Internal Use: In the event that you have made the personal decision to ingest essential oils, it's important to use 100% pure oils. So yes, you can ingest some Jade Bloom Oils, but as they are 100% pure, they are extremely potent.
It's also important to adhere to proper dilution practices. This means putting no more than 3 drops at a time into at least 6 drops of a carrier oil that is safe for ingestion such as 100% pure Unrefined Coconut oil, or Black Cumin Seed.
You won't find a higher quality blend of 100% Pure Digest Essential oils anywhere.
I wont be without this oil, among many others, but I have severe bowel trouble and its gotten very bad over the last year. This oil has helped me sooo much! Thank you!
I have been having digestive issues for years, this has been tremendous help. Thank you so much.
I use this on myself and my son for upset stomach, nausea, or being "backed up". Usually with 20 minutes we are seeing major results. My house cannot survive without this awesome oil!
I have been so pleasantly surprised by this oil blend! It has done such a great job with my acid reflux!!
I dilute this and run it on my stomach when I have stomach issues. I love it. Works wonders. It's a must have.
Since the first time I tried this oil I've loved it! It took away my stomach ache so fast! I am very impressed with this oil!
I've suffered for years with daily heartburn and GERD. I take meds for that, but I still had issues. Now after eating, I use a couple of drops with some carrier oil on my tummy, and I get relief! Since using this, I've been able to cut down heartburn meds to once nightly, and haven't had GERD symptoms. I won't be without this one!
I bought Digest not knowing exactly what it was or how to use it. I have been staring at it ever since it came in, putting off trying it because I didn't want to be disappointed. As someone with chronic acid reflux and who has recently had their gallbladder removed, tummy issues are a common thing for me. Today, however, after several cups of much-needed coffee, my acid reflux came out in full force. After looking at other reviews, I decided to just go ahead and try it. Seriously, this was only about 10 minutes ago and any trace of acid reflux is gone! I still taste the fennel but, I don't mind that. My only regret is that I haven't tried this sooner. It will be my go-to for all of my stomach discomforts.
This is a staple in our house.
Some nights my husband tends to just go to bed uncomfortable from digestive issues. After I got digest, I diffused it one night and didn't tell him, but in fairness he didn't share that he wasn't feeling well. It was a game changer. I could see a difference in my husband's sleep. So now I have another tool to assist with his health when my husband prefers to be "just fine."
I have terrible gastrointestinal reflux disease. I was so tired of taking daily antacids as they are horrible for your health. I take Digest twice a day in my tea and have rarely had to return to my antacids. I only take a pill now maybe once a week if that. Love this product!
Sometimes I doubt when I read what an oil can do. "Like can it really do that?" I may ask myself sometimes. However, it Really does help. I tried Digest on my abdomen when I was in pain at one time, and it really helped the pain to go away.
This has been a great help to relive stomach pain.
This has become my go-to blend for tummy troubles. I rub a few drops mixed with a few drops of carrier oil all over my tummy and wait a few minutes.
I really depend on this oil to relieve stomach issues that sometimes happen. It works very well and fast!
I have been using this in a roller ball on my stomach and it seems to be easing the discomfort I have been having. It also seems to help with nausea.
Another must have oil for the medicine cabinet - it works!
Digest does what is says it does. I was amazed recently when I had an upset stomach and it was back to normal within 10 minutes of rolling some on my abdomen. I don't recommend ingesting oils on a regular basis, but I did add a drop of this to some carbonated water one day. I had no other "safe" undiluted oil to use where I was at and don't like it without flavor. It was rather tasty using just a drop!
My son deals with nausea because it is side effect of a medication he has to take. Digest relieves the nausea immediately. It smells so much better than ginger. It's a great blend.
This is a great product. Recommend to anyone with digestion problems!
Years ago from my last child, her gift to me was a hiatal hernia. She is soon to be 21, I'm pleased to say it has not bothered me for this long, but from time to time..it flares up. I was actually sort of happy it was bothering me for my bottle of Digest just recently arrived. I decided to try to quick relief, under the tongue..not going to lie and say it was a pleasant taste, but come on neither is some medication...BUT it absolutely calmed my stomach done....Great oil...give it a try!
I had heart burn and my stomach hurt. After being very uncomfortable for an hour or more I decided to try my new Digest oil. I put a drop under my tongue and about 15 minutes later my heartburn was gone. So I rubbed a few drops on my stomach and within 30 minutes all discomfort was gone. I was thrilled to know it really works!!
I haven't really used it yet! But it was a Freebie so I decided to add to my order, just in case!
I really like this oil. It simmers down any stomach or heartburn issues. My friend has heartburn a lot and he is using this and really is impressed. PLUS It has a flavor of black licorice.
I have been putting one drop under my tongue twice a day for the last three days. Digestion problems are starting to improve.
I had this oil from another company and I love this one even more because of the licorice smell. I put in on my stomach and my chest when I am flaring with my ibs and it definitely works!
one of the main oils in this blend is fennel and it smells like it! If you don't like the smell of black licorice then you might be deterred from this oil as I was.
I am very excited to have this oil on hand, since I have acid reflux frequently, and Tums doesn't help! I love the list of oils in this blend, and I think it smells delicious! I will be using it daily!!!
This is my top blend I reach for when I am having intestinal issues. Works fast for immediate relief!
Highly recommended this be in any medicine cabinet.
I use this frequent for my husband's tummy trouble and occasional for me too. Works within 20 mins or less. It won't always take all of your digestion or tummy aches away but it lessens the pain and makes it more bearable till it passes. Love it!
I use this when I have eaten something that I shouldn't have and start to bloat-- helps relieve bloating and pain. I just rub it on my tummy.
This is one of those oils that every household should keep on hand. Great for digestive issues from nausea and bloating to acid reflux.
I haven't personally used this oil. However, my 9 year old daughter had a terribke belly ache the other night. I was super excited to try this oil. I out it on her abdomen and within 10 minutes she was feeling better. I have a lot of stomach trouble and have been excited to try this one. I haven't had any stomach issues since I bought this so I can't say for myself how it worked. Still giving it a 5 because it saved my daughter's. We all hate it when our kids feel bad! DIGEST to the rescue!
I had a stomach ache coming on before bed. I rubbed a few drops on my stomach and within a few minutes the ache was gone. Very impressed.
I experience nausea fairly often after cancer treatment. I rub this on my stomach and it generally goes away within about 10 minutes.
Product does what it says. I have taken in a gel cap with a carrier oil or rubbed it on my stomach. works great either way.
This blend is wonderful. It definitely does what it says. I have issues at times with digestion, and certain foods can make me feel icky. This relieves that feeling and other stomach issues as well. It is pretty potent, just so you know if you want to add it to your water. ;) I recommend it though, for sure!
I had horrible heartburn last night and such an upset stomach so I decided to try the fast acting method. it isn't the best flavor, but my heartburn was gone completely and I was asleep in under 15 minutes so it is well worth it!!
My daughter and I both have stomach issues and this is one of our go to oils, if your feeling nauseous or your stomach hurts from overeating or just indigestion this oil helps! Highly recommend!
I use to have stomach aches for hours after I ate dinner. Now I rub a little of digest on my stomach and all is well in about 5 minutes. Love you smell of it also!
WORKS GREAT FOR THE LITTLES WHEN THEY HAVE A TUMMY ACHE!!
Where to begin with this review?! Before Digest, I had severe stomach pains, IBS, and ulcer-like symptoms. After adding Digest to my daily essential oil regimen, my pains are near-nominal, my IBS has all but stopped, and I can calm my digestive system with a couple of drops in water and a long inhale of Digest's scent. It definitely works wonders!
This oil is very helpful for GI upset issues. You can really tell a difference after rubbing it onto your belly.
This oil blend is amazing! It helps all kinds of tummy troubles! Relieves my heartburn, nausea and even gas and bloating! I love the smell ! I try not to use pharmaceuticals unless absolutely necessary, and this oil has been great!
I love this blend . It works really well for me. If I have an upset tummy or even heartburn, I put a little on my stomach and rub it in and in about 20 minutes I'm all better! Love Jade Bloom !
No more acid indigestion tablets with the chalky taste.
After rubbing this on.my stomach within 2 hrs no more acid indigestion. I was very surprised. A must have for anyone who loves bbq and spicy food or digestive problems.
My kids love this product. At the first sign of an upset stomach they are rubbing it on their stomachs.
I have some pretty severe gut issues that I have been dealing with for 15 years now. I have been precancerous for 5 in my stomach. I have the worst reflux but digest helps relive me from the burning pain. I carry it in my purse so it's with me whenever I need it. It tastes great too!
I have immediate relief with this product! I will not use a prescription for acid reflux, so this is my go to. Digest calms the acid, helps in increasing digestion and I LOVE the taste!! Have also used at the end of cooking an Chinese Soup recipe for all the added flavors!!! Will always have this oil on hand!
This blend is awesome!! It works great for so many complaints, even pms&growing pains..
My husband rubs 3-4 drops of this and 3-4 drops of turmeric on his stomach every night and it has really decreased his nightly stomach pains!
I got this because I have a lot of digestive issues including IBS-D. It has helped alleviate that and other issues I have very well. It is great to add to bottled water on the go to keep from getting an upset stomach!
This oil is great for whatever ails your tummy!!
I was truly amazed at how well this oil works for any of my stomach ailments! I tried putting it in my water, and did not enjoy the taste at all! That being said, I found that just rubbing the oil onto my stomach relieves the upset literally within one minute! Whether I'm feeling discomfort higher up in my stomach, or lower in my intestines, I just rub the oil in that spot, and then feel great! I even used it on my husband, who was a great skeptic, and he said it worked great! I will always have a supply of this on hand!
This actually made me neasus upon using but the customer service to refund me was great.
Although the Anise is not my favorite scent or flavor, I have been putting this in the capsules and it has helped with heartburn and gas!!
I love this blend. I use it in a roller bottle with FCO. If I have a stomach ache I just roll it on my abdomen and it eases up within 15 minutes.
Used this when my son had the flu and couldn't hold anything down. It definitely helped but he struggled with the smell, which I am not a fan of wither, but it does help!
A little on your tummy for a belly ache and it goes away!
This Digest blend really works to calm an upset stomach. I was worried that I wouldn't like the aroma of this essential oil blend, but I like it. I am not partial to the fennel (licorice note), and even if this to me has a strong fennel note, I don't mind it all. I love that this can be used topically on abdomen and internally as well. Great quality essential oil blend.
I love to use Digest oil, though I prefer it with just a little more peppermint and anise so I ad them myself. It works amazingly well though! and even works for colic by rubbing just a drop on the bottoms of feet.
Had stomach pains & decided to try my oil out.
I bought this because people gave this rave reviews for getting rid of heartburn. It did get rid of the heartburn about 90% of the time. The taste is wonderful, kind of tastes like licorice. I would have given it 5 stars had it worked every time.
I Love this blend! I was concerned about the Anise taste, but it is very manageable. It works very well mixed with water. I also put some in my belly button!
It does help... I don't ingest but I rub it on my stomach.
Very happy with Jade Bloom oils, but I don't think this one is for me. I do have acid reflux and thought this would help some. However it was hard to stomach and seemed to make it worse. It did help with an upset tummy after rubbing on the abdomen.
So I can't review this blend on effectiveness because I haven't had a chance to use it but of course, as soon as it came, I gave it a smell and it smells so good! I hope I don't have any tummy distress but if I do, I'll be happy to use this oil and I'm pretty confident that it will do what it's supposed to do~!
Great scent. Works well for me. Yay!
I had just received my most recent order of Digest before my in-laws arrived to town for a visit. They brought a tummy bug with them! Over the course of their visit, we had 6 people come down with the bug! Digest was very helpful during this week! I will use it again.
I notice that it helps with stomach discomfort due to Ibs. It works pretty fast. I'm pleased with this product and will order it again.
i jus purchased Digest the week before.
I am so glad i did. Worked as fast as lightning.
Rubbed it on my stomach before i Got to work and all my stomach nausea was gone.
Has really helped my stomach issues.
I havent had this product long, (first time buyer) so i have only been able to test it on indigestion, nausia, heartburn. For these things it works great!
I have tried the few drops in my beverage daily for about two weeks. My indigestion and heartburn has greatly improved. The antacids were rarely used in the last 10 days.
The only complaint is the taste, I am not a fan of the anise taste. I will have to try the tummy rub option to see if it will help as much for my issues.
I have recommended Digest to several friends that have similar issues.
This is one of my favorite blends from Jade Bloom. I use it diluted in a roller bottle and roll it onto my stomach whenever I feel uncomfortable and it WORKS! I don't leave the house without it!!
If there is one oil I need to have is this one. So good! My stomach issues and nausea go away right away when I use it. My husband, who is picky about what he uses for his stomach, love this and swears by it. Thank you!
I keep a bottle of water in the bathroom with about a tablespoon of baking soda in it for nighttime flare ups of acid reflux. It works great. I've just added a few drops of Digest to the mix to add to it's effectiveness.
I have had stomach issues for years. When I feel bloated and have some pain from gas I just rub this on my stomach. Haven't tried under the tongue yet.
I love this blend. Whenever my stomach is upset I will put a drop in my water, or rub it on my stomach area. It has a pleasant smell and flavor.
Digest works for any GI issues. It works faster and better than any over the counter medications. I just apply it to the abdomen for fast relief of upset stomach, GERD, or any other tummy issues. Amazing! Jadebloom oils are superior quality at a fraction of the cost of MLM companies.
I carry this bottle in my purse. Very aromatic.
It's great for relieving upset stomachaches. Just one drop needed mixed in a cup of tea works wonders for indigestion. For quicker relief I place a tiny drop under my tongue.
Thrilled to find a natural remedy for an upset stomach & heartburn.
I'm apprehensive about digestive blends only because I loathe the smell of ginger (though I admit that ginger is effective for digestive issues). I like this blend because the ginger is masked by the fennel and the other oils. Digest has worked wonders for my husband's indigestion, bloating, and belly aches. I would purchase it again, for sure.
I got this for my husband who has bad acid reflux and took Prilosec/Nexium FOR YEARS. It helps him tremendously and even has encouraged him to search out alternative/additional help (in this case, Stash Licorice Tea). The acid reflux has improved tremendously and even he (who is a "doubter extraordinaire") has mentioned how he has been feeling much better and even takes less TUMS than before! And he has not taken any PPI for months!
A couple drops ingested in a capsule knocks out so many different tummy symptoms for and my family. The instant relief provided offsets the occasional fennel burp (which I personally don't mind.) I haven't found anything tummy/digestive that it doesn't improve (yet.) And I've never tried another oil brand, so no comparisons. I used to use culling/curing pills but find Digest superior.
Since I was diagnosed with IBS I would just suffer thru the pain in my stomach till it passed because I don't use the ugly meds the doc gave me. I don't have to do that anymore. I have been using Digest along with a carrier oil on my stomach when I have an attach and the pain goes away. I also have noticed that the attacks are getting more spread apart, hallelujah!!! Thank you JB for being my IBS rescue.
I had extremely bad heartburn last night and thankfully remembered I had bought this oil "just in case". I started to get relief in 15 minutes with complete relief in about 30 minutes and all I did was run it into my abdomen! I'm not a fan of the smell, it's like black licorice, so I'm not sure I can ingest it but don't mind it on my skin. Very glad I bought this one!
I have used this for heartburn, indigestion, nausea - any type of stomach ailment. I usually rub it on my stomach neat and feel better within minutes. I finally convinced my boyfriend who has many GI issues to try it (and he HATES when I try to suggest all of my EO solutions) but he was happily surprised at how fast it kicked in and how much better he felt. I need to order more now that both of us use this pretty often! Way better than OTC products like TUMS, Pepto, Immodium, etc.
My husband had heartburn and rubbed two drops of this on his abdomen. We were expecting him to have to take it internally, but we're curious how well it would work externally. Within moments he could taste it in his mouth, and within a few minutes was experiencing noticeable relief. Great stuff!
I love how quickly this helps with indigestions and tummy aches. I just got my bottle a couple of weeks ago and I will forever keep this on hand, especially while I have little kids at home!
I borrowed some of this from a friend for indigestion. It worked within minutes to ease my stomach upset. I will be buying this in the near future.
With all the stomach viruses that come with winter Digest is a must have to relieve nausea and upset stomach.
I had been using Digestzen which costs a lot more and when the bottle ran out I immediately ordered Jade Bloom's Digest. Digest is just as good as the more expensive oil offered by DoTerra. Thanks Jade Bloom for quality oils at affordable prices. Trim & Digest are 2 blends I will never be without!
A friend of mine was a faithful user of a similar blend from another company, but she was out of it. I let her try Digest from Jade and she is hooked !
A few weeks ago, a friend was staying at our house and offered me some of her DigestZen oil for my belly. It worked well and I liked it... since I've been buying all my oils from Jade Bloom, I decided to test out their Digest Blend against doTERRA. Received it today, and it's pretty comparable! The scent is a little less POW! than doTERRA's, and I'm not complaining about that, since I drink it. ;) Seems to calm my gut just as well too! Let's also mention that it's also almost 2/3 of the cost cheaper.
While on a juice fast, I dilute and rub on stomach, makes the first few days even more bearable (Detoxing and all). Love it, so does my husband!!!
I used this when my son had a stomach ache. He had relief within 10 minutes. I am a believer now!
Actually found out about these oils on a Facebook add. Researched them,and ordered a few different ones. First they come really fast,shipping was free, has really helped my digestive issues. I had an issue with one of the oils leaking when it came. I contacted customer service, they responded quickly, and sent me another bottle immediately. Hope their company continues to grow. You won't be disappointed if you try these oils.
I used a popular MLM company for essential oils but oils were really expensive and it took FOREVER to get the oils. Jade Bloom is incredible. Digest is just like the complement oil blend from that company. Smells better and works just as good. Plus it's cheaper and got it super quick.
Very happy with this blend. Like many, I was worried that the price of the oils was a direct reflection of their quality and efficacy. Thankfully I WAS WRONG! This blend worked the same as the much more expensive (almost 3x more!) blend I was HAD been using.
This is such a great price. I bought this because my husband and daughter both have lots of tummy issues. I'm excited to see how well it helps them.


An innovative system by academics from the Maritime Academy in Szczecin will be on board all Polferries ferries.
Navdec is the world's first navigation system to prevent marine traffic collisions. The tool collects all data specifying the current situation of the ship, and in the event of collision threat proposes a safe course.


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10 Most Popular Pet Names and What They Mean
Find out which pet names top the nation's hot list
By Steven Bryan Published: Jun 11, 2008
Pet names typically are signs of endearment and affection, no matter if they are given to a human or a furry creature. Bow Wow Meow, a web site that creates identification tags for pets, compiled a list of the 10 most popular pet names in its client database.
10. Kitty The short form for Katherine, Kitty means "pure" in Greek. When talking specifically about cats, kitty comes from the French word "chaton," another form of "chat," which means cat. As pet names go, it's one of the most straightforward.
9. Sam This English name does double duty as the short form for Samantha, which is Aramaic for "listener," or Samuel, a Hebrew term that means "His name is God."
8. Bear This one's pretty obvious, referring to a dog or cat that's large in size, has a grumpy personality, or both. The name is considered American slang for any creature, human or otherwise, that exhibits bear-like tendencies.
7. Maggie A Greek word meaning "pearl," Maggie can be an affectionate pet name for a puppy or kitten. For little girls, it also is the short version of the more formal Margaret.
6. Smokey Another one that is kind of obvious, Smokey would be a good name for a dark gray kitten or a dog that disappears like a wisp of smoke the first time the word "bath" is mentioned.
5. Buddy English for "messenger," it would be great if you could train a dog named Buddy to retrieve the mail and newspaper on a regular basis. In American slang, it also is an affectionate term for a close friend.
4. Tiger An American term for powerful, Tiger would be a great name for a striped kitten or one with a slightly aggressive personality.
3. Jake In Hebrew, Jake means "held by the heel," which is appropriate since you sometimes have to tell your dog to heel.
2. Tigger The creation of author A. A. Milne, Tigger is one of Winnie the Pooh's more unusual friends. In the cartoons, Tigger says that his head is made of rubber and his bottom is made of a spring, making him a bouncy character indeed, just like a kitten.
1. Max In German, Max means "great", which can refer to either a large dog or a favorite pet. For females, it also serves as the short form for Maxine, a Latin name that means "Little Maximus." If you named your dog Maxwell, that name means "Maccus' stream."
8 Best Cat Water Fountains
The 4 Best Cat DNA Tests
12 Meaningful Pet Memorial Gift Ideas
24 Dog Breeds That Can Be Left Alone
20 Interactive Dog Toys for Small and Large Pups
10 Best Pet Advent Calendars of 2022
10 Best Types of Pet Birds
The Top 18 Smartest Dog Breeds in the World
10 Best Places to Adopt a Pet Online
Why Do Cats Knead? Vets Explain 6 Reasons
43 Top Small Dog Breeds You Can Adopt
70 Cute Dog Puns for Dog Lovers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


(ama) -- Diagnosing, treating and managing your patients' conditions requires, among other things, the capacity for independent judgment and effective collaboration with your clinical colleagues.
The private practice setting—that is, a practice wholly-owned by physicians rather than by a hospital, health system or other entity—also rewards those traits and remains a strong option if you are looking to be your own boss and work with like-minded colleagues to serve your community's medical needs.
The AMA supports physicians in pursuing the practice arrangement that best suits them individually as they deliver high-quality care to their patients.
At last count by the AMA's Physician Practice Benchmark Surveys in 2016, 55.8 percent of physicians are working in practices wholly-owned by physicians, a figure that has fallen from 60.1% in 2012.
The career realities among younger physicians tell a different story.
"Ownership ranged from 27.9 percent among physicians under the age of 40 to 54.9 percent among physicians age 55 and older," according to an AMA analysis of the data.
That report was notable also because it marked the first year fewer than half of physicians were practice owners.
Private practice, and the professional autonomy it brings has been the career-long choice for oncologist-hematologist and AMA President Barbara L. McAneny, MD. When she and her partners at the two locations of the New Mexico Cancer Center want to provide new services to patients, they own the process.
Some practices have a one- to two-year partnership pathway.
Once you reach the level of physician partner, you will typically have a "vote on what services you want to offer, new projects, adding more physicians," among other things, Dr. McAneny said.
That ownership vision of medical practice is one that fewer physicians are exposed to, especially those at the start of a medical career.
"They are often told by professors and mentors that independent practice is dead and you shouldn't consider going into that," said Dr. McAneny.
Student-loan debt often enters the picture by making it difficult to finance private practice.
But there are some important financial factors to consider.
Beyond the compensation, physicians see on an annual basis lies the value of the doctor's practice ownership stake.
"When you leave a practice, you have built up equity as an owner and your buyout helps fund your retirement," Dr. McAneny said.
Another is that multiyear employment contracts on offer may not be what they seem.
Assumptions about work-life balance are another potential landmine, with physicians believing that an employer's business sense will surely extend to efficiency and support.
Anticipating, understanding and adapting to payment policies will be fundamental to preserving private practices.
It is a frank, wide-ranging report that lays out strategies for practices sized from solo to large multispecialty groups.
Among the options covered are clinical integration to allow independent practices to legally negotiate collectively, and possible partnerships with hospitals and insurers through accountable care organizations.
Navigating those arrangements entails management focused on solvency, strategy, and growth—and not listening to naysayers.
"If you can add and subtract, you can do business. That's all it is," said Dr. McAneny.


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Herman Keith
Herman A. Keith
Herman A. Keith Jr., is a Painter and Muralist from Anderson, South Carolina. Mr. Keith received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Howard University in Washington D.C. While attending college, Mr. Keith enlisted into the United States Air Force Reserves where he served for eight years.
In 1995, Mr. Keith began working as a graphic artist for the consulting firm of Booz-Allen & Hamilton in Mclean, Virginia. During his contract, he produced classified artwork for various government agencies such as the Department of Defense, National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Security Agency.
In 1998 Mr. Keith received his M.A.T. Art Education from Lander University in Greenwood S.C. His teaching career began in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District. After two years of teaching art Mr. Keith started, owned, and operated Brushworx Painting Company. Brushworx specialized in commercial and residential painting contracts. Over the next twelve years of Brushworx's operations, he continued his career as an art instructor in Calhoun County S.C., Prince George County MD., and Hillsborough County FL.
His desire to fuse art and life lead to the formation of a company for which he named; HAKeith Brushworx. The mission of Brushworx is to "unite art with the community through the creative process," and to also, "create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives."
© 2020	Herman Keith


Experimental Balloon and Airship Association (EBAA) - uniting the LTA builders of this world.
Balloon Building Homepage - detailed information site by Paul Craven.
Balloon-Makers Mailing List - run by Tom Deering.
Balloon Construction Pages - pictorial by builder Paul Craven in Indianola (Iowa), USA. Visit this page before starting your own project.
Balloon Scale Drawing - Tom Deering's site with top-notch Excel spreadsheets.
Balloon Built in 24 Hours - by 60 volunteers at a Carolinas Balloon Association Safety Seminar.
1998 Experimental Balloon and Airship Meet - digital photography and reports by Jon Radowski.
Ballooning into the Sky - John Ninomiya's brilliant site on Cloudhoppers and Cluster Ballooning.
Tiedyed Balloons - common tiedying methods applied to balloons.
Experimental DuoChair Balloon - built by Balloon Repairs of East Texas (USA).
Peter Blaser - a Swiss balloonist who has flown his Boland experimental balloon all over the world.
Publications about LTA Homebuilding - providing valuable information.
Boland Balloon - balloon kits and plans, plus materials.
La Construction Amateur - several articles about balloon homebuilding (in French).
Early Years of Sport Ballooning - fabulous balloon history site with many photos and technical details.
WWW Balloon Pages - the largest collection of ballooning links.
Blastvalve: Ballooning Search Engine - links organized by topic.
Syrinx Balloon - links to news articles and festivals.
Balloon Crewing 101 - introduction to inflating and chasing balloons.
Bart's Special Shapes - a collection of hundreds of special shapes.
Julian Nott - AX-12 and AX-13 altitude.
Super 2 - Coy Foster in an AS-2 superpressure balloon.
Skyquest 7 - Bill Bussey going for AX-6 distance.
Savannah Six - Andy Cayton with Jon Kolba's double-envelope AX-6.
Zebedee List - a list of airships and balloons for sale.
Micki's 'For Sale' Board - free balloon classified ads.
HotAirBallooning.com - excellent balloon resource by Jim Whitesell.
Valhalla Aerostation - LTA memorabilia and books.
Stumpf Balloons - wide variety of balloon accessories.
Balloon Excelsior - balloon pilot school in Oakland, California.
Balloon the Rockies - balloon pilot school in Park City, Utah.
World Balloon - balloon pilot school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Aerostar - in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.
Avian Balloon Corporation - in Spokane, Washington, USA.
Ballonbau Woerner GmbH - in Augsburg, Germany (gas balloons only).
Ballons Chaize - in Annonay, France.
Cameron Balloons Ltd. - in Bristol, UK.
Cameron Balloons US - in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
FireFly Balloons/The Balloon Works - in Statesville, North Carolina, USA.
Head Balloons - in Helen, Georgia, USA.
Kavanagh Balloons - in Sydney, Australia.
Kubicek s.r.o - in the Czech Republic.
Lindstrand Balloons Ltd. in Oswestry, Shropshire, UK.
Lindstrand Balloons USA - in Galena, Illinois, USA.
Rubic Balões - in Brazil.
Schroeder Fireballoons - in Schweich/Trier, Germany.
Sky Balloons Ltd. - in Wrexham, UK (Cameron subsidiary).
Thunder & Colt - in Bristol, UK (Cameron subsidiary).
Ultramagic - in Igualda, Spain.
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text:
China's Communist Party is a threat to the world, says former elite insider
Published 8:07 PM EDT, Sat August 22, 2020
Chinese President Xi Jinping has rapidly consolidated his control of the Communist Party.
Pool/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Hong Kong CNN —
Cai Xia is no stranger to defying expectations. During her years at the Chinese Communist Party's top training center and think tank, the outspoken professor had surprised many with her liberal ideas and support for democratic reform.
More recently, she caused a stir with a spate of scathing denunciations of China's ruling elite and the country's leader Xi Jinping – a rare rebuke from a longtime insider that led to her expulsion from the Party earlier this week.
In an interview with CNN from the United States, where she has lived since last year, Cai went a step further by calling on the US government to double down on its hardline approach towards Beijing. She said she supported the Trump administration's ban on telecommunications giant Huawei, which Washington claims is a national security risk due to its alleged connection to the Chinese government – an allegation Huawei has repeatedly denied.
Cai also called for sanctions on top Chinese officials and appealed to the international community to join hands in stopping the Communist Party from "infiltrating" global institutions and spreading Xi's "totalitarian" ideals.
"The relationship between China and the United States is not a conflict between the two peoples, but a contest and confrontation between two systems and two ideologies," Cai told CNN.
Cai said she had been stranded by the coronavirus pandemic after arriving in the US last year as a tourist. She declined to disclose more details about her current situation or plans for the future, citing fears over her personal safety.
Since coming to power in late 2012, Xi has consolidated his position and authority over the Party, which ranks among the world's largest political organizations with 90 million members. He has unleashed a sweeping crackdown on political dissent, civil society and the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region, and tightened control over Hong Kong, a former British colony that was promised a high degree of autonomy when it was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Now, according to Cai, the Communist Party aims "to replace the free and democratic system of modern mankind represented by the United States, and the values and order of peace, democracy, freedom and justice," with its own model of governance.
Cai's comments come as relations between the US and China deteriorate to their lowest point in decades. The world's two largest economies have sparred in nearly every aspect of their bilateral relationship, including on trade, technology, human rights, and financial flows.
The Trump administration has moved to decouple the two economies, including most recently issuing executive orders that would ban popular Chinese mobile apps from operating in the US. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has portrayed China as an existential threat to the US, giving a speech in July that called for "the free world to triumph over this new tyranny … the old paradigm of blind engagement with China simply won't get it done. We must not continue it."
The Chinese government has repeatedly rejected similar accusations. "We have no intention of becoming another United States. China does not export ideology, and never interferes in other countries' internal affairs," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier this month.
Criticism from overseas is of course easier to deflect than criticism at home. Cai, 67, is one of a small but growing number of prominent insider voices who have spoken out against the Party and its authoritarian turn under Xi. But her decades-long career as a Communist Party scholar and adviser has given her criticism a special weight – and dealt an embarrassing blow to the Party.
On Wednesday, the Global Times, a Chinese government-run tabloid, called Cai's recent public remarks a "blatant betrayal" to China that is "totally indefensible," and accused her of colluding "with external forces to hurt the interests of the motherland."
Students walk towards a statue of the late Chairman Mao Zedong at the Central Party School in Beijing.
LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
The Central Party School, where Cai taught for 14 years before retiring in 2012, announced on Monday that she had been expelled from the Party for "making remarks that have serious political problems and damaged the country's reputation." It also cut off her pension and other retirement benefits.
The announcement offered scant details, but Cai said the school's internal statement listed three things that led to her removal: a short essay she wrote in May that decried Beijing's national security law on Hong Kong as "brutalizing the Hong Kong people," a leaked audio recording in which she labeled the Party a "political zombie" and referred to Xi as acting like a "mafia boss," and an online petition she signed in February calling for freedom of speech following the death of Li Wenliang, the Wuhan doctor who was reprimanded by police for attempting to raise the alarm about the country's coronavirus outbreak. Li later died after catching the virus.
Cai said she shared the essay and speech with friends in private and had not expected her words to make waves online. Both were swiftly censored in China but circulated widely overseas. But now that she no longer belongs to the Party, she said she felt obliged to speak out publicly.
An insider-turned critic
For more than three decades, Cai had closely dissected the Party from within. Throughout her academic career, she examined its internal workings and ideologies. She taught class after class of officials, first at a local Party school in her home province of Jiangsu and later at the Central Party School in Beijing – the elite training ground for China's most senior cadres and political rising stars.
Her research focus later shifted from ideology to democratic political transition, in the hope that the Party could one day begin to reform itself internally by allowing wider intra-party democracy.
But it was from the inside that Cai watched the Communist Party, which is the sole governing party within mainland China, taking a harder stance on internal debates and dissent. Under former President Hu Jintao, Xi's predecessor, dissent was still tolerated – although the space was already shrinking, Cai said. Since Xi came to power, however, intra-party democracy has become nothing but an empty name, she added.
"What he emphasized was the concentration of power and the absolute conformity and loyalty to the Party's central leadership," she said. "He does not allow dissenting voices from within the Party, punishing those who air a different opinion with Party discipline and corruption charges."
Chinese billionaire who criticized Xi Jinping over coronavirus under investigation
Last month, the Party expelled Ren Zhiqiang, an influential real estate tycoon and longtime Party member, for "serious violation" of Party discipline and law, after he penned an essay criticizing Xi's response to the coronavirus epidemic.
In a statement, the Party's disciplinary watchdog accused Ren of not toeing the Party line on "major matters of principle," "smearing the Party and country's image," and being "disloyal and dishonest with the Party." It also accused Ren of corruption and handed him to prosecutors for criminal investigation.
Cai had previously voiced support for Ren when the outspoken tycoon was silenced from Chinese social media in 2016 after he questioned Xi's order that all state-run media must stay loyal to the Party in comments online. This time, she penned an essay in his defense, calling Ren the latest victim of Xi's "ruthless crackdown" on dissent within the Party.
Speaking to CNN, Cai said Xi's "reign of terror" did not come from a position of strength – instead, it exposed his deep sense of insecurity. "He's the one who's the most scared. That's why he launched round after round of purges inside the Party," she said. "The person holding supreme power always feels that others are plotting a power grab."
In the current political climate, few dare to speak up publicly, Cai said. "When reporting information to their superiors, officials often conceal the truth and only report what they would like to hear. The information conveyed upwards is false, and there is no more scientific, democratic, open and transparent decision making," she said. "Under such circumstances, major problems will definitely arise in policy making."
Cai Xia, an insider-turned critic, has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party.
courtesy Cai Xia
Some critics have blamed China's slow initial response to the coronavirus outbreak on its political system and culture of discouraging lower-level officials from reporting unpleasant truths.
In the early days of the outbreak in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, healthcare workers like Doctor Li Wenliang were punished for trying to sound the alarm. Wuhan officials later admitted they had not disclosed information on the coronavirus "in a timely fashion."
But the Chinese government eventually managed to contain the outbreak, after imposing stringent lockdown measures that brought much of the country to a halt. As the virus spread to other parts of the world, however, many governments, including the United States, have floundered in their own attempts to curb its spread. As of Sunday, the coronavirus has infected more than 23 million people and claimed over 800,000 lives worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Cai accused the Chinese government of initially covering up the outbreak and causing the virus to wreak havoc across the globe – a claim which Chinese officials have repeatedly and strenuously denied. Propelled by this view and the US-China trade war, Cai said countries are no longer willing to appease China, as they now have a "clear picture of Xi."
'Returned to the side of the people'
Cai was born into a so-called "red family" – her grandfather joined the Party in the early years of its founding and her parents fought in the Communist revolution that brought the Party to power. She had a strict upbringing, ingrained with her parents' revolutionary belief that the people should be freed and empowered to rule the country.
When Cai was a young teenager, Chairman Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution, unleashing ten years of political and social turmoil. In 1966, Cai traveled to Beijing and joined thousands of student paramilitaries, known as the Red Guards, who gathered fervently in a rally in Tiananmen Square to greet Mao. But she said she also witnessed the terror of the movement, including the brutal beatings of teachers.
Red Guards, high school and university students waving copies of Chairman Mao Zedong's "Little Red Book," parade through the streets of Beijing in June 1966 during the Cultural Revolution.
JEAN VINCENT/AFP/Getty Images
"I saw how miserable people could be without any rule of law, any protection of rights. It scarred me deeply, and since then I've always been on alert that our country cannot return to that era," she said.
"Since Xi came to power, however, his language, ideas and actions are all harking back to the Cultural Revolution – for us who have been through that period, we're very sensitive (to that shift)."
Cai said she believes there is widespread discontent within the Party over Xi's policy directions, especially among the generation of officials who went to college after the Cultural Revolution, rose through the Party ranks during former leader Deng Xiaoping's reform and opening era in the 1980s, and witnessed China's rapid economic and social development in the ensuing decades. But she said there is little chance for any form of opposition to organize under Xi's heavy-handed rule.
Cai holds a grim view for the future. Xi is leading the country away from the path of reform and opening, she said. Without internal reforms, conflicts and tensions will build up and one day erupt all at once, causing the sudden collapse of the Party-state system and plunging the country into chaos, according to Cai.
Xi, for his part, has repeatedly said he is committed to reforming China. "What should be and can be reformed, we will resolutely reform. What should not or cannot be reformed, we will resolutely not reform," he said in a speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of Deng's policy of reform and opening in 2018.
A man stands and watches a large screen during President Xi Jinping's speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of China's policy of reform and opening on December 18, 2018.
Tao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
But according to Cai, the only way to prevent future calamity, is to replace Xi as the top leader, who she accused of "kidnapping" the country.
"China won't be able to head towards democratic politics under Xi," she said. "Only by letting Xi step down, can the pro-reform voices arise within the Party and pro-reform forces play their role in adjusting the direction that China is heading in."
But that might not happen anytime soon. Xi was expected to step down in 2023, but in 2018, he abolished the presidential term limit, clearing the way for him to stay in power indefinitely.
For now, Cai said she was happy to be expelled from the Party, which she said no longer resembled the Party she grew up believing in.
She had already wanted to quit in 2016, when Ren, the property tycoon and fellow Party member, was silenced on social media. Cai spoke out in Ren's defense, only to be warned herself by the Party to hush up. She argued that she had the right to speak up as a citizen.
"They told me: 'you're first a Communist Party member, and your identity as a citizen comes later.'" Cai recalled. "I thought to myself then, I would rather have my rights as a citizen than Party membership."
"Now, I feel like I've finally returned to the side of the people," she said.