text:
Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH
0.219% decline
In 2017, Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH had a population of 113k people with a median age of 40.7 and a median household income of $43,075. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH declined from 113,074 to 112,826, a -0.219% decrease and its median household income grew from $41,626 to $43,075, a 3.48% increase.
The population of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is 95% White Alone, 1.81% Two or More Races, and 1.36% Black or African American Alone. 2.06% of the people in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH speak a non-English language, and 99.5% are U.S. citizens.
The largest universities in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH are Southern State Community College (379 degrees awarded in 2017) and Wilmington College (284 degrees).
The median property value in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is $112,300, and the homeownership rate is 67.8%. Most people in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 28.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is 2 cars per household.
Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH borders Greene County PUMA, OH, Buffalo Trace & Gateway Area Development Districts PUMA, KY, Scioto & Lawrence Counties PUMA, OH, Clermont (East) & Brown Counties PUMA, OH, Lebanon & Springboro (East) Cities PUMA, OH, Ross & Fayette Counties PUMA, OH, and Jackson, Hocking, Pike & Vinton Counties PUMA, OH.
Photo by Erik Drost
United StatesOhio
The economy of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH employs 43.4k people. The largest industries in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH are Restaurants & Food Services (3,015 people), Elementary & secondary schools (2,794 people), and Construction (2,402 people), and the highest paying industries are Lawn & garden equipment & supplies stores ($153,930), Animal production & aquaculture ($86,240), and Aircraft & parts manufacturing ($82,366).
Median household income in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is $43,075. Males in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH have an average income that is 1.39 times higher than the average income of females, which is $37,326. The income inequality in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH (measured using the Gini index) is 0.431, which is lower than than the national average.
Households in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH have a median annual income of $43,075, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $41,626 in 2016, which represents a 3.48% annual growth.
Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
In 2017, full-time male employees in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH made 1.39 times more than female employees.
This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH by number of full-time employees.
$56,641 ± $113,062
In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH workers was Black. These workers were paid 1.43 times more than Two or More Races workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.
This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH by number of full-time employees.
In 2017, the income inequality in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was 0.431 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.537% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.
The 2017 the GINI for Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH in comparison to the national average.
This chart shows the number of workers in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH across various wage buckets compared to the national average.
TotalWhiteBlackNative AmericanAsianTwo Or MoreWhite Non-Hispanic
Loveland, Montgomery Cities & Forestville PUMA, OH
Delaware County PUMA, OH
Monroe City & Beckett Ridge PUMA, OH
In 2018, the PUMA with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was Loveland, Montgomery Cities & Forestville PUMA, OH with a value of $102,977, followed by Delaware County PUMA, OH and Monroe City & Beckett Ridge PUMA, OH, with respective values of $99,881 and $96,617.
The following map shows all of the PUMAs in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH colored by their Median Household Income (Total).
19.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH (21.6k out of 110k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 45 - 54 and then Females 35 - 44.
20,319 ± 896
The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.
± 0.865%
From 2016 to 2017, employment in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH grew at a rate of 0.865%, from 43k employees to 43.4k employees.
The most common job groups, by number of people living in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH, are Driver/sales workers & truck drivers (1,949 people), Laborers & freight, stock, & material movers, hand (1,247 people), and Firstline supervisors of retail sales workers (1,158 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH.
The most common jobs held by residents of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH, by number of employees, are Driver/sales workers & truck drivers (1,949 people), Laborers & freight, stock, & material movers, hand (1,247 people), and Firstline supervisors of retail sales workers (1,158 people).
Compared to other pumas, Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH has an unusually high number of residents working as Model makers, patternmakers, & molding machine setters, metal & plastic (7.35 times higher than expected), Machine tool cutting setters, operators, & tenders, metal & plastic (6.08 times), and Packaging & filling machine operators & tenders (4.6 times).
The highest paid jobs held by residents of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH, by average salary, are Physicians & surgeons ($274,677), Business operations specialists, all other ($122,223), and Construction managers ($88,519).
The most common employment sectors for those who live in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH, are Restaurants & Food Services (3,015 people), Elementary & secondary schools (2,794 people), and Construction (2,402 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH, though some of these residents may live in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.
The most common industries in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH, by number of employees, are Restaurants & Food Services (3,015 people), Elementary & secondary schools (2,794 people), and Construction (2,402 people).
Compared to other pumas, Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH has an unusually high number of Nonmetallic mineral mining & quarrying (8.77 times higher than expected), Other consumer goods rental (7.52 times), and Miscellaneous paper & pulp products (7.11 times) industries.
The highest paying industries in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH, by average salary, are Lawn & garden equipment & supplies stores ($153,930), Animal production & aquaculture ($86,240), and Aircraft & parts manufacturing ($82,366).
Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Ohio to other states, or from other states to Ohio.
In 2015, the top outbound Ohio product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $68.6B, followed by Motorized vehicles ($67.9B) and Machinery ($51B).
The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Ohio products.
Showing data for Ohio state.
In 2020, total outbound Ohio trade was $675B. This is expected to increase 41.1% to $952B by 2045.
The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Ohio trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.
Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Ohio to other states, or from other states to Ohio.
In 2015, the top outbound Ohio domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Michigan with $49.2B, followed by Indiana with $37.6B and Pennsylvania and $35.5B.
The following map shows the amount of trade that Ohio shares with each state (excluding itself).
89.4% of the population of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH has health coverage, with 42.2% on employee plans, 23.2% on Medicaid, 12.9% on Medicare, 9.36% on non-group plans, and 1.62% on military or VA plans.
Per capita personal health care spending in the puma of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was $8,712 in 2014. This is a 5.14% increase from the previous year ($8,286).
Primary care physicians in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH see 1307 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.538% increase from the previous year (1300 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1656 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 561 patients per year.
Comparing across all counties in the state, Scioto County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (16.8%). Additionally, Hocking County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (40.3%)
Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Ohio.
Primary care physicians in Ohio see an average of 1,307 patients per year. This represents a 0.538% increase from the previous year (1,300 patients).
The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Ohio in comparison to neighboring states.
Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Ohio (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 5.14%, from $8,286 to $8,712.
Between N/A and 2016, the percent of uninsured citizens in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH stayed by NaNk% from N/A% to 10.6%.
The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.
Scioto County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Ohio, at 16.8%.
The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in Ohio by county over multiple years.
Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is home to a population of 113k people, from which 99.5% are citizens. As of 2016, 0.869% of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH residents were born outside of the country (983 people).
The ethnic composition of the population of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is composed of 107k White Alone residents (95%), 2.05k Two or More Races residents (1.81%), 1.54k Black or African American Alone residents (1.36%), 1.34k Hispanic or Latino residents (1.19%), 400 Asian Alone residents (0.355%), 252 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.223%), 61 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.0541%), and 13 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.0115%).
The most common foreign languages spoken in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH are Spanish (689 speakers), Yiddish, Pennsylvania Dutch or Other West Germanic Languages (503 speakers), and German (441 speakers).
In 2017, the median age of all people in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was 40.7. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 41, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 46. But people in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH are getting getting older. In 2016, the average age of all Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH residents was 40.
As of 2016, 0.869% of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH residents (983 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2015, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was 0.786%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.
The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
137 ± 287 people
In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was China, the natal country of 137 Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH residents, followed by England with 101 and Germany with 100.
As of 2017, 99.5% of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was 99.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.
The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
107k ± 90
Black or African American Alone
In 2017, there were 52.4 times more White Alone residents (107k people) in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.05k Two or More Races and 1.54k Black or African American Alone residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.
The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH as a share of the total population.
689 speakers (0.651%)
Yiddish, Pennsylvania Dutch or Other West Germanic Languages
2.06% of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH citizens are speakers of a non-English language, which is lower than the national average of 21.9%. In 2017, the most common non-English language spoken in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was Spanish. 0.651% of the overall population of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH are native Spanish speakers. 0.475% speak Yiddish, Pennsylvania Dutch or Other West Germanic Languages and 0.417% speak Spanish, the next two most common languages.
Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.48 times greater than any other conflict.
In 2017, universities in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH awarded 663 degrees. The student population of Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is skewed towards women, with 1,559 male students and 2,329 female students.
Most students graduating from Universities in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH are White (584 and 88.4%), followed by Black or African American (39 and 5.9%), Unknown (15 and 2.27%), and Hispanic or Latino (12 and 1.82%).
The largest universities in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH by number of degrees awarded are Southern State Community College (379 and 57.2%) and Wilmington College (284 and 42.8%).
The most popular majors in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH are Liberal Arts & Sciences (131 and 19.8%), General Business Administration & Management (75 and 11.3%), and General Agriculture Management (62 and 9.35%).
The median tuition costs in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH are $24,300 for private four year colleges, and $N/A and $N/A respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.
< 1 Year Postsecondary Certificate1 to 2 Year Postsecondary CertificateAssociates DegreeBachelors Degree
In 2015, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 130 degrees awarded.
This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH according to their major.
Wilmington College
In 2017, the Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH institution with the largest number of graduating students was Southern State Community College with 379 degrees awarded.
In 2017, 215 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH, which is 0.48 times less than the 448 female students who received degrees in the same year.
This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH by degrees awarded.
In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH were to White students. These 584 degrees mean that there were 15 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 39 degrees awarded.
The median property value in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was $112,300 in 2017, which is 0.489 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $107,900 to $112,300, a 4.08% increase. The homeownership rate in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is 67.8%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH have an average commute time of 28.1 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.
In 2017, the median property value in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH grew to to $112,300 from the previous year's value of $107,900.
The following charts display, first, the property values in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH the largest share of households have a property value in the $100k - $125k range.
In 2017, the median household income of the 43.9k households in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH grew to $43,075 from the previous year's value of $41,626.
The following chart displays the households in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.
This chart shows the households in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.
In 2017, 67.8% of the housing units in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 67.6%.
This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.
Using averages, employees in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH have a longer commute time (28.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes). Additionally, 4.7% of the workforce in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.
The chart below shows how the median household income in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH was Drove Alone (82.1%), followed by those who Carpooled (9.86%) and those who Worked At Home (4.13%).
The following chart displays the households in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Highland, Clinton & Adams Counties PUMA, OH have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.
Greene County PUMA, OH
Buffalo Trace & Gateway Area Development Districts PUMA, KY
Scioto & Lawrence Counties PUMA, OH
Clermont (East) & Brown Counties PUMA, OH


text:
HomemieyecareMacular Disease: Home Testing Options Reviewed
author: Lindsay Moore and Agnes Choi
Macular Disease: Home Testing Options Reviewed
Australian optometrists, ophthalmologists and Macular Disease Foundation Australia alike all promote the use of the Amsler grid with the goal of detecting changes in macular disease in between scheduled examinations. In the current digital age however, is this simple grid still the best option? Centre for Eye Health staff reviewed the options.
While the Amsler grid has shown the ability to identify subjective symptoms in many studies, sensitivity may be as low as 34 per cent.1 Why is this so low? First we have to consider that the human brain is adept at filling in gaps in vision which can result in patients being unaware of smaller distortions,2 in particular those smaller than six degrees.3 Additionally, steady fixation on a central point may be challenging for many as it is not a task people are naturally used to, or good at, performing.2
Motivation, correct usage and feedback have also been shown to be limiting factors. One study found that only 10 per cent of people who noticed distorted vision actually reported it at the time.4 Another showed that six months after getting an Amsler grid for self-monitoring, 29 per cent of people never looked at it.5
IS THERE A BETTER OPTION?
There are a number of alternatives for selfdetection and monitoring of macular disease, including but not limited to the following:
Preferential Hyperacuity Perimetry Home Device
The ForeSeeHome is a home-based monitoring device that transmits results direct to an eye care practitioner. It is currently commercially available in the US for around US$15 per month. The patient views a series of dotted lines, with each series containing a few dots out of alignment. If a larger area of misalignment due to a scotoma or metamorphopsia is present, then the brain preferentially detects the larger distortion.6 The sensitivity of Preferential Hyperacuity Perimetry is better than Amsler, but it has a higher rate of false positives.7 The cumulative cost may be a barrier for widespread use as it may take years for a patient to convert to neovascular age related macular degeneration (AMD).8
Noisefield Campimetry
Noisefield campimetry requires the patient to report abnormalities seen against a background of small black and white randomly flickering dots.8 It has shown an overall sensitivity and specificity of 82 per cent and 100 per cent respectively in AMD8 but is not yet commercially available for home use.
Macular Mapping Test
The Macular Mapping Test involves the patient identifying capital letters which appear randomly in a 'wagon wheel', with spokes pointing towards the centre to guide fixation. This test also appears to be a promising tool for monitoring progression of AMD6 however, like Noisefield campimetry, it is not yet available for home use, and it is significantly more complex to use than the Amsler grid.
Non-computerised Home-based Tests
There are a range of other alternatives to the Amsler grid, including near acuity charts and self-monitoring, using familiar objects such as bathroom tiles. However most have lower sensitivity (33 per cent) and specificity (77.8 per cent) than the Amsler grid.10 One exception is the M-Chart, which has higher sensitivity and equivalent specificity to the Amsler, but is not as straightforward and easy for patients to use.9
THE VERDICT?
Although the research shows that more sensitive methods than the Amsler grid do exist, a simpler, cheaper, easier to use home based alternative, which is also highly sensitive and specific for detecting late AMD and other maculopathy, is yet to be available in Australia. So for now, Swiss Ophthalmologist Marc Amsler's concept from 1947 should remain bed, chair or fridge-side for AMD patients.
Lindsay Moore, BOptom (Hons) / BSc is a CFEH senior staff optometrist who has had a variety of clinical experience working in both optometric private practice and alongside ophthalmologists in Sydney, performing both pre and post surgical assessments. She has a specific interest in promoting collaborative models of care.
Agnes Choi, BOptom, MOptom, GradCertOcTher, is currently undertaking her PhD studies through CFEH where she has been a clinical optometrist since the Centre opened in 2009. Her research area is in early diagnosis of AMD using functional tests. Clinically, Ms. Choi is also involved in the provision of clinical care using electrodiagnostic tests.
Faes L, Bodmer NS, Bachmann LM, Thiel MA, Schmid MK. Diagnostic accuracy of the Amsler grid and the preferential hyperacuity perimetry in the screening of patients with age-related macular degeneration: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eye (Lond). 2014;28(7):788-96.
Loewenstein A, Malach R, Goldstein M, Leibovitch I, Barak A, Baruch E, et al. Replacing the Amsler grid: a new method for monitoring patients with age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology. 2003;110(5):966-70.
Midena E, Vujosevic S. Metamorphopsia: An Overlooked Visual Symptom. Ophthalmic Res. 2015;55(1):26-36.
Group AHSR, Chew EY, Clemons TE, Bressler SB, Elman MJ, Danis RP, et al. Randomized trial of a home monitoring system for early detection of choroidal neovascularization home monitoring of the Eye (HOME) study. Ophthalmology. 2014;121(2):535-44.
Bittner AK, Torr-Brown S, Arnold E, Nwankwo A, Beaton P, Rampat R, et al. Improved Adherence to Vision Self-monitoring with the Vision and Memory Stimulating (VMS) Journal for Non-neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration during a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2014;5(1):320.
Trevino R. Recent progress in macular function selfassessment. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2008;28(3):183-92.
Aulhorn E, Kost G. [White noise field campimetry. A new form of perimetric examination]. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 1988;192(4):284-8.
Schwartz R, Loewenstein A. Early detection of age related macular degeneration: current status. Int J Retina Vitreous. 2015;1:20.
Nowomiejska K, Oleszczuk A, Brzozowska A, Grzybowski A, Ksiazek K, Maciejewski R, et al. M-charts as a tool for quantifying metamorphopsia in age-related macular degeneration treated with the bevacizumab injections. BMC Ophthalmol. 2013;13:13.
McKibbin M, Baker L, Baxter P, Czoski-Muray C, Setty R. The accuracy of home monitoring to detect disease activity during maintenance therapy for neovascular ARMD. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2015;253(9):1479-83.
Setting New Directions for Optometry's Future
13th OSO Conference to be Strong on Myopia
Zeiss APAC Summit 28 January, 2021 8:30pm AEDT
Promising Anti-fibrotic Therapy for Open Angle Glaucoma
Axial Length Measurement: New Frontiers in Myopia Management
mieyecare, trending
Myopia Progression in Adults: What We Do and Don't Know
Chronic Dry Eye Disease: From Basic Treatments to the Big...
Stars Align to Support: Check My Macula
Diabetes Eye Care and COVID-19
24-2C Visual Field Testing: Glaucoma Management's Paradigm Shift?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I finally had to concede to chilly evenings -- my favorite studio time -- and move my wheel to its winter quarters. I'm sorry to see the summer end, but the move to my larger indoor studio is energizing in itself, and has inspired some larger pots.
With winter in mind, I made these large baking dishes, since I find the one I made myself so very useful.
Every spring the garden lures me out of my studio. I'm always surprised when it happens, because the compulsion to make abates for nothing else, but every year, I spend a few weeks with my hands in a different kind of earth, without a thought of handles, lids, colorants, cones or reduction in my head. It's a damned inconvenient time for the muse to go on sabbatical, too, with summer events approaching and seasonal stores opening. Why does she abandon me like that?
I've started to think that maybe she doesn't. It could just be that gardening satisfies the same impulses that lead me to make pots. Like ceramics, gardening is a creative activity which blends art and science, allowing the two halves of my brain to work together instead of in opposition, or with one dormant, as so many activities seem to require. Using form and color to conjure feelings in the viewer; digging deep into technical knowledge to achieve a desired result; and responding to the random elements that keep our profession always challenging: gardening is similar to pottery in all of these respects.
I am looking at a bed of yarrow, bleeding hearts, and snow-on-the-mountain; all chosen for the combination of finely divided, almost Victorian foliage and blooms: a romantic mood carefully created. A piece of pottery might invoke similar feelings; say, this Ingrid Bathe porcelain tea bowl, pinched translucently thin and rimed with a delicate blue tracery of decal, from which I am enjoying my lavender tea. Like the bowl, the plants were chosen for function as well as beauty: they will thrive in the dappled sun on this slope of the yard, and out-compete most weeds.
In another, shadier corner the broad bluish foliage of hosta and lush, verdant ferns instill a meditative mood. Springy moss underfoot absorbs sound; this space always seems quieter than the rest of the world. How would I create this feeling, in a pot? Maybe with a wood-fired jar, large and quickly thrown, free of decoration save the marks of the flame. Such a piece requires a thoughtful eye to appreciate it. Like ferns, it whispers rather than shouts with color, like poppies do, or majolica.
Though I have sometimes compared gardening to painting (as in: I need a bold splash of red right there), ceramics is the more apt comparison, as the science needs to be right or the result will be disappointing. Just as plants won't thrive, or, often, even survive in the wrong climate conditions, some surfaces simply can't be achieved in the wrong firing conditions. Substitute zones for cones, and you've got the idea. Basil will fail in poorly drained soil, even if the light conditions are correct, and copper reds will be maroon if over-reduced. No amount of will or wish can make plants or glazes behave contrary to their chemistry, so it's best to learn those chemical natures and use the information to achieve your results. There are folks who simply purchase glazes, and then program their kilns to fire to the desired cone; these potters may enjoy successes but they are relying on others' science, and are limited by it. If a surface suggests itself which can't be found pre-made in a jar, the potter uses what can be, and many potential great pots become adequate instead. Analogously, some gardeners don't trouble to learn about soil composition or growing zones, and instead buy annuals and replant their gardens each year. Annuals are bright and beautiful, and bloom all summer, but I wouldn't want to limit my botanical vocabulary to them. My neighbor, who is a gardener of annual plants, would say that the limited parameters make her garden more like a haiku: within strict limits, infinite freedom. Perhaps the same can be said of the pots made with purchased glazes. In any case, that is a topic for another essay.
It's summer now (oh yes it is) and the gardening frenzy has passed. Except for pulling the occasional weed, there won't be much to do out there until it's time to put the garden to bed in the fall. So I'm back in the studio, working with renewed energy, and seeing so familiar forms. Does the spiral handle on that jar suggest the coil of a new fern frond? And the slip pattern on those mugs makes me think of the speckles in the throat of the lily. Everything I make these days seems botanically inspired. I guess making pots is similar to gardening in one further degree: we have to respect and work within the seasonal rhythms of it. My other interests strengthen and invigorate my work as a potter, and the time I spend out of the studio, far from detracting from my work, provides raw idea material to turn into art. The muse didn't abandon me, but instead just took a vacation. Luckily she took me with her, and we both returned renewed and refreshed.


This is an exclusive business profile of Veronica Printers located in , Haridwar. From this Page, you can directly contact Veronica Printers from the enquiry form provided on the right. On the left you can get the Verified Mobile Number of Veronica Printers – feel free to call us to know more about our products & services. We will soon update our Catalog which you can download to get latest information about all our products & services and latest deals & offers by Veronica Printers. Do check out our Job Openings section to know about all the vacancies in Veronica Printers. You can also check out our Photo Gallery section to see latest photos of Veronica Printers. Before leaving, do not forget to give us your review and rating if you have been a customer of Veronica Printers in the past.
Do you want to receive special deals and offers from Veronica Printers?
Daily Download limit reached! Do you want to alert Veronica Printers to receive Catalogue?


The last few days have seen ideal conditions for colour in the sky – high scattered cloud and a clear horizon so the last rays can illuminate the underside of the clouds. Local social media has been full of "wow, look at this" images – some spectacular and some so horribly oversaturated as to make one's eyes hurt. And of course, the time of year means that the colour happens out to sea rather than inland behind the cliffs, here on the south coast.
Although I am as happy as the next person to go outside and enjoy the spectacle, I don't often bother to take photos any more. The real thing is just so much more enjoyable – immersive if you like. The breeze on your face; the smell of wet earth or autumn leaves or seaweed; the sound of soughing branches, surf, twittering finches or the peeping of oystercatchers – they all contribute, perhaps subliminally, to the experience of "being there". So, just a photo is inevitably a bit of a disappointment. That being said, we were treated to some rather pretty skies yesterday and this morning, so here they are!
In the summer, the view over the sea opposite the sunset can sometimes be interesting – this was taken one July evening a couple of years ago – and was one of the most serene and wonderful evenings I have ever spent on the beach, as the Belt of Venus rose over the horizon, and the full moon came up.
Previous Post What's social media good for?


Stephens analyst Terry McEvoy said the value of Old National Bancorp's stable low-cost deposit base was evident again in Q2 and he feels sentiment around the bank's M&A strategy has improved. Following the company's earnings report, he raised his price target on Old National shares to $22 and keeps an Overweight rating on the stock, which is up 3.7% to $19.90 in early afternoon trading.
Reports Q1 provision for loan losses $1.0M compared to $3.4M last year; and net charge-offs $900,000, or 0.03% annualized, compared to net charge-offs of $600,000 last year.


text:
Athlete Ally welcomes former NFL Running Back Sean James as Pro Ambassador
Jul 20, 2015 | By Athlete Ally
Today Athlete Ally announces that Sean James, former NFL running back, has joined Athlete Ally as our newest Pro Ambassador. Athlete Ally Ambassadors help the organization promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) inclusion in sports by speaking out to their peers, sports and fan bases.
James, a Mississippi native, is a former college athlete and Minnesota Vikings player. After his time with the NFL, James has dedicated his time to working with young people in athletics. In 2012, he founded Be In The Know About Bullying, a project to educate and mentor students to become leaders and stop bullying.
"Throughout history sports have been a platform for social change. We have seen trailblazers like Jackie Robinson and Jessie Owens tear down racial walls though sports and seen the impact that we as Americans allow sports to have on our thoughts and beliefs," James said. "Just like Robinson and Owens contributed to the African-American Civil Rights movement, we are now seeing a new generation of athletes contribute to the LGBT Civil Rights movement. I continue to be an ally for the LGBT community because I am a fervent believer that as athletes we possess the power to fuel change."
"Sean James has dedicated his career to athletics and empowering young people to exhibit good sporting behavior," said Hudson Taylor, Founder and Executive Director of Athlete Ally. "We look forward to working with Sean, and are proud to have him join 10 other NFL players who are also exercising their leadership to champion LGBT equality."
James joins more than 130 other Athlete Ally Pro Ambassadors, including NFL players, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Connor Barwin, Eric Barton, Scott Fujita, Chris Gocong, D'Qwell Jackson, Chris Kluwe, Marcedes Lewis, Ephraim Salaam, and Donté Stallwort, to further equality and acceptance within athletic communities.
Read more about James here: http://www.athleteally.org/allies/sean-james/
Athlete Ally's mission is to educate and activate athletic communities to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sports and to exercise their leadership to champion LGBT equality. Founded in 2012, Athlete Ally has worked with the NBA, WNBA, and MLB on matters of respect and inclusion; led the Principle 6 campaign that convinced the International Olympic Committee to include sexual orientation in the non-discrimination clause of the Olympic Charter; and counts more than 100 college, professional, and Olympic athletes among its dedicated and active Ambassadors.


While the world scrambles to integrate sustainable, green energy into infrastructure, Germany has quietly made huge gains in adding solar energy as a priority with massive installations of solar panels in 2012.
The Germans are serious about solar power and sustainable energy. In the last year alone they installed a record number of solar panels to produce green energy. The overall production capacity grew to more than 7.6 GW (gigawatts), up from 7.5 GW in the year 2011. German has a capacity for 7.4 GW in 2010. The city of Berlin needs up to 3.5 GW, leaving more power to spare.
Growth was steady throughout 2012, but installations did fall in the final quarter of the year. Generous contributions and breaks, known as feed-in tariffs, have been promised to generators for a twenty year time period, making the boom possible. Germany is working towards carbon-free forms of power like solar energy to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
Some suggest that the strong move towards solar energy and other green energy sources is putting a heavy burden on consumers as the shift from nuclear to cleaner and safer energy continues. It is thought that the shift is adding to consumer cost and will have a small negative effect on economical growth for Germany. As a result, the government leveled off some of the feed-in tariffs to slow down the rate of solar energy installations.
The European Nation is also in the race to use more solar energy and to develop fuel alternatives like biofuels and hydrogen-based power. They are heavily invested in using these as a way to push for alternative energy systems throughout the EN member countries. Some governments are stalling citing high costs, but as prices for producing cleaner and safer forms of energy come down, more countries are getting excited about the possibilities.
A climate change summit due in Doha, Qatar has pushed the European Parliament to introduce new aspirations before the summit can commence. There is already some support within Parliament for new limits on emissions and France, Germany, and the UK are all on board. Counties with huge economic struggles like Portugal, Spain, and Greece are also paying attention, as they feel the changes to alternative sources like solar energy can aid in turning around their economic woes.


text:
TEAM & MENTORS
Rakesh Bhatia
Rakesh Bhatia is an I.I.T. Roorkee Alumnus and a very tech savvy and passionate mentor and educator. With a vast experience of working in software, telecom, e-learning and education, he guides and mentors students and prepares them for technology and cutting age careers by helping them with special projects and research methodology ,programming and statistics. He makes the students understand complex topics with ease and is also a senior career counselor. His other interests include reading, old bollywood music and outdoor sports like rafting , trekking etc.
Ritesh Jain
President, Center for Career Development, He is a graduate in commerce from the prestigious St. Xaviers College , Kolkata and a postgraduate in business from Princeton University, USA. Over more than a decade, he has been involved in counseling and entrance preparation. He has worked in the past with the oldest and largest test prep companies in India. He in the past has successfully run his own start up as well. Today, he manages the queries of thousands of students regarding graduation/post graduation abroad and in India as well. His understanding of profile requirement by universities abroad has helped Centre for Career Development in guiding graduate and school students in appropriate manner. Moreover, his understanding of international entrances has helped students immensely. In the past he has done workshops and individual counselling in schools & Colleges like DPS Rk Puram, DPS Vasant Kunj, DPS G International, DPS Dwarka ,DPS Sushant Lok, DPS NTPC dadri, Bal Bharti Public
Bushra Irfan
Ms. Bushra Irfan is an alumna of Jamia Millia Islamia. Holding a post-graduation degree in Psychology she has been working as a senior career consultant at Jitin Chawla's Centre for Career Development and has been actively working in the sector of Career Counseling and has been guiding students in determining their interests and abilities. Helping students to overcome challenges and obstacles that undermine their academic or career success. She has a keen interest in working with adolescents, advising potential students on educational opportunities overseas. Using the omniscient approach in Workshops she develops career service programs which help students build their profile accordingly and to vision a long-term plan to deliver career needs.
Sumer Broota
Mr. Sumer Broota is an alumnus of University of Delhi and has done his Masters in Applied Psychology from Gautam Budha University. Mr. Sumer Broota has been actively working in the areas of Educational Guidance and Counseling, Personality Development and Study Effectiveness, Study Abroad. He has been effectively undertaking workshops and individual counselling sessions across schools in Delhi and NCR. He has already counseled more than 1200 students across top schools & at Centre for Career Development.
Kanchan A. Mehra
Kanchan A. Mehra is a senior Consultant (Study Abroad) at Jitin Chawla's centre for career development with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in Career Development, she has guided thousands of students through workshops, individual & group counselling sessions across north India. She is a strong consulting professional who believes everyone deserves a quality education & thrives to deliver the same to all her students. With more than seven years of experience, she brings out the best in each student & ensures that they land up in the university which suits them best. She is a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) & has taught quantitative aptitude to hundreds of SAT & GRE students. She also teaches breathing techniques, yoga & meditation in her bid to give back to the society.


Email segmentation and personalisation are pivotal to creating a successful email marketing campaign. They've been shown to deliver six times higher transaction rates, but as little as 30% of brands make use of them. Segmentation is the data-driven alternative to email blast campaigns that allows you to send highly-targeted messaging to the right audience, at the right time. Learning how to segment your database for targeted email marketing will give you a considerable advantage over your competition, so start with these proven insights today.
Email list segmentation involves segmenting your email list into groups with commonalities based on what you know about each customer, and from this, you can personalise emails for each category of customer. For example, if you're a food delivery service provider, you could segment your customers based on previous orders or by their geographical region. You can then send out delivery specials, local restaurant guides, or special deals with local partner restaurants tailored to each segment.
This means instead of sending generic emails to your entire list, you send out highly specific and relevant offers. It's a great way to provide unique content to customers and strengthen interest, loyalty, and trust, while avoiding having a lot of your customers failing to connect with the content you email out.
Segments can be large or small, but the more specific your categories are, the more likely your content will resonate with each customer. Segmentation could boost delivery and open rates, increase click-through rates, grow conversions, and lower unsubscribe numbers. The higher the degree of personalisation, the more likely you'll convert, encourage purchase, and have satisfied customers.
Email list segmentation isn't as complex as it might sound, but you'll need to have a clear strategy and ensure you have the basics for collecting and applying customer data.
To get started, you need to have certain level of customer information and devise a way to organise your segments. An email sending tool, such as those provided by an email marketing platform, will also be helpful.
Customer data –You need to have customer data that's linked to an email address. For example, if you're a retailer you might have collected customer emails, along with information like gender, purchase history, and postcode. Don't worry if you don't have detailed information, as you can build out your customer profiles as you go.
Way to organise segments – You'll need a method to create segments and work effectively with them. Realistically, your method of organising your segments will be some type of software or web-based platform rather than pen and paper. An app that allows you to manage segments is the best example of this.
For best-practice outcomes, use page-level targeting on your website and incorporate lead magnets into your segmented email campaigns.
Page-level targeting – Create segmented email opt-in offers for different categories of website visitors based on their behaviour on your website. This allows you to automatically segment new opt-ins, maximise opt-in numbers, and perhaps collect more detailed information on the spot by using lead magnets.
Lead magnets – You can collect extra information about your new opt-ins by using lead magnets. These can be checklists, cheat sheets, templates, free apps, resource lists, and any other instantly downloadable resource. Make sure they're of value to your target market. By collecting data on what they're downloading, you can instantly segment these new members of your email list.
Once you have the basics, you can start delving into your data. Consider everything you know about your customers, including addresses, location, age, favourite sports teams or music, job, income level, and purchase history. Basic information like gender and age can be powerful data points when it come to segmenting for conversion boosts, so don't discount the value of these common demographic categories as well.
Information you can use in addition to gender and age includes where they live, their job title, and behaviour data like shopping history and interest in specific product lines. How they use your products can also be considered, as well as whether they're freemium or paid users. Other relevant data might be whether they click on your email links or read your emails only once in a while. Consider also sign up dates, purchase volumes, and referrals made.
Assess all these data points and be clear about what data you're capturing and will continue to capture. Decide what data you might need to start capturing to sell more, and work out how you'll collect and organise it. You can collect data at any point, for example, you could manually monitor activity, use a tool to automate the process, use surveys, or rely on sign up form information. Always ensure you're complying with privacy and data protection regulations when handling customer data.
The next step is to create buyer personas. You should know who your best customers are, whether they're businesses in a niche, chocolate lovers, foodies, recreational golfers, teens, parents, or university students. By going into detail about their personas, you'll have a solid foundation on which to segment your email lists. Customer personas are important because they help your organisation create and refine the right type of message in your email channels.
List pertinent information like demographic data, preferences, interests, pain points, goals, disposable income, and lifestyle in as much detail as possible. You should understand how your product or service helps each customer persona solve their pain point or assists with them achieving their goals.
With an awareness of key data points and customer personas, you're ready to start defining your segments. Base these segments on your buyer personas. For example, if you run a baby goods e-commerce store, you could have a segment made of mothers, another one for fathers, and a third one for grandparents. You could have a segment for working mothers, high-income parents, parents on a tight budget, and parents in certain geographic locations. You might have additional segments based on purchase history, such as parents who've made more than three purchases through your website in the past three months.
Other examples of segments include those based on products purchased in the past, products browsed in the past, most purchased price range, and most purchased product category. You can also segment by average order size, items cancelled, and items on wish list. Basic categories like preferences, interests, lead-magnet type, and stage in sales funnel are also great segments to use. Others like device type (mobile or desktop), physical store or e-commerce purchase, or membership expirations are also useful segments to consider.
Keep the following point in mind as you choose your segments: the segments you choose should be based on the goal of selling more efficiently, or encouraging customers to buy more of your goods or services. If you're feeling overwhelmed at the number of segments that seem to be relevant, start with the most compelling ones, which are the ones most likely to drive the most sales.
When you start using segmented email lists, you're not only managing different email messages, but you'll be managing a lot of customer data as well. To keep it relatively straightforward, you'll want to automate as much of the process as possible, so consider using an email marketing tool that has a segmentation feature.
For example, you can go into your chosen platform and search by given criteria — like males between the age of 18 and 24 within a geographical area, to create a segment. Each time someone opts into the universal email list, the segment automatically updates, so no manual list management is required.
You might also be able to create segments across multiple lists. For example, if you have a list for Victorian residents and another one for New South Wales residents, your platform might allow you to combine the two to create a segment based on further criteria, such as membership expiration date. You can then set up email reminder campaigns for each segment.
These email marketing tools offer you a way to define data points quickly and create segments based on your identified customer personas. Since they're dynamic, you don't need to be concerned about manually managing lists and segments.
You'll likely find it rewarding to segment all or most of the time, since you'll probably have few occasions when you need to send out mass emails to everyone on your mailing list. Segment as much as possible because segmentation increases the likelihood that the recipients will be sent the right kind of messaging — an email message that encourages them to purchase.
At the same time, continue learning all you can about your customer list and refining your segments. Keep reviewing your data points, how you're collecting data, and your customer personas. As you grow your email list, allow your segments to keep evolving, whether through consolidation or, in the opposite direction, by breaking them down into more specific categories.
Personalising your marketing emails is key to ensuring the message is relevant and effective for the recipient. By segmenting your marketing emails, you could achieve a high degree of personalisation without having to manually write individual messages. Segmentation, when done effectively, can boost click-through rates and conversions, helping you connect with your customer base and sell more of your products and services. For best outcomes, define your data points, work out your customer personas, identify your segments, and use an email marketing platform to automate the process.
TractionNext provides industry-leading, next-generation marketing technology that doesn't get in the way of your business. We can automate campaign workflows, trigger conversations, and accelerate conversions through the one unified platform. To find out more about how we can help you provide a more relevant and engaging brand experience to customers, contact us to request a demo.


Long known for quality and precision, this company continues making strides in the commercial aerospace and defense industries, with new markets on the horizon.
When he was a student at Loyola Marymount University, Tom Marino used to watch planes land at the nearby Hughes Aircraft plant in Culver City, California. Little did he know at the time how the activity he observed would eventually figure into his own future.
Call (909) 476-0343, send e-mail to mail@gear-tech.com, or go online to [www.gear-tech.com].


JK Contractors represents 40+ years of exceeding expectations. Our craftsmanship & knowledge truly sets us apart from the competition. We educate each client on quality products & materials, while helping decide what best fits the goal & budget. It's our desire to make your home reflect your dreams, advising you every step of the way while building trust and something you can be proud of.
JK stands behind all manufacturer warranties and carries Workman's Compensation & Liability Insurance to protect all parties and property involved in the process. When it comes to quality exterior home improvements, we're known as "The Keeper of Your Exterior Dreams".
With an overall "A+" Rating from the Better Business Bureau, JK Contractors is focused on all the fine details during your project. JK is also a member of the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, and we gladly furnish references upon request. All work is done by an expert staff, seen through from start to finish by our President Jeff Kurz, his Sons, and well-trained employees from our community. Our equipment is carefully maintained and only top-of-the-line tools are used to provide quality workmanship. JK takes every precaution to see that your landscaping (and your neighbors') is protected throughout the entire home improvement process, and afterwards we take special care during clean up.
Our team is a close-knit group that has worked on thousands of projects together. We specialize in Residential and Commercial projects and have been served Milwaukee and the surrounding communities. Your home transformation dreams begin with us. With Our personalized approach and 40 years of experience we will help guide you step by step. We are eager to meet and exceed your expectations.
When you're relying on someone to fulfill the dreams you have in your home transformation, who better than a company who's successfully served Milwaukee and the surrounding communities for over 40 years? Our team may be filled with expert craftsman and skilled workers, but what really sets us apart is our desire & commitment to seeing every job through to the end, and beyond, because of one simple reason: We are just like you.
We understand the importance of keeping your property safe during installation and repair. We treat your home as if it were our own and take the time to set up tarps and plywood to cover windows and flower beds. We use a piece of equipment called the Equipter. The Equipter is a roofing trailer that is used for debris management and it can easily navigate around landscaping and your lawn to make for an efficient clean up.
Our team works year-round, performing valuable services to the community like snow removal & emergency repairs. We're certainly much more than your average 'contracting company'...and that's evident if you talk to the hundreds of people we help each year. If you do call us on Christmas Day...we simply ask you are well stocked with eggnog and chocolate chip cookies!
JK Contractors, Inc. is passionately focused on providing the highest quality of service, using top-level genuine materials that meet our clients' needs, resulting in the most gratifying and long-lasting transformation they can truly be proud of for the place they call home.


I keep thinking they're the same, but I'm thinking that the 2nd option is safer.
Maybe you shouldn't have posted this as a poll. I hate polls and surveys because they limit your answers. Am I to pick whats best out of your 3 suggestions? TBH, your suggestions are great and the question you pose is very generic. I mean, what is safer? What do you mean? Safer for who?
One of your suggestions is...hoe can I put this nicely, very misleading.
Whats the difference between this and a 32char random password? Is the user name random? If so then option 1 and 2 are the same?
I also think that 2nd is batter way.
If the attacker is using Brute Force 2 x 16 chars is much more secure in case the user name is unknown.
I think your options are kind of the same. But If I were to choose between the two, I think I'll prefer to use number 2 strategy for my password.


Resilience Counselling Network has helped me with an issue I had for many years. I found my therapist from the first session very understanding, and she very quickly was able to know where I was coming from, and was able to help me identify the issue and let me know how she proposed to help me. She also tailored the sessions to how many I wanted. She was very supportive, caring and understanding, and I found her way of working got to the core of the issue and really addressed it. She has helped me and I have no hesitation in highly recommending her. I would definitely use Resilience Counselling Network again if I feel the need. My therapist as Resilience Counselling Network was an excellent therapist, understanding, supportive, caring, and I felt she really was really committed to helping me, and I have no hesitation in recommending them highly.
I attended counselling with Resilience Counselling Network and found the service to be exceptional. My therapist had a warm, engaging personality that instantly put me at ease. She was excellent at knowing the right questions to ask and ensuring I looked within myself for the answers. The service I received was very clear and precise and I took something away from all of my sessions. My therapist was a huge assistance to me at a time when I was searching for a lot of answers. I would highly recommend Resilience Counselling Network without hesitation to anyone who is looking for a warm, friendly, empathetic and downright excellent counselling service.
I've used this service to help me through some challenging times. Resilience Counselling Network helped me to understand what I was feeling and why, and to understand why it was impacting on my life. My therapist also gave me the foundations to build on and to help reduce the chances of lapsing back.
I came to Resilience Counselling Network initially because I needed counselling hours for my course. I really didn't think I needed counselling and wasn't sure what to talk about. After the first session it was evident that I had so much I could work on and felt immediately relaxed and comfortable. The space I felt was safe for me to explore my feelings. Through me sessions I experienced a traumatic event and I was so grateful to have my therapist to talk to. I was able to share my true feelings. Ultimately I feel my time with Resilience Counselling helped immensely. I would highly recommend Resilience Counselling Network.


text:
Home / Wall Maps / International Region & City Maps
England and Wales Classic
National Geographic's Classic style wall map of England and Wales (Cymru) provides exceptional detail of two of the three regions that make up the island of Great Britain.
Choose an optionPaperLaminatedRails - Black MoldingRails - Walnut MoldingMounted to Foam CoreMartin Mount - Black MoldingMartin Mount - Walnut MoldingFramed - Black MoldingFramed - Walnut Molding Clear
England and Wales Classic quantity
SKU: NGENG Categories: All Products, Wall Maps, European Region and City Maps, International Region & City Maps
Quantity discounts on all combinations of Wall Maps!
National Geographic's Classic style wall map of England and Wales (Cymru) provides exceptional detail of two of the three regions that make up the island of Great Britain. The map features a bright color palette with blue oceans and terrain detailed in stunning shaded relief that has been a hallmark of National Geographic wall maps for over 75 years. Administrative divisions are clearly defined and thousands of place names including cities, historical sites, bodies of water, national parks, and more are shown. The region's transportation infrastructure is detailed as well, with clearly indicated roads, motorways, airports, canals, ferry routes, and high-speed and passenger railroads. Coastal bathymetry is shown with depth curves and soundings. In addition to England and Wales (Cymru), coverage includes portions of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and France. The map is encapsulated in heavy-duty 1.6 mil laminate which makes the paper much more durable and resistant to the swelling and shrinking caused by changes in humidity. Laminated maps can be framed without the need for glass, so the fames can be much lighter and less expensive.
Map Size: 30″ x 36″
We offer free returns within 30 days for this product*. Contact us within 30 days of receiving your product to receive a return authorization number, which you can write on the box and ship back to us. We will issue your return within three days of receiving the product back.
We do not refund the initial shipping charges and you're responsible for shipping charges to get the product back to us unless we made a mistake in the order.
National Geographic Classic Style
Hendersonville and Henderson County, NC Wall Map
Goldsboro and Wayne County, NC
High Point, NC Wall Map
Augusta and Richmond County, GA Wall Map
Hickory and Catawba County, NC Wall Map
Columbus County, NC Wall Map
Cheraw and Chesterfield County, SC Wall Map
Macon and Bibb County, GA Wall Map


Movies, TV shows, and anime have become quite popular in the modern era and a lot of people have started to take interest in them. They download them via different sources or purchase them on DVD/Blu-Ray. However, all of this downloading and purchasing can be utterly useless if users aren't able to run them on their PC's media players. This is where they'll need new software, but finding one that suits their needs can be quite an annoying task especially if they don't know what they are looking for. Knowing that, we have created this guide in which we provide details on the features that should be present in the best media player for Windows.
Performance matters a lot – if the media player doesn't work well, then there's just no point in spending time on it.
A ton of video formats are available on the web so look for media player that supports all/most of them.
Can't really depend on Mouse all the time, sometimes all we have is keyboard so shortcut keys certainly help.
Want to watch a movie or TV show without interruptions, then look for a media player that offers it.
Sometimes, the scale of video is small and this is where users will need the zooming feature. It enables them to zoom any part of the video without any hassle.
The users can change the aspect ratio of any video to suit the display.
If the audio of a downloaded video is out of sync, then users must be able to adjust it with this feature.
If the subtitles of a downloaded video are out of sync, then users will be able to adjust them with the help of it.
Users can slow down or speed up the time as they see fit.
Now that we have gone in detail about the requisites, we can focus on the best software in this category. There are some media players that contain all the essentials mentioned above, and then there are a few which contain only a handful of them. However, on performance front all of the following software are unmatched.
If as a computer user, you're looking to settle on one media player then you should turn your attention to VLC Media Player. This is easily one of the best solutions available for all kinds of users. You don't have to know any kind of technical stuff to run it. Everything you need is right in front of the interface. The best part is that it runs almost everything you throw at it. If you want to get technical, you can do that as well. There are tools for manipulating audio, optimizing video, enabling/disabling subtitles, syncing audio/subtitles, cropping, zooming, changing aspect ratio to fit your screen, and so much more. It's a complete package and if you're in need of a media player, then VLC comes highly recommended.
SMPlayer is an open source software and comes with a slew of unique features that aren't being offered by anyone else. Audio and video files are obviously supported in this tool but it goes beyond and allows you to use internet radios and stream content through web. That's not all though as it also comes with free plug-ins which enable you to browse the internet, search for anything, or play YouTube videos. Furthermore, SMPlayer saves your settings, so if you have set a volume to an extent, then it will stay that way unless you change it yourself. Same is the case with its other settings. There's also an option for finding and downloading the subtitles best suited for the content you're viewing. All in all, SMPlayer is an amazing solution but can be a bit technical. So only go for it if you have some knowhow about media players.
GOM Media Player is another top notch media player and offers a bunch of control to the users. However, the features that really make it shine are the ability open YouTube URLs, gesture controls, and touchscreen system. You don't have to worry about quality of sound or video either because they're brilliant. There's a version of this software that contains adware, so be sure to do your research and find the site that's offering this tool without any kind of malware.
KMPlayer is a solid choice for you if you're looking for a media player that is capable of running wide array of formats. It's built on the FFMPEG engine which allows it run almost every single video format out there. It has very detailed interface so you will get everything you're looking for right there. To top it all, KMPlayer comes with a subtitle support, capture tools, and 3D playback features. Yes, you can watch 3D movies using this tool, and the best part is that there's no latency whatsoever so your experience is smooth.
Media Player Classic has been around for quite some time but that does not mean it is outdated. Regular updates for it are released on regular basis ensuring that it is able to support all the old and new audio and video formats. This tool is as simple as it gets – if you don't want hassle of any kind then it is the best option to go with. There's no complicated stuff of any kind at all. No YouTube support, no browsing, no optimization settings, or any other technical feature. It's a simple solution for simple people. You just open whatever you want in it and it plays. If that's all you want, then Media Player Classic is highly recommended.


text:
Battle of the Sexes Succeeds Because It Keeps Billie Jean King's Sexuality Front and Center
"Love" is a funny term in the tennis world, as it literally means "nothing." To have a score of love means you're not on the board; it's an absence of progress in the game.
As she's portrayed in the new film Battle of the Sexes, tennis icon Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) has much the same idea of love as the game does. Her husband Larry (Austin Stowell) doesn't travel with her, for fear of distraction. She says as much to a new woman in her life, hairdresser Marilyn (Andrea Riseborough), as she feels her focus being pulled away from tennis and onto their beautiful-but-risky affair.
Love prevents progress in Billie Jean's eyes. Larry puts it succinctly to Marilyn in one crucial mid-film scene: As husband and lover, they are "sideshows" to Billie's one true commitment: tennis.
But it's not love that truly hampers Billie Jean's game it's her inability to be honest with herself and admit that she's a lesbian. Directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris smartly never let Billie's sexuality out of the spotlight, making Battle of the Sexes a more compelling character study than it appears to be.
The big key to understanding the film is knowing that its title is a misdirection. Yes, the infamous 1973 tennis match of the same name is the climactic event in the film, but Billie Jean's victory over self-declared chauvinist pig Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) is merely a triumph in a much larger war. Billie's true battle is for equality, as she fights back against a system that sees her as less-than because of her gender. She's paid less than male players, seen as less "exciting" than male players, and the match against Bobby is merely a chance to prove her worth in the game she loves in a national spotlight.
This battle has layers, of course, because Billie Jean's outward-facing war for gender equality is not her only war. Her queerness makes her drive to be seen as equal and legitimate all the more heart-wrenching. Even after her eventual victory over Bobby, she's still not braced to be herself in front of the masses. She says as much to Ted Tinling (Alan Cumming), her friend and tennis dress designer, before taking her victory lap.
"Times change," Ted says with winking acknowledgment of her inner struggle. "You should know; you just changed them."
Battle of the Sexes is a better movie for its focus on Billie Jean's sexuality. We see her immense fight with her desires in her affair with Marilyn. Both Stone and Riseborough effectively play the complications of their love without making their characters tragic. It's intimate work, much being said in silences and glances. The scene where the women kiss for the first time is superb, slow in pace but unflinching when the two do finally come together.
Unfortunately, this means whenever the focus does shift, Battle of the Sexes weakens. Bobby would've best served as an even more ancillary character. Bobby Riggs is a caricature in most of his scenes, consistent with the tennis court jester persona he put on during the era of the film. In his 50s and hardly a peak player, Bobby represents the sloth and pride that's allowed to still come out on top thanks to entrenched patriarchy. A more successful woman has to try twice as hard to be taken seriously as a buffoon simply because of her gender. (Sound familiar?)
Had Battle of the Sexes been content to let him stay a caricature, and devote more time to Billie Jean (and Stone's superior performance), the film would have been less even-handed, perhaps, but ultimately more focused. The film's attempts to humanize Bobby, be it in his relationship with his son or wife, always ring somewhat hollow, though Carell handles the scenes ably.
Those scenes are just marking time until the narrative returns to Billie Jean where it truly belongs. Her battle is the film's true battle: for the world to see her and her gender as equal. She is a gay woman fighting for legitimacy in an industry that puts an asterisk by all her accomplishments simply because of who she is. Even knowing the outcome of her match against Bobby, watching her succeed is cathartic. Equality may still be a distant dream for her time period (hell, it's still a dream today), but in that one moment, Billie Jean proves herself. She is worthy of equal treatment, of being accepted, and of love.
Battle of the Sexes is in theaters now.


text:
Impact on family
Parent's reactions to their child's diagnosis of congenital heart disease
Telling others
Ideas about the causes of congenital heart disease
Finding information about congenital heart disease
Talking to health professionals
Signs, symptoms & diagnosis after birth of congenital heart disease
Scans, tests & decisions during pregnancy
Preparing for birth & labour
Adapting to life
How having a child with congenital heart disease affects daily life
Follow-up appointments for congenital heart disease
Coping when a child has congenital heart disease
Talking to your child about their heart
Messages to other parents
How it affects parents
How it affects relationships
How it affects siblings
How it affects grandparents
Feeding & medication
Feeding problems and congenital heart disease
Medication for congenital heart disease
The death of a child
Dying in hospital
Funeral, post mortem & inquest
Bereavement, sources support & reactions of others
Surgery & cardiac catheterisation
Waiting for an operation
The operation
Paediatric intensive care
Moving to the ward
Taking your child home
Pacemakers
Child's quality of life & development
A child's quality of life
A child's development
Previous Topic | Messages to other parents How it affects relationships | Next Topic
When they learned the diagnosis, parents felt shocked and devastated to discover that their child had congenital heart disease (see 'Parent's reactions'). During the following months, parents were on an emotional roller-coaster, with down days and good days and sometimes found it hard to cope.
Some mothers felt very low and depressed. One mother describes how different it had been to having a healthy baby. Another said she had difficulty coping and just wished the responsibility could be taken away from her. A couple of mothers said that at one stage, they couldn't face being left at home on their own with the baby.
Feels she missed out on the excitement she had felt after her first baby was born instead she was very tearful and low after her baby came home from hospital.
Baby's ago at interview: 15 months. Diagnosed during pregnancy (20 weeks). Parents' marital status: married. Occupation: Mother-Full time Mum, Father-Postman. Other children: one older child. The family live close by to a specialist hospital.
I mean the only other thing that I, I feel that maybe sort of mums should have a bit more time with is that I was really worried before I had her that I was going to get post-natal depression and don't ask me why, I just, I got paranoid about it, didn't I? Because I thought with, with everything that was going to happen, we knew about everything, you know, about all the surgery and how long she'd be in hospital, all this lot, and I just thought, ' it's going to have some effect, it's bound to'. I mean. I got so paranoid after that I'd convinced myself I'd, I'd probably got it but nobody seemed to think about me, do you know what I mean? That seemed to all be forgotten when you've had a baby, because you're in hospital, in a children's hospital, it's as though you haven't given birth and you lose out on all that, do you know what I mean? 'Cos, like with my son it was like, you know, you get pampered and everything like that and it was lovely. And it's all this sort of bubbly time and that and I had none of that when I had my daughter. It was, all seemed to be forgotten, wasn't it really?
And I was very tearful and, for a long time when she came home and, and I even got to the stage where I didn't want you to go out, did I? I didn't want to be left on my own. For the, for a certain, not because I was frightened that something was going to happen to her but I just didn't want to be on my own. It was ever, ever so strange but I don't think, well it wasn't post-natal depression, I think it was just a bit down and a bit of delayed shock. But I think they should take care with some mums because it, you know, they could need the attention afterwards and it could get missed.
One mum for several months couldn't face seeing her friend who had a baby the same time as her. Another said she was on antidepressants for 2 years after her son was born. The National Childbirth Trust provides support for mothers with post-natal depression. Some fathers coped by trying to forget about their child's illness and spent more hours at work. One mother said her husband withdrew into himself for a long time.
The impact of having a baby who was ill, facing the possibility that he might die, or seeing him in a paediatric intensive care unit, didn't hit some parents until later. Some found it hard at first to accept that there was something wrong with their child. A few said they still hadn't come to terms with it.
As time went by, several felt that having passed through the emotional roller-coaster they were better able to accept and cope with their child's diagnosis. In some cases it wasn't until after their child had major surgery, and health had improved, that feelings of depression lifted. One mother said that she had been depressed for nearly 6 years, but when her son's health improved after his pacemaker operation she felt more positive.
Another recalled that after her son had his first SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) episode she felt better able to cope because until then the threat of an attack had always been looming over her. One mother said that two years after her son's diagnosis she felt that what her family had gone through had enriched their lives, and they were much stronger and happier.
Comments that her son's diagnosis has changed all their lives for the better and she is looking forward to the future.
Diagnosed at 6 hours old. Parents' marital status: Separated. Occupation: Mother-Student. Other children: one older child. Family live close by to a specialist hospital.
I've already said to you I went to hell and back with my heart baby. And anybody who's watching this who's got a heart baby will know exactly what I'm on about but I will say that it has changed my life so much for the better, I just can't begin to tell you. It really has. I mean it's changed my other little boy's life so much for the better and Joe is just fantastic. He's just a snotty, dirty, horrible two year old who hasn't got a clue in the world that he's got problems. He's just happy and he just doesn't give a monkey's about anything. You know. And now we just, we live life to the full, we really do and we don't look back now. We've got problems and we have to deal with them but that's OK.
You know, and my parents are a lot happier and they're a lot closer to us now and I'm a lot closer to my sisters now and the kids have got a nice relationship with their dad that they're comfortable with and I was in a really bad marriage and it give me the strength to get out and we're friends now when we weren't before. You know a lot of things have changed and it's really good now and I'm really looking forward to the future now because I know Joe's going to be fine. I really do, I really do believe that Joe will be fine no matter what he ends up doing or no matter, where he is I just know he's going to be fine. And he's happy and that's all that matters to me as his mum. That he's happy. And really that's all that matters to me about anything is that we're all happy. And so, and we are, we're all happy and healthy at the moment. And I'm really looking forward to the future now. It looks much, much brighter than it was. I've gone from hell to at last being happy.
Having a child with congenital heart disease had had an impact on parent's decisions to have another child, their relationship as a couple and their daily life (see 'How it affects relationships' and 'How it affects daily life').
Some parents, who had hoped to have more children, felt apprehensive about having another child. They were worried that it might happen again and didn't think they could cope a second time. In fact the risk of having another child with congenital heart disease is relatively low. In some cases the disease has a genetic cause, and genetic counselling is available, but in most cases the cause is unknown.
A few parents had another child quite soon after their CHD baby and all were healthy. One mother explains that becoming pregnant again had helped her through the difficult first year after her daughter's diagnosis. One couple said they had been able to enjoy having a newborn baby, which had not been possible with their CHD baby because they had been so stressed and worried.
Getting pregnant again helped her through the first year after her daughter's diagnosis.
Diagnosed at 5 weeks old. Parents' marital status: married. Occupation: Mother-Teacher, Father-Architect. Other children: one younger child (no heart problems). The family do not live very close to a specialist hospital.
So anyway we had another baby and that was a huge lift. That was, we had to take him for checks. We had a specialist scan when he was 20 weeks in the womb. We were told that they'd seen the heart and it was fine. They also sent him up to the specialist hospital a few weeks' old but we knew there was nothing wrong with him because we've seen a heart child, we could, we could see that he, he wasn't a heart child, funnily enough. He was over 9lbs at birth and he was a really big baby that fed all the time so we didn't find it worrying. In fact it's been a huge help psychologically to have another one.
How has it been a help?
I suppose, how has it been a help, it's, it, the focus of our life cannot be the heart condition. We have a family. And I suppose it helped me through the first year of diagnosis, which I think is a difficult year. Because I had another baby to look forward to and I couldn't sit there depressed and thinking about it all the time. I just couldn't physically do it and especially when he was born. And he's another support. And he supports Alex, they're very, very close. And I know that when she has to have more treatment he's going to be a help. I don't know quite how it works but it does and I've known other people say to me that having another baby's helped. So, yes, we had one straightaway.
Mothers had a specialist scan during pregnancy and one couple had genetic counselling before trying for another child. Most mothers described feeling anxious during their subsequent pregnancy and wary after birth. Babies had had checks at the specialist hospital after birth.
Describes feelings during pregnancy of her second child and encourages other parents not to be frightened of having another child.
Diagnosed during pregnancy (20 weeks). Parents' marital status: married. Occupation: Mother-Full time Mum, Father-Retail Manager. Other children: one younger child. The family live close by to a specialist hospital.
But I did feel I wanted another baby and Dan, Daniel was only 10, just 10 months. He'd had his first stage Fontan and I found out that I was pregnant. And I wasn't shocked. I was absolutely, I was delighted. I was absolutely over the moon. [my husband] couldn't speak for about a week. But at the same time we were anxious and frightened that obviously the same thing might happen. And we had a series of scans to make sure that this new baby didn't have any defect at all. And when the day came for us to have a big scan, it was like I was holding my breath. Until they actually told me that this baby was, had no cardiac defect. It was like holding my breath. And we went and it took about an hour and the consultant finally said that the baby's heart was 100%, had all four chambers. He couldn't see any problems.
And I was, it was a mixture of emotions. I was sad to begin with. I felt a bit guilty because I think Dan had that huge problem and this baby was going to be all right. But I still wasn't convinced even though the consultant had told me, I still wasn't convinced.
And when he was born obviously he was checked again thoroughly and was given the all clear. His heart was fine. We brought him home and I still wasn't convinced. And I kept watching for, to be going blue and I kept checking his nails and wasn't sure he was feeding right. And I took him back to the doctor's about 3 or 4 times to, to have his heart listened to 'cos I was that paranoid of him having something wrong with his heart. I think, having gone through all that with Daniel I couldn't believe that there was anything, nothing wrong with his heart. But I then eventually accepted the fact that his heart was fine. He was fine. And he was 100% healthy.
At the end of the day you have to live your life the way that you want to live your life and we want more children, so. It might sound selfish but at the end of the day the assurances that we had from the doctors and the nurses was that would be more unlikely than likely that we would have another heart baby.
And anyone who has a got a cardiac baby who's thinking of having another one I would say 'Go for it'. 'Don't limit yourself because you've got a cardiac baby. There's no reason for you not to have a normal child at all. I mean, it, it sort of makes things complete and a little bit better for you if, when you have a, a normal pregnancy, a normal baby. But, so I'd say 'Don't be put off having another baby'. I know, not everyone's like that but, try not to be put off by having another one because it does bring you a lot, a lot more joy [laughs], that's what I'd say.
One mother, whose baby died from congenital heart disease when he was four and a half months old said they waited a year and had genetic counselling, arranged through their GP, before they tried for another child. They needed a lot of reassurance during pregnancy and after birth. She describes her feelings during pregnancy and after birth.
Explains what it was like having another baby after her baby died from congenital heart disease.
Parents marital status: cohabiting. Occupation: Mother-Researcher, Father-Internet programmer. Other children: one child aged 5 weeks old. The family do not live close to a specialist hospital.
So after we were reassured that it wasn't you know it wasn't a high risk of it happening again we decided to try for another baby and we'd been told that it could take up to a year to get pregnant again and I got pregnant straightaway. So it was just under 2 years after Noah was born that we had our second child and it was very, very worrying during the pregnancy. I just wanted it to be over really, I was quite stressed. And the labour was difficult because I was worried that something would go wrong. And the first 2 weeks after Alfie was born I couldn't leave him, I thought that something was going to happen to him. It was quite irrational really, I thought someone was going to drop him or he would suffocate or he would choke or, you know, just. I didn't believe that he was here to stay and it took 3 or 4 weeks of spending time with him before I knew that he was okay. That was difficult; I wasn't really prepared for that, to feel that anxious and I don't think, I don't think my Mum or anybody really knew how to help with that because there wasn't anything they could do, it was just a matter of time really.
Many parents felt that their outlook on life had changed. One mother said her priorities had changed, she was no longer as ambitious in her career and appreciated things a lot more. Another thought she had become more relaxed about minor illnesses having realised how resilient her baby was.
Explains that her priorities have changed and she appreciated things a lot more.
Comments that she has become more relaxed about minor illnesses after her baby's surgery because she realises how resilient he is.
My outlook on life has totally changed, yes. Very difficult to describe how. I say I, my husband and lots of his friends, the year after Alex was treated, raised over '3500 for the hospital. And they did a big challenge and it was publicised and I can't imagine us doing that before. I appreciate things, appreciate much more than I'm sure I would have done. It's difficult because it clashes with the first time I was a mother as well and I think well, being a mother does change you but I'm sure that this experience has definitely changed me. I'm a lot more grateful for things and I just want a normal life. Where as, maybe before I would have wanted something extra. I just want a normal life now. You know, two happy children who are my priority in everything and my career definitely has, I was, I was offered a promotion when I went back after Alex was born and I turned it down and I don't know if I would have taken it if she hadn't of been ill. But it was something I'd worked for, for years and I had to turn it down. But I have no regrets about doing it but it's just a, difference that I think that the experience has made.
Diagnosed at 2 days old. Parents' marital status: married. Occupation: Mother-Children's Book Designer, Father-Advertising. Other children: no other children. The family live close by to a specialist hospital.
I mean he still is a very good baby, he does sleep through the night, and he is just very, very good and I am spoilt with him in that respect and people go, you know, I've had other people say to me 'Gosh I just want to talk to somebody who's had a nightmare first year' and I have had a nightmare first year but from a completely different perspective and much more life threatening and I don't know if that's made me more relaxed.
I think people expect me to be an over-protective mother and quite stressed out about it but actually I think it's made me the other way. I think I'm quite relaxed about it now. I think, well, you know, he's so, he's made of strong stuff. He's been through this, it's only a cold. And I'm not down the surgery with sort of every little cough and cold or sick he has. I just think children get these things, it's not worth stressing about it. And obviously I have to be careful that he doesn't get chest infections and I am, I will check him out if it persists but I'm not over-protective, I wouldn't say.
One couple mentioned that they had become stronger and had learned to be more assertive in fighting for everything their child was entitled to. A father said that he was now confident that his family could face any problem and cope. It had changed his perspective on life and he now had a more philosophical attitude. Another couple said they had become less sociable and enjoyed spending more time at home.
His attitude to life has become more philosophical and they now feel confident that they could face any problem as a family and be able to cope with it.
Baby's age at Interview: 9 months. Diagnosed at 3 months old. Parents' marital status: married. Occupation: Mother-Full time mum, Father-Information Technology. Other children: one older child. The family do not live close by to a specialist hospital.
Well I suppose I've certainly become stronger now. One thing this has taught us, one thing it has definitely taught us, one thing this has definitely shown us, I don't know whether it has taught us but we can do it. The two of us together, with [our older son] we can do it. If there really is a problem tomorrow of some kind, whatever, whatever it is, I think we can do it. I would not have been so sure of myself before this. But today I can say, with [my wife], and with [my older boy] I think we can do it. I think we can face up to quite a big challenge. It has also given me a very, a rather philosophical view to life really. Somehow, I was in the delivery rooms when [our older son] was born and when Vikram was born. What I saw there, the birth that itself, the whole process, the birth, a person being born, in a very real sense has made me feel very insignificant. I am not saying anything demeaning to myself, it's not like that, on the grander scale of things somehow I have become more philosophical in that all this is, I have a lot of words, but the splendour of it all, how small I am in all that.
And then this, we planned for so many things, we want so many things to happen to us, we try to do so many things. And one little hole in one little heart could really upset all of that. How insignificant am I in all this? I don't mean to put myself down when I say that but I am just looking, I am now beginning to see things in a much larger frame. I am now beginning to see a lot of things in a much larger frame now than I used to be able to do before. Earlier I was just looking at my house, my mortgage, my computer, my somehow today I am not attaching that importance to that mortgage any more as an example. Somehow I am thinking that there is something much bigger in all of this. That is how it has affected me. I think that is how it has affected her as well. She also repeats to me so many times now, she thinks that together we can do it.
Some parents wanted to 'give something back' and had become involved in raising money for heart research or for the specialist hospital. One father said that raising funds for charity had helped him to feel that he was doing something beneficial during the months when he felt unable to contribute to his daughter's care.
Taking part in a charity run helped him to feel he was doing something beneficial when he felt he couldn't contribute to his daughter's care.
And, it's difficult to explain but I've felt as though I've needed to put something back and that's probably why we decided I'd do a charity run and try and raise as much money as possible for, for heart research. I mean, just so, well basically it benefited my daughter but other children who are gonna be coming along it may be a year, 10 years, whatever. And hopefully give them a, a better life and hopefully, just, just to feel I've achieved something by putting something back and I think, I'll be ongoing in doing that, I will. I won't stop. I will try and, and do a lot more and that, you know, put a lot of money in that way. Because I know it, it may or may not benefit my daughter but I know it will benefit people who come after and that helps me. Because it feels as though I am now doing something. All, all them months that I never, I couldn't do nothing when I couldn't help my daughter when she was lying there with tubes and, and, yeah, I mean, I don't know how it feels for sort of the, the mums but a dad, the way, I mean, I could, I can't sort of pick her up and tell her everything's going to be OK. And, I did find it difficult and by doing this, I feel as though I'm putting something back and I think, I think that's helped me get, grasp a lot of things.
Last updated April 2010.


Stop the sermon; Bring the fun back!
The fun has gone out of Diwali. And, for that matter, every socio cultural festival that everyone has such wonderful and fond memories about.
Weeks before the actual event, the do- gooders get going counseling, pleading and warning all and sundry – and from every conceivable platform – about the 'harmful' effects of crackers, if it is Diwali and 'chemical colours', if it is Holi. There is simply no escape from these preachers whether you are reading a newspaper, watching television or surfing social media. Even the government appears to be on the side of the spoilsports, badgering us with its sermons about the perils of crackers or chemical colours!
This year, one also has to contend with the histrionics of the hyper nationalists out to teach our big, bad neighbour China a lesson by giving out a clarion call for boycotting Chinese garlands of lights and using our very own earthen diyas instead. On this point, however, I am with those making a case for earthen diyas – not for nationalistic reasons but because they are such a treat to the eyes.
Diwali and Holi, as far as I know, have always been social rather than religious occasions. Just as there is nothing religious about greeting friends and acquaintances Id Mubarak, one doesn't have to be a Hindu to celebrate Diwali and Holi. That is why it it so painful to see some people making it a religious issue – especially on social media – questioning why harmful practices during the festivals of 'other' communities are not targeted by the cracker and colour wary brigade. But then this is perhaps a sign of the times we live in – times when the good old virtues of inter-religious camaraderie and the religion-neutral nature of Indian festivals are anathema to some people.
For God's sake, take religion out of such wonderful occasions like Diwali, Holi and Id. But by all means, do bring some fun back to these important events in the social calendar of the nation!