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Quality Mending Co. Now Selling Denim and Genesis P-Orridge Ephemera in W'burg
August 20, 2015 By Rob Scher
Quality Mending Co. (Photo: Rob Scher)
"Buying. That's my addiction," admitted Oliver Harkness, the Irish-born owner of Quality Mending Co. speaking with us over the phone. Walking into Harkness' recently opened branch on Driggs Avenue, Williamsburg, the fruits of his vice are plain to see.
A rack of old 45s (mostly early reggae), a bucket of name patches (Earl, Steve & Joe), some Daniel Johnston cassette tapes and limited edition Opinel "Tour de France" knives are just some of the welcome additions to Quality Mending Co.'s more staple stock of handmade denim wares and vintage leather jackets, available in the new Williamsburg space.
One might consider this a rather eclectic collection, but that's exactly why Harkness opened his larger branch in the first place. "The Prince Street store is quite small, so I can't really show everything I wanted," he said, noting the difficulty in finding decent square footage in the city. Bringing the store to Williamsburg was as much a practical decision for Harkness as it was an inevitable one. "There's a market in Williamsburg [that] I'll get a chance to learn from, experiment with and find what I have that I can bring to the area," he said.
In a way, this is not too different from what Harkness has always done — experimenting with tastes and markets across two continents over the past 30 years. Like most long stories, the company bio begins with a girl. "Back in '78, I had a girlfriend in North England I'd visit every few weekends when she was at university," recalled Harkness. He took to hunting for "things" on these trips and would go on to sell them at London's vintage mecca, Camden Market.
Harkness traded in Camden for over a decade, continuing to sell to clients even after he made the jump across the pond to New York. But as his collection grew, he began to find many of his buyers unable to front the money. He decided at this point to move into retail. While this decision bought Harkness a certain level of security, he's come to find owning a store has its own set of complications (his Prince Street store's basement flooded, twice, on the eve of the Williamsburg branch's opening).
"I'd say we lost between $20-25,000 in merchandise that was in the basement from the first flood. I didn't even count from the second," said Harkness, adopting a zen-like approach to the whole matter. "It's not the landlord's fault, it was likely a rusted pipe or something. I believe everything happens for a reason and right now all I can do is focus on getting the Williamsburg store up and running."
To that end, Harkness has taken a space previously occupied by artists and a one-time "pickle factory" and turned it into a denim-strewn, vintage menagerie complete with an impressive collection of Big Boy dolls and a pair of original 1969 Jimi Hendix tour posters. Given as a "good luck gift," the posters are just one of the many gems Psychic TV front(wo)man Genesis Breyer P-Orridge' has contributed toward Harkness's stores over the years. "[P-Orridge] is constantly sending me little boxes […] his taste is incredible, it's always stuff that I say, 'Why the hell did you get that' but then I stick it up on the shelf and it sells right away," he said. In turn, Harkness acts as the sole stockist of Psychic TV merchandise, further defying Quality Mending Co.'s unique sensibility.
Just how unique? Now is likely your best time to find out, seeing as the store is running a 50%-off sale until Labor Day. And for the isle-inclined, in an effort to help recover some of the flood losses, the store will also be holding a $5-55 sale at its Prince Street location, too. Primarily the sale is aimed at helping bring revenue back into the store, but more so for Harkness, it's comes down to enablement. "I just want to sell more, so I can go out and buy more — that's the addiction, unfortunately."
Quality Mending Co., 705 Driggs Ave., bet. Grand and S 1st Streets; open daily, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tags: denim & supply, vintage clothing, Williamsburg
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Heath End Lodge is a former gatehouse that sits at the southern entrance to Calke Abbey. Built in 1806, the lodge is Grade II listed and boasts an open fire and large lawn area. Its intriguing pentagonal shape and large windows create a bright and spacious interior where light streams in from the open landscape.
Enjoy an alfresco breakfast before exploring the estate via a path at the back of the property leading to the abbey. After you've finished exploring, head out on another well-trodden footpath into the surrounding countryside.
Further afield, the Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts is a fabulous place to discover a range of artisans including blacksmiths, sculptors, upholsterers and potters.
Entrance/utility area, sitting room with open fire, kitchen/dining room.
Two bedrooms (1 double with 5' bed and 1 single, bathroom with shower over bath.
Parking: Please note there is parking for 2 cars but please do not park in front of the entrance to the field as this must be accessible at all times.
Garden: There is a garden although it is not enclosed.
Access: The stairs in this cottage have shallow steps and are very steep.
Utilities: There is an ice box only at the property.
Calke Abbey is a fabulous location for a wedding.
Enjoy your special day at the Riding School set in the rolling green hills of the Calke estate.
The Riding School boasts high windows, oak beams and a viewing gallery and our partners Honeysuckle and Castle have a range of decor and fine dining packages to suit your taste and budget.
Where better to stay during the wedding than in one of 4 holiday cottages located at Calke Abbey. Those who book a full wedding package at Calke Abbey are eligible for a 5% discount when booking these cottages.
A minimum 2 night stay, subject to availability, applies. It must be booked in conjunction with a full wedding package from Honeysuckle & Castle (Reception and evening reception as a minimum). Booking dates must include the day of the wedding. A discount code will be provided upon receipt of the wedding booking deposit. The cottages must then be booked through National Trust Holiday Cottages, www.nationaltrustcottages.co.uk or Tel: 0344 8002070 quoting that code.
Discounts do not apply to a ceremony only wedding package.
An intriguing pentagonal gate lodge with elegant interiors surrounded by Calke Abbey parkland.


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Home > Journals > Natural Areas Journal > Volume 28 > Issue 3 > Article
1 July 2008 Effects of Culling on Bison Demographics in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Joshua J. Millspaugh, Robert A. Gitzen, Daniel S. Licht, Sybill Amelon, Thomas W. Bonnot, David S. Jachowski, D. Todd Jones-Farrand, Barbara J. Keller, Conor P. McGowan, M. Shane Pruett, Chadwick D. Rittenhouse, Kimberly M. Suedkamp Wells
Joshua J. Millspaugh,1,*,** Robert A. Gitzen,1,*** Daniel S. Licht,2,**** Sybill Amelon,1,***** Thomas W. Bonnot,1,****** David S. Jachowski,1,******* D. Todd Jones-Farrand,1,******** Barbara J. Keller,1,********* Conor P. McGowan,1,********** M. Shane Pruett,1,*********** Chadwick D. Rittenhouse,1,************ Kimberly M. Suedkamp Wells1,*************
11 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, 302 Natural Resources Build
22 National Park Service, 231 East St. Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
* Corresponding author: MillspaughJ@missouri.edu; 573-882-9423
**Joshua J. Millspaugh is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Conservation and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Statistics at the University of Missouri.
***Robert A. Gitzen is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
****Daniel S. Licht is a Regional Wildlife Biologist for the National Park Service stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota.
*****Sybill Amelon was a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
******Thomas W. Bonnot was a M.S. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
*******David S. Jachowski is a M.S. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
********D. Todd Jones-Farrand was a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
*********Barbara J. Keller is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
**********Conor P. McGowan is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
***********M. Shane Pruett is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
************Chadwick D. Rittenhouse is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
*************Kimberly M. Suedkamp Wells was a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri.
Natural Areas J., 28(3):240-250 (2008). https://doi.org/10.3375/0885-8608(2008)28[240:EOCOBD]2.0.CO;2
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We used a stochastic Leslie matrix model parameterized with demographic data from Wind Cave National Park to evaluate effects of four culling strategies on population growth rates and age and sex structure of bison (Bison bison Linnaeus). The four culling scenarios we modeled included removal of: (1) yearlings only; (2) calf/cow combination; (3) a herd-wide proportional cull (i.e., individuals taken in proportion to their availability); and (4) calves only. We also allowed either one, two, or three years to elapse between culls to mimic current management activities, and chose culling values for each scenario that would maintain a stable population (i.e., λ ≈ 1.00). In the absence of culling, our model projected a growth rate of 16% per year (λ= 1.16) (SD = 0.02) for the Wind Cave bison population. The modeled population was characterized by a unimodal age structure for bulls and cows and a 1:1 bull: cow ratio. Removal of 75% of the yearlings or 75% of the calves every year was needed to maintain abundance at current size. These culling strategies altered the age distribution from baseline conditions, resulting in nearly equal proportions of age classes 2–15. When yearling culling or calf removal was skipped one year or two consecutive years, the yearling or calf removal option resulted in positive population growth even in the presence of a 90% cull. Because these strategies nearly removed entire cohorts, corresponding gaps were introduced in the age structure. About 40% of calves and 20% of cows needed to be removed under the annual calf/cow cull to stabilize population growth, producing a unimodal age structure of cows. However, the proportion of bulls in the 2–16 age classes increased, and the proportion of males was nearly equal across the middle age classes. The proportional cull, regardless of time between culling operations, resulted in the most symmetric age structure for males and females. To achieve λ ≈ 1.00 under a proportional cull strategy, 16% of all animals would need to be removed annually, 33% every other year, or 50% once every three years. Sensitivity and elasticity analysis indicated that adult females (5–13 years old) were the most important group of bison affectingλ. These modeled effects, along with factors such as logistical constraints, costs, efficacy, viewing opportunities for tourists, genetics, behavior, and agency policies should be considered when managers choose among culling strategies. When considering historical predation and harvest by Native Americans, we hypothesize that the calf/cow combination cull would have most closely approximated natural bison demographics after the widespread availability of horses (Equus spp.) in the year 1735. Before 1735, we hypothesize that the proportional cull would most closely represent historic conditions, although even this option might not reproduce the variability inherent in historical bison dynamics. We discuss the possibility and management implications of variable culling that might more closely mimic historical influences on bison populations on the Northern Great Plains.
Joshua J. Millspaugh, Robert A. Gitzen, Daniel S. Licht, Sybill Amelon, Thomas W. Bonnot, David S. Jachowski, D. Todd Jones-Farrand, Barbara J. Keller, Conor P. McGowan, M. Shane Pruett, Chadwick D. Rittenhouse, and Kimberly M. Suedkamp Wells "Effects of Culling on Bison Demographics in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota," Natural Areas Journal 28(3), 240-250, (1 July 2008). https://doi.org/10.3375/0885-8608(2008)28[240:EOCOBD]2.0.CO;2
Published: 1 July 2008
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Natural Areas Journal
population structure
DEMOGRAPHICS OF A PROTECTED POPULATION OF GRAY FOXES (UROCYON CINEREOARGENTEUS)...
Bison Weights from National Parks in the Northern Great Plains
COMMERCIAL HARVEST AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF A NORTHERN QUAHOG (MERCENARIA...
Influences of Management Regimes on Breeding Bird Densities and Habitat...
Spatial Population Structure of Yellowstone Bison
Reproduction and Survival of Yellowstone Bison
Temporal Changes in Population Dynamics of American Martens
Joshua J. Millspaugh, Robert A. Gitzen, Daniel S. Licht, Sybill Amelon, Thomas W. Bonnot, David S. Jachowski, D. Todd Jones-Farrand, Barbara J. Keller, Conor P. McGowan, M. Shane Pruett, Chadwick D. Rittenhouse, Kimberly M. Suedkamp Wells "Effects of Culling on Bison Demographics in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota," Natural Areas Journal, 28(3), 240-250, (1 July 2008)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


CosmoBC.com » FashionBlog » Men's Fashion » What Kind of Gift Should You Choose for the Groomsmen?
When it comes to a wedding, the groomsmen and bridesmaids have an essential role. They support the bride and the groom on their special day. Moreover, it is nothing but a tradition to gift the bridesmaid and groomsmen some gifts as the token of appreciation and thanks. Gifting exclusive gifts to the groomsmen means you are showing your love and gratitude towards their efforts and hard work. It is essential that you choose such gifts with proper care so that they can remember it throughout the life. Of course, there are general gifts like chocolate boxes and perfume combo pack. However, these types of gifts are more special and should not be like other typical gifts. Let us talk about the different kinds of gifts available for the groomsmen in this post. If you are getting ready for your D-day, then you must be aware of the gifts you should arrange for the groomsmen to give the occasion a special touch.
Personalized accessories are all about using non-conventional items to make something which is useful. Sometimes scraps materials are used to create a tool or accessory which serves the purpose as well as look cool at the same time. These items include bottle openers, shot glasses, pint glasses, growlers, Tie clips, cuff links, and gift sets. You can even order for customization option as well. Many online stores take customized orders from customers. They can design the products as per your choice and provide door step delivery as well. In this situation, it is possible that you have to make advance payment. So, make sure that the online store you choose to settle down with is genuine and authentic. Bullets2bandages groomsmen gifts is one such platform which came up with the idea of making personalized gifts.
The barware includes shot glasses which replicates the cylinder of the classic colt revolvers. The barware also has pint glasses, customized as .50 caliber growler kit, .50 caliber custom coasters, and engraved gift sets. The groomsmen gifts segment also includes customized cufflinks which are made from bullet shells. The best man bundle kit is also quite popular which consists of a bottle opener, cufflinks and money clips of different designs and patterns. It is better if you can select gifts as per the person whom you want to give. It makes the gifts more meaningful and valuable to the receiver.
When it comes to choosing personalized gifts, then there are many stores available online. You can purchase your gifts from the best stores always. It ensures authenticity and genuine products. If you are buying for groomsmen, then I would suggest that you select one such shop that specializes in selling these kinds of gift items. The prices of these types of gifts affordable and if you purchase in bulk, then you can even enjoy high discounts and offers. Vintage, matte, and brass are some of the standard options available. It is advisable that you shop around to get the best deal.


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Consumer medicine information and the pharmacists
By David Sless|2019-02-14T15:13:30+11:00February 12th, 2009|
Ruth Shrensky and Cheryl Edridge, 2009
Note: This paper was originally researched and written by Cheryl Edridge of CRIA in 2003. It was updated by Ruth Shrensky in 2009.
Here are some startling figures: a review of hospital admissions (Roughead 1999) estimated that at least 80,000 medication-related hospitalisations occurred in Australia every year, of which between 32% and 69% were considered avoidable; some years later, the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care suggested that 2–3% of all hospital admissions related to the over-use, under-use or inappropriate use of medications (ACSQHC 2002), increasing to 20% with age (AIHW 2007); and recent studies found that one in ten general practice patients had experienced an adverse drug event or reaction (ADE/ADR) in the six months prior to publication (McInnes, Saltman & Kidd 2006; SAND 2008).
Not all of these preventable ADEs and ADRs arise from ignorance on the part of the medicine user. They can result from deliberate misuse, inadequate hospital procedures, erroneous prescribing, or other events. But too many arise from consumers not knowing the correct actions to perform with their medications. In other words, as found by Bhasale, Miller, Reid & Britt (1998), one of the commonest contributory factors (23%) was poor communication between patients and healthcare professionals. This point is emphasised by Roughead:
What the data on ADRs in hospitals indicate is our failure to focus on management strategies for ADRs as a specific topic within the national initiatives…To improve ADR management, we must improve our information sources…Providing lists of ADRs does little to change behaviour…While Consumer Medicine Information is now available for over 2000 products, it is not provided routinely and continues to be regarded negatively among some health professionals, despite consumer calls for information on side effects. (Roughead 2005, italics added).
A year later, Roughead & Lexchin (2006) pleaded for action. 'Consumer Medicine Information needs to be routinely used in medical encounters, so that patients can recognise ADEs and know what to report to their GP'.
The crying shame of all this is that Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) has been available, indeed mandatory, for many years. Since the introduction of mandatory CMI in 1994, the pharmaceutical industry, consumer groups, and other interested stakeholders have been concerned that CMI is neither routinely used nor achieving its objective of providing consumers with better information about the medicines they are taking. Two reasons usually given are, firstly, that consumers and health professionals may not be aware of CMIs, and secondly, that pharmacists do not automatically hand out relevant CMIs when they dispense prescription medicines.
The first has been dealt with many times over the years, with various publicity and education campaigns to raise awareness and knowledge. The second is more problematic: in fact, pharmacists have been demonstrating strong organisational resistance to CMIs from the beginning, despite many opportunities given to them to overcome their objections.
This paper discusses the pharmacists' resistance to the automatic routine delivery of CMI.
(One major point of contention has been the length of individual CMIs. Most CMIs comprise two pages—three to four sides—but some groups, and pharmacists in particular, have been demanding one-page CMIs from the outset. A companion paper to this one, Shorter CMIs: The sad failure of a design project by Edridge & Shrensky, is being prepared on the topic.)
The purpose of CMI is to provide accurate, up-to-date information to consumers about prescription medicines and pharmacy-only medicines. CMI is provided in the wider context of health information as a communication and counselling link between healthcare providers and medicine consumers; and just as healthcare providers have an obligation to promote the quality use of medicines, so medicine consumers have a right to accurate, up-to-date information, in order to make informed decisions (NHMRC 1993; Graham & Kwok 1995; PHARM 2000; Tasker 2005–6; Wheatland 2006–7; APC 2008; among many others).
Individual CMI leaflets (CMIs) in Australia are developed by pharmaceutical companies to provide information for medicine users, and should provide all the information users might need about a specific medicine product. CMI is specially designed according to performance requirements: this means that, through a comprehensive tested format of headings and sections, CMI allows users to find essential or important information about their medicines easily and quickly, and to use that information appropriately to perform tasks that were agreed to by all stakeholders; specific CMI are also tested to make sure that consumers can indeed perform those tasks (see Sless & Shrensky 2006, 2007, especially Chapters 11, 12, and 13).
The content of a CMI leaflet is taken from the Product Information (PI) of the medicine written by the medicine's sponsor or manufacturer; nothing may appear in the CMI that is not in the PI, so consumers can be confident that they are being given reliable information. Also, nothing may appear in the CMI that can be seen as an advertisement or endorsement of the brand. Guidelines and standards for writing CMI are provided by professional health and pharmaceutical organisations such as the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health (1995), the Royal College of Nursing Australia (RCNA 1999), the Pharmaceutical Health and Rational Use of Medicines (PHARM 2000, 2002), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA 2006b), among others, and by CRIA (the Communication Research Institute of Australia) [now CRI, the Communication Research Institute], a specialist organisation in the field of communication and information design which has developed the CMI designs since 1994 (Sless & Wiseman 1994, 1997; Sless & Shrensky 2006, 2007). Professional consultancy is provided by APAC (the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council) and CRI.
CMIs can be provided in various ways: as inserts in medicine packages, as leaflets and standup cards for community pharmacy counters, as published compendia, and as computer printouts from websites. (A 'community pharmacy' is a pharmacy serving the public—a high street chemist as opposed to a hospital or specialised pharmacy. All references to pharmacies in this paper refer to community pharmacies.)
The preferred method of delivery is computer printouts by pharmacies at the point of dispensing, as this ensures that the information is current and standard; a comprehensive survey of community pharmacies in 2003-4 found that electronic CMI was included within dispensing computer systems at 98.4% of Australian pharmacies (PGA 2004, section 4, p. 123).
The pharmaceutical industry meets the costs of writing and publishing CMI, while intellectual property rights are held by the individual pharmaceutical company responsible for producing any particular CMI. A media release in 1998 (Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing 1998) stated that a distinctive logo was being developed to help people identify CMI—when they saw the logo on a CMI leaflet, they would know the leaflet contained unbiased, quality information about that particular medicine. A CMI logo did appear briefly in demonstration designs in 1999 and 2002, but has never been in general use.
Beginnings of CMI in Australia
In 1991, the release of the Baume Report on drug evaluation triggered major reforms in the way that drugs were prescribed, dispensed and used. New standards of quality and safety were set, and consumer groups began lobbying in earnest for better information about medicines. The Commonwealth Government established two groups, PHARM (Pharmaceutical Health and Rational Use of Medicines) and APAC (Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council), to advise on all matters relating to pharmaceutical education and policy.
In 1992, PHARM framed the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) policy, whose success depended on the partnership between the government, the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare professionals, and the community. This partnership facilitated production of CMI for all prescription and pharmacy-only drugs, as recommended by the Baume Report. Since 1994, pharmaceutical companies have been legally required to provide consumer information on prescription products: the companies prepare CMI for the medicines they develop, and their content must be factual and must not contain any promotion for the brand.
In the initial stages of CMI design, PHARM sponsored consultative meetings with key stakeholders and organisations involved with medicines to develop CMI guidelines and set up a process for its consistent development. CRIA received government funding to develop usability guidelines for preparing CMI, Writing about Medicines for People, first published 1994, 2nd edition 1997, 3rd edition 2006 (electronic) and 2007 (print); CRIA also undertook to redesign the format of CMI when necessary, to ensure its continued effectiveness as an information tool.
APAC established a CMI Standing Committee to oversee CMI development; an Electronic Distribution Working Group (EDWG) was established to manage the preferred electronic delivery of CMI process; and a CMI Content Quality Assurance Reference Group (QARG), comprising representatives from consumers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, the pharmaceutical industry, CMI writers, EDWG, and CRIA (CRI), was set up to monitor the quality of information provided to users.
Barriers to CMI delivery
It is now fifteen years since CMI became mandatory, yet it is still necessary to address the problem of how to promote wider knowledge, delivery and use of CMI. From the beginning, surveys have demonstrated that some consumers and healthcare professionals are not aware of CMI or, if aware, do not use them appropriately; and consumer groups and others have long been concerned that many pharmacies do not routinely deliver CMIs to prescription medicine users.
Since pharmacists do not automatically offer a CMI when dispensing prescription medicines, consumers have been encouraged to ask for one, starting with PHARM's National Medicines Week campaigns (1996-1998) which included messages to raise awareness of CMI and to urge consumers to ask their pharmacists for a CMI leaflet when they had prescription medicines dispensed (PHARM & APAC 2001). PHARM & APAC noted that while awareness of CMI increased from 19% to 26% over the period of the campaigns, uptake of CMI was slow, 'primarily because of barriers to its delivery' (2001, p 31).
From the pharmacists' point of view, the barriers to routine delivery are many and seemingly insurmountable. Aslani (2006) cites surveys which have identified several reasons why health professionals have generally failed to routinely deliver CMIs to consumers: CMIs are too long (that is, they use more than one A4 double-sided sheet); some pharmacists are unaware of CMI; some pharmacists lack the relevant counselling skills; CMIs are believed to have a negative impact on consumers' medicine-taking behaviour; pharmacists are unhappy about the extra, unpaid time spent explaining CMIs to medicine users; and many explained that they do not have adequate technology, especially the right kind of printer, to satisfy the government's requirement for the electronic distribution of CMI.
Much has been done, and is still being done, to remove these barriers.
Barrier 1: CMI length
To address the perennial complaint that CMIs are too long, CRIA designed double-sided one-sheet CMIs over the following years, sadly to no effect. See Shorter CMIs: The sad failure of a design project (Shrensky & Edridge in preparation) for a full description of the projects, including test results.
Barrier 2: CMI skills
To address pharmacists' lack of awareness or negative approach, educational workshops have been delivered. To address pharmacists' lack of counselling skills, professional bodies have published guidelines on CMI use: CMI and the pharmacist (PSA 2000) and Using CMI: A guide for health professionals (PHARM 2000). The guidelines include specific circumstances when pharmacists are expected to hand out a CMI and use it as a counselling aid:
when a medicine is first provided to the patient
when there has been a significant change to the CMI
if the dosage form has been changed (e.g. from injection to tablet)
with each supply of medicine for which there are valid reasons for regular reinforcement of information (e.g. the medication could cause birth defects, there are other reasons where caution is required, or the patient has special needs)
at the request of the patient
at regular intervals, for medicines used for long-term therapy (e.g. every six months)
when the pharmacist has received advice that a sponsor has made significant changes to the CMI.
The guidelines made little difference. The barriers to delivery persisted. In January 2002, PHARM's Consumer Sub-Committee published its first newsletter, MedicinesTalk, in which one of the writers urged, 'Don't forget, if you want a CMI leaflet, ask for it—after all, it is your right to have one!' (Wood 2002). And as recently as 2006, a PSA media release, while berating pharmacists for not routinely delivering CMIs in accordance with its 2000 guidelines, was still putting the onus on consumers: 'Ask for a CMI with your next prescription' (PSA 2006a). Pharmacists responded by noting that earlier versions of the CMI guidelines stated that any kind of appropriate information, not necessarily CMI, could be offered with prescription medicines; and that pharmacists could exercise their professional judgement in deciding when to provide a CMI.
Barrier 3: financial and technological
To address the financial and technological barriers and to promote the QUM policy, the PGA developed its Medicines Information for Consumers (MIC) program, principally to encourage pharmacists to deliver CMIs and use them for counselling. As part of the program, pharmacists were provided with financial incentives via a Commonwealth Government research and development grants program (part of the Third Community Pharmacy Agreement between the Minister for Health and Aged Care and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia 2000). Pharmacists participating in the MIC program
'[were] required to provide Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) to consumers in accordance with PSA professional standards and guidelines' (PGA 2002).
Every pharmacist in Australia who wanted to be part of the MIC program was given AU$3000 as a readiness payment to purchase a duplex laser printer dedicated to the provision of CMI. As well, the fee given for every PBS medicine dispensed included counselling on its proper use.
A major survey and review of the MIC program found that the incentives were not working as well as hoped (TNS 2004). Among the reasons for this were:
many pharmacists had 'minimal understanding' of the PSA guidelines (pp 14–15), contributing to their failure to change their practices
pharmacists did not properly understand what the MIC program entailed (p 16), including not understanding that it required a change of practice: 'There was a strong perception among pharmacists that they were being "paid to do what they already had been doing" ' (p 14)
there was not enough consumer awareness or expectation of CMI to create enough demand to 'facilitate behavioural change on the supply side' (p 14), thus putting the onus back onto the consumer
many pharmacists mistakenly believed that consumers would suffer 'anxiety and fear' when receiving a CMI (p 14), and so withheld it
the MIC procedure for claiming the counselling fee was unnecessarily complicated and time consuming, as it had to be claimed separately from the PBS dispensing fee (although the incentive amount was incorporated into the dispensing fee).
The last point above has been easy to deal with: one of the provisions of the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement (2005–2010) is that pharmacists do not now have to make separate claims for CMI incentive payments.
Time to get serious
But the other points have not been so easily solved. A submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administraton (TGA) by the Consumers' Health Forum of Australia (CHF 2005) noted:
'We continue to hear from consumers that they are still unaware that specific written information exists for them about prescription medicines they are using. Further, research with health care providers themselves shows that professional standards for CMI delivery are not always sufficient to ensure consumers receive a CMI even when it is indicated.'
As the title of Roughead's (2005) article declares: it is time to get serious. Research shows that hospitalisations due to ADRs have risen to more than 140,000 yearly, of which 50-75% are preventable (PSA 2007b). It is not enough to wait until consumers ask for a CMI; health professionals, and especially pharmacists, must automatically provide CMIs with the prescriptions, and show consumers how to use the CMIs to take appropriate actions with their medicines.
And indeed, organisations concerned about CMI delivery are getting serious.
For one thing, the PSA has recently made two significant changes to its guidelines (PSA 2007a):
CMI is now the appropriate primary form of medicines information, so pharmacists should not provide any other kind of written information
PSA does not support the withholding of CMI from consumers, even if requested to do so by a prescriber; pharmacists are strongly advised to use the CMI for counselling.
For another thing, the Australian government, which is rightly concerned that the incentives it pays to pharmacists is used properly, has added its voice: as reported in an APP (Australian Pharmacy Professional) Conference 2008 news item headed 'Lift your game on CMI: government' (Roberts 2008), Senator McLucas told pharmacists to improve their delivery of CMI, reminding them that CMI delivery was 'not optional, but a professional obligation'. ('This has been a problem right from day one', said the PSA president in response.)
And for yet another thing, 'The Australian Pharmacy Council [APC] issues CMI warning', cried the Pharmacy Daily (2008), citing the APC's concern that consumers are still not receiving CMI automatically with their medicine prescriptions; and you could almost feel the exasperation when the Pharmacy News (2008), reporting the same warning, told its readers that pharmacists had 'again been told' to improve CMI delivery, 'this time by the APC'.
No-one can say that the pharmacists have not been told. The inappropriate use of medicines is too high, and adverse drug events are on the increase; importantly, consumers have a right to receive accurate, up-to-date information about their medicines, of the kind that can only be provided on a performance-based, evidence-tested CMI. Pharmacists have a professional obligation to routinely deliver CMIs with prescription and pharmacy-only medicines, and to use them to counsel consumers on the appropriate use of their medicines. There really is no option here.
APAC (Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council),
2001. Draft Minutes, October 2001. CMI Standing Committee.
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Guidelines: Intranet writing guide
Performance requirements: SoA
Jane Teather's British Medical Association (BMA) Award
David Sless: 2019 ASTC conference slides & feedback


"Hippocrates is an engaging coming-of-age drama centring on the problems within public medicine in France as budget cuts bite."
We meet young trainee doctor Benjamin (Vincent Lacoste) on his first day of a six-month hospital placement. His confused wanderings around the dilapidated bowels of the building, as he tries to find his way to the relevant ward, are an early indication that his training will not be as easy as he confidently assumes.
Taking its name from the so-called father of Western medicine, Hippocrates from the outset shows Benjamin and his fellow interns having their commitment to patient care stretched to its limit by long hours, low pay, dwindling staff numbers, broken equipment, and the pursuit of profit by the upper echelons of hospital management. But there is also a possible play on words - the French pronunciation of Hippocrate (the original title) is very close to 'hypocrite' - as Benjamin finds that those who espouse medical ideals (including his father (Jacques Gamblin), the head of the ward he is assigned to) nonetheless sacrifice the best interests of the patients due to pressures from upper management with regards to the financial costs of appropriate care and the exigencies of available beds.
Benjamin will also have his eyes opened to injustices among his fellow practitioners. He is joined on the ward by another intern, Abdel (Reda Kateb), an older man who is a qualified doctor his homeland of Algeria but is having to take internships in order to earn his equivalence in the French medical system. Although Benjamin's nose is put out of joint by his new colleague's greater experience and ease with patients, he also sees that Abdel faces an uphill challenge in establishing his career in a foreign country.
More of a co-lead than supporting player, Abdel emerges as the moral conscience of the film, a diligent man who respects his patients but does not fit in with party-going younger colleagues. Kateb avoids making him a stick-in-the-mud - Abdel does not hide his irritation with management's bottom-line attitude and gets righteously angry on behalf of other colleagues who are shoddily treated. His nuanced performance of a humane man won Kateb the César for Best Supporting Actor. Benjamin comes to respect the older man, which further serves to highlight to him the discrepancy in how they are treated by management when each respectively breaks hospital protocol. His relationship with Abdel therefore also charts his coming-of-age as a man and a doctor - Benjamin must decide what kind of person he wishes to be.
Although the film is often darkly funny, writer-director Thomas Lilti (himself a qualified doctor) does not shy away from the difficult life and death decisions that the interns are expected to carry out in less than ideal circumstances. The juxtaposition of the juvenile and bacchanalian out-of-hours behaviour of the interns with the serious situations they are faced with on the ward presents the former as a much-needed pressure valve, but it's noticeable that the emphasis shifts to the latter as Benjamin matures and accepts responsibility for his own actions.
Overall, Hippocrates is an engaging coming-of-age drama centring on the problems within public medicine in France as budget cuts bite, with a personable protagonist in the form of Lacoste and a standout performance from Kateb.
A young doctor encounters challenges he didn't expect in his first post, working for his father.


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August 25, 2021 by James Langley
Hampshire residents to pay entry fee at Newbury HWRC
Residents in the north of Hampshire are to pay a £7 entry fee to use a household waste recycling centre (HWRC) outside the county, after an agreement with West Berkshire council allowing them to use it for free came to an end.
The Newtown Road HWRC in Newbury is operated on behalf of West Berkshire council by Veolia (picture: West Berkshire council)
As there are few HWRCs in north Hampshire, there has been a 'transitional arrangement' in place since 2016 (see letsrecycle.com story). The arrangement allowed around 5,000 Surrey residents to use West Berkshire's Newtown Road facility in Newbury free of charge, at a cost of £175,000 per year to Hampshire county council.
This enabled the county council time to evaluate the feasibility of two sites as possible long-term solutions for an HWRC in north-west Hampshire. However, Hampshire county council has now decided that developing a new HWRC site in the Kingsclere area of the county is "not feasible at this time".
Therefore, the transitional payments were not extended when the agreement ended on 31 July, and Hampshire residents now have to pay to use the facility.
Its online booking system will continue to function as normal, but North Hampshire residents will be separated into a different lane and asked to pay by card when they arrive.
In a statement, the council said: "On 29 July 2021 the executive lead member for economy, transport and the environment took the decision not to further extend the transitional arrangement in place for north Hampshire residents.
"The decision was based on account of budgetary pressures, an adverse outcome from feasibility studies for building a new site in the Kingsclere area, and the imminent introduction of a charge-per-visit scheme for non-residents by West Berkshire."
Newtown Road
In July 2020 it was recommended that Hampshire's payments to West Berkshire should cease in the light of the county council's budgetary pressures and "ongoing need for efficiencies". The residents affected would still have free access to HWRCs in their own county.
The decision was put on hold for 12 months after Hampshire county council and Basingstoke and Deane borough council jointly agreed a further interim arrangement.
Earlier this year, West Berkshire council notified Hampshire county council that, when the interim measure ended on 31 July, it would introduce an entry fee in the region of £7 per visit for non-Berkshire residents.
The system will be enforced through a new number plate recognition system, towards the arrangements for which Hampshire will contribute up to £20,000.
Hampshire residents can now also visit Padworth HWRC in West Berkshire, but this too is subject to the new non-resident fee.
New HWRC
For some Hampshire residents in the very north and north-west of the county, the nearest HWRCs run by their county council are more than 10 miles away.
For some Hampshire residents, the nearest HWRCs run by their county council are more than 10 miles away and the Newbury facility is much closer
As an alternative to using the Newtown Road HWRC and to consider the service gap in this part of the county, two potential sites in the Kingsclere area were put forward as possible locations for constructing a new HWRC. However, it was decided neither was suitable.
In its statement, Hampshire county council said: "Feasibility studies for both potential sites in the Kingsclere area concluded they are not suitable for development.
"The county council will continue to review HWRC service provision in the Basingstoke area, however, in the light of the expected future increases in housing and anticipated rise in the demand for waste recycling."
Representing an estimated population of more than 1.8 million, Hampshire county council had a household waste recycling rate of 41.7% in the 2019.20 financial year.
The council operates a network of 26 HWRCs across Hampshire. They are run by French waste management giant Veolia under a 14-year contract signed in 2016 (see letsrecycle.com story). Veolia also operates West Berkshire's HWRCs.
The council claims it provides a larger network of HWRCs than "any other similar authority in the country".
In January 2020, Hampshire county council announced it was introducing a resident permit system at its HWRCs, similar to West Berkshire's own, which saw those from outside the county charged to use them (see letsrecycle.com story).
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The Watts Bar Nuclear Plant's Unit 1 reactor shut down. A malfunction in a circuit card on a newly installed computer system that assists the operation of the plant's turbine. The malfunction caused the turbine to trip causing the reactor to shut down. The cause of the trip is under investigation.
The unplanned shutdown lasted for 3 days.


Do you want to build a huge house of your own? Or are you thinking of investing in a well furnished apartment? Well, irrespective of whether you are going to build a house from the scratch or are purchasing a readymade home, you need to protect it from all corners. By protection, it is not just meant that you install security systems or improve on the construction process. Instead, you have to think about the compensation for the losses which are beyond your control. That will give your home a complete protection. We, at JNR Insurance Agency, are the right choice for you. We offer you the high-quality, comprehensive home insurance programs which can fetch you the right compensation for the losses your house is about to incur. We are an experienced, locally owned and operated insurance company which has been in this field for a substantial number of years. With our reputation and competitive premium rates, we have become one of the most preferred insurance companies. So, if you belong to areas like Brooklyn, Bushwick, Greenpoint, Prospect Park, or Williamsburg, you can rely on our insurance products and services.
Here, we have put together a few ways in which the homeowner's insurance can protect you and your home. Take a look.
Unwanted intrusion is not unlikely. So, your expensive furniture, electronics, artwork, clothing, jewelry, or cash are all at risk. If you have the right home insurance, you can get a compensation for the loss incurred.
You must be aware that if someone else gets injured while on your premises, their medical bills have to be borne by you. In order to avoid this kind of an unnecessary expenses, you should opt for liability payments.
So, these were the major things that the home insurance can help you with. If you want to opt for our insurance program, then contact us now.


These are actual average rates for all 50 states. The state with the cheapest average rates for this vehicle is Maine at $79, and the state with the most expensive rates is Michigan at $221. The overall average is $123.
Shop on our site to see how much you can save on your Lincoln Mkx car insurance rates.


While studying to teach the book of Ruth at the local congregation I attend, I noticed something in the first chapter that spells out for us what is happening today in the lives of so many individuals who attend churches - false repentance. What I mean is this; there are multitudes of people who feel a worldly sorrow for doing "bad things" and these people may even weep buckets of tears over what they have done. However, in the end they always go back and do the same things all over again.
What caught my attention (in this regard) was the account of Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth in chapter 1 of the book. As Ruth, after losing her husband and two sons, journeys back to Bethlehem, she (weeping) tells her daughters in law (Orpah and Ruth) to stay in the land of Moab rather than coming with her. All three of them weep and the two daughters say that they will go with Naomi. Shortly thereafter the discussion continues and Orpah and Ruth cry some more. This time Orpah goes back to Moab, but Ruth clings to Naomi, venturing to an unknown land, people, god, etc. We hear much of Ruth after this, but Orpah travels into the oblivion and is never - to my knowledge, mentioned in Scripture again.
Orpah had false repentance. Yes, she cried tremendously, but there was still a longing to her to go back to what she was used to. I think Naomi may have been testing the two girls to see where there heart was. If they truly wanted to turn their life over to the Elohim of Israel they would continue on with this bitter 'ol woman that Naomi was at the time. As we know, Ruth did stay with Naomi and made awesome promises too her and to Yahweh. Orpah went back to her old ways.
Do we not see this happening with people today? We see people who have committed sin, sometimes heinous, and they feel sorry for what they've done, but it's not a righteous sorrow. They still do not realize that they've wronged the sustainer of them and the universe. They ask for prayer, cry sometimes greatly, and you think that something great has happened. You may see them for a little while at church, but soon thereafter you don't see them anymore and they go back to their old way of life. What happened here was visible repentance, but not true repentance. They didn't change their direction; they didn't really have an encounter with Yahweh in their heart of hearts.
On the other hand we may experience true repentance with people who never even shed a tear. I'm not against crying, I'm just saying someone can really have an encounter with God and it be a "dry encounter." Crying and outward sorrow doesn't automatically equal true repentance. If a person is practicing sin and they confess, repent, and believe and you begin to see a true change in a persons life, but they never weeped over their sin, don't be presumptuous and think that they weren't serious enough. Yahweh works with different people in different ways. If there is a change of life then it is Yahweh. If they stay on the Biblical course then it is Yahweh. If it seems like they are sorry but they continue to do the things that God hates then it was a work of man.


A desirable edition of an imported 1.6l Eunos Roadster, this example of a good condition 'V' Special is black with a black soft top and BBS alloy wheels. The interior is finished in the 'V' Special tan (leather seats, carpets and trim), with a wooden handbrake and gear knob, and has a leather steering wheel. It is fitted with a detachable Sony radio/CD player, power steering, electric windows, air conditioning, headrest speakers, stainless steel sill tread plates, a stainless steel exhaust and a factory-fitted immobiliser.
First registered in the UK in July 2005, the car has a 1597 cc, petrol engine, a 5-speed gearbox and has 1848 060 km (116 855 mls) on the clock. Modifications include a Jasma 4-branch manifold and KYB adjustable shockers. Mechanically, it has been well-maintained and runs very well. Its MOT is through to 10th November 2019.
Overall, the condition is very good. The bodywork is solid, as is the underside, and has the original sills and arches. Given the age of the car, it does have minor bodywork marks but nothing of any concern or that detract from its appearance. Close up, the alloy wheels are showing signs of ageing. Two new front Firestone tyres were fitted in October 2017. While the carpets and door trims are in good condition, the seats are comfortable but, in areas, now looking a bit careworn. In summary, a lovely example of a classic sports car and a pleasure to drive.


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'Defiance' Star Stephanie Leonidas Joins ITV's 'Agatha Christie's Poirot: Dead Man's Folly'
By Patrick Munn | June 3, 2013 - 7:28 pm | No Comments
Stephanie Leonidas, who is currently a series regular on Syfy's recently renewed drama series Defiance, has joined the cast of Agatha Christie's Poirot: Dead Man's Folly, the final episode to be produced in ITV's Poirot series.
Leonidas is one of a number of guest stars set to appear in the drama. Also cast in Agatha Christie's Poirot: Dead Man's Folly is Sean Pertwee (Luther), Sinead Cusack (V for Vendetta), Tom Ellis (Miranda), Martin Jarvis (Titanic) and Sam Kelly (Allo Allo). Zoë Wanamaker will also reprise her role as Poirot's unwitting sidekick Ariadne Oliver. Though the final movie to go into production, the final episode to be broadcast will be Curtain: Poirot's Final Case which, as TVWise previously reported, counts BAFTA nominee Helen Baxendale amongst its cast.
An adaptation of the Christie story which was first publish in 1956, Dead Man's Folly follows Poirot who has been summoned by friend Ariadne Oliver to Nasse House in Devon to help solve a murder before its taken place. Commissioned to stage a fictional murder hunt at the Nasse House fete, Ariadne confesses to her friend that mysterious forces are influencing the hunt. She feel's there is going to be a murder but has no shred of evidence that this is the case or who the victim will be. A reluctant Poirot sets to work, but with no clues and just Ariadne's intuition that evil forces are at play, he simply observes all those around him including Sir George Stubbs, owner of Nasse House, his childlike wife Hattie, and the former owner of Nasse, Mrs Folliat. On the day of the fête, fiction and reality collide when Ariadne's 'murder victim' Marlene becomes an actual murder victim and Hattie Stubbs mysteriously vanishes after receiving a note announcing a visit from her cousin, Etienne De Souza, who she described as a killer. A perplexed Poirot attempts to unravel the lies and deceits at play in the seemingly beautiful surroundings of Nasse. The drama is co-produced by ITV Studios and Agatha Christie Ltd with Michele Buck, Damien Timmer, Karen Thrussell and Hilary Strong serving as executive producers. Tom Vaughan is directing.


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The True Backstory of Casper the Friendly Ghost is Super Dark
Tom Foster 5 years ago
There might be a reason why we never hear about Casper's back story all that much, and it's largely because it could have very well put a damper on the movie, which was supposed to be a pleasant family film for everyone. Apparently Casper's back story was much darker and a lot more disturbed than anyone would have wanted to see in the film.
It starts off that Casper's mom passed away giving birth, leaving him to be raised by his father. Apparently his father was a pleasant and even doting man and tried to make his son happy. When Casper all but begged for a sled his father gave him one and allowed him to go sledding all day. Unfortunately it would seem that somehow Casper contracted pneumonia and died not long after. Instead of moving on to the afterlife however he stuck around, not wanting his father to be all alone.
This prompted his father to make the attempt to build an artificial body that Casper could inhabit. Unfortunately he was taken to an asylum before he could test the contraption out and was never seen again. That alone sounds like a very tragic story that understandably didn't make it to the final cut for the Casper movie. Detailing how he was all alone in the house was more than enough, but reliving the pain of an existence that was cut short by tragedy would have elevated the movie from being a family film straight into a supernatural drama that would have been a little too much to be a family-driven picture.
Casper the friendly ghost has been a cartoon that has been around for generations now and has been fully enjoyed by many kids whether it's Halloween or not. The story of Casper has been something that kids have managed to find endearing and even entertaining throughout the years. Yet it never struck a lot of people that the ghost of a kid could be anything tragic, mostly because Casper was such a fun-loving and kind spirit that no one really thought about delving into his back story. Nowadays however the idea of a child ghost is more than enough to get anyone riled and ready to ask a slew of questions.
It kind of doesn't help that there are a host of movies out there now that deal with children and the many issues they must face as well in very negative terms. Some of those that are supernatural in origin are more than a little disturbing and are uniquely geared towards making certain that the back story of the affected children is either as normal or as messed up as can be. So really, honestly, truly, Casper's back story is not as bad as it could be, but it is extremely tragic.
Casper didn't stay out of a deep-seated grudge or because he was afraid of moving on. He did so out of the deep love that he had for his father and the desire to not leave him alone in the world. So as dark as his back story might have b been it still had some light to it.
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THE DIGITAL TRAVEL GUIDE FOR FOOTBALL FANS
One half of the most bitter rivalry in MLS, the California Clásico, San Jose Earthquakes has the distinction of playing, and winning, the very first match in the league's history.
San Jose has come a long way since then, club owner Lew Wolff funding the $100 million construction of soccer-specific Avaya Stadium, opened in 2015, right by the boundary fence of San Jose International Airport. At the open north end of the ground, a vast double-sided video scoreboard displays the sponsor's name to passengers on taxing planes, as fans sit at what is claimed to be the longest open-air bar in North America, all 22 bartender stations of it.
Avaya Stadium/Tony Dawber
In March 2017, US men's team plays at Avaya Stadium for the first time, a vital World Cup qualifier against Honduras – the women have already won two friendlies there, before crowds at or close to capacity of 18,000.
Back in 1996, and that inaugural MLS, the team representing the de facto capital of Silicon Valley was San Jose Clash, its home ground Spartan Stadium. The contrast with Southern Californian rivals LA Galaxy was already stark. Spartan Stadium was by far the smallest in the league, holding barely over 30,000. Galaxy was based at the Rose Bowl, the 92,500-capacity arena that had just hosted a World Cup final.
More than 20 years on, there's still a more homely feel to San Jose than you'd find amid the razzmatazz and opulence of its Galaxy rival 260 miles south.
The club became Earthquakes in 1999, a rebrand harking back to the old NASL days of the 1970s and George Best. Under-achieving San Jose Clash had imploded with its own clash of player personalities.
Earthquakes brought in British-Canadian coach Frank Yallop, who had started his lengthy playing career at Ipswich under Bobby Robson. His first master stroke was to sign Landon Donovan on a loan deal from Bayer Leverkusen, joined by defender Jeff Agoos, on the DC United team that played in that first MLS game with San Jose before going on to win the title in 1996.
Yallop's assistant coach was Glasgow-born Dominic Kinnear, a former San Jose player and 54-time US international.
In his initial season, Yallop led Earthquakes to a first MLS Cup, a satisfying 2-1 win over Galaxy in overtime. In cloudy Columbus, a Donovan strike before halftime canceled out an LA lead before a Golden Goal from Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario took the trophy to San Jose. Ironically, though, Earthquakes had the lowest average gate of the whole 12-team league, under 10,000.
Two years later, the most dramatic California Clásico produced a 5-2 scoreline at Spartan Stadium in the Western Conference Semifinal. Earthquakes not only overturned a 2-0 Galaxy defeat in LA but a 2-0 early lead in the second leg to roar back thanks to a 90th-minute aggregate equaliser from Chris Roner. In what has become known as the greatest comeback in MLS history, San Jose then beat Galaxy with a Golden Goal from little-used squad member Rodrigo Faria. All this action took place in front of a half-full Spartan Stadium.
Another poorly attended cliffhanger saw Landon Donovan grab the Golden Goal to beat Kansas City 3-2 in the Western Conference Final. Donovan then hit two against Chicago Fire to help San Jose to a 4-2 win and a second MLS Cup – at LA Galaxy's home of the Home Depot Center.
Kansas gained revenge over San Jose with a 92nd-minute winner in the Western Conference Semifinal of 2004. With a crowd of 8,000-plus for the home game, it was clear that the Earthquakes formula wasn't working. Behind the scenes, a botched rebranding eventually led to incoming general manager Alexi Lalas to help relocate the club to Houston – this, along with effectively selling Landon Donovan to LA Galaxy.
In stepped Lew Wolff. While now head coach Dominic Kinnear and former Earthquakes team won the MLS Cup as Houston Dynamo in 2006, urban redevelopment mogul bought the option for the Earthquakes MLS franchise. With Dwayne De Rosario as man-of-the-match, Dynamo won another MLS Cup in 2007 and Kinnear would stay at Houston until 2014.
Back in San Jose, Wolff relaunched Earthquakes in 2008 with the same colors, logo and records as before. He even persuaded Frank Yallop back.
As for a venue, Earthquakes set up at the soccer ground of Santa Clara University, the Buck Shaw Stadium, making improvements and raising the capacity to a notch over 10,000. The winning Brazilian practised here before the 1994 World Cup – but this was, again, a modest home by comparison to other MLS arenas.
By chance, it's just across ACE rail line from today's Avaya Stadium.
After the restart in 2008, Earthquakes struggled to find form and retain key players. Keeping faith in Yallop, the club made the Playoffs in 2010, losing narrowly to Colorado Rapids.
Despite Supporters' Shield-winning form in the regular 2012 season, San Jose fell to a rampant Robbie Keane in the Western Conference Playoff Semifinal, Galaxy having the last laugh after Earthquakes had gained a 94th-minute victory in LA. The following year, a revenge 3-2 stoppage-time Clásico win, reversing a 2-0 deficit, wasn't enough to lift Earthquakes into the Playoffs.
In 2015, Dominic Kinnear returned, the club buoyed by the opening of Avaya Stadium. After nearly 20 years of MLS action, the club at last had a soccer-specific home to go to. Kinnear remains in place for MLS 2017, capacity crowds at home games a positive sign of things to come.
It has been a long time coming but the opening of Avaya Stadium on the eve of MLS 2015 has put an end to San Jose Earthquakes playing in front of four-figure crowds at college sports grounds.
This is soccer watching as never before in MLS.
Set beside San Jose International Airport and the rail line that serves California, Avaya Stadium is perfectly connected for the slowly burgeoning breed of traveling soccer fan. Away support for the California Clásico with LA Galaxy is a given, with trouble breaking out at one game in 2012, at the Buck Shaw Stadium not half a mile from Avaya.
Avaya is unique in that it has the only safe standing section in MLS, in the home South Stand, plus patio seating, with tables, paid for by the season. Steep sightlines surround all four sides – including the open fan zone around the signature bar, stretching 300-plus feet below the video scoreboard. The concourse in the main West Stand features high-tech screens displaying fans' Tweets as they are sent.
This is a soccer stadium for the 21st century.
Visiting supporters are allocated the top of sector 134 nearest the north, Scoreboard End. Designated Earthquakes Supporters' Group sectors are 117 and 118.
San Jose Earthquakes/Avaya Stadium: 37.350885, -121.925267
San Jose International Airport: 37.363947, -121.928938
Santa Clara station: 37.353227, -121.936453
Coleman & Earthquakes: 37.353013, -121.925363
Santa Clara & 1st: 37.336260, -121.890122
Market & St John: 37.337378, -121.893348
San Pedro Square Market Bar: 37.336598, -121.894185
Peggy Sue's: 37.335579, -121.893525
Firehouse No.1: 37.336086, -121.894193
Old Wagon Saloon & Grill: 37.336435, -121.894006
The Brit: 37.335019, -121.893704
O'Flaherty's: 37.335520, -121.893492
Close to Avaya Stadium, San Jose International Airport and multi-connected Santa Clara station are linked by local VTA bus No.10, via Coleman & Earthquakes, the designated soccer stop a few minutes' ride from either.
Weekend and evening services run every 30min.
For major games, including internationals, VTA bus No.231 also operates every 15min from downtown Santa Clara & 1st, and Market & St John by bar-lined San Pedro Square, journey time 20min.
A Single Ride is $2, paid on board. For a Day Pass ($6) you need a rechargeable Clipper Card. You can also pre-purchase through the VTA mobile app EventTIK, a better buy when traveling as a group.
If you're coming by Caltrain to Santa Clara from San Francisco, there's an integrated ticket with a VTA Day Pass for an extra $6. Other rail services using Santa Clara include ACE, Amtrak and Capital Corridor.
San Jose Earthquakes transport/Tony Dawber
Coming back after the match, the boarding location for each bus service, the No.10 to Santa Clara/airport, the No.232 to downtown San Jose, is by the main entrance, on the west side of the big scoreboard, ie not the side with the gas station on it.
By car, you're heading for Avaya Stadium 1123 Colman Ave, San Jose CA 95110. From San Jose, take Highway 87 Northbound, merge onto Highway 101 Northbound, take the Trimble Rd/De La Cruz Blvd exit 391, merge left onto W Trimble Rd and continue onto De La Cruz Blvd, then take a slight left onto Coleman Ave – signs will lead you to Avaya Stadium. From San Francisco, take Highway 101 Southbound.
Parking lots open four hours before kickoff. Silver Silver Parking is $20, $15 in the Overflow behind VIP Parking.
San Jose Earthquakes tickets/Tony Dawber
With the first games of 2017 an 18,000-capacity sell-out, availability is now most certainly an issue. Single-match sales for the whole season are distributed online but get in quick. For any that may still be available, the Will Call and ticket offices beside Earthquakes Way open 2hrs or so before kickoff.
Premium and center circle seats are priced around $70. Sideline seats are around $50-$70, Corner Flag $35-$60, End Zone $30, supporters' sections $28. Visiting supporters are charged around $35.
For more information, call 408-556-7700.
San Jose Earthquakes merchandise/Tony Dawber
The club has two outlets, a store at the stadium (Mon-Fri 10am-3pm, 2hrs before kickoff) and a kiosk on the first floor of Westfield Oakridge mall (Mon-Thur 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-7.30pm) south of San Jose, enter through Sears or Macy's.
Primary (black/blue) and secondary (red/white) jerseys can be customized by player, you'll find Earthquakes shades, USBs, keyboards and chargers, cooler bags and growlers for tailgating, and 'Forward As One' hoodies.
Anywhere but VIP Parking is fair game for tailgating. There's plenty in Silver Lot where the Ultras meet, while long-established Casbah and The Faultline of more recent seasons gather in Gold Lot.
Stadium tours are available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm except on match days. Contact through the Chat Now link on the club website.
San Pedro Square Market Bar/Tony Dawber
The longest outdoor bar in America is no idle boast – and that's what stretches under the scoreboard at the north end of Avaya Stadium. Manned by 30-plus bartenders, facilitated by 18 HD TVs, the Scoreboard Bar has provided the signature wow factor since the stadium opening in 2015. Earthquakes supporters in the South Stand can also avail themselves of the Beers of the World stand with a rotating selection of global brews.
For prematch, the stadium location out by the airport means that it's easier to drink around San Pedro Square downtown. And if the No.231 stadium bus is running, it calls at Market & St John alongside.
The San Pedro Square Market Bar itself is a fine place to start, an abundance of ales, beers, wines and cocktails, a world of food, rows of TVs showing sports and, most of all, all kinds of people passing by to enjoy them. Live music on weekends too.
The Brit/Tony Dawber
Around the corner, Peggy Sue's is all retro and quality burgers, Firehouse No.1 is a notch-above gastro pub lined with craft beers, while the Old Wagon Saloon & Grill is a chain and feels like it, but shows sports.
As for expat-type pubs, nearby on W St Clara Street The Brit, aka Britannia Arms, is prime sports territory, with drinks specials on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights. DJs spin Thursdays through Saturdays. Happy hours are currently Mondays through Fridays, 4pm-7pm. Back on San Pedro Square, O'Flaherty's puts the focus on beer, all 54 taps of it, with rotating import craft brews, plus the largest selection of whiskeys in town. The kitchen runs seven days a week. Game Day here is mainly geared to NFL, Sharks hockey and baseball.
San Jose Timeline
1974 Milan Mandarić, a Yugoslav-born millionaire who made his fortune in computer components, brings soccer to San Jose. NASL team Earthquakes attracts near 20,000 crowds to Spartan Stadium. Gates later dwindle despite the two-season presence of a now wayward George Best.
1975 San Jose Earthquakes plays in MISL indoor soccer at Cow Palace, winning inaugural title. Best takes part before his move to Hong Kong in 1982.
1983 Team becomes Golden Bay Earthquakes but little change in form or gate revenue.
1985 With NASL collapse, renamed San Jose Earthquakes wins the Western Alliance Challenge Series against teams from Seattle, Portland and British Columbia in Canada, Victoria Riptides.
1986 WACS becomes Western Soccer Alliance, won by Hollywood Kickers. Earthquakes finishes below San Diego Nomads.
1987 San Jose Earthquakes loses to San Diego Nomads in WSA Final.
1988 Former San Jose striker Chance Fry scores the fifth of five unanswered goals as Seattle Storm whitewashes Earthquakes at the last WSA Final.
1989 Earthquakes becomes San Francisco Blackhawks for inaugural and doomed Western Soccer League. Loses to San Diego Nomads in Final. Players include Earthquakes' later long-term general manager John Doyle and current coach Dominic Kinnear.
1990 WSL merges with West Coast American Soccer League to create the American Professional Soccer League. Blackhawks loses Final to Maryland Bays on penalty kicks. Defender Marcelo Balboa, later the first US international to reach 100 caps, begins professional career at Spartan Stadium. Blackhawks wins trophy in 1991 over Albany Capitals.
1992 Blackhawks hits the big time with appearance in CONCACAF Champions' Cup, losing to Mexico's Club América featuring national hero Hugo Sánchez after successful career at Real Madrid.
1993 Blackhawks renamed San Jose Hawks, playing in USISL.
1994 League-owned franchise San Jose Clash formed, based at Spartan Stadium.
1996 Clash plays inaugural MLS game, a 1-0 win over DC United, star player Eric Wynalda scoring the only goal. Club later reverts to name San Jose Earthquakes.
2015 Avaya Stadium opens, Earthquakes plays curtain-raising friendly with eternal rivals LA Galaxy.
Peggy Sue's/Tony Dawber
Old Wagon Saloon & Grill/Tony Dawber
Firehouse No.1/Tony Dawber
Scoreboard Bar/Tony Dawber


I drew a polygon and decided I didn't need it so I selected it and clicked the "X" to delete it. It deleted the "Container" containing many hours of work.
I saved about 30-45 minutes ago. Can I go back to that version if there is no "Undo"?
Hi, there is no undo function currently. We will think about introducing this kind of function, but currently only solve for this issue is saving map frequently and reverting it in case of changes.
About restoring map - there is always possibility to restore maps from day before changes (backups are done on daily manner). Please provide link to the map and describe what dissappeared and I will see what I can do.
A suggestion: Because the "X" (Delete Container) is so destructive (if the "Main Container" is selected it deletes *everything*), can you add an "This will delete ALL the information in the selected container and cannot be undone. Are you sure?" step? This gives people a chance to stop and think if they have clicked in error.
I know that I should use "Remove" to delete individual items,but I was tired and distracted when I did it and if I can make that mistake then so can others. It causes no harm to create a pause in the process and may save a lot of lost work.
Thanks for suggestion - your improve idea will be introduced within one product cycle (1-2 weeks). System will ask to confirm deleting everything that is container and contains children.


The Annual Convention and State Champion Contests will be held June 6-8, 2019 at the Hilton Waco & Conference Center. Licensed auctioneer continuing education offered, along with TREC real estate CE, TX Certified Auctioneer Professional Business Course, and many auction opportunities to bid on great items and cheer on our favorite auctioneer! Visit https://texasauctioneers.org/event/2019-taa-annual-convention/ for more information.
Hotel Information: Hilton Waco & Conference Center - Phone #: 254-754-8484 - Ask for Texas Auctioneers Association Rate - TAA Rate: $159 (single/double) - Room Rate Deadline: May 5, 2019 - based on availability until May 5th.
DEADLINE FUN AUCTION ITEMS: If shipping or faxing, must receive at TAA office by May 20. If bringing to convention, check in June 7th by 4 PM.
LOGOS: Email info@texasauctioneers.org your digital logo in jpg, eps or ai format. If no logo received, text will be used.
REFUNDS: $50 cancellation fee before May 5th. No refunds after May 5th.


We all put forward our guesses at what we will see in the next week! If you guess correctly (or close) you'll get points and placed on the LEADERBOARD. Spot-on spec is worth 2 points, close-but-no-cigar spec is worth 1. You CAN try for a multi-spec by making several predictions, in which case you can get more than 2 points total, but be warned! If any of your specs is flat out wrong, the greatest number of points you can get is 1!
When the votes from today's election in Zimbabwe are counted, I expect Nelson Chamisa to have a narrow victory. I expect Mnangagwa to accept his defeat stoically, step down peacefully, and give a few pointed speeches about how this is how democracy is supposed to work.
I expect "since when is collusion a crime?" to become the new talking point from the WH (following Guilliani's lead).
Trump is going to meet with Iranian President Rouhani in a meeting brokered by Putin, flatter him, and then declare himself to have solved nuclear proliferation forever because he and Rouhani have such great chemistry.
Considering they've (by which I mean right-wing pundits) been saying it already, not a surprise.
Also, "Hillary did it worse!"


It is common for students to feel a certain amount of pressure when exam week is nearing. This is just normal to feel pressure and anxiety, however, too much of it is not good. High anxiety level and pressure can affect not just the studying habits of the student but also their daily lives. It is important for the students to know the root cause of their stress and anxiety so that they can have a better understanding of it and they can also limit or avoid it.
Some students feel more pressure not on their ability to study but on the expectations of the people around them. Parents, teachers and even friends expect the student to get a high grade. This external pressure creates too much stress on the student. Students who feel this pressure are those working for scholarships and students who constantly get high grades. Other external pressure may include competing with other students for high grades. Competition is healthy but taking it too seriously and thinking about how others will fare on their exam is not good for the student.
Imposing too much pressure on oneself is also one cause of exam stress. Students who put too much pressure on themselves always think about the outcome of their test. They are too afraid to get a low score they constantly think about the exam. Too much worrying and pressure can surely cause exam stress.
The last cause of exam stress is the lack of preparation on the part of the student. Cramming and last minute studying always leads to nervousness and anxiety because the student knows he or she is not prepared well enough for the test. Students who rush their studies also has lack of sleep so if you combine all these factors, the result is exam stress.
As a teacher what are the things would you do to help a learner to reduce exam stress?