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The formation of the Cannes Plan
After an ad agency won the Cannes PR Lions Grand Prix for the fifth year running, PRWeek invited industry leaders to debate how PR can improve its performance. Ruth Wyatt reports.
by Ruth Wyatt / July 03, 2013
The roundtable
The morning after the awards presentation of the fifth Cannes PR Lions, PRWeek invited industry leaders to debate if, how and why the PR industry should and could improve its performance at Cannes. Representatives of six leading agency networks gathered for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred discussion on what we as an industry need to do. Here PRWeek presents the highlights of an ultimately uplifting discourse.
David Gallagher, chair of the 2013 judges and chief executive EMEA, Ketchum: As an industry we have to look beyond our own agencies and networks if we want a better showing and that's happening in other places around the world - I know other industries at national level are sharing best practice and resources. Let's get our best work in and let's put it in the right category and as many correct categories as we can - much of our work would apply in promo as much as it would in PR and one of the headlines is that PR agencies are moving into other categories and taking some territory from other agencies. The commitment to an institution like Cannes is three to five years because it takes that long to figure out what's going on. You have to understand the overall dynamic; sit through several awards competitions to see what's winning elsewhere.
Michael Frohlich, MD, Ogilvy PR: It has to be a collective commitment. There's no point in one agency, one network committing. We have to commit as an industry. This year has been a turning point - it has been more successful for PR, but we should be far more committed and proud as an industry to be here. It's a big financial commitment. It's our responsibility as the bigger networks to build a presence and set the agenda. Forget about the awards, it's a trade show. The ad agencies entertain their clients here and lots of business gets done. At the moment people think you come for the awards, do a bit of networking and that's it, when in fact loads of my clients are here.
Olivier Fleurot, CEO, MSL Group: We still have a lot to learn. I see a lot of very good work that cannot make it here because it is not sexy or we don't know how to present it. What struck me watching the awards presentation was most of the winners had this deep emotional core. Much of what we do doesn't have that.
DG: It's a myth that PR companies can't produce the same quality of video (entry as ad agencies). Honestly, they were completely indistinguishable.
Louise Watson, global FMCG lead, marcoms, Hill & Knowlton Strategies: This year there seemed to be a lot more partnership applications with a long list of agency partners. We've been discussing whether something is a PR idea or an ad idea - and whose idea it is - when in fact marketing is going against siloism. But here we are trying to carve out silos and say this is PR when it strikes me the whole industry has moved towards much more blended comms - why fight it?
DG: The walls have been breached and they've been breached both ways.
MF: On one hand you want to defend and build the PR industry - it's our industry and we are very proud of it - but on the other hand if you can't compete in the modern world, you need to change. There's no point in sitting here going 'oh bloody hell, ad agencies have done it again and beaten us'. We need to modernise and create work that's better than anyone else, regardless of whether they are ad agencies, direct agencies or whatever.
LW: I bet ad agencies aren't sitting round saying 'oh those PR agencies, we really should've taken more of their awards'.
DG: They are actually. They think they had bigger ideas that failed on the night. I've had the same conversations with them.
Brian Cooper, executive creative director, Ogilvy & Mather: The first thing I do when I look at creative work is think what's the press release? If you want to be successful now, it's all about PR. One of the reasons we're coming on to your turf is the ideas that succeed these days don't necessarily get the eyeballs in paid-for media, but get the eyeballs in (earned) media. Ad agencies have worked out that if they want to be successful they have to be PR experts.
David Fine, director of content, Edelman: So much of what we do is invisible. I don't want to sound like it's a dark art, but it is very hard to demonstrate in this kind of forum where there's a push to have sexy storytelling and that means we are underrepresented in terms of the breadth of the skills we can demonstrate.
Jackie Cooper, global chair creative strategies, Edelman: It feels to me that we are guests at Cannes. We have to either help the organisers enhance our presence or we think of an alternative that represents the breadth of PR, which is strategically smart, intellectually robust and recognises a different kind of creativity - a business imperative creativity. The kind of creativity that's here now is razzle dazzle, show-stopping, heart-warming creativity and if you just take that on its own, we don't show ourselves off well enough.
The art of storytelling is PR; we tell stories better than anybody. Do we represent those stories well? No. We've got a Quaker-esque attitude in PR that somehow we don't deserve it - we do. We have incredibly talented people creating great ideas. Every day we as an industry crack out amazing work, amazing creativity and I don't think we represent ourselves well enough.
DG: We do have a Quakerish, self-punishing attitude and frankly we are our own worst enemies. As an industry we have to quit feeling embarrassed about being here and we have to feel more confident.
Simon Shaw, executive creative director, Good Relations Brand Communications: I was a judge two years ago; there was a lot of debate around what is PR and a 50/50 split on whether we should stop ad agencies entering the PR awards. That's kind of crazy because it's the best ideas that are winning. You can't engage in protectionism. It comes down to whether it's successful communications or not. If what wins here is great communications, we should be doing it anyway.
If we're not doing it, eventually we'll get marginalised and lose the work anyway.
BC: If you don't like it, change the question. If the ad agencies have worked out how to win on your turf, why doesn't the PR industry (tell the organisers) they should be asking PR-related questions.
JC: Walking around where our awards are displayed is incredibly depressing. They're at the arse-end of the hall; they're largely stuck where there are pillars in front of our work. In some cases empty display cabinets are dumped in front of our work. For a business that is classically brilliant at managing perceptions, I think we have some work to do.
Jennifer Cohan, chair global consumer practice, Edelman: It's up to us to change that, right? We're grown-ups, we're proud of what we do and we are going to show off our work. I agree with Brian - let's change the question.
OF: It is good we are confronted by this because it should force us to better define who we are and what we are good at and how to differentiate from other industries.
JC: The bigger question is do we want to put that effort into showing up here? Is this the right place to be? In which case you sit down with the organisers and talk about how we can show up as an industry - how we can enhance what we're doing, how we can show ourselves to be the classy powerhouse that makes money. If you add the business imperative to the creativity of the PR industry, we are a phenomenal force, but it doesn't feel like it.
Jackie Brock-Doyle, group CEO, Good Relations Group: If we really want to be a part of this and make a difference, it isn't just about the awards: it's about taking the main stage and setting the agenda. Otherwise we will always be the invited guest, always feel slightly grateful to be involved. There's a conversation we need with the organisers about where as an industry we bring real value, then we find the platforms we can use as a showcase.
OF: We are supposed to be the people who understand influence - if we can't be our own influencers and influence the whole Cannes shebang ...
JC: For a bunch of people who earn their living by persuasion and communication we ought to get our stuff together.
Our presence here isn't just about the awards, its about teaching the comms and marketing industry what we have to share. So how do we show up in a smart way as festival participants? And how do we extend their knowledge?
Simon Shaw: We almost need a business imperative as another reason to be here. For instance the Romanian PR industry are here in force because they know the only way to get their industry recognised is to win awards here.
DG: At Ketchum we see the business imperative and the awards is one small part of it. We are sponsors in other categories, we have a main stage presence and we build a lot of satellite work around this. We want to compete with ad agencies and be top of mind when it comes to comms directors, marketing directors or C-suite clients.
Stuart Smith, CEO EAME, Ogilvy PR: There is a huge amount of interest in integrated communications. Clients are here, but they don't know we are here.
DG: A lot more business happens than anyone realises - my only chance to see group clients on equal terms is here.
OF: The time is right for us to have a bigger voice as disciplines are converging. Clients have a broader choice of people they can turn to and if we don't show what we can offer in a very confident way, they will turn to someone else.
The discussion closed with agreement to launch a working group to put PR on the map - the Cannes Plan. The working group meets next month to thrash out an agenda. More details will follow ...
THE CANNES PLAN - PUT PR ON THE MAP AT CANNES
- Gain recognition for PR as a dynamic creative discipline and a vital part of marketing communications
- Educate the organisers about the role of PR in integrated marketing and the value that the industry can add to the festival
- Lobby for PR to feature more prominently on the main seminar programme
- Gain commitment from the leading multinational network groups to show up in force
- Share best practice to educate PR agencies about how to craft award-winning entries and the value of Cannes as a trade show
- Investigate opportunities to make Cannes accessible to small and medium-sized independent agencies
- Create a must-attend social programme
OPINION - TIME TO SHOW OUR HAND - MICHAEL FROHLICH, MD, OGILVY PR
Michael Frohlich
It's time for PR agencies to stop feeling like they are guests at Cannes; our industry needs to showcase to the marketing world exactly what it can do, and on the biggest stage of all.
Despite a lack of effective cut-through to date, Cannes is the place to make a noise about our industry. It is a festival of creativity, not just an awards ceremony, with the world's biggest clients and budgets gathered in one place for one week.
Only when we truly engage in the spirit of the festival, by showing up in force and making noise, will we begin to feel the true returns of our presence. It is up to the big networked PR agencies to pave the way in this regard, empowering smaller independents to descend on Cannes and see its potential value.
To compete on a platform created by and for the advertising world, our industry needs to keep on innovating to produce work that is more creatively stimulating than anything else out there.
We have known for a long time that PR creates change and we now need to find our voice and prove that this is still the case.
Ironically, in an industry that tells stories better than anyone else, some of the greatest work never makes it to Cannes because we are not seizing the opportunity to weave great narratives about our work and ourselves.
We should see Cannes 2013 as something of a turning point. Ogilvy Public Relations was proud to host the first PRWeek event at the festival, and our industry should be proud to be in attendance, and prepare to come back next year, shout louder, sell harder and really mark PR out as a crucial component of the Cannes and creative experience.
Sponsored by Ogilvy PR.
Cannes Lions to celebrate up-and-coming talent with Young Lions PR competition
You've got to fight for your right to partake


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Patriots offer few handouts in Belichick era
This century, Belichick's team is plus-151 in turnover differential.
Patriots offer few handouts in Belichick era This century, Belichick's team is plus-151 in turnover differential. Check out this story on packersnews.com: https://pck.rs/1xWlSKy
Eric Goska, For Press-Gazette Media Published 9:00 a.m. CT Nov. 29, 2014 | Updated 6:53 p.m. CT Dec. 1, 2014
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have kept giveways to a minimum since 2000.(Photo: Jim Rogash, Getty Images)
The New England Patriots are the team of the century.
Got a beef with that Philadelphia and New York? Not in agreement Indianapolis and Pittsburgh?
Before the bickering starts, let's clarify. When it comes to turnover differential there is New England, the Packers' opponent on Sunday, and the rest of the league.
If this were a race, the Patriots would have lapped the field. In New England, it starts and ends with Bill Belichick. He's in his 15th season as head coach having succeeded Pete Carroll in January 2000.
Belichick is one of eight men to have won more than 200 games. He needs three victories to surpass Curly Lambeau (229 wins) for fourth place all time.
How revered is Belichick? His is the only coaching profile to spill onto a second column in the 2014 NFL Record & Fact Book. Amid the copious text is this nugget: he "has delivered three Super Bowl championships, 11 division crowns and 18 playoff victories."
So, what's the secret to his success?
There are probably more answers to that question than coaches left in his wake. When an organization wins 10 or more games 11 seasons in a row, it is a master of many trades.
That said, some of New England's dominance must be attributed to its refusal to part with the ball more often than its opponents. Though all teams stress the importance of winning the turnover battle, the Patriots are a lesson in how it's done.
This century, Belichick's team is plus-151 in turnover differential. That total is more than twice that of second-place Green Bay at plus-74.
The Patriots have led the league in this category three times (2010-12). The Packers (2002, 2009) and Ravens (2000, 2006) are the only other two-timers.
Beating the Patriots is always a challenge. Stealing a win when they carry the day in turnover differential is next to impossible.
New England is 121-11 (.917) in games when it finishes plus-one or better in turnover differential. At plus-two or more, they are an astounding 73-1 (.986).
That lone loss occurred early in Belichick's career with the team. In 2002, the Broncos overcame two turnovers to defeat a young Tom Brady 24-16 in Foxboro.
That faux pas hasn't been repeated. New England has won its last 62 straight when plus-2 or better.
So why do the Patriots merit this overwhelming differential treatment? Quite simply they disdain coughing up the football.
Oh, other teams have forced more turnovers. The Packers (297), Buccaneers (285) and Ravens (283) have intercepted more passes than the Patriots (279). The Giants (214), Bears (266), Panthers (256) and Lions (183) have recovered more fumbles than New England (181).
But no one, not even the Houston Texans, who didn't field a team until 2002, commits fewer turnovers than New England. The 309 it has surrendered since 2000 include a league-low 174 interceptions.
Under Belichick, the Patriots have led the league in fewest turnovers three times (2007, 2010, 2012). In 2010 they set an NFL record for the fewest in a season with 10.
New England has played 77 turnover-free games this century. It is 69-8 (.896) when doing so.
This is a franchise you imagine would never sponsor a bobblehead giveaway because of the nature of the name.
Already this season, Brady and his offense have steered clear of unsightly turnovers six times. The Patriots won all six by an average of more than two touchdowns.
New England again leads the AFC in turnover differential at plus-11.
If there is a sliver of hope to be found for the Packers come Sunday it is this: Green Bay had forced at least one turnover in each of its last nine games at Lambeau Field and is 6-2-1 in those contests.
Regular-season series
Overall: New England leads 5-4
At Lambeau Field: tied 1-1
Starting quarterbacks
Packers: Aaron Rodgers (66-32 overall; 0-0 vs. New England)
Patriots: Tom Brady (157-45; 2-1 vs. Green Bay)
Once a Patriot, now a Packer
There are no former Patriots on the Packers' roster.
Once a Packer, now a Patriot
There are no former Packers on the Patriots' roster.
Differential Treatment
Teams with the greatest turnover differential in regular-season games since 2000.
Diff Team Record
+151 Patriots 172-63 (.732)
+74 Packers 147-87-1 (.628)
+55 Ravens 141-94 (.600)
+51 Buccaneers 106-129 (.451)
+49 Falcons 119-115-1 (.509)
+42 49ers 117-117-1 (.500)
+41 Seahawks 127-108 (.540)
+37 Colts 156-79 (.664)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Teachers, a Husband and Wife, Arrested for Sex with Students
By: CBS58 Staff
Posted: Mar 31, 2016 3:56 PM CST
PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. (CBS NEWS) --A husband and wife who both teach at the same Alabama private school were arrested this week on "similar" charges of having sex with students,reports CBS affiliate WIAT.
James Parker, 32, was arrested Wednesday, by the Pickens County Sheriff's Department, jail records say. Parker's wife, Charli, was arrested Monday. The Pickens Academy teachers are both accused of having sex with students on multiple occasions.
AL.com reports that police say Charli Parker had sex at least 11 times with a male student between October 2014 and March 2016, in multiple locations, including at a cemetery in Reform, Ala. James Parker allegedly had a long-term sexual relationship with a female student.
District Attorney Chris McCool said the charges for the couple are "separate and unrelated in place and manner of commission."
"None of the criminal sexual activity occurred at the school," McCool said.
Brad White, Headmaster of Pickens Academy, said in a statement after Charli Parker's arrest that she "will be suspended immediately and further action may be taken upon investigation."
"Pickens Academy is very upset about the allegations against our employee," White said.


Muscles get smaller and weaker as we age and become more vulnerable to atrophy when physical activity is reduced or removed. This research is designed to investigate the potentially protective effects of two separate exercise strategies against loss in skeletal muscle function and size, and other key indices of health, following 14 days of reduced physical activity in older men.
Three groups of 10 older men (aged 65–80 years) will undertake 2 weeks of reduced activity by decreasing daily steps from more than 3500 to less than 1500 (using pedometers to record step count). Two of the three groups will then undertake additional exercise interventions, either: 4 weeks of progressive resistance training prior to the step-reduction intervention (PT-group), or home-based 'exercise snacking' three times per day during the step-reduction intervention (ES-group). The third group undertaking only the step-reduction intervention (control) will provide a comparison against which to assess the effectiveness of the protective exercise strategies. Pre and post step-reduction assessments of muscle function, standing balance, anthropometry and muscle architecture will be taken. Pre and post step-reduction in postprandial metabolic control, resting systemic inflammation, adipose inflammation, oxidative stress, immune function, sleep quality, dietary habits, and quality of life will be measured. The stress response to exercise, and signalling protein and gene expression for muscle protein synthesis and breakdown following an acute bout of exercise will also be assessed pre and post step-reduction. Rates of muscle protein synthesis and adipose triglyceride turnover during the step-reduction intervention will be measured using stable isotope methodology. All participants will then undertake 2 weeks of supervised resistance training with the aim of regaining any deficit from baseline in muscle function and size.
This study aims to identify exercise strategies that could be implemented to protect against loss of muscle power during 2 weeks of reduced activity in older men, and to improve understanding of the way in which a short-term reduction in physical activity impacts upon muscle function and health.
The ageing process is accompanied by a progressive loss of muscle size and strength, and data from longitudinal studies suggests that muscle size is lost at 0.5–1 % per year after the age of 50 . With ageing, muscle strength is lost two to five times more rapidly than would be expected based on the rate of muscle mass loss , and at twice the rate in the legs compared to the upper body . Muscle power is the product of force and velocity of movement, and it is evident that power decreases with age to an even greater extent than strength . Power provides an indication of the neuromuscular component of muscle function and thus is considered to be a better predictor of functional status than muscle mass or strength alone [5, 6]. Frailty is largely caused by this loss of muscle function [7, 8], eventually resulting in the tasks of daily living becoming too physically strenuous to be managed safely, and independent living becoming untenable.
Physical activity has been shown to be vitally important for maintaining muscle mass and function. During periods of dramatically reduced activity, such as bed rest, the muscles of healthy individuals rapidly lose size, strength and power, most notably from the legs [9, 10], with older individuals seemingly more vulnerable to this complete 'disuse-induced' muscle atrophy than younger individuals [11, 12]. In a population of generally healthy older individuals, however, extended periods of bed rest are unlikely to occur unless accompanied by severe injury or illness that may cause muscle wasting independently. Periods of reduced activity in healthy older adults are more likely to be the result of minor injury or illness, or extended bad weather [13, 14]. Scenarios such as these would result in a reduction in the number of steps walked on a daily basis for a short period of time, rather than total bed rest. The only previous investigation to focus on this step-reduction model of reduced physical activity in older people without any protective interventions demonstrated that reducing walking to less than 1500 steps per day for 2 weeks resulted in an average loss of around 4 % of leg muscle tissue, but with some participants losing up to 9 % . In light of the estimated annual loss of 0.5–1 % of muscle size this much larger loss due to step-reduction is a concerning observation, particularly with periods of reduced activity occurring more often in older age . However, in the aforementioned study, muscle strength was not reduced by the period of step-reduction, which is surprising given that strength is typically lost more rapidly than muscle size . It should be noted that muscle strength was measured by assessing unilateral isometric knee extensor torque using a dynamometer for which extensive familiarisation has been demonstrated to be crucial to obtain reliable results . Furthermore, changes in muscle power cannot be inferred from isometric dynamometry. Given that the nervous system is shown to adapt to changes in physical activity levels more rapidly than the contractile structures of muscle tissue , muscle power may be more sensitive to periods of reduced activity than maximum-force-producing capabilities. An additional and critically important role of the neuromuscular system is to maintain postural balance. If the neuromuscular system is compromised after a period of reduced activity it could be hypothesised that balance would be affected leading to an increased risk of falling [19, 20].
With only two studies previously investigating this topic specifically in an older population [15, 21], many questions remain as to the precise physiological mechanisms causing such marked response in muscle tissue to a seemingly benign and common scenario . Although there is a wealth of literature highlighting the importance of maintaining physical activity for many elements of healthy ageing , relatively little direct evidence exists regarding the impact of acutely reducing activity in already healthy individuals. The physiological responses occurring when physical activity levels change are not confined to single tissues or organs , and it is crucial to understand the interactions between tissues that result in negative health outcomes such as muscle loss, particularly in an older population. Gaining an understanding of the impact of short-term reductions in physical activity is also a crucial precursory step to identifying protective interventions with real-world applicability. Resistance exercise is widely regarded to be the primary countermeasure against 'disuse-induced' muscle wasting [10, 25, 26]. In circumstances in which a period of reduced activity is scheduled but physical activity will subsequently be limited, for example, following to minor elective surgery, physical preparation through a concentrated period of resistance training may raise the 'baseline' muscle function and health profile such that reduced activity-induced muscle loss is compensated for. This may present a strategy to improve recovery from reduced activity as performance tasks of daily living should be no more challenging than prior to the pre-training, thus potentially allowing return to previous habitual activity levels more quickly.
There may of course be circumstances in which reduced activity is unavoidable but capacity to exercise is not compromised, for example, during extended inclement weather. Devries et al.  demonstrated that laboratory-based low-load resistance thrice weekly in fact increased leg lean tissue in older men during 2 weeks of step-reduction to less than 1500 steps/day. However, restricted access to resistance exercise equipment may render this exercise strategy infeasible; thus, home-based, body weight exercise may be a practical alternative to low-load resistance training. Previously, other health indices (e.g. metabolic health and mobility in frail older people) have been demonstrated to be improved by such exercise regimes [27, 28]. Again, this presents an opportunity to prevent decline in muscle function due to periods of reduced physical activity that may contribute to frailty, increased risk of falls, and their associated negative implications.
The primary aim is to determine the protective effects of two exercise interventions against the loss of lower limb skeletal muscle power in healthy men aged 65–80 years undertaking 14 days of reduced physical activity (less than 1500 steps per day). The two exercise interventions are either: (1) undertaking 4 weeks of resistance training prior to the 14 days of step-reduction, or (2) home-based 'exercise snacking' during the 14 days of step-reduction. Alongside this, the influence of the step-reduction intervention and potential protective effects of the exercise interventions on other indices of muscle function (strength and neural drive), standing balance, anthropometric measures, metabolic health, rate of muscle protein and adipose triglyceride synthesis during 'free-living', markers of inflammation and oxidative stress at rest and in response to exercise, immune function (e.g. lymphocyte cytokine production), dietary habits, sleep quality and quality of life will be assessed. Thereafter, the possible benefits of the exercise interventions on recovery of muscle function and size will be investigated. Once all elements of the study are completed, the acceptability of the interventions and feasibility of adhering to the approaches of the recommended exercise strategies will be assessed, and user-generated input for improvements to future follow-on work obtained.
The methods described herein have been approved by the National Health Service (NHS) South West Cornwall and Plymouth Research Ethics Committee (REC) with an allocated REC reference number: 15/SW/0130. The project was subsequently registered as a clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02495727). The Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) checklist was completed.
The study will address the objectives by way of a three-group randomised control trial. One group will act as a 'control' against which to compare the potential protective effects of exercise interventions insofar as this group will undertake step-reduction without either exercise intervention. Hypotheses: (1) reduced activity alone will result in loss of leg muscle power, (2) exercise pre-training will increase leg muscle power above baseline so any loss of muscle power due to the reduced activity period will be offset to such an extent that muscle power will remain above pre-training baseline, and (3) daily exercise snacking during the reduced activity period will attenuate the decline in leg muscle power due to reduced activity.
The study will be advertised on the University of Bath web pages, and on posters placed around the University of Bath campus and distributed to local community clubs for older people in the Bath area. A press release will be sent to local newspapers and radio and television media outlining the study objectives and it is expected that interviews will be carried out as a result to raise awareness of the study.
The study is powered to detect the protective effect of the aforementioned exercise strategies against loss of leg muscle power during 14 days of reduced activity. Over 14 days of step-reduction a mean (SD) decrease of 3.9 (2.4 %) in lower limb muscle mass is anticipated , with measures of muscle power expected to decline at a similar or faster rate; thus, seven participants per group (95 % power and 5 % alpha) will be required to observe changes in leg muscle strength. The decline in muscle power is expected to be the same in the pre-training group as in the control group, hence significant increases in leg muscle power prior to reducing physical activity are required. Significant increases in leg strength in older men with 4 weeks of pre-training could be observed using nine participants (95 % power and 5 % alpha) , and it expected that this would be equivalent in muscle power. It is difficult to predict the extent of the protective effect likely to be provided by the exercise snacking. Therefore, the sample size will be rounded to 10 participants per group to account for drop out and the potentially more subtle changes that might be observed in the secondary measures.
See Fig. 1 for a flow diagram of the study protocol. Following baseline assessment of habitual steps/day, to ensure familiarity with functional measures, all participants will attend two familiarisation sessions. Participants in the step-reduction intervention (PT-group) will then undertake 4 weeks of resistance exercise training. All participants will undertake a main trial the day before commencing 14 days of reduced activity by step-reduction to less than 1500 steps per day. On days 3 and 8 of the step-reduction protocol, a resting muscle biopsy sample will be taken. The day after the step-reduction period, a follow-up main trial will be conducted as per the first main trial, followed 3 days later by a final resting muscle biopsy. All participants will undertake 2 weeks of laboratory-based resistance re-training and a final assessment of leg muscle function and anthropometry, with the option of a follow-up qualitative interview of their experience of the trial. Thereafter, all participants will be offered a 3-month membership to the University of Bath Sports Training Village gym, gym classes, and swimming pool, and a personalised feedback sheet of their own data presented in lay terms.
During an initial telephone contact initiated by potential participants, a member of the study team will provide a verbal overview of the study, and ask if the participant believes that they meet all of the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria. Those who are interested in participating will be sent information about the study requirements in writing. Interested participants will be asked to sign an informed consent form stating their willingness to undergo an eligibility screening with a member of the research team to ensure that participants do not exhibit any physiological condition that either poses undue personal risk or introduces bias into the experiment. During this screening, participants will undertake an objective assessment of physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) ). Only participants scoring over 7 out of 12 without scoring 0 on any element of the SPPB will be eligible to participate. Balance scales and a stadiometer will be used to determine the participant's weight and height, recorded on inhalation of breath with the head positioned in the Frankfort plane position. BMI will subsequently be calculated. Participants will then be provided with a pedometer (CW600 Digi-Walker, Yamax, Tokyo, Japan) and instructed in its use, a physical activity monitor BodyMedia armband (Sensewear Professional 8.0, Pittsburg, PA, USA) and dietary record sheets. Participants will be asked to wear the pedometer and the BodyMedia armband for 7 days and to weigh and record all food and drink consumed for 3 days (including one weekend day) using a diet record sheet. The pedometer will record the daily step count and the reset step count at midnight each day. Only individuals who average 3500 steps per day or above will be invited to take part in the rest of the study, and at this point one of the investigators will describe the study verbally to them again and provide the opportunity for potential participants to gain clarification on any aspect of the study. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to an experimental group by minimisation to limit difference in mean age, steps/day and BMI at baseline between groups. All further details of the elements of the study specific to the group will be provided. Written informed consent will be acquired at this stage in regard to each participant's understanding and willingness to take part in the rest of the study after group allocation. The investigator will also explain to the participants that they are completely free to withdraw from the study at any time without any repercussions.
Participants will be asked to wear light clothes in which it is comfortable to perform exercise, and be given a thorough demonstration of all balance and strength tests, which they will then attempt.
Balance tests will assess postural sway with the participants' eyes open and closed with them standing as still as possible on a force-measuring platform (AccuGait, AMTI, Watertown, MA, USA) with their feet side-by-side and heels 15 cm apart for 40 s, or feet together for 60 s. Participants will then practice the standard Y-balance test of single-leg balance , involving pushing their non-standing leg as far as they can forward, behind and to the right, and behind and to the left, whilst maintaining balance on the standing leg.
Leg strength assessments will be conducted on a pneumatic leg press machine (A420, Keiser®, Fresno, CA, USA), instrumented to measure the force applied to the foot pedals with the velocity the pedals moved at 400 Hz. Following a standardised warm-up, participants will complete one repetition maximum (1RM) tests on the leg press for single repetitions up to the greatest resistance at which one repetition can be completed, with self-selected rest and increments in force between repetitions. Determination of 1RM is commonly used in adult populations [32–34] and is considered safe , valid and reproducible  in older populations. Following a recovery period of at least 5 min, the participants will then practice the incremental power test on the leg press that will be used in the main trials. In this test, participants will complete approximately 10 discrete repetitions of the leg press exercise, with the movement in each repetition performed as quickly as possible. The resistance will increase in each successive repetition, starting with very low resistance up to approximately the previously achieved 1RM, with increasing recovery periods between repetitions. Participants will then be asked to repeat a similar familiarisation and 1RM test on a pneumatic knee extension machine.
Finally, participants' ability to generate their maximum possible force (i.e. neural drive) will be examined by maximal voluntary isometric calf muscle contractions, with concomitant surface-evoked twitch stimulation to produce maximal stimulated force. The participant will be seated on a custom-built device, with the ankle dorsi-flexed to 10° and the knee braced at 90° against a strain gauge to measure the force of isometric contraction of the plantar-flexor muscles. Stimulating electrodes will be attached to the skin surface of the calf muscle region, with the cathode and anode placed on the upper and lower thirds of the triceps surae respectively. Stimulation will be delivered with a DS7 stimulator (Digitimer, Letchworth Garden City, UK). Initially, the force of a maximum voluntary plantar-flexor contraction will then be obtained, followed by a maximum evoked from single twitches at rest. Thereafter, the participant will make three repeated attempts to match the previously obtained maximum voluntary force with a pulse of electrical stimulation (of the same voltage previously identified to evoke maximal twitch force) passed across the calf muscle to maximally stimulate the muscle at the point of maximum force. The difference between the maximum voluntary force and maximum twitch-evoked force will indicate the participant's ability to maximally stimulate their muscle .
The main trials will take place the day before the 14-day step-reduction (day 0) and the day after (day 15) (see Fig. 1). See Fig. 2 for schematic overview of the main trial day timeline.
Participants will be asked to report to the laboratory after a 10-hour overnight fast, wearing lightweight clothing with no metal components. Balance scales and a stadiometer will be used to determine the participant's weight and height for calculation of BMI. A whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (DXA (Discovery; Hologic, Bedford, UK)) and a peripheral quantitative computed tomography scan ((pQCT) (XCT 3000 scanner; Stratec, Pforzheim, Germany)) of the calf (66 % tibia length) and thigh (25 and 50 % femur length) will be performed. An ultrasound scan of the medial gastrocnemius and vastus lateralis muscles will be conducted whilst standing to examine fascicle length and pennation angle (Echoblaster 128EXT-1Z, Revision C, and LV7.5/60/96z Transducer, LS128 CEXT, both TELEMED, Vilnius, Lithuania). The pQCT and ultrasound will be taken from the dominant leg. Subsequently, participants will complete five self-paced walks of 5 m whilst being filmed at 200 Hz with one camera in the sagittal plane to assess lower limb gait coordination.
A resting venous blood sample via cannula, followed by a biopsy sample of subcutaneous adipose tissue by needle aspiration, from approximately 5 cm lateral to the umbilicus, will be obtained after 15 min of seated/supine rest. Participants will then ingest a 200-ml dose of D2O water and undertake a mixed-meal tolerance test (mixed-macronutrient liquid meal of 2 g/kg BM carbohydrate; 0.8 g/kg BM fat; 0.4 g/kg BM protein) with 5-ml blood samples taken 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min after consumption of the drink. Thereafter, a muscle biopsy will be sampled using the Bergstrom needle biopsy technique adapted for use with suction  from the vastus lateralis muscle. Consecutive muscle biopsies will be taken proximal to the previous biopsy site .
Participants will then undertake the balance testing as performed in the familiarisation procedure. The standard leg pressing warm-up will then be performed using the previously obtained 1RM, and the incremental power test as a measure of leg power will be undertaken. Following 2 min of recovery, participants will complete the assessment of neural drive of the calf muscle, followed by three sets of eight repetitions at 70 % 1RM on the leg press and leg extension (total of 48 repetitions). There will be 2 min of recovery between sets. Blood samples will be taken immediately on completion of exercise, and a muscle biopsy obtained from the contralateral leg after 90 min of rest. Whilst the participant rests, they will be asked to complete two questionnaires (The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index  and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) ).
For 14 days participants will be asked to restrict their daily step count to 1500 steps per day. A portable pedometer will be worn by participants at all times throughout the day (excluding sleep) to allow accurate monitoring and feedback of step count. Step count will be recorded each day by the participant in a provided log-book. The pedometer will also automatically record daily step count, and will reset at midnight. An advice sheet will be provided to suggest strategies to reduce daily stepping. Participants will also wear a BodyMedia armband for the first 7 days of step-reduction. They will be asked to record their dietary intake on the first, seventh and 13th days of the step-reduction intervention using a dietary record sheet. For the two visits to the laboratory during the step-reduction period, transport arrangements will be made to minimise walking for the participant for the sake of the visits (i.e. door-to-door transport, transport within the facility/campus by wheelchair).
On the third day of the 14-day step-reduction (day 3), participants will be asked to return to the laboratory for a blood sample and resting muscle biopsy. Participants in the exercise snacking group (ES-group) will be asked to perform an exercise snack in the laboratory. This will be repeated on the eighth day of the 14-day step-reduction (day 8), and 100 ml D2O water will be ingested.
Three days after the 14-day step-reduction (day 18), participants will be asked to return to the laboratory for a final resting blood sample and muscle biopsy to be taken.
The PT-group will attend 10 resistance training sessions across 4 weeks prior to the 14-day step-reduction, with sessions separated by at least 48 hours arranged at the participant's convenience. The last training session will take place at least 3 but less than 7 days before the first main trial prior to step-reduction. All exercise sessions will be fully supervised by a member of the research team. Participants will complete the standardised warm-up on the Keiser leg press as performed during the familiarisation session. All training sessions will begin with leg press and leg extension, then alternate between two sessions (A and B) to incorporate variation into the programme (see Table 1). At the beginning of the fifth session, participants will repeat the 1RM and incremental power tests so exercise resistances can be adjusted to strength gains accordingly. Repetitions will be performed at a cadence of 1:1 for concentric-eccentric time, at a comfortable participant-selected pace that should be less than 5 s per complete repetition. Rest intervals between sets will be 90 to 120 s at the participant's discretion.
The exercise snacking requires only a stable kitchen chair to perform it, and no supervision is necessary. Participants will be asked to perform five exercises, each for 1 min followed by 1 min of rest. In that minute of exercise, the participant will perform as many controlled repetitions of the given exercise as possible. Participants will be asked to perform the exercise snacks three times daily at least 2 hours apart. The exercises are: sit-to-stand from a chair, seated alternating knee extension, standing alternating knee bends holding onto a chair, marching on the spot, and standing calf raises. Participants will always perform the sit-to-stand exercise first, and record the number of repetitions completed within 1 min, and thereafter participants may alternate the order of exercises, but will be asked to record the order in a log-book provided. Participants will be asked to record in the log book the number of steps taken immediately prior to, and after, each exercise snacking bout so as to not count the steps incurred for each exercise snack towards the 1500 steps/day limit.
Participants will attend six resistance training sessions after the step-reduction, with the first training session taking place on the day of follow-up biopsy 3 once the sample has been taken. The remaining five sessions will take place over 14 days with sessions separated by at least 48 hours. These sessions will follow the same training regime as the PT-group undertook prior to commencing the step-reduction. Resistances for the exercises during re-training will be based on the data from the main trial post step-reduction.
Follow-up assessments of muscle function, balance, and muscle size and architecture will be made 2 days after the final session of the 2-week laboratory-based re-training. This assessment will include repetition of the DXA, pQCT and ultrasound scans, and the leg press incremental power test, test of neural drive, and standing balance.
Following the 2-week re-training period participants will be invited to take part in an interview to provide feedback on their experience during the trial to inform the feasibility assessment of each exercise regime. Participants will be provided with written information of the purpose of the interviews following their final re-training session, and reassured that participation is optional. Interviews will take place via telephone or in person according to participant preference, will be digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and anonymised on completion. The interview schedule will include: (1) participants' perceptions of the impact of inactivity on mood, appetite, vitality, sleep and other participant-generated concerns (for comparison across conditions), and (2) perceived barriers and facilitators and costs and benefits to adherence to the study protocol (i.e. if and how participants adapted the prescribed regimes, and factors they suggest would make the protocol easier to adopt).
Adipose and muscle tissue samples will be processed and analysed immediately on the day of collection or stored at −80 °C for later batch analysis. Blood collected into an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tube (2 ml) will be used to provide a full leukocyte differential and other standard haematology variables with an automated haematology analyser (SF-300, Sysmex Ltd., Milton Keynes, UK). Other blood samples collected into EDTA and plain tubes (5 ml) will be centrifuged to obtain plasma and serum, respectively. Blood collected into a sodium heparin tube (25 ml) will be used to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells. All samples will be stored at −80 °C for later batch analysis.
An inherent risk associated with this study is the potential for loss in lean tissue and muscle function for participants; however, the graduated exercise re-training programme will aim to fully restore decrements in muscle size and function. Moreover, all exercise sessions and testing will be supervised by study staff with appropriate training. The blood and tissue sampling techniques used in the present study also carry a risk of discomfort to the participant; however, all study staff are fully trained, experienced, and adhere to best practice at all times to minimise this risk. All tissue sampling procedures will be performed in sterile conditions, and participants will be provided with extensive advice on aftercare of biopsy sites to minimise risk of infection. Any adverse events will be recorded, assessed, and monitored by the University of Bath sponsorship in the form of 6-monthly progress reports. All potential risks have been reported to, assessed, and approved by the study sponsor, Research Ethics Approval Committee for Health (University of Bath), and the Cornwall and Plymouth NHS Research Ethics Committee. Any modifications to the protocol will be approved by all aforementioned parties.
Differences in leg power from pre- to post-step-reduction intervention and differences between groups.
Differences from pre to post step-reduction within and between groups in (1) leg muscle size, (2) muscle fascicle length and pennation angle, (3) body composition, (4) standing balance ability, (5) distances reached on the Y-balance test, (6) coordination variability in walking, (7) neural drive to muscle, (8) postprandial area under the curve of circulating insulin, triglyceride, and postprandial high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations, (9) rates of muscle protein and adipose triglyceride synthesis at rest over 14 days as assessed by D2O incorporation into muscle protein and glycerol in adipose, respectively, (10) total and phosphorylated muscle protein synthesis (protein kinase B (AKT), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (P70S6K), 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP-1)) and breakdown (muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1), muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx), forkhead box (FOXO)) of signalling proteins within the muscle, (11) muscle heat shock protein (HSP)27 content before and after exercise, (12) subcutaneous adipose tissue cytokine secretion and gene expression (e.g. leptin, adiponectin, interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α, IL-8, IL-1ra) (13) systemic cytokines at rest (e.g. IL-6, TNFα, C-reactive protein (CRP)), (14) mitochondrial function at rest (e.g. H2O2 and aconitase activity), and (15) T-lymphocyte interferon-γ production following stimulation with proteins from common viruses (e.g. adenovirus, influenza, Varicella zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus).
There is no intention to terminate the trial based on any interim results collected, and thus no data monitoring committee is deemed necessary. No ancillary data analysis is anticipated. Only study staff will have access to the trial dataset until all future manuscripts containing results are written, and only in anonymised format. Authorship eligibility will be addressed on completion of data analysis.
Interview transcripts will be analysed systematically using framework analysis to highlight key themes within and across participants relevant to the acceptability of the two intervention protocols, and the feasibility of wider implementation.
Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with appropriate post-hoc tests adjusted for multiple comparisons will examine changes over time in the key variables measured in muscle (e.g. HSP content, total muscle protein synthesis, phosphorylation of muscle protein, synthesis and breakdown of signalling proteins, etc.) and blood samples (e.g. inflammatory variables, biomarkers of metabolic health). Paired t tests will be employed to test for differences in body composition variables, strength and power, neural drive to muscle, balance, adipose tissue cytokine secretion and insulin sensitivity pre versus post interventions. Correlation coefficients will also be calculated between transcription factor activation and phosphorylation of signalling proteins. Statistical significance will be accepted at P <0.05. Effect sizes will also be calculated according to Cohen , with d >0.08 considered a large effect. Magnitude-based inferences will also be calculated to examine the effect of the exercise strategies on all variables of interest.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two exercise strategies to attenuate the effects of 2 weeks of reduced activity on muscle power and other key health indices that are known to be affected by changes in physical activity level. Based on the previous studies, specifically implementing a daily step-reduction in older individuals [15, 21], it is expected that 14 days of reduced physical activity without protective interventions will have a significant physiological effect, with reductions in both muscle mass and insulin sensitivity. These changes, however, are reversible and participants will undergo re-training and assessments of muscle size and function will be made to ensure participants have returned to baseline (i.e. pre step-reduction). The step-reduction model and the exercise interventions incorporated into this study have been selected specifically because of their real-world applicability and high ecological validity. It is hoped that the exercise interventions will provide a proof of principle that even relatively modest exercise interventions may be effective countermeasures against reduced activity-induced muscle atrophy and decline in other health indices, and that these intervention can be further developed and optimised in future work. Given the limited previous literature using a reduced-activity model in older individuals it is hoped that inclusion of qualitative feasibility analysis may draw out questions of interest that may not have been previously considered, as well as considerations to improve future work in this field.
The findings of the present study will be inherently limited in applicability due to the inclusion of only healthy, non-smoking, non-obese, non-frail men, and the exclusion of more common clinical phenotypes for this age group. Moreover, the findings will hold limited generalisability to older individuals taking regular anti-inflammatory medication and to older women. A further limitation is that this study will not be able to inform on recovery from reduced activity when simply returning to habitual activity levels due to inclusion of the exercise re-training for all groups. It is also not possible to draw conclusions on the efficacy of the pre- and re-training programmes in altering any markers of health measured from tissue or blood samples, some of which may provide evidence as the mechanisms of change at the whole body level.
Participant recruitment for this study is ongoing.
1RM, one repetition maximum; 10RM, 10 repetitions maximum; 4EBP-1, 4E binding protein 1; AKT, protein kinase B; ANOVA, analysis of variance; BMI, body mass index; CRP, C-reactive protein; D2O, deuterium oxide-labelled water; DXA, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; ES-group, exercise snacking group; FOXO, forkhead box; H2O2, hydrogen peroxide; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HSP, heat shock protein; IL, interleukin; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MAFbx, muscle atrophy F-box; mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; MuRF-1, muscle RING-finger protein-1; NEFA, non-esterified fatty acid; P70S6K, 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1; pQCT, peripheral quantitative computed tomography; PT-group, pre-training group; SPPB, Short Physical Performance Battery; TNFα, tumour necrosis factor alpha; WHOQOL-BREF, World Health Organisation Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire.
The authors would like to acknowledge their appreciation to the University of Bath for providing financial support for this research.
KS conceived the study, KS, OP, RT, JG, JT, FG, CW, PM and DT contributed to the study design and contributed to the writing of the trial protocol. OP prepared the first draft of the manuscript, KS, OP, RT, JG, JT, FG, CW, PM and DT contributed to editing the manuscript and read and approved the final manuscript.
No role in study design or undertaking of the research.
Perkin O, McGuigan P, Thompson D, Stokes K. A reduced activity model: a relevant tool for the study of ageing muscle. Biogerontology. 2015:1-13. doi: 10.1007/s10522-015-9613-9.
Folland JP, Williams AG. Methodological issues with the interpolated twitch technique. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2007;17(3):317–27. doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2006.04.008.


WOW! The word you will repeat as you tour this elegant, move-in ready Colonial in a highly desired neighborhood. The INCREDIBLE Family Room addition is showcased by the floor-to-ceiling stone gas fireplace, gorgeous bar w/ seeded glass cabinets & two mini-refrigerators and arched wall. Renovated Kitchen offers custom cabinetry, high end SS appliances, walk-in pantry and large island. Beautiful DR w/ sun drenched bay windows, spacious Office/LR with gas fireplace & French doors, updated half bath and spacious mud room w/ 2 large closets completes this well designed 1st floor. The gorgeous Master suite features two custom closets and renovated bath w/ radiant heat and huge walk-in shower. Three spacious bedrooms, updated full bath w/ double vanity and 2nd floor laundry. Hardwoods throughout. Finished basement includes huge playroom w/custom built-ins and music room w/ large closet. Level back yard w/ hot tub, stone patio & shed. Easy commuting location. Top schools & vibrant town center!
Rt 27 to Garry Drive to right on Oriole. Less than 3 miles to Walpole Train.
I am interested in 36 Oriole Rd, Medfield, MA 02052.


Aqua World Aquarium Glue is a superior Cyanoacrylate adhesive with a thick gel consistency. It is very easy to use for attaching frags of stony corals, zoanthids, and some soft corals to plugs or bases. This special glue can be used for any repairs or aquascaping application such as attaching mosses to driftwood or rocks. It bonds within seconds and has excellent control, hold and durability characteristics. It can even be used underwater.


Sport can often become a little boring when the same player or team keeps constantly winning and so it is slightly refreshing that the winner of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship is not as predictable as days gone by.
Phil Taylor has been crowned world champion 15 times and has lost in the PDC World Championship odds on only four occasions since 1994.
This level of dominance will almost certainly have meant that he would have been a heavily fancied odds-on favourite ahead of virtually all of these tournaments.
However, with Taylor beginning to lose his mojo and other players stepping up their game to match 'The Power', the shift to a new star in the sport is about to take place.
Many will believe that Adrian Lewis is the man to take over Taylor's mantle after his victory in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship last year, but it is the man he beat in the final at Alexandre Palace that is to be most feared.
Gary Anderson has arguably been the form player of 2011, losing another big final after his defeat to Lewis when he was beaten 13-12 by Taylor in the Players Championship Finals.
But his moment in the spotlight duly arrived in the Premier League Darts, winning his first four matches to qualify from the group stages, beating Raymond van Barneveld in the semi finals and then getting a measure of revenge on Lewis when taking the final 10-4.
Anderson has since kept his eye in with some victories in minor Players Championship events and looks a great price at 11/2 in the PDC World Championship odds to win the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Unsurprisingly it is Taylor that heads the market at 6/4 while the other leading contender Lewis is 8/1 to successfully defend his title.


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95 WIIL Rock Morning Show EndorsementsFeaturedMusic NewsStino
Rock Report 8-27-21
August 27, 2021 8:19AM CDT
Because we could all use some good news right about now — Limp Bizkit have announced that they will start leaking songs soon, and will release a new album soon after.
"To be more clear, as some promoters are a bit behind on keeping you updated, all of our scheduled performances were canceled weeks ago (yes, we are all fine, thank you)," they wrote in a post on their Instagram story.
"New songs will begin to leak, one after the other in rapid succession, very soon. Soon thereafter our new album will be released."
Better Noise Music has sued Tommy Vext, ex-lead singer of Bad Wolves, for copyright infringement. It's the latest turn in the legal battle between Vext and his former recording company, the outfit that helped create and continues to promote Bad Wolves, and it comes weeks after Vext filed suit against the head of the label.
Vext is accused of infringing on the label's intellectual property by allegedly posting unreleased recordings and videos related to Bad Wolves without the company's permission, according to reports, he's also accused of trying to hamper the Bad Wolves trademark. Related Better Noise business entities Five Nineteen Music Publishing and 10th Street Entertainment are also named as plaintiffs in the case.
A creator who works under the handle "Dead Ed" makes an impressive array of highly detailed, period-specific figurines of rockers from acts such as Slipknot, Mudvayne, Behemoth, Nirvana and more. And when we say highly detailed, we do mean exactingly detailed.
He shares his work on social media as Deaded Hobbies, and, driven by the almighty algorithm, Dead Ed's creations have been drawing considerable notice among rock and metal fans online.


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OUR LATEST NEWS & VIEWS
Randstad, SBM Offshore and Royal Boskalis Westminster winners of the Dutch IR Awards 2020
The Netherlands Association for Investor Relations (NEVIR) announced the winners of the Dutch IR Awards 2020 last night. For the thirteenth consecutive year, Dutch listed companies and Investor Relations professionals have been acknowledged for their outstanding work in Investor Relations. During the annual award ceremony, awards were given in the categories: 'Best Company in Investor…
CFF Communications – Behind the Scenes #9
How is it December already? Time flies and we're looking back at a great 2019. 👇 It has been a very eventful year, as you'll read below, with lots of great client cases, new team members, a brand new website, and the expansion of our service offering. We would like to thank you so much for…
As we are gearing up for the H1 results season, we are looking back on an eventful first half of 2019. In this update, you will learn more about some of the highlights of our work in the first six months of the year.
In a changing world, telling your story remains a constant
After being a Board member of the NEVIR for the maximum term of six years, our Managing Director Uneke Dekkers passes the baton. Continue reading her views on developments in Investor Relations in a changing world.
The European elections could directly impact the Dutch government
How will the European elections impact the Dutch government? Our Public Affairs Director, Jan Willem Blok, shared his views in an analysis for TheEUlobby, the EU elections blog from our Grayling colleagues in Brussels.
CFF and TechShare: What's key to consider before your IPO
To round up Euronext's TechShare program edition 2018-2019, we were delighted to host the final workshop for a pre-selected group of 15 Dutch tech entrepreneurs keen to learn more about an IPO process and life-post listing.
CFF Insights – Quarterly Earnings Or Not. That's the Question…
A trend evaluation by the consultants and media analysts of CFF Communications regarding the quarterly earnings practices of Dutch listed companies. By Teun Verhagen and Klaas Kruijer – April, 2019
Update on the Dutch political landscape – Regional Elections
On Wednesday March 20, 2019, the regional elections in the Netherlands resulted in what the newspapers described as "a landslide victory" for national-conservative party FvD.


This newcomer is the talk of Tinseltown! Since her breakout role in 12 Years a Slave, Oscar nominee Lupita Nyong'o has received just as much critical acclaim for her impeccable red carpet looks as her impressive acting chops. See the Brooklyn resident's best gowns and festive frocks here!


Vogue 6045; ca. 1963; Co-ordinates - Cape, Pants and Skirt. Circular cape has zipper front closing below attached hood or shaped collar. Vertical welt arm open. Regulation pants. Slim skirt with opening in depth of center un-pressed pleat.


The first families have begun to move into the groundbreaking new £100m urban development known as 'The Mill' in Cardiff. The 102 homes will be completed in the spring of 2019, and offer a mix of rental, affordable rental and private housing.
Mum-of-one Vanessa Oldham and her partner are one of the first families to move in to the rented properties at The Mill.
"We are thrilled with our new house at The Mill, it's a great size, light, airy and already feels like home. It was great to move into our new home at the same time as our neighbours, it makes getting to know everyone so much easier and builds a lovely community feel.
"The Mill is a major regeneration project that is providing much needed choice and affordability in the Cardiff housing market and will deliver sustainable economic benefits for the local community in the coming decades. We very much look forward to working with our partners to deliver the remaining phases of the development to ensure the scheme is a huge success in creating a sustainable new community for west Cardiff.
Principality Building Society's commercial lending division has provided construction finance for the first 102 rented homes at The Mill, as well as infrastructure finance for the site as a whole.
"I am absolutely delighted with what is being created here – seeing such tangible investment in our communities and delivering badly needed homes where they are needed. What really excites me is that in the last week this project has made a big difference to the lives of nine families who are moving in and in the months ahead that number will exceed 100.
Welsh Government has been a key partner in helping the ambitious project at the old paper mill site next to the Ely River come to life. Not only has the project rejuvenated the area, it also created an estimated 1,000 jobs locally.
"The Mill is an example of genuine collaboration between government and house builders. I'm delighted to see people moving in and enjoying their new homes.


The Freedom Monument if a symbol of independent Latvia. From the moment Latvia acquired its independence a search for a suitable artistic solution began.
The monument was built in 1931-35, its author was a well-known latvian architect Karlis Zale. The statue of Liberty (sculpturer R. Mirsmeden) holds three stars - the symbols of historical areas in Latvia: Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Latgale.
The pedestal is surrounded by sculptural compositions "Buards of Fatherland", "Mother Latvia", "Labour and Family" and others. The monument is turned to the West - the Liberty sculpture looks that way, proud sculptures of other compositions look the same way. Figures in chains, bent in a bow look the other way - to the East.
It is interesting to know that the symbol of independence of Latvia managed to survive the soviet times. According to the legend, Stalin planned to blow it up after the war but Vera Muhina (he author of the "worshiped" soviet monument "Rabochy i Kolhoznitsa"), who was born in Riga and was a student of K. Zale, stood up for it. The monument, that was of a great artistic value, was not destroyed, but was indeed forgotten. Lenin's monument on the other side of the boulevard was built standing with its back to "Freedom" and its face to the East.
Naturally, during the "Perestroika" time, the Freedom Monument was the main place of meetings and piquets. In 1994 it was the place where Bill klinton supported the independent Baltic on behalf of America. The monument is also populr for the well-known maches of the vererans of the Latvian legion of SS in the 90s, that ended with laying flowers at the pedestal. These marches were banned by authorities for different reasons.
In 2001 the monument was reconstructed. It now has a guard of honour, festivities take place here.


It's sort of an unwritten code of the West—if you shoot a woman who's trying to steal your horse, you promise to find her kidnapped daughter.
United States Deputy Marshal Custis Long was all set for a relaxing vacation up in the mountains, catching trout and smoking cheroots as he watched the sunset. Instead, he's startled out of his bedroll by someone trying to steal his horse. Longarm shoots first, only to discover the "thief" is actually a woman in desperate straits.
About: Longarm's about to make three kidnappers wish they'd never been born…It's sort of an unwritten code of the West—if you shoot a woman who's trying to steal your horse, you promise to find her kidnapped daughter.


text:
Q: Install lxml on mac 10.8.3 I have a bulk standard Mac 10.8.3 install, which is using:
Python 2.7.2 (default, Oct 11 2012, 20:14:37)
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple Clang 4.0 (tags/Apple/clang-418.0.60)] on darwin.
How do I go about installing lxml, what are the exact procedures, as I have tried loads of suggestion on here, but can't seem to get it installed.
Whats the correct way using a bulk standard OSX 10.8.3?
Kind regards.

A: I figured it out.
Install the xcode command line tools from here http://osxdaily.com/2012/07/06/install-gcc-without-xcode-in-mac-os-x/. Then open terminal and type sudo pip install lxml. Hope this helps.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to set the default @Transactional timeout globally I've a number of controllers with a lot of methods that deal with transactions... and I want to set transaction timeout to 60 for all of them:
@AllArgsConstructor
@Controller
public class MyController {

    @Transactional(timeout = 60)
    public void myMethod1(...) {
    }

    @Transactional(timeout = 60)
    public void myMethod2(...) {
    }

    ...
}

How do I set the default timeout to 60 globally so that I no longer need to specify timeout = 60 for each method?

A: You can set the default timeout by configuring the bean of the transaction management :
@Bean
   public PlatformTransactionManager transactionManager(){
      JpaTransactionManager transactionManager
        = new JpaTransactionManager();
      transactionManager.setDefaultTimeout(10);
      transactionManager.setEntityManagerFactory(
        entityManagerFactoryBean().getObject() );
      return transactionManager;
   }

here an url that shows how to configure transaction manager for the annotation Transactional : https://www.baeldung.com/transaction-configuration-with-jpa-and-spring

A: You can use property:
spring.transaction.default-timeout= # Default transaction timeout in seconds.


January | 2012 | Save the Kales!
I've worked around books for nearly half my life, and they've been important to me for all of it.
I still remember that trip to New Hope, PA (doesn't that just sound like a place where magical things happen?). It was 2002 or 2003, walking through the new/used book shop on Main Street, making my way to the "Our Staff Recommends" shelves, the most sought-after part of any bookstore. This is where you exchange ideas with the living, breathing employees of a store, where a few sentences on a rectangle card could give you insight about the story and the person who read it.
And that's when I first saw that striking cover, graphic black and white, jarring in it's contrast, and the text in swooping handwritten cursive. This, before handwritten font became the norm (not that I'm complaining; I think a good handwritten font is one of the most intimate forms of design).
It's easy for me to say that Jonathan Safran Foer is one of my favorite authors. Usually "What/Who is your favorite?" questions conjure anxiety, followed by the complete wiping out of any thoughts or ideas on the topic, and I'm left to stare blankly and shrug in response. But with Jonathan Safran Foer, it's easy.
I think part of why I respect him as a writer is not not only his use of metaphor, or the way he uses the actual placement of text on a page to help tell the story, but because he as a human being seems like a good person. Those are small words for a big idea. But it is evident in his writing, the subjects he writes about, and the sincerity with which he writes. I'd love if he could be my real-life friend, but I'm still pleased to call him a favorite author.
Except the thing with that book is that I have started and re-started to read it nearly ten times in the last six or seven years, and I can't get through it. It feels too real, perhaps especially so for anyone who lost their father at a (relatively) young age. For the same reason, and those mentioned above, I'm not sure I can see the movie either (yet). But I am getting over the fact that "the masses" will now become familiar with Jonathan's work.
Now, when I go to work at the bookstore and I see a sixteen year old girl with Twilight under one arm and Extremely Loud under the other, I hope that Jonathan's book will mean something special to her. I truly believe the ideas put forth in the books that mean the most to us create our values, help us to see the world through different lenses, and can impact our lives and who we are more than we can measure. I'm happy that someone as talented and thoughtful as Jonathan Safran Foer is getting the chance to effect more people with his beautiful work.
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO SAVE THE KALES?
This is how: In 2009, Jonathan wrote a nonfiction book called Eating Animals. It is, as you can imagine, about his journey to vegetarianism. What prompted him to take a look at his food choices and the environmental impact of them was for the same reason many people decide to make life improvements: he was going to have his first child.
What's remarkable about this book is that, unlike most books on the topic, it is very narrative in style. And it also comes from the point of a view of a regular person learning about this stuff for the first time. He isn't a vegan, he hasn't ever been involved with an animal rights organizations and doesn't have years of information and hard-formed opinions. He is a guy who cares about the world in which his child will grow up, and what he will use to nourish his child, and finds that modern food politics are pretty messed up.
A few times in my life I've been asked about how I will raise my own children. I remember meeting the conservative Christian Italian family of my boyfriend in freshman year of college, piling spaghetti with marinara sauce on my plate, and his mother slamming down the bowl of meatballs right in front of me and saying, "Well if you ever have kids, you better not make them eat this way, I don't want my grandkids to be malnourished". Friends and family have asked in inquisitive, non-confrontational ways if I would raise my child, a baby, on a vegan diet.
There is a part in Eating Animals addressing this topic that so perfectly sums up my own thoughts and feelings – especially feelings, food and how we raise our children are both very emotional things. While I recommend the whole book, and any of his work, this part in particular does just the thing good books are made for: they help us to understand ourselves better.
"Children confront us with our paradoxes and dishonesty, and we are exposed. You need to find an answer for every why — Why do we do this? Why don't we do that? — and often there isn't a good one. So you say, simply, because. Or you tell a story that you know isn't true. And whether or not your face reddens, you blush. The shame of parenthood — which is a good shame — is that we want our children to be more whole than we are, to have satisfactory answers. My children not only inspired me to reconsider what kind of eating animal I would be, but also shamed me into reconsideration.
…. You can read a longer excerpt of the book, including these paragraphs in context, on the NY Times website here.
I've been busy. Like BUSY busy busy, the kind when you take time off to hang out with your friends and feel guilty about it (ew!) or you, uh… are a cook but don't cook anything for a week.
A girl cannot be sustained on tofurkey sandwiches alone.
I wanted to make a hearty, super-healthy salad with roasted veggies for that cozy wintertime taste, but some bright accents in flavor and color. So I whipped up this salad and a light crisp dressing. Perhaps not the most creative ("put a bunch of things in a bowl and toss!"), but what it lacks there it makes up for in prettiness. Tasty, too.
In an oven heated to 350 degrees, wrap the whole unpeeled beets in tin foil and place on an oven rack. While they are cooking, cut brussels sprouts in half and toss with just enough olive oil to coat lightly, fresh ginger and the juice of 1/2 an orange. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and put brussels sprouts on the sheet. Add to the oven (with the beet package) for about 25-30 minutes. After that time has passed, remove everything from the oven and set aside to cool.
In a small pan, add the balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, ginger and juice of one orange to a pan and turn on a low heat. The vinegar should let off some steam. Stir occasionally. Reduction will be thicker after 15-20 minutes. Take off heat and allow to cool in a bowl.
Cut the peeled orange into rounds. Cut the apple into bite size pieces.
Open the tin foil package. Beets should be cool enough to handle. The skin should easily peel off. Slice into rounds.
In a large mixing bowl, add a few handfuls of salad greens, all the vegetables and fruit, and the balsamic dressing. Toss with your hands to coat everything lightly. Use the 1/2 an orange you have left and squeeze on top just before serving. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
As I mention, you can toss some leftover grains into the salad to bulk it up a little. Have some cooked brown rice or quinoa? Toss it in.
Thank you to Lehigh Valley Mirror, as always, and especially this time around for coming over for a morning shoot when I was bumping into everything, fumbling around, almost chopping off my fingers and breaking into sudden bursts of uncontrollable laughter. You do an AMAZING job with editing!
If we've ever met in real life, even just for a few minutes, I've probably talked about a few things: how delicious broccoli is when roasted; how do shar pei's get so many wrinkles?; how much I love Sundays and why brunch is the best meal of the week.
Today I'm happy to tell you that the last part is happening, back with a vengeance.
If you live in the Lehigh Valley, you must know who Chef Wendy is. If you don't, pay attention. Go get a pen and paper and write this down.
Wendy is owner and executive chef of Balasia/The Honey Underground. The former used to be a brick and mortar business (in a fancy old victorian house in Emmaus, PA), and now shows up at every farmer's market in the Valley to provide us with tasty lunches and take-home food. The latter is a supper club – a hip pseudo-restaurant that sets up on weekends in a firehall that gets transformed into a calming, candle-lit sit down eatery.
Well, we can all joins hands across America because Wendy is bringing back the best meal, on the best day. I can clearly only be talking about one thing: SUNDAY BRUNCH.
Sunday brunch was actually how I became familiar with Wendy and her food. A few years ago, we would wait all week for Sunday to approach so we could go to Balasia (then in Emmaus), sip coffees and organic juices and sparkling waters. Order meals that were so beautiful in presentation, the first time I saw one of Wendy's dishes I exclaimed, "I feel like I'm eating a sculpture, a work of art".
Everything vegan, organic, local as often as possible… it was a meal to be savored, eaten slowly and shared by passing full forks across the table. It was so fun to bring out of town friends there, and even they would say things like, "I wish there was a place like this Brooklyn".
And let's not forget to mention another culinary superstar on the scene who will also be a part of this meal, Misi from Diver Catering. She will make a fool of anyone who thinks vegan sushi is boring, flavorless or unappetizing. You can hire Misi for special orders and occasions, and also find her at the Steelstacks Farmers Market which is (new and!) every Saturday from Noon-4pm. Once again, proof that food can be, and most definitely is, art.
This upcoming brunch is a one-time event, though hopefully enough interest will mean more and more could happen in the future. I hope to see you there!
You can view a detailed menu on the FACEBOOK event page.
My appologies for lack of recipe posts, or posts in general this week. Between house-sitting and picking up some hours temping for an arts/music organization (I'm learning office skills!), I have barely gone grocery shopping let alone done much cooking. Ryan is in Utah for a work trip at a faux-Scandanavian resort, and I've been visiting family and finding excuses to try food at different establishments.
So, by "barely" grocery shopping, I mean I haven't. It's becoming a dire situation. Yesterday I ate half of a plain roll for breakfast. Woopsies. I'm going today and I promise content-heavy posts will come soon.
UNTIL THEN… I wanted to share with you one of my FAVORITE "I'm having a tough day and need some cheering up" websites. Or just a "I want to laugh and squeal with utter glee" websites. Or whatever. You need to go here. And if you have a dog, submit something. Or just send the photos to me.
I give you… UPSIDE DOWN DOGS.
I just had a heart attack and died.
A blob of dog with a tongue sticking out.
There are HUNDREDS OF THESE PHOTOS.
Check out UpsideDownDogs.com … You're welcome.
At the end of a day of marathon antiquing with my friend Tesh, we decided to stop by The Trapp Door for dinner and drinks. I hadn't been there since it got new ownership (formerly "Tap and Table"), and Tesh hadn't been there at all. Plus, bless her heart, she's the best antiquing friend because she restrains me from buying every modern chair and she earned a drink that day.
Don't be fooled by the unassuming exterior of the The Trapp Door. Inside it's a rustic and spacious room with vaulted wood ceilings and the warm glow of candles. Though the space is large and open, the atmosphere is cozy. The decor modest but full of texture making it feel like the opposite of a typical college bar with neon Miller Lite signs.
A bar made of copper, the specials on a a huge chalkboard menu, that ceiling of wooden planks, and dark velvet curtains… it feels upscale without being stuffy. It's still accessible. You can go in jeans and take in the live (quite good) music or turn it into a fancy date.
The food menu is updated seasonally, and has something for everyone. I ordered a coconut peanut vermicelli and vegetable dish, with a sweet creamy sauce and lots of perfectly cooked veggies. When Tesh and I finished eating our main courses, we noticed some guys a few seats down had ordered the fries and they looked so good, so we got those as well to share. The Pomme Frites (ooh lala) were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, and came with a tangy house-made ketchup, garlic herb mustard and *spiced black honey (not vegan).
It's exactly the sort of place you'll want to spend as much time as possible in during these cold Pennsylvania nights. The staff is extremely friendly, I feel food and drink prices are fair, and the atmosphere is one of the best I've had the pleasure to take in.
For many years, I assumed the only thing a slow cooker was good for was pot roast and maybe a few potatoes and carrots. Don't be fooled! If you don't currently use a slow cooker, you can pick one up for a great price and experience for yourself how nice it is to go to bed with the components of a meal, then wake up to a cooked meal.
As if kitchen elves sneak in at night and make a wholesome dinner while you're sleeping.
Thankfully for us, there are many plant-based recipes online if you still have trouble thinking of using a slow cooker to make grains, veggies and beans. Several books are on the market too, and that's where this recipe comes from. The Vegan Slow Cooker by Kathy Hester is packed with 150 healthful – and creative – recipes. Marmalade, brownies, pumpkin ginger bread, tofu red curry, etc… YUM.
This recipe is straight from the book (with the addition of extra chili powder, and some smoked paprika). This is great served over rice or a grain of choice.
Heat the oil in a pan and sautee onions until translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and sautee another 2 minutes. Mix water with dried spices in a bowl. Combine the onion, garlic, ginger, spice mixture and eggplant and transfer to an airtight container. Put in the fridge overnight.
Cut "x"'s through the baby eggplant, halfway down the length.
Mix curry spice mixture with water.
Pour sauteed aromatics and spice mixture over eggplant. Store in the fridge.
Spray the insides of the slow cooker with cooking spray. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker, cover with the lid, and turn on "low" for 6-8 hours. When finished, eggplant will be soft.
Transfer eggplant to slow cooker.
Eggplant is finished in 6-8 hours and will be soft.
Garnish with some cilantro or parsley for color. DONE! This would be great with a chutney or served alongside a coconut soup or bean salad.
If you don't have a slow cooker, do yourself a favor and pick one up! Ask friends or family if they have one they don't use… I'm surprised to find that many people have one (or more) in their basement or in the back of a cabinet where it never gets used.
Oh, and a little extra info: A "Slow Cooker" and a "Crock Pot" are the same thing. Crock Pot is actually a company that makes slow cookers, and people use the terms interchangeably, just as you may call a tissue a "Kleenex" or a copy of a paper a "Xerox".


text:
Q: How can I handle a multi-layered stacking context issue without using 3d transforms or perspective? Is there a way to implement this without using 3D transforms / perspective?

* {
  margin: 0;
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

body,
html {
  height: 100vh;
}

/* main = body (in real app) */

main {
  transform-style: preserve-3d;
  height: 100vh;
}

section.container {
  display: contents;
  position: relative;
  height: 100vh;
}

section.container section.list {
  transform-style: preserve-3d;
  display: grid;
  grid-template-rows: auto auto auto;
  grid-row-gap: 10px;
  position: absolute;
  top: 50%;
  left: 50%;
  width: 45vw;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}

div.item {
  height: 50px;
  background-color: white;
}

div.item.highlighted {
  transform: translateZ(10px);
}

section.modal {
  position: fixed;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100vw;
  height: 100vh;
  background-color: #0009;
  transform: translateZ(5px);
}

section.image {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
}

section.image img {
  display: block;
  object-fit: cover;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
}

span.content {
  background-color: white;
  position: fixed;
  top: calc(50% + 20vw);
  left: 50%;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}

Item 1

Item 2

Item 3

    modal content

I believe the creation rules of stacking context do not allow it. The content has to be centered and one of the best ways to do that is to use position, top/left, and transform: translate. But when you do that, a new stacking context is created and all .items are put inside. By that I can apply z-index only to all .items over .modal and vice versa.
3D perspective can solve that, but I wonder if this is the only solution, or if there is another (DOM restructuring and putting .modal somewhere else, ...) I tried like everything I can think of, but with no success and I still believe I'm missing something.

A: You can avoid all the transform and center your element differently they you can use z-index. Simply avoid setting any z-index to container to avoid the stacking context creating. Only use z-index with the modal element and the element you want to hightlight.

* {
  margin: 0;
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

body,
html {
  height: 100vh;
}

/* main = body (in real app) */

main {
  height: 100vh;
}

section.container {
  height: 100vh;
  display: flex;
}

section.container section.list {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-rows: auto auto auto;
  grid-row-gap: 10px;
  width: 45vw;
  margin:auto;
  position: relative;
}

div.item {
  height: 50px;
  background-color: white;
}

div.item.highlighted {
  z-index:10;
  position:relative;
}

section.modal {
  position: fixed;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100vw;
  height: 100vh;
  background-color: #0009;
  z-index:5;
}

section.image {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
}

section.image img {
  display: block;
  object-fit: cover;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
}

span.content {
  background-color: white;
  position: fixed;
  top: calc(50% + 20vw);
  left: 50%;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}

Item 1

Item 2

Item 3

    modal content


Pick out a versatile everyday fleece that's destined to last a lifetime - this Berghaus Women's Arnside Fleece Jacket is the business. Quality-made, functional and warm.
You should never cut corners with your everyday fleece - undoubtedly one of the most used items in an outdoor wardrobe. This Berghaus Women's Arnside full zip Fleece Jacket won't dissapoint - wear it as a warm outer over casual or outdoor gear, or layer it comfortably under a waterproof for incredible warmth without weight.
Trust us, this versatile women's fleece will see a whole lot of wear all year round.
Not what I wanted...Completely wrong item sent out.All berghaus products are outstanding.
For my online orders: Quick delivery and Millets save on unnecessary packaging which is good for our environment too.
Good quality product, good price.
Have already got one of these fleeces in bright blue. Like it so much decided to buy it in pink too.


text:
Patent Power
CWRU again ranks among the world's most innovative universities.
Led by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, CWRU researchers attained an eye-opening 97 patents in 2021. That ranks CWRU 21st among the world's 100 most innovative universities, according to the National Academy of Inventors.
The academy conducts an annual innovation ranking in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Owners Association, aiming to showcase the value of university research. Schools are ranked according to their attainment of utility patents, the most common patents awarded by the U.S Patent Office.
Case has shown steady growth in the innovation rankings since they began in 2013. The university ranked 51st in 2015, 46th in 2016 and 43rd in 2017. It ranked as high as 17th in 2018, with 95 patents.
The latest ranking, released in September 2022, places Case among the most innovative universities worldwide and ahead of the likes of Columbia, Yale, Duke, Vanderbilt and Carnegie Mellon.
Most of the university's patents are attained by researchers connected to the Case School of Engineering or the CWRU School of Medicine, with the Department of Biomedical Engineering serving as a nexus of invention.
Joe Jankowski, the university's Chief Innovation Officer, credits an innovative faculty and a robust tech transfer program.
"We have a broad portfolio, one that touches on improving the human condition with applications ranging from new medicines and vaccines to flame-retardant materials and energy-efficient data storage systems," he said in a statement.


text:
Choosing Wind Power Gets Cheaper In Oklahoma
By Pete Danko on February 19, 2014 in Renewable Energy, Wind Power
Here's another sign of the growing competitiveness of wind power: An Oklahoma electric utility is taking a big whack out of the cost customers must pay if they want to get their energy from wind.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma, which serves more than a half-million customers in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma, said it was lowering the cost of its WindChoice program by 40 percent. The company is also giving customers more flexibility on how much of their electricity they want to earmark as wind-sourced, allowing them to purchase 100 kilowatt-hour blocks or go with a percentage of their total monthly usage.
Winco Energy Centers (image via NextEra Energy Resources)
"By providing a lower price and greater flexibility, we're making it easier than ever for our customers to take advantage of and promote the tremendous energy resource that is our Oklahoma wind," a spokesman said.
According to the company's website, the extra charge for going with wind is a buck per 100 kilowatt-hours – the equivalent of one penny per kWh. That's a steep drop from the $1.72/100-kWh price premium that was charged when the program began in 2011, according to NewsOK.
PSO said the WindChoice program uses energy produced at the 99-megawatt Minco Wind Farm [PDF], but of course that's somewhat an accounting distinction; the wind farm feeds the grid just as a number of other plants do – and more wind is joining the PSO portfolio as costs come down.
Last year, Public Service set out to add 200 megawatts of wind to its portfolio, then, seeing the attractive price of wind power, decided to up that new amount to 600 MW. "The decision to contract for an additional 400 MW was based on extraordinary pricing opportunities that will lower costs for PSO's customers by an estimated $53 million in the first year of the contracts," the company said at the time.
Kombi EV Not Exactly VW Microbus Of Old
Did You Know America Has Over 47,000 Wind Turbines?


Alpha Lifestyle Sandals - is currently on backorder. You may still purchase now though and we'll ship as soon as more become available.
The Alpha will keep you secure while leaving you free to flow through your environment effortlessly. Being our thickest sandal model, this a great option for those who are new to minimalist footwear or looking to go the extra mile.
I've used the Earth Runner Alphas for just over 1.5 years and they finally broke-specifically the part of the sole that the laces run through, which is just a few millimeters thick. They've had a good run- I even took them to Thailand and wore them for 3 months straight. The vibram sole still looks really good and could stand more wear. I don't think I really liked the canvas topper, as it absorbed dust and moisture and in good conditions, can start to develop a smell that is hard to get rid of (thanks New Orleans). The laces are still in great condition, although there is a bit of fraying where the laces run through the sole. All in all, these Earth Runners look great, preform well, and are pretty durable. I just wish they were more durable (better sole:lace connection design) and had a leather topper.
I am a 40 year old female. I have been healing from many symptoms over the past 2 years. I have had grounding shoes for my baby/toddler for a few years and it was high time I got some from myself. I wanted something that I could wear that could be dressy casual and also sporty and handle water. I found what I was looking for in the Alpha lifestyle shoe. I ordered the charcoal color. The sizing was perfect. They go beautifully with jeans, kahki's or shorts. They only took 2 days for me to break them in where they didn't hurt between the toes. I am new to minimalist footwear and these are very comfortable. I have worn them inside, walking on a gravel road, and out in a field. The first day I even experienced some detox symptoms. After that, I felt great! These shoes help reduce my inflammation. I highly recommend them and would buy them again!
Who is the ideal candidate for the Alpha Earth Runners?
The thicker cushion sole of the Alpha is great for those new to minimal footwear or for those looking to rack up a lot of miles or carry a heavier load.
How do I decide between the Alpha Lifestyle Sandals or Alpha Adventure Sandals?
The only difference between these two Alpha models are the lace, with the performance laced (adventure) sandals costing $5 more than the lifestyle laced edition. The lifestyle laces offer slightly more comfort while the performance (adventure) lace is more burly & secure. They come in different color schemes which may be a deciding factor.
Can these be used for trail running?
Yes, the Alpha is great for most trails.
Is the Hemp Earth-Grip footbed Organic?