Hospital stays should be stupidity-free. And they usually are. I had two such stays (courtesy of childbirth) where caring, conscientious, authentic humans surrounded me. That is, except for the admitting nurse who, after I'd filled out the paperwork and left my employment status blank, nearly had a fit.
"Don't you have a job?" she asked, none-too-kindly.
I hesitated before answering as I was on maternity leave and felt a bit limbo-like.
"You're a housewife?" she spat out like she'd suddenly dislodged a stray corn kernel that had been stuck between her teeth for weeks.
Clearly her limited, mental receptacle somehow perceived an affront not only to the noble efforts of the nursing profession, but to the very core of all women who worked outside the home.
Two years ago, my then sixteen-year-old son was hospitalized for a nasty bout with the flu. He spent four days there; my husband and I switched off spending time with him as the hospital was some distance from our home.
No less than ten nurses came through Son's room; sometimes solo, other times in pairs. Almost all staff members appeared genuinely dedicated and competent. Three were particularly memorable. One, not because he was the only male member and the cheery sort, but because he wore a novel cap with a dignified, yet highly optimistic gold tassel. The second memorable nurse was a young, very pleasant woman who caught our eyes because of her intelligence and her large, elongated glasses that came dangerously close to becoming goggles. However, I'm afraid to report the third was a stuper (short for an unnecessarily stupid person). Let's call her Nurse Norma L. Bainbridge.
At four a.m., the morning of Son's discharge, two nurses came by to give him medicine. Fortunately, Son is an excellent listener with a sharp memory. He recalled the Doc saying said medicine was to be dispensed for only three days. Unfortunately, Doc didn't reduce this three day part to writing. The nurses eyed us solemnly when Son advised them of this fact. Then they left.
A few hours later, in stepped Nurse Bainbridge. I'm sure you've met her sort before. The no-nonsense type who not only works full-time (outside of the home for a respectable paycheck plus splendid benefits), but has four kids, bakes her own bread, churns her own butter, grows prize geraniums and still has time for pilates and basket weaving. Oh yes, she's also PTA president.
"I heard somebody say they didn't want to take their medicine this morning," she said in a saccharine voice, hopelessly twee; the tone reserved for two-year-olds and the crack brained.
"We'd like to wait for the doctor," I informed her.
She gave me a look that said I'd committed a gross gaffe, and that I'd practically snubbed her for not going to medical school and choosing nursing instead.
Nurse Bainbridge left in a huff and returned almost immediately with enough pages of forms to line every drawer in Martha Stewart's kitchen. She told me I had to sign the paperwork to absolve her, the entire nursing staff and the hospital from any liability should Son have a relapse for refusing to take his a.m. medicine.
Thankfully, Doc arrived during our argument discussion and confirmed that the medicine was to be administered for only three days.
According to The Modern Handbook of How to be a Stuper, if one is holding an official looking piece of paper with instructions written on it, one must follow those instructions blindly. No matter if the instructions seem a bit off or if another questions their accuracy. Should these instructions appear in barely legible scrawl (thereby obviously the handiwork of a reputable physician), then all the more reason to blindly follow them.
Readers: Chances are you will be treated reasonably well should the need arise for a hospital stay. However, be certain to exercise awareness of your condition and the requisite treatment. Should you feel your mental faculties compromised, bring along an intelligent human to ensure stupers are kept at bay.
It's not a good idea to act like a dolt toward workers who are in your home to perform a service. Treating them well equals better service. Besides, they know where you live. Stupers (short, once again, for abysmally stupid persons) haven't yet learned this.
I use an excellent handyman, Ed, who's honest, dependable and handy to the tenth degree. A retired fire officer, Ed does his work cheerfully and efficiently.
One day, a sullen, agitated Ed, muttering maledictions under his breath, came over to fix a leaky faucet. As he reached beneath the sink, I asked if something was wrong. Ed didn't look at me when I asked this. He fixed his gaze on a ten-inch pipe wrench resting on the counter. He glared at it is such a significant way, it was clear he wasn't regarding it as a master tool for tightening any nuts or bolts. Violence was on his mind.
(Note to my dear readers: Mr. Nolan is a thirty-seven-year-old TV actor; not exactly a first rate talent in my humble opinion, but one who didn't abandon his hit medical series after everyone else did and so garnered a name for himself and a hefty salary).
The Nolans called on Ed again, but Ed did not return. He avoided their place the way the discerning bull avoids the china shop after that ruinous first time.
I live in a small town where word spreads like ants in the kitchen after a grain of sugar hits the floor. Ed is the number one handyman in these parts. A run-in with Ed means having to find a guy from a neighboring town, thirty miles away. And no one there is as handy as Ed. Stupidity does not realize this.
"Did Mrs. N look all puffed up to you?" I asked this because when I saw her grocery shopping the week before, she did appear a bit full of herself.
Mrs. Nolan's self-importance and supercilious air came from her status of being married to a TV actor, who quite frankly, is not exactly a household name. I had him pointed out to me once in the local market by my sister who is a fanatic follower of anything even remotely celebrity related.
Self-importance thrills the meager mind making it feel…well, important, without reason. In reality, self-importance is dull, exceptionally dull. It creates a kind of void where gratitude and the ability to appreciate value in the work of others should be. It promotes the growth of stupidity even for those who may not have been stupers before. Without gratitude, happiness is fleeting and as hard to grasp as water.
I might add that you don't find it among stupers either.
1. I'm nearsighted and have been since the age of thirteen.
2. Although I'm exceedingly vain and don't like to wear glasses, the mere thought of lasers, shiny tools, and suction rings (yes, I am a coward) conjures up visions of being strapped to a table and writhing under a blinding light while unseen voices whisper about me. Hence my myopic vision continues. I alternate between glasses, contacts and viewing the world through a lens that appears to have been coated in Vaseline. That's good for people around me as physical flaws are nonexistent.
3. To make up for the physical flaws I can't see, mental flaws are magnified.
4. I have an uncanny ability of killing off houseplants. I haven't figured out whether it's homicide or suicide as I have a knack of subjecting them to stressful situations.
6. I volunteer once a week at the local library, good girl that I am.
7. Although I fervently disavow big city life and its hordes of intellectually undernourished, counterfeit humans, I visit the city often. But I'm sure to make contemptuous remarks upon exiting.
8. I am a procrastinator. But I have a good reason for being one: I work best under pressure.
There you have it! Eight little known facts that probably should remain just that: little known. Thanks again to Mary for giving me a much needed day off stupidity! Whew! It can be exhausting. Now it's my turn to tag bloggers to reveal 8 little known facts about themselves – Dawn at Twisted Sister, Agnes at HexMyEx and footiam at Beautiful World.
Ah holidays! When nearly forgotten, ever eccentric and quirky relatives leave their attics and tree trunks or wherever it is they reside, and provide ample entertainment during family gatherings. No, I don't have an Uncle Albert who floats up to the ceiling every time he laughs or an Aunt Mabel who likes to wander into neighbors' homes and pilfer their pantries. But I do have the mysterious case of the all-too-visible pooch that refused to disappear.
Thanksgiving in my family means that all five of my grandmother's children, along with assorted grandchildren and great grandchildren, gather at her home to celebrate together. Personally, I believe in small, meaningful (as opposed to meaningless) crowds at holiday events. Anything beyond say, a dozen or so relations may provide a recipe for unrest and possible mayhem.
Grandma's youngest son, Larry, lives 140 miles away. He visits Grandma several times a year bringing along his wife, Fran, twenty-three year-old daughter Melba and pooch, Henry. Henry is a miniature Pincher, whose price, we've all been advised on many an occasion, rivaled that of a small, slightly used, Korean automobile.
Henry is much loved by Fran and Melba. Whenever they visit, Henry perches on the coffee table or sofa, or prances about as far as his little paws will carry him, though Grandma would prefer he enjoy the great outdoors. No matter that Grandma is ninety, has asthma and keeps her own dog in the backyard when company is present; Henry's place was among the other guests.
Larry's last visit had been during a family and friends party of about fifty people. Visitors mostly lounged in the living room, family room and kitchen areas. This was a coincidence as Henry too mostly lingered in those rooms, on a leash. Unfortunately, his flexible, twenty-six foot leash created a booby trap of sorts, tripping a few elderly relatives who then slipped on the wet puddle next to Henry's water bowl (in the family room) and almost fell headlong onto the kitchen counter.
After a few complaints about said leash, Melba decided to liberate Henry. He, in turn, chose to reward all by trotting away into Grandma's master bedroom and doing his duty on the carpet beside her bed in the exact spot that Granny liked to place her foot upon climbing in and out of bed.
So come Thanksgiving, Grandma asked Larry to leave Henry at home. Larry objected, claiming Henry had no where to go.
Here is some background information regarding this last statement: Larry's family kept a full-time, live-in maid; Fran had about two dozen relatives living within a fifteen-mile radius of their home, including her parents, assorted aunts and uncles, brothers, and several cousins.
Larry told Grandma that either Henry comes along for Thanksgiving or none of them would be there. Grandma felt disturbed, not quite knowing how to please everyone or anyone, for that matter.
D. Allowed Henry free reign once again and placed plastic sheeting all over the flooring and furniture.
happy by merely exercising some thought and flexibility for that one evening. Yes, moms do take priority over pets. Most moms, anyway.
Holidays may bring along added stress from the excitement of organizing, socializing and/or traveling. Stress promotes stupidity as it prevents clarity of thought. Take note of what it did to Larry. It's important to acknowledge this ahead of time and plan ways to alleviate or defuse potential sources of anxiety. Deep breaths and an equally deep sense of humor can work wonders to keep stress at bay.
Both stopped and looked at each other in wide-eyed wonder, mouths shaped into oversize Cheerios.
Horton is the professor's pet pig.
"I've taught Horton how to control the thermostat in his barn. Do you think Tiffany could do that? Do you think she knows what a thermostat is?" asked the Professor.
Humans rank first in animal intelligence, followed by primates, dolphins/whales, pigs and elephants. What about stupers (short for prodigiously stupid persons)? Where do they fall?
The Professor and I agreed that stupers did not surpass the top five smartest animals. What about the top ten?
I suddenly had a thought. The kind that just popped out of my head, fully formed, exactly like the time Greek God Zeus suffered a massive headache. After Hephaestus did Zeus the courtesy of splitting his skull in half for treatment, out popped Zeus' daughter, Athena, in a complete set of armor and all grown-up. Isn't that just like a teen?
"Can you test a squirrel's intelligence?" I asked my friend.
I disagreed. Every winter a squirrel hides about 10,000 nuts. I'm not arguing that an average stuper cannot duplicate that feat. He/she probably can. But the squirrel hides each nut in a different place Then, using spatial memory, relocates each one. I'm not even sure I can master that accomplishment without outside help.
"Tiffany could use some extra credit points," noted the good Professor.
We designed a simple experiment where an average ground squirrel would be trained to follow a specific route, which included ladders, to find a scrumptious nut awaiting it at the end. All the squirrel would have to do is figure out the route. As for Tiffany, she'd leave her car in a large parking structure, go shopping for a few hours, then attempt to relocate her vehicle.
Both passed. Tiffany had a little more trouble than her furry competition as she marked the position of her car based on the colors of the autos parked next to her. Unfortunately for her, both adjacent vehicles had left upon her return. But since it wasn't a timed experiment, an exhausted Tiffany eventually found her car.
In the second stage of our experiment, Professor Bottomley altered the squirrel's maze, leaving the nut in the same place, but adding additional ladders providing alternative routes. The squirrel went straight to the nut. Amazing!
Instead of unleashing Tiffany in an actual parking lot, we created a safer environment. A computer provided a virtual image of a structure. We had her park an assigned car, then leave for a few minutes while we added alternative routes and changed the look of the structure. We kept the auto in the same place.
Alas, Tiffany didn't fare too well. The good professor comforted the poor girl by giving her the extra credit points anyway (for good effort).
I'm afraid this was not a fair test. The professor and I cheated. You see, a squirrel's brain grows 15% larger in the autumn (when keen memory is imperative in storing and locating nuts). Human brains stop growing once we've reached the ripe old age of sixteen. For the stuper, it actually shrinks from non-use.
Snap, Crackle and Pop? The ever so endearing, soft, sizzling sound of cereal & milk sweetly commingling represented the medley of happy food talking, if only it could; delighting children of all ages.
Unfortunately, a similar sound is let loose daily. It has nothing to do with imaginary gnomes or grains of rice cereal merging with milk. This dreadful snap is obnoxious, nose wrinkling and displeasing to the ears. It can turn even the most tranquil among us into moaning malcontents. It's the handiwork of stupers (short for insatiably stupid persons).
My mother and I were shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue. The store near us is boutique sized and sports glossy marble floors. The kind where the slightest sound is amplified.
A sale was going on. I left Mom in one department while I made a phone call. Mom is usually quite mellow and good-natured.
Upon my return, I found her incensed, breathing rapidly and scowling in aggravation. As you may've guessed, she'd encountered a stuper. Not just a standard irritating stuper, but the gum-chewing variety.
I could see a steady stream of homicidal thoughts flowing through her mind. Allowing stupers to chew gum in Saks is like permitting pre-schoolers to tour the place while dragging along tiny feet tucked in Mama's six-inch heels. Tripping and tapping all over the place. It should be banned.
I decided to investigate. I searched for the offender. Snapping and smacking sounds, not unlike those pouring forth from a malfunctioning cap gun, emanated from the lingerie department. Several annoyed shoppers rapidly fled the scene. I knew I'd found my stuper.
She was a hearty chomper, in her sixties, nicely dressed and attractive. Her appearance belied the stupidity that lay beneath.
The smell of stale spearmint wafted through the room. While I stood next to her, there was silence for three seconds. Then suddenly she emitted a cacophony of smacking and popping culminated by a bubble the size of an infant's fist. A mad crescendo of bubble bursting followed. "SNAP! SNAP! POP!" Like a pair of hands clapping next to my ear. There must have been four wads stuffed in her trap.
Are public floggings still available? I read that in Saudi Arabia, 200 lashes were given in 2005 to "men behaving like women." What about the same for those who smack and pop chewing gum in confined spaces where members of the public are present and royally annoyed? If cigarette smoking indoors, in public places, is banned in California, then so should gum smacking. Upon entering the mouth, chewing gum should neither be seen or heard again (barring an emergency situation).
I stared at this stuper to see if any shred of awareness of her vile habit existed. She stared back, seemingly chewing her cud all the while. The display was so hideous, I'm certain backwoods people would not engage in such snapping even if they had teeth.
It wanted to say, "Cut the crap," then slip on a surgical glove (which I carry in my purse for stuper moments like this), pry open her mouth and yank out the glob, but I was a bit frightened of what else I'd find in there.
Is it possible that some meager minds estimate their value by the amount of irritation they cause to greater minds? I will have to ponder this matter further.
Should you be forced to occupy the same time and space as a smacking, snapping, popping stuper, find an exit immediately. Or offer them a piece of hard candy. Sucking sounds might be more tolerable. Or print out the picture below and use it as a sign. Meanwhile, I'll start a petition to bring back flogging.
Stupidity is often obvious, like the malodorous scent of a skunk. Other times, it's subtle, mild, undefined and slips in unexpectedly from typically trusty sources, such as parents, dear friends, mentors, teachers, beauticians or mail carriers. In my case, all conspired to change the course I'd chosen for myself.
Just prior to graduating law school, I was exceedingly fortunate in obtaining an almost perfect job. I loved my extraordinary boss. She hired me despite my being an average student from an average school whose talent, if it existed, was completely hidden to the naked eye.
I worked my way from an intern to a law clerk to a lawyer for a company that represented the movie/TV studios in labor negotiations. There was just one problem. I detested labor law like I detested finding a stray hair dangling from my mouth after an innocent bite of salad. My boss generously allowed me to continue to work for her while I hunted down the right job.
I desired a spot as business affairs counsel for a studio. My attainment of this position seemed as likely as my growing a beanstalk, climbing up and sharing a mug of hot chocolate with Jack's giant. To succeed in my endeavor, I needed either: an ivy league degree, gilt-edged law firm experience, inside knowledge of the secret fetish of an important movie executive (not yet known by the rags), adoption by a Brangelina type couple or willingness to engage in unmentionable activities (as this is a PG-13 rated blog).
Not one to stand still, I opted to take virtually every business affairs attorney in town to lunch in an attempt to display my sparkling personality and to convince them that I was the chosen one. I ended up with empty pockets.
I did manage to nab several interviews, however. Even second and third interviews where I was certain the job was in the bag. Unfortunately, none panned out. My last one was particularly irksome in that I forgot how to speak English for a few brief moments while meeting with the head guy, a name brand producer.
"Nice to meese you," I said charmingly after we were introduced.
Needless to say, I wasn't even asked to sit down.
I'd made little headway. Soon after, almost everyone I knew advised me to seek work in another field of law. Business affairs jobs were hard to come by. And one needed plenty of solid experience. Where the hell is experience supposed to come from if no one is willing to give you a chance?
Damn right I didn't. But my sights were fixed. I didn't want to work anywhere else. Picture an incredible craving for an ice cream sundae and settling instead for cold mashed potatoes. I didn't want to stop trying. Yet every seemingly authentic human I knew advised otherwise.
I caved in and nabbed an interview at the D.A.'s office. I've relived that experience twice; once alive and in person, and the second time, in great detail in my book. I can't bear to do it again here, not even for my cherished readers; so in summary, we mutually agreed the position wasn't for me. And yes, a heavy, dust-laden legal treatise accidentally landed on the assistant D.A.'s foot with a fairly strong downward force, mid interview. I left knowing I'd not be back.
Despite the rumblings from all that chances of getting the job I wanted were slim, I finally found my perfect position just a few months later. Success had been lingering just around the corner despite appearances to the contrary.
I wonder how many of our dreams, large or small, are dashed or sidetracked, due to well meaning advice? I often hear complaints from readers who encounter stupidity in the form of unsolicited suggestions that go against the grain of their desires.
Ultimately, the voice you must listen to is your own. Life is filled with good intentions. And you know where that road can lead.
Think for yourself or someone else will do your thinking for you.
– the small, wizened, elf-like, elder postal worker who perpetually stands like the ground beneath him is trembling. He, in particular, seems to have a wide open space between his ears.
The window belonging to the womanly (I do use that term loosely) worker is littered with large Post-its detailing warnings: "No mailing letters or envelopes containing weapons." "Baton Rouge is not in France." "Have proper change ready." On this last one, I'm afraid I approached her once with one dollar when my stamps cost ninety-two cents. I did not receive my change.
I once overheard a young man ask her about the cost of a forty-one cent stamp. She agreed to assist him only if she could place a piece of metallic duct tape over his mouth. He had to write down his requests on a Post-it, and she ripped up any she deemed unfitting or irrelevant. I believe I saw the barest ghost of a grin on her face that time.
As I stood in prayer for assistance from the younger gent, the elder's window opened first. On this particular day, he seemed to suffer from spasms in addition to his tremors. A bowl of Jell-O on wheels could not have shaken more.
I explained to him that I'd been away for a few days and my post office box was empty. I expected some mail from the bar association. Had he received any letters addressed to Keli Garson?
I sighed deeply, but with great patience and informed him that I was. His good eye regarded me suspiciously, but he went to get my mail. He took so long I became concerned that the tremulous ground beneath him had opened and swallowed him whole, and that he was now in the very midst of sliding down to China. Just as I was about to call for help, he returned with my letters.
A week later at home, I persistently received mail belonging to my next door neighbor and none of my own. After three days of this, I guessed that my usually efficient mail carrier, Mary, was on vacation. I lay in wait for her replacement.
To my surprise, not only did my mail arrive after five p.m., but also, the carrier was none other than the elder from the Post Office. I live in a small town where many hats are sometimes worn by the same hollow head. I explained to him about my mail.
After he finished wheezing from the solitary fit of laughter brought on by what he regarded as a timeless joke, he proceeded to collect the mail and redeliver it. It finally arrived at about eight p.m.
It's too easy to stress about stupers (short again for intolerably stupid persons) and their moronic ways. Do not allow a stuper to act as a trigger of annoyance or frustration. The best way to deal with random acts of stupidity is to find the amusement in them. View life as a sitcom with you as the star. Your reward comes when you maintain your sanity.
You are currently browsing the Counterfeit Humans blog archives for November, 2007.


text:
The Heart of Thomas by Moto Hagio
I let out an audible gasp when I got my hands on this one, and here's why you should too:
Moto Hagio is a genius, and while she is widely and critically recognized as a master graphic novelist, this is only her second book to get an English release. The first one was 2010's amazing Drunken Dream, also put out by Fantagraphics.
Like the other Magnificent 49ers (the legendary first wave of female comic artists), Hagio's work is fearlessly avant-garde and visually stunning. Over her fruitful and now slightly less under-translated career, she has set the bar for all manga artists to follow, up to this day, and not just shonen-ai or shoujo mangaka.
Taking place in an all-boys German boarding school, The Heart of Thomas is a bildungsroman rich in tragedy, emotions and secrets. The story begins with the haunting overlap of the titular character's suicide, a 14-year-old jumping over a fence and in front of a running train, and the bittersweet poem he wrote about "always living in his eyes" before "this boyhood love will be flung against some sexless, unknown, transparent something."
That morning, Thomas had sent an ambiguous love letter to Juli - a model student who quickly verbalizes his dislike for the boy. We'll follow his emotional growth throughout the book, as he learns to cope with his emotional scars, with Thomas' death and most importantly with the tumultuous arrival of Eric, a new student who happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to the deceased character.
Left to fend for themselves in the face of unknown feelings, guilt, frustration, secrecy and despair, Hagio's characters come off as complex and relatable - hopefully I'm not alone on this, am I right?
I avidly read the French translation this past Christmas and this captivating and melancholic book is still on my mind. I gladly noticed that this edition put out by Fantagraphics is slightly bigger, and it's a real treat to not only enjoy Hagio's seminal story in English, but also to appreciate her beautiful artwork in such detail.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Bargain hunters seek out Brampton bungalow
32 Addington Cres., Brampton, Ont.
Sydnia Yu
Published March 29, 2018 Updated March 29, 2018
DAYS ON THE MARKET: Two
LISTING AGENT: Mary Jo Vradis, Royal LePage Estate Realty
The Action: This three-bedroom bungalow with an attached garage had four offers during the last two months of 2017. The first two proposals were too low for the seller's liking, so it was relisted with a reduced asking price. Two bidders came forward, with one strong enough to win through.
"Because new rules were coming into play in January, it was a questionable time [to sell]. No one was sure how financing would be changing," agent Mary Jo Vradis said.
"But people saw the value in this house, which is why we had offer after offer."
What They Got: The roof, windows and some mechanics were replaced for this 1950s bungalow, which retains a traditional set up with an eat-in kitchen separated from a living and dining area with hardwood floors.
One bedroom has access to a deck and the 55-by-110-foot grounds.
The basement has its own separate entrance and two recreation areas, including one with a built-in bar and the other a wood stove.
The Agent's Take: "It was a really good house, but the location is an area where people are still looking or deals," Ms. Vradis said.
"All the big mechanical stuff was done, so it was only basic cosmetic work to do."
Tenants hold back Swansea townhouse sale
North Toronto house snapped up quickly in slow January market
Buyers trim the price of older Vaughan house
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In recent years, the Mac has become a device capable of acting as a very powerful media center. iTunes, Front Row, and OS X in general, provide a plethora of features which justify the Mac as a living room device.
That said, one vital piece is missing as a standard: watching and recording live TV on your Mac. There is a wide variety of hardware and software which allow you to watch TV, and this post will cover some of the options available to you.
There are several different TV receivers available for the Mac. They all connect via USB, plug into an antenna socket (some include small, portable antennas), and are bundled with a piece of software. Many offer slightly different additional features which meet the specific needs of different users.
The most widely known company producing Mac tuners is Elgato. They develop a range of 'EyeTV' devices, and also the widely acclaimed EyeTV Software. The main competitors to Elgato consist of Pinnacle and Miglia. Interestingly, the majority of TV products are aimed at the non-U.S. international market. I'll note which devices are international and which are U.S. compatible below.
EyeTV Hybrid – A versatile DVB-T/DVB-C/Analogue TV tuner and FM radio receiver. EyeTV Hybrid also comes with a video cable for composite (RCA) and S-Video to connect a set-top box to your Mac for satellite or premium channels. This is a very versatile device, which supports most connections (even allowing the use of gaming consoles). It comes with the EyeTV software, a remote control, and is available in European and US versions.
EyeTV Diversity – A dual TV tuner stick that receives Digital Terrestrial Television (DVB-T, or DTT). In "Dual-Tuner mode", you can watch two different TV shows on your Mac at the same time, or watch one show while you record another. A "Diversity" mode can also be used, which amplifies the received signal through combining both tuners. Quite a formidable concept, with some great functionality. It's Europe only for the moment.
EyeTV DTT (+ Deluxe) – A compact DVB-T TV tuner with either a full size antenna plug, or a compact version (in the Deluxe edition). You can opt for the standard DTT to receive the basic tuner with no extras, or the Deluxe DTT which comes bundled with a small portable antenna, a remote control and is small enough to fit snugly in the MacBook Air. As with the Diversity, it's Europe only.
Pinnacle only offers one TV tuner product for the Mac, the HD Mini Stick. It's a fairly basic device, with different versions for the US and Europe. It comes with a mini remote, a portable antenna and a carry-bag. Rather than being bundled with the full EyeTV 3 software, they come with a stripped down version called 'EyeTV Lite'. This still offers most of the main functionality you'd need — basic features such as watching, scheduling and recording TV. It's possible to upgrade to the full version at a later date. For the price, however, you'd be better off opting for one of Elgato's devices in the first place.
TVMini+ – A portable tuner with support for digital & analogue TV, as well as connecting composite and S-Video.
TVMini 2 – Featuring a compact design, perfect for thin Apple laptops.
TVMini Express – The budget version, with a relatively compact size and no frills.
TVBook Pro Express – An unnecessarily long name, but this tuner fits into the ExpressCard slot in the MacBook Pro. Clever!
TVMicro Express – The international version of the TVMini Express, working worldwide.
Miglia have an extensive line up, and you'll probably find that only a few of their devices are available where you are. They all come bundled with Miglia's own TV software, which supports recording, scheduling, integrating with an online TV guide and exporting into iTunes/iPod/Apple TV etc.
It is clear to see that the different companies producing Mac TV products are differentiating their lineup in a similar way. You'll need to decide whether you want: (a) a compact and budget device; (b) one which supports composite and S-Video inputs; (c) one which fits into an ExpressCard slot; or (d) one with multiple tuners for simultaneous recording/viewing.
Software is also a very important consideration. The definitive market leader is EyeTV 3, which undoubtedly provides a wide range of features. However, if you're looking to save a few hard earned pennies and don't require the latest and sleekest software, opting for a device offering EyeTV Lite or MigliaTV could be a cheaper option.
Regardless of which you opt for, I hope this article has opened your eyes to the range of options available and will allow you to make a better informed decision!
Note: There are also a number of TV tuner devices which support hardware encoding of TV shows to a H.264 format. I haven't covered these in this review (to keep it to a readable size!) but may do so in a future post.
I'm more confused than ever! Many of your bloggers seem to have not mastered writing coherently, or they do not bother to edit what they write. I would like to know in clear, "non-computer speak"(what happened to standard English?!)how I can get the standard channels I used to watch free on the MAC. I am willing to buy the hardware (I had to buy analog antennas before)to get local stations; but I am not willing to buy cable with its plethora of garbage in addition to the same annoying commercials I watched for free with analog.Is there anyone out there in virtual "space cadet land"capable of answering this simple question?
I live on the east coast of the US and want to find programming located in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Is there a way to capture that local market programming on a MAC? I have a G5 and also just purchased a new MacBook Pro. Thanks!
Fantastic. care to share your sources :) ?
Differing TV standards abroad and in the US make TV tuners a tough topic to tackle. In the US there's also Mac compatible HDTV tuners from Hauppauge, Equinux, SiliconDust and ATI. Both ElGato's EyeTV and Equinux's TheTube DVR software programs support quite a few other 3rd-party tuners as well – about 2 dozen total at last count.
Despite external appearances, many Mac tuner cards-sticks-boxes are often built around the same OEM TV tuning chipsets. So there's more options to watch, record, edit HD TV on Apple's OSX than ever before.
I want to watch sports (NFL) that are not on my local provider. Will these devices work with my existing cable or will they replace it? I hate Cox cable and I'm looking for an alternative. BTW if you don't need to see a program live as it airs and can wait a couple of days go to this website =>http://www.watchtvsitcoms.com/movies.html You can view TV shows and movies that are in the theatre. I recent bought a HDMI to Mini DVI converter and watch tons of stuff on my TV for free.
Nice review of what's out there. Thanks.
Does anyone know anything about the capabilities of these tuners to receive mpeg4 signals? Most standalone dvb-t boxes doesn't support this, which is a growing problem as more countries are changing to broadcasting in mpeg4 format rather than mpeg2.
I bought a Miglia, it didn't quite do what I needed so I returned it. That week their store closed down and I never received a refund, and no one will return my e-mails. I'm a little bitter. I really wish I had gone with an Elgato. just FYI.
Looks like the US version of this product does not do FM radio.
I can recommend the eyeTV Diversity by Elgato, I have been using one for about 8 weeks now and it is excellent. The included antenna is not worth bothering with unless you live on top of the transmitter but with an external antenna it leaves all others Ihave used over the last 10 years standing.


Stavanger, 14th May 2007: Norwegian Energy Company AS (Noreco) has acquired a total of 100,000,000 shares in Altinex ASA. Following the purchase, Noreco owns 198,380,000 shares in Altinex, representing 10.029% of the total outstanding shares. Noreco has issued an offer to acquire an additional 15% of the shares in Altinex at NOK 1.45 per share.


text:
Project to protect Tangipahoa Parish coastline nears completion
Updated: 10:59 PM CST Jan 22, 2013
The project needs about $7 million more to finish construction.
A multi-million dollar project to protect the coastline of Tangipahoa Parish is marching toward completion.Though the effort dates back nearly a decade, the battle to save the coastline has only just begun, Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess said."We need about $7 million more to take this all the way into south pass," Burgess said. "This is erosion control at its best."About 40,000 tons of rock is being set in place from Kentucky to Lake Pontchartrain on the south end of Tangipahoa Parish.Project officials said the $5.5 million for the project will only take them so far."We need to get the rest of the lake protected the same way, but it definitely draws a line in the sand, and a definite spot where this should be where the erosion stops," Tony Zelenka with Bertucci Contracting said.Residents in the area said hurricanes like Katrina, Gustav and Isaac have compounded the erosion problem.The goal is to stop the erosion and then rebuild the marsh."Probably within the next few years you're going to see the coastline coming back as we have lost it," Burgess said.Burgess said the aim is to go another 9,000 feet to finish up the project.Zelenka said the tree stumps pulled from the shoreline will be recycled so that nothing is wasted in the project."We're going to bring the stumps back into Manchac and grind them and turn them into cypress mulch, and the logs will be sold back into commerce," he said.The first phase of the rock jetty construction should be finished in the next 30 days.
TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. —
A multi-million dollar project to protect the coastline of Tangipahoa Parish is marching toward completion.
Though the effort dates back nearly a decade, the battle to save the coastline has only just begun, Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess said.
$6M project to save eroding Tangipahoa Parish shoreline
"We need about $7 million more to take this all the way into south pass," Burgess said. "This is erosion control at its best."
About 40,000 tons of rock is being set in place from Kentucky to Lake Pontchartrain on the south end of Tangipahoa Parish.
Project officials said the $5.5 million for the project will only take them so far.
"We need to get the rest of the lake protected the same way, but it definitely draws a line in the sand, and a definite spot where this should be where the erosion stops," Tony Zelenka with Bertucci Contracting said.
Residents in the area said hurricanes like Katrina, Gustav and Isaac have compounded the erosion problem.
The goal is to stop the erosion and then rebuild the marsh.
"Probably within the next few years you're going to see the coastline coming back as we have lost it," Burgess said.
Burgess said the aim is to go another 9,000 feet to finish up the project.
Zelenka said the tree stumps pulled from the shoreline will be recycled so that nothing is wasted in the project.
"We're going to bring the stumps back into Manchac and grind them and turn them into cypress mulch, and the logs will be sold back into commerce," he said.
The first phase of the rock jetty construction should be finished in the next 30 days.


text:
Marin County Deputy Sheriffs' Association
Chartered in 1962
Rep Needed
Elderly dog rescued from steep embankment in Marin County
November 29, 2018 by 911 MEDIA
A man and his missing dog were rescued Sunday night by the Marin County Sheriff's Office's Search and Rescue team. The 55-year-old Marin County man was searching for his black…
Filed Under: Marin County DSA News
Celebrating Police Week 2018
May 13, 2018 by 911 MEDIA
Photo courtesy of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund This year, from May 13 to May 19, thousands of police officers, law enforcement professionals, friends, family, and survivors, gather in…
Amy Yardley
August 29, 2018 by 911 MEDIA
MCDA Investigator Amy Yardley has been employed by the Marin County DA's Office since January of 2017. Prior to her time with the DA's office she was employed by Novato…
Mill Valley veteran to be awarded Congressional Gold Medal
January 3, 2019 by David Chellson
David Kong poses for a photo in his ROTC uniform in Arizona in 1943. (courtesy David Kong) David Kong, a longtime Mill Valley resident who served as an infantry scout…
Filed Under: In the News
San Quentin inmate sought after San Rafael carjacking.
December 27, 2018 by David Chellson
Authorities are hunting for a prison inmate who bolted from San Quentin and might have carjacked a vehicle in San Rafael. Shalom Mendoza, who is serving time for attempted carjacking…
Off-duty Calif. officer attacked while assisting robbery victim
December 4, 2019 by Brendon Parnell
Two juveniles were arrested after the officer was choked unconscious while aiding a woman whose phone was stolen. Be careful when assisting off duty… give the article and video…
Legal Defense Fund Benefits
As a member in good standing in the Deputy Sheriff's Association you pay for and have Legal Defense Fund (LDF). The LDF premiums the DSA pays on your behalf…
David Estes
Deputy Dave Estes began his career with the Marin County Sheriff's Office in 2002. Deputy Estes has worked in the Jail and as a Bailiff for the Marin County Superior…
We proudly endorse Lori Frugoli for Marin County District Attorney. We support her strong, evenhanded and progressive approach to public safety. Lori has four decades of experience with all levels…
January 24, 2018 by 911 MEDIA
The Marin County Deputy Sheriffs' Association would like to express our gratitude for your overwhelming generosity during our "Red, White, Blue, and YOU" fundraising campaign. We truly live by our…
Secret Service includes Marin detox shooting in threats study
Eight months ago, Davance Lamar Reed allegedly opened fire at a Marin County detox center, killing an employee and injuring… Read More
Marin County's budget set for final vote
Barring a recession, Marin County officials said Monday there will be little problem balancing the county's budget over… Read More
Police won't fight Calif. use-of-force bill
Language was changed and the bill is thought to be a win for CA LEO's. Take a minute to read the following. I also… Read More
Marin County Deputy Sheriff's Association
San Rafael, CA 94913-4207
Copyright © 2018 Marin County Deputy Sheriff's Association. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Q: How to create dynamic ViewPager in Android? I have been trying to create dynamically pages but they lag too much. I tried doing like here: https://code.google.com/p/viewpagerexample/source/browse/trunk/AwesomePager/src/com/geekyouup/paug/awesomepager/AwesomePagerActivity.java
or here: dynamically add and remove view to viewpager
They both basically do same thing and they both get extremely laggy with my view.
Here is what I want to do, and what I get:

Also I get "the application may be doing too much work on its main thread" warning.
 Is there any way I can make this optimized?
And for reference, how is this kind of view called?

A:
Also I get "the application may be doing too much work on its main thread" warning.

That would be why it is lagging.

Is there any way I can make this optimized?

You are welcome to enable StrictMode, and you are welcome to use tools like Traceview to determine where you are spending your time on the main application thread.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Linux command for pseudo terminal I have a csh script which requires TTY to work properly.
I need to execute this script from a program which does not have TTY (like Java program started from Eclipse).
I tried "script" Linux command and it works in general, but it has a side effect.
This command forks itself with PTY and my csh script runs under child (slave) process.
But when parent (master) process is killed (by Java program), child process remains running and detached to "init" process.
So, is there any way to run csh in pseudo-terminal, so that all processes are killed when killing parent process (which Java program has access to)?
I know that some Java libraries exist for this (pty4j, etc.) but I have no possibilities to use them, so I need a Linux command.


text:
The role of activins during decidualisation of human endometrium
Rebecca L. Jones, Jock K. Findlay, Lois A. Salamonsen
Decidualisation of the endometrial stroma is critical to create a specialised environment for embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion; however, the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We have established that activin A is an important regulator of decidualisation of endometrial stromal cells in vitro. Here we describe studies that verify the physiological significance of these findings. We demonstrate that high concentrations of activin A are produced by decidualising cells in excess of the antagonists, inhibin and follistatin, thus confirming its bioavailability within the decidual environment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that all components of the activin signalling pathway (activin receptors and Smads) are expressed in decidualised cells, and identify a downstream mechanism for activin in the endometrium, through the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This new knowledge is important for understanding the roles for activins and inhibins in regulating fertility.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00581.x
10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00581.x
Jones, R. L., Findlay, J. K., & Salamonsen, L. A. (2006). The role of activins during decidualisation of human endometrium. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 46(3), 245-249. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00581.x
Jones, Rebecca L. ; Findlay, Jock K. ; Salamonsen, Lois A. / The role of activins during decidualisation of human endometrium. In: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2006 ; Vol. 46, No. 3. pp. 245-249.
@article{850289738b0c48bda7f82cbf2762115c,
title = "The role of activins during decidualisation of human endometrium",
abstract = "Decidualisation of the endometrial stroma is critical to create a specialised environment for embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion; however, the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We have established that activin A is an important regulator of decidualisation of endometrial stromal cells in vitro. Here we describe studies that verify the physiological significance of these findings. We demonstrate that high concentrations of activin A are produced by decidualising cells in excess of the antagonists, inhibin and follistatin, thus confirming its bioavailability within the decidual environment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that all components of the activin signalling pathway (activin receptors and Smads) are expressed in decidualised cells, and identify a downstream mechanism for activin in the endometrium, through the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This new knowledge is important for understanding the roles for activins and inhibins in regulating fertility.",
author = "Jones, {Rebecca L.} and Findlay, {Jock K.} and Salamonsen, {Lois A.}",
doi = "10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00581.x",
journal = "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology",
Jones, RL, Findlay, JK & Salamonsen, LA 2006, 'The role of activins during decidualisation of human endometrium', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 245-249. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00581.x
The role of activins during decidualisation of human endometrium. / Jones, Rebecca L.; Findlay, Jock K.; Salamonsen, Lois A.
In: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vol. 46, No. 3, 06.2006, p. 245-249.
T1 - The role of activins during decidualisation of human endometrium
AU - Jones, Rebecca L.
AU - Findlay, Jock K.
AU - Salamonsen, Lois A.
N2 - Decidualisation of the endometrial stroma is critical to create a specialised environment for embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion; however, the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We have established that activin A is an important regulator of decidualisation of endometrial stromal cells in vitro. Here we describe studies that verify the physiological significance of these findings. We demonstrate that high concentrations of activin A are produced by decidualising cells in excess of the antagonists, inhibin and follistatin, thus confirming its bioavailability within the decidual environment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that all components of the activin signalling pathway (activin receptors and Smads) are expressed in decidualised cells, and identify a downstream mechanism for activin in the endometrium, through the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This new knowledge is important for understanding the roles for activins and inhibins in regulating fertility.
AB - Decidualisation of the endometrial stroma is critical to create a specialised environment for embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion; however, the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We have established that activin A is an important regulator of decidualisation of endometrial stromal cells in vitro. Here we describe studies that verify the physiological significance of these findings. We demonstrate that high concentrations of activin A are produced by decidualising cells in excess of the antagonists, inhibin and follistatin, thus confirming its bioavailability within the decidual environment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that all components of the activin signalling pathway (activin receptors and Smads) are expressed in decidualised cells, and identify a downstream mechanism for activin in the endometrium, through the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This new knowledge is important for understanding the roles for activins and inhibins in regulating fertility.
U2 - 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00581.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00581.x
JO - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
JF - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Jones RL, Findlay JK, Salamonsen LA. The role of activins during decidualisation of human endometrium. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2006 Jun;46(3):245-249. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00581.x


text:
Q: How to deploy .net Blazor Web Assembly Project in iis I am trying to deploy .Net 6.0 Blazor Web Assembly project in iis.I have installed below dependency in iis server.But its not working.Please check below screenshot and advise how to do this.
dependency software installed in iis server :-
1.Microsoft .Net 6.0.6 Windows Server Hosting
2.Microsoft .Net SDK 6.0.301 (X86)
Screenshot :-

A: By the way, after the program is deployed, are you having problems accessing it in IIS?
From the screenshot you provided, all we can see is that there is something wrong with your domain configuration. You can check the IP settings in DNS. In addition, you also need to bind the domain name in IIS.
Related Doc:
Up and running with Azure VM and GoDaddy domain

A: Did you purchase their VPS or shared hosting? From above error message, it is DNS issue, have you contacted their support team? Godaddy is using Plesk as control panel, you might try to read this tutorial about deploying your .net core files, https://windowswebhostingreview.com/how-to-publish-asp-net-5-on-asphostportal-hosting/.


Be the first to hear about their new releases and deals. Download the Booksprout app and search for Tamar Soan today!
She must have been someone pretty awesome in a previous life (past life regression indicated a Care Bear), because she gets to do both. Beginning her career as a youth worker, then a secondary school teacher, before becoming a school psychologist, Tamar helps children and teens to live and thrive despite life's hurdles like loss, relationship difficulties, mental health issues, and trauma.
The driving force for all of Tamar's writing is sharing and connecting. In truth, connecting with others is why she writes. She loves to hear from readers and fellow writers. Find her on all the usual social media channels or her website.


text:
Q: No se añade un nuevo objeto a un array en Javascript En este algoritmo la idea sería usarlo para añadir un nuevo objeto a un array pero en este caso no lo hace y no entiendo por qué... ¿quizás esté mal planteada la función?
class Persona {
  constructor(idUsuario, nombre, apellido, edad, DNI) {
      this.idUsuario = idUsuario;
      this.nombre = nombre.toUpperCase();
      this.apellido = apellido.toUpperCase();
      this.edad = edad;
      this.DNI = DNI;
  }

  nombreCompleto() {
      this.nombre = this.nombre + " " + this.apellido;
  }
}

function agregarPersona() {
  cantUsuarios++; //Sumo 1 a la variable que cuenta la cant de usuarios ingresados.
  arrayUsuarios = []
  arrayUsuarios.push( //pusheo un nuevo objeto "Persona" para ser agregado a arrayUsuarios
      new Persona(
          cantUsuarios, //defino al idUsuario (primer dato de la clase) utilizando la cantidad de usuarios, si este es el primero su id será 1.
          prompt("Ingrese Su Nombre: "), //pido dato "nombre"
          prompt("Ingrese su Apellido: "), //pido dato "apellido"
          prompt("Ingrese su Edad, debe ser sólo el número: "), //pido dato "edad"
          prompt("Ingrese su DNI, debe ser sólo el número: ") //pido dato "DNI"
      )
  )

  console.log("Usuario Ingresado: " + arrayUsuarios.find(usuario => usuario.idUsuario === cantUsuarios)); //Acá está el problema! El log me muestra [object Object] en vez de lo que pido
}

A: Respuesta
Es porque estás intentando meter en un string un objeto al concatenarlo, es por ello que en estás situaciones Javascript te inserta [object Object] dentro del string que se ha dado como resultado.
Si pruebas a ejecutar:
console.log(arrayUsuarios.find(usuario => usuario.idUsuario === cantUsuarios));

Verás que ahora si te carga el objeto en la consola.
Tips adicionales
Si necesitas convertir un objeto a string tienes a tu disposición la librería JSON de forma nativa, así que tan solo tienes que ejecutar lo siguiente:
JSON.stringify(object);

Esto retorna un string que contiene dentro toda la información del objeto, puedes ver el resultado ejecutando:
console.log(JSON.stringify(object));


What does a forensic accountant do in divorce proceedings? | Alexander & Co.
Home » News » What does a forensic accountant do in divorce proceedings?
What does a forensic accountant do in divorce proceedings?
February 9, 2018 | Posted by Alexander & Co.
Divorce can be an emotionally exhausting experience to go through, and as such, it's important that the process is carried out as smoothly as possible. A divorce accountant financial expert can help to reveal essential information that can support your case and facilitate the divorce proceedings.
Read on to learn more about the use of a forensic accountant in divorce and how Alexander's team of experienced accountants can help you during the separation process.
The main role of a forensic accountant is to investigate financial discrepancies and inaccuracies, and scrupulously review both personal and business finances. These skills can come in handy in divorce proceedings as they can be used to reveal hidden financial assets and income early on.
Finances can cause significant complications during the divorce process, as both parties may not necessarily agree on how to divide money and assets. If you and your spouse have a complicated portfolio of financial assets, a seemingly simple separation can quickly become lengthy and taxing. However, with the help of a forensic accountant, you will benefit from added insight from a professional, and you could gain valuable information which could help you to uncover any hidden finances and reach a better settlement.
There are a number of reasons why you may choose to enlist the help of a forensic accountant, however, what does a forensic accountant actually do in divorce proceedings?
If you suspect your spouse is guilty of hiding assets, income or even property, a forensic accountant can help you to determine whether your suspicions are correct.
Accountants can look at the other party's bank accounts and payments to find clues to suggest that there are assets or finances that have not yet been revealed during the divorce process.
A forensic accountant can also perform a business valuation to help to determine a spouse's true income. They can analyse in detail the business assets and financial information that may typically be overlooked, to give a more accurate picture of the other party's finances and income.
Lawyers have a range of tools that can help them to gather information to support your case, including subpoenas, depositions and discovery requests. However, your financial accountant can take an in-depth look at areas that your lawyer cannot, thus providing invaluable information that can help to facilitate the divorce process.
Divorce can quickly become a lengthy and confusing process where there are complicated assets and finances involved. Enlisting the assistance of Alexander's team of forensic accountants and financial experts can help to make your separation as smooth as possible. Get in touch with a member of our team today for more information about our forensic accounting services.


text:
Charcoal toothpastes are 'dangerous,' don't whiten and may cause decay
By Nicole Lyn Pesce
Published: May 10, 2019 5:19 p.m. ET
A British Dental Journal review calls charcoal-based toothpastes a 'marketing gimmick' — and many dentists agree
efired/iStock
Charcoal toothpastes may do more harm than good.
NicoleLyn Pesce
It's time to give charcoal toothpastes the brushoff, according to a new research paper that slams the supposed tooth-whitening products as a "marketing gimmick" that can actually do more harm than good.
The new review published in the British Dental Journal examined 50 charcoal toothpastes to determine whether they lived up to their claims to whiten, strengthen and detoxify teeth. The bottom line: Not only is there no scientific evidence to back up these claims, but also the abrasive quality of charcoal may actually cause tooth decay. Patients with periodontal disease may accumulate charcoal deposits in "pockets" between the teeth and gums, as well, which could discolor them worse than they were before.
This is backed by a 2017 Journal of the American Dental Association study, which analyzed more than 100 articles on charcoal and charcoal-based toothpastes and powders, and found "insufficient clinical and laboratory data" to support their safety or effectiveness, and warned dentists and patients to "be cautious" in using them.
"Not only is it not beneficial, but it's potentially dangerous," American Dental Association spokesman Dr. Matt Messina told MarketWatch. "This is where I have to speak out, and where the [dental] profession has to speak out."
Related: The dark side of teeth-whitening strips
While 96% of the charcoal toothpastes in the U.K. report claimed to have teeth whitening properties, the review noted that bleaching agents are needed for whitening and stain-removing effects — which these charcoal pastes and powders did not have.
"The overall whitening capability definitely has not be proven," agreed Dr. Bobbi Peterson, an orthodontist in Brooklyn, whose patients ask about the trendy toothpaste a lot. In fact, more than a third (35%) of oral care product users are interested in active charcoal toothpaste for deep cleaning, marketing research firm Mintel told MarketWatch, while 33% are interested in a charcoal toothbrush for antibacterial benefits. And Americans are spending $1.4 billion on over-the-counter whiteners to bleach away the stains from cigarettes, red wine, coffee and natural aging, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
So dental brands like Colgate, Crest and Burt's Bees have responded by selling charcoal "whitening" products averaging around $5 to $20. (The companies did not respond to a MarketWatch request for comment by press time.) And celebrity endorsements are making charcoal toothpastes more appealing. Kendall Jenner has formed a partnership with Moon, an oral-care brand that includes a "whitening toothpaste" with activated charcoal for $8.99, for example. "I love it," she told Allure. Searching #charcoaltoothpaste on Instagram draws more than 36,000 results.
But what's worse than wasting money on a product that probably won't work, however, is that the abrasive nature of charcoal may wear down tooth enamel and actually cause teeth to become more stained, and more vulnerable.
See: This $4 quick fix for bad breath has the internet going berserk — but it may disgust you
Dr. Messina likens it to lightening a hardwood floor: You sand the surface down to the brighter under-layer, but you can only keep doing that until you run out of wood. "Initially, charcoal toothpaste may make teeth look a little whiter because they are abrading the surface enamel of the tooth. But the enamel is only a millimeter-and-a-half thick in certain spots, and your body doesn't make any more of it. So when it's gone, it's gone," he said. "And the inner layer of the tooth, the dentin layer, is yellow. So rather than whitening your teeth, you could make the color go the other way."
Plus, "your teeth become more sensitive and more prone to decay and cavities, because you've lost that hard, outer protective layer on the teeth," he added.
Dr. Kelly Giannetti, an orthodontist in Sacramento, agreed. "Charcoal is very abrasive, and warnings include increased caries [aka cavities] and enamel abrasion, which means the charcoal actually removes enamel from the teeth which will never 'grow' or regenerate back," she said.
Also, only 8% of the charcoal toothpastes in the British review contained fluoride, a natural element proven to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities and decay. Indeed, all toothpastes with the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance must contain fluoride. And even those charcoal toothpastes that did contain fluoride could have eliminated the element's protection, because charcoal can deactivate fluoride, the researchers wrote.
"Charcoal when activated (in higher temperatures, such as body temperature ie the mouth) has an absorptive characteristic. This is good for patients with halitosis (bad breath). It will possibly absorb the bacteria that causes it," Dr. Peterson said. "(But) this is not so good when it's combined with agents that help remove plaque or agents that help the enamel resists decay (i.e. fluoride). Charcoal absorbs these agents."
The American Dental Association recommends speaking with your dentist about your teeth whitening options, which can depend upon the severity of your stains as well as any underlying health issues that could be discoloring your teeth. Or select a whitening toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which verifies that the toothpaste is safe and lives up to its claims.
But consumers should be wary of teeth-whitening strips, which come with their own risks of burning the gums or damaging that inner dentin layer of your teeth.


Creative Event Design & Production in Dallas and Houston, Texas.
Fresh Wata is a cutting-edge event design and production company. We blend creative displays, custom fabrication, and technology to create dynamic environments that tell the story of your brand.


text: Q: Why is there no underline feature? There is bold, there is italic, but what about underlining? Or strikethrough even? Coming from Microsoft Office or other areas of the Internet, not having a way to underline something or strikethrough irrelevant stuff seems weird to me, so where did the choice to not include it come from?


Be.So.Different - Ladies fashion in Rotterdam.
In this cozy store you can find not only ladies' fashion, but also accessories, purses, shoes, and a number of items for home improvement. You won't find the calibrated brands sold everywhere, but rather a unique collection of remarkable brands. They obtain the latest fashion from Italy and Paris monthly in order to be as up to date as possible. The age category that feels at home here varies from 20+ to 60+, so it's truly a mother-daughter concept. The purses and clutches are bought in Paris and are very unique yet affordable.
Besides the varied collection, this store has also had a web shop since September 2013, where a big part of the collection can be found.
A store with a warm atmosphere which invites browsing. Besides the luxury and stylish appeal, most items are very affordable. The street where the store is located is full of atmosphere as well, containing many distinguishing stores and restaurants/cafes.
Ydence, Cristina Gavioli, Mavi Jeans, Lieblingsstück, and Coster Copenhagen.


Land for sale in Quebec - build your dream ski chalets cottages and cabins . Design as you wish - many popular designs Mountain modern, Country, Country Living & French Country. The above Mont Tremblant ski cottage was built on land for sale in Quebec - a virgin offering by Construction Mont Tremblant - one of the region's well know developers.


text:
Odessa, Texas Colleges and Universities
Posted Jun 24th, 2014
The city of Odessa is located almost entirely in the county of Ector, Texas, although a small corner of the city runs into the county of Midland. With a population of roughly 100,000, Odessa is one of Texas's mid-size cities, although it is situated within the Midland-Odessa metro area which is home to over 265,000 residents.
Like other cities in Texas, Odessa is an oil town. In fact, the city's economy is driven by the production and refinement of oil. Currently, the city is taking steps to ensure that once oil drys up the city's economy doesn't. Odessa is also a popular tourist destination and many hotels are being developed throughout the city. Many other companies, including Family Dollar Corporation and Coca Cola, are continuing to invest in the local economy through the development of new retails locations and distribution centers.
Odessa is home to three colleges and universities, which include the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (a four-year institution), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and Odessa College (a two-year community college).
University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) is the only true four-year university located in Odessa. (Midland College, another four-year college, is located just next door in the city of Midland.) UTPB was originally a graduate school, offering only junior and senior level college courses. In the early 1990s the university began freshman and sophmore curriculum and became a comprehensive four-year university. UTPB is made up of three academic schools and colleges, which include the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, and School of Business (an AACSB accredited school). Through its three schools and colleges UTPB offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
Odessa College is a public, two-year community college that was founded in 1952 to offers advanced career training and higher education programs for residents of Permian Basin and Ector County. With an annual enrollment of just over 5,000, Odessa College is the largest higher education institution in the city of odessa. When including students taking non-degree courses, Odessa College has a total annual enrollment of nearly 11,000. In addition to a comprehensive selection of two-year associate degrees and certificate programs, Odessa also offers adult, continuing and basic education courses.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a division of Texas Tech University. It was founded in 1979 as part of the Medical Center Hospital. Today the center primarily offers graduate degrees in physical therapy and career-oriented nursing programs, with specialities in primary care and rural health nursing. Through its satellite campus at Midland College, Texas Tech offers physician assisting programs. In addition to higher education, Texas Tech University Health Science Center operates several health clinics throughout the region.
Right next door, in neighboring Midland, resides Midland College, a four-year college that offers a large selection of two-year associate degrees, professional certificates and four-year bachelor's degrees. Midland has over 7,400 students and several hundred staff and faculty. The college is located in the Permian Basin in West Texas. In total, Midland offers degree and certificate programs in over 100 fields of study. It also offers continuing education courses for working professionals.
Below is a comprehensive list of the 4-year and above accredited colleges and universities located in Odessa and Midland Texas.
Midland College
3600 N Garfield
Midland College is a pulic, 4-year colleges that offers accredited associate, bachelor and certificate programs in various disciplines including Biology, Accounting, Business Administration (several specializations), Real Estate, Journalism, Computer and Information Sciences (3 specializations), Networking, Carpentry, Education, Engineering Technology (9 specializations), English, Foreign Languages (4 programs), Health Services (14 programs), History, Homeland Security and Law Enforcement (6 programs), Social Work, Legal Assisting, Liberal Arts, Math, Mechanics, Cosmetology, Physical Sciences, (3 programs), Production Trades, Social Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts (5 programs), and Work and Family Studies.
Odessa, TX 79762-0001
admission phone: (866) 552-8872
admission fax: (432) 552-3605
University of Texas of the Permian Basin reports a total enrollment of 3,400+ students and offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees and degree completion programs.