, the US struggles to launch a single substantial project. China saves and invests; the US talks, consumes, borrows, and talks some more.
It is wrong in this context to believe that the only choice is further fiscal stimulus versus a repeat of the Great Depression. Further short-term tax cuts or transfers on top of America’s $1,500bn budget deficit are unlikely to do much to boost demand, while they would greatly increase anxieties over future fiscal retrenchment. Households are hunkering down, and many will regard an added transfer payment as a temporary windfall that is best used to pay down debt, not boost spending.

domain: news


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Coordination of State Zimmer NexGen Knee Lawsuits Sought
As federal coordination of Zimmer NexGen knee lawsuits continues to grow, attorneys for the plaintiffs and defendants have requested coordination of state litigation as well.
The joint update filed on March 10 requested that the federal MDL establish a “relationship of coordination” with state cases pending across the country. The update was submitted to Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, the federal judge assigned to oversee the Zimmer MDL in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Coordination leads to efficiency, convenience
A coordination of state cases would allow for greater efficiency for all parties, according to the joint update. The coordination would require parties in the federal MDL to notify state courts of deadlines for federal litigation so that state cases could follow suit. This would allow for more efficient handling of disputes and questions that arise throughout the litigation process.
Currently, there are approximately 15 state cases pending in New York, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana and California. In addition, the federal MDL has approximately 1,250 Zimmer NexGen knee lawsuits currently pending. Multidistrict litigation was established in August 2011 in order to streamline a growing number of lawsuits involving the Zimmer NexGen knee. Coordination prevents duplicate discovery and conflicting rulings in individual lawsuits.
Judge Pallmeyer plans to select a small number of cases from the MDL for early trial soon. These cases, known as bellwether trials, provide early insight into how juries will respond to evidence and testimony. In some cases, bellwether trials may also serve as a catalyst for settlement negotiations between the defendants and plaintiffs.
History of Zimmer knee complications
Zimmer introduced their NexGen knee replacement device in 1995. As the popularity of the product continued to grow, Zimmer introduced a new NexGen model in 2001 known as the NexGen flex. This device was marketed as an alternative for younger, more active patients due to its durability and range of motion. The device was cleared by the FDA via the 510(k) fast track process, which enabled Zimmer to bypass premarket safety trials as the product was similar to other knee implants already on the market. y.
Unfortunately, patients began reporting early failure with their Zimmer knee implants, with some devices only lasting a few years instead of the 10-15 years normally associated with knee replacements. Some patients had to undergo revision surgery to remove the defective device and replace it with another knee implant. Revision surgery is a riskier procedure than the original implant procedure, with a higher rate of dislocation and loosening with the replacement device.
Knee replacement complications associated with the Zimmer NexGen include loosening of the joint, fractured components and misalignment of the components. Patients experience a variety of symptoms, including pain, reduced mobility, swelling and bone fractures. Patients may require additional medical treatment for their symptoms and revision surgery if the device fails completely, resulting in possible financial strain from additional medical expenses and lost wages due to time off work.
Specific components of the Zimmer NexGen flex have undergone a class 2 recall by the FDA, indicating the components could cause temporary or medical reversible injuries. Some patients have also filed a Zimmer lawsuit against the device manufacturer, alleging they were not properly warned about the risks before their implant surgery. As this latest development indicates, coordinated litigation continues to move forward in Illinois and other states around the country.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Total Knee Replacement, http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00389
- Zimmer, Frequently Asked Questions, http://www.zimmer.com/z/ctl/op/global/action/1/id/8138/template/PC

domain: medical


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“Hi World. We want a puppy! Our dad said we could get one if we get 1 million likes! He doesn’t think we can do it! So ‘LIKE’ this!” This is the message that appears on an image posted on Facebook by a pair of sisters this Tuesday. Having a skeptical father who don’t belive that this will happend, the girls asked other users to like the photo, and make their dad keeping his promise and to buy a new puppy.
Through their facebook page called: Twogirlsandapuppy we find out that their previous dog died of cancer last year and that’s why they want a new one. This facebook page have more than 230.000 likes and both the main picture and the cover photo of this page have raised more than 1 million likes.
From this story we can see the impact and power that social media has through its channels, in this case a clear example of a viral facebook story.


This means that you'll be able to search for NAICS codes directly (if that's your jam). We'll do the math; let's make better data on public procurement together.
Impulse Cartridges; Delay Cartridges; Engine Starter Cartridges (explosive filled); Fire Extinguisher Cartridges (used to activate by remote control); Aircraft Ejection Seat Catapults; Rocket Motors (Solid Propellant Units) for Aircraft Ejection Seats; Aircraft Canopy Removers; Thrusters, propellant and cartridge actuated; Initiators; Explosive Bolts and Explosive Bolt Cartridges; Cutters, cartridge or propellant actuated, Reefing Line; Powder actuated Tool Cartridges; Explosive Loaded Devices and Components which are not specifically classified elsewhere.
Liquid Propellant Fuels and Oxidizers; Solid Propellants, encased in consumable containers for insertion into missile propulsion systems as an integral part; Guided Missile Explosive Devices; Bulk and Solid Propellants, predetermined to specific quantity and quality, packaged in reusable containers; Blasting and Demolition Materials; Rocket Motors, Warheads and Propulsion Sections for Rockets and Guided Missiles.
This class includes safety-in-flight explosive items, consisting of a quantity of propellant (either encased in a cartridge or in molded form) and a means of activation, designed to be inserted into or attached to one or more devices to provide the energy required to operate devices requiring a time delay, or not requiring a time delay, in their operating sequence. Also included are devices designed to utilize energy generated by the items described above.
Possible NAICS Codes
325920 – Explosives Manufacturing
336413 – Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
332710 – Machine Shops
315990 – Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing
332722 – Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Manufacturing
332993 – Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing
332994 – Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing
332992 – Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing
332510 – Hardware Manufacturing


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A healing routine.
We, as humans, are in a constant state of healing. Healing from the past. Healing from trauma or loss. Healing from injury or illness. Healing from the daily stressors of our lives. Healing from the pains of the world and a broken heart. Sometimes, we might even require healing from the healing process itself. That’s a lot of healing.
It is also a lot of opportunity for growth, reflection, and connection. Opportunity to shed what no longer serves and be curious to what lies ahead. That’s a whole lot of opportunity for LIVING. It is in our daily lives, the simplest of routines, that we influence our healing journey. How do you start you day? What do you do with those moments of “free time”? Do your habits promote healing and well-being? Or are you stuck in a hamster wheel of overwhelm?
Oh, Overwhelm! An old friend I know too well. That feeling of flight, fight, or freeze. That auto-pilot of “I know this isn’t good for me but I just need to get through the day.” Overwhelm comes to me as a constant knot in the stomach, indicating that something is not in balance but I just can’t seem to pause for long enough to figure it out. It keeps it’s presence through a familiar cycle of sleep deprivation, caffeine, fatique and lack of exercise, sugar cravings and poor digestion. Then there comes the joint pain, inflammation, migraines, and anxiety. My body’s way of saying “Ok, I’ve had enough! Would you just stop, breathe, and rest already?” Overwhelm pairs nicely with my other old friend - isolation. The lack of connecting with those you love becuase you only have enough energy to survive (and keep your small children alive until you spouse gets home).
Am I speaking your language? Does this remind you of anyone you know?
Thriving is for instafamous health freaks and paleo bloggers, I began to think. Yet I found myself channeling my insomnia into the external searching for solutions. The constant google search “what’s wrong with me.” The next “fad” diet, cookie cutter health program, and self help book. “The cure must be out there somewhere! I can’t be the only one that feels this way. What do they know that I don’t? I’m a graduate level health care provider, yoga teacher, and life coach for crying outloud!” I forgot to mention that self doubt also shows up to this pitty party.
And then one day, I allowed myself the opportunity to pause, reflect, and BREATHE. I took my yoga mat out to a quiet spot by a stream and a tree. And I layed down on that mat and stared at the sky through the branches in the tree. And I asked the heavens, “just tell me what I need to do.” And God, who has sense of humor and knows that laughter really is the best medicine, sent me a daddy long legged spider. Because the universe knows I really REALLY (dis)like spiders. He crawled from the branches to the trunk, to the base of the tree, and right onto my damn yoga mat. I kindly told him this Savasana was meant for ONE and gently brushed him off onto the roots of the tree. The roots that traveled underneath my yoga mat. The roots that were supporting me was I lay there looking for the answers “out there.” That little/big spider had a message for me. He was leading me right to the roots. The roots that had been there all along. I simply needed a reminder to look within.
The thing is, once I finally rose out of the brain fog of overwhelm, I became acutely aware that the world all around me was still deep in it. The lack of commitment, self care, and connection is in fact, quite overwhelming!
And yet, the research shows us time and time again what we already knew deep down. To heal is to start living again. To cook, to garden, to walk, to create, to breathe, to play, to laugh, to connect with others in a meaningful way. What if the means to the “cure” was actually the “cure” itself? What if, everything we need to heal is already inside of us? What if we got back to the basics, and healed our present moment routines, in order to heal our future? And what if, when we returned to our true selves, we were a reminder to those around us that they posess the same innate healing powers themselves?
And so it is that Healing Routines was born. It was a long gestation, and quite an uncertain birth. But here I am. Earthside and well, practicing the art of living, and on my way to thriving. I’ve been given the gift of reflection and awareness. I’ve been preparing for this with years of life lessons, education, and clinical experience. My healing practice is one of intuition and evidence based expertise. And I’m honored to have the opportunity to be your guide for creating healthy, happy, and healing routines.
You see, you already have everything you need within you for this journey of life, and I believe in you. I see your light shinning behind whatever clouds your journey. My role as a healer is not to heal you, but to help you remember and find the key that unlocks your healing resources. For you my friend, are beautifully made to LIVE.

domain: literature


text: Cleaner production is an efficient way to reduce the consumption of energy and environment pollution for electric power industry. But how to evaluate the performance of cleaner production is an inportant problem. In this paper, the performance evaluation index system of thermal power plants cleaner production is set up. Then we propose the intuitionistic fuzzy set group decision making methods to evaluate the performance of cleaner production of thermal power plants. At last we use an example to illustrate the efficiency of the methods.


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Helprin’s A Soldier of the Great War leaves the big battles to history books to focus on the eddies swirling in wartime and the people caught in them.
Michael D. ScogginJuly 7, 2016
We need books like Timothy D. Snyder’s Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning. Books like it, though perhaps not it.
Michael D. ScogginFebruary 12, 2016
Victor Davis Hanson’s The Savior Generals:How Five Great Commanders Saved Wars That Were Lost – From Ancient Greece To Iraq
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In a pilot-scale trial to find alternative raw materials for rigid plastic packages, the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has discovered the unprecedented maximum limits of its highly extensible formable cellulose-based webs used for rigid packaging applications.
The results enable the manufacturing of a wide range of sustainable 3D packaging solutions that were previously unattainable.
The development work was conducted as part of a research programme in which VTT, in co-operation with 54 other companies and the Regional Council of Central Finland, up-scaled alternatives to plastic products.
Typical commercial boards have between 3% to 6% extensibility, and the best commercial formable boards have 10% to 18% extensibility. But by utilising foam forming technology, VTT has now obtained up to 30% extensibility. This enables brand owners to use rigid, cardboard-like packaging to serve consumers looking to buy more sustainable products.
According to VTT, this material improvement could enable food brands producing cold cuts to increase cardboard-like package sizes from 75 grams up to 200 to 250 grams. By adjusting the tray forming process and tray dimensions, even larger cardboard-like packages could be produced.
The non-profit research company highlights the need for alternative materials following the Single-use Plastics Directive and the European Commission’s proposal for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
This material development could also have ramifications for the global plastics market, which is valued at more than 300 mtpa in 2023 and is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of more than 2% between 2023 and 2030.
VTT research team leader Jarmo Kouko commented: “In industries that use huge amounts of plastic, like the food packaging sector, we can find plenty of opportunities to reduce the use of fossil fuel-based materials and replace them with sustainable ones that take us closer to the carbon-neutral societies of the future and allow us to be more frugal with natural resources.”


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Parents are urged to book MMR jabs for children after uptake slumped during Covid pandemic
- Fears cases could soar with one in ten children starting school unprotected
- The NHS’s Steve Russell said the jab ‘is safe for your child and will protect them’
- Complications from measles, mumps and rubella can be life changing
DOCTORS fear 740,000 children are at risk of deadly measles after vaccinations plunged during the pandemic.
Uptake of the two measles, mumps and rubella jabs was the lowest in a decade during Covid and is yet to catch up.
Measles can cause pneumonia and brain inflammation. Health chiefs fear cases could soar, with one in ten children starting school unprotected. They are contacting parents of children between one and six who have not yet had both doses, urging them to visit their GP.
The NHS’s Steve Russell said the jab ‘is safe for your child, and will protect them, their friends and the wider community’.
Measles, mumps and rubella are highly infectious illnesses that can easily spread between unvaccinated people. Complications from these diseases can be potentially life changing.
Health chiefs fear cases could soar, with one in ten children starting school unprotected. They are contacting parents of children between one and six who have not yet had both doses, urging them to visit their GP
Children need two doses of the safe and effective MMR vaccine, with the first dose given around the child’s first birthday, and the second dose given at around three years and four months old. Both doses are needed to ensure full and lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella.
The NHS has also sent out over 1.5 million invitations to parents of two to three years olds to get their flu vaccination ahead of winter. Where possible, children can receive their MMR catch up vaccine at the same time as their flu vaccine.
Mr Russell said: “Measles, mumps and rubella easily spread between unvaccinated people and can be very serious, so it is important that parents make sure their children are protected against MMR as they return to school, and are up to date with their flu vaccination if eligible as we head into the winter months.
“The MMR vaccine is one of the most studied vaccines in the world, with millions of doses given every year – it is safe for your child, and will protect them, their friends and the wider community from these unpleasant but preventable diseases. If your child hasn’t been vaccinated yet, or is not up to date with their vaccinations, please contact your GP to book an appointment.”
The NHS national immunisation programme is highly successful in reducing the number of serious and infectious diseases such as whooping cough, diphtheria and measles, and high levels of vaccine uptake in the community can prevent the spread of these unpleasant but preventable infections.
Parents and carers can find out more about the different vaccines their child should have and when by visiting www.nhs.uk and searching for ‘NHS vaccinations and when to have them’.


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Research Article | Open Access
Jonas Vinstrup, Joaquin Calatayud, Markus D. Jakobsen, Emil Sundstrup, Lars L. Andersen, "Focusing on Increasing Velocity during Heavy Resistance Knee Flexion Exercise Boosts Hamstring Muscle Activity in Chronic Stroke Patients", Neurology Research International, vol. 2016, Article ID 6523724, 6 pages, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6523724
Focusing on Increasing Velocity during Heavy Resistance Knee Flexion Exercise Boosts Hamstring Muscle Activity in Chronic Stroke Patients
Background. Muscle strength is markedly reduced in stroke patients, which has negative implications for functional capacity and work ability. Different types of feedback during strength training exercises may alter neuromuscular activity and functional gains. Objective. To compare levels of muscle activity during conditions of blindfolding and intended high contraction speed with a normal condition of high-intensity knee flexions. Methods. Eighteen patients performed unilateral machine knee flexions with a 10-repetition maximum load. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the quadrics and hamstring muscles and normalized to maximal EMG (nEMG) of the nonparetic limb. Results. For the paretic leg, the speed condition showed higher values of muscle activity compared with the normal and blindfolded conditions for both biceps femoris and semitendinosus. Likewise, the speed condition showed higher co-contraction values compared with the normal and blindfolded conditions for the vastus lateralis. No differences were observed between exercise conditions for the nonparetic leg. Conclusion. Chronic stroke patients are capable of performing heavy resistance training with intended high speed of contraction. Focusing on speed during the concentric phase elicited higher levels of muscle activity of the hamstrings compared to normal and blindfolded conditions, which may have implications for regaining fast muscle strength in stroke survivors.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability among adults worldwide . Despite declines in prevalence, mortality rates, and disability, the global burden of stroke continues to increase due to population growth and aging . Thus, effective interventions to counteract the consequences of stroke are needed. Multifactorial physical therapy is the pillar stone of rehabilitation following stroke. An increasing number of new therapies for rehabilitating the consequences of stroke have emerged during the past decade, for example, virtual reality, mirror therapy, constraint-induced movement therapy, and electromyographic feedback [3, 4]. Historically, high-intensity physical exertion as part of stroke rehabilitation was thought to exacerbate spasticity, meaning that heavy load strength training was often excluded from rehabilitation practices . However, research has firmly established that strength training does not increase spasticity [6–8] and that strength training has the potential to improve function and reduce physical impairment in chronic stroke patients [9–12]. Consequently, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association now consider high-intensity strength training as an essential aspect of rehabilitation regimes for stroke patients .
Following stroke, bilateral muscle weakness is commonly observed [6, 14]. However, because of the pronounced hemiparesis following stroke, the side of the body contralateral to the lesion will exhibit severe muscle weakness not only compared with healthy individuals but also compared with the ipsilateral body side [7, 9]. In addition, certain lower extremity muscles are more affected and stronger predictors of poststroke mobility than others [9, 15–17]. Knee flexor strength correlates moderately to strongly with walking ability  and has been shown to be severely weakened following stroke . Furthermore, decreases in force production with imposed increases in movement velocity are commonly observed in stroke patients [9, 19]. As muscular adaptations are not only contraction- and load- but also velocity-specific , it is therefore necessary to include exercise velocities that match those of individual functional requirements. The use of speed/power training and accompanying velocity-specific training adaptations have long been recognized in the strength training literature in healthy subjects and athletes [20–23]. Even when the actual velocity is low but the intended velocity is high, marked improvements of high-velocity muscle strength have been observed . However, the effect of high intended movement speed on muscle activity has not been studied in chronic stroke patients.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare levels of muscle activity during conditions of blindfolding and intended high speed contractions with a normal condition of high-intensity knee flexion exercise in chronic stroke patients. We tested the null-hypothesis of no differences in muscle activity between exercise conditions.
A total of 18 (11 men and 7 women) patients with cerebrovascular injuries in the chronic stage (>6 months after injury) at the Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Injury, Copenhagen, Denmark, participated in two sessions, consisting of (1) familiarization and (2) an experimental protocol. All referrals to the study were made by a physiotherapist at the Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Injury, having screened the patients for eligibility at admission. All participants were medically stable, motivated, taking part in ongoing resistance training at least twice a week, and cleared for strenuous physical exercise. Furthermore, they had been physically active as part of their rehabilitation since the brain injury and more recently (mean years) participating in progressive resistance training at the Center of Brain Injury. The criteria for inclusion were a chronicity of more than 6 months and a moderate-to-severe hemiparesis with unilateral weakness. Exclusion criteria were alcohol or substance abuse, resting blood pressure above 160/100 mmHg, psychiatric diseases, and any progressive diseases. Table 1 shows the demographics of the participants.
All participants were informed about the purpose and content of the study and gave their written informed consent. Before participating in the experimental protocol, the subjects received additional information by email and were verbally informed at the familiarization session. The study conformed to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Local Ethical Committee (H-3-2010-062).
2.3. Experimental Design
2.3.1. Exercise Equipment and Description
The knee flexion exercises were performed unilaterally in the seated knee flexion machine (TechnoGym Isotonic Line with Power Control, TechnoGym SpA, Gambettola, FC, Italy) in 3 different scenarios with the same absolute load: (1) normal, (2) focusing on speed in the concentric phase, and (3) without visual feedback. During the latter scenario the participants were blindfolded. The normal and blindfolded exercises were performed in a controlled manner (each repetition lasting ~3 seconds which was controlled by counting out loud), whereas the participants were instructed to perform the concentric phase as fast as possible in the speed scenario. All exercises were performed in full available range of motion (ROM) for 3 repetitions at a 10 repetition max (RM) load, with the participants being allowed to use grip support. In the same population, we have previously reported muscle activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings during knee extension and flexion utilizing machine equipment compared with elastic resistance , lower limb muscle activity during leg press and bodyweight exercises (Vinstrup et al., unpublished observation), and forearm muscle activity during finger flexion and extension exercises (Vinstrup et al., unpublished observation).
2.3.2. Familiarization and Experimental Protocol
At the first session participants were familiarized with the exercises used in the experimental protocol, and the 10 RM load was determined. As the participants were used to performing the seated knee flexion exercise the current 10 RM was located within 3 attempts, with 1-minute rest between sets. The load was accepted when the participant could perform no more than 10 repetitions while maintaining technique. At the second session the EMG apparatus was applied on one side at a time and fixated with adhesive tape (Fixomull, BSN Medical GmbH, Hamburg, Germany), after which the subject was asked to perform various movements to confirm comfort and strength of the application. The order of exercises and legs was randomized and counterbalanced. Each subject chose blindly by picking a piece of paper, hereby receiving an unknown exercise order. No injuries, complaints, or dissatisfaction of any kind was reported during the experimental protocol.
2.3.3. Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVC)
At the end of the experimental protocol isometric MVCs were performed in the seated knee flexion machine. Two MVCs were performed for each leg and the highest value was used for later analysis. The participants were instructed to exert maximal force for 5 seconds and were allowed 1 minute of rest between sets. Strong verbal encouragement was given during each trial.
2.3.4. EMG and Inclinometer Signal Sampling and Analysis
Before placing the electrodes (Blue Sensor N-00-S, Ambu A/S, Ballerup, Denmark) the skin was cleaned, shaved, and prepared with scrubbing gel (Acqua gel, Meditec, Parma, Italy) to lower skin impedance [26, 27].
EMG signals were recorded from 4 muscles: biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL). A bipolar surface EMG configuration (Neuroline 720 01-K, Medicotest A/S, Ølstykke, Denmark) with an interelectrode distance of 2 cm was used [25, 28]. The EMG electrodes were connected directly to wireless probes that preamplified the signal (gain 400) and transmitted data in real-time to a nearby 16-channel PC-interface receiver (TeleMyo DTS Telemetry, Noraxon, Arizona, USA). The sampling rate was set to 1500 Hz with a bandwidth of 10–500 Hz to avoid aliasing. The resolution of the signals was 16 bits. The common mode rejection ratio was >100 dB.
During later analysis all raw EMG signals obtained during MVCs as well as during the exercises were digitally filtered, consisting of (1) high-pass filtering at 10 Hz and (2) a moving root-mean-square (RMS) filter of 500 ms. For each individual muscle, peak RMS EMG of the 3 repetitions performed was determined, and the average value of these 3 repetitions was normalized to the maximum maximorum of the nonparetic leg [25, 26]. Because stroke patients cannot maximally activate the paretic side, this normalization was performed as the best alternative in order to make muscle activity comparison between limbs possible.
2.3.5. Sample Size Calculation
Sample size calculation was performed prior to the study and showed that 16 subjects in this paired design were sufficient to achieve a statistical power of 80% at a minimal relevant difference of 10%, a Type I error probability of 1%, and assuming a standard deviation of 10% based on previous research in our lab .
2.4. Statistical Analysis
For each muscle and leg separately, a linear mixed model (Proc Mixed, SAS version 9, SAS Institute, Cary, NC) was used to determine if differences existed between exercises (fixed factor). The mixed procedure inherently handles missing data. Normalized EMG (nEMG) of each respective muscle was included in the model as dependent variable. Subject was entered in the model as a random factor. Values of nEMG are reported as least square means (LSM) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) unless otherwise stated. Differences between exercises are stated as LSM percentage points of nEMG and 95% CI. values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Mean 10 RM load during the knee flexion exercise was 22.6 kg (SD 7.8) and 13.8 (SD 6.8) for the nonparetic and paretic leg, respectively (). No adverse events occurred during any of the exercises.
For the paretic leg, the speed condition showed higher values of muscle activity compared with the normal and the blindfolded conditions for both biceps femoris and semitendinosus (). Likewise, the speed condition showed higher values of co-contraction compared to the normal and blindfolded conditions for the vastus lateralis (). For the vastus medialis, the speed and normal conditions showed higher values of co-contraction compared with the blindfolded condition ().
No differences were observed between exercise conditions for the nonparetic leg (Table 2).
|Speed: knee flexions performed with a fast concentric phase.|
Normal: knee flexions performed in a controlled manner.
Blindfold: knee flexions performed blindfolded.
NS: not significant.
This study investigated the effects of performing seated knee flexions blindfolded or with a focus on speed compared with a normal condition of knee flexion on hamstring and quadriceps muscle activity. The main finding was that focusing on high movement speed during the seated knee flexion exercise led to higher muscle activity of the hamstrings compared with normal and blindfolded conditions. This pattern was only observed for the paretic leg. Therefore, our initial null hypothesis is partially rejected.
Our study provides novel insight into the effect of intended movement velocity in chronic stroke patients, effectively contributing to the knowledge base within stroke rehabilitation. We show that increasing movement speed increases agonist muscle activity of the paretic, but not the nonparetic, leg during knee flexions. This is in contrast to healthy individuals where ballistic contractions are known to induce higher levels of muscle activity compared with slow-speed contractions . The reason for this difference between legs can only be speculated upon, but it illustrates that stroke patients will likely benefit from focusing on speed during the concentric phase when exercising the paretic leg. It can be hypothesized that the paretic side is more sensitive to higher velocities due to detraining and/or weakness, whereas the nonparetic side may require even higher velocities or greater loads to increase muscle activation. In addition, antagonist coactivation differed between exercise conditions, consistently showing lower values of muscle activity during the blindfolded condition. This could merely reflect the differences in agonist muscle activity. However, abnormal coactivation patterns [31–33], the need for additional stabilization to ensure joint integrity during high speeds , and the potential effect of no visual feedback could also have contributed to these differences [4, 35–37].
The uneven distribution of muscle strength across lower limb muscles and movement speeds could partially explain the awkward gait pattern seen in stroke patients and why the functional use of the paretic leg is often impaired despite adequate isometric and slow concentric muscle strength [38, 39]. A recent intervention study showed that fast concentric (240°/s) knee flexor strength of the paretic leg was nondetectable, that is, zero percentage of the nonparetic leg . In general, that study showed that higher velocity of contraction was associated with more pronounced muscle weakness. This seems to highlight the need for muscle- and velocity-specific rehabilitation.
Previous studies evaluating muscular and functional effects of strength training after stroke have almost exclusively focused on traditional training paradigms, that is, machine based exercises with fixed ranges of motion and controlled movement speeds [40, 41]. This uniform training approach may not be optimal for a number of reasons. First, the need for individually tailored task-specific interventions has been highlighted in the stroke literature . Second, as muscular adaptations are contraction-, muscle-, and velocity-specific [9, 43], some exercise modalities and/or movement speeds are likely to result in a greater functional carryover effect than others. Thus, an unused potential for optimizing stroke rehabilitation paradigms may still exist. Exercise guidelines for healthy individuals and athletes are quite elaborate, emphasizing speed/power training with focus on improving velocity-specific functional movements [44, 45]. In addition, resistance exercise performed with higher movement speeds has been shown to produce more repetitions at given intensities in healthy individuals . In the present study, heavy load strength training with high intended velocity was well tolerated and led to higher levels of muscle activity. Collectively, this suggests that a combination of training diversity and specificity could be included in rehabilitation programs for stroke patients to improve treatment success.
Another reason for incorporating task-specific strength training into stroke rehabilitation is the vital necessity of adequate muscle strength in a broad array of everyday movements. First, a certain minimum level of muscle strength is required to perform several activities of daily living . Second, lower limb muscle strength is often the limiting factor in preventing falls in the elderly population . Third, increasing muscle strength of certain lower limb muscles, including the knee flexors, has been shown to improve walking ability in stroke patients [18, 49]. In this context, the specific movement speeds which are practiced during training could be of great importance: a number of daily activities require actions performed at greater speeds than those practiced during training, and the ability to rapidly produce force has been shown to be essential in preventing falls in the elderly [50, 51].
There are several ways to include specificity and variation in stroke rehabilitation. Elastic resistance exercises are examples of convenient and cost-effective alternatives to the traditional machine exercises found only in rehabilitation facilities and would allow for greater exercise variation, speed, and specificity while maintaining high levels of muscle activity [25, 52]. Furthermore, elastic resistance exercises may allow for a faster start of the rehabilitation period, as this training equipment does not require the patient to commute to designated training facilities. However, interventions evaluating the efficacy of task-specific elastic resistance exercises in relation to walking ability and other functional outcomes are needed. Regardless of the chosen exercise modality, this study illustrates that chronic stoke patients can perform fast contractions safely during isolated exercises and highlights the fact that increasing movement speed poses an easy and attractive way to induce overload and improve rehabilitation practices.
Chronic stroke patients are capable of performing heavy resistance training with high intended speed of contraction. Focusing on speed during the concentric phase elicited higher levels of muscle activity of the hamstrings compared to normal and blindfolded conditions, which may have implications for regaining fast muscle strength in stroke survivors. Future interventions should investigate the rehabilitative effect of velocity-specific strength training on walking ability and relevant functional outcomes such as work ability.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
Jonas Vinstrup carried out study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, literature search, and writing. Joaquin Calatayud carried out data collection, data interpretation, literature search, and constructive feedback on the paper. Markus D. Jakobsen carried out study design, data analysis, data interpretation, and constructive feedback on the paper. Emil Sundstrup carried out study design, data analysis, data interpretation, and constructive feedback on the paper. Lars L. Andersen carried out study design, data analysis, data interpretation, literature search, and constructive feedback on the paper.
The authors thank the participants from the Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Injury.
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- M. Pijnappels, N. D. Reeves, C. N. Maganaris, and J. H. van Dieën, “Tripping without falling; lower limb strength, a limitation for balance recovery and a target for training in the elderly,” Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 188–196, 2008.
- C. M. Kim and J. J. Eng, “The relationship of lower-extremity muscle torque to locomotor performance in people with stroke,” Physical Therapy, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 49–57, 2003.
- C. Suetta, P. Aagaard, S. P. Magnusson et al., “Muscle size, neuromuscular activation, and rapid force characteristics in elderly men and women: effects of unilateral long-term disuse due to hip-osteoarthritis,” Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 102, no. 3, pp. 942–948, 2007.
- C. Suetta, P. Aagaard, A. Rosted et al., “Training-induced changes in muscle CSA, muscle strength, EMG, and rate of force development in elderly subjects after long-term unilateral disuse,” Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 97, no. 5, pp. 1954–1961, 2004.
- J. Vinstrup, E. Sundstrup, M. Brandt, M. D. Jakobsen, J. Calatayud, and L. L. Andersen, “Core muscle activity, exercise preference, and perceived exertion during core exercise with elastic resistance versus machine,” Scientifica, vol. 2015, Article ID 403068, 6 pages, 2015.
Copyright © 2016 Jonas Vinstrup et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


Jared Polis’ plan to ask voters for nicotine tax overwhelmingly rejected by Colorado Senate
The Colorado Sun
The Colorado Senate on Thursday night rejected Gov. Jared Polis’ plan to ask voters to approve a uniform nicotine tax, with Democrats in the chamber overwhelmingly voting down the effort.
House Bill 1333 died on an unrecorded, division vote, with members in the chamber standing to signal if they are for or against the measure. The Colorado Sun counted just nine senators, all of them Democrats, in support in the 35-member chamber.
There are 19 total Democrats in the Senate.
“I was blindsided,” said Sen. Rhonda Fields, an Aurora Democrat who brought the bill. “… I just don’t think it had a chance, being in the last few hours. I’m disappointed, but bills do die. I did think it had more votes.”
Polis and Democrats introduced the plan last week at a news conference, flanked by health officials and DaVita CEO Kent Thiry, hailing it as a solution to Colorado’s teen vaping problem and a way to cut back on tobacco use across the board.
Read the full story via The Colorado Sun.
The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization dedicated to covering the people, places and policies that matter in Colorado. Read more, sign up for free newsletters and subscribe at coloradosun.com.


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We present to you - our latest collection of wooden bangles that'll melt your heart as quickly as ice-cream melts in this dhamaakedaar garmi. We have named them 'Summer Coolers' and 'Color Melody'.
These bangles are handpainted and then sealed with varnish. They are then embellished with artwork printed canvas and finally decorated with Mexican macrame and ribbons. So rock your favourite summer outfits with these beautiful psychedelic bangles.
Sizes available (inner diameter of the bangle) - 2.5 inches and 2.75 inches.


Welcome to the Free Music Archive " It' s not just free music; it' s good music. CNET Download - Find the latest free software, apps, downloads, and reviews for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Download Freemake Freeware - Free Video Converter, Free Video Downloader, Free Audio Converter, Free Music Box. Absolutely clean and safe!
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I noticed that there is a distinct lack of ready- to- use Asterisk MP3 or WAV file downloads that you can use as normal, simple background music without jumping through hoops or signing up to pay royalties for every caller who listens to it, so I’ ve commandeered the following samples from a friend who has created them for your. The best places to visit to get free music downloads legally.
All the free music downloads are legal and easy to listen to on your computer or phone. Enjoy Free Music MP3s and Dharma Talks on Meditation, Enlightenment, Karma and Nirvana. Related resources include spiritual books on Meditation and Buddhism - Surfing the Himalayas, Snowboarding to Nirvana - and Zazen Music by Rama, Frederick Lenz.
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Directory of free and legal high resolution music downloads. Beethoven, Bach, Burgmuller, etc. Download files for your computer that tweak, repair, enhance, protect. Com is your best guide to find free downloads of safe, trusted, and secure Windows software, utilities, and games. Hopefully you' ll find the site useful and discover lots of free music and free videos to download and free downloads music to computer enjoy on your computer, iPod.


Architectural Design Audiovisual Art Digital Media & Computing 2006
The aim of the diploma project is the reformation of the waterfront of the city of Volos. This part expands from the waterborne platforms, which are opposite the city hall and close to the port, up to Papastratos building.
The realization of the concept began with the tracing of the space. The tracing had been made by the reduction of specific spatial qualities based on the different apprehension of space between a pedestrian and a cyclist. The minimum time the cyclist needs to cover a distance and the continual rotation of the visual field, creates a fragmentary and subtractive space in which the scale of the objects consisting it changes dramatically.
During the mapping of this experience, we came up with representations of space based on rough models, sketches, photo- collages and optical texts. Together with this action, a fundamental vocabulary based on “wedge” had been elaborated. This vocabulary supports the organization and combination of the forms that arise from the mapping.
These representations create new spatial qualities, which are placed between the environment and the reconstruction of it. Thus a new composition is being made based on the “wedge vocabulary”. These qualities consist the medium that determinates the final forms of the project.
The project suggests the redesigning of the surface, lighting and seat infrastructure moreover it involves the designing of public squares, which occasionally will be used for the annual book festival.
With this proposal, the waterfront of Volos has the chance to gain a unique touch and a chance to serve in the best way its public and activities.


The political system in Austin is a rigged game in favor of the moneyed and powerful special interests at the expense of everyday Texans. Rookie Texas House candidate Cynthia Flores is playing along like a seasoned veteran.
Over the course of her brief political career, Cynthia Flores, candidate for state representative in Williamson County, has become very proficient at raking in special interest campaign cash. These contributors range from lawyers and lobbyists to payday lenders and insurance companies, and they all have an agenda in Austin.
Special interest money is so prevalent in Austin, it seems corruption is contagious – spreading from legislator to legislator and passed down from one generation of public officials to the next.
Larry Gonzales was the most recent occupant of the legislative seat Flores is seeking to claim. He is also the largest donor to Flores and endorsed her in the March primary to succeed him. Gonzales and special interests support Cynthia Flores because she would continue the pay-to-play tradition.
In Austin’s rigged political show, politicians talk big but take special interest money, support the establishment agenda and stick it to everyday Texans. Taxpayers need to demand more accountability and transparency. Elected officials need to reject special interest cash and serve our needs, not their own.
In less than a year, Flores has raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars from special interest groups and political action committees (PACs) across the state.
As Texans know all too well, money can have a large influence in decision making for elected officials. It’s exactly what special interest groups and PACs count on when they contribute to political campaigns, and too often the public loses. These groups are helping Flores’s career and, if she is elected, they expect her to vote their way in Austin on the issues they care about.
We won’t get the property tax relief we need as long as the corporations are getting their tax cuts first. We won’t get better schools if the privatization interests still give millions to legislators. We won’t get the consumer protection we deserve when it comes to insurance, utilities and corporations if policymakers are seduced by big campaign cash.
As long as the business lobbyists have their deals and willing politicians like Cynthia Flores, our taxes will go up and our services will suffer. We need honest government and real transparency. We need to Reform Austin.
Election day in the Texas House District 28 special election runoff is Tuesday, January 28th. The seat became vacant when former representative John Zerwas resigned


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Enter the next generation of dueling...
Welcome to Giliath, a world like no other. Will you enter in and discover your liaisons with the light or the darkness? Will you follow the paths that the ancients
Enter the ninja world with a new and unique system of rpg, and plenty of events to keep you and your friend's busy.
Make Friend! Enter Comps! Make Friends! And MUCH More!
Pin the tail people! Chickens and cocks allowed to enter. No bites allowed, mmkay? TNT- Quinn's is bigger. LMDO x 4000. No slash allowed.
In this forum you will be able to... Enter giveaways, Apply for staff, request a ban appeal, give suggestions, chat, and more.
Enter the realm of elite criticism. Unleashed Reviews || Writing meets critiquing.
writing, critiques, unleashed, reviews, poetry, stories, beta-readers, beta-reading, reading, flash, fiction, short, chapters, novels, prompts, games, books, authors, publishing, published, agents, edit
Marauders Era Alternate Universe RPG, Enter a Universe you have not yet explored. Attend Hogwarts or our very own Unique school, WolfClaw Academy of Magic, Join as an Original Character or Canon Character. Attend Classes, get a job and start working
Free forum : Enter the forum and get latest softwares, games, themes, wallpapers, videos, adults, mobile tricks, sms jokes and general discussion for free. # DOWNLOAD MOBILE, PC, IPHONE & IPOD
Free forum : enter the fantasy of ur mind here and escape reality
Once you enter Rapture, its evolve or die.
WHERE THE DEVIL DARES NOT TO ENTER. WELCOME TO THE HIGHWAY TO HELL
Free forum : If you love Spriting and Pokemon come here! Make your own sprite shops or just look and comment on other people's sprites! Enter spriting contests and so much more! We Have more then just
WELCOME TO NEW GENERATION
Enter the World of the Terminators and join the battle to save humanity.
A hall of mirrored glass, where each pane shows a possibility - each a reflection of a different place and a different time. Enter freely, but tread softly - not all reflections are places of peace.
Free forum : There is something here for everyone. Join now and enter Dscape.
Free forum : Enter The Zone Immortals Clan =. =' TheNinja-RPG
Come and join our online community for all Tasmanians! You can post personal ad's, Get advice, Enter competitions, Buy and Sell, Advertise your business, and you can Join us in the chat room for a good yarn and a laugh! It's Free and Mobile optimize
Enter a world of winged half-female boys, super-dimensional soccer, schyzophrenia, magic (soccer) balls, evil scientists, smexy aliens, hair scarves and awesome haircuts.
Enter into an alternate world of fantasy where mythical creatures and long forgotten races still roam the lands. Where will your journey take you?
Lots of competitions to enter and win. Comping In Oz
We are the Pawn Map Club and Our ambition is to take you through a journey of maps, assaults, zombies, and many more. You will have alot of Fun, Rewards, and Prizes. If you want to Come along our Journey please enter.

domain: entertainment


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Hotels - New Jersey
Here are links to some notable hotels (past and present) found along Route 40.
|Hotel Traymore (site) (Atlantic City, NJ)|
"Built between 1879 and 1914. Razed in1972. The site is now a parking lot......."
|Shelburne Hotel (site) (Atlantic City, NJ)|
"Built in 1869. Closed in 1978. Razed in 1984. Now the site of Bally's Casino Resort......."
|Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel (site) (Atlantic City, NJ)|
"Built in 1905. It was one of the first reinforced concrete hotels in the world. Razed in 1979. Bally's Casino and Resort now occupies this location......"
|Chelsea Hotel (Atlantic City, NJ)|
"Not to be confuse with the older gand hotel that once stood at this location (the Hotel Chelsea)......."
|Strand Hotel (site) (Atlantic City, NJ)|
"This location is now the site of the Hilton Hotel and Casino......."
|American Hotel (Mays Landing, NJ)|
"Built in 1837 by Samuel Richards. The building is now part of the Atlantic County Library......."
Feedback: Do you have corrections or contributions for this page? Want to make a suggestion? Click here to send me an e-mail. I am espcially interested in memories, stories, postcards and photographs. Thanks!
Last updated: 2010-08-10 20:11:34

domain: travel


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Another month, another look back at the best things I ate during September.
From dishes like my new favorite carne asada taco to magnificent Mediterranean eats to a killer lasagna my dining companion likened to the work of the devil, here are 10 of the best things I ate this month selected from reviews, first-time visits, and places I've popped into just because.
I hope it inspires. Enjoy.
Bastila from Alzouhour
Moroccan bastila is an exotic delight -- a rich and sumptuous sweet and savory pie with a jaw-dropping presentation and a taste like Christmas. At Alzouhour, the tiny Middle Eastern eatery, bakery, and market in Phoenix, owner Zhor Saad makes hers with chicken and almonds stuffed into a phyllo crust sweetened with cinnamon and sugar ($19.99). Typically prepared for special occasions, it's only fitting that this hearty meat pie comes big enough to enjoy with a few friends.
Camaron al Mojo de Ajo at Así es la Vida:
One of the best dishes at this charming, 20-year-old casual-upscale Mexican restaurant in Central Phoenix is the Camaron al Mojo de Ajo ($24.95). Starring five enormous butterflied shrimp opened up to reveal tender, garlic-flavored white flesh, you'd be forgiven for picking them up to eat the meat right out of the tails. Delicious.
Falafels at Hummus Xpress:
A kind of chef-driven street food stand by way of Lebanon, this fast-casual Mediterranean eatery in Tempe from Ahmad (Eddie) Hantas serves some of the best falafels in the Valley. Featuring thin and crunchy coatings that give way to a creamy filling of ground fava beans seasoned with cardamom, they're kissed with Mexican chili powder for a little Southwest flair. (Falafel pita $6.85.)
Tonkotsu Ramen at T.Spot
This re-named restaurant (formerly Tien Wong) in Chandler from chef Johnny Chu now includes ramen and Asian teas along with its popular hot pots. On the ramen side, you'll want the satisfying tonkotsu ($6.95), a milky, shimmering broth of boiled-for-hours pork bones thoughtfully prepared with toppings like quail egg, sliced pork, pickled ginger, enoki, and black sesame with excellent bouncy thin noodles. Totally slurp-worthy.
Nutella & Banana Empanada at República Empanada
Temper your intake of the savory empanadas at this cheery spot of Latin American comfort food in downtown Mesa if you want to make room for some of the dessert kind -- like the Nutella and banana creation. Its flaky fried casing serves as a delectable crunchy crust. And adding on the optional vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce pretty much goes without saying. ($6.20)
Braunschweiger Pate at Renegade by MOD:
Are you a diner of the adventurous sort? If so, you'll want to pay a visit to ex-Kai chef Michael O'Dowd's risk-taking North Scottsdale restaurant and order up the braunschweiger pate ($12). The cutting-edge dish comes in the form of two discs of dense, black rye bread layered with full-flavored braunschweiger (liverwurst), kale, kimchi, and bits of crisp cured forcemeat topped with a perfectly poached egg. As original as it is intense, this small plate is about as good as it gets.
Detroit Coney Dog at Detroit Coney Grill:
You'll want a Detroit Coney -- make that two -- at this new Motor City-centric joint in Tempe. The best I've had in the Valley so far, they feature a decent all-beef natural-casing dog with a good snap as well as a top-notch signature chili sauce -- made with seasonings and spices such as chili powder, cayenne pepper, and garlic -- with a rich, mildly spiced, and meaty taste reminiscent of Detroit's famous Lafayette Coney Island.
Lasagne Alla Verdure at Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana
Should you have one of Pomo's primo Neapolitan pies at its new downtown location? Yes, you should. But you could also do worse than to order up one of its new items: the vegetable lasagna ($13.95). Packed with fresh veggies layered between pasta, Parmesan, and an ethereal besciamella cream sauce, the dish might best be described in the words of my dining companion, who simply took one look at it and said, "That there's the devil's business."
Carne Asada Taco at Backyard Taco
My favorite carne asada taco, at the moment, comes from this nine-month-old joint in Mesa. Tender, cooked to perfection over mesquite charcoal with just the right amount of seasoning -- so that it doesn't detract from the taste of the grill -- it's topped with cabbage, onions, and a nice, smoky red tomato sauce in a grilled tortilla (even more flavors can be had at the salsa bar). And for just $1.80, you can afford to splurge on a couple.
Chicken Shawarma at Tzikki Pita Grill
A second very good fast-casual Mediterranean joint in Tempe, this time with an Egyptian slant, is Tzikii Pita Grill. What to order here? The chicken shawarma. Made from owner Mo Khalek's grandmother's recipe requiring nine different ingredients (none of which he will tell you) the chunks of well-grilled meat are flavored with a subtly scrumptious seasoning. (Chicken shawarma pita $6.49.)

domain: food


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After Step Mania, I thought this would be so easy. How wrong I was. Going across the screen instead of vertical is really messing me up. But what really has me upset now is when I was getting to level 15 and then missing it by 1% and then having to start all the way back over. Though I did finally make it to level 18... I've gone through this so many times... and I don't know how many more times I can listen to Night Song. I can get 98% on level 3 why can't I do it on level 18, 19, and 20? Grrrrrrr
Gosh I feel less stupid now. My friend told me the dancing is friggin easy.. But there I was trying to push all the right arrows but kept pushing the wrong ones and wondering why the easy song is so very hard and fast. Felt like a true idiot. But I guess the dance game is not for everyone. I suck at it. Guess I'll stick to real life dancing. Much more satisfying.
Hm, another issue?
All the gaia events I've been to in the past, as long as you kept at it you got the items. It was a matter of investing time.
Now... even if I'm willing to play this game for hours, I'm going to fail out eventually and STILL not get the prize.
What's up with that?
I agree with a lot of the points I've read. I wish they'd let you re-do the round you blew it at instead of maing you start over from round one. I don't like this event and I especially don't like how they've made the songs so difficult to get through. The event also lags from time to time, making me mess up. (I would also say something about the song selection, but I think that's been talked about enough.)stressed
its part of the game, not everyone can win. thats the point. if everyone won the items wouldnt be worth anything and every one would complain that they spent all thier time and didnt win items that were worth anything.neutral
Yes, but if there were a forum version that runs the way the events normally do (ie not hitting the same post twice, waiting between actions) then we'd be spending a lot of time on it as well, and the dancers couldn't complain.
I find it very odd they made this a Game exclusive event, they normally don't do that since so many people have problems with the games.
The whole thing is really unfair.
i get 90%-100% on every song i think ur guys and girls problems are hand eye cowardanation
Apparently your problem lies more with spelling and grammar. I must say that I am glad to see that I am not the only one with issues about this game. I've pretty much decided to just wait until it's over and buy the crown once it has deflated.
You guys aren't alone. I've been playing this game on and off for ages and keep crashing out at Level 17. I'm just genuinely not very good at it and although I'm getting better with practice, there's no way I'm going to get good enough fast enough to complete Level 20 by the end of the event. I'm still playing the game, but I'm doing it more for the gold than I am out of any hope I'll actually get the last damn item. I really wish we could continue from the level we blew instead of having to go back to the beginning and then crashing out on Level 17 yet again. gonk
Oh well. I'll console myself with the thought that I only really wanted the crown for completion's sake and am far keener on the ribbon and the bow tie, anyway.

domain: game


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- Jun 18, 2021
Spotify introduces New Live Audio Rooms feature, Spotify Greenroom
Spotify has introduced its live audio app, Spotify Greenroom. Spotify Greenroom is a new mobile app allowing users worldwide to join or host live audio rooms. Moreover, it has Creator Fund to help fuel the new app with more content in the future.
For joining this new app, Spotify users must sign in with their current Spotify account information. Spotify's Greenroom feature is likely on par with other live audio options such as - Clubhouse, Twitter Spaces, and Facebook's Live Audio Rooms. These rooms are allowed to host up to 1000 people.
Spotify has bigger plans for Greenroom. The company is set to market Spotify Greenroom to artists through its Spotify for Artists channels. Spotify Greenroom has been released on 16 June on both iOS and Android across 135 markets around the world.
Read more at techcrunch-com.cdn.ampproject.org


Monday, June 1st marks the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. The six-month long season ends on
November 30th each year.
However, the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes is possible at any time of the year, as shown by the formation of Tropical Storms Arthur and Bertha on May 16th and 27th respectively.
This is the sixth consecutive year that storms have developed before the official start of the hurricane season.
This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which provides annual hurricane
forecasts, has predicted an “above average” season due to warm sea surface temperatures and a neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (no El Niño or La Niña). NOAA forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39
mph to 73 mph), 6 to 10 hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), and 3 to 6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or
5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).
These forecasts are based on probabilities and the analysis of historical data. They are intended to provide an estimate of activity to be expected during the upcoming season – not an exact measure. It is important to note that the seasonal forecast do not indicate locations where systems will develop, how they will move or wherethey will strike. One or more of the named storms or hurricanes that is expected to develop this season, could directly impact St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The general public is therefore urged to prepare as usual for this hurricane season.
In keeping our mandate, The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services wishes to reassure the public that we will continue to monitor the weather conditions around Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and issue the necessary public advisories in a timely manner. We will also coordinate with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) about the likely hazards accompanying these systems.
The public isadvised to pay close attention to the local radio and television stations as well as other media channels for weather related information issued by our office.
Visit our website, http://www.meteo.gov.vc also for daily weather forecasts updates and for seasonal outlooks,
which are updated monthly. To stay connected on social media, follow us on Facebook at,
The names selected for the 2020 hurricane season are:


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AJ Farms 605
AJ Farms 605 is a small family ran farm north east of Belle Fourche, SD. AJ Farms 605 was established by first time farmers Joe & Alicia Giaculli. We sell 100% free range, naturally nested eggs at 8 establishments in Belle Fourche, Spearfish, Sturgis, and Newell. AJ Farms 605 Farm Stand is open every Friday throughout the summer at the CBH Travel Center on the corner of highways 85 and 212 starting at Noon. You will find veggie and flower starts at our Farm Stand in the Spring and produce from our Market Garden throughout the summer and into Fall. All produce is chemical free, naturally grown, and most are started from seed on the Farm. AJ Farms 605 does take appointments for Farm Tours.

domain: agronomy