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Charitable Choice: Research Grants–Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – National Journal
Tue, 8 Mar 2005
The Washington Post reports that conservatives have crafted a "bioethics agenda" on cloning and stem cell research. Such an agendaq determines what research the government will and will not fund. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15569-2005Mar7.html
Below is an excerpt of a fascinating article in the National Journal about how competing scientists' interests can confound the best laid efforts. The case example is a highly successful, well organized research advocacy foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), whose mission is to find a cure for juvenile (type 1) diabetes. JDRF attempts to achieve a balance of power on its board of directors, between science professionals and parents of children who suffer from diabetes. Their reviewing process for awarding researh grants is professional, and reaches out to seemingly independent outside scientists from top academic institutions. But an innovative research approach that might result in a breakrthough treatment for diabetes may be impeded because of underlying competing financial interests, and politics.
The catalyst for the National Journal article was the denial of a grant to Dr. Denise Faustman of Harvard whose divergent research approach is unnerving the scientific community. She wants to conduct a clinical trial using an approach that was successful in mice: she proposes to use organ-regenerative therapies to cure diabetes rather than introducing embryonic stem cells which are an arduous, painful and, so far, unsuccessful approach. But her research, using patients' own stem cells, conflicts with the work of most other scientists who are locked into the promotion of embryonic stem cell research – for which JDRF has lobbied aggressively.
Dr. Faustman says: "Four years ago, nobody believed that adult organs [could] regrow." She calls her results "a major paradigm shift." This discovery, she argued, affects other scientists' research and business plans, especially those who are racing to create vats of embryo stem cells for transplantation into diabetes patients. The stakes are high:
"If Faustman's work is proved valid, it could lead to a cure for juvenile diabetes at modest cost, generating incalculable benefits for millions of people around the world. It could greatly lower the demand and the revenue for other therapies, such as the Edmonton Protocol, or for diabetes-related amelioration and maintenance products. The technique could also cut revenues for pharmaceutical companies, which take in roughly $1.3 billion a year in the United States from the sale of insulin-related products. Much of the revenue from the new treatment would likely go to Faustman's own company, although hospitals and doctors would make some money from her treatment. And such a breakthrough would likely affect funding for rival researchers in the $500 million-a-year diabetes-research sector, including those active in the JDRF. They would likely see cuts in their research funding, and would perhaps migrate into new areas, where they would face uphill competition from researchers already established in those disciplines. This shift would be painful, partly because scientists are understandably reluctant to discard years of work and hopes. "If you have a belief, you pursue it, until it becomes totally and completely, undeniably wrong," said Joel Habener, a JDRF-funded researcher at Harvard Medical School."
"Faustman's therapy could also have implications for research beyond diabetes, because it seemingly works by allowing the body to use its own stem cells to repair damaged organs once the disease is blocked. Numerous other autoimmune diseases — multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, Lou Gehrig's disease (or ALS), muscular dystrophy — might also be treated in the same fashion, said Larry Raff, president of the Newton, Mass.-based Autoimmune Disease Research Foundation, which supports Faustman's approach.
Her approach clashes with that of advocates of embryo-stem-cell research, who already face opposition from a political coalition maintaining that adults' stem cells are a faster and more ethical alternative to embryo stem cells. Proponents of embryo-stem-cell research frequently cite diabetes — and diabetic children — as a primary reason for using embryo stem cells. But backers of adult stem cells note that Faustman's research could make that political argument moot if an adult's own stem cells can indeed repair diseased organs."
The article notes that other researchers who have reported breakthroughs using adult stem cells have similarly faced a funding drought. The examples cited: Israeli researchers at the Technion Institute of Technology have been injecting BCG (the compound Faustman uses) into a person who was expected to develop diabetes. That patient has remained free of diabetes for seven years. But the researchers have been unable to gain additional funding for tests on more people. In Los Angeles, Dr. Michel Levesque, the chief of neurosurgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, used one patient's stem cells in 1999 to nearly eliminate his symptoms of Parkinson's disease, but has since failed to win financial backing for a formal clinical trial of the therapy. And Norman Ende, at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, says he has successfully treated diabetic mice with stem cells from umbilical cords, but has yet to win any support even in his university — not even permission to issue a press release.
The article describes how even well informed parents on the JDRF board are at a disadvantage vis a vis scientists whose multiple financial interests and research agendas may conflict with theirs. For all its lobbying and fundraising successes, "the JDRF can claim few clear achievements in curing or even treating juvenile diabetes." One former JDRF chairman of the board (from 1992 and 1993) J. Richard Munro (a former top Time Warner executive) grasped this inherent conflict: "For 25 years, ever since my two sons became diabetic, JDRF people have said, 'We're making real progress,' and my answer is, B.S. There's nothing that's changed for my sons since they became diabetic." He realized that "'Blind faith' is an awful thing to say, but that's pretty much how I thought [JDRF's grant-giving] worked. You hoped it was being spread to the right people, but there was no way you could be sure." He left JDRF.
(Similar reasons–'blind faith' in biological psychiatry and its drug-centered agenda in clinical practice and research – led me to leave the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. NAMI's leaders avoid taking a hard look at the dismal record of failed theories, failed treatments, worsened recovery rates, and increased costs.. Like JDRF, NAMI lobbying efforts are influenced by researchers whose own careers and income have been greatly enhanced by those efforts. But the billions of dollars spent on psychiatric research and psychotropic drugs have failed to improve the quality of life mentally disabled people).
Parents at JDRF ostensibly control the organization and decide which research to fund, but a tell-tale sign of the inordinate influence that JDRF affiliated scientists exert on grant awards, is the fact that the chair of the research committee, who is on the board, did not even meet with Dr. Faustman or invite her to present her proposal at a 2004 workshop. Instead, scientists who are hostile to regenerative research, and have competing financial ties to biotech companies that favor embryonic stem cell research, were invited presenters. JDRF does not disclose the financial interests of scientists.
This is an intelligent, and provocative article providing insight into the politics and economics of research grant awards. (entire article available in pdf)
Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav
© National Journal
Science – Charitable Choices
Neil Munro
In 2001, Denise Faustman, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and the director of the immunobiology lab at Massachusetts General Hospital, announced a surprising laboratory discovery in her research on diabetes. Faustman had injected a compound called BCG into diabetic mice, expecting that it would help repair their haywire immune systems. Diabetes occurs when the immune system goes awry and gradually destroys the insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas. The BCG injection worked as Faustman had expected. But upon dissecting the animals, she also found that, in most of the mice, the pancreas was restored to health.
Faustman reported her news-making results in a top-tier publication, The Journal of Clinical Investigation. In 2003, she published an update in the magazine Science, describing evidence that in mice, stem cells migrated from their spleens and repaired their pancreases. Faustman next won the backing of some top diabetes researchers; boosted the cure rate in diabetic mice; got approval from the Food and Drug Administration for limited testing of BCG on people; and applied for grants to further her research. She also got three rejection notices in the mail from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "We don't fund work that does not meet the standards of our lay and peer reviewers," Peter Van Etten, president and CEO of the JDRF, told National Journal. "The fact that this [proposed treatment] is popular, and there is great support for it, is not justification to violate the policies we have established over many years."
As the world's leading charitable fundraiser and advocate for research on juvenile diabetes, the New York City-based JDRF doled out $93 million in 2004 to help researchers find a cure for a disease that afflicts 1.3 million American children. An accomplished researcher like Faustman would seem to be an ideal candidate to receive some of that financial support.
But there is a complicated back story to the rejection letters that Faustman received from the foundation — a story that involves scientists' collective and individual ambitions; political disputes over stem-cell research; $3 billion in California taxpayer money; and the balance of power within the JDRF between the science professionals on the one hand and, on the other, the lay members whose children suffer from diabetes.
As is true elsewhere in the medical-research community, JDRF's grant-making process fosters furious competition among research advocates for money. JDRF board member Margery Perry, a nonscientist and the chair of the research committee, calls the process "a mirror of human nature. You see some scientists that are extremely collaborative and very sharing, and you see the exact opposite."
The Face of a Child
By Washington standards, the JDRF is a highly successful operation. The organization began with only a few parents when it was launched in 1970, and now boasts thousands of volunteers in 100 locations worldwide. The 39-person board of directors and several advisory committees oversee the sophisticated lobbying efforts and fundraising programs that allowed the JDRF in fiscal 2003 to award 500 grants to researchers in 19 countries, and put $30 million into communications and education efforts. Most of that research funding went to university-affiliated scientists in the United States; a remarkably low 10 percent was spent on operating costs and fundraising expenses. And the JDRF gets high marks for visibility. Actress Mary Tyler Moore is the group's international chairman, and other celebrities have also helped with fundraising and raising public awareness of juvenile diabetes.
Juvenile, or Type 1, diabetes is a gene-related disease in which the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without a well-regulated supply of insulin, other organs begin to fail, eventually causing blindness, kidney failure, and death. Although there's no cure, many scientists, as well as pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical companies, have developed knowledge and products that help patients regulate or slow the disease through a regimen of diet, exercise, pills, insulin injections, and blood-sugar monitoring. Adult, or Type 2, diabetes, which afflicts some 16 million Americans, manifests later in life and is often related to poor diet and obesity. The direct financial cost of all diabetes care in the United States was $92 billion in 2002, according to a study by the Lewin Group.
One of the JDRF's most visible weapons in the fight against juvenile diabetes is the afflicted children. They're young and often outwardly healthy. Many of their parents are educated and wealthy, and they know how to attract media attention, solicit donations, and build political influence. "You would be hard-pressed to look into the face of a child — as legislators do — and tell them you do not support their hope for a cure for diabetes," said JDRF spokesman Peter Cleary. The JDRF organizes a "Children's Congress" and a "Promise to Remember Me" campaign, in which kids and their families visit Capitol Hill lawmakers. These visits have been "enormously successful," said JDRF board member Maureen Barunas, whose teenage son lobbied Congress in 2001. "The point is to bring their personal stories, to put a face on the story of diabetes."
In recent years, the JDRF, which employs three staff lobbyists in Washington, has helped persuade Congress to give the scientists at the National Institutes of Health an additional $750 million over five years for investigating juvenile diabetes. And JDRF's adult volunteers are now raising almost $150 million per year in charitable donations; in 2004, JDRF's executives set a higher fundraising goal of $200 million a year. Moreover, Congress passed a law in 2004 intended to promote Medicare funding for a new form of diabetes therapy — the Edmonton Protocol — that several medical centers around the country now provide. The JDRF also works with other Washington-based advocacy organizations. In the campaign for embryo-stem-cell research, for example, the foundation has played the leading role alongside scientists, universities, and biotech companies that try to persuade others of their belief that embryo stem cells can be used to understand the workings of the human body. Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del., a supporter of embryo- stem-cell research, told National Journal that the effort is "the best lobbying campaign I've ever seen." The scientists rallied by the JDRF are particularly influential: "Their words are my words," said Castle.
So far, the broad campaign has persuaded President Bush — despite strong opposition from his social-conservative base — to allow federal funding for a limited kind of embryo research; has won over a slew of legislators who have impeccable anti-abortion credentials; and has gained near-uniform backing from Democrats and socially liberal Republicans. The push for embryo research has generated a wave of media coverage, and in November it helped pass a California ballot initiative that will pump $3 billion into the state's universities and biotech centers for stem-cell research.
For all its lobbying and fundraising successes, however, the JDRF can claim few clear achievements in curing or even treating juvenile diabetes. In interviews for this article, JDRF officials repeatedly pointed to their support of the recently developed Edmonton Protocol, in which pancreas cells from cadavers are transplanted into patients with a severe form of diabetes. But the protocol's co-developer, James Shapiro, a researcher at the University of Alberta in Canada, said that the JDRF had played no direct role in its development. The protocol, moreover, is of modest benefit because of several problems: Not many cadaver cells are available; the operation is very expensive; the patients suffer debilitating side effects from anti-rejection drugs; and after a few years, the transplanted cells die. About 300 patients have received the treatment so far.
Former top Time Warner executive J. Richard Munro (no relation to the author) chaired the JDRF board in 1992 and 1993 but is no longer involved with the foundation. For 25 years, ever since his two sons became diabetic, he complains, JDRF people "have said, 'We're making real progress,' and my answer is, B.S. There's nothing that's changed for my sons since they became diabetic." Still, in science, lack of success is not conclusive evidence of failure. Diabetes is a difficult disease, and lots of funding, much trial-and-error, the generous use of partial therapies, many disappointments, and periodic false hopes are to be expected before a cure appears. Even when a major therapy is first developed, there's likely to be much professional disagreement before the therapy has proved effective on many patients. That reality gives JDRF's nonscientist lay leaders the difficult task of navigating a path guided by advice from competing advocates.
Lay members repeatedly say that their goal is a cure — not the scientific knowledge sought by university-affiliated scientists, and not the revenues sought by companies selling products that ameliorate the effects of diabetes. This goal, however, cannot be accomplished by JDRF's laypeople alone, because they are dependent on the corps of diabetes scientists. When a new scientific claim is raised, "we can only vet it by asking other independent scientists [and] our staff, who don't have biases," said JDRF board member Roy Smith, a former international banker at Goldman Sachs and a finance professor at New York University who headed the JDRF planning committee in 2002. Said former board member Munro: "There's no way that I could second-guess a scientist — it would be foolhardy…. 'Blind faith' is an awful thing to say, but that's pretty much how I thought [JDRF's grant-giving] worked. You hoped it was being spread to the right people, but there was no way you could be sure."
When it comes to their professional culture and economy, diabetes scientists are no different from other scientists: They are simultaneously allies and rivals. They compete for prestige and for the resources that generate prestige — grants, publishing opportunities, and patents — even as they cooperate to lobby for greater federal funding and for freedom from federal regulation.
Professional and personal rivalries among researchers can be intense, but are also moderated by their shared dependence on each other for funding, which is typically awarded by peer-review panels of fellow scientists. Diane Mathis, a researcher at Harvard's Joslin Diabetes Center whose work is funded partly by the JDRF, said, "We do depend [on each other], but we like to think … [that] we're judged objectively on the science, not on whether our colleagues like us or not."
Within this community, scientists hold overlapping affiliations with rival universities, companies, cliques, specialties, and preferences. These splits create conflicts, as well as a confluence of interests. To prosper in this professional economy, scientists need a keen eye for peer politics, business, and science. "I think I learned not too long ago that scientists are just about as political as any other group. They have their own agendas," Munro said.
Faustman is no exception. In her work at Massachusetts General Hospital and at Harvard Medical School, she has written or contributed to more than 100 published papers, has reviewed grant requests for the JDRF, and chairs the board of the Society for Women's Health Research. In 1989, she helped form a company that was sold in 2003 for $40 million. Also in 2003, she helped create Keel Pharmaceuticals, to commercialize her diabetes-related technology. Faustman promotes her work to the parents of diabetic children and the media.
The parents and lay members of JDRF, however, have a much narrower focus than the scientists do. "We have one agenda," Perry said. "We want a cure now for our kids and loved ones."
Balancing scientists' multiple priorities with lay members' single-minded goal of finding a cure would be a challenge for any organization dedicated to fighting a disease. "All you can do is to try to minimize all those things that creep in," said Moira Murphy, a science adviser to Diabetes UK, a British patient-advocacy group akin to the JDRF. "You can never get rid of them."
The JDRF seems well prepared to manage such a challenge. "In every step of the process, we have an awful lot of committed volunteers that are connected to the disease and have no axes to grind, other than funding the best research possible," said lawyer Robert German, the father of a diabetic son and the chairman of the JDRF board. "I would not tolerate anything going on, other than what's contributing to a cure."
Far more than nearly all other disease-advocacy groups, the JDRF board and its committees are steered by laypeople, including top executives, lawyers, and other professionals, plus some executives from the health care sector. Many of these lay members have educated themselves about diabetes through their own work at the JDRF or through outside study, and this knowledge puts them in a position to spar with scientists over various issues. JDRF panels of laypeople review grant requests from scientists after panels of other scientists have ranked them in quality.
All laypeople and scientists must disclose possible conflicts of interest, and must remove themselves from any decision that could affect their personal interests, Van Etten said. For example, at the JDRF's twice-yearly review sessions, perhaps as many as 20 scientists exclude themselves from reviews of particular grants because they have a potential conflict of interest, according to Van Etten. Such potential conflicts are to be expected, he said, because the JDRF seeks out expertise wherever it can be found. "There is self-policing that takes place by the scientists."
Sometimes, the lay review committee does override the scientists' funding recommendations, according to Van Etten, who said he could not offer specific examples because of the desire to protect the confidentiality of the process. Perry, however, offered one example from a decade ago, in which lay members backed a proposal calling for the nation's small supply of insulin-producing cadaver cells to be shared by a wide range of researchers. The scientists on the peer-review panel had given the proposal a very low rating, but the project is now established, she said. Laypeople and scientists also differ on policy priorities. Board member Smith said that the organization is "moving away" from university-based research efforts because "we want to get close to the clinical-trials phase of this stuff. We are tired of doing it to mice. We want to do it to humans." Board members also say that the JDRF needs to cast a wider net than the scientists' conventional wisdom. "We need to look beyond what people are telling us is possible and take some risk," Barunas said. But, according to a recent article in Forbes that prasied the JDRF, the foundation's policy is to "achieve more by moving toward fewer but bigger fixed-term collaborations with brand-name research institutions like Columbia and Harvard." JDRF spokesman Cleary said that the foundation began to develop such relationships several years ago, "and they continue to expand today."
To minimize conflicts of interest among board members, JDRF's directors also disclose their various interests. For example, the agenda-setting portfolio committee is chaired by Leo Mullin, the father of a diabetic child. Mullin, the former head of Delta Airlines, is on the board of pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson. Another JDRF board member, Charles J. Queenan III, is the No. 2 executive at Amaranth Bio, a diabetes-research firm. He joined the firm last year after serving as the chair of the JDRF research committee, a role filled by Perry since 2004.
The Faustman Challenge xxxxx cut xxxx
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Vera Sharav's documentary "Never Again is Now Global" premieres Monday January 30 on CHD-TV
The last generation of Holocaust survivors and their children express their concerns about current events A Five-Part
FDA Advisory Panel & CDC Director are Complicit in Sacrificing Children's Lives to Protect Pfizer from Liability
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The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced the launch of the Faster Payment System (FPS) today.
The FPS is one of the seven initiatives announced by the HKMA in September 2017 for preparing Hong Kong to move into a new era of Smart Banking. The FPS operates on a round-the-clock basis and connects banks and stored-value facility (SVF) operators on the same platform. It enables the public to transfer funds anytime, anywhere, across different banks or SVFs with funds available almost immediately. Fund transfer will become very user-friendly with the use of mobile number or email address as account proxy for the payee. In addition to the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), the FPS also supports Renminbi (RMB) payments.
Starting from today, the public can make use of the mobile app of participating banks and SVFs to register their mobile phone number or email address with the FPS as an account proxy for receiving funds. And from 30 September, the public can make transfers or receive funds using the FPS. Currently, a total of 21 banks (including most retail banks) and 10 SVFs in Hong Kong have participated in the system to provide FPS services for their customers at launch (see Annex for the list).
Similar to the HKD Clearing House Automated Transfer System (CHATS) and RMB CHATS, the HKD FPS and RMB FPS are subject to the HKMA's oversight under the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance (PSSVFO). The PSSVFO also provides statutory backing to the finality of settlement for transactions made through the HKD FPS and RMB FPS by protecting the settlement finality from insolvency laws or any other laws.
In addition, to promote the adoption of QR code (Quick Response code) payments in Hong Kong, the HKMA announced the Common QR Code Standard for Retail Payments in Hong Kong together with the launch of an associated mobile application tool. A free mobile application tool, namely "Hong Kong Common QR Code" (HKQR), is released today, which can be used for converting multiple QR codes from different payment service providers into a single, combined QR code. This would facilitate merchants, especially small and medium enterprises, in using a single QR code to accept different payment schemes, instead of displaying multiple QR codes to their customers. The HKQR mobile application is available for download from Google Play Store and Apple App Store from today.
The public may contact their banks or SVF operators for more details of the FPS service as well as the common QR code. More information of the FPS and the Common QR Code can be found in the website www.hkma.gov.hk/fps.


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Species360 Update at WAZA 2017
Advancing best practice animal care and conservation through data science – Species360 update at WAZA
(16 October 2017 ) Species360 releases its 2017 update at the 72nd World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) conference, taking place October 15-19 in Berlin. The focus of the WAZA conference is on the contribution that zoos and aquariums make to society in three areas:
How WAZA zoos and aquariums are acting as leaders in their communities
How WAZA members are working collaboratively across continents to develop best practices
How WAZA members are evidencing their impact both on the natural world and on society
In addition to the Species360 update, CEO Jim Guenter will also be presenting a session on animal data science, highlighting the work that the Species360 team is doing to facilitate best practices and conservation through advanced analytics.
Thank you to members
Thanks to our members, Species360 provides the world's most current, comprehensive, and reliable source of knowledge on intensively managed species. We serve institutional, regional and global animal management (ex-situ and in-situ) and conservation goals.
Looking back at our history
Throughout our 44 years as a non-profit organization, Species360 has helped our zoo and aquarium members increase their understanding of animal care through information sharing and collaboration. As the database grows, so does its value as a source of best-practices and globally aggregated information.
Species360 now has over 1079 institutional, education, and regional association members from 93 countries, including 390 in just over four years, with an annual member retention rate of 98+ percent. Twenty-one thousand individual users now rely on ZIMS as their animal records management solution.
Your Species360 Board of Trustees is comprised of more than 20 zoo and aquarium volunteer representatives from our worldwide member institutions, including association trustees from WAZA, AZA, EAZA, ZAA (Australasia), CZA, JAZA, and PAAZA. Institutional trustees also represent SEAZA and AZCARM.
In 2018, we are looking to broaden the capacity of our science team, allowing them to leverage data to continue informing and serving conservation.
As 2017 draws to a close, Species360 once again extends our thanks to the global zoological community for supporting animal welfare and conservation. Your financial contributions keep us financially sound and your data contributions allow us to provide invaluable data sharing and collaboration in addition to global reference data. You have provided information on 7 million animals and 22,000 species plus aggregate knowledge accumulated from 50 million individual medical records and over 145 million individual husbandry records. What an amazing treasure of information!
About WAZA
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA – http://www.waza.org) is the unifying organization for the world zoo and aquarium community. The 300+ WAZA members are leading zoos, aquariums, associations, affiliate organizations and corporate partners from around the world. WAZA's mission is to guide, encourage and support the zoos, aquariums and like-minded organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation.
About Species360
Successful animal care depends on applying the best actions possible for long-term animal health and survival. And that means tapping into the best knowledge available. As a nonprofit serving our community for more than 40 years, Species360 continues to advance knowledge sharing for excellent animal care and conservation. Today, more than 1070 zoos, aquariums and other wildlife member organizations in 90+ countries use Species360 ZIMS software to help them achieve best practice animal management and conservation goals.
Information Contacts:
Gavrielle Kirk-Cohen, Communications
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
communication@waza.org
Peter Donlon
Director, Global Member Development
peter.donlon@species360.org
animal care softwareanimal dataanimal managementannual reportconservationdata scienceWAZA
Conservation Research: Sustaining Flamingo Populations May Require Larger Flocks
New in ZIMS for Medical: Quick Split for treating individual animals in a group
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New Member: Marine Conservation Center Joins Species360
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


...and Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, a major East Cleveland tourist attraction, is set to get even bigger and better thanks to a £800,000 grant made possible by National Lottery players and awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Police are appealing for information as they investigate two thefts and a robbery that occurred on the same day in Coulby Newham.
At around 1.25pm on Tuesday 5th December a male on a green bike approached Aldi in Coulby Newham and stole a green and black Trek bike, before making off with the stolen bike as well as his own.
At around 2.15pm the same day, a 48-year-old woman had her handbag snatched from her shoulder whilst walking through Lingfield Ash. The male suspect went through the bag in front of the woman before removing cash and demanding her phone.
At around 2.30pm the same day, a 73-year-old woman was pushing a trolley through Tesco car park in Coulby Newham when a man lifted a bag of shopping from her trolley and made off with it whilst riding a bike.
Officers are linking these incidents and are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact PC Abby Freeman from Middlesbrough Operational Crime Team on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Tees Valley Mayor has given his support to a 30-year transport plan for our region.
Ben Houchen has worked with leaders from across the North to agree the plan to transform the region's transport infrastructure.
Transport for the North's draft Strategic Transport Plan will outline seven rail and road "corridors" where improvements are needed and call for investment to meet the upgrades.
It is expected to include vital upgrades to Darlington and Middlesbrough stations, improvements to the A19 and A66, and expansion of freight routes from the River Tees to markets across the UK.
Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, a major East Cleveland tourist attraction, is set to get even bigger and better thanks to a £800,000 grant made possible by National Lottery players and awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The grant will be matched by another £800,000 already given by the Coastal Communities Fund and the popular Skinningrove attraction will double in size over the next year.
The important development will see the building of a large walk round museum with displays about Cleveland mining and steel communities to complement the ever popular guided tours of the mine.
It will also include state of the art artefact and document storage, two fully equipped teaching rooms, offices and maintenance area.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The TNV/Sentinel BNVS is a unique night vision system, adaptable to the needs of Warfighters, Law Enforcement Professionals, and Civilian Sportsmen alike. Designed in direct response to the ground deployment of ANVIS Aviation Goggles (and their subsequent breakage due to not being rugged enough for that environment), the TNV/Sentinel provides the operator with a ton of useful features not found in other systems. The Sentinel program was developed by Adams Industries as a way to provide ground forces with an up-armored version of their coveted ANVIS goggles. Special Operations Forces have long used ANVIS goggles on the ground because of the superior performance of the optics and tubes compared to conventional systems. But, aviation goggles were never designed to be deployed outside the protection of a cockpit and their more fragile nature has been a bane to SOF units. Enter the Sentinel.
The Sentinel program was initiated as a way to provide the features desired by SOF operators in a much more rugged package. It features an ultra-rugged machined composite housing, bolstered by aluminum front and rear plates on the bridge. Like the ANVIS systems, Sentinels utilize worm drive interpupillary adjustment (however, there is no creaking and rattling as found in the aviation goggles). On top of that, the Sentinel is submersible to 66′ which should put a smile on the face of anyone who has ever tried to use ANVIS goggles in the rain or snow.
Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of the Sentinel is the user-swappable mount interface. The Sentinel can be field-adapted to either standard dovetail mounts or ANVIS-Style ball detent mounts. When used in the standard dovetail configuration, the Sentinel is powered by a single on-board CR123 lithium battery. It will plug into all standard dovetail helmet mounts such as the Wilcox L4 G24 and the Norotos INVG. Switching interfaces is fast and simple; requiring the removal of four screws before replacing the dovetail with the ball detent. The ball detent adapter interfaces with standard ANVIS goggle mounts such as the popular Adams Industries Surface ANVIS Mount or the legacy USGI ANVIS mount. Power is supplied by a remote battery pack on the back of the helmet and allows for longer run times. Helmet mounts are sold separately.
Controls are similar to PVS-14 goggles with a simple twist on/off power knob that also activates the onboard infrared illuminators.
We build our TNV/Sentinel Goggles with L-3 Infinity OMNI VIII Image Intensifier Tubes. These Gen3 tubes offer unparalleled clarity, resolution, low light performance, and durability. We also offer our TNV/Sentinel in our own FDE/Tan proprietary finish as seen in our popular TNV/PVS-14′s. The color is professionally applied matte automotive paint and clear-coated to provide a durable finish that will stand up to field abuse.


Dylan Elliott's iPhone Action: UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!!!
Yes, it's that time already; SoundPad! and SoundPad! Lite are being updated. Nothing HUUUUUUUGE, just some housekeeping and stuff like that. What's that you say? Dylan, why would you tell us about something that's not even cool? Well, it is cool... kind of. I've also include a couple of small easter eggs. How do you find them? Do what every iPhone user does; TAP! Tap the pads, play wonderful sounds, and stop only when you can tap no more.
And, as a special extra super fun bonus, SoundPad! (the full version) will be free for a limited time after the update comes out. YAAAAAAAAAAAY!
This is a fine program and just what I was looking for. I'm glad to have bought it.
If you don't mind one feature request though, it would be awesome to have a "Gate Mode", where the sample only plays while you are holding the button, and immediately stops when you release your fingers. I play the drums and dj a bit, and being able to stop the sample is super useful for rhythmic playing.


text:
Q: How to add Product name on current product page or any page in Magento 2? I'm using magento 2.3, may i ask how can i made product name on others page.
Beacuse i tried this code but not working. Anyone can help? thank you!!
<?php echo $_product->getName(); ?>

A: Please you get by-product Id.
$productId = "10"; //Product Id

$objectManager = \Magento\Framework\App\ObjectManager::getInstance();
$product = $objectManager->create('Magento\Catalog\Model\Product')->load($productId);

echo $product->getName(); //Get Product Name

Or try for the current page.
$objectManager = \Magento\Framework\App\ObjectManager::getInstance();

$appState = $objectManager->get('\Magento\Framework\App\State');

$registry = $objectManager->get('\Magento\Framework\Registry');
$currentProduct = $registry->registry('current_product');
echo $currentProduct->getName() . '
';

I hope it is useful to you.

A: You need to load product to get product name
With Object Manager
$productId = "10"; //Product Id

$objectManager = \Magento\Framework\App\ObjectManager::getInstance();
$product = $objectManager->create('Magento\Catalog\Model\Product')->load($productId);

echo $product->getName(); //Get Product Name

Note: Don't use objectManager directly
With Factory Method
<?php

  protected $product;

  public function __construct(
        \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template\Context $context,
        \Magento\Catalog\Model\ProductFactory $product
    ) {
        $this->product = $product;
        parent::__construct($context);
    }

    public function getProduct($id)
    {
        return $this->product->create()->load($id);
    }

}

Then call getProduct function in your phtml file
$productId = "10"; //Product Id
$product=$this->getProduct($productId);

echo $product->getName(); //Get Product Name

block and phtml link like this (add your block file path )
<block class="VendoreName\ModuleName\Block\YourBlockName" name="custom.data" template="VendoreName_ModuleName::yourfilname.phtml" >

Add this code your xml file may be help :-
<referenceContainer name="footer">
            <block class="VendoreName\ModuleName\Block\YourBlockName" name="custom.data" template="VendoreName_ModuleName::yourfilname.phtml" after="-"/>
</referenceContainer>

A: app\code\VendoreName\ModuleName\Block
ProductName.php
<?php

namespace VendoreName\ModuleName\Block;

use Magento\Framework\App\Request\DataPersistorInterface;

class ProductName extends \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template
{
    protected $registry;

    public function __construct(
        \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template\Context $context,
        \Magento\Framework\Registry $registry,
    ) {
        parent::__construct($context);
        $this->registry = $registry;
    }
    public function getCurrentProduct()
    {
        return $this->registry->registry('current_product');
    }

}

app\code\VendoreName\ModuleName\view\frontend\templates
getProduct.phtml
$prd = $block->getCurrentProduct();
$product_entityid = $prd->getEntityId();
$product_sku = $prd->getSku();
$product_name = $prd->getName();
echo "
".$product_name."
";

app\code\VendoreName\ModuleName\view\frontend\layout
catalog_product_view.xml
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<page xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" layout="1column" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../../../../../../../lib/internal/Magento/Framework/View/Layout/etc/page_configuration.xsd">

      <referenceContainer name="content">
        <referenceContainer name="columns">
            <block class="VendoreName\ModuleName\Block\ProductName" name="custom.data" template="VendoreName_ModuleName::getProduct.phtml" after="-" >
        </referenceContainer>
    </referenceContainer>

</page>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Great Lent, Palm Sunday and Easter Educational videos and podcasts.
Do you prefer getting your questions answered or curiosity satisfied through audio or visual formats like podcasts and videos? If so, the Diocesan Ministries Department of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church has created some wonderful electronic resources for you. Below is a list of videos and podcasts that are relevant to Great Lent, Palm Sunday and Easter. View one each week of Lent and Holy Week or jump around at your own pace and interest.
If you enjoy what you see/hear, make sure to subscribe to the Diocese e-newsletter where some of the latest videos/podcasts are included weekly.
Click on the links below to view videos/podcasts.


text:
Graphic design students named semifinalists in state license plate competition
by Julie Hail Flory
p. p. Emily Hallinan of Centerville, Ohio, and Tiffany Roman of Granger, Ind., both juniors at the University of Notre Dame, are semifinalists in a competition sponsored by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to design a new state license plate.
p. Hallinan and Roman, marketing and graphic design majors, respectively, created their designs as part of a Notre Dame graphic design course in which students were asked to create a license plate that communicates necessary identifying government information and serves as a graphic source of state pride. The course was taught by Robert Sedlack, visiting assistant professor of art, art history and design.
p. Hallinan and Roman's designs are two of only 16 semifinal selections from a pool of more than 1,400 entries statewide.
p. "This contest is a great opportunity for Hoosiers to select one of the most visible symbols of our history and heritage," said BMV Commissioner Gary A. Gibson. "Indiana's license plates not only represent the bureau, they also represent the state and its heritage. When people from other states see our license plates, they see people saying, 'We're proud to be from Indiana.'"
p. Final judging will take place this week, after which the general public will cast ballots to determine the winning design and slogan. Voting will begin Monday (May 7) at any BMV license branch or on the Web at http://www.bmvexpress.org . The polls will close May 18 (Friday) and the BMV will announce the final winner by the end of the month.


The United Arab Emirates may be a land built on sand, but there's certainly no drought when it comes to shopping. Boasting everything from ultra-modern mega-malls to traditional Arabic souks, this is a city bursting with designer goodies, Middle Eastern handicrafts and even a few bargains -- if you know where to look.
As the world's largest retail, leisure and entertainment destination, The Dubai Mall should be the first stop on any shopaholic's list. With more than 1,200 stores, it's home to all of the world's biggest brands, from clothing and accessories to housewares and electronics.
There's also plenty of family fun to be had at the Dubai Aquarium, the SEGA Republic indoor theme park, edutainment zone KidZania and the ice rink. Energy can be replenished at the food court, which is vast and caters to all tastes.
A firm favorite on the Dubai shopping scene, this mall cemented its status recently with a major renovation. Housing over 700 shops, including department stores Harvey Nichols and Debenhams -- and in the future, if the rumors are to be believed, the world's largest Apple store -- as well as nearly 100 food outlets.
The other big draw is SkiDubai, the world-renowned indoor ski slope. This bizarre snowy wonderland features an 85-meter-high mountain with 5 runs, a Snow Park for kids (even big kids) and the Snow Bullet zipline. There's even a resident troupe of penguins who live in their own icy enclosure, emerging for special Penguin Encounters with the public.
Located in a replica Egyptian pyramid complex, WAFI features a plethora of upscale fashion and lifestyle stores. It's also home to Khan Murjan, a covered souk (Arabian market) selling wares exclusively from the Arab world -- fantastic for souvenirs and gifts.
September will see the return of the mall's popular Taste of WAFI festival, where stalls spring up selling gourmet goodies. And if food's your thing, check out the Pyramids area adjacent to the mall, where restaurants serve everything from seafood to tapas. If you're visiting in the cooler months, head to WAFI Rooftop on Sunday evenings, when there are free open-air movie screenings.
Dubai can come across as an ultra-modern city that's shrugged off its Arabic heritage, but if it's the traditional world of silks, spices and Arabian Nights you're after, head to the old souks. Nestled along the banks of Dubai Creek, these traditional markets still retain much of their original charm.
The gold and spice souks lie together on the Deira side of the creek. Upon arrival, you'll be hit by a fragrant cloud of scent, as cinnamon, ginger, cloves and other spices jostle with clouds of frankincense. Next comes the noise, as enthusiastic shop owners extoll the virtues of their goods.
Wind your way through the alleys and you'll reach the Gold Souk, centered around a pedestrian street lined by shops, all showcasing shiny golden wares in their windows, with unset stones and weighing scales inside ready for bespoke orders. Haggling is de rigueur here, so remember the first price given is simply a starting point for negotiations.
The Textiles Souk is on the other side of the creek -- a 2-minute journey on an abra, a small wooden boat that ferries passengers from bank to bank. Take your time strolling through the white-washed buildings and small stalls, where you'll find tailors running up local outfits -- kandoras for men and abayas for ladies -- as well as reams of fabric and stacks of scarves and pashminas.
This upmarket, palm-lined coastal road is home to a wealth of quaint little malls, with shops catering to the myriad of wealthy women who spend their days splashing cash.
At the stylish Sunset Mall, Rivaage Boutique combines ready-to-wear lines from international brands with quirky Middle Eastern designs, while West LA Boutique brings together trendy pieces from hot new international labels.
For a mid-spree snack, head to The Village Mall, where you can enjoy a light bite at the fancifully feminine Shakespeare & Co Café, or grab a sugar-fix to go from the supremely good cupcake store, Hey Sugar.
The first outlet concept in the region, Dubai Outlet Mall promises big names at a fraction of the cost. It hosts more than 1,200 international brands, with discounts of 30 to 90% across its 240 stores, which stock everything from clothing and lampshades to shoes and luggage -- very useful if you need a new suitcase to carry home all your purchases.
The shopping isn't even the central attraction at this world fair of sorts, but for many residents, Global Village is the go-to place for good-value furnishings.
It may be missing some of the bells and whistles of Dubai's modern attractions, but Global Village is full of family fun, with rides and stalls in the central funfair and performances by international entertainers.
The "Global" element refers to its 38 pavilions, each representing a different country. Venture into one and you'll find fashion, food, crafts and cultural displays that typify that nation. Particularly good for shoppers seeking quality are the Persian carpets in the Iran pavilion, gold jewelry in India and cotton items in Egypt.
Samantha Brown and Chris Grundy share the 5 things everyone can and should experience their first time in the Middle East.


It's the 1930s. The Republic Day Ball is in progress in Zonguldak, a coal mining town in Turkey. Among the invited guests are the newcomers to this small and boring town: Halit, a mine engineer; his gorgeous wife, Mükerrem; and Halit's sister and unwanted household member, Seniha. When Nüshet, whose father is the richest man in town, asks Mükerrem for a dance, Seniha, who has been watching them from a dark corner, immediately realizes that Mükerrem will not be able to resist the incredible (and feminine) beauty of this young man. At the same moment, she also knows that God would lift her up from the place where she has long surrendered to a fate of ugliness, to a place where she would be the one who determines the destiny of beauty.


text:
Abra alba es una especie de molusco bivalvo de la familia Semelidae. Está presente en el noreste del océano Atlántico, el mar Mediterráneo y alrededor de las Azores, donde vive cerca de la costa en áreas poco profundas y enterradas en sedimentos blandos.

Historia
Fue originalmente descrita por el zoologista inglés William Wood en su libro  Observations on the hinges of British Bivalve shells (1802).

Características
Es una concha pequeña, delgada y frágil; aplanada y de forma ovalada, con líneas concéntricas que hacen notorias las etapas de su crecimiento. Las conchas son brillantes y algo translúcidas, de un blanco sucio, con el perióstraco de café claro, y son blancas por el interior. El ligamento que une las conchas es una banda arqueada que se puede ver desde el exterior en un color café. La mayoría de los especímenes viven solo un año, alcanzando longitudes de 1,2-1,4 cm. Los ejemplares que viven dos años crecen hasta los 1,3-1,6 cm y la longitud máxima alcanzada es de 2,0-2,5 cm. En su juventud es más translúcida, pequeña y con conchas más simétricas.

La producción de un gran número de pequeños huevos sugiere que Abra alba tiene un desarrollo larvario con una larga vida pelágica. Su período óptimo de desove se encuentra entre mayo y agosto. En la primera etapa después de la larvaria, su concha tienen una longitud de entre 0,2 mm y 0,30 mm. Los ejemplares que se asientan a principios del verano crecen rápidamente, mientras que los que lo hacen a finales del verano o en otoño aparentemente crecen hasta la primavera siguiente. Abra alba se alimenta de sedimentos por medio de sifones extensibles y separados individualmente. El sifón de inhalación se mueve a tientas ampliamente sobre la superficie del sustrato, activamente succionando los detritos.

La abundancia de Abra alba típicamente fluctúa ampliamente de un año a otro debido a la variación en el éxito de reclutamiento o la mortalidad de los adultos. El organismo es capaz de explotar rápidamente cualquier nuevo sustrato adecuado para la colonización, ya sea a través del reclutamiento de larvas, asentamientos secundarios o la redistribución de adultos después de tormentas.

Distribución
Vive en un amplio rango de sustratos, más comúnmente en arena delgada y limosa, y con menos frecuencia en lodo o grava. Es una especie común en la zona cercana a la costa, rara vez encontrada a más de 30 km de la misma. Localmente, Abra alba alcanza  densidades muy altas: hasta aproximadamente 14.000 individuos por m² durante 1976-1986 y aproximadamente 5.000 ind./m² durante 1994-2001.

Se distribuye alrededor de las costas de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda, sobre todo en el mar del Norte, y también está presente en el mar Mediterráneo y alrededor de las Azores. Específicamente, A. alba es muy abundante en la parte sureste del área marítima de Oyster Ground y la de Frisian Front. También está presente cerca de la costa holandesa y en el área de Voordelta, donde su distribución se extiende hacia Westerschelde y Grevelingenmeer. Las densidades más altas en el área de Delta se encuentran en Oosterschelde. Está presente en bajas densidades en la parte occidental del mar de Frisia y en el banco de arena Balgzand. La biomasa más alta se encuentra a lo largo de la costa holandesa y en la parte central del área Frisian Front. Otras investigaciones encontraron a la especie confinada en una franja más o menos estrecha de fondo marino cerca de la costa.

Referencias

Veneroida

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Thailand SCORING: GOALS: Colton McCaffrey 6; Reed Barbe 2; Kohei Naoi 2; Kacy Artneam 1; Cameron Chinvarakorn 1; Rory Baldini 1; Cory Waiprib 1. ASSISTS: Reed Barbe 2; Kacy Artneam 1; Cameron Chinvarakorn 1; Colton McCaffrey 1; Chatch Sirisuth 1.
France SCORING: GOALS: Felix DeClercq 3; Paul Lefebvre 1. ASSISTS: Dominique Sandy 2.
Penalties - Thailand 8/6:30; France 10/10:00.
30-second Goals/Warnings (Violations) - Thailand 0/0 (0); France 0/0 (0).
Officials: Ryan Metcalfe; Mark Whittell; Blair Fraiser; Wilf Seville; Johannes Kaschke. Scorer: Kerry Briggs.


Elijah Masinde: A Biography Series : Makers of Kenya's History.
G. PROFSIMIYUVINCENT. "Elijah Masinde: A Biography Series : Makers of Kenya's History.". In: Series Editor Prof. Simiyu Wandibba East African Educational Publications, Nairobi, Kenya.; 1963.


Editor's Note: This article was originally written by community member Jennifer G.
My father's prostate cancer journey was definitely interesting and one of the big issues he needed to rethink at the time was his diet. He received a very helpful pamphlet from his urologist as he was undergoing radiation treatments: Eating Hints for Cancer Patients Before, During, and After Treament.
Although my dad is not one for following a strict diet or exercise regimen, he decided to take a look at this information because he was feeling a bit lethargic and nauseaous from his initial hormone therapy. He quipped that he could finally understand what it meant to feel like a woman as he experienced some of the side-effects of estrogen and how it changes a person's moods and eating patterns.
Changing meal patterns may also help a loss of appetite. One way to do this would include eating more during periods of wellness, such as upon first waking. Trying smaller but more frequent meals can also take the stress out of trying to manage larger meals. And eating something small before bed can provide needed nutrients that have a longer period to digest.
Diarrhea can be very dehydrating so the trick is to eat small amounts of foods that keep the body supplied with sodium and potassium (often lost during bouts of diarrhea.) Such foods include bananas, boiled or mashed potatoes, bullion, broth, and certain sports drinks. Other good choices are skinned lean chicken or turkey, lean beef, or fish (not fried.) Yogurt, cottage cheese, rice, noodles, potatoes, and smooth peanut butter are other solid options that don't promote diarrhea.
Men receiving hormone therapy during prostate cancer treatments can typically have an issue of weight gain. My father particularly experienced this and one of the tricks that helped him included reducing his condiments such as butter, mayonnaise, tartar sauce, whipped cream, and coffee creamer. He also avoided fried foods and increased his intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Lean meats and low-fat dairy products also became important.
**Now all of these symptoms may not apply you, but many of these ideas did help my dad with his particular symptoms and made him feel physically better as he went through his prostate cancer treatment. The emphasis was on mild but healthy foods that would be easily digested and not cause further weight gain. And modifying eating patterns kept his energy up and his stomach upset to a minimum.
Eating Hints for Cancer Patients Before, During, and After Treament. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Hyattsville, Maryland, 2006.


love it! good fabric :) ordered 1 size bigger and it fits.
it is a croptop and condition be described, so if you not croptops please buy this. i normally a m bought a and is good.
came send, satisfied very, size, seller recommend!
fabric is light and comfortable. such as the excellent money) two заказывала directly with this shop. package самару came in very fast. wear size s, very very slim, and here заказала too, effect is good.
like t-shirt are very good. recommend seller fast shipping.


very quiet setting close to a small country road with lovely views over rolling hills. Distances: to the next village with shops, bars and supermarkets about 4 km, to Corinaldo 6 km, to Senigallia 16 km to Jesi 24 km and to the international Airport of Ancona about 40 km.
About 17 km to the sandy beaches of Senigallia.
The house was renovated in a very elaborate and careful way. Nothing to do but to move in.
About 260 m² of gross space (including the walls) on two floors and two singe-story extensions which are containing a garage, a storeroom and the laundry, connected to the a utility room in the main builing. The very bright ground floor consits of the mentioned utility room, corridor with staircase, kitchen, lounge with fireplace and a bath. The area upstairs is accessible by inner and outdoor stairs and is split into four bedrooms (two of them with balcony) and a bath.
about 2,800 m² of a wonderful garden with olives and fruit trees, roses and many other ornamental plants, a vegetable patch and some grapevines and even a private well is there. The property is completely fenced, with remote controlled gate.
Electricity, water, telephone, gas central heating and alarm system are present.


Hardwood flooring has been adding warmth and charm to homes in Chicago since the earliest days of residential construction. With its natural beauty, durability and wide range of colors and tones, hardwood has been a popular choice for floors, from cottage-style homes to Victorian mansions. It's still a staple of the home building industry today.
What's changed over the years is the number of options available in wood floors. Solid hardwood is a beautiful and resilient floor covering, but it has some limitations. In today's industry, you now have alternatives that are more suitable for certain applications. These optional flooring materials aren't necessarily superior to solid wood; they simply fill a need that couldn't be met in the past.
Let's compare the types of hardwood floors available for your home in today's building industry.
This flooring consists of laminated layers of wood or cellulose, impregnated with resins and with alternating grain structures to increase strength and reduce expansion and contraction. These layers are then bonded to a genuine wood veneer surface. This combination gives you the look and texture of a real wood floor on a base that won't absorb moisture like solid hardwood.
Unlike solid hardwood, this flooring can be installed below ground level and directly over concrete. Theses floors are available in a wide range of woods, colors and widths and some are self-locking, which allows installation without adhesive or fasteners. Some can be sanded and refinished a limited number of times, although it's important to realize that the hardwood layer is only a few millimeters thick. Professional refinishing is a must with this type of flooring to prevent permanent damage.
Engineered flooring be your only option if you want to install hardwood floors in your basement. The overall thickness is also only 3/8" to 1/2", making it a suitable choice for installations where the thickness is a factor. Professional installation is always your best option for guaranteed results.
This type of floor may cost more per square foot than engineered floors and must be installed above ground level over a plywood subfloor. They are also best installed by qualified professionals. That said, they can often be a better investment than the alternatives.
Typical thicknesses for solid hardwood flooring are 5/16" and 3/4", allowing you to sand and refinish them many times. That means that minor damage can be more easily repaired and you can even change the color of your floor if desired. Both solid and engineered floors require regular maintenance, and solid floors allow more aggressive treatment. They are also quieter, have a more substantial "feel" than the alternatives and, of course, are available in a great variety of woods, colors, styles, widths, textures, and finishes.
Hardwood flooring, like most natural building materials, is available in various grades. Grading is based on the number of flaws and natural "imperfections" such as knots per piece. There are other qualities to consider, too, such as the relative hardness of the wood variety, which, of course, affects its durability.
We offer a full range of services in Chicago for your hardwood floors, including hardwood flooring installation, repair, cleaning, hardwood floor buff & coat, hardwood flooring sanding and refinishing. Whether you want to add new floors or restore the original beauty of your existing floor, our expert staff is ready to ensure your satisfaction with state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. We take all the necessary precautions to protect your home and family and utilize the safest products on the market as well as providing the shortest possible completion times.
Take the time to browse our service description pages and learn more about what we offer. There, you'll find detailed information on our procedures and videos of actual projects so you can see the process and the results for yourself. Let us bring the rich beauty of natural hardwood flooring to your home or breathe new life into your worn or damaged floors.


These are truly rare decks, as those pictured are the only ones I have seen. There is a red background version and a yellow background version. They each have a grey and a white border with white corners. A Coke bottle is in the middle and "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" is on each end, facing in opposite directions. They are bridge decks and the ace of spades for the red deck has a C 2956 code on it and for the yellow a W2901. The manufacturer is the Atlantic Playing Card Co. and I estimate the date to be the 1930s. I have no idea if this was a company sponsored deck or one done by a bottler.
When I first was collecting Coca-Cola cards, I heard about these silhouette girl decks but no one I talked to had ever actually seen them. Eventually I did find some. They come in red and green versions, the silhouette is in the middle and they are labeled "Drink Coca-Cola Delicious and Refreshing". All three decks I have come in a gold top, black bottom box. They are bridge decks and are manufactured by the Atlantic Playing Card Co. The ace of spades has a Z 2902 code on all three decks. They were gold-edged. The one red deck had a number of extra cards and material with it but unfortunately the bridge instruction card has no date on it. That in itself may mean something. I again do not know if this was company sponsored or a more local or regional bottler effort. I am guessing late 1930s or early 1940s for their first production.
These are very rare decks with an unusual story. Presumably during the late 1930s, when the wheat decks (described in detail below) were manufactured, the Piqua, Ohio bottling company had a promotion under which if the customer sent in 16 of a coupon card (the coupon cards are also pictured,and they display cartons of Coke, on an image of either the red or blue background wheat decks and the carton circled in black) the bottler would send the customer a deck of cards. The customer also had to send in 5 cents if they wanted it mailed. The coupons said they would get a deck "of which this coupon is a sample". But there are so few of the actual decks with a black carton that either not many customers took the bottler up on the offer, which given the size of Piqua could be the case, or I suspect what they got was the usual wheat deck. There are a very large number of the coupons around, however, so I would think there would be more carton decks if carton decks were actually delivered. Another case where having access to card manufacturer order records would be wonderful. I also have and have seen one similar red and one blue coupon from the Hagerstown, Maryland bottler. The blue coupon is identical to the Piqua ones but the red coupon does not have the trademark designation under Coca-Cola and has different print stylization. Perhaps other bottlers also made the offer? This question has now been answered. See the pictures of multiple coupon cards sent to me by Rodney Neat and Matthew Schacht. Note that there were also apparently coupon cards relating to some of the barred decks found under the Gold and Black Bars section. Really amazing items, thank you Rodney and Matthew.
The decks themselves are red or blue decks with "Take Home a Carton" above the circled carton and "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" below it. The print is stylized differently than the normal wheat decks. They otherwise seem identical to the normal wheat decks. And I have seen one of these in an orange with a scalloped border deck (the general case of these decks is described below) with the carton in a black circle. It came in a green cutout box. No code on the ace, but I am guessing the date is similar.
Another very unusual deck, the only one I have seen, a dark green background, "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" in gold script, with a gold border and some fancy white and gold decoration in the corners and it is gold-leaved. In a silver cardboard box, this is a bridge deck manufactured by the U.S. Playing Card Co. The ace of spades has A 2892 coded on it and the extra joker has "Between You and Me" text and the 1939 association copyright. This appears to me to be a general playing card company designed deck, which likely a particular bottler ordered, accounting for its rarity. Obviously manufactured no earlier than 1939, although Petretti lists it as a 1938.
These decks are quite hard to find. There is a green and orange oval version and they have "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" on them. They are bridge decks and they are Remembrance playing cards from Brown & Bigelow. The "Society Note" or extra joker has a copyright of 1939 by the Association of American Playing Card Manufacturers and the bridge instruction card is effective March 1, 1935. Based on that, the deck must have been first manufactured no earlier than 1939. Note that for the double deck, the box has no Coca-Cola information on it and this may be an example of someone creating a double deck, since the decks appear to be worn or aged differentially. Also note the version of the deck with only the gold bottle in the oval window.
These are very rare decks, the only ones I have seen like this. Manufactured by the U.S. Playing Card Company, they are probably a manufacturer design. There is a blue deck and a red deck. The blue deck has a red side border with some frills, then gold. The red deck has a blue line side border and the rest is the same. The top of the box is gold on the red deck and silver on the blue deck. The bottom is a tannish color for the blue deck and a greenish shade for the red deck. Both bottoms have a pasted on label that says "Made by the Makers of Congress Playing Cards" and "Riveria", which perhaps is the design name. The bridge card is dated 1935, so I suspect these are late 1930s to early 1940s and were produced in a small quantity for one bottler.
There are a variety of decks with a basic green or red background and gold and black bars along the right, and sometimes left, border. I believe these were widely ordered, but by local bottlers. I have not seen anything that suggests the Company itself promoted them, but a large number of bottling companies around the country have their names on decks. The most common are the generic versions with a series of bars on the right side. But you see pictured as well some decks with a bar on the left side. The decks say "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles", italicized or plain. All these decks were manufactured by Brown & Bigelow, are bridge decks and I again believe the earliest date of production would have been 1939. Generally they are in soft boxes but I have several in a dark brown cutout top box and a couple in green cutout top boxes. I have one with a mailer cover. Some of the bottlers changed the phrasing. Here is a list of bottlers for the green version, with the changed phrasing, if applicable: Great Falls, Montana "In Bottles at Work or Play"; Walla Walla, Washington, same phrase; Waco, Texas, same phrase; Galesburg, Illinois, same phrase; Grand Forks, North Dakota, same phrase; Raleigh, North Carolina bottler, same phrase; Billings Montana,, standard phrase, plain; Herrin,Illinois, standard phrase, italicized; J.J. Flynn & Co., Quincy, Iowa, standard phrase, plain; and Tell City, very different, "Drink Coca-Cola at Work or Play. It Belongs in Your Ice Box at Home". For the red version, the bottlers and phrasing are: for Waco, Walla Walla and J. J. Flynn, the same; for Glendive Ice & Beverage Co., the standard phrase; and for Mason City, Iowa, no In Bottles, just a "Delicious & Refreshing" in its place.
This is a very rare deck which is a combination of several other themes. It is a red background with the gold and black bars on the left, but it also has the black carton in a circle logo and the "Take Home a Carton. Drink Coca Cola in Bottles" phrasing. It is a bridge deck, made by Brown & Bigelow and I again suspect first produced in the late 1930s or early 1940s.
Another common set of decks, one with a red and one with a blue background, and a gold arrowed border. Also manufactured by Brown & Bigelow and once again, the evidence suggests to me that production began in 1939 at the earliest. These decks also say "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" in italics. These are all Hund & Eger decks, with one exception which is a red deck from the Enid, Oklahoma bottler and one each of the red and blue from the Miami bottler, these both came in dark brown cutout top boxes. Some of the H & E boxes have a printers' union symbol and some don't. Almost all I have seen are in soft boxes; I have a couple in cutout boxes but I think they were put in those later. These are bridge decks.
There is a series of very rare decks with a gold bottle on the card. One of these is a green background with gold and black bars deck, the bottle appears to replace the usual advertising phrase but the cards inside are the normal gold bar on the right side cards. This is a pinochle deck, uncoded ace of spades. I suspect it may have been made pinochle from a couple of decks. Made by Brown & Bigelow. I have a red and a blue arrowed border deck, with the gold bottle and no wording--Brown & Bigelow, bridge decks, uncoded aces of spades. One of the decks has a 1935 bridge card and a coupon saying if you bring 20 to a retailer they will give you the deck. It is from the Tulsa bottler. I also have what appears to be a very light blue, but may be faded, couple of cards with a gold bottle and a frilly border and no wording. One of the cards, however, is a joker, looks like a Brown & Bigelow joker, dating to the 1930s.
This is a relatively difficult to find set of decks, one with a blue background, one with a pink one, and with a white zig-zag inner border and gold outer one. The say "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles", italicized. These are also Brown & Bigelow cards and I believe, date from the late 1930s, as they have the 1935 bridge card. The ace of spades is uncoded. I have one deck from Muscatine, Iowa.
Another set of "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" decks, very hard to find. One has an orange background and one a green, both with a gold and white arrowed border. Also produced by Brown & Bigelow, dating from the late 1930s. Bridge decks with no ace of spades code.
Relatively common set of decks, one orange background, one green, both with gold frilly trim before a white border and with "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles", the italicized version. All of the green ones I have are Hund & Eger, and most do not have the printers' union symbol. These come in a green cutout top box, manufactured by Brown & Bigelow and are pinochle decks. I have a deck with a 1935 bridge card in it, don't know why since these are pinochle decks, and a deck with two blank cards, which makes sense because you don't use jokers in pinochle, but some of the decks have jokers. Aces are uncoded. On the orange background side, I do have three decks that are not H & E. These non-H & E decks are pinochle ones as well. Like so many decks, I think these are late 1930s also.
This pair of decks are pinochle cards, made by Brown & Bigelow, with the 1939 trade association extra joker, so probably first made in that year at the earliest. One deck has a gray background with a white and blue border, the other has a tan background with a white and burgundy border. Almost all are produced by Hund & Eger bottling company. I had an email exchange with Louis Hund, the grandson of the owner, who said that pinochle was his grandmother's favorite card game and that is why these decks were produced. The decks have "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" and the bottler name. The "in Bottles" is italicized. The printers' union symbol is on the box. I do have two decks of the tan version that are not Hund & Eger and have "in Bottles" in regular script and the trademark designation. I also have a double deck of the tan version, in a gold and black box.
This next set of decks are the "wheat" decks. They are red or blue with a left side border comprised of what appear to be wheat stalks. These are very common decks and are found roughly equally in a Hund & Eger Bottling Company version and a generic version. It does not appear that they were ordered or promoted by the Company. They all say "Drink Coca Cola in Bottles". They all are bridge decks and are manufactured by Brown & Bigelow. One version has the "In Bottles" in plain script, these are said to date from 1938 and another version has "In Bottles" in italics, these supposedly are also from 1938. I think this must be erroneous because what appear to be the complete decks all have the extra joker with the trade association 1939 copyright. I am assuming that the earliest date of manufacture is therefore 1939. They come in two types of boxes, a traditional "soft" box and a red cutout top "hard" box. Some have the trademark designation and some don't. The ones from Hund & Eger Bottling Co. have that name on the bottom of the front of the boxes and cards. The italicized "In Bottles" seem to be rarer. They are mostly in the hard boxes and I have not seen one with a trademark designation. I have one in a red soft box and two in a blue soft box; these boxes have an 80-529 code under the "In Bottles", but only on the box, not on the cards. None of these have a printers' union symbol under them. The non-italicized decks all seem to have the trademark designation. They are all in the hard cutout box, with the exception of the one deck pictured in a gold box with a wheat card glued on top. I am inclined to think this was done by a customer, but the deck inside is sealed. I also have one non-italicized deck which is labeled "Paris Texas" on the bottom of the cards, so at least one other bottler distributed them. These decks also do not have a printers' union symbol. The Hund & Eger decks I have seen are all italicized "In Bottles" and all are in the soft box and all have a printers' union symbol on the box but not on the cards. Some of the ace of spades in wheat decks say "Made by Brown & Bigelow St. Paul". Many of these decks are found with an outer mailer box, indicating that customers could order them from the bottler. There are also a number of double wheat decks, some of which probably were produced by the bottler and some put together by customers. There is a picture of one in a plastic case with an ivory bottom and clear flip top. The burgundy felt and cardboard box double decks in which the bottom slips into the cover are fairly common. Most have a red and blue deck and I have seen them with the regular and italicized "In Bottles". I have not seen a Hund & Eger double deck in these boxes. The grayish felt boxes say "Season's Greetings from Galesburg Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Galesburg, Illinois." I have seen several of these, not surprisingly since we will see that this bottler had a fondness for playing cards. All these double decks have a red and blue regular print wheat deck. Finally, I have a silver bottom, gold and burgundy felt top italicized double deck.
This is another deck with the same design as the Chautauqua Club deck seen in the Third-Party and Vendor Decks section, but says "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles With Your Game". Only one I have seen.
I have only a card of this unusual deck, a green background and a kind of gear imagery. It says "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles". I can only guess that it is from the 1930s or 1940s.
This is a Canadian (said to be so because it is made by a card company located in Canada but I am not sure that is determinative) double deck, one with a red background, one with a blue background, a lovely image of a woman holding a glass and a bottle of Coca-Cola, with a Drink Coca-Cola logo. The cards come in a flip top box, with a red cardboard top and gold bottom. The top cover says Drink Coca-Cola and The Pause That Refreshes. The inside cover says they are a product of the International Playing Card Co. This is a bridge set commonly dated as 1939.
This is another rare card, thank you Barbara Lunaberg and Matt Schacht for helping get the image. This was another common Brown & Bigelow card stock, but very, very hard to find the Coke decks which used it. Most likely from the late 1930s or early 1940s. The card stock comes in other colors, so there may be other Coca-Cola decks in a similar pattern but a different color. I suspect that all these very rare decks using a standard card stock were ordered by one, maybe two bottlers, probably in lots of 100 or so, so very few survive.
As mentioned in the Take Home a Carton subsection, bottlers used coupons for playing cards as an inducement to purchase product. The images below show a number of fronts and backs of these coupons. Note that one of these coupons is from Starr Brothers, which made a commonly used bottle top opener.


text:
Q: Is there a more essential solution to this problem? $f(x),g(x):[0,1]\to [0,1]$,Prove that:$$\int_0^1f(g(x))dx\leqslant \int_0^1f(x)dx+\int_0^1g(x)dx$$
The solution uses $F(x)=f(x)-x$ and turns the problem into:$$\int_0^1F(g(x))dx\leqslant \frac12$$
Is there more obvious or essential approach?


text:
require('./angular-locale_sw-ke');
module.exports = 'ngLocale';


Far away in the remote, untraveled southwestern French countryside, en route from the enchanting old city with an ancient cathedral to the mystical Pyrenees which appear like a mirage at the most unanticipated moments, there is a small village which contains two homes, an eleventh century church, and a very special farm known as Pistoulet.
This is the opening paragraph from author Jana Kolpen's charming little book titled The Secrets of Pistoulet...an Enchanted Fable of Food, Magic and Love. Kolpen's 1996 fable is also the inspiration behind one of Pfaltzgraff's popular French country patterns, Pistoulet.
Pistoulet is a mystical farmhouse where weary guest can find quiet respite and have their spiritual maladies, the parts of their lives which have fallen asleep, magically awakened by specially made potages.
I imagine the farmhouse table in Pistoulet's vine covered dining room to look something like this, with colorful dinnerware in patterns which appear as if they've been plucked directly from the landscape of the French Pyrenees countryside.
I love this adorable bunny covered serving dish...perfect for a favorite side dish or even to hold some yummy croissants.
These cheery soup bowls would be the idyllic vessels for serving up one of the special potages created by Pistoulet's wonderful permanent residents, Madame Claude and Monsieur Andre.
I adore the gorgeous green color of these darling dessert bowls...the hallmark color of the spring season. I am sure that Pistoulet's guest, Mademoiselle J., would love to see these bowls filled with her favorite glaces.
From the mugs to the dessert bowls, Pfaltzgraff's Pistoulet dinnerware is beautifully weighted and decorated. The center of the dinner plates are adorned with a wispy French fleur de lis and trimmed in a whimsical poka dot print.
I decided to set my table outside as to celebrate this first day of the most magical season of the year. Just like the awakening potages of Pistoulet, spring heals the maladies of our souls as it brings nature back to life after a long winter's sleep.
Au revoir for now mes amies.
Love that soup bunny the most!
wishing it was spring here be we are still caught in the winter cold.
Oh how lovely!! Those dishes are amazing!
Yes I love that soup bunny as well!
I just love your post. The dishes are beautiful with all their pretty colors. Yea for spring so glad that it is here.
Beautiful post, Barbara! Your springtime tablescape is truly magical and befitting of an enchanted French Inn!
Barbara, what a beautiful tablescape! The colors are just stunning. You have captured the essence of the French Countryside wonderfully! Happy Spring!
BEAUTIFUL Barbara!! So bright and cheery, perfect for spring!
the china is to die for cute, especially the bunny tureen! Everything just makes you smile! What a fun great table!
Your tablescape is just charming! I love the cheery yellow of the bowls.
Fabulous table! I love this china!! Wonderful photos, I enjoyed your post!
I am so glad I came across this post of yours. I found the Pistoulet dishes on-line in the summer of 2011. There is nowhere to buy them locally so I could not ever check them out for exact color and quality. I still want them and it sounds like you like them. I have spring break in just 3 days so I am will have time to find them again on-line.
Barbara, the dishes are just fabulous! A bright pop of color to welcome spring.
Barb, I really like Pistoulet, and I am glad you shared this post with us!
Such a perfect choice for Spring. Lovely.


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Thriller | Within the Silence | Nicola Avery
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy.
We're delighted to be taking part in a tour on publication day for Within the Silence by Nicola Avery.
Alice-Jane was bowled over by this dark paranormal thriller … maybe an ideal Christmas stocking/present for the thriller lover in your life?
Publisher: Browne Raven Publishing (22 Nov. 2018)
Strangers are not all there is to fear. Danger can also come from someone close by, someone you'd never suspect…
Jon Stone is a revered psychiatrist, doting husband, loving father. But Jon has many secrets.
Maddy Stone, Jon's daughter, has her own secrets. But she can't tell anyone.
Zara, Maddy's loving stepsister and best friend, faces a race against time. Can she unearth the family's dark secrets before a tragic history repeats itself?
Two girls: one living and lost, the other scarred and silent, must join forces to prevent the unspeakable…
Within the Silence is a dark paranormal thriller which unpicks the 'perfect family tapestry', filled with mysterious twists, sinister discoveries, dangerous and terrifying intentions, heartbreaking confessions, and a love so powerful it crosses even death.
Within the Silence is available to purchase in digital and paperback formats.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read as Nicola Avery has written the sensitive subject of child abuse with such a candid yet delicate approach, that allows one to focus on the mass of emotions involved for all parties. One can immerse oneself into the world of the abused child but also the additional family members whose innocence reign supreme – presenting conflicting emotions for the reader.
With the main characters of Maddy and Zara, the author has addressed the concept of a mother's love being so powerful that it knows no bounds. This statement is such a poignant notion that it stays with the reader long after turning the last page.
Within the Silence is a compelling read, leading you on a journey of how family secrets of abuse will always be discovered. Nicola Avery has still managed to maintain that despite the evils of the past, living in the future and surrounding oneself with love can prove the saving grace for anyone.
Nicola Avery was born in Surrey England, moving to Australia in her early twenties. With an artist and writer as a father and a ballet dancer for a mother, Nicola was destined to go back to her creative roots. Returning to the U.K. as a single parent, she continued a career within the corporate world of finance, finding time to launch her own costume design business, until her daughter finished full time education. At this stage in her life, fascinated about the concept of a past existence, Nicola studied and qualified as a past life therapist/hypnotherapist using these skills to further research the purpose and meaning of life. She channels these experiences, and her experience on Majorcan waters, in her two thrillers: Whispered Memories and Within the Silence.
Nicola lives now in Surrey England, with her partner and two cats, she has one daughter and a granddaughter. She is currently working on a children's book and another thriller. "If there's a genre I can cross and mix, I will do it."
Connect with Nicola Avery
Twitter @NicolaAveryAuth
Don't forget to check out the other hosts on tour.
Read all posts in the thriller genre on Jera's Jamboree.
Family comes first! I'm married with two son's in their 20's and have a little more time now to follow my passions. I love my role as an Inclusion Lead in KS2 and I'm passionate about early help. I'm a member of Bournemouth's Early Help Operational Board working alongside others to instigate change and growth. I'm also passionate about my love of reading, being out in nature and creating with crochet. I've been blogging for eight years at Jera's Jamboree.
Browne Raven PublishingParanormal ThrillerPsychological ThrillerThriller
By Shaz Goodwin
Thriller | Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy
Literary YA Fiction | The Luster of Lost Things by Sophie Chen Keller
Women's Fiction | Seven Days of Us | Francesca Hornak
Fabulous review, sounds like a powerful read!
Thanks for commenting lovely.


Cresset supports academic research through flexible licensing terms. Licenses have been created specifically to facilitate academic research within an academic institute.
See also, the academic licensing option for Flare, which gives fresh insights into structure-based design.
Licenses should not be used for work on projects that intend to create commercial output.


We are a group of specialists who are each experts in their particular field and between us we cover all areas of the ears, nose, throat and neck. We can help with all types of ENT problems from ear wax to throat cancer. We see and treat both adults and children and offer outpatient and inpatient care.


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Move to Team Penske may help Ryan Blaney's goal of racing in Indy 500
By Jerry BonkowskiJul 26, 2017, 6:29 PM EDT
Answering a question from a fan, Ryan Blaney admitted on Team Penske's Facebook Live broadcast Wednesday morning that one of his racing goals is to one day drive in the Indianapolis 500.
"I would like to do that sometime in the future," Blaney said. "That's something I've always wanted to do."
In other words, Blaney wants to run the "double" — racing in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.
Does Ryan @Blaney want to run in the #Indy500 someday with @Team_Penske?
"Maybe now, I can convince Mr. Penske to let me do that." #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Ir9W0igXhf
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 26, 2017
"It's obviously two great races in the same day and obviously challenging for a driver," Blaney said. "It's the most challenging day you can have, running 1,100 miles, not counting the flight back from Indiana to North Carolina.
"All the back and forth you go from testing for the 500, because they're testing there for three weeks, and just going back and forth between the two different cars.
"They're completely different, drive way different and that would be really tough to go back and forth."
Blaney then added with a smile, "But maybe since I'm a Penske driver now, I can convince Mr. Penske to let me do it. That would be really neat, but maybe I have to win some races for him first and then maybe he'll let me go over and do that."
Blaney, 23, made major news Wednesday when it was announced he'll leave Wood Brothers Racing at the end of this season and will pilot a third NASCAR Cup car – the No. 12 Ford Fusion – for Team Penske starting next season.
In a subsequent teleconference that included Blaney and Team Penske president Tim Cindric, Blaney's Indy 500 goal caught Cindric a bit off-guard.
"I got to tune into this Facebook stuff," Cindric laughed. "I got to get connected because I missed that one."
Blaney admitted that he's mentioned his interest the 500, but that's about it.
"It's gotten as far down the road as me talking about it," he said. "That's as far as it's gotten."
To which Cindric replied, saying with another laugh, "Hasn't got to my room yet, but he's got a lot of years left."


He was an honorary patron of the HAJB which meant a lot to us. Especially when the kids went over to Montreax to play in about 14 venues where Oscar was our patron saint. We remember the work that he, Ray Brown and Phil Nimmons did as teachers. We all miss Oscar. He was the giant.
I think what I'm going to remember about OP is that despite it all, despite the ridiculous amounts of racism he had to deal with in his life he ended up on a postage stamp. We don't do that for just anybody. He was a spectacular force in Canada one of our great exports around the world, and I thought it was very neat that lived in Mississauga. He just felt comfortable in Mississauga. If there's a bittersweet element to this it's that like most Canadians who achieved greatness he's not as well loved at home as he is abroad. But that's kind of typical.
Oscar Peterson was certainly my introduction to jazz music by way of my mother. She used to play all his records from the London House in Chicago and all the great trios he had with Barney Kessel on guitar, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ed Thigpen on drums and of course Ray Brown. Certainly meant a lot to me just in terms of his virtuosity the wonderful way he had with a ballad how he always had a sense of joy humour in everything he did musically. I got to meet him once and it was a big thrill.
There are so many great things about Oscar. His association with pianist Art Tatum. His 1949 concert for Jazz at the Philharmonic where he was literally introduced to America.
My fondest memory of Oscar Peterson is the trio recordings that he did with Ray Brown. The man is just awesome. It's incredible to hear the musicality of that group in a trio setting.
Oscar Peterson is the cornerstone of the jazz community. Without him a lot of the Canadian jazz community wouldn't have grown to what it is and we miss him dearly.
I was hanging out with Stevie Wonder 4-5 weeks ago and all he talked about was Oscar Peterson and he wanted to meet Oscar Peterson so myself and another friend had to figure out how to get to Oscar Peterson and we were able to get Stevie over to Oscar's house. I didn't get to go but the story is that he got into the door and kissed Oscar Peterson's hand.
I met Oscar Peterson on several occasions, first when I was working with (famed French jazz violinist) Stephane Grappelli. But the last time I saw Oscar, he was working in Tokyo as was I and he was playing at the Bluenote, I went along and saw Oscar cause I hadn't seen him in a long time. And this was after he had the stroke. And he came on the stage, they had a wheelchair for him, and he sat down and he played and it was such a beautiful evening with beautiful music. I'd seen him play many times before at Ronnie Scotts in London and various other places and doing all those amazing things. He was playing more sparse, more sparse than before. But he just played so beautifully. He was a man so full of music and we all miss him.
I was extremely saddened when I heard that Oscar had passed away. It was a shock. I knew he hadn't been well for a long time it was still a terrible shock. It's always horrible when the jazz community loses one of our family. And it's like losing your favourite uncle. It was horrible that he passed away. God bless him and I'm sure he's enchanting the angels.
Sad to hear that he passed. He's going to be missed. He left a really large legacy with regards to jazz music, never mind Canadian music. I know so many people who worked with him, learned from him. Played with him.
Oscar Peterson is a motherfucking piano player!
Oscar's star is still rising and as we continue listening he just becomes greater and brighter, stronger and clearer, deeper and sweeter.
Oscar Peterson was a genius, a great performer and a musical architect. A humble man who made us believe there is no such thing as boundaries.
Oscar was a great inspiration to me. the fact that he was a brother born and raised in Canada and reached international acclaim is an incredible accomplishment. I got the opportunity to meet him at the UMAC awards and shook his hand. It's always a challenge to get national recognition as a black artist coming out of this country but to know that Oscar did his thing back in the 1950's , and the fact that he was the recipient of so many international awards, will never be forgotten Oscar Peterson is the epitome of the title 'national treasure'.
Oscar Peterson is the reason I fell in love with jazz. The world is a better place because of his music, which will live on forever.
Oscar was my link to such jazz pianists as Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, and James P. Johnson who each influenced him in his early days. From listening to his recordings dating from his 1940s RCA recording of "Sheik of Araby" (I still have a 78 rpm copy) to his "A Night In Vienna" DVD in 2003, I remain in awe of his musicianship. He was also, of course, a significant composer with his "Canadiana Suite" being his master work.


Please give inputs to start implementing the new SAP HCM security setup for the modules OM, PA, EM and ESS & MSS. I have worked in the support project but am not sure the approach including product development, planning, and quality-assurance for the Security setup of SAP HCM.
What I need is from our client, they want to implement the above mentioned modules and to build the Security. Please can anyone guide through how to proceed on requirement gathering, configuration settings to the base of security, required information and steps to follow.
Your inputs are really helpful and appreciated.
Firstly, check if all the employees are assigned to any personnel number / positions and how the organisational structure is linked.
look thourgh transaction OOAC in this you can check which switch can be activated.
check transaction HRAUTH, in this you can check what BADI's can be implemented as per the requirement.
If you go through the above transaction, probable you will get some idea on structural authorizations and then you can think on your strategy of implementing structural authorization. ( this also requires lot of developer inputs and functional inputs).