WASHINGTON — When the Chinese telecommunications company ZTE was hit with crippling United States sanctions in April, it chose a very American solution: It loaded up on Washington lobbyists.
For three months, the company, based in Shenzen, engaged in a furious — and ultimately successful — campaign to win a reprieve from penalties that threatened to put it out of business and derail diplomatic relations between the United States and China. It hired former lawmakers, legislative aides and a Trump campaign official to try to sway lawmakers with the kind of behind-the-scenes lobbying that President Trump has long derided as a problem of the “swamp.”
Top lawmakers met with ZTE lobbyists. High-profile senators mingled at a party given by Hogan Lovells, the primary law firm working on ZTE’s behalf. And the law firm’s political action committee made donations to legislators who had the power to influence ZTE’s fate.
Some of the lobbyists involved privately boasted that their efforts scuttled an attempt by Congress to keep ZTE’s sanctions in place.
All told, ZTE USA, the company’s American subsidiary, spent nearly $1.4 million over three months trying to influence lawmakers and administration officials. In 2017, the company spent a total of $510,000 on lobbying, according to congressional lobbying filings.
On Wednesday, those efforts paid off when the Senate passed a bill containing a much weaker punishment than lawmakers had originally intended — one that will allow ZTE to escape tough penalties related to its violation of American sanctions on Iran and North Korea.
“Clearly, they think that this is a good investment for them because if we had stuck with the stronger sanctions, it would have squeezed them very hard, as it was intended to,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, who was among the lawmakers pushing for tough punishment.
Although Mr. Van Hollen declined to speculate on whether the lobbying swayed any senators, he said the company’s effort should not be ignored. “I can’t read their minds,” he said. “I can only read the disclosure reports, and they show that ZTE spent more than any other entity in a short period of time.”
For ZTE, the stakes were high. While not a household name in the United States, the company is considered a national treasure in China, employing tens of thousands of workers and powering many of the country’s smartphones. It was also a large customer of Qualcomm, a chip maker in San Diego that the administration has identified as critical to America’s success in building the next generation of wireless technology.
But ZTE’s future began looking dubious in mid-April, when the Commerce Department banned the company from buying any American products for seven years as punishment for lying about efforts to resolve the issues that led to the sanctions violation. The ban threatened to cripple ZTE’s global telecommunications business and put Chinese employees out of work, a huge embarrassment for President Xi Jinping of China.
ZTE quickly retained Hogan Lovells, whose lead lobbyist was Norm Coleman, the former senator of Minnesota, according to congressional lobbying filings. Hogan Lovells spearheaded the congressional lobbying and also handled legal aspects, including negotiations with the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, according to people familiar with the lobbying push.
Using its subsidiary, ZTE USA, the company paid Hogan Lovells $1.28 million through the end of June, the period covered by the most recent filings, to lobby the White House, Congress, the Commerce Department and the Treasury Department on “national security concerns” and other issues related to the sanctions.
Because Hogan Lovell’s lobbying was done through ZTE’s American entity, its lobbyists were only required to file disclosures with Congress that revealed relatively little about their activities. By contrast, companies representing foreign clients are required to complete more detailed filings with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Through Hogan Lovells, ZTE also retained the services of the lobbying and public relations firm Mercury Public Affairs, which relied on a former Trump campaign and transition official to lobby officials in the White House and Commerce Department. Mercury registered its lobbying with the Justice Department, explaining in its filings that “the work done under this arrangement may inure to the benefit of the People’s Republic of China.” The filings reveal that the firm was paid $75,000 a month for three months to engage in work such as “setting up meetings with U.S. government officials related to U.S. sanctions on the foreign principal.”
The fate of the telecom company seemed to improve in May, after Mr. Xi made a personal appeal to Mr. Trump on its behalf and Mr. Trump, concerned about relations with China, promised publicly to help. On June 7, the Commerce Department said it had reached a deal to rescind the sanctions in exchange for ZTE paying a $1.4 billion penalty, replacing its senior executives and embedding a team of compliance officers who were answerable to the American government.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers, outraged over the prospect of a Chinese technology company escaping American sanctions, moved swiftly to prevent the White House from lifting the ban. Lawmakers including Mr. Van Hollen, Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, tucked a provision into a military authorization bill that would reinstate the ban. It appeared to have support from leaders on both sides of the aisle.
Lobbyists for ZTE worked to win over wavering officials by citing Mr. Trump’s Twitter messages expressing support for the company and skepticism about the sanctions, according to people with firsthand knowledge of the push. They also relied on more typical talking points about the damage the sanctions would cause.
In mid-July, as top lawmakers began trying to unify the Senate and House versions of the military legislation and determine its final language — including the ZTE provision — Hogan Lovells demonstrated its powerful ties to lawmakers.
At least two members of the joint House-Senate committee — Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Representative Ed Royce of California, both Republicans — were featured speakers at a party hosted by Hogan Lovells celebrating the debut of the firm’s newly combined lobbying and public affairs practice.
It is unclear whether the interaction had any effect on their views. Offices for both lawmakers declined to comment.
Two days later, on July 20, news reports revealed that the compromise legislation the conference committee had drafted would include a watered-down version of a provision to reinstate penalties against ZTE.
Mr. Graham defended the approach amid bipartisan objections. “If it’s going to get the bill vetoed, I want to fix it,” Mr. Graham told Bloomberg News.
Over the years, Hogan Lovells’s political action committee has donated thousands of dollars to the campaigns of Mr. Graham and Mr. Royce. As the sanctions debate was raging, the firm donated to the Senate campaigns of Claire McCaskill and Tim Scott, who also sat on the conference committee. The lobbying firm also donated $2,000 to Mr. Royce’s campaign this cycle, months before he said that he would not seek re-election this fall.
It is standard for PACs affiliated with major lobbying firms or trade groups to spread money around to powerful members of Congress who sit on committees overseeing issues that could affect their clients.
After Congress removed the stronger ZTE language, Mercury officials boasted to clients, prospective clients and others that the firm played a pivotal role in killing the sanctions and could help other foreign clients being targeted by the government, according to two people familiar with conversations on the subject.
Officials from Mercury and Hogan Lovells did not respond to requests for comment.
The legislation, which was passed on Wednesday, contained provisions that will strengthen national security reviews of Chinese investments in the United States, a victory for many who have criticized Chinese trade practices. But the provisions that relate to ZTE merely ban the government from buying its products, steps many federal agencies have already taken.
“This is how #China influences our government policies,” Mr. Rubio tweeted last week. “They spent a small fortune lobbying congress to drop restrictions on #ZTE & it worked.”
On Wednesday, Mr. Rubio announced that he was voting against the military authorization bill, which he otherwise supported, because of the weaker provisions on ZTE.
“The threat posed by China and its telecommunications companies are so severe and so significant that it regrettably brings me to the point where I cannot support a bill that I have always supported in my time here,” Mr. Rubio said. “We need to wake up to the threat that China poses to this country because we are running out of time to do so.”
“When you are backed by the Chinese government, a multibillion-dollar fine is nothing,” he added.
Several congressional aides said that the president’s own support for easing penalties on ZTE was far more influential on the actions of lawmakers than any lobbying. In May, the White House dispatched Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, and Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary, to the Capitol to convince Republican legislators to stand down on their criticism of ZTE. A month later, it invited Republican lawmakers to a meeting that again broached the company’s future.
Congressional aides said that some other Republican senators, including David Perdue of Georgia, were the strongest voices on the conference committee for easing penalties on ZTE. “Congress didn’t need to muddy the waters by halting the penalty, which could have negatively impacted ongoing negotiations pertaining to trade and sanctions enforcement,” Mr. Perdue said in a statement.


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Posted on the website Mother Nature Network (MNN) is an interview on March 5 of this year with Lucy Lawless. She talks about various things, but then the interviewer asks her this question:
After Climategate and other reports questioning climate change science, many people worldwide are still skeptical about global warming. What would you say to disbelievers to get them to change their minds?
Lucy Lawless answers:
I think the people running climate change denial campaigns are sociopaths. They don’t want you to get off the grid in any sense because then you’d be autonomous and they couldn’t make you buy their poison.
She didn’t actually answer the question. The interviewer asked what she would say to ‘disbelievers’ to get them to change their minds, but Lucy ignores that and calls us ‘sociopaths’. Let’s define sociopath.
Sociopath – a person, as a psychopathic personality, whose behavior is antisocial and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.
I doubt she is speaking of anti-social behavior, but she probably is speaking to a lack of moral responsibility or social conscience.
The problem is that many ‘disbelievers’ actually believe strongly they have a moral responsibility to stand up against the climate change movement. While Lucy Lawless doesn’t understand this, some skeptics (myself included) have a social conscience that is disturbed by those who want to suppress new technology reaching the poorest in the world, and are concerned when we see questionable science being used as a political tool. The biggest threat to freedom throughout history has been tyrannical government, and when I see large governmental bodies (think UN) proposing very serious and restrictive measures in order to confront something which isn’t certain to exist, I worry not only for myself, but for all society.
You don’t have to buy my ‘poison’ Ms. Lawless, but please don’t assume anyone who disagrees with your position is incapable of considering others.

domain: politics


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Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort PRESSROOM
Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort to Host Thanksgiving Celebration
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort will host a festive Thanksgiving celebration featuring a brunch buffet and plated dinner on Thursday, November 23.
The Thanksgiving brunch will take place at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Coquina Oceanfront Foyer located in the hotel's North Tower. The brunch buffet will feature an extensive selection of hot entrees, seafood, breakfast dishes, pastries, a carving station, holiday desserts and a cold display with cheeses, seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables. The full menu is available here.
Adults are $47.95 per person, seniors are $42.95 and children ages five to 12 are $15.95. Children under the age of four dine free. Prices include complimentary valet parking and non-alcoholic beverages. Reservations can be made by phone at (386) 947-8054.
The plated Thanksgiving dinner will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. in Doc Bales' Grill and will include soup or salad, turkey, ham, vegetables, stuffing, potatoes and dessert. Adults are $33.95 per person, seniors are $29.95 and children are $14.95. Reservations for the plated dinner can be made by phone at (386) 254-8200, ext. 7033.
For more information about Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, visit the hotel's website.
About Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort:
Located in the heart of Daytona Beach and steps away from the city's best oceanside shopping and visitor attractions, Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort is a family-oriented and pet-friendly property offering world-class amenities on Florida's famed Atlantic coastline. The hotel is home to 744 rooms, including 32 suites and 30 beachfront cabana suites, as well as two resort-style pools, beachside cabanas, a spa, gift shop, fitness center, seasonal events, kid-friendly activities and several premiere restaurant and bar venues for every taste. In addition, Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort offers more than 60,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space for meetings, weddings and other special events. For more information, visit DaytonaHilton.com or call 386-254-8200.

domain: travel


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Prior research shows that internationally schools struggle to retain teachers with less than five year’s work experience. This may be due to the fact that novice teachers encounter various challenges during the time of transition from being a student into being a competent teacher. These challenges cause high amounts of stress which can lead to novice teachers leaving the profession prematurely. Very little research has been conducted on how novice teachers working in township schools, within the Gauteng District, experienced this transition. Therefore, this study aims to explore how novice teachers in townships experienced their transitional phase within the first five years of employment and what resources were made available to them to overcome the challenges they encountered. This study relies on Nancy Schlossberg’s transition theory as the lens through which will look at our findings. The 4S-System, from Schlossberg’s transition theory, was the main focus point for this study.
This study employed a qualitative research approach with a multiple case study design. Fifteen novice teachers with less than five years teaching experience in township schools will be purposively sampled. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Six participants were chosen to participate in one focus group discussion which was audio recorded and transcribed for data analysis purposes. The 4S-System was used to organise the findings into four themes. These themes consisted of the individual’s self, situation, support and strategies. Each one of the themes contained the barriers and resources the participants had during their first five years of teaching.
Novice teacher; teacher retention; challenges; student teachers; transitioning; support; induction; mentoring; Schlossberg

domain: sociology


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Subject: I have found a CD that I think you would enjoy
Genres: Pop, Rap & Hip-Hop
Listen to Samples
Similarly Requested CDs
You Ain't Gotta Go Home X...
Enlightened | Atlanta Georgia | 09/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"DMX returns with is quite possibly his last album. DMX is known for his raw emotion and unparalleled delivery and energy. After two lackluster albums `And Then There Was X' and `Great Depression', X gets back to what he does best; rapping about his life and releasing his anger on tracks. `Where The Hood At' is another in the long list of X's street anthems. X's growl is more forceful on this album and the production is moving, rather than being laid back and sad sounding ( although the album Great Depression reflected his life at the time). The 50 Cent & Styles P collabo is straight up gangsta. X easily drops the hottest verse, refusing to be outshined on his own track. The Dark Man sounds rejuvenated on tracks like Bring The Noize, Rob All Night, and We're Back which features Eve & Jadakiss. Everybody drops hotness on this song especially Eve; she can rap. X is also known for his excellent rap/R&B collaborations ( he has a classic one on every album ) and he doesn't disappoint on this album. Untouchable with Syleena Johnson and some Ruff Ryder members is REALLY tight. But the real gem of this album is the collaboration with Monica `Don't Gotta Go Home'. Man this song is a straight up classic ( it also appeared on Monica's album After The Storm ), it's right up there with `Slippin', How's It Goin Down and Coming From. He injects the soul into his album on Thank You which features the incredible Patti Labelle, and the heartfelt track Ayo Kato is also worthy of mention.This album doesn't have too many flaws in it except for the pointless skits, the Swizz Beats track, and having CamRon on the album. DMX drops his best album since Flesh Of My Flesh (almost five years ago), so this album was long overdue...X goes out with a bark, and we can all hear it loud & clear. 4.5 stars"
Grand Champ?? More like Grand Chump
mcgreezy | 01/08/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"There is a lot of controversy when it comes to naming albums. Talib Kweli's title of his album "Quality" brought in a lot of buzz. It is true you can't say quality without the "kweli," but it did bring about confusion. Calling "R&G: Rhythm & Gangsta" a "Masterpiece" brings about that same discussion as well. Nothing is different than DMX's newly titled album, "Grand Champ." If you're a dog lover, after a dog's fifth victory it is dubbed a "grand champ" which kind of makes sense for X since this is his fifth album of new solo material. But if you want to call "The Great Depression" a victory is all up to you seeing that X has lost a lot of pain in his bite if you know what I mean.
"Grand Champ" is supposed to be DMX's last album, since he is upset with the record labels taking all of the credit for his production. It makes sense, artists do work hard. But for a last album, will it be as hard and grimey as "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot," or will it be a major disaster like "The Great Depression?" Well, DMX has always been known to be a tough guy. He has won over women with his "hard" image and the men with his gruff delivery. However, X tries too hard to keep up his image on a lot of tracks. One prime example is the first single, "Where The Hood At," produced by newcomers the Tuneheadz. He has a whole verse where he talks about homosexuals and goes out of his way to bash them. Def Jam even took the liberty to edit out one of the bars: "Empty out (reload) and throw more (slugs)." Seems to me that Def Jam didn't take to kindly to DMX dissing homosexuals. This will be a current trend throughout the album when DMX ever feels the need to diss someone who is different from him just to keep his street rep.
1. Dog Intro - This is just an intro. I have to admit, I was very impressed with this one. A great open to the album.
2. My Life - Not much lyrical content on this track. The beat will immediately catch your attention, which will draw you into the track more. Chinky sings the chorus in every other line on the entire song.
3. Where The Hood At - Probably the last commercial hit we will ever see from the Dark Man. I would advise you to not even listen to the third verse on this song. There is a reason why the radios didn't play it, and they had good reason not to.
4. Dogs Out - *Sigh*....whenever you have a track where the hook has you barking on it repeatedly, makes you wonder if DMX is running out of ideas for songs. He completely wastes a Kanye West track.
5. Get It On The Floor - Swizz Beatz was sorely missed on "The Great Depression," and I was happy to see him back here. I think that this song tries too hard to recreate "Party Up" from the "...And Then There Was X" album. It's a party track, and makes you quickly forget about the horrid "Dogs Out" track earlier.
6. Come Prepared (Skit)
7. Shot Down - After a useless skit, comes a song featuring 50 Cent and Styles P. A surprise to some considering DMX usually features artists on albums where he can outshine them easily. 50 Cent and Styles P. make great cameos here (thank god).
8. Bring The Noize - This song is just plain silly. DMX yells "I smell p***y," in the beginning, more times that I've heard since the House Party movie.
9. Untouchable - Ahh...at last. A song that features second tier Ruff Ryders that cameo and try to challenge X. But after 6 minutes, you won't care.
10. F*** Y'all - This song pretty much saves the album at this point. Ron Browz does a great job in implementing the beat to DMX's "start and stop" flow. Whenever you have a reference to Kool G. Rap in a rap song, you know it is going to great.
11. Ruff Radio (Skit)
12. We're Back - After another useless skit, we're brought "We're Back" which reunites DMX with Eve and Jadakiss. This is an alright track which goes with the artists nicely.
13. Ruff Radio 2 (Skit) - (X lets do away with the dumb skits)
14. Rob All Night (If I'm Gonna Rob) - Rockwilder only seems to give good beats to Method Man and Redman. This song is very subpar at best.
15. We Go Hard - This song features a very good sample of "Didn't I Fool You" by Ruby Andrews. Cam'ron makes a very good cameo right here as well. The song would have been perfect if DMX didn't have to bash homosexuals (again) with this line: "Now the only thing I can do with p***y is f**k it / and I might tell you to s**k my d*** but you might s**k it." That is totally unnecessary.
16. We 'Bout To Blow - This song is alright. DMX takes a chance to display Big Stan's verbal abilities. Big Stan was also featured on the "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" album.
17. The Rain - This is the most surprising song on the entire album. DMX finally leaves the "hard" image alone and breaks down into a very personal ballad. I like this one a lot.
18. Gotta Go (Skit)
19. Don't Gotta Go Home - Monica does a great job in calming down X's profanity which was starting to get on my nerves at this point. If you have Monica's "After the Storm" cd, you've heard this song already.
20. A'Yo Kato - This is the b-side of the "Where The Hood At" video and is produced by Swizz Beatz. This is an in-depth song about one of X's personal friends. A very nice listen.
21. Thank You - Surprising cameo by Patti LaBelle. I have mixed feelings about this one.
22. The Prayer V- Fittingly, the album closes with "The Prayer V." It's kind of ghetto sounding, but it's not my right to critique one of X's prayers.
23. On Top - A skippable bonus track that features Big Stan.
"Grand Champ," by DMX may not live up to its name but it is an improvement from the lackluster "The Great Depression." DMX, however, has lost his spark a little bit, and it may be time for him to leave the game for good. DMX focuses too much on trying to be too hard and forgets to make a good solid album from start to finish. The constant barking is getting old and not appealing to the fans anymore. But don't worry X, there is still plenty of movies for you to make if you get broke."
A Great CD to Close out a Wonderful Career!!!!
Jay | Detroit, Michigan | 11/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"DMX has made us cry, he's shared his pain with us, he's gotten us hype and he's been real with us. So its only fitting that his last CD be hot. This CD is not by any means a classic, but its hot. My favorite songs are "Where the Hood At", "We're Back", "We Go Hard" and "Don't Gotta Go Home". This CD also makes up for X's disappointing "The Great Depression" which lived it up to its name. As far as I'm concerned, X will never have another classic CD like he did with "Its Dark and Hell is Hot", but this CD is hot."

domain: artistic


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[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Objective
Low levels of IgM anti- phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) increase the risk of cardiovascular events (CVE). Here we investigate the association of low anti-PC with the progression of carotid intima media thickness (C-IMT) and incidence of CVE in a large cohort of individuals at high risk of CVE, the IMPROVE, a prospective multicenter European study.
3711 subjects (54-79 years) with at least three established cardiovascular risk factors were enrolled. Baseline serum levels of IgM anti-PC were measured by ELISA. Carotid ultrasound investigations were performed at baseline and after 15 and 30 months of follow-up. The risk of C-IMT progression and ischemic CVE associated with low anti-PC levels was tested by logistic regression and Cox regression analysis, respectively. Risk estimates were adjusted by center and conventional cardiovascular risk factors.
3670 study participants were included in the present analysis and 213 CVE were recorded during a 3 year follow up. Anti-PC levels (U/ml) were classified into quartiles [Q1≤ 40, Q2 >40-≤64, Q3 >64-≤102, Q4 >102]. In men, low levels of anti-PC (Q1) were associated with the highest (> 90th) percentile of the fastest C-IMT progression, i.e. the segment showing the fastest progression over 30 months in the whole carotid tree, with an OR of 1.41 (95%CI, 1.02-1.9) and with an increased risk of CVE with a multivariable adjusted HR of 1.85 (95%CI, 1.1-3.1). No significant associations were found in women.
Low anti-PC levels increase the risk of CVE in men. This effect may be partly mediated by a fast C-IMT progression.
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Background
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in tertiary care centers using the clinical records of patients enrolled in internal medicine departments.
Patients and methods
We used the clinical records of 1380 elderly patients to identify patients with a history of HF and CKD using admission ICD codes and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) formulas. Magnitude and strength of such associations were investigated by univariable and multivariable analysis.
Of the 1380 patients enrolled, 27.9% had HF (age 80 ± 7, BMI 27 ± 6 kg/m2) and 17.4% CKD (age 81 ± 7, BMI 26.8 ± 6 kg/m2). Both groups were significantly older (P < 0.0001) with BMI higher than the patients without those diagnosis (P < 0.02). Patients with a history of CKD showed higher non-fasting glycaemia (140 ± 86 vs. 125 ± 63 mg/dL, P < 0.001). CKD was significantly associated with HF (P < 0.0001). Patients with HF had an estimated GFR lower than patients without HF (P < 0.0001). Comorbidity and severity indices were significantly higher in subjects with HF (P < 0.0001) and CKD (P < 0.0001) than in those without. Multivariable analysis showed a significant association between HF and age (for five years increase OR 1.13, P < 0.009), BMI (for each 3 kg/m2 increase OR 1.15, P < 0.001), GFR (for each decrease of 10 mL/min increase OR 0.92, P < 0.002) and severity index (IS) (for each 0.25 units increase OR 1.43, P < 0.001).
HF on admission is strongly associated with CKD, older age, BMI, and SI. These data focus the value of epidemiological studies such REPOSI in identifying and monitoring multimorbidity in elderly.
European geriatric medicine 10/2014; · 0.55 Impact Factor
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Systemic inflammation and imbalance between endothelial injury and repair, the latter referred to as vascular incompetence, are associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. Psoriasis, an inflammatory disease of the skin, has been associated with atherosclerosis. We investigated whether, in psoriasis, inflammation and vascular incompetence are associated with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) irrespective of metabolic syndrome and other established cardiovascular risk factors.
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 06/2014; · 2.68 Impact Factor
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: The findings of studies investigating whether or not low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration promotes development of atherosclerosis have been contradictory. The present study employed a Mendelian randomisation approach and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), a surrogate marker of coronary artery disease, to address this question.
The multicentre, longitudinal Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and IMT-Progression as Predictors of Vascular Events in a High-Risk European Population (IMPROVE) cohort study, which enrolled individuals with at least three cardiovascular risk factors and no history or symptoms of cardiovascular disease, was used for the present investigation. Participants underwent carotid ultrasound examination at baseline and at months 15 and 30. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with serum 25(OH)D concentration in genome-wide association studies were identified and genotyped in 3,418 individuals, of whom 929 had type 2 diabetes.
SNPs in the genes encoding vitamin D binding protein (GC; rs2282679 and rs7041) and 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase/NAD synthetase-1 (DHCR7; rs12785878 and rs3829251) were negatively associated with 25(OH)D levels. Effect sizes and significance of associations between SNPs and 25(OH)D levels differed between individuals with and without type 2 diabetes, although no significant interactions were observed. A SNP in DHCR7 interacted with type 2 diabetes to significantly influence progression of cIMT measures independent of 25(OH)D levels and established risk factors. Expression analysis demonstrated that this SNP modulates DHCR7 mRNA levels in aortic adventitia.
SNPs in GC and DHCR7 were associated with serum levels of 25(OH)D, but only rs3829251 (DHCR7) influenced progression of subclinical atherosclerosis, as measured by cIMT, in a manner dependent on type 2 diabetes status but independent of 25(OH)D levels.
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Objective
Experimental studies have suggested that autoimmunity is involved in atherosclerosis and provided evidence that both protective and pro-atherogenic immune responses exist. This concept has received support from small clinical studies implicating autoantibodies directed against apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) in human atherosclerosis. We examined circulating autoantibodies directed against native and malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified epitope p210 of apoB-100 (IgG-p210nat and IgM-p210MDA) in relation to early atherosclerosis in a large, European longitudinal cohort study of healthy high-risk individuals.
Approach and results
IgG-p210nat and IgM-p210MDA were quantified in baseline plasma samples of 3430 participants in the IMPROVE study and related to composite and segment-specific measures of severity and rate of progression of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) determined at baseline and after 30 months. IgM-p210MDA autoantibody levels were independently related to several cIMT measures both in the common carotid artery and in the carotid bulb, including measures of cIMT progression, higher levels being associated with lower cIMT or slower cIMT progression. Consistent inverse relationships were also found between plasma levels of IgG-p210nat and baseline composite measures of cIMT. These associations disappeared when adjusting for established and emerging risk factors, and there were no associations with rate of cIMT progression besides in certain secondary stratified analyses.
The present study provides further evidence of involvement of autoantibodies against native and MDA-modified apoB-100 peptide 210 in cardiovascular disease in humans and demonstrates that these associations are present already at a subclinical stage of the disease.
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in cardiovascular disease and is associated with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. We investigated the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration in relation to latitude, baseline carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and IMT progression, the carotid IMT measures being surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease risk.
Serum 25(OH)D concentration was related to high-resolution carotid IMT measures in 3430 middle-aged and elderly subjects with high cardiovascular risk but no prevalent disease, who were recruited at 7 centers in Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, and Italy. Participants underwent carotid ultrasound examination at baseline and at months 15 and 30 after entry into the study, whereas blood samples, clinical data, and information about lifestyle were collected at baseline. Serum 25(OH)D levels were positively associated with latitude (Jonckheere-Terpstra χ=166.643; P<0.001) and, as previously reported, associated with a range of cardiovascular risk factors. There were no independent relationships between 25(OH)D and segment-specific or composite IMT measures in the entire cohort. In analyses stratified by sex, diabetes mellitus, and statin treatment, weak associations with some baseline and progression measures of carotid IMT were observed in males, diabetics, and nonstatin-treated individuals.
Levels of 25(OH)D differed across Europe, were highest in the North, showed multiple associations with established and emerging cardiovascular risk factors but were not consistently, independently related to measures of carotid IMT. This argues against a protective role of vitamin D against subclinical atherosclerosis in high-risk individuals.
Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 09/2013; · 6.34 Impact Factor
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are believed to play a role in promoting abnormal vascularization in neoplastic sites. We measured the number of circulating EPCs in treatment-naïve patients with early non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and healthy controls. The prospective influence of baseline and post-surgery EPC levels on cancer recurrence and survival was investigated.
Circulating EPCs were quantified by FACS analysis in 34 patients with Stage I-II NSCLC and 68 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Measurement of EPCs was repeated 48 h after thoracic surgery and at the hospital discharge. Cancer recurrence and survival was evaluated after 446 ± 106 days of follow-up (range 182-580 days).
The base 10 logarithmic [log] number of circulating EPCs was comparable between patients with NSCLC and controls [mean ± standard deviation (SD): 2.3 ± 0.32 vs 2.3 ± 0.26 n/ml, P = 0.776]. In regression analysis, smoking status [standardized coefficient beta (β) = -0.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) for B -0.29/-0.03, P = 0.014] and systolic blood pressure [β = -0.23, 95% CI for B -0.011/-0.001, P = 0.018] were independent predictors of the number of EPCs, irrespective of the NSCLC status. The mean number of EPCs did not change after surgical treatment. However, a post-surgery EPC increase was observed in 44% patients. Patients with a 48 h post-surgery EPC increase had a higher rate of cancer recurrence/death than patients with either stable or decreased post-surgery EPC levels [hazard ratio (HR) 4.4, 95% CI 1.1-17.3; P = 0.032], irrespective of confounders.
Circulating EPC levels are comparable between patients with early-stage NSCLC and healthy controls. Overall, surgical cancer resection was not associated with a significant early EPC change. However, an early post-surgery EPC increase is able to predict an increased risk of cancer recurrence and death.
European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery: official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery 07/2013; · 2.40 Impact Factor
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Statin therapy is followed by reductions in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, but a significant number of treated patients still have increased CIMT. We investigated whether on-treatment levels of CRP is associated with CIMT in hypercholesterolemic patients receiving statin therapy. The influence of blood pressure and anti-hypertensive therapy on the association between CRP and CIMT was evaluated.
Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors, CRP and CIMT was performed in a cross-sectional study of 240 hypercholesterolemic patients at intermediate cardiovascular risk under statin therapy; 125 patients received only a statin (Statin Group) and 115 also anti-hypertensive therapy (Combined Therapy Group).
Logarithmically transformed CRP (β=0.17, p=0.01) and HDL cholesterol levels (β=-0.27, p<0.001) were correlates of CIMT, irrespective of confounders. High CRP levels (>3 mg/L) were associated with a 2.7-fold increased risk of having high CIMT (>1.25 mm). High CIMT was present in a high percentage of patients not at target for cholesterol and blood pressure levels (61%). Patients in the Statin Group had lower Framingham risk and CIMT than those in the Combined Therapy Group. In the Statin Group, logarithmically transformed CRP (β=0.28, p=0.004) and HDL cholesterol (β=-0.21, p=0.03) were associated with CIMT. In the Combined Therapy Group, HDL cholesterol was the only significant CIMT correlate (β=-0.33, p=0.001).
On-treatment CRP and HDL cholesterol levels are associated with CIMT among hypercholesterolemic patients under statin therapy. In patients receiving both statin and anti-hypertensive therapy, HDL cholesterol remains the main covariate of CIMT.
Life sciences 07/2013; 93(8). · 2.56 Impact Factor
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: To investigate whether several different measures of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) progression are associated with subsequent vascular events and whether such associations are independent of baseline carotid atherosclerotic profile and Framingham risk factors.
A longitudinal cohort study (the IMPROVE study) was performed in 7 centers in 5 European countries (Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden). Three thousand four hundred eighty-two subjects (median age 64.1 years; 47.8% men) with ≥3 vascular risk factors were recruited and monitored for a postprogression median follow-up of 21.5 months, during which time 129 subjects experienced a first vascular event (incidence of 20.4 per 1000 person-years). The 15th month progression of mean and maximum carotid IMT of the left and right common carotids, bifurcations, internal carotid arteries, and their composite measures, as well as the fastest IMTmax progression (Fastest-IMTmax-progr) detected in the whole carotid tree regardless of location, were used in statistical analyses. All carotid IMT measures showed significant progression during the first 15 months (P<0.001), but only the Fastest-IMTmax-progr was significantly associated with the risk of subsequent vascular events. The Fastest-IMTmax-progr association persisted after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons and after adjustments for Framingham risk factors and pharmacological treatments (all P<0.005). The use of Framingham Risk Score in place of Framingham risk factors provided almost identical results (P=0.003).
The Fastest-IMTmax-progr, a novel approach to assess carotid IMT progression, identifies focal increases of carotid IMT and, in contrast to other progression variables, is associated with cardiovascular risk.
Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 07/2013; · 6.34 Impact Factor
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Background and aimsEctopic artery calcification has been documented in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, in whom an imbalance in the number of circulating osteoprogenitor cells (OPCs) has been identified. Circulating OPCs form calcified nodules in vitro; however, it remains unknown whether an association exists between the number of circulating OPCs and aortic calcifications. We investigated the relationship between OPCs and aortic calcifications in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.Methods and resultsThe number of circulating OPCs was quantified by FACS analysis in 50 osteoporotic postmenopausal women. OPCs were defined as CD15-/alkaline-phosphatase(AP)+ cells coexpressing or not CD34. Participants underwent measurement of markers of bone metabolism, bone mineral density and abdominal aortic calcium (AAC) by 64-slice computed tomography.Patients with AAC were older, had lower 25(OH)vitamin D levels and higher circulating CD15-/AP+/CD34- cells than those without AAC. Significant correlates of AAC included age (rho = 0.38 p = 0.006), calcium (rho = 0.35 p = 0.01), 25(OH)vitamin D (rho = −0.31, p = 0.03) and the number of CD15-/AP+/CD34- cells (rho = 0.55 p < 0.001). In regression analyses, the log-transformed number of CD15-/AP+/CD34- cells was associated with the presence (OR = 6.45, 95% CI 1.03–40.1, p = 0.04) and severity (β = 0.43, p < 0.001) of AAC, independent of age, 25(OH)vitamin D, calcium and other potential confounders. Patients with low 25(OH)vitamin D and high CD15-/AP+/CD34- cells had higher median AAC than other patients (1927/μL, 862–2714/μL vs 147/μL, 0–1665/μL, p = 0.003).Conclusion
In women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, the number of circulating CD15-/AP+/CD34- cells is significantly associated with increased aortic calcifications, that appear to be correlated also with reduced 25(OH)vitamin D levels.
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: To investigate the influence of the silent mutation c.816C > G (L272) of Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) and of apolipoprotein (APO) E alleles on cholesterol absorption markers, sitosterol and campesterol, in 87 patients with primary hyperlipidemias.
In all subjects genotyped for silent polymorphism in NPC1L1 gene c.816C > G (L272L) and for APO E polymorphism, campesterol and sitosterol were measured by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.
Thirty-eight patients carrying the G allele of NPC1L1 showed significantly greater concentrations (log values) of campesterol (1.86 ± 0.3 vs 1.61 ± 0.3 10(2) μmol/mmol cholesterol, p < .001) and sitosterol (2.03 ± 0.2 vs 1.94 ± 0.2 10(2) μmol/mmol cholesterol, P = .05). Patients with at least one E4 allele showed values of sitosterol greater than those carrying E3E3 or E3E2 (2.05 ± 0.2 10(2) μmol/mmol cholesterol vs 1.95 ± 0.2 10(2) μmol/mmol cholesterol, P = .004). The presence of the G allele (β = .379, P < 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = .242, P = .019) was an independent predictor of campesterol values (R of the model = 0.473, P < .001). The E4 allele (β = .293, P = .005) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = .311, P = .003) were independent predictors of sitosterol values (R 0.416, P of the model <.001).
In patients with hyperlipidemias, G allele of NPC1L1 and APO E4 could account for some of the inter-individual variability in cholesterol absorption.
Journal of Clinical Lipidology 03/2013; 7(2):147-52. · 3.59 Impact Factor
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Expansive remodelling is the process of compensatory arterial enlargement in response to atherosclerotic stimuli. The genetic determinants of this process are poorly characterized. METHODS: Genetic association analyses of inter-adventitial common carotid artery diameter (ICCAD) in the IMPROVE study (n = 3427) using the Illumina 200k Metabochip was performed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that met array-wide significance were taken forward for analysis in three further studies (n = 5704), and tested for association with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). RESULTS: rs3768445 on Chromosome 1q24.3, in a cluster of protein coding genes (DNM3, PIGC, C1orf105) was associated with larger ICCAD in the IMPROVE study. For each copy of the rare allele carried, ICCAD was on average 0.13 mm greater (95% CI 0.08-0.18 mm, P = 8.2 × 10(-8)). A proxy SNP (rs4916251, R(2) = 0.99) did not, however, show association with ICCAD in three follow-up studies (P for replication = 0.29). There was evidence of interaction between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and rs4916251 on ICCAD in two of the cohorts studies suggesting that it plays a role in the remodelling response to atherosclerosis. In meta-analysis of 5 case-control studies pooling data from 5007 cases and 43,630 controls, rs4916251 was associated with presence of AAA 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.17, p = 2.8 × 10(-3), I(2) = 18.8, Q = 0.30). A proxy SNP, rs4916251 was also associated with increased expression of PIGC in aortic tissue, suggesting that this may the mechanism by which this locus affects vascular remodelling. CONCLUSIONS: Common variation at 1q24.3 is associated with expansive vascular remodelling and risk of AAA. These findings support a hypothesis that pathways involved in systemic vascular remodelling play a role in AAA development.
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: -Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a widely accepted marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. To date, large-scale investigations of genetic determinants of cIMT are sparse. METHODS AND RESULTS: -In order to identify cIMT-associated genes and genetic variants, a discovery analysis using the Illumina 200K CardioMetabochip was conducted in 3,430 subjects with detailed ultrasonographic determinations of cIMT from the IMPROVE study. Segment-specific IMT measurements of common carotid (CC), bifurcation, and internal carotid arteries, and composite IMT variables considering the whole carotid tree (IMT(mean), IMT(max), and IMT(mean-max)), were analysed. A replication stage investigating 42 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for association with CC-IMT was undertaken in five independent European cohorts (total n=11,590). A locus on chromosome 16 (lead SNP rs4888378, intronic in CFDP1) was associated with cIMT at significance levels passing multiple-testing correction at both stages (array-wide significant discovery P=6.75x10(-7) for IMT(max); replication P=7.24x10(-6) for CC-IMT; adjustments for sex, age and population substructure where applicable; minor allele frequency 0.43 and 0.41, respectively). The protective minor allele was associated with lower carotid plaque score in a replication cohort (P=0.04, n=2120), and lower coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in two case-control studies of subjects with European ancestry (odds ratio [95%CI] 0.83 [0.77-0.90], P=6.53x10(-6); n=13,591, and 0.95 [0.92-0.98], P=1.83x10(-4), n=82,297, respectively). Queries of human biobank datasets (n=126-138) revealed associations of rs4888378 with nearby gene expression in vascular tissues. CONCLUSIONS: -This study identified rs4888378 in the BCAR1-CFDP1-TMEM170A locus as a novel genetic determinant of cIMT and CAD risk in individuals of European descent.
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Objectives – To compare the performance of several measures of carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) as predictors of cardiovascular events (CVEs), and to investigate whether they add to the predictive accuracy of Framingham risk factors (FRFs).
Background – Various markers of subclinical atherosclerosis have been identified as predictors of CVEs, but the most powerful variable is still under debate.
Method – A cohort study was carried out in 5 European countries. 3703 subjects (median age 64.4 years; 48% men) were followed-up for a median of 36.2 months, and 215 suffered a first CVE (incidence: 19.9/1000 person-years).
Results – All measures of C-IMT and the inter-adventitia common carotid artery diameter (ICCAD) were associated with the risk of CVEs, after adjustment for FRFs and therapies (all P<0.005). The average of 8 maximal IMT measurements (IMTmean-max), alone or combined with ICCAD, classified events and non-events better than the common carotid mean IMT (net reclassification improvement, NRI: +11.6% and +19.9%, respectively; both P<0.01). Compared to classification based on FRFs alone, the NRI resulting from the combination of FRFs+ICCAD+IMTmean-max was +12.1% (P<0.01). The presence of at least one plaque (maximum IMT>1.5 mm) performed significantly worse than composite IMTs which incorporated plaques (P<0.001). Adjusted Kaplan-Meier curves showed that individuals with a FRS=22.6% (cohort average), and both IMTmean-max and ICCAD above the median, had a 6.5% risk to develop a CVE over 3 years versus a 3.4% risk for those with the same FRS, and both IMTmean-max and ICCAD below the median.
Conclusions – A risk stratification strategy based on C-IMT and ICCAD as an adjunct to FRFs is a rational approach to prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology 09/2012; 60(16):1489-1499. · 15.34 Impact Factor
[Show abstract][Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Serum LDL conjugated diene concentration is a marker of oxidative modification of LDL. We investigated the relationship between LDL conjugated dienes and cross-sectional subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by carotid IMT in high-risk subjects of a multicenter study.
Serum LDL conjugated dienes and ultrasonographically assessed carotid intima-media thickness (IMT(mean), IMT(max) and IMT(mean-max)) were available for 553 subjects from Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
In multivariate regression analysis, gender (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (IMT(mean), p = 0.01; IMT(mean-max), p = 0.05) and serum LDL conjugated dienes (p = 0.02 for both IMT(mean) and IMT(mean-max)) were the strongest determinants of IMT variation, adjusted for study center, ultrasound videotape reader and serum LDL cholesterol. Pack-years of smoking, added into the regression model, did not destroy the significant association between increased serum LDL conjugated dienes and IMT. Ratio of LDL conjugated dienes to LDL particle cholesterol was higher in subjects of Northern recruiting centers than of Southern centers (r = 0.39, p < 0.0001).
There was a cross-sectional association between in vivo increased LDL oxidative modification and subclinical atherosclerosis after adjustment for traditional risk factors. The subjects in Northern countries of Europe had more oxidatively modified lipids per cholesterol in LDL particle than subjects in Southern countries.

domain: medical


Jammu, July 31: Police have booked a govt official in an alleged rape case reported from Rajouri district of Jammu region. Police have launched massive manhunt to nab the alleged rapist who has been absconding arrest till date.
According to Rajouri Police, following complaint of a rape victim a widow (name withheld) lodged with Rajouri Police, alleging therein that an employee of Health Department has committed a rape with her during late evening hours on Friday.”
According a case stands registered against employee of Health Department accused identified as Azam Hussain Shah s/o Nissar Shah resident of Darhali Morh in case FIR No.498/16 u/s 376 (punishment for rape) & 511 RPC.
Meanwhile police also got the rape victim medically examined at nearby government hospital and other after legal formalities. “Police have also launched to nab the rape accused who went missing after committing the crime.


BSJV honours company veterans
| Danial Norjidi |
THE four Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) companies last night honoured 263 of their employees at an annual appreciation dinner at The Empire Hotel and Country Club.
These employees, according to a press statement from Brunei Shell Petroleum Company (BSP), represent personnel from BSP, Brunei LNG, Brunei Shell Marketing and Brunei Gas Carriers/Brunei Shell Tankers.
The appreciation dinner saw the attendance of Dato Paduka Awang Hj Bahrin bin Abdullah, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Acting Chairman of the BSJV Companies, as the guest of honour.
Dato Paduka Awg Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance, presenting a Long Service Emblem to a recipient as Ken Marnoch, BSP Managing Director, looks on
Also present were Awang Haji Azhar bin Haji Yahya, Permanent Secretary (Upstream), the Energy Department at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as other members of the BSJV Board of Directors, senior government officials and senior management representatives from the four BSJV companies.
Ken Marnoch, the BSP Managing Director in a welcoming speech, said, “Between the 263 recipients, they have more than 7,800 years of service and experience in Brunei and elsewhere in Shell, making the Brunei Shell Joint Venture Companies truly world-class.
“Tonight is a night of recognition for you (recipients),” he said. “All the many achievements in the companies are possible thanks to you (recipients).”
He underlined that every recipient in the room last night is a testament to Brunei Shell’s investment in their people, and that they are proud of the fact that, today, there are BSP sponsored students studying abroad.
BSJV, he said, has been an advocate of supporting Brunei’s Vision 2035 aspiration in developing people’s capacity through creating and sponsoring numerous education and vocational programmes in addition to boosting local enterprise development.
A dance performed during the BSJV annual appreciation dinner. PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
Moving on, he said, “We have turned Brunei into a hotbed of new oil and gas technology like the snake well and SMART well, and talented Bruneians have had a hand in creating this technology.”
He described Brunei as a prime example of how Shell has a long history of working with governments for the benefit of their respective nations.
The highlight of last night’s appreciation dinner was the presentation itself of long service emblems to the recipients.
Of the employees, two received 40-year service awards, namely IT design planning engineer Gerald John Simons and drilling well intervention supervisor Daud bin Bujang, while around 50 received 35-year service awards.
Thirty-year service awards were also presented to 150 employees, while another 60 received awards for 25 years of service.
Among the night’s activities were a get-together, live performances, lucky draws and a speech by the representative of long-service emblem recipients.


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Zabbai personally invites you to the Into The Depths concert and play on Aug 5 in Fairfield, CT at the Black Rock Church at 6:30pm.
Performances from StackZion's upcoming project, "Project Z". Features including Counted, Voice the Poet, Franky Bells, Kenny Sullivan, Dance Like David, and many more! You don't want to miss the event of the summer!
Learn more about Zabbai at www.IAmZabbai.com


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In past blog posts and mailed newsletters, we have discussed the dangers that tires can pose if not regularly maintained. Weather, road, and other conditions can have a tremendous effect on the lifespan and safety of a tire. Because this is the only part of your vehicle separating yourself and the roadway, it is important that we use caution in regards to tire safety. Even the slightest pot hole or item being run over by a tire can lead to tread separation or a blowout.
In May, the National Traffic Safety Board announced the commencement of an investigation specializing in the area of tire safety. This study was prompted after crashes that occurred in February were said to have been caused by tire failure. It’s all too often that we hear about a vehicle’s tires ceasing to function correctly, causing wrecks that take innocent lives. Perhaps the most common crashes as a result of tire failure occur in SUVs because they are prone to rollovers as a result of tire failure. The specific focus of the NTSB’s investigation on tires will be whether or not there’s a specific age at which a tire becomes unreliable. The numbers support this suggestion: of the 400 annual deaths related to tire failure, over half were found to have been caused by the tire’s high age.
Perhaps the solution to this issue is to require tire inspections after so many years of life. Unfortunately, select companies and associations do not support this proposal, even though most dealers and service centers recommend replacing tires after six to ten years of use. Perhaps this investigation by the NTSB will reveal a greater insight to the issues of aged tire dangers.
In addition to aging, there are a variety of potentially faulty tire issues that could result in an accident. In an effort to make tires last safely as long as possible, you should have them balanced, aligned, and rotated according to the schedule within your owner’s manual. Check your tire pressure after drastic weather changes or after hitting potholes in Georgia roadways. Driving with low tire pressure can be very dangerous. When you get a new set of tires, take a good look at how they appear. As the months or years pass, it is helpful to regularly study the tread and made sure that it is not wearing in an odd manner or unevenly (compared to when first installed). It is helpful to register your tires with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as they will send email alerts to notify you of safety issues or recalls that affect your specific set of tires.
As car wreck lawyers, we see numerous causes of auto accidents every day. Unfortunately, tire defects are not an unusual cause of a crash. In the event that a tire separation or blowout caused an injury to you or loved ones in a crash, the manufacturer or installer may be held liable. For more information on your legal rights, contact our law firm today at (770) 427-5498.


The metro rail authority further said that the trains will commence from 8 am (as is the present practice) on Sunday from both ends. However, the last train service from both ends will start at 10 pm (instead of present 11 pm).
Is Delhi Metro running on Sunday?
Metro services on the Badarpur – Escorts Mujesar (Faridabad) section of the Delhi Metro will start from 8 AM only on Sundays, with effect from next Sunday, i.e, 13th September, 2015. Generally, the Metro services on all corridors of the Delhi Metro network begin from 6 AM in the morning on all days of the week.
At what time does Metro start in Delhi?
Delhi Metro Timings. The Delhi Metro is a metro system serving Delhi and its satellite cities of Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad in National Capital Region in India. Services on the Delhi Metro and Airport Express line will open earlier in the mornings and its is starts at 5:30 am to 11:30 pm.
Is Metro closed today in Delhi?
Two of the Metro stations – Patel Chowk and Race Course, were opened at 2.14 PM. The entry and exit to the Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan Metro stations remain closed as directed by the Delhi Police.
Does Delhi Metro run 24 hours?
The Metro trains run from 6 A.M. in the morning till 11 P.M. in the night when the last service starts from Dilshad Garden and Rithala respectively. Metro trains are available at a frequency of 3.30 minutes during peak time.
Is tomorrow Metro closed in Delhi?
Delhi Metro: Three Stations of Yellow Line To Remain Shut for Public from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Tomorrow. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday said that three Metro stations of Yellow Line namely, Vishwavidyalaya, Civil Lines, and Vidhan Sabha will remain closed. … 2021 (Saturday),” DMRC annoucned on Friday.
What is the last metro time in Delhi?
Last Train Time
|Last Metro From Dilshad Garden|
|Towards Anand Vihar||22:30 Hrs|
|Towards Jahangirpuri||23:00 Hrs|
|Towards Noida City Centre||22:00 Hrs|
|Towards Rithala||22:48 Hrs|
Which metro lines are open in Delhi?
Lines Opening Details
- Line-1 ( Red Line ) Line 1 (Dilshad Garden – Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda)) – Red Line. …
- Line-2 ( Yellow Line ) Line 2 ( HUDA City Centre – Samaypur Badli ) – Yellow Line. …
- Line-3 ( Blue Line ) Line 3 (Dwarka Sector 21 – Noida Electronic City) – Blue Line. …
- Line-6 ( Violet Line )
Which is the fastest metro line in Delhi?
If all goes according to plan, Dwarka and Gurgaon residents would be riding the fastest Metro by 2016. The proposed line, an extension of the Airport Express network, will connect Dwarka’s Sector-21 with Iffco Chowk in Gurgaon.
How can I reach Indira Gandhi airport by metro?
Presently, commuters can reach the IGI Airport terminals by taking the Airport Express Line (Orange Line) of the Delhi Metro which passes through six metro stations from New Delhi Railway Station to Dwarka Sector 21 and vice-versa.


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One year after the landmark victory against the government of Kenya, the Indigenous Ogiek Peoples will come together on May 26 to reflect on the lessons learnt and groom support to make the next steps successful.
OPDP strengthens capacities of Africa’s IPs rights advocates
Wednesday, 13th December 2017
ILC Africa member, Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program (OPDP) held a workshop in Arusha, Tanzania on October 2-4 to strengthen the capacity of Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) organisations in Africa to advocate for the implementation of Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanisms and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Governments working with private and public stakeholders to improve land governance in Africa
Thursday, 23rd November 2017
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 13 November 2017- Multi-stakeholders platforms (MSP) bringing together civil society organisations (CSOs), private sector, governments, and UN agencies are essential in securing land rights and achieving development in Africa. The collaborative nature of these platforms has great potential for synergising ideas and finding common ground on land issues. MSP appears to be a recommendation of regional, continental and international normative frameworks on land tenure, including the Frameworks and Guidelines on Land Governance in Africa (F&Gs), the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
MRG and OPDP worried about the flawed implementation of African Court’s Ogiek judgment
Monday, 20th November 2017
Minority Rights Group International (MRG) and Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program (OPDP), ILC members, express their concern about the newly formed Kenyan government Task Force on the implementation of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights judgment regarding the case of the indigenous Ogiek people.
Time for effective land governance at country levels
Sunday, 20th August 2017
Customary laws have blocked women and youth from land ownership for far too long in Africa. Land Commissions in the continent have promised reforms to advance land rights for vulnerable groups and communities.


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HMRC have a penalty regime for Tax Returns which results in a taxpayer facing penalties if they are submitted after the deadline.
Previously a penalty of £100 was issued if a Tax return was not filed on time and this was followed by a further £100 penalty if it was not filed six months after the due date. These penalties were capped at the level of tax due at the filing date. If a taxpayer had no liability for the year, had paid all their tax on time or was due a repayment the penalties were reduced to nil.
The new sanctions are as follows:-
- Day one late: an initial penalty of £100.
- Three months late: an automatic penalty of £10 a day up to a maximum of £900.
- Six months late: further penalties will be charged of the greater of 5% of the tax due or £300.
- Twelve months late: the penalty will be the greater of 5% of the tax due or £300. In serious cases, a higher penalty of up to 100% of the tax due will be charged.
All of the above penalties apply even if there is no tax due or all tax has been paid on time.
As well as late filing penalties interest will run on any late payment of tax and the following surcharges for late paid tax apply:-
Thirty days late - 5% of the tax unpaid at that date
Six months late - A further 5% of the tax unpaid at that date
Twelve months late - A further 5% of the tax unpaid at that date
For more information on penalties or tax in general contact Stuart Shaw CTA via email firstname.lastname@example.org or 01622 758257.
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domain: law


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It’s Opening Day for the Orioles and major-league baseball today, not to be confused with Opening Night, the made-for-TV event that gets an ESPN2 slot behind the Women’s Final Four on the big channel.
We all have our predictions on how the season with go for the Orioles (mine is 75 wins), but today is a day to remember how much enjoyment the game brings to us each spring when the records are 0-0, and how much we all look forward to the start of Ravens training camp by mid-June once the record is well south of .500.
Maybe the Orioles can do what the Ravens did a year ago — exceed expectations and make a run to the playoffs. But the Birds don’t have Joe Flacco in the starting rotation, Orioles skipper Dave Trembley will never be mistaken for John Harbaugh and Ray Lewis won’t be doing his pregame dance down the orange carpet.
Still it’s nice to see the white home jerseys, the orange and black bunting around the park, and fellow Mt. St. Joe grad Mark Teixeira in the lineup. Unfortunately for Birds fans, he’ll be doing his damage in a Yankee cap, instead of an Oriole one. I’m sure Mark will feel at home with the cheers of thousands of Yankee fans who will invade Camden Yards for the series — since they can’t afford nosebleed tickets in the new Yankee Stadium.
Yes, it’s Opening Day with great memories of trips to the ballpark with family and friends watching the stars of today and tomorrow and the hopes of posteseason games in October. Regardless of the reality that the 2009 season brings to the Orioles, we can all celebrate those timeless traditions for one day before getting back to wondering who the Ravens will draft in the first round.

domain: news


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Pet of the Week: Cacao
Introducing Cacao! He’s a collie-Great Pyrenees mix who is ready to meet his forever family. Cacao still needs to be neutered before he goes to his new home, but he is up-to-date on shots. A fun fact about Cacao – he knows a few tricks! Call the Humane Society of the Black Hills at 605-394-4170 to adopt him!

domain: pet


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As we all know earlier use of drones was mainly limited to military purposes such as for patrolling, tracking of terrorist locations, or impediment of mishaps. But, it has always generated a sense of curiosity in the young minds to use such a device and experience a pilot-like feel. With such curiosity and keeping the general public in mind, the birth of drones for civilians took place. Several companies working tirelessly to fulfill the demands of the public and all thanks to ever-growing technology.
With the help of drones, it has become possible to takes pictures and videos of things that are not even our sight. And even if you want to capture beautiful scenery right in front of you, you’ll be amazed to see the difference in the pictures taken from the sky and from the ground. The view from few feet above the ground seems more magnificent. Therefore, drones are gaining rapid popularity among people because people want to experience things beyond their sight or from the sky.
Drones are also known as Automated Aircraft Vehicle(UAV) and are equipped with automated, elevated hardware, ground-based regulators, and corresponding hardware. They are mainly used by people who have a keen interest in taking pictures or are vloggers, hobby filmmakers, people working in travel organizations, digital nomads, etc.
Although most people want to possess a drone to fulfill their needs, most of the drones that we see in the market, cost a lot. It is not easy for everyone to afford one. Even if they go for something in their budget, they find it to be made up of cheaper quality materials that are not sturdy for longer use. But, people would prefer to buy a drone which is sturdy and can be used in harsh location too so that it doesn’t shatter into pieces if it falls off by mistake.
Today we will review a drone that claims to be pocket-friendly with long battery life and has HD quality camera features. The name of that drone is Drone X Pro. Let’s find out in detail, if it really stands up to what it claims and whether you can go for it or not.
What is Drone X Pro?
Drone X Pro is one of a kind of drone that is portable, lightweight, and foldable 3 speed-quadcopter. It consists of a 12-megapixel camera with 720p HD resolution and a viewing range of 120 degrees. Remote control has 2 joysticks to direct the flow of the drone.
It is also equipped with a gravity sensor which provides it safety from obstacles. Suitable software is embedded in it, which uses advanced algorithms to lose its stability irrespective of weather conditions. It allows the drone to move through narrow or enclosed spaces safely.
What comes in the Drone X Pro Box?
The product comes with following essentials:
- 4 spare propeller blades
- A bag to store it
- A screwdriver for fixing propeller blades
- A USB cable for charging
- A 3.7V battery
- User Manual for instructions
How do Drone X Pro works?
The design of the Drone X Pro is simple. It consists of 4 propeller blades that are needed to be fixed with the help of the screwdriver provided. Once the blades are attached, it becomes ready to take swift movements in the sky. The package also provides the user manual for step-by-step instructions. It is advisable to go through it once before flying the drone to cut the possibility of damaging it.
To operate the device you can either use the remote control provided or you can either do that with the help of your smartphone. If you connect it to your smartphone, you can get the advantage of tracking the drone position efficiently. Once you press the start button on the given remote or on your smartphone it will start launching it into the air. The direction of the flow can be given with the joysticks. It can go up to the height of 70 to 80 meters and fly for 15 minutes in one go.
With the help of a wide-angled camera, you can take 360-degree shots or panoramic shots. The wings of the drones are sturdy enough to resist the wind and maintain stability when taking pictures. The flexibility in the design makes it suitable to work for all kinds of locations irrespective of circumstances.
- Drone X Pro is equipped with a 12 Megapixel camera: The 12-megapixel camera with 720p resolution helps get high picture quality which is crisp and clear.
- Flight Time: Drone X Pro can give up to 15 mins a flight time with a single charge, which is quite amazing. It takes around 70 mins to charge it to full capacity. If you want to enjoy more flight time, then you can get some more batteries. With the help of spare batteries, you can replace the empty one and fly the drone again.
- Stability: It has the ability to maintain its stability even in wind or rain. It makes it suitable for harsh locations too.
- Compatibility: This device is suitable to use with both Android and iOS versions. This means you do not have to possess any particular smartphone to control your drone.
- Sturdy: The materials used in the development of this drone are made up of high quality that is unbreakable and will last longer.
- Easy to Control: To control the device is no rocket science and can be done by almost anyone with little experience.
- Portable: The drone is foldable and lightweight, easy to carry on your adventure trips or outings.
Advantages and Disadvantages
- It is quite affordable with no compromise on quality.
- It has an inbuilt gravity sensor that protects it from a collision with obstacles on the ground.
- It comes in 2 variations in terms of camera resolution. One is 720 p HD resolution and another is 1080p HD resolution. You can choose anyone according to your budget and requirements.
- It is equipped with LED light for taking pictures in the dark.
- Hardware is made up of high-quality materials which make sure that the product is sturdy and does not get damaged easily.
- The stability features allow you to use it irrespective of weather conditions.
- You can roll it over to get 360-degree viewing.
- It will not get lost as the remote control has a button to return it back to you. It makes sure that your drone doesn’t get lost.
- It has 3-speed variations which help in controlling the speed.
- It can be bought online only and you will not find it in any retail stores.
- Some users are unsatisfied with their flight time.
- Supplies are limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the maximum height it can reach?
Drone X Pro can fly up to the height of 150 feet from the ground. You can control the height with the help of remote control.
2. What is the weight of Drone X Pro?
It weighs 360 grams which can be easily held and carries anywhere you want.
3. How to set up Drone X Pro?
Follow the following steps to set up the drone:
- Once unboxed, charge it for 60-70 mins.
- Open the instruction manual and scan the given QR code.
- It will take you to the app. Install it and complete the setup.
- Now with the help of instructions in the user manual, you can start the flight.
4. How can I maintain the device?
No matter what brand you buy, it is important to take care of it to increase its life. You can clean the device with the help of a smooth cloth and chemical cleaner.
5. When can I replace the device?
If you receive the defective piece or the propellers are broken, you can then replace the product.
Where to Purchase the Product?
The product can be best bought on its official website i.e https://www.dronexpro.pro/. It will make sure that you don’t fall into the hands of scammers who may sell you the exact-looking product at cheaper prices. Purchasing it from the official website will give you the assurance that you get the product you deserve. Also, the company is running a discount offer of 50% on its product at the moment. Therefore, if you buy it right now, you will save a lot more money.
Closing Thoughts on the Product
We recommend definitely go for the product without much thought. For such affordable pricing and great quality, if you can avail the benefit of flying the drone, then you must fulfill your dream to experience it. It is flying off the table quite rapidly as the popularity of the device is growing at a rapid pace.
For beginners too, this device is easy to use and set up. You don’t need any previous knowledge to fly it. If you are someone who is passionate about getting pictures and videos of high quality and from many angles, then this device is for you. It is an easily storable device due to its foldable blades and lightweight. And the sleek and smart design will encourage you to use it often.

domain: hobby


BF Goodrich Tyres
Originating in the United States, BF Goodrich has been making vehicle tyres for well over one hundred years, and are known for their longevity and hardwearing properties. In fact, the first car to ever travel coast to coast from east to west in the United States in 1903 was fitted with BF Goodrich tyres.
As well as producing tyres for trucks and heavy machinery, today BF Goodrich has a strong focus on off-road and all-terrain tyres with its flagship Mud-Terrain T/A which can handle even the toughest terrains and surfaces thanks to its unique biting tread design and tough exterior that shields against sharp objects.
BF Goodrich also has a history of success in motorsport with the winners of some of the world’s most famous cross country rallies being fitted with BF Goodrich tyres including the Baja 1000 and the Dakar Rally on numerous occasions. These are widely considered to be some of the most dangerous motorsport events in the world today and those who take part would agree that it’s important to have tyres you can trust fitted to your vehicle. It’s reassuring to know then that BF Goodrich’s 4x4 tyres possess the same levels of grip and performance as its competition tyres.
At Kwik Fit we stock all-terrain tyres from BF Goodrich for 4x4s, light trucks and pickups where the intended usage is generally for off-roading but with occasional on-road use. BF Goodrich tyres are perfect for rocky or muddy roads, steep inclines or sand dunes, or generally overcoming obstacles when you’re going off the beaten track.


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MELLIZAS, Southern Zone – The fire in the 100-year-old roaster is still burning as Roberto Montero scoops up a cupful of beans from the sack. The grinder roars to life, and Montero, the owner of Hacienda La Amistad, empties the beans into the funnel. The grinds fall directly into his hand as he examines the grain size, which is not quite right. He turns it off, then on again.
This time, he is satisfied as they empty into his cupped hand. He takes a pinch of grinds and pops them into his mouth to test the season’s first batch of roasted coffee.He is content.
Two employees grind the remaining 20 pounds and vacuum-seal each 3.5-pound bag for consumption at the farm and guest lodge.
It does not get any fresher than this.
Tucked away in the highlands near the border with Panama, Hacienda La Amistad is the largest certified-organic coffee producer in Costa Rica, according to Holland-based agriculture certifier Control Union. The 200 hectares of organic coffee lie among 10,000 hectares of primary forest, nature reserve and watershed territory owned by the Montero-Zeledón family since the early 1940s.
“It’s the perfect place for growing coffee,” Montero says. “Our product is completely balanced, balanced by nature.”
A New Season
The 2007-2008 harvest has begun. This year, Montero says, Hacienda La Amistad will produce roughly 500,000 pounds of organic coffee, 60% of which he will send to the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. The 27 families that grow under the Hacienda La Amistad brand will cultivate another 250,000 pounds of conventional crop.
After two weeks of picking,Montero and his crew have already sent a shipment of 37,500 pounds – about 285 60-kilogram bags, of unroasted organic coffee to Costa Rica’s Café Britt.
This weekend, he was lucky to get the shipment out from this secluded mountain town. The road from the plantation in Mellizas to San Vito is a soggy mess. Recent weeks of torrential rains have turned it into one continuous, goopy pothole. For any chance of getting there, one must find a taxi driver with a 4×4 who is willing to traverse the 25-km-long gauntlet of slow-moving transport vehicles. It happens to be the only access to the outside world for most of the coffee farmers in the area.
The rain has affected more than the road. Plantation workers and Montero have been on edge during the first few weeks of the season, curious about how the plants would fare. When the coffee fruit is saturated, it splits and falls from the plant, getting lost in the ground cover.
“To be honest, I was worried about this year because of all the rain,”Montero says.
He says although they have already lost a small percentage of the crop to water damage, he is impressed with the quality and taste of the early crop. He credits the fast-working pickers for saving some areas.
About half of the more than 200 pickers have arrived, the majority being Ngöbe- Buglé indigenous, who come from Bocas del Toro, Panama. Montero has developed close relationships with the indigenous Panamanian pickers over the years. He commends their ability to work diligently in any conditions.
Overall, there is a general consensus about the quality of the crop so far: good, but it will get better.
“Coffee is like wine,”Montero says.“Each year is different.”
Organic vs. Conventional
Becoming the largest certified-organic coffee producer in the country doesn’t happen over night. Certifiers scrutinize every aspect of plantation operations before consideration.
It took Hacienda La Amistad four years.
Montero says the idea to go organic came out of the low-cost coffee crisis of the late 1980s. He wanted to try something new.
He was tired of the chemicals killing so many bugs, plants and even small animals and harming the surrounding forests. He decided to integrate the coffee with the forest on his land.
“I knew that these two things (coffee and animals) could live together,” he says.
It was basically trial and error, because there were no books or manuals on how to go organic 18 years ago. So he decided to bring back methods his father and grandfather used before they had chemicals.
Because the focus at La Amistad is on sustainability, Montero has simply reintroduced natural cycles for coffee growing. The use of nitrogen-fixing trees, such as banana trees, legumes and surrounding forest as shade, and trimming the ground cover to use for mulch have made the soils in the coffee fields more fertile.
The sustainable practices go beyond the rows of coffee plants. During the entire process, from washing the fruit to roasting the final product, Hacienda La Amistad uses all the leftovers. Coffee tree trimmings fuel the fire for the 100-year-old bean dryers and Montero says water drained from the washing process is so rich in nutrients, it is used for composting.
La Amistad´s Future
Even though some may say his farming methods are old-fashioned, Montero also embraces trends in coffee farming.With the industry turning toward quality over quantity of coffee, he says the specialty coffee growers are setting the market standards.
“We survive because we have quality, not just coffee,” he says. “You’ve got to have something special.”
In addition to planting a few more hectares of coffee, he has invested in the fruit dehydration business. He has begun drying the organic bananas from the trees that serve as shade for the coffee plants.
The family is also planning to create a foundation to help the Costa Rican government protect primary forest in La Amistad International Park that crosses the border into Panama.
Building upon his sustainability practices, Montero says he hopes to be certified carbonneutral by early December. He jokes that ultimately the farm could shut its gates and be completely self-sufficient if he were able to convert his transport vehicles to bio-diesel.
Asked if he would ever sell the plantation, Montero says he would never even consider putting a price tag on it.
“I don’t want to change this life for money in the bank,” he says. “This is my heart. Even if I didn’t have much money, I would do something. This is a way of life.”
– Costa Rica Coffee Picking season: October-March.
– In 2006, the world consumed an estimated 120.39 million 60-kg bags of coffee, according to the international Coffee Organization’s October 2007 Coffee Market Report. That’s an increase of 2% from 2005. At the current rate of growth, the world will consume more than 122 million bags of coffee in 2007.
– Costa Rica exported 36,374 bags of coffee in September 2007. The country exported more than 1.3 million bags of coffee between October 2006 and September 2007, a 1.15% increase from 2005-2006.
Source: International Coffee Organization
Four Generations of La Amistad Coffee
1889 – Juan Zeledón (great grandfather) settles the Acosta region as a coffee grower.
1941 – Costa Rica and Panama reach a border agreement, which was negotiated by Jorge Zeledón Castro, Roberto Montero’s grandfather.
Early 1940s – Zeledón Castro homesteads land in the border highlands near San Vito and founds Hacienda La Amistad as a shade-grown coffee farm. A portion of the estate was set aside for 27 families who produced coffee under the Hacienda La Amistad trademark and eventually built their own farms. Most of them still reside in Mellizas, working their own land or working at the Montero plantation.
1990 – Roberto Montero assumes sole ownership of Hacienda La Amistad coffee estate after buying out his siblings’ shares.
1993 – Hacienda La Amistad is certified organic by Skal International (now Control Union World Group) and becomes one of the first farms of its type in Costa Rica.

domain: agronomy


The Dimorus system is comprised of two worlds in orbit of a Class-F star. Legends say that during the Sundering, a sword created by the great Vulcan weaponssmith S'harien was lost on Dimorus II during a battle between two noble houses. The winners of that battle went on to be the first rulers of Romulus.
The Romulan military has named the orbital space station here "S'harien" to honor the swordsmith.
- While the Dimorus System is still present in system space, it is no longer featured in any official mission as S'harien Station was removed from the game as part of the Romulan Mystery-revamp. Gasko Station partially assumed its role as Borg-research site for the Tal Shiar.
- Relocated with release of Season Ten: The Iconian War on April 21, 2015 from Tarod Sector to Dimorus Sector.
Romulan Star Empire (25th century)
|Details||Romulan Star Empire (25th century) • Romulan • Reman • Hirogen • Rator III • Gasko Station • Tal Shiar • Romulan History|
|Ground Forces||Romulan Analyst • Technician • Recruit (Romulan) • Uhlan • Sublieutenant Medic • Centurion • Centurion Engineer • Centurion Medic • Centurion Scientist • Subcommander • Subcommander Engineer • Subcommander Scientist • Commander • Romulan Captain|
|Starships||Romulan Shuttle • Scorpion Fighter • T'varo Light Warbird • Mogai Heavy Warbird • D'deridex Battlecruiser • Scimitar Dreadnought|
|NPCs||Arranhu • Charva • Hakeev • Janek • Khaiel N'Vek • Khiana • Ruul • Sela • Taris • Tarsen|
|NPC starships||I.R.W. Aethra • I.R.W. Areinnye • I.R.W. Esemar • I.R.W. Falcata • I.R.W. Khnial • I.R.W. Leahval • I.R.W. Rea • Sela's Armed Freighter • I.R.W. Sithesh|


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Cheek piercings have become popular recently but they are actually a lot more complicated to heal than normal piercings as there are a lot of different bodily structures in the area.
Problems and Issues
Tooth damage: Due to the way these piercings sit tooth damage is a big concern. They can cause chipped teeth or even gum and teeth erosion – permanent damage that cannot be fixed by a dentist.
How to help: The best way to help this is to get pierced with PTFE Labrets which are lighter, more flexible and have a flat back plate, helping to reduce tooth damage and problems.
Long healing time: Cheek piercings take a long time to heal. They can take between 1 and 3 years to fully heal and may need nursing on and off through this. A longer healing time often means a higher risk of complications such as bumps, scarring or infections.
How to help:
- Having a good piercer who can give you a good placement.
- Gentle non-invasive cleaning with saline soaks
- Regular downsizing of jewellery to reduce bar length.
- Not fiddling with the jewellery
- Taking a multivitamin to help support your body as it heals.
Swelling: Cheek piercings can remain swollen for a couple of weeks and even continue to swell on and off throughout the first few months of healing time.
How to help: Treat the swelling as soon as it appears and continue to do so until it is no longer visible using icy drinks, frozen foods, chamomile tea, arnica herbal supplements and anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen (as long as you are medically able to).
Avoiding irritating the piercing with hot spicy food, make up, facial products or playing with the jewellery can also help.
Permanent Scarring: The scarring from cheek piercings is considered more severe than normal as they are likely to leave permanent dimples on your face. The longer healing times and type of tissue in the area also makes the piercing more prone to more obvious ‘regular’ scarring too such as deep red marks or bumpy white tissue.
How to help: Its important to consider, before getting pierced, how scarring on your face may effect you. Some scarring may be reduced by regular oil massages with an appropriate oil.
Cysts: Cheek piercings are prone to reoccurring cysts. These usually start with a hard marble sized lump underneath the skin and progress into raised, flaky, lumps on the face. These lumps are sacks of fluid which frequently pop and can easily become infected (More information on cysts can be found here).
How to help: There area few things you can to do help avoid cysts:
- First make sure the jewellery your piercer is about to use is long enough.
- Next make sure that your jewellery is downsized slowly to allow for swelling.
- Don’t have them placed past the first molar. This increases your risk of interrupting a saliva duct.
Leaking: Minor salivary ducts run very close to where this piercing is placed and can end up being pierced through or blocked. This can cause your body to redirect the flow of saliva out the piercing hole instead of into your mouth, meaning your piercing will leak liquid.
How to help: This isn’t a particularly common side-effect of cheek piercing but it can happen to some. The best way to avoid this problem is to not allow yourself to be pierced beyond the first molar where there are more ducts. If you notice the problem then you should remove the jewellery and allow the piercing to heal over.
There are alternatives to the cheek piercing and these come in the form of little implants or ‘anchors’ known as skin divers and microdermals which sit in a little pocket of skin rather than going all the way through so do not go deep enough to cause trouble inside the mouth.
However it is worth mentioning that they are not perfect can be prone to rejection (‘coming out’) due to movement in the area. However any scarring from them tends to be much smaller.
An example of Skin Diver cheek placement by Denise Wiltshire from Transfix Piercing.


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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - The Housing Authority of the City of El Paso hit a big milestone this week as it relocated thousands of its residents into a new facility. HACEP completed 2,000 moves on Tuesday.
HACEP is the first and largest housing authority in the U.S. to pursue the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program, also known as RAD.
RAD was launched by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, with the goal of revitalizing and reconstructing affordable housing all across the country.
HACEP’s CEO, Gerald Cichon says by the end of RAD in 2020, more than 6,100 apartment units will be renovated or reconstructed in 40 communities throughout the Sun City.
According to HACEP officials, the renovations will cost $1.3 billion.
The agency currently helps 40,000 El Pasoans. "There's a lot of work in moving 6,000 people. Each person has their own specific need -- whether it be if you don't have a car and you have to get to work in the morning, whether it's you have a child who has special needs and you have to go to a special school or a special teacher," said Cichon.
Cichon says there are still 8,000 more moves to complete.


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So, one of the first things that comes to mind when one thinks “steampunk” might be “airships”. So, how big of a deal were airships actually in Victorian times?
Well, to discuss that, let’s build up some context first. Hopefully this isn’t too boring/repetitive, but well… I feel the need to set the stage.
Humans have been fascinated with flight since pretty much the beginning of recorded history. Consider the tales such as that of Icarus from Greek mythology. One might say that people have always been envious of the freedom that birds have and they lack.
Over human history, many tried to achieve flight. Many jumped from towers, while others designed contraptions inspired by birds. I haven’t found particularly solid sources on this right now, but it’s said that in ancient China, kites capable of carrying people were used.
Turns out things really blew up (so to speak) close to 55 years before Queen Victoria took the throne of the United Kingdom. That is to say… the first case of lighter-than-air methods carrying humans aloft however, was that of the Montgolfier brothers’ balloon in France, which in October 1783 flew with people aboard.
The Montgolfier brothers certainly weren’t the only ones interested however. The air was an exciting new frontier for humankind after all! Apparently in August 1784, just the next year, a fellow by the name of James Tytler was the first in Britain to ascend, beating his rival Vincenzo Lunardi by a mere month.
The next year, in 1785, a fellow by the name of Jean-Pierre Blanchard crossed the English Channel in a balloon. (Sure seems people like using the crossing of the English Channel as a milestone, eh?)
Vincenzo Lunardi, though not the first in Britain, certainly gave good reason to remember his name, as he went a long way to glamorizing ballooning.
All this excitement ended up being called “Balloonomania”. All sorts of goods and paraphernalia started appearing with themes and inspiration from ballooning. Such excitement it was… but it is worth pointing out that not everyone was enthralled of course, with plenty who doubted the practical utility of it all.
While all that continued on for a while, the major events above all were well before Victorian times proper though. So… what were things like in Victorian times?
For one thing, people started trying to make lighter-than-air vehicles which were powered and they could steer, airships so to speak. One which is reputed to be the first successful one created by Henri Giffard in 1852, which was powered by a steam engine and made a controlled flight 27km from it’s launch in Paris.
What’s that I hear? “What about big airships like in many steampunk stories?” Well, hold your horses! You’re jumping too far ahead…. patience…Ones resembling that came about relatively late.
Let’s see… What about heavier-than-air vehicles? Well, there’s Sir George Cayley, who was considered by some to be the “father of the aeroplane”. Sure, he didn’t end up creating a successful vehicle that could achieve powered sustained flight like the Wright Brothers later did, but Sir Cayley’s work nonetheless important, for it was he who as early as 1799 started making a rigorous study of the physics of flight. It was this work which led to William Samuel Henson coming up with an “aerial steam carriage”, which while it did not fly, was an interesting milestone.
In the years following, there were many experiments going on, some even achieving brief hops, but none were particularly practical. Incidentally though, it was in the process of this where a better understanding of aerodynamics started to lead to gliders that were more practical.
Now for a little trivia side show to give some more historical context! Who’s heard of “Around the World in Eighty Days”? Surely all of you have, as it’s had renditions in many different mediums in modern times, ranging from musicals, film, television, etc. Well, it’s a book published in 1873 by French writer Jules Verne. The book’s premise (summarized greatly) is that a fellow makes a wager that he can travel the world in 80 days, mostly due to railways. Do any of you associate “Around the World in Eighty Days” with balloons? If so… I’m sorry, balloon was never a mode of transportation that occurs in the story. The addition of that is to be blamed on the 1956 film adaptation (Film adaptations of books, ruining them since… forever?) Don’t give up all hope though… because Jules Verne did write a story about manned balloon flight as it turns out. “Five Weeks in a Balloon” was the title, written in 1863.
So… back to the big airships… well, too bad for Victorian Era, they came about right at the very trailing end. It was in 1900 that over in Germany, Count von Zeppelin’s first airship flew. One might even say the rise of the large airship punctuated the end of the Victorian Era.
… What’s that? You still want more? Well, I’ll give just one more date for some perspective. Everyone knows of the famous Wright Brothers, right? Right? Wright? (I’m not as funny as I sometimes feel like I am…) Well, the first successful powered flight by the Wright Brothers, was in December 1903, just a couple years after the passing of Queen Victoria.
And with that… Red, signing off for now.

domain: history