News & Views
Underwood Perkins Senior Counsel Article Appears in
Dallas Bar Association Publication
Stephen B. Smith, Senior Counsel at Underwood Perkins, P.C., recently published a piece in the Dallas Bar Association Headnotes. Working with Adjustors for the Non-Specialist was chosen as a topic for the November edition of Headnotes. The Dallas Bar publication is distributed to more than 10,500 Dallas lawyers and law firms. The full text can be found at:
About Stephen B. Smith
Stephen Smith is Chair of the Insurance and Defense Section at Underwood Perkins P.C. He has 25 years of experience in assisting insureds and insurers in handling claims. He has authored a number of articles for legal publications and is a frequent speaker at continuing legal and insurance education seminars. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Health and beauty
Good and long lasting friendships is something that not every individual can boast of. Having a good companion to grow with over the years is a blessing. Actor Osita Iheme recently shared an old photo with his good friend.
A young and beautiful nurse based in Pretoria recently shared just how dedicated she is to her job. Tholakele Nkomo posted photos of herself as well as her nursing badge and stethoscope on Twitter. Find out more on Legit.ng.
For a lot of disorders, genetic testing is a very g way to make an accurate diagnosis and help avoid additional unnecessary clinical investigations; it can guide you in deciding the most suitable therapy for many problems.
As I am about to share this testimony with you, please to all readers out there, knowledge is power. Learn from experience and go for constant check up all the time as early detection of illness saves us money and undue stress.
Kolaq medical center in Lagos has treated many patients suffering from staph since 1980 using the evacuation method of removing STDs & staphylococcus infections in the body system; visit them to get effective herbal medicines.
The herbal Eye Restore Tea is specially formulated to help improve eyesight, improve vision and treat eye problems without the use of chemical medications. It is made from herbal ingredients and safe for daily use.

domain: medical


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This species occurs through much of the central and eastern cordilleras of Panama, south through the Pacific slopes of Colombia (in Antioquia and Cauca Departments, and almost certainly more widely) and the northern slopes of the western and central cordilleras, to north-western Ecuador (south to the Guajalito Protection Forest in Pichincha Province). It has not yet been recorded from Costa Rica (as of August, 2007) (Federico Bolaños pers. comm. 2007), but may be present within this country. It is known only from a small number of localities within its overall range, from 300-2,000m asl.
Habitat and Ecology
Its habitat is very humid lowland, lower montane and cloud forests; it inhabits primary forest only. By day, individuals have been found in leaf-litter on the forest floor, whereas by night they favour perches above the ground. It lives only in areas of high frog densities, since it preys on other frogs. Breeding is by direct development; the eggs are carried on the back of the female.
This is a very rare species.
The major threats are deforestation due to agricultural development (including cultivation of illegal crops), logging, and human settlement, and pollution resulting from the spraying of illegal crops.
It has been recorded from Parque Internacional La Amistad, the Reserva Forestal Fortuna, and Parque Nacional Darién in Panama. In Ecuador, its geographic range overlaps with the Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas. It is not known from any protected areas in Colombia. An ex-situ population of this species is breeding at the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center in Panama (Edgardo Griffith pers. comm. September, 2007).
This genus has recently been moved from the family Hylidae (Faivovich et al. 2005).
Coloma, L.A., Ron, S.R., Jungfer, K., Solís, F., Ibáñez, R., Jaramillo, C., Fuenmayor, Q. & Bolaños, F. 2008. Hemiphractus fasciatus. In: IUCN 2014

domain: geography


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Bazil, the hero of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s new film, “Micmacs,” is a mild-mannered fellow with a serious grudge. When he was a child, he lost his father, a member of the French Foreign Legion, to a land mine.
Tumse Na Ho Payega Review: This is a story about the journey of an entrepreneur, but it ends up being flat at some point.
Check the Korean Thriller Movies that have a unique blend of suspense, psychological depth, and visual artistry.
Curious about the new Filipino light-hearted comedy film, Keys to the Heart? Dive in for all the details!

domain: artistic


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North America's largest non-profit pet adoption website
|Title:||Take cat(s) to vet appointments|
We’re usually swamped with vet appointments whether it’s surgery drop offs or just vaccines!
We could always use help with transport to/from the vet or even just a drop off or pick up for surgeries!
Before you can help out with this opportunity, you'll need to sign up as a volunteer. Once you've done that, you'll be able to contact the rescue group and express your interest helping out with this opportunity. You'll also be able to create a volunteer profile, which will let shelters and rescue groups in your area find volunteer opportunities that best match your skills and interests.
Volunteering is a great way to help pets in need and meet other caring humans like you!

domain: pet


July 11, 2013 | 745 views
Flood map decision nears in Valley Stream
Valley Stream residents will get their say on July 15 on proposed new flood maps that would remove more than 1,500 homes in the south end of the village from the high-risk flood zone.
The village has until July 16 to accept or reject the new maps, which were created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In January, FEMA presented the revised plan to the community at a packed meeting at Village Hall. It is expected that the Board of Trustees will approve the maps in an effort to give homeowners relief from the flood insurance requirement. “I can’t see a benefit to saying no,” Mayor Ed Fare said.
According to village officials, 1,572 homes, primarily in the Gibson neighborhood, will be removed from the high-risk flood zone.
In 2009, about 2,500 homes in Valley Stream were added to the zone. Residents holding federally backed mortgages were forced to buy flood insurance, with annual premiums exceeding $2,000 for some. Last year, a study of Jamaica Bay was completed as part of an effort to redraw flood maps for Queens, which led to some changes in the Nassau County maps as well.
“There’s no questions that these maps are more accurate,” Fare said. “They should have been accurate the first time around. Are they perfect? I doubt it, but they’ve got to be better.”
Nonetheless, several leaders in the fight against the flood maps, which is entering its fourth year, want village officials to think carefully before adopting the maps. They say there are still errors. “The new flood maps I consider to be preposterous,” said Joseph Margolin, a board member of the Valley Stream Community Association. “As far as I can see, there’s no logic to the maps.”
Margolin noted that several hundred homes would remain in the flood zone, even in areas that have no history of flooding. These homes will be very difficult, if not impossible, to sell, he said, because of the high insurance premiums and the stigma of being in a flood zone.
Margolin said he has asked the village to hire independent engineers to validate the flood zone, and planned to question board members about why this hasn’t been done at Monday’s hearing.


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Introducing this orange beauty: the A-line Cape. Made with wool and made in Florence. The high collar and crossover details in the front makes this design unique in itself.
A signature element in my designs is the high collar. This beautiful cognac wool was chosen in Florence and complements the old rustic buildings of the city.
The A-line cape is quickly becoming a new favorite in my closet I love pairing it with a great hat, leather gloves and over the knee boots for a chic and timeless outfit.
Photo credits : @livphoto.co


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We are a small start up company looking to sell various types of high street priced bags. Our business would be based online only so it is important for us to ensure we have an attractive, modern, reliable, global online store through which to do the majority of our sales. Initially, we would have less than 50 different products.
We are looking for someone who has experience with online stores adaptable to difference currencies and has a portfolio that we could browse through.
Look forward to hearing from you!

domain: economics


Ron Mueck: 25 Years of Sculpture, 1996–2021, the artist’s first exhibition at Thaddaeus Ropac, will mark the most comprehensive gallery survey of the internationally acclaimed sculptor to date.
From his largest to his smallest works, the exhibition includes Mueck’s most celebrated sculptures from a career spanning two and a half decades, shown alongside new and previously unseen works. His unparalleled eye for physical and emotional detail charts the full spectrum of human experience – from the onset of life in pregnancy and in birth, to its final point in death – with unsettling power.
They share a vulnerability, not only with each other but also with Mueck himself, who draws on his own intensely personal thoughts, emotions and life experiences to produce a register of universal emotions and experiences to which we can all relate. And they share a sense of life, and death, and all that happens in between.
— Jasper Sharp, art historian and curator, whose essay will be published on the occasion of the exhibition


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Arts and Culture Minister A L Hek has written to Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel for financial assistance for a variety of projects.
In a letter to Patel, Hek said that detailed project reports (DPRs) have been submitted for a Tagore Cultural Complex and for a Sein Raij Traditional Dancing Area, Village Haat and Sein Raij Cultural Centre at Iaw Musiang, Jowai.
He also urged Patel to provide special consideration for development of the Shillong Golf Course, including the widening of the approach road to “enable tourists to reach the scenic spot”.
Hek added that the Meghalaya government plans to hold national and international events at the course, including the 2022 National Games.
“Beautification and expansion of this historic spot will bring tourists in large number,” Hek said, adding that the state plans to have a children’s park, food court and other amenities in the area.

domain: news


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Rancho La Habra Can Help City Meet Budget “Challenges”
The City of La Habra’s current budget is balanced, but prospects for future balanced budgets are more cloudy, according to the La Habra Journal, which reported:
“While balanced, the city staff warned the [city] council on some financial challenges that are on the way. The popularity of online shopping can have an increasing negative impact on sales tax revenue as the tax is assessed at the location of the distribution center. …
“City staff warned of something even larger that will negatively impact the city’s budget. It’s based on the changes to the state pension program known as CalPERS. The state pension program revised its policies regarding the amortization of unfunded pension liabilities, which transfers the greater burden of funding to the cities.
“City staff reported that it is anticipating that the city’s pension obligation costs will continue to increase each year for at least the next decade ….”
Staff also told the Council that future development projects in the City should provide additional funds to the City, which will help to balance future budges. That’s certainly true with Rancho La Habra.
A financial analysis prepared for Lennar Homes shows that the new homes in Rancho La Habra will create more than $1 million a year in new revenues for the City each year over the next 20 to 30 years – or potentially more than $30 million that can be used to fund important city services.
Most of the money will come from new property taxes, which, unlike revenues from sales tax, are not threatened by online shopping. Even so, the addition of 448 new households to La Habra will certainly increase the sales tax revenues the City receives.
Another significant source of ongoing revenues from Rancho La Habra will be its Community Facilities District, which will be funded solely by the residents of Rancho La Habra’s new homes. These new funds will pay for a number of services the City would otherwise have to fund itself.
Rancho La Habra is being proposed by Lennar Homes, which is committed to Quality, Value and Integrity. Rancho La Habra would be built on the site of Westridge Golf Club, which is slated for closure. It would keep nearly 60 percent of the site (approximately 89 acres) as parks, open space and trails.
For important legal disclosures, click here


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Trapped water cause of regular tremors under Vancouver Island
University of British Columbia researchers are offering the first compelling evidence to explain regular tremors under Vancouver Island.
The Cascadia megathrust fault, named for its massive but infrequent earthquakes, runs along the length of North America's western coast from northern Vancouver Island to northern California and is the boundary between two of the Earth's tectonic plates. An area on the fault line - approximately 35 kilometres under Vancouver Island - has also seen surprisingly regular "slips," accompanied by small tremors - roughly every 14 months. The last tremors recorded in this area were in May and lasted for about month, although none were strong enough to be felt by humans.
Megathrust fault lines in the region where episodic tremors occur are structurally weak and prone to slip and slide, but until now scientists have been unable to explain why. In a study published in today's edition of the journal Nature, UBC researchers Pascal Audet, Michael Bostock, Nicolas Christensen and Simon Peacock demonstrate how water trapped in a portion of the fault area escapes periodically after pressure build-up, which in turn lubricates the tectonic plates and causes them to slip and slide.
"Scientists have offered different theories but this is the first detailed glimpse at the geological mechanics beneath the island," says lead author Audet, who conducted the study as a PhD student at UBC's Dept. of Earth and Ocean Sciences.
"While scientists are still a long way away from being able to predict earthquakes, this study brings us one step closer towards understanding the physical state of the megathrust fault and the earthquake cycle as a whole," says Audet, now a Miller Research Fellow at the University of California at Berkeley.
"Additional sensors on the Island, or expanding the sensor array into the waters west of Vancouver Island, could help researchers determine whether fault properties change over time, and where changes are most significant along the fault line," says Peacock, UBC Dean of Science and an expert in subduction zone areas, where tectonic plates dive into the Earth's mantle triggering great earthquakes and explosive volcanism.
Source: University of British Columbia


- This event has passed.
Ben Hanna and Kirk Margoles
Friday, May 25 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Join us for an evening with Ben Hanna and Kirk Margoles! We are all in for quite a treat…
Singer-Songwriter Ben Hanna possesses passion, wit, authenticity, and sonic-tenacity. Hailing from the suburbs of Detroit and currently based out of Boulder, Colorado, his “Post-Suburban Americana” style is described as a contemporary blend of Americana-inspired storytelling and rebellious, high-energy “rawk.” He sings about the less-than-glorious human experiences that modern society erupts, and finding your place in them, so it’s worth listening to his take on the human state. His musical influences include Lou Reed, Todd Snider, Bob Dylan, The Violent Femmes, and Townes Van Zandt.
“Hanna’s music takes a direct, lyrical approach to storytelling, and they’re stories you’ll actually want to hear.” ~ Ashley Dean | Colorado Daily
Kirk Margoles has been performing his original contemporary folk music on the Front Range, as a singer songwriter guitarist, since the late 1990’s. His inspiring, imaginative, melodic, lyrically poetic and rhythmic songs explore themes of love, self realization, nature, and the wild spirit within us all. Influenced by folk, jazz, classical and rock, Kirk’s songs take the art of song into dynamic new dimensions.
As usual on a Friday, the tasting room will be open from 4pm – 8:30ish, and the show will run from around 6:30pm – 8:30ish. There is NO COVER, and tips for the artist(s) are always appreciated. Feel free to bring your own snacks/picnic; we’ll be pouring the finest organic sips for the season!


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RAYE on track for first-ever Official Number 1 single with Escapism.: “It’d be beyond a dream!”
RAYE is on track for her first-ever UK Number 1 single, as independent hit Escapism. rebounds into the spotlight in the post-Christmas shake-up to lead the way to the first chart topper of 2023.
As all the festive tracks that have dominated the Official Singles Chart drop out this week, newly independent artist RAYE reaps the benefit as her streaming hit Escapism. rises twelve places midweek, putting her on course to clinch the top spot for the first time in her career. Featuring experimental electronic producer and singer 070 Shake, the track previously peaked at Number 2 in December.
Since her first chart appearance featuring on Jonas Blue’s By Your Side in 2016, singer-songwriter RAYE has notched up a string of 10 Top 40 hits, four of which landed in the Top 10, but the Number 1 spot has escaped her. After publicly parting ways with her major label in 2022, could RAYE be about to go all the way on her own terms this Friday?
Speaking exclusively to OfficialCharts.com, Raye said: “It would be beyond a dream to be Number 1. With this song? At this time in my life? Don’t!”
RAYE previously logged Top 10 hits with You Don’t Know Me with Jax Jones (3), Secrets with Regard (6) and Bed with Joel Corry & David Guetta (3).
Raye’s closest competition for Number 1 is US R&B siren SZA, whose new single Kill Bill looks set to vault 30 places to become her first solo UK Top 10 hit (2). The star, born Solana Rowe, could also land a further two Top 40 entries this week with SOS tracks Shirt (26) and Nobody Gets Me (28).
Metro Boomin’, The Weeknd and 21 Savage’s team-up Creepin’ gains new ground, shuffling up to potentially reach the upper echelons of the chart for the first time (8).
Following a series of viral fan videos attached to the new Netflix Wednesday series, Lady Gaga’s 2011 Born This Way album track Bloody Mary could enter the Top 40 for the first time (16), and Dean Lewis’s How Do I Say Goodbye might also break the Top 20 (20).
Two viral tracks are also set to reach new heights this week; JVKE’s Golden Hour (23), and American singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez’s Until I Found You (32), originally released in 2021 but now due to enter the Top 40 for the first time.
Further down, Headie One’s 50s makes moves towards a new peak (35) and there could be a massive new re-entry for Whitney Houston’s classic 1987 Number 1 I Wanna Dance With Somebody (36) which gains new ground, thanks to the release of the biopic of the same name starring Naomi Ackie as Houston.
The Killers’ Mr Brightside (37) could return to the Top 40 for the first time in nine years, the record-breaking song has spent over six and a half years in total in the Official Singles Chart Top 100 thanks to its evergreen popularity on streaming services.
American rapper Lil Uzi Vert looks set to gain his first Top 40 hit in nearly three years with Just Wanna Rock (39) and finally, Pink’s Never Gonna Not Dance Again also heads for the Top 40 (40).
Article Image: Press


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The Brosno dragon, also known as Brosnya is the name given to a lake monster which is said to be inhabit Lake Brosno, near Andreapol in West Russia.
The Brosno dragon is described as resembling a dragon or dinosaur, and is the subject of a number of regional legends, some which are said to date back to the 13th century.
Rumors of a strange, giant creature living in Lake Brosno have existed for several centuries. One legend says that the lake monster scared the Tatar-Mongol army that headed for Novgorod to death in the 13th century. Batu Khan stopped the troops on the sides of Lake Brosno to rest. Horses were allowed to drink water from the lake. However, when the horses ventured down to the lake, a huge roaring creature emerged from the water and started devouring horses and soldiers. The Batu-khan troops were so terrified that they turned back, and Novgorod was saved. Old legends describe an "enormous mouth" devouring fishermen.
Chronicles mention a "sand mountain" that appeared on the lake surface from time to time. According to another legend, some Varangians (Swedish mercenaries) wanted to hide stolen treasure in the lake. When they approached the small island, a dragon came to the surface from the lake and swallowed the island up.
The terrible monster haunted people's minds over the 18th - 19th century. It was rumored that the giant creature emerged on the lake surface in the evening, but immediately submerged when people approached. It is said that during World War II the beast swallowed up a German airplane. Today, there are lots of witnesses who say they chanced to see Brosnya walking in the water. Locals say that it turns boats upside-down and has to do with disappearance of people.
Experts of the Kosmopoisk research association went for an expedition to Lake Brosno together with Karavan in the summer of 2002 and did echo deep sounding. Vadim Chernobrov, the Kosmopoisk coordinator said in an interview to the Moscow newspaper Argumenty i Facty (Arguments and Facts): "Echo deep sounding registered an anomaly. There was a huge jelly-like mass of a railway car size handing five meters above the bottom. The mass stood motionless. We waited for some time and then decided to make it move: we threw an underwater petard, a low capacity explosive device. When the device blew up, the creature started slowly going up. We starred at the water, and it was clear; there was nothing resembling a monster, however something unusual was still felt in the lake water."
Theories about origin and existence
Many people treat the existence of Brosnya skeptically and still say that the creature may be a mutant beaver or a giant pike of 100-150 years. Others conjecture that groups of wild boars and elks cross the lake from time to time.
There are some more scientific hypotheses concerning Brosnya. One of them is a gas version saying that when hydrogen sulfide goes up from the lake bottom it makes water boil up; this boiling in its turn resembles a dragon head. But the amount of hydrogen sulfide must be considerable to produce this effect. Other version says that there is a volcano in Lake Brosno that makes ejections on the water surface from time to time.
Fishermen say that the underwater world of Lake Brosno has a structure of several levels. From time to time burbots and yellow perch can be found in the lake. For example, herring can be found in a lake in Peno District in the Tver Region. Some consider it strange that sea fish may live in the lake at all. Smelt shoals from time to time can be found in Lake Brosno as well. The phenomenon of Brosnya can be explained from the physical point of view: huge smelt shoals are reflected on the water surface through refraction of light and produces the effect of a huge reptile head. Physicists say that any mirage appears in hot weather. Indeed, witnesses say that they came across Brosnya in summer. However, the origin of the rumors of this strange monster remain a mystery.


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I recently returned from a trip to East Africa where I witnessed some of the strongest, healthiest people on Earth living in a very simple manner. Their days consist of working in their gardens and fields, completing all harvests by hand, or herding their cattle or goats, walking all day long. They are raised learning how to balance very heavy baskets on their heads while walking long distances. The food they eat is all local, homegrown, mostly vegetarian (or at least raised and harvested by them) ...... and delicious!
An example of many meals I ate there appears here. They consist primarily of locally-grown potatoes, yams, various squashes, beans such as the beautiful red rana bean pictured, plantains, corn, rice and mouth-watering tropical fruits such as papaya, mango, passionfruit, tomato tree fruit and various types of bananas.
We could all learn something from these hearty people, and I would love to discuss with you how their simple lifestyle could be translated into a lifestyle for you to promote optimal health and well-being.

domain: agronomy


Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2020 Start Date, Judges, Host?
Zee Bangla is gearing up to launch the new season of the iconic singing television reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. The upcoming season of the show is going to feature talented singers across States. So check out complete details about Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee Bangla. Also, find out more information related to the Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2020 Start Date, Judges, Host, Schedule?
Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2020 Host
According to sources, the upcoming season of the Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will be host by Abir Chatterjee. He is a popular Bengali film actor. He mentioned that he couldn’t say no to the makers of the show. While the previous season of the Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa was presented by Jishu Sengupta. He is busy with the other TV projects.
Abir has been part of many popular TV shows and movie. While he is also one of the popular Tollywood actor.
Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2020 Judges
Television lovers are highly anticipating the upcoming season of the Saregamapa. The previous season of the singing television reality show was judged by Santanu Mitra, Monali Thakur and Srikanta Acharjee. So it is expected that this time we will see them again on the judging panel.
Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2020 Start Date
The TV show will premire on the 26th September.
Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is almost done with their auditions. The Grand final auditions will take place on 26th September. The TV show will broadcast on every Friday and Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
So get ready to witness amazing performances. And check out the online broadcast of the show on the Zee5’s official website and app. While you can download the Zee5 app from the Google Play Store.
Stay tuned with us to get latest updates from new tv shows. Also, don’t forget to check out audition update of the upcoming television reality show.


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And I never got a photo of it leaving. Should have got up a bit earlier.
Tomorrow is Sunday and a day of rest but on Monday a team of geologists will be down to look at the rock face and make sure it is safe to open the road. Or if it isn't, what needs to be done to make it safe. The above photo shows the state of parts of the cliff. These slabs have been hidden behind trees and bushes for years. Out of sight, out of mind as they say.


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THOOTHUKUDI: A few years back, scientists thought Vaan Island, a coral formation in the Gulf of Mannar, would be completely underwater by 2022. Already, two of the 21 islands in the fragile Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve — Vallanguchalli and Poovarasanpatti — had been submerged, and the scientists expected it was only a matter of time before Vaan was also lost.
Data showed the coral island to be on the brink of collapse — its area had been reduced drastically from 20.08 hectares in 1969 to 1.53 hectares in 2015; a substantial 23.92 percent of the live corals on the islands were bleached during the global coral bleach of 2016; and the live coral cover that remained fell from 38.86 percent in 2015 to a mere 22.69 percent in 2016.
Then, a miracle happened, and today Vaan Island is teeming with colourful marine life. The shallow, bright blue waters surrounding it are home to healthy coral reefs. Since 2018, the reef cover has also seen a steady increase, with mortality rate dropping to negligible levels.
With several other islands in the same biosphere facing threats of extinction from ecosystem degradation, what saved Vaan could serve as a model that can be replicated to salvage the entire area, say experts. So, what exactly did Tamil Nadu do to save the dying island?
Decades of plunder
The Gulf of Mannar is the first marine biosphere in Asia. But since the 1969 Survey of India Toposheet, there had been no comprehensive data collected on the morphology of the islands in the Gulf. In 2017, to understand the morphological changes that had occurred there over the last five decades, the Union Environment Ministry supported a study by Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI).
The data the study produced was stark.
It showed that over period of 50 years, the Thoothukudi group of islands, including Vaan, had experienced the highest percentage of land cover reduction (71 percent), followed by Keelakarai (43.49 percent), Vembar (36.21 percent) and Mandapam (21.84 percent). There were multiple reasons why these islands were sinking — unsustainable and exploitative fishing practices, rising sea levels and surface temperatures due to climate change, and coral mining that went on for decades until it was stopped in 2005. The most significant of these factors in land reduction, the study found, was mining.
The corals were being mined for their rich lime content, which was in great demand in the limestone industry and played a major role in construction. In fact, many old houses in Thoothukudi that stand tall today were constructed using corals. Vaan itself is made up of calcareous frameworks of dead reefs and sand and was a minefield for coral hunters.
The demand was so high that in the early 1970s, around 25,000 metric tons of corals were mined every year from Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar combined. It was only after a good three decades, in 2001, that the central government included all corals under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. Subsequently, in 2005, the Supreme Court stayed a halt on coral mining activities. But the damage had already been done. By 2005, the Gulf of Mannar had lost a whopping 32 square kilometres of reef area.
Secret of success
Armed with this data, the Tamil Nadu government started on a first-of-its-kind mission to revive these drowning islands. It first sought financial support from the Environment Ministry, under the climate change adaptation fund. The ministry committed 25 crore rupees (US$3.44 million), and Vaan Island was chosen for the restoration project.
“The reason was because Vaan is closest to the mainland, barely five kilometres from the Thoothukudi coast,” said KV Giridhar, director of the Department of Environment. “Reviving Vaan was crucial because the island acts as a defence against waves, preventing coastal erosion.”
To save Vaan from drowning, we had to ensure the reef area surrounding the island was revitalised, added Edward Patterson, director of SDMRI.
“Corals need hard substrate to grow. Generally, coral larvae use dead corals as substrate, which unfortunately is not available in many islands of the Gulf of Mannar due to decades of mining," Patterson said.
So instead, his team of researchers helped deploy 10,600 artificial reef modules in three phases.
"Initially, we deployed artificial reefs with the main purpose of protecting the fast-eroding landmass, but in due course, found natural corals colonising in these artificial reefs. This helped Vaan to grow. Compared to 2015, Vaan’s land cover has increased by a whopping 54.51 percent from 2.33 ha to 3.60 ha in low tide."
The latest morphological study, conducted by SDMRI in October 2020, shows abundant natural coral recruitment. A total of 10 coral species and 28 fish species were observed around the modules. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) also had an important role to play. The IIT-M team worked alongside SDMRI researchers to design the artificial reef modules.
“After many trials, we worked out the design, the build, pattern and place of deployment of artificial reefs based on bathymetric wave studies," said Prof. SA Sannasiraj, head of thee Department of Ocean Engineering at IIT-M. "The holes in the concrete structure were to achieve good water circulation. The holes are also required for marine growth. The whole experience was unique and path-breaking as such a project was never tried before in India. It gives us great satisfaction that our efforts materialised and corals are thriving on these structures,” he said.
Small success, big lesson
Vaan, however, is not a destination but an example. There are many islands in the Gulf that need attention. Researchers say Koswari and Kariyachalli islands near Thoothukudi are facing an increased threat and need immediate intervention.
“If the current rate of erosion continues, Koswari and Kariyachalli islands are likely to be submerged by 2036; Vembar group [Upputhanni, Puluvinichalli and Nallathanni] between 2064 and 2193; Keelakarai group [Anaipar, Valimunai, Poovarasanpatti, Appa, Thalaiyari, Valai and Mulli] between 2032 and 2180; and Mandapam [Manoliputti, Poomarichan and Pullivasal] between 2140 and 2525,” said K Diraviya Raj, assistant professor at SDMRI.
Morphology and geomorphology studies reveal Koswari island has lost 60 percent of its land cover, and has shrunk from 19.59 hectares to 7.70 ha, while Kariyachalli island land mass shrunk by 71.37 percent, from 20.85 ha to 5.97 ha. The exceptions to this general rule are four islands of the Mandapam group — Hare, Manoli, Krusadai and Shingle — which saw their area increase by 16.44 percent. Hare island is the biggest of all, with an area of 152.31 ha.
However, Krusadai and Shingle islands face an increased threat from a newly-constructed fishing jetty by supported by Tamil Nadu's fisheries department. Despite opposition from the forest department, the fisheries department went ahead and finished the construction of the jetty, triggering erosion problems.
The scientists and researchers involved in the restoration project say that what the Vaan example indicates, it’s that the other islands, too, could soon be home to healthy coral reefs, if due attention is paid and action taken.
Coral bleaching is another growing problem, and while coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar have shown a great degree of resilience to climate change, experts say continuous monitoring is needed.
“Corals here bleach in summer if the water temperature surpasses 300 Celsius," said Marimuthu, wildlife warden at the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. "But they recover when the temperature comes down, which usually happens in August.
Last April, water temperatures reached 31.80 Celsius and partial coral bleaching (of less than five percent) was observed, Marimuthu explained. "The high temperatures persisted up to May 2020 [the highest level being 31.90 C], when widespread bleaching was witnessed. This triggered fears of mass bleaching and high mortality."
To measure the prevalence of coral bleaching, SDMRI carried out a comprehensive underwater assessment jointly with the Tamil Nadu forest department from April to June 2020. Eleven islands (Krusadai, Manoli, Hare, Valai, Thalaiyari, Poovarasanpatti, Puluvinichalli, Vilanguchalli, Kariyachalli, Koswari and Vaan) representing the three island groups were assessed.
The assessment found average bleaching prevalence was 28.20 percent. The Thoothukudi group of islands had the highest bleaching prevalence (30.80 percent) followed by Mandapam and Keelakarai groups. Among the islands, Koswari has the highest bleaching prevalence (38.40 percent) followed by Vaan (34.80 percent) and Kariyachalli (34.70 percent). SDMRI director Patterson said despite such high temperatures, the corals have recovered fully and no mortality was reported.
“This is largely because of low pressure and cyclonic storms that brewed in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in April and May," said Patterson. "The water temperature dropped to 28.60 Celsius in early June, which helped the corals restore their zooxanthellae. The bleached corals would completely recover by the end of July.”
Significantly, the reduction in sewage inflow, industrial and human activity and halt of fishing during the coronavirus-induced lockdown assisted in the improvement of reef health, resulting in enhanced fish populations and faster coral recovery, Patterson added.
The dangerous traps that don’t just affect fish
Trap fishing for ornamental fish is practised near the reef area. Indigenously-fabricated fish traps are set in and around the reefs. To keep these traps safe, nearby live and dead corals are broken. Therefore, the reefs are disturbed when laying and retrieving the traps. Marine biologist G Mathews said, “In most cases, the traps are laid mainly to catch reef-dwelling herbivores such as the parrotfish, which in turn cause the proliferation of algae over live coral colonies due to the lack of predators, leading to coral mortality and ecological imbalances.”
Parrotfish are colourful and voracious herbivores that spend up to 90 percent of their day eating algae off of coral reefs with their beak-like teeth.
“Though [the parrotfish] is not consumed locally, it’s exported to China, among other countries,” said Mathews.
The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network of the International Union for Conservation of Nature released a report in 2014 on Caribbean corals, which reportedly declined by more than 50 percent since the 1970s. The report says most Caribbean reefs have been dominated by algae, a phenomenon was linked to overfishing of parrotfish.
The healthiest Caribbean reefs are those that still have robust parrotfish populations, such as Bermuda and Bonaire, which restricted or banned fishing practices that harm parrotfish, including fish traps.
Forest range officer R. Raghuvaran said he and team -- internationally-certified scuba divers -- regularly patrol in reef areas.
"We regularly monitor the health of coral reefs and remove fish traps laid in the reef area," he said. "Fishermen are now aware that damaging coral reefs is an offence. Coral mining was completely stopped since 2005, but poaching of protected sea cucumbers still gets reported.”
An earlier version of this story was first published in The New Indian Express on 14 February 2021. This version has been edited for length and clarity. Thee story was produced with the support of Internews' Earth Journalism Network.
Banner image: An aerial view of Vaan Island with artificial reefs pictured underwater / Credit: SDMRI


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Finale of the GxP-Fest 2023 International Student Festival held in Moscow
The results of the GxP-Fest 2023 International Student Festival, which became the biggest in its history, have been summed up, with more than 850 people, 106 teams representing 78 specialized universities of Russia and other countries, including the EAEU member states, taking part in the competition.
The event was organized by the Eurasian Academy of Good Practices with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Eurasian Economic Commission, and the State Institute of Drugs and Good Practices of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. The pharmaceutical companies R-Pharm, Akrikhin, Nacimbio, Sotex, and Pharmasyntez became partners of the GxP-Fest 2023.
The festival was held from 1 March 2023 through 21 April 2023. The competition comprised two stages and, for the first time, included two categories, i.e. a team and an individual one, for both the Russian-speaking and English-speaking student audiences.
The qualifying round in the form of a so-called pharmaceutical battle, or a multidisciplinary professional multiple-choice quiz, was held on 15 March on the Academy’s educational virtual platform. 40 teams and 10 individual participants who showed the best results were invited to the finale.
On 21 April, the final stage of the GxP-Fest took place. About 300 students of pharmaceutical, biotechnological and chemical departments of specialized universities of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and other countries, as well as professors, top managers and human resources specialists of leading pharmaceutical companies, as well as experts and other representatives of the pharmaceutical community gathered for the in-person event in Moscow.
Representatives of government authorities, the Eurasian Economic Commission, leadership of the Academy, as well as partners of the festival delivered welcoming address to the participants at the opening ceremony.
Vladislav Shestakov, Director of the State Institute of Drugs and Good Practices of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, noted that GxP-Fest was gaining momentum every year, while the interest of the younger generation in the pharmaceutical industry was growing steadily. “Challenges of today require non-standard solutions. We see that well-coordinated work in a team side by side with like-minded people leads one to success. The recent pandemic has shown that, in a critical situation, we can unite and work as a single mechanism. The goals of the GxP-Fest are to popularize pharmaceutical production among the student community, to identify young talents who would form the human resources pool for our industry and work for Russian pharmaceutical enterprises in the future. Despite all the changes and challenges, the priority for us remains the same, i.e. to ensure the country’s drug safety. And a new generation of specialists will join us in solving this issue very soon.”
Dmitry Galkin, Director of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry Development of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, confirmed that the pharmaceutical industry is one of the most dynamically developing sectors. Over 10 years, the pharmaceutical market has increased fourfold. “The industry opens a big window of opportunities. Moreover, the GxP-Fest is getting more exciting every year. The presence of top managers of large pharmaceutical companies proves that the event is important not only for its competitive section, but also in terms of the development of future human resources. Today pharma is very multifaceted, it embraces issues of medicine, mathematics, information technology, law. At the present stage of the industry’s development, an interdisciplinary, integrated approach is needed. The interactive format of the festival allows having a good and useful time, and taking a closer look at the future profession, its salient features. For senior students, this is a unique opportunity to show their portfolio to pharmaceutical companies, and get an internship with subsequent employment.”
Chinara Mambetalieva, Deputy Director of the Department of Technical Regulation and Accreditation of the Eurasian Economic Commission, highlighted that the challenges of the present time created new opportunities for development throughout the EAEU zone, and one of the priorities was the production of innovative pharmaceuticals. “The issues of training specialists and human resources development with a focus on industrial pharmacy are even more relevant,” she believes. “The Eurasian Academy of Good Practices has assumed great responsibility for attracting students to industrial pharmacy and identifying talents. Participation in the GxP-Fest is a great start for successful development in the industry.”
According to Lilia Titova, Executive Director of the Union of Professional Pharmaceutical Organizations, the main achievement of the GxP-Fest is not only the expansion of geography, but also the change in the content of tasks. “At first, it was a test of the knowledge gained while studying at universities. Today, the tasks have become broader and allow participants to demonstrate their scientific skills, an ability to think out of the box, and a desire to know their future profession more profoundly. The event is truly unique,” she noted. “Companies need young employees. The pharmaceutical industry is an industry where it is impossible to get a set of knowledge once and use it throughout your life. It is developing rapidly and needs to be constantly updated. We go through tough times nowadays, but this has given an impetus to the development of science and technology. The GxP-Fest provides an opportunity to get to know various areas of the pharmaceutical industry and choose the trajectory of one’s future career.”
Tatiana Vyazmina, Quality Director of the R-Pharm Group of Companies, noted the great interest of business in interacting with students. “The festival is changing for the better, new formats are emerging that involve not only students, but also professors, experts and the entire pharmaceutical industry in the process. It was very difficult to get to the finale this year – and this is already a big achievement. At the GxP-Fest, you can take a closer look at the specifics of pharma, choose the most exciting direction for professional development.”
The head of the Department of Industrial Pharmacy of the Institute of Professional Training of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Doctor of Pharmacy, Professor Natalia Pyatigorskaya noted that with the dynamic growth of technology, education becomes continuous, the need for knowledge is very important both for those who are still studying and for those who have already taken place in the profession. “The competition for acquiring the knowledge is huge. Whoever has the knowledge is the designer of tomorrow, of the world view, and of their own happiness,” she said. “At the same time, breakthroughs and discoveries cannot be made without emotions, so it is necessary to learn and work with emotions. Pharmacy is an association of people who are passionate about it, who are interested in the development of science, technology, and new treatment methods. And young people are the most active, vibrant and energetic community that strives to improve the quality of life and make it better and more beautiful.”
Ilya Sankov, General Director of Bionika Digital, head of the Medvestnik and Farmvestnik portals, added that all paths are open to students today. “Anyone who decides to link their future with the pharmaceutical industry will never be bored,” he trusts. “Now the problem of import substitution industrialization is being addressed. But an even more ambitious challenge is the development of export potential, access to foreign markets, and taking a decent share in the markets of Asia, Africa, South and Central America.”
The captain of the Phafm Power team, which won the GxP-Fest 2022 competition and represented the St. Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University, was invited to the opening ceremony, too. Ulyana Nogayeva spoke about the professional successes of her team members over the past year and noted that the victory in the festival opened up new opportunities and became a bright launching platform.
Professor Irina Spichak, Doctor of Pharmacy, Executive Director of the Eurasian Academy of Good Practices, addressed the gathering on behalf of the organizers of the GxP-Fest 2023. She congratulated all the finalists of the competition, and especially noted the international presence at the festival, as in 2023 it was attended by students not only from the EAEU countries, but also from far abroad – India, Egypt, Morocco, Syria. Special words of appreciation for the participation and support of the GxP-Fest 2023 were addressed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, universities and the heads of pharmaceutical companies present at the event. “For many young people, a meeting with top managers of well-known pharmaceutical companies can be pivotal, as it will create even greater interest in the industry and outline a trajectory for further development in the chosen direction, set up for success. At the same time, we are happy to show the business what a cool student community we have, what creative, inventive and knowledgeable young people. If they join the industry with such a passion, they definitely have a great future ahead.”
After the official greetings, an open dialogue “The Future of Pharma is My Future” took place at the GxP-Fest 2023 site – the first industry meeting of the relevant students with representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and CEOs of the largest pharmaceutical companies. Students had a unique opportunity to put questions to well–known experts – industry leaders – and get competent answers firsthand.
Dmitry Galkin, Director of the Department for the Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry Development of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, was asked about the achievements of domestic pharma, which one can be proud of. As an example, he noted the successful fight against covid. Russia produces the necessary pharmaceuticals that are recommended for the treatment of coronavirus. Answering the question about sanctions, he noted that in a global sense, healthcare and pharma from the viewpoint of products, fortunately, were beyond restrictions, but there were some difficulties with production, because logistics had become much more exorbitant. It is necessary to replace separate raw materials and means of production. The independence, according to him, is expensive. “You can do everything yourself, but economic expediency is the question. Pharma is always about cooperation and a balance between its own developments and technologies and established production chains,” he stressed.
When asked about the challenges faced by enterprises in organizing new production, Vladislav Shestakov, Director of the FSI “SID & GP” of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, replied that the key to success is the competent pharmaceutical engineering, a professionally developed team, and a balanced product portfolio.
Vadim Yatsuk, CEO of the Sotex Pharmaceutical Company, raised the issue of retaining young employees at pharmaceutical enterprises, not always located in Moscow, but more often in the region and province. In his opinion, the regional authorities should pay more attention to creating a comfortable social infrastructure for young people so that they can stay working in small towns where modern pharmaceutical manufacturing sites are open.
Answering the question about who is in charge at the pharmaceutical enterprise, General Director of the National Immunobiological Company (JSC “Nacimbio”) Andrei Zagorsky said that a balance of interests was needed. “On the one hand, sales managers are very important, because it is them who bring money to the company. On the other hand, production is important, because if you do not release the product, then there will be nothing to sell. At the same time, quality services are important, because only a quality product can be sold. From this we can conclude that the main one is the consumer, for whom everything is being done,” he summed up.
Rustem Muratov, CEO of Binnopharm Group, shared his opinion on the feasibility of developing one’s own drugs and pharmaceutical substances. “The economy determines everything. The key issue is the scale. Russia’s share in the global pharmaceutical market is about 2%; together with the EAEU it makes 3-3.5%. The development of an innovative drug can take 10 years and cost about a billion dollars, so it is time-consuming and costly. Such costs can be recouped only with a large sales market. As for the development of pharmaceutical substances, this is a kind of business at the confluence of pharmacy and chemistry. This requires people with special competencies. It is very difficult to open such a production from scratch and it is not always economically profitable. At one time, India passed this way, now China is passing to some extent. And Russia can do it in the future, too”.
Vasily Ignatiev, CEO of the R-Pharm Group of Companies, outlined the main priorities of the Pharma 2030 strategy. First of all, it is the provision of healthcare and patients with high-quality medicines in the proper volume and range, readiness for import substitution, as well as the increase of the export potential of the Russian pharmaceutical industry. “We focus on innovative developments and in 5-7 years we will actively enter international markets. It is hardly possible to be absolutely independent from imports. If you set such a goal, it can be achieved in principle, but it hardly makes sense,” he believes. Vasily Ignatiev was also requested to describe the set of competencies of a successful specialist in the pharmaceutical industry. He identified four main components, i.e. good basic knowledge of relevant sciences, openness to everything new, flexibility and adaptability to changes, as well as self-discipline.
After the open dialogue session was over, the students did not let the experts go for a long time and continued asking questions. The speakers answered them with great pleasure and were in no hurry to leave, despite their busy schedule. Thus, the official part turned into informal personal interaction.
As part of the GxP-Fest 2023, other formats of interaction between students and pharmaceutical companies were also there. The area with exhibition booths of pharmaceutical enterprises was partucularly popular, enabling students to become acquainted with vacancies and internships, get full information on the requirements and employment opportunities.
In the second half of the final day of the GxP-Fest 2023, a series of workshops by the ISPE Association and pharmaceutical companies Akrikhin, R-Pharm, Sotex, GEN Pharma Rus, and Pharmasyntez took place. A unique workshop was delivered by the FSI “SID & GP”, at which the institution’s experts told the student audience about the pharmaceutical inspectorate in Russia and the process of training of pharmaceutical inspectors. The workshop aroused the lively interest of the audience and were held in crowded halls.
The organizers of the festival did not leave the professors aside, either. Especially for them, a workshop was held on the use of the innovative simulation training complex “Virtual Pharmaceutical Plant for Universities” – a new joint development by the FSI “SID & GP” of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and the Eurasian Academy of Good Practices, for immersing students in the production environment and honing their professional skills.
As part of the final stage of the competition, a GxP quest was held for student teams and individual participants. The interactive game was aimed at finding professional solutions to the tasks on the special game field, providing for different levels of challenges and opportunities. The unique software for the quest was developed by the Academy’s specialists. The participants were able to show knowledge, ingenuity and coherence of action. The teams that went through the game field within the shortest time and with the minimum number of penalty points became the winners.
As a result, the 1st place was taken by the Devochki team of Yaroslavl State Medical University. The GGirlsP team of Vyatka State University took the 2nd place. The Rubicon team of the St. Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University became the 3rd place winner.
The winners among the individual participants were Daria Devyatkina taking the 1st place, Sofia Smirnova with the 2nd place, and Dmitry Druzhininsky taking the 3rd place.
Participants from abroad were awarded separately. Tameloucht Achraf Sym (Morocco) became the 1st place winner, the 2nd place was taken Abdelkarim Elmantagui (Morocco), and the 3rd place went to Dabae Sandy Adel (Egypt).
After the award ceremony of the winners of the GxP-Fest 2023, a tour of Moscow was arranged for all the students.
Generally, the event was organized at the highest level and left lots of positive impressions both among the students and among the pharmaceutical industry experts. Everyone noted that the 2023 festival was held with great spirit and provided exclusive opportunities for networking, interaction, and experience exchange.
- Vladislav Shestakov took part in the BioHabana 2024 Congress
- Registration for GMP Conference 2024 is now open
- Cooperation issues in the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system were discussed at the Russia-Africa Summit
- International cooperation discussed at the Drug Safety Forum
- Transformation of medical education and training of highly qualified personnel discussed at the Uzbek-Russian Medical Forum


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A nationwide survey showed that female physicians made close to $15,000 less than male physicians. Findings from the study are published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Part of the disparity was explained by female physicians’ tendency to prioritize collegiality and control over personal time vs. substantial pay. For both male and female physicians, optimal workload was the top priority according to 776 respondents who responded to these specific questions. For males, substantial pay was ranked second in prevalence, and fourth for women. Generally, female physicians worked less full-time equivalents but worked more nights, and reported less daily billable encounters. Other variables such as age, geography, specialty, and amount of type of clinical work were accounted for when determining the disparity.
The study authors concluded that strategies to assess fair compensation are needed to confront gender inequalities and other disparities.
For more information visit Wiley.com.


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Chestnut & Grace Gourmet Dog Food is the creation of Husband and Wife team Chef John Nelson-Alden and Attorney Karen Munoz. John came in to the marriage with his two dogs Lui and Zoe who he had been cooking for since they were puppies. Shortly after the couple tied the knot they adopted a new member into their family, a rescue dog named JinJin. The two were making more and more dog food; friends and family with dogs who had tried samples kept coming back for more. It was clear they were on to something! After a great deal of research into dog nutrition and in-depth product testing conducted by an elite team of furry foodies, the first Chestnut & Grace menu was created. From there it was to the lab. All C&G menu items were analyzed by EPL Bioanalytical Services for their AAFCO Complete Nutrient Profile. The results were outstanding and C&G officially became a business. Since then we have introduced an entirely new and wholesome diet to an increasing number of dogs and their families. We at Chestnut & Grace Gourmet Dog Food Company love all dogs, and look forward to introducing you and your dog to a whole new type of dog food.
Chestnut & Grace is a chef inspired gourmet dog food company based in Chicago, IL. Our recipes are slow-cooked in small batches, using only the highest quality human-grade ingredients. All of our gourmet dog food is personally prepared and custom packaged for your dog by co-founder Chef John in the state of the art Chestnut & Grace K9 Kitchen. Chef John brings to the table over 15 years of professional culinary experience in some of the world’s finest kitchens. We prepare every batch of our gourmet dog food using exclusively Induction Ranges & Immersion Circulators. These tools are usually only seen in the kitchens of gourmet restaurants, but they allow Chef John to exactly control the temperature and employ the sous vide cooking technique. This method allows us to slowly cook foods to the exact desired temperature while maintaining 100% nutrition losing nothing in the cooking process. All of our recipes contain NO: Gluten, Wheat, Corn, Soy, GMOs, or ANY INGREDIENTS FROM CHINA. The end result is a dog food that is truly gourmet and is unlike anything you or your dog have ever seen before. Providing your dog variety, complete nutrition and a level of quality that is unparalleled by any other dog food. Plus, it is delivered to your door! Why not try it today?
John Nelson-Alden, Chef & Co-founder
Chef John got his first taste of professional cooking at the age of 16 at his best friend’s family’s Thai restaurant. He has been at it ever since. In his career John has worked in some of the best kitchens in the United States, Including: The MED, The Sky Room, Alinea and GT Fish & Oyster. John began to prepare food for dogs in 2002 when he adopted his first furry babies, litter mates Lui & Zoe. It was clear from the beginning that Lui was a bit finicky with food and had a very sensitive digestive system. After consulting a vet who suggested a very expensive prescription wet food… OR a bland diet of chicken and rice you could make at home, naturally Chef John chose to begin making the dog food himself. Since then John has continued to cook for Lui and Zoe, but has studied dog nutrition, dietary restrictions and common allergies. Armed with this knowledge Chef John has created the dishes that make up the Chestnut & Grace Gourmet Dog Food Menu. John, his wife Karen and the whole team at C&G are extremely proud of the food coming out of our kitchen and are excited to share it with you and your canine family.
Karen Munoz, CEO & Co-Founder
Karen is a high profile Attorney, dog lover and certified yoga instructor. Karen runs a legal practice in downtown Chicago, contributes a regular column to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, does work with the Chicago Bar Association, teaches weekly yoga classes, and now she is a gourmet dog food entrepreneur. Needless to say, she is a renaissance woman. Karen became a lawyer because she wanted to help people who don’t have a voice. Karen became a yoga teacher because she wanted to share all the good the practice brought into her life with others. Karen believes we have a duty as human beings to share our passions with others. This is why Karen and her husband John are so excited to introduce the world to Chestnut & Grace Gourmet Dog Food, a company built on a passion for quality, wholesome nutrition and a love for dogs.

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- Romantic hotel chain offers refunds for guests who get divorced
- Hotels will offer free internet, toughen cancellation policies in 2015
- Hotels that offer over-the-top amenities — for your pets
- FCC: Thousands of hotels dont offer direct 911
- Sabres send support to Kyle Okposo, whos hospitalized and in intensive care – The Buffalo News
BUFFALO, N.Y. — For more than 75 years, few people looked forward to a visit to 444 Forest Ave. That’s because it was known as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, later the Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
But now the distinctive brick-and-red-sandstone building designed by noted architect Henry Hobson Richardson is much more welcoming. In April, it opened as the Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center (hotelhenry.com).
Its 88 rooms — four of them suites — have high ceilings, contemporary styling and European bathrooms with large LED-lit mirrors, roll-in showers and modern Porcelanosa fixtures, sinks and toilets. All rooms comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act and are hearing-impaired-friendly. Rooms with king-size or two double beds go for $175 per night. Suites, some of which have bathtubs and separate seating areas, are $350 per night.
Conference spaces feature state-of-the-art audio-visual technology that can stream, package and record events. The hotel’s 500,000 square feet of interior space looks nothing like a psychiatric hospital.
The first of the campus’ 10 buildings was constructed in 1872 and opened to patients in 1880. After nearly a century of service, the hospital closed, and all patients were moved in 1974. A total of 42 acres remained vacant for about 40 years and were to be auctioned in 1997. Then preservationists stepped in and won the support for its reuse from then-New York Gov. George Pataki.
Three buildings including the main Towers Building were restored at a cost of $70 million. The project, which has created more than 100 jobs, was managed by the Richardson Center Corp., a not-for-profit organization established in 2006 to preserve Buffalo’s history through its rich architecture.
“We had to be very creative with the hotel design due to Richardson’s original design,” said Christine Krolewicz, project manager. “We tried to keep as much of the historic character and spaces as we could while updating it for a new, modern use.”
The remaining 300,000 square feet of buildings and 25 acres of land will also be restored, but it’s yet to be determined what they’ll be used for.
“The uncommon spaces of the original architecture of these buildings … allow guests to create their own one-of-a-kind experiences,” said Jessica Mancini, the hotel’s digital marketing manager.
Although I had my reservations about the hotel’s origins, I was not spooked upon walking inside. Sunlight streamed through the building’s tall windows and bounced off 16-foot-high ceilings and long curving corridors.
When the complex was a hospital, the first floor was occupied by administration. The superintendent and his family lived on the second floor and patients on the third.
Now, dining spaces are on the first floor, check-in and guest rooms are on the second and private conference rooms and event spaces are on the third and fourth floors. Three kitchens service the hotel and conference spaces.
The restaurant known as 100 Acres serves seasonal American dishes with locally sourced products. The changing menu recently featured Buffalo-style pork ribs ($11), yellowfin tuna or mussels ($12), chicken liver parfait ($12), stone-baked pizza ($12-$13), half roasted chicken ($24), Faroe Island salmon ($24), halibut ($28) and prime New York strip ($30).
Bright yellow walls surround tall counters and stools where diners can watch the preparation of meals or drinks. The parlor and dining rooms feature semi-private booths and dark blue and purple decor.
But where is the nightclub?
On the second floor is the Lounge at Hotel Henry. With mirrored walls, connecting purple couches and gold accents, it sounds like a lot is going on. But it was calming — sexy even. An outdoor patio offers the chance to sip rosé while enjoying a fiery sunset.
Sunlight gleams through windows facing the South Lawn, the 210-foot-long corridor that is connected to the rest of the hotel by vibrant mosaic tiles. Patients were encouraged to socialize on the 15-foot-wide corridor’s maple floors when it was known as the day room.
The hotel’s grounds are as impressive as its architecture. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the lush spaces are part of what is known as the Richardson Olmstead Complex, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
The South Lawn is open to the public and is used for picnicking, walking and flying kites. Paths on the 9 acres connect to a nearby bike trail and lead to Elmwood Village, which features unique boutiques and restaurants.
On the fourth floor is the former chapel. It’s now the Tower Ballroom, the complex’s largest event space with room for 350 people to sit. It has already hosted a number of weddings and bar mitzvahs. Chandeliers hang in the hallways leading to the ballroom with multiple stations for refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.
Hotel guests have access to a gym and will soon be able to order in-room delivery beginning in the fall. 100 Acres will also serve lunch starting this fall.
Hotel Henry is collaborating with the nearby State University of New York College at Buffalo and is one of two teaching hotels in New York state. The other is the Statler Hotel in Ithaca affiliated with Cornell University.
The hotel’s uncommon spaces are often filled with unique programming and activities that include chocolate and beer pairings, a jazz series, art walks and national retail pop-ups.
This winter, the Lipsey Buffalo Architectural Center, an architectural museum and art space on the ground floor, is expected to open along with a Spirit of Buffalo sculpture in the roundabout at the North Entrance.
Hotel Henry Urban Resort and Conference Center is at the corner of Rockwell Road and Cleveland Circle, Buffalo, N.Y. 14213. Information, reservations: hotelhenry.com or 1-716-882-1970.
Fitale Wari, a Buffalo native and rising senior at Denison University, was a summer intern at the Post-Gazette.
From hospital to hotel, Henry offers a stylish stay in Buffalo have 1089 words, post on www.post-gazette.com at 2017-08-11 10:50:43. This is cached page on USA Breaking News. If you want remove this page, please contact us.

domain: design


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Baku, May 6, AZERTAC
Belgium will be represented by 114 athletes in 16 types of sports at the first European Games.
The delegation led by Gert Van Looy includes two Olympic medallist and other famous athletes.
The article which announced team`s squad of the Belgian Olympic Committee for the first European Games and titled “Belgium Baku-2015” is available at web sites: http://www.sport.be/fr and http://www.dhnet.be
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|Climate Indicators Report||EPA||With help from their partners, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has compiled a set of 26 indicators tracking signs of climate change. These indicators represent a selected set of key measures of climate change, and are not an exhaustive group of all climate change indicators.|
|A Discussion on Climate Change: Evidence and Causes||NAS||Written by a UK-US team of leading climate scientists and reviewed by climate scientists and others, the publication is intended as a brief, readable reference document for decision makers, policy makers, educators, and other individuals seeking authoritative information on the some of the questions that continue to be asked. The team was convened under the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the U.K.’s Royal Society.|
|What We Know||AAAS||An American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) compilation of “what we know” about climate science.|
|The Carbon Cycle||NASA||By burning coal and oil, people are adding old carbon to the atmosphere faster than plants and the oceans can take it out. The carbon in the atmosphere acts like a blanket trapping heat and making the planet warmer. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) carbon expert Peter Griffiths explains.|
|Climate Basics||USFS||This U.S. Forest Service site provides several resources that introduce the topic of climate change and discuss some of its implications for natural resource managers.|
|Special Collection: Challenges in Climate Science||Science Magazine||This series of Perspectives aims to highlight some of the challenges that now exist in physical climate science and to discuss how they might be overcome in order to provide a more detailed understanding of Earth’s current climate and aid projections of future climate change.|
|Climate change and indigenous peoples of the USA||Daniel R. Wildcat||Examination of impacts of climate change on indigenous peoples and their homelands, and proposed strategies of adaptation, constitutes a compelling and timely report on what is happening in Native homelands and communities.|
|State of the Climate in 2018||American Meteorological Society||The state of many monitored climate variables and the 2017 climate conditions of regions around the world.|
|Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast||David Archer||Provides a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of global warming. Written in an accessible way, and assuming no specialist prior knowledge, this book examines the processes that control climate change and climate stability, from the distant past to the distant future.|
Visualizing and Understanding the Science of Climate Change – IUPAC
This website provides a set of peer-reviewed, interactive, web-based materials to help learners visualize and understand the underlying science of climate change.
Human dynamics of climate change – Met Office
The ‘Human dynamics of climate change’ map aims to illustrate some of the impacts of climate and population change in the context of a globalized world.
The Coastal Change Hazards portal – USGS
This portal provides interactive access to coastal change science and data for our Nation’s coasts. It organizes products and information into discrete items within three specific coastal hazard themes: 1) severe storms, 2) shoreline change, and 3) sea-level rise.
Global Carbon Atlas – Global Carbon Project
The Global Carbon Atlas is an online platform to explore, visualize and interpret global and regional carbon data arising from both human activities and natural processes.
Climate Communication – Interinstitutional
Climate Communication operates as a project of the Aspen Global Change Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the scientific understanding of Earth systems and global environmental change.
Climate Change Education – NCSU
This website was designed by North Carolina State University to help educators understand climate and weather concepts and to be able to incorporate the learning material from this site into their course curriculum using examples as aids for learning. It is also useful for anyone else who wants a basic understanding of weather and climate, especially in the southeastern United States.
Yale Project on Climate Change Communication – Yale University
Based on a mission to: Conduct research on public climate knowledge, risk perceptions, decision-making and behavior; Design and test new strategies to engage the public in climate science and solutions; and Empower educators and communicators with the knowledge and tools to more effectively engage their audiences.
Center for Climate Change Communication – George Mason University
Their mission is to conduct unbiased public engagement research – and to help government agencies, non-profit organizations, and companies apply the results of this research – so that collectively, we can stabilize our planet’s life sustaining climate.
Center for Research on Environmental Decisions – Columbia University
An interdisciplinary center that studies individual and group decision making under climate uncertainty and decision making in the face of environmental risk. CRED’s objectives address the human responses to climate change and climate variability as well as improved communication and increased use of scientific information on climate variability and change.


The Pump Shop at MME
1228 South Eighth Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63104
Pump Systems, Pump Repair and
24/7 Emergency Service--Done Right
Custom fluid-distribution systems require problem-solving capabilities. Getting it right and keeping it right is a critical part of our business.
We specialize in servicing all makes of water, sewage and chemical handling pumps and we stock complete pump systems and a full line of replacement parts. Take a look. Odds are, we’ve got what you need.
The Pump Shop at MME sells, installs, maintains and services pumping systems with motors, pumps, variable-speed drives, programmable controllers and mechanical accessories. It also designs turnkey engineered fluid-distribution systems for municipal chemical, building, heating, irrigation and industrial applications.
Pumps are at the heart of our cities, buildings and factories. But pumps are like air…essential but rarely considered. When they’re right, nobody notices; when they’re wrong, everybody does. That’s why getting it right and keeping it right is so critical. We perform periodic preventive maintenance inspections to keep it right.
We Install and Service ALL Brands
The Pump Shop at MME is a full-service warranty and test station for a wide variety of major pump manufacturers. In addition we can install and service ALL pump brands, in house or on site.
Our factory-trained service technicians are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to meet your needs for timely, accurate repair—and give you peace of mind. When you have a problem, you can look to us to help you solve it, quickly and effectively.
We Come To You - Services Available 24/7
Our field repair capabilities are supported by our fleet of service trucks, which are fully equipped with heavy-duty cranes for complete hoisting capabilities.
The Pump Shop at MME is fully equipped to go on-site and complete:
- Lift station rehabilitation
- Equipment change-outs including pumps, motors and electrical control valves and accessories; engineered systems installation, including packaged pump stations
- Pump, motor, electrical controls and accessory and engineered systems installation
- Laser alignment
- Bearing replacement
- Seal replacement
- Shaft sleeve replacement
- Shaft replacement
- Impeller replacement
- Vibration analysis
Our Machine Shop is Fully Equipped
With our metalizing process, our machine shop is equipped to rebuild shafts, impellers and castings using stainless steel, bronze, chrome and ceramic.
Shop repair capabilities include:
- 24-hour service
- Line boring
State-Of-The-Art Testing and Quality Assurance
Our quality assurance program includes “flow” testing for every pump we repair in our state-of-the-art testing facility. Our operational testing capabilities—both on-site and in our shop— fulfill many federal specifications. We can test in-house all types of equipment up to 200 HP, with flow rates to 800 GPM and pressures to 350 PSI or 800 feet TDH. All repaired equipment is load tested and guaranteed after installation.
All measurement tools are tested and calibrated by a government-authorized testing lab.
Responsive To Your Needs, Day or Night
When seconds count, count on The Pump Shop at MME. Our skilled service technicians are on duty 24/7. For emergency service, call us at 314.231.9806 (weekdays) or 314.231.9790 (evenings and weekends).


text:
As 2014 sinks into oblivion, Tiffany B. Potter is hoping we’ll let you know that the registration deadline for the annual Polar Bear Plunge, sponsored by the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club (LCKC), is soon approaching.
As you will no doubt agree, Tiffany B. Potter is a fabulous name for anyone, but especially for OUR Tiffany B. Potter who is active with LCKC and is also an attorney. That’s particularly odd because Tiffany seems to be pleasant, brilliant and trustworthy. Go figure.
Tiffany B. Potter isn’t the only person around with an exceptional name. Perhaps you know (ready?) Dixie Truelove! That’s a Top Ten Name in anybody’s list. Yes, Amanda Peacock and Priscilla Pilgrim rank at the top too. Then there’s Amelia Fogg and Savannah Steele.
Now that this story has reached 200-words, we can get back to the Polar Bear Plunge.
The Polar Bear Plunge always takes place each year on January 1st. For 2015, that’s on a Thursday. If you want to be guaranteed a cool (get it?) T-shirt, be sure to register online by December 18th. That’s the deadline for sponsors and for wackos who think it’s fun to dive into frigid waters — Where There Be Dragons — just for the heck of it.
I’ll pass, thank you. But I’ll be there to take pictures!
Bring a towel, a good attitude and your most outrageous outfit to dunk in 2015!
Please Note: If you’re not going in the water, please bring friends with cool names. We can push them in when they least expect it. They’ll make good material for post-Polar Bear Plunge stories. Thank you.
But wait! There’s more! If you get chilly in the water, don’t worry. You can get chili in the boathouse at the Polar Bear Plunge Chili Cook Off.
C’mon! Take the Polar Bear Plunge.

domain: hobby


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domain: entertainment


Plants that Bees Like
What plants are native to Maryland that bee will polinate?
Frederick County Maryland
Here is the Native Plant section of our website:https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/native-plants
Within you will find multiple options of native plants that bees (especially our small native ones) and other pollinators will love. Pay particular attention to those in the flowering section, which includes three types of milkweed, Monarda, a.k.a. 'Bee Balm' and others.


text:
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Management in Adults
Mary Greeley Medical Center Grand Rounds is a multi-disciplinary clinical activity which serves to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a physician uses to provide services for patients, the public or the profession.
Physicians, Advance Practice Professionals, Nurses, Ancillary Staff, and Medical Students (Rotating).
This activity addresses improving diabetes management care. Prior practice had patients hospitalized that were on diabetes technology which nursing and providers did not know how to manage. New service addresses this gap and provides additional resources for complex patients requiring insulin adjustments.
- Better understand insulin pumps.
- Better understand continuous glucose monitors (CGM).
- Better understand smart pens.
- Better understand glycogen agents.
- Describe the scope and repercussions of increasing obesity and diabetes rates.
- Identify inpatient and outpatient services and programs provided by Diabetes Education.
- Identify inpatient services for insulin pump, CGM and diabetes management that are available at MGMC.
Richard Carano, MD
Endocrinology, McFarland Clinic
Thyra Cox, MSN, CDE
Supervisor, Diabetes Education, Mary Greeley Medical Center
Kimberly Case, MS, ARNP
Diabetes Education, Mary Greeley Medical Center
- Dr. Carano, Ms. Cox, and Ms. Case indicate they have no relationships with a commercial entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by or used on patients.
- No member of the Mary Greeley Medical Center CME Committee who planned this activity has any financial relationship to disclose relating to the content.
This program is supported by gifts to the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation from Mary Greeley Medical Center, McFarland Clinic, First American Bank, and Green Hills Health Care Center. The content and selection of speaker(s) is the responsibility of the Mary Greeley Medical Center for Continuing Medical Education Committee and not the sponsors of this program.
- DO: Des Moines University (DMU) is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians. DMU designates this program for a maximum of 1.0 AOA Category 2-A credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.
No commercial interest company provided financial support for this continuing education activity.
Everyone in a position to control the content of this educational activity will disclose to the CME provider and to attendees all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. The speaker(s) will disclose if any pharmaceuticals or medical procedures and devices discussed are investigational or unapproved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Determination of educational content and the selection of speakers is the responsibility of the activity director. Firms providing financial support did not have input in these areas.
The information provided at this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The content of each presentation does not necessarily reflect the views of Des Moines University.
- 1.00 AOA Category 2A


This is what Samir K. wrote on the Facebook page of the Central Islamic Council of Switzerland [Islamischer Zentralrat Schweiz (IZRS)]: "I am extremely sad. Can hardly control myself for sadness. I've been crying the whole day. Only 140..." As other users became enraged at his cynical comment, K. wrote that the attacks would continue until western countries withdrew from the Middle East.
Another user is of a similar opinion. He says Europeans are "ten times worse than ISIS". Mohammed K., who regularly retweets IZRS on Twitter, insults Muslims who distance themselves from terror: "It is astounding that after decades of massacres from the Kuffar there are still Muslims who think being a lickspittle is useful."
Muslims who mourn the Paris victims are sometimes strongly criticised on Social Media. For example Ali A. was insulted because he wrote that he was ashamed of being a Muslim because the actions of IS would cause all Muslims to be seen as terrorists. The answer: A. should become a Christian; Muslims who are ashamed are indecent. Another insulted him as a "Paper-Muslim".
Almedina K., who, according to her Facebook profile, is a Muslim living in Zurich with roots in the Balkans, celebrated the bloody Friday evening as she did the anniversary of 9/11 by posting the Islamic declaration of faith. She is looking on social networks for a "Lion Man" fighting in Syria and wants "so much to die as a martyr in Allah's cause."Source