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I’m Food photographer based in Pune. I have worked on multiple food projects for cafes, bistros, restaurants, still food concepts, stock photography in Pune & Mumbai. I use a combination of natural & studio lighting to create stunning and delicious looking food imagery. I work with a combination of food stylists as and when required. We can photograph your projects at location or studio. Here’s some of the food photographs that I’ve created for my wonderful clients.
If you have a project to be photographed do get in touch right away! We can discuss at length about your food photography requirement. Send in your details to firstname.lastname@example.org or you can give a call on +91 96 23 44 84 88


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This event will take place on all Wednesdays in March (03/6, 03/13, 03/20, 03/27) from 1:00PM - 2:30PM in the Brookside Room of the UMKC Administrative Center. Bryan LeBeau, Ph.D. will be leading this course and it costs $50 ($70 with a parking permit). There is also a Zoom option.
In 2006, the award-winning book, American Prometheus, rekindled readers’ interest in the person widely credited with, or disdained for, developing the atomic bomb. The more recent film, Oppenheimer, brought to the widescreen a portrait of the extraordinary but flawed, brilliant but enigmatic, and irresistibly fascinating figure. This course will explore Oppenheimer’s triumphant and tragic life, both personal and public, in context of the culture and politics of his time, one of the most complex periods in American history. Although neither the book nor the film is required to follow class discussions, one or the other is highly recommended. Given the length of the film and the book, we will not have time to screen the film in class, though short clips may be shown, and readers may want to get a head-start on the book.

domain: artistic


110m&1′′ Outlet Solar DC Pump
|FOB Price:||US $400 / Piece|
|Min. Order:||1 Piece|
|Min. Order||FOB Price|
|1 Piece||US $400/ Piece|
|Payment Terms:||L/C, T/T|
- Model NO.: 4ZS4.2/110-D72/1300
- Max.Capacity: <50 L/min
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Power: Solar Energy
- Type: Soalr Centrifugal Pump
- Theory: Centrifugal Pump
- Panel: Polycrystilline
- Trademark: SUN-SEEKER
- Specification: 100*550
- HS Code: 8413709190
- Max.Head: 110m-150m
- Driving Type: Motor
- Structure: Screw Pump
- Start Up: Electric Pump
- Application: Submersible Pump
- Source: Solar
- Industrial: Home,Agriculture,Farm
- Transport Package: Carton
- Origin: China
Adopt stainless steel screw and rubber stator, permanent magnet brushless motor. With combination of motor and controller, the max efficiency is over 85%,raises 25% than the traditional AC one.
- Stainless steel casing, shaft core, coupling, oil entry base and pump body to avoid rust or corrosion. New polymer materials of high-strength wear-resistant
- Compact structure, high-lift, noiseless, pollution-free; complete electrical protecting controller device, against under-voltage, over-voltage, over-flow, overload, wateriess etc; automatic recovery; controlling water height as demand.
- Easily installation, maintenance-free, safe and reliable.
1).These electric pump series are workable with maximum head, as there are no restrictions of BDC , With the addition of high speed, high efficiency and wide high efficiency zone, they are suitable for distance water irrigation, high efficiency of increasing oxygen on aquaculture, pumping water from deep well ,gardening, fountain and etc.
- Non-corrosive water, the volume ratio of sand content no more than 1‰ Particle size less than 0.2mm.
- Max medium temperature up to +40ºC; PH value remains 6.5-8.5.
- Work close to the rated head and must be immersed in water.


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El Salvador’s historic bitcoin law will go into effect on Sept. 7.
Crypto Price Analysis & Overview June 25th: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, and Polkadot
MEHH Token Offering Scalable Digital Payment Solution to Merchants
Next-gen decentralized NFT NEFTiPEDiA token listed on DsDaq exchange
Japanese regulators warn that Binance is operating without a proper license.

domain: economics


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KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE BY RECOGNIZING UNCONCIOUS BIAS.
We all have bias, but there are things we can do to reduce and manage it. Understanding implicit bias and using these strategies not only makes your work more fair, it also improves your ability to react to difficult situations. As security professionals’ actions and motivations come under ever-increasing scrutiny, this course will ensure you can respond confidently to situations without being driven by your biases. You’ll learn to assess situations and make sound decisions, all while protecting others and yourself with dignity and respect.
What you’ll learn
Both first-time security guards and experienced guards will benefit from this comprehensive introduction to bias, which covers:
- What bias is and how it affects us all
- How to recognize implicit bias or prejudice in ourselves
- The dangers created by bias in security professionals
- How to manage attentional bias on the job
- How to use evidence instead of bias in your security decisions
Why this course is important
- Provide better security in a fair way that minimizes the chance of profiling or discrimination
- Strengthen your security instincts with evidence-based best practices
- Protect yourself and your company from lawsuits and reputational risk
- Earn continuing education credits to meet local and state requirements

domain: psychology


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There is good evidence that individuals who have joint replacement surgery meet their post-operative milestones faster if they have engaged in neuromuscular exercises prior to surgery. If you are not already doing neuromuscular exercises on your own, it is a good idea to learn how to do so. Even if you have done physiotherapy, it is not a given that your pre-operative rehab has prioritized neuromuscular control. There may be room for new ideas for you.
Engaging in a neuromuscular training program may prove useful at keeping your symptoms in check while you are waiting for surgery. GLAD Canada has recently endorsed this strategy for those of you influenced by current surgical wait list times.
Close to your surgery time, it may be useful to have a consultation around whether your home is set up with the right equipment for your post-operative rehabilitation. Hip and knee replacement surgeries have a large exercise-based component to the recovery and it is easier to get your place “ready to go” before your surgical date. This type of a consultation can be done in a clinic setting, via telehealth or, depending on your location, through a mobile visit where I come to your home.
Over my career, I have treated many patients following their hip or knee replacement surgeries. I continue to be available to do so in my Vancouver private practice.
While I am happy to consult with you live in North Delta or Gabriola Island, I am also happy to suggest colleagues in these areas who can meet with you more regularly in the immediate post-operative periods. We know that being able to easily attend for physiotherapy increases the likelihood of doing so. In the immediate post-operative periods, this is very important.
To the surprise of many people, there is good evidence for the effectiveness of telehealth strategies relative to live attendance following knee replacement surgery. In remote and rural areas, this should be encouraging for those who don’t have good access to physiotherapy.
For those who had a joint replacement surgery in the past but aren’t functioning as well as they would like to, there are often physiotherapy and/or exercise ideas that may help. I enjoy meeting with individuals in this regard.

domain: medical


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Overpriced safe havens, or undervalued cash flow monsters? We compare and contrast fund manager views on six of Europe's biggest companies.
Is bigger better?
Uncertainty in the markets has led many investors to seek refuge in Europe's biggest and strongest companies, and the premium attached to these giants compared with their smaller rivals has steadily risen.
But as confidence returns to the markets, can the defensive giants retain their appeal?
In the following slides we take a look at six of the region's biggest firms, and what some top investors on both sides of the argument think the future holds for these corporate titans.
Share-price graphs in the following slides cover 10/01/2008 to 01/01/2013. The above chart shows the percentage change in the share prices of all six companies, rebased to 100 at the start of the period.
The Swiss consumer goods giant
Consumer goods giant Nestlé is the world's largest food company in revenue terms. Euro Stars AAA-rated David Dudding believes mega-caps will continue to move further ahead of their smaller rivals by moving into new markets and taking advantage of more favourable levels of debt.
Nestlé is one of the three biggest holdings in his Threadneedle European Select fund, and its exposure to emerging markets is a big draw for him. 'Over the last 20 years Nestlé's annual compound return in sterling is 15% with very low volatility and it has around 40% of its revenues coming from emerging markets,' he told Citywire earlier this month.
‘Nestlé only realised a +6.5% compound annual growth rate in its earnings per share over the last decade if one excludes the now disposed of Alcon, a modest growth rate which would have been exposed had it not been for expensive growth replacement acquisitions like Pfizer,’ he said.
A picture of health?
Another Swiss company, this time operating in the pharmaceuticals space, is our second European giant.
Citywire Euro Stars AA-rated Andy Headley is among the managers backing Roche, and it's currently the second-biggest holding in his Veritas Global Focus fund. His high-conviction style, with only 30 to 35 positions in the $1.4 billion fund at any one time, means his fund tends towards the mega-caps.
Euro Stars A-rated Thomas Michel, meanwhile, said in November that he would not want to be overexposed to names such as Nestle, Roche and Novartis – his three largest holdings – despite their huge combined presence in the Swiss market.
‘You need to be diversified when investing in Switzerland and you do not need more than four, five or six per cent in these names and spread investments over more quality companies in other market segments,’ he said.
Disconnect between share price and performance?
Investec global equity manager Clyde Rossouw is among the managers backing Unilever. His $400 million Investec GSF Global Franchise fund is nearly 50% overweight consumer stocks, with 4.4% of the portfolio in Unilever, even though the sector as a whole is trading at historical highs.
‘We are very mindful of the expense. We still see a lot of tail winds for stocks in consumer staples although they have probably not performed as well as some people expect,’ Rossouw told Citywire Global in October.
On the other side of the fence is Citywire Euro Stars AAA-rated Torsten Graf of MainFirst, who believes there is a disconnect between the share price and the performance of some of the big consumer staple names, including Unilever.
‘I am surprised by the performance of staples,' he told Citywire Global in the summer. 'Unilever’s stock price increased despite constant earnings estimate downgrades since the beginning of 2011.
‘And in my opinion, a valuation of more than 15 times earnings is rather rich compared to the entire market. I fear for staples that more and more investors will figure out the expensiveness during the months to come. They will become aware of other sectors’ relative cheapness.’
Value stock or growth chances ahead?
European equity veteran John Bennett, who manages the €849 million Henderson Gartmore Continental European fund, has gradually increased his exposure to the pharmaceuticals sector, and Swiss group Novartis is among his favoured names.
‘The pharmaceutical sector is treated as a value sector but factors such as an ageing population and new drugs are creating secular growth opportunities,’ he told Citywire in August.
Cheap(er) at twice the price
Jupiter JGF European Growth manager Alexander Darwall believes some of Europe's largest quality companies can continue to more than justify historically high valuations. Denmark-headquartered pharma business Novo Nordisk is his biggest holding, and he argues it's effectively cheaper now than it was two years ago despite a trail-blazing stockmarket run.
'Novo Nordisk has always looked expensive but we see it as a cheaper stock now than a couple of years ago, even if the stock price has more than doubled since 2009,' he told Citywire in January. 'The stock is now trading at 25x earnings but it was already trading at more than 30x when I bought it 12 years ago and has been above 15x for most of the past decade. In the meantime the share price has risen by approximately 600%.'
Schroders' head of European equities, Rory Bateman, however, believes French rival Sanofi is better value. 'Sanofi has now put its patent cliff issues behind it and we think we are paying a low multiple for a company that has a number of drugs in its pipeline. It is a key value trade in the pharma space,' he said in December.
Sowing the seeds of success
Specialised chemicals business Syngenta is another mega-cap that Threadneadle's David Dudding David Dudding believes can continue to outperform over the long term. The company's currently his seventh biggest holding in the Threadneedle European Select fund, making up 4.2% of the portfolio.
Jupiter's Alexander Darwall is another backer. 'Syngenta has very good fundamentals. Technology pays and the company is able to help farmers improve their yields. There are very few who can provide this ability so farmers are very happy to pay for it.'

domain: finance


Flexadux® T-7W All Purpose Hose Flexadux® T-7W is an all purpose lawn & leaf vacuum hose. It is a medium weight wire reinforced thermoplastic rubber hose w/ an external wearstrip and a semi smooth inner wall. It is our least expensive hose product and is intended for general residential or light commercial use. Most economical. Designed
Here at Merlin, we sell our fuel hose usually by the metre unit, the longest continuous length available is usually 20 metres. The hose is available in either black rubber, black rubber with black nylon over braid or stainless steel over braid and can be secured with jubilee clips.
GATES 27073 7/32" (1/4" Nipple, 50 psi); Reinforced - Priced Per Foot Info + Sold in packs of 50 . Price reflects cost of each individual item, not the pack. x 50
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Black Silicone Hose, 1 1/2 x 7/8 inch ID Straight Reducer. Brand: Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies. Tough, reliable and temperature resistant from -50° C to +200° C (-58° F to +392° F). This hose is built for endurance and performance in custom coolant and turbo intake pluing appliions where a tough and secure flexible connection is
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Rubber tubing up to 1-1/4" I.D. supports itself in foreline vacuum appliions. Rubber Tubing Notes: Propertires: Minimum Tensile: 3,000 psi; Durometer: 45 +/-5; Continuous use Temperature: -20F min, 180F max. Tubing with I.D.s 3/8" and smaller is typically supplied as tan in color, whereas 7/16" and above is typically supplied as red in color
3/16 ID MAX WP 200 PSI RMA/CGA IP-7-99 STD DUTY GRADE RM COUPLE WITH ONE INCH FERRULES MADE IN USA Brand Description: Ink Brand - White letter color Warning! Care should be taken to avoid gouging, dragging, abrading or otherwise damaging the hose cover, which may also lead to premature hose failure. Do not attempt to repair or re-couple hose
Wet Exhaust Hoses. When it comes to quality marine exhaust hose, Fisheries Supply has what you’re looking for. We stock the best marine wet exhaust hose in the business from Trident Marine, Sierra and Vetus Denounden.Whether you need corrugated, reinforced, high-temp or wire reinforced – we can supply all your wet exhaust hose needs at competitive prices.
Flex Hose and Clamps. The Blastgate Company stocks one of the largest inventories of hose for dust collection, material handling, chemical fumes, and high temperature venting for home, commercial, and industrial appliions. Prices & Sizes Drop Box Cut Pieces. Spiral Pipe and Fittings.
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Eaton air and multipurpose hoses are engineered to meet the specific requirements and industry specifiions for a variety of appliions. Featuring low working pressures, large bore sizes and high transfer capabilities, our well-rounded selection of industrial hoses serves a range of markets from high-pressure use in heavy construction, to light-duty in agricultural and some industrial
NBR rubber hose - NBR TUBE oil resistant rubber hose With unique features With the function group-CN as a component, making the NBR rubber tube make this type of rubber tube very high polarity And the specific production formula of the Tuberry brand makes
If you don''t want to waste any discharge hose at all it is best to install the air gap and the disposer and then take a measurement. Q. "Will the 7/8" inside diameter discharge hose fit my dishwasher?" A. The 7/8" discharge hose is designed to connect the airgap and the garbage disposer. Smaller 5/8" is standard in the industry for dishwasher
RUBBER WATERBLAST HOSES these high pressure hose asselies coine rugged construction, dependability and safe performance. • Designed specifically for waterblast appliions • Lightweight and flexible • Available in sizes from 1/4" to 1" (6 mm to 25 mm) • Standard hoses are uncovered with plated steel male pipe thread
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Trivia Night w/ DOVE (Domestic Violence Month)
Join us in learning about and spreading domestic violence awareness with DOVE throughout the month of October! Since their founding in 1978, DOVE has expanded from a crisis hotline to a multi-service organization providing comprehensive direct services and support for victims of dating and domestic violence, as well as their children. This month-long series consists of four events open to both adults and teens. All events are free to attend.
On Tuesday, October 17th at 7 PM, join us for an engaging and informative evening of trivia as DOVE brings you a unique opportunity to celebrate Healthy Relationships, Domestic Violence (DV) Statistics, and Women’s History. This trivia night isn’t just about fun; it’s also about raising awareness and promoting education. Learn about the importance of healthy relationships, domestic violence statistics, and the remarkable contributions of women throughout history. Your presence helps create awareness and contributes to a safer and more informed community.
Generously sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.

domain: library


text: Melanie Martinez is one of the most underrated artists in the game right now! She doesn’t get the same amount of mainstream attention that Halsey does nor has she had a mainstream hit, but… she’s stealth! Her fans are streaming her albums and EPS and watching her music videos. Over and over again. She’s amassed a very passionate group of supporters.


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There is an epidemic of “successful single woman syndrome”. While it may appear on the surface that men are simply threatened by them, there is more to this than meets the eye.
For Kim Kardashian it is apparent that her work schedule stands in the way of love as well as a propensity for choosing unsuitable mates. Kris wanted a housewife while Kim is determined to remain glamorous and relevant.
Success is not only measured by money, it comes through hard work, long hours and sometimes extensive travel. In order for a relationship to work it takes the same level of commitment, unfortunately that is not always possible especially if both partners are equally busy. This can lead to trysts with maids and nannies not necessarily because they are more attractive than their spouse but due to the fact that they are always there and filling the traditional role of wife, raising the children and/or looking after the house.
It is not all doom and gloom for business minded women provided that they don’t seek their professional equal. There are plenty of men who wouldn’t mind looking after the home or tending to the kids.
While many may have found this role emasculating in the past, the model of the family has changed dramatically in recent years and the “house husband’ has become more socially acceptable.
While this situation might not seem ideal to those who favor an “alpha male” the ability to accompany them on business trips or provide them with a home cooked meal after a long day must be appealing and remember that some of the best chefs are men.
It is important to figure out what each other want from the marriage before taking the plunge. Opposites may attract but the ability to stay together stems from similarities in future goals.

domain: sociology


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The cervical viscera are composed of three layers named after their primary function.
The most superficial layer is the endocrine layer which contains the thyroid and parathyroid glands, then there’s the respiratory layer which contains the larynx and trachea and finally, the deepest layer is the alimentary layer which contains the pharynx and esophagus.
Focusing on the respiratory layer of the cervical viscera, this contains the larynx and trachea that routes air to the lungs, and gives everyone their own unique voice and saying that just made me aware of my own voice on this video recording!
So, let’s start with the larynx which is responsible for voice production and maintaining a patent airway.
The larynx is located in the anterior neck at the level of the bodies of the C3 to C6 vertebrae and connects the inferior part of the pharynx with the trachea. It also contains the vocal cords, or vocal folds, so it’s responsible for voice production.
Now, the larynx has a skeleton which is hardly a skeleton; rather, it’s formed of nine cartilages: thyroid, cricoid and epiglottic cartilages which are single and arytenoid, corniculate and cuneiform cartilages which come in pairs of two.
The thyroid cartilage is the largest cartilage and its superior border lies opposite the C4 vertebra.
It’s formed by two plate-like laminae which unite in the middle to form the laryngeal prominence also known as the Adam’s apple, which is well marked in males and less visible in females.
Superior to this prominence, the laminae diverge to form a V-shaped notch called the superior thyroid notch, and in the middle of the inferior border of the cartilage, a shallow indentation can be found called the inferior thyroid notch.
The posterior border of each lamina projects superiorly as the superior horn and inferiorly as the inferior horn. The superior border and the superior horns attach to the hyoid bone through a membrane called the thyrohyoid membrane.
This membrane has a thick median part which represents the median thyrohyoid ligament and two lateral parts which represent the lateral thyrohyoid ligaments.
The inferior horns articulate with the lateral surfaces of the cricoid cartilage and form the cricothyroid joints which allow rotation and gliding of the thyroid cartilage resulting in changes in the length of the vocal folds.
The cricoid cartilage is shaped like a ring with a thin anterior band and a broad posterior band, and it’s the only complete ring of cartilage to encircle any part of the airway.
Its posterior part is the lamina of the cricoid, and the anterior part is the arch, which attaches superiorly to the inferior margin of the thyroid cartilage through the median cricothyroid ligament, and inferiorly, to the first tracheal ring through the cricotracheal ligament.
The cricoid cartilage is also a key landmark in the neck, because it’s situated at the level of the C6 vertebra.
This is where the carotid artery can be compressed against the C6 vertebra and also, where the larynx and trachea join, where the pharynx joins the esophagus, and the point where the recurrent laryngeal nerve enters the larynx.
The arytenoid cartilages are paired, pyramidal-shaped cartilages that articulate with the lateral parts of the superior border of the cricoid cartilage lamina.
Each arytenoid cartilage has an apex superiorly, where the corniculate cartilage can be found. Connecting the arytenoid and epiglottic cartilages there is a thin, submucosal sheet of connective tissue called the quadrangular membrane.
This membrane has a free superior margin that forms the aryepiglottic ligament. This ligament is covered by mucosa to form the aryepiglottic fold.
Posterior to the ary-epiglottic folds, there are small nodules that represent the corniculate and cuneiform cartilages.
The quadrangular membrane also has a free inferior margin that forms the vestibular ligament, which is covered by mucosa, forming the vestibular fold.
Now, back to the arytenoid cartilage, it’s apex attaches to this ary-epiglottic fold or mucosal covered ary-epiglottic ligament, which is the superior aspect of the quadrangular membrane.
The arytenoid cartilage also has a vocal process anteriorly that provides the posterior attachment for the vocal ligament, as well as a large muscular process that projects laterally from its base and acts as a lever to which the posterior and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles are attached.
Between the bases of the arytenoid cartilages and the superolateral surfaces of the lamina of the cricoid cartilage there are the cricoarytenoid joints which allow some important movements in approximating, tensing and relaxing the vocal cords by allowing the arytenoid cartilages to slide towards or away from one another, to tilt anteriorly and posteriorly and to rotate.
Now, the elastic vocal ligaments form the submucosal skeleton of the vocal folds and extend from the junction of the laminae of the thyroid cartilage anteriorly to the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage posteriorly.
The vocal ligaments are the thickened, free superior border of the conus elasticus. The other component of the conus elasticus is the lateral cricothyroid ligament, which extends laterally between the vocal folds and the superior border of the cricoid.
The conus elasticus blends anteriorly with the median cricothyroid ligament, and along with the overlying mucosa it closes the tracheal inlet except for the central zone called the rima glottidis which is the opening between the vocal folds.
The epiglottic cartilage lies posterior to the root of the tongue and hyoid bone and anterior to the laryngeal inlet and it forms the superior part of the anterior wall and the superior margin of the inlet.
It consists of elastic cartilage and gives flexibility to the epiglottis, which is a heart-shaped cartilage covered with mucous membrane. It also functions as a valve, closing off the superior opening of the larynx during swallowing.
Now, the inferior end of the epiglottic cartilage, called the stalk of the epiglottis, is attached by the thyroepiglottic ligament to the angle formed by the thyroid laminae.
Time for a break! Can you identify the cartilages of the larynx?
Now, the laryngeal cavity extends from the laryngeal inlet through which it communicates with the laryngopharynx, to the level of the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage where it continues with the tracheal cavity.
The laryngeal cavity is divided into three regions: the laryngeal vestibule which is located between the laryngeal inlet and the vestibular folds, the middle part which is the central cavity between the vestibular and vocal folds, and the infraglottic cavity which is located between the vocal folds and the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage, where it continues with the tracheal lumen.
In the middle part of the laryngeal cavity, there are two recesses called the laryngeal ventricles that extend laterally between the vestibular and vocal folds, and inside each ventricle there’s an outpouching called the laryngeal saccule which is lined with mucosal glands.
Now, the vocal folds are the sharp folds of mucous membrane overlying and incorporating the thyro-arytenoid muscles and the vocal ligaments, which represent the medial free edge of the conus elasticus.
Each of the vocal folds also contains the vocalis muscle which are slender muscle slips medial to the thyro-arytenodid muscles, lateral to the vocal ligament and contain exceptionally fine fibers.
These folds produce audible vibrations when their free margins are closely opposed during phonation, and air pushed out of our lungs. When these folds are completely closed, this prevents entry of the air into the lungs.
Finally, the vocal folds, together with the vocal processes and the rima glottidis form the glottis. Now, the shape of the rima glottidis varies according to the position of the vocal folds.
So, during normal breathing the rima is narrow and wedge-shaped, but during forced respiration it’s wide and trapezoidal.
Also, during phonation, the rima is slit-like. The pitch of the voice is changed by variations in the tension and length of the vocal folds, in the width of the rima glottidis, and in the intensity of the expiratory effort.
This is the reason why the male voice typically becomes lower pitch after puberty, because the vocal folds increase in length.
Now, the vestibular folds extend between the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages, which mostly play a protective role, and don’t really participate in sound production so they are termed the false vocal cords.
They consist of two thick folds of mucous membrane enclosing the vestibular ligaments. Let’s take another break and see if you can identify the main structures in the laryngeal cavity.
Moving on to the laryngeal muscles which are divided in two groups: the extrinsic muscles and intrinsic muscles.
The extrinsic muscles move the larynx as a whole and are represented by the infrahyoid muscles, which depress the hyoid and larynx, and the suprahyoid muscles, along with the stylopharyngeus which elevate the hyoid and larynx.
On the other hand, the intrinsic muscles move different laryngeal components to alter the length and shape of the vocal folds and rima glottidis.


ADM Flow Meter
The Agilent ADM flow meter is ideal for measuring gas streams with composite gas composition. This digital flow meter is easy to maintain by simply replacing the cartridge once a year to keep the gas flow meter compliant. There is no need to ship your meter back for recalibration, simply order and replace the cartridge yourself. Each flow meter comes with a calibrated cartridge.


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EU Directive cuts systemic risk
Settlement systems for national and cross-border payments carry risks relating to the insolvency of participants. A new legal basis for netting systems in the EU provides comfort. By Marianne Walsh and Markus Wellinger of Van Bael & Bellis, Brussels
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domain: law


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Save time and money by making your own Photo Christmas Cards this year! Here are a few FREE Christmas Card Templates to make it even easier on you. (You’re welcome!)
I just love sending out photo cards each year to our family and friends. They’re cute, they’re simple and sending cards is a fun way to keep in touch with loved ones.
Today we are making things really simple for you by sharing a few Christmas card templates. All you have to do is pick your favorite design and the drop your picture on top. It’s seriously so easy, we’ll show you how!
How to Make Your Own Photo Christmas Cards
MATERIALS NEEDED –
- Christmas Card Template (download links below)
- a favorite picture (saved to your computer)
- envelopes + stamps (THESE are good for 4×6 prints -and- THESE are good for 5×7 prints)
*Update 11/2017 – When this tutorial was written, the website PicMonkey that I use was 100% free- now it isn’t so I use Canva. They have a free and premium version. I absolutely recommend their service as I use it almost daily. Give it a try and if you love it as much as I do, you might consider upgrading to the premium version. Just a thought…
1|| Download your favorite Christmas Card template (below) and save it to your computer.
2 || Go to PicMonkey.com and click EDIT on the top. Select the photo of the card template you chose and click to open it. This will bring your photo on your screen within the PicMonkey platform.
3 || Add your family picture (or whatever picture you’re using!) by clicking the BUTTERFLY on the left side to pull up the Overlay Menu. Then, click on ADD YOUR OWN at the top of the menu. Click MY COMPUTER and find the file of the image you’re planning to use. This will bring up your picture right in the center of your card.
4 || Click on your image and adjust the size by dragging the corners in and out. Drag the image to your desired location by covering the text “Place Image Here” one the template.
***If you’d like to add more than one image, repeat steps 3 and 4. ***
5 || If you want to add some text to your photo, click the Tt on the left menu, select your font of choice and play around with colors and sizing. (I added my family’s name + the year)
***If you’d like to add more designs – overlays, text etc., do that now.***
6 || Once your design is to your liking, it’s time to export it (save it) to your computer. Click EXPORT at the top, then name your card and save it to your computer!
…annnnnnnd you’re done!
You can upload and print your cards to any online print shop – Costco and Walmart are super affordable! These designs should work for both 4×6 and 5×7 cards.
Here are 4 FREE Christmas Card Templates-
(Click the image to bring up the full size high-quality template, then download and save it to your computer)
Have a merry Christmas!!!


Saturday night was a night of celebration for the Friends of the Holyoke Library organization.
The group held a gala at the newly renovated library to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Those in attendance were able to take a tour of the new and improved sections of the library while also enjoying an evening of food and music.
The library also recently had its murals, depicting some of the city's history, back on display after undergoing some major restorations.
The group told CBS 3 that it hopes to see the library bring positive growth to downtown.
"We are talking about Holyoke, a city that has an enormous poverty rate, and we're right in the center of downtown," said Christine Alger. "There are kids who live not a block from here, who don't have books at home and don't have access to the internet. All of that's here, and its free and it's for everybody."
The library is open to the public and features many special programs for children and young adults.
Copyright 2014 WSHM (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.


text:
Welcome back to the second part of this blog! Buckle up as we talk about the problems with the quilts and the Mother of All Quilt Shows.
Problems with the Quilts
Quilt collectors and historians can easily spot Depression Era Quilts. They’re scrappy, infused with every pastel fabric (both solid and print) imaginable, and white fabric is the neutral of choice. Making the quilts was a popular pastime. It was a cheap hobby which made use of scraps and feedsacks. Both women and men enjoyed the construction and swapping feedsacks. Therefore, there still are quite a few of these quilts around.
The biggest issue with these Depression Era quilts isn’t the workmanship nor the use of kits. The biggest issue is putting a date on them. When you see a quilt obviously made from feedsacks, it’s easy to think, “Oh, that quilt was made in the 1930’s,” since feedsacks were used a lot during that decade. However, this isn’t completely true. Actually, feedsack use hit its height of popularity and usage in the 1940’s during World War II. When you think about Depression Era quilts, you really must take into consideration the years between 1929 through 1950, as women enjoyed making and using the bright scrappy quilts into the fifties. This means even the name – Depression Era quilts – is wrong. Unless a quilt as a solid oral or written history behind it, or is inscribed somewhere with a date, it’s very difficult to pin even a year with any accuracy. We have to give it the vague time period 1929-1950. Too bad there wasn’t a Quilt Day Project back then like we had in the ‘80’s. Too bad people didn’t label their quilts (like the should be doing now).
What We Do Know About the Quilts
There is a “snapshot” of these quilts — The Sears National Quilt Contest held 1933. This contest was organized by Sears, Roebuck, and Company and was held in conjunction with the Chicago World’s Fair. The fair’s theme was a Century of Progress. There were a couple of unique attributes about this fair. First, was the prize money. A total of $7,500 in prizes would be awarded, including a $1,000 grand prize. Second, was the number of quilts entered: conservatively the number is 24,000 – the most any quilt contest has ever had on record to date.
It began innocently enough. The contest was announced in Sear’s January 1933 catalogue, along with the prize money amounts. The rules were pretty simple.
- Enter a quilt of your own making
- The quilt could not have been exhibited anywhere else before the contest
- There was a category which followed the theme of the Chicago Fair – A Century of Progress. Quilters were encouraged to enter quilts into this category as well as the traditional ones.
While Sears realized the prize money was a big draw during the Depression, they didn’t realize how big of an incentive it was and how many quilts would be entered. The prize money set a huge amount of quilting in motion. People who had never quilted before decided to try. Husbands, brothers, sons, and boyfriends helped. A plus for Sears they didn’t see coming – they sold out of fabric, supplies, and patterns. And in the end, the quilts were displayed in Sears stores from coast to coast.
While the contest was announced in the catalogue and on radio in January 1933, the quilts had to be finished and turned in by May 15 – giving the quilters only four months to complete the quilts. The top three winners at the local round were sent to one of the ten Regional Mail Order Houses for another round of judging – Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago, Memphis, Kansas City, Dallas, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The top three from each region was sent to the national round. Of those 30 quilts, the judges chose the top three and an Honorable Mention.
According to newspaper reports and the written records which remain, all 30 of the quilts were exhibited the first summer in 1933. However, for quilt historians, it’s disappointing to note there are no pictures of all the quilts. There were some publicity photos of the top three quilts with the judges and these pictures were sent to local newspapers. The local paper may decide to interview the winner, such as the Lexington, KY newspaper did with Margaret Caden, whose quilt “Star of the Bluegrass” was awarded first place.
Traditionally pieced and appliqued quilts won the big prizes at the Fair. However, remember there was a particular category – the one which followed the theme of the Fair, Century of Progress – which deserves some particular attention. Sears even offered the bonus incentive of an additional $200 if one of these original designs won the grand prize. Of course, this didn’t happen. The quilt above is the one which won the grand prize of $1,000. However, what is interesting is how quilters handled this theme. Some quilters simply embroidered “A Century of Progress” across the top border of the quilt made from a standard pieced pattern. Others dug into the topic, and thoroughly researched inventions and technological advances to include in their quilts. Chicago quilters took the challenge and often incorporated aspects of the World’s Fair itself (remember it was held in Chicago). The Fair commemorated the Centennial of Chicago, so the dates 1833 and 1933 were embroidered, appliqued, and/or quilted into their designs.
Only two of the commemorative quilts reached the final round, and neither was one of the grand prize winners, so the $200 bonus was not awarded. Chicago quilters grumbled loud and long that the local and regional judges had not treated the Century of Progress quilts fairly. These hard feelings grew and festered among the local quilters, to the point letters of protest were sent to Sears. By this time Sears had heard enough of the grumbling and issued curt response letters. The local quilters were not happy. A compromise of sorts was reached in the summer of 1934, when the Fair managers decided to keep the Fair open for a second season. By this time, Sears had already returned the 30 quilts on display to their owners. Sue Roberts invited the top 10 winners to send their quilts back to the Sears Pavilion, as well as invited all the local Chicago quilters to bring their commemorative quilts back for display. At this time, Sears photographed the prize quilts and the commemorative Century of Progress Quilts.
It is critical you realize how crucial this was. At this point in quilt history, quilting was still considered to be “women’s work” and not deemed as important as the other displays of inventions and tools for crop improvement and mechanized industrial processes. To have these photographs gives us a tangible history of these uniquely wonderful quilts. It gives us a true visual of design and color. It also went a long way in smoothing hurt feelings from the local quilters and Sears shoppers.
In the late 1970’s, quilt historian Barbara Brackman lived in Chicago. Well aware of the quilt contest, she visited Sears headquarters and asked about the contest archives. Armed with a few photos and a catalogue listing the 30 winners, she decided to try to find all thirty quilters and document their stories and their quilts. She reached out to local newspapers, mentioned the project in her lectures and workshops, and in all the various quilting publications she wrote for. As word spread, she slowly began to get referrals. Eventually through the work and research of Barbara Brackman, Merikay Walvogal, and other dedicated quilt historians, a total of 150 quilts were located, giving us a verbal or written history as well as photographs.
If you think you may have inherited or come across one of these quilts, I’ve already explained how hard the “Depression Era” quilts are to date. However, the contest quilts often had the theme of the Fair (A Century of Progress) or the date 1933 or 1833-1933 somewhere on the quilt. If you locate a quilt with a contest entry tag or ribbon attached, you’re golden.
What the Sears Quilt Contest Taught Us About the Quilters
Research has yielded as much (if not more) information about the quilters as the quilts. When digging though the written records, it is revealed women of all economic backgrounds entered quilts. It was just as common to find women who were hard hit by the Great Depression – those who lost everything and had to move in with their parents or other relatives – as it was to find the social elite. There are two groups not represented – women of color or immigrants and men. Men may have helped with the quilts, but the quilt was entered under the wife’s/girlfriend’s/sister’s name, or their name may have been listed as part of a collaborative effort. However, there was not one quilt listed as solely constructed by a man.
And while a great number of these quilts were made from fabric scraps left over from dressmaking, there was a surprising number of original pieced or appliqued designs constructed from expensive cotton fabric purchased solely for the contest. It’s easy to assume these quilts were made by women of monetary means (remember not everyone was poor during the Depression). However, this assumption would be incorrect. Working class and unemployed women managed to find the money to buy fabric off the bolt for their quilts. Therefore, there is no real correlation between the quilts and the economic class the women were from.
It also may be this contest birthed what we term the “art quilter” and “art quilts.” The quilts which commemorated the Chicago World’s Fair theme – A Century of Progress – were original because most of those were pictorial by design. This was a new form of quilting. It was so new that the quilt judges had not seen this type of quilt before and didn’t know what to make of it. They were used to traditionally pieced and appliqued quilts. Because these “art quilts” were so new to the quilting world, it’s felt the judges didn’t give serious consideration to them when awarding prizes.
The contest also yielded quite a bit of information about professional quilt makers. Several of the women who entered the contest made quilts for a living. The first prize winner was a group project, coordinated by Margaret Caden who paid professional seamstresses a small price to piece, stuff, and quilt her entry.
There were other quilts entered in the contest which were either made by professional quilt makers and entered under their own name, as well as quite a few quilts which were made by professional quilt makers, purchased by another woman, and was entered into the competition under the purchaser’s name.
What Does All This Information Mean?
After sifting, reading, analyzing, and re-reading all the information, what can we learn from this Sears National Quilt contest? If you’ve my previous blogs about Grandmother’s Flower Garden, Sunbonnet Sue, and the Double Wedding Ring, you may remember these Depression Era quilts weren’t necessarily made for frugality or warmth. A good many were (such as my great-grandmother’s quilt), but a significant number were made for entertainment, competition, and pleasure. It’s truly important to remember the quilts made from 1929-1950 were a product of social and cultural factors far more complex than the cliches which surround the Great Depression. Those quilters were like us in many ways. They liked sewing. Many of them enjoyed competition. They believed pretty fabric is a wonderful thing. And sometimes we pinch pennies and save — just like they did — to purchase material we simply must have.
What the Depression Era Quilts Did for Applique
If you’ve followed my blog long enough, you know my favorite quilting technique is applique. Couple that with Depression Era Quilts and I’m one happy quilting camper. Applique is the quilting technique by which you sew pieces of fabric onto a quilt block to form a picture. The sewing can be either by hand or machine. The picture can be as simple as this
Or as complicated at this.
Applique has been around since 980 BCE in Egypt – at least that’s when we can actually document it. And this technique had been going strong in American quilts since the 19th century. So, this technique was not new to the Depression Era quilter. However, what they did with applique was new and, in many cases, ground-breaking. Let’s start with the woman who I consider the founder of the Modern Applique Movement, Marie Webster.
If there is one individual who championed this quilt technique and in her own quiet way pushed the limits on an early woman-owned business, it’s Marie Webster. Born in 1859 in Wabash, Indiana, she attended public schools. When an eye condition kept her out of college, she read widely and took Latin and Greek from a tutor. It’s interesting to note she had no real art training. Like many women of her day, she loved to garden and held a special affinity for flowers. As a young girl, she was taught fine hand sewing by her mother. Hand sewing remained a hobby for her until around 1909, when her husband became ill. She took up quilting to pass the time while she cared for him. Then at the age of 50, she designed her first quilt, a Rose of Sharon.
Marie’s friends encouraged her to send it to Good Housekeeping. The editor was impressed, and she was asked to design quilts as well as write articles. She became well-known (she was really the first quilting celebrity of her time) and her quilts were displayed in various places across the United States. She continued this line of work until 1911 when she launched The Practical Patchwork Company, which sold quilt kits – primarily applique kits. Her plan was unique. She and her sister, Emma Daughtery, pre-stamped the applique figures on fabric so they could be easily cut out. Also included were colored tissue patterns allowing the quilter to play with applique placement. The company also offered full quilting services – from making a quilt for you, to basting, to quilting. The company became so successful Marie had to hire local quilters to keep up with the demand. And while her son eventually helped her (and took over the business when Marie decided to retire at the age of 83), The Practical Patchwork Company was a woman-owned and woman-run business. Most of the quilt kit companies during the time period may have had a woman’s name on the letterhead, but they were owned and run by men. And in the middle of all this, Marie found the time to write Quilts: Their Story and How to Make Them – the very first book on American Quilt History.
Webster designed dozens of quilts and became a leader of the early twentieth century quilting revival. Webster’s designs rejected the bright colors and heavily embroidered Crazy Quilt patterns of the late nineteenth century in favor of the simple, appliquéd quilts that were popular in the mid-nineteenth century. The Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 1900s also influenced her simple, handmade appliquéd quilts. The hallmarks of her work have been characterized as “balance, harmony, restrain, elegance, and above all, simplification.”
Webster frequently used a palette of soft, muted pastels and modern designs that were less elaborate and more realistic, as opposed to the stylized forms and bright colors of the late Victorian era. Her appliqué quilt patterns became especially known for their beautiful, mostly floral designs, done in pastel colors. These qualities also made her designs unusual for that time. Her quilt motifs were typically inspired from nature, especially flowers from her garden, with popular pattern such as “Iris,” “Poppy,” “Daisies,” “Sunflower,” “Poinsettia,” “Morning Glory,” “Pink Rose,” and “Grapes and Vines.” Webster’s modern quilting designs and her patterns, published in women’s magazines and in advertisements for her mail-order quilting business, inspired adaptations from other quilt designers, pattern makers, and quilt producers, although they did not always attribute her for the original design idea. The biggest culprit who stole her designs and did not give her credit in my opinion? Mountain Mist. For instance…this is Marie’s Sunflower pattern.
This is Mountain Mist’s.
Marie’s Practical Patchwork Company fed the Colonial Revival and the Arts and Crafts Movement through the 1920’s. By the time the Great Depression rolled around, and Sear’s announced its contest, quilters were very familiar with applique. When the special category “Century of Progress” was announced, quilters didn’t miss a beat. They designed applique like this:
Without so much as a hiccup.
The clear pastels Marie used easily fit right into the scrappy look and color palette used from 1929 – 1950. She also was one of the first (if not the first) quilt designers to develop a Sunbonnet Sue pattern. Marie suffered at stroke from which she never fully recovered and died on August 29, 1956, at the age of 97, leaving behind a quilting legacy of applique and fine handwork which was finally recognized in 1991 when she was inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame – which is now housed in her former home in Marion, Indiana.
We can see her work and dedication reflected in today’s applique artists such as Kathy Wiley, Esther Aliu, Deborah Kemball, Kim Diehl, Alex Anderson, McKenna Ryan – the list could go on and on. Every time I work on floral applique Marie comes to my mind and I’m thankful she had a vision of what quilting could be and was daring enough to simplify applique so anyone could enjoy it.
The time of the “Depression Era” quilts was truly remarkable on so many levels. The pastel colors lightened and brightened homes, pushing back the darker colored fabrics of the Victorian Era. Quilters challenged themselves to make blocks smaller and use more pieces of fabric. They made do with feedsacks yet managed to purchase the fabric they wanted. Applique changed and developed into a technique less fussy, with clean cut lines and beautiful floral arrangements. Art quilts were birthed, and Sears, Roebuck, and Company held the mother of all quilt shows. From 1929 – 1950, quilting was an ever-changing art field. However, by 1955 enthusiasm for quilting waned as more women entered or remained in the workforce after World War II. The majority of them no longer had time to make quilts (even though we know the really cool women kept quilting). There wasn’t another such quilting revival until our Bicentennial in 1976.
If you would like to read more about Depression Era quilts, I’ve included my sources at the bottom. It’s truly a fascinating period of quilting.
Until Next Week, Quilt On!
Love and Stitches,
Sherri and Sam
Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 World’s Fair by Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman
Feedsacks: The Colorful History of a Frugal Fabric by Linzee Kull McCray
Softcovers for Hard Times by Merikay Waldvogel
A Joy Forever: Marie Webster’s Quilt Patterns by Rosalind Webster Perry and Marty Frolli
Marie Webster’s Garden of Quilts by Rosalind Webster Perry and Marty Frolli
The Sears National Quilt Contest in the Journal of Antiques and Collectibles online edition
The Quilt Index – Depression Era Quilts

domain: history


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Zhu Honggen, Wang Zhiyuan
Abstract:With the end of "Cold War", superpowers' games regarding Central Asia were staged in succession. The United States developed actively in Central Asia and even brought forward the magnificent "Greater Central Asia Partnership" after 9·11 event. Soon afterwards, the United States was excluded collectively by Russia and Central Asian countries, while China developed bilateral partnerships with Central Asian countries steadily. With the interweaving of the strategies of the three superpowers China, Russia and United States, and the influences of Islamic regions in the west and European Union in the north, the influences of the outside world on Central Asia have become more complicated. In order to probe further into this issue, it is required to seek "standard and paradigm" which has regularities in a relatively broad space and long period; on this basis, with the combination of Central Asia's features in aspects of geographical relationship, diplomacy, etc, the influences of outside world on Central Asia and the development trend can be judged relatively accurately.
Key words: Central Asian countries; superpowers' games; regional safety; standard; paradigm

domain: geography


text:
The whole town slept outside on cots set up in their yards. They had to, with houses that baked all through the stifling day and remained hot ovens throughout the night. Everyone spied on each other’s nightshirts, cracked jokes, and asked about the latest telegrams delivered about the loved ones of that neighbor or this neighbor. Those loved ones who traveled overseas. Those neighbors still shut inside their dark houses, despite the unbearable temperature. Everyone called out their good nights, their sweet dreams, their don’t let the rattlesnakes bite. When a bull escaped from his pen one night, his hoofbeats and snorts roamed the narrow dirt streets. Nowadays everyone sleeps inside, setting their cots under swamp coolers mounted to their front room windows, oblivious to what wanders the pitch black beyond. But back then, everyone sat up on their cots, alert. Everyone called out to each other, “Here he comes. Here he comes!”
Dan Crawley is the author of Straight Down the Road (Ad Hoc Fiction, 2019) and The Wind, It Swirls (Cowboy Jamboree Press, 2021). His writing appears or is forthcoming in Jellyfish Review, Lost Balloon, JMWW, Atticus Review, and elsewhere.

domain: literature


August 27, 2021
5 min read
Khorram is cofounder and director of Marianas Eye Institute.
Disclosures: Khorram reports serving on the board of directors of Vision Health International.
Imagine doing something 80 to 100 times a day, the same thing again and again, all day long. Now imagine if that something is cataract surgery.
I’m often amazed at the concentration we have as ophthalmologists to sit within the confines of a few millimeters, delicately restoring sight, fully aware that with each movement we are also risking sight. But this amazement reached a new level for me during a trip to a rural hospital in the highlands of Ethiopia with Dr. Matt Oliva and the Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP), simply because of the scale of the surgery and the skill of the surgeons.
Many of you know the story of Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr. Sanduk Ruit and his American counterpart Dr. Geoff Tabin, who together founded the Himalayan Cataract Project (cureblindness.org) and whose efforts led to a 58% reduction in the prevalence of blindness in Nepal over the course of 2 decades. If you don’t know the story, pick up a copy of Second Suns by David Oliver Relin. It’s an inspiring read. With its success in Nepal, HCP set its sights on eliminating cataract blindness in other parts of the world, and I was in Ethiopia to participate in one of its high-volume cataract surgery campaigns.
Eliminating cataract blindness is a complex endeavor. The HCP model relies on a two-pronged approach: build the resources within the country so that there are ophthalmologists to treat the cataracts (which requires building training programs and eye hospitals and equipment and management systems and data collection and biomedical technicians and on and on) and address the current backlog of cataracts through regular high-volume cataract surgery campaigns.
In these campaigns, a team of about five cataract surgeons will go into an area and, over the course of 5 days, perform 1,200 to 1,500 cataract surgeries. Among the team will be two or three highly skilled surgeons, like Matt, Bidya from Myanmar, and Abreham and Daniel from Ethiopia, who will each knock out 80 to 100 cases a day, along with another three or four surgeons, who combined will add another 100 cases to the daily effort.
I know that it’s hard to comprehend a single surgeon doing 80 to 100 high-quality cataracts a day. The focus and stamina required to operate for 11 or 12 hours a day, chained to a stool that is too hard, a microscope without a foot pedal, a room that’s too hot, while being fed a steady stream of white cataracts, brunescent cataracts, black cataracts, small pupils, pseudoexfoliation, lenses dangling by three zonules — well, it’s not for everyone. “Do we have any pupil dilators?” one of the other visiting surgeons asks. Matt calmly responds, “Yeah, it’s called the nucleus.” You get the picture. Every time I go on one of these trips, at the end of the first day, feeling like I’ve been run over by a truck, I ask myself, “Why do I do this?” The answer comes the next morning when the bandages come off, and patients dance and doctors cry.
HCP’s approach works because of its commitment to raising local human resources and developing systems. Before the surgical campaign, HCP’s in-country staff screens thousands of patients in the region to identify those who may need cataract surgery. It requires immense logistical coordination to bring 1,200 to 1,500 people and their families to the center where the surgery will take place, house and feed them during the few days they are there, and efficiently and safely get them through surgery. At the core of the system is the recognition that the rarest component is the surgeon, who should focus on surgery. A medical ophthalmologist screens every patient arriving at the surgical camp and confirms those with cataracts. A team of eye care workers checks vision, performs an A-scan, trims lashes, selects the IOL and blocks the eye, while another team keeps patients moving through these stations and then into the operating room, positioning them on the bed, completing the paperwork and ushering them out at the end of surgery. The scrub nurses and circulators prep and drape the patient and keep the instruments flowing. The surgeon usually will have two beds side by side, with the microscope swinging between them, and moves immediately from one case to the next. The turnover time is the 12 seconds it takes to change a pair of gloves.
Data from Aravind have shown that having multiple patients in the room simultaneously, having multiple sets of instruments open at the same time, wearing the same gown from case to case and other elements that improve efficiency, have no higher rates of endophthalmitis than we experience in the U.S. Science backs up the systems in place.
The other element of the efficiency of the surgery is, of course, the skill of the surgeon and the use of manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS). Before my trip to Ethiopia, I was lucky to get through 12 MSICS cases in a day. A really good surgical week would be if I got anywhere more than 50 cataracts done. In those settings, I would block the patient, choose the IOL, walk the patient into the OR, help them onto the bed and do a lot of other things besides surgery. Within the context of the HCP system and with the opportunity to be guided by these world-class MSICS surgeons, I adjusted my technique and managed to get up to 30+ cases in a day.
We ophthalmologists often put a lot of emphasis on these kinds of personal numbers. Although I keep track of them (of course I do), I bear in mind that the priority, above all else, is to do good surgery. As Fred Hollows, the great Australian ophthalmologist, said, “Every eye is an eye.” The grandmother in the village in Ethiopia deserves the same quality of surgery as my grandmother. So, I keep myself in check. Focus on the quality, not the speed. As I watch over Matt’s shoulder, it is hard to believe that one day he was where I am, doing the same slow surgery that I am, struggling as I am, wanting to quit at times, as I do. I watch Dr. Helen Sisay, an Ethiopian ophthalmologist from Hawassa Hospital, do a case. Smooth. Flawless. Despite the challenges. “How many cases do you do during a high-volume cataract campaign?” I ask her. “About 85 a day,” she says. She’s 3 years out of her residency — a residency that was supported by HCP. And she’s now leading the new residency program at Hawassa, also supported by HCP, along with other global partners.
Years ago, I was a bit disillusioned with my work. It had gotten so routine, so ordinary, and I felt like I wanted to do something more. I picked up a book called How to Change the World by David Bornstein. I had ideas of starting some kind of organization to tackle the big problems of the world. What I concluded, as a result of the stories from that book, was that the best way to have an impact is to find someone who is making a real difference and support them in their quest. This is what Himalayan Cataract Project does. It finds people in the countries where cataract blindness is rampant and gives them the training and the tools to lift up their nations. At the high-volume cataract surgery campaigns, visiting HCP doctors work side by side with their local counterparts to get through the backlog of cataract blindness. As a result, there is less need for outside ophthalmologists to parachute in and do surgery. HCP is one of those proven organizations whose work is making a dent in global blindness in Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Myanmar, Bhutan and many other countries.


text:
My work at the Ecosystem Council progressed. I expanded the organization’s mailing list in fits and starts. I composed the annual letters to the half-dozen or so foundations that provided the Council with the bulk of its funds―$5,000 here, $8,000 there. I learned how to compose a lengthy newsletter online, the bits, bytes, and pixels of which were then sent to a local business that created the hundreds of hardcopies, which were subsequently mailed. Then, with the help (at no cost) of a retired tech wizard living in Crestone―the quirky, quiet little new-age place was a surprising Zen garden of talent―I created the organization’s first website. The wizard then explained to me how to get maximum exposure for the Council via a relatively new “search engine” he recommended above all others, something with the goofy name of Google.
Perhaps the issue of greatest concern during my employment at the Council was a proposed resort―cozily if unimaginatively named “The Village at Wolf Creek”―capable of accommodating 8,000 people on some 300 acres of private land adjacent to the family-owned, modest, and relatively remote Wolf Creek Ski Area. Surrounded by National Forest land and the ski area, the latter leasing its acreage from the National Forest, the private land was acquired in a 1980’s land swap of alleged shady nature between the National Forest and a Texas land development company: 300 acres of lush forest and wetlands just below the summit of storied Wolf Creek Pass for 1,600 acres of, in the words of one environmental advocacy organization, “degraded rangeland” in the San Luis Valley. The Council was opposed to the development, which was being bankrolled primarily by a Texas billionaire who made his fortune in automobile sales and communications.
My job was to explain to the Council’s supporters, via newsletters and fundraising letters, the primary threats this development at the headwaters of the Rio Grande posed, including water, air, and light pollution; traffic jams; and wildlife disturbance. My job was also to attend and document townhall meetings arranged to discuss the proposed development and to participate in and document fields trips to the proposed development site to examine the development’s environmental impacts. The Council was aided by various non-profits in Colorado, with the legal muscle provided by an organization based in the chic southwestern Colorado town of Durango.
The billionaire―a former owner of the Minnesota Vikings football team and Denver Nuggets basketball team―never to my knowledge during my tenure at the Council made an appearance either in the Valley or at the proposed development site. His partner in the venture, an Austin, Texas, land developer and chief executive of the company that would build the project, represented him at townhall meetings in Del Norte, Creede, and South Fork, towns all nearby to the ski area. In his late-50’s or early-60’s, this soft-spoken―disarmingly so, I thought―man made an obvious effort to affect a casual, down-home look. His jeans were faded and his boots scuffed. His suede outerwear jacket―with fringes!―might have been Ralph Lauren. But it, too, was cunningly worn and faded. He had a thick, plump, and curvaceous crown of hair that never quite melded with the straight grain of hair on the sides and back of his head and thus, to me, whispered “hair piece.” In any event, a perfect “mountain man” for the new millennium, he was rarin’ to seduce any skeptical local.
Here was a clash that had all the makings of an environmental activist’s dream or a zesty plot of a John Nichols novel: a Texas billionaire who made a killing in automobiles, broadcasting, and sports franchises longing to couple with the modest owners of a ski area―small, but renowned for its prodigious snows and challenging runs―on the top of the United States . . . in order to create a commercial hell.
The battleground was effectively a combination of Mineral County, which contained the private parcel and the ski area, and, at the nearby lower elevations, Rio Grande and Alamosa counties. These were the counties to which the development team primarily pitched its project, not only because the project required the Mineral County Commissioners’ approval, but also because the three counties, in the opinion of the team, were “economically depressed” and would thus benefit hugely from the jobs generated by the project. Opponents of the project countered that the jobs in the completed development would mainly involve low-paying work waiting tables, making beds, and cleaning toilets.
Another, somewhat peripheral, argument against the project was the possibility of widespread altitude sickness among the resort’s guests. The planned resort would stand at roughly 10,400 feet. Altitude sickness was a possibility above 8,000 feet. Its milder symptoms included shortness of breath, headaches, and vomiting, which prompted on my part comical visions of Dallaseños lined up outside of The Village at Wolf Creek gift shop and convenience store for jumbo bottles of Tylenol, or clutching stylish Village lampposts for dear life as they ralphed, on 14 inches of new powder, the previous evening’s meal of margaritas and fish tacos. More seriously, acute altitude sickness could lead to potentially fatal pulmonary or cerebral edema, both of which could only be arrested by immediate descent to a lower elevation or prompt oxygen administration on site.
And yet despite its delicious possibilities, The Village at Wolf Creek controversy lacked the drama that I had anticipated―and, frankly, hoped for. At the townhall discussions, no punches were thrown, no obscenities were exchanged, no accusations of “tree-hugging” and “rapaciousness,” no slashed tires, no drawn guns. Try as I might, I could not bring myself to particularly dislike the developer and his frequent sidekick, the project’s “local project manager,” a grinning, chubby-cheeked young man from Del Norte who worked in sporting goods and real estate. The townhall meetings were always calm, courteous affairs.
Meanwhile, the technicalities and legal maneuvers of the battle, which I made little effort to understand―that was, after all, Chris’s job―ground on and on and on. And on. Much of this Jarndyce and Jarndyce tedium, which proved to be to the opposition’s benefit, was due to the fact that public land surrounded the land owned by the developers, and the opposition was fighting for every single one of the 750 public feet the developers needed to connect their proposed resort to nearby Highway 160. Why the architects of the original land swap didn’t anticipate this snag was beyond me. Week after week, month after month, it was nothing but “environmental impact statements,” “public comments,” “higher court rulings,” “lower court rulings,” “judges,” “riders,” “NEPA” processes, “easements,” “collusions.” No wonder law is so fruitful.
Today, not a cubic yard of cement for The Village at Wolf Creek has been poured. Meanwhile, the proposed development has an official website, which includes the motto “mountain solitude reimagined.”
Well, one element of the development, at least on the website, has been “reimagined.” A long-distance photo, obviously depicting idyllic summertime on the development’s acreage, presents a dark-green, obviously robust conifer forest. However, when I returned to Wolf Creek Pass in the summer of 2018, I witnessed this same acreage, although now rather different in appearance: an acreage―in fact, an entire pass―ashen with trees, thousands of them, dead from beetle kill, arguably the result of a warming planet. Unless these trees are cut down―or preserved and painted?―this is what residents will see at The Village at Wolf Creek: a conifer graveyard.
Time to re-reimagine.
 As of 2021, the battle over “The Village at Wolf Creek” is still being waged in the courts. The Council’s website (slvec.org) lists as one of its 2021 goals: “Update the citizenry about the importance of protecting Wolf Creek Pass from unbridled development and keep the public informed about the Federal Court Case that will be decided sometime early this year. Then, respond in an appropriate manner to the Judge’s decision.”


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Problems at al-Hol camp in Hasakah governorate in northeastern Syria continue to grow. Countries refuse to repatriate their female citizens who are associated with ISIS, and the most radical female ISIS members are killing women who have abandoned the terrorist organization’s extremist ideology.
Most of the women associated with ISIS who reside in this camp are either the wives or widows of ISIS fighters who were killed in military confrontations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a source from the camp told Majalla.
Notably, the SDF, which is backed by the United States and the Global Coalition to defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq, is an alliance of forces formed during the Syrian civil war. It is composed primarily of Kurdish, Arab, and Assyrian/Syriac, as well as some smaller Armenian, Turkmen, and Chechen forces.
There are about 8,000 ISIS women from dozens of European, Asian and Arab countries, who live with their children in a special section in al-Hol camp. However, many infiltrate other sections and kill those who joined the group years ago and decided to abandon its radical ideology.
ISIS controlled vast areas of Syria and Iraq and took full control of the Syrian city of Raqqa in early 2014 and made it the de facto capital before the SDF declared it recaptured in late March 2019.
The SDF has about 12,000 ISIS militants in their prisons. However, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES), which manages civil, service, and judicial matters in the SDF-run areas, only prosecutes Syrians who had joined ISIS.
The Administration releases ISIS elements who are proven not to be involved in terrorist crimes, provided that they do not return to their previous activities under the sponsorship of the dignitaries of their tribes.
Its areas include parts of Aleppo and Deir Ezzor governorates, Raqqa and Hasaka governorates, except Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad cities, which Turkey took control over following a large-scale military operation against the SDF in early October 2019.
REPATRIATION OF CITIZENS IS NECESSARY
Leaders of the Autonomous Administration constantly warn that the situation in al-Hol camp will not change as long as countries refuse to repatriate ISIS women demanding to return.
Five crimes were committed in November at al-Hol camp, Sheikhmus Ahmed, head of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria’s office for internally displaced persons and refugees, told Majalla.
The five victims are Iraqi nationals, he noted, adding that the camp has witnessed the highest rate of murders in 2021, amounting to 89 by late November.
“Al-Hol camp recorded in 2021 the highest rate of killings since the arrival of ISIS women years ago.”
Ahmed accused ISIS sleeper cells of committing these crimes, stating that “the parties behind these operations are certainly ISIS cells in the camp that are supported by organization’s intelligence and cells deployed in Iraq and in Turkish-occupied Syrian cities.”
These crimes have sparked fear among displaced Syrians and Iraqis in the camp, he added.
“Refugees fear ISIS cells have been able to organize their ranks throughout this year to commit more crimes and assassinations in and outside the camp, especially since the organization appears to have resumed its operations in Syria and Iraq.”
These fears are constantly increasing, especially since the terrorist organization considers al-Hol camp a microcosm of its alleged “caliphate,” Ahmed stressed.
He reiterated his appeal to the international community to address the problems in the camp and intervene swiftly and urgently to help the Autonomous Administration and the displaced people by pressuring countries to repatriate their female citizens residing in the camp.
“Many international organizations withdrew from al-Hol camp,” the civilian official said, adding that the area where it had been established is besieged by the Syrian government and Turkey and its border crossing with Iraq’s Kurdistan region is closed.
“All these reasons prevent humanitarian aid from entering our areas,” Ahmed stressed, noting that the international community must provide access to the basic needs and support the Autonomous Administration in the humanitarian, political, and security fields.
“It should address the ISIS women’s issue, especially with the coronavirus outbreak and the sleeper cell’s ongoing efforts to reorganize their ranks.”
DOZENS OF CHILDREN TAUGHT ISIS IDEOLOGY
The population density is high in al-Hol camp, where almost 60,000 Iraqis and Syrians who fled ISIS-controlled areas have been residing for years now. Women affiliated with the terrorist organization residing there come from 60 different countries.
The murders are not limited to ISIS women or those who belong to the organization. Female ISIS militants living in al-Hol camp stabbed members of the Syrian Kurdish internal security services, known as Asayish, to death.
In addition to the residence of these women in the camp, officials in the Autonomous Administration warn of the repercussions of the continued residency of their children as well, fearing their mothers would teach them the organization’s radical ideology.
Many countries refuse to reclaim dozens of children living in these camps. Other countries, including Sudan, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, France, and other Arab, European and Asian countries, have repatriated hundreds of children.
Children of ISIS fighters live in dire conditions in al-Hol camp as a result of malnutrition and the lack of means of safety from storms, fires, and the pandemic. Their actions and thoughts are driven by the extremist ideology, which makes them sleeper cells and time bombs ready to explode any moment.
A volunteer who works inside the camp with a local organization underlined the great danger these children face, as well as their need for psychological support, food, and in-kind assistance. She warned against following in their parents’ footsteps, noting that this constitutes the greatest danger inside and outside al-Hol camp.
An estimated 11,136 foreign women and children from some 60 other countries remain in camps in northeast Syria, the United Nations has earlier announced. But Autonomous Administration officials say that “the numbers are, in fact, much higher.”
The Autonomous Administration considers al-Hol camp a “ticking bomb” due to crimes committed there and its concern that ISIS would reorganize its elements inside the camp near the border with Iraq.
It is noteworthy that Turkey launched its Operation Peace Spring in October 2019, which helped ISIS women flee from the camps to other Syrian areas controlled by Ankara, the Administration announced then.
The operation allowed Syrian regime forces to regain control over the areas run by the Autonomous administration in which these camps were established, forcing dozens of international organizations to halt their work there.
In this context, a source in an international organization that previously worked in al-Hol told the Majalla that “This camp is no longer safe for our employees, so we decided to suspend our activities there and limit our work to sending some aid through the central government in Damascus.”
Dozens of organizations were working inside al-Hol camp, especially with ISIS children, but they all suspended their work after ISIS women’s repeated attempts to attack UN officials by stabbing them with knives or threatening to kill them.
Last week, international organizations, led by the UN and the European Commission, renewed their warnings of the danger of keeping ISIS women in the camps for a longer period, while US reports have recently warned of the possibility of them turning into bloodier version of the extremist organization.
The source of this danger are ISIS women themselves and those seeking to enforce rules and punishments on other residents in the camp. These groups are known as the “Hisba,” It is the religious police formed by ISIS after controlling various areas in Syria and Iraq.
The Hisba remains the main accused of committing the murders inside the camp, according to US, European and Syrian reports.
In November, a British newspaper described al-Hol camp as “one of the world’s bloodiest areas”, where murders are committed in public.
Fires break out in al-Hol camp every now and then for unknown reasons. A fire broke out in the camp on Monday and burned down several tents, resulting in dozens of casualties.
Also last week, a tanker truck distributing water at the sprawling camp rammed into a tent, killing three women and severely injuring a man, whose leg was amputated, eyewitnesses said.
“ISIS women seem to ignite these fires to cause more chaos inside the camp,” a local source told the Majalla.
A fire also broke out in August at al-Hol camp, burning dozens of tents.


A NEW roundabout could be installed in Hadleigh town centre as part of £60million regeneration plans, sparking confusion over what the final road layout will be.
Introducing two-way traffic along High Road and restricting traffic in London Road between Rectory Road and Hadleigh Old Fire Station feature at the heart of the masterplan, which aims to boost trade and revitalise the town.
Critics claim the move will lead to heavy congestion and roads such as Church Road and Scrub Lane becoming rat runs for motorists seeking to avoid the A13.
Now, residents have confessed to feeling baffled after being told last week considerations are being made to introduce a roundabout near Hadleigh Old Fire Station.
Neil Hamper, 70, of Benfleet Road, Hadleigh, said: “Introducing a roundabout and two-way traffic on the High Road will just cause gridlocks on the road. People already have trouble getting out of Homestead Gardens, and this will only make it worse.
"At first we thought London Road was to be pedestrianised, then that access to the Southend-bound A13 from London Road would only be for emergency vehicles, now a roundabout. For heaven’s sake we just want to know what’s going on.”
The move could mean drivers travelling from Rectory Road into London Road wanting to go towards Southend will have to turn right in the opposite direction, past the fire station and round the roundabout back left onto the High Road.
Mystery surrounds what the final road layout will be until the results of traffic survey, undertaken by Essex County Council in October, emerge.
Councillor Derrick Louis, cabinet member for highways and transportation at Essex County Council, said: “Essex County Council supports Castle Point in its ambitions to regenerate Hadleigh Town Centre and will do its utmost to ensure the highway proposals are the best option for Hadleigh residents and visitors.”
Castle Point Council confirmed additional analysis is being carried out following the survey to assess the viability of the traffic layout and its impact on the wider road network which is expected to be released in March.


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Health and Consumer e-News keeps you up-to-date with all the latest developments and activities in DG Health and Consumers. Receive by email, regular information on the topics that most interest you.
Public Health (02-03-2011)
EU Mental Health Pact Conference: Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being in Workplaces, 3-4 March, Berlin
Improving mental health and well-being in the workplace can have many benefits to employers and employees as well as to public health. This includes economic advantages for businesses and social security systems. Healthy, productive employees make a vital contribution to a company's success and competitiveness, but psychological strain is increasing at workplaces. For those who have experienced poor mental health, getting and keeping a job can be vital to the recovery process, boosting self esteem, confidence and social inclusion. A high level of mental health at work is essential for the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy with its objective of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
The conference Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being in Workplaces opening today in Berlin raises awareness on the relevance of mental health and well-being for workplaces. This 2-day conference is organised by the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry of Health in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs with the support of the Hungarian EU Presidency. It gathers around 350 experts to discuss the role of workplaces in improving the mental health and well-being of the population.
The case for action from a public health perspective is the focus of the conference. The workplace constitutes a key area for health promotion and the prevention of mental disorders. Conference sessions will include the case for investing in mental well-being and practical steps for social security actors to build mentally healthy workplaces – in both corporate and public sector spheres. The conference's conclusions and recommendations for action, will be available here from 5 March 2011.
This is the fifth and final conference under the European Pact for Health and Well-being, launched in 2008. This Pact provides an EU framework enabling exchange and cooperation between stakeholders in different sectors including health, employment and education on the challenges and opportunities in promoting better mental health. Conferences on the other themes under the Pact - Mental Health in Youth and Education, Prevention of Depression and Suicide, Mental Health and Well-being in Older People and Promoting Social Inclusion and Combating Stigma - were held in 2009 and 2010.
For more information:


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The Miami-Dade Commission's decision to keep the property-tax rate flat could mean the closing of 22 of the county's 49 libraries.
In an 8-4 vote Tuesday, the commission approved the flat property-tax rate, which could result in closing 10 storefronts and 12 other libraries and lay off 251 library employees, according to the resolution. It also calls for closing six fire-rescue units and laying off 149 fire-rescue employees.
The 22 libraries to be closed are California Club, Opa-locka, Golden Glades, Civic Center Kiosk, Lemon City, Little River, Model City, Culmer, North Shore, Shenandoah, South Shore, Fairlawn, Virrick Park, Country Walk, Concord, Sunset, Lakes of the Meadows, Tamiami, West Kendall Regional, Doral, Hialeah Gardens and Palm Springs North, the Miami Herald reported.
The libraries chosen to be closed were based on whether it is in a county-owned building or storefront and its location. The 10 libraries located in commercial buildings would be closed.
But the library department is trying to keep facilities open throughout the county.
The budget will be approved after two public meetings in September. Until then, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said his administration will look for ways to minimize cuts, the newspaper reported.
Commissioner Javier Souto said the libraries were "sacred" and compared closing one to closing a church, the Miami Herald reported.
After hours of discussion, the commissioners agreed to not raise taxes, even though they didn't like the potential cuts.
“This is not the year to be talking about increases,” Commissioner Juan C. Zapata concluded.
The Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library, which is a non-profit organization supporting the county library system, released a statement Wednesday on its website asking for the community's support and donations.
"The Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library are extremely disappointed by the County Commission’s budget decision yesterday which will effectively close almost half of the County’s public libraries. Unfortunately, it appears that the Commission does not realize the true impact of their vote," the statement said. "The vote will not only result in the loss of jobs and branch closures, but will severely limit, if not eliminate, the many invaluable programs and resources that the library system offers its community."


The North Face Super Zephyrus Hoodie is the ideal jacket for when you need warmth and weather protection, but mobility is key. This windshell is insulated with 40 g of PrimaLoft® One and incorporates Power Stretch® panels on the sides for maximum breathability. For lightweight wind protection and supreme insulation without a lot of bulk, this is the jacket for you.
- Fabric wind permeability rated at 2 CFM (0 CFM is 100% windproof)
- Attached, partially insulated, bound hood
- Polartec® Power Stretch® panelled into sides, hood and hem for comfort and mobility
- Reverse-coil zips
- Two alpine pockets
- Bound cuffs with thumb loops


A collection of news and information related to Martha Stewart published by this site and its partners.
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A Mountain Ridge Court Christmas is the theme for the upcoming Christmas Home Tour and Bazaar, which begins from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and continues from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The four homes featured this year are all located in the same development...
Nov 13, 2011 |Story| Daily American
Original site for Martha Stewart topic gallery.


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Spaying and neutering your pets comes with many benefits. Sterilization helps to Stopp Unwanted Habits, and it also controls the pet population. Many unwanted dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, are euthanized each year. Frequently these animals are not homeless strays, but the offspring of beloved family pets. Sterilization through spaying (for females) and neutering (for males) is also known to Prevent Deadly Cancers from growing in your pet's reproductive system. As the most common surgery performed by Vet 4 Pets Beaumont every year, surgical sterilizations are deemed safe and low risk.
Cat neutering refers to the castration of the testicles of a male cat so that he cannot impregnate a female cat. Spaying a cat involves the ovariohysterectomy of the reproductive system of a female cat so she cannot get pregnant and give birth to litters. Cat spaying is a surgical procedure that our veterinary surgeon can correctly and safely perform. We advise spaying and neutering between 4-6 months of age. If you are not convinced when to Neuter A Cat, please check with Vet 4 Pets Beaumont's veterinarian at your upcoming visit.
We are a public clinic with an objective to ensure every pet owner has access to spay/neuter services and preventive care for their pets. Vet 4 Pets Beaumont is operated by a certified, expert veterinary staff. When you call or visit a Vet 4 Pets Beaumont, one of our Helpful Veterinary Technicians will walk you through our services to help you to decide what your pet needs.
Surgical sterilization for a pet will encompass the Elimination of Reproductive Organs under general anesthesia. Eliminating the pet's reproductive organs will not modify their personality, playfulness, or ability to learn. Surgical substitutes to the Traditional Spaying And Neutering exist and may be offered at specific clinics.
While there is some cost to having a sterilization procedure, the long-term benefits far outweigh the price of nursing a pet with a serious reproductive system ailemnt. Vet 4 Pets Beaumont safely performs Efficient Spaying And Neutering Surgeries.
When spay and neuter surgery is undergone before dogs and cats are sexually mature, behavioral and medical profits are enhanced. In turn, you and your Pet Will Enjoy a Better Quality of Life. You can contact us at 866-443-0671 to book a inclusive pet exam, so we can discuss when surgery is appropriate for your pet.
In order to offer surgical sterilization at a Low Cost, Spay And Neuter Clinics have to limit the expenses of the method. You can obtain the services Vet 4 Pets Beaumont has to provide for your pets at a reasonable price. For low-cost Vet Services, such as spaying and neutering, call us today.

domain: pet


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I'm a science fiction writer who covers AI, cybersecurity and extended reality at her day job as a tech journalist. Also -- former war correspondent! I post new installments from my Krim World series of novellas and short stories at Krim.World every weekday. I'm also the editor of the speculative fiction magazine MetaStellar.
A novella set in the near-future virtual world of Krim.
The Lost King of Krim2019
Awards and Recognition
- 2020 National Gold Award winner from the American Society of Business Publication Editors.


MESKI – Mersin Drinking Water Distribution, Automation and SCADA System
The Mersin Water and Sewerage Administration (MESKI) is a 100 % publicly-owned company located at the Mediterranean Sea, in the southern part of Turkey. The city of Mersin has about 800,000 inhabitants and is the operator and owner of the drinking water distribution and wastewater treatment plant. In 2011, MESKI awarded the contract for the renovation of the existing system, including expansions and the automation of the whole drinking water distribution system by means of a SCADA system.
The scope of work included the provision and installation of a redundant SCADA system, the supply and installation of RTUs (including the programming of PLCs) in the existing and new pumping stations, as well as the installation of a communication system.
The contract also included the installation of valves, flow measurement, pressure measurement and chlorine measurement chambers.
Furthermore, it included the construction of the SCADA operating building centre near the headquarters of MESKI, as well as all mechanical and civil works for the complete project.
IDS established a Joint Venture together with the company Piomak, which has been an expert in the water sector of several decades’ standing. IDS, as the joint venture leader, supplied the SCADA system and the RTUs.
The 120 RTUs in the field communicate via radio modems (IEC 60870-5-104 protocol) with two IDS 850 front-end-computers, which, in turn, communicate with the redundant SCADA system.
The UHF communication system has three repeater stations.
The system is controlled by redundant SCADA servers and two operator workstations. Besides the basic functions, the web server with 30 users, the basic functionalities and a reservoir management software was commissioned.
In addition to the two workstations, a large-screen projection system was supplied. With this system, operators are able to monitor the water flow and all statuses at any time and act immediately in case of faults in the distribution system.
The PLC regulates a variable pumping operation. There are several reservoirs connected in a line, and if e. g. the water level of reservoir one is down the pumps will be activated to bring it back to the required level. The PLC also controls the operating time equalization of each pump and monitors the status of the pumps. If a pump is not working properly, another one will be switched on it its stead.
Additional Facts and Figures:
- 9 pumping stations
- 11 reservoir stations,111 measurement and valve control points
- 65 new measurement points including çivil and mechanical works
- Pipe and valve replacement at 4 reservoir control rooms
- Installation of 78 pressure meters, 12 level meters, 39 electromagnetic flow meters, 31 chlorine meters
- Installation of 140 valves (size between DN1400 to DN100) and 76 electrical actuators
- Construction of a SCADA Control Centre Building, valve control, flow and chlorine measurement chambers
- IP-based UHF communication system for the entire network with 3 repeater station covering an area of 56 km.