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Colorectal cancer screening with odour material by canine scent detection
Hideto Sonoda1,6,
Shunji Kohnoe1,6,
Tetsuro Yamazato2,
Yuji Satoh3,
Gouki Morizono4,
Kentaro Shikata5,
Makoto Morita6,
Akihiro Watanabe6,
Masaru Morita1,
Yoshihiro Kakeji1,
Fumio Inoue4,
Yoshihiko Maehara1
1Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University at Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
2Department of Internal Medicine, Arita Kyoritsu Hospital at Arita, Saga, Japan
3St. Sugar Cancer Sniffing Dog Training Center at Minamibousou, Chiba, Japan
4Department of General Surgery, Arita Kyoritsu Hospital at Arita, Saga, Japan
5Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuoka Dental College Hospital at Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
6Department of General Surgery, Fukuoka Dental College Hospital at Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
Correspondence to Dr Hideto Sonoda, Department of Surgery and Science Graduate School of Medicine Kyushu University 3-1-1 Midashi,Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; hsonoda{at}surg2.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Objective Early detection and early treatment are of vital importance to the successful treatment of various cancers. The development of a novel screening method that is as economical and non-invasive as the faecal occult blood test (FOBT) for early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is needed. A study was undertaken using canine scent detection to determine whether odour material can become an effective tool in CRC screening.
Design Exhaled breath and watery stool samples were obtained from patients with CRC and from healthy controls prior to colonoscopy. Each test group consisted of one sample from a patient with CRC and four control samples from volunteers without cancer. These five samples were randomly and separately placed into five boxes. A Labrador retriever specially trained in scent detection of cancer and a handler cooperated in the tests. The dog first smelled a standard breath sample from a patient with CRC, then smelled each sample station and sat down in front of the station in which a cancer scent was detected.
Results 33 and 37 groups of breath and watery stool samples, respectively, were tested. Among patients with CRC and controls, the sensitivity of canine scent detection of breath samples compared with conventional diagnosis by colonoscopy was 0.91 and the specificity was 0.99. The sensitivity of canine scent detection of stool samples was 0.97 and the specificity was 0.99. The accuracy of canine scent detection was high even for early cancer. Canine scent detection was not confounded by current smoking, benign colorectal disease or inflammatory disease.
Conclusions This study shows that a specific cancer scent does indeed exist and that cancer-specific chemical compounds may be circulating throughout the body. These odour materials may become effective tools in CRC screening. In the future, studies designed to identify cancer-specific volatile organic compounds will be important for the development of new methods for early detection of CRC.
canine scent detection
breath sample
stool sample
stool markers
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/ and http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gut.2010.218305
Significance of this study
What is already known about this subject?
Canine olfactory detection of cancer has been reported for melanoma as well as bladder, lung, breast and ovarian cancer.
It is reported that dogs can be trained to distinguish breath samples of patients with lung and breast cancer from those of control volunteers and to distinguish ovarian cancer tissues from control tissues with high accuracy.
Several volatile organic compounds have been identified as candidate substances for early detection of cancer using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy in the exhaled breath of patients with lung and breast cancer; while these data are promising, they are preliminary findings that should be interpreted with caution.
What are the new findings?
In patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and controls, the sensitivity of canine scent detection of breath samples compared with conventional diagnosis by colonoscopy was 0.91 and the specificity was 0.99.
The sensitivity of canine scent detection of watery stool samples was 0.97 and the specificity was 0.99.
The accuracy of canine scent detection was even higher for early-stage cancers.
Canine scent detection was not confounded by current smoking, benign colorectal disease, inflammatory disease or the presence of human haemoglobin or transferrin.
How might it impact on clinical practice in the foreseeable future?
Odour materials may become effective tools in CRC screening. In the future, studies designed to identify cancer-specific volatile organic compounds will be important for the development of new methods for early detection of CRC.
Identification of cancer-specific volatile organic compounds will lead to solving the biological character of cancer.
Despite rapid progress in examination technology and therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC), this disease constitutes a significant proportion of the global burden of cancer morbidity and mortality.1 Multiple professional organisations have recommended screening for CRC1–5 and many previous studies have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of CRC screening.6–11 Moreover, patients with familial adenomatous polyposis or Lynch syndrome are recommended to undergo frequent colonoscopy to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with CRC.12–15 Early detection and early treatment are critical for the successful treatment of cancer and are excellent means for reducing both the economic burden and mortality. CRC therefore represents an excellent example of the value of early detection.
The faecal occult blood test (FOBT) is currently the most economic and non-invasive screening method for CRC, and many patients with positive results subsequently undergo total colonoscopy leading to a reduced incidence and mortality of CRC.2 3 6 16 However, the positive predictive value of FOBT for CRC is approximately 10%,17–20 16 21 considering the impact of closer examination by colonoscopy or barium enema. The development of a novel more effective CRC screening method that is as economical and non-invasive as FOBT is therefore needed.
There have been several anecdotal reports of canine scent detection of skin cancer.22 23 Moreover, Willis et al reported that dogs can distinguish urine from patients with bladder cancer with a mean success rate of 41%,24 while McCulloch et al reported that ordinary household dogs can be trained to distinguish breath samples of patients with lung and breast cancer from those of control volunteers with high accuracy (sensitivity and specificity of 0.99 and 0.99 in lung cancer and 0.88 and 0.98 in breast cancer, respectively).25 Horvath et al reported that, among ovarian cancer tissues and control tissues, the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity was 97.5%.26
In the present study we have confirmed the accuracy of canine scent detection of breath samples and evaluated canine scent detection of watery stool samples from patients with CRC. We also examined whether the diagnostic performance of dogs is affected by age, smoking, disease stage, cancer site, inflammation or bleeding in patients with cancer or control individuals.
Patient and control sample donors
Patients were enrolled from 20 June 2008 to 20 May 2009 at the Fukuoka Dental College Medical and Dental Hospital and Arita Kyoritsu Hospital. To prepare for colonoscopy, subjects ingested 2 l of a balanced electrolyte and polyethylene glycol 4000 solution (Niflec, Ajinomoto Pharma, Tokyo, Japan). Patients were required to be >20 years old. Patients and controls completed a questionnaire about factors that could influence volatile molecules in the breath or watery stool samples including age, physical symptoms (eg, abdominal pain or distention, bloody faeces, constipation, diarrhoea, body weight loss and abdominal tumour), history of cancer treatment, present use of anticoagulants and smoking within the previous 2 weeks. Colorectal diseases diagnosed primarily by colonoscopy were recorded in detail and pathological examination of biopsy samples was performed if necessary. Patients who had undergone cancer surgery within the previous year, those who did not undergo examination for cancer recurrence despite having undergone cancer surgery more than 5 years previously and those currently receiving chemotherapy were excluded. A serial number was written on each sample at the time of collection to identify individual information.
Breath sampling
Breath samples were acquired from the beginning to the end of exhalation. Each subject exhaled between 100 and 200 ml into a breath sampling bag (Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Tokyo, Japan). The bags were then fitted with their end caps and sealed in ordinary grocery store Ziploc-style bags at 4°C until presentation to the dog. Only one sample was collected from each participant.
Watery stool sampling
A 50 ml watery stool sample was obtained by suction during colonoscopy using a trachea aspirator kit (Sumitomo Bakelite Company, Tokyo, Japan) between the rectum and descending colon and preserved at −80°C until filtration. The sample was filtered with qualitative filter paper No. 2 (diameter 110 mm; Tokyo Roshi Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan) and further filtered by Millex GP filter (pore size 0.22 μm, diameter 33 mm, non-sterile type; Millipore Co, Corrigiwohill, Co. Cork, Ireland). Next, 1 ml of filtrated watery stool samples was enclosed in a 5 ml brown glass screw cap bottle, sealed in an ordinary grocery store small Ziploc-style bag and enclosed in a 50 ml polypropylene screw cap tube and kept at −20°C until presentation to the dog. Only one sample was collected from each participant.
Dog and training
A specially trained 8-year-old female black Labrador retriever from the St Sugar Cancer Sniffing Dog Training Center (Chiba, Japan) participated in the study. The dog was trained for water rescue beginning in 2003 and then began training as a cancer detection dog in 2005.
Each cancer detection training session was considered complete when the dog could correctly distinguish between breath samples from a cancer patient and four controls consecutively in dozens of trials. The fundamental training method was a reward-based approach in which the correct behaviour is rewarded by simultaneous play with a tennis ball. The breath samples used in the training steps beginning in 2005 were collected from several hundred patients with cancer and about 500 healthy volunteers recruited using the internet.
In the first training step in 2005, breath samples from one patient with oesophageal cancer and four controls were used. The samples were removed from the breath-sampling bag and placed into a paper cup which was then covered with a paper filter for 2 days. The five sample cups were placed on the floor by the handler. First, the dog smelled the standard breath sample from the patient with oesophageal cancer and then tried to identify the cup containing the oesophageal cancer scent from among the five sample cups. If the dog correctly identified the cancer sample it was rewarded with a tennis ball. A similar training session was conducted using breath samples from patients with lung cancer on the following day and was performed again using breath samples from patients with gastric cancer 2 days later.
In the second step the breath-sampling bag was used with the end cap on. Breath-sampling bags containing oesophageal, lung or gastric cancer scents originating from the same patient in the first step were chosen randomly for the 1-month training period.
In the third step the dog first smelled the breath sample from one type of cancer as a standard sample and then tried to identify the bag with the scent of another cancer. The training was then continued by adding samples of other types of cancers as well as controls.
The dog was already able to detect the following types of cancer in patient breath samples prior to initiation of the present study: oesophageal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and bladder cancer.
Training and test room
The training and testing of the dog were conducted in a 4.8 m×8.0 m room with vinyl tiling and overhead fluorescent and natural window lighting. The room was not climate controlled and average ambient temperatures during the study (November 2008 through June 2009) ranged from 9°C to 20°C. At the end of each study day the floor was wiped with water and a damp mop.
Sample stations
Five sample stations were positioned on the floor of the room in a single straight line spaced 52 cm apart. Each station consisted of a light blue painted wooden storage container measuring 27 cm wide, 30 cm long and 20 cm high. Each station also contained a wall 10 cm deep in which the breath sample bags or the watery stool sample bottles were placed. The top of each box was covered with metal netting to prevent the dog from directly contacting the samples.
Breath and watery stool sample locations
In a single trial, the dog passed and sniffed each of the five stations (one cancer sample and four control samples). Both patient and control samples were replaced with new samples after the dog had sniffed all five sample stations. Two to four trials were performed on each day of testing.
The dog handler called the dog into the room and encouraged the dog to sniff the stations with the command 'Search!' after smelling the standard breath sample from the patient with CRC at each test. No other people were in the room.
Classification of the dog's response
Correct responses were (1) indication by sitting down in front of a sample station containing a cancer sample (a true positive in sensitivity calculations): and (2) sniffing but not indicating on a control sample (true negative). Incorrect responses were (1) indicating on a control sample (false positive); (2) sniffing but not indicating on a cancer sample (false negative); and (3) hesitation, considered to be an incomplete reaction to either cancer or control samples (either false positive or false negative depending on whether hesitation was on a cancer or control sample).
Tests were conducted from 13 November 2008 to 15 June 2009 because the dog's concentration tends to decrease during the hot summer season. For each test, completely new samples were used for both cases and controls; thus, each sample was only used a single time. For each trial we used a random number table to determine the location of the sample being tested in the line-up. Before the tests the sample was placed in either a new bag or new bottle to avoid contamination of the smell under preservation, and the number described in the sample was converted from the serial number into the test number at the same time. The laboratory assistants replaced the samples. The identity of the samples was blinded to the dog, the handler and the laboratory assistants, thereby making the study double-blind. One station contained a cancer sample and the remaining four stations contained control samples. At the tests the dog smelled the standard breath sample of CRC origin, after which the dog passed the side of some boxes and sat down in front of the station determined to contain a cancer scent, and then the handler noted the result on an answer card on which the test number was written. The card was transmitted to Fukuoka Dental College by fax. After submission the answer was explained to the handler and the dog as soon as possible because the correct behaviour was rewarded with a tennis ball. The cards were collected by mail. During the tests the dog did not experience any adverse events, injuries or illness.
Occult blood test of watery stool samples
The ordinary FOBT kit, Quick Chaser Occult Blood Test Kit (Mizuho Medy, Saga, Japan) was used for simultaneous detection of human haemoglobin and human transferrin in watery stool samples. Watery stool samples were mixed with phosphate buffered saline and reacted on the test plate. The test result was judged by a laboratory medical technologist and a physician. The result was defined as positive when human haemoglobin and/or transferrin was positive.
Associations between questionnaire variables before colonoscopy were tested by the Welch t test or χ2 test. All statistical differences of p<0.05 were deemed significant. CRC staging was based on Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) criteria.
During testing, experimenters monitored each trial and recorded their observations on a digital versatile disc. The entire dog performance dataset was audited for accuracy by comparing answer cards with digital versatile disc records.
Diagnostic accuracy was calculated as sensitivity and specificity of the dog's indication of samples compared with the true diagnosis confirmed by colonoscopy. Thus, the sensitivity (or the true positive rate) of the tests is the proportion of cancer samples correctly identified by the dog while the specificity (or the true negative rate) is the proportion of control samples negatively indicated by the dog.
Forty-eight samples were obtained from patients with CRC, 203 samples from volunteers with no history of cancer and 55 samples from patients with a previous history of cancer. For breath tests, 33 samples from patients with CRC and 132 samples from control volunteers were used and, for watery stool tests, 37 samples were used from patients with CRC and 148 samples from control volunteers. Each sample was only used once during testing. The background characteristics were well matched between cancer patients and control individuals, except for age (table 1). Approximately half of the controls (47% of breath samples, 50% of watery stool samples) had colorectal polyps and a small proportion of the controls (6.1% of breath samples, 10.5% of watery stool samples) had bleeding or inflammatory colorectal disease, including ischaemic colitis, non-peculiar colitis or ulcer, ulcerative colitis, diverticular bleeding, mesenteric panniculitis and chronic appendicitis (table 2).
Background characteristics of participants
Disease in control cases
Diagnostic accuracy: sensitivity and specificity in testing
To calculate sensitivity and specificity we designated the dog's response to each sample sniffed as the unit of analysis (defined above). Comparison of the judgement of the canine scent in the breath or watery stool samples with a colonoscopy-confirmed conventional diagnosis among cancer patients and controls gave an overall sensitivity for canine scent detection of 0.91 and 0.97, respectively, while the overall specificity was 0.99 and 0.99, respectively (table 3).
Accuracy of canine scent detection by site and stage of cancer
During the course of 74 tests, four discrepancies occurred between colonoscopy and the canine scent detection results (1/38 watery stool tests and 3/36 breath tests). The discrepancies occurred in the 22nd, 26th, 33rd and 45th tests. Moreover, these discrepancies occurred in any of four tests on the aforementioned test days. Interestingly, the watery stool sample that yielded a discrepancy came from an individual whose breath sample also resulted in a discrepancy. Samples from the three patients who did not have colon cancer but whose samples yielded positive results in the watery stool and/or breath tests did not result in discrepancies on the other tests. These three patients showed no signs of cancer during the 24 months following sampling.
Comparison between FOBT results and the dog's judgement
The results of watery stool tests and conventional FOBTs were compared to determine whether canine scent judgement relied on blood. No correlation between canine scent judgement and FOBT results was observed in patients with cancer (p=0.51) or controls (p=0.68, table 4). The sensitivity and specificity of FOBT with respect to CRC detection was 0.70 and 0.85, respectively.
Relationship between canine scent detection and human haemoglobin and transferrin
Mixture test of watery stool samples
To determine whether a specific cancer scent exists or if a particular natural scent vanishes in patients with cancer, we combined five watery stool samples into single mixture samples. One of the mixture samples was composed of one sample of cancer origin and four control samples, while four mixture samples consisted of five control samples each. Tests were performed three times as described above. Cancer types included stage IIIa ascending colon cancer, stage II transverse colon cancer and stage 0 rectal cancer. The results of all three tests were correct.
We used the excellent ability of dogs to distinguish between different scents to examine whether odour materials can be used in the diagnosis of CRC. This study represents the first step towards the development of an early detection system using odour materials from patients with CRC.
McCulloch et al previously reported the use of canine scent judgement of breath samples for distinguishing between controls and patients with lung and breast cancer.25 We therefore evaluated canine scent detection of CRC first with breath samples and then with watery stool samples, which has not been previously reported. We hypothesised that the watery stool sample scent might be strong because the samples were collected from nearer to the cancer than were the breath samples. Conversely, the watery stool sample scents might have been masked by various other scents such as short-chain fatty acids and sulfides present in the stool. Moreover, we were able to compare scent detection with the FOBT by using the same stool sample and to inspect it more quantitatively than using breath samples. Indeed, despite various disrupting scents, the watery stool sample tests were superior to the breath sample tests.
We compared the accuracy of canine scent judgement with colonoscopic diagnosis using breath samples and watery stool samples from patients with CRC and controls. For breath tests, the sensitivity and specificity was 0.91 and 0.99, respectively and, for watery stool tests, the sensitivity and specificity was 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. Moreover, canine scent judgement even appeared to be highly accurate for early-stage CRC.
Canine scent judgement was not confounded by current smoking, benign colorectal polyps, inflammation or infection. A statistically significant difference in age distribution was noted between cancer patients and controls (p=0.001 for breath tests, p<0.05 for watery stool tests). We therefore reanalysed samples from patients and controls aged <80 years. In this subset analysis, no correlation between age and cancer status was observed (p=0.09 for 19 breath tests, p=0.93 for 24 watery stool tests). The sensitivity and specificity in this subset analysis for breath tests was 0.95 and 0.99, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity were both 1.00 for watery stool tests.
There were four discrepancies among the 74 tests including one of 38 watery stool tests and three of 36 breath tests between the colonoscopy and canine cancer detection results. It is difficult to specify the cause of these discrepancies owing to their limited number. The discrepancies occurred in the 22nd, 26th, 33rd and 45th tests, not necessarily in the early tests. Moreover, these discrepancies occurred in any of the four tests on the aforementioned test days, not necessarily in those taken late in the day. No correlation between the discrepancies and training effect or fatigue was suspected. Interestingly, the watery stool sample that yielded a discrepancy came from an individual whose breath sample also resulted in a discrepancy. Moreover, when the watery stool test was repeated with different controls, the dog hesitated a few times and then barely detected the rectal cancer sample, leading to negative results in both the breath and watery stool tests. It is thought that some cancers are difficult to detect by canine scent.
No correlation between canine scent judgement and human haemoglobin and transferrin was observed. Thus, canine scent judgement does not appear to depend on human haemoglobin or transferrin scents. All canine scent judgements of watery stool sample mixture tests were correct, indicating that a specific cancer scent indeed exists. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected during canine scent judgement presumably occur early in the pathogenesis of CRC. As canine scent judgement can be used on both breath samples and watery stool samples, these chemical compounds may be circulating throughout the body.
To determine whether a specific cancer scent exists or if a particular natural scent disappears in patients with cancer, mixtures that included watery stool samples were tested. Tests were performed three times as described above. The results of all three tests were correct, thereby suggesting that a specific cancer scent indeed exists.
Canine scent judgement for distinguishing between cancer patients and controls has been reported for other cancer types.24–26 We obtained breath and watery stool samples from patients with breast, stomach and prostate cancer who also underwent colonoscopy. We also tested these samples using breath samples from patients with CRC as the standard. Canine scent judgement yielded correct answers for these cancers as well (data not shown), suggesting that common scents may exist among various cancer types. This is consistent with the results of McCulloch et al which demonstrated the utility of canine scent detection for lung and breast cancer25; however, these results are not inconsistent with the existence of cancer-specific scents.
It may be difficult to introduce canine scent judgement into clinical practice owing to the expense and time required for the dog trainer and for dog education. Scent ability and concentration vary between different dogs and also within the same dog on different days. Moreover, each dog can only conduct tests for a maximum of 10 years. It is therefore necessary to identify the cancer-specific VOCs detected by dogs and to develop an early cancer detection sensor that can be substituted for canine scent judgement.
Breath VOCs have been reported as biomarkers of other gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and necrotising enterocolitis.27–30 However, these tests have not been widely accepted, largely due to technical difficulties in measuring the pressure of exhaled VOCs, the large variations in food intake, the variability in the required time for bacterial colonisation and the poor predictive value of a positive test.
Several VOCs have been identified as candidate substances for early detection of cancer using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) in the exhaled breath of patients with lung and breast cancer31–38; while these data are promising, they are preliminary findings that should be interpreted with caution. We intend to evaluate these VOCs by chemical analysis and with cancer detection dogs in the near future. Identification of cancer-specific VOCs will lead to solving the biological character of cancer. We hope that the results of the present study will provide encouragement for the development of cancer detection and solving the biological character of cancer using odour material.
The authors thank Tomoe Fujino and Mika Ohnishi for their valuable technical assistance. The sponsor of the trial had no role in the design or conduct of the study, or in the analysis of the data. The corresponding author had full access to the data and had final responsibility for the decision to submit the data for publication. No compensation was given to subjects for providing breath samples or watery stool samples.
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Funding This study was funded by Fukuoka Dental College.
Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the institutional review boards at Fukuoka Dental College and Arita Kyoritsu Hospital and all subjects provided written informed consent.
© 2011, Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/ and http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode.
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Gut 2011; 60 i-ii Published Online First: 10 May 2011. doi: 10.1136/gut.2011.242586
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Before placing hard stems of a cut tree or flowers from shrubs in a vase, smash them with a hammer. The stems will be able to absorb water more easily.
Birch trees grow best in areas with cool summers.
In Biblical times, mint was used as money.
After the Boston Tea Party, Bee Balm tea quickly became a favorite among the colonists.
Fall colors start with the reds of sumacs and end with the yellows of willows and larches.


text:
/* @flow */
'use strict';

var express = require('express');
var _ = require('lodash');
var l = require('winston');
var r = require('rethinkdb');
var request = require('request');
var router = express.Router();

var GraphUtils = require("../controllers/shared/graph_utils");
var graphBuilder = new GraphUtils();

// internal depencencies
var rcon = require('../controllers/rethinkConnection');
var pgUtils = require('../controllers/pgUtils');

const DEFAULT_COLLECTION = 'default';
const DEFAULT_CHART_TABLE = 'charts';
const TYPE_ANALYTICS = 'analytics';
const TYPE_MEASUREMENT = 'single_measurement';

/* POST chart to default collection */
router.post('/', function(req, res) {
  l.info(req.body);
  if (!_.isEmpty(req.body)) {
    // pre commit operations to add date, ...
    let m = preCommit(req.body);

    r.table(DEFAULT_CHART_TABLE).insert(m)
      .run(rcon.conn, function(err, result) {
        pgUtils.forwarder(res, err, result, 201);
      });
  } else {
    res.status(200).send({
      ok: false,
      err: 'Chart payload was empty'
    });
  }
});

/* ========================================================================== */

/* GET charts fetching */
router.get('/:collection', function(req, res) {
  let collection = req.params.collection || DEFAULT_COLLECTION;
  var reql = r.table(DEFAULT_CHART_TABLE).filter(r.row('collection').eq(collection));
  // add skip
  if (req.query.skip && parseInt(req.query.skip)) reql = reql.skip(parseInt(req.query.skip));
  // add limit
  if (req.query.limit && parseInt(req.query.limit)) reql = reql.limit(parseInt(req.query.limit));

  reql.run(rcon.conn, function(err, cursor) {
    if (cursor) cursor.toArray(function(err, result) {
      pgUtils.forwarder(res, err, result);
    });
    else pgUtils.forwarder(res, err, []);
  });
});

/* GET charts count */
router.get('/:collection/count', function(req, res) {
  let collection = req.params.collection || DEFAULT_COLLECTION;
  var reql = r.table(DEFAULT_CHART_TABLE).filter(r.row('collection').eq(collection)).count();

  reql.run(rcon.conn, function(err, result) {
    pgUtils.forwarder(res, err, result);
  });
});

/* ========================================================================== */

/* GET single chart fetching */
router.get('/:id/:collection/options', function(req, res) {
  let collection = req.params.collection || DEFAULT_COLLECTION;
  var reql = r.table(DEFAULT_CHART_TABLE).get(req.params.id);

  reql.run(rcon.conn, function(err, chart) {
    switch(chart.type) {
      case TYPE_ANALYTICS: {
        request(
          {
            url: 'http://localhost:3000/api/analytics/query',
            method: "POST",
            json: true,
            body: {query: chart.query, collection: collection}
          },
          function(err, response, body) {
            let result = body.content;
            let buildOptions = graphBuilder.buildGraphFromMultiple(result, chart.selection);
            pgUtils.forwarder(res, err, buildOptions);
        });
        break;
      }
      default:
        pgUtils.forwarder(res, "Wrong Chart Type", []);
    }
  })
});

/* ========================================================================== */
/* HELPERS */

/**
 * Chart pre commit editor. It adds various optional fields to the
 * chart configuration.
 * @return edited chart
 */
function preCommit(chart) {
  var c = _.clone(chart, true);
  c._commitDate = new Date();

  return c;
}

/* ========================================================================== */

module.exports = router;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Broken mercury thermometer. Image credit:MI Dept of Public Health.
The USDOE prepared a full Environmental Impact Statement as the basis for selecting a site to store tons of mercury which no longer can be legally exported. Now we know what happens to all those old mercury thermometers - off to Texas, where they will be interred at a new facility managed by Waste Control Specialists, LLC, near Andrews. This is happening because of the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008, which will mandate storage for around 40 years. What happens after that is anyone's guess. I was thinking it would be good to store it along side spent nuclear power plant rods 'cause no one will mess with it there.More mercury posts.


It's the time of year when everyone reflects on the past year and creates a list of New Year's resolutions. The most popular resolutions are typically: to lose weight, to save money, to spend more time with family, but how often do we include New Year's resolutions for our home? As your sanctuary, doing things to make your home more peaceful and stress free is a resolution that can help improve the quality of your life all year round. Here are 3 simple New Year's resolutions for your home that you can actually stick to!
1.) Safety Check: The New Year is the perfect time to do a safety check around your house to make sure there aren't any hazards that could harm you or your guests. That includes making long overdue repairs (pipes leaking water on the floor mean slipping hazards so don't delay!), checking your house for radon, carbon monoxide, and replacing the batteries in your smoke detectors.
2.) Pare Down: With all the excess of gifts over the holidays, you may have found that more things came into your home than out. But in the spirit of cutting clutter, set up an "out with the old, in with the new" system. Every time something new comes in, something old goes out. That counts for everything, from books to clothes to gadgets. The more stuff that comes in, the more stuff that accumulates and needs to be organized. Go room-by-room eliminating anything old that you don't use or absolutely love and donate it to a worthy charity. Less mess means less stress!
3.) Store More: We've all heard the term "a place for everything and everything in its place." The same simple principle we tell our children in regard to putting their toys away should apply to us adults as well! Creating designated storage space for messy mayhem makers like mail, cords, and shoes can help keep the "unsightlies" out of sight and give you a place to stash stuff easily. There are literally hundreds of creative storage options from behind the door hangers to under the bed storage bins to vertical shelving corner niches. Thinking outside the box and repurposing one storage item to serve the needs of another is a life saver. Over the door shoe organizers can do more than hold shoes. They make handy holders for everything from jewelry and makeup and more in a bathroom.
Regardless of what your resolutions are for the New Year, don't forget to include your home in your planning process. Have a wonderful Happy New Year!
The Regal Team is excited to present part five of our five-part series on residential home inspection. Hear from a licensed home inspector on the various things they are looking for when it comes to inspecting your home.
With the various types of roofs in the Phoenix area, there are several things to look for during an inspection. A roof inspection is a way of determining the level of wear and tear on a roof, how much life it has left in it, and if there is a need for repair currently or soon in the future. Roof inspections involve looking for signs that indicate the wear on shingles and other roofing materials. A roof inspector does not need to remove any part of your roof.
In this episode, Kris Hauser with Insight Real Estate Inspection Service shares his expertise that will help you have a better understanding of our roofs here in the Valley of the Sun!
Kris can be contacted at (623)594-8131 or (623)297-1584 for additional questions you may have related to home inspection services. We hope this interview between Kris Houser with Insight Real Estate Inspection Service and Robert Dierks with The Regal Team will enlighten you a little more on what you need to know about inspecting your roof.
As always, please contact The Regal Team of RE/MAX Professionals for ALL your residential home purchase and selling needs!
The RE/MAX National Housing Report for September 2018 showed the trends of fewer closings and stabilizing inventory continued through September, punctuated by a surprisingly big 11.6 percent year-over-year drop in home sales. At the same time, the RE/MAX National Housing Report for September 2018 posted a Median Sales Price of $241,000 that marked the 30th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. It is the highest September price in the 10-year history of the report. To access the housing report infographic, visit: https://rem.ax/2phKHWT.
Active inventory dropped for the 119th consecutive month, the decline of 4.7 percent from September 2017 was the smallest year-over-year decrease since August 2014. In addition, the September year-over-year inventory drop was the fifth consecutive month in 2018 to post single-digit percent declines rather than the double-digit monthly drops consistently seen over the previous three years.
Home prices rose by 5.6 percent over September 2017, more than twice the year-over-year price increase of 2.3 percent from September 2016 to September 2017. That reversed a trend seen in the previous three months, when year-over-year price increases trailed 2017's rate of growth.
Months Supply of Inventory totaled 3.7, which is the second-lowest for September in report history, second only to 3.6 months in September 2017. Days on Market of 46 was a September record for the report – three days less than September 2017. Of the 54 metro areas surveyed in September 2018, the overall average number of home sales is down 1.1percent compared to August 2018, and down 11.6 percent compared to September 2017.
Click here to download your copy of the RE/MAX National Housing Report for September 2018. Looking to sell your Phoenix home or buy a home in Phoenix? Contact the Regal Team today! We offer unparalleled service to all clients in the Phoenix real estate market. Your complete satisfaction with our service and representation is our number one priority!
5 Percent Mortgage Rates Are Back!
The average rate on the 30-year fixed sat just below 4 percent a year ago, after dropping below 3.5 percent in 2016. It just crossed the 5 percent mark, according to Mortgage News Daily.
The benchmark 30-year mortgage rate spiked fifteen basis points to 5.04 percent from 4.89 percent in the previous week, according to Bankrate.com's weekly survey of the nation's largest mortgage lenders. Meanwhile, the average 15-year fixed mortgage rate surged 15 basis points to 4.41 percent and the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage rose 7 basis points to 4.42 percent.
Mortgage borrowers are taking note of soaring rates. Total mortgage applications fell 1.7 percent from the previous week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly applications survey for the week ending Oct. 5. That's down nearly 15 percent from a year ago.
Refinances, which are more sensitive to rate changes, dipped 3 percent from a week ago, the MBA reported. Overall, refinance activity sank to 39 percent of total applications from 39.4 percent the previous week and is down about 32 percent from a year ago.
Rising home prices and tight inventories for starter homes won't abate in the year ahead, says Joel Kan, an MBA economist. And although year-over-year growth in purchase applications is expected, the movement will be gradual, Kan says. "With the economy doing well and job market still strong, we're starting to see the fruits of that and opportunities will be there," Kan says of homebuying demand.
Higher mortgage rates mean now is a good time to buy a home as higher home prices are likely to become more affordable and homebuyers will have a better chance of finding a home in their price range and more likely to have an offer accepted. Its important to note that while higher rates may drive prices down, a higher interest rate does impact your buying power. What does buying power mean? Simple put, what you can afford to buy at an interest rate of 5 percent will be less than what you can afford to buy at an interest rate of 3 percent.
So, if you're in the market to buy a home, now is the perfect time take advantage before rates go up more, and your buying power goes down. Contact the Regal Team today for more information about the new mortgage rates and get prequalified to buy a home in Phoenix.
This communication is provided to you for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon by you. RE/MAX Professionals or The Regal Team are not a mortgage lender and so you should contact a qualified mortgage broker directly to learn more about its mortgage products and your eligibility for such products.
Each summer, professional home improvement scammers roam the U.S. in search of victims. Scams include everything from offering unbelievable deals that end up with hidden fees to using low-quality materials and not doing quality work. If you're in the market for making big repairs to your home, here's 5 ways to dodge home improvement scams according to Consumer Reports, Inc.
1.) Get recommendations. Avoid contractors that contact you unsolicited. Don't hire a contractor based solely on an ad in a local newspaper, even if you're offered a big discount or another incentive. Get recommendations from friends, neighbors, or relatives.
3.) Check credentials. Verify with your state that the contractor has the required license or registration. Some states have funds that reimburse consumers who obtain judgments against licensed contractors.
4.) Know your rights. Some states give consumers three days or so to cancel home-improvement contracts. Under federal law you have three days to cancel most contracts that are signed in your home or outside the contractor's regular place of business.
5.) Get everything in writing. Don't rely on spoken promises. Demand a written contract, and get all warranties in writing, too.
Even the most seasoned home buyer is at risk of home improvement fraud so please be on the alert and share with friends and family. If you'd like more information about how to dodge home improvement scams or if you're ready to sell or buy a home in Phoenix, please contact The Regal Team today. We'll help you navigate through each step of the process to assist you with making the best real estate investment decisions and find the perfect home for you!


Superior. Reliable. Friendly. Punctual. I am only halfway through my experience with them but if the way back is as smooth as pick up then this was fantastic and I highly recommend this service!! Venice is tricky. Don't add to your confusion: use Shuttle Direct!
Excellent Service. Competitive Price. Immediately got back to me when I accidentally entered the wrong arrival time of my flight. Just prior to my trip they responded back to me immediately when my flight arrival time was changed by the airline. Only complaint was that I received a very poor exchange rate when paying in GBP.
We were met on arrival at Venice Airport and swiftly escorted to the executive car transport to Venice. Then by executive river taxi along The Grand Canal and across to the Hotel Cipriani on La Giudecca. Easy and completely hassle free - taking out all of the stress of worrying how to get to the hotel with lots of baggage from the airport.
Meet and greed ok but had wrong name,after van ride and boat super,will take again.Thank you!
Really friendly service, punctual and lovely vehicles, also a great help assisting with luggage etc ..... Good meet and greet at the airport service too.
Our flight was late and there wasn't anyone there to meet us. However we telephoned the emergency number and someone soon came. It did however say that if there were any problems they would call us. It would have been good if they had left a message on our mobile to say that they couldn't wait any longer.


text:
Home / Ford News and Reviews
By Patrick Rall G+ Aug 24 2012 - 5:01pm
US Mazda production ends, Ford Mustang continues alone at Flat Rock
August 24th 2012 marks the end of an era as Mazda6 production at the Auto Alliance International plant in Flat Rock Michigan officially ceases – leaving the mighty Ford Mustang with a production stable all to itself for the time being as the Japanese automaker moves production of their midsized sedan back to Japan.
The next generation Mazda6 will be built in Japan and exported to the United States as Mazda works to improve their financial situation in North America but as Mazda production leaves the Flat Rock plant – there is more room for Ford to build the next generation of the mighty Mustang in addition to the 2013 Ford Fusion. This means that starting on Monday, the Ford Mustang will have the Flat Rock production facility all to itself until overflow production of the 2013 Fusion begins in the future.
Mazda first purchased the Flat Rock plant in 1987, using it to building the Mazda MX6 and the Ford Probe until Ford purchased 50% of the plant in 1992 to help Mazda during troubled times. At first, the Auto Alliance plant built the Mazda 626 and the Mercury Cougar but beginning in 2002 the Mazda6 replaced the 626 and with the end of Cougar production – Ford began building the Mustang in Flat Rock beginning in 2004. Having the all American Mustang built alongside a Japanese sedan inspired some very stupid people to make claims of the Mustang being "Japanese built" but with only Ford products scheduled to be built at Flat Rock in the foreseeable future – the Flat Rock plant is an all American facility.
At one point, Ford Motor Company owned as much as 33.4% of Mazda but their ownership has been reduced to right around 3% after selling off much of their involvement in 2008. With the companies going two different directions and less cooperation between the two automakers combined with Mazda's financial battles in the US market, it came as no surprise when Mazda announced months ago that they would be shifting production of North American-bound Mazda6 sedans from Michigan to Japan.
"We continue to study various possibilities for the future of AAI, but we don't have anything to announce at this time," Ford said in a statement. "In the meantime, the AAI joint venture will continue after Mazda6 production ends and there will be no change to the investment ratio between Ford and Mazda in AAI."
Oddly, this comment would lead one to believe that Ford and Mazda would continue with the 50/50 split in ownership of the Flat Rock plant even though Mazda really isn't doing anything with their half. Perhaps Ford will work out some plan in the near future to buy out Mazda's portion of the plant or perhaps Mazda stands to benefit in some way from the production of Ford products in a plant that they half own.
The Flat Rock plant currently employs 1,700 workers with another 1,200 being added as part of the $550 million investment planned for the facility in order to produce the next generation Ford Fusion. While the removal of the Mazda6 from the Flat Rock assembly line could impact the need for workers at Flat Rock, the current growth of the Mustang combined with the expected jump in demand for the pony car when the next generation is unveiled in the next few years along should help make up in the "extra" capacity. Add in the Fusion's arrival in Flat Rock and Ford should require enough production from the Michigan plant help to ensure that the workers are kept good and busy.
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Anonymous wrote on August 28, 2012 - 9:29am Permalink
I can tell you all I love my 2013 ford Mustang and i truely believe you will your new Mustang as well as I do mine.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Darren Bechtel Managing Director Brick and Mortar Ventures
Angelica Donati President & CEO Donati Immobiliare Group
David Ebbrell CEO M7 Real Estate
David Eisenberg Founding Partner Zigg Capital
Oli Farago CEO Coyote Software
Elie Finegold Venture Adviser MetaProp NYC
Thais Galli Managing Director & Head of Studio Tishman Speyer
Karen Hollinger Senior VP, Strategic Initiatives Avalon Bay Communities
Cesar Jeri Head of Workplace Technology, Real Estate Verizon
Sally Jones Head of Strategy and Investments British Land
Jurrian Knijtijzer Managing Director & Co-founder Finch Buildings
Zsolt Kohalmi Global Head of Real Estate and Co-CEO of Pictet Alternative Advisors SA Pictet
Lloyd Lee Managing Partner Yoo Capital
Andrew Miles CEO & Co-founder Realla
Trevor Morriss Principal SPPARC
L.D Salmanson Co-founder & CEO Cherre
Zak Schwazman Partner MetaProp NYC
Dr Florian Stadlbauer Head of Digitilisation Commerz Real AG
Paul Unger Publisher & Editor PlaceTech
Patrick Weiss Senior Manager - Global Property Deliveroo
Jessica WIlliamson PropTech Strategist Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
Darren Bechtel
Managing Director Brick and Mortar Ventures
Angelica Donati
President & CEO Donati Immobiliare Group
David Ebbrell
CEO M7 Real Estate
David Ebbrell is the Chief Executive Officer for M7 Real Estate. He is responsible for sourcing new properties across Europe.
Prior to co-founding M7 in 2009, David was a Fund Director at GPT Halverton where he was responsible for Funds with a combined value of €600m. These included BIP (which invested in German and Dutch multi-let industrial property) and DAF (which invested in Dutch multi-let industrial office properties). As Fund Director, David had responsibility for acquisitions, portfolio performance, client reporting and asset management strategy. He was also responsible for many of the acquisitions made by the Halverton Babock Industrial fund; his primary responsibility being the German and French
acquisitions. Whilst at GPT Halverton David was involved with acquisitions with a combined purchase price of c.€900 million.
Before that, David worked for Teesland iOG (now Valad) and undertook UK acquisitions for the Industrial Trust and the Industrial Investment Partnership.
David is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
David trained as a surveyor at Healey & Baker and has a degree in Estate Surveying.
David Eisenberg
Founding Partner Zigg Capital
Dave Eisenberg is the Founder of Zigg Capital, a new $100m+ venture capital fund focused on technology investments in the real estate and construction industries. Dave has been investing in the category since 2010 and his portfolio includes early investments in companies such as Matterport, Procore, Building Connected, VTS and Juniper Square. Prior to founding Zigg, Dave was the Global
SVP of Technology for CBRE.
He came to CBRE via the acquisition of Floored, a technology company he founded. Earlier in his career he was a founding team member of two other technology businesses, TellApart (acquired by Twitter for $500m+) & Bonobos (acquired by Walmart for $300m+). Dave began his career at Bain in NYC and graduated from Harvard with a degree in Psychology. He resides in Manhattan with his wife and two daughters.
Oli Farago
CEO Coyote Software
Oli is the CEO and co-founder of Coyote Software. He has played a fundamental role in scoping and developing Coyote since 2009, and before Coyote, was a founding partner and CTO of M7 Real Estate.
Oli has been at the forefront of commercial property technology for the last 12 years – even before the term "PropTech" was coined.
Oli's belief in collaboration has led to partnerships with leading PropTech businesses, and provides the basis for an ecosystem that enables property professionals to connect their commercial property data.
Elie Finegold
Venture Adviser MetaProp NYC
Thais Galli
Managing Director & Head of Studio Tishman Speyer
Karen Hollinger
Senior VP, Strategic Initiatives Avalon Bay Communities
Karen Hollinger is Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and is responsible for leading large strategic corporate initiatives and is point on innovation initiatives in development, construction and property operations. Prior to this position, Ms. Hollinger has led several functions and departments at AvalonBay, most recently as the VP of Information Technology. Prior to this position, Ms. Hollinger was VP, National Operations with responsibility for establishing and managing the Customer Care Center in Virginia Beach, VA, a large industry-leading shared services center.
Prior to AvalonBay, Ms. Hollinger was a Senior Manager at KPMG, with a partnership focused on accounting systems and IT strategy with clients in the US and in developing countries and started and led KPMG's IT consulting practice in Beijing, China.. As part of her involvement in real estate, she serves as the Chair for NMHC's Innovation Committee and has spoken at many conferences on matters related to technology in the US and abroad. Ms. Hollinger received a degree in Finance from William & Mary.
Cesar Jeri
Head of Workplace Technology, Real Estate Verizon
Head of Strategy and Investments British Land
Jurrian Knijtijzer
Managing Director & Co-founder Finch Buildings
Jurrian founded Finch Buildings in 2014. As an architect Jurrian wanted to create buildings that would help fight climate change, instead of contributing to the climate crisis. When he came across CLT (cross laminated timber) he created a modular construction system to be able to design and create permanent buildings that buffer CO2 instead of emitting. Buildings could be a solution insteadof a problem.
Zsolt Kohalmi
Global Head of Real Estate and Co-CEO of Pictet Alternative Advisors SA Pictet
Zsolt Kohalmi is Global Head of Real Estate and CO-CEO of Pictet Alternative Advisors. Mr. Kohalmi brings over two decades of pan-European investment experience, and has invested in excess of $20 billion into all real estate asset classes in more than 20 European countries throughout several investment cycles.
Previously he was Managing Director and Head of European Acquisitions at Starwood Capital Group, one of the top 3 firms in global private equity real estate. At Starwood, he was instrumental in sourcing and executing a number of successful investments for Starwood Capital's commercial, hospitality and debt platforms. Starwood was twice (2013, 2015) voted The European Private Equity Real Estate Firm of the year by its peers (PERE magazine) during his tenure.
Prior to joining Starwood Capital in 2013, Mr. Kohalmi was Chief Investment Officer at Meyer Bergman for 8 years, a European real estate investment firm that he co-founded. Before that he was a Director at GE Capital, where he acquired financial platforms as well as loan portfolios across Europe. Mr. Kohalmi previously worked in investment banking with ABN AMRO Hoare Govett.
Mr. Kohalmi, who is fluent in nine languages, holds an M.S. degree in economics from the University of Budapest and an MBA from INSEAD.
Lloyd Lee
Managing Partner Yoo Capital
Andrew Miles
CEO & Co-founder Realla
Trevor Morriss
Principal SPPARC
Founding SPPARC Architecture in 2007, Trevor Morriss has 30 years UK experience completing all of his professional studies and qualifications on a part time basis whilst being in practice since 1988 and having his first building constructed in Shad Thames at the age of 17. Trevor Morriss has always taken an unconventional approach to his architectural career which has given him a unique understanding of the property industry and experience beyond his years.
Trevor is a renowned figure in the industry and has lectured at the RIBA, he has a recognised uncompromising passion for creating highly resolved innovative architecture sensitive in its context yet testing the boundaries of each brief to exceed the clients' expectations.
In 1995 he was appointed senior architect leading an architectural team for the global real estate advisors Jones Lang LaSalle, whilst the design juices where being quenched through part time study of architecture specializing in urbanism at the University of Greenwich. JLL provided an unparalleled insight into the commercial drivers of a project which is rarely seen by the architectural profession. This insight amalgamated with a creative talent for conceptual innovation is at the heart of the principles of
SPPARC. Form and commerciality are fused to deliver bespoke architecture that generates economic and social interaction within the public and private realms.
Through a relentless passion and commitment, Trevor Morriss has developed SPPARC over the last 10 years into one of the country's leading practices with an impressive national and international portfolio.
L.D Salmanson
Co-founder & CEO Cherre
Zak Schwazman
Partner MetaProp NYC
Zak Schwarzman is a Partner with MetaProp, where he leads the firm's venture capital investment activities.
MetaProp is the world's leading early-stage PropTech investment, advisory and startup acceleration firm. MetaProp team and venture capital funds have invested in 100+ technology companies that are transforming the way we conceive of, utilize, build, transact, interact with, and manage physical space. Currently investing out of its second fund, MetaProp's investor base represents a pilot and test-ready sandbox of 15+ billion square feet across every real estate asset type and global market.
Zak's investment experience spans seed, multi-stage and corporate venture capital and he is an active member of New York's startup community. Prior to joining MetaProp, Zak was a Principal at Gotham Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital firm and an affiliate of the Draper Venture Network, where he covered PropTech, FinTech, the API Economy and EdTech, amongst other sectors. Zak's previous venture capital background includes experience with Canaan Partners,
AOL Ventures and LearnCapital.
Zak is a Kauffman Fellow and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.A. in Political Economy and Business from Tulane University.
Dr Florian Stadlbauer
Head of Digitilisation Commerz Real AG
Paul Unger
Publisher & Editor PlaceTech
Patrick Weiss
Senior Manager - Global Property Deliveroo
Patrick Weiss is the Property Acquisitions Manager for Deliveroo, scaling and growing the property portfolio for Deliveroo's new concept, Editions. Deliveroo Editions has been taking up light industrial units across major cities in the U.K. where they prepare and distribute food to a 2.5 km radius with up to 18 restaurant concepts. Patrick looks after the UK and IRE markets. Deliveroo Was founded 5 years ago, today operates across 12 countries, 239 Cities and achieved a valuation of more than $2bn (£1.5bn) after a further $385m in new funds in September 2017. The aim of the business is to bring the world's best local restaurants directly everyone's home or office. The company's ability to successfully select sites is down to its incredible data set from having more worldwide users on its core platform.
PropTech Strategist Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
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text:
Home National Hardeep Puri hits back at Congress for attacking Modi government over Central...
Hardeep Puri hits back at Congress for attacking Modi government over Central Vista project
NEW DELHI: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday hit back at the Congress for attacking the government over its Central Vista redevelopment project, saying the party's discourse is "bizarre" as its leaders themselves had supported the idea when the UPA was in power.
The accusation comes hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Narendra Modi government for executing the project, terming it a "criminal wastage", while asking the dispensation to focus on people's lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Congress's discourse on Central Vista is bizarre. Cost of Central Vista is about ?20,000 crore, over several years. GoI has allocated nearly twice that amount for vaccination! India's healthcare budget for just this year was over Rs 3 lakh crore. We know our priorities," Puri tweeted.
In a series of tweets, the Union housing and urban affairs minister, whose ministry is executing the government's ambitious project, said the Central Vista is not a new project and alleged that during the UPA government, Congress leaders had written about the need for a new parliament.
"Congress doesn't stop at hypocrisy. Look at their shameful double face. During UPA, Congress leaders wrote about the need for a new parliament. The Speaker in 2012 wrote a letter to Urban Development Ministry for the same. And now they have the gall to oppose the same project?," he said.
"They want to distract people from monumental governance failures in their states by spreading lies. So they indulge in cheap politics despite knowing this project creates direct & indirect employment for thousands of skilled, semi-skilled & unskilled workers in these times," he alleged in another tweet.
Puri also accused the Congress and its allies of splurging on reconstructing an MLA hostel in Maharashtra and building a new Legislative Assembly building in Chhattisgarh, adding that "If this is fine, what is the problem with Central Vista?."
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged in a tweet: "Central Vista is criminal wastage. Put people's lives at the centre- not your blind arrogance to get a new house!."
Puri said there are hundreds of projects being executed by various departments and added that governance has not come to a standstill, unlike the Congress's times of policy paralysis.
"Central Vista is just another ongoing project. It's only the Congress that's obsessed about it, nobody else" Puri said.
Besides the new Parliament building, the redevelopment of the Central Vista, the nation's power corridor, envisages a common central secretariat, revamping of the 3-km Rajpath from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, new Prime Minister's Residence and Prime Minister's Office, and a new Vice-President Enclave.
In another tweet, Puri said only projects for new Parliament building and rejuvenation of Central Vista Avenue have been awarded at an estimated cost of Rs 862 crore and Rs 477 crore respectively till now.
He also said there are many components in Central Vista project which are spread over several years.
The work on the new Parliament building and revamping the Rajpath has started.
The government has set a target of holding the 2022 Republic Day parade on "modernised" Rajpath.
Central Vista
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Life June 08, 2018 June 08, 2018
AMEN RA, Egyptian Artist Takes The World Stage With His Pop Mythology; From Slave to Mythological God.
Egyptian-born AMEN RA takes his passion for Egyptian Mythology and creates a world of dreams and fantasy in his Art, Music, and Acting. AMEN RA, a Refugee, has taken the world stage at a young age. At age 9, he organized a UN Campaign for children in war zones with a concert that was hosted by Guest Oscar Actress, Vanessa Redgrave. AMEN RA drawing on his personal experience and creative fire he is a warrior for those who have been oppressed.
How has Egyptian Mythology played a role in your Art?
I love its mysticism, the idea of Mythological Gods that we all can become when we pursue something greater than material success. You know… from slave to Mythological God that always was a light, a story I saw, when growing up in hard circumstances.
2. Share your music and art with us.
I am so happy to invite you to my website, with my Debut EP – RISE UP CHAMPIONS. Please visit http://www.amenra.com. Soon I will premiere my Debut Album.
I am a Singer and Actor. It always was about telling a great story for me. I wanted to be a great storyteller to give people an epic journey, and a beautiful adventure. My shows are not typical concerts. I like to make spectacles, with a storyline like in opera or film with action and excitement. To me everything is art. From what I sing to explosions on stage! I call my performance art – POP MYTHOLOGY. I envision something like "Homer of Today." That is my Artistic Dream:)
I prepare large touring shows, which will be more of a video game with Greek Tragedy, live on stage. All details are like a movie set. I just completed my robotic armor, that will be the largest stage outfit ever done for a Pop Concert. It took lots of time to learn the new way of dance in it:) It reminds me of TRANSFORMERS. I want kids and all audiences to feel like they are on a roller coaster. We need that type of – "Escape." Same with Acting. I like extreme characters that are difficult, deep, and tragic. Like the characters in Greek or Shakespeare Theatre. Characters that will change and influence you forever, with their passion and message.
Where did your journey begin?
I was born in Poland, due to work of my Parents. It was very hard, I was "Different", and hated for that in schools and in everyday life. Being passionately Artistic, International; and at the same time being Muslim, Jewish and Christian was not acceptable. I was outcast by others, and it felt so lonely to not be welcomed, respected or recognized… I felt like the character of my favorite Film – EDWARD SCISSORHANDS… until I started to perform. As an Entertainer I felt loved, and that was the only thing in the world that made and makes me happy – to perform for love, to love and be loved.
When did you start performing?
I started to perform when I was 5. My beginnings were in local theatre, then I was performing in International Theatre Festivals. I even ended up performing for US audiences as a small kid:) I felt I had wings and I did, I surely did. Art made the impossible the possible. And when I saw its magical power, I started to use the platform of my stage to help others for those forgotten, unhappy, who have no hope; like me before…So I became the Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Animals – RSPCA, UNICEF, and UN. I changed the Law for Horses from so-called "Death Transports" in Poland, and I was the youngest to organize a UN Campaign. It was for children in war zones, with an Arena Concert which I was hosting with Guest Oscar Actress – Vanessa Redgrave, I was 9.
The more I was able to do, and the more humanitarian triumphs I had, the Polish Government started to watch me… And stopped me. In their eyes I was a "Danger", they were saying: "How can a child be a national hero? He is too popular on every level." I never wanted political power as an Artist, but somehow it happened. I was as a kid in school books and on TV's main Political News… So the First Lady, who was the biggest Public Figure, and the Presidential Palace started an embargo on me. Long story short, I was almost killed and I became a Political Refugee. I never went back to Poland. I left quietly and came to my dream and – America.
Share your upcoming film with us.
I am developing a film based on the masterpiece biography of Freddie Mercury, written by very Dear Friend – Lesley-Ann Jones. We both hope to bring to life a movie idea we have – MERCURY: MONSTROUS ANGELIC. I've done preparations for my character, in make-up designed by OSCAR Winning, Joel Harlow. I feel the pain and joy of Freddie. I somehow created a "Friendship" with my Character. He was this "Rock God", who at his peak faced most terrifying illness known to man kind…
Tell us about your humanitarian missions.
To me it's a reason why I perform. I want to shine the light of entertainment in the darkest places in the world. Go where nobody goes, visit people who feel like I felt – forgotten and alone. "Make Believe," and make a better reality.
I focus now very much on Refugees in the Middle East, especially in Syria. I know what they go through, I was "There", where everything was against me politically. Hate is a terrible thing. It can destroy everything. We must stand up and not allow it, only as a group we have the power to fight, we must be united.
Tell us about your single, GODS and your new album.
Making POP MYTHOLOGY, a today's "Homer Art Form" in Pop Music has inspired me. Something of very epic scale, and touching today's subjects, problems, and triumphs. GODS is 10 Years in the making:):)! I came up with the idea when I was a kid, as I started to sing with opera material. There was a singer – a Goddess of most magical voice. I can't yet tell who the singer was but she will be on my record.
In the beginning, nobody understood this concept, how I wanted to mix Opera with Pop/ Techno/ Hip Hop. And then I was a slave to the Refugee status. I was fighting for a home, to be free and to create. When I got my first VISA to stay in the US, I got into a very abusive Artist Contract, my Bosses were my "Owners" and didn't like my artistic ideas, and like me as me. They told me to hide my Arabic Heritage, change my hair to blonde, and wrote truly a script for all I did. So, I had to wait with GODS, until I got out from that contract.
To get out of contracts was hard, as it was a legal way of "Human Trafficking", what finally we can talk about thanks to brave Icons like – Rose McGowan. In my case, it was my Refugee status that allowed some low-class Entertainment Companies use that, and in exchange for help to get the ability to live legally in the USA, they did demand me to be their "Artist Slave." Once you get your Artistic Freedom, and you shop your ideas, you meet many wrong people.
JULES LAVALLEE
Muslim World Today posted about AMEN RA, Egyptian Artist Takes The World Stage With His Pop Mythology; From Slave to Mythological God. on Muslim World Today's Facebook page 2018-06-08 07:54:34 -0400
AMEN RA, Egyptian Artist Takes The World Stage With His Pop Mythology; From Slave to Mythological God. https://www.muslimworldtoday.org/amen_ra_egyptian_artist_takes_the_world_stage_with_his_pop_mythology_from_slave_to_mythological_god?recruiter_id=9388


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How to Support the Black Community If You Love Beauty, Now and Always
Nateisha Scott
Nateisha Scott is currently a beauty editor at 111SKIN, which caters to luxury skincare and wellness. She contributes to leading publications such as Byrdie, Cosmopolitan US, and Who What Wear UK.
The beauty industry is working towars being considered to be a space of freedom, inclusivity and equality. Since the recent events have shocked the nations into action, the industry has come together to deliver an uplifting change. In order to keep the momentum going, we need to address the concerns head on, face ugly truths, and be bold in pushing for change.
The world has spoken and its cry for change has opened the eyes of many regarding racism and discrimination against the Black community. Within this reach for solidarity, beauty brands have rallied together to show their support, donate, raise awareness and declare the changes that need to be made from the inside out. An example of support is Glossier's CEO Emily Weiss, who stated the company would be donating $500k across organizations focused on combatting racial injustice, and also who has also committed to allocating an additional $500k in the form of grants to Black-owned beauty businesses. Brands such as Anastasia Beverley Hills ($1 million dollars), Colourpop ($500,000), Honest Beauty ($100,00), Biossance ($100,000) and others alike have all actively come forward and contributed to causes that help the Black community directly.
However, while brands are coming together to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter, the Black community has also come together to hold these brands accountable to their messages and actions. Sharon Chuter, founder of Uoma Beauty, created Pull Up for Change, a direct-action movement that requests brands "to publicly release within the next 72 hours the number of Black employees they have in their organizations … You all have statements and policies about equal opportunity employers, so show us the proof." In the response to this call for transparency, many brands have come forward to share their numbers and open their books on diversity. Milk Makeup shared that with 45 team members only 4 employees are Black with no Black team members at executive levels. Glossier stated that they don't have any Black colleagues in leadership positions and L'Oréal identified only 9% Black employees, with 7% in the head office and 8% in executive roles. What this transparency states is the dedication that is needed from many cult beauty brands to change their infrastructure for a permanent change within the industry.
Invest In and Support Black-Owned Brands
So, where does that leave us today and moving forward? The answer is simple: invest and support. Makeup artist Camara Aunique, who has worked with Angela Bassett, Ava Duvernay and many others states, "If you love Black beauty, support us by booking us to represent your brand and book us to lead your shoots." The beauty industry must Invest in Black beauty brands, Black creators, influencers and industry professionals—the fight for change starts now. In six months, one year or two years from now, the same support and solidarity will be needed in order to spur real change. There are a multitude of Black-owned beauty brands that need your support. Lesley Thornton, founder of skincare line Klur, highlighted this on her Instagram with this explanation: "Black people are less likely to have access to capital to fund their businesses, so it's critical non-POC support them because there purchases can make a major impact on the potential growth."
60+ Black-Owned Beauty Brands to Support Now and Always
Stock More Black-Owned Brands in Stores
Going further in the world's efforts for a permanent change, it is important that our key drugstore and luxury retailers invest and buy into Black businesses. Encouraging the representation of more Black businesses on the shelves, Brother Vellies founder Aurora James issued a call for leading corporations to pledge that at least 15% of their products sold come from Black-owned businesses. Targeting influential accounts such as Net-A-Porter and Sephora, the 15 Percent Pledge non-profit organization has now been formed to shed the light on Black companies often being overlooked.
47 Black-Owned Wellness and Lifestyle Brands to Support
Feature and Follow Black Creators
Another way to support the Black community going forward is for brands to respectfully, enthusiastically and authentically work with Black influencers, content creators, writers, videographers, industry specialists, and consultants. U.K.-based model and content creator Natasha Ndlovu tells Byrdie, "Brands need to make it a must that they seek out a diverse group of content creators to share on a regular basis—not just for Black History Month or when they finally expand their shade range." For the world to believe a brand's message of solidarity and support, the brand first needs to have a conversation around the table and ask the questions: How diverse are we? Who are the people we work with and showcase? Do we treat our talent pool fairly in terms of rights and payments? "As we speak, a makeup brand emailed me to work with them on a product launching in July and they are notorious for not having a diverse feed," Ndlovu continues. "
As a Black content creator, I want a guarantee—in the form of a legal contract—that states their long-term plan with me, I don't want to waste my talent and skill promoting a brand that has no interest in having a Black woman work with them on a long-term basis."
15 Black Makeup Artists Who Are Changing the Game
Work With Black Creatives
Beyond prioritizing Black creators in front of the camera, the industry needs shaking up behind the scenes as well. The world needs to see more BIPOC photographing magazine cover shoots, creating the looks behind leading editorials, and styling the hair of major supermodels—and not to just hire Black artists and stylists when shooting Black talent, but rather making it a priority to hire them for all types of shoots. Kendall Dorsey, a hairstylist with over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry who frequently works with the likes of Yara Shahidi, Solange, and Lizzo, says, "In the past, I have competed against a white hairstylist [who has done over eight] Vogue covers and [though] my experience shows extensive knowledge on how to execute braids and cornrows, [the] eight Vogue covers was always [prioritized] my experience." He continue further, stating that the industry is missing out on discovering new talented artists because "we are told constantly that we aren't qualified enough and the matter of fact is that we are, we have been craftsmen for years, it's time the mold was changed."
For the beauty industry to truly change, we must take the purposeful steps to look inwards, make permanent changes in our beliefs and structuress, and include the Black community on the main stage.
An Open Letter To The Beauty Industry
What Has Changed? Sharon Chuter on a Year of #PullUpOrShutUp
Behold: The Beauty Changemakers Making Positive Waves in the Industry
These 10 Brands Made the Biggest Impact in 2021
Our 2021 Award-Winning Pros
Ulta Beauty Is Celebrating 100 Black Voices in Beauty and Wellness
6 Latinx Creators Share How They Celebrate Their Culture Through Beauty
Sharon Chuter on the #PullUpOrShutUp Campaign and Real Change in the Beauty Industry
18 Asian Beauty Experts Driving the Industry Forward
This Is Where Beauty Is Headed in 2022
BIPOC Luxury Skincare Enthusiasts Are Finding Community on Social Media
Nappy Head Club's New Clothing Collection Brings Attention to Colorism
7 Beauty Brand Founders on Taking Care of Their Mental Health During Quarantine


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Indicate date, time, number of people and click "Check Availability" button. All courses are available from Monday to Saturday and Stuffed and Baked handmade Pasta classes are also available on Sundays.
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Emilia Romagna Comprehensive Experience: Cooking Classes and Food Tours.


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Trump picks Colorado Springs author of Illuminati books for education board
Colorado Colorado |
Justin Wingerter, The Denver Post
A Colorado Springs lawyer appointed by President Donald Trump to a federal education board is a prolific author of self-help Illuminati books whose education company has been accused of handing out certificates to undeserving applicants.
The White House announced last week that Trump had nominated George Mentz to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. His nomination does not require Senate confirmation.
"I'm extremely excited for myself, my family and Colorado," Mentz said in an interview Friday. "I can't tell you how happy I am. I've been an educator for many years."
The Commission on Presidential Scholars chooses the most distinguished high school seniors in the country each year. The commission includes a former member of the Michigan State Board of Education and the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, among other education experts.
Mentz is a lawyer and a professor of online courses on wealth management at the Texas A&M University School of Law. He also writes for the conservative outlet Newsmax, which is owned by a Trump confidante, and he founded an aggregated news website, the New York Gazette.
Read more via The Denver Post.


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Cortosis grinned, as he stepped on a steaming rock, seeing the prize of a charred human corpse under him. gnawing eagerly on the corpse, he idly wondered just what chaos expected him to do here. She found it more entertaining to let him figure it out on his own most of the time, so, save if it suited her to do otherwise, she'd just teleport him somewhere and let him figure it out on his own, regardless of the purpose of the mission. In any case, he's noticed something blue and shiny near here, and since blue and shiny things are almost always of interest to cortosis, he'd taken off after it himself.
Movement nearby sparked his interest. Reapers of exitium. He'd show them for... doing whatever it is they were doing.
"Hahahahahahahaha!' Raal laughed, grinning, which looked disturbing on his nearly entirely rotted face. "Mortal? I left my mortality behind long ago, Evading hell itself with the power of black sorcery. I am something... different now. Stronger. But unfortunately, my patience did not gain any similar empowerment. As a matter of fact, due to recent events, it's shorter than ever." Raal Grinned, manifesting flames in his hand. "would you like to push it farther?"
agentaaa wrote: "Hahahahahahahaha!' Raal laughed, grinning, which looked disturbing on his nearly entirely rotted face. "Mortal? I left my mortality behind long ago, Evading hell itself with the power of black sorcery. I am something... different now. Stronger. But unfortunately, my patience did not gain any similar empowerment. As a matter of fact, due to recent events, it's shorter than ever." Raal Grinned, manifesting flames in his hand. "would you like to push it farther?"
The being continued to approach Raal. As it came closer, whispers of disembodied souls began to speak jibberish, things that he did not understand. "Immortality to you is not eternal. What you call 'immortal' simply lasts a cycle from start to finish. You survive until the gods start anew, then you are back where you started." The whispers grew louder and more coherent as the knight drew closer. The whispers slowly began to grow into one, they chanted a word... a name: 'Xaldius'. "There are those far beyond that of your comprehension. You exist because we allow it. You will die, your blood spilled, because we demand it."
"No thanks. Sounds too much like my old employers." Raal said, Readying his flames to fire. "I don't listen to any god, particularly those who speak of power. All they leave is hollow betrayal. but then-" Raal continues, grinning once more. "I won't be much different, when I surpass that power, and become god myself." Raal said, his aura increasing as he showed it's full feel. he'd improved himself since his fight with Ishmael, and one could visibly feel it in his aura.
agentaaa wrote: "No thanks. Sounds too much like my old employers." Raal said, Readying his flames to fire. "I don't listen to any god, particularly those who speak of power. All they leave is hollow betrayal. but then-" Raal continues, grinning once more. "I won't be much different, when I surpass that power, and become god myself." Raal said, his aura increasing as he showed it's full feel. he'd improved himself since his fight with Ishmael, and one could visibly feel it in his aura.
The knight, Xaldius, shook its head. "Even a god is more mortal than you can comprehend." He said in response. "Gods do not live a linear life, but have a beginning and end. They are born and die... there are those that are as I am. We do not whither and die. We can not be destroyed, even by our own kind. Because we have no beginning, we have no end. We simply 'are'."
"god, to me, simply means absolute power. No being I've met, no power I've seen, truly defines that to me yet. Neither the gods here nor you seem to do so." Raal states "So I'll simply surpass you all and claim unlimited power, and when I do, the omniverse itself will by my plaything to sculpt to my whim." Raal remarked, huffy with the conversation. "And to begin doing such a thing, I work to collect all manner of magic I can get my hands on."
agentaaa wrote: "god, to me, simply means absolute power. No being I've met, no power I've seen, truly defines that to me yet. Neither the gods here nor you seem to do so." Raal states "So I'll simply surpass you all and claim unlimited power, and when I do, the omniverse itself will by my plaything to sculpt to my whim." Raal remarked, huffy with the conversation. "And to begin doing such a thing, I work to collect all manner of magic I can get my hands on."
Xaldius stared at him. "Even gods are mortal if ascended by a mortal." He said back to him. "'Unlimited power' is a meaningless concept. Even a god of power is inferior to their original creator. There are the gods mortals worship, then the creators of the cycles... and then the ones who came before... the true originals..." Xaldius raised his hand and conjured a fire ball. He clenched is fist tightly around the fire, as if restraining himself. "Whether we like it or not, even a god's fate is decided by those infinitely greater..."
"Thanks for the lesson on deities. I hadn't known they were so lacking in ambition before." Raal grumpily replies, readying his horse to gallop off in a few seconds. This entire conversation had managed to irritate him. Power was everything in this world - he'd been taught that from a young age, and he and his brother had clung on to that principle. to say it is meaningless, to him, was madness.