HOLDEN has got 2018 off to a brilliant start with the launch of its Equinox sport utility vehicle (SUV), a high quality vehicle packed with extras and a few surprises.
Clearly aimed at people who want a little more from their SUV, the Equinox comes in five variants, starting from the entry level LS and moving progressively up to the top of the range LTZ-V, the vehicle used for the test drive.
It is a progressive upgrade starting with a turbo-charged 127kW 1.5 litre, six-speed automatic in the LS and standard features like a rear-view camera and a six-speaker audio system.
It's all onwards and upwards from there with the LS+ getting autonomous emergency braking and the safety package of blind spot and forward collision alert with heads-up warning, lane departure warning and a leather steering wheel.
The LT level gains a 188kW 2.0 litre turbo engine with a nine speed auto gearbox, or a 1.6 litre six-speed auto turbo diesel as an alternative. An eight inch touch-screen, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control and remote engine start are added to the mix.
By the time you get to the LTZ-V, you have a vehicle packed with technology; combined with a drivetrain that will take you anywhere.
For instance, all-wheel drive is standard, the alloy wheels have been enlarged to 19 inches, and there are nice touches like a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel.
In fact, running through the features of the Equinox range, it is easy to miss something out but there are some that are different to say the least.
For instance, the blind spot alert and lane departure warnings convey their message to you by vibrating the HAPTIC (tactile feedback technology) driver's seat. Early airline pilots were said to fly by the seat of their pants, now you can drive that way too.
Also interesting is that the back passenger seats are heated, which is rare to say the least. The black leather trim is only one of the many signs of a high quality interior that includes features like wireless charging for your mobile phone.
The Equinox is a five seater; the rear seats come down conveniently with one touch, for a massively extended boot space. Starting from the LTZ variant, the tailgate becomes hands-free and the opening height can be programmed, which is handy in overhead restricted spaces.
In a very handy addition for those rainy days, this SUV even has room in the door to leave a wet umbrella with an air intake to dry it.
These are just the icing on the cake for the Equinox, which is clearly aimed at people on the way up; who want its blend of comfort, features and power. It sure is happy new year from Holden.


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Home / Columns and Features / Opining on Brandon Beane, SU hoops, a poor investment, baseball's return
Opining on Brandon Beane, SU hoops, a poor investment, baseball's return
By: Scott Pitoniak March 15, 2022
If you pressed me to rank the most indispensable Buffalo Bills of this glorious era, I'd go with quarterback Josh Allen in the top spot, followed by general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott.
Obviously, you need talented players to win, and, in my humble opinion, Allen has emerged as the most talented player in the NFL – a big, spectacular athlete who can beat you with arm, legs, guts and improv.
I'm not trying to diminish the intense, incredibly hard-working McDermott by putting him in the third spot. He is among the top 10 coaches in the league and has done a marvelous job raising a moribund franchise from the ashes of the "Wrecks" Ryan error, but, as the 13-second debacle in the playoffs showed, there's still room for improvement.
Beane, meanwhile, has proven to be a master architect, the best GM we've seen in Western New York since Bill Polian was constructing the Bills Super Bowl teams. He continues to handle the salary cap, free agency and the draft with a nimbleness needed in order to stay in contention, even in years like these, when cap space is at a premium.
The moves he's made in restructuring contracts of existing players and adding free agents such as Pro Bowl guard Rodger Saffold and defensive linemen Tim Settle and DaQuan Jones have strengthened the roster. Yes, there is much work to be done – cornerback remains a pressing need – but I'm confident Beane will keep bolstering a roster capable of winning it all this year.
As March Madness tips off, Syracuse fans are dealing with March Sadness, as the Orange sit at home following a 16-17 season, the first losing record in the program since the 1968-69 team went 9-16. Before performing a post-mortem on this season and looking forward to the next one, digest the enormity of that streak for a moment. Think about it: Richard Nixon was in the White House the last time Syracuse experienced a losing basketball season. Fifty-three consecutive winning records. That's a mark college basketball blue bloods Duke, North Carolina and UCLA have never matched.
That said, Jim Boeheim will have his work cut out for him, as he attempts to rebound from the only losing campaign in his 46 seasons as SU head coach. In all likelihood his two sons, Buddy and Jimmy, won't be returning even though Buddy has another year of eligibility and Jimmy could petition for an additional year because the graduate transfer's senior season at Cornell two years ago was benched by COVID.
One guy, though, who may opt to return is Cole Swider, and that would be a huge boost because the sweet-shooting 6-foot-8 forward averaged 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Center Jesse Edwards, arguably the Atlantic Coast Conference's most improved player, is scheduled to return for his senior season. Had he not suffered a late-season fractured wrist, Syracuse's streak of winning seasons would be intact and the Orangemen might very well be playing in the NCAAs.
Joe Girard and Symir Torrence return in the backcourt. To me, Girard's natural position is shooting guard. The fleet-footed, deft ball-handling Symir showed an ability to play point guard in the ACC tournament, averaging 10 assists per game. If he could just improve his jump shot a bit, he could be the answer. Other help may come from recruiting. Five players are committed, and the Orange are still in the running for highly regarded point guard prospects Judah Mintz and Skyy Clark. Top recruit Benny Williams was missing in action most of this season as he attempted to make the leap from high school to college ball. Hopefully, he'll be able to play more to his potential next season.
Timing is everything in sports and investing. Saturday, a deep-pocketed collector forked over $518,000 to purchase what was being billed as the final touchdown pass of Tom Brady's illustrious career. The football used in that historic feat had been tossed into the stands by Tampa Bay Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans during January's playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, and the fan who caught it, smartly decided to cash in.
The man who bought the auctioned-off artifact figured it was a solid investment whose value would only continue rising as time passed. But Sunday afternoon, Brady took the air out of that ball and that investment by announcing he was coming back for a 23rd season. Now, unless Brady suffers a career-ending injury before the season or shocks the world by deciding to retire again, the collector who purchased that ball will never recoup the money he forked over. One sports collecting expert told me that football's value immediately nose-dived by about $400,000, if not more. Ouch!
No one is happier than I that Major League Baseball is back. So great to be talking about trades, free-agent signings and exhibition games than the tone-deaf squabbles of billionaire owners and multi-million-dollar players.
The sport still has some serious issues to address. Finding ways to put more balls into play during this all-or-nothing, home-run-or-strikeout era is of paramount importance, as is speeding up the plodding pace of play, which, hopefully, will quicken with next year's introduction of the pitch clock.
But at least they'll be playing a full schedule this year. To have continued dickering about billions at a time when we're all being crushed by inflation and the tragic news out of Ukraine would have further eroded the game's hold on even die-hards like me.
Best-selling author and nationally honored journalist Scott Pitoniak is the Rochester Business Journal sports columnist.
3:06 pm Tue, March 15, 2022 Rochester Business Journal
Scott Pitoniak

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Mothers of Intention came to Canberra last night along with wonderful Blue Mountains singer/songwriter Anne Ridgeway, to sing at the Merry Muse Folk Club. It was a great night and the harmonies were amazing!
Anne Ridgway has a rich mellifluous voice that complements her 12-string guitar, and the harmonies added by Rosie McDonald and Penny Rankin-Smith from Mothers of Intention contributed further depth and range. And Tony Pyrzakowski's deft fiddle playing gave another dimension to the music. The crowd may not have been large, but it was very appreciative – calling the Mothers back for more at the end of the night. If you missed it then you missed one of the folk music highlights for this year.
The Mothers of Intention gave richly of their talents, and Lainey Balsdon's recorder blends well with Tony's fiddle and and the power of Rosie's guitar.


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Airframe Maintenance
Avionics Installation
Components Repairs
Engine & APU
Engineering & STCs
Interior Refurbishment
Paint Refurbishment
Parts & Rotables Sales
Avionics Satellite
Engine Rapid Response
PMA Library
STC Library
Since Duncan Aviation was founded in 1956, the members of the Duncan family have always been actively involved in leading the company. In addition to the family influence, the company's leadership dynamic includes vice presidents and executive officers of Duncan Aviation who form the Senior Leadership Team. They pursue a constructive dynamic that allows them to strategically position the company for long-term success and respond to sudden changes in the industry.
The Senior Leadership Team is responsible for modeling and maintaining Duncan Aviation's Leadership Values. Duncan Aviation leaders:
Truly care about each team member.
Support and develop each team member's career.
Listen and communicate continuously.
Encourage teamwork within and among all teams.
Focus on individual's strengths.
Celebrate success.
Provide timely and helpful feedback.
Focus on continuous improvement.
Doug Alleman
Vice President Customer Service
Currently vice president of customer service in Lincoln, Nebraska, Doug joined Duncan Aviation 29 years ago as an A&P mechanic in the engine shop. Through the years, he's moved from team leader to tech rep to MPI shop supervisor to engine sales service rep. In 2008, Doug assumed the responsibilities of managing airframe service sales, and in 2009, he added managing the Regional Managers to his lengthening resume. He became the manager of customer service in early 2015, and Doug joined the senior management team in October of that year.
As vice president of customer service, Doug enjoys interacting with Duncan Aviations customers and working with the customer service teams in Lincoln, Nebraska, Battle Creek, Michigan, and Provo, Utah.
Doug and his wife Paula have been married for 28 years, raised their children and have one grandchild. They enjoy boating on their pontoon and going fishing in Canada every year that they can get away.
Mark Cote
V.P., Duncan Aviation Parts Sales, Avionics, Accessories & Satellites
Mark Cote is Duncan Aviation's Vice President of Duncan Aviation Parts Sales, Avionics, Accessories & Satellites. In this position he provides leadership to the production and service areas of aircraft Accessories, Avionics/Instruments Component Repair, Duncan Aviation Parts and Rotables Sales and the network of avionics satellite locations around the United States.
Mark joined Duncan Aviation in 1987 as an avionics technician, fixing navigation and communication equipment. Throughout his career with Duncan Aviation, Mark has held several positions including customer service representative, project manager, program manager and project manager team lead and coordinator. In 2006, he became the Vice President of Completions and Modifications. Mark assumed his current position in 2014.
Mark has an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology.
Mark and his wife have two children. Mark enjoys motorcycle riding, home improvement, staying fit and spending time with his family.
Nate Darlington
Director of Modifications, Battle Creek
Battle Creek, MI (BTL)
Nate started at Duncan Aviation in 2001 as a completions technician in the Interior department. He was promoted to shift supervisor in 2005 and became the department scheduler in 2006. He assumed his current responsibilities in 2009.
Nate enjoys working and interacting with customers. It is gratifying for him to be on the front end of refurbishment projects and see the transformation of aircraft through the eyes of customers.
Nate is married. He is a big sports fan and tries to spend as much time possible outdoors. He enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He supports the United Way to help those in his community.
Chad Doehring
Provo, UT (PVU)
In 1994, Chad was hired at Duncan Aviation as an airframe mechanic. His work specialized in Falcons and Hawkers. During his time with the Airframe department Chad was promoted to shift supervisor and then to assistant manager. In 2004 Chad became Customer Service Manager in Lincoln and was in that role for seven years. Chad returned to the Airframe department in 2011 as Manager. Prior to Duncan Aviation, Chad worked for Northrop Grumman on the B2 bomber as a structure, hydraulic and flight test mechanic.
Chad holds an A&P license and Inspection Authorization (IA) from the FAA.
Chad enjoys spending time with his kids and attending their sports activities. He has four children; two daughters and two sons. Chad is involved in the Nebraska Business Aviation Association and supports the American Heart Association and Seward Recreational sports.
Todd Duncan
Todd Duncan was named Chairman of Duncan Aviation in 2007. In his 30 years with the company, he has served many roles, including vice chair and president of Duncan Aviation component services. Todd has a passion for aviation and has been an active private pilot since 1987, holding instrument and multi-engine ratings. He is also passionate about the business aviation industry and believes in giving back. He is currently serving as Chair of the National Business Aviation Association's Associate Member Advisory Council. He has been a member of that council since 2015 and has also served as Chairman of the board of the National Air Transportation Association. Todd graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a degree in business administration and studied in the Stanford Executive Program in 2007. Along with his wife, Connie, he is active in several philanthropic activities including the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Wesleyan University and Southeast Community College Foundation.
Todd and Connie have twin sons and two daughters-in-law: Harrison and Brooke; and Paul Kent "P.K." and Katie. Todd enjoys many activities with his family including traveling, boating, scuba diving and snow skiing. Todd is an enthusiastic golfer and fisherman, an active Phish Phan and an avid traveler.
Vice President & General Counsel.
As General Counsel, Tom Fischer represents the company, its owners, senior management and employees in legal matters involving customers, vendors, regulators, and legislators.
Tom joined Duncan Aviation in 2007 in his current position. Prior to Duncan Aviation, Tom was president of Spectrum Financial Services, Inc., an Omaha, Nebraska based company that provides insurance and other products and services to financial institutions. He also served as a senior officer and was on the board of directors for Spectrum's affiliated bank holding company, Great Western Bancorp and Spectrum Life Insurance Company; an Arizona based re-insurance company. Before moving to Spectrum, Tom served as vice president, general counsel and secretary for several major financial institutions including First National Lincoln Corp. in Lincoln, Nebraska and most recently, FirsTier Financial, Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska.
Tom has a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska, Omaha and Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association and the Lincoln Bar Association. He holds a Nebraska Real Estate Brokers License as well as several Nebraska insurance licenses and designations.
Tom and his wife Suzi have two grown children and four grandsons. Tom enjoys spending time with family, traveling, sports, and outdoor activities. Tom is a member of the International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association (IAT53A) and a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association where he serves on the Corporate Counsel Executive Committee. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska State Bar Foundation, is a member of the Foundation's Endowment Committee, and serves on the University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor's Board of Counselors.
Travis Grimsley
Director of Maintenance, Battle Creek
In 2019, Travis Grimsley was named Director of Maintenance for Airframe Services at the Duncan Aviation facility in Battle Creek, Michigan. He's also now a part of the Duncan Aviation Senior Management Team.
In 2005, Travis joined the Duncan Aviation team as a Line Services Representative, and he transitioned to Manager of Customer Service in 2016. The common thread in all of his positions at Duncan Aviation has been his genuine desire to provide a positive environment for customers and team members.
When he was growing up, his father was an airline mechanic at Northwest Airlines in Detroit, and he inspired Travis to pursue a career in the aviation industry. Travis earned his pilots license when he was 21 years old, and he earned a Bachelors degree in Business from Western Michigan University in 2012. He feels fortunate to have been able to make a living in working in a field he's always been so fond of.
Travis and his wife Dawn have three children, and in his spare time, they going skiing and boating and travel to Northern Michigan to enjoy the outdoors.
Jamie Harder
As Vice President and CFO, Jamie provides leadership for the accounting, credit, information services, material services, and treasury services areas. Before serving in her new role, Harder was a controller with Duncan Aviation for four years.
Harder earned a degree in Business Administration, Accounting, and Management at Midland University in Fremont and gained seven years of experience working in both private and public accounting prior to coming to Duncan Aviation.
In Harders free time, she spends as much time outside as possible, and that includes working in the yard, going for long bike rides, golfing, and playing volleyball. She also enjoys traveling, cheering for Husker athletics, going to concerts, and playing with her niece and nephew.
Kasey Harwick
V.P., Airframe Maintenance
In January 2019, Kasey Harwick accepted the position of Vice President of Maintenance for the Airframe Department at Duncan Aviations Lincoln, Nebraska, facility.
When Kasey joined Duncan Aviation in 1999, he performed completions on green Astra SPX aircraft, until he transitioned to Airframe, which gave him experience on Learjets and Astras. After more than a year as a Lead Technician, where he added Challengers to his growing expertise, Kasey moved on to Team Leader for the fleet customer program and then he served as Project Manager until mid-2017, when he took on the responsibilities of Airframe Department Manager.
In 2017, Kasey and his family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he accepted the position of Director of Maintenance for the Duncan Aviation facility there, and he became a member of the companys Senior Management Team.
During his 20 years at the company, Kasey has learned that customers choose Duncan Aviation because our team members are dedicated to providing high-quality maintenance and repairs while adhering to aggressive downtimes.
While working at Duncan Aviation, Kasey earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Non-Destructive Testing, an Associate Degree in Science, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a minor in Marketing. In 2018, Kasey earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Creighton Universitys Heider College of Business, and he was recently accepted into Bellevue Universitys Human Capital Management Ph.D. program. Hell begin his residency in Spring 2020.
Kasey and his wife Faith have been married for 17 years and have two daughters Elliott and Charlotte. In his free time, youll find Kasey on the sidelines, cheering on his daughters at one of their many events and working on his classic car and motorcycle.
Aaron Hilkemann
As President and CEO, Aaron C. Hilkemann provides strategic leadership and direction to Duncan Aviation, Inc. to ensure future development and growth for the enterprise.
Aaron joined Duncan Aviation in 1996 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In 1997, he was appointed President. Prior to joining Duncan Aviation, Aaron was Vice President and Director of Financial Operations for FirsTier Financial, Inc. His background includes eight years of public accounting experience with KPMG Peat Marwick where he served as a Senior Audit Manager and concentrated in the areas of manufacturing, construction and banking industries.
Aaron is past Chairman and a current member of the Board of Directors of GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association). He has also served as Past Chairman of the AMAC (Associate Member Advisory Council) of NBAA and the NBAA Board of Directors.
Aaron and his wife, Jennifer, have a blended family of seven children, two boys and five girls. Aaron is active in hiking, hunting, fishing, biking and most recently has become a bee keeper.
Ryan Huss
Manager of Sales
Ryan started at Duncan Aviation in 2001 as an airframe mechanic. After two years he became a lead mechanic and then was promoted to team leader in 2006. He assumed his current sales role in 2012. Prior to Duncan Aviation, Ryan served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airborne Technician with the 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron.
Ryan is a licensed A&P mechanic through Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He enjoys working with customers, building relationships with them and providing them knowledgeable service options for maintaining their aircraft.
Ryan and his wife, Jennifer, have one son, Cole, and two daughters, Ashley and Emily. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, fly fishing, hiking and golfing. Ryan is active in mentoring youth. He stays busy serving as coach on many of his children's youth sports teams.
Jeff Lake
As Executive Vice President and COO, Jeff is responsible for the day-to-day guidance and development of the Lincoln operations. He provides direction and leadership for the airframe, engine, and paint production areas and for line services, facilities, quality assurance and the flight department.
Jeff joined Duncan Aviation in 1993 as company controller and soon became Vice President of Finance. He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 1998. Jeff assumed his current role in 2008. Prior to Duncan Aviation, Jeff worked as a regional controller for International Paper. He has also worked as a CPA in public accounting.
Jeff graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting.
Jeff and his wife, Diana, have three children and enjoy family activities, hiking, fishing, camping, golf and tennis. Jeff has served on the Allocation and Audit committees for United Way of Lincoln/Lancaster County. He also served on the Lancaster County Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children Board of Directors.
Mike Minchow
Mike Minchow was promoted to Duncan Aviations Senior Management Team in October 2015 and currently serves as Vice President of Sales for Duncan Aviation. In his role Mike is responsible for the development and execution of sales strategies and initiatives for all of Duncan Aviation. Mike provides executive oversight for the sales teams in Battle Creek, Michigan, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Provo, Utah, as well as for Duncan Aviations team of domestic and international Regional Managers.
Mike joined the Duncan Aviation Design Center team back in 1993 as a Designer while working on his Masters degree in architecture at the University of Nebraska/Lincoln. Mike transitioned to team leader of Design, moved to sales team leader, and then on to program manager for NetJets. He was promoted to sales manager over modifications (paint, interior, avionics, and install) and assumed those responsibilities for airframe and engine in 2011.
Mike currently serves on the Board of Directors for AEA (Aircraft Electronics Association), on the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Governing Board and Honeywell CPAB (Honeywell Channel Partners Advisory Board). Mike has also served on the Gogo Dealer Advisory Board.
Married for 20 years to Renae, Mike and his wife have three boys: Andrew, Mason, and Aden. Mike enjoys hunting, golfing, and attending his sons various activities.
As Vice President of Completions and Modifications, Andy Richards oversees the Battle Creek paint and interior completions teams. He also provides on-site support for OEM completions, engineering and certification in Battle Creek.
Andy joined Duncan Aviation in 1997 working as a cabinet shop technician in Battle Creek, Michigan. He spent time leading teams in both cabinet and completions and was promoted to assistant manager of interior completions. In 2008, Andy became involved in Duncan Aviation's OEM completions program and was promoted to Program Manager one year later.
Andy has a Bachelors of Arts degree and a Masters of Fine Arts degree.
Andy and his wife have two daughters. He enjoys fly fishing, running, cooking and camping. Andy is a board member of Anglers of the Au Sable; an organization that protects the environmental quality of a highly regarded trout stream in northern Michigan. Andy is also a board member and treasurer of Battle Creek Unlimited; an economic development organization that seeks to grow, retain, and develop the business community of Battle Creek, Michigan.
© Copyright 2021 by Duncan Aviation Inc. All Rights Reserved
800.228.4277 // +1 402.475.2611


Situated in the hills above the city of Murcia, Altorreal is an extraordinary 18 holes golf course designed by Dave Thomas.
It is notable for its strategic use of water, which comes into play particularly on the 9th and 18th holes.
The course is situated just a few kilometres North from the provincial capital of Murcia and has some superb mountain scenery.
It is located in a natural environment with more than 20,000 trees, among which olives, pines and carob trees, thus making a nearly deserted zone into a unique natural area in the mountains.


This is a longer version of a story I wrote for Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts' 2016 Impact Awards night. Hallucinations Media designed centerpieces and did other work for the Oct. 20 TBBCA event.
Hallucination Media exists at that place where creativity collides with the cutting edge.
Steve "Monk" McClure and Bryan Nichols run a company that on any given day might project LED video images on a nightclub ceiling or sculpt a 4-foot tall stack of pancakes complete with the appearance of melting butter for a business promotion. The eclectic mix might call for collaborating with well-known local artists or using their laser to create candle holders and lanterns to sell directly to the public through etchpros.com.
"We want to give inspiration to people to use our talents as creative artists and visionaries to help develop certain things for them," McClure said.
McClure built a multitude of contacts as a member of the electronic music group Rabbit in the Moon, which was one of the biggest touring electronic acts in the country in the mid 1990s.
"They were part of the first wave of the electronic era," Nichols said.
McClure then found success working to bring electronic visuals to Tampa clubs and raves such as DNA, Evolution and Masquerade.
McClure and Nichols began working together in about 1999 on Hallucinations Before Christmas, an underground dance event that spoofs Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas and raises more food for charity than any other one-night event in Tampa. They are part of the fabric of the Tampa club scene.
McClure and Nichols formed Hallucinations Media in 2007. They have pushed the limits with video projection imaging and the laser cutting, bringing local entertainment to new levels.
While both contribute to the creative collaboration, McClure is more prone to brainstorming and getting a client fired up about an idea while Nichols handles the graphic and web design aspects.
McClure loves to pursue an idea or twist on an idea that he never has seen done before, "And I'm in the background grumbling because I have to figure out how to do it," Nichols said.
The goal is to emerge with Hallucinations Media as a design-build company that can conceive, design and execute projects as a single entity. So far, the variety of work has kept McClure and Nichols' creative juices flowing.


Pet owners are becoming increasingly aware of their pets good oral hygiene. Sometimes periodontal disease may cause of your pet's serious health risk and immense pain. But, using toothbrush and toothpaste is not always easy to clean their teeth and gum properly. As a result, your furry friend's breath is often less than fresh that make a distance between both of you. Now, what's the actual solution?
Our team of experts has managed a popular way that is the dental spray for pets. After interviewing dozens of pet proprietors, a couple of veterinarians, and investing more than 72 hours for product research we have selected 10 best dog dental sprays those are affordable, easier to use and recommended by vets for your pet's oral health.
4 For Whom the Dog Breath Spray is Needed?
Premium Pet Dental Spray instantly cures your pet's breath with the powerful breath freshener. It helps to transform bad and stinky kitty breath into fresh breath. It is totally alcohol-free dog breath spray doesn't contain any stomach-upsetting ingredients, grains or pesticides. The spray removes plaque and tartar and reduces the risk of oral disease for pets by applying its antiseptic properties.
Dogs love this dental taste of the spray and like begging it for every day. It is much easier to use comparatively toothpaste and very helpful to generate fresh breath with oral protection for dog and cats. This dental spray contains the best and premium ingredients. It is completely safe and effective for pet's oral care. So, show your confidence to pick the spray the first time.
Devoted to improving the hygiene of your pup's mouth. Kills smelly bacteria, the unique source of stinky breath.
The Spray Me is an all-natural and holistic dental spray designed to generate freshen breath by controlling plaque, tartar, bacteria and improve the overall oral health of your pet. Like other dental sprays it doesn't only eliminate the odor, it attacks all oral bacteria at the source to inhibit the bacteria to arise with. It is best for supporting tooth and gum health.
This dog breath spray synergistically bonds with pet's saliva to coat your pet's entire mouth with only a few sprays a day. It is made with only natural and all effective ingredients like grapefruit seed extract, Grape seed extract, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, thyme oil, neem seed oil, and grain alcohol. It completely eradicates bad breath at every angle possible and makes their mouth healthier. Additionally, it is veterinarian approved doggy dental spray comes with 100% guaranteed satisfaction.
Leba 3 dental spray for dogs works by stimulating enzymes which allows to fall off tartar. No side effects to use for periodontal cleanings.
Leba III pet dental spray is designed to remove tartar and maintain healthy teeth and gums. Tartar and plaque lead to gum disease and major dental problems. The spray formulated with human grade ingredients and generates best results by using twice in a day primarily.
It doesn't carry any antibiotics but works by stimulating enzymes those are very effective to eliminate harmful bacteria in dog's mouth and changing its chemistry. It has no side effects, no enamel damage and ideal for home dental care.
Advanced Oral Hygiene Freshener is the most effective cleaning solution to make the breath smell minty fresh by removing mouth odors. The spray works dedicatedly to reduce plaque build-up and healthy teeth. It also improves your dog's periodontal health and completely diminishes bad breath.
This dental spray crafted from Peppermint Oil to produce a long-lasting mint sensation which ensures additional freshening by destroying excess bacteria. The Rosemary Oil promotes better breath and excellent digestive function to support your dog's oral health. The used Aloe Vera helps to reduce plaque buildup and makes teeth clean and healthy for dogs of all sizes and ages. It is easy for dental care and without brushing you can clean your dog's entire mouth. That's why this Fresh Breath Dental Spray great for senior to small breeds.
Basic ingredients are water, glycerin, Aloe Vera leaf juice peppermint oil, radish root, rosemary leaf oil, and spearmint leaf.
Arm & Hammer Tartar Control Dental Spray works effectively to eliminate your dog's bad breath, promote whiten teeth and fight tartar build-up. It makes easy the oral care of pets and provides total dental health solutions. The dental spray works best when used onto the outside of the dog's gums and teeth.
Used backing soda helps to clean and deodorize and generates enzymes that fight plaque and tartar. Other vital ingredients are water, sorbitol, sodium bicarbonate, pyrophosphate, lysozyme, proteases, sodium chloride, zinc gluconate and more. For better use, spray 1 to 2 times directly onto teeth and prevent drinking and eating for one hour after use.
If your dog has bad breath with other dental diseases, you should necessary to take action immediately. Sonnyridge Dog Dental Spray is too much effective to remove tartar, plaque and other periodontal diseases for your dog. This dog tartar removal spray fights with bad breath and solves overall dental problems with tooth decay and gum disease.
It is formulated by veterinarians to promote your dog's healthy teeth and gums, instantly generate freshen breath and reduce the risk of tooth decay. Crafted from all natural ingredients and manufactured in the USA. The manufacturer company provides 100% money back guarantee with total satisfaction.
Most of the dogs affected by gum disease which can cause infection in your pet's kidneys, liver, and heart. This natural dental spray helps to heal gum disease and suitable for both dog and cat. The formula works for freshening breath, removing tartar and plaque and improving overall dental health. It also kills harmful bacteria to promote healthy gum and teeth.
If you are loyal to herbal dental treatment for your pet pooch, then Plaque Attack Pet Dental Spray might be the best option. It crafted with grape seed extract, neem oil, rosemary oil, grapefruit seed, peppermint oil, and natural grain alcohol. To use this dental spray brushing is not necessary, simply spray on the teeth and gum line then walk away.
It is needed to take regular dental care to ensure your pet's teeth and gums strong and healthy. The Peppermint Oral Care Gel is easy to apply to your dog's mouth by the end of your finger. It is quick and easy for carrying your pet's teeth without brushing. If the dog feels nervous to take the gel, then taking it into their mouth otherwise they will automatically lick them.
PetzLife oral care spray crafted from all-natural ingredients like neem oil to eliminate tarter, grape seed oil to remove plaque, and the thyme oil to kill the bacteria that causes bad breath. By using this gel twice in a day, it will produce great results within 30 days. This peppermint oral spray also protects gum tissues and cure gum disease.
Aromatherapy Natural Breath Freshener is a phosphate-free natural way to freshen your dog's breath. This breath actively crafted with all natural and biodegradable ingredients like Aloe Vera, Mint, Baking soda etc. As well as reducing bad breath it works to remove plaque and tartar build-up and improve your dog's oral health.
Pet proprietors are happy to use this product. Their pets really like the taste and come willingly to see the bottle. Veterinarian recommends it as the safety freshener for pets.
If you are looking for an easy and fast working breath freshener, try the TropiClean Fresh Breath Fresh Mint Dental Freshener for Pets. You can apply it directly to your dog's teeth and gums. It helps to reduce the risk of your dog's periodontal disease and improve oral hygiene.
The used ingredients are purified water, glycerin, baking soda, natural mint, corn alcohol etc. This dental freshener prevents tartar build up and kills germs that cause bad breath. Veterinarian recommended it for both cats and dogs.
It can be difficult to choose the right one from a wide range of dental spray. A dental spray for dogs should do several things to consider but the vital consideration should be your dog's choice, which one your dog likes and allows you to use. There are also some other considerations highlighted below that are universal and unavoidable.
Your first consideration should be safety. High quality and well-renowned brands supplies safe and human-grade dog dental sprays. But cheaper varieties sometimes skimp on quality and might contain dangerous ingredients like alcohol or artificial fragrances. Analyze the ingredient list and make sure the safety while selecting a dental spray for your pet.
There are so many dog dental sprays are simple and easy to use. Just directly spray on the outside of your dog's teeth and gums to get effective result. Sometimes dogs may not like to receive sprays inside their mouth, then select a spray that is effective if sprayed on the lip area and licked off by your dog. Otherwise, you can manage sprays that can be mixed to your dog's drinking water.
You should identify the intended purpose of the spray. Some are designed to eliminating plaque and tartar build-up and control bacteria in the mouth, some are for promoting freshen breath. Those planning to simply eliminating bad breath, not for long term health benefits. So, consider your dog's overall periodontal health before fixing any other purpose.
It is vital to ensure that, the spray you are deciding to finalize is completely designed for dogs. The ingredients used for human dental sprays are harmful to pets and you should always avoid the danger. Some spray formulated for multiple pets, so re-check that it includes dogs. Never use a spray on dogs that are designated for cats. Remember, as a pet proprietor you are entirely loyal to keep your dog's safety.
Many dog dental sprays do not work effectively and equally to remove plaque, tartar-build up and generate fresh breath. Bad breath is a dangerous sign of oral problems and diseases. So choosing a dog breath spray or dental spray that is designed to clean your dog's mouth on top of cleansing the bacteria and bad odor is important to ensure your dog's oral health.
Eliminate bacteria in the mouth: Besides reducing bad breath, dental sprays control harmful bacteria inside your dog's mouth for oral wellbeing.
Cleaner teeth: Regular using spray makes your dog's teeth clean and germ free. Clean teeth lead freshen breath.
Healthier Gums: Sometimes plaque and tartar injured your dog's gum line, which is the main cause of bad breath with other oral diseases. So choose the right dental spray for proper gum care.
Reduce Tooth Decay: A quality breath freshener or oral spray eliminates tartar build-up and reduce tooth deterioration.
For Whom the Dog Breath Spray is Needed?
Commonly, dog breath spray is designed for pets that have not more extensive stinky breath. Some dogs are affected by harmful odor-causing bacteria. Some have crowded teeth and tend to snack certain types of dog food which enhances the possibility of developing bad breath. To overcome this situation you can apply Dog Breath Spray. Pet owner, who don't tolerate his dog's smelly mouth can use this spray.
Moreover, there are a few dog breath sprays also help to remove tartar build up and prevent plaque. It might control various oral diseases and keep your dog safe. Using breath spray is much easier than brushing every day. Some of them manage bad breath smell with fragrances and prevent oral problems. So from the above consideration, you can confidently use a quality dog breath spray.
Actually, the main goal of using dog dental spray is preventing plaque and tartar build up. It is also very effective to promote your dog's freshen breath and total oral care too. But if the dog's teeth and gums stay in a very poor situation, then it is urgent to consult with the veterinarian and done the cleaning first. Most of the time dental spray reduces the necessity of brushing your dog's teeth. So it is very useful and immense to use dental spray regularly to keep your dog safe from entire periodontal diseases.
Question: How does dental spray work?
Answer: There are various types of dental spray maintain a different procedure to work. Normally, most of the sprays react with dog's saliva and create enzyme that controls bacteria. Bacteria are the vital cause of plaque and tartar build up. Some manufacturer prevents the dog to eat for at least half an hour after using the spray to get the best output. Within this time the enzyme makes the plaque and tartar soft and clean your dog's teeth and gum line properly. It also produces fresh breath.
Question: When does dental spray take place the best option?
Answer: Generally, dental cleaning is very expensive and not every pet proprietor can take their pets into veterinarian regularly for oral care. The dental spray may help in these cases very effectively. But for the first time, you should consult with your vet and follow his or her suggestions for using recommended dental spray.
Question: Does the spray have any harmful ingredients that may cause problems in dogs?
Answer: Mainly, the best quality dog dental spray which is recommended by veterinarian never contains ingredients known to cause problems in dogs. Sometimes it may contain a marginal level of grain alcohol. But it should not be harmful to dogs. If you can discover any particular bad effect by using any recommended product and which leads to suffering your dog, you should immediately consult with the vet before repeat it.
Question: How much dog dental spray should I use each time?
Answer: The using amount of dental spray depends on the size and weight of your dog. In this case, follow the recommendations of the manufacturer and never terminate the guidelines.
Question: When should you use dog breath spray?
Answer: Actually, it can vary for the particular product you use. Using a breath spray once in a day will be effective for your dog. To get better result you should check the product instructions.
The top pick is Excellent dental spray!! SO happy 🙂 I found it!
Super product !! Has a very fresh scent, My dog's breath and mouth are "kissing sweet".
No more stinking breath! 🙂 My cat's breath smell SO MUCH BETTER!


This guide describes the steps to enable interfederation support for a Shibboleth 2 Service Provider in the SWITCHaai federation. After the following steps have been successfully applied, users from non-SWITCHaai federations are able to access the resources protected by this SWITCHaai Service Provider. In particular, users from Identity Providers participating in eduGAIN.
This guide assumes that there already is a fully deployed Shibboleth Service Provider 2.x. For general information about the deployment of a Shibboleth Service Provider within the SWITCHaai Federation, please consult the SP Guides section of the SWITCHaai website.
The general process to enable interfederation looks as displayed in the graphic below.
Provided your institution has not yet signed the SWITCHaai Interfederation Access Declaration (the entries without a green checkmark in this list of participating institutions), the first step to enable interfederation support is to inform SWITCH about the intentions and plans of your organisation to enable interfederation support. SWITCH then will send you the "SWITCHaai Interfederation Access Declaration". After understanding, signing and returning that document, SWITCH will enable interfederation support for the signing organisation.
This guide assumes that the Service Provider is using a supported version of the Shibboleth Service Provider (i.e., a release either supported by the Shibboleth project or the operating system vendor). Other SAML implementations are not covered in this guide.
This guide assumes that the Service Provider is already part of the SWITCHaai federation. It is assumed that the Service Provider is fully functional and that it was deployed according to the SWITCHaai deployment guides for Service Providers.
Were users informed in advance about possible service disruptions?
The configuration steps below will require you to restart the Service Provider. While this will take only a few seconds (provided the configuration is correct), users might lose their Shibboleth session. This will cause them to get redirected back to their Identity Provider for re-authentication. Therefore, it is recommended to first carry out the following steps on a test system, if possible.
Is there a backup of all Service Provider configuration files?
Multiple configuration files of the Shibboleth Service Provider will be edited in the following steps. Although the changes are not difficult to apply, there is a risk that errors in these files affect the availability or performance of the Service Provider. Having backup files ensures that a fallback to a working configuration is quickly possible.
Consult the AAI Attribute Specification on further information about these attributes.
Description: A long-lived, non re-assignable, omnidirectional identifier suitable for a person, mainly for inter-institutional user identification. International version of the swissEduPerson Unique ID.
Description: Internationally used form of the Home Organisation attribute used in SWITCHaai. Can be used exactly like the swissEduPersonHomeOrganization attribute. More information about the SCHAC schema.
Values: Domain name of an organization, e.g. univie.ac.at, tu-berlin.de, etc.
The above list is not complete and may be extended in the future with other attributes.
The goal of the following steps is to configure the Service Provider to accept some additional attributes that are typically sent by interfedrated Identity Providers. None of these attributes are usually used within SWITCHaai. However, they are internationally standardized and some of them are very similar to SWITCHaai attributes as explained above.
Login to the host that runs the Shibboleth Service Provider that you want to enable for interfederation.
Open the file attribute-map.xml in a text editor.
Insert the following XML snippet within the <Attributes> element, unless they are already in the file if you recently installed your SP.
The above snippet will add attribute definitions of all attributes that are recommended to support. If your application needs further attributes, you may need to bilaterally agree on the support and usage of these attributes with the administrators of the Identity Providers whose users should access your resource.
The specification for the schacHomeOrganizationType is incomplete at the moment. Therefore, it cannot be relied on for now.
In order to communicate with Identity Providers from other federations, the Service Provider requires metadata about these Identity Providers. Therefore, the goal of the following steps is to add a MetadataProvider that loads the interfederation metadata.
Go to the Shibboleth configuration directory and create a backup file of the shibboleth2.xml file.
Open the file shibboleth2.xml as root user in a text editor.
If you are still using an unsupported(!) Shibboleth 2.3/2.4 version, you must add "verifyName="false"" to the MetadataFilter element of type="Signature".
The metadata provider above uses the same trust anchor to verify the metadata signature as is used for the SWITCHaai federation metadata.
You should neither see ERROR nor CRIT messages. If there are any WARN messages, you should examine and correct the problems but in general, these messages are not critical.
Check that there are no ERROR, CRIT or WARN messages during startup. If there are, you might want to restart the Service Provider again with the backup version of shibboleth2.xml.
After startup, access a protected page of your service to ensure that Shibboleth authentication still works in general. Usually one can access a Shibboleth SessionInitiator URL like /Shibboleth.sso/Login to make Shibboleth initiate a session. After authentication, you may access the Shibboleth session handler using /Shibboleth.sso/Session to inspect the attributes that were received.
The Service Provider should now be properly configured for interfederation support. However, it may be that you also have to adapt your web application to make use of the non-SWITCHaai attributes to properly authorize users from other federations!
Check out the Shibboleth Service Provider Access Control guide.
Using the Embedded WAYF one can set the configuration option wayf_additional_idps to add a few additional Home Organisation to the drop-down list of the Embedded WAYF.
The following changes assume that your organization already has contacted the SWITCHaai team with the request to enable interfederation. Due to legal reasons, SWITCH has for now to manually enable each organisation for interfederation support. Only then interfederation can be enabled for a particular resource.
Go to the Resource Registry using the URL https://rr.aai.switch.ch and log in using a SWITCHaai account that has administrative privileges for the Resource Description of the Service Provider which should be enabled for interfederation.
After authentication, click on the tab "Resources " in order to see the Resource Descriptions for which you have administrative privileges.
Click on the link "Edit" below the resource that you want to enable for interfederation. You then are in the resource menu and should see all the sections of the Resource Description. The last two sections within the red rectangles in the image below will have to be edited.
Click on the link "Requested Attributes". On this page you define the desired and required attributes of the resource.
In the Section "Common Attribut Sets" you can easily mark the attributes that might be candidates, provided your resources really has need to get these attributes.
Check that the attributes the resource requests can be provided by interfederation enabled resources. The attributes that might be available for non-SWITCHaai users are marked in red in the screenshot below. Be aware that many IdentityProviders from other federations are very selective in which attributes they release! By supporting an EntityCategory as explained below, you will increase the chance to receive attributes your resource needs to function. All further attributes will most likely not be available for non-SWITCHaai users.
Finally click on "Save and Continue".
Click on the link "Intended Audience andInterfederation". On this page you define the intended audience for the resource.
There should be a checkbox labelled "Interfederation" like shown below. If there is no checkbox, this means that your organization has not been enabled for interfederation support by SWITCH. Read the information that belongs to the checkbox. If you understand and agree with the conditions, enable the checkbox. You then will be asked to confirm.
An entity category allows IdPs to know specific universal properties of an SP. These can refer to data protection standards or the type of the SP. Based on this information, it may be more likely that IdPs release the necessary attributes for your SP. There are currently two entity categories available in the resource registry: GÉANT Data Protection Code of Conduct (CoCo) and REFEDS Research and Scholarship (R&S). Applications for entity categories are reviewed by SWITCH and become active when approved.
Before applying for the GÉANT Data Protection Code of Conduct entity category, an SP needs to create a web page with information on its data protection policy. The web page must be in English and it must contain a link to the GÉANT Data Protection Code of Conduct. The URL of this web page has to be entered in the resource description as "Privacy URL". You can then apply for the entity category by selecting the corresponding check box on the "Intended Audience and Interfederation" page.
The first step of applying for the R&S entity category consists of creating a service information page. This page has to be in English and describe the purpose of the service. Its URL has to be entered in the "Descriptive Information" section under "Information URL". In order to be considered a candidate for the R&S category, an SP should not request other attributes than those contained in the R&S attribute set. If that's the case, the resource registry will show a warning. Finally, you can apply for the entity category by selecting the checkbox on the "Intended Audience and Interfederation" page.
Click on "Save and Continue" to return to the Resource Description menu.
Back on the Resource Description menu, you still have to submit the Resource Description for approval before it becomes active.
Once interfederation support was enabled and approved for the Service Provider, its metadata will be included in the metadata file that is used by interfederation-enabled entities outside of SWITCHaai. For example in the eduGAIN metadata.
When the change of the Resource Description has been approved by a Resource Registration Authority administrator, a notification email is sent to the resource admin. From then on, it may take between two hours and one day until a user from an interfederation-enabled Identity Provider is able to access your service. The reason for this is that the metadata with the applied changes is aggregated, processed and published several times until it is downloaded by an interfederation-enabled Identity Provider.
Login to your Service Provider should not work different for an user that access your resource via eduGAIN/Interfederation than for a user accessing your resource via SWITCHaai. However, what might be different is the set of attributes that a user from another federation releases to your Service Provider. Therefore, it is recommended that login is tested with user accounts from other federations before announcing interfederation support more widely. How can this be done?
The easiest option is to directly ask users from other federations to log in and report you if all works as expected. This should be a one-time effort for these real test users and often resource administrators already are in touch with users from other federations.
However, if you don't know real users and maybe want to test your resource with different type of accounts, we recommend you to use the eduGAIN Access Check. This service allows administrators of a Service Provider registered in eduGAIN, to create short-lived test identities (e.g. with typical attributes for a staff member or student) in order to test access to your own resource. How to use this is described on the eduGAIN Access Check page. This option is also recommended in case you don't have an AAI account yourself and thus cannot test access yourself.
Deploying a Test Identity Provider to test access to your own resource requires quite advanced SAML knowledge, is quite time-consuming and it does not help testing access with real user identities. Therefore, this option is not recommended in general.
This section lists some common problems and possible solutions.
Service Provider complains that there is "Unknown or Unusable Identity Provider"
Make sure the Service Provider loads the interfederation metadata file as described above. Also ensure that the file is up-to-date and not older than 5 days. It should also be ensured that the user that runs the shibd process (e.g. _shibd in Debian) has sufficient privileges to write the interfederation metadata file to the configured directory (see above).
Applications complains that attribute X is not available or Shibboleth shows a "Authorization Denied"
Attribute is not released by the Identity Provider: In this case, look up the technical contact of the Identity Provider by having a look at the interfederation metadata file. The administrator may know more why a certain attribute is not released.
Please have a look at the Common Service Provider Errors page of the Shibboleth Wiki. If you don't find an error description that matches yours, contact the AAI team.


IT Auditor salaries at Chevron Phillips Chemical can range from $102,771-$110,776. This estimate is based upon 1 Chevron Phillips Chemical IT Auditor salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods. See all IT Auditor salaries to learn how this stacks up in the market.
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Abdullah joined Fipra as a Special Adviser for the Arabian Gulf region in February 2013.
He is currently retained to act as a GR/PR for special assignments on behalf of some of the top 100 companies in Saudi Arabia. In addition, Abdullah maintains his award winning (Corporate, Intellectual, and Employment Law) legal practice in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Abdullah is on the board of several local companies and NGOs with particular responsibility for government policy and regulation. Abdullah graduated from King Abdul Aziz University in 1996 and pursued graduate studies in the USA, obtaining a Masters of International Environmental Law in 1998 and a Masters in International Energy Law in 1999 from the University of Denver, Colorado. Abdullah is married, has one son and is fluent in both Arabic and English.


text:
17 beta-estradiol and tamoxifen upregulate estrogen receptor beta expression and control podocyte signaling pathways in a model of type 2 diabetes
Kidney Int. 2009 Jun;75(11):1194-1201. doi: 10.1038/ki.2009.69. Epub 2009 Mar 11.
Paola Catanuto 1 , Sophie Doublier 2 , Enrico Lupia 3 , Alessia Fornoni 4 , Mariana Berho 5 , Michael Karl 6 , Gary E Striker 7 , Xiaomei Xia 1 , Sharon Elliot 8
1 Study Group and Laboratory on Sex and Gender Differences in Health and Disease, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
2 Study Group and Laboratory on Sex and Gender Differences in Health and Disease, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Genetics, Biology and Biochemistry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
3 Study Group and Laboratory on Sex and Gender Differences in Health and Disease, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Battista, Turin, Italy.
4 Division of Nephrology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
5 Study Group and Laboratory on Sex and Gender Differences in Health and Disease, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
6 Study Group and Laboratory on Sex and Gender Differences in Health and Disease, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
7 Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
8 Study Group and Laboratory on Sex and Gender Differences in Health and Disease, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. Electronic address: selliot@med.miami.edu.
DOI: 10.1038/ki.2009.69
Diabetic nephropathy remains one of the most important causes of end-stage renal disease. This is particularly true for women from racial/ethnic minorities. Although administration of 17beta-estradiol to diabetic animals has been shown to reduce extracellular matrix deposition in glomeruli and mesangial cells, effects on podocytes are lacking. Given that podocyte injury has been implicated as a factor leading to the progression of proteinuria and diabetic nephropathy, we treated db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetic glomerulosclerosis, with 17beta-estradiol or tamoxifen to determine whether these treatments reduce podocyte injury and decrease glomerulosclerosis. We found that albumin excretion, glomerular volume, and extracellular matrix accumulation were decreased in these mice compared to placebo treatment. Podocytes isolated from all treatment groups were immortalized and these cell lines were found to express the podocyte markers WT-1, nephrin, and the TRPC6 cation channel. Tamoxifen and 17beta-estradiol treatment decreased podocyte transforming growth factor-beta mRNA expression but increased that of the estrogen receptor subtype beta protein. 17beta-estradiol, but not tamoxifen, treatment decreased extracellular-regulated kinase phosphorylation. These data, combined with improved albumin excretion, reduced glomerular size, and decreased matrix accumulation, suggest that both 17beta-estradiol and tamoxifen may protect podocytes against injury and therefore ameliorate diabetic nephropathy.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism*
Diabetic Nephropathies / drug therapy
Estradiol / pharmacology*
Estrogen Receptor beta / biosynthesis
Estrogen Receptor beta / genetics*
Mice, Inbred Strains
Podocytes / cytology
Podocytes / drug effects
Podocytes / metabolism*
Signal Transduction / drug effects
Tamoxifen / pharmacology*
Up-Regulation / drug effects*
Estrogen Receptor beta


NICHOLS: If it's a particular sin against a brother or a sister, sometimes we think, "Well, I've confessed that to God. I'm now forgiven of that sin." But I think we do have another obligation if it was a particular sin and a particular offense.
Yes, we confess that sin to God, because ultimately all sins are sins against God. But we also have an obligation to go to that brother or sister and confess that offense and seek restoration and even restitution, if necessary, so that we can have fellowship again within the body of Christ.
But there are also some sins, whether private or otherwise, that would not benefit the body of Christ or a small band of fellowship for us to air or give voice to. So there is a need for wisdom, discretion, and judgment to be exercised in those cases.
GODFREY: Perhaps in the English-speaking world we do not often enough avail ourselves of the help and comfort of a brother or sister in Christ when we're struggling with guilt and keep things too much to ourselves. I think Luther would be the first to say, "When you cannot feel God's forgiveness, you should ask a brother or a sister in Christ to speak the word of the gospel to you."
You can't always preach the gospel to yourself. You need someone else to preach the gospel to you—that's important. But, obviously, you have to do that with wisdom and discretion to not further inflame a troubled situation.
Lightly edited for readability, this is a transcript of W. Robert Godfrey's and Stephen Nichols' answers given at our 2017 National Conference. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, just visit Ask.Ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter.


text:
Biden campaign replaces Democratic National Committee CEO, will sign new deal to expand fundraising
April 24, 2020 at 12:20 pm Updated April 24, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Former vice president Joe Biden's presidential campaign installed new administrative leadership at the Democratic National Committee on Friday, as the two organizations moved to forge a new deal that will allow for a dramatic expansion of fundraising capacity in the coming months.
The national party's chief executive officer, Seema Nanda, a longtime adviser to party chairman Tom Perez, will be replaced by Mary Beth Cahill, a senior adviser to the national party who previously managed John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.
The announcement came as the party and the Biden campaign said they would sign a joint fundraising agreement Friday, called the "Biden Victory Fund," that will allow the unofficial nominee to raise $360,600 each from individual donors to help the coordinated campaign. Donors to Biden's effort had been limited to donations of $2,800 for his primary and general election campaigns.
The initial joint fundraising agreement, an interim measure meant to speed money into the Biden operation, will be expanded in the coming weeks to include state parties, raising the maximum donation amounts further for wealthy individuals, a party official said.
The decisions mark the first major public moves by Biden's new campaign manager, Jen O'Malley Dillon.
"As we gear up and build out our operation for the next six months, Mary Beth's experience running presidential campaigns and managing the kind of complex operation it takes to win a general election will be invaluable," O'Malley Dillon said in a statement. "I am thrilled to have her as a partner in this fight."
The moves are likely to temper growing concerns among Democratic strategists about the slow pace of Biden's transition from a small primary campaign to a more formidable general election operation. Joint fundraising agreements, which allow for single donations to be split among party accounts, are a core feature of presidential campaigns in the current campaign finance environment.
Trump has been raising money through a similar vehicle for more than a year, and in 2012, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney entered into an agreement with the Republican Party weeks before his last remaining rival, Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., left the race. The party's last Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, formed a joint fundraising deal with the DNC months before she sealed the nomination. Biden's move, by contrast, occurred 16 days after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., became the last Biden rival to suspend his campaign.
As a close adviser to Perez, Cahill led the search process that resulted in Nanda's hiring in 2018, worked closely with the party's recent attempts to improve its data program and was in charge of organizing the presidential debate process.
Nanda, who had worked as Perez's chief of state at the Department of Labor and as a former Justice Department attorney, faced criticism during her tenure for her lack of political experience. She will depart after a period of transition, officials said.
In an email to staff Friday, Nanda said she would step down from her position next week and called the organization she is leaving "the strongest party in modern DNC history."
"Our unity is our greatest strength and yes, we will shed the shackles of this disastrous presidency," she wrote. "And I couldn't be more thankful for this remarkable opportunity to have worked alongside you.
Biden's first campaign manager, Greg Schultz, is expected to continue to coordinate the Biden campaign's integration with the DNC and state parties.
Both Perez and O'Malley Dillon praised Nanda's oversight of the party.
"Seema spent two years building an organization that has left the DNC in the strongest position it has been in before a Presidential election in recent history," said Perez said in a statement.
Since taking over the Biden campaign on March 12, O'Malley Dillon has not announced any major hires, and the broader Biden campaign effort continues to be dwarfed in both its cash on hand and staffing by the much larger Trump operation.
In recent weeks, the DNC has begun the process of bringing on some of the former field organizers for former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg's campaign, following his transfer of $18 million to the national party. Other outside groups are preparing to assist the party.
One outside group, called Organizing Together, has amassed a staff of more than 100 field organizers in presidential battleground states, which it will stop employing at some point this summer. At that point, the network of volunteers and organizers will be available to be absorbed by the coordinated campaign or other groups to work through the general election.
"Our goal is to ensure that we put Joe Biden in the best position possible to beat Donald Trump, and this joint fundraising agreement allows us to do just that," Cahill said in a statement. "Americans are hungry for new leadership in the White House and are uniting around our nominee."


So, being back from Berlin, and having no luck at the first try to get a flat, I'm now trying to find one together with a colleague. In Berlin it's easier to find a big flat, rather than a single appartement. I'll try to get there again this weekend, but it's getting complicated due to some "great" ideas here.
Going home from Berlin to Düsseldorf was fun too. My plane left Tegel at 18:35. So I supposed getting on the 17:00 Express-Bus "TXL" from Alex to Tegel was a good idea. Well I made it to my plane in time, but only because Tegel is such a small airport. You can walk around there and just look for the correct gate. I arrived at about 18:00 at the airport, so the adivsed 30 minute gap made a perfect fit.
The 50 minute flight was perfect, no comparison to the 4 hour train ride we had to get there on friday. The biggest problem though is the local transfer from Düsseldorf airport to the city. It takes longer than the actual flight.
I left Berlin with a mixed feeling. There were some things that could have been better and have to be fixed in the upcoming days. If there is any way to fix.


1 Vintage Vuarnet Skilynx 006 sunglasses feature a durable blue nylon frame that evokes the style and shape of classic B&L Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses but with those great Vuarnet Skilynx double gradient mirror lenses. Vuarnet Skilynx lenses are made from a special base, ground and polished on both sides to eliminate distortion. Vintage Vuarnet Skilynx lenses also incorporate a "blue blocker" coating on the back which offers superior glare protection from the sun perfect for sports and adventure activities. Glare reduction is particularly important for ski eyewear and goggles, for harmful UV rays reflect off the snow to challenge vision, and yet traditional polarized sunglass lenses were poorly suited to depth perception and being able to see moguls on the ski slopes. The unisex French blue nylon 006 frame measures approximately 5.375" temple to temple and the lenses measure approximately 2.125" x 1.675" at the widest points with both laser etched with the trademark Vuarnet "V on a Ski". You'll find the PX on a ski trademark on the exterior of one ear stem and PX Vuarnet on the other, and the inside of one stem is impressed France along with the French crown trademark and marked 006 (some production was marked 4006 indicating the PX-4000 Skilynx lenses).
2 Step up another level beyond our already unequaled vintage condition standards with new old stock Vuarnet Skilynx 006 Skilynx sunglasses in mint, unworn condition.


You can sign up for free and automatic downloads via our RSS feed here or via the iTunes store here.
We really, really want to see the Ardennes Classics live – or at least see the finishes live! Please do take 5 minutes this week to contact the race organisers and tell them you do too – Sarah has links and advice about how to do this, in this post.
You can sign up for automated and free downloads via the iTunes store here or via our RSS feed here.
It's Mothers' Day this weekend in the UK, so if there's a cycling-loving mum in your life, check out the Shopping section of the site for things we've seen and liked – how about a 2017 WorldTour team kit, or presents that help pro women cyclists, or everyday women's cycling? Yes, I know, you might not have ordered in time, but you can always order something and give her a card saying something's on the way!
Videos and media from the 2017 Trofeo Alfredo Binda and Trofeo da Moreno.
With her great results in Binda and elsewhere, Elisa Longo Borghini moved to No. 1 in the UCI rankings. Read how she got there, on the Wiggle High5 website.
There is a LOT of great media on the race website, and tons more videos on the race YouTube – and all the results can be found here.


text:
The First American Woman Imam Explains the Rise of Islamic Feminism
Since Dr. amina wadud led her first public sermon 25 years ago, Islamic feminism has taken root and sprouted globally.
by dr. amina wadud
March 27, 2019, 9:02pm
LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images
From the way we see ourselves to the way we are seen, being Muslim means so many different things to individual women across the world. In honor of Muslim Women's Day this year, we're focusing on the way Muslim identity presents itself differently—in our personal relationships, our professional endeavors, and more—and how no one experience can speak for us all.
Twenty-five years ago, I was on a two-week lecture tour in South Africa. It coincided with the first one-hundred days of Nelson Mandela's presidency; equality and justice were in the air. I accepted an invitation to deliver a sermon (khutbah) in front of the Friday congregation at the Claremont Main Road Mosque. It was my first major experience of embodied ethics, when just words are not enough. In August 1994, gender equality in Islamic ritual worship was beyond my imagination. Since then, a quarter of a century has passed, and more of the unimaginable regarding Muslim women's religious authority has taken root—and sprouted.
Like those of other great religions, Islam's fundamental canons were established by only the voices of men. As the centuries passed, men's disproportionate privilege gave them the exclusive right to act as leaders for the sacred rites and rituals obligatory upon all Muslims. Women were consigned to silent participation in supporting roles.
Religious authority in Islam starts with the Qur'an as sacred text and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as exemplar. Although there is no text in the Qur'an and no statement of the Prophet ( hadith) restricting women from fulfilling the role of Imam, religious leaders and scholars arrived at a near unanimous opinion that only men should be imams. While all source texts confirm that women have full spiritual agency in Islam, that truth was rendered invisible.
Representation as a Black Muslim Woman Is Good—And It's a Trap
Dr. Su'ad Abdul Khabeer
A critical analysis of the way these scholars arrived at the male-only conclusion unveils the same foundation of patriarchy as it is practiced around the world. Only when women began to analyze this history as full intellectual agents—as mandated by both the Qur'an and the Prophet—did its logic come undone. Pro-faith or Islamic feminism tackled the methods of textual interpretations, re-examined the canonical sources, created new interpretive methods, and constructed new knowledge.
Islamic feminism uses the lived realities of Muslim women to inform the way we establish authority, responsibility, and well-being. In the past 20 years, Muslim women reached a critical mass in reclaiming their agency and responsibilities. In every country, at every economic and educational level, in the arenas of politics, law, art, civic society and of course, in sacred public ritual, we have tackled the biased assumption of authority belonging exclusively to Muslim men.
Islamic feminists like the Musawah network have demonstrated there can be no justice without reciprocal equality. Using gender as an analytical lens, we re-examine the underlying assumptions in patriarchal interpretations of the sacred texts and devise more egalitarian conclusions. Among the more well-known Islamic feminist thinkers in the West are its first-generation: scholars like Fatima Mernissi, Rifaat Hassan, and Leila Ahmed; the second generation: Kecia Ali, Sa'diyya Shaykh, Asmaa Barlas; a whole new generation, including Jerusha Lamptey and Aishah Hidayyatullah. Their scholarship has led the way in challenging entrenched and persistent double standards in all aspects of women's lives.
We have tackled the biased assumption of authority belonging exclusively to Muslim men.
More than a decade after my first major experience of embodied ethics for gender equality, a mixed-gender congregational prayer was organized at the community level in a highly publicized event in New York City in 2005. I was invited to deliver the sermon and lead the prayer. The unimaginable was becoming part of our communal identity. In the decade that followed that sermon, queer Muslims began their own Inclusive Mosque Initiatives, and Muslim women started their Women's Mosque movement.
A future is unfolding where such a dichotomy between male and female devotees will not survive. Muslim women advocate on their own behalf, and they create their own sacred spaces—permanent or temporary—and perform the full spectrum of ritual observation. While staying in accord of the mandates of our faith, we have moved beyond the confines previously placed upon us by those who maintained dominion over patriarchal spaces in the name of Islam. In other words: Women are no longer waiting for approval from the very ones who restricted us in the first place. While once I could not imagine that, now it is part of our modern Islamic legacy. I look forward to the next 25 years, when women and men's equal spiritual devotion is presented in every sacred place.
Tagged:IslamExegesisdr. amina wadudscholarwomen imamsfeminismBroadly FeminismFeminisme


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World Rowing Rules (Coastal)
Sliding Men
Sliding Ladies
Sliding Mixed
Whether you're trying rowing for the first time or coming to the coastal rowing scene with a background of river rowing, you are very welcome at the Guernsey Rowing Club. Here's more information about getting started.
What is offshore rowing?
Without wishing to sound dramatic, offshore rowing involves confronting the open sea in a rowing boat! Think of it as the mountain bike or snowboard of rowing. It is exhilarating and, being a non-contact sport, can continue to keep you fit for far longer than contact sports. Offshore rowing equipment is robust and safe, making it an easy discipline to get started with.
Have A Go Row
The Club organises regular, free, Have A Go tester sessions which provide an opportunity for those completely new to the sport to jump in a boat and... Have A Go!
Details of our Have A Go dates will be published in our Celendar page and on our social media channels. Keep an eye out for these sessions and we look forward to seeing you soon.
The racing season runs April-September. The fixtures are designed to ease everyone back into racing, with shorter more in-shore races early in the season (5-8km). They build up in terms of both distance and challenge (up to 18km). As a novice crew you will be advised by your coach and the Race Secretary whether the race is suitable for the competency level of your crew. Our Learn To Row coaching program therefore usually starts March / April to prepare you for the season ahead. It is possible to join mid-season but that tends to be best suited to experienced rowers.
Forming a crew
While it is up to you who you want to row with, we can help introduce you to other novices. Many people form a crew from others they have met at our Have A Go Row sessions. Others persuade colleagues or friends to join them. We have club boats available for rent and prioritise these for novices. You can register an expression of interest in a club boat using this form.
Learn to row
Our coaches have devised a Learn To Row course for novices joining the club. This is designed to get you out on the water as quickly and safely as possible. The sessions are led by qualified coaches and follow a program designed to cover all the basics. You will be assigned a coach for the first season who will ensure you are signed off as safe and competent to row. After this you will be able to take part in our races.
We are a very sociable club and run a number of events throughout the year. We generally start with a pre-season social a couple of weeks before the first race and love to see our novice rowers at this. Most of our race results are announced after the race in the Guernsey Yacht Club bar where we celebrate everyone's achievements (and calamities) on the water. One of our weekends is dedicated to racing to and around Herm, which is a great excuse to visit the Mermaid! And we hold our Annual Dinner & Dance after the racing season, usually around October time.
noviceliaison@guernseyrowingclub.org.gg
© 2023, Guernsey Rowing Club LBG
Registered No. 43727
The Boathouse,
Mont Crevelt, Bulwer Avenue,
St Sampson, Guernsey, GY2 4LH
captain@guernseyrowingclub.org.gg


Why is Risk Adjustment Inaccurate for Complex Patients?
Protective Exposure in the Highlands of Lesotho: A Cultural Metaphor for Biomedicine?
A Prolegomenon into a Phenomenology of the Intensive Care Unit.


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The Workers' Compensation Appellate Commission (Commission) services Michigan's employees and employers by addressing and resolving their worker's compensation appeals expeditiously, impartially and in a judicious manner. The Commission receives its caseload when decisions issued by the Bureau of Worker's Disability Compensation and Board of Magistrates are disputed and appealed. Act 103 of the Public Acts of 1985 (Act) created the Commission as an independent body with the power and authority to review decisions written and issued by the Bureau director, hearing referees and magistrates. The Commission endeavors to minimize the undue suffering of injured employees and lower costs to employers by serving as a buffer to the state Court of Appeals and by providing expeditious judicial review of case records.
The Commission is staffed with five attorneys, who are appointed by the governor to serve a 4-year term (3-term limit). The governor designates one commissioner as chairperson with general supervisory control over staff and the assignment and scheduling of workloads. By law, commissioners are required to review the relevant record of a case, and are expected to publish scholarly and concise opinions that reflect relevant statutory case law. To realize this, the Commission strives to promptly review cases and write dispute-resolving opinions that comply with the requirements set forth in MCL 418.861(a) and with performance standards set forth in the Commission's Standards and Procedures. For administrative efficiency, the Commission is staffed with a receptionist, executive secretary and four legal secretaries.


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Tag: chocolates
Orange – 13 (Fin)
Naho vows to give Kakeru chocolates on Valentine's Day and make sure he knows her feelings, but even though her letters state all of the various opportunities, she still manages to blow by almost all of them without success, which is obviously done to heighten the tension. It works!
But this isn't like the squandered opportunities of the past. This is it, with just a day before he commits suicide in the original timeline. She has to get those damn chocolates to him, or at least make up with him. A particularly one-dimensionally evil Ueda Rio provides one last obstacle to Naho, but she doesn't back down, and by the end of the episode's first act, victory is hers. It's a satisfying scene that cuts through a lot of the murk that had built up.
With apologies, hugs, and tears thus shared, Naho and Kakeru are back to normal; no, better than ever, and all the happier for it. Kakeru even blurts out that he loves her, and she doesn't blush and run off.
But the hour of his past death is still ahead of them, and the circle of friends remains concerned enough to consider either breaking his bike or waiting at the site of his once-and-hopefully-not-future demise.
Again, we see the future friends planning out the logistics and agreeing to send their letters to the past. Again, it seems a little odd to call so much attention to such a mysterious and hard-to-swallow process that is never fully explained anyway (because it's time magic).
In any case, because they've changed the future so much, the timing of Kakeru's attempted suicide is altered somewhat, and because Hagita actually sabotages his bike, he's on foot when a truck nearly hits him.
Kakeru is wandering the night wanting to die, just like last time, because of the power of the unsent text on his mom's phone he found. But unlike last time, Naho and the others have had an equally powerful cumulative effect on him, to the point it doesn't matter that they're too late to stop him, because he stops himself. He doesn't want to die after all.
From there, everyone runs to him, thinking he's been hit but relieved to find he isn't, and when they have to explain why they're all there, they finally let him in on the future letters, even giving him letters from their once-but-no-longer selves. And there's a big ol' group hug, baaaaaaaw.
Those former selves are still chillin' in the future, content that they did all they could to make a Kakeru in an alternate world a better chance to stay alive, for the benefit of their alternate past and future selves. They created a new world, where Kakeru could live and be happily ever after.
Parting thoughts: In its first three to seven weeks, Orange could almost do no wrong by me, so enthusiastic was I by a show that had the potential to be AnoHana or Toradora! quality, with Hanazawa Kana as its able lead.
But the show eventually regressed a bit as the angst was heightened, and my enthusiasm waned just when it was growing for those other shows. Orange could also be a little cheesy at times (I continue to have mixed feelings about the huge smiles of various characters), and it never maintained the (in hindsight unreasonable) heights I envisioned for it, but it still really wowed and moved me for a solid half of its run.
I liked these earnest kids and their mission to save their friend, I'm glad they succeeded, and I look forward to the anime movie that continues the tale a little further.
Author sesameacrylicPosted on Sun, 25 Sep 2016 Wed, 28 Sep 2016 Categories Anime Reviews, Orange, Summer 2016Tags accident, awkwardness, オレンジ, black hole, changing the future, chino takako, chocolates, confession, explanations, Fight, flashback, future, grandma, guilt, hagita saku, hanazawa kana, happiness, high school, letters, mother, murasaka azusa, naruse kakeru, regrets, relative, running, shoujo, suicide, suwa hiroto, takamiya naho, teamwork, the past2 Comments on Orange – 13 (Fin)
Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu – 05
Last week was a compelling turning point in the show, when the streak of everything going Nagato Yuki's way ends with a bang, with that bang being her homemade chocolates hitting the ground. This week, Nagato Yuki disappears, and it's up to Ryouko to pick up the pieces.
To her surprise, Haruhi joins the search. Haruhi claims it was just a misunderstanding; that she was giving Kyon courtesy chocolate just like she gave to Koizumi. It isn't her fault Yuki overreacted, or takes the ritual so seriously.
Ryouko is angry, first at Haruhi, then at herself for blaming others for what she deems her own failure. This is the angriest and most emotional we've seen Ryouko yet, and it's the culmination of putting "Miss Nagato's" hopes and dreams on her shoulders, while also possibly forcing ideals on the lilac-haired waif.
When the two finally locate that waif, sulking on a stair, they learn they misunderstood her running away, as did we. Yuki wasn't devastated by the sight of Haruhi and Kyon, nor is she giving up; she merely felt like she shouldn't be there while someone else is giving chocolate to someone, because she wouldn't want anyone watching while she was doing it. Yuki puts herself in the shoes of others, and treats them the way she'd want to be treated. She really is a good girl.
But will she have the fortitude to hang in a fight with Haruhi for Kyon's heart? Haruhi makes it clear she "doesn't dislike" Kyon (i.e. she likes him) when Yuki asks her point blank (and good for her for doing so!) so it's no longer a one-horse race. But Yuki is game for now, and Haruhi wishes her rival luck.
Yuki finally, finally delivers the chocolates to Kyon, with trembling hands and a face so red he really should know how much this means to her. He opens them eats them, praises their taste and Yuki and thanks her. He does everything he should do considering what he was presented with, but it isn't enough. Someone like Kyon needs a clear-as-crystal confession or it's going to sail over him.
With nothing else to do but watch from a secluded spot, Ryouko decries the fact it doesn't seem to be going so smoothly, while Haruhi, nervously playing with her shoe thinks she understands at least part of how Yuki feels, and how giving something to someone, as a courtesy or not, is still an achievement to be proud of.
Haruhi looks particularly weary when Yuki seems to be going in for the confession, but a terribly-timed tackle by Tsuruya causes Yuki to fall to the ground and Kyon to land on her chest, ruining her chance once more. Haruhi seems more than a little relieved by the Tsuruya ex machina.
While this week did resort to some standard rom-com stall tactics, I appreciated how it kept things tough for Yuki, and more importantly, brought Ryouko's formerly flawless facilitating powers down to earth. In one of her better lines, told in her temporary rage, Ryouko tells Haruhi "you're the kind of person who can act to make what you want happen"—referencing Haruhi's supernatural powers in the original series—compared to Yuki, who has trouble making anything at all happen.
But after this week, Ryouko and Haruhi seem like something resembling friends, their bond forged in large part because of Yuki: Ryouko's devotion to her, and Haruhi's competition with her. And I think Haruhi understands Yuki all too well in one notable regard: for both of them, getting Kyon to properly notice their feelings looks to be a Herculean challenge.
Author sesameacrylicPosted on Sat, 2 May 2015 Sat, 2 May 2015 Categories Anime Reviews, Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu, Spring 2015Tags Asahina Mikuru, asakura ryouko, chocolates, confession, confidence, courtesy, cuteness, 長門有希ちゃんの消失, flashback, flirting, heroine, koizumi itsuki, KyoAni, Kyon, literature club, moe, Nagato Yuki, rituals, river, romantic comedy, satelight, Suzumiya Haruhi, The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, transfer student, tsuruya, valentines day
Oh dear…I realize I may have been hasty about choosing Nagato Yuki-san as the Spring's "feel good" anime. Her inflexible reliance on conventional courtship rituals like Christmas and Valentines left her vulnerable the battle for Kyon's heart Four weeks in, he has no idea how deeply she feels for him.
Haruhi arrived on the field of battle late, and even provided moral support for Yuki to advance at a quicker pace, which lessoned the threat she posed. At the same time, her strict non-adherence to societal norms, striking looks, and impish aggressiveness made for a formidable arsenal, with which she's able to steal a march on Yuki.
The most heartbreaking part (if you're a Yuki shipper)? By going home to make chocolate rather than stay at the club to hang with Kyon, Yuki gave Haruhi the only opening she'd need. Mind you, Haruhi doesn't have anything against Yuki, and she's not some villainess hell bent on making her life miserable. On the contrary, I doubt she was planning to make the connection she made with Kyon, or vice versa. It was almost as if destiny itself was against Yuki.
All Haruhi sees is a lonely Kyon waiting for her by the school gate, a potential free coffee, and later, an open ear to her philosophy of "good things will come to those who seek them," not those who wait. Even when she tests him by asking if he thinks water imps exist, he doesn't bore her with a scientific explanation for why they don't. Instead, he ponders whether they do…and who can blame him, with Haruhi fording the February river in her bare feet at sundown; the very picture of impish beauty?
Yuki means well, but her omission absence, and hesitation are no match for Haruhi. Yet she doesn't even consider Haruhi to be a threat when she tries and fails to sleep that night, then goes to school with a lump in her throat. Her challenge, as she sees it, is to get that chocolate into Kyon's hands. As long as she does that, everything will be fine. But putting so much importance into the ritual also means she'll be that much more devastated if things don't go as planned.
Mikiru, Tsuruya and Asahina's collective "attagirl" encouragement and Asahina's plan in which she comes to Kyon rather than wait for him, are all designed to make the exchange as painless and idiotproof as possible. But at this point, I'm pretty certain she's walking into an ambush. There will be no feel-good ending in that room.
The scene she walks in on couldn't have been worse if they were in flagrante delicto on the tabletop, because frankly, Yuki's threshold for romantic defeat is about as low as humanly possible. There's Kyon, to whom she was about to present the chocolates she put her goddamn heart into, his hand connected via the conduit of a store-bought chocolate bar—"Showa", a play on Meiji—to Haruhi, the usurper Yuki herself allowed into the club. It's a regular imperial coup.
The one slight glimmer of hope? The box Yuki drops on the floor doesn't bust open and scatter the pieces all over the floor, so maybe that's not quite the state of her heart. But this is going to sting, and her skight step back indicates she intends to retreat.
Author sesameacrylicPosted on Sat, 25 Apr 2015 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 Categories Anime Reviews, Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu, Spring 2015Tags Asahina Mikuru, asakura ryouko, chocolate, chocolates, confidence, cuteness, 長門有希ちゃんの消失, flashback, flirting, heroine, imp, koizumi itsuki, KyoAni, Kyon, literature club, moe, Nagato Yuki, rituals, river, romantic comedy, satelight, Suzumiya Haruhi, The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, transfer student, tsuruya, valentines day1 Comment on Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu – 04
Hyouka – 21
A year ago, Fukube rejects Mayaka's Valentine's Day chocolate; she vows to present him with homemade chocolate from scratch next year. That day approaches, and after help from Chitanda, she leaves the masterpiece in the club room for Fukube. Chitanda enters and is shocked to find it's been stolen. Oreki agrees to help investigate, but they're too late, as Mayaka shows up before it can be found. She goes home without a fuss. On their walk home, Oreki confirms Fukube himself stole the chocolate, because he wasn't ready to give Mayaka an answer. Mayaka knew he stole it too, surprising Chitanda. That night, Fukube gives Mayaka a call.
Fukube Satoshi has always irritated us a bit. He's just so…insufferable at times. But apparently even something as recent as his "defeat" at the hands of Oreki in the Juumoji case has humbled him. As Oreki notes while he's playing an arcade game they used to play in middle school, Fukube used to be obsessed with winning, and pissed off when he didn't. But then one day, he realized winning wouldn't fulfill him. So he decided to become obsessed with not being obsessed with things. To be simplistic, he went Zen. Which is why sometimes earthly occurances – like a girl in love with him demanding his answer, or his scheme to sidestep the issue hurting another girl – no longer immediately occur to him.
He's gone so inward, the effects of his actions on those around him, while not lost on him, are allowed to unfold without his intervention. But he knows he's in a comfort bubble; one he's afraid to leave. Even if he won't admit it, his friendship and interactions with Mayaka led him to win her heart, whether he intended it or not. Now that he's won something, he struggles to take the next step, because it could lead to pain; not now, but somewhere down the road. Oreki doesn't offer him any sage advice (he has his own struggles with whatever he and Chitanda have), but we know part of him wants Satoshi to take a leap of faith, just like we know part of him wants to punch Oreki – hard – twice – for what he did to Mayaka and Chitanda. We're not sure Fukube deserves Mayaka, but it sounds like he loves her too, so giving her a straight answer would go a long way towards redeeming himself.
Rating: 9 (Superior)
Car Cameos: On the bridge where they meet, several cars we've already seen in past episodes drive by Mayaka and Chitanda: a Mitsubishi i, Toyota Ractis, Honda ACTY Van, Toyota Sienta, Toyota Comfort, Suzuki Alto Lapin, Mitsubishi Colt, and Honda Civic.
P.S. Chitanda's excuse for not giving Oreki chocolates – that "her family doesn't give gifts to those she's truly close to – that was an adorable exchange…par for the course where Chii-chan is concerned.
Author rabujoistaffPosted on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 Categories Anime Reviews, Hyouka, Spring 2012Tags chitanda eru, chocolates, classics club, fukube satoshi, Ibara Mayaka, obsession, oreki houtarou, valentines day