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Is Rowan Dean a liar or just stupid?
By adminOctober 30, 2018Australian Politics, Media
Curly-headed lightweight, Rowan Dean, appears in the homophobic, transphobic, racist, denialist corner of the Sky News Australia programming matrix. In the instance which made my bullshit detector go off-scale, Dean ran a session called 'Rowan's "weather"', which says much about his inability to distinguish weather from climate. Furthermore, in the Tweet from Sky News Australia, this is also titled Ice Age watch. This is impossible to satirise.
Dean starts off with a short video of some American washing his car in a rainstorm and uses this to segue into the furphy that the term 'extreme weather events' has replaced 'catastophic climate change' which itself has replaced 'anthropogenic global warming' which itself replaced the 'greenhouse effect'. This clearly demonstrating that Dean is either a liar, or that he is too stupid to realise the difference between these terms. Extreme weather events are just that; extreme storms. Catastrophic climate change is what we are risking if we do not do something about anthropogenic global warming, which has already taken the average temperature of the planet to 1.0°C above the 1851-1900 baseline. At its current rate of increase we will be exceedingly fortunate to keep it below 1.5°C2.The 'greenhouse effect' is the effect the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has; sunlight passes through the atmosphere, heats the surface of the earth which reradiates that energy as infrared radiation, and it is this which is absorbed by greenhouse gases, thereby warming the atmosphere, and then the oceans, more than we would like3. For someone to not understand this is astonishing, as numerous explanations can be found by googling it. There are even some designed for children that Dean could probably understand.
Dean then has a go at Tim Flannery, who he said 'promised' that the rain that falls isn't going to fill dams and rivers'. What Flannery actually said was 'the rain that falls may not be enough to fill our dams and our river systems'4. This is just Dean twisting words to make it a little lie: how your 'promise' something that 'may happen' is not something Dean explains. Flannery said this in reference to a decrease in the winter rainfall zone in southern Australia4. Indeed, the trend in Annual Total Rainfall over the years 1900-2009 shows significant decreases in most of Tasmania, central and western Victoria, southern South Australia, eastern Queensland, where the decrease has been about 5-10%, while in southwestern Western Australia, it has been as much as 20%. However, the interval around 1900 was fairly dry, and the trend in Annual Total Rainfall over the years 1950-2009 is even more alarming. In the eastern states and eastern South Australia, rainfall has decreased significantly, in places in eastern Victoria, eastern New South Wales and eastern Queensland by as much as 50%, and by as much as 30% in southwestern Western Australia5. This is in part because the middle of last century was a bit wetter than average.
Dean then puts the boot into Al Gore, who he said predicted that the Icecaps would melt by 2014. This is another Dean lie. Al Gore stated that it was possible that a lack of Summer sea ice could happen as early as 2013; this turned out to be not the case, but it may eventually happen, as the famed 'northwest passage' (for a shorter trade route from Europe to Asia) became open to ships in the Summer of 2007 without the need of an icebreaker, something that has not been possible since records began. Dean is either lying or is too stupid to realise that the Arctic Sea Ice is not 'the icecaps'. There are two large icesheets on the planet; they are on Greenland and Antarctica, and both of these are melting fairly rapidly.
Dean then says that there was some sort of pause or hiatus in global warming, and that the UN had admitted this. This is another straight-out lie, and has been shown time and again to be so7. Dean then reiterates the furphy of the change in terminology, before launching into a silly analogy that Elizabethans believed that bad behaviour had caused the Little Ice Age. Then he rambled on about Britain being set for four months of the 'coldest winter in a decade', saying that he is not convinced that this is 'global warming' seemingly unaware that the latter term is the average over the entire globe. Such events like Britain's 'beast from the east' of early in 2018 are due, not to a normal low-pressure area, but to a disordering of the polar vortex into central Europe9.
Dean states that climate change is a 'belief', when it is precisely not that. It is the considered conclusion of thousands of research scientists who have published many thousands of research papers, the knowledge gleaned having been compiled into the reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change10. Clearly Dean is so ignorant he does not know how science operates. Following this, presumably after trawling Youtube, Dean plays a couple of clips of reporters apparently lying about the weather events upon which they were reporting. The irony is probably lost on Dean.
Denialism, like that spouted by Dean is an odd phenomenon, and has had, and still has, many manifestations around evolution, the holocaust, tobacco, the ozone hole, acid rain, vaccines and AIDS, among others. The motivations are several and include religion, bigotry, self interest (economic or political) or defence mechanisms meant to protect the fragile psyche against mentally disturbing facts11,12. Which of these is the motivation that drives Dean is anybody's guess, as his appearance on Sky News after dark doesn't preclude any of them.
I don't watch Sky News because of idiots like Dean (his silly piece was sent to me), but I presume there are one or two real journalists who work for the organisation. I wonder if they ever watch the drivel put out by their after dark colleagues such as Dean? Do they ever feel embarrassed at being the lead in to such 'after dark' idiocy? At social events, do they ever just say they are a journalist, without mentioning for whom they work? If so, you have to feel sorry for them because while apparently doing a job they believe in, their reputations are constantly damaged by the likes of Dean.
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=rowan%20dean%20sky%20news
http://www.blotreport.com/environment/a-1-5c-warmer-world/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/landline/old-site/content/2006/s1844398.htm
http://www.cawcr.gov.au/projects/Climatechange/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/rainfall-paper.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage
https://skepticalscience.com/ipcc-global-warming-pause.htm
http://www.blotreport.com/science/deniers-and-the-pause/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Great_Britain_and_Ireland_cold_wave
http://www.ipcc.ch
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/03/denialism-what-drives-people-to-reject-the-truth
https://www.skepticalscience.com/5-characteristics-of-scientific-denialism.html
The guardian recently interviewed liberal mp Craig Laundry, he stated
Then there's the "Canberra bubble" – often cited, not particularly well understood. "The part that gets missed for people outside Canberra … is when you are in Parliament House, our side of politics spends their whole time in their offices with Sky News playing in the background, and you are watching colleagues going head-to-head with Labor on policy, but once it gets to 6pm, it goes from panel-style shows to commentary shows.
"Look that's [Sky's] business model, it isn't sour grapes, they are entitled to do this, they are trying to go the Fox News, US-style controversial rightwing shake-it-up … and a lot of my colleagues take what they say as gospel."
What chance have we got when the liberal watch and believe Sky after dark
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/25/craig-laundy-i-saw-the-worst-of-politics-i-had-a-ringside-seat
Yeah, I read that too. It is very disturbing that they watch it at all, but the fact that they are gullible enough to believe it, is staggering.
How did the election go for you? I just looked up Rowan Dean because of how perfectly he articulates common sense ideas and was the only one is MSM that predicted the fed election result and was laughed at the whole campaign…Are you starting to see that people like you are the delusional ones not the majority of Australians? This popped up after my search. Huge engagement you have…26 comments or so, incredible platform. But I stumbled upon it and was humoured by the incredible tirade you go about Mr Dean. It was actually pathetic especially in hindsight siting the date of this article. All the best.
Aaron,
You clearly do not understand how idiotic Rowan Dean is. He professes to have a grasp of climate science, but cannot even get the terminology right. That is idiotic in the extreme. By the way, many more people read the articles than comment on them. In fact the Rowan Dean article on which you comment has been read by several hundred people of the 47,000 who have read my essays. In the case of this article, I suspect this is mostly those who want to understand the correct terminology on global warming etc. That is something that seems to be beyond Dean's understanding.
DamandaC says:
I saw this Rowan Dean on a rant just now on "The Great Re-set" & I looked him up because I couldn't believe what I was hearing…. Of course I should have realised sooner that he was sitting in a #Sky studio, and "Jaws" music started playing in my head. "Rupert Murdoch….. Rupert Murdoch……. So what I've read in this piece certainly confirms my initial suspicions about him, he's a right wing Tosser!
Dean and all the other microbiota at Sky are becoming more bizarre as Murdoch gets more and more desperate. I initially thought Craig Kelly would be the only one daft enough to spin this 'great reset' QAnon conspiracy drivel. Clearly not.
The election was a surprise to me Aaron. Essentially it was choice between hope and complacent smugness. I thought Australians had a bit more nous, although it was primarily Qld which gave the hypocrite Morrison his win. The link you've attempted to make between the election result and Dean's ignorance on climate change is a ridiculously long bow, even for a conservative. That's not surprising unfortunately because ignorance of facts and arguments (surrounding climate change in this instance) is a common trait among a particular section of the right. Wasn't always so.
Chortle!
No point in getting upset about SKY 'journalism". The essential characteristics of employment there are ignorance, stupidity and an ability to regurgitate total nonsense without engaging a single useful brain cell. This bloke appears to be expert/well-practised in all those areas. It's not unlike coalition senators in the recent "it's okay to be white" cock-up. Amazing that not one of them thought to question the instructions, but such is life in a government in its death throes.
The stupidity of the government is mind-boggling. Hopefully after the next federal election it will be a case of "where the hell are you, Scott?"
Pauline Stewart says:
Row an Dean brilliant journo, not afraid of the looney Left, Greenies. Unafraid, won't be bullied by the intimidating. Politically Correct, anti-free speech brigade – who really believe their opinion is the only opinion. Their weapon is to shut down opposition to opinions that don't align with theirs. Thank heaven for Sky News, presenters, as a refreshing opposition to the Left biased ABC and its Leftie presenters.
Ha ha ha! Rowan Dean is as silly as a two-bob watch. He doesn't seem to even understand how science operates. He is even too stupid to understand, or too dishonest to relate the terminology of climate change to his audience. Try this too: http://www.blotreport.com/australian-politics/stating-the-obvious-30-years-too-late/
Steven Bosten says:
Rowan Dean is a Genius, if you disagree, then your oblivious to the real world sentiment, and your just one of the very few socialist low IQ types left… If you disagree, than get a job and start contributing to society rather than bludging off it and trying to get a foot up while sitting on the couch!
Are you a satirist? If not, you really should consider it as an option for a career. As an aside, I am a self-funded retiree. Do you have a job?
Satirist no, I'm a security guard…. 12 hour shifts buddy!
Self funded retiree? Then thank you, it's good to know you have Rowan's and my support!
You think Rowan pays tax? I don't have your support. Like I said, I am a SELF-FUNDED retiree. I pay for myself.
That is great, like you i aim to do the same in several years.
That is why WE need to continue supporting Rowan as he is fighting for us. Not the socialist left that wants to redistribute our savings to the lazy lounges…
You are wrong there. Rowan Dean is only after the best for his billionaire proprietor, Rupert Murdoch, who is also a climate change denier. If you believe that Dean is fighting for you, then you are seriously gullible. Rupert Murdoch needed his share of the undocumented $30 million grant so much, and he needed his $882 million tax rebate so much too. This is money that you as a taxpayer have subsidised.
Ouch, why be nasty?
As always just resort to baseless socialist hype.
I'm here to debate not be abused by communists.
I'm only interested debating facts!
Obviously this is beyond your intellectual capacity, read some books and stop watching ABC..
Streven,
You do not seem to know what facts are. Calling someone else a communist as a form of abuse is so 1980s. Did you miss the collapse of communism?
Yes I did.
Obviously you didn't!
Comprehension isn't your strong suit is it? I asked you if you had missed it. Are you a climate change denier? If so, try this. http://www.blotreport.com/science/deniers-lie-1/
YES.. I am a GLOBAL WARMING sceptic!
I'm an Atheist, religion doesn't play a part in my political agenda.
Like our recent election, 70 percent of the population disagrees with your ABC agenda.
Just accept it.. do some real science and learn that your a minority, fighting a religious cause that goes nowhere.
Please don't send links to your religious cause, I only look at real science without a political agenda…
And yes, in case your wondering, Science is my specialty.. bring it on.
Your one of the 30 percent… An ABC scientist..?
You are not a global warming sceptic. You are a denier. I have been a scientist for 42 years if you include my Ph.D., and all scientists are sceptical, that is why there are so many published papers going over the same territory, trying to pick holes in others' work. What was your field of study? Was it climate science? If so, where do you publish your research? By the way, the contraction of 'you are' is not 'your', but 'you're'. Read this, it might help you. http://www.blotreport.com/english-usage/apostrophe-catastrophe/
Russellga says:
Poor little Steven who mixes possessives up with adumbrated forms of "to be". Oh, let me explain that now, so that you're understanding of grammar will improve. Rowan Dropkick is a genius??? I roll on the floor belly laughing till I'm in agony. Get a doctor somebody!
Russell,
I must admit I did have a cackle at some of his pronouncements.
Relax, don't panic. Like a true socialist, your limited intelligence resorts you to name calling and abuse. That's ok, I understand I threaten your new found religion and that's all your capable of when you live in your world. And yes, I never went to school, we were poor.
But nothing excites me more when I can still outsmart you!
You need to understand, educated people are only booksmart and have no real intelligence with reality….
Your like a dog with a bone…. just give up, and go back to listening to the corrupt UN and their 16 year old disciple…
You were the one who contacted me. It always makes me laugh when the people who have no idea what they are talking about, are so certain that they are exceptional in their ability to understand that topic. This is the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Google it.
Allan Price says:
Hi Rowan
Good to see you here under your Steven Bosten alias.
Your time would be better spent improving your spelling, grammar and punctuation. And get a haircut while you're at it.
See you next Tuesday.
I burst out laughing when I saw your comment. Thanks!
Nice try… but thank you! Being thought of as Rowen is a compliment.
My grammar, is not so good as I spend my time on quantum theory!
Something that a socialist wouldn't understand. It's called science, something that this site can't comprehend.
Some people waste their lives trying to speak and spell properly to only fool others that they have intelligence….
English is man made, mathematics and physics is the only true language. Have fun with your very limited area of expertise, it only fools people with low intelligence.
Now, honestly, does anyone reading these posts think that you have any intelligence when all you can do is attack my grammar?
Typical small minds that need to resort to ridicule and abuse those with superior intelligence… That is why socialism will always fail.
Never underestimate us as intelligence wins over who can show off how good their grammar is……
So you are into quantum physics. Super. What do you think about the failure of classical symmetry to survive the process of quantisation and regularisation?
Jimmy Somethin says:
So you like Rowan? He's great hey! Very informative!
Jimmy,
No, he is an idiot. I have more intelligent vegetables in the crisper drawer of my fridge. He believes in astrology, and doesn't understand climate change. That is profoundly stupid.
The misinformed and stupid always resort to abuse and mocking because you are threatened by Rowen's genius!
Go to bed, you'll be late for kindly tomorrow.
You don't understand science either. That is a silly thing for someone to say in the 21st century which is so dependent on science for your communications, medical care, and travel. Just because you do not understand it doesn't mean it has no impact on your life. Ignorance is no excuse. I also notice that you cannot spell his name correctly, which says much about your abilities to discern his equine ordure when it is presented to you.
Bob Weis says:
It's an interesting knee jerk response – I was talking with a bistro owner, who until this point was unfailingly polite and friendly, and then I mentioned global warming and he said, "Oh so you are a communist." A little taken aback I listened for a while and then I asked him where he got his information. He looked at me triumphantly and said, "Have you heard of Breitbart?".
"Yes, I know who funds it and who edits it and there is a lot to talk about thee."
The short story is that he had a meltdown and sold the restaurant.
The emotional committment to denial makes it impossible to even read, let alone accept, the science.
When the water comes they will also drown.
Strewth, that is extraordinary! I've never actually met a person like that. Most of the deniers I have met have either simply been thick, or work for the coal or petroleum industries and for which a belief in global warming is perceived as a personal affront.
The hypocritical and obviously confused Stephen is apparently a security guard who claims to have expertise in physics, maths and science in general. Unfortunately he knows sfa about statistics and opinion polls, or maybe he just makes things up as he goes: "Like our recent election, 70 percent of the population disagrees with your ABC agenda." Stephen might care to read the polls regarding the ABC (eg: http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8064-abc-remains-most-trusted-media-201907220424) and digest it's own year on year survey results (which can be found on the ABC website in the unlikely event that Stephen should ever decide to open his mind).
Jeez! Facts! You'll scare the bejesus out of Stephen.
Speaking of redistribution of wealth Stephen old boy – how many HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS (ironically that's a conservative estimate) of taxpayer dollars have the conservatives handed to their mates in recent years – "direct action", water, "sport", mining,….? Rather hypocritical that a government which doesn't believe in climate change would give such big handouts to help businesses reduce emissions eh mate? Snouts in the trough. I wonder how you feel about millionaires and mega multinational companies paying zero tax while your mates in Canberra take 20+% of your earnings to give them a handout. If as they say ignorance is bliss you must be a very content fella.
Chortle! Excellent comeback!


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City of Bloomington's cash reserves exceed $ 23 million amid COVID-19 pandemic
Car parking rate by admin	on June 20, 2021 30 views
Despite the pandemic-induced recession and millions of dollars in economic stimulus spending, the City of Bloomington ended 2020 with plenty of cash and held over $ 23 million in reserves in its major operating funds, parks and of rainy days.
City comptroller Jeff Underwood expects these reserves to decline somewhat over the next three years as the community tries to protect itself from the post-pandemic fallout. However, he predicts that reserves will remain well above the minimum recommended by public finance experts.
"I think the photo is beautiful," Underwood told the Herald-Times.
This may, indeed, look even better than expected, as Underwood's forecast excludes any benefit the city departments could derive from the $ 22 million the city received under the American Rescue Plan Act. While city leaders, including Mayor John Hamilton, have said they plan to use the COVID-19 stimulus money primarily on one-time spending to fix problems and prepare the city for growth, some of the dollars could be used to offset revenue from the declining pandemic.
In a recent presentation to Bloomington City Council, Hamilton said that as city leaders prepare for the 2022 budget, they need to think about how best to balance needs and opportunities, including housing, employment, public safety, infrastructure and quality of life while focusing on building a more inclusive and prosperous community.
The city won't hold budget hearings until August, but will get important tax information as early as this month, including how much the state will allow the city to increase spending next year.
Underwood said that among all of the city's departments, parks and parking lots saw the biggest drops in revenue from the pandemic as more people stayed home and didn't have to pay for parking. or participate in sports events and tournaments organized by the parks department.
Despite these declines in income, the city has remained in a strong financial position thanks at least in part to its frugality since the 2007-2008 recession: in nine of the 10 years between 2009 and 2018, the city received more revenue. in general. funds he has not spent. The general fund pays for most of the city's basic services, including the mayor's office, engineer, animal control, and police and fire departments. About 77% of the dollars spent in this fund are spent on personnel costs, including salaries and wages.
In some years during this decade, the city spent almost $ 3 million less in its general fund than it could have done. In total during that decade, he spent about $ 16 million less than he received in income.
General fund spending has increased almost every year during this period, from just under $ 29 million in 2008 to just under $ 40 million in 2018. Spending has increased by an average of 3 , 7% per annum for the period, but income grew an average of 5.2%. It's like a worker who gets an annual raise of $ 500, increasing his annual expenses by $ 300: the end result is a larger balance in the savings account.
The state does not allow government units to spend more than they generate, unless they can cover the extra expenses with reserves. However, doing it on a regular basis can backfire and put cities, towns, or counties in a bind. For example, overspending over time left Owen County officials with a $ 1.9 million deficit.
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Cash flow, disaster buffer
Public finance experts recommend that governments keep reserves for cash flow reasons and to prepare for possible income shocks from recessions or natural disasters.
Mike Mucha, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of Public Finance Officers, said the organization recommends that cities keep reserves of at least two months of spending, or 16.7% of annual spending, although cities prone to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes or fires forest should consider a larger buffer.
On average, Mucha said, organizations keep reserves between 20% and 30% of their annual spend.
Underwood said that while the city has not formally adopted a minimum reserve balance policy, it has targeted 33%, essentially four months of general fund spending.
He said these reserves not only provide a buffer for recessions, but are also needed for cash flow reasons. The city is funded primarily by property taxes, but it only receives those dollars twice a year, right after people pay their property tax bills. At the start of the year, for example, government units have to wait several months before receiving their next property tax allowance. This means governments need to keep enough reserves to pay their bills before they get more property taxes.
According to a recent Underwood presentation to city council, the city's reserves have remained above the minimum of 16.7% each year since 2013 and above the target of 33% each year since 2015. In fact, since 2017, the city's reserves have hovered around 40% and in 2019 reached 44%.
Mucha said it's certainly better to have too many reserves than not enough, but if cities provide adequate services, they shouldn't just be hoarding money either. If the balance grows well beyond the city's stated minimum recommendation or stated target, the city should use those dollars to improve services, fund capital projects, or lower its tax rate.
Underwood said he understood the concerns.
"We don't want to have excessive reserves," he said.
Hamilton recently told the county that while department heads hadn't spent any money at the end of the year, half of that surplus usually went to reserves, with the other half going back, with approval. from the board, to the department for it to be spent on projects they otherwise could not afford.
Underwood said this approach encourages managers to spend their money sparingly, but also helps them benefit their savings.
"It worked out well," he says.
Underwood said the city this year will likely end somewhere near 25% to 30% in reserve, although COVID relief dollars may push that number a little closer to its 33% target.
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While some of the effects of the pandemic are likely still unknown, Underwood said economic indicators made him more optimistic compared to last year. Property taxes don't appear to be going down, he said, and income taxes will likely be flat or slightly higher than the year before. Suppressed consumer demand is also pushing food and beverage taxes up, and some economic segments have done very well over the past year.
Underwood said at the recent council meeting that the city's tax plans could also be compromised by factors such as weather, state or federal law, rising material prices and rising health insurance costs. and fleet maintenance. Vehicle replacement, for example, could cost more than usual this year: USA Today, a partner of The Herald-Times, reported that a global shortage of semiconductor chips has contributed to soaring prices of second-hand cars.
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August 23-26: Council budget hearings
September 19: Deadline for submitting a notice to taxpayers of the proposed budget
September 29: First reading by the Council of budgetary and salary orders and official public hearing.
October 13: Final adoption of the budget and salary ordinances.
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By Aravind Mahadevan, June 21, 2019, Categories: Edutainment, Entertainment, Featured, Kids, Slider, Sports
Now that Twitteratis have had enough of the infamous yawn and India's victory over Pakistan, let's talk numbers again. With the group stage having reached beyond the halfway point, this is a good time to assess the semi-final prospects of the teams that are still in contention
We can rule out Afghanistan and South Africa– they have no mathematical chance of progressing to the semi finals. For South Africa, it was their nemesis from their previous two world cups- New Zealand who put the final nail in the coffin. They have only pride left to play for in their remaining games
Australia have five wins from six games and they need to win just one game out of their remaining encounters against South Africa, England and New Zealand. While the last two will be tough games, they will fancy their chances against South Africa
England have four wins from five games. They will expect to beat Sri Lanka next which will then require them to win one of the remaining games against Australia, India and New Zealand which looks very much on the cards given their form. Their batsmen have posted the highest team score so far of this World Cup and seem in a dominating mood
India have played only four games so far, with three wins and a washout. But they face an easy game against Afghanistan next and will also be heavy favourites against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and West Indies. So getting two more victories that will take them to the semi-final seems easily achievable. It's only the last game against England that will provide a stern test for India.
New Zealand have four wins and a washout from their five games. One more win will be sufficient to see them through to the semis. They have West Indies, Pakistan, England and Australia to deal with and they will expect to get over the line against at least either of West Indies or Pakistan
So it does seem at this stage that England, Australia, India and New Zealand are well placed to reach the semi finals. The remaining four teams that are still in the hunt – Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and West Indies have slim chances. They will need to win all of their remaining games to do that and that will include some tough games where they will need to register an upset or two. But its definitely possible and so we need to closely watch how these teams fare over the next few days
Aravind Mahadevan
I have been living in Hong Kong for the last 15 years. By profession, I am an investment banker and I am currently working for Morgan Stanley in their fixed income division. My favourite hobbies are chess, cricket and mathematics. In addition to following chess and cricket events, I am an active chess player and I play in tournaments in Hong Kong. I am also an avid reader of books- both fiction and non- fiction. Both myself and my wife Priya share a love of crime fiction, especially the Agatha Christie series. We also love travelling and exploring new vegetarian cuisines.
Latest posts by Aravind Mahadevan (see all)
What Happened, India? - July 13, 2019
Pitch Update - July 5, 2019
Cricket is Climaxing - June 28, 2019
Who makes it to the Semi Finals? - June 21, 2019
World Cup Washout - June 14, 2019


The term "cosmetic dentistry" is often associated with major procedures that lead to distinctively life-altering outcomes. Only one of those things seem to be true most of the time, cosmetic dentistry doesn't have to be some sort of huge surgery, but it does have the potential to make a huge difference in a patient's life.
Although many may think that any sort of cosmetic dentistry procedure is done for purely aesthetic reasons, you'd be surprised to know that there are many other reasons one may have to consider this type of procedure. Here are a few little known and not often thought of reasons that people may need the help of a cosmetic dentist.
Part of taking care of your oral health involves maintaining the cleanliness of all oral facets includes teeth and gums. However, there are cases in which teeth are so tightly packed or misplaced that it can cause difficulties for patients when they attempt to brush and floss their teeth. This can lead to oral decay, cavities, and gum disease.
In order to prevent having any more severe effects of poor dental hygiene, it is beneficial to consider cosmetic dentistry. In this case, it can help by correcting the malformed teeth in order to make it easier for the patient to clean them.
For some people, having missing or damaged teeth can be a hindrance to everyday activates, such as communicating and properly chewing food. In order to improve a patient's quality of life, cosmetic dentistry may be necessary.
For example, if a person has damaged or missing teeth, they may only be able to chew on one side of their mouth. There is also the fact that speech may be impaired due to missing teeth, so having a cosmetic procedure done can improve communication and speaking confidence as a whole.
The loss of teeth or an increase in decay of remaining teeth may be the side effect of a more serious health issue. Some examples include oral cancer, which can lead to tooth loss, and acid reflux syndrome, which can lead to the rapid decay of tooth enamel.
Another medical concern that can greatly damage tooth enamel is the habit of smoking. Chronic smokers often experience both lung and tooth decay as a result of their smoking habits. Cosmetic dentistry is a way for these individuals to gain some control back in their oral health and get their teeth taken care of so that they can focus on their overall health.
Accidents happen every day, some even resulting in the lost or damaged teeth. From car accidents to falls, there are many ways in which your teeth can be impacted in a manner that can be out of your control entirely. Cosmetic dentistry can help restore the damage done in these extreme cases and allow patients to focus their thoughts and energy into healing rather than worrying about the worsening of their teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry tends to have the stigma of only being necessary for aesthetic improvements, and may not be viewed as a true medical need for many people. However, there are many different situations that life can throw at you that may require the help of a cosmetic dentist.
If you are interested in learning more about the types of procedures out there to enhance your life as a whole, feel free to reach out to us at Dentrix Dental Care in Calgary so that we may lay out all the options available and help you make an informed decision.


The effect of Au doping on a 10%Co/TiO2 Fischer–Tropsch catalyst has been investigated by varying the amount of Au (0.2–5 wt.%) added to the catalyst. Addition of Au to the 10%Co/TiO2 system improved the cobalt dispersion on the catalyst surface and shifted the reduction temperature for the cobalt oxides in interaction with the support to lower temperatures. The catalyst activity for FT reaction increased with an increase in Au loading and passed through a maximum in activity at 1 wt.% Au while the methane and light product selectivity monotonically increased with Au loading.


text:
Taguri: Peru
Mass child sacrifice discovered in Peru may be largest in history
Peru's ex-President to stand trial, only a month after being released from prison where he was serving 25 years
Peru authorities recaptured prisoner who escaped jail by drugging and leaving behind his twin brother
Pope Francis spoke of violence against women in Latin America
7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Peru. At least 2 dead and over 65 injured
Peru's former President calls for unity against crime and violence after being freed from a 25-year sentence
Terrifying moment Peruvian Airlines jet bursts into flames during crash landing (VIDEO)
News in indigenous language of Inca empire aired for first time in Peru
Peruvian police dressed as Santa Claus raid suspected drug house (VIDEO)
Peru declares state of emergency over deadly forest fires
Trump's victory likely to propel China as world's no. 1 superpower
Peru investigates death of 10,000 Titicaca water frogs
Andes glaciers lost approximately half of its ice in four decades as a result of global warming
17 people were killed and 41 injured in a collision in Peru


text:
Justia Patents Having Means Inflated In Body (e.g., Inflatable Nozzle, Dilator, Balloon Catheter, Occluder, Etc.)US Patent for Balloon with the variable radial force distribution Patent (Patent # 6,391,002)
Balloon with the variable radial force distribution
Dec 7, 1999 - Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
A balloon catheter having an elongated shaft and a balloon mounted on the distal portion of the shaft, the balloon having a working section and proximal and distal end portions that extend inwardly with respect to the working section and which are secured to the catheter shaft within the working section. The end portions are therefore inverted recesses on each end of the balloon. A stent may be disposed about the balloon to form a stent deploying system. The proximal and distal end portions may contain a tapered portion, which tapers from the balloon working section to the catheter shaft with decreasing transverse dimension. The end portions may be connected to the working section with connecting fibers. This design allows for improved expansion and stent placement in the vasculature.
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This invention generally relates to the filed of intravascular balloon catheters, and more particularly to a balloon catheter with a balloon having a variable radial force along the longitudinal axis for improved expansion and stenting.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a widely used procedure for the treatment of coronary heart disease. In this procedure, a balloon dilatation catheter is advanced into the patient's coronary artery. The balloon on the catheter is inflated within the stenotic region of the patient's artery, exerting radial force on the stenotic region, to open up the arterial passageway. Thereby increasing the blood flow.
To facilitate the advancement of the dilatation catheter into the patient's coronary artery, a guiding catheter having a preshaped distal tip is first percutaneously introduced into the cardiovascular system of a patient by the Seldinger technique through the brachial or femoral arteries. The catheter is advanced until the preshaped distal tip of the guiding catheter is disposed within the aorta adjacent the ostium of the desired coronary artery, and the distal tip of the guiding catheter is then maneuvered into the ostium. A balloon dilatation catheter may then be advanced through the guiding catheter into the patient's coronary artery until the balloon on the catheter is disposed within the stenotic region of the patient's artery. The balloon is inflated, exerting radial force on the stenotic region, opening up the arterial passageway and increasing the blood flow through the artery.
Generally, the inflated diameter of the balloon is approximately the same diameter as the native diameter of the body lumen being dilated so as to complete the dilatation but not over expand the artery wall. After the balloon is finally deflated, blood flow resumes through the dilated artery and the dilatation catheter can be removed therefrom. However, damage to the vessel wall at and around the stenosis can result from the expansion of the balloon against the vessel wall.
In such angioplasty procedures, there may be a restenosis, i.e. reformation of the arterial blockage. To reduce the restenosis rate and to strengthen the dilated area, physicians frequently implant an intravascular prosthesis, called a stent, inside the artery at the site of the lesion. Stents may also be used to repair vessels having an intimal flap or dissection or to generally strengthen a weakened section of a vessel. Stents are usually delivered to a desired location within a coronary artery in a contracted condition on a balloon of a catheter which is similar in many respects to a balloon angioplasty catheter, and expanded to a larger diameter by expansion of the balloon. Thereafter, the balloon is deflated to remove the catheter and the stent is left in place within the artery at the site of the dilated lesion.
Stents have been used to open a stenosed vessel for some time. Unfortunately, the force needed to move against the thick stenosis causes the balloon to expand against the vessel wall in the area proximal and distal to the stenosis. The expansion of a stent against the vessel wall can cause damage to the vessel wall, similar to the damage caused by expansion of the balloon.
Therefore, what has been needed is a balloon catheter with improved expansion characteristics to avoid damage to the vessel wall. The present invention satisfies these and other needs.
The invention is directed to a balloon catheter having an elongated shaft and a balloon mounted on a distal portion of the shaft. The balloon has a working section and proximal and distal end portions that extend inwardly with respect to the working section. The proximal and distal end portions are secured to the catheter shaft within the working section. The balloon catheter of the present invention allows for variable radial force along the catheter's longitudinal axis without changing the outer diameter of the working section of the balloon or the wall thickness throughout the balloon.
The catheter shaft has a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The balloon may be configured for dilatation, or for stent delivery with a stent disposed about and mounted on the working section of the balloon. The stent may be any of several known in the art. Such suitable stents include, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,768 (Lau et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,615 (Klemm et al.), which are incorporated herein by reference.
The location of the secured ends of the balloon creates a variable radial force along the balloon working section. Certain areas exert more force, and therefore expand more, against the vessel wall. This phenomenon is called focal expansion. The balloon of the invention has proximal and distal end portions that extend inwardly, creating funnel shaped inverted recesses on each end of the balloon. Generally, balloons known in the art have cone shape end portions extending away from the working section. The inverted recesses create two surface areas inside the balloon at the same location along the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft between the location that the end is secured to the catheter shaft and the location corresponding to the end of the working length. When the balloon is inflated, the two surface areas exert force in generally opposite directions. The working section of the balloon will exert force against the stenosis. The end portions exert force in a direction determined by design characteristics. In all design embodiments, the force exerted by the end portions will be in a direction generally opposite the force exerted on the stenosis by the working section.
The portions of the working section which have a corresponding surface at the same location along the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft will not exert the force against the vessel wall that the portion of the working section without a corresponding interior surface will exert. Thereby, the balloon avoids damage to the vessel by limiting expansion of the balloon or stent proximal and distal to the stenosis. Generally, about 40% to about 80% of the length of the working section will have a corresponding surface at the same location along the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft.
In a specific embodiment, the balloon is at least partially supported by interior fibers of connecting material. The connecting fibers may be made from any material that is compatible with the balloon materials and is noncompliant and rigid in order not to distort beyond its length. These materials include, but are not limited to, polymeric materials and metallic materials. Specifically, biocompatible plastics are adequate materials. The fibers connect at least a portion of the working section with the interior area of the proximal end portion or distal end portion. These fibers allow for a controlled variable radial force. With no fibers, the opposing forces create a lever effect, with most of the force exerted on the end portions cumulatively exerted on the point connecting the end portion to the working length. While this results in less force on the vessel wall at the proximal and distal ends of the working section, it can not be controlled or predicted. With connecting fibers, each connected point along the end portion has a corresponding point on the working section. This in turn allows for a point by point force subtraction, and a controlled and predictable decrease in force along the working section towards the ends.
In one embodiment of the invention, the balloon has a proximal end portion having a tapered length that tapers distally from a larger transverse dimension to a smaller transverse dimension. The tapered length may take any form. Some tapers include, but are not limited to, an embodiment with a tapered length adjacent to the working section with an angle between the working section and the tapered length of about 5 degrees to about 90 degrees. Specifically, the angle is about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees. Another taper embodiment has the tapered length adjacent to the working section and the taper has a radius of curvature. In a third taper embodiment, the tapered length is adjacent to the catheter shaft and includes a portion adjacent to the working section that is generally parallel to the working section. The angle between the tapered length and the catheter shaft is about 5 degrees to about 90 degrees. Specifically, the angle is about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees.
Another embodiment of the balloon has a distal section end portion having a tapered length that tapers proximally from a larger transverse dimension to a smaller transverse dimension. All the embodiments of the tapered length discussed above are also available for the tapered length on the distal end portion. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the balloon has both a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, each with an embodiment of a tapered length.
The balloon is manufactured like many balloons in the art. A balloon may be manufactured with a blow mold manufacturing process. A tube of the balloon material is placed into a mold having an interior with the desired balloon shape. The material is then expanded under certain pressure and temperature to meet the mold interior, which forms the balloon. This balloon is unique in its assembly. The balloon is sealed to the catheter shaft using techniques known in the art, however, the ends must be sealed to allow for proper placement of the ends within the working section. Specifically, the ends are glue sealed at the proper location so that the sealed ends will be within the working section. This may be accomplished by sealing the ends one at a time, or by gathering the balloon between the ends so the balloon working section does not overlap the ends during the sealing process. After the seal is complete, the balloon working section may then be arranged over the sealed ends, and prepared for entry.
In the embodiment having connecting fibers, the balloon assembly is more complex. First, the proximal and distal end portions are secured to the catheter shaft using conventional techniques leaving a free end on each. The connecting fibers are then connected to the end portions at predetermined spaces, leaving free ends. The free ends of the end portions and the connecting fibers are then secured to the working section. Additional methods known in the art may also be considered to place the connecting fibers within the balloon.
The balloon is preferably formed of a semi or low compliant material, such as polyamides including nylon and PEBAX, and polyurethane. The term "compliant" as used herein refers to thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers that exhibit substantial radial growth upon the application of radially expansive force. The radial growth of a balloon formed of a noncompliant material such as PET is typically less than about 0.02 mm/ATM, compared to about 0.025 to about 0.045 mm/ATM for a balloon formed of low compliant material such as nylon 12. However, this balloon may be made of a variety of materials to suit the compliance needs of the procedure.
The balloon catheter of this invention provides for improved focal expansion and stenting due to the variable radial force along the longitudinal axis. Consequently, the balloon catheter avoids damage to vessel walls during expansion of the balloon or stent thereon, and provides excellent control over stent expansion for improved stent implantation. In the embodiment having reinforcing webbing, the radial expansion on the ends of the working section is limited by the opposing forces as well as the length of the webbing. These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying exemplary drawings.
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a balloon catheter system that embodies features of the invention, showing the balloon and stent in a partially expanded state.
FIG. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view of the catheter system of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2—2.
FIG. 5 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the distal section of an alternative embodiment that has connecting fibers connecting the working length to the tapering portions.
FIG. 6 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the distal section of an alternative embodiment that has a curved taper.
FIG. 7 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the distal section of an alternative embodiment that has a tapered portion and including a portion generally parallel to the working length.
FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the distal section of the catheter system of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 depicting the balloon and stent fully expanded.
FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a balloon catheter 10 embodying features of the invention, which generally include an elongated catheter shaft 11 having a proximal section 12 and a distal section 13 and a balloon 14 on the distal section 13. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an adapter 30 is on the proximal section 12 of the catheter shaft 11. Balloon 14 has a working section 15. A stent 18 is disposed about the balloon 14 to form a stent deploying catheter system.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment characterized by a guidewire 28 disposed within the guidewire lumen 29 defined by inner tubular member 26. The catheter shaft 11 has an outer tubular member 25 and an inner tubular member 26. Outer tubular member 25, together with inner tubular member 26, defines an inflation lumen 27 in fluid communication with the balloon 14 and the inflation port 31 on the adapter 30. Inflation fluid may be introduced into the inflation port 31, through the inflation lumen 27, and subsequently inflate the balloon 14.
In FIG. 1, the working section 15 has a proximal end 16 and a distal end 17. The balloon 14 is secured to the catheter shaft 11 at a proximal secured end 21 and a distal secured end 22. The balloon 14 is sealingly secured to the catheter shaft 11 within the working section 15. The balloon 14 may be secured to the catheter shaft 11 on either or both the inner or outer wall of the balloon 14. The balloon 14 has a proximal end portion 19, and a distal end portion 20. The proximal end portion 19 and the distal end portion 20 extend inwardly with respect to the working section 15.
A feature of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is the tapered length 23. A tapered length may exist between the working section distal end 17 and the distal secured end 22, and another tapered length may exist between the working section proximal end 16 and the proximal secured end 21. FIG. 1 embodies one configuration of the tapered length 23. In the end portions 19 and 20 illustrated in FIG. 1, the end portions 19 and 20 comprise funnel shaped inverted recesses with an inner diameter which is defined by an outer surface of the balloon which decreases from a location adjacent to the working section ends 16 and 17 to an end of the secured ends 21 and 22.
FIG. 5 shows a similar configuration of the tapered length 23(a). In this configuration, the tapered length is adjacent to the working section 15, and extends generally to the secured ends 21 and 22. The angle 32 between the balloon working section 15 and the tapered length 23(a) is generally about 5 degrees to about 90 degrees. In the embodiment illustrated, the angle 32 is about 30 to about 50 degrees. The angle 33 between the tapered length 23(a) and the catheter shaft 11 is generally about 5 degrees to about 90 degrees. In the embodiment illustrated, the angle 33 is about 30 to about 50 degrees.
FIG. 6 shows another configuration of the tapered length feature 23(b). The tapered length 23(b) may exist adjacent to the working section 15 with a radius of curvature and extending generally to the secured ends 21 and 22. A third configuration is shown in FIG. 7 with tapered length 23(c). The tapered length 23(c) is adjacent to the secured ends 21 and 22 with an angle 34 between the tapered length 23(c) and the catheter shaft 11 of about 5 degrees to about 90 degrees. In the embodiment illustrated, the angle 34 is about 34 to about 60 degrees. A portion 35 between the working section 15 and the tapered length 23(c) extends generally parallel to the working section 15.
Referring back to FIG. 5, an embodiment of the invention includes connecting fibers 24 connecting at least a portion of the inner surface of the working section 15 and the inner surface of the tapered length 23(a). The connecting fibers 24 may also extend between the inner surface of the working section 15 and the outer surface of the catheter shaft 11. Preferably, the connecting fibers 24 are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the balloon working section 15. The connecting fibers 24 may be made of either polymeric material or metallic material. Specifically, the connecting fiber material may be made of biocompatible plastic.
The balloon 14 is assembled in such a way as to allow the proximal secured end 21 and the distal secured end 22 to be within the working section 15. This may be accomplished by securing proximal secured end 21, then moving balloon 14 and securing distal secured end 22. Then the balloon 14 will be arranged around the secured ends 21 and 22. Other methods may also be used to secure the secured ends 21 and 22 within the working section 15.
FIG. 8 shows the distal section 13 of the catheter shaft 11 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 shows the balloon 14 inflated with the stent 18 expanded for deployment. FIG. 8 further illustrates an advantage of this embodiment, which shows that the working section 15 expands to a larger radius at its center than the radius of expansion at the working section proximal end 16 or the working section distal end 17 at the working pressure.
Although individual features of embodiments of the invention may be shown in some of the drawings and not in others, those skilled in the art will recognize that individual features of the embodiments of the invention can be combined with any or all the features of another embodiment.
1. A balloon catheter, comprising
a) a catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen; and
b) a balloon on a distal section of the catheter shaft, the balloon having an inflated configuration, and having a central working section with a proximal end and a distal end, and having proximal and distal end portions which extend inwardly with respect to the working section, and having a proximal secured section and a distal secured section secured to the catheter shaft and located at positions on the shaft which are between the proximal end and the distal end of the working section of the balloon in the inflated configuration, the proximal secured section having a proximal end located distal to the proximal end of the working section.
2. The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein the end portions comprise funnel shaped inverted recesses with an inner diameter which is defined by an outer surface of the balloon which decreases from a location adjacent to the working section end to an end of the secured end.
3. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion has a tapered length tapering distally from a larger transverse dimension to a smaller transverse dimension.
4. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the working section has a proximal working section radially aligned with the proximal end portion of the balloon and a distal working section radially aligned with the distal end portion of the balloon, and the proximal and distal working sections have lengths which are about 40% to about 80% of the total working section length.
5. The balloon catheter of claim 3, wherein the tapered length is adjacent to the working section, and the tapered length extends to the catheter shaft.
6. The balloon catheter of claim 5 wherein an angle between the working section and the tapered length is about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees, and an angle between the tapered length and the catheter shaft is about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees.
7. The balloon catheter of claim 3, wherein the tapered length is adjacent to the catheter shaft and including a portion between the working section and the tapered length which extends generally parallel to the working section.
8. The balloon catheter of claim 7, wherein the angle between the catheter shaft and the tapered length is about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
9. The balloon catheter of claim 3, wherein the tapered length is adjacent to the working section, and the tapered length has a radius of curvature.
10. The balloon catheter of claim 1, further comprising a connecting fiber connecting at least a portion of the working section to the proximal and distal end portions.
11. The balloon catheter of claim 10, wherein the connecting fiber is selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials and metallic materials.
12. The balloon catheter of claim 10, further comprising a connecting fiber connecting at least a portion of the working section to the catheter shaft.
13. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion has a tapered length tapering proximally from a larger transverse dimension to a smaller transverse dimension.
14. The balloon catheter of claim 13, wherein the tapered length is adjacent to the working section, and the tapered length extends to the catheter shaft.
15. The balloon catheter of claim 14, wherein an angle between the working section and the tapered length is about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees, and an angle between the tapered length and the catheter shaft is about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees.
16. The balloon catheter of claim 13, wherein the tapered length is adjacent to the catheter shaft and including a portion between the working section and the tapered length which extends generally parallel to the working section.
17. The balloon catheter of claim 16, wherein the angle between the catheter shaft and the tapered length is about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
18. The balloon catheter of claim 13, wherein the tapered length is adjacent to the working section, the tapered length has a radius of curvature, and the tapered length extends to the catheter shaft.
19. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the distal secured section has a distal end located proximal to the distal end of the working section.
20. A balloon catheter, comprising
b) a balloon on the distal end of the catheter shaft, the balloon having an inflated configuration, and having a central working section with a proximal end and a distal end, and having a proximal secured section and a distal secured section secured to the catheter shaft and located at positions on the shaft which are between the proximal end and the distal end of the working section of the balloon in the inflated configuration, the proximal secured section having a proximal end located distal to the proximal end of the working section.
21. A balloon catheter assembly, comprising
a) a catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen;
b) a balloon on the distal end of the catheter shaft, the balloon having an inflated configuration, and having a central working section with a proximal end and a distal end, and having a proximal secured section and a distal secured section secured to the catheter shaft and located at positions on the shaft which are between the proximal end and the distal end of the working section of the balloon in the inflated configuration, the proximal secured section having a proximal end located distal to the proximal end of the working section; and
c) a stent disposed about the balloon.
b) a balloon on a distal section of the catheter shaft, the balloon having an inflated configuration, and having a central working section with a proximal end and a distal end, and having proximal and distal end portions which extend inwardly with respect to the working section, and having a proximal secured section and a distal secured section secured to the catheter shaft, the majority of the proximal secured section being located between the proximal end and the distal end of the working section of the balloon in the inflated configuration.
b) a balloon on a distal section of the catheter shaft, the balloon having an inflated configuration, and having a central working section with a proximal end and a distal end, and having proximal and distal end portions which extend inwardly with respect to the working section, and having a proximal secured section and a distal secured section secured to the catheter shaft, the working section has a proximal working section radially aligned with the proximal end portion of the balloon and a distal working section radially aligned with the distal end portion of the balloon and the length of the proximal and distal working sections are about 40% to about 80% of the total working section length.
5314443 May 24, 1994 Rudick
5967968 October 19, 1999 Briacoe et al.
6022370 February 8, 2000 Tower
6221042 April 24, 2001 Adams
Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA)
Inventor: Arkady Kokish (Los Gatos, CA)
Primary Examiner: Manual Mendez
Attorney, Agent or Law Firm: Coudert Brothers LLP
Current U.S. Class: Having Means Inflated In Body (e.g., Inflatable Nozzle, Dilator, Balloon Catheter, Occluder, Etc.) (604/96.01); Particular Wall Structure Of Inflated Means (e.g., Varying Wall Thickness, Multilayer, Etc.) (604/103.06)
International Classification: A61M/2900;


Direct-to-consumer Genetic Testing (DTC) Market research offers remarkable insights related to factors which are likely to support growth strategies of market players. This market research report entails growth estimates, forecasts, and a comprehensive analysis of all key factors at play in the Direct-to-consumer Genetic Testing (DTC) Market.
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According to the research report, the developing Direct-to-consumer Genetic Testing (DTC) Market is likely to witness enormous growth over forecast years and register lucrative CAGR of 14.90% to reach $580.57 million value by the end of 2024. The global market is examined on the basis of the various segments and the geographical scope of the market. Type segment enlists information and insights associated with tests such as Mitochondrial DNA testing, Single nucleotide polymorphism testing, and Y chromosome testing. This study attempts to assess the characteristics of each segment as well. This may help readers to develop strong business acumen in relevance with Direct-to-consumer Genetic Testing (DTC) Market.
This study examines the key players operating in the market based on the Product Satisfaction, Business Strategy, and Competitive News Feed Analysis Company Usability Profiles are also studied in the market intelligence report. This may help readers to understand an overall picture of the competitive landscape. Companies reviewed in this report are 23andMe, Inc., AlphaBiolabs Ltd, Counsyl, Inc., Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences FZ-LLC, EasyDNA, Gene By Gene Ltd., International Bioscience Corp, Laboratory Corporation of America, Inc., Medichecks.Com, Myriad Genetics, Inc., Positive Biosciences, Ltd., Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Shuwen Biotech Co. Ltd., Vitagene, Inc., and Xcode Life Sciences Pvt Ltd.


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Busted: CNN's Chris Cuomo Crafted Response to Governor Cuomo's Scandal
Busted: CNN's Chris Cuomo Crafted…
New York Attorney General Letitia James James announced Tuesday New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo broke the law by sexually harassing eleven women, many of them aides.
But Cuomo's sexual harassment scandal isn't the only one detailed in the lengthy report. Documents included in the appendix show CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo was involved in managing the scandal by either writing or editing statements for Governor Cuomo. Chris Cuomo did this while covering his brother on the air, even interviewing him on his primetime show, and while claiming he wasn't involved in the governor's response to allegations.
The subject line of an email sent to Chris Cuomo on February 28, 2021 says, "final statement." The same email shows a forwarded and previously worked on statement sent from Chris Cuomo.
"Questions have been raised about some of my past interactions with people I the office. I spend most of my life at work and colleagues are often also personal friends. I never intended to offend anyone or cause any harm. Sometimes I am playful and make jokes. You have seen me do it at briefings hundreds of times. My only desire is to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business," the statement says. "I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended. I'm sorry and feel deeply embarrassed about that."
"Separately, my office has heard anecdotally that some people have reached out to Ms. Bennett to express displeasure about her coming forward. My message to anyone doing that is you have misjudged what matter to me and my administration and you should stop now, period," the statement continues.
That same day, Governor Cuomo's office released essentially the same statement (bolding is mine).
"Questions have been raised about some of my past interactions with people in the office.
"I never intended to offend anyone or cause any harm. I spend most of my life at work and colleagues are often also personal friends.
"At work sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I do, on occasion, tease people in what I think is a good natured way. I do it in public and in private. You have seen me do it at briefings hundreds of times. I have teased people about their personal lives, their relationships, about getting married or not getting married. I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business.
"I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended. I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.
"To be clear I never inappropriately touched anybody and I never propositioned anybody and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are allegations that New Yorkers deserve answers to.
"That's why I have asked for an outside, independent review that looks at these allegations.
"Separately, my office has heard anecdotally that some people have reached out to Ms. Bennett to express displeasure about her coming forward. My message to anyone doing that is you have misjudged what matters to me and my administration and you should stop now – period."
As the sexual harassment scandal contiued to brew on top of Governor Cuomo's nursing home scandal, Chris Cuomo eventually took a step back and said he "obviously" can't cover his brother.
From Townhall.com
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On a wonderful batting surface for this Royal London Series opener, it was the hosts rather than World Cup finalists New Zealand who proved they had the necessary firepower with a national-record 408 for nine in a huge win.
As they kick-started the fresh approach under Eoin Morgan after their own miserable World Cup winter, England were chiefly indebted to Root (104) and Buttler (129), who dominated a world record seventh-wicket stand with Adil Rashid (69).
Then Rashid (four for 55) in particular did enough with the ball too for a career-best in both disciplines as the Kiwis predictably found the first 400-plus total in England's 50-over history beyond their range.
Ross Taylor (57) got most back with the bat after his torrid day in the field, but not enough to stop England recording victory by their highest ever runs margin, with almost 19 overs unused.
Root's 71-ball hundred was, for an hour or so, England's third-quickest until Buttler, already the scorer of their fastest, made it a one-two with his latest century off 66.
England's progress with their new spirit of adventure was sporadic but undeniably effective – in Root and Morgan's third-wicket stand of 121 and then, after a mid-innings blip, Buttler and Rashid's 177.
After being put in, the hosts overcame the loss of Jason Roy to the first ball of the match, his maiden ODI innings lasting the minimum when he speared a drive at Trent Boult (four for 55) to point.
Root and Alex Hales put on a quickfire 50 until the opener mis-pulled Boult high to short fine-leg.
Brendon McCullum's attempt to unsettle his Indian Premier League pal Morgan (50) with an overloaded off-side field bore no fruit, and the Irishman was soon matching Root shot for shot.
That was no mean feat, with the Yorkshireman in brilliant form.
There was barely a false shot from Root, the exception his edge between wicketkeeper and slip off Mitchell McClenaghan to bring up his 50 with his seventh four.
Having escaped just one half-chance on 61 at wide long-on off when Taylor could not cling on diving one-handed to his right, he completed his fifth ODI century.
But McClenaghan pinned Morgan in front, working to leg, and two overs later Root was gone too, edging behind as he tried to stay on the attack against the returning Boult.
Ben Stokes' departure defied conventional description, under-edging a pull down on to his leg and then stumps, and then Sam Billings was done in the air by his fellow debutant Mitchell Santner to go lbw.
But despite four wickets for 31 runs, Buttler and Rashid stuck to the plan with supreme skill and strength.
Buttler was dropped on 90 by a diving Taylor again at deep midwicket off Matt Henry and eventually mis-pulled McClenaghan after hitting 13 fours and five sixes, while Rashid passed his maiden international half-century.
New Zealand's reply was mission improbable from the outset, all the more so when Steven Finn (four for 35) got rid of their biggest weapon – captain McCullum – bowling him as he went after a full-length delivery in the first over.
Martin Guptill edged England's senior seamer behind and Kane Williamson became Rashid's first victim when he was well-caught by Root running in from long-off.
A fourth-wicket stand of 66 between Taylor and Grant Elliott hinted briefly at a lasting chase.
But Billings interrupted it with a fine bit of fielding from third man to run out Elliott and Rashid, bowling mostly googlies, cashed in with three more wickets and even put himself on a hat-trick when Luke Ronchi missed an attempted slog-sweep first ball.
New Zealand then folded tamely, losing their last seven wickets for 38 runs.


text:
Presidential survivor
By Brendon O'Connor - posted Friday, 15 February 2008 Sign Up for free e-mail updates!
Apparently we should care about the American presidential elections because America is the most powerful nation on the planet. Some say when America sneezes Australia catches a cold (and it does seem that when America goes to war so do we).
However, I suspect that, like many, I follow the US elections because for political junkies it is the best show in town. The US has produced larger than life politicians from LBJ and Nixon through to William Jefferson Clinton; men whose lives and careers are psycho-dramas. This season we have Obama, Hillary, Huckabee, and a 71-year-old comeback "kid".
Another great pleasure of following American elections is trying to make sense of the rules, so complicated and arcane that most experts do not fully understand them. Then there are the TV pundits with names like Wolf Blitzer and Major Garrett who can talk about lunch-bucket Democrats, Super Delegates, and the rural gerrymander for hours while pulling up flashy graphics showing how the fate of a candidate (and maybe the free world) depends on getting votes from corn farmers in southwestern Iowa.
Some of us hope this year's US elections are drawn out for months and that the Democratic Party even has a brokered convention where frenzied Obama and Clinton supporters dressed in Red, White and Blue fight it out with balloons and confetti.
It is assumed that most people like elections to be short and simple. The experts tell us the public is largely politically apathetic. Thus when you ask Joe Six Pack what is worse: political ignorance or apathy, they will reply "I don't know and I don't care". Given this assumption, journalists spend a lot of time telling people the winners before these citizens cast their vote.
However the 2008 US primaries have thankfully reminded us pundits that democracy is not entirely formulaic by proving the experts wrong a number of times already. In this unpredictable environment we have seen a young Afro-American Senator, with very limited corporate links, emerge with more money than any candidate ever and a chance of being the next US president. Meanwhile, the super competent and ultra ambitious Hillary Clinton is trying everything in the collective armoury of the Clinton dynasty to stop him.
At this point in the show only three candidates are likely to be the next US president. On the Republican Party side Senator John McCain is the most likely nominee and by far the oldest at 71 years. His moderate domestic record and his maverick personality have created a tense relationship within the powerful Christian conservative leadership within the Republican Party.
After being defeated by George W. Bush and the religious right in the 2000 primaries McCain called tele-evangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell the "agents of intolerance on the right" and the "forces of evil" (he laughed it off as Luke Skywalker talk the next day). McCain has a sardonic sense of humour and apparently a volcanic temper. Compared to Kevin Rudd or John Howard, McCain is extremely undisciplined and often seems to say the first thing to come into his head. Hence his campaign is called the "straight talk express".
On the Democrat side you have to have been living under a rock not to have heard of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and their close battle to be the nominee. Hillary Clinton recently said that she was "the most famous person you do not know". The television age gives us a false familiarity thus we cry when famous actors die and hate certain politicians' wives for supposedly being "scheming".
Given such passions many commentators claimed Hillary could never be elected to any public office, thus she stuck with Bill because that was her only way to wield power and influence. However, when voters took a second look at Hillary they often liked her ideas, determination and smarts.
Lastly, the star of this year's race: Barack Obama. Where Hillary's efforts and ambitions are often easy to see and mock, Obama is the laid back guy who somehow manages to make campaigning and winning look easy. Occasionally he makes inspiring speeches but most of the time his campaign performances are low-key, thoughtful, and casual.
Some complain that he talks largely in platitudes and offers no real substance. Obama certainly speaks in broad terms, but so do most US presidents, whose role is best understood as part policy-maker and part national cheerleader.
At this point in the Democratic Party contest, Barack Obama is ahead and if he wins the primaries in Wisconsin, Texas, and Ohio held over the next few weeks, there will be intense media-driven pressure on Hillary Clinton to step aside. The "math", as Americans say, is looking difficult for Hillary to win the pledged delegate race. However, if she wins in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania then it is pretty much a draw. If this occurs an unpredictable battle is likely to unfold at the Democratic Party convention in Denver in late August.
We political junkies have long been arguing that democratic politics in places like the US and Australia is too orchestrated by political advisers and too tightly controlled by the parties. I hope the media learns to relish this fascinating contest in the US and avoids rushing to declare a likely winner before the people have voted (or had their votes counted).
First published in the Sunday Mail on February 10, 2008.
Brendon O'Connor is an Associate Professor in the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and is the 2008 Australia Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC. He is the editor of seven books on anti-Americanism and has also published articles and books on American welfare policy, presidential politics, US foreign policy, and Australian-American relations.
» Why just read for pleasure: the case of Michel Houellebecq - January 12, 2017
» Australia too ready to forget costs of US wars - November 25, 2014
» Cost of Iraq War drains the US in race with China - March 21, 2013
» Obama gets a second chance to play a bad hand - January 22, 2013
» America on the edge of a fiscal cliff - November 14, 2012
All articles by Brendon O'Connor


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Is this a Header or line condition? This you can also check in V/06, Tab Changes which can be made, fields Header condition, Item condition.
If this is item condition, I have tested this issue (see earlier posts), I donot find any problems.
I would suggest you to test this functionality with standard condition type K029 material pricing group, by creating the same intervals and values. If it works OK, then you might have to focus on the Calculation type you are selecting (Formula) and the Scale (Number of shipping units).


text:
Das Gebäude August-Exter-Straße 8 im Stadtteil Pasing der bayerischen Landeshauptstadt München wurde 1912 errichtet. Die Villa in der August-Exter-Straße, die zur Villenkolonie Pasing I gehört, ist ein geschütztes Baudenkmal.

Das barockisierende Haus wurde nach Plänen des Architekten Georg Völkl erbaut. Die Villa im Zwickel zwischen August-Exter und Peter-Vischer-Straße weist Merkmale des späten Jugendstils auf. Sie ist mit Erkern und einem gerundeten Treppenvorbau versehen.

Literatur

Weblinks

Villa in München
Bauwerk in Pasing
Baudenkmal in Pasing
Erbaut in den 1910er Jahren
August-Exter-Straße

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Global CEOs of Indian Origin, in whose hands the command of the world's largest companies!
Indian Origin CEOs: Indian-origin Rishi Sunak has become the new Prime Minister of Britain. But not only in the political but in the corporate world, CEOs of Indian origin have proved their mettle all over the world. These CEOs are representing the companies which are the world's biggest companies. These companies are associated with many sectors including IT, grocery, pharma. Talk about Google or Microsoft, the command of these companies is in the hands of CEOs of Indian origin.
Sundar Pichai Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc and its subsidiary Google, is of Indian origin representing the US giant. Alphabet Inc, which is headed by Sundar Pichai, had a total revenue of $ 257.1 billion in 2021. Sundar Pichai was born on 10 June 1972 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Satya Nadella– Satya Nadella, the executive chairman and CEO of Microsoft, also belongs to India. In the same year, he was also honored with Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. In 2014, Satya Nadella took over the reins of Microsoft. Microsoft's revenue in 2021 has been $ 168.1 billion.
Vivek hybridization – Vivek Sankaran is the CEO of Albertsons Companies, which is America's leading food and drug company. The annual revenue of Albertson Companies has been around $ 70 billion in 2021. Vivek has been the CEO of the company since 2019. He has also been the CEO of PepsiCo.
Arvind Krishna Arvind Krishna is also of Indian origin, who is the chairman and CEO of US giant IBM. He became the CEO of the company in April 2020 and took over as chairman in January 2021. If we look at the revenue of IBM, the company's revenue in 2021 was $ 57.3 billion.
Vasant Narasimhan Vasant Narasimhan of Indian origin is the CEO of America's big pharma company Novartis. In 2018, he took over as the CEO of the company. The revenue of Novartis was $52.8 billion in 2021.
Puneet Ranjan Indian-origin Puneet Ranjan is the CEO of Deloitte. On June 1, 2015, he took over as CEO of Deloitte. He belongs to Rohtak in Haryana. Looking at the revenue of Deloitte, the company's revenue in 2021 was $ 50.2 billion.
Apart from these, if you look at other global CEOs of Indian origin, Sanjay Mehrotra is the CEO of Micron Technology and he has been the co-founder of SanDisk. Micron Technology's revenue has been $27.7 billion in 2021. Revathi Advaithi is also of Indian origin who is the CEO of Flex. Flex's revenue in 2021 was $24.1 billion. Ivan Manuel Menezes is also a Global CEO of Indian origin. Currently Ivan Menezes is the CEO of Diageo plc since July 2013. The revenue of Diageo plc was $ 17.1 billion in 2021. Adobe's Shantanu Narayan and Wayfair's Neeraj Shah are also counted as global CEOs.
Online Shopping: To protect the interests of customers, the screws will be tightened on the paid review of products and services on online sites!
TaggedAlphabet IncGoogleIndian Origin CEOsIndian Origin CEOs UpdateSatya NadellaSundar PichaiSunder PichaiVasant NarasimhanVivek Sankaran
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text:
Q: Installing Apple's Network Link Conditioner Tool I have installed xcode 4.3.1 on my machine running Lion.
I can't find the Network Link Conditioner tool anywhere.
I have checked the utilities folder, also the xcode/contents/developer/* directories.. no such luck.
Do I need to install specific components or has this tool been removed or renamed recently?

A: It's in an additional download. Use this menu item:

Xcode > Open Developer Tool > More Developer Tools...

and get "Hardware IO Tools for Xcode".
For Xcode 8+, get "Additional Tools for Xcode [version]".
Double-click on a .prefPane file to install. If you already have an older .prefPane installed, you'll need to remove it from /Library/PreferencePanes.

A: You can also install any of the Hardware IO Tools without installing XCode itself. Simply visit Apple's Download Center and search for "Hardware IO".

A: Update on the answer December 2019 Xcode 11.1.2

Apple has moved Network Link Conditioner Tool to additional tools for
  Xcode

Go to the below link
https://developer.apple.com/download/more/?q=Additional%20Tools

Install the dmg file, select hardware from installer

select Network Link conditioner prefpane

A: The tools can now be found ("Hardware IO tools") here: https://developer.apple.com/download/more/

A: For Xcode 8 you gotta download a package named Additional Tools for Xcode 8
For other versions (8.1, 8.2) get the package here
Double click and open the dmg and go to Hardware directory. Double click on Network Link Conditioner.prefPane.

Click on install

Now Network Link Conditioner will be available in System Preferences.
For versions older than Xcode 8, the package to be downloaded is called Hardware IO Tools for Xcode. Get it from this page

A: *

*Remove "Network Link Conditioner", open "System Preferences", press CTRL and click the "Network Link Conditioner" icon. Select "Remove".

*Restart your computer

*Download the dmg "Hardware IO tools" for your XCode version from https://developer.apple.com/download/, you need to be logged in to do this.

*Open it and install "Network Link Conditioner"

*Restart your computer one last time.

A: Now accessible directly inside Xcode 14, no need to add any tools for that.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Wyoming Game and Fish seeks information in elk poaching
News | February 13, 2015
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking information leading to the apprehension of those responsible for the illegal killing of eight elk in Sheridan County.
The elk were discovered on a private ranch northwest of Parkman. Four of the elk were bulls, three were cows and one was a calf. The antlers, some of the heads and meat were removed from the elk at the scene; however, seven of the eight animals had edible portions that were left to waste.
Dayton Game Warden Dustin Shorma says, "The killing of these animals was very disturbing. These elk were very vulnerable as they were on their winter range when they were killed. Those responsible obviously lack the ethics that most hunters have for the wildlife resource. Hopefully, someone will come forward with information that will lead to a conviction."
A cash reward is available to any individual that provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the illegal and intentional killing of these eight elk.
Anyone with information regarding this wildlife violation are encouraged to call the Stop Poaching Hotline at (877) WGFD TIP – (877) 943-3847 or Game Warden Dustin Shorma at 307-655-9495. Callers can remain anonymous. People with information pertaining to any wildlife violation can text WGFD at 847-411 or visit: http://gf.state.wy.us/stoppoaching
–Wyoming Game and Fish


text:
Q: Please add # of views, favorites and 'links-to' to delete-votes needed algorithm Currently the number of votes to delete a question is varying based on the number of votes on it and its answers.  It doesn't appear to take views, favorites or 'links to' into account.  These are important measures of how popular a question is, and should be factored into that.  There are many old popular questions that are being deleted haphazardly, even though they have a lot of popularity and draw many to the site.
Please add views, favorites and 'links to' into the delete-votes needed algorithm in some way.
Note that I'm not saying just more=more, but that we should do some data-mining to determine the correlation between those and popular, useful questions.
If you want to see examples, just go to this question and look at some of them.  I just ran across Getting started with Haskell, with 993 favorites and 91k+ views, but the votes algorithm wasn't enough to save it.

A: After looking at some data, I'm going to have to walk back a statement I made earlier in a comment.

I think upvotes and stars are just a function of views above a certain threshold, so there's really no extra information added.

That might not be the case. Views, votes, and stars are certainly positively correlated, but not as strongly as I would have guessed, and using only one of these parameters might not tell the whole story. (For example, a question might have an inordinately high number of views, but relatively few upvotes and stars. This might indicate that the question is linked heavily from outside the Stack Exchange network, so a lot of viewers were unable to vote on it.)
Here's a Data Explorer query for Views, votes, and stars for Great Questions. If you plot the data, you can see that a positive correlation exists, but not a particularly strong one.

Correlation
Views and Upvotes: 0.529
Views and Stars: 0.364
Conclusion: It may be worth it after all to include all three parameters in the "delete votes needed" algorithm.

There are caveats.

*

*This is a very rudimentary analysis. You might get different results if you looked at questions in different ranges of votes. I'm only looking at those questions that have a Great Question badge, since they would be the most controversial to delete.

*This data does not include deleted questions. It also ignores whether a question is currently open or closed. These impact whether or not you even can cast a delete vote on a question, so looking at a more specific data set might yield different results.

*This is not a labelled data set. To do this analysis right, you'd want to compare questions that were deleted (correctly) to those that are not to find which parameters can be used to best determine which questions should be harder to delete.


Follow the aromas of charcoal smoke and garlic down a laneway off Pitt Street between Liverpool and Central Streets, past the walls adorned with graffiti art, and join the dinner queue for Korean BBQ at Sydney Madang.
Every day of our holiday so far, we've passed the yellow, black and white Sydney Madang sign as we walk up and down Pitt Street, but it's Chef Josh of Cafe Ish who convinces us it's worth venturing down the dark laneway. There, Juji, Jay and I find a small crowd patiently waiting to be admitted inside, some standing, others sitting on stools. Despite its tucked away location, it's abundantly clear that Sydney Madang is no secret to Sydney locals. We've been warned: if you arrive after 6.30pm, be prepared to join the queue.
After a wait of about 20 minutes, we follow a staff member into the busy restaurant, weaving our way to our allocated table in the corner next to the kitchen. All around us is conversation, laughter and the click-clack of chopsticks. The air is thick with mouth-watering smells and the sounds of sizzling barbecue.
We place our order and a staff member lights our barbecue, which runs on gas with added charcoal for fragrance and flavour. Once the blue flame has been lit, a clean hotplate is placed on top.
Jay orders a bottle of soju and we all admire the Elvis-esque (or is it Rick Astley-esque?) Korean singer pictured on the label.
Our plates of marinated barbecue meats arrive, followed by hot steamed rice (AU$2 per bowl) and complimentary banchan (side dishes).
We are given a pair of tongs to cook with, and a pair of scissors which we use to chop up the beef ribs. The tongs and scissors are delivered in a basket filled with lettuce, carrot and whole garlic cloves.
The banchan includes mung bean sprouts, kimchee, a salty bean paste, garlic oil, spring onion, boiled chunks of marinated potato, cold mashed potato salad and crisp garden salad (lettuce, carrot and capsicum).
We waste no time in loading up our hotplate with the thin ribbons of marinated meat and whole garlic cloves. The smells are dangerously enticing. I can't resist leaning close for a good look and sniff – well, I shouldn't be surprised to discover (the hard way) that the barbecue spits.
We all take turns with the tongs. It's fun but also torture waiting hungrily for the meats to cook right under my nose. Patience is a virtue, but I am neither patient nor virtuous.
We share a serving of doenjang jjigae, a soybean-based stew, which arrives molten hot in a black pot. We leave it to cool down while we tend to the barbecue.
When the bubbling has subsided, we are delighted to discover a hearty broth with soft white chunks of silken tofu, potato, thinly sliced zucchini, fresh green chillies and pieces of tender slow cooked beef. It's not as fiery in taste as its initial appearance suggests, but there's a gentle heat in every savoury mouthful.
The staff are ever watchful for dirty hotplates that smoke too much from the remnants of charred marinades – they are quick to replace them throughout the meal. As soon as our latest grill plate gets smoking hot, we load it up with more meat. This process repeats until we have cooked and eaten all the meat.
Korean barbecue is a great choice for group dining. The shared enjoyment from cooking your own dinner at the table makes for a fun meal. We leave Sydney Madang happy and satisfied, the smells of barbecue and garlic clinging to our clothes and hair.
Are you a Korean barbecue fan? What are your favourite dishes to order?
Graffiti art and empty stools outside Sydney Madang – everyone's inside eating!
I went to Sydney with my sister Juji and her fiancé Jay in November 2011. See the list of posts so far, in reading order. There's a whole lot more to come.