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The Natural History and Tailored Treatment of ACL Injury
Nick A. Evans, MD; Hall F. Chew; William D. Stanish, MD
THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE - VOL 29 - NO.9 - SEPTEMBER 2001
In Brief: The fate of the injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is variable. The spectrum of injury ranges from partial sprain (grade 1 or 2) to a complete disruption (grade 3), which may occur in isolation or in combination with injury to other structures in the knee. Postinjury symptoms of knee instability usually depend on the degree of joint laxity and the athletic demands of the individual. If an ACL injury is left untreated, repeated episodes of subluxation can inflict further intraarticular damage, with an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. Predicting the outcome after ACL injury is difficult, and treatment should be individualized.
Knee injuries that damage the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) inflict a spectrum of pathology in various patients. Predicting outcomes can be difficult (1-3). However, careful assessment of the injured knee and the patient to whom it belongs will afford the best treatment options. Treatment selection must be individualized, and the tailored treatment plan may include an initial trial of nonoperative measures.
Prevalence, Mechanism, and Classification
The prevalence of ACL injury in the United States is about 1 in 3,000, and approximately 95,000 new injuries occur each year (4). The largest proportion of these injuries occur during sports that involve deceleration, twisting, cutting, or jumping. ACL injury can occur as a result of excessive valgus stress, forced external rotation of the femur on a fixed tibia (with the knee in full extension), or forced hyperextension.
Acute ACL injuries can be classified by the degree of damage to the ACL (partial or complete disruption) and the presence or absence of damage to other structures in the knee (isolated or combined). Injuries can be visualized and assessed with arthroscopy (normal; figure 1A). Fifteen percent of ACL injuries are partial sprains (grade 1 or 2; figure 1B), whereas 85% are complete disruptions (grade 3, figure 1C) (1,5,6). ACL damage occurs as an isolated injury in only 25% of cases. Combined injuries may involve damage to the menisci (60%), articular cartilage (30%), collateral ligaments (30%), joint capsule, or a combination of such injuries (1,5-7). This spectrum of pathology influences healing and functional outcome.
Anatomy, Function, and Healing Potential
The ACL is approximately 3 cm long, has its origin on the lateral femoral condyle within the intercondylar notch, and inserts into the tibial plateau medial to the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus (8). It functions as a knee-joint stabilizer, and in addition to being the primary restraint to anterior tibial translation, it counteracts excessive rotation and valgus stress.
The ligament consists of an anteromedial and a posterolateral band. The anteromedial band is tighter when the knee is flexed, and the posterolateral band is tighter in extension. When the knee is straight, the secondary restraint action of the hamstrings is minimal, and the posterolateral band provides additional stability.
During physical examination, the anterior drawer test (figure 2) is specific for anteromedial band rupture; the Lachman test (figure 3) and pivot shift test (figure 4) are preferential for a disrupted posterolateral band. All three tests are likely to be positive when the ACL is completely torn (2,6,8). A 5-mm side-to-side difference on KT-1000 arthrometry is a strong indicator of complete ACL disruption (1). A positive Lachman or anterior drawer test with a firm end-point suggests a partial (grade 2) ACL sprain, particularly when the pivot-shift is negative.
The ACL is the fulcrum for knee stability, providing the primary restraint to anterior tibial translation on the femur. It is able to resist a tensile force of 2,000 N. The ligament carries only small loads during normal daily function (20% of its failure capacity), with the highest loads being quadriceps-powered knee extension from 40° to full extension (2).
The poor healing potential of the ACL has been attributed to its "harsh" intra-articular environment (9). In general, the localized hematoma that forms after soft-tissue injury provokes an inflammatory response, and repair occurs by the formation of scar tissue. ACL healing may depend on the integrity of its thin synovial envelope. When the synovial lining remains intact, the hematoma is kept in place, providing a fibrin network for subsequent healing. If the synovial lining is torn during injury, blood dissipates within the joint. Without the formation of a blood clot, soft-tissue repair will not initiate (9). Scar formation may occur in partial ACL tears, but very little local healing is detectable at the injury site in complete ACL ruptures. Instead, a layer of synovial tissue forms over the damaged surface, and the ruptured ends contract (10).
Fate of the Injured ACL
The natural history of a torn ACL is variable. Despite the publication of more than 2,000 scientific articles on the ACL during the last 20 years, certain fundamental issues regarding the fate of the injured ACL remain unclear (2,11). Questions about outcome can be divided chronologically into three phases:
Thus, when considering the injury's natural history, we must first address the fate of the sprained ACL. Then, if the ligament fails to heal, our concern shifts to the development of symptomatic knee instability. At later stages, intra-articular deterioration of the knee with chronic ACL insufficiency becomes an issue.
ACL healing. The prognosis for a partially torn ACL may be favorable (6,11) if the synovial envelope of the ACL remains intact (9,10). This phenomenon takes place within the early phase (2 to 3 months) following injury.
Although complete ACL ruptures have a less favorable outcome, healing potential does exist, and intra-articular reattachment of the torn ACL can occur. In these cases, the ACL is usually seen scarred onto the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) (12). However, healing in the form of intra-articular reattachment of the torn ACL does not necessarily ensure knee stability. Adhesions onto the PCL may stretch out with time. Increased stress placed on the secondary restraints causes these structures to lose competence. This temporary apparent stability has been termed the "honeymoon period."
Instability. In the months that follow ACL injury, "functional impairment" becomes the prime concern. The development of symptomatic knee instability after ACL injury is unpredictable; instability rates range from 16% to almost 100% of cases (2). Some patients are disabled for sports, while others appear to have minimal impairment. Such discrepancies may be due to varying degrees of ACL damage, different combinations of knee injury, and the diverse physical demands and expectations of different populations. Functional instability is more likely to occur with combined damage to the meniscus, articular cartilage, and other ligaments.
Deterioration. A knee with ACL laxity is at risk of developing secondary damage and is liable to undergo progressive intra-articular deterioration (1). Approximately half of acute ACL disruptions are associated with meniscus damage. This figure rises to 90% in ACL-deficient knees that are assessed 10 or more years after the initial injury. Acute tears usually involve the lateral meniscus (figure 5), whereas secondary lesions following chronic instability occur more frequently in the medial meniscus. In a similar fashion, the prevalence of articular cartilage lesions (figure 6) rises from 30% in fresh ACL injuries to approximately 70% of ACL-deficient knees at 10 years postinjury (1,5,6,11). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the acute ACL-injured knee reveals a typical bone bruise pattern in the lateral condyle and tibial plateau. Such lesions are characterized by microfracture of the cancellous bone and fragmentation of the overlying cartilage (13).
Osteoarthritis. The final outcome of such deterioration is joint arthrosis. The prevalence of progression to radiographically detectable osteoarthrosis (OA) in ACL injury ranges from 15% to 65%, and the findings depend somewhat on the length of follow-up (2,5). The reasons for this variability are not fully understood, but mechanical and biochemical changes in the knee are influential. ACL deficiency alters knee biomechanics, and in areas of overload, the articular cartilage may wear down. An alteration in the cytokine profile within the injured knee may facilitate the breakdown of articular cartilage. Additional damage to the meniscus and/or articular cartilage will also worsen the prognosis (14), and one of the goals of treatment is to reduce the risk of secondary damage. ACL reconstruction may protect the integrity of the menisci, but whether it prevents progression to knee OA is unknown (14). Reconstruction of the injured ACL is paramount to the success of surgical repair of associated damage to menisci or other ligaments.
Outcome. Noyes' "rule of thirds" (3) predicts the outcome of symptomatic ACL-deficient knees after a program of rehabilitation, bracing, and activity modification. One third of patients will improve and be capable of recreational activities without symptoms. One third will remain the same, compensating by reducing their activity level. One third will become worse, and probably will require reconstructive surgery. Following rehabilitation, less than 10% of patients return to unrestricted competitive sport. The chance of future episodes of instability and reinjury is 50% or more, but largely depends on the patient's activity level (11). As previously noted, the results of ACL surgical reconstruction are not universally predictable; however, long-term rates of good and excellent results of functional stability, symptom relief, and return to preinjury level of activity are reported to be between 75% and 90% (15).
Selection of Treatment
Without treatment, a complete ACL rupture can result in progressive knee instability, which in turn causes recurrent intra-articular damage and eventual OA (1,5). The fundamental rationale for surgical reconstruction of the disrupted ACL is to prevent this unfavorable cascade (2). However, patient selection for treatment is not straightforward, since not all patients with injured ACLs become symptomatic, and not all knees with chronic ACL insufficiency progress to OA. Thus, not all such injuries warrant surgical reconstruction. Owing to the range of injury severity and the variety of athletic demands encountered, the treatment of ACL injury should be customized to the individual patient. The patient's expectation and treatment preference should also be taken into account.
High-risk factors. Certain characteristics indicate that a patient is at high risk of symptomatic knee instability following ACL injury (1). High-risk patients should be treated with early ligament reconstruction, whereas low-risk patients should be treated with nonsurgical modalities. The patient's risk depends on age, sports activity, and degree of joint instability. High-risk features include:
Treatment plan. Isolated and partial lesions are amenable to conservative treatment, whereas total ruptures, combined with damage to menisci, capsule, or collateral ligaments, are better served by surgical reconstruction. Decision making is based on careful evaluation of the extent of the pathology, with consideration of the patient's level of activity and expectation (figure 7).
Assessment begins by taking a detailed history and performing a careful physical examination. MRI is helpful in confirming the diagnosis and in identifying associated injuries, including bone bruises, torn menisci, collateral ligament injury, and capsular damage. In high-risk patients, we perform knee arthroscopy and examination under anesthesia when full range of knee motion has been restored. If the injury is confirmed as a complete ACL tear, we proceed to ACL reconstruction.
If, on the other hand, a partial ACL injury is found, conservative treatment is chosen. This group of patients is prescribed a specific program of rehabilitation that includes muscle strengthening, proprioceptive training, and protective bracing. Following this program, patients who experience persistent symptoms of knee instability may require ACL reconstruction (1).
The Ideal Natural History Study
The fate of the ACL-injured knee treated without surgery requires further investigation to clarify current uncertainties. The ideal natural history study would follow patients with ACL injury prospectively over a long period without intervention, then finally and definitely assess the patients' status objectively, subjectively, and functionally (1,8). Unfortunately, such a study may never be ethically possible in North America.
Dr Evans is an orthopedic sports medicine fellow in the division of orthopedic surgery at Dalhousie University and a staff physician at the Orthopaedic and Sport Medicine Clinic of Nova Scotia, both in Halifax. Mr Chew is a research student in the faculty of medicine at Dalhousie University. Dr Stanish is a professor of surgery in the division of orthopedic surgery at Dalhousie University and director of the Orthopaedic and Sport Medicine Clinic of Nova Scotia. Address correspondence to William D. Stanish, MD, Orthopaedic and Sport Medicine Clinic of Nova Scotia, 5595 Fenwick St, Suite 311, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4M2; e-mail to [email protected].


Using two SATA hard drives.
I bought a new pc and i want to transfer all my stuff from my old hard drive onto my new hard drive. Both of them have vista OS. Now I have both hooked up to SATA in my new pc but my second hard drive is not showing up in my computer. I went to device manager and they are both showing up under disk drives. How do I slave one of my hard drives using SATA??


text:
Love LettersBook - 2009
With the bookshop where she works about to close, Laura Horsley, in a moment of uncharacteristic recklessness, finds herself agreeing to help organise a literary festival deep in the heart of the English countryside. But her initial excitement is rapidly followed by panic when she realises just how much work is involved.
Publisher: London : Century, 2009.
Characteristics: 388 p. ;,23 cm.

domain: library


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Higher levels of naturally occurring lithium in the water supply are associated with fewer suicides in the local population, reports a study just published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.
Lithium is one of the fundamental elements, but is also used by psychiatrists as one the most effective drug treatment for mood disorders, in the form of lithium carbonate and lithium citrate, where it is also known to reduce the risk of suicide.
This new study suggests that even trace amounts might have an influence on the whole population level, and this is not the first time this link has been made.
A 1990 study found higher levels of lithium in drinking water were linked to fewer incidences of crimes, suicides, and arrests related to drug addictions.
This leads to the intriguing question of whether lithium should be added to the water supply as a public health measure.
The idea of adding psychoactive substances to the water supply sounds creepy, but some might argue that if we add fluoride simply to prevent tooth decay, boosting lithium concentrations to the high end of naturally occurring levels to reduce deaths could be justified.
Philosophers and conspiracy theorists start your engines.

domain: chemistry


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A simple typographic alphabet wallpaper created using one of the most popular typefaces of the 20th century, Helvetica. The Phonetics design epitomises the simplicity and functionality that the Scandinavian Movement remains popular for. Simplistic wallpaper designs in lighter Colors help to create the illusion of space in a crowded room while giving it a modern appeal. This children’s wallpaper is ideal for decorating a child’s nursery or bedroom.
24" (61.5cm) x 33ft (10.05m)
Pre-trimmed Butt Join
Once you delete a project and all of its Pins, you can't undo it.
Once you unpin, you can't undo it.

domain: artistic


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(October 23, 1922 – August 3, 2015)
Coleen Gray, one of my favorites, has passed away at 92. Today, she’s known for her appearances in some key noir pictures, but as we all know, she made a number of top-notch Westerns.
Nightmare Alley (1947). Red River (1948). Apache Drums (1951). The Killing (1956). Star In The Dust (1956). Copper Sky (1957). So many good movies. Why don’t you go watch one of ’em?

domain: celebrity


text:
Do you smell Old Bay seasoning in the air?! That’s because we’re heading to Maryland. We’ve been here before visiting our friends The Real Housewives of Potomac, where we’ve learned that zipcodes are everything and you need to make millions to owe millions, but today we are here for The Real Shelter Dogs coming from the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), located in Baltimore, Maryland.
BARCS is a nonprofit organization operating Maryland’s largest animal shelter and adoption center. They care for all animals in need and promote responsible pet ownership for a more humane community in Baltimore City.
The shelter has drastically increased the number of adoptions in the last 10 years and provides resources and low cost services to pets and people in the community. The only thing the shelter doesn’t have is the Housewives-much envied zipcode — BUT to the ladies of Potomac, we say these pups could totally live in the 20854 if only you’d adopt one! We heard some of you need pets.)
So get a handful of peanuts, gather around a conference table and now meet your Real Shelter Dogs, complete with opening credits-worthy taglines!
“You don’t have to make millions to look like a million bucks.” - Cisco
Cisco is an amazing dog. At one year old, he is still very much a puppy and loves to run, play and snuggle. Every time a volunteer goes to visit him in his kennel he jumps and hops and "boofs" with excitement! He absolutely loves to go outside on walks and has so much fun stretching his legs in our play yard. But he's not all about playtime, Cisco loves some lovin’ too. Our volunteers report that when he goes out for walks he often will lead them over to his favorite bench, where he sits patiently and waits for pets. His antenna-like ears wiggle with joy when he gets love!
“My love tank is full and I’m running my way into your future.” – Kash
Five-year-old Kash has a huge squishy head you just want to squish and moosh with love (and we at the shelter frequently do!). Kash is such a playful and friendly buddy who loves our play yard. He still needs to learn some on-leash manners, but is calmer and more polite off-leash and in the play yard. Even though Kash loves to play he, always makes sure to take breaks and come over for love and attention from his humans.
“I may sit and speak, but I can win you over with with no words.” - Duck
Two-year-old Duck is one of the bounciest most playful dogs we’ve ever met! He loves to play with his other doggie friends in our play yard and enjoys going on runs with our volunteers. Duck is smart too, he knows how to sit and give paws! Such a lovable boy!
“Knock me down 9 times but I’m always a 10.” - Eustace
Eustace is a 10-year-old "old dog." He was picked up by Animal Control after not being cared for. There’s nothing Eustace loves more than hugs and love from our volunteers. He often stands at the edge of his kennel and looks up with his teddy bear eyes to greet volunteers when they come to take him on walks and lets out little “squeeks” of excitement. He is calm and very well behaved on a leash. Such a good boy!
“I’m not a trophy pup, I’m a lifetime acheivement award!”- Bryant
Three-year-old Bryant is such big handsome boy. He's housebroken and knows 'sit'! He's very treat motivated, so 'sit' is just the beginning of what he will be able to learn with his new family! He's got these big goofy feet and an adorable squishy head you just want to kiss!
"I bring the power, the playfulness, and the puppy energy." – Parker
Parker is a little love bug with a big adorable smile! Who could resist this face?! Even at four years old Parker is a perma-puppy who love to run and play with toys! She walks beautifully on leash and is so agreeable and friendly!
To learn more about this organization, please visit barcs.org. If you are interested in giving any of these doggos a forever home (or any of their furry friends at the shelter), please email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Unleashed is Bravo's celebration of pamper-worthy pets and how to spoil them. Want more? Then Like us on Facebook to stay connected to our daily updates.

domain: pet


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To listen to an audio podcast, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to download and subscribe to podcasts.
Cosmic Shenanigans is a podcast focusing on cosmic horror in films, television, art, games, music, fashion, pop culture, and just about anywhere else our little tentacles can reach. Host Mary SanGiovanni delves into what makes it timelessly relevant and enjoyable, and examines how it permeates so much of modern culture. Further, as a writer of cosmic horror herself, Mary looks at her and others’ roles in the subgenre and in publishing at large, and explores the female perspective toward and within works of cosmic horror.
||ExplicitI AM PROVIDENCE - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 25||Taken from a recent episode of THE HORROR SHOW WITH BRIAN KEENE, Mary, Brian, and Dave discuss the novel I AM PROVIDENCE by Nick Mamatas.||10/14/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitNEONOMICON - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 24||Mary discusses Neonomicon, a graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Jacen Burrows, published by Avatar Press.||10/7/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE VOID - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 23||This week, Mary discusses the 2016 cosmic horror film, THE VOID.||9/30/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND PART 2 - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 22||Mary and special guest Brian Keene continue their discussion of William Hope Hodgson's seminal novel THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND and its influence on cosmic horror over the past century.||9/23/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND PART 1 - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 21||Mary and special guest Brian Keene discuss William Hope Hodgson's seminal novel THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND and its influence on cosmic horror over the past century.||9/16/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE WILLOWS - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 20||Mary discusses the story "The Willows" by Algernon Blackwood, originally published in 1907.||9/2/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitEGYPT, 1200 BC: HERALD OF CHAOS - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 20||Mary discusses "Egypt, 1200 BC: Herald of Chaos" by Keith Taylor, part of the anthology That is Not Dead: Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos Through the Centuries edited by Darrell Schweitzer. It was first published by PS Publishing in 2015.||8/5/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitI'LL BRING YOU THE BIRDS FROM OUT OF THE SKY - Cosmic Shennigans - Ep19||Mary discusses the novella "I'll Bring You The Birds From Out Of The Sky" by Brian Hodge, published in 2017 by Cemetery Dance.||7/29/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE ENDLESS - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 18||Mary and the other members of THE HORROR SHOW WITH BRIAN KEENE have a non-spoiler discussion of the cosmic horror film, THE ENDLESS||7/15/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitPAUL TREMBLAY - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 17||Mary is joined by author Paul Tremblay for a discussion of cosmic horror and his new novel, CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD.||7/1/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE WOMEN OF THE WOOD - Cosmic Shennigans - Ep 16||This week, Mary discusses The Women Of The Wood by A. Merritt||6/24/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHRALL - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 15||This week, Mary talks about her novel of cosmic horror and monsters, THRALL.||6/17/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE DAMNED THING - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 14||This week, Mary discusses the short story "The Damned Thing" by Ambrose Bierce.||5/27/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||CleanTHE BLACK STONE - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 13||Mary looks at Robert E. Howard's Lovecraft Mythos story, "The Black Stone," its vivid descriptions, and its unique characters.||5/20/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitA DARK MATTER - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 12||Mary discusses Peter Straub's novel A DARK MATTER||5/13/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||CleanTHE RETURN OF THE SORCERER - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 11||In this week's episode, Mary discusses "The Return Of The Sorcerer" by Clark Ashton Smith, first published in 1931.||5/6/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||CleanIN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 10||Mary discusses John Carpenter's ode to H.P. Lovecraft and its place in the cosmic horror pantheon. Do you read Sutter Cane...?||4/29/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||CleanLOVECRAFT & THE OCCULT - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 9||On this week's episode, Mary explores the connections between author H.P. Lovecraft and the occult.||4/22/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitCROUCH END - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 8||In this episode, Mary examines the classic cosmic horror short story Crouch End by Stephen King.||4/15/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE GREAT GOD PAN - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 7||Mary looks at Arthur Machen's THE GREAT GOD PAN, and how real-life belief in paganism and mysticism may affect the nature of horror in a cosmic horror story.||3/25/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE KING IN YELLOW - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 6||Mary examines the "grandfather of cosmic horror" short story collection THE KING IN YELLOW by Robert W. Chambers. First published in 1895, it is hugely influential on the genre, from the works of H.P. Lovecraft to the recent TRUE DETECTIVE television...||3/11/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitSTICKS - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 5||Mary discusses the important and influential short story Sticks by Karl Edward Wagner||3/4/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitSILENT HILL - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 4||Mary analyzes the cosmic horror elements of the Silent Hill video game franchise, including an explanation of the cult known as the Order and the strange triumvirate of Alessa/Cheryl/Heather.||2/25/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitTHE HORLA - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 3||Mary discusses a very early cosmic horror short story, THE HORLA by Guy de Maupassant, which is considered an influence on the genre and on H.P. Lovecraft.||2/18/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitROOTS - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 2||Mary looks at the roots of cosmic horror going back to the mid-1800s, and compares Romanticism, science fantasy, and traditional surreal weird fiction to Lovecraft's cosmic horror.||2/4/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||ExplicitSHENANIGANS ENSUE - Cosmic Shenanigans - Ep 1||Mary talks a little about the characteristic elements that define cosmic horror, both traditionally and recently, and how some of those elements have evolved.||1/28/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
||CleanINTRODUCTION - Cosmic Shenanigans - #p 0||Author Mary SanGiovanni introduces her new weekly podcast, Cosmic Shenannigans, which will discuss all things cosmic horror.||1/21/2018||Free||View in iTunes|
I really enjoy this podcast. The horror genre is what turned me into a reader. This podcast is full of interesting information and is presented very well. I am really looking forward to all the future episodes, what I will learn, new authors I will learn about, and ultimately all the new books I will read because of it. Keep up the great work Mary!!!
A podcast that delves into cosmic horror deeper than just Lovecraft. A well spoken session about the definition of “cosmic horror.” I look forward with glee to future episodes of this podcast. The fact that it’s host is a writer of cosmic horror herself gives the listener a deeper insight into this incredibly popular style of fiction. Highly recommended!!
Excited for more!
I’m so excited to broaden my horror-horizons with this podcast!


CC+I’s technology meets your food processing needs with control systems for retorts, as well as, systems for batching and blending.
By using our systems to control your processes, you can reduce the risk associated with off-quality. Repeatability is the key for a quality product from batch-to-batch. Through use of software features, users can specify the exact sequence that the retort chamber follows allowing for complete control over variables including time, temperature, and amount of steam / water added. The result is product consistency and compliance with federal standards.
We can help you identify and document your historical performance, as well as, improve process reporting accuracy.
Our systems can be customized to fit your processes to give you the very best information available, so that you can make more accurate and cost effective decisions, in a timely fashion.


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Today’s tried and true is a fantastic comfort food recipe that’s simple to adapt to your taste and will have kids (and adults) begging for more – Quick & Easy Cheeseburger Bake! This is another budget-friendly family favorite from Betty Crocker. A simple to make casserole calling for just a few ingredients and on the table in under an hour.
QUICK & EASY CHEESEBURGER BAKE – If you’re a cheeseburger fan, this casserole is for you! This kid-friendly dish is a hearty meal the whole family will love. Garnish with your favorite cheeseburger toppings – ketchup, mustard, pickles and more. The leftovers are great too – if there is any left.
The recipe calls for Bisquick, ground beef, onion, condensed cheddar cheese soup, frozen mixed vegetables, milk and water. What’s great about this recipe, you can adapt it to your taste, lightly seasoning the beef with your favorite burger seasonings. As for the veggies, I use mushrooms instead of mixed vegetables – we are a mushroom and onion cheeseburger family. If you read the reviews on Betty Crocker, people love the veggies in the casserole, kids included.
I like to serve the cheeseburger bake with french fries and a side salad.
Note: This is not a sponsored post, I have no affiliation with Betty Crocker, I am just a lifelong fan.
Quick & Easy Cheeseburger Bake
- 1 pound lean ground beef (at least 80%) I use 93% lean
- 3/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 can (11 ounces) condensed Cheddar cheese soup (or make your own)
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (I used 8 ounces of fresh sliced mushrooms instead of mixed vegetables)
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups Original Bisquick mix (or make your own)
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 400 degree F. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
In a 10 or 12 inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium to medium-high heat, breaking up beef, cooking until beef is brown and onions are translucent – when ready drain fat/liquid. Next, add cheddar cheese soup, *mixed vegetables and milk, stir until mixed well.
In a medium size bowl add Bisquick and water, mix well. Pour mixture into greased baking dish and spread evenly. Spoon beef evenly over Bisquick mixture and then top with cheddar cheese.
Bake on middle rack of oven uncovered for 30 minutes.
Serve with your favorite cheeseburger condiments – ketchup, mustard, pickles and more, side salad and french fries…enjoy!
- *I replace the mixed vegetables with 8 ounces fresh sliced mushrooms. I saute the onions and mushrooms in a little butter until the onions are translucent, then I add the ground beef.
- You can easily adapt the beef to your taste, adding more flavor, using your favorite hamburger seasonings.
Sharing this recipe at Weekend Potluck.
Thanks for stopping by!

domain: food


Participants in a study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who were gifted free Bitcoin are witnessing a meteoric rise in the value of their crypto asset.
In 2014, the MIT Bitcoin Project offered every undergraduate student in the Cambridge, Massachusetts campus a chance to claim $100 in Bitcoin. All they had to do was complete a questionnaire to receive what was then a larger fraction of the cryptocurrency.
Bloomberg reports that of the 3,100 students that participated in the experiment, one in four participants cashed out their crypto assets when the experiment ended in 2017.
Some participants used their profits to buy a new pair of shoes or food. Others forgot about their holdings and some lost their BTC because they could no longer access their digital wallet where the Bitcoin was stored.
It is not clear how many alumni still have their free Bitcoin from the experiment, but 24-year-old Mary Spanjers, a freshman at the


CTE construction begins
Reposted with permission from the Hobbs News Sun
$46 million facility expected to open for 2022-23 school year
The CTE project will provide students with the training to serve the local gas and oil Industry, as well as wind, solar and other energy technologies. Additionally, the new CTE facility will provide educational emphasis on architecture and construction, manufacturing, information technology, transportation and logistics, and STEM.
There’s a hole in the ground just east of the Watson Memorial Stadium east of the Hobbs High School campus.
And it’s a pretty big hole.
Ground has broken on the $46 million Hobbs Municipal Schools Career Technical Education center. The facility is scheduled to have a soft opening around February of 2022 with an official opening at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
The facility, which received close to a 75 percent Hobbs voter approval for bond funding last year, is also being partially funded by the City of Hobbs and the JF Maddox foundation.
However the reason many Hobbs residents may not know the building’s construction has started is because no groundbreaking ceremony took place. And it’s easy to figure out why.
“Given the current situation in our world with the COVID pandemic and New Mexico’s mandates of having large group gatherings, we just weren’t able to have a ceremony like we wanted to,” said HMS Associate Superintendent Gene Strickland recently.
The idea of some sort of a celebration is still in the planning stages. One of the CTE project’s other partners is the Permian Strategic Partnership, is comprised of several major oil and gas companies, most of which are headquartered in Texas. So logistically, having members from those companies all able to partake in a singular celebratory event would also prove to be a challenge.
“We’ll look back at the idea when we meet again in October,” Strickland said. “Hopefully by then we’ll have of our statewide restrictions lifted and we can plan a more appropriate open. We are starting to look at milestone events within the project itself. Yes, there is the groundbreaking, which has taken place, but there is the toping out ceremony, where you have the highest beam on the building installed.”
There are other milestones within the project’s construction schedule that are also being looked at.
While that topic is being discussed, construction right now is purely foundation work. The location of the facility sits within the area of a flood plain, so that is being addressed as the foundation is being created. However because of the flood plain the buildings foundation will have different elevations within it.
“You can see the elevation change between the south wing and the north wing of the building,” Strickland said. “Originally, we had planned a three-story building and the foundation was going to have to come out of the ground nine feet. Now that we are a two-story building, we only have to come out of the ground five feet.”
Strickland said the design change from three stories to two was simply a monetary decision. After more current pricing estimates were determined, the cost of a three-story CTE was going to be about $10 million more than the original $46 million plan.
“At every design phase we were able to do a design estimate,” Strickland said. “At that phase of design it was about $10 million over budget and we knew there wasn’t going to be any more money in the pot.”
So designers went back to their drawing boards and were able to create a two-story structure that allowed the building to still have all its curriculum availability. Strickland said the new design shaved off about 16,000 square-feet off the building.
“Overall, we have a better building design as a two story then that of a three story,” Strickland said. “We twisted the building about 30 degrees and sequencing, it is going to be so much more effective because we can get the new building up and running and then tear down the CAI (Computer Aided Instruction) building.”
The CAI is the high school’s ITT building, which will be incorporated into the CTE before it is torn down.
By then the school district will, hopefully, have had some sort of a celebratory event honoring the construction or maybe even the completion of its latest educational facility.
Short-Term Flight InterruptionsAugust 26, 2021
Lea County Is One of the Fastest-Growing Counties in the StateSeptember 6, 2019
Things to do in Lea County: The Woolworth Community LibraryDecember 8, 2015
3 Ways Economic Development Improves Quality of LifeSeptember 21, 2015
Lea County is fastest-growing county in New MexicoJuly 9, 2015


Machine wash cold in glentle cycle. Use a color guard mild detergent. NO Bleach. Air dry or tumble dry, no heat. Iron from reverse side only. Designed, packaged and printed in the USA on towels made in India or egypt.
- Mint julep recipe printed on a flour sack towel folded in our larger style packaging with foamboard
- 100% cotton; 30″x30″
- Packaged in a sealed cello bag
The more you wash it, the softer it gets.
There are no reviews yet.


These Summit HD Video Camera Goggles make it easy to capture the action while you are shredding the slopes. They are a pair of snow goggles with a water resistant hi-def video camera built right in that make it easy for snow freaks to record videos in 720p and snap 5MP stills.
Whether you snowboard or ski, the Summit HD Video Camera Goggles can record all the action from the chairlift and down the mountain. Capture the POV action in 720p high def (1280×720 @ 30fps) with the wide angle lens. Plus it has a built-in wind-proof mic so you can record all the sound as well. You can snap 5MP still photos as well, with a 2592 x 1944 pixel resolution.
As shown in the center picture below, the buttons are bulky so they are easy to use even when wearing snow gloves. The internal lithium ion batteries are rechargeable and provides power for up to 2 hours. Images and video are stored to a Micro SD card, with capacity up to 32GB. The Summit HD Video Camera Goggles are USB 2.0 compatible, so you can plug it into your laptop and watch your videos immediately.


After unveiling his captivating new afrobeat summer single No Frontin’ back in July, Australian-based Nigerian singer, songwriter and musician D Matthews is excited to reveal the lush new music video to accompany the infectious summertime single, as he lays the groundwork for his highly anticipated sophomore EP that will be arriving early next year.
Produced by New Zealand producers Edyonthebeat and Shaan Mehta, along with Ghanaian producer Possigee, No Frontin’ is an entertaining afrobeat offering from D.Matthews, who taps into the spirit of classic afrobeat throughout the song which complements the artist’s contemporary and progressive Afropop creativity well.
Shot on location in New Zealand, and directed by burgeoning Auckland-based filmmaker and photographer Tom Grut, the visuals for No Frontin’ see D.Matthews professing his love for his leading lady (played by British fitness model Robyn Kamira), who, in the end, doesn’t seem convinced by his extravagant declarations of love and affection.
Speaking about how the No Frontin’ music video came together, D.Matthews says:
“I was literally sitting in the lounge room at my residence in Australia and racking my brain for some time, thinking of ‘the right creative’ to bring the video concept I had to life. I sent a message to Tom Grut and based on those early back-and-forth conversations we were having, I just knew deep down that he was the right man for the video. I feel really blessed because he did an amazing job”.
Flying the flag for afrobeat music in Australia and New Zealand over the past few years, D.Matthews was the first artist to bring afrobeat to New Zealand Fashion Week, as well as the first afrobeat artist to perform at one of the country’s biggest festivals, Splore Festival. His music has also garnered critical acclaim and support from Australian and New Zealand tastemakers such as Triple J Unearthed, The Beat Magazine, and Base FM among others, as he continues to spread the gospel of afrobeat music down under.
Watch the video below:


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About Spotsylvania,VA Spotsylvania Courthouse is a census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, located 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Fredericksburg. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census designated place (CDP), the population was 4,239 at the 2010 census. During the American Civil War, the crossroads community became a Union objective during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, fought May 8–21, 1864. The battle, which ended in stalemate, included a brutal 20-hour struggle over a section of the Confederate defenses that became known as the "Bloody Angle".
Akhal TekeAmerican CreamAmerican WarmbloodAndalusianAppaloosaAppendixAraAppaloosaArabianAztecaBashkir CurlyBelgian DraftBelgian WarmbloodCanadianChincoteague PonyCleveland BayClydesdaleConnemara PonyDonkeyDraftDrumDutch WarmbloodFell PonyFjordFlorida CrackerFriesianGypsy VannerHackneyHaflingerHalf ArabianHanoverianHolsteinerHungarianIcelandicIrish DraughtKentucky MountainLipizzanLusitanoMiniatureMissouri Fox TrotterMorabMorganMountain PleasureMuleMustangNational ShowNew Forest PonyNZ SporthorseOldenburgPaintPaint PonyPalominoPaso FinoPercheronPeruvian PasoPintoPonyPony of the AmericasQuarabQuarter HorseQuarter PonyRackingRocky MountainSaddlebredSelle FrancaisShagyaShetland PonyShireSpanish MustangSpotted SaddleStandardbredSwedish WarmbloodTennessee WalkingThoroughbredTrakehnerWarmbloodWelsh CobWelsh PonyWestphalian

domain: geography


text:
A young child experiences sadness as if it were a visitor, acknowledging the emotion and suggesting activities to do with it.
Claire witnesses a love so dramatic it is as if Ella Grey has been captured and taken from her, but the loss of her best friend to the arms of Orpheus is nothing compared to the loss she feels when Ella is taken from the world in this modern take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice set in Northern England.
A clever little dog christens himself “Sad” when his humans fail to give him a name. Although they feed him and wash him, they don’t appreciate his many gifts, like his love of singing (“stop that yapping!”). When the people move away and leave Sad behind, Sad is heartbroken. But then a new family with a young boy arrives at Sad’s house in a big truck. Although Sad is initially frightened, it soon becomes clear that the boy is just the right person to make a dog’s life complete with playtime, treats, and a brand-new name: Lucky.
It is wartime. In the midst of the fighting and devastation, an unusual friendship is formed.
Celia, the town listener, collects a seed from each person who shares a problem with her, so when Julian loses his seed on the way to see her, he is unable to let go of his sadness.
Departure Time is the amazing journey of a girl in two stories. The girl in the hotel with the fox and the rat, and the girl whose father travels a lot, who suggests they write a story together, a story about talking animals. She doe sn’t wan to. She is angry with him, because he can’t make it home in time for her birthday.
In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya. An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed on the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary.
A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away.
Word of the gift will travel news wires around the globe. Many will be profoundly touched, but for Americans, this selfless gesture will have deeper meaning still. For a heartsick nation, the gift of fourteen cows emerges from the choking dust and darkness as a soft light of hope and friendship.
Sareen is attending her first sit-up, a Jamaican tradition that celebrates the life of a loved one who has died. The whole village has come to share memories of Sareen’s Nana. Sareen wants to tell her stories of Nana’s last mango season and their search for the perfect mango, but she’s afraid the words won’t come or that she’ll begin to cry. It’s only when Sareen faces her fear that she realizes it’s not the sadness of Nana’s death that she’ll remember best but the joy of Nana’s life.Set amid the rich culture and lush scenery of Jamaica, this moving book offers the hope of rediscovering joy after a loss and pays tribute to the remarkable power of story: to touch, to connect, and to heal.
The developing relationship between teenager Davie and a mysterious new boy in town morphs into something darker and more sinister when Davie learns firsthand of the boy’s supernatural powers.


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Our friends at the Skylark IX Recovery Project have unveiled the much anticipated ‘Skylark IX Community Tapestry’.
The new Tapestry celebrates the life of the ‘Dunkirk Little Ship’ Skylark IX, from her construction as a pleasure boat in 1934 up to her new role today, inspiring those recovering from addictions or facing social isolation across West Dunbartonshire.
Visitors to our Dumbarton Museum can also enjoy learning more about Skylark IX’s story in the Project’s ‘Hope Floats’ exhibition, which is currently on display on the ground floor, near to their Boatbuilding Workshop.
The Skylark IX Community Tapestry
The Skylark IX Community Tapestry, which was created as part of the nationwide Year of Stories, was handcrafted by the Project’s ‘Skylark IX in Stitches’ group and members of the wider community.
Over the 14 month mental health and well-being project, the stitchers, who were mostly total beginners, learned the traditional but fading life skills of hand stitching, embroidery and applique.
The resulting Skylark IX Community Tapestry, which has been made mostly of recycled fabric, thread and yarn donated by the community and using wooden battens crafted by the Project’s Community Boatbuilders, brings Skylark’s spirit and her story of resilience and hope to life over 12 vibrant imagined scenes.
Each stitcher also added their own personal stories and creative ideas to the visual storybook along with symbols of Dumbarton’s history.
Hidden in each of the 12 panels also sits a small stitched heart representing the love people have for Skylark and the Project has for the community.
The Skylark IX Recovery Project is keen to hear from local organisations and venues who may be interested in displaying the Tapestry either temporarily or on a more permanent basis.

domain: sociology


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July 8, 2019
FORT WORTH, TX – As executives across the country are looking for ways to reverse the trend of ever-increasing
employee healthcare costs and the government is pushing for more transparency in billing, a Dallas-based analytics firm is providing a new way to accomplish both.
Asha George, CEO and co-founder of SmartLight Analytics, said her aim is to make a meaningful impact on the rising cost of healthcare for employers and employees. She has spent years working to build a team of data analytic specialists and clinical board-certified physicians to conduct systematic reviews that result in significant cost savings. Big employers – especially those with 10,000 or more employees – don’t have the time or expertise to monitor claims, she said. And, claims processors are consumed by just processing and paying the claims, which means there is usually no review happening.
Two such employers – Dean Foods and the City of Fort Worth – are diving deep into their employee medical claims to
find savings from waste, duplication, errors and even fraud. Both employers are working with SmartLight Analytics to
mine their healthcare claims data for things like unnecessary testing, billing two doctors for the same service and
careless errors. Fraud can also be a significant find. In Fort Worth, an initial assessment of the city’s employee healthcare claims data aims to further reduce healthcare spending costs, which in 2017 went $15.2 million overbudget. Dean Foods began reviewing its claims in 2016 and is reaping the benefits now.
Mike Adams, Vice President of Benefits & HR systems of Dean Foods, a multi-billion-dollar food and beverage company, said the process worked in reducing healthcare costs for their 16,000 employees.
“It’s an extremely good investment of our corporate dollars,” Adams said. “SmartLight established a good working
relationship with our medical claims processor. We are extremely happy with the results. They identified claims with
waste and fraud, researched and recovered those costs and had it credited back to us.”
Fort Worth could also see similar results.
“The City of Fort Worth is looking at ways to further reduce their employee healthcare spend because they have a finite
budget and, when it comes to managing the rising cost of healthcare, they have to continue to look for ways to contain those costs,” George said. “The city has reduced spending in the last year and gotten costs under control with some innovative initiatives such as on-site clinics. We will work to help them realize further savings on healthcare costs by identifying wasteful spending and errors currently occurring in their employee healthcare claims.”
The city’s budget saw a dramatic turn-around in 2018 when the cost for providing healthcare for more than 6,000
employees plus dependents came in under budget. As the city, like many other municipalities and businesses, continue
to face the uphill battle of rising healthcare costs, officials engaged with SmartLight Analytics to look at additional
innovative means to keep costs under control moving forward.
George said SmartLight’s role will be to analyze two to three years of healthcare claims from the city to find waste —
such as duplication of services, unintentional billing errors, and intentional fraud, waste or abuse — and take action to
eliminate this unnecessary spend from the city’s employee healthcare costs.
“We’re in the process of getting historical data to run through our inferential analytical models now,” George explained.
The SmartLight Analytics clinical team of medical coding specialists, led by board-certified physicians, reviews claims
identified by analytic models as either having waste, duplications, errors or other issues that could be costing the city
unnecessary dollars. They then report those findings to executives to show exactly where there was wasteful spending
or other errors or claims issues. SmartLight’s clinical team takes it to the next level by working with insurance carriers to
eliminate the wasteful claims before they are paid again on similar claims in the future.
George said she expects SmartLight to identify as much as a 5% savings on the healthcare spend through its analytical
analysis for each client. The initial process takes rough 8-10 weeks to complete once SmartLight receives the data, both
medical and pharmacy claims. Fort Worth should see its first report sometime in late September.
“In the end, if we’ve done our job, as we have for other customers,” George said, “we can reduce the city’s spending,
and eventually, the out of pocket expenses for employees without reducing benefits.”
George said SmartLight is focused solely on reducing year-over-year medical spend for self-funded employers.
“I headed up the Payment Integrity departments inside various large insurance carriers for decades before starting
SmartLight Analytics. SmartLight was created because we saw the need for more independent, pro-active intervention in reducing unnecessary healthcare spend,” George said. “Our goal is to deliver our insider expertise to self-funded
employers to lower healthcare costs for everyone – employer and employee.”
“I’m passionate about making a meaningful impact in this space,” she said. “Insurance carriers, in the role of third-party
administrators, do their best to manage the waste in the system while processing claims, but we have, without
exception, reduced spend by an additional 3-5% for our customers.”

domain: news


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Pop Smoke Faith ALBUM ZIP MP3 DOWNLOAD
Slain New York Rapper Pop Smoke drops off his second Posthumous album which is titled “Faith“.
The nee project serves as a follow up to his previously released Posthumous project Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon.
The nee project housed 20 solid tracks with guest appearance from Kid Cudi, Kodak Black, Kanye West, Rick Ross, 21 Savage Chris Brown, Swae Lee and many others.
Faith Album Tracklist By Pop Smoke
- Good News
- More Time
- Tell the Vision ft. Pusha T, Kanye West
- Manslaughter ft. The-Dream, Rick Ross
- Bout a Million ft. 21 Savage, 42 Dugg
- Brush Em ft. Rah Swish
- Top Shotta ft. TRAVI, BEAM, Pusha T
- 30 ft. Bizzy Banks
- Beat the Speaker
- What’s Crackin ft. Takeoff
- Genius ft. Swae Lee, Lil Tjay
- Mr. Jones ft. Future
- Woo Baby Interlude
- Woo Baby ft. Chris Brown
- Demeanor ft. Dua Lipa
- Spoiled ft. Pharrell Williams
- 8-Ball ft. Kid Cudi
- Back Door ft. Quavo, Kodak Black
- Merci Beaucoup

domain: entertainment


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UK-based transport engineering consultancy Ricardo has revealed it is participating with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in a project to create a self-driving car that can ‘see’ around corners and through obstacles.
Led by Jaguar Land Rover, the £4.7m (US$6.6m) AutopleX project is aiming to investigate pioneering safety improvements for automated vehicle technologies and develop self-driving cars that can ‘see’ at blind junctions and through obstacles.
AutopleX will combine connected, automated and live mapping technologies so more information is provided earlier to the self-driving car. This will enable automated cars to communicate with all road users and obstacles where there is no direct view, effectively helping them see, so they can safely merge lanes and negotiate complex roundabouts autonomously.
AutopleX will develop the technology through simulation and public road testing, both on motorways and in urban environments in the UK’s West Midlands region. As well as JLR and Ricardo, the AutopleX project consortium also includes Highways England (HE), Inrix, Siemens, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), and WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) at the University of Warwick. The research program was announced as part of Innovate UK’s third round of government-backed Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Funding (CAV3) in March 2018.
“This project is crucial in order to bring self-driving cars to our customers in the near future,” explained Chris Holmes, connected and autonomous vehicle research manager at JLR. “Together with our AutopleX partners, we will merge our connected and autonomous research to empower our self-driving vehicles to operate safely in the most challenging, real-world traffic situations. This project will ensure we deliver the most sophisticated and capable automated driving technology.”
Ricardo’s chief operating officer, Mark Garrett, commented, “We’re really pleased to be part of the AutopleX team that has secured funding to focus on this crucial aspect of autonomous vehicle research. Autonomous vehicles offer the prospect of improved safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability of transportation. We look forward to working with our partners on the AutopleX project which will, I believe, deliver some highly useful insights that help pull forward the implementation of this very promising technology.”


The University of California is conducting the largest university system climate study through the distribution of campus climate surveys.
The results will be used to help create an atmosphere of inclusiveness and community on UC campuses.
“There was a felt need on the part of the entire UC system to survey all of the university community: faculty, staff, undergrads, grads, professional students, folks over at the health center. They’re hoping to establish a baseline to be able to see whether interventions to improve campus climate were effective or not,” said Julia Ann Easley, senior public information representative at the UC Davis News Service.
The project is being funded by the UC President’s Initiative Fund, without the use of student tuition or outside sources.
The surveys, which were first administered on Oct. 29, 2012 at other UC campuses and will continue through February 2013, contain questions addressing concerns of students, faculty and staff regarding how they feel about their community, with the hopes of identifying particular groups in the campus community who feel that they are not represented.
“A lot of our survey is asking about the perceptions of our community over a lot of other stuff,” said Kirk McGregor, a graduate student representative involved in conducting the survey project.
According to David Ritz, vocational rehabilitation counselor in the department of human resources, these climate surveys tend to reveal a common pattern among different groups within the campus community.
“When we did the discussion about this, what we found is that a lot of the constituent groups have the same basic concerns: How safe am I to reveal my sexual orientation, learning disability, industrial or personal injury, etc.? [These] concerns were common across all constituent groups. It was interesting to see how cohesive the questions were because we literally just went, ‘How safe are you about revealing blank?’” Ritz said.
According to Gillian Butler of Budget and Institutional Analysis, this survey is completely anonymous.
“Anonymity and confidentiality mean two things. Confidentiality means that the researcher knows who you are but they will not attach your identity to your answers and that’s how we usually conduct research through our office,” Butler said. “We know who the student is so that we can put campus data, connect it to the survey answers so that we don’t have to ask about your ethnicity and gender, major, etc. But this survey is anonymous, so that they don’t even know whose answers they are.”
In order to achieve the best results, the researchers need at least 30 percent of the campus community to participate in the survey.
“It’s sort of like a jury system. If you want the system to work, then you need to be willing to participate. So if you want this to be a community, make it a community by participating,” she said.
UC is giving out prizes to participants to encourage students to take the survey. Participation incentives include a $10,000 scholarship for one undergraduate student, $5,000 stipends for two graduate academic or professional students, $5,000 research grants for two faculty members, $2,000 professional development grants for five staff members and, at each participating campus, two winners will receive iPads.
In addition, UC Davis campus incentives include four iPads, 75 Aggie gift cards worth $25 each, 25 UC Davis Stores gift cards worth $25 each, 10 $25 restaurant gift cards, 10 $25 Starbucks gift cards, 10 $25 iTunes gift cards and 10 $25 gas gift cards.
According to McGregor, the survey will be made available to students through links provided via email. Students will also have access to the survey through links at the computer labs on campus, and there will be flyers and informational slides as well as promotions at the MU.
“This is going to be a long-term tool. This will influence the next generation of students to come through … This is data that will be open to the public. We will come out and say as a community how we feel … and it will lead to change,” McGregor said.
The climate survey will be released to UC Davis students on Thursday and will be open to the campus community for the remainder of February.
The survey will be administered during the first week of February at the remaining campuses who have not received the survey: UC Merced, UC Riverside and UC Berkeley.
For more information about the survey visit campusclimate.ucop.edu.
JESSICA GRILLI can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Irrigation hibernates for winter
Bring tap timers and hose fittings that you’ll not be using over winter in out of the upcoming frosts. Left on and full of water, in a frost the water will expand and break the seals. I’ve spent a lot of money over the years on tap timers. My favourite version is now a cheap $15 dial you manually turn on which automatically ticks down the set time and turns the water off. The more expensive electronic versions that turn on by themselves are great in theory but you have to wait a full cycle to ensure they work. So if you want your garden watered at 5am, you have to set it at 5am, and wait until 5 the following morning to check all is working correctly. And if the batteries go flat, someone has turned the tap off or a fitting has broken, you don’t realise until things are starting to shrivel up.
I’ve decided gardening is not that automatic and it is easier to turn on the tap when needed and use the timer to ensure it gets turned off. I just wish I could find one with shorter and more precise timing. Chestnuts, ginkgo nuts, walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are all dropping now. Chestnut burrs can pierce the best of gardening gloves, so I stomp on them with my gumboots to separate the nuts from the burr and use a pair of kitchen tongs to pick both up. Be sure to pierce the shell if roasting them as, excitingly, they can explode. I toss them in a bit of salt and oil before roasting over the fire or in a hot oven for 15 minutes.
Alternatively, place them in cold water and bring to a simmer for 15–20 minutes or until the flesh is tender. Shell while warm and freeze to use in stir-fries, stews and casseroles over winter.
Ginkgo nuts come from the fruit of the female ginkgo tree which has an aroma some liken to vomit. It is not that bad and the fruit are quickly removed in water before leaving the nuts to air dry. Store the nuts in the fridge and be careful to never consume too many (more than 10) in a day. A few are very good for you – too many can be toxic. Roast and boil them before eating.
Walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts can all be left to dry in their shells. Keep them somewhere dry and cool and well out of reach of rats. Drying time can be as little as three to four days with good airflow, so crack one occasionally to see if the kernel is brittle.
There are a huge range of nut crackers out there and I am sure everyone has their favourite. My husband favours his vice grips, but for bulk cracking you can purchase a drill attachment that can be adjusted for any size nut and which sits over a bucket. ‘Monovale’ almonds have a particularly hard shell – make an indentation in a board to stand them upright and hit them with a hammer.
Once cracked, store the kernels indefinitely in the freezer to keep them fresh. The common, large ‘Wilson’s Wonder’ walnut goes rancid quite quickly (about three months) if left in the shell at room temperature. still eating as many as the tree drops in a day.
‘Unique’ is in full flow now with ‘Apollo’ starting and just a few of the ‘Wiki Tu’ dropping to allow us a taste comparison. ‘Triumph’ is loaded but the fruit will come later.
Tasting the varieties all at once like this highlights their difference in both flavour and grittiness, and it is not just because it is the first each season that ‘Unique’ rates the best for me flavour-wise. Unfortunately it is not the best tree-wise. I have had trouble with brittle branches, and half the tree snapped off last year with the weight of the fruit. I am not sure if that is a nutritional or varietal problem but since I like the fruit so much I persist with judicious pruning and a funny-shaped tree. I have considered planting other varieties that apparently fruit even earlier, but I want to taste them first. ‘Apollo’ has a sweet, mild taste that others love, but which I find insipid. However, their huge size makes them great for This column is adapted from the weekly e-zine, get growing, from New Zealand Gardener magazine. For gardening advice delivered to your inbox every Friday, sign up for Get Growing at: getgrowing.co.nz processing. A good dose of compost around the tree earlier in the year is really paying off as the fruit are huge enough to eat with a dessertspoon and plentiful enough to feed friends and extended family.
I don’t subscribe to the theory that feijoas should be pruned to allow birds to fly through the canopy. Feijoas have a lot of other pollinators and do just fine left alone. They flower and fruit at the base of new growth, so if you wish to prune or hedge them, prune one side each year so the other side still produces. I just take enough branches off the bottom to allow easy collection of the fruit.

domain: agronomy


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This is a story about snowshoeing along the coast. For the overland snowshoe route to the Spout, check out this page.
The weather forecast told me today was a good day to snowshoe to the Spout, blue skies in the morning and plenty of snow on the ground. The reality of the matter turned out quite different, as is so often the case…
I set out early this morning, so when the sun came up I was already well underway on Shoal Bay Road. Walking this ‘mandatory’ 6.3k road to the trailhead was a breeze this time around, all the bothersome puddles were now frozen and covered by snow. Much to my surprise an area that’s always been flooded near the end of the road was still flooded in winter… Where’s a good cover of ice when you need one.
At the Spout Path trailhead I put on my brand new 30″ snowshoes. I bought these things yesterday and have never tried snowshoeing before in my life, I figured it would be a good experience to try something new. After about a kilometre I got the hang of it, the snow wasn’t particularly good for it though, it was very soft and wet snow, saturated with yesterday’s rain.
Another snow difficulty were the many moose prints, their long legs had left deep holes all over the trail, giving my snowshoes poor support, but of course not as poor as it would have been without them (I tried). Here’s a profile drawing of the way the snow handled different items on it:
The deep tracks are made by the moose, and on the far left you can see something else made by the moose…
One minor disappointment of the day was the weather, the predicted blue skies were rather grey when I started out, and gradually got worse. At one point I felt a freezing drizzle coming down on me, it took me a minute to realize I was standing close to an unseen reverse waterfall and the ‘drizzle’ was actually being blown upwards by the strong wind.
In the end, the biggest disappointment of the day was not the weather, it was the trail: I lost track of it. When there’s no snow on Spout Path you can easily find your way around with an actual view of the well-trodden trail and the ribbons all along the way. In this deep snow the trail was well hidden and so were the ribbons, I had to find my way by memory of the last time I was there, which I’m sad to say was a while ago.
Around Miner Point I was confused by the many crossroads and ‘fake trails’ left by moose, I ended up bumbling through the forested hills for over 2 hours trying to find the real trail again. When I finally did I was just 1 km away from the Spout but I had wasted too much time, I decided to turn around in order to be back before nightfall.
On the way back, at Long Point, the sun broke through for a while. I enjoyed a distant view of the Spout and promised myself to return soon. I was surprised to find I had cellular reception and had my lunch while talking to Marije, it cheered me right up again!
I took one last break on the Queen’s River bridge before I walked back to Goulds over Shoal Bay Road. I made good time, saw some squirrels and grouse, and got back at the car at sunset. It was the end of a very long day of stumbling, but I’m glad I did it.

domain: hobby


text:
2015 Awards & Honors
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Sass Law Firm has again been recognized at the national level by U.S. News & World Report – Best Law Firms™ for 2015 in Labor & Employment Law.
BAR REGISTER OF PREEMINENT LAWYERS
Martindale-Hubbell® listed Cynthia Sass as AV Preeminent™ rated for 2015, and she has been on its Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers since 1999.
FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS
Cynthia Sass has been named in Florida Super Lawyers® by Thomson Reuters in the area of Labor & Employment Law for the 10th year.
Janet Wise of Sass Law Firm has again been named to Florida Super Lawyers® in the field of Labor and Employment Law. Congratulations, Janet!
FLORIDA LEGAL ELITE™
Florida Trend magazine listed Cynthia Sass as a Florida Legal Elite™ again in 2015.
Marquis WHO’S WHO® in American Law honored Cynthia Sass for the seventh year.

domain: law


Merkel makes May sweat over EU Brits
GERMAN chancellor Angela Merkel has rebuffed efforts by Theresa May to seek an early agreement on the rights of Britons living in the European Union and EU citizens in the UK.
Downing Street declined to discuss a report on the Politico website that Merkel rejected the proposal during their meeting in Berlin on November 18.
Amid allegations that ministers were ready to use foreign nationals as a bargaining chip in Article 50 negotiations, which are expected to last two years from March 2017, Mrs May has made clear in recent weeks that she wants to bring forward a deal to guarantee them reciprocal rights to residence, work and healthcare.
But Politico said Mrs Merkel had rejected a swift informal deal to reassure 1.2 million Brits living in Europe and 3.3 million EU nationals in Britain.


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Lots of developments today in cases we’ve been following:
Christmas shooting: Lawyers will be able to keep talking to news organizations about the Christmas Day shootings of a Kalispell woman and her teenage daughter.
District Judge Stewart Stadler said Wednesday he would sign an order reinforcing existing rules that prevent attorneys from making statements that could lead to possible prejudice against a defendant, the Daily Inter Lake reported.
“It does not restrain anything other than what the professional rules of conduct already require,” Stadler said.
Tyler Michael Miller [in photo] is charged with two counts of deliberate homicide in the shooting deaths of Jaimi Hurlbert, 35, and her daughter, Alyssa Burkett, outside Miller’s mother’s house west of Kalispell.
Woman’s body found: Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas said the death is now being treated as a homicide.
The body of Kelly Jo Dube-Woodard, 47, was found last Friday in a wooded area six miles outside Superior. Dube-Woodard disappeared on Tuesday, May 24, and had made a report that she was being assaulted.
That report led to the issuance of a warrant for her ex-husband, 52-year-old Michael Woodard. He was arrested Wednesday, May 25, by Nevada Highway Patrol troopers in Nevada just over the Idaho state line.
Woodard is being held there on charges of aggravated assault and kidnaping, although Ornelas’ press release doesn’t specifically state those charges involve his ex-wife.
Hit-and-run death: A Missoula woman whose vehicle rear-ended a scooter will go to prison for the death of the pastor driving it.
Traci LaJoie, 31, pleaded guilty in March to negligent vehicular homicide in the death of Fred Emery.
On Tuesday, Missoula District Judge John Larson rejected a plea agreement that would have given LaJoie the maximum sentence of 20 years, with 18 years suspended, and no parole on the remaining two years.
LaJoie then had the option of withdrawing her guilty plea and going to trial, but instead chose to go with a new sentence from Larson, who doubled the amount of time she’ll spend in the Montana State Women’s Prison without parole.


Moulin Roty was established in 1972 in a French village of the same name and today offers characters and toys in extensive collections of toys and décor items.
- Set of 3 organic cotton swaddle blankets
- Whimsical prints inspired by woodland creatures
- Soft, breathable cotton muslin fabric helps regulate body temperature
- Fabric gets softer with every wash
- Can be used as a swaddle blanket, nursing cover, stroller or car seat cover, and burp cloth
- Part of the Moulin Roty 'Aprés La Pluie' Collection
- Suitable for newborns
100% GOTS Organic Cotton
Dimensions: 70 cm x 70 cm
Machine wash at 30˚C on gentle cycle. Tumble dry low.


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Reception Friday, February 3rd, 6:30-8:30 pm
Jaycee Park Center for the Arts, 1975 Puritan, Irving TX 75061
Prospectus: Jan 2017 Indian Folk Art Prospectus
Irving Art Association invites artists to participate in the Indian Folk Art exhibition, a celebration of Indian culture and heritage. The open call exhibition is an opportunity to expose and feature mid-career and emerging artists from around the Dallas Fort worth Metroplex whose submitted works relate to themes around Indian culture and heritage. Indian paintings have a very long tradition and history in Indian art. Madhubani, Miniature Paintings, Warli, Kalamkari, Mughal, Mysore, Tanjore, Patachitra, & all traditions and styles of Indian Paintings are welcome!
Contact the Curator: Deepa Koshaley Phone: 972-639-6745
DEADLINE for submitting entry: Jan. 20, 2017
Acceptance Notifications sent: January 22
Deliver work to Gallery: Saturday, January 28 10 am – 2 pm
Hanging: Saturday, January 28 1 pm – 4 pm
Gallery opens to public: Sunday, January 29
Reception: Friday, February 3 6:30 – 8:30 pm (update)
Pick up: Tuesday, February 24 10 am – 1 pm
Exhibition Dates: January 29 – Feb 24, 2017
Entries are original fine arts and crafts created by the applying artist(s) in the media or genres of Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Pottery, Textiles, Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Metal, Wood, and Miscellaneous.
Images: Please name your images with your last name, first name or initial, and the title of the artwork. Limit of 3MB per image. Note that images should total 10MB or less.
Framing & Presentation of artwork:
Artwork must not exceed 36” x 36” framed nor be heavier than 20 lbs. Artwork must be framed and wired. Plexiglas only for work over 16″x 20″ (exception pastels). No saw-tooth hangers. Wrap around canvas painted on all sides may be used instead of a frame.
3D items would need to be displayed in box frames, wall display cases or shadowboxes or hung on the wall. Contact the curator about displaying sculpture or pottery on a pedestal. We have limited space for that.
Jury Fee: $5 for each entry, payable at dropoff.


4-Wheel Disc Brakes ABS Active Suspension Adjustable Steering Wheel Aluminum Wheels AM/FM Stereo ANTHRACITE/BLACK CLOTH/LEATHER UPHOLSTERY APPLE CARPLAY COMPATIBILITY Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror Automatic Headlights Auxiliary Audio Input Bluetooth Connection Brake Assist Bucket Seats CD Player Climate Control Cloth Seats Cruise Control Daytime Running Lights Driver Adjustable Lumbar Driver Air Bag DRIVER ASSISTANCE PLUS -inc: Speed Limit Info Active Driving Assistant lane departure warning forward collision warning pedestrian warning and city collision mitigation Active Blind Spot Detection Side & Top View Cameras Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror Driver Vanity Mirror Engine Immobilizer Floor Mats Front Head Air Bag Front Side Air Bag Hard Disk Drive Media Storage HD Radio Headlights-Auto-Leveling Heated Front Seat(s) Heated Mirrors HID headlights Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors Intermittent Wipers Keyless Entry Keyless Start Knee Air Bag Leather Seats Leather Steering Wheel LIGHTING PACKAGE -inc: Automatic High Beams Adaptive Full LED Lights
Locking/Limited Slip Differential Mirror Memory MP3 Player Multi-Zone A/C Navigation System Passenger Adjustable Lumbar Passenger Air Bag Passenger Air Bag Sensor Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror Passenger Vanity Mirror Pass-Through Rear Seat Power Door Locks Power Driver Seat Power Mirror(s) Power Passenger Seat POWER REAR SUNSHADE Power Steering Power Windows Premium Sound System Rain Sensing Wipers Rear A/C Rear Bench Seat Rear Defrost Rear Head Air Bag Rear Wheel Drive Satellite Radio Seat Memory Security System Stability Control STANDARD SUSPENSION -inc: Deletes adaptive M suspension Steering Wheel Audio Controls Telematics Tire Pressure Monitor Tires - Front Performance Tires - Rear Performance Traction Control TRANSMISSION: 7-SPEED M-DOUBLE CLUTCH -inc: Drivelogic Trip Computer Turbocharged Universal Garage Door Opener Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers
Only 17,541 Miles! Delivers 26 Highway MPG and 17 City MPG! This BMW M4 delivers a Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded I-6 3.0 L/182 engine powering it's sleek transmission. Window Grid Diversity Antenna, Wheels: 18" x 9" Front & 18" x 10" Rear -inc: Light alloy V-spoke, style 513M, Wheels w/Silver Accents.*This BMW M4 Comes Equipped with These Options *Valet Function, Trunk Rear Cargo Access, Trip Computer, Transmission: 6-Speed Manual, Tracker System, Tires: 255/40R18 Front & 275/40R18 Rear -inc: Mixed performance, Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning, Tailgate/Rear Door Lock Included w/Power Door Locks, Systems Monitor, Strut Front Suspension w/Coil Springs.* Feel Confident About Your Choice *Mercedes-Benz of Sacramento graded the Overall Condition of this vehicle as Excellent. Non-smoker vehicle!* Visit Us Today *Test drive this must-see, must-drive, must-own beauty today at Mercedes-Benz of Sacramento, 1810 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95825.*Golden Rule*We are a Golden Rule company dedicating ourselves to world-class customer service in an environment of trust, dignity, and fun.” George Grinzewitsch, CEO and Owner, Von Housen Automotive Group For more than 60 years, Von Housen Automotive Group has delivered high-end luxury vehicles to discerning clients throughout the greater Sacramento area, and is the place more people trust for quality, service, and a large selection of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Von Housen Automotive Group operates three Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Northern California, including Mercedes-Benz of Sacramento, Mercedes-Benz of Rocklin and Mercedes-Benz of El Dorado Hills. The group also owns Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dealerships in both Rocklin and Sacramento. Mercedes-Benz of North America Von Housen Automotive Group has more than 300 dedicated employees and sells approximately $301,000,000 in new and used vehicles, parts and service annually. The team is also a leader in supporting community, philanthropic and non-profit initiatives. Stop by Mercedes-Benz of Sacramento to experience a wide selection of Mercedes-Benz luxury cars, presented by Northern California’s leading team of sales advisors. Reach us online, or give us a call.


There were fears that a primary school teacher from Essex who fell downstairs and fractured her skull in five places would not survive.
The horrific fall left Francesca Burr, from Halstead, with part of her head missing.
But surgeons at Addenbooke's Hospital in Cambridge managed to rebuild her skull using a 3D printer.
It has been a long and painful road to recovery but Francesca says the surgeons' incredible work has given her back her life.
- Click to watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Serena Sandhu
- Watch Matthew Hudson's report.
Experts in Cambridge say this region could get a boost worth billions of pounds thanks to the government's latest life sciences strategy.
Ministers today announced plans to turn the UK into a world leader in bio-medical research.
And with this region already seeing huge investment in pioneering centres - including the proposed Public Health Laboratory in Harlow in Essex -scientists here believe they are ready to take advantage of the opportunities.
A Stevenage built satellite is heading to Russia for launch. The Sentinel 5P Satellite was designed and made at Airbus in the town.
Europe’s pollution monitoring satellite Sentinel-5 Precursor is heading to the launch site at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
The probe is part of the global monitoring programme “Copernicus”, a joint European Commission–ESA undertaking which aims to acquire continuous and accurate Earth observation data and provide services to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change.
"This mission will give Europe new way to measure global pollution levels in much greater detail.”
More on the Copernicus project.
A driving instructor from Peterborough has launched a campaign to install dashcams into as many learner cars as possible to improve the driving standards of other motorists.
The 'Dash Cam scheme' was set up to highlight incidents of careless and dangerous driving on the roads and to help prevent serious crashes.
They are hoping it will encourage police to find and prosecute bad drivers.
- Click to watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Liz Summers
Suffolk singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has said that online abuse has driven him off Twitter.Read the full story ›
A £400 million broadband project has been launched by the Government in Peterborough.Read the full story ›
See how your area fares.Read the full story ›
We could soon see parcels delivered by parachute if technology giant Amazon gets its way.Read the full story ›
Hospitals and doctors' surgeries have been counting the cost of Friday's cyber attack which knocked out some of their computer systems.
72 hours later, the impact is still being felt - with routine operations postponed and some GPs unable to carry out non emergency appointments.
Fears of a second attack proved unfounded, but IT experts are warning of further threats in the future.
The aftermath of the "major" cyber attack which has hit the NHS is likely to last for a number of days, experts have said.
A total of 48 NHS trusts in England and 13 NHS health boards in Scotland were crippled in the global attack on Friday when a ransomware virus infiltrated dozens of NHS organisations.
Five NHS England trusts were still not back to normal on Saturday, despite NHS Digital engineers working "around the clock" in a bid to fix the problem.
NHS Digital continued that fewer than five per cent of devices within the health service still use the old Windows XP system.
"We are aware of widespread speculation about the use of Microsoft Windows XP by NHS organisations, who commission IT systems locally depending on population need.
"While the vast majority are running contemporary systems, we can confirm that the number of devices within the NHS that reportedly use XP has fallen to 4.7%, with this figure continuing to decrease.
"This may be because some expensive hardware (such as MRI scanners) cannot be updated immediately, and in such instances organisations will take steps to mitigate any risk, such as by isolating the device from the main network."


text:
Primavera Strudel the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.
Makes 8 servings
|4-1/2||teaspoons olive oil|
|1||small onion, chopped|
|2||cloves garlic, minced|
|8||ounces thin asparagus, cut diagonally into 3/4-inch pieces|
|1||red bell pepper, cut into julienne strips|
|1||cup frozen peas, thawed|
|1/2||teaspoon black pepper|
|1||container (15 ounces) ricotta cheese|
|3/4||cup grated Asiago cheese|
|1/3||cup chopped fresh basil|
|1||egg, lightly beaten|
|10||frozen phyllo dough sheets, thawed|
|1/2||cup butter, melted|
|6||tablespoons dry bread crumbs, divided|
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add asparagus and bell pepper; cook and stir 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in peas, salt and black pepper. Remove from heat; let cool to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine ricotta, Asiago, basil and egg in large bowl; mix well. Stir in vegetable mixture.
- Line 15X10-inch jelly-roll pan with foil; set aside.
- Place 1 sheet phyllo on work surface. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and damp towel to keep from drying out.) Lightly brush phyllo with butter. Top with second phyllo sheet. Lightly brush with butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon bread crumbs. Place third phyllo sheet over crumbs; lightly brush with butter; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon bread crumbs. Top with fourth phyllo sheet and 1 tablespoon bread crumbs. Place fifth phyllo sheet over bread crumbs and brush with butter.
- Spoon 1/2 of ricotta mixture along 1 short side of phyllo in 3-inch-wide strip, beginning 1-1/2 inches in from short side and leaving 2-inch border on long sides. Fold long sides in over filling; lightly brush folded edges with butter. Starting at filled side, gently roll up, jelly-roll style, forming strudel. Lightly brush strudel with butter. Transfer to prepared pan, seam side down.
- Repeat process with remaining ingredients to make second strudel. Bake strudels 25 to 28 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.
Check out more recipes for European


text:
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Red-breasted Merganser: The Eyes Have It
You may have noticed that duck species often have very colorful eyes. In the case of the Red-breasted Merganser, their eyes are bright red. There is a good reason for colorful eyes. The red eyes function to improve their ability to see underwater in cloudy (i.e., murky) conditions.
In this regard, think of how sunglasses improve your ability to see on a bright, sunny day - especially if they are polarized. In the same way, red eyes allow a bird such as the RBM or Common Loon to see parts of the color spectrum better. Some species that feed at the surface or plunge for food have red oil droplets in the cones of their retinas. This improves contrast and sharpens distance vision, especially in hazy conditions. Birds that have to look through an air/water interface have more deeply coloured carotenoid pigments in the oil drops than other species. This helps them to locate shoals of fish.
To give you an unscientific idea of how this works I have desaturated the same photo so that it is depicted as a grayscale image. If you click on any of the pictures so as to enlarge them on your screen, you can click back and forth between this photo and the next to see the differences between the two images. It works even better if you have a scroll wheel on your mouse to move back and forth between the photos.
This photo also appears to be grayscale, but is actually a copy of the isolated red channel from the image. Any part of the photo which is red (such as the bill) becomes much brighter while the loss of the blue and green channels causes other parts of the image to darken.
While this is an inexact example, the mergansers eyes give it advantages in hunting for fish similar to how the pictures change in contrast between the latter two.

domain: biology


RVer membership club Harvest Hosts unveiled its newest study on consumer travel mindsets, highlighting a split when it comes to safety decisions – such as vaccine passport use.
The survey found overall “hope” for the travel industry in the coming summer months, with projections showing much different circumstances compared with last year. Americans are booking trips as vaccines roll out – yet many are running into overbooked campsites and accommodations, driving alternative options.
“The vaccine rollout is in full swing now across the U.S.,” Harvest Hosts CEO Joel Holland said. “RVing was celebrated as a safe mode of travel during the peak of the pandemic, and we are confident that in this post-vaccination phase, road travel will remain strong. In the last year, travelers have rediscovered the road trip. The survey ahead of the much-anticipated 2021 summer travel season shed light on the planning that is already underway, where the most popular destinations will be and what we can expect out of the RV community.”
Key survey findings include 71% of travelers confirming they are fully vaccinated or awaiting a second dose. Thirty-two percent indicated they would only travel with those who are fully vaccinated, and 52% said they are willing to travel with both unvaccinated and vaccinated people.
“Only 17% of respondents have allocated less budget to travel this year than last, indicating a strong desire to travel and plan for this year,” Harvest Hosts stated.
However, travelers are split on their feelings surrounding “vaccine passports” – a potential means to confirm an individual’s vaccination status. When asked about willingness to show a vaccine passport to enter hotels, restaurants and attractions, 74% of vaccinated respondents said they would comply. Fifteen percent of vaccinated respondents expressed “reluctance” to show a vaccine passport, but said they still ultimately would.
Of total travelers surveyed, 20% said they would decline to show it, even it meant not entering an area or event.
Across the board, Harvest Hosts stated feelings were split on destinations imposing the rules themselves. If vaccine passports were a requirement, 44% said they would be more interested in visiting an area, while 38% said they would be less interested.
“Around one-fifth of respondents were undecided on the issue, and could eventually impact how these businesses decide to operate in the post-vaccination era,” Harvest Hosts stated.
Campsites are overbooked in the pandemic’s wake, the club stated, and many RVers are taking notice of limited vacancies and inflated prices. The notion is driving many RVers to seek alternative locations.
More than half of travelers are booking trips now, the survey found, with only 9% of summer travel plans already booked.
Many travelers expressed interest in exploring locations that are not campgrounds, the survey found, with 59% noting national and state parks. More than half of travelers, 56%, said they would most like to explore the West Coast. The least interest was found in the Southeast.
Employment, age and income are main factors in travel decisions, the survey reported. About one-third of respondents said they planned to spend two weeks to a month on the road this year. Within that group, 53% said 2021 travel budgets are in the $1,000-$5,000 range. The numbers are similar to 2019, Harvest Hosts stated, indicating travel is picking back up to pre-Covid levels.
“Overall, the study validates what everyone has been feeling the last year, which is the innate desire to travel,” Harvest Hosts stated. “People are ready, and while many want to do it the right way, there are still strong feelings on both sides regarding precautions such as vaccine passports. This is a decision that will ultimately come down to the business themselves to decide, and data like this should be taken into account. While the COVID-19 pandemic is fading, the new discussions around vaccine passports, indoor capacity and masks are here to stay.”


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Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan
Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford could be the three counties that could end up losing most under a new Common Agricultural Policy Agreement (CAP), according to local TD John Paul Phelan.
Speaking in the Dáíl, Deputy Phelan said: “It strikes me that Kilkenny and Carlow, the counties I represent, and neighbouring Wexford are, as the proposals stand, the three counties that could end up losing most.”
CAP negotiations have been ongoing for some time and the new agreement isbeing driven by environmental concerns and attempts by the EU to reduce its spendingon farm subsidies.
Deputy Phelan told the Dáil: “I am a firm believer in the original purpose of CAP. It was never designed to be a welfare payment. It was designed to aid production and to ensure we have safe food on the shelves of our shops and supermarkets. I worry that, in the medium term, some sort of food supply issue will break out across the European Union and potentially across the world. As a country that can produce more food than we already produce, Ireland has a moral obligation to do that to the highest animal safety and food production standards.
“I fear that many farmers in the livestock sector, which is subject to the volatility of prices and is the very sector that most Members want to support most strongly, could be adversely affected if there is a significant drop in their single farm payment or if we were to go anywhere near 100% convergence.”
He said most of the farmer producers in the south east are not industrial scale operators. It is counties Kilkenny and Carlow, as well as surrounding counties, not the counties in the west, that have, on average, the lowest disposable household incomes nationally.
Referring to the importance of family farms, Deputy Phelan said: “Many people depend on agriculture and families are reared and children are educated using the income from the family farm.”
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Free public domain sheet music from IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library
Franz Simon Molitor (3 November 1766 — 21 February 1848)
Table of Contents: Top
- A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
x Show works by type/instrument
= Alternative Names/Transliterations: Alois Franz Simon Joseph
- Subject of 1920 (rev. 1930) book by Josef Zuth, Simon Molitor und die Wiener gitarristik (um 1800) (published by Goll, Vienna). Zuth also edited an edition of Op.7, published in 1919.
Compositions by: Molitor, Franz Simon
The following 4 pages are in this category, out of 4 total.