text:
There is a very important principle in implantology, which reads as follows: "From the crown to the implant". This means that the doctor is primarily obliged to plan the orthopedic construction on the implant (crown or prosthesis), and only then think about the type of implant or the choice of surgical technique for its installation.
You can not imagine - how many in the installation of the crown on the implant lies in the subtle points that doctors often neglect. Already after only 1 year after surgery, these errors can lead not only to unsatisfactory gum aesthetics around the neck of the implant, but also to the development of inflammation and even rejection of the implant.
Implant crown with cement and screw types of fixation -
The most important points -
- selection of screw or cement fixation of the crown on the implant,
- correct removal of casts
- the start of prosthetics,
+ we will list the main mistakes of doctors during prosthetics.
Important: unfortunately, when you start going to consultations, you will see that 90% of implantologists will try to screw in implants to you faster (to get money immediately), without going into long thoughts about the aesthetics of the gums around the implant six months or a year after prosthetics. This article is written for patients and will allow you to objectively evaluate the professionalism of the doctor’s approach to your problem.
1. Crowns on implants: which ones are better
Implants are mainly installed on metal ceramics, or metal-free ceramics made of zirconium dioxide. Rarely do crowns made of metal, which are cheaper, but still not the best and lasting solution.
In order to fix the crown on the implant, the doctor will first need to install a special adapter in the implant, called an abutment (Figure 3-6). Its lower part is immersed in the implant body, and the upper part protruding above the implant looks like a stump of a tooth ground under a crown (the only exception is one-stage implants, the design of which already assumes the presence of a fixed abutment).
The scheme of prosthetics on the implant and abutment variants -
Metal-ceramic crown on the implant -
Metal-ceramic crown on the implant is a reliable and quite aesthetic solution (Fig.7-9). After the implant's engraftment stage is completed, as well as the stage of gingival contour formation, a titanium abutment is inserted into the implant, and jaw casts are taken with it. According to these impressions in the dental laboratory, the technician will make your crown, which will have a metal frame lined with a ceramic mass on the outside.
With this type of crowns, abutments made of titanium are used (Fig. 4). They can be standard and individual. In some cases, we hear that some doctors suggest patients to make an abutment of CSC (cobalt-chrome alloy), but it is not recommended to agree to this, because There is a higher risk of such an abutment breaking. If such a breakdown occurs, the entire implant will only be removed.
Prosthetics by metal ceramics on an implant -
- Metal-ceramic crown on the implant: the price, taking into account the cost of the abutment, will be in the range from 15,000 to 25,000 rubles (see the detailed prices for the types of implants below).
Important: there are often situations (for example, with a low height of the crowns of the teeth) when it is impossible to use the traditional scheme "implant - removable abutment - crown". In this case, a good doctor will propose a solution when the metal frame of the metal-ceramic crown (on which the ceramic mass will then be applied) and the abutment will be a molded whole. Such work is very difficult and requires high qualification.
Most often, such solutions are offered to patients again from cobalt-chrome alloy (CX), however, it is not worth accepting. It is optimal to make such a construction only of titanium, for example, by milling. If the dental laboratory of the clinic (which you turned to) does not have the necessary equipment, then you can insist that they order production in another laboratory.
Ceramic crown on the implant -
Ceramic implant crown is made of such material as zirconia. This material is the color and transparency of the most natural enamel of the teeth, so it allows you to make artificial crowns as similar to their teeth. Metal-free ceramic crowns are fixed to abutments made either entirely from zirconia or from a combination of zirconia and metal (hybrid abutment).
The use of titanium abutments (intended for metal-ceramic crowns) is unacceptable here, because The abutment metal will shine through the translucent ceramic mass of the crown, giving it a gray, lifeless color. In Figure 10-12 - you can see the appearance of a ceramic abutment fixed on the implant - with the subsequent installation of a zirconia crown.
Prosthetics on implant ceramics -
- Ceramic crown on the implant: the cost, taking into account the cost of the abutment, will average from 25,000 to 35,000 rubles (see detailed prices for the types of implants below). The minus of these crowns is slightly higher than the frequency of chipping of the ceramic mass compared to metal-ceramic crowns.
How to choose between ceramics and metal ceramics -
Crowns on implants: which ones are better ... ceramics or metal ceramics you ask ... Metal ceramics will undoubtedly be cheaper and also have less risk of chipping the ceramic mass. For chewing teeth, we recommend doing exactly metal ceramics. However, if you need to make a front tooth, then the choice will depend on the transparency of the enamel of your neighboring teeth. With high transparency, it is worth making a ceramic crown, with a small transparency - you can stop the choice on metal-ceramic.
Alternatives to fixed prosthetics -
Fixed prosthetics with implants, of course, is the gold standard to strive for. However, unfortunately, not all patients can afford fixed structures, especially when virtually all teeth are missing. For such cases, there are also options for conditionally removable prostheses on 2-3x implants, the use of which is much more comfortable than traditional prostheses made of plastic or nylon.
2. Types of fixing crowns on implants -
There is a cement and screw types of fixation of the crown to the implant. Each type has its own indications, as well as pros and cons. Below we summarize all the information on choosing the optimal type of fixation.
Features of cement fixation -
The procedure is as follows ... The abutment chosen by the dentist is inserted into the body of the implant and screwed to it with a special screw (there is a through vertical hole for such a screw in the body of the abutment). A fixed abutment is a stump of a tooth ground under the crown. Only after that the made crown is fixed on the abutment with the help of special cement, which has depreciation properties (Fig. 13).
Conditions under which cement fixation is permissible -
- The height of the upper part of the abutment (protruding above the neck of the implant) must be at least 5 mm,
- the height of the attached gum around the implant (this is the gum that is immobile due to the solid adhesion to the periosteum) is at least 3-4 mm,
- the thickness of the bone walls around the neck of the implant must be at least 2-2.5 mm,
- the ratio of the height of the artificial crown and the height of the implant body must be no less than 1: 1.5,
- the correct position of the teeth antagonists.
Advantages of cement fixation -
This plus is only one, and it lies in the convenience and ease of work for the doctor and dental technician. However, cement fixation is unacceptable under the conditions described below in the indications for screw fixation.
Minuses -You should understand that with cement fixation, it will not be possible to remove the crown from the implant, and then put it in place. This may need to be done in some situations. The crown can only be cut, which then requires a complete replacement of the abutment and the crown (or a bridge of several crowns).
Features of screw fixing -
The fixation procedure is as follows ... The crown is connected to the abutment outside the oral cavity, after which this prefabricated structure is inserted into the implant. The crown and abutment have a through vertical hole into which a screw is then inserted, screwing them to the implant. The hole remaining on the chewing surface of the crown is sealed with a special composite material (Figure 16-18).
Indications for screw fixation -
- if bone grafting was performed (simultaneously with the implant installation),
- when the size of the attached gingiva around the implant is less than 2-3 mm,
- when gingival thickness is 2 mm or less,
- bone thickness around the neck of the implant is 2 mm or less,
- when fixing a temporary plastic crown,
- if the crown was made with an “artificial gum”,
- with a low clinical height of crowns,
- in the manufacture of the bridge on a large number of implants (4-5 or more).
Positive side of screw fixation -
The most important thing is that she forgives the mistakes of incompetent surgeons, implantologists, and allows them to correct after the fact. For example, many doctors do not bother when they see in the place of future implantation a small thickness of the gum or a small size of the attached gingiva. Although all this will inevitably lead (within six months or a year after prosthetics) - to the resorption of the bone around the implant and the gum recession. Not to mention the fact that all this also increases the risk of periimplantitis.
Therefore, a normal implant surgeon always recommends that the patient correct these deficiencies with additional intervention even before the prosthesis: either at the stage of implant installation, or at the stage of gingival contour formation. For this, transplantation of a mucous flap from the sky, split flaps, etc. is used. But, if all this is not done in advance (including for financial reasons, depending on the patient himself), then the screw fixation is a magic wand, which will allow in a certain amount to later correct the problems that have arisen.
Negative side screw fixation -
- First of all - there will be a hole on the chewing surface of the crown (a screw is inserted through it that screws the abutment with the crown to the implant). This hole is closed with a light composite, and this can only be noticeable to the doctor, but not to those around him.
- Secondly - over time, the screw may loosen and then a small mobility of the crown and abutment will appear. If the patient, noticing this, does not consult a doctor, then inflammation will gradually develop around the implant (periimplantitis).
- Thirdly - the most dangerous complication is that if the patient ignored the appearance of mobility of the crown, a screw fracture could occur. It is impossible to remove the screw fragment from the implant body, which leads to the need to remove the entire implant and a new installation operation.
What type of fixation is best for the patient?
Screw fixing of crowns on implants is by far the safest and most secure type of fixation for the patient. Even if the screw loosens, it is replaced very quickly. To do this, the doctor will unseal the hole above the screw and unscrew the last one, replacing the previously used screw with a new one. Especially this fixation option is recommended for implantation in the aesthetic zone and / or for prosthetics with a bridge-like prosthesis on several implants at once.
If you suddenly feel that the crown is loose on the implant (believe me, you cannot fail to notice it), then you will need to go to the clinic, where you have been implanted, preferably, but if this is not possible, then you can change the screw in principle clinic (the main thing to remember is the manufacturer of the implant you installed).
Screw implant fixation: video
3. Removing casts for making crowns -
There are 2 methods of taking impressions, which are used when you need to make artificial crowns on implants -
- closed spoon method
- open spoon method.
We will not explain in detail their difference, because The article is written for patients, and there will be a lot of complex technical details in the explanation. The method of "closed spoon" is only suitable for single implants or two implants that are installed as parallel as possible to each other. If you want to reduce the risk that the crown / crowns will be "not very" - insist on the following method for taking impressions.
The method of "open spoon" is more complicated, it is much more accurate. Should be used when there are several implants and / or they are located even at a small angle relative to each other (and this is always the case). This method can not be applied only in 1 case: when the crown should be made on the implant installed at the end of the dentition, and at the same time the patient has a narrow mouth opening.
Terms of manufacturing the crown -
installation of the crown on the implant takes an average of 2-4 weeks. As a rule, 1-2 weeks are spent on ordering and waiting for suppliers of the necessary types of abutments (if they are not available). And about 1-2 weeks will be spent on making the crown in the dental-technical laboratory.
4. Terms of prosthetics -
The implant crown can be fixed at completely different times after the surgical implantation stage, which will depend on the implantation technique. In implantology, there is a special term "load on the implant." The load on the implant occurs precisely at the moment when the fixation of the crown. There are the following permissible types of load (terms of prosthetics) -
- immediate load (immediately after surgery or in the first 72 hours),
- early load (within 4-6 weeks),
- late load (within 3-6 months).
Planning the time of prosthetics is carried out by the doctor at the planning stage of the implant installation operation. First of all, these periods will depend on the bone density at the site of implantation and the concomitant somatic status of the patient. The safest late load is the most safe, and it still shows the highest survival rates of implants (especially for patients at risk, for example, smokers).
Implantation techniques and prosthetic timing -
- Full immediate load on the implant is most often given when applying the basal implantation technique (using the basal implants). In most cases, crowns, fixed immediately after surgery, the doctor removes from the occlusion, so that they do not have a significant load.
There are also methods for immediate implantation, in which a temporary plastic crown is installed on the implant immediately after the operation. This crown is removed from the bite, so that the implant does not experience a chewing load. However, such an immediate prosthesis is indicated only for a small number of patients.
- One- and two-stage implantation techniques -
these are the so-called classical implantation techniques, in which the late load on the implant is mainly used, i.e. prosthetics is carried out in a period of 3 to 6 months. The final duration of the period of osseointegration (implantation of the implant) will depend on the bone density, whether the bone tissue was replanted, the patient's health status ...
Early load on the implant in terms of 4-6 weeks is applied less frequently. This requires good bone density, no need for bone grafting or sinus lifting, no burdened somatic status. When planning an early load, it is also advisable to use models of implants that have an ultra-hydrophilic surface, which allows to accelerate the implant osseointegration.
How to choose between implants from different manufacturers -
On what characteristics the implants of different manufacturers differ from each other, what implants have ultra-hydrophilic surfaces, whether there are high-quality inexpensive implants - read the article: "How to choose the type of dental implant correctly"
Implant crown: price for 2019
How much a crown costs on an implant - the cost will depend on the type of crown and the corresponding abutment. For example, it can be metal-ceramic (with an abutment of titanium), or be made of ceramics (zirconium dioxide). In the latter case, the abutment should be like the crown - also ceramic.
Below we analyzed the cost of prosthetics on implants in clinics of the middle price category and economy class. Metal-ceramic crown on the implant - the price starts from 15 000 - 20 000 rubles per crown (and this price already includes a metal abutment of titanium), and above. If we are talking about metal-free ceramic crowns, then a zirconia crown together with a zirconium abutment will cost, on average, from 25,000 to 35,000 rubles (the exact price depends on the type of abutment and the manufacturer of the implant).
How much is a crown on a turnkey implant -
The prices below are given taking into account the cost of not only a metal-ceramic or ceramic crown (with the appropriate type of abutment), but also the surgical operation of the installation of the 1st implant. First, we give the cost of economy class implants, and then - premium segment implants.
- The cost of the crown on the implant AlphaBio® (Israel) -
→ with a metal-ceramic crown - from 35,000 rubles.
→ with a zirconia crown - from 50,000 rubles.
- The cost of the crown on the implant MIS® (Israel) -
→ with a metal-ceramic crown - from 35,000 rubles.
→ with a zirconia crown - from 50,000 rubles.
- The cost of the crown on the implant Osstem® (Korea) -
→ with a metal-ceramic crown - from 40,000 rubles.
→ with a zirconia crown - from 50,000 rubles.
Cost of premium implant models -
- The cost of the crown on the implant Straumann® (Switzerland) -→ with a metal-ceramic crown - from 80,000 rubles.
→ with a zirconium dioxide crown - from 90,000 rubles.
- The cost of the crown on the implant AstraTech® (Sweden) -
→ with a metal-ceramic crown - from 70,000 rubles.
→ with a zirconium crown - from 90,000 rubles.
- The cost of the crown on the implant NobelBiocare® (Switzerland) -
→ with a metal-ceramic crown - from 90,000 rubles.
→ with a zirconia crown - from 100,000 rubles.
→ Fixed prosthetics of the edentulous jaw with a bridge prosthesis according to the All-on-4 protocol - from 280,000 rubles. for 1 jaw.
The cost of fixed prosthetics in the absence of teeth -
If you do not have teeth in the jaw completely, then this is not a contraindication to fixed prosthetics. Modern methods of single-stage implantation, for example: the All-on-4 technique or the basal implantation technique - allow you to get a non-removable bridge just 1-3 days after surgery.
- Fixed bridge in the absence of teeth -→ on 4 implants Osstem (Korea) - from 150,000 rubles.
→ on 6 Osstem implants (Korea) - 230,000 rubles.
→ on basal implants ROOTT (Switzerland) - 290,000 rubles.
Clinical case studies -
Below we give 2 examples of prosthetics with crowns on implants.
1) Clinical case number 1 -
(prosthetics of the upper jaw with metal-ceramic crowns on implants using titanium abutments and cement-type fixation) ...
2) Clinical case number 2 -
(Prosthetics of the maxillary lateral incisor on the Straumann implant, using ceramic abutment and cement-type fixation) ...
The main mistakes of the doctor during prosthetics -
The success of the operation and the qualitative osseointegration of the implant to the bone can be easily crossed out with errors during prosthetics. If there is no sign of bone resorption around the implant neck at the end of the implant engraftment period, but excessive bone resorption started right after the prosthesis, this means that it is not the implant surgeon who is to blame for this, but the orthopedic surgeon (prosthetist ).
The main mistakes of the doctor at the stage of prosthetics ...
- The edges of the crown badly fitted to the neck of the implant -
As a result, trauma and inflammation of the soft tissues of the gums occurs around the implant, leading to bone resorption and gingival recession around the neck of the implant.
- Wrong ratio of crown height to implant length -
if this ratio is not 1: 1.5, but 1: 1.3, then wait for the bone resorption and gum recession around the implant neck.
- The crown is much wider than the diameter of the implant -
here also wait for bone resorption and gum recession around the implant neck. This is typical for implantation in the region of the chewing teeth (molars), when it is impossible to install implants of large diameter. In theory, in this case, the doctor would consciously have to reduce the size of the crowns of molars to the size of premolars.
- The delay of food under the bridge on several implants occurs when the washing space is incorrectly created.
- When abutment is badly fixed on the implant and there is a gap between them. You will immediately feel an unpleasant smell, inflammation will begin around the implant.
- When the angle between the implant axis and the crown axis is greater than 27 degrees. This leads to inevitable bone resorption and gum recession (an exception is made for implantation using the all-on-4 procedure).
- Incorrect configuration (shape) of the crown can lead to the unwinding or fracture of the abutment.
- Incorrect fissure-tubercular crown contacts on the implant with the teeth antagonists lead to implant overload and bone resorption ...
- If the prosthesis is done in the absence or a small amount of attached gums, or the thickness of the gums is 2 mm or less. If the doctor in this situation does not suggest a corrective operation to increase the size of the attached gingiva / gingival thickness around the neck of the implant, then this will inevitably lead to inflammatory complications, bone resorption around the neck of the implant and the gum recession exposing the threads of the implant.
- When the bridge is fixed on the one hand on the implant, and on the other hand - on its own tooth. So you can not do it categorically, because own teeth are always slightly mobile, and the osteointegrated implant is completely immobile. This design will lead to loosening and tearing of the implant. We hope that our article was useful to you!
Author: implantologist surgeon Kamensky K.V., 19 years experience.


text:
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking into ending the stateï¿½ï¿½s monopoly on wine and liquor sales, but thereï¿½ï¿½s been no discussion on revising the Keystone stateï¿½ï¿½s convoluted beer laws, the Associated Press reports.
Court decisions and competition has given beer buyers more options, but Pennsylvaniaï¿½ï¿½s regulations restricting what businesses can stock beer and in what amounts has been a source of confusion and complaints. Distributors and grocers are arguing for more consumer-friendly rules on beer sales.
One measure would let retailers who hold a liquor and wine license to also have a beer license without changing current laws governing beer. House Majority Leader Mike Turzai wants to keep beer out of the liquor and wine privatization debate. "It's going to be a tough enough fight without bringing (beer) into it," said Steve Miskin, Turzai spokesman.
Currently, 45 states let supermarkets and convenience stores sell beer, said David McCorkle, president of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. "Beer sales are the priority, frankly, for the supermarkets and convenience stores."
Sheetz Inc. took distributors to court before the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board finally gave the chain a license to sell beer at an Altoona, Pa., location in 2010.
"In the end, what you have here ... is the same customer transaction convenience that we have in our stores in North Carolina," said Louie Sheetz, executive vice president. Customers can stop for gasoline, a six-pack and a sandwich, he said.
Sheetz wants beer to be part of any discussion on reforming the stateï¿½ï¿½s wine and liquor laws. "You've got to wonder why beer wouldn't be part of that movement," he said.

domain: economics


text:
One man was fatally shot and another was critically injured last night in the hallway of an apartment building in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the police said.
The police have no suspects or motive for the shooting, which happened about 8:30 p.m. at 1409 St. Johns Place near Utica Avenue, said Officer Cheryl Cox, a police spokeswoman. No gun was recovered.
One victim, Niel Joseph, 21, who lived in the building, was shot once in the neck and died at St. Mary's Hospital about 9 p.m., Officer Cox said. The other, Abi Goodman, 21, who lives down the street, was shot once in the head and was in critical condition at Kings County Hospital, the officer said.Continue reading the main story

domain: news


Darren Lynn Bousman just finished editing REPO! The Genetic Opera!, but the SAW series director is already talking about sequel possibilities. In his latest blog entry, Darren writes:
“If I have my way – I am only leaving one franchise to start another! Maybe this time next year as SAW VI is gearing up – I will working on REPO II… One can only dream…”
Bousman also talked breifly about his visit to the SAW V production offices, and his meeting with David Hackl, who will be taking over the series.
“I have to be honest – it’s a hard pill to swallow… Handing over the baton – – passing the torch – – call it what you will… But for the last three years SAW has been my life… Last week, they opened up the preproduction office for V. It feels strange not to be there… It feels even stranger knowing that those production offices are only two blocks from where I am now… But, I feel confident in the fact that the franchise is in great hands with David – and that it was time for me to move on…”
Repo! The Genetic Opera! will hit theaters later this year. SAW V will hit theaters on October 24th 2008 (because, “If it’s Halloween, It’s SAW”).
A couple months ago it was revealed that SAW series production designer David Hackl had been hired to direct not one but two SAW sequels, possibly even back-to-back. Rumor had it that Lionsgate wanted to, for the first time in four years, take a year off from the SAW series. But I’m happy to report that is not true.
“If it’s Halloween, it must be Saw!”
Lionsgate is eyeing October 24th 2008 for the release of SAW V. SAW VI has also been marked on the calendar for October 30th, 2009. Let the games begin (again)!
It’s pretty much a given: “If it’s Halloween, It’s SAW.” We’ve previously told you that SAW 5 is ready to go. Production designer-turned-director David Hackl is working closely with Saw IV scribes Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton on the next chapter, with a first draft due by the end of the month. Talk about fast tracking.
And now BloodyDiscusting has heard (read: unconfirmed) that Lionsgate hopesÂ to shoot SAW V and SAW VI back-to-back, with Hackl and crew signed on to both. It looks to me like Lionsgate wants get two in the can before the potential upcoming strike. Plus it seems to me that shooting back-to-back could help costs considerably. But it is a risk, what if SAW V isn’t as profitable as the previous films in the franchise? It seems like a good bet to take:
- SAW was made for $1.2 million and mad $103 million worldwide
- SAW II was made for $4 million and made $147 million worldwide
- SAW III was made for $10 million and made $164 million worldwide
Sure, P&A and exhibitor costs aren’t accounted for, but neither is home video/DVD sales, which is also likely $150+ million. A $12 million Saw film would probably have to make less than $25 million at the box office to be a loss. And the escalating box office receipts, what is the chances of that happening?


text:
There is a photographer and treasure hunter among us, named Bogdan Poida… He is taking really cool photos! See the walks with the CTX 3030 (this is he whom Minelab should give a bonus!).
Author of these photographs: Bogdan Poida. If you’re interested, I’ll send you Bogdan’s details via email. We will be collecting his photos in this category – Walks with CTX 3030.

domain: hobby


text:
A group of friends “teamed up” and started a music group that entertained residents at various locations in New Bern – sometimes on the front porches of one of their members’ homes.
The Bonafides have become a much sought after musical group playing at local theatres, events and events in the area. They can often be heard at fundraisers for various nonprofits, including the New Bern Historical Society and the Jones County Gas Station.
The band members play a variety of instruments including banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, guitar, drum and chords. They play bluegrass, folk, old time and several other genres of music.
“At the beginning of last year we got together with some friends and started playing on stage at the New Bern Civic Theatre,” said band member George Oliver. “The theater wasn’t open because of COVID, so we were able to get away from each other.”
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: New Bern Sun Journal
“This was a project that grew out of COVID,” Oliver said. “It was interesting to find other ways to find that creative outlet and do it in a way that keeps other people safe,” he said.
In March 2020, Oliver began playing a new banjo song from his front porch on East Front Street almost every day and posting them on his social media accounts and YouTube channel. He has posted more than 400 videos in the last two years.
In July, the band held a “Front Porch” concert and invited the public to bring chairs and listen to their music for about 2 and a half hours. They plan to hold a similar event on August 20.
“I’d really like to have a front porch music festival in downtown New Bern,” he said. “That’s my goal for next year. Downtown New Bern is so good for that with lots of places with big porches and yards where people can just walk around and listen to music.”
More ▼:Turn that music down! New Bern Amends Its Noise Ordinance Without Studying The Problem?
He added that he would like to bring in some out-of-town bands to continue the event throughout the evening.
“I think it would be great for downtown,” he said.
Before the onset of COVID-19, Oliver, his wife and children had their own group known as Strung Together. The first public performance was at Christ Church on Pollock Street during the 300th anniversary celebrations in 2015. Oliver’s children eventually went to college, which led to the group’s discontinuation. They recorded three albums in the summer of 2020 while the kids were home from school due to the pandemic.
Oliver said the Bonafides play whatever anyone in the band likes that they can adapt to their instruments.
The group consists of nine members, George Oliver and his wife, Dare, and their son, Mason, Danny and Sheila Batten, who own Surf, Wind and Fire, located in downtown New Bern, Dr. Doug DeSantis, attorney Nina Arrington , Greenville’s Tim Webb and Miguel Delima, who is a Spanish teacher at The Epiphany School.
Dare Oliver is also a member of the a cappella group The Silver Lining Singers.
The Bonafides will present “Made Here, Played Here” on September 10 at the New Bern Civic Theatre. The show will feature music made famous by North Carolina musicians. Along with the music, there will also be a little history about the artist. The one-night event will be from 7:30 p.m. Tickets are now available for $15 on the theater’s website.
More ▼:RCS turns 40! Kool and The Gang’s Alex Williams to headline ‘Celebration’ block party
“There is such a richly talented group of musicians from our state,” Oliver said. “It was good to explore them. Many of them you may have heard of, but some you may not.”
There will be swing songs, bluegrass, rock, rhythm and blues, old time and other music from North Carolina musicians.
“Because of the different people in our group and their different talents and interests, we can go through all of those styles,” Oliver said.
George Oliver is an attorney at Oliver and Cheek, PLLC and currently serves as president of the New Bern Civic Theatre.
“Music has allowed us to spend a lot of time with the kids and our friends and make a lot of memories,” Oliver said.


text:
This application will help you change your voice beyond recognition.
First you must record the desired voice message, and then you can apply several types of effects. The program includes more than 10 kinds of different filters, among them the voice of an alien, cyborg, robot, and others. Once you get the desired modified record of your voice, you can save it, listen to, set as a ringtone or send it by e-mail.
Like it? Share with your friends!
Black Screen of Life Turn off the screen while listening to music videos and greatly increase your battery life
Perfect Ear Perfect Ear - Develop the best musical ear with the Perfect Ear!
An easy and fun tool that will help both professional musicians and those who just want to improve their musical ear.
Contains a set of exercises for training ears. More exercises coming soon
NoiseAlert (Android) NoiseAlert monitors the surrounding noise level using the microphone and calls a preset number if it exceeds a certain threshold
Decibel Meter Decibel Meter - is a simple application for measuring noise level. The utility uses an embedded microphone of your device and makes a graph on the basis of the recieved data. You can specify initial margin of error in order to get maximum accurate result
My Voice Plan Lite My Voice Plan is an Android application that allows you to manage your voice plan. You have:
• Graphic follow-up of your consumption.
• Automatic rollover minutes unused (full version).
• Exclusion of the voicemail in the count of calls (full version).
• Consultation of the two last months.
• Tray Icon for instant information
Mobi Music - Music Creation This is a free promo version. Look out for the full LIte and Pro versions coming soon!!
Mobi Music (AKA Smart Sounds) is a cool new way to make music using your smart phone!
MP3 Cutter MP3 Cutter - Cut the best part of your MP3 and use it as ringtone. Designed to handle most of MP3 encoders, even the problematic ones. Ability to work in the background and notify when the process is done.
What's New in This Release:
· change UI
What's New in 0.9:
· add info to error code 2
· update admob library
What's New in 0.8
Tone Tunes Tone Tunes - Play your favorite touch tone keypad songs without the fear of calling someone
Instant Lyrics Lite Instant Lyrics Lite Read the lyrics of the song playing in the music player instantly in a clean interface.
How to use:
Place shortcut on the home screen and click while listening the song in the Music Player
Google Android 1.6 |
Google Android 2.0 |
Google Android 2.1 |
Google Android 2.2 |
Google Android 2.3 |
Google Android 3.0 |
Google Android 3.1 |
Google Android 3.2 |
Google Android 4.0 |
Google Android 4.1 |
Google Android 4.2 |
Google Android 4.3 |
Google Android 4.4 |
Google Android 5.x |
Google Android 6.x |
Google Android 7.x |
Comments on Ultra Voice Changer:
patrick jay rosales:
wala lang po.."""
Date: 11 Jul 13
FreewareAndroid - Free Downloads Android Market Apps, Applications, Games, APK, WiFi, Sync, GPS for Google Android OS


text:
The party that screws the working manAs the first session of the 105th General Assembly draws near a close, Governor Phil Bredesen has conveniently decided to reshuffle the budget at the last minute and include-among other things-a tax on propane. I am quite certain the Democratic-controlled House will give the Governor whatever he wants, but I urge those in the Senate who are known from time to time to be wafflers to reject this abhorrent tax.
The so-called party of the common man has presented, through their Governor, a budget to this General Assembly that could give huge corporate tax breaks to large corporations doing business in Tennessee whether they are an in-State company or not. Yet this same budget will not give any relief to middle class and poor Tennesseans through a reduction in the tax on food at the grocery store. The State can spend millions on pork but not give one penny of relief to Tennesseans who need it the most.
Now the Governor wants to tax propane. This is more than just taxing the gas that people may use for their backyard barbecues, though this proposal will certainly do that. The worst part of this tax is that it will hurt the thousands upon thousands of Tennesseans who use propane gas as their winter fuel. It is at these people that the Governor is aiming this tax, and that is a near-certainty. Many of these citizens are lower-middle class or working poor.
This is all leading somewhere, and the somewhere it is taking us is right back to another income tax debate. The Governor knows that Republicans and many right-thinking Democrats will oppose this measure, and I would venture to say that he will attempt to hold up the income tax as the "only viable alternative"-nevermind our massive surplus. It will be even worse if the propane measure should pass and we happen to have a particularly bad winter-who shall bear the brunt of the Governor's needless tax?
They will tax the gas many Tennesseans use to heat their homes. They tax the food we eat. They are not content with their other sales and utility taxes. A $1.3 billion surplus is apparently not enough for these people. Next they shall tax our very living so that when we do begin to do well for ourselves, our living is taxed away. I am certainly not opposed to wealth that is honestly earned, but some folks forget where they came from when they make their millions, and I believe our Governor is one of these people.
If these measures pass as they are being proposed, the Governor might as well just punch the middle class square in the eye, not to mention spit in the face of the working poor. The Tennessee Democratic Party is many things, but a party that represents working people it is not, and it proves this by the hour.
It is a shame we must wait another year for an election, because the people of Tennessee cannot afford another second of a Democratic-controlled General Assembly.
Labels: Tennessee politics

domain: politics


text:
President Donald Trump is opening the floodgates to America becoming an energy superpower. That’s the significance of two executive orders he recently signed to update federal procedures for building energy infrastructure across the nation, making America more prosperous and secure.
The orders will remove unnecessary federal barriers to the construction of oil and gas infrastructure, including pipelines, which have long been proven the safest way to transport these natural resources. The Environmental Protection Agency is ordered to consult with states to update regulations and to set reasonable timetables for permit approval.
Though the rule-making required by the order has barely begun, the president’s critics are spreading fear that the result will be states having less power to regulate energy, with objections sounding in “states’ rights.”
Let’s be honest: This is a strange argument for people who usually support massive expansions of federal power. But it also doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
The president instructed federal agencies to update and clarify existing regulations, eliminating confusion, duplication, red tape and delays. It might be true that the orders remove options for those who would seek to obstruct oil and gas production, but they do so Constitutionally.
And what state prerogatives are really in danger? Texas policy, enshrined in law, is that oil and gas production be maximized. But this is impossible without infrastructure. The U.S. has over 2.2 million miles of pipeline, yet the country’s top producer, Texas, is badly underserved. As it stands, the lack of pipeline capacity creates an unnecessary production bottleneck and a striking price differential with foreign crude.
More pipelines are critical for the country to maximize worldwide export. With greater infrastructure, the U.S. will become “the Saudi Arabia” of natural gas, and possibly crude, too. The days of paying trillions to send our loved ones to risk their lives securing a Middle East energy supply can be long behind us, provided we have the infrastructure to move our own resources to market.
By contrast, domestic energy production is safe. War is not required, and energy production is regulated by no fewer than 14 federal agencies. State agencies add even more regulation, led by the Texas Railroad Commission, which arguably has greater expertise and success overseeing safe energy production than any regulatory body on earth.
More infrastructure is a win for all Texans, which is why pipelines can be constructed with the power of eminent domain. Eminent domain is appropriate if a pipeline is a common carrier, meaning that the pipeline company permits others’ oil or gas to flow through the pipeline. In Texas, approximately 2 million royalty owners — along with University of Texas and Texas A&M — benefit from having their oil and gas moved through pipelines to market. Another estimated 8 million royalty owners would like to do the same, but there are no pipelines in their area. Billions of dollars in economic activity is stifled because of this solvable problem.
The president is doing his part to solve it.
Whether or not you like the executive orders, you are a beneficiary.


President Biden hasn't given progressives in his party many reasons to cheer in recent weeks as he's split with them on several issues.
Most recently, Biden on Monday approved a controversial oil drilling project in Alaska, known the Willow Project, that has drawn criticism from left-leaning Democrats.
Rep. Jamaal Bowmen, D-N.Y., a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said on Meet the Press NOW that he considers Biden’s approval of the project a betrayal.
“It is ill-advised and it is dangerous for our climate,” Bowman said. “The president should have stood firmly and stood against this.”
The Biden administration has also recently raised objection from progressives by considering restarting family detention for migrants and for his decision to not veto a Republican-backed bill on D.C. crime.
Bowman didn't definitively say whether or not he thinks Biden is the best bet to represent progressives in 2024.
“That’s a tough question," Bowman said. "We would like to see him go further on many issues.” Bowman did say he will support Biden's re-election but added that progressives needed to continue to push the president.
“The reason he’s this progressive is because we’ve organized and pushed him inside and outside of Congress,” Bowman said. “We need for the president to not take one step forward and then two steps back.”


text:
The mercury had hit 100 degrees or more for 15 days running, but thirsty Tulsans needed no excuse to stampede drugstores and restaurants on July 12, 1933.
“Never before in the history of eastern Oklahoma had beer appeared openly, without interference of the law, on city streets,” said a front-page story in the Tulsa World.
Not unlike the pioneers who made the historic land runs, this time Oklahomans were enjoying their first legal beer run.
The day before, Oklahomans had voted by a wide margin to legalize weak beer. Read the rest of the story in this Throwback Tulsa column.


text:
Actor Billy Porter is among the Hollywood celebrities who are forced to sell their homes amid the ongoing actors strike.
Porter revealed in a recent interview that he has to sell his house because he doesn’t make “f*ck-you money” like other stars.
Money is tight for Porter and other celebrities amid the ongoing writers and actors strikes.
Porter said he was living paycheck-to-paycheck to afford the luxury lifestyle he’s grown accustomed to.
“I have to sell my house,” Porter told Evening Standard. “Yeah! Because we’re on strike. And I don’t know when we’re gonna go back. The life of an artist, until you make f*ck-you money — which I haven’t made yet — is still check-to-check. I was supposed to be in a new movie and on a new television show starting in September. None of that is happening. So to the person who said, ‘We’re going to starve them out until they have to sell their apartments’ — you’ve already starved me out.”
Porter lashed out at Disney CEO Bob Iger for calling the strikers “disruptive forces” and saying their demands were “unrealistic”.
“To hear Bob Iger say that our demands for a living wage are unrealistic? While he makes $78,000 a day?”
“I don’t have any words for it, but: f*ck you,” Porter about Iger. “That’s not useful, so I’ve kept my mouth shut. I haven’t engaged because I’m so enraged… When I go back I will join the picket lines.”

domain: celebrity


text:
I won't lie, I love Snooki. I think she's amazed the world with just how incredible of a mom she's turned out to be to her little meatball Lorenzo. She has a fun attitude about life, and despite me not being the biggest fan of her interesting shade of hair color, she always looks adorable. With that said, Snooks, I'm a little worried about you. Not because you're cuddling Lorenzo too tightly or because Jionni is having some big tabloidtastic romance (he's not!). But because of your weight.
It's no secret Snooki's skinny. Heck, we've seen a bazillion photos of the former Jersey Shore star looking itty-bitty since giving birth. But Snooks posted another photo on her Instagram feed this morning and I just cannot get over that there's ... like nothing there.
Here, see what I mean:
I told you, teeny. She looks beautiful, regardless, and what do I know -- maybe it's the way the camera is angled or something about the reflection she's using (I hope so). But still. She's so SMALL!
Whether or not Snooki's weight is still on the decline, one thing is for sure: It's important that the momma keeps herself surrounded with positive people who love her for the amazing person she is. The Gorilla-loving lady has come so, so far since her first days back on the shore, and she should be super proud of the hard work and dedication that's gotten her to this point. Stay healthy for you, Snooki. Be your own biggest fan and you'll go far.
Do you think Snooki's skinnier than ever? Do you think her family should be worried?
Images via Snookinic/Instagram


Livestock SA support for South Australian Feral Deer Eradication plan
Livestock SA has welcomed the release of the new 10-year strategic plan for the South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program.
Livestock SA CEO, Travis Tobin said the plan emphasises the significance of alleviating the stress and financial burden faced by South Australian producers due to feral deer.
“Feral deer are one of the state’s most challenging pest species and their impact on producers’ bottom line is increasing”, said Mr Tobin.
“The plan provides a coordinated, landscape scale approach to the eradication and management of feral deer, which is important as landholders are responsible for culling feral deer on their properties under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019.”
“Building on the success of the first year of the Feral Deer Eradication Program, the 2022-32 plan estimates a net benefit of $525 million will be delivered to producers and their communities over the 10-year period.”
“Producers have already seen the benefits of the 2022 culling program with a reduction in feed competition from feral deer, which will become more evident as we likely enter drier seasons ahead.”
“The South Australian sheep industry has demonstrated its commitment to eradicating this pest species by investing $100,000 from the Sheep Industry Fund in 2023/24 in thermal-assisted aerial culling.”
“This investment into a coordinated approach represents a modest cost compared to the significant economic impact posed by the feral deer species on the industry.”
Hannah Trevilyan, Communications and Membership Manager, 08 8297 2299


There was a short review of Berlin-matter of memory in the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet by Aron Aspenström today. The review is however not available online.
I walked by this interesting and charming residential building in northern Berlin the other day. It turns out it was designed by Brandt und Simon Architekten, who incidentally also designed my local bar, Kohlenquelle which, to be perfectly honest, I up to now suspected had never been designed at all. The striking feature of the building however is the pixelated façades made up from tiles or shingles, allowing the building to merge with the surrounding garden, to dematerialise and disappear depending on how you observe it. It is in a sense a form of ‘stealth architecture’, the term is, if I remember this correctly, borrowed from Mike Davis’ ‘City of Quartz’ (a terrific portrait of Los Angeles and a great analysis of the militarisation of urban and architectural space for anyone who has yet to read it). Mike Davis uses the term to denote alleged (it is in their nature to be elusive) buildings in Venice Beach that are built for affluent clients yet designed to appear insignificant and shoddy from the street so as not to attract burglars. The building above is a different type of ‘stealth architecture’, where the stealth element is more a matter of style than of military tactic.
In the military sense of the word, man has constructed ‘stealth architecture’ since he started building. Shelter was always constructed so as not to attract attention, at least until city walls and other defensive structures replaced the need for concealment to an extent. In times of peril, many smaller mountain towns would have hidden refuges as a last resort of protection. All ages have produced stealth architecture in the military sense. Bunkers constitute the avant-garde of military stealth architecture. Recently however, the civilian application of stealth as style has evolved, from all corners of the world, for various motives, but with one common aim; to create architecture that pretends it does not exist.
One example of ‘stealth architecture’ is ‘Old House’ in Tyson Street, Melbourne, by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects. Commissioned by a client to build a modern building, restricted by the preservation zone the site was located in, the architects negotiated a compromise. They constructed a modern building, but the street façade was clad with a full-scale photography of the old building. The result was a trompe l’oeil, if one stands directly in front of the building; the new and the old merge and become indistinguishable. Its angles and perspective lines line up from that one point, in a way thus preserving the homogeneous character of the area.
The architects describe their project like this:
“The project attempts to elevate the difficulties of obtaining planning approvals in heritage areas into a sublime and ironic gesture which may generate debate about the problem itself. In this sense it is both a critique of the process and a surreal architectural solution which is evocative of the site’s memory and historical context.”
It is a compromise where the new building and the image of the old merge, forming a very strange unity of past and present. One could argue that the project enters into a dialogue with its context through its obvious falsification of the history, while the jabs at the planning department and the complications created by heritage laws are perhaps a commentary that can best be expressed in other ways than architecture.
Sweden has its fair share of stealth architecture. The gallery designed for Magasin 3 by Block Architecture is one interesting example. The façade of the building was clad by a ‘fence’ of reflective aluminium louvers that mirrored the surrounding landscape, allowing the building to appear or disappear as one looked at it. An almost shy structure that hides behind a mirror, a very non-intrusive form of architecture that dissolves into the park. Was this ever built by the way? I have never seen it, but then again, that was half the point, perhaps it is there and I have just never looked at it from the right angle while squinting. It is an interesting thought; perhaps it lies there, forgotten, only to be discovered accidentally one day by an old lady walking her dog.
Another interesting project is the Tree Hotel designed by Tham Videgård, a hotel room halfway up a tree in the gigantic forests of Northern Sweden. Its reflection distorts the view of the forest, creating a very light building completely subjecting to the natural landscape. The slight distortion of the forest and its perspective is the only sign of the building. I cannot help but think this will make a marvellous ruin if its location and existence is ever forgotten and then stumbled on by chance decades later.
A similar project, also subservient to the landscape is ‘Juniper House’, by Murman Arkitekter on the island of Gotland. A modern wooden building is here covered by a second skin, a camouflage suit, of full-scale photographs of the juniper landscape making up the context of the building. The resulting building becomes almost invisible and suddenly materialises and dematerialises depending on weather conditions and angle.
It is easy to dismiss ‘stealth architecture’ as a simple comment on the context, or in some cases even the planning department. In that sense, stealth architecture would simply be apost-modern, tongue-in-cheek, double-coded nod to the history of the site, and the context. In the worst case scenario, it is only a method for imposing new architecture in sensitive contexts disguised by a barely credible veneer of adaptation, a deliberate falsification undertaken to exploit new territory. On the other hand, the architects of these buildings have sought a way to construct a house, while at the same time offering the opportunity to view the scene without the building. In other words, ‘stealth’ is a method for having the cake and eating it too, a great feat to which mankind has always aspired but never quite pulled off. This type of architecture can also be interpreted as a more complex post-modern dialogue with context and history. Furthermore the architecture questions the nature, role and impact of architecture. Creating optical effects of dematerialisation is part of the interchange with context and beholder. It is however also a will to be invisible, an architecture of invisibility and transparency, ephemeral architecture in a sense, that disappears with the blink of an eye. This architecture presents a hyper-real image of the world without the architecture, a world where the sun is always shining on the driveway, where the junipers are sunlit forever. Stealth architecture becomes scenography for a dream.
The dream of immaterial architecture is more prevalent than one would imagine, particularly so in Sweden. Take one more look at competition winners over the last years, many if not most, renderings present buildings that are transparent, half hidden behind trees, ephemeral and light, sometimes even with either top or foundation covered in mist, erasing the structure or at least disconnecting it from the context in which it is to be inserted. This is how both architects and clients envision their buildings: invisible.
The most simple expression of this is of course the characterless glass box, always transparent in visions and renderings, almost always surprisingly massive in reality. In a sense, these are paper versions of ‘stealth architecture’, visions of nothing. The trees in renderings are almost toxic green and the lawns and playing children as saturated in vivid colours as the buildings are transparent and discreetly invisible, out of focus. Abstraction of materials and details enhance the illusion of the unreal, an ephemeral, hovering, building that sits in a sea of vibrant green invisible to all but those who look directly at it.
Actual ‘stealth architecture’ is paradoxically comparatively honest, making an actual effort to dematerialise, stealth architecture is invisibility with a purpose. The glass boxes, on the other hand, become bulky faits accomplis, realities we realise we cannot ignore and learn to live with. The desire to dematerialise architecture in different ways raises the question of architecture’s role in society and our cities. Is this a way of addressing the dichotomy between the taste and aesthetic preferences of architects contra those of the public? Is the architectural profession simply engaged in a process of creating invisibility cloaks for modern buildings, to camouflage our work, saying “–look, it isn’t so bad, you can hardly see the building behind all those kite-flying children”? Architects are conjuring up images of a world without architecture. It is an act of legitimisation through self-effacement. The glass boxes can be interpreted as manifestations of a society fearing architecture, and of an architecture fearing society.
-Most links in this post link to websites in Swedish-
In recent years, almost every medium- to large-scale urban project in Stockholm has been subject to such massive public and professional resistance that in the end, the projects have been abandoned. Naturally, this situation is not unique to Sweden or Stockholm, but it has reached a paralyzing level, veritably hindering the city from development. Projects become bats in the upcoming elections. Most recently, the shadow government promised a more popularized version of the most prominent project at the moment, Slussen – the Lock – which connects the Gamla Stan and Södermalm.
The project’s background is basically this: Gamla Stan, located on a central island in Stockholm, is the oldest remaining part of medieval Stockholm. In the 1930’s, the old lock connecting Gamla Stan and Södermalm was replaced by a traffic solution primarily designed for cars. In many ways it was an ingenious solution, integrating underground, pedestrian, automobiles and buses in a complex shamrock-shaped traffic system designed by Tage William-Olsson.
Today, the traffic node of Slussen is in a state of disrepair. The concrete is deteriorating and for the last two decades, a solution has been sought to replace the existing design. The existing structure is generally deemed unsafe and beyond repair, and decreasing levels of traffic make the original design ineffective.
Design competitions were held, and when the dust cleared in 2004, Swedish architects Nyréns came out with the winning proposal. However, this was not without controversy, and in 2008, the urban planning department informed the architects that their vision was too boring, and the very next day they invited some of the world’s more famous architects – including Jean Nouvel, Sir Norman Foster and Bjarke Ingels – to come up with inspired designs for replacing the traffic node, using Nyrén’s traffic planning.
The city chose Foster and Partners’ proposal. However, the proposal was not very developed, and in subsequent design stages most of the more spectacular features, such as the meandering pedestrian bridges, were erased one by one until finally, the city ended up with a design that was pretty low-key and streamlined, but which included a large amount of commercial space meant to finance part of the development.
At this point, the chaos erupted. Suddenly, alternative solutions were being presented left and right. One such solution, independently presented by a number of architects, vows to make the traffic apparatus more or less invisible and buries the underground line. Invisible solutions are always a hit with the public, so the solution got a lot of media attention for a while. Yet another privately presented solution was entailed the conversion of the bridge to a kind of Ponte Vecchio, complete with replicas of traditional Stockholm buildings. Then Bengt Lindroos, one of the last grand old Swedish Modernist masters, surprised the city with his version – a less commercial development with more public spaces; perhaps the only professional alternative proposal I have seen so far.
Then the public demonstrations, petitions and marches started. Last week the shadow cabinet presented their version in an attempt to gain a few votes it being election year, after all. It was a slimmed down populist version with a very odd pyramid as the centerpiece. Now, yet another group demands that the possibility of constructing a replica of the original 1930’s design be investigated, or repairs to the original structure if possible. The debate rages on, and we will see what the results are when the smoke clears.
It is a large-scale public project, and as such, public debate is essential, but this has turned into a farce. Politicians have turned the project into a battlefield for the upcoming election, which, however irresponsible, is an effective way of winning votes. Some unfortunate developments in central Stockholm in the 1960’s still haunt every project proposed in the city’s central areas, and politicians have been extremely wary of public opinion ever since. This creates populism and compromises that are sometimes good and prudent in retrospect, and sometimes very unfortunate. As a result, the city has become extremely polarized socially – poor satellite suburbs surround a rich and exclusive urban center, fostering segregation of which Stockholm has only seen the beginning, one that will most likely haunt the city for many decades to come.
This is not the first time a project has been deadlocked by tumultuous dispute. A couple of years ago the city held an architectural competition for an addition to the Public Library, one of Sweden’s more famous buildings. A winner was chosen from the around 1200 proposals the city received from across the world, and then the public bashing started. The Swedish public seems to view architects as malefactors out to destroy the city that the inhabitants love and cherish. Here, as in the case of Slussen, individual architects emerged promoting their own designs, determined to sway public opinion, and thereby force the publicly sensitive politicians to consider their project. A number of cheap appeals to public opinion were launched.
Again, demonstrations, marches, petitions appeared overnight, all focusing on Heike Hanada, the German architect who had done nothing more than submit a proposal for a competition. She was ridiculed by the media, the architectural press, and a number of self-righteous and self-proclaimed experts screaming bloody murder. In the end, the politicians caved in to public opinion and scrapped the project on the pretext that it would have been more expensive than first estimated. The politicians neglected to notify Heike Hanada directly. It was an inappropriate project, but the fault was not Hanada’s but the organizers of the competition.
This current situation is unsustainable. The combination of opportunist politicians, opportunist architects, lobby groups and an intoxicated public resistance to any change whatsoever has resulted in a polarized debate where projects are slowly killed step by step and development becomes next to impossible. The question is what can be done about it.
Sweden lacks an independent advisory board of architects, a common institution in most European countries. The UK has two separate independent advisory boards: English Heritage and CABE. English Heritage is mostly concerned with preserving the cultural heritage, while CABE focuses on quality in design. Both are more or less funded by the Department of Culture. These two bodies often disagree, but the main objective is always to find a solution that will make everybody as happy as possible, both now and in the future. The key is that these advisory boards are independent. Although they have a certain political agenda, they are not affiliated with any particular party and thus can make professional opinions based on their (sometimes) objective analysis. This system is not perfect, but it involves two independent professional bodies, which is as close as you come to an expert opinion.
Stockholm has a “Beauty Council” which is the local version of CABE. This is however financed by the council, and twelve of its thirteen members are appointed by the City Council, although only four are directly politically appointed. The members are artists, politicians and a mere two architects, which strikes me as odd, but probably resonates the Swedish lack of confidence in architects. Riksantikvarieämbetet (RAA) is the corresponding Swedish version of EH, but most of the practical responsibility rests on the (politically appointed) County Council.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with democracy and transparency in architecture. However, when every instance intended to provide professional and objective advice is politically appointed, we end up with the subjective and opportunist advice to subjective and opportunist politicians – an undesirable situation. The time perspective of politics is very different from the time perspective of architecture and urban design. Politics usually focus on shorter terms while architecture and urban design has to work for decades or centuries – and for that reason, an independent architectural and urban advisory board would be a good idea in Sweden. The nearest equivalent to this is the Swedish Architects’ Association. But they can hardly be said to be objective as they are the architects’ union, like the ARB in the UK.
The Swedish Architects’ Association did however recently bring forth a political program, proposing a coordinated architectural political policy. This is in many ways a great idea. An architectural policy has been accepted in many cities – Copenhagen is a nearby example. Copenhagen city council recently published “Arkitekturby København”, which is a set of architectural strategies and priorities explaining how the council wants Copenhagen to grow. One of the essential points of this document was that the council adopted it unanimously. This means that the document can lay out long-term architectural strategies that last longer than one four-year-term, and this is essential. Denmark also has the DAC, the Danish Architecture Centre, an organization funded primarily by the Ministry of Culture, which serves as a presumably objective body of professionals who comment on developments and inform the public through Copenhagen X, a public information project aimed at informing the public about new architecture.
In Sweden, the parties bicker and argue using architecture as bats; this is not very encouraging for developers who feel that the future of their project is insecure and dependent on the outcome of the next election. A unanimously adopted program however will provide the longevity that is needed for all parties, architects, developers, council and inhabitants. An political strategy for architecture which takes a long-term perspective and adopted independently of party lines would create a much more stable platform for the discussion of architecture, for architects, for politicians and for everybody else.
Neither the British nor the Danish systems is perfect, but at least there are organizations and strategies to deal with these situations, whereas Sweden is dominated by anarchy and rampant opportunism. One way or another: to get out of the current conundrum, Stockholm needs to develop a long-term architectural perspective.
This can be achieved by implementing a political strategy for architecture, which needs to be adopted by a broad majority in City Hall so that it remains valid after the next election. In addition to this, I think it would be an excellent idea to create a politically independent body of professionals that can review or comment on projects from a reasonably objective perspective with a long-term focus. In the proud Swedish traditions of self-proclaimed self-righteous know-it-alls, I guess I will just have to go ahead and form it myself.
Anthony Gormley and David Chipperfield have together designed a pavilion at Kivik Art Centre in the south Swedish countryside. It is the first collaborative project between the artist and the architect and consists of three concrete volumes of 100 cubic meters each; the cave, the stage and the tower.
The cave, at the bottom, is a rather introspective closed space of solitude. It also serves as a sort personal air lock separating you from the world, and the queue, outside.
Next floor up is the stage, where you stand on a stage looking into the forest and your body becomes a part of the installation. The surrounding forest observes you, and you look back at it.
At the top you find yourself looking out over the tree tops, you are an observer looking out at the world from an isolated observation tower.
The volumes are meant to capture three ways of experiencing the local landscape, and how your body and mind relate to these experiences. Only one person at a time is allowed to enter the pavilion, and this helps preserve contemplative nature of the work.
The idea behind Kivik Art Centre is to create a centre for artists with workshops and eventually a permanent exhibition space. The problem is as always money. The foundation does not own the land where the pavilion stands and lacks the funding to buy it at the moment.
The pavilion has received a lot of international media attention from Wallpaper, the Guardian and a number of other magazines. In Sweden on the other hand, mostly the local papers, and one or two of the national ones have shown it any attention.
The majority of the Swedish attention has, however, been on the fact that you can spot some celebrity’s house from the tower- and he has demanded that the pavilion should be torn down. This makes you fear for the future of the Kivik Art Centre, and for the state of culture in Sweden in general.
Shopping arcades may be fighting a losing battle for consumers in the long run. They appear to be too rigid in structure, lack complexity and adaptability. For the last years, internationally, there’s been a triumphant return for the department store. In London; Selfridge’s, Harvey Nichol’s and last, but not least; Dover Street Market, these are changing the idea of a department store. At least with Dover Street Market, the idea is to create a more adaptable structure. Brands are organised independently and can update lines and stalls freer than a shop with a generic men’s department. The fact that it is decorated like a shanty town just increases its impression of instant flux. Departments can expand and retract according to need whereas the shopping arcade is locked in so many ways to the physical borders between the actual shops.
Another great strategy is to mix in other activities with the shopping, eating, drinking, art exhibitions and so on, among the merchandise rather than in a food court. It’s basically all done in order to expose the customer too as many products as possible in a friendly environment. The need to sell is not emphasized, cash registers are almost hidden away, staff don’t accost you, the need to browse is understood and encouraged. The longer you spend there the more profitable you are and thus it’s in the interest of the store is to make you feel welcome and make you linger around. The shopping area becomes curated rather than engineered, art exhibitions are interlaced with products and the borders between art and consumer goods are blurred.
This concept has now found its way to Stockholm, it may have been around for a while, what do I know, I haven’t been there in ages. PUB is one of the classic department stores in Stockholm, but has in recent years become less exclusive and popular. The top floor has recently been refurbished to accommodate a very DSM inspired fashion outlet. Even most of the aesthetics seem to come from the same shanty-town concept.
This type of venues will probably pop up all over the place in the coming years, and whether or not they succeed will basically depend on whether they manage to maintain their exclusive reputation. You can only have so many luxury shantytowns in one city. I am quite positive to the concept I must admit, it adds a few of the layers of complexity that the shopping mall lacks by mixing bars and exhibition spaces with the shopping. These developments are more living room like, whereas shopping malls are highways, pick your exit from the main aisle, do your business, get back out. Places like D.S.M. and PUB manage to keep me interested quite a while longer. I am however no expert in shop design and profitability per square foot and so forth, and in the end, that’s what it all comes down to.
From an urban perspective, I don’t really mind them neither. They don’t pretend to be an extension of the street, that’s the whole point; it’s exclusive. These stores are highly controlled environments, but so are shopping malls, possibly to an even higher degree. At the same time, they never claim to be public, they never pretend to be an ersatz for the city centre, they are a part of it.
I was in Stockholm a while back, it’s as always a fantastically beautiful city. One thing I don’t understand however, is the obsession with shopping arcades, or city malls if you prefer. In recent years a number of arcades have opened up in the central part, most recently in Skrapan, a refurbishment of what used to be the Swedish tax department’s old headquarters. Another arcade was stopped by a surprisingly energetic grass roots movement in another part of the city centre. Furthermore, when the proposal for Slussen, an area with incredible potential, was presented, it turns out it’s going to be a cultural centre, located in, surprise, a shopping arcade.
Yet another project is Sergels Torg, right in the middle of the city. Here a lengthy discussion has involved everything from constructing picturesque 18th century style town houses to a park. In the end the consensus appears to be to put a glass wall around the existing shops and, presto, you have a shopping arcade.
The perceived problem with open streets and squares, Sergels Torg in particular, is security and crime. There’s no denying that Sergels Torg has its fair share of dodgy characters, drug dealers, users and so on. At the same time, isn’t that really just a proof of it being a public space that actually works? It actually does present the user with a reasonably accurate cross section of Swedish society, for good and bad. Does anybody seriously believe that if you turn it into a controllable space, the dealers will stop dealing, users stop using and so on? Or do they just don’t want to see these elements of society? We live more or less in a society where the middle class sets the rules, and I believe that it is essential for those in charge to meet their subjects, otherwise it’s all too easy to become cruel.
One of the great things about the classic European city is that you meet the others, people who aren’t like you. The shopping arcade is a quite sinister way of excluding and controlling space so that people won’t be threatened by the other. Taken to its extreme in Minneapolis or Houston, it creates a double world where nobody meets anybody who’s different and thus have no understanding for any values or lifestyle other than their own.
Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not a fanatical advocator of the European city model, at the same time I do recognize that it has got a few qualities that are quite rare in any other model. I do not believe this is resulting from the inferiority of any other models, but probably because they are still evolving.


text:
Cannabis energy drinks are up and coming. Should we even be drinking these?
A new cannabis energy drink is one of the countless new products trying to cash in on the cannabis band wagon — a trend that may be undercutting the entire industry. Monster has announced an interest in creating a cannabis-infused beverage, officially ushering in an era of cannabis energy drinks. While other companies have offered similar products, like Willie Nelson’s CBD-infused coffee, the proliferation of such products should give us pause. CBD may be a fantastic remedy for all sorts of ailments, but it’s not a panacea.
Could the addition of CBD to every product under the sun have adverse effects, in terms of public perception, prices, or health? Let’s use cannabis energy drinks as our model to think through the implications of a world where CBD seeps into everything.
What Happens When You Mix Cannabis with Caffeine?
Cannabis energy drinks promise to deliver the best of both worlds, a product that is simultaneously calming and energizing. But it’s just as likely to do the opposite. After all, if CBD calms you down and caffeine jolts you awake, wouldn’t the two just cancel each other out?
While that’s not quite the case, there is scant research on the effects of combining active cannabis compounds with caffeine. One study published in Association with the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine examined a CBD-infused tea found that scalding temperatures could affect the CBD, breaking it down slightly and leading to weaker and inconsistent dosages.Pacifici, R., Marchei, E., Salvatore, F., Guandalini, L., Busardò, F., & Pichini, S. (2017). Evaluation of cannabinoids concentration and stability in standardized preparations of cannabis tea … Continue reading
But cannabis energy drinks wouldn’t suffer from overheating. The concern is about how caffeine and CBD interact. A different study in Journal of International Medicine last year, looking exclusively at coffee, found that CBD and caffeine affect the same neuro pathways in the brain. That means there’s potential for amplification, cancelation, or something more nefarious to occur when the two combine.
That doesn’t mean that CBD and caffeine are necessarily a dangerous combination. Many people, including this espresso bar owner with an autoimmune disease, swear by the stuff. But not everyone is as responsible as that Michigan-based barista, who combines CBD and coffee in order to treat the chronic pain in his legs.
And we’re not talking about a light tea after a CBD gummy bear. That’s kiddie stuff. The issue at hand is whether it’s beneficial or dangerous to slurp down a cannabis energy drink. Those things are like coffee on steroids; there’s a lot more than caffeine in there.
Just Because There’s CBD Doesn’t Mean it’s Healthy
The trend of adding CBD to any consumer product is running rampant, but it’s confusing consumers and potentially harming the newborn cannabis industry. While CBD does a lot of good, there are times and places where it doesn’t help. Tossing back cannabis energy drinks may be among them.
The active ingredients in a Red Bull are all uppers, and CBD is a depressant. When you combine the two in your system, there’s no telling how you might feel. In the right proportions, you could have a lot more energy without any anxiety or jitters. But if you take the wrong combination, you could feel very weird. Some CBD energy drink consumers reported feeling sleepy but energetic, the kind of mental state that makes people prone to mistakes while operating vehicles.
Mixing any uppers and downers is potentially dangerous. We learned that the hard way, when the alcoholic energy drink like Four Loko hospitalized teenagers, blacked out college students, and many more bad times.
The Joe Camel Problem
CBD’s addition to dangerous products feels like a backdoor effort to make them healthy — and that’s just not the case. On its own, CBD is a natural and restorative substance. But energy drinks are not healthy, no matter how much good stuff is added to the mix. It’s like eating carrot cake and insisting it’s a vegetable.
The danger with this approach is that CBD becomes a marker of faux healthy products. That, in turn, undercuts its very real benefits. If teenagers start blacking out on CBD energy drinks, the whole cannabis industry could develop a bad image.
CBD can ease tremors, reduce anxiety, relieve insomnia, and promote calmness. Monster does the opposite. So who, exactly, is the audience for a cannabis energy drink?
Apparently, it’s youth. Instead of going after CBD consumers, cannabis energy drink executives are targeting the same folks who drink regular energy drinks. That’s a bit dangerous. Why? Because one of the biggest dangers in combining uppers and downers is taking too much. It’s tough to measure how much you’ve taken, and that’s especially true in young people who may not be aware of their own limitations.
The Bottom Line
Cannabis energy drinks present a few problems, but there is a solution: Start low and go slow.
No one should introduce themselves to caffeine by chugging a Monster, just as no one should use dab as an introduction to cannabis. When it comes to both products individually, start with small amounts and increase dosage slowly.
That advice goes double when these are combined. Because CBD’s effects are on a person-by-person basis, it’s hard to know how anyone will react. And that’s just the problem. We’re not sure how much caffeine and CBD are going to be in these products, or how much is safe.
What we need is more research, or until then, very cautious consumers.
|↑1||Pacifici, R., Marchei, E., Salvatore, F., Guandalini, L., Busardò, F., & Pichini, S. (2017). Evaluation of cannabinoids concentration and stability in standardized preparations of cannabis tea and cannabis oil by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM), 55(10), 1555-1563. doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2016-1060|

domain: chemistry


text:
Looking for a Hotel around South Lambeth?
47 Park Street - Grand Residences by Marriott … find out more
Below are listing categories for attractions in South Lambeth and the surrounding area. You can add your listing to these categories here.
Churches in South Lambeth, Greater London
English Heritage Sites in South Lambeth, Greater London
Tourist Information Centres in South Lambeth, Greater London
Town and Village Halls in South Lambeth, Greater London
Listed in: Guest Houses
Listed in: Hotels
Listed in: Bed and Breakfast
A 30-minute walk from central London and a 1-minute walk from the Tate Modern Gallery, LSE Bankside House offers bed... more
Brompton House offers elegant, modern apartments around Kensington and Chelsea, close to the Kings Road, Chelsea Football Stadium, West Brompton... more
Dalchini Food and Drink? Take a look at chinese restaurants in Wimbledon
Hutong Food and Drink? Take a look at chinese restaurants in Waterloo
Access Earls Court Accommodation? Take a look at guest houses in Earl's Court
Macdonald Hotel Accommodation? Check out bed and breakfast in London
St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London Accommodation? Take a look at hotels in Camden Town
Do you know about an event happening in or around South Lambeth? Let everyone know what's going on in the area. Click here to promote an event.
Do you visit or live in South Lambeth? Let everyone know what you enjoy about the area. Or perhaps you have a question you need answering about South Lambeth or maybe your family history? Click here to leave a message.

domain: geography


text:
Saturday & Sunday - October 15-16, 2022
9:00am - 5:00 pm
We are hard at work planning the 34th world famous CAMDEN BLACK WALNUT FESTIVAL to be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 15-16, 2022.
Held the third weekend in October, this long-time festival favorite is one of the best in the entire SW OHIO area with more than 120 vendors and averaging 7,000-9,000 attendees per day.
This year, you will enjoy all the fantastic festival fun we can possibly pack into a weekend including...
- 120+ Vendors!
- Handmade crafts
- Antiques, vintage and collectibles
- New products and fun novelties
- Pumpkins, gourds, flowers and other fall produce
- Fantastic food vendors
- A big 'ol fun parade
- Car & Truck show
- Baking contest and Auction
- Fun Kiddie Tractor Pull
- Top notch entertainment all day long - both days
- Wood carving Artist
- Petting Zoo
- Preble Shawnee High and Middle School Art Show and an Art Class for kids
- Royalty Contest (Ages 2-13, boys and girls)
- Fun events for the whole family (face painting, caricature artist, barrel train rides, balloon artist)
- Historic Camden Walking Tours
- Haunted Camden Wagon Tours (are you brave enough to ride?)
- Oh, and let's not forget the great hand-cranked, homemade ice cream!
- Lots of fun for everyone and every age!
2022 BWF FESTIVAL SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE)
DATES: Saturday & Sunday, October 15-16, 2022
FESTIVAL TIMES: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. both days
PARADE: 10:00 a.m. Saturday
CAR SHOW: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday
FOOD - CRAFTS - VENDORS - ENTERTAINMENT - FUN: 9:00 - 5:00 pm -- All day long both days!!!
KIDDING TRACTOR PULL - 12:00 noon registration 1:00 Pull on Sunday
BAKING CONTEST & AUCTION - Saturday 11:00 am judging and 3:00 Auction
SAT. EVENING CONCERT: 6:00 p.m. Saturday
BEER GARDEN : 1:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday (times are tentative and could change)
We look forward to having you! Updated vendor information and fees for the 2022 can be found here.


- Tacoma, WA
Jacob originally wanted to be an anthropologist or archaeologist. “I wasn’t entirely sure, but at least I had narrowed it down to something that ended with ‘ist.’ Then I took Geology of Our National Parks, which was my very first class in college. That afternoon I declared my major and haven’t looked back.”
At GeoEngineers, Jacob works on both environmental and natural resources projects, helping assess and protect soil and groundwater resources in the urban and natural environment. He primarily studies groundwater flow and how contaminants are transported in groundwater. He is also interested in protecting and utilizing groundwater as a clean resource. Jacob enjoys the work and notes, “On many projects I actually get to use all that cool stuff I learned in college! And I have fun doing it.”
Spending time with family, backpacking, kayaking, snowboarding, gardening and brewing beer top Jacob’s list of things to do when he’s not at work.


text: 2.25 inch x 3.25 inch to 8.5 inch x 13 inch Simply Peel and Stick! Removable & Reusable! Bring the great outdoors inside with this set of North American wildlife wall stickers. Black bears, whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and ducks are splendidly rendered by top wildlife artists David Maas, Rosemary Millette, and Jim Kasper. Also comes with a variety of signs designed as if they were painted on vintage wood plaques. If you love hunting or simply admiring the beauty of nature, this one is for you. The coordinated peel and stick border (sold separately) will undoubtedly provide the finishing touch.

domain: design