Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT), is a chiropractic technique that focuses on optimizing the relationship between the sacrum or pelvis (base of the spine) and the occiput (base of the skull).
The pelvis forms the foundational support of the human body. Not only does the spine hold us upright, it also supports the head and upper body, enables the transfer of weight between our legs, supports all internal organs, and provides an anchor point for our muscles.
The spine also encases and protects the spinal cord, an integral part of our nervous system. The nervous system controls the messages passed between the brain and distributes them throughout the entire body, to cells, tissues, organs, and muscles. The nervous system can only function normally when the pelvis is stable and the bodies structures and balanced.
Lifestyle stresses, tight or poorly functioning muscles, physical demand, sedentary lifestyles and even gravity can affect the bodies structural stability and produce effects throughout the body.
Blocks, or wedges are utilized during treatment to correct spinal alignment and tune the nervous system. Correctly positioned blocks utilize your own body weight to gently and subtly enable the corrections required. With regular care, this technique helps reestablish healthier spinal and nervous system function.
Regular SOT chiropractic care is a safe, gentle, and highly beneficial approach to improving physical comfort, enhancing nervous system function, and achieving optimal health.
We like to view SOT as a gentle, nurturing, and holistic approach that will help you think better, move better, feel better.


Clean, freshly painted 2nd floor unit in a gated community. Open floor plan, screened patio with storage closet. Close to Port, beaches and easy access to 528. Heated pool with spa plus community clubhouse. Great year round/snowbird home or terrific investment property.
This listing is courtesy of Corcoran Realty LLC.


Legendary baseball player Wade Boggs hit 450 balls a day off a tee to hone his swing and perfect his timing at the plate.
That type of dedication to the craft is catching on with the advent of so many sports performance centers across the country teaching hitters and offering instruction.
Shawgrass batting cage turf is a beautiful, yet durable, solution for batting cages, accommodating any skill level and any amount of use.
Take your hitting to the next level with Shawgrass batting cage systems.


Apartment near the sea in apart-hotel ORBI BEACH TOWER.
The apartment is located on the 4th floor with panoramic view of the park and the Black sea.
The condition of the apartment at the time of sale - black frame: plastic windows with double glazing, entrance iron door, water, electricity, telephone line, cable TV - brought to the apartment, the balcony is lined.
The complex has: reception and service staff; parking; security; video surveillance; 6 high-speed elevators; on the top floors of the complex is a 2-storey glass restaurant premium class, which makes the apart hotel ORBI Beach Tower more dynamic and attractive; SPA center and shops is located on the first and second floors.
Nearby: New Boulevard, aqua park, beach, restaurants of Georgian and European cuisine, shopping center METRO CITY.


Don A. Brock, a high school basketball coach at the Academy of Richmond County, taught the Driver Education Course for several years in the Richmond County School System and for Augusta State University.
In 1992, he founded Brock's Driver Education School, Inc., then located at 1210 Russell Street. At that time, there were only two full time employees, a part-time instructor and one driver education car. Only individual behind-the-wheel instruction was taught. A year later, the school began teaching the Driver Education Certificate Course, the Individual Driving Course, and Individual Lessons.
In 1995 our school relocated to 4053-A Belair Road. Two years later, we hired three additional instructors, one part-time office assistant and added additional cars.
Our school is licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver Services, and is a member of the Driving School Association of the Americas, Inc.
All instructors are certified by the Georgia Department of Driver Services, and are certified to administer our Alcohol and Drug Course.
How ready are you to meet the challenges of the road?
We believe Brock's Drivers Education School does a better job than other schools. Our emphasis is on teaching our students correct driving habits. Our instructors are second to none in terms of training, enthusiasm, dedication and experience.


text:
Controlling Clover in Your Lawn
Thatch Control in Warm-Season Lawns
Thatch control for cool-season lawn grasses such as bluegrass and tall fescue is usually done in the fall but now is the time we should perform this operation for warm-season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. Because these operations thin the lawn, they should be performed when the lawn is in the best position to recover. For warm-season grasses that time is June through July. Buffalograss, our other common warm-season grass, normally does not need to be dethatched.
When thatch is less than one-half inch thick, there is little cause for concern; on the contrary, it may provide some protection to the crown (growing point) of the turfgrass. However, when thatch exceeds one-half inch in thickness, the lawn may start to deteriorate. Thatch is best kept in check by power-raking and/or core-aerating. If thatch is more than 3/4 inch thick, the lawn should be power-raked. Set the blades just deep enough to pull out the thatch. The lawn can be severely damaged by power-raking too deeply. In some cases, it may be easier to use a sod cutter to remove the existing sod and start over with seed, sprigs or plugs. If thatch is between one-half and a 3/4- inch, thick, core-aeration is a better choice.
The soil-moisture level is important to do a good job of core-aerating. It should be neither too wet nor too dry, and the soil should crumble fairly easily when worked between your fingers. Go over the lawn enough times so that the aeration holes are about 2 inches apart. Excessive thatch accumulation can be prevented by not overfertilizing with nitrogen. Frequent, light watering also encourages thatch. Water only when needed, and attempt to wet the entire root zone of the turf with each irrigation.
Finally, where thatch is excessive, control should be viewed as a long-term, integrated process (i.e., to include proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing) rather than a one-shot cure. One power-raking or core-aeration will seldom solve the problem. (Ward Upham)
Mulching Tomatoes
Soils are warm enough now that tomatoes can benefit from mulching though this practice may have to be delayed due to wet soils. Tomatoes prefer even levels of soil moisture and mulch provides such by preventing excessive evaporation. Other benefits of mulching include weed suppression, moderating soil temperatures and preventing the formation of a hard crust on the soil. Crusted soils restrict air movement into and out of the soil and slow the water infiltration rate.
Hay and straw mulches are very popular for tomatoes but may contain weed or volunteer grain seeds. Grass clippings can also be used but should be applied as a relatively thin layer – only 2 to 3 inches thick. Clippings should also be dry as wet clipping can mold and become so hard that water can't pass through. Also, do not use clippings from lawns that have been treated with a weed killer until some time has passed. With most types of weed killers, clippings from the fourth mowing after treatment may be used. If the lawn was treated with a product containing quinclorac (Drive), the clippings should not be used as mulch. If the weed killer used has a crabgrass killer, it likely contains quinclorac. (Ward Upham)
Reducing Fruit Numbers on Apple Trees
Apple trees often produce excess fruit. Removing some of these extra fruits during the next three weeks is important. There can be two major benefits from fruit thinning. The first is to help ensure a return bloom for a good fruit crop next year. Apples produce fruit buds for next year's crop during June; the same time this year's fruit is maturing. Too many fruit this year leads to a lack of fruit bud development and a small crop next year. This leads to biennial bearing in which an apple tree produces a large crop one year and very few fruit the next. Thinning helps ensure that apples are produced each year.
The second benefit of thinning is to promote larger fruit on this year's crop. Generally, an average spacing throughout a tree of about 4 inches per fruit is sufficient for a good return crop next year, as well as a desirable size on the fruits to be harvested this fall. (Ward Upham)
Iris Bacterial Soft Rot
Bacterial soft rot of iris causes a smelly and slimy rot of the leaves and rhizomes. Leaves often separate easily from the rhizome. Heavily infested plants may die. Though most often associated with iris borer, environmental damage can also provide an entry point for this disease.
Rhizomes that show extensive signs of damage should be discarded. If there is a plant that has special value, you may wish to try to save it. The American Iris Society suggests using a spoon to remove all infected tissue. Then, allow the rhizome to dry in the sun. Finally, use a chlorine based cleanser to powder the wound. Dousing in place with Dial antibacterial soap (with triclosan) can be substituted for the chlorine based cleanser.
When dividing rhizomes from beds that have shown evidence of soft rot, disinfect the knife between cuts of even apparently healthy rhizomes with a 10% bleach solution or rubbing alcohol.
As mentioned previously, iris borer damage can provide a place of entry for this disease. To control iris borers, remove and discard dead leaves in the fall to eliminate a number of the iris borer eggs. Larvae can also be killed by hand in June by squeezing infested leaves in the vicinity of the injury. During division, borers in lightly infested rhizomes can be killed by poking them with a piece of wire. Borer control can also be achieved through the use of imidacloprid (Merit, Bayer All-In-One Rose & Flower Care, Bonide Systemic Granules, Hi-Yield Systemic Insect Granules) or through the use of the parasitic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae or Heterorhabditis bacteriophora.
Imidacloprid should be used as a drench (directions on label) when the air temperature reaches 70 degrees two days in a row.
The parasitic nematodes must be applied when the soil temperature is above 50 degrees F. Use 1 quart water/nematode mix per square foot to allow the nematodes to swim to the pest.
Steinernema carpocapsae gave better control (100%) than Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (87%) in research conducted by the University of Maryland. (Ward Upham)
Spirea Aphid: Watch Out for this "Sucking" Insect
Spirea aphid (Aphis spiraecoa) is present feeding on spirea (Spiraea spp.) plants in landscapes. Spirea aphid colonies aggregate on terminal growth and their feeding causes leaf curling and stunted plant growth. Spirea aphids prefer to feed on stems and leaf undersides of succulent plant growth. All mature aphids are parthenogenic (reproduce without mating) with females giving birth to live nymphs, which themselves are females. Eggs are laid on bark or on buds in the fall by wingless females after having mated with males. Eggs hatch in spring, and young nymphs develop into stem mothers that are wingless. Spirea aphid females are pear-shaped and bright yellow-green. Stem mothers reach maturity in about 20 days. Each spirea aphid female can produce up to 80 offspring or young females.
Although the aphids produce honeydew (sticky, clear liquid), continual rainfall will wash the honeydew off plants. In the summer, both winged and non-winged aphids may be present. The winged forms usually appear when conditions become crowded on infested plants, in which they migrate to a more suitable food source such as another spirea plant to start another colony.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds will dislodge spirea aphid populations from plants onto the ground, where they eventually die. Frequent applications (twice per week) of forceful water sprays will quickly remove spirea aphid populations without disturbing natural enemies such as parasitoids and predators. They have a number of natural enemies including ladybird beetles, green lacewings, and hover flies that may help to regulate spirea aphid populations. Spirea aphids are, in general, exposed to regular applications of pesticides such as insecticidal soaps (potassium salts of fatty acids) and/or horticultural oils (petroleum, mineral, or neem-based) that may be effective in suppressing populations of spirea aphid. These pesticides have contact activity only, so thorough coverage of all plant parts is important. Furthermore, these pesticides are generally less harmful to natural enemies compared to conventional pesticides. (Raymond Cloyd)
Sidedressing Chart Available
Gregg Eyestone, Horticulture Agent from Riley County, has put together a nice chart that covers sidedressing nitrogen on annual flowers, certain perennial flowers, vegetables and various small fruit. Sidedressing (also called topdressing) is applying nitrogen fertilizer as plants are growing to give them an extra boost. Done correctly, sidedressing can improve vegetable, fruit and flower production. Gregg lists the crop, the amount of fertilizer needed, and suggested time of application. Rates are given for ammonium sulfate, urea and blood meal. You may find the chart at http://tinyurl.com/hxtgres (Ward Upham)
Squirrel Damage to Trees
Tree squirrels can cause a couple types of tree damage. Most commonly they clip the tips of branches. The length of severed branches is often 2 to 3 feet though they can be longer or shorter. When squirrels snip off a branch, they cut it at about a 45-degree angle and the cut is rather tattered. This is a nuisance type of damage and normally does not harm the health of the tree.
More serious damage is caused when squirrels strip the bark off of limbs or rarely, the trunk. Wounds can be quite large and the squirrel can effectively girdle the branch by removing all the bark completely around the circumference. Branches girdled in this way will die and the tree may be ruined if those branches are major.
Why squirrels do this is still a bit of a mystery. Some people think it is simply a means to sharpen their teeth or that they are seeking nesting material or water. Other people think that there are certain squirrels that are high-strung and cause this damage out of nervous energy. If the damage is limited to snipping the ends off of branches, it is probably best to ignore the activity as the tree suffers little harm. But if real damage is occurring due to extensive bark removal, try feeding and watering them. If that doesn't work, control may be necessary. Fox and gray squirrels are game animals and can be hunted in season where it is legal and safe to do so. They can also be trapped and moved away from the area they are causing damage. For more information on control, see http://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/L863.pdf . (Ward Upham)
Flooding Damage
Waterlogged soils push out oxygen that roots need to survive. Every living cell in a plant must have oxygen or it dies. Some plants have mechanisms to provide oxygen to the roots even under saturated conditions but most of our vegetables and flowers do not. The longer these plants are subjected to saturated soils, the more likely damage will occur.
Usually, as long as water drains away within 24 hours, the impact on plant health is minimal. However, shallow, stagnant water under hot, sunny conditions can literally cook plants, reducing survival time to as little as a few hours.
Vegetables: What about safety regarding eating produce from a garden that has been flooded? Standing water should not cause a safety problem as long as the aboveground portions of the plant remain healthy. Do not use produce from plants that have yellowed. Also, using produce flooded with water contaminated with sewage (lagoon) or animal manure can also be dangerous.
The safest approach is to discard all garden crops that have been in contact with such water. Certainly, leafy vegetables should always be discarded. However, you may eat fruit from such crops as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, sweet corn, squash, cucumbers, and similar vegetables that develops after the waters have subsided as long as the fruit is not cracked or soft. Always wash vegetables thoroughly before eating.
Lawns: Under the cool conditions of early spring, turfgrasses can often survive several days of flooding. However, during hot, sunny conditions with shallow, stagnant water, lawns may be damaged quickly, sometimes in a few hours. This situation often occurs when shallow depressions in a lawn allow water to pool. Note such areas and fill in with additional soil once the waters have subsided.
Trees: Trees differ markedly in their ability to withstand flooding. Some trees have mechanisms in place to provide oxygen to the roots of plants with water saturated soils and others do not. However, most trees will maintain health if flood waters recede in 7 days or less. It also helps if water is flowing rather than stagnant as flowing water contains more oxygen. If the roots of sensitive trees are flooded for long periods of time, damage will occur including leaf drop, iron chlorosis, leaf curl, branch dieback, and in some cases, tree death. Another danger of flooding is the deposition of sediment. An additional layer of silt 3 inches or more can also restrict oxygen to the roots. If possible, remove deep layers of sediment as soon as conditions permit. This is especially important for small or recently transplanted trees.
Try to avoid any additional stress to the trees this growing season. Ironically, one of the most important practices is to water trees if the weather turns dry. Flooding damages roots and therefore the root system is less efficient in making use of available soil water. Timely waterings are vital to a tree's recovery. Also be diligent in removing any dead or dying branches which may serve as a point of entry for disease organisms or insect pests. The following information on tree survival came from the US forest Service.
Trees Tolerant of Flooding: Can survive one growing season under flooded conditions. Red maple, silver maple, pecan, hackberry, persimmon, white ash, green ash, sweetgum, sycamore, eastern cottonwood, pin oak and baldcypress.
Trees Moderately Tolerant of Flooding: Can survive 30 consecutive days under flooded conditions. River birch, downy hawthorn, honeylocust, swamp white oak, southern red oak, bur oak, willow oak and American elm.
Trees Sensitive to Flooding: Unable to survive more than a few days of flooding during the growing season. Redbud, flowering dogwood, black walnut, red mulberry, most pines, white oak, blackjack oak, red oak and black oak.
After the Flood: Soils often become compacted and crusted after a heavy rainfall. This also can restrict oxygen to the roots. Lightly scraping the soil to break this crust will help maintain a healthy root system and therefore, a healthy plant. Be careful not to cultivate too deeply as shallow roots may be damaged. If you think the excessively wet weather will continue, bedding up the rows before planting even just a couple of inches, will improve drainage and allow for better aeration. (Ward Upham)
Contributors: Raymond Cloyd, Extension Entomologist; Ward Upham, Extension Associate
K-State Horticulture Newsletter 2015, No. 29
Tubakia Leaf Spot of Oak
This leaf spot disease of oak is showing up earlier and is more severe this year than normal. Members of the red oak group are more likely to be affected than those in the white oak group, but members of both groups are showing symptoms now. Red oaks often have distinct round spots as well as dead areas that follow the veins. White oaks also have the dead areas that follow the veins and large blotches of dead tissue but lack the distinct spots. Leaves severely damaged may drop. However, trees rarely lose enough leaves to harm the health of the tree. No fungicide sprays are recommended. (Ward Upham)
Tree squirrels can cause a couple types of tree damage. Most commonly they clip the tips of branches. The length of severed branches is often 2 to 3 feet though they can be longer or shorter. When squirrels snip off a branch, they cut it at about a 45-degree angle and the cut is rather tattered. This is a nuisance type of damage and normally does not hurt the health of the tree.
Why squirrels do this is still a bit of a mystery. Some people think it is simply a means to sharpen their teeth or that they are seeking nesting material or water. Other people think that there are certain squirrels that are high-strung and cause this damage out of nervous energy.
If the damage is limited to snipping the ends off of branches, it is probably best to ignore the activity as the tree suffers little harm. But if real damage is occurring due to extensive bark removal, try feeding and watering them. If that doesn't work, control may be necessary. Fox and gray squirrels are game animals and can be hunted in season where it is legal and safe to do so. They can also be trapped and moved away from the area they are causing damage. For more information on control, see http://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/L863.pdf . (Ward Upham)
These large (1-1/3- to 1-5/8-inch long) wasps fly slowly above the ground. Cicada killers have a black body with yellow marks across the thorax and abdomen. Wings are reddish-orange. Although these wasps are huge, they usually ignore people. Males may act aggressively if they are threatened, but are unable to sting. Females can sting, but are so passive that they rarely do. Even if they do sting, the pain is less than that of smaller wasps such as the yellow jacket or paper wasp and is similar to the sting of a sweat bee.
The cicada killer is a solitary wasp rather than a social wasp like the yellow jacket. The female nests in burrows in the ground. These burrows are quarter-size in diameter and can go 6 inches straight down and another 6 inches horizontally. Adults normally live 60 to 75 days from mid-July to mid-September and feed on flower nectar and sap. The adult female seeks cicadas on the trunks and lower limbs of trees. She stings her prey, flips it over, straddles it and carries it to her burrow. If she has a tree to climb, she will climb the tree so the can get airborne and fly with cicada back to the nest. If not, she will drag it. She will lay one egg per cicada if the egg is left unfertilized. Unfertilized eggs develop into males only. Fertilized eggs develop into females and are given at least two cicadas. Cicadas are then stuffed into the female's burrow. Each burrow normally has three to four cells with one to two cicadas in each. However, it is possible for one burrow to have 10 to 20 cells.
Eggs hatch in two to three days, and larvae begin feeding on paralyzed cicadas. Feeding continues for four to 10 days until only the outer shell of the cicada remains. The larva overwinters inside a silken case. Pupation occurs in the spring. There is one generation per year.
Cicada killers are not dangerous, but they can be a nuisance. If you believe control is necessary, treat the burrows after dark to ensure the female wasps are in their nests. The males normally roost on plants near burrow sites. They can be captured with an insect net or knocked out of the air with a tennis racket during the day. Carbaryl (Sevin) or permethrin may be used for control.
If you would like more detailed information on cicada killers, see Bob Bauernfeind's article in the July 10, 2015 Kansas Insect Newsletter at http://entomology.k-state.edu/doc/Newsletters/2015/KSInsectNewsletter12.pdf (Ward Upham)
Look for Bagworms Now
Most calls on how to control bagworms come in late July to early August when damage appears. Bagworms are difficult to control when they are that large. They are much easier to kill while small. Bagworms overwinter as eggs inside the dead female's bag. Young larvae normally hatch and emerge during mid to late May in Kansas. Now would be a good time to use control measures if you haven't already sprayed. However, make sure the bagworms are present by looking for a miniature version of the mature bagworm. Also, check to be sure the bagworms are alive before spraying. Predators and parasites can sometimes naturally control this pest.
Insecticides commonly used for controlling bagworms include acephate (Orthene), permethrin (numerous trade names), cyfluthrin (Bayer Vegetable and Garden Insect spray), bifenthrin (Bug Blaster II, Bug-B-Gon Max Lawn and Garden Insect Killer), lambda-cyhalothrin (Spectracide Triazicide, Bonide Caterpillar Killer) and spinosad (Conserve; Borer, Bagworm, Leafminer and Tent Caterpillar Spray; and Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew). Spinosad is an organic control that is very effective on this pest. Thorough spray coverage of foliage is essential for good control with any of these products. (Ward Upham)
These beetles are notorious for quickly stripping vegetables (especially tomatoes) and ornamentals of their foliage. There are several species of blister beetles which vary in size (often between 0.5-0.75 inch long) and color (such as black, gray or brown-striped), but most are recognized by their elongated, narrow, cylindrical, soft bodies with middle body part (thorax) narrower than the head or wingcovers.
Some home gardeners like to use hand picking as a nonchemical method for controlling these large insects. However, wear gloves and use caution because these beetles contain a substance called cantharidin. This chemical is an irritant capable of blistering internal and external body tissues exposed to the chemical. On tender human skin, body fluids of adult blister beetles may cause large, erect, watery blisters.
Chemical control of blister beetles is also possible. Cyfluthrin (Bayer Vegetable and Garden Insect Spray) and gamma- or lambda-cyhalothrin (Spectracide Triazicide, Bonide Beetle Killer, Bonide Caterpillar Killer) can be used for control. Cyfluthrin has a 0 day waiting period and lambda-cyhalothrin has a 5-day waiting period on tomatoes. (Ward Upham)
If you have squash or related plants that suddenly wilt and die, you may have squash vine borer. This insect will bore into the stems of squash, zucchini, pumpkins and gourds. Hubbard squash are a favorite, and butternuts are less likely to be attacked than other squash. Cucumbers and melons are usually not a target, although both can be affected by a disease that causes similar symptoms, known as bacterial wilt.
The adult of this insect is a clear-winged moth that resembles a wasp. The forewings are a dark metallic green but the rear wings are clear. The abdomen is orange with black spots. The larva is cream-colored and rather wrinkled. Adults emerge in the spring and lay eggs on or near susceptible plants. Larva bore into the plant and feed for about a month as they move toward the base. Mature larva will exit the plant, burrow into the soil and pupate where they remain until the next year. Each plant can have numerous borers. If you suspect squash vine borer, split the stem of a collapsed plant near where it enters the ground. Infested plants will be hollowed out and mushy and may contain borers. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do at this late stage. Control measures should center on prevention.
Suggested preventative controls would include crushing the dull red eggs before they hatch, excavating larvae from stems before they cause much damage or using insecticide applications. Applications should begin when the vines begin to run (too late for that) and reapplied every seven to 10 days for three to five weeks. Direct the spray at the crown of the plant and the base of runners. Chemicals used for borer control in gardens are permethrin (Bug-No-More Yard & Garden Insect Spray; Eight Vegetable, Fruit & Flower Concentrate; Lawn, Garden, Pet and Livestock Insect Control; Lawn & Garden Insect Killer), bifenthrin (Hi-Yield Bug Blaster II, Bug-B-Gon Max Garden Insect Killer) or carbaryl (Sevin), applied as sprays or dusts. Continue on a 7 to 10 day reapplication schedule for 3 to 5 weeks. If plants wilt, look for the presence of holes and ooze. However, in extreme heat, these plants will wilt in the afternoon even if undamaged by this insect. (Ward Upham)
Watering May Be Needed This Summer
Many areas of Kansas went through an extremely wet spring. Gardeners may assume that little watering may be needed this summer as the soils were completely recharged. However, many will likely need to do more watering than they expect.
Rain saturated soils can damage root systems. Excess water drives oxygen out of the soil as pore spaces are filled with water. Every living cell in a plant must have oxygen to live. If there is no oxygen, roots will die. Therefore, many of our plants may need to be babied through the summer.
Newly planted trees are especially vulnerable as they have not established the extensive root system needed to absorb enough water during hot, dry, windy summers. Even trees two or three years old should receive special care even if the root system was not damaged by saturated soils.
Deep, infrequent watering and mulching can help trees become established. Newly transplanted trees need at least 10 gallons of water per week, and on sandy soils they will need that much applied twice a week. The secret is getting that water to soak deeply into the soil, so it evaporates more slowly and is available to the tree's roots longer. One way to do this is to drill a small hole (1/8") in the side and near the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket and fill it with water. Let the water dribble out slowly next to the tree. Refill the bucket once, and you have applied 10 gallons. Very large transplanted trees and trees that were transplanted two to three years ago will require more water.
A perforated soaker hose is a great way to water larger trees, a newly established bed or a foundation planting. See the accompanying article for an inexpensive way to water trees.
In sunbaked soil, you may need to rough up the surface with a hoe or tiller to get water to infiltrate easily. It may be helpful to set the kitchen oven timer, so you remember to move the hose or shut off the faucet. If you are seeing surface runoff, reduce the flow.
Regardless of method used, soil should be wet at least 12 inches deep. Use a metal rod, wooden dowel, electric fence post or something similar to check depth. Dry soil is much harder to push through than wet. Record the time that was required to reach 12 inches and then use a time clock for any future waterings. (Ward Upham)
Inexpensive Method of Watering Trees
We mentioned in an accompanying article about using a soaker hose to water trees. We thought it might be helpful to provide more details.
Soaker hoses are notorious for non-uniform watering. In other words, you often receive too much water from one part of the hose and not enough from another. Hooking both the beginning and the end of the soaker hose to a Y-adapter helps equalize the pressure and therefore provide a more uniform watering. The specific parts you need are shown in the photo above and include the soaker hose, Y-adapter and female to female connector.
It is also helpful if the Y-adapter has shut off valves so the volume of flow can be controlled. Too high a flow rate can allow water to run off rather than soak in.
On larger trees, the soaker hose can circle the trunk at a distance within the dripline of the tree but at least ½ the distance to the dripline. The dripline of the tree is outermost reach of the branches. On smaller trees, you may circle the tree several times so that only soil which has tree roots will be watered. (Ward Upham)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Today is the first day of Spring and hopefully it will be the start of some nicer weather. A quote from the Education World website says, "The Vernal Equinox is one of the four great seasonal changes every year. Day and night are equal, and the changing weather can lift the spirits of young -- and old -- alike".
Anyone up for some Spring Cleaning?


The 188603rd positive integer is an odd prime number that follows the number 188602 and comes before 188604. One hundred eighty-eight thousand six hundred three is 6 digits long.
Q: Is 188603 a prime number?
Q: What is the negative number for 188603?
Q: What is half of 188603?
Q: What is a third of 188603?
Q: What is a quarter of 188603?
Q: What is the square root of 188603?
Q: What is 188603 times Pi?
Q: What is 188603 divided by Pi?
Q: What is the scientific notation for 188603?
Q: What are the divisors for 188603?
Q: What is the factorization of 188603?
Q: What is the sum of divisors of 188603, including itself?
Q: What is the sum of divisors of 188603, excluding itself?
The spelling of 188603 in different languages.
Q: What is the roman numeral for 188603?
Q: What is the digital capacity for 188603?
The number 188603 represented in different base number systems.
List the frequency of characters that make up the number 188603.
List of hash code values for 188603.


In the heat of our political moment, we sometimes don't see how our future connects deeply to our past. But the Christian Right does — and they do not like what they see. The Christian Right has made religious freedom the ideological phalanx of its current campaigns in the culture wars. Religious freedom is now invoked as a way of seeking to derail access to reproductive health services as well as equality for LGBTQ people. But history provides little comfort for the theocratic visions of the Christian Right.
The first national Day of the New Year will be one that most of us have never heard of. Authorized by Congress in 1992, Religious Freedom Day has been recognized every January 16th by an annual presidential proclamation commemorating the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786.
This seemingly obscure piece of Revolutionary-era legislation is so integral to our history that Thomas Jefferson asked that his tombstone recognize that he was the author of the bill, along with the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the University of Virginia as one of the three things for which he wished to be remembered.
It is worth taking a moment to understand why Jefferson thought it was that important.
A statue of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, in Colonial Williamsburg, Va.
Jefferson drafted the bill in 1777 but it took a decade to be finally pushed by the then-member of the House of Delegates, James Madison. It is regarded as the root of how the framers of the Constitution approached matters of religion and government, and it was as revolutionary as the era in which it was written. The bill not only disestablished the Anglican Church as the official state church, but it provided that no one can be compelled to attend any religious institution or to underwrite it with taxes; that individuals are free to believe as they will and that this "shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." As the founding documents were developed it became ever clearer that the right to believe differently from the rich and the powerful is a prerequisite for free speech and a free press – and that this is what religious freedom is all about.
Jefferson knew that many did not like the Statute, just as they did not like the Constitution and the First Amendment, both of which sought to expand the rights of citizens and deflect claims of churches seeking special consideration. So before his death, Jefferson sought to get the last word on what it meant.
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom does not fit the Christian Right's narrative of history. Nor does it justify their vision of the struggles of the political present, or the shining theocratic future they envision. Indeed, Religious Freedom Day has got to be a dark day for the likes of Tony Perkins, who argues that Christians who favor marriage equality are not really Christians. That is probably why on Religious Freedom Day 2014, Perkins made no mention of what it is really about — and instead used the occasion to denounce president Obama's approach to religious liberty abroad.
Religious Freedom Day provides an opportunity for us to think dynamically about the meaning of religious freedom in our time – even as the Christian Right seeks to redefine it beyond recognition.
That's why it was so significant that in 2015, progressives took a big, bold step to reclaim this progressive legacy of the revolutionary, founding era. The 60 organizational members of the Coalition for Liberty and Justice (including PRA) decided to seize the day. We took to the op-ed pages and social media and launched the conversation that has continued to this day.
More than two dozen organizational members of the Coalition contributed op-eds, blog posts, and a storm of posts on Facebook and Twitter. The Coalition's "Twitter Storm" reached some 590,000 Twitter accounts and more than six million impressions. In two hours on January 16th alone, there were more than 1,500 tweets and 552 individual contributors. Among the Coalition members that participated were Americans United for Separation of Church and State, National LGBTQ Taskforce, Secular Coalition for America, and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. Bloggers at Daily Kos contributed a wide variety of thoughts about religious freedom and the Day. The Center for American Progress suggested three ways to celebrate.
It would be an understatement to say that the outpouring was broad, diverse, and enthusiastic.
Let's do it again in 2016.
Religious Freedom Day may be the most significant national day that most of us have never heard of. It has been celebrated annually, mostly via presidential proclamation, since 1993, and commemorates a foundational moment in the history of religious freedom.
Considering how central religious freedom is to the Christian Right's framing of issues ranging from abortion and contraception, to LGBTQ rights, and increasingly even labor concerns, it is seems strange that there is no massive effort on the Right hijack the day for their own purposes. With only a few minor exceptions, they have not. But there is one group worth noting, that generates attention disproportionate to the scale of its activities.
Religious Freedom Day commemorates the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom—written by Thomas Jefferson in 1777, and campaigned into law by James Madison in 1786. The bill is widely regarded as the taproot of how the founders sought to reconcile the relationship between religion and government, and epitomizes how these towering figures of American constitutional history understood religious freedom. And that makes it a problem for the Religious Right, because the bill can in no way be construed as an excuse to discriminate against anyone, or to exempt anyone from adherence to the law of the land.
I recently wrote that the Christian Right really does not want us to think about Religious Freedom Day—mostly because the Virginia Statue and the history surrounding it does not support their revisionist narrative of history, nor their contemporary religious and political agenda.
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (PDF) not only disestablished the Anglican Church as the official state church, but it provided that no one can be compelled to attend any religious institution or to underwrite it with taxes; that individuals are free to believe as they will and that this "shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." The short of it is that religious equality was the basis for how the founders thought about the relationship between religion and government, when they authored and ratified the Constitution, and later, the First Amendment. Religious freedom was intended for individuals to be free from coercion by government and powerful religious institutions.
All this might seem like a small thing from a small organization. But Gateways enjoys an outsized significance not only because they turn up at the top of Google searches for Religious Freedom Day. They often enjoy boosts from allied national Christian Right organizations. This year, for example, Citizen Link, the political arm of Focus on the Family has taken-up their cause.
Gateways claims to promote an approach that is legal and constitutional for educators, but those who have taken a closer look are not so sure.
Indeed, Gateways' is not merely interested in protecting free expression, but opportunistically turning children into evangelical agents and generating conflicts in the classroom that end up in court.
Gateways and their allies added Religious Freedom Sunday to the program in 2010. The idea was to get churches to promote their religious expression campaign on the Sunday before Religious Freedom Day. (This year Religious Freedom Sunday is January 11th, prior to the official Religious Freedom Day on the 16th) . But Boston once again looked askance at the group's motives and methods.
Over the years, Religious Freedom Day has not generated much attention. But times have changed. Religious freedom as a concept is generating more interest today than at perhaps any time since the founding generation. Because this is so it is possible that Gateways and their friends on the Religious Right may this year succeed in generating some distractions from the real meaning of Religious Freedom Day. It is also possible that others of us may also begin to speak out and be heard.
I recently wrote that the Christian Right does not want us to think about Religious Freedom Day, which commemorates the enactment of Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786. The bill is widely regarded as the taproot of how the founding generation sought to reconcile the relationship between religion and government.
The enactment of the bill has been celebrated annually, mostly via presidential proclamation, since 1993.
And when I say that the Christian Right does not want "us" to think about it, I mean everyone who is not the Christian Right and their allies, and especially not LGBTQ people and the otherwise "insufficiently Christian." I think that is why the Christian Right is mostly so eerily quiet about it, even though religious freedom is so central to their political program.
Their answer? Religious equality. And it is rooted in Jefferson's bill.
As religious equality advances, so does equal rights for all. So you can see why the Christian Right might not want people—people like us—thinking like Jefferson. And that is why we must.
Religious Freedom Day was the brainchild of some of the town fathers and mothers of Richmond, Virginia, who have since created a museum dedicated to education about the Virginia Statute (PDF).
But we need more than a museum to breathe more life and liberty into the living Constitution. Not much goes on around the country on Religious Freedom Day. There is no time like the present to seize this day.
Thomas Jefferson was well aware that many did not like the Statute, just as they did not like the Constitution and the First Amendment, both of which sought to expand the rights of citizens and deflect claims of churches seeking special consideration.
That is a powerful and clear statement. Jefferson, almost 200 years ago, refuted the contemporary claims of Christian Right leaders, many of whom not only insist that America was founded as a Christian nation, but that the framers really meant their particular interpretation of Christianity.


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Home CelebritiesActor Robert Webber
Actor Robert Webber
https://americanprofile.com/articles/robert-webber-actor/
By American Profile on August 8, 2004
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After watching World War II movies The Dirty Dozen and Midway, I spotted an old favorite, Robert Webber. What became of him?
—Vicki F., Washington
In a career that spanned more than 40 years, Webber portrayed all types of characters, though war films held special appeal for him. An ex-Army man, he played Lee Marvin's general in 1967, and real-life Adm. Frank J. Fletcher in 1976's Midway. Physically, the California native resembled actor Kevin McCarthy, which made him appear sensitive, yet rugged. His other film credits include The Great White Hope (1970), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), and 10 (1979). He had just completed the TV movie Something is Out There when he died of Lou Gehrig's disease in 1989 at age 64.
Singer Polly Parsons
Basketball Coaches Jody Condradt and Pat Summitt


Agadir has an interesting history of flight, as it was a major hub during World War II. Al Massia International Airport services all Agadir flights and its capacity has grown large enough to handle up to 3 million passengers per year. SellOffVacations.com and our low price guarantee provide you with the best value when booking your Agadir flights.


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Cleotilde Marcelo De Castro
Cleotilde Marcelo De Castro also known as "Cleo" of Dededo, died Nov. 17 at the age of 81.
Cleotilde Marcelo De Castro Cleotilde Marcelo De Castro also known as "Cleo" of Dededo, died Nov. 17 at the age of 81. Check out this story on guampdn.com: http://www.guampdn.com/story/obituaries/2017/11/22/cleotilde-marcelo-de-castro/887942001/
Pacific Daily News Published 4:11 p.m. ChT Nov. 22, 2017
Mass of Intention and rosary is being held at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Tamuning as follows: Monday to Saturday rosary at 5:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 6 p.m.; Nov. 23 only rosary will be prayed at 5:30 p.m., no Mass. Mass and rosaries will end on Nov. 25.
Last Respects will be held from 9 ato 11:15 a.m. Nov. 28 at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Tamuning. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at noon. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Peace Memorial Gardens in Windward Hills.
Read or Share this story: http://www.guampdn.com/story/obituaries/2017/11/22/cleotilde-marcelo-de-castro/887942001/


No fewer than eight persons have been confirmed dead after a strange disease ravaged Dungurawa village, in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The strange disease, report says, started about a week ago in the community and has created panic as it was said to be claiming lives almost on a daily basis.
A resident, who lost three children, Malam Suleiman Musa Tafida, told newsmen that his third son died Tuesday afternoon after losing two other children to the strange disease.
"My two children Umar and Khadija died last Friday and Saturday while Ibrahim died today, they all had the same symptoms and died after a very short while. Umar died at home while Khadeeja died at the hospital," said Suleiman Tafida.
The Ward Head of the area Malam Dahiru, who confirmed the situation to newsmen, noted that they have informed the health department of the local government, calling for help from the state government to address the outbreak as the whole village has been thrown into confusion.


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New Dead Families
Border Run by: Shya Scanlon
Jack moved like a minnow through the churning crowd of people. They rushed across the lot in excited schools, and spun off small groups into eddies before every booth. The bus had caused a small commotion for momentarily ruining the flow of foot traffic, but also for its promise of money; it had sent all the vendors back to their stations to stock and arrange their wares. Jack passed Marci, who had sold almost half her shards, and she looked up but did not smile.
Jesse hadn't given Jack time to respond to her statement. She'd hurried her son off stage as though hiding him, protecting him, and in the explosion of activity caused by the bus he'd lost sight of them. So now he was headed to the Funk's. He seemed to remember that Del had been one of those to speak up about the night at Double Barrel, the night Ben was conceived. He could hear the hollow clicking of bones from Del and Mel's chimes, and they sent a shiver through him but he walked on.
Halfway across the lot, his path was intercepted by the tall hippie who ran the dunk tank.
"Mr. Lightning?"
"Your booth is fine," Jack said without stopping. "I told your wife."
"I have something you might be interested to know."
Jack was barely able to contain his disgust. He knew this type well; he'd encountered them all over Los Angeles: seemingly good natured people, warm and welcoming, who were nothing but schemers underneath. Always looking for an angle. He didn't know what he was scheming, but knew he wanted no part in it.
"I don't have time right now."
He pushed past him, and the hippie cursed loudly, proving Jack's suspicions.
"I'll be at my tank when you change your mind!"
When he got to the booth, Jack pulled Del away from a customer, and led him behind their cart. Bones were fastened with wire along the cart's railing in a playful, undulating pattern: a bleached-white ribbon of death. Mel came around and looked at the men with a worried face, but Del waved her off.
"It's okay," he said. "Jack just has a couple questions."
"You don't look surprised," said Jack after Mel had gone.
"I seen it coming," said the man. Del had the eyes of a man who's spent too much time alone.
"I came here," Jack said, "because you were one of the men who said they were at the Double Barrel that night with Jesse."
Del nodded. "Yep," he said. "Sure enough I said that. But my guess is you know now that I wasn't."
Jack spat. "I'm waiting."
Del turned and looked westward, into nothing. "You spend enough time in the desert and you start to feel things. You can hear the land. The rocks. You can hear the cactus. You ever listen to cactus?"
Jack waited.
"When your daddy went and snuck up on me I thought I was dead. No man can sneak up me like that. I thought he come to kill me. He held out a satchel, though, and told me to look inside. It was filled with cat bones. Three, maybe four cats.
So I says, 'What do you want for these?'
'Tell folks you had relations with the Mayor at the Double Barrel last night,' he says. I look at him, and he's lookin' at me serious as a fever.
'Mel knows I ain't been to the Barrel in months,' I says to him. 'Sides, I ain't lied to her in all our years.'
But your daddy won't hear it. 'I ain't askin' you to lie to Mel,' he says.
'Who you want me to lie to then?'
'Just say what I told you,' he says."
Jack looked at this man, feeling a mixture of anger and pity. A bag of bones, he thought.
"Now cat bones," Del said, as if he'd been in Jack's head, "are special. Light. Good for chimes. And ain't many cats around here, or else I might not have."
"So you said it."
"I said it, sure. Next time I was in town. Course, by then not a man in town who wasn't saying it. On account of your daddy been handing things out."
Jack nodded, spat. His father's parting words shot through his head for the umpteenth time, now imbued with new meaning. Were they diabolical or just desperate? Perhaps there isn't much difference between the two. Jack thought of the cold coffee he'd been handed that morning—the old man had been up for a long time, perhaps all night. Surely enough time to suss out the facts. Enough time to make the rounds. To form a plan. The tourists were slowly climbing out of the bus, and Jack still had to find Angel before the show. He saw Archie standing beside the Visitor center, awkward and hot in his unfamiliar clothes. Then Larry appeared from inside, and gave the kid a cup of water.
Had this place changed since his father's time? Or had it never really been what his father had imagined? Of course, the only way to truly judge his father's actions would be to know the answer.
Jack thanked Del for being straight with him. All the anger had left him, and he felt light and airy. He'd never know what his father was protecting him against, and yet he was surprisingly at peace. He went over to the side of the Border Run! play field and spoke to the drivers, reserving one of the Jeeps for his own use. He hadn't driven in the show for years, and they looked at him approvingly, as though he was returning to his roots.
Angel was filling in some potholes at the Jeep entry points, and when Jack walked up he stuck his spade down into the earth.
"This earth doesn't want to stay put," he said with a short laugh. "She's got a mind of her own."
"Angel, I have a son."
"Yes," Angel nodded. "Congratulations."
"I reckon this is something you knew, and I just want you to know that I know, and that I don't have any hard feelings." As he said this, Jack realized that it was true. Just as the anger he'd felt initially had vanished, replaced by emptiness, this emptiness had turned into elation. Jack suddenly reached out and embraced Angel. The man went rigid inside his arms, and Jack immediately let go, feeling a little foolish.
"Congratulations," Angel said again.
Jack dumbly grinned. The wind was stiffer now, with worrisome southerly gusts, and he squinted against it, seeing dust rise in the air on the far side of the Wall.
He left Angel with one thought on his mind: he needed to tell Jo. He dove back into the Busk with the intention of having a private moment with her before the show, but he was diverted by a loud disruption by Marci's tables. She was shouting and carrying on, and some people had gathered, bemused looks on their faces, wanting to watch the fuss. When Jack broke through the circle he found, amazingly, the blue-suited man who'd come with Paco two days before. He tried to recall the man's name, but remembered he'd never been introduced. The man was standing before Marci with a shit-eating grin on his face, and beside him were Micah and Jo. Micah seemed to be involved, somehow, but Jo simply stood by shaking her head.
"Jesus Christ," she said. "Just give the damn thing back."
"I didn't take anything," said the man.
"That's a lie!" screamed Marci. "I saw it with my own eyes! It's in his pockets. Check his pockets!"
Jack stood in front of Jo and held her shoulders in his hands. She was looking downward, and he tried to lift her face with his eyes.
"Micah," he said, still cradling Jo, "what's going on here?"
Micah shrugged. "I'm not sure, exactly," he said. "We were just walking by ourselves, but it seems as though this woman is accusing this guy of stealing something."
The man remained silent, as though hoping the issue would be solved for him. He was sweating profusely, and Jack couldn't help but assume his guilt. But his first priority was to see the issue settled, so he could give Jo the good news. He massaged her shoulders slightly, but felt them tense.
Micah pointed at Marci accusingly. "What makes you think this man took something?"
Marci began to cower.
Jack tried to defuse the situation. "C'mon, Marci, didn't you just steal them in the first place?"
Marci looked around at the people watching her. Her mouth was open, but she didn't seem to have a good answer. Jack was about to reach into his own pocket to cover the cost of the missing piece when a familiar voice intervened. It was Paco.
"Where and how Marci came by her things," he said, "is irrelevant."
He slithered from between two large men, entering the circle with a white ten gallon hat in his hands.
"Besides," he said, "even if she did steal them, that's for the law to deal with. Stealing something stolen's still stealing."
The man looked at Paco with disgust, and Jack dropped his arms, his attention now completely taken over by the exchange.
"Would you mind emptying out your pockets, sir, so Marci here can see that you didn't take what you didn't pay for?"
The suit stood motionless for a full minute before pushing his big hands down into the pockets of his slacks and slowly, deliberately pulling them inside out. A dull grey shard fell to the ground at his feet, and without a word, he stepped over it, walked straight toward Paco and, nudging him aside, pushed through the crowd. Paco put his hat on, tipped it to Jack, then turned around himself the way he'd come.
"I told you!" Marci shouted. "I told you! I want him arrested! I want him—"
Jack raised his hand, shushing her. "Maybe you should just be happy you got it back," he said.
When Jo began to walk away, Jack grabbed her arm but she violently shook herself free—flustered, he felt, by the incident, and perhaps by Micah's admittedly surprising sympathy for the man. He couldn't have known he was from ImPass, of course, but Jack marveled at the tiny irony. Anyway, the moment was not right to tell her about Ben. He'd have to talk to her after the show. He'd tell her when he turned Che over. He'd tell her then, before she left again.
"I didn't steal them," Marci said, almost to herself. She began to rearrange the remaining shards on the table. "They weren't nobody's to begin with."
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your (g)host:
ZACK WENTZ


Long time no hear, so it will be quick and simple.
Kickstarter campaign was a full success, with all the goals planned achieved in very short amount of time.
The campaign was run, project received the visibility it needed to been picked up by a great publisher - Fat Dog Games. In meantime Daniel setup his own Error Games Studio, presented Futurust at various events and now he ensures that the game is moving fast forward its release in Q3 2018 with a new tech team behind it.
As such myself nor Fanotherpg LTD has anything to do with the game and its development process for some time now, and for that reason were not posting any updates about it. However in case you missed the change of ownership, I wanted to ensure you that I wish the devteam all the best and am really looking forward the finished product!
Saodhar, Oliver, and 1 more person like this update.


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Charlotte Appeals Lawyers Arnold & Smith Home
Contact Monroe, North Carolina Litigation Lawyer Arnold & Smith
In any legal case—civil or criminal—someone wins and someone loses. Some judges, many lawyers and most mediators will often tell parties to a civil case that no one "wins." Everyone compromises, and the law rarely provides clear victories. It provides relief; it seeks justice but does not—and cannot—always achieve it. Parties in criminal cases also understand the art of compromise. Many times—in exchange for a guilty plea—a prosecutor will agree to drop certain charges and will recommend a certain sentence.
In many other cases, however, there is no compromise. Parties to a lawsuit take positions, right or wrong, and they will not budge. A trial is had, and the judge or jury sides with one party. The other party loses, and it does not feel good.
If you have been a party to civil or criminal litigation, then you know what losing feels like. You have been through the ups and downs of discovery, pretrial hearings and motions, preparing for trial and then having the trial continued and then continued again… and then again. Then your day in court arrived, you put on your evidence, your attorney attacked the credibility of your adversary's witnesses. In sum, you put up a valiant fight. Truth and—you believed—justice were on your side.
You still lost.
What can Arnold & Smith, PLLC do for you?
The lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are experienced at fighting for clients who lost their cases at the trial level. In general, when defendants in criminal cases are convicted and sentenced in Superior Court, they may appeal their conviction and sentence to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Even if the Court of Appeals rejects an appeal, a defendant may seek relief from the North Carolina Supreme Court or—if the case involves certain issues—the federal 4th Circuit Court of Appeals or the United States Supreme Court.
Whether you are a plaintiff who has brought a civil lawsuit against a person or company for damages as a result of intentional or negligent conduct, or whether you are a defendant who has defended oneself against such a suit, the lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC can help you determine whether any errors were made in trial court that led to the adverse result in your case.
Arnold & Smith, PLLC has been retained by parties to both civil and criminal actions who believed the judgment of the trial court was in error. When a party seeks assistance on appeal, the first thing our team of experienced appellate attorneys does is analyze the proceedings in trial court to determine whether any errors of law or procedure were made. Lawyers, prosecutors, judges and juries are responsible for adhering to certain rules both inside and outside of the courtroom. If these rules were not followed, the ruling against a party may have been obtained in error. We are experienced at identifying these errors and at fighting on clients' behalf to correct them on appeal.
Judges have a lot on their plate, and they are expected to keep up with laws, rules and concepts that are constantly changing and evolving. It may come as no surprise to learn, then, that sometimes judges make rulings that are in error. When and if they do, we can cite the error and bring it to the attention of an appellate court. The appellate courts have the power to reverse a judge's ruling. They also have the power to reverse a person's criminal conviction—even a person who was convicted by a jury.
Handling an appeal is a very complex process, but the lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are well-versed in the rules and procedures involved and are eager to assist those who believe justice was not served in a court of law.
Appellate Law | Charlotte Appeals Lawyers Arnold & Smith


Neuromodulation devices are used to carry out a process by which a neuron uses one or more neurotransmitters to regulate other populations of neurons. Neuromodulation is a physiological process by which nervous activity is regulated by controlling the physiological levels of several classes of neurotransmitters. One of the fastest growing sectors of the medical devices market, the neuromodulation devices market is estimated to reach a value of US$7.1 bn by 2018, expanding at a CAGR of 14.4% in the period from 2012 to 2018.
Neuromodulation devices are used to provide relief to a patient through modulation or alteration of nervous system function. Neuromodulation functions by stimulating the nerves to produce responses that are natural or by the application of small doses of medicines directly at the site where required. Due to an increase in the adoption of minimally invasive treatment options and medical tourism, the market for neuromodulation devices is expected to grow in the next decade.
The report addresses questions related to the neuromodulation devices market such as the details about the various segments and sub-segments of the neuromodulation devices market, the current and future trends, the growth drivers, and the factors inhibiting the market. Collated by expert market analysts, the study can be used for expansion, competition monitoring, and for investing in the neuromodulation devices market.
The global neuromodulation devices market is segmented on the basis of technology, application, and geography. On the basis of geography, the global neuromodulation devices market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. Out of these regions, North America dominated the market in 2011, accounting for 65% of the global neuromodulation devices market, and being valued at US$1.8 bn. Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a CAGR of over 15% between 2012 and 2018, owing to the rising demand for neuromodulation devices from developing nations.
The major growth drivers of the global neuromodulation devices market include the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, rising geriatric population, rising vulnerability to acquire diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and technological advancements in neuromodulation devices, making them effective as an add-on therapy. The rising prevalence of lifestyle-induced illnesses such as obesity or depression, increase in the demand for minimally invasive surgeries, increasing consumer expenditure, and an increase in the funds to conduct studies are driving the global market for neuromodulation devices.
The market's growth is likely to be inhibited by the changing technological landscape, the availability of alternate treatment procedures, and the side effects and risks associated with the use of neuromodulation devices. Other restraining factors include getting FDA approvals and stringent government regulations that may hamper the market for the forecast period.
The leading players in the neuromodulation devices market that have been profiled and analyzed in the report are: Uroplasty, Codman and Shurtleff, Cervel Neurotech Inc., IntraPace, Nevro , Medtronic, Boston Scientific Group, Integra, St. Jude Medical, Neuronetics Inc., and Cyberonics.


A state lawmaker facing a legal complaint that could result in his removal from office said Thursday he will seek another term anyway because it would be a waste of his legislative experience if he didn't run.
HELENA – A state lawmaker facing a legal complaint that could result in his removal from office said Thursday he will seek another term anyway because it would be a waste of his legislative experience if he didn't run.
Rep. Mike Miller, R-Helmville, is confident a judge will clear him of allegations that he coordinated with and accepted illegal contributions from a secretive conservative group called Western Tradition Partnership in his 2010 primary election campaign, he said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Miller filed to run for a fourth House term Wednesday. He said he anticipates no difficulty in handling a political campaign while defending himself against the civil complaint filed in January by Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl.
Miller said his decision was driven by the need for experienced lawmakers in the state House.
The 2015 legislative session likely will be populated by dozens of new lawmakers because term limits prevents many incumbents from running again.
"It seems wasteful to not utilize my knowledge of how state government functions, along with Montana's tax laws, gained over the past three sessions. I also still have some bills I want to get passed," Miller said.
Motl ruled in December that Miller accepted illegal donations from Western Tradition Partnership by underpaying the group and its affiliate, Direct Mail and Communications Inc., for campaign letters it produced and distributed.
Miller also illegally coordinated with the group in sending out fliers attacking his opponent and failed to maintain campaign records, Motl's investigation concluded.
The ruling is part of a wide investigation into allegations of illegal coordination between Republican candidates and Western Tradition Partnership.
Motl's findings don't have the force of law, so his office brought the matter to a judge to decide its merits and apply state campaign finance laws. If District Judge Kathy Seeley upholds the findings, the penalties could include a fine or removal from office.
Western Tradition Partnership, now called American Tradition Partnership, is a nonprofit corporation that claimed to be an educational group that didn't have to reveal its donors or spending. The group mailed attack ads against moderate Republican legislative candidates in the past three election cycles, and also gained notoriety by challenging several state campaign finance laws.
A state judge ruled last year that the group acted as a political committee and required it to disclose its spending and donors. Since then, the group has ceased political activity.


Cooma offers an escape and a retreat with activities and attractions for a variety of personalities.
We have several parks with meandering creeks and rivers, weeping willows and magnificent deciduous trees.
The vast area surrounding Cooma also provides recreational activities that cover four distinct seasons.
Many retail shops are also available in Cooma including 3 supermarkets, various clothing stores, giftware, craft shops, outdoor and camping suppliers, woodworks and antiques, plus many other speciality shops to keep any retail enthusiast happy.
Please come in and talk to the locals at the Cooma Visitors Centre for ideas to suit your interests.
Relax and get into Our Country.


I bought a giant film camera.
I have to admit the motive is very self-serving.
I wanted to create this tangible memory which I think all parents should do, and she probably couldn't care less.
But this whole experience, shopping on the internet, accidentally exposing the last couple of frames, then looking for a lab in Fukuoka, which led me to Akasaka and an even more charming shop with a cafe attached, is all thanks to fatherhood.
It made me realise film photography is always about the process*.
When I receive my scans and a handwritten thank you note, it made the experience more memorable.
*After I posted this, I found out Hana has destroyed my cute little thank you note.
So another lesson learnt: all beautiful things are shortlived as a dad if you don't pick up after yourself.


Where can I buy Malarky?
Tomorrow 30 May: I'll be reading with Yuri Herrera at Burley Fisher Books,400 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA, London at 7pm.
1 June: Waterstones, Cork, Ireland. 6.30pm I am reading with Lisa McInerney & Pat Cotter.
3 June: Listowel Writers' Week, Listowel, Ireland with Patrick deWitt 7.30pm.
Would like to sincerely thank Eimear McBride who very generously interviewed me last Thursday at The Book Hive in Norwich. It was one of my favourite events and discussions ever about MARTIN JOHN. Also, thanks to the Greenwich Book Festival this weekend, at which I did a splendid event with Alex Pheby and Andrew Harkinson, moderated by the excellent Susanna Rustin. The tour kicked off in Dublin at the International Literature Festival last Tuesday with a great event with Lucy Caldwell. Thanks indeed to Selina Guinness, our moderator, for her very close & considered readings of both books. Much gratitude to these festivals & bookshops for inviting me & especially to the engaged and responsive audiences at all these events.
Biblioasis launched Malarky in Toronto at the Dora Keogh on Tuesday night. It was a great turn out and a lively, welcoming audience. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Ben McNally and John Maxwell for hosting us at the Dora. It was lovely to meet you all.
Yesterday I had a splendid time doing two readings and different branches of the Toronto Public Library as part of their Eh Reading Series. I enjoyed the exchanges with both audiences and am grateful to librarians Valentina at Northern District library and Muriel at North York library for hosting my readings and providing such great support to me during them. Also thanks to Sheila the bookseller who attended both events so enthusiastically.
I am en route to Windsor where I'll launch Malarky tonight at the Phog Lounge and will be live on the CBC Windsor for a radio interview early this evening.
The weather in Ontario was suitably varied and surprising since I know nothing about the weather there. It was very warm and yesterday there was an interlude of brief rapid rain, while last night it was nippy and I had to bundle up a tad. I had visions of it still being winter in Toronto and am glad that my partner told me not to pack my arctic parka!
I loved the city of Toronto, the brief parts I saw of it and am looking forward to my return in the fall and hope for more opportunites to explore the city. In the meantime I shall hunt for local literature and learn more about it.


Crony Hospitals are the Winners!
As Murray Rothbard asked, "cui bono," or "who benefits." Here is the answer to his question when it comes to Obamacare, plain and simple. Just as the corporate hospital stocks soared after Justice Robert's ruling, they soared with the announcement that pay cuts became pay raises and the elimination of the uncompensated care payments became a maintenance of this scam at a 25% reduced level.
It should be increasingly clear who the real beneficiaries of this legislation are, and increasingly clear who they are not (the patients). It would have been more honest to call this "Cronycare," as the corporate medical players and their stockholders are making a bundle off of the increasingly poor taxpayers.