I wasn't overly keen on the tense it was written in.When the author was writing about events that are at best hearsay and by that I do not mean his own memories or experiences but rather events he knows about only via third parties, I would have liked to known the sources.Specifically I am talking about the intrauterine events in relation to his parents actions, especially his mother. How does he know she did those things and who told him? If he was told by a third party then that person was relating them through their own frame of reference.I have to say it is one of the events in the book that I kept going back to, how his mother tried to kill him (the foetus/baby) by throwing herself down the stairs or punching herself in the stomach. The author never states who told him these things and I have to say if it was his father or grandfather then that was pure spite on their part. There are things a person does not need to know. If it was his mother then I would wager the comment that she wasn't trying to kill him 'Adam' because at that point he didn't exist as Adam or as a child. She was trying to get rid of a foetus/baby and not him the person.Reading any autobiographical material that delves into abuse or neglect is always hard and even more so for the person who has written and then published it.What is really evident throughout is that even after all those years all the author really wanted, despite all the neglect and abuse, was for either one of his parents to just want him. To love him unconditionally for the person he is.One of the hardest lessons in life is realising that parents are nothing more than mere mortals and they make mistakes, often lots of them. When a person is capable of stepping away from that vicious cycle of mistakes and makes a conscious decision to not be part of that cycle anymore, that is the first step in the right direction.You can't change the past and you can't change another person, you can only change yourself.Unfortunately we also don't always have to the chance for closure. People die and cheat you of the chance to get that one thing you want the most. The reality is that it probably never would have happened the way you imagine it in your dreams.You can probably tell by the way I am rattling on that the story made some sort of impact on me. I didn't like the tense, it could have been written in a less stocato way but.....The raw emotion is there just beneath the surface. It simmers for a while and then takes a bite now and again. The fact that I could feel his anger, his pain, his disappointment and inevitably his sorrow, is what will make me remember this story, despite the odd thing I didn't like about it.I received a free copy of this book for my review.


Olympia Coffee never disappoints. Every latte art event we host with Oly Coffee is one for the books and last night was no different. Their flagship store was packed. However, there was a little spin on last nights event. Halloween is just around the corner which obviously means costume contest!
Behind the espresso bar was a seriously impressive cheese and meat spread that was the length of the back wall. Attendees sipped on cold brew old fashions, beer, and La Croix as baristas went head to head pouring.
Congrats to Kyle from Mavam Espresso who walked away as the winner of the costume contest AND 1st place in the throwdown! 2nd Place goes to Zach Simon from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. 3rd place goes to Vincen Zo La Coste from Olympia Coffee Roasters.
Pumped to be in Seattle next month for the TNTNW at Coffee Physics on November 16th!


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WSP Acquires LT Environmental in the United States
We are pleased to announce the acquisition of LT Environmental ("LTE"), a US-based environmental consulting firm.
Aligned with WSP's 2019-2021 Global Strategy, in addition to expanding WSP's geographic presence in the United States (most particularly the Rocky Mountain West), this acquisition will strengthen our expertise in the Environmental sector.
"This transaction will enable us to fulfil our strategic ambitions of our activities in the Rocky Mountain West region, while solidifying our expertise in the environmental sector," noted Lou Cornell, President and Chief Executive Officer of WSP in the US.
Tom Murphy, LTE's President & CEO commented, "Becoming a member of WSP is great news for our company and employees. By joining WSP, we will significantly strengthen our competitive position in the Western US, while providing us with access to a global network and the expertise of one of the leading firms in our industry."
About LTE
Approximately 140 employees
Headquartered in Colorado, with regional offices in Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
Provides a wide range of services to public and private clients.
Mostly active in Site Investigation, Remediation, Water Resources, Air Quality and Chemical & Materials Management.
Long-term client relationships with Upstream and Midstream Oil & Gas companies, Real Estate Redevelopment entities, and Western U.S. State and Municipal agencies. Also serves clients in the Transportation, Public Utility, Construction and Manufacturing sectors.
Participated in the following projects:
In addition to a long list services for oil/gas clients; LTE has developed and deployed innovative program(s) to serve the energy industry while responding to ever changing regulatory requirements such as Airwatch™; a continuous perimeter air quality monitoring program. Airwatch™ serves as a bridge to community health and safety concerns through real-time air data collection around oil and gas facilities. Among many benefits, it provides the operators immediate notification in changes in air quality and safeguards against extended releases or leaks that could translate into to community health issues and/or product loss and revenue generation for client's and communities throughout the Rocky Mountain region.
In support of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District's goal of providing water resources to users in Northern Colorado, LTE conducts monthly water quality sampling of the Cache Le Poudre River between April and September of each year. Samples are collected along an approximately 50-mile reach of the river, from a point near the Seaman Reservoir, extending to the confluence with the South Platte River.
Adherence to rigorous quality assurance/quality control protocol ensures the accuracy of an extensive data base of water quality information. To ensure data integrity, LTE constructed a mobile sampling trailer to provide a controlled environment for processing samples where laboratory reporting limits are at a parts per trillion level.
Along the Platte river in Denver, Colorado; LTE provided on-call Environmental Site Services to the City and County of Denver including Phase ESAs, Phase II ESAs, regulated asbestos containing soil (RACS) management, asbestos building surveys, remedial planning among other services. Brownfield redevelopment work has also been conducted under both the South Platte RiverPlace Initiative and the Colfax Mainstreet Coalition Brownfields Grants. This influential project served to improve a park in the heart of Denver-metro providing a stage for both community activities and recreational engagement.
The Western Slope Industrial and Rail property in Fruita, Colorado was used to process Gilsonite from 1956 to 1972. Closure operations have been underway since the mid-1990s. LTE successfully closed over 40 hazardous waste units including aboveground storage tanks and ponds enabling the owner to begin turning the property into marketable parcels for commercial and industrial use.
Awarded "Top Professional Service Company" in Colorado for 2019 by Colorado Business Magazine, a publication dedicated to coverage of the economy of Colorado, business, finance and technology.
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We have launched a new update for Minecraft: Education Edition that makes it easier than ever to learn and teach coding in Minecraft. The update is now available for all users on Windows 10, macOS and iPad. All Windows 10 users will receive an automatic update during the next login. MacOS users will have to reinstall Minecraft: Education Edition to access the updated version. The iPad app will automatically update, depending on your settings.
Download the Code Builder Update here, or learn how to obtain a license or free trial here.
It is easy to launch Code Builder in this new version of Minecraft: Education Edition. Once you open a world, simply press 'C' on the keyboard. If you're using an iPad or touch device, select the Agent icon at the top of your screen.
You will have the choice of learn-to-code platforms when you open Code Builder. We are excited to continue our partnerships with Microsoft MakeCode and Tynker as we continue to evolve game-based coding with Minecraft. Read about updates to MakeCode here that accompany the Code Builder Update.
The Agent now displays its coordinates as you code. Find your Agent easily using the Agent Spawn Egg to make your lessons even more efficient. You can also target your Agent via commands and remove agents from the world (using the slash command /remove).
The Code Connection companion application is no longer necessary with this update to in-game coding with Minecraft: Education Edition. For support on using Code Builder, visit the Help Center.
What else is part of the Code Builder Update?
The Library Beta: We're shipping a beta version of the Library, a new feature that allows players to view and download worlds in-game without having to leave Minecraft and go to our website. You will see a new 'Library' button on your home screen and a list of dynamically generated templates in your list of available templates when creating a new world. We also added the ability to 'deep link' to content in the Library from outside the game, for example, here is a deep link to the Chemistry Tutorial world.
On-screen Control Guide: We know that, for some educators, using Minecraft: Education Edition is a new experience, and it can be challenging to get use to the game controls. Educators will now have a control guide directly on screen to get you up and running in a Minecraft world. These controls will update depending on how you use the game, and you can turn them off in the settings menu once you're comfortable using the controls.
Educator Resources: We also added an Educator Resources button on the home screen (which will show up for teacher tenants only) that connects users with professional development, training, lessons and community content on our website. In addition, if you are a new user or introducing Minecraft: Education Edition to your students, now you can find Education content in the game's How to Play menu.
Use Code Builder to introduce computer science to your students, or to explore the subject yourself. Minecraft Education offers professional development, tutorials and free lessons for all educators – no matter what your experience level. Download the Code Builder update today.
If you are looking for an easy lesson in which to practice your coding skills in Minecraft, download this giant aquarium world. Students will have fun using commands in Code Builder to decorate and populate their aquarium with marine creatures.
Check out these standards-aligned lessons across subjects and learn how to apply computer science throughout your curriculum, whether you teach geology, math or chemistry.
Just starting your coding journey? Try Hour of Code! Nearly 100 million Minecraft Hour of Code sessions have been completed, and this year we launched the fourth Hour of Code tutorial. Learn more about the Voyage Aquatic and plan an Hour of Code in your school this Computer Science Education Week.
"I have students who only use text-based coding and others who struggle with the computational thinking aspect and use the tutorials. I love it because students are engaged, they're learning and (most importantly) they share their experience with others. 'Please come try my program' is a frequent comment uttered in our coding period." – James Wood, U.S.
Visit aka.ms/download to get the Code Builder Update for Minecraft: Education Edition, and go to aka.ms/hoc2018 for resources to help you teach computer science with Minecraft.


In August, with five other members of the Scottish Mountaineering Club, I visited the Namka Tokpo valley of Zanskar, not that far from the frontier with Pakistan. The attraction wasn't the potential for border conflicts, for which Scots are developing a reputation, nor was it the availability of whisky, because we'd brought our own. The draw was a report written by Kimikazu Sakamoto (AAJ 2012), who alerted the expeditioning world to a group of jagged mountains and not-impossible access. And the fact that a group of 70-year-olds got to the foot of these mountains gave us hope we'd have a decent chance. It was only later we realized that the average age of our group wasn't too much below that of the Japanese. But it was enough.
We reached base camp in the Namka Tokpo (4,400m, 33°02'43" N, 77°07'26" E) eight days after landing in Delhi. Sakamoto's G22 was our primary objective. We established advanced base at ca 4,900m, southwest from base camp and above Purgatory Moraine. The group then split into two teams. Geoff Cohen and Des Rubens would travel northwest and attempt Peak 6,150m (as marked on the Olizane map; between G18 and G22); Bob Hamilton, Steve Kennedy, Andy Nisbet, and I would head south to G22.
From the col south of G18, four pitches along exposed snow slopes on the south flank took Cohen and Rubens to the northwest ridge of Peak 6,150m. The rocky arête was followed to a prominent level section, after which an easier-angled snow ridge led to the top. The climb was about AD, and the peak named Mama Ri (Old Man's Peak).
Hamilton, Kennedy, Nisbet, and I established Camp 1 (5,400m) just below the col separating G22 and G23. On the 17th we reached the southeast ridge of G22, which was at first rocky then snowy. Arriving on a subsidiary summit (Shan Ri, or Snow Leopard Peak, 5,750m), we saw that the continuation was considerably less surmountable than anticipated. We moved back to the col, decided it was too early to return to Camp 1, and so carried on southeast along a snowy ridge, then loose rock, to the tottering summit tower of G23. Gaining its top required UIAA III rock climbing, and we didn't dare sneeze when on it. We dubbed this 5,850m peak Scottish Ri.
Caption: Northwest ridge and summit of G23.
Caption: Looking southwest from G26 up the Namka Tokpo. (A) G23. (B) G25. (C) Shan Ri. (D) G22. (E) Mama Ri and route of ascent up northwest ridge.
Caption: Looking southwest from G26 up the Namka Tokpo.
Caption: Looking southwest from G26 up the Namka Tokpo. (A) Shan Ri and route of ascent on southeast ridge. (B) Unclimbed G22. (C) Mama Ri and route of ascent up northwest ridge.
Caption: Head of the Namka Tokpo from the northeast. (S) Shan Ri and route of ascent.
Caption: Head of the Namka Tokpo from the northeast, Shan Ri.


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We believe in hiring the right people with personality and energy. We want people with passion and the drive to be the best. A Stonewood Ale House job could become a career. No matter where you start, we offer the opportunity to learn, grow and have fun while doing it in a fun relaxed and lively atmosphere.
Please visit us any time and pick up an application and information about our hiring process.


Things are a little more leisurely around Chadds Ford. I found this bike leaning against an old barn wall at Haskell's Farm, an organic farm that supplies the famous SIW produce stand in Chadds Ford. SIW stands for "Stepped in what?!?"
The building is very old, built from (I'm guessing) Wilmington Blue Rock. You can learn a bit more about that material in the listing for "Brandywine".
I painted this during an event called Plein Air Brandywine Valley. The Haskells very kindly let us tramp all over their property. It's a place I always wanted to paint, so that was quite a treat.
The painting is sixteen inches wide by twelve inches tall. It is an oil on a board. It was painted en plein air, on site.


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NFL free agents 2020: Top 10 QBs include Tom Brady, Drew Brees
By Nick Goss
The list of quarterbacks set to become NFL free agents in 2020 is an impressive one.
Tom Brady and Drew Brees, who are two of the greatest players in league history, rank as the best players at the position who could hit the open market. There are plenty of other quality QBs expected to be available, too, including a former No. 1 overall draft pick and one of the top young players in the sport.
Let's look at the top quarterbacks who can become free agents in March.
Photo via AP Images
Teddy Bridgewater, New Orleans Saints
2019 stats: 1,384 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT
Drew Brees' early-season injury gave Bridgewater five starts for the Saints in 2019, and he won all of them, including impressive victories over the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks. Bridgewater has proven he's a starting-caliber QB again, and he'd be an upgrade at the position for several teams. He's one of the most accurate free agent QBs available with a 65.2 career completion percentage.
Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
2019 stats: 4,902 yards, 30 TD, 11 INT
The Cowboys absolutely should pay Prescott to be in Dallas for a very long time. He's an excellent quarterback who has yet to hit his prime. Prescott is coming off the best statistical season of his career and should cash in big time. Dallas has a roster built to compete in the playoffs right now, so it doesn't make sense to let Prescott depart and start over with a younger QB.
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winston became the first member of the 30-30 club this season when he eclipsed both 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Turnovers and accuracy obviously are huge concerns with Winston, but any QB who leads the league with 5,109 passing yards and finishes second in touchdowns with 33 should draw plenty of interest on the free agent market.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
2019 stats: 2,742 yards, 22 TD, 6 INT
Tannehill was named the Titans' starting QB before Week 7 and led Tennessee to the playoffs with a 7-3 record over its last 10 games. He earned his first playoff win by going into Gillette Stadium and beating Tom Brady's New England Patriots on Wild Card Weekend. Tannehill's play in 2019 should earn him a ton of money as a free agent, and the Titans would be wise to make a strong effort to bring him back.
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
Mariota was benched after Week 6 in a move that turned around the Titans' season. He deserves a fresh start somewhere else and he's talented enough to be a starter again, but it has to be the right situation.
Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers
Rivers has been with the Chargers since the team drafted him in 2004, but after a disappointing 2019 season, the smart move for both sides would be to part ways. The veteran QB is pretty consistent, and he's topped the 4,000-yard passing mark in seven consecutive seasons, along with 25 or more touchdowns in six of those campaigns. Rivers isn't the most dependable passer late in games, but he would still be an upgrade at quarterback for several teams.
Eli Manning, New York Giants
Manning was overtaken on the depth chart this season by rookie Daniel Jones, who will be the Giants' franchise QB moving forward. The two-time Super Bowl winner probably should just retire. It wouldn't be smart for any team to make him its starting quarterback, unless that franchise is trying to tank for a high draft pick. He'd be a good backup QB, but that's not what a potential Hall of Famer should be doing at this stage of his career.
Case Keenum, Washington Redskins
Keenum is best suited as a backup QB, and any contending team without one should consider him for that role.
It's hard to imagine Brees leaving the Saints based on what he's meant to the franchise and the community. He's a first ballot Hall of Famer and still a really good quarterback, and the Saints have surrounded him with a lot of talented offensive players, highlighted by wide receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara. New Orleans went 13-3 in 2019 but was bounced from the playoffs at home by the Minnesota Vikings on Wild Card Weekend. Brees didn't play well versus the Vikings, throwing for 208 yards with one touchdown and two turnovers (an interception and a lost fumble). The best move for Brees would be to return to the Saints, where he has a playoff-caliber roster and one of the league's best head coaches in Sean Payton already in place.
Brady's stats this past season weren't too bad when you consider the following factors: the offensive line dealt with injuries to important players throughout the season, the run game was ineffective most of the year, and the turnover/inexperience at wide receiver was far from ideal. Brady has won six Super Bowl titles in 20 seasons with the Patriots, and the team doesn't have a good backup plan if he leaves. The Patriots and Brady would be smart to reach a compromise on salary and make one more aggressive push (in free agency and the trade market) toward winning a championship in the 2020 season.
If not Tom Brady, who starts for Pats in 2020?
Patriots Report Card: Season ends with a Wild Card whimper
Patriots 2020 mock draft roundup: Initial first-round pick predictions
Patriots vs. Titans: Best & Worst from New England's 20-13 loss
Patriots-Titans playoff preview from Tom E. Curran
Patriots free agents for the 2020 offseason
Patriots Report Card: Tom Brady, secondary come up short vs. Dolphins
NFL Playoff Power Rankings: Can underdog Patriots make a run?
Patriots-Dolphins Preview/Review: New England says bye-bye to the bye
Patriots vs. Dolphins: Best & Worst from New England's 27-24 loss
2020 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Patriots hold off on a Gronkowski replacement


Now this is more like it, despite the need for a reconstruction this story is a breath of fresh air with Doctor Who excelling in its tried and tested "Base Under Siege" formula. The story is genuinely unsettling and in places close to horrific. In particular the hideous Oak and Quill are disturbing to the extreme.
The plot is fairly simple and will be revisited several more time by other stories. In this case it is gas drilling that disturbs a seaweed based intelligence that… well tries to take over the world. The story is also notable in finding a use for Victoria and, although I thought I liked her, to be honest her departure at the end wasn't too soon in coming. Her screaming did become tiresome. One other complaint is that at 6 episodes the story is really and truly overlong.
I wonder how many children begged their parents for countryside holidays following this one.


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Google-ITA Acquisition Deserves Ongoing Supervision
On Friday, the Department of Justice (DoJ) delivered its list of demands for Google to complete its acquisition of ITA, a leading provider of travel search tools.
We applaud DoJ's recognition of the competition problems that could result from Google's acquisition, and support their efforts to protect consumers through a consent decree. In addition to requiring that Google license ITA software to competitors already using the software, DoJ also imposed monitoring procedures to prevent abuses after the acquisition.
Government monitors should also keep an eye on how Google manipulates search results to thwart competition in areas like online video, maps, shopping, real estate, and books.
Last September we recalled how Google favored its own mapping services over competitors' sites.
The leading mapping services at the time lost market share after Google bought a company called Where2 and integrated its mapping software directly into Google search results.
Now when you search for an address, city, or venue, you see Google's map as the first result -- and it's the only map in most search results you'll see.
Moreover, one of Google's top executives publicly acknowledged that "it seems only fair" to show its own links first. Here's Google's Marissa Mayer talking about the company's decision to place its new finance page above the more popular page from Yahoo:
"We used to have Yahoo (Finance) first and now Google is first," she said. "...When we rolled out Google Finance, we did put the Google link first. It seems only fair, right, we do all the work for the search page and all these other things, so we did put it first.
"That's actually been our policy since then because of Finance"
Watch for yourself in Ms. Mayer's 2007 presentation on YouTube
Given this pattern of past behavior and its growing market dominance, regulators have to ensure that Google doesn't use their new ITA travel tools to shove competing travel services far down in search results and out of the market altogether.
Friday's merger decision did not address issues of search manipulation, but signs point to further enforcement action in the months ahead. For all of us who enjoy the benefits of competition for our travel dollars, DoJ should keep its finger on the enforcement trigger.
Apr 10, 2011 6:40:33 PM | e-Commerce, Online Advertising, Online Travel Brokers
Google-ITA – The Acquisition to End All (Customer) Acquisitions
Here's one company that dominates search that isn't named Google: ITA Software. ITA is #1 in air travel search, and its software is a highly regarded program for searching flights and fares. ITA even tests job applicants with complex brain teasers. In many ways, it's like a small-scale Google. Which is why Google shouldn't be allowed to eat them for lunch.
Most likely you've never heard of ITA and its QPX software, but you've almost certainly used it. ITA's software runs behind the scenes and powers 65% of all online travel bookings and 90% of all flight searches on meta-search sites (those sites that aggregate and display results from a number of airlines).
ITA's exclusive access to the complex formula airlines use to calculate fares makes it the provider of choice for airlines (American, United, Southwest) online travel agencies (Orbitz, Hotwire), meta-search engines (Bing Travel, Kayak) and travel information sites (TripAdvisor).
In July, Google succeeded in its bid to buy ITA. Despite Google's claims, NetChoice worries about the potential barriers to travel commerce that a combined Google-ITA could erect. It's another example of Google's desire for "deep integration"—the phrase coined by Eric Schmidt—that gives Google incentives to favor its own properties in search results.
Just look at what happened to MapQuest. Once the leading online mapping site, MapQuest began to lose market share after Google bought a company called Where2 and integrated its mapping software directly into its search results. Users that search on an address, city or venue see Google's map come up as the first result, and it's the only map in any of the results.
What does this mean for the online travel business? A combined Google-ITA will be a "chokepoint" that will raise costs of customer acquisition across the entire travel industry. Here's how:
A Google search on, say, "Galapagos" will feature results from ITA that include a table of airfare options to Galapagos - just like an address search generates a Google Map as the top result today. Google will know where the user is located (based on IP address, profiling, and mobile phone coordinates), so Google will have a pretty good guess about the traveler's origin airport.
Next to this list of airfares in the Google-ITA search result, envision a "Book It Now" button.
Google may decide to enter the booking business itself, in which case they will compete directly with all the travel competitors out there today.
If Google does not enter the booking business, it can auction these valuable search referral customers to travel companies that do booking.
Because Google-ITA integration will only enhance Google's 70% share of search, all travel companies will compete in Google's auction of travel referrals. This will raise auction prices, which raises customer acquisition costs for all travel companies. But increased costs of advertising/customer acquisition will be crushing for small, specialty travel companies (like ecotourism businesses that specialize in the Galapagos).
Even if small travel sites such as Kayak can continue to use ITA software at low (or zero) cost, customer acquisition is their most expensive business input, and Google-ITA will drive up costs of advertising referrals for new customers. When costs get too high, it becomes a barrier to entry for new entrants, too.
If you want to know more about how the online travel ecosystem has helped consumers with lower, more transparent prices, you can Google it. Or Bing it. Or Yahoo it. We just want to preserve the same search choices for travel bookings.
Sep 21, 2010 4:38:00 PM | Online Advertising, Online Travel Brokers, Web/Tech
It's September - Back to Work on AWFUL Internet Laws
After a quiet August recess in Washington, DC, it's time to refocus our efforts on public policies that impact online commerce. And today we consider not the good, and not merely the bad, but the awful – iAWFUL.
The Internet Advocates' Watchlist for Ugly Laws (iAWFUL) tracks the ten instances of state and federal legislation that pose the greatest threat to the Internet and e-commerce. Our efforts so far this year have helped to remove two of the worst offenders from the February 2010 iAWFUL list, including a federal bill giving the Federal Trade Commission more powers to make new rules for online activity without Congressional guidance, and a Maine law restricting online marketing to teenagers.
In our second update for 2010, NetChoice identifies new legislation that has the potential to stall Internet commerce. Our top two are Congressional bills:
Number 1: Federal online privacy efforts such as Rep. Rush's "Best Practices Act" (HR 5777) and the staff discussion draft from Boucher / Stearns.
Number 2: The expansion of Internet taxation HR 5660, the "Streamlined Sales Tax Bill"
This iAWFUL list targets federal privacy proposals that would curtail the continued development of ad-supported content and services that consumers have come to expect from the Internet. The privacy proposals would regulate small websites that don't collect personally identifiable information. For instance, a proposal by Representatives Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL) would regulate a tiny online startup that is adding just 100 users a week, even when users provide only a nickname and password.
And where these proposals attempt to mitigate new regulatory burdens, they don't go nearly far enough. The proposals would grant the Federal Trade Commission broad powers to dictate the details of self-regulatory programs, effectively transforming the FTC into a "port authority" of the Internet. Moreover, the safe harbor "choice program" found in Representative Bobby Rush's (D-IL) legislation is no real solution for online businesses, who would be forced to conform to avoid costly lawsuits enabled by the bill's private right of action – with statutory damages of $1,000 per violation.
An updated federal push to expand Internet taxation via the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) jumped into the number two slot of the 2010 iAWFUL list. In their hunt for additional tax revenues, a handful of states have again asked Congress to force out-of-state businesses to be their tax collectors. H.R. 5660, sponsored by Representative Delahunt (D-MA), would take money from consumers and move it to two dozen state capitols while imposing costly new burdens on small businesses in all fifty states. This new collection burden would be a jobs-killer that cannot be justified by the grossly overestimated revenues trumpeted by advocates.
Although sales tax systems are as complex as ever, SST supporters have abandoned their original promise to exempt small businesses and compensate sellers for the burdens of collecting taxes. The proposed legislation once again shows that serious simplification of sales tax systems has become just a slogan — not a standard.
Individual legislative proposals from a broad swath of states including California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, Virginia and Oregon round out the iAWFUL list through additional tax grabs that seek to use the Internet as a novel revenue source at the cost of consumer privacy and convenience.
The entire updated 2010 iAWFUL includes:
1. Federal Online Privacy Legislation – New to iAWFUL
2. Federal Legislation to Expand Internet Taxation
3. Consumer Purchase Tax Reporting Initiative (CO)
4. Hotel Taxes on Online Travel Companies (NY, FL)
5. Advertising Nexus Taxes (CO, IL, NM, MD, VA, VT)
6. New Taxes on Digital Downloads (OK, SC)
7. Nevada Encryption Mandate (NV)
8. California Data Breach Notification (CA)
9. Regulation of Free Trial Offers and Renewal Agreements (OR)
10. Component Nexus Laws (CA, CO, OK)
Sep 9, 2010 3:55:00 PM | Bad Proposed Laws, e-Commerce, Online Advertising, Online Travel Brokers, Privacy, Taxes
Book your hotel online? If you paid less, tax collectors want more.
Online travel companies (like Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity) are intermediaries between hotels and consumers. They offer big discounts on hotel rooms, and they charge service fees for making the booking. Millions of consumers are now using these services, especially for leisure travel.
Now, local governments where these hotels are located want to impose new taxes on these service fees. We're not talking just about the local sales tax here; these guys are demanding the hotel & occupancy tax PLUS the regular sales tax, which amounts to 15-22% in taxes on your hotel bills.
Thing is, these online travel companies aren't running hotels – they're offering a service like any other travel agent. If a state or local government wants to tax service fees, they have to enact a sales tax on services. No way should online travel companies or travel agents have to deal with the multiple rates, rules, and filing systems across several thousand hotel tax jurisdictions.
That's the message we delivered this week in Philadelphia, at the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL).
Online travel companies (OTCs) operate what is known as the "merchant hotel model." This model has been around for decades in the offline world. Travel sites don't buy or sell rooms--instead they negotiate for deep discounts on room rates, usually much lower than the walk-in rate. These travel sites work to attract travelers to their web sites, and offer the discount rooms, often bundled into a travel package that includes airfare and auto rentals.
This model is a win-win for both the hotels and consumers. Hotels have a new distribution channel to help fill rooms that would otherwise go empty. Consumers get the advantage of much cheaper room rates. It's what we've come to expect from the Internet--new business models and distribution efficiencies that create added value for both buyers and sellers. Isn't everyone happy about that?
Well, the tax collectors aren't so happy. One group that represents government tax collectors--the Fair Hotel Tax Collection Coalition--wants consumers to pay more taxes when they book rooms through sites like Expedia and Orbitz. At the NCSL meeting, Martin Morris of the coalition said that state and local governments are losing $8 billion in taxes that should be collected by online travel companies. He endorsed the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) proposal to tax these service fees at the 15-20% rates levied on your hotel bill. In his testimony, Morris refused to acknowledge the difference between the actual cost of the hotel room and the service fee charged by travel agents and online travel sites.
Hotel operators--such as Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn--already collect state and local occupancy taxes on every room they rent. And online travel companies already collect these taxes as part of their charge to consumers, and pass it along to the hotels. Travelocity describes it this way on its web site:
What is a "tax recovery charge?" Well, it is our travel suppliers, and not us, that have the obligation to collect any applicable taxes, governmental fees and other charges and remit them to the government. Therefore, what we're collecting from you is a "tax recovery charge" that is equal to the amount we expect our travel suppliers to bill us so they can pay those taxes, governmental fees and other charges to the government.
Seems simple enough, but some state and local tax authorities say that occupancy taxes should apply to the total price that online travel sites charge (including service fees), not the negotiated rate that hotels actually get for the room. But cities and states can't tax service fees like they tax hotel rooms, and they shouldn't impose new collection burdens on travel websites.
First, online intermediaries shouldn't be confused with the parties they intermediate. Expedia and Orbitz are not hotel operators, and therefore shouldn't be forced to collect and file occupancy taxes that apply to hotels. Allowing this doublespeak sets a bad precedent for other websites that act as intermediaries or platforms for connecting buyers and sellers.
States should recognize that anything above what the hotel actually receives is a fee for service. If a state want to tax service fees, they know exactly how to do it: by expanding their sales tax base to include service fees. States also know who should get the tax revenue: the jurisdiction where the purchaser received the service, most likely at their home or office where they went online to make the reservation. (see this detailed analysis from the nation's top tax professor, Walter Hellerstein).
This method follows the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, which is the basis for "fair" taxation of e-commerce. Yet for some reason it's not acceptable to the "Fair" Hotel Tax Collection Coalition. Go figure.
Over 100 million people visit online travel sites every month! States and cities that are struggling through a recession should be looking to grow their travel and tourism business, not taxing them with extreme prejudice.
Jul 22, 2009 11:08:56 AM | e-Commerce, Online Travel Brokers, Taxes


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Торго́ва ву́лиця — вулиця в Одесі. Починається від бульвару Жванецького і закінчується перетином з вул. Мечникова.

Історія

На початку ХІХ століття, в 1809 році, інженером Е. Ферстером був складений план міста Одеси, на якому вперше була закладена вулиця Торгова. Садибна забудова на цій вулиці вперше зафіксована на плані міста 1814 року. Протягом наступних десятиліть вулиця забудовувалася переважно житловими будинками різної типології. Згодом початок Торгової вулиці було об'єднано з Приморською вулицею, яка була побудована в 1871 році за проектом інженера М. Жюньєна.

На цій вулиці в XIX столітті знаходився магазині Канторовича, який представляв в Одесі Акціонерне товариство «Брокгауз і Ефрон» та «Книговидавництво М. О. Вольфа». А в чотирьох їжо-паперових магазинах продавали зошити, олівці і блискучі сталеві наконечники до них, чорнило місцевої фабрики Тартаковського, дерев'яні пенали зі скрипучих кришкою і особливої форми пір'я «Коссодо», названі по імені їх відкривача — одеського професора каліграфії. Оскільки ж на цій вулиці колись містилися кілька навчальних закладів, включаючи Вищі жіночі курси та Комерційне училище Файга, де тільки з волі батька навчався Леонід Утьосов, для торгівлі книгами та канцелярськими товарами кон'юнктура була цілком сприятливою.

Потрібно думати, що собі не в збиток тут продавали і м'ясо, борошно, тютюн, чай, аптекарські, косметичні, колоніальні і хімічні товари, галантерею, головні убори, готовий одяг, фарби, мануфактуру, меблі, металевий, порцеляновий, фаянсовий і дерев'яний посуд, постільну білизну, залізні вироби, будівельні матеріали та журнали мод «Шик Паризьєн»… У фірмовому магазині відомого на всю Російську імперію Санкт-Петербурзького Товариства механічного виробництва взуття «Скороход», а власники численних бакалійних магазинів намагалися спокушати покупців твердженням про те, що вже мільйони господинь оцінили гідність бульйону «Маггі» в кубиках за ціною 4 копійки за 1 кубик на 1 склянку.

Як на багатьох одеських вулицях, на Торговій було безліч дрібних майстерень ремісників: водопровідні, фарбувальні, мідно-ливарні, ковдрові-матрацні, палітурні, портняжескіе, столярні. Але по сусідству з ними розташовувалися підприємства, які вже й майстернями не назвеш: що мало в місті кілька своїх магазинів взуттєве виробництво Агдеева і меблеве — Брахмана, «Технічна контора з виконання покрівельних робіт толью» Когана, свічкових заводики Андруніна і Лук'янова, виготовляли стеаринові і благородні воскові свічки, «Фабрика паспарту, рамок для фотографій і альбомів».

Найближчими користувачами цієї «галантно» продукції були влаштовані неподалік фотографи Ротшенкер і Силін. Але крім їх ательє на Торговій вулиці було багато підприємств побутового обслуговування та громадського харчування: пивний заклад, «казенна» горілчана крамниця, винний льох, трактир «з подачею», себто зі спиртними напоями, а також трактир чайний, дві перукарні, п'ять пралень та «мебльовані кімнати», куди за давньою дохідної традиції, впускали коли, з ким, для чого і наскільки бажаєш.

Новий базар

Але головною визначною пам'яткою Торгової вулиці в усі часи був ринок, вже, без малого, два століття наполегливо іменований «Новим базаром». На перших планах міста в районі існуючого в даний момент Нового базару була розпланована площа, що отримала згодом найменування «Херсонська». Перші згадки про Херсонську площі відносяться до 1780-х років. У 1812 році почалося формування на її території «нового» ринку (цей ринок був новим по відношенню до раніше сформованих грецького та вільного ринками). У 1840-х роках за проектом архітектора М. С. Козлова на території ринку звели перші двоповерхові торгові будівлі з відкритими галереями. А вже наприкінці 1890-х років тут звели корпуси критих ринків з просторими високими залами під заскленою покрівлею, за якими по всій площі були розкидані магазинчики, дріб'язкові крамниці, борошняні лабази, рундуки, лотки, будки. Тут великодосвідчені одеські господині неквапливо прицінювалися, прискіпливо вибирали, терпляче торгувалися і, нарешті, купували дари щедрої землі і моря, а селянський люд після щасливої торгівлі обзаводився галантереєю, мануфактурою, взуттям, посудом, гостинцями для дітей…

У 1840-х роках на Херсонській площі почалося будівництво Стрітенської церкви. Закладка храму відбулася 23 квітня 1842, а 28 вересня 1847 року— його освячення. Храм став головним для торговців і міщан, які переважали серед населення, що проживало в районі Нового базару. У 1930-х роках Стрітенська церква була зруйнована.

У протоколах Будівельного комітету за 1910 рік площа згадується під назвами Херсонська, Новий ринок, Вільний ринок. Будівництво критих корпусів Новобазарного ринку було розпочато 1896 року. Автором проекту став архітектор Аркадій Дмитрович Тодоров, конкурсна робота якого була визнана найкращою. Згідно з проектом, на площі мало з'явитися каре з чотирьох Г-подібних корпусів, поздовжніми сторонами орієнтованими на Торгову і Кінну вулиці. По осі Коблевської вулиці між корпусами повинні були бути влаштовані проїзди на площу. У результаті були зведені два корпуси вздовж фронту Торгової вулиці, щодо яких в ілюстрованому путівнику за 1911 рік зазначено:
Криті ринки Нового базару складають свого роду пам'ятки Одеси, по-перше тому, що представляють досить доцільне приміщення для великого базару, по-друге, як зразок міської будівлі, побудова якої триває вже понад 15 років та ніяк не може бути закінчена. На першому плані при влаштуванні ринку малися на увазі санітарія та гігієна: мармурові столи, металеві гаки, асфальтовані підлоги, велика кількість води, маса світла і інше. Тут же (у вежі) поміщається міська хімічна лабораторія для дослідження харчових продуктів, мікроскопічна станція тощо. Під залом — обширні приміщення і холодильники для збереження продуктів у спеку року. Загальна довжина корпусів по Торговій вулиці дорівнює приблизно 100 сажнів і, крім того, з кожного боку всієї будівлі під прямим кутом на площу йдуть бічні частини мають близько 35 сажнів довжини. Внутрішня ширина ринків — 12 сажнів. Фасади будинку добре витримані в стилі відродження і відрізняються добрими архітектурними пропорціями.

Мешканці
Будинок № 2

 квартира м-1 — живописець Єгоров Юрій Миколайович;
 квартира 1 — живописці Андрущенко Володимир Микитович, Андрущенко Наталія Володимирівна;
 квартира 2 — художниця декоративно-ужиткового мистецтва Фурдигайло Людмила Іванівна;
 квартира 3 — живописець і графік Зайцев Микола Митрофанович, художник декоративного мистецтва Рудий Вадим Данилович;
 квартира 4 — графік Попова Людмила Геннадіївна;
 квартира 5 — живописець Русін Аркадій Вікторович;
 квартира 7 — живописець Бєлов Олександр Васильович;
 квартира 8 — живописець Путейко Володимир Григорович і монументаліст Путейко Ірина Володимирівна;
 квартира 9 — скульптор Литвак Кім Львович;
 квартира 10 — живописець Логвин Іван Дмитрович;
 квартира 11 — живописець Філатов Костянтин Володимирович і художниця кераміки Філатова Олена Михайлівна;
 квартира 12 — скульптори Князик Олександр Веніамінович, Судьїна Таїсія Георгіївна;
 квартира 13 — живописець Власов Володимир Григорович;
 квартира 14 — скульптор Кіпніс Мирон Рафаїлович;
 квартира 15 — живописець Крижевська Світлана Григорівна;
 квартира 18 — живописець Фрейдін Олександр Борисович;
 квартира 19 — живописець і графік Зайченко Василь Андріанович;
 квартира 20 — скульптор Кравченко Петро Іванович, живописець Кравченко Тарас Петрович;
 квартира 22 — графік Добровольський Георгій Іванович, живописці Філатов Костянтин Володимирович і Філатов Олександр Костянтинович;
 квартира 23 — живописець Єгорова Тамара Іванівна;
 квартира 24 — живописець Шполянська Людмила Григорівна;
</div>
 Будинок № 3, квартира 3-а — художники театру і кіно Токарєв Олександр Віталійович, Токарєва Лариса Дмитрівна.
 Будинок № 43, квартира 18 — графік Беккер Давид Юлійович.
 Будинок № 49, квартира 27 — живописець Межберг Лев Леонідович.

Примітки

Посилання
 Одесса от А до Я
 Торговая улица

Вулиці Приморського району Одеси

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Ryan M. Parker is an author, artist, musician and farmer. He lives in Central Maine with his wife, two children, Ziggy (the dog), pigs, chickens and lots of vegetables. On any given day he can be found writing next to the wood stove, beneath an apple tree, sprawled in the garden or hidden behind several cups of coffee in one of two great little coffee shops.
In addition to his fiction, poetry, non-fiction, magazine and newspaper articles Ryan has also blogged for the Bangor Daily News at eatreal.bangordailynews.com, offering commentary on local food and the state of its movement.
After graduating from the University of Maine with a Bachelors of Music Performance Ryan landed a job as a staff member for the United States House of Representatives. He was hired for this position mainly due to his writing ability, spent the next two years honing his talents as a word smith and developing a deep sense of disappointment in 'the system'.
In 2007 Ryan left the House to start his own diversified, micro-scale farm. Over the next several years he began to become increasingly involved in efforts surrounding local food systems, food sovereignty and social justice. An outspoken opponent of corporate rule, globalization for its own sake and destruction of our home (The Earth) he began to develop as a social critic both in his writing and as a public figure.
In 2014 he decided to begin work on his first novel "Falling Tears". This is the first in a series of novels (The Tears Series) addressing some of the most destructive elements of civilization.
Can fiction change the world? Authors can only create and hope. It is for the readers to decide what happens after the last page is turned.


Running and maintaining a WordPress website can be a busy job, Core, Plugin and Theme updates come out almost weekly now and if you fail to do basic upkeep of your website it can cost you a lot in the long run. Maintaining your website does not have to be a full time job, of course like anything else the more you invest in it the more you get out of it but if you can't afford a professional retainer plan here are some quick options that will help keep your website kickin.
Weekly or even daily backups is one of the most important maintenance tasks you can perform on your website and with the endless plugin options available for WordPress this is now easier than ever. You may not know how to restore a backup or even what the files inside a backup are but having a few from weeks prior stored on your server will make any web developer's job a lot easier.
We often use BackWPup plugin which is a free plugin with premium options. This plugin meets all the basic requirements you need for backing up your website. We recommend setting up a daily database backup and keeping at least 15 days of these on your server. Along with your database backup setup a seperate file backup weekly and try to keep 5 of these on your server.
Huge page sizes is one of the most common thing we see when we go in to perform website maintenance. On average we do not like to see a web page go over 2MB, we often see unmaintained sites ranging from 8MB – 20MB due to website administrators and authors uploading high quality large format images. The average DSLR camera shoots in 16 megapixels which puts an image dimension at 3840×5760 which is about 3x larger than your average screen size. This as you can imagine adds up quickly.
We recommend sizing down images to no larger than 1800 width and saving them as a jpg that is web friendly. You can take extra steps to optimize images further using apps like ImageOptim. As a final precautions adding a WordPress plugin to optimize images further is usually recommended, our favorite plugin for this task is Smush by WPMU.
Your website content needs updates, optimization and the occasional rewrite just as much if not more than the code on your website so this is an important thing to look at often. An easy start to this process is making sure you install Yoast SEO for your WordPress site. Yoast will help you pinpoint pages that need a little SEO work by setting up your focus keywords.
After setting up Yoast make sure all your focus keywords are set and yoast is showing green for all your pages, this means permalinks include your keyword and your content is relevant. Along with this make sure all your images have proper alt tags. If you have already done all of this look at your worst ranking content and expand upon it or decide if its a relevant to your product offering.
Not everyone has 12 hours a week to work on their website maintenance strategy but taking a few small steps each week or even month can put you in a good position to ensure your website visitors are getting the best experience possible. Interested in Professional WordPress Maintenance ?


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Q: How to restrict access to custom forms I have created a custom disp-form and custom edit-form in a customized sharepoint list. I'd like to restrict access to those 2 custom forms to a specific security group.
Can someone advise how I can add some sort of permission to these forms?

A: This is the best example I've found for this http://www.estruyf.be/blog/sharepoint-2007-create-permissions-on-list-views/

A: Create a simple webpart which checks for access permissions. Add these webpart into the forms.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


But with this exponential growth, the cryptocurrency exchange market is still in its infancy and presents a perfect storm for.Weeks after Beijing banned fundraising through token launches and ordered some bitcoin exchanges to shut, casting a chill over the cryptocurrency industry, traders.
Bitcoin Exchange Market highlights the different ways to buy and sell Bitcoin.
Last Price. 24Hr High. 24Hr Low % Spread. Added. BTC-ETH.News about the present and the future of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies.Up to date prices and charts for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
The tips and best practices of different Bitcoin Exchange Markets are highlighted.Perform your own due diligence and choose a wallet where you will keep your bitcoin before selecting an exchange. Home Markets Bitcoin Exchanges.
Unlike other exchanges, CoinMama is a buy-only marketplace that allows you to immediately transfer funds to.Buy, sell and margin trade Bitcoin (BTC) and Etherum (ETH) in exchange with EUR, USD, CAD, GBP, and JPY.Market Hours: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Support Hours: Weekdays 9am - 7pm. Complete directory of exchanges, brokers, and ATMs accepting a number of payment methods.Bitcoin Market News Mining Bitcoin Farm Operations And Build What Is The Price Of A Bitcoin Bitcoin Market News Bitcoin Exchange Vote Get Listed Iphone Bitcoin Wallet.
Cryptocurrency News Market offers breaking news, market cap, price charts, exchange, mining, wallet, comparison, calculator on popular coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum.They can be market makers that typically take the bid-ask spreads as transaction.
Register for free bitcoin wallet.This comprehensive graded list of Bitcoin exchange reviews is sure to help you figure out what the best Bitcoin exchange is FOR YOU.
Peer-to-Peer or Person-2-Person bitcoin exchanges make buying and selling bitcoin anonymous.The Chicago Mercantile Exchange will soon begin trading Bitcoin derivatives (futures contracts), signalling the cryptocurrency is now a mainstream asset class.


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Custom Promotional Products
Five Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs
As you may have guessed, the most successful entrepreneurs have a lot in common.
Those who have studied successful entrepreneurs have found there are many common habits and traits that define and shape their path to success. It's not about what they do, but about the similarities in their behaviors and their individual processes of consistently replicating those habits. The commonalities between these successful entrepreneurs turn out to be quite consistent. Here's a look at five common habits of successful entrepreneurs:
Punctuality – If this sounds simplistic, it is. Business coach and consultant Dan Kennedy believes the simple task of being on time is a habit you must adopt if you want to be successful. "A person reveals a great deal about himself by his punctuality or lack of punctuality," Kennedy says. "As a general rule of thumb, I use this as a means of determining whether or not I want to do business with someone."
Value customers and employees – Many successful entrepreneurs treat their customers as the driving force behind everything they do. They treat opinions – both customers and employees – as gold, using it to shape their creative process, products and customer service. Ben & Jerry's is a great case study of valuing opinion and integrating corporate responsibility and philanthropy.
Passion drives business – A strong desire to turn a passion into a business is the ultimate motivator. A look at the most successful entrepreneurs in history would show many who fall into this category. But the best entrepreneurs don't start off with making a fortune as an objective – it sometimes happens along the way. Passion brings fulfillment and satisfaction beyond a big payday, which as a sole focus causes entrepreneurs to cut corners along the way.
Playing to strengths and expertise – The best entrepreneurs are confident in their areas of expertise and very clearly know their strengths. That leads to profitable decisions. Because they embrace their strengths, they are able to also embrace the concept of team-building and bringing in partners and leaders who offset their weaknesses. This allows them to focus on what they do best.
Embracing obstacles – No business venture will be void of obstacles, but the most successful entrepreneurs find a way to embrace the challenges and find the opportunities and surprises hidden within. Obstacles can help learn about your products and ideas early on, provide quantitative evidence, teach what you might not know and provide feedback that can take you in another direction.
Etiquette Guide for the Work Holiday Party
There are some things you are simply obligated to do over the holidays. Going to your holiday work party is one of them.
Most business experts agree you should go to your holiday work party unless you have a very legitimate reason why you can't attend. So, even if you're not in the mood, it's best to suck it up and put on your best face for business purposes. And since you're going, you might as well make it useful time spent.
Here's a do and don't guide to etiquette for the holiday work party.
Do show up. Make a cameo, even if you don't want to be there. There's an expectation that's not really optional, and you never know when or where it will help you. If you're invited to several, try to go to them all.
Do not be aloof or anti-social. It is a social event, after all. You're there to mingle. Don't stand in the corner on your smartphone, as it signals you're not a team player.
Do stick to the dress code. It's still a business event, and you don't want people talking after about what you wore.
Do not arrive hungry. The holiday work party isn't the place to stuff your face. And you don't want to be drinking on an empty stomach. You're not there for the food.
Do act like you're having a good time. This is especially true if you're not. Talk to people you don't normally engage with at work and have topics ready to chat about that aren't work-related.
Do say goodbye. Don't try to sneak out. Say goodbye and thank you to either the hosts or your boss, or both.
Do bring something. If the party is at someone's house, bring food or drink to share, or a small gift.
Do not forget to say hi to the boss. This should be self-explanatory, even if it's just a hello.
Do stay sober. You can do what you want on your own time. This is the biggest mistake people make at a work event, and it will be remembered.
Spotlight on Louis Zamperini
Louis Zamperini is the epitome of a true American hero.
Many people have heard of Zamperini, but not always for the same reasons. His life story is an incredible tale of determination, achievement and perseverance, one almost unimaginable to believe. As a distance runner he set the world interscholastic record for the mile. He qualified for the 1936 Olympics at the age of 19. He survived 47 days on the open ocean during World War II after his bomber crashed. He then survived two years of brutal captivity as a prisoner-of-war in Japan.
It's no surprise that his story turned into a No. 1 best-selling book, "Unbroken," released in 2010. It was adapted into a film in 2014, directed by Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie, and is due to be released on Christmas Day 2014.
Zamperini had a rather modest upbringing in Torrance, California. As an incorrigible and unruly teenager who attended Torrance High, Zamperini only became a distance runner at the behest of his older brother. Channeling his rebellion and finding an unknown talent, he set a world interscholastic record in the mile in 1934, one that would last 19 years.
His early achievements earned him a scholarship to the University of Southern California, and in 1936 he decided to train for the Olympics. He chose to train for the 5000 meters, a distance he had never run, and finished eighth at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. But it was his final lap at an astounding 56 seconds that caught the attention of Adolph Hitler. As Zamperini would later tell it, he shook hands and took a photo with Hitler.
Two years later, in 1938, Zamperini set a national collegiate record in the mile. Nearing the 4-minute mile, at 4:08, the record would stand for 15 years.
When the war came, Zamperini enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and was a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator. During a search-and-rescue mission on a defective B-24 searching for a lost plane and crew, Zamperini and the rest of the crew crashed into the Pacific 850 miles West of Oahu, killing eight of the 11 men on board. Astoundingly, Zamperini and two other survivors aimlessly floated across the open ocean for thousands of miles over 47 days until they were captured by the Japanese.
Already surviving an amazing ordeal, Zamperini and a crewmate were captured by the Japanese Navy. He willed his way through years of horrific beatings and torture at several Japanese POW camps and was believed to be killed in action before finally returning home to a hero's welcome.
Zamperini endured post-war problems back home, but eventually married and became a popular Christian inspirational speaker. He later lived in Hollywood, California, and passed away from pneumonia on July 2, 2014, at the age of 97.
6 Creative Business Card Tips
You can view a business card as a tiny first impression of your business and an effective marketing opportunity.
Business cards are everywhere. And, even today, they are still a necessity. That's because business cards still represent one of the best ways to market yourself and your business in one-on-one interactions with a captive audience. Even so, many business cards that are exchanged end up collecting dust or sit at the bottom of a trash can. Here are six tricks to make your business cards a more effective marketing tool.
Include them with all correspondence. What you are sending may wind up in the trash, but your business card will likely be saved. From there, you never know whose hands it might wind up in when people are looking for a referral. Include a card in everything you send out.
Create a digital version. Take a photo of your own business card and create a contact with it on your smartphone along with all of your contact information, including your website. When you network, ask if you might text or email your card to them. That way, you have their information as well.
Tracking systems. Include a tracking code or SKU on your business card. When you distribute them, tell contacts about incentives like a discount for calling or coupon for checking your site. This will enable you to track the responses you do receive.
Add testimonials. Add a brief quote from a client and/or a link to your testimonials page on your site to your business card. Customers react strongly to other customers' reviews, and nothing adds credibility like a testimonial.
Partner with a cause. Social and community responsibility is a part of business today. Let your network know what causes you care about, letting them get to know you more, and use your card as a distribution vehicle for the cause. Insert a small logo for the cause with "proud supporter" or "proud volunteer."
Put a face to the name. You very likely have business cards of people and you don't remember who they are. Don't let that happen to you. Consider putting your photo on your card so people remember you after they met you. A professional photo adds familiarity as well as the likability factor.
Torrance Art Museum
The Torrance Art Museum is a free exhibit, which gives you the opportunity to explore and develop one's appreciation for contemporary and modern art.
The Museum is open to the public Tuesday- Saturday from 11a.m. – 5p.m. at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Explore the three gallery spaces while enjoying artist talks and lectures. They also offer free educational programs for children and their parents. Stories In Art, a program offered by the Torrance Art Museum, is a program for children ages 7-11 years old. The children meet at the Polly Watts Story Theater at the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library for a storytelling session. Afterwards, everyone congregates at the Torrance Art Museum to experience the current exhibitions. After the art tour, the children then create artwork in the Children's Art Wing of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center that reflect the day's activities, allowing them to do some storytelling of their own.
The main mission of the Torrance Art Museum is to "invigorate, delight and fascinate Torrance residents and the South Bay community by exhibiting and interpreting works of visual arts." TAM does this by inspiring the Southern California art community with their contemporary art expression, visual arts, and science disciplines.
Check out the TAM website for their upcoming exhibits. http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/future.php


WHITHER HONESTY CAN LEAD. Somebody had the bad habit of occasionally talking quite frankly about the motives of his actions, which were as good and as bad as the motives of most "then. He first gave offence, then aroused suspicion, was then gradually excluded from society and declared a social outlaw, until at last justice remembered such an abandoned creature, on occasions when it would otherwise have had no eyes, or would have closed them. The lack of power to hold his tongue concerning the common secret, and the irresponsible tendency to see what no one wishes to see himself brought him to a prison and an early death.


Distances: 26, 50, 73, 84, 90, 100, and 150 miles.
It's time to EARN YOUR SPURS! Get ready to Saddle up & Kick Start your New Year at Stagecoach! We Thank You for registering for the 14th Annual 2018 Stagecoach Century on Sat, Feb 24, '18, in Ocotillo, CA.
The Stagecoach Century is a unique event, and requires careful preparation and respect of all participants. To assist you, carefully read this email containing important pre-ride updates & tips.
Everything below is also posted on the website. The Final Rider Instructions summarize what every rider needs to know and contains the Course Map. All riders must carefully study these instructions before starting. Any last-minute changes will be posted in the "News" section of the Stagecoach webpage.
All Registered Riders will receive one more Rider Update Email about a week prior to the ride with any final updates and weather forecast info and recommendations.
Stagecoach Countdown = 18 Days!
Sponsors: We thank all Sponsors, Volunteers, and Affiliates who are essential to making Stagecoach possible. Please visit the Sponsor Corral at the bottom of this email for some great deals! Always mention Stagecoach, for potential discounts at your bike shop.
For the 14th Annual Stagecoach, we wish to showcase & reward Volunteers from Ocotillo (Start/Finish) and Shelter Valley (Turnaround point). Below are their special Donation links. Please Donate to support their community projects. To date, 2018 Online Rider Donations total $235. A Great Start. Many Thanks!
Chip Timing: CEP Timing is returning to Stagecoach. Full Century riders have the option (free) to receive a timing chip on Sat in Ocotillo at the Timing Booth. Only the 100-mi course will be timed. Riders must have their wristbands validated at the turnaround point (at mile 50), past Shelter Valley. NEW FOR 2018: Disposable Timing Chips will be issued by CEP Timing at the Timing Booth located in the Finish area. When approaching the Finish Line inside the Ocotillo Community Park, SLOW DOWN before making a safe Left turn from S2 into the park. Listen to Volunteers and STOP, if instructed. STOP immediately after crossing the Finish timing mat (which will be marked). USE EXTREME CAUTION ENTERING THE FINISH AREA!
Start Time: On Sat, Time Trial riders (Team & Solo) launch first, from 7:00-7:10 A.M. on tight intervals (less than 30 sec). The rest of the field starts immediately after the last Time Trial rider rolls from 7:10 - 9:00 A.M. Use extra care making the turn onto S2 out of the parking lot.
One Bite at a Time: Recognize that riding a century in February is unique. We congratulate you on accepting the Stagecoach Challenge. It's not an easy century, and weather can make it treacherous. Plan your ride, and ride your plan! Take it in small bites, Rest Stop-to-Rest Stop, or even hour-to-hour. Cold, dry desert air can dehydrate you before you know it. Rising afternoon temps will take a toll too. Drink and eat at every Rest Stop! Don't exceed your limits. You may safely turn around at any point on the course. Don't compare your June cycling to the February Stagecoach, they're two different animals. If this is your first Stagecoach, avoid fixation on making it to the turnaround. You need to have enough reserves to ride all the way back to the Finish. Watch out for each other, point out obstacles, stay to the right, ride single file, and be safe out there!
a. Final Rider Instructions & Course Map: Please study carefully. Read on website, or Download here .
c. Directions: Basic driving map for Ocotillo, CA. See Google Maps Directions (don't confuse with "Ocotillo Wells" which is over 60 miles away).
Packet Pick up Details: Friday and Saturday options. Riders may pick up friends' packets with written permission, such as a printed email authorizing release.
a. Fri, Feb 23, '18: Noon - 7:00 P.M. at Offical Bike Shop, Trek Bicycle Superstore Solana Beach, located at 211 North Highway 101, Solana Beach, CA 92075 (map it). Free parking. Riders may register in-person, Cash or Credit Card.
b. Sat, Feb 24, '18: 6:00 - 9:00 A.M. Ocotillo Community Park, 266 West Imperial Hwy, Ocotillo, CA 92259 (map it). Riders may register in-person. Cash or Credit. Portajohns are available onsite. Arrival coffee & breakfast is provided by Ocotillo Volunteers. Donations are much appreciated & support the Desert Museum.
* Rider packet contains: Helmet #, wristbands, Rider Instructions, and Course Strip Map. Riders also receive a Custom Pin & any pre-ordered optional items. Medals are given at Finish Line.
Host Hotel: Shadow Tour welcomes the Courtyard San Diego Del Mar/Solana Beach as the Host Hotel for the Stagecoach Century. Courtyard offers Stagecoach riders special rates, based on availability. Click here for details.
a. Early A.M: It will be cold in the morning. We recommend starting with a high-tech base layer (not cotton!). A jersey, bib shorts, arm and leg warmers, or tights, a wind-breaker, light weight/medium weight full finger gloves. and shoe toe-covers.
Bicycle Maintenance: Stagecoach is absolutely no place to take chances on any worn bike parts. If in doubt, get a tune-up. Ask your mechanic to replace any questionable parts, especially tubes & tires! Official Stagecoach Bike Shop, Trek Bicycle Superstore Solana Beach, is offering $40 Safety Tune-ups for all Stagecoach Riders. Trek is also offering 10% off other services & parts as well. More bike Shop Links: San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County. Velofix Mobile Repair will be at the Start in Ocotillo and roaming the course. Velofix owners, Paul Dunlap & Tom Cody, are happy to provide full tune-ups prior to the event at your home or office. Use Promocode SC2018 to save 10%.
Referrals: Please encourage your friends to join you at Stagecoach. You may pass along the special Promocode SPURS20 to new riders (see coupon below). The promocode provides a special 20% discount. A unique century, like Stagecoach, requires at least 500 riders to maintain the top-notch quality & service our riders expect. Your referrals are vital to boosting the field size back above the 500-rider threshold. Event Director Jim sends his most sincere gratitude to all who act on this referral request!
Jersey: Voler is once again producing the optional Stagecoach jersey. Riders who ordered jerseys prior to the Jan 10, '18 deadline will receive them at packet pick up. A new process is now in place for riders to order the 2018 Stagecoach jersey directly from Voler, using this link. These jerseys will be mailed within 7 days, with free shipping. A small quantity of jerseys will be for sale at the event.
Training: It's important to build up for the ride now. Translation: get those training rides in! With limited daylight, it can be challenging during the week. But, on the weekends, shoot for rides of 2-4+ hours.
Cool early A.M. start. Sunny & Mild. Photos.
Referrals: Stagecoach is a unique event in many ways. Our #1 source of new riders comes from previous riders telling their friends. We are very proud of this. For 2015, more than ever, we need your referrals to encourage more riders to accept the Stagecoach challenge by registering for the event.
Trek Bicycle Superstore Solana Beach: Official 2018 Stagecoach Bike Shop & Friday early Rider Packet pick-up (Noon - 7:00 P.M.). 2018 Special Offers: 10% off all bike services, Special $40 Safety Tune up, $80 shipped bicycles assembly & tune up, $80 bike packing & shipping (+ freight charges). Inquire at store for additional promotions & discounts!
Nite Rider: Nite Rider is a Shadow Tour series Sponsor. Please friend us on Facebook and learn more about our complete line of Technical Lighting products.
Courtyard San Diego Del Mar/Solana Beach: We're proud to announce the Official Host Hotel for the 2018 Stagecoach is the Courtyard San Diego Del Mar/Solana Beach, located 1 mile from Trek Superstore Solana Beach (Fri early Rider Packet Pick up, Noon - 7 P.M.). Special rates may still be available, based on room availability. Visit Stagecoach website for more details.
Captivating Sports Photos: Official 2018 Stagecoach photographer. Please affix helmet #'s facing to the front. Rider photos will be available for online purchase about 48 hrs after the event.
Mother Nature provides the biggest challenges at Stagecoach, such as low morning temps, pesky variable winds, low humidity, and possible showers . Bring extra layers of clothing, including shoe toe covers and long finger gloves, just in case! Stay hydrated right from the start by drinking plenty of water & Vitalyte, both are available for resupply at all Rest Stops. And remember, the name of the game is forward progress! Avoid camping out too long at Rest Stops.
As always, please ride defensively with traffic, point out hazards & obstacles to your cycling buddies following behind you, stay to the right of the white line, be on high alert at all times, and always watch out for the unexpected!
Rope in your Friends to join the Stampede! Registering now for the 14th Annual 2018 STAGECOACH CENTURY on Sat, Feb 24, '18 in Ocotillo, CA. We're pleased to offer a very special referral discount to past Shadow Tour riders and members of the Interest List. Sign up Today & Save!
Enter promocode SPURS20 (all caps) when you register online. It's the last step, so be careful not to miss it. Active.com software is case-sensitive. The promocode is also valid for Mail-in and Walk-up Registrations. The discount applies to entry fee only. May not be combined with other offers, and is not retro-active.
Deadline for SPURS20 is Noon PST Feb 24th, 2018!


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Bush Brothers Provision Company
Body Details, LLLP
Harry Bush, President
Doug Bush, Partner and Sales Manager
Harry Bush LinkedIn Profile
Doug Bush LinkedIn Profile
Join Us! Florida Companies to Watch Awards Celebration
Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Reception, Dinner & Awards: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Individual Ticket: $150.00 each | Corporate 10 pack $1,400.00
RSVP by January 7, 2019
79% Job Growth
Bush Brothers Provision Company is a fifth generation, family-owned meat packing and distribution company, located at the same address since 1925. Bush Brothers offers regular delivery from Miami to Orlando and Naples, and export to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
From the beginning, Bush Brothers has maintained a reputation for excellent quality and superb service. They count among their customers the most luxurious hotels, largest country clubs, and finest white tablecloth restaurants in South Florida and the Caribbean.
Through five generations of family leadership, Bush Brothers has grown to become the premier processor, distributor, and purveyor of premium Beef, Lamb, Veal, Pork, Poultry, Wild Game, and specialty food products. Bush Brothers partners with many of the finest brands and farms in the industry, and has a reputation in the industry of being the ideal partner to showcase up-and-coming and ultra-premium products for the top tables in their region.
A Multi-Generational Business Built on Deep Roots, Strong Leadership and Superior Quality
For nearly a century, Bush Brothers Provision Company has provided South and Central Florida, and a variety of international markets, with superior quality meats and exceptional customer service. This five-generation company takes great pride in building relationships and providing high-end hotels, restaurants and country clubs with artisan-quality, hand-selected beef, poultry and provisions. The president of Bush Brothers Provision Company, Harry Bush, and his son, Sales Manager Doug Bush, shared the journey from when the company was founded to their future plans to expand and grow their export division.
"The company was founded by John M. Bush, my great-great grandfather, and his son, Harry L. Bush," Doug said. "It basically started as a local meat market / grocery store. They were in the grocery business in Augusta, GA, before moving to South Florida in the early 1920s. My great-great grandfather was a very progressive guy. He saw an opportunity in Florida and moved his family."
From 1925 through the early 70s, growth was steady, but the business was primarily focused on the local South Florida market. The current president, Harry Bush, joined the company in 1975 followed shortly after by his brother Billy in 1978. Over the next twenty years, Bush Brothers Provision Company expanded its footprint beyond South Florida. In 1994 they acquired their USDA certification and took their products overseas. The latest generation of Bush Brothers, started coming on-board in 2006, starting with Doug Bush, followed by Jessica Bush, John Bush and eventually Curtis Bush.
Keeping a competitive edge
"Over the last 10 years, we've grown tremendously," Harry said. "Our exports are also up. We're growing, but we've resisted becoming a large company or being acquired and losing our 'mom and pop' feel. When I came to work for my father in '75, there were 20 small meat companies in South Florida. Today there are two. I think there's an appreciation for smaller meat companies. I like to think of us as an independent overgrown mom and pop business."
"When I started, there were seven or eight guys in this space," Doug said. "Like my dad said, today there are two, including us. Most have been consumed by national and international broad-line grocery distributors and other large corporations. Fortunately for us, there's been a surge in the popularity of farm-to-table and carefully sourced products. It's a reaction to people saying, 'Do I really want to buy my steaks from the same place I buy my mops and brooms?' The popularity of high-quality products is great for our business, but it's also challenging because customers still want low prices. It's a fine balance between price-pressure and demand for artisan-quality, farm-to-table products. We're also trying to provide a consistent product from an inconsistent supply. That's definitely a challenge."
Bush Brothers operates almost exclusively in the food service space. They source their meats from high-quality suppliers from around the world and handle their own processing and distribution. Their high-end meats and provisions are sold to hotels, restaurants, yachts and country clubs. Bush Brothers sells to nearly all the Five Diamond Hotels in Florida and the Caribbean. Doug described several ways in which they set themselves apart from their competition.
"We're all about high quality and exceptional customer service," he said. "Everything we do has a personal touch. When customers call the office, they speak with a family member. We do custom cuts and everything is cut to order. That's our niche: custom work and special service for every customer."
Bush Brothers is powered by a team who includes office staff, drivers, meat cutters and a sales force. Over the last six years, Bush Brothers has placed a heavier emphasis on sales as they continue to focus on getting their niche product into the hands of specific customers. The company culture can be described as family-oriented. Staff is served breakfast and lunch on a daily basis, a tradition started with Harry's grandmother, and everyone is made to feel part of the family.
Notable community contributions
In terms of philanthropic activities and community involvement, Bush Brothers works with charities and non-profits that operate in the food industry. They actively support Palm Beach Harvest, a local non-profit that supports food banks and churches. They also work with The American Culinary Federation and support their efforts to work with local charities. They help support Meals on Wheels and support The Quantum House, a home at St. Mary's Hospital where families of children in need can stay and eat at no charge.
Operating in Florida, in particular South Florida, has been great for Bush Brothers Provision Company. "We benefit from receiving a lot of seasonal tourism in South Florida," Harry said. "Our product is not an everyday type item. Having seasonal tourism and high-dollar tourists in South Florida, Orlando and Naples is great for the products we offer. Our geographic location is also positioned very well for export to the Caribbean, Central and South America. Between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, you can ship in a timely manner to practically anywhere in the world."
What it means to be a Florida Companies to Watch Honoree
"To be honest, it was a surprising nomination," Doug said. "We were nominated by our local business development board. Most nominees are newer businesses. For us to be on the radar now is nice. We are definitely in a transition phase where the next generation is trying to take it to next level. Being recognized by someone else is motivating."
Harry added, "When I think about the business, I think about my dad and uncle. They would be so proud. We've come such a long way. We've always been a very conservative organization. To get this recognition is very nice. We might be one of the only 5th generation companies to be honored. We're certainly unique in that regard."
"We'd be remiss if we didn't thank our local business development board," Doug said. "We also have to thank our fathers, grandfathers and older generations for putting us in the position to take the business to the next level. They gave us our start. Lastly, none of this would be possible without the hard work from our dedicated team. They have the same goals we do. Without them, we have nothing."
Looking ahead, Bush Brother's wants to expand their regional distribution throughout Florida and continue to grow their international exports. As Doug shared, they're very well known in the South Florida Market, but they want to carry the brand name to other parts of the state and beyond.
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
What advice do Harry and Doug have for aspiring entrepreneurs? "Sticking to doing the best job at what you do is the key to success," Doug said. "We try to make the best product in our niche space. It's also important to nurture your relationships with your customers. Don't try to be all things to all people. Focus on what's most important to keep your customers happy. We're friends with our customers, but that only goes as far as being able to meet their expectations."
Harry added, "It takes a lot of hard work. When I first came to work for my father, he said, 'You're going to work 70 to 80 hours per week'. He was right. You have to be willing to put in the time."
Bush Brothers Photo Gallery
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ANZ glams up ATM machines for Sydney Mardi Gras
Not-so-old gadgets baffle kids
NZ UFO sighting
Bird smashes plane windscreen
Baby goat fights reflection
Watch: Teen dunks himself
Rugby ref takes a falcon
Tiger falls asleep on car roof
ANZ 'Gay'TM's for Sydney Mardi Gras
24th Feb 2014 1:52 PM | Updated: 2:32 PM
RHINESTONES, facial hair and vibrant colours are not what you'd normally look for while tracking down an ATM.
However ANZ bank has put a little glitter on their usually plain-jane machines for the duration of Sydney's world famous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, in celebration of diversity and inclusion.
ANZ commissioned artists to individually decorate ten "GAYTMs" around Sydney to celebrate their partnership with the Sydney Mardi Gras festival.
Decorated in colours, patterns and jewels inspired by LGBTI culture, each GAYTM tells a unique story.
ANZ have jazzed up their ATM machines for Mardi Gras.
The artworks include the "Hello Sailor" GAYTM, designed to celebrate the Defence Force allowing its members to march in uniform for the first time last year and "Pride", representing the rainbow, a symbol of diversity, amongst others all created in partnership with the LGBTI community.
The bank has chosen to partner with the Sydney Mardi Gras for the eighth consecutive year, becoming the festival's inaugural principal partner in 2014.
"This association is all about encouraging an environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves at work," Chair of ANZ Australia's Diversity Council Mark Hand said.
"You don't get the benefits of a diverse workforce if some people are expending vast amounts of energy pretending to be something they are not and trying to conform."
"We want the best people to work at our organisation and given how many people identify as LGBTI, we want to make sure that everyone feels welcome here at ANZ - regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," He said.
ANZ will donate ATM operator fees for non-ANZ cardholders from its GAYTMs during the festival to Twenty10, a not for profit organisation that supports young people and their family and friends who are dealing with gender and sexuality issues.
The ten GAYTMs will also print rainbow coloured receipts and selected ANZ ATM screens in metropolitan cities will carry messages of support for the festival.
ANZ's GAYTMs can be found in various Sydney locations on Oxford Street, Pitt Street, George Street, Castlereagh Street, Surry Hills and Bondi Junction.
More information including a map of the GAYTM locations can be found at here.
Ten GAYTMs will be on display around Sydney during Mardi Gras.
Sydney glams up for Mardi Gras
anz editors picks gay pride mardi gras


Hopeful Parents: How do you know when to make the switch?
How do you know when to make the switch?
I really think that my son, E-Niner, could use a work-up of his medications. Our Ritalin regimen doesn't seem to be cutting it -- he's got a very severe case of ADHD.
And when I say very severe, I mean to say that it was apparent at four months old when he looked like a jack rabbit in heat trying to get himself from his belly to all fours.
Four months. We didn't think we had a problem. We never saw anyone else's kid do that. But we were in that blissful new-parent, first-child mind-set that allowed us to believe our child was a superior being.
At ten months old he was flinging those giant, economy sized boxes of diapers around our family room. He'd hold the box over his head throw it, and then run to the other side of the room to pick it up and do it again. Ten months.
I could proceed with the litany of milestones and warning lights we missed, but you get the point. Fast forward to five years old, two school expulsions, and one psych ward visit later.
He's out of control in the mornings before we give him Ritalin. He's a mess in the evening when it comes out.
When I say "out of control" and "a mess," I mean to the point that our family has now separated in half during those times (one of us feeds him, the other hangs out with our other son) because adding just two people in the room over-stimulates him.
Anytime we switch-up his meds -- and by meds, I mean Ritalin, Seroquel, Depakote, Clonidine -- it's like an enormous earthquake sets off in his body. There is part of me that feels very nervous of this idea of switching to Strattera.
First, Strattera works in a different part of the brain than Ritalin. So who knows if the drug will be as effective for E-Niner. So that's that whole headache.
Next, I'm worried about it suppressing his appetite. The number one thing kids need to do at his age is eat and sleep. Eating has been an uphill battle since he started Ritalin since he's on it eight consecutive hours a day. That's eight hours of not eating. What if a 24 hours dose suppresses his appetite that long? It's not like you can reason with a five year old.
Then I'm worried about it not working, which means that his safety, our safety and the state of our house and property are all at stake.
At the same time, what we've got going around here isn't working too well either.
I hate this about medicines. It's like you're running these high school science experiments that are iffy at best. Try it, see if it works, if it doesn't try something else.
I hope someday -- in his lifetime -- prescribing mental health drugs won't need to be such a coin toss.
My son, who has moderate ADHD, takes Concerta daily during the school year so he can function. It supresses his appetite, but he is manageable (albeit only by me and his dad) without it, so on weekends and long holidays, we take him off of it and then he eats like a normal 7 year old boy (everything but the table legs). So far, that has been a good compromise for our situation-but does not sound tolerable in yours.
My daughter, whom you have "met" through our discussions, was prescribed Strattera earlier in the school year. We tried it, hoping it would increase her attention span. A half dose was too much-it put her in zombie mode. a half, half dose was good, but it didn't help enough for us to justify putting her on meds at this point in her life, so we stopped. There was an observable supression in appetite also, but no weight loss.
But, one thing we noticed with Strattera was that there wasn't as severe a withdrawal kickback in the evenings, as with our son's Concerta.
My opinion, having dealt with both meds is that it could be worth your time to investigate Strattera.
Have you tried any OT? My son is on a very small dose of concerta and is doing OT too, and the heavy work and other activities really help calm and ground him.
I totally understand what you say by SEVERE case of ADHD.
Is he currently on atypical antipsychotics?
Our family separates in half for much of the day. Usually mornings are just me and the kid. Afternoons are dad and the kid. Evenings are me and the dad after the kid goes to sleep. All of us together is overstimulating for the kid, but more importantly, overstimulating for me. :-) It can be really hard living this way.
I totally understand too......or at least I"m beginning to, since we're traveling down the severe ADHD road too. *sigh* My little guy is almost 5, on Focalin, and just went from 2x/day of the short acting kind to 1x/day of Focalin XR. I just nodded my head to the "coin toss" analogy. And we do that splitting up action too, especially in the mornings while getting ready for school (and evenings too, depending on what's going on). My older son is on the spectrum (asperger's), and gets overstimulated/irritated at the little guy's wildness.......you can see the obvious problem. Wish I had an answer, for any of us.
I think the most you can do is find a physician you trust.
I posted on parental decisions regarding medication last week. The title is "I listen to opera".
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I really appreciate those who spoke up to say that they too "divide and conquer" during the mornings and evenings! I had no idea that other people were doing that too.
And I completely agree that trusting your doctor is key.
It is all such a tenuous balance. Hard to tell if the risk will be worth it in the end. Good luck.
We are coming off of one year of med. balancing (9 yr. old w/TS, ADHD, cog impairment but maybe that's the TS and ADHD talking, dyspraxia and anxiety). Strattera was our best hope b/c it doesn't aggravate the TS tics) and might've helped the anxiety to boot, but his stomach just couldn't tolerate it. And this is a child who had reflux and a host of GI issues til age 8, so we didn't need more stomach problems.
We've since tried Concerta, Metadate, Strattera (again), Focalin and are back on Concerta. Plus he takes Tenex 2x day for the Tourette's. I think SO much depends on your child's brain chemistry and metabolism, and yes, having an MD you trust, to tinker around with it all. We're lucky that way, though for many years I was resistant to meds. Then we just got TOO exhausted, and our house was getting destroyed in the process and our son was suffering as well.
Good luck! I hope the Strattera works out, really! And it's easier to refill since it's not a controlled substance.
Thanks Tracy. We have decided to try Strattera as an ADDITION to the meds. Not instead of Ritalin. Maybe it will help him focus a bit better, and maybe we can decrease the Ritalin a bit. We'll see how it works out. I'll definitely keep everyone posted.
Oh, got it! Well, we just added a Ritalin (5mg.) chaser in the afternoon b/c the Concerta 18mgs. wasn't enough (but 27mgs. was too much). So far so good but it's only been 4 days.
This program has been significantly helpful for children with symptoms you are describing in your son - hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression, etc. - it's a program which helps integrate the nervous system, but it's not like traditional OT. I wish you and your family the best, and hope you do find something that will improve your son's (and the whole family's) quality of life.


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