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Hyundai Creta Review & First Drive
November 13, 2018 adminAutoHyundai0 Comments
Hyundai Creta Overview
The new Hyundai Creta gets many subtle upgrades over its predecessor and resembles the Brazilian-spec Creta Sport in terms of looks. The Hyundai Creta was first launched in the country in 2014 and the new model will further help the Korean car manufacturer strengthen its foothold in India. Mechanically, it continues to be powered by the existing engine options.The Hyundai Creta competes with the likes of the Renault Duster, Renault Captur and the Nissan Terrano. The upcoming Kia SP SUV will also compete in the same segment as the Creta along with the Maruti Suzuki Vitara if it comes to the Indian market. For information on contact details of Hyundai car dealers in pune
Hyundai Creta Design & Style
There are no significant changes made to the exterior of the SUV however it does get a new SX+ Dual tone trim which offers Piano Black Finish Roof Top & Sporty Black Spoiler. This new dual tone trim will be provided with two body colour combinations in the form of two colour combinations White & Black and Red & Black. This trim also gets a 17-inch diamond cut alloy rims which were only available with SX+ Auto and SX(O) until now.Apart from the changes mentioned above, there are no other changes made to the exterior of the SUV. The SUV is offered with a total of 9 exterior body colour options.
Hyundai Creta Cabin & comfort
A long wheelbase of 2590 mm implies an opulent cabin, which translates into good head room, leg room and shoulder room. That said, the front offers impressive space and the rear has ample room, allowing to seat three adults comfortably. A high window line at the rear enables restricted view from the back. The dual-tone dashboard is perfectly styled and appears chic. The central console does not look cluttered. Use of beige and silver accent renders an elegant look to the cabin. The range-topping grade gets a 7-inch touchscreen, just beneath which are climate control buttons. Leather-upholstered seats are exclusively available on the range-topping variants while rest of the trims feature fabric-upholstered seats. Leather covering can be seen on the gear knob in the SX+ automatic variant only. Comfort goodies on offing include adjustable front head rests, keyless entry, power windows, height adjuster for the driver's seat, adjustable rear seat head restraints, 7-inch infotainment system with steering-mounted controls for audio system and bluetooth, audio-video navigation, and smart key with push button, among few others.
Hyundai Creta Engine & Gearbox
Hyundai's SUV is powered by a set of engines shared with the Verna – 1.4 and 1.6 diesels and a 1.6 petrol, all of which get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, though the bigger diesel gets the option of a six-speed auto as well. We managed to drive both the 1.6-litre motors – petrol and diesel – and came away quite impressed. The 1.6-litre diesel engine is smooth, silent and feels very punchy in its band of operation. While its high power output of 126bhp is important, even more important is the healthy torque figure of 26.5kgm; the latter helping with the additional weight of the SUV. There is a fair bit of turbo lag initially and the engine hits its stride only after 1,700rpm, so you do sometimes find yourself needing to shift to a lower gear at times in traffic. Performance after that, however, is strong and overtaking is just a flex of the right foot away. And the Creta is also well-suited to highway use, the punchy midrange and tall gearing working well on open highway roads to deliver plenty of useable performance. So what you want to do with the diesel is stay in the 2,000 to 4,000rpm powerband. What remains a strength of this motor, however, is refinement – it's smooth and silent at just about any RPM, and even the clutch action is super light.
The gearshifts on the six-speed manual 'box are positive, with precise and short throws. As for the six-speed automatic on the 1.6 diesel, in normal D mode with a relaxed driving style, it shifts up very early, so progress is relaxed but adequately rapid. Thanks to the torque converter masking the engine's initial turbo lag, the power delivery is quite linear, making this Hyundai SUV easy to drive. The gearshifts are smooth and remind you that refinement and comfort have been given more priority than ultimate performance. It does help that you can shift gears manually via the gear lever when you need that sudden acceleration for overtaking. Even in this mode, however, it will automatically upshift at the red line, and it's slow and reluctant to downshift manually. It's a very old-school slush-box, and for most this should be fine, but if you want to drive quickly, it's nowhere as good as something more modern – like VW's DSG dual-clutch unit.
Hyundai Creta Ride & Handling
The Hyundai Creta with its 17-inch wheels rides like a car twice its price…maybe even better. There is an almost minimal amount of pitching or bounce on large bumps and the Creta even take broken tarmac with relative ease. Of course, chucking it into a corner at higher speeds does take its toll on the overall composure of the car, but more on that a little later.Every Hyundai car in recent times has differentiated itself by being easy to drive. Whether that means a light steering, light clutch or light gearshifts, most Hyundai's do not tend to give you general fatigue either in the city or on the highway. And the Creta is exactly the same. Being quite a bit larger than the i20, etc, the Creta does not feel large both because of its easy to drive controls and also due to the fact that the large greenhouse offers almost unrestricted views of your surroundings. Of course, having height adjustable steering and a height adjustable driver's seat also helps.
Being a high riding SUV, one might expected the Creta to handle like a marshmallow. It does not. It isn't exactly a race car, but Hyundai has clearly worked a lot on the overall suspension settings to tune the Creta's handling dynamics to suit the general public. Although it does have a fair bit of body roll in long sweeping faster corners, the Creta does feel quite comfortable at highway cruising speeds. Yes, there are other SUVs like the Duster that would outhandle the Creta but as an overall package and especially in the city, The Creta is certainly a more livable package.Coming to the brakes, this is possibly one of the only aspects of the Creta that did disappoint us a little. Its not that the brakes aren't good enough to stop the car in time, it is just the fact that the pedal does not have any solid feel and feedback to inspire confidence from the get go. Maybe the Creta's brakes just need getting used to but on a personal level, it definitely needs a bit more bite.
Hyundai Creta Safety & Security
Stopping power is provided by disc brakes fitted in the front axle. An anti-lock-braking system is also inset, ensuring that the vehicle does not roll or skid. The vital safety features that Creta offers comprise an immobilizer, dual airbags, impact-sensing auto door unlock, electronic stability control with hill assist control, rear parking camera with guidelines and sensors, and rear parking sensors.
Hyundai Creta Price in Bangalore
Hyundai Creta Ex-Showroom Price in Bangalore ranges from 9,29,000/- (Creta 1.6 E Petrol) to 14,87,002/- (Creta 1.6 SX Diesel Dual Tone). Get best offers for Hyundai Creta from Hyundai Dealers in Bangalore. Check for Creta price in Bangalore at Carzprice
Hyundai Creta Conclusion
Buyers looking for a compact or mid-size SUV will be pleased to know that the Creta is well built, comfortable inside and very well-equipped. It feels reasonably composed and easy to drive and what helps further is that the 1.6-litre diesel engine is one of the best around. So, as an overall package, the Creta works really well, with good powertrain options, smart interiors, generous space and of course loads of equipment. The fact that Hyundai will offer an automatic diesel from the off will only add to its overall appeal. The Hyundai Creta has been launched at a starting price of Rs 8.59 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the base petrol manual, but the top-spec diesel versions – manual and automatic – cost Rs 13.6 lakh and Rs 13.57 lakh respectively, making them a bit on the pricey side. The thing is, though, Hyundai has done really well to, on the surface at least, make this feel like a properly premium car, which should be (and has been, going by its great initial response) enough to draw in a lot of customers.
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Automotive firm warns of huge damage to supply chain from factory closures
Washington-based Kasai says its factory in south Wales is at risk from the closure of the Honda plant in Swindon
Jonathon ManningMultimedia journalist
Kasai UK's factory in Washington (Image: Google Maps)
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A major supplier to the UK car industry has warned of "significant impact" on its business after a year of closures in the sector.
Kasai UK, which makes internal parts for Honda, Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan, has warned that reduced output by the main automotive firms and the closure of factories could impact on its plants at Washington, Sunderland, and Merthyr Tydfil, in south Wales.
The company makes parts for Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover and Honda, all of whom have announced closures or cutbacks in recent months as turmoil has hit the global automotive sector.
That crisis escalated earlier this week when US car giant Ford announced plans to close its plant at Bridgend, south Wales, next year, with the loss of 1,700 jobs.
A range of factors has impacted the UK car industry, with a huge drop in demand in China and the US, as well as worries that Brexit will result in a big rise in costs.
Kasai has released accounts showing that turnover in 2018 fell from £103.5m to £97m, while operating profit also fell by 82% from £5m to £910,000.
Director Takashi Terada also revealed major concerns over the future of the Merthyr Tydfil site, and while the company's Japanese parent company has written a letter of support for the company, that support has only been pledged for the next 13 months.
Mr Terada said: "In February 2019, Honda announced the closure of their UK plant in Swindon, the expected date for the closure is October 2021. This could have a significant impact on our Kasai Merthyr plant in the future, as the plant is currently reliant on this business to continue its operations.
"To replace this current Honda business, management is actively pursuing new business with other automotive manufacturers."
Mr Terada said Nissan's decision to end production of its Infiniti model in Sunderland had an "immaterial" impact on Kasai due to the company producing low volumes for the car.
Explaining the decline in the firm's financial results, Mr Terada said: "Sales volumes at Washington plant were down versus the prior year mainly due to the effect of the diesel demand issues felt throughout the automotive industry. Production of parts for the new Jaguar Land Rover Evoque started at both plants in December 2018.
"At Merthyr, sales volumes are up for the Honda Civic Model, whilst the production of both the Honda CRV and Jaguar Land Rover Evoque Convertible models ended during the year causing a decrease in the plant's annual sales."
Motor industry leaders say Brexit has placed the UK car industry on 'red alert', with car production across the industry falling by 9.1% last year.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said investment had effectively stalled amid fears over the UK's future trading prospects with the EU.
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McElroy, John and Meredith, Roy, Ed.
This Was Andersonville; The Rue Story of Andersonville Military Prison
New York: Fairfax Press, 1979. Later printing. Cloth. Personal Recollections of McElroy, who served in 16th Illinois Cavalry. Oversized book. 5846. More
McLean, James L., Jr. & Judy W., Compilers
Gettysburg Sources, Volume 2
Baltimore: Butternut & Blue, 1987. First edition thus. Cloth. Reprints of pertinent articles dealing with the three days of battle. Limited edition of 500 copies. 5902. More
McPherson, James M.
Ordeal By Fire; The Civil War and Reconstruction
McWhiney, Grady
Attack and Die; Civil War Military Tactics and the Southern Heritage
University, AL: University of Alabama Press, 1982. New Edition. Hardcover. MK 3146 Q. More
McWhiney, Grady & Jamieson, Perry D.
Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press, 1986. 2nd Printing. Paperback. More
McWhiney, Grady and Jamieson, Perry D.
University, AL: University of Alabama Press, 1982. 1st edition. Hardcover. 8320. More
Menge, W. Springer & Shimrak, J. August, Editors
The Civil War Notebook of Daniel Chisholm; A Chronicle of Daily Life in the Union Army 1864 - 1865
New York: Orion Books, 1989. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Chisholm served in the 116th Pennsylvania, which for much of its army time was part of Irish Brigade once led by Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher. More
Miers, Earl S.
The General Who Marched to Hell; Sherman and the Southern Campaign
New York: Dorset Press, 1990. 2nd printing. Cloth. Reprint of 1951 book. 6077. More
Miller, Francis Trevelyan
The Photographic History of the Civil War: Part Four; The Cavalry
New York: Castle Books, 1957. Hardcover. Contains photos of the federal cavalry, its organization and equipment, the Confederate Cavalry in the East, Federal Raids and expeditons in the West, Cavalry Leaders - North and South - including Custer. Oversize book. Several chips. RP. More
Miller, Francis Trevelyan, Ed.
The Cavalry, Vol. 4; The Photographic History of the Civil War
New York: Castle Books, 1957. 1st printing. Hardcover. 9992. More
Miller, Rex
Croxton's Raid
Fort Collins, CO: Old Army Press, 1979. 1st edition. Paperback. Details successful Union cavalry raid by Army of the Cumberland into Alabama near the end of the Civil War. Part of Gen. James Wilson's larger operation to defeat the Confederacy in the West. Led by Gen. John T. Croxton, Union..... More
Price: $100.00 save 20% $80.00
Miller, Robert C.
Historic Views of Gettysburg; Illustrations in Half-tone of All the Important Views and Historic Places on the Gettysburg Battlefield
Gettysburg, PA: Jennie Wade Museum, 1906. 1st printing. Pamphlet. Cover is soiled in places and shows handling. Booklet is solid and intact. More
Miller, William J.
Decision at Tom's Brook; George Custer, Thomas Rosser, and the Joy of the Fight
Dorado Hill, CA: Savas Beatie, 2016. 1st Edition. Hardcover. The story behind battle at Toms Brook in October 1864 and the young officers, friends at West Point, but enemies on the battlefield: George A. Custer and Thomas L. Rosser. More
Miller, William J. & Pohanka, Brian C.
An Illustrated History of the Civil War; Images of an American Tragedy
Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 2000. 1st printing. Hardcover. 8357. More
Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 2000. 1st Edition. Hardcover. More
Minnigh, L. W.
Gettysburg: "What They Did Here"; Profusely Illustrated Historical Guide Book
Gettysburg, PA: Tipton & Blocher, 1924. 1st edition, later printing. Paperback. Booklet about Gettysburg battle published in part by local phogographer W. H. Tipton. Include fold-out battle map. Front cover is fragile. More
Monaghan, Jay
Civil War on the Western Border 1854-1865
New York: Bonanza, 1955. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Excellent dust jacket. Covers pre-war Kansas and the actions that hastened the Civil War. Offers much on Quantrill and his guerillas, raid on Lawrence, Kansas, Jesse and Frank James, John Brown, Jefferson Davis, John C. Fremont, Ulysses S. Grant, James Henry Lane and..... More
Nelson, Christopher and Pohanka, Brian
Mapping the Civil War
Washington DC: Starwood Pub. 1992. 1st edition. Cloth. Major battles are illustrated with critical and beautiful maps prepared by both sides as well as photographs and sketches. 6065. More
Nolan, Alan T.
Lee Considered; General Robert E. Lee and Civil War History
Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1991. Later printing. Hardcover. More
Civil War Small Arms
Washington DC: National Rifle Association, 1960. Reprint. Paperback. DI 2968 X. More
Letters Home; A Collection of Original Civil War Soldier's Letters, Antietam - Chancellorsville - Gettysburg
Gettysburg, PA: Published by Author, 1988. Reprint. Pamphlet. From the collection of Alan Sessarego. More
Michigan At Gettysburg
Detroit, Mich. Winn & Hammond, 1889. No Edition Stated. Hardcover. FM 3324 Q. More
Northrop, Henry Davenport
Life and Deeds of General Sherman
Philadelphia: H.J. Smith, 1891. 1st edition. Hardcover. Memorial Edition. Wear on edges, spine and covers. Book solid and intact. Cover shows fading. Pages show some foxing. Civil War biography. More
O'Reilly, Bill & Dugard, Martin
Killing Lincoln; The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever
New York: Henry Holt & Co., 2011. 1st edition. Hardcover. More


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Meet The Teamhypedmarketing2022-01-26T10:11:26+00:00
Bachy Soletanche employees are different
We are curious, questioning, and innovative.
We work together, not in silos.
We encourage debate and challenge the norm with a goal of providing outstanding service for our customers. We believe that successful outcomes are based on collaboration, mutual respect and well-resourced teamwork. Bachy Soletanche share a common drive to lead innovation in the Geotechnical sector, with a passion for great design solutions.
Our team is made up of a variety of industry professionals, who have developed their experience and careers with us throughout the years. Our designers, engineers, project managers and workforce all work collaboratively with you to protect your best interests. People remain at the heart of our business, meet just a few of our team who help drive excellence and value throughout our projects, innovations and services.
Steve AkoPlant Research and Engineering Manager
A Chartered Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years' experience in the construction industry, Steve learnt his trade as a fabrication welder. With a passion for engineering and problem solving, he has developed his knowledge and experience with Bachy Soletanche. Steve is responsible for research and development programmes, along with engineering innovations. He particularly enjoys motivating other engineers to further develop their careers and push boundaries.
Dafyyd BelshawQuality, Sustainability and Environmental Manager
Since joining Bachy Soletanche in 2019, Dafydd has been responsible for developing and maintaining corporate management systems relating to quality of operations and environmental management in accordance with relevant accreditations. Dafydd has played a key role in implementing sustainable practices within Bachy Soletanche and brings over 20 years of experience in corporate social responsibility and sustainability roles.
Read: Dafydd's blog on Breaking The Stigma On Same-Sex Parenting
Boris Caro VargasManaging Director
Boris joined Bachy Soletanche as Managing Director at the beginning of 2021 and is passionate about helping the company grow in a sustainable way with a special focus on innovation, digitalisation, diversity and the environment. Boris has been in the specialist construction industry since graduating university almost 20 years ago, working across seven different countries and three of the Group business lines, between Europe and the Americas. He also speaks 5 different languages. When he is not busy working, Boris enjoys cooking international dishes, playing 11 and 5-A-Side football, scuba diving and spending time with his wife and three children.
Read: Boris's blog on The Importance Of A Diverse Workforce
Ana CarvalhoDesign Manager
Ana joined Bachy Soletanche in 2014 after moving from her home country of Portugal and is currently leading and developing the Core Business Design team. Ana has over 25 years' experience as a civil engineer where she has taken on a variety of roles, including design, research, teaching and management. Her career has involved projects across Europe, Africa and South America. In the UK, as a designer or managing design teams, Ana has contributed to prestigious projects including Royal Mint Gardens, King's Cross and Thames Tideway East. As a mother of three teenagers, Ana enjoys travelling with her family, swimming and running.
Read: Ana's Insider Update On Life At Bachy Soletanche
Richard ColesGroup Financial Controller
Since qualifying as a chartered accountant in 2003, Richard has worked across a number of different industries including chemicals, laboratory testing, manufacturing and construction. He joined Bachy Soletanche in 2016 and is responsible for managing the finance team, providing accurate and timely reporting of our financial performance. Richard likes to keep fit through long distance running and in 2018 he completed the Dublin Marathon.
Alan D'Urban-JacksonCore Business Commercial Manager
Alan joined the team in 2012 and has over 24 years' experience in the civil and ground engineering industry working across the UK and South Africa. Alan is responsible for leading and developing the Commercial team within the Core Business. When the sun is out, he enjoys a round of golf, running and the general outdoors.
Kevin DoyleHead of Pre-Construction & New Business
Having worked in the construction industry for over 25 years, Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in areas such as business development, project and contract management, and pre-construction. In his role, Kevin is driving business growth through strengthening key client relationships, encouraging early contractor involvement and identifying new opportunities. As well as leading business development, Kevin is also playing a key role in shaping our marketing and communications strategy.
Ken GaileyCore Business Director
Ken has over 30 year's experience in the construction sector, working on major engineering projects for contractors across the UK and Asia. He is responsible for the safe and efficient delivery of Bachy Soletanche's operations, with a key focus on implementing innovative solutions and driving value throughout the schemes. Ken is a keen cricketer, passionate rugby fan and enjoys traveling and reading.
Rob GoldUK Plant Manager
Rob has over ten years' experience in the geotechnical sector and has worked on many prestigious projects in the UK throughout his time, including Ilona Rose House in Tottenham Court Road. Today Rob heads up the Plant Department based in Lancashire, overseeing BSL's ancillary support services which include Maintenance, Engineering and Innovation, Fabrication, Procurement and Logistics. Outside the yard, he enjoys exercising, reading, listening to music, and spending time with his family.
David HardChief Engineer
Having started as a student on a years placement in Paris, David is now approaching 30 years within the Group. In addition to his time in Paris, David spent 5 years in the Far East before returning to the UK design team. In his role, he is responsible for the design teams and technical side of the company, which includes ensuring that Bachy Soletanche maintain their reputation with clients and peers for technical ability. Outside work David can be found travelling the world to indulge in his love of white water rafting.
Philip HinesUK Group Managing Director
Approaching 35 years in the industry, Phil is responsible for the Soletanche Bachy Group of companies in the UK. He began his career, whilst studying at the University of Surrey, with an industrial year in France learning about and designing diaphragm walls,. Today, Phil still has the same enthusiasm for learning and helping to develop others. A keen but infrequent golfer he is also active outside of work, raising money for charities, walking long distances and climbing mountains.
Kieron LynchBusiness Development and Senior Estimator
In 2021, Kieron joined our Major Projects team, which manages our most extensive and technical contracts. He is an accomplished estimating professional with experience taking a project from conceptual estimation through to completion. Kieron has been building up his expertise in the industry over the last eight years and has worked for a number of geotechnical contractors throughout his career. When he's not helping shape our Major Projects, Kieron enjoys making use of his private pilot's license to take in some of the most beautiful sights around the UK and Europe.
Malcolm MearnsHealth & Safety Manager (UK)
With over 20 years' experience, Malcolm has a passion for driving Health and Safety excellence. During his five years with Bachy Soletanche, he's played an integral role in helping the company achieve ISO 45001, along with winning the British Safety Council International Safety Award and five RoSPA gold awards. When not keeping everyone safe, Malcolm enjoys watching and playing football, walking and spending time with family and friends.
Read: Mal's blog on Targeting A Zero Injury Workplace
Chris MerridewMajor Projects Director
Chris has over 30 years' experience in the construction sector and has worked on some of the UK's most prestigious projects. He has a passion for driving the business forward and is well respected across the industry. When away from the office Chris enjoys outdoor pursuits such as walking, sailing and gardening, along with a keen interest in restoring vintage motorcycles.
David ParkerEstimating Manager
With a natural flair for maths and science, David has always had an interest in civil engineering and has acquired over 20 years' experience in the construction industry. Since his entry into the industry, David has progressed from Contracts Engineer to Estimating Manager, working on a variety of high-profile projects, including the Kings Cross Central redevelopment. He believes that early contractor involvement and having a strong understanding of a client's requirements are key to delivering a value-engineered solution. When not running around after his children, David enjoys cycling, racketball and renovating his home.
Read: David's Insider Update On His Role In Estimating
Louise PughGroup Human Resources Manager
Louise joined Bachy Soletanche in 2002 and is currently responsible for all aspects of HR including recruitment, employee relations, training and development, and people management. She particularly enjoys incorporating teams during mergers and acquisitions, ensuring all employees are integrated into the business.
Matt RoseProject Manager
Matt has been with Bachy Soletanche since 2016, managing a variety of piling projects around the UK. He is responsible for coordinating piling works on site, ensuring tight collaboration with the client's team, and making sure that all work is carried out safely and efficiently to a high standard. Matt's portfolio of work includes Facebook's offices at Kings Cross P2 and the M4 Smart Motorway. In his free time, Matt enjoys mountain biking, fishing and kayaking.
Sivilay Sayavong Technical Manager
Sivilay has been in the construction industry for 15 years and is currently working as Technical Manager on the flagship HS2 project as part of the SB3 joint venture. Other notable projects she has worked on include the Thames Tideway Tunnel and the Thames Water Lee Tunnel. Sivilay grew up in France and always had a passion for STEM subjects. Her other interests include horse-riding and travelling.
Read: Sivilay's Insider Update On Her Career Journey
Martin StanleyCore Operations Manager
Martin Stanley is a Chartered Civil Engineer & Fellow of the Geological Society with 15 years' experience working with Bachy Soletanche since his graduation from Imperial College London in 2005. Most recently, Martin has spent the last 5 years leading the Geotechnical team on our JV project; Tideway London, and now heads up the Core Operations team. Martin enjoys hockey and mountain biking alongside spending time with his young family, producing miniature recreations of our works using Lego.
Graham TraffordGroup Finance Director
Graham joined the company shortly after qualifying as Chartered Certified Accountant in 1997. His role ensures the robustness and integrity of our financial reporting processes, along with responsibilities for IT, procurement and fleet. Graham has a passion for food, cooking and travel, along with leading an active lifestyle through distance running.
Richard TottyTechnical Manager for Compensation Grouting, Euston Approaches
Richard joined the company in 2003, starting off in the design team and then on to operations, where he specialised in grouting and worked on the King's Cross Underground Station redevelopment, followed by a secondment in Vietnam, Hong Kong and Kentucky, USA. Upon returning to the UK, Richard became Senior Technical Engineer on Crossrail 510 and then Project Manager on the Bond Street Station upgrade, before moving to his current role of Senior Design Engineer. Alongside his busy schedule, Richard is a STEM ambassador and has played a key role in promoting Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) within the workplace.
Read: Richard's Blog On Driving Change Through Inclusivity
Andy WestCommercial Manager
With nearly 40 years in the construction industry, Andy is an experienced and respected employee of Bachy Soletanche. During his 27 years with the business, Andy has been responsible for the contractual relationships we hold with our clients, subcontractors and suppliers. Key to the success of his role, is being able to amicably resolve contract negotiations for the benefit of all parties. A keen football fan, Andy is an ever-optimistic supporter of Plymouth Argyle.
Read: Andy's Insider Update On His Career
Sophie VicardGeotechnical Project Manager
Born in the French Alps, Sophie came over to the UK to complete an internship for her Geotechnical Engineering Master's degree in 2013 and has been here ever since. With eight years in the industry, Sophie has been involved in core business and major projects, including recently leading the geotechnical works at the Thames Tideway Tunnel and as a Site Engineer on the Lee Tunnel project. Sophie is a self-confessed hard worker, but when she does give herself a break, she enjoys travelling, hiking, and reading on her balcony with a nice glass of wine.
Read: Sophie's Blog On Gender Balance In Construction
Ruth WebsterSenior Contract Engineer
Starting off her career as a receptionist at Bachy Soletanche, Ruth has worked her way up through the company to her current role of Senior Contract Engineer, which she began in 2017. Ruth discovered her love for engineering after securing a contract engineering apprenticeship at the company in 2007. She is also regularly invited to speak to university students to offer advice on getting into the industry. When Ruth is not busy overseeing projects, she enjoys spending time with friends and family.
Read: Ruth's Blog On Her Pathway To Success


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While we only link to sites we believe offer credible, evidence-based information, we cannot guarantee this information is correct or up-to-date.
Authoritative determinations of carcinogenic hazard - evaluation of the evidence that particular agents cause cancer in humans.
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Safe Work Australia review of the barriers and enablers to control of hazardous chemicals in small to medium-sized enterprises.
Safe Work Australia report on control measures provided in workplaces to eliminate, reduce or control worker exposure to direct sunlight.
Guide to workplace skin cancer prevention.
Review of the occupational safety and health and economic performance in small and medium-sized enterprises.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health guide to assist employers establish effective workplace programs that sustain and improve employee health.
Technical report on the burden of occupational disease and injury in New Zealand.


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Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
You want to replace your tired, old mattress with a new one that isn't too expensive? Ready to find your first hybrid bed that's remarkably valuable for your budget and packed with extra perks that you may not get anywhere else? Look no further because, in this review, we're going to take a deep dive into the original DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress, one that's already making a lot of noise in the luxury beds market!
Customers and critics have praised this model for its outstanding comfort, impressive pressure relief and long-lasting durability. All of this at a competitively low cost. It looks great, but how durable does it last? Keep reading to check our findings from the series of tests that we ran on it, and stay til the end to find out if it's the right one for you!
Type of delivery: Bed-in a-box
A Closer Look into the DreamCloud Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
The DreamCloud Hybrid is the flagship product of DreamCloud, a US-based sleep specialist brand that provides its customers with a luxury-grade yet valuable bedroom experience. The firm sells DreamCloud Premier and DreamCloud Premium Rest premium mattresses.
How Does the General Public Feel About DreamCloud?
Any reaction that comes from using this product for a long period may yield mixed results since these can vary from person to person. The main factors that influence how a person feels about the product are their weight, age, climate, and preference for sleeping position. We cannot guarantee that the DreamCloud Hybrid will suit every sleep type. However, what we are sure of is that it may be an ideal choice for many who just want overall comfort in their sleep.
People who like to sleep on a firmer, medium-firm mattress
Senior citizens – The majority of seniors may have varying levels of chronic pain, particularly back pain. The DreamCloud Hybrid may help them to manage their pain.
Side sleepers who are strict – Lightweight sleepers might find the bed's surface more comfortable to lie on. Heavy sleepers, however, may sink more easily, causing pressure points to form.
Heavyweight sleepers – Although this mattress might be able to support most body types, it may not have enough weight to support the heavier individuals.
Firmness is one of the very first things you may need to check if you're looking for a new mattress. It can make it easy to decide whether it is too firm or soft, or whether you are tempted to buy it. The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress's comfort level may be advertised to be at 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, but how accurate is its claim? We tested the mattress' overall firmness and felt to find out if DreamCloud is a true brand with its flagship mattress. Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
Based on the data we collected over the past 14 days, it seems that most could agree that this mattress has the potential to accommodate a sizable range of positions and body weights but not exactly all of them. We would give the DreamCloud Hybrid a solid 7/10 on the firmness scale, which is medium firm. It's plush enough to be comfortable, yet supportive enough to contour the body even in different positions. It's also worth noting that the mattress was comfortable for two of the three volunteers immediately upon contact. The other took them several days to adjust.
The DreamCloud Hybrid is a great choice for back sleepers of any weight. According to what we have gathered from volunteers, there was no issue with the firmness of the DreamCloud Hybrid. Its construction is flexible enough to support the spine and provide adequate support. This one may be a good choice for light-weight sleepers. Not only should it feel supportive enough, but the top layers should allow them to lay on top as comfortable as possible.
Average-weighted individuals may like the DreamCloud Hybrid best as it should give them the perfect balance of relief and hold. The coils beneath the mattress should support their hips and sink into the mattress. Heavyweight sleepers should also feel the same to some extent, but those who weigh around 300lbs or more may not find it suitable since they may sink in too much to the point where pressure is produced. Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
The DreamCloud Hybrid may be too soft for heavy people, especially those over 300 lbs. The representative of that group said her hips were sinking into her mattress when she lay on her stomach. It was so uncomfortable she couldn't sleep in this position. While it seems that stomach sleepers who weigh more than average may find issues with this mattress, lightweight individuals may reap the benefits of relief better than other denominations. Because of their body, their hips will not be able sink in as much. Therefore, they should feel just as comfortable on their stomachs than their backs.
Our heavyweight and 225-lb reps both felt that the mattress was uncomfortable to sleep on their sides. Both have experienced frequent sinking in their hips and shoulders, creating pressure points that may lead to minor concurrent pains. As heavier individuals may find the DreamCloud Hybrid to be soft under their weight, those who are lesser than 130 pounds may find it a little bit firmer sometimes to be able to sleep properly. Our lightweight volunteer can attest to this: when she tried to rest strictly on one side for a prolonged period, she felt as if the top layers were too firm at times, but when it came to sleeping with her sides interchanged, it turned out to be decently comfortable. At this rate, minor adjustments are more likely expected.
Its Pain Relief Capabilities
While our volunteers had a lot of fun testing the DreamCloud Hybrid's firmness, it was also possible to assess how effective it is in pain relief. To do this, we set up a pressure map on top of the mattress, and, once that was done, we asked the four volunteers to lay on the back, stomach, and both sides of their bodies to see if there was any significant pressure difference that we could spot right away.
Based on what we observed, it's clear at this point that the DreamCloud Hybrid could create excellent pressure relief along the back for most sleeper groups. Most people, except for those who are over 300 lbs, will find comfort and relaxation right away. The bed's layers, which include the memory foam, are sufficient to support their weight and contour their bodies very well. This results in low pressure throughout the entire body. The mattress creates very few pressure points, which means that back pains are less likely to occur. This is especially important for seniors and people who have back problems.
In terms of sleeping on the stomach, expect the DreamCloud Hybrid to produce a decent yet everchanging share of pressure points, particularly along the hips. While light-weight sleepers and those who are average may be able rest comfortably without worrying about pent up pressure, heavy-weight sleepers, particularly those with 300-pound structures, might need to be cautious as excessive sinking could lead to increased pressure points. Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
We found significant pressure points for most body types when it came to side sleep. It doesn't matter what your weight, side sleeping on the DreamCloud Hybrid will cause discomfort. The problem is worse for those who are heavier. Lighter sleepers, for instance, may not enjoy the feel of the mattress in this position for long periods, while heavy-weighted ones may not like it equally as they tend to sink into it more to the point where they feel pain in their shoulders and hips. This is where the DreamCloud mattress can be a little bit of a problem.
What exactly is the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress made of? The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress measures 14 inches in height. It is filled with notable qualities that keep you cool and relaxed throughout the night. It's equipped with exceptional cooling capabilities to keep the body cool and prevent heat buildup, making it a top-performing hybrid model.
Cashmere wool is known for its soft touch and luxurious feel. It's for this reason that DreamCloud chose to incorporate this into the cover of its signature mattress model. The quilt's cloud-patterned design, which is splayed across the mattress, invites the user to lay down on the bed. The material is breathable and has excellent temperature-regulating characteristics to help cool the sleeper at night.
Since the mattress cover is quilted, after all, you wouldn't guess which material is stitched onto until now! Under the cashmere-blend mattress cover is a plush, soft, and supportive polyfoam that provides ample support for the body's weight. With 1 1/2 inches worth of material, this layer helps give off a pillow-top feel that users may likely experience upon contact with the bed – all without the worries about breaking the bank.
Since its inception, memory foam has been widely recognized to adapt and respond to the body's shape as fluidly as possible and provide much-needed relief from its pressure points. In the case of the DreamCloud Hybrid, it is placed conveniently underneath the quilted top layer. It measures one inch and is just right to support the sleeper, but it doesn't give off a sinking sensation. This material may be notorious for trapping heat, but DreamCloud fixes this by incorporating gel infusion, allowing their body temperature to be cooled down further along with the indented cover.
A two-inch thick layer of firm polyfoam is found beneath the memory foam. It acts as a transitional layer between soft mattress and base foundation. It works in two ways: 1) to conform the body's shape and posture into perfect alignment, and 2) to keep it from further sinking into the mattress until it reaches the coils, which can oftentimes be highly inconvenient.
Speaking of coils, the DreamCloud Hybrid's very foundation comes in the form of a full system of individually wrapped innerspring coils. Each spring is 8 1/2 inches tall. This contributes to the mattress's overall height. The coils can be responsive to the sleeper's changing movements very well. However, the perimeters of the mattress are strategically strengthened with stronger steel to provide better edge support.
A thick layer of standard high-density foam is found beneath the coil set. Since it serves as part of the foundation that holds the mattress together, it comes as solid and sturdy enough to secure the springs from moving too much, yet also thin enough to allow Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
They will bounce back. It won't feel as if it were there, but you will be able to appreciate the fact that it is there to prevent it from falling apart.
To cap it all off is a tufted cover to store all the layers within the DreamCloud Hybrid safely in place. Although it's not considered a layer that makes up the bed per se, it's built for the sole purpose to secure the foundation that holds it. Its rounded borders are adorned with tufted decor to make the mattress appear luxurious, while its four side handles, with two on each side, are sewn in to make transporting it easier and hassle-less.
A perfect mattress should be able to adapt to the sleeper's needs. Apart from accommodating their body type and preferred sleep position, other pressing factors should be taken into consideration – this includes a plethora of activities, habits, and even the climate that they are usually accustomed to. We were able to perform a number of tests during the two-week test period to determine if the DreamCloud Hybrid is a solid staple in the bedroom.
This model is ideal for couples or individuals who live in hot climates.
Considering what it's made of and how it functions, the DreamCloud mattress may not fully absorb a person's motions, but it does a decent job, regardless. We first noticed that one of our volunteers couldn't feel the other's movements changing as much when they became more intense. It caused little to no disturbance with small movements.
The DreamCloud Hybrid's motion isolation capabilities make it comparable to luxury hybrid beds. This model is not recommended for light sleepers with a restless partner.
The DreamCloud Hybrid is said to provide great edge support with the help of reinforced steel coils around the perimeter/edges, but how accurate is this claim? We tested it by having volunteers lie on the edges of the bed and we found that the claim was mostly accurate. If a mattress has exceptional edge support, sleepers may likely take advantage of its surface without the imminent fear of sinking or falling off it.
While most of our volunteers could attest to the DreamCloud bed's edges being able to support them decently well, our heavyweight rep said otherwise – those who weigh 230 and beyond may not find this bed supportive enough.
Innerspring coil beds are known for making loud squeaking sounds, particularly when they're dealing with intense movement. The same sort of applies to a couple of hybrid beds with springs sandwiched in between layers of foam.
The DreamCloud Hybrid is a rare exception. During our two-week test period, no one noticed any annoying squeaking from the bed. It may have been constructed in a way that makes noise, or how the oil is wrapped up. Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
Ideally, mattresses made with a wide variety of materials should be able to strike a balance between contouring and ease of movement – the DreamCloud model achieves this by making its memory foam layer complimentary with other foam layers, not outshine them, therefore allowing it to conform the body's shape like a light hug. The coil system underneath the comfort layers should be responsive to movement, which will make navigation easier throughout the surface.
As our team tried to move around the bed, we spotted right away that it wasn't entirely difficult to switch from one side of the surface to another. If you plan to do some motion-intensive activities on the bed, especially, you wouldn't have any issues with it.
Speaking of motion-intensive, we see a promising amount of potential in the DreamCloud Hybrid as an ideal bed for sexual activities. Folks who engage in sex once in a while may surely enjoy its ability to adapt to their movements swiftly. It makes a noticeable difference in noise, so it is possible to have discreet sex.
Being a medium-firm bed, partners who prefer to do one or three positions may not find enough hugging along the surface to keep them at least secure. The DreamCloud mattress is one of the best beds for sex. Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
How long this durability could last may change depending on the sleeper's body type, how often they use it, or if they have one or two more persons who lay on its surface. After a two-week test period, we all agreed that the DreamCloud mattress was durable enough to continue providing comfort. We believe it should remain this way for seven to eight more years. Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress comes packed neatly and compressed in a box. The size of the mattress will determine how heavy it is. The twin is the lightest and Cal King and King are the most heavy. When we unboxed the Queen-sized version to be used for our tests, we noticed that some of our teammates find it quite heavy to carry it alone, so from that point onwards we needed an extra person to help ease the burden.
Apart from the mattress, other contents inside the box include a handy booklet for instructions and a free pocket knife that you may use to open it up from the plastic packaging – that is, especially if you don't have one of your own. After you have rolled it out of the box onto your bed frame, it will be fully compressed. You should wait between 24-48 hours. Since you're going to encounter a fresh new mattress in front of you, expect it to emit a slightly off-putting odor.
Models made of synthetic foam layers tend to emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) collected from manufacturing. Since the DreamCloud Hybrid's foam layers are all CertiPUR-US-certified, the amount should be much less. It is important to let it sit out so that the smell can dissipate after a few days. To speed this process up, we suggest that you do so in a well-ventilated environment by opening up all the windows and doors in the room.
Prices and sizes available
Stellar accommodations aside, one thing that the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress arguably shines lies in how it's priced. This model sells at an affordable price due to the quality of its foundation and framework, as well as the type of materials it was made.
Plus, if you order it from DreamCloud's official website, you may get to save plenty of money quite often with seasonal sales and discounts. You're also rewarded with a free set of bedding, including pillowcases, sheets, and a mattress protector, to help make the set-up process simpler.
The DreamCloud Hybrid is currently sold in six standard sizes, with original prices starting from $799 onwards. For more information, including pricing, dimensions and weight, please see the table below.
Queen 60″ W x 80″ L x 14″ H 97.40 LBS $1,199
King 76″ Wx80″ Lx14″ H 120.30 LBS $1,499
You want to look at other options? We can help! The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress may be one of the hottest luxury hybrid models in the market, but there are two other competing alternatives out there that deliver the same promise of comfort and are packed with unique aspects that it may not have. Let's take a closer look at each one! Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
It's clear that the DreamCloud Hybrid is an excellent luxury hybrid mattress. We have taken a closer look at it and are now fully testing it ourselves.
We're impressed by how well it can accommodate and support the backs of most sleepers as it was able to relieve pressure points in certain areas, though the same can't exactly be translated in terms of side and stomach sleeping. Considering the type of materials used and how it's cleverly constructed, it's sure to give folks a well-rounded experience that's open to versatility – and at a surprisingly affordable price range, too!
Although the DreamCloud Hybrid's medium-firm surface is inviting, it may not be for everyone. We found that the bed does not have enough to hold well for those who weigh as heavy as 300 lbs, more or less. It's evident that the bed is a welcome staple for couples and single sleepers alike.
You also have less to lose if it's your decision to buy it. You'll be given plenty of exclusive discount rates from DreamCloud's official website, plus exceptionally responsive customer service teams to assist you along the way. For this and all the other good reasons regarding the DreamCloud Hybrid, there's no doubt that we're giving it a resounding 4.5/5 stars. It's definitely worth the effort… and the purchase! Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
FAQ Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
What is DreamCloud's warranty period? And how does it work?
Every purchase done through DreamCloud's official website or any authorized DreamCloud seller is immediately entitled to its exclusive lifetime warranty guarantee.
What is the DreamCloud sleep trial duration?
Authentic DreamCloud mattresses, including its original hybrid model, come with a 365-night Home Trial period. DreamCloud offers a longer 180-night trial than other mattress companies. This gives you the opportunity to get to know the product and to make a decision.
All DreamCloud mattress models are eligible to be returned within the 365-night trial. If you are unhappy with your purchase and wish to return it within the 365-night period, the Sleep Concierge team will assist you in arranging for a replacement or refund. You may also opt to exchange it with a replacement model once you receive your cash if you like. Dreamcloud Mattress Pics
As far as returns after the trial period ends are concerned: unfortunately, the mattress will not be eligible once the time has passed. Also, you won't be eligible to receive a refund.
DreamCloud doesn't ship products to the United States from its website. This includes Puerto Rico, Guam, and other countries. However, it has a certified storefront on Amazon.com that allows you to have any of them shipped internationally. Dreamcloud Mattress Pics


All Head and Neck Restraint models are SFI 38.1 certified endure rigorous testing to guarantee our drivers the confidence they need when they are on the track. We offer the HANS Device, Simpson Hybrid Series and NecksGen Head and Neck Restraints.
This device may take 2-3 business days to ship.
Special Order! Please allow 3-5 Days for Shipment.
Built to order. Please allow 3 to 5 days for shipment.


Another window with two Chinese dogs. This is the symbol of the family guards. To the left is the Father with his paw on the World globe; to the right is the Mother with their baby according to Feng Shui they symbolize the Wealth, Prosperity and Guard.


Objective: To study the infection rate and latent forms of tuberculosis (TB) among the children of school age.
Methods: Comparative results of tuberculin diagnostics among children of school age (8-14 years) in Dushanbe (4284 children) and in the rural area of the Dj. Rumi district (1884 children) at the Khatlon region of the Republic of Tajikistan are presented.
Results: The obtained data confirm that the infection of children with TB in Dushanbe comprises 10.7% and in rural areas 1,5 times more than urban reaching 16.2%. Patients who have not been previously reported to anti-tuberculosis institutions were detected: in Dushanbe – 4 patients, in the village – 3 patients. The number of identified patients in the recalculation for 100,000 surveyed people in Dushanbe reached 93.2 and in the village it was almost 2 times more – 159.2.
Conclusions: One of the main reason is the lack of unregular tuberculin diagnostics, ignorance of BCG revaccination and unawareness of PHC doctors in undetected patients among the schoolchildren.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, tuberculin diagnostics, prepubertal age, infection, morbidity.
Aksyonova VА, Baryshnikova LА, Кlevko NI. Sovremennye podhody k skrinningu tuberkulyoznoi infektsii u detei i podrostkov v Rossii [Modern approaches to screening tuberculosis infection in children and adolescents in Russia]. Мeditsinskiy sovet. 2015;4:30-35.
Bobokhojaev ОI, Sirodjidinova UY, Аbdulloev ZH, Pirov KI, Ismonov HI, Mirzoeva FO, i dr. Rukovodstvo po upravleniyu za tuberkulyozom [Tuberculosis management manual]. Utv. Rasporyazheniem MZiSZN RT. 25.02.2015. Dushanbe. 122 p.
Starshinova АА, Dovgalyuk IF, Pavlova MV, Yalfimov AH. Vliyanie faktorov riska na razvitie i techenie tuberkulyoznoi infektsii u detei iz semeynogo kontakta v sovremennoi social'no-epidemiologicheskoi situatsii [Influence of risk factors on the development and course of tuberculosis infection in children from family contact in the modern social-epidemiological situation]. Тub. i bol. lyogkih. 2010;6:34-39.
Sirodjidinova UY, Bobokhodjaev OI, Мirzoeva FO, Radjabov DR. Аnaliz situatsii po tuberkulyozu v Respublike Tadzhikistan [Analysis of the situation of tuberculosis in the Republic of Tajikistan]. Тub. i bol. lyogkih. 2015;2:32-36.
Sirodjidinova UY, Ismoilov SD, Pulatova LM, Bobokhodjaev OI, Pirov KI. Epidemiologicheskaya situatsiya po tuberkulyosu u detei iz ochagov infektsii [Epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in children from foci of infection]. Avicenna Bulletin (Vestnik Avitsenny). 2012;1:109-112.
Аksyonova VА. Тuberkulyoz u detei i podrostkov [Tuberculosis in children and adolescents]: Prakticheskoe rukovodstvo. Моskva, RF: Medicina; 2007. 94 p.
Pirov К, Sirodjidinova U, Bobokhodjaev O, Zachariah R. Sluchai tuberkulyoza u detei v g. Dushanbe, Tadzhikistan [Cases of tuberculosis in children in Dushanbe, Tajikistan]. Zhurnal Evropeiskogo regional'nogo byuro VOZ «Panorama». 2016;2(1):89-92.
Dustmatova ZSh, Sirodjidinova UY, Ismoilov SD. Prichiny smertnosti detei, bol'nykh miliarnym tuberkulyozom oslozhnyonnym meningitom [Causes of deaths of children with large miliary tuberculosis complicated by meningitis]. Avicenna Bulletin (Vestnik Avitsenny). 2010;1:83-85.


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Address: 1002 S. Vista Ave.
 on weekends! We will be closing at 5pm on Friday, April 26th to prep for our sold out Ladies Night.
Mother's Day is always busy at Ceramica so we'll be open 11am - 6pm for your painting pleasure.
Please make a reservation to (208) 342-3822!
our new hours below effective 1/21/19!


text:
Baker highlights opioid addiction toll on veterans
By Brian MacQuarrie Globe Staff,November 6, 2015, 5:35 a.m.
Governor Charlie Baker Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
GARDNER — Governor Charlie Baker, calling opioid addiction among veterans a "hugely important" issue, pledged Thursday at a center for homeless and disabled Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to keep his administration focused on ways to curb the epidemic.
"We feel there is a tremendous lack of understanding about what's going on," Baker said at a roundtable discussion on the raging opioid crisis, which was linked to more than 1,000 deaths in Massachusetts last year.
The state's veterans have been hard hit by the indiscriminate scourge of opioid addiction, he said.
"They're dealing with many of the same issues that the rest of the population is," Baker said at the Northeast Veteran Training and Rehabilitation Center, a nonprofit program that provides housing, counseling, and education.
Last week, residents of a Boston center for homeless veterans said three men had died there of opioid overdoses in the past several weeks. The residents blamed a brisk marketplace for drugs just outside the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, near City Hall, and an inability to protect veterans inside the facility from an influx of drugs.
As a candidate in 2014, the governor said, he did not set out to make opioid addiction one of the top priorities of his administration. But the issue surfaced over and over in painful conversations with residents across the state, he recalled.
"It became very clear to me that this was everywhere," Baker said.
To improve testing and treatment, Baker said he would explore whether the state could buy drug-testing kits in bulk and then offer them at discounted prices to organizations such as the Northeast Veteran center, which screens its residents. Such a plan would need legislative approval, the governor said.
Leslie Lightfoot, the founder of the center, which relies almost exclusively on donations, said the facility would see dramatic savings under such a program and would be able to test clients for a wider range of drugs.
Baker on Thursday received the backing of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association for proposed legislation that would, among other initiatives, limit the number of opioid painkillers a physician could include in a patient's first prescription.
Abuse of painkillers often is cited as a gateway to opioid addiction and the use of heroin. The bill also would allow medical professionals to order patients committed to substance-abuse treatment if they are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.
"The epidemic of opiate addiction and overdose can't be solved by law enforcement alone," said Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley. "In the face of a problem this large and complex, any sound strategy must be a shared strategy."
The immense scope of the crisis was underscored at the roundtable by Coleman Nee, secretary of veterans' services under Governor Deval Patrick. Nee said the families of veterans must be better integrated into treatment and support services to give addicts a greater chance at recovery.
Lightfoot, the Northeast Veteran founder, argued that smaller and more secure treatment programs are essential to help addicted veterans and other substance abusers. Currently, she said, many veterans do not receive long-term attention and often end up back on the street — or dead.
At Northeast, veterans must have been sober for a year before they are allowed to live with their families among the 20 homes, each with two bedrooms, on a 10-acre campus in Gardner.
The center is the first housing facility in the country that serves wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with a broad array of physical, occupational and therapeutic services, Lightfoot said.
Brian MacQuarrie can be reached at brian.macquarrie@globe.com.


text:
Oklahoma teen to serve 5 life terms for killing family
Associated Press August 9, 2018
FILE - In this Tuesday, April 17, 2018 file photo, Michael Bever, center, is led from a courtroom following jury selection in his trial in Tulsa, Okla. At right is his defense attorney Corbin Brewster. Bever, the younger of two brothers accused of fatally stabbing their parents and three siblings inside a suburban Oklahoma home, has been sentenced to life in prison but with the possibility of parole, Thursday, Aug. 9. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A 19-year-old Oklahoma man convicted of stabbing his parents and three siblings to death was sentenced Thursday to five life terms in prison to run consecutively, meaning that even with the possibility of parole he likely won't ever be released.
Michael Bever was 16 years old in 2015 when prosecutors say he and his older brother, Robert Bever, killed their mother, father, two younger brothers and 5-year-old sister at their suburban Tulsa home. Two other sisters survived the attack.
Robert Bever, who was 18 at the time of the killings, pleaded guilty in 2016 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Michael Bever was convicted in May of five counts of first-degree murder.
The jury also convicted Michael Bever of one count of assault and battery with intent to kill for wounding his then-13-year-old sister, who survived the attack. A 2-year-old sister was unharmed. On Thursday, Bever was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the assault on his 13-year-old sister, in addition to the five life sentences.
Authorities have never revealed the teens' motives in the slayings.
Neighbors said the children were all home-schooled and that their parents kept them on a tight leash, forbidding them from mingling with neighbors or playing with kids outside the family.
Following the attack, Robert Bever told police his parents beat him. He said his father once dragged him upstairs because he left a light on and his mother slapped him so hard it left a mark. He described to police how he planned to murder his parents and siblings and that he hoped killing them would bring him fame.
Defense attorneys argued that Michael Bever was led astray by his older brother, and Robert Bever testified that he wanted to take responsibility for all of the killings.
Prosecutors, who urged the judge to award a no-parole sentence ahead of Thursday's hearing, argued that Michael Bever was a willing participant in the gruesome killings and that he should be locked up for the rest of his life. The sentencing Thursday effectively achieves that.
Life sentences are considered 45 years for parole purposes in Oklahoma, and inmates must serve 85 percent of each sentence before technically being eligible for parole. Calculated consecutively, Bever's sentences total 253 years and he must serve 85 percent, or 215 years, before he reaches parole eligibility.
Bever's defense attorneys said they plan to appeal his sentences.
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When it comes to buying great steak, steak thickness often gets overlooked. Between the best cuts, the best coloring, marbling levels, and USDA grading, there's a lot to take into account with any given steak.
So, you might be surprised to learn how important thickness can be to your steak, and how thinner, supermarket-style cuts can destroy high quality beef.
In this guide to steak thickness, we tell you why thicker usually means better when it comes to great beef, the ideal thickness for top-of-the-line cuts like ribeyes and filets, and give you tips for cooking thin and extra-thick steaks. The best cuts of steak aren't all created equal, so the thickness of each one can vary.
There is nothing more frustrating than throwing a well-colored, well-marbled steak on the grill, then finding out it's overdone before you've built up a good sear.
If this frequently happens to you, the thickness of your steak might be to blame. The thinner your steak, the worse your chance of achieving a nice rare to medium center, depending on your preference.
The reason for this is pretty simple. When you sear a steak's surface, some of that heat penetrates into the steak, toward the center. With thin steaks, the heat has to travel less to reach the steak's center, making thin steaks easy to overcook.
Because of this, the bare minimum for recommended steak thickness is 1 inch (some naturally thin cuts, like flank and skirt, are the exception). Supermarkets and discount butchers often sell their steaks at one-inch thickness or less. The thinner their steaks, the more steaks they can sell. So always be careful that you're not being cheated on steak thickness.
While 1 inch is a good starting point, the best steaks, especially when it comes to premium cuts like ribeyes and strips, are around 1.5 inches in thickness. A 1.5 inch thick steak – the size you'll find from most premium butchers or wholesalers – is where steak excellence really starts to happen.
Some steak masters suggest even thicker cuts, such as those that are 1.75 inches or 2 inches thick. But for most, a 1.5 inch steak is the perfect size for at-home grilling, broiling, or pan-searing.
With a 1.5-inch-thick steak, the steak's center is better insulated compared to thinner steaks, allowing you to be much more precise when it comes to doneness. 1.5-inch-thick steaks are also easier to cook than extra-thick cuts (2.5 to 3 inches), which require a little more skill and some specialized techniques to achieve even doneness.
Let's say you've already gone ahead and purchased a thinner cut of beef. What can you do to ensure your steak stays as tender and flavorful as possible?
With thin cuts of steak, the best cooking policy is extreme heat for short periods. Your goal should be to sear so quickly and so fast that the heat doesn't have the time to penetrate much further than the surface. Get your pan or grill up to the hottest it can manage, then sear each side for about 60 seconds.
On the other hand, maybe you've built up an appetite for a 3-inch-thick, cowboy-cut ribeye. In that case, we advise using a two-temperature method for cooking and using the reverse-sear technique.
With two-temperature cooking, you cook your steak at one (lower) temperature to bring it up to doneness, then cook it at another (much higher) temperature for searing. While most people sear their steaks first, then bring them up to doneness second, we recommend the opposite order. This is the reverse sear method, and it has two big benefits. First, it makes it easier to measure your steak's temperature for doneness. Second and more importantly, it means a shorter sear time since the steak is already warm/hot when you start the sear. This means a juicier steak overall and less heat penetration, resulting in a more even center.
For perfectly sized and juicy steaks, check out our selection of premium filet mignons, ribeyes, porterhouse steaks, and more.
In this guide to steak thickness, we tell you why thicker is better when it comes to great beef, and give you tips for cooking thin and extra-thick steaks.
The bare minimum for recommended steak thickness is 1 inch (some naturally thin cuts, like flank and skirt, are the exception). With thinner steaks, the heat has to travel less to reach the steak's center, making thin steaks easier to overcook.
While 1 inch is a good starting point, the best steaks, especially when it comes to premium cuts like ribeyes and strips, are around 1.5 inches in thickness.
With a 1.5-inch-thick steak, the steak's center is better insulated compared to thinner steaks, allowing you to be much more precise when it comes to doneness.
With thin cuts of steak, the best cooking policy is extreme heat for short periods. Get your pan or grill up to the hottest it can manage, then sear each side for about 60 seconds.
For thicker steaks we advise using a two-temperature method for cooking and using the reverse-sear technique.
While most people sear their steaks first, then bring them up to doneness second, we recommend the opposite order.


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Top 15 most famous books on Hindu mythology
Self Publishing Guide
Learn & Note down the list for best books on Hindu Mythology. Mythologies have been a huge part of our lives. Ever since we were kids, our parents told us stories about God and Goddesses and how beautiful their world was… As a reader, it is a mystical world that attracts our attention – the world, the characters, the powers, the emotion, and the lessons.
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Here is a list of 10 books on Indian/Hindu Mythology that will blow your mind –
Mahabharata by Vyasa
Ramayana by Valmiki
The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi
The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi
Asura : Tale of the Vanquished – The Story of Ravana and His People by Anand Neelakantan
The Pregnant King by Devdutt Pattanaik
Lanka's Princess by Kavita Kane
Dharmyoddha Kalki by Kevin Missal
The Pandava Series by Roshani Chokshi
1. Mahabharata of Vyasa by M.N. Dutt
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. It describes the Kurukshetra War between two groups of cousins, as well as the destinies of the Kaurava and Pava princes and their successors. It also includes philosophical and devotional material, such as a study of the four "life aims," or purusartha. The Bhagavad Gita, the narrative of Damayanti, the story of Shakuntala, the story of Pururava and Urvashi, the story of Savitri and Satyavan, the story of Kacha and Devayani, the story of Rishyasringa, and a shortened version of the Ramayana are among the major works and stories in the Mahabharata.
Books on Hindu Gods and Goddess
2. Ramayana by Valmiki
The Ramayana is one of the world's largest ancient epics. It has about 24,000 verses (mainly in the Shloka/Anustubh metre), separated into seven Khanda (sections), the first and seventh of which are later additions. It belongs to the Itihasa genre, which includes accounts of previous occurrences (puravtta) mixed with lectures on the purposes of human life. The Ramayana had a significant impact on later Sanskrit poetry as well as Hindu life and culture. Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Hanuman, and Ravana are all central to the cultural consciousness of the South Asian nations of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Its most significant moral influence was the role of virtue in a citizen's life and in the goals of the construction of a state or a functioning community.
3. The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi
The Immortals of Meluha is Amish Tripathi's debut novel, as well as the first in the Amishverse and the Shiva Trilogy. The story takes place in Meluha and begins with Shiva's arrival. The Meluhans regard Shiva as their saviour Neelkanth. Shiva resolves to help the Meluhans fight the Chandravanshis, who have joined forces with a cursed Naga; but, throughout his journey and the ensuing battle, Shiva realises how his decisions reflect who he aspires to be and how they have devastating consequences. "Myths are nothing more than jumbled memories of a true history, buried beneath mountains of earth and ignorance," Tripathi claims. The novel contains characters from Hindu literature as well as those created by Tripathi; however, the former do not inherit all of their classical features.
4. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The novel is a retelling of the Hindu epic Mahabharata from the perspective of Draupadi (Panchaali), a woman living in a patriarchal culture. "Smart, resilient, and courageous Panchaali, born of fire, marries all five of the famously heroic Pandava brothers, harbours a secret love, endures a long exile in the wilderness, instigates a catastrophic war, and gradually learns the truth about Krishna, her mysterious friend," according to Booklist.
5. The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi
The Krishna Key is the third novel by Indian novelist Ashwin Sanghi, published in 2012. The plot revolves around a history professor who must establish his innocence in the face of a murder charge. Sanghi claimed that he "wanted to write a story in relation with the Mahabharata, but not a retelling of the epic, which has already been done," and that he "had to be exceedingly cautious in dealing with this matter since we put a premium on personal conviction and religion." Krishna was chosen as one of the book's themes because he is a "perfectly grey character."
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6. Asura : Tale of the Vanquished – The Story of Ravana and His People by Anand Neelakantan
Anand Neelakantan's first novel is Asura: Tale of the Vanquished. On May 14, 2012, Leadstart Publishing released it. This mythical fiction tells the Ramayana story through the eyes of Ravana and a common Asura, Bhadra. The book seeks to emphasise the vanquished's voice as opposed to the victor's narrative of Ramayana that is popularly recognised. It delves into Ravana's hardships and the events in his life that shaped him into the man he became, attempting to establish a link between the social construct as it may have existed and varied at the time and the well-known incidences detailed in the Ramayana mythology as it is known today.
7. The Pregnant King by Devdutt Pattanaik
Devdutt Pattanaik published The Pregnant King in 2008. It tells the story of Yuvanashva, a childless king who takes the magical elixir meant to make his queens pregnant by accident. It is set against the backdrop of the Mahabharata and contains references to people and events from both the Kurukshetra and the Ramayana. The book's main theme is the tension between desire and social obligation/destiny. It also addresses issues with the concept of gender.
8. Lanka's Princess by Kavita Kane
Kavita Kane narrates the unseen story of Surpanakha that was the cause of the events that happened in Ramayana. A unique and so significant retelling of the Ramayana written compellingly by one of the very best writers in the Indian mythological fiction genre. Here, one can observe how mythological retellings contribute to the subversion of traditional, largely patriarchal narratives.
9. Dharmayoddha Kalki by Kevin Missal
The story of Kalki, Vishnu's eleventh avatar, will captivate you. A legendary flight of fantasy intended to serve as both an escape and a reminder of principles. The plot is interesting, and the characters are well developed enough to keep your interest. Kalki is the narrative of a sheltered youngster who finds himself at the mercy of fate and must fulfil it. This book is a dizzying mix of politics, fantasy, and betrayals. Kevin Missal authored his first book when he was fourteen, and Dharmayoddha Kalki was published when he was twenty one.
10. The Pandava Series by Roshani Chokshi
Roshani Chokshi relates the story of a twelve-year-old Aru Shah, which is similar to but not identical to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson. If you wish to introduce your children to Indian mythology books, take advantage of the opportunity that Chokshi offers. Aru's family runs the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. However, one terrible day, Aru burns a cursed lamp, triggering a chain of events that wakes up a sleeping monster. She is now on a quest to find the Pandavas' reincarnations and explore the region of the dead. It is the ideal book for expanding your children's imagination, as is frequently the case while reading Indian mythology novels.
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Now that you have a list of the best mythology books, get ready to dive into these fantasy worlds! These books not only revive the old mythologies and stories that you might have listened to while growing up, but also give a new twist to them.
These intricately made fantastical worlds are the best escape from the real life. So, pick one of these books and disconnect from your worries of the real world.
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Police search for suspect after man shot in Phoenix
Phoenix police are searching for a suspect after a man was shot in northwest Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon.
Police search for suspect after man shot in Phoenix Phoenix police are searching for a suspect after a man was shot in northwest Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon. Check out this story on azcentral.com: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2019/01/02/police-search-suspect-after-man-shot-phoenix/2468516002/
Dani Coble, Arizona Republic Published 7:21 p.m. MT Jan. 2, 2019 | Updated 8:10 p.m. MT Jan. 2, 2019
Shooting(Photo: The Republic)
Phoenix police are searching for a suspect after a man was shot Wednesday afternoon in northwest Phoenix .
About 3:55 p.m., officers responded to a shooting around 4900 W. Gelding Drive, near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road, police said.
A man was found inside a home with a gunshot wound and was taken to a local hospital with survivable injuries, police said.
Police were searching for the shooter Wednesday evening and the investigation continues.
Further details were not immediately made available.
Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to call Phoenix police or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377.
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Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2019/01/02/police-search-suspect-after-man-shot-phoenix/2468516002/
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A Hoarder for History: Comic-Strip Archivist Bill Blackbeard, 1926-2011 Comics archivist Bill Blackbeard died last month, a man whose lifelong dedication to preserving the earliest examples of newspaper comics strips led one writer to dub him "The man who gave (the medium of) comics its memory."
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A Hoarder for History: Comic-Strip Archivist Bill Blackbeard, 1926-2011
April 27, 201111:13 AM ET
Glen Weldon
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Comics Archivist Bill Blackbeard, 1926-2011 R. C. Harvey/Courtesy The Comics Journal hide caption
R. C. Harvey/Courtesy The Comics Journal
Comics Archivist Bill Blackbeard, 1926-2011
Much of what we know today about the earliest days of the comics medium can be traced to one man — the awesomely-named historian Bill Blackbeard, who died last month at the age of 84.
The encomiums have been rolling in since news of his death surfaced on Tuesday. They paint a picture of a man who, to rescue the newspaper comic strip from the Trashbin of History, spent much of his life rescuing hundreds and thousands of actual newspaper comic strips from some very literal trash bins.
He was one of the first scholars of this singular niche of American popular culture. He edited several books about the birth (and gangly adolescence) of newspaper strips; he created and maintained the San Francisco Academy of Comic Art, a massive archive where he clipped and organized millions of examples of the form; he was a voluble and opinionated advocate for viewing newspaper comics as an art, and one that was in desperate need of preservation.
You should read what comics historians like R. C. Harvey and Jeet Heer have to say about the guy. Harvey's long remembrance over at The Comics Journal includes excerpts from an illuminating interview he did with Blackbeard several years back.
Heer's eulogy (also at The Comics Journal) dubs Blackbeard "the man who gave comics its memory," and places his work in a contemporary context, pointing out how much of what today's comics creators know about people like Windsor McCay (Little Nemo), Chester Gould (Dick Tracy) and E.C. Segar (Popeye) is thanks to Blackbeard.
Heer would likely take me to task for my headline, noting that "Collectors come in two basic types: hoarders and sharers. Hoarders collect as much to deny other people their treasures as to enjoy it themselves. Blackbeard was a sharer. He loved those old strips and wanted as many people as possible to look at them."
Go and click, they're both great reads, but I'll note here some of the details that struck me:
According to Harvey, "By the 1990s, Blackbeard estimated that [he and his colleagues] had clipped and organized 350,000 Sunday strips and 2.5 million dailies" and piled them into stacked fruit crates and Pizza Hut boxes in a huge, dimly-lit cellar under his house.
Like many old-school fans of newspaper comics strips, Blackbeard didn't much care for comic books when they came on the scene in the '30s. He didn't like that comic-book producers were hiring teenagers to fill up pages, rather than tell good stories.
Superman? "Meretricious dreck," according to Blackbeard. The Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner? "Psychotic, the work of a lunatic."
In the 1960s, he resolved to write a history of newspaper comics strips, only to find — to his horror — that he couldn't get his hands on primary sources. Comics syndicates didn't preserve old strips, and local libraries (one of the few places that collected and housed old newspapers) were moving to microfilm and pulping the originals - which meant, unless he did something about it, that the bold colors of the Sunday funnies would disappear forever.
He created the SFACA, a non-profit entity, to enable libraries to donate to him the stacks and stacks of newspapers they were preparing to pulp (as they weren't permitted to donate to individuals.)
In 1998 much of Blackbeard's collection was shipped to the Ohio State University Cartoon Library and Museum.
In 1977 he edited (with Martin Williams) The Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics - a huge, gorgeous, massive and beloved tome that stands as a testament to the lasting cultural and artistic importance of the newspaper strip.
I'll give the last word to Blackbeard's fellow comics historian/knower-of-things Maggie Thompson (who is also, not for nothing, mom to NPR Music's own Stephen Thompson):
Bill was a fascinating friend, always a source of an incredible blend of fact and judgment on the pop culture of printed fiction, whether in books, comics, or pulps. ... My guess is that much of Bill's scholarship remains unavailable to more than a handful of researchers so far — though we can hope that eventually we can all share it.
For example: His article [written for the book All in Color for a Dime, edited by Maggie's husband Don and Richard Lupoff] on Elzie Segar's Popeye ... introduced Don and me to the richness of an icon we hadn't explored until we'd read what Bill had to say. (His contention: Popeye was the first super-hero.)
[Thompson believes a longer version of this Popeye treatise was eventually published elsewhere.]
It's definitely time for scholars to unearth and perpetuate Bill's less-public writings.


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Sophie de Boer
Sophie de Boer joined Flagship Pioneering after completing the firm's Flagship Pioneering Fellowship in 2017. At Flagship, Sophie conducts explorations to discover unexplored biological mechanisms and new biotechnologies. As part of a Flagship Lab's team of entrepreneurial scientists, she develops the science, intellectual property and business strategy that form the foundation of the firm's breakthrough startups.
Prior to joining Flagship, Sophie completed her post-doctoral fellowship and graduate work in the laboratory of Professor Kevin Eggan at Harvard University and the Broad Institute. Sophie's research focused on stem cells and regenerative biology. She investigated the mechanisms leading to neurological diseases such as ALS and schizophrenia and developed novel assays to identify therapeutic candidates. Her research has been published in Science Translational Medicine, among other journals. During her studies at Harvard, Sophie received funding from Nantkwest to investigate cellular immunotherapies for her post-doctoral fellowship. She was awarded a Ph.D. fellowship from Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds for outstanding junior scientists. As part of her master's degree, Sophie conducted research in Professor Christine Mummery's lab on germ cell development to improve reproductive medicine efforts.
In addition to her academic work, Sophie consulted for Biogen's Corporate Development and Strategy team and interned at several companies, including PureTech Ventures and Nantkwest. She also completed course work at Harvard Business School.
Sophie received a Ph.D. from Leiden University while performing her thesis research at Harvard University. She holds a master's degree in cancer genomics and developmental biology and a B.S. in biomedical sciences from Utrecht University.