text:
Olivier Besancenot on Tunisia: `I know now that revolution is possible'
Photo: Photothèque Rouge/Akremi Mesbah.
January 26, 2011 -- Collective Resistance -- Olivier Besancenot, spokesperson for the Nouveau Parti Anti-Capitaliste, was in Tunisia earlier this week to find out about the revolution happening there. Here are his impressions.This interview first appeared in French on the NPA website. The translation by the Collective Resistance blog appeared on January 26.
How did this trip to Tunisia come about?
Tunisia: Masses create people's power bodies in neighbourhoods and workplaces
Demonstration against RCD ministers, January 19. Photo by Nasser Nouri.
[During the uprising in Tunisia there have been reports of the formation of neighbourhood and popular self-defence committees in many parts of the country. Below are excerpts from a number of articles by the International Marxist Tendency's Jorge Martín, which offer some fascinating details of this important development.]
By Jorge Martín
The rise and fall of Tunisia's Ceauşescu
Socialist Unity, January 17, 2011 -- Picture sent by Twitter from Al Jazeera journalist Ayman Mohyeldin. Protesters hold up signs outside a trade union office saying "Protests must continue", rejecting the fake "national unity" government.
[For more on Tunisia in revolt, click HERE.]
By Richard Seymour
[This article first appeared on Seymour's blog, Lenin's Tomb. It is posted at Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal with the author's permission.]
(Updated Jan. 24) Tunisia:`All Arab dictators are shaking on their thrones' -- Left and Arab voices on the insurrection
[For more on Tunisia in revolt, click HERE. Scroll down for earlier reports and analysis. ]
UGTT demands dissolution of 'unity government'
Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) issued on January 21, 2011 (first published in English on MRZine).
1. The General Union of Tunisian Workers is a national organisation necessarily interested in political affairs, given its history of struggle during the colonial epoch and the period of the construction of the modern state, considering the dialectical links among economy, society, politics, and culture in the process of development, but out task has become more urgent than ever.
New Anti-Capitalist Party on Tunisia: 'Ben Ali assassin, Sarkozy accomplice!'
Statement by the New Anti-Capitalist Party (Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste) France, translated by John Mullen for Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal
[This statement was released before the fall of Ben Ali. See "Tunisia's intifada topples tyrant: 'Yezzi fock!".]
January 11, 2011 -- When Mohamed Bouazizi committed suicide by setting fire to himself after being harassed by the police his act became the spark which is now setting fire to the whole of the "miraculous Tunisia" of General Ben Ali.
(Updated Jan. 16) Tunisia's intifada topples tyrant: 'Yezzi fock!'
On January 14, the BBC reported that the mass uprising in Tunisia had toppled that country's Western-backed tyrant after weeks of protests and government repression, which has cost the lives of dozens of Tunisians. According to the BBC:
Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has stepped down after 23 years in power, amid widespread protests on the streets of the capital Tunis. In a televised address, Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi said he would be taking over from the president. A state of emergency was declared earlier, as weeks of protests over economic issues snowballed into rallies against Mr Ben Ali's rule. Unconfirmed reports say Mr Ben Ali and his family have left Tunisia. The reports suggest that the deposed president is looking for a place of asylum, with French media saying that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has turned down a request for his plane to land in France.
The articles below explain some of the background to the uprising.
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Process against Seselj was political, Vucic says
By Milos Mitrovic/ Published on: 01/04/2016
Belgrade, April 1, 2016/ Independent Balkan News Agency
By Milos Mitrovic
The war crimes trial against Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj was unequivocally political from the very beginning, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said today. Vucic held media conference with regard to decision of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to acquit Seselj.
Vucic said he was "proud because the government has been protecting the dignity of Serbia, its citizens and citizen Vojislav Seselj". Vucic said he has no "personal animosity" against SRS ultra-nationalist leader, with whom he has spent the larger part of his political career. On the other hand, premier stressed he would "fiercely oppose" to Seselj's politics "because it pushes Serbia towards isolation".
"I wish all the best and luck in the life to him (Seselj) and his family. The problem is his politics which has nothing to do with the verdict and we will fiercely oppose to it because we believe that such politics pushes Serbia into the past, instability, troubles, economic problems; such politics would isolate us from all peoples in the both Balkans and Europe", Vucic underlined.
PM suggested that Seselj's acquittal has negative impact on his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) ratings ahead general elections scheduled for April 24. "We have never been so close to electoral defeat", Vucic, who is also SNS leader said. This means that all other parties may unite and form the government without SNS, he added.
Vucic explained that Serbia has been overwhelmed with "pan-national euphoria" following Seselj's acquittal.
EU: Belgrade-Pristina talks will continue until all issues are resolved, says Stano
Romania: Electoral campaign for local elections kicks off
BiH: Partial consensus regarding migrants within the Presidency
Croatia scores largest financial contraction in the history of GDP data collection
Turkey: 4.4% increase in consumer confidence in August
Rama: It is madness to believe Greece will "swallow" the Albanian territorial waters
Albania: There is no need to worry for the 12-mile extension in the Ionian according to professor Krisafi
BiH: Minister Košarac demands urgent unblocking of the experts team appointment
Slovenia: Closer cooperation between Slovenian and German Defense Ministries
North Macedonia: VMRO-DPMNE leadership lacks legitimacy, Latinovski argues

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A NHS GP Medical Practice needed to implement major organisational and process changes due to the recent devolvement of commissioning responsibilities to GP medical practices.
Sampson Hall worked in partnership with the Practice Manager and Partners to develop a clear strategy, management structure and a bespoke leadership and organisational cohesion development programme. The aim of this scheme of integrated facilitation sessions, training workshops and coach mentoring support was to help the Practice deal with current and future challenges whilst exploiting opportunities as the Practice moves forward.
As a result, Practice personnel at all levels reported having clear direction and better understanding of their respective roles which, together with tools and techniques learned, has improved individual, team and whole Practice performance.
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Adopstar were a small advertising operations organisation based in Devon with obvious potential. They needed to build and diversify their client base so as not to become over dependent on one big client.


text:
package VMOMI::ArrayOfNetIpConfigSpecIpAddressSpec;
use parent 'VMOMI::ComplexType';

use strict;
use warnings;

our @class_ancestors = ( );

our @class_members = (
    ['NetIpConfigSpecIpAddressSpec', 'NetIpConfigSpecIpAddressSpec', 1, 1],
);

sub get_class_ancestors {
    return @class_ancestors;
}

sub get_class_members {
    my $class = shift;
    my @super_members = $class->SUPER::get_class_members();
    return (@super_members, @class_members);
}

1;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


As Thailand's biggest island it is not a surprise that there are lots of things to do in Phuket. From beach bumming to party, from romance to debauchery, the list of activities in Phuket is practically endless.
Mind you, the island is spread out and, like Bali, so it is larger than most people realise. It will take you over an hour and a half to drive from the airport, in the north, to the southern part of the island so it pays to plan a smart itinerary if you want to do a bit more than just sun tanning or reading a book by the beach and for that, it's advisable to rent a car. If you only have one day in Phuket read this article for a breakdown of what to do and where to go.
Historically a tin mining town, Phuket only started to boom as a tourist haven in the 70s when the airport was built. Admittedly, the best things to see in Phuket today relate to the touristy bits, like the beach or the party scene, although understanding the heritage and history behind Old Phuket is equally fascinating.
Phuket was the center of Chinese and Indian exchanges well before the rest of Thailand. Ships from both empires would seek refuge in its safe harbour during the Monsoon season. The area only became part of the Thai Empire in the 13th century when the Sukhothai took it over from the Sumatran Sirivijaya Empire.
The jungles of the interior were inhabited by indigenous tribes who were displaced by the tin miners whereas the coast was the home of sea gipsies, some of which are still living there and in adjacent islands.
Tin mining brought prosperity to Phuket and the interest of the British Empire who almost annexed it in the 19th century but ended up going for Penang as a safer harbour. The Sino-Portuguese buildings that one can still see today in Old Phuket were built at that time by the rich merchants.
I have been to Phuket over a dozen times and every trip is different. You can surely spend a weekend getaway in Phuket and just see the beaches. But you may as well travel to Phuket and not step foot on the beach and instead enjoy nature, culture, food (glorious food) and the many other sights that make the island such an interesting destination.
In this post I wanted to gather all of the top things to do in Phuket including a few cool things to do in Phuket that most people don't know about, things that are lesser known and probably slightly off the beaten path, if that is at all possible in an island that receives over 3 million visitors a year.
If you are looking for an organised and neatly laid out itinerary including most of the places to see in Phuket mentioned here, head to my weekend road trip around Phuket. For those looking to party, just head to Patong or Bangla Road, everything you need is there but I will not cover it here on this post. Plenty has been written about it already!
You are unlikely going to be alone here because the stop is popular with some of the bus tours of Phuket, but Karon Viewpoint is popular for a reason.
From above, you will be able to see the three beaches north of the viewpoint. Couples go there to sit on the benches and observe the view. It's a nice stopover if you are driving past and it gives you a bit of perspective on the island. After all, Phuket gets its name from the Malay word for hill (bukit) so there are a few places where you can enjoy the view from above.
Explorers looking for convenience should hire a private driver. Click here to book an English-speaking driver so that you can explore Phuket at your own pace.
Phuket Old Town offers a glimpse into the heritage-rich past of the island and it seems that the trading tradition has evolved right into the 21st century with what tourists have come to know as the Weekend Night Market.
For the Phuket locals, the market is called "boot car sales" or Talad Tairot so that should give you an idea of the spread. You will find everything here and mostly copies of anything you can think of, from bags and watches to CDs and DVD, but don't be surprised if the quality is anything but what the big brand names go for.
One of the most interesting shops is the one selling second hand shoes, in case the prices of new stuff are not cheap enough already! A visit to the market can be one of the most unusual things to do in Phuket or it can be one of the most fun, see for yourself. As this is Thailand, there is also plenty of food to enjoy, or check out my guide to Phuket Old Town for ideas about where to eat.
What better place there is to learn to cook Thai dishes than in Thailand? There are hundreds of places to learn and your hotel may offer a class too but, for the genuine and well-known school, try Blue Elephant Cooking School.
This is one of the best known restaurants in Phuket and a real institution that specialises in Royal Thai cuisine. The chef is famous and the restaurant serves fabulous food in the beautiful settings of an old mansion house. Everything is great here: the food, the teacher, the setting, if you ever wanted to learn to make some of the easier Thai dishes back home, there is no better cooking class than this one.
Another option we love is the cooking class at The Boathouse Phuket. This long running restaurant has been a staple of Phuket's dining scene for almost 30 years and has not only signature dishes that keep getting people coming back for every year but also offers great cooking classes that start with a visit to the market with the Sous Chef followed by a 4 course meal cooked at the rooftop kitchen with views over the beach. You will also get to eat your food (trust us, the chef makes sure it all tastes wonderfully), get a jar with their signature masaman curry paste, a recipe book and a certificate. The experience is fantastic and the setting excellent and there are never more than 2 couples at the same workshop so it is really personalised.
A typical day trip for almost everyone visiting Phuket is a day out at sea in Phang Nga Bay. There are lots of islands near Phuket and many possible stops along the way, the tour that you book will determine where you stop but you will almost surely stop at James Bond Island, the island made famous by The Man with the Golden Gun movie. It is a pretty old movie and most people have not seen it, but one of the scenes, when the man with the golden gun is indeed holding the item, is filmed there. It is a striking rock as well on its own due to its sharp upside down looking shape. The other common stop on day trips is a kayak trip inside some of the caves, and the longer tours also make it to Maya Bay, at the back of Phi Phi, another Hollywood famous spot made popular by The Beach.
You should make sure to be properly equipped for the tour with towels to dry yourself, sunscreen, a hat, sun glasses and long sleeves if you plan to kayak, so you don't end up with the wrong sun marks.
A fun, crazy, exhilarating and liberating evening of good Thai food and entertainment. If you were thinking of going to some of the shows on Bangla Road, forget it, Ka Jok See a much classier and much more fun alternative. For the price of unlimited food and drinks you also get a cabaret show to go with it. I don't want to spoil the surprise as a lot of the experience is based on not knowing what will happen, but it is sure to be a great evening. Ka Jok See has no publicity, no website and their facebook page is empty. And they wouldn't want to have it any other way. I have sent multiple groups of friends to Ka Jok See and they have all, without exception, have had a fabulous unforgettable time. If you want to know more about what to expect, check my review (<- spoiler alert!). To book you will have to call them and you can't just show up as they are always fully booked and it is a tiny place.
This is not your usual tourist friendly beach but rather an insight into the lives of many Thai fishermen who do not live off visitors to the island. You have to go with a fresh set of eyes and an intention to absorb what goes on around you. Watch the day go by from a tree trunk or chat with the local fishermen. Observe life as it once was for the many for whom tourism has not changed anything.
This is the place to come at the end of the day if you have been driving around and exploring Phuket. Bring your own drinks and snacks and find a good rock to sit on. The cape is at the very bottom of the island and it affords great sunsets so it is one of my favorite places to come watch the sun come down below the horizon.
At the top of the cape there is a parking area where buses and scooters can be parked and while it does get quite busy most people will come for the photo and leave, few stay. From the viewing platform, follow the few steps own to a small Buddhist shrine. You can also get over the concrete wall and walk all the way to the end of the cape for the most impressive views and most likely, complete solitude as very few tourists go all the way.
Bonus! touting and selling are not allowed so you can take a respite from the "boat tour?", "massage?" you may have heard a few times already.
This is one of my favourite parts of Phuket. Often dismissed, a walking tour of Phuket Old Town is a great trip back to the Sino-Portuguese past that once made Phuket the center of the tin mining industry in Thailand. Today, there are lots of hipster cafes, restored colorful shophouses and shrines that are bringing back the glory of days gone by. Look up from the main road so you can admire the facade of the buildings, they are very reminiscent of Singapore's shophouses.
Here's a delicious foodie and a cultural guided tour of Phuket Old Town. Explore the flavours of Peranakan food or the beautiful architecture of Old Town with these excursions.
A regular stop for the island tours, the Big Buddha is currently under restoration so you will see more construction and scaffolding than anything else but the views from the top of the hill are pretty and this is still a functioning Buddhist monastery so take a walk around and maybe contribute to its construction. The statue is 45m high and 25m wide, it is decorated with Burmese jade marble and it weighs 135 tons. The official website of the Buddha and temple is here. No matter where you are in Phuket the tall statue presides over every part of the island.
Phuket's largest and most visited temple is a red-roofed Buddhist temple stupa originally called Wat Chaiyathararamand but known to everyone as Wat Chalong for its location. The temple is covered in gold and ornate decorations. It is pretty and very well maintained and a pilgrimage destination for may Thai people who come to pay respect to the two Buddhist monks and a bone splinter from the Buddha.
Beware the fireworks that devotees pay for as a sign of gratitude. They will go off all of a sudden and make your heart skip a beat. The official temple website is here.
Would you like to explore all of Phuket Old Town, Wat Chalong, Big Buddha Statue, Laem Promthep viewpoint and the Rum factory in one easy full day? Check this tour which covers it all in one day.
A floating Muslim village on stilts that still lives of fishing and, more recently, of the hordes of tourists coming down to feel like the lost world of sea gipsies. There is a fair amount of tourist shops and restaurants but if you get there early you can also chat with the locals and see how life at sea is like. Be mindful of people's lives. This is a real village and they are used to tourists taking photos of them all day long as they go about their daily routine.
It is odd and fascinating at the same time.
The village gets really touristy at lunch time when all the Phang Nga Bay day tours start to arrive so the trick is to get there before they do, on your own, so you can also sail around the village and get a sense of place. Head down to Surakul pier in Phang Nga, then hire a long tail boat for 1,500 Baht and get there in less than half an hour. It will cost more but you will most likely have it all to yourself.
Phuket is a lovely place to watch the sun set. Maybe its the warm air, or the island vibes but nothing says holiday like a drink and a glorious sunset. I did the research for you and selected the best places to watch the sunset in Phuket, all of them tried and tested and compiled in an article. Have a look but, spoiler alert, the number one place for sunsets in Phuket is no doubt the award-winning Baba Nest rooftop bar at the luxury hotel Sri Panwa. It has been named by CNN among the most beautiful rooftop bars in the world and it gives 360 degree views over Phuket island. Make sure to book in advance as very few seats are available every evening and guests take priority.
There are a lot of beaches in Phuket and some of the most famous ones are truly packed. This is after all one of the main reasons for tourists to visit the island. But despite the mass tourism, there are still a few hidden beaches in Phuket with far fewer visitors if any and mostly locals chilling by the sea. As the island is quite large, most tourists crowd the easily reached beaches which can be accessed by bus or a short walk. I went on a road trip of Phuket and discovered all the best beaches, some of which I had all to myself. I published a round up here, don't tell anyone!
As Phuket became such a well-known island with millions of visitors a year, some parts of it have forever changed into something that no longer resembles the magic of the past.
But, with the masses of tourists coming for specific well known activities in Phuket, some parts of the island that are less promoted by the tour companies have remained untouched and peaceful. Believe it or not there are still a lot of places in Phuket that are quiet, known only to locals and which are not even on Google Maps. I know because I discovered them and now, I am (reluctantly) sharing them with you.
Here are a few unusual things to do in Phuket that are off the beaten path and not regularly included from the regular top things in Phuket lists.
The Buddha Cave in Phang Nga town, called Wat Tham Suwan Khuha, is a network of tunnels and caves with a large reclining Buddha that are hardly explored by visitors and are therefore a great alternative to the more popular canoe tours that go to the better known parts of Phang Nga Bay. You don't actually need a boat to get there but rather just drive to the town in the northern part of Phuket and find the cave which can be visited independently. The cave is surrounded by trails and waterfalls.
At the bottom of this post I included a couple of options to hire your own private driver if you do not feel like driving on a scooter or renting a car yourself. Given the distance, this could be a day trip from Phuket.
As an island, Phuket thrives on beach life. Some of the easily accessible and more developed ones are crowded and filled with souvenir shops selling "Same Same" t-shirts. But there are a lot of less frequented and harder to reach beaches that offer a paradisiacal setting. For a complete list click here.
I went on a quest to find them all, Google Maps in hand, veering off at any turn off the main roads that seemed to lead down to the beach. For the best quiet beaches in Phuket try Freedom Beach, found down a cliff, or Haad Sai Gaew beach on the north of the island where fluffy white sand goes on for miles.
Freedom Beach is closed off and you need to trek down a steep forest path to get there so there will be far fewer tourists. There is usually a hut from where you can buy snacks and drinks but it might be worth to bring your own if you plan to spend the day.
A fun escape to the middle of nowhere among lush sugar cane fields is taking a tour of the Chalong Bay Rum Distillery. Chalong Bay easily accessible by car, has loads of parking, and serves great lunches with a variety of delicious cocktails.
As alcohol is involved, you would think that this is an expedition is not family-friendly, but it is actually great for the young ones. Why? Firstly, there is an expansive lawn for the kids to run amok. Secondly, the 20min tour is held every hour. So one parent can watch the little ones, while the other goes on tour. Then you can change. Perfect!
The greatest thing about the rum is that it's made from actual sugar cane, not the molasses byproduct that the most famous rums, like Bacardi, use. So it is authentic and delicious. You can even take a cocktail class or get a recipe book as a souvenir.
Here are some tips to make the most of your Chalong Bay Distillery tour.
Now I have told you about all the great things to do in but I also should help you find the right resort on Phuket because there are hundreds of resorts on the island. As I have visited countless times, this is a good selection of the best luxury hotels.
Read here for more luxury hotel options in Phuket.
Given its size, the best way to explore Phuket is by renting a car. Taxis can be expensive if you are covering such big distances and I, for one, don't enjoy the constant haggling and feeling of being ripped off.
Driving in Phuket is relatively easy. Google Maps is well versed in all the nooks and crannies of the island and the roads are in good condition, well sign-posted and easily drivable. There are petrol stations at regular intervals (although you are unlikely to drive for too long) and parking is relatively easy.
You can pick up a car at the airport and drop it off there. Most of the international car rental companies will be there. It pays to check the prices ahead to make sure you will be able to rent the car that you need. You do not need a 4×4 so any regular car will do.
If you would like to go on a little road trip of Phuket, check out my article about it, we had lots of fun!
Looking for a private guide? Try one of these personalised tours.


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Parkinson's disease (PD) results in progressive disability despite the availability of many medical and surgical treatments. Patients with PD initially reported of difficulty in walking followed by problems with some gait dependent activities including house works, dressing, transferring in and out of bed and mobility inside the home and community.
Although underlying pathophysiology of postural instability remain elusive, it is one of the most debilitating motor symptoms of PD, as it is associated with an increased risk of falls and subsequent medical complications (e.g., fractures), fear of falling (FOF), decreased mobility, self-restricted physical activity, increased dependency, social isolation, and decreased quality of life (QOL).
Dual-task (DT) performance involves the execution of two tasks (primary and secondary) at the same time. Most of the daily living activities (ADL) requires DT performance to efficiently accomplish different tasks in everyday life like shifting objects from one place to other, monitoring the environment and judging the threats and balancing effect to transfer self, etc. Due to disruption of the motor function of basal ganglia, patients with PD, demonstrate noticeable problems while performing DT with a significant amount of gait and balance impairments which are also known as fall risk factors., People with PD compensate for some of their locomotor disturbances due to nonspecific interference with attentional mechanism while performing either motor or cognitive secondary task.
Almost two-third of patients with PD fall each year, with most falls reported to occur while walking. Falls and FOF share common predictors and individuals who develop one of these are at risk for developing the other, with a resulting spiraling risk of falls, FOF, and functional decline.
A short-term study done on DT training was found to be effective in balance and ADL improvement in patients with Parkinsonism.
A 4 weeks DT training program resulted in functional walking capacity in idiopathic PD.
There is a growing body of literature in support of feasibility and clinical implementation of DT training to address different gait disturbances in people with PD. With progressive symptoms, it is yet to clear that whether these kind of training programs has long-term benefits in people with PD.
In the present study, we aimed to examine the long-term effect of a DT training program applied with basic principles of motor learning on falling and ADL in patients with PD.
Fifty-four patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD were enrolled in the study from the Department of Occupational Therapy of a tertiary rehabilitation care unit. After obtainment of written informed consent, patients were divided into two groups (27 each), i.e., Group A (Experimental) and Group B (Control) by simple randomization into this single-blinded study. Demographic characteristics of the samples are presented in [Table 1] in illustration. Patients allocated to the Experimental Group received 12 supervised training sessions (three times a week for 4 weeks). The training targeted performing DT, i.e., walking with some secondary tasks and aimed to be intensive and progressive. All the patients in both groups received conventional occupational therapy and patients in the control group received conventional occupational therapy matched for time, sessions, and weeks with the experimental group. The conventional occupational therapy included working on activities of daily living skills, hand functions, rhythmic stabilization, bilateral activities, balance and coordination training activities, etc. The study was conducted in adherence to the principles of the declaration of Helsinki.
Inclusion criteria comprised diagnosis of idiopathic PD, Hoehn, and Yahr stages II to III and with stable antiparkinsonian medication, able to walk unassisted at least for 5 min and have a history of fall in last 6 months before inclusion. Exclusion criteria encompassed dementia or any other cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental Status Examination <25), coexisting serious chronic medical illnesses (e.g., orthopedic, psychiatric, or neurological) or severe visual deficits preventing participation.
Outcome variables included the Tinetti Fall Efficacy Scale for FOF and functional independence measure (FIM) for functional performance., All the assessments were done while patients were in the medication-on-state at baseline (pretest) and immediately after the termination of the training program (posttest) (week 4). Follow-up scores were recorded for both outcomes in every 6 months interval following posttraining program for 2 years. A number of falls within 6 months period were recorded by taking the history of fall from caregivers/patients at baseline (BF) and every 6 months interval after completion of training program for 2 years.
The training targeted both walking and secondary tasks and aimed to be intensive and progressive. In each training session, patients completed five blocks of 5 min of walking (i.e., a total of 25 min of walking in each training session) and 1 min of rest break in between blocks of 5 min walking. In each 5-minute block, patients performed different kinds of secondary tasks: Serial subtractions, and coin transfer. The therapist had to safeguard the patient and provides appropriate feedback (knowledge of result and knowledge of performance) during the DT training. No explicit instruction for prioritization of either task was given and was completely determined by therapist. The order of the DT conditions was randomly assigned. Progression during the training was done by (a) Shortening of break times from 4 min (1 min each between blocks) (1st week) to 2 min (2nd week), to 1 min (3rd week), to no breaks (4th week), and (b) Adding obstacles from 2nd week: 3 boxes were placed with equal separation on the walkway and gradually the numbers of obstacles were increased to 4 and finally 5 in the 3rd and 4th week of training. Patients were asked to walk over the obstacles without touching them.
During training, in first walking condition, patients were instructed to walk at their preferred pace on level ground in a well-lit, obstacle-free, 30-m long corridors for 5 min and were allowed to become familiar with the walkway.
Serial subtractions walking condition included patients walking while performing serial 3 subtractions out loud, starting from a three-digit number (e.g., 497). In coin transfer, a commercially available waist bag was tied at the waist with midpoints of the pocket aligning over the anterolateral aspect of the hip joint of the nondominant side. A total of 25 Indian 1-rupee coins was placed in the pocket of the trouser/kurti on the side of their dominant hand. Patients were then instructed to use their dominant hand to transfer as many coins as they could, one at a time, from the starting pocket to the pocket of the waist bag present over the opposite side hip joint [Figure 1]. Patients reported their dominant hand by indicating which hand they would use to catch a small ball.
The α level was set at 0.05, and outcome analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 23.0 Developer: IBM Corp. India License: Trialware or SaaS). A total of 89% of patients (Group A 23 and Group B 25) attended at least 2 of the follow-up assessments out of 4 and 81% of patients reported for the final follow-up assessment 2 years posttraining program. As the number of patients reported in each follow-up assessment varied [Figure 2], pre- and post-training program and final follow-up scores were analyzed for convenience and to maintain the integrity. For FIM and Tinetti fall efficacy scale, the Friedman test was used to know the difference within the group. If the comparison revealed significant difference Wilcoxon signed-rank test was carried out. Moreover to know the difference between the groups Kruskal–Wallis test was carried out followed by Mann–Whitney U test. For analysis of some falls, scores recorded at baseline (BF) and after 2 years posttraining program (FF) was considered. Within the group analysis was performed by Paired t-test and for between the group analysis, independent t-test was carried out. Descriptive characteristics of all outcomes for both the groups is shown in [Figure 3] in illustration.
Friedman test was carried out for within the group analysis. It showed a significant difference (P = 0.000) for both the groups and both outcome measures. Wilcoxon signed rank test was carried out for both the groups and for both the outcome measures and the result is shown in [Table 2] in illustration.
Kruskal–Wallis test was carried out for between the group's comparison for both the outcome measures and it showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.000). Mann–Whitney U-test was carried out for both outcome measures post-Kruskal–Wallis test and result is shown in [Table 3] in illustration.
Within the group analysis by paired "t"-test showed the number of falls reduced significantly (P= 0.000; confidence interval [CI] for Group A: 2.256–3.173 and Group B: 1.043–2.657) for both the groups. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in a number of falls (P = 0.031, CI: − 1.802–0.012) as compared to the control group as measured by independent t-test. Seven patients from the experimental group reported "no" falls in the last 6 months during final follow-up, whereas only 1 patient reported to have no fall from the control group during the same assessment.
The present study assessed the outcomes of a DT intervention on falls and ADLs over a period for 2 years in patients with PD. Although being a progressive disease patient with PD in both groups managed to overcome the FOF, thus resulting in significant decrease in a number of falls and increased independency in performing functional tasks over a period of 2 years. However, patients with PD undertaken DT training program showed a statistically significant difference in the improvement in the above outcomes and the effects were maintained as long as for 2 years. This study moved beyond the previous works by implementing both cognitive and motor DT training and demonstrating its positive effect on falls and functional performance with its retention effect for 2 years.
As the basal ganglia play a major role in the control of learned, repetitive movement sequences through their outputs to the supplementary motor area and brain-stem locomotor regions, DT interference is a particularly noticeable problem because of the disruption of the motor functions of the basal ganglia in people with PD. In the early stages of motor skill acquisition, the cortical regions of the brain are believed to play a major role in movement regulation. As movements become learned and automatic, they are thought to be controlled by the basal ganglia. When a movement is controlled by the basal ganglia, a person, in theory, can direct attention to control more novel or attention-demanding tasks through the use of the frontal cortical regions. In people with PD, normal movement patterns can be generated when attention is focused on performance; attention is thought to lead to a bypassing of the basal ganglia and the use of cortical regions to drive outputs. In DT situations, cortical resources may be engaged in maintaining the performance of the secondary task, leaving responsibility for regulating the performance of the more automatic task to the defective basal ganglia circuitry.
Findings of our study are consistent with previous studies of rehabilitation. The possibility of DT training (where both tasks are not walking) has been examined in several other studies where DT training is found to have positive effects on balance confidence, gait parameters, ADLs leading to increased QOL.,,, This would have resulted in a significant reduction in a number of fall and FOF.
DT training when applied as "whole task" with principles of motor learning, improvement in DT performance was observed, and even the transfer of learning was reflected in nontrained DT performance., This would have been one of the possible causes of improvements in ADL performance in patients with PD in this study.
In addition, the training program implemented here was based on principles of motor learning. The tasks designed with the specific aim of improving DT function. Since practicing DT involves implicit processes, feedback of knowledge of results was provided for both tasks (primary and secondary) practiced. Variability in practice was maintained by using different cognitive and motor tasks in the training program with no specific order and to promote progression and enhance motivation, level of difficulty was maintained by adding obstacles into the walking path and decreasing the duration of rest breaks.
The result of the study showed statistically significant improvements in falling and ADL performance, and the improvements were carried out till 2 years posttraining program suggests the feasibility and efficacy level of clinically implemented DT training program in patients with PD. As it was a single-blinded study design, rater bias might have had some impact on the result of the study. From the perspective of a patient targeted program, it might be helpful to create a "pool" of secondary tasks (motor and cognitive), ordered in increasing level of difficulty, that could be adjusted to each patient's abilities and could enable progression during the training program.
Patients with PD have difficulty performing several tasks due to an increased risk of fall, subsequently leading to decreased mobility, increased dependency and decreased QOL. The result of the study showed the feasibility of a clinically implemented DT training program to reduce falling and FOF thus resulting in improvement of functional independence with its strong retention effect.
Comparison of motor DT and cognitive DT with their retention effect can be carried out.
I express my sincere thanks to the Medical Director, Plexus Neuro and Stem Cell Research Centre, Dr. Naeem Sadiq for his guidance, support and encouragements. I also wish to thank all the participants of this study for their cooperation and making this study possible.
Shulman LM, Gruber-Baldini AL, Anderson KE, Vaughan CG, Reich SG, Fishman PS, et al. The evolution of disability in Parkinson disease. Mov Disord 2008;23:790-6.
Jacob JC, Joseph RP, Marjan J, Ahmed AM. Postural instability and falls in Parkinson's disease. Rev Neurosci 2016;27:549-50.
O'Shea S, Morris ME, Iansek R. Dual task interference during gait in people with Parkinson disease: Effects of motor versus cognitive secondary tasks. Phys Ther 2002;82:888-97.
Brauer SG, Woollacott MH, Lamont R, Clewett S, O'Sullivan J, Silburn P, et al. Single and dual task gait training in people with Parkinson's disease: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Neurol 2011;11:90.
Friedman SM, Munoz B, West SK, Rubin GS, Fried LP. Falls and fear of falling: Which comes first? A longitudinal prediction model suggests strategies for primary and secondary prevention. J Am Geriatr Soc 2002;50:1329-35.
Sethi V, Ravi R. Effects of dual task training on balance and activities of daily livings (ADLs) in patients with Parkinsonism. Int J Biol Med Res 2012;3:1359-64.
Pandian Sankara KP, Tamilvanan M, Diwakar KP. Efficacy of dual task training to improve functional gait performance in idiopathic Parkinson's disease subjects. Int J Sci Res 2013;2:339-42.
Goetz CG, Poewe W, Rascol O, Sampaio C, Stebbins GT, Counsell C, et al. Movement Disorder Society Task Force report on the Hoehn and Yahr staging scale: Status and recommendations. Mov Disord 2004;19:1020-8.
Tinetti ME, Richman D, Powell L. Falls efficacy as a measure of fear of falling. J Gerontol 1990;45:P239-43.
Dodds TA, Martin DP, Stolov WC, Deyo RA. A validation of the functional independence measurement and its performance among rehabilitation inpatients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1993;74:531-6.
Sahu S, Srivastava A. Effect of dual task training program on quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. Indian J Occup Ther 2016;48:37-41.
Yogev-Seligmann G, Giladi N, Brozgol M, Hausdorff JM. A training program to improve gait while dual tasking in patients with Parkinson's disease: A pilot study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2012;93:176-81.
Kramer AF, Larish JL. Aging and dual task performance. In: Rogers WA, Fisk AD, Walker N, editors. Aging and Skilled Performance. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1996. p. 83-112.
Erickson KI, Colcombe SJ, Wadhwa R, Bherer L, Peterson MS, Scalf PE, et al. Training-induced plasticity in older adults: Effects of training on hemispheric asymmetry. Neurobiol Aging 2007;28:272-83.


PG&E (NYSE: PCG) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), PG&E missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.
Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded slightly. Non-GAAP earnings per share contracted significantly. GAAP earnings per share contracted.
PG&E booked revenue of $3.67 billion. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $3.75 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.
EPS came in at $0.63. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.69 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.63 for Q1 were 29% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.89 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.55 for Q1 were 1.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.56 per share.
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.79 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.71.
Next year's average estimate for revenue is $15.58 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.64.
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 287 members out of 309 rating the stock outperform, and 22 members rating it underperform. Among 91 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 87 give PG&E a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on PG&E is outperform, with an average price target of $44.50.


text:
Odion Ighalo Boosts Golden Boot Hopes As Nigeria Finish Third
Atletico Madrid Sign England Defender Kieran Trippier From Tottenham
Pogba Shines As United Thrash Leeds In Pre-Season Fixture
UEFA Panel To Recommend Manchester City Champions League Ban: Report
UEFA and the Premier League launched an investigation this year after allegations made in German magazine Der Spiegel that the club broke FFP rules.
Newly minted Premier League champions Manchester City could be barred from the Champions League. © AFP
European football's financial regulators are poised to recommend that newly minted Premier League champions Manchester City be barred from the Champions League, the New York Times reported on Monday. European football's governing body UEFA and the Premier League launched an investigation this year after allegations made in German magazine Der Spiegel that the club broke Financial Fair Play rules. Members of the investigatory chamber of UEFA's financial control board, set up to analyze the accounts of clubs suspected of breaking cost-control regulations, met two weeks ago in Switzerland to finalize their conclusions, the newspaper said.
"The investigatory panel's leader, the former prime minister of Belgium Yves Leterme, will have the final say on the submission to a separate adjudicatory chamber, which could be filed as soon as this week. The body is expected to seek at least a one-season ban," the Times said.
It was unclear if such a ban, if levied, would be enforced next season or in the 2020-21 campaign, the Times said, noting that with qualifying for Europe's most prestigious and lucrative club championship set to start in June there is little time to finalize a sanction.
Manchester City would also have the right to appeal such a ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Manchester City vigorously denied any financial irregularities, saying in March they welcomed UEFA's investigation as an opportunity to clear their name.
Manchester City, who were fined 60 million euros (USD 67.3 million) and subjected to squad, wage and spending caps in a 2014 settlement agreed with UEFA following a previous breach of the rules.
But the club says the claims made in Der Spiegel were an "organized and clear" attempt to damage its reputation.
Topics mentioned in this article Manchester City Football
PL champions Man City in danger of being barred from Champions League
European football's financial regulators are poised to recommend ban
Unclear if such a ban would be enforced next season or in 2020-21
Premier League Fixtures: Manchester City Begin Title Defence At West Ham, Manchester United Open At Home To Chelsea
Treble Winners Manchester City Enjoy Parade
Manchester City Need To Win Champions League, Says Pep Guardiola


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text:
Rahul Gandhi criticises Narendra Modi over rising crimes against women
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the rising number of crimes against women. During a visit to Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, he also promised special category status for the state if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections next year.
india Updated: Sep 18, 2018 21:55 IST
Hindustan Times, Vijayawada
At an interactive session with girl students in Kurnool, Rahul Gandhi said PM Modi lacks direction and conviction to ensure women's safety.(PTI)
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on a visit to Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's "inability" to check rising crime against women and promised special category status to the state bifurcated in 2014 with the creation of Telangana as a separate state.
At an interaction with woman students in Kurnool, the Congress leader said the Prime Minister was lacking both direction and conviction in ensuring women's safety. He repeated the same charge on Twitter with specific reference to the PM's "silence" on the gang rape of a board exam topper in Haryana , and said this was "unacceptable".
In Kurnool, Gandhi also cited one case of an alleged rape by an Uttr Pradesh legislator from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and claimed that the PM had failed to even condemn the incident and express solidarity with the victim.
A slew of high-profile rape cases and sexual abuse reported from all over the country have raised concerns over women's safety in the country ahead of state elections this year leading up to Lok Sabha polls in 2019.
The Congress chief urged women to enter politics and the armed forces to change their own destiny.
Rahul's attack on the PM drew sharp criticism from the BJP with the party's state vice-president, Turaga Nagabhushanam, stating that women's safety was a top priority for the NDA government. "Our government has introduced as many as 14 special schemes for the uplift of women in the last four years", she said.
During his visit, the Congress chief promised that if his party comes to power in 2019, its first action would be to provide special category status to Andhra Pradesh along with special economic support for backward regions like the state's Rayalaseema region.
Nagabhushanam, however, termed Gandhi's promise as mere "empty talk".
crime against woman
more from india


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Kellyanne Conway Bashes Her Husband on Fox: 'You Air Your Grievances in Private'
By Ken MeyerMar 21st, 2019, 9:00 am
White House adviser Kellyanne Conway gave an interview to Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Thursday, and for a lengthy segment she dished on the ongoing feud between President Donald Trump and her husband, outspoken critic of the president George Conway.
"Your boss is calling your husband a whack job," Bartiromo said after playing a video of Trump slamming Mr. Conway. "What's going on?"
"My husband also has been very critical of the president publicly, which is unlike him," Kellyanne said. "He's traditionally been a very private person. In 2016, which was known as the year of the tweet, George Conway sent exactly zero tweets. So this is new. And what also is new is not supporting the agenda of the president and my work there."
Kellyanne accused the press of ignoring how George took himself out of contention for a job in the Justice Department, and she expressed her thanks to the president for defending her from "what he thinks is unfairness, I leave that up to him."
"I was raised in a household of strong Italian catholic women that taught me you air grievances like that in private," Conway said, "so it is very surprising to see it be so public."
As Conway continued to criticize her husband for his change of heart on Trump, it led to her hitting the media again for digging into her personal life. She rejected the idea that she has to choose between Trump and her marriage, snarking about "feminists everywhere who pretend they are independently thinkers" because they don't let husbands make decisions for them.
Bartiromo grilled Mrs. Conway on whether she had spoken to her husband about her concerns, and also if she's ever spoken to Trump about her husband in detail. Conway suggested that they've only ever talked about it "in passing." Kellyanne went on to bash "people on Twitter" who attack Trump because they "somehow think they have an equal platform to the President of the United States."
"He is president and you are not," Conway said.
"Have you said that to your husband?" Bartiromo asked.
"I have said it to many people," she answered.
The interview continued with Conway dismissing the idea that her husband voices her criticism of Trump while she's not in a position to make them herself. She also insisted that she's been supportive of George's interest in a career change after giving up the Trump Admin position, and that he's "a brilliant litigator" who's "eminently qualified" for a number of high level positions in law.
Watch above, via Fox Business.
>> Follow Ken Meyer (@KenMeyer91) on Twitter
George ConwayKellyanne ConwayMaria Bartiromo


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We participated in a bit of Americana Friday night at the Tom Landry Classic between 2013 5A Texas state champs Allen HS and 4A champs, Denton Guyer HS. This was slightly different than the small town Iowa football games we are used to.
It was held in the University of North Texas Apogee Stadium. Our seats were higher than I care to go unless I'm inside an airplane. The band, touted as 'the largest band in the land,' has over 700 kids and fills the whole field. There were more students in the drill team, flag squad, and cheerleading squad than in my graduating class. Not once did I hear anyone behind us say, "Isn't number 16 the nephew of Gomer who used to be married to your cousin Fern?" The drive to and from was over an hour in heavy traffic through interchanges out of Star Wars. I guess the teams are pretty good but I don't follow football so I can't speak to that.
So how did we end up at this event? Granddaughter Jessi is a senior and a varsity trainer for the Allen team. And an excellent one she is. She is a whiz with a water bottle and a terror with a towel. We did not get to witness her ankle wrapping skills, although you would have thought someone could have managed a little sprain or something. I mean, since her grandparents came 900 or so miles. But I suppose even in the biggest games, one can't have everything.
By the way, Allen won.
This is not a camping trip. Thank goodness because shortly after we left this morning on our way to Dallas to visit our younger son and family, we hit driving rain. Several places around Des Moines, those cement barricades that they put up in road work areas create ponds that cause dangerous water planing. Only the skills of my driver saved us a couple of times. So we were very glad we weren't pulling the camper.
But it's a long trip. So we listened to a book on CD, I read, and tried to use the computer but bumpy roads make that very difficult. So one has to occupy oneself otherwise sometimes. Like the sign for the "Peculiar Park Place RV Park." First of all the name is a little redundant but it just cries out for a murder mystery, don't you think? It's located in Peculiar, Missouri, which is--well, peculiar. I also started noticing town slogans that are on the welcome signs. It seems like someone could be a little more original. Most of these slogans could be for any town: "Small town with a big heart," etc. Like Peculiar: how about something like "No strangers here. Our citizens are strange enough." Or Pryor, OK: "Have you been here before?" or "You should have seen us last year!" Broken Arrow, OK could be "Straight to your heart." I think I'll start a city motto business.
I should have been practicing my Texas/Oklahoma speak. I was a little confused when a woman in a truck stop restroom told me "Everything is fool" until I realized she meant all of the stalls were taken.
We are also convinced that a major drain on the American economy is keeping all restaurants and public places at 50 degrees. It is hot out, but really? Since we are told ad nauseum, "It isn't the heat, it's the humidity," why not just remove the humidity and keep the temperatures normal?
Anyway, we are in McAlester, Oklahoma and just have a short jaunt left to Dallas in the morning, so I probably won't have time for as many deep thoughts.
I think the reason most people don't bail out of Iowa completely is that just often enough, we are rewarded for enduring a stretch of bone-chilling, icy weather with a beautiful spring day or several days of heat and smothering humidity with an incredible summer evening, warm but with just enough breeze to make a fire worthwhile and keep away the bugs. We had one of those Saturday night.
The book signing Friday night wasn't huge but respectable. The best part was visiting with classmates of three of my siblings as they recounted their memories of Beed's Lake and the legend of the Lady. One person said her dad helped to build the dam as a member of the Youth Conservation Corps. Another told of the house, later moved, where the woman lived. Some said their kids beg to go to the lake every time they came back to Hampton to see if they could see her. The Rustic Brew was a great place to spend some time reminiscing and signing books.
Saturday morning we were hit with the line of storms that barged across most of Iowa. The rain finally let up in time to get in the Restoration Run, a fundraiser to help restore water quality in the lake. We did not partake.
Saturday afternoon we drove to Belmond to drop in on the 70th birthday party of an old friend. Instead of cake, her daughters and husband served ice cream with a wide variety of toppings--perfect for a warm summer afternoon. When we returned, we headed to Sheffield for the social hour at my brother's 50th class reunion. We lost Bill eight years ago and they had a nice memorial table set up to honor classmates who have died. It was fun to visit with people who were just obnoxious eighth graders when I graduated. They've improved a lot.
Finally back to the campground and a beautiful evening. A simple supper starting with steaks on the grill and sitting by the fire in the nice breeze. Sunday morning was pleasant until we started to load up. However it was much worse when we got home and unloaded. One of those days that I think air conditioning is the best invention ever.
in the bottom of the dam. I don't know about the sea. I included the hole in the The Lady of the Lake, based on information from my sister, other Hamptonites and the park ranger but didn't remember ever seeing it myself. If you are in a direct line with it, it isn't hard to see, but from any other angle, it's pretty well hidden. So yesterday morning we took a little hike to see it for ourselves.
According to the ranger, back in the hole is a solid brass door that is opened when they want to drain the lake. He said the last time was in the eighties and they had to bring in divers and a crane to get it open.
The dam, or more accurately, spillway, is beautiful, whether in low water, as pictured above, and the step design is obvious, or in high water, when the design is completely obscured.
This morning the Restoration Run is scheduled by the Friends of Beeds Lake but given the loudness of the thunder and the volume of rain falling on our camper roof, not sure that's going to happen.
The book signing last night was lovely. I got to visit with a number of classmates of my brothers and sisters--particularly brother Bill's class who are having their 50th class reunion this weekend. It was nice to reminisce about Bill with some of his classmates since he has been gone now for about eight years. I also learned some more about the real Lady of the Lake and that she actually lived near the lake.
We have an unplanned morning, followed by a surprise visit to a birthday party this afternoon and an appearance at the Class of '64's social hour. Then back here for, weather permitting, steaks cooked over the fire. Maybe by then, our camping neighbors will have moved their obnoxious pontoon boat that is currently parked partially on our campsite. Maybe it will fill up with water or be struck by lightning.
We arrived yesterday afternoon at Beed's Lake State Park and have a nice level pull-through site so set-up was pretty easy. Until we realized we had forgotten to fill up with water before we set up. Arrrgh. You'd think we'd never done this before. Fortunately, there is a hydrant across the road and we were able to borrow an extra hose from two nice women a couple of sites down (one of whom graduated with my sister Libby) and, added to our two hoses, fill up without moving the camper. Whew.
However, we soon noticed water under the sink and this time it wasn't a leaky water jug. The hot water line seems to have a problem. We attribute it (and the forgot-to-fill-up brain fart) to a rocky ride through Cedar Rapids. They are working on 380 and every bridge and overpass ends in a six-inch dropoff back to the new roadbed with a sign that says "Bump." This is a lot like calling the Korean War a 'police action.' Our bodies, brains, and camper took a real beating.
So it didn't seem wise to cook and wash dishes here and we trekked to town to the Rustic Brew, site of tonight's book signing. This place is a gem. It was a shoe store when I was in school and is now a delightful coffee shop and mircobrewery. (It's in the book.) The decor features great wall murals done by a friend of the original owner.
In spite of the forecast, the weather last weekend at Shady Creek held and we enjoyed a fire every night plus the Supermoon. We hurried to get home Monday morning before the rain but it never materialized then either.
Now we are preparing for this weekend and a few days at Beed's Lake, site of The Lady of the Lake. Home stomping grounds. Speaking of grounds, there will be a book signing for the new book at The Rustic Brew, a lovely coffee shop and brew pub in Hampton. (It is disguised in The Lady as The Brewster.) Beed's really is a wonderful park and campground so it should be a fun weekend.
And Camping Can Be Murder, the set of the first three books for Kindle will be a Kindle Countdown Deal this week starting tomorrow at noon CDT at the bargain price of .99 for all three. The price will creep back up during the week until August 22 when it returns to 4.99. Still a bargain.
Buttons of course refers to Muscatine, one-time pearl button capital. We are at Shady Creek, a Corps of Engineers campground on the Mississippi between Muscatine and Davenport. Shady Creek has been sorely affected by the flooding this year. We were told that this past Friday was only the second Friday they had been open. There are marks about six feet up on some of the trees from the high water and much of the ground around the cement pads is still cracked, bare earth. But the weather has been great as is the view of the river. The almost full supermoon was beautiful reflecting off the river last night.
We trucked our bikes to Muscatine yesterday and began our ride at Musser Park. Much as I would like to claim ownership of that, as well as the Musser Public Library or Musser Art Museum, I'm afraid it's a different, much distant, branch of the family from mine. Anyway we followed the levee trail upriver almost to the bridge--at least 50 miles, I think. Well, it felt like it going into the wind.
Crews are working all along the railroad tracks that also follow the river and the equipment is amazing. No large gangs of men driving spikes with hammers.
At the marina is an old bridge pier. The small square above the darker area is a plaque marking the high water mark from the flood of 1993. The return trip to Musser Park was much easier with the wind behind us and the whole exercise earned us naps and an awesome supper.
I didn't get some of the photos that I intended at the Glampers gathering. But I have to say there are some pretty amazing members. Susan and Mark are redoing a 1973 Holiday Rambler. They took it down to the skin and put up beadboard and benches, all painted white to give a more spacious feel. Her 'glamping bling' includes flags and matching awning lights that she made, a solar chandelier hanging from the awning, and an awesome collection of picnic baskets and thermoses. They were on their way from Lincoln NE to Elkhart, IN for a Holiday Rambler Rally.
Linda from Kansas only purchased her small, newer trailer named 'Madame Butterfly' earlier this summer and has already pulled it to Virginia, the Carolinas, Alabama, up to Illinois and will continue on to Wisconsin and Michigan.
Cindy and her husband run a restaurant near St. Louis and since it's difficult for them to be gone at the same time, she often camps alone. She said she has three trailers at home but brought a tent on this trip, along with three teenaged girls. How brave is that?
I also met a woman who flagged me down because of my very cool bike. :-) She was not a glamper but had driven from Massachusetts to Oregon and was on her way back. Her 13-year-old daughter had accompanied her but had to be flown home in time for a music camp. She was tent camping.
So now we are back home for two days to clean and wash and restock and then off to Shady Creek on the Mississippi.
And I am well into a new non-Frannie book about a vintage trailer that is a time travel portal and having lots of fun with it. Watch for it!
...is only the start of a million steps if you walk the trails at Mathiesson State Park in Illinois. This park is only down the road a piece, as they say, from Starved Rock. It centers around a canyon formed off the Vermillion River. To access different parts of the canyon, Illinois has built a million steps and I think we stumbled up or down them all yesterday.
Well, at least the kids did. There were some spots where we waited halfway down while the kids descended to the canyon floor. We aren't afraid to be wimps.
I hate graffiti and defacing public property, but if it has to happen, a sense of humor is good. At one of our waiting spots, "5 men died here" was carved into the railing. One benefit of waiting is that you get to meet other people in the same boat. We visited with several interesting persons, as much as gasping for breath will allow.
But the scenery was worth it. It's hard to imagine that a mile down the road from these canyons are corn and bean fields. There is a lake at the park also but the kids were disappointed that we never found a place where swimming was allowed. Others in the Glamper group came later and apparently went to the other end of the canyon than we did.
We rewarded ourselves with lunch on the deck at the beautiful Starved Rock Lodge. By the time we got back, we indulged in the AC of the camper and some long, much needed naps.
After three weeks of no camping, we arrived at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois with no hitches. When you reserve online, Illinois has no photos of campsites and they described the slope of our site as "slight." Right. It's fine if you have a ladder to get up to the first step of the camper. The front end is as low as it will go in order to be near level. That said, behind this site is a clearing surrounded by trees with our picnic table and firepit. A lovely spot.
We met the "Glampers" who were here and did a group photo before the Campbells left with their short schoolbus that they are redoing. In case you are not in the know, glampers are into glamorous camping. Campbells' bus is now black with gold filigree on the front and octopus arms wrapping the back. One holds a clock that is always 5:00. More photos later.
Andy and the kids arrived, as well as summer with a vengence. To beat the heat and humidity, Elliot found two super-soaker squirt guns, one of which even worked, and proceeded to shoot himself with it.
Wild life is in evidence. A group of turkeys wandered through the woods around our clearing and crossed the path 20 feet from us, oblivious to our presence. We were warned about the racoons. The night before, they raided the Campbells' cooler for all of their meat and food. One couple found their cooler dragged almost into the woods. Apparently, racoons are concerned about food safety too.