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• Overall boost to body and anti-inflammatory effects
  • Stamina
  • Muscle gains
  • Fat loss

buy ghrp-6
what is GHRP-6GHRP-6 stands for growth hormone releasing hexapeptide, so it is obviously a peptide hormone. As you can probably guess, it acts in the same manner as all peptides do in the Growth Hormone (GH) class – it increases the amount of GH our bodies produce. This is a very beneficial property, as growth hormone is the fountain of youth, and serves many purposes from fat loss, to muscle gain and anti-aging effects. For this reason many athletes have turned to GHRP-6 in order to get an athletic edge.

Facts and how it works

Unfortunately, as we age, the amount of growth hormone that is produced starts dropping, and into our 40’s it starts dropping off rapidly. This is where GHRP-6 can help a lot, as it mimics ghrelin in the body, which stimulates the ghrelin receptors. When this occurs, a signal is sent to the pituitary gland, increasing GH production. Another benefit of GHRP-6 is that it blocks out a hormone called somatostatin, which is the enemy of HGH secretion. Finally, there is evidence that GHRP-6 can have a positive effect on the nervous system by protecting neurons, giving the user a much higher overall does GHRH+GHRP-6 works

Use as a PED

The benefits of GHRP-6 are extremely appealing to many types of athletes, and those looking to improve their general well being. The following are some of the positive benefits this compound can give to an athlete:

  1. Overall boost to body and anti-inflammatory effects: GHRP-6 can help protect the body’s muscles by boosting recovery and protein synthesis. What’s more, it has also been shown to effectively fight inflammation.
  2. Stamina: You will notice more stamina on this compound very quickly. Consequently, workouts can be extended for a longer time without becoming tired or winded.
  3. Muscle gains: Of course, we all want more muscle, and this compound will help increase muscle mass and development.
  4. Fat loss: This is probably the #1 reason people pony up the cash for GHRP-6, and it works great at aiding fat loss, which makes it a very good option for recomping or cutting.

The benefits of GHRP-6 are much more pronounced in those who are already in shape and conditioned. Therefore, if you are obese, or completely out of shape, then it is best to work on your conditioning first before using GHRP-6. Meanwhile, those that are in top shape, will benefit the most from this compound, as it is the icing on the cake.

Other benefits

benefits of GHRP-6GHRP-6 also helps in other areas:

  1. Sleep is greatly improved: Users say they sleep harder, and wake up more refreshed.
  2. Immune system boost.
  3. Stronger bones and healthier skin.
  4. Energy increase: Unlike the case of stimulants, you will get a steadier and more consistent boost in energy, and there will be no crash afterwards.

Side effects

GHRP-6 comes with some side effects, which are more pronounced when this peptide is abused.

  1. Hunger increases: All GHRP’s will increase hunger, and GHRP-6 is very potent when it comes to this undesired effect. This can become annoying, and some users complain about waking up at night, or in the morning feeling starved. Logically, those looking to boost appetite, might appreciate this side effect, but for most users (who usually expect to lose fat while on) it becomes aggravating.
  2. Prolactin, or estrogen gynecomastia issues: Those that are sensitive to prolactin based gynecomastia are open to problems with GHRP-6. Luckily, this is a rare occurrence, and it can be easily combated with dostinex. However, those who stack this compound with anabolic androgenic steroids may have a greater chance of getting gynecomastia. Thats why an AI (aromatase inhibitor) should be used during this kind of cycles.
  3. Dizzy spells, headaches, and other low blood sugar issues: Due to the effects on blood sugar, this is normal with HGH type compounds. Hence, it is recommended to keep sugars on hand, in case you start feeling these effects.
  4. Joint pain: This is normal because GHRP-6 has DHT-like effects in the body. When this happens, a good option is taking a joint supplement with it.
  5. Post injection problems: Some users complain of nausea, or numb skin after injecting.
  6. Bloating: This is something that can occur with those who use these types of GH compounds, and it will go away after stopping the use of GHRP-6.

How to use

how to use-ghrp-6GHRP-6 is a water based injectable that you will have to mix with bac water, and store. Remember, it is important to store GHRP-6 correctly after mixing it – in the fridge. It should be good for up to 3-4 weeks, so only mix what you plan on using during that time frame.
After you carefully mix it, this compound is typically injected subcutan
eously with a slin pin. For best results, it must be taken daily, and users will typically do several injections per day in order to space it out. Interestingly, GHRP-6 works best if you take it when blood sugar levels are low, and you should not eat anything for an hour after using it.

If used solo, users will run 100-400 micrograms (mcg) per injection, and if stacked with another GH hormone, dosages can be cut in half.

Where to buy

GHRP-6 is sold in the US by prescription only, but research companies sell it quite extensively. However, be careful who you buy it from, as many suppliers sell underdosed, or bunk versions of GHRP-6.

buy ghrp-6

View Article Source

US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health: “The role of leptin and ghrelin in the regulation of food intake and body weight in humans: a review.”

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A complex renovation of two outdated, 1950's era residence halls required an integrated approach that combined multiple disciplines to address the design challenges and resulted in several unique solutions.

The $4 Million renovation included replacement of all existing aging baseboard radiation units and hydronic feed piping. A new fire sprinkler main to the building allowed for the new areas of the facility to be connected into the system. For additional comfort to residents, connectors were added to each space for in-room air conditioning units.

Lounges and kitchen areas were updated with new finishes. Visible light was let into the corridors by allowing the natural light through the exterior windows of the lounge through new interior corridor glass. The lounge area exterior windows and structure were replaced with new curtain wall systems and reinforced steel. The interior corridors were long and dull, and were redesigned to break up the length of the corridor. The ceilings were custom framed down at different elevations, resulting in a random ceiling design that had an overall pattern. The unique ceiling design was then duplicated at other dorm updates on Campus. Additional solutions were used to address design challenges that were both cost effective and well received, resulting in the application of the features in three additional residence hall projects.

One firm, one team, multi-disciplinary solutions in architecture, engineering, environmental, and planning.

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Are Mike And Ikes Bad For You?

Short answer

Mike and Ike candies are rich in added sugar, which is bad for you in a number of ways. They're also made with artificial dyes, which are most likely bad for you.

Long answer

Mike and Ike candies are high-sugar foods: the risks associated with their high sugar content are well established. Harder to parse are the concerns some studies have raised about the artificial dyes that are used to give them their color.

Mike and Ike candies use four artificial dyes for coloring: Red #40, Yellow #5 and #6, and Blue #1. Advocacy groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest are pushing for these dyes to be pulled from the market or for products which contain them to be marked with warning labels. The CSPI points to studies that say the dyes cause hyperactivity in children, increase cancer risk, speed tumor growth, and can trigger allergic reactions.

The FDA has resisted, saying that evidence that the dyes are dangerous is not yet conclusive and that a ban or warning labels could put serious economic pressure on manufacturers. The International Food Information Council - a foundation that seeks to promote scientific knowledge - agrees with the FDA. The data, they say, is still too thin to prove the dangers of the food dyes still on the market. Furthermore, they claim that labeling foods with these dyes could confuse the public and hurt sales.

There are other good reasons to avoid Mike and Ike candies, however. They're loaded with sugar: 14 grams per serving, or about a third of your recommended daily intake. Those sugars are added sugars, as well; they're more than half of the added sugars you should eat in a day.

When you eat high-sugar foods like Mike and Ikes, you can do damage to your teeth. The sugars feed the bacteria in your mouth; those bacteria, in turn, excrete acid that damages the lining of your teeth. Eat too much sugary food like Mike and Ikes and those acids will break down the mineral lining that protects your teeth. Over the long-term, you can get cavities or gum disease. Be sure to moderate your intake of Mike and Ike candies and to brush and floss on a regular basis

The sugars contained in Mike and Ike candies are quickly digested by your body. They will hit your bloodstream fast, causing your blood sugar to spike. You'll get a temporary "sugar high" in mood and energy followed by a crash. Afterward, your body will take the excess sugar in your blood and convert it into fat for storage. If you're trying to watch your weight, avoid the blood sugar spikes you'll get from eating Mike and Ike.

Eating sugary candies can also cause long-term health problems beyond cavities and increased weight. It can cause insulin resistance - a condition where your body has trouble breaking down the sugars in the blood. It can also increase your chances of contracting Type-II diabetes. Added sugars like those in Mike and Ike further increase your risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.

Possible short-term side effects

  • hyperactivity
  • allergic reaction
  • sugar crash

Possible long-term side effects

  • cancer
  • cavities
  • gum disease
  • weight gain
  • diabetes
  • heart disease

Ingredients to be aware of

Big are mike and ikes bad for you 2

Organic alternatives (free from artificial colors and flavors) (what is this?)

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30070 Pond Lane
Big Pine Key, FL 33043

  • STATUS: Off Market
  • MLS #: 582935
Off Market

This property is no longer on the market or has been removed.

30070 Pond Lane Big Pine Key, FL 33043

  • Status: Off Market
  • MLS #: 582935

The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Florida Keys MLS, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Brenda Donnelly Group | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | Knight & Gardner Realty are marked with the MLS Logo and detailed information about them include the name of the listing broker's office.


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Welcome to your new sunny rambler

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Welcome to your new sunny rambler in the heart of a quiet neighborhood. Enjoy your updated kitchen, beautiful original hardwood floors in bedrooms and perfect entertaining space downstairs. All the bedrooms are on one level and the backyard is ready to host your next BBQ and bonfire. There is extra space in the basement that could be finished off as a 4th bedroom right next to an added bathroom. Brand new AC unit and furnace less than 6 years old along with new roof, brand new kitchen appliances and new privacy fence in backyard make this house perfect for your family. Great location close to Hwy 47, Hwy 65 and Hwy 10 for a quick commute. Don’t miss out on this one!

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Home - Church Vestments - Greek Priest Vestments - Greek Priest Vestments (Yellow-Gold) - Greek Priest vestment - rayon brocade S2 (yellow-gold)

Greek Priest vestment - rayon brocade S2 (yellow-gold)

Greek Priest vestment -  rayon brocade S2 (yellow-gold)Greek Priest vestment - rayon brocade S2 (yellow-gold)
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Greek Priest vestment set. Rayon jacquard brocade, class S2. Please send us your measurements per our Measurement Chart. Please note that picture for this product is a sample one. If you would like specific fabric (in the same fabric class as this product) to be used for your order, please review Fabrics section and make a note in the Notes field of your order (at the last order placing page) which fabric you prefer. Economy vestment type (Ec) means decoration with inexpensive gallon (usually Indian) and non-embroidered crosses or crosses with inexpensive embroidery (at our discretion). For Standard style (St) we use good quality solid galloon and richly embroidered crosses. Premier stile (Pr) means decoration with excellent hand-embroidered crosses and solid jacquard galloons. For all vestments we use natural rayon lining (no synthetics). Excellent quality natural velvet is used for inserts. This set includes 5 items: phelonion (chasuble), belt (zone), epigonation (palitsa), epitralhilion, cuffs (epimanika). If you wish to order matching veils or Podriznik (alb) for this set, you need to add them to you order from the corresponding section of our store. Please indicate in the Note section of your order that these veils must match the vestment set. Washing & Care Instructions: we recommend dry cleaning, no bleach, low temperature ironing inside out.
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Greek Priest vestment - rayon brocade S3 (red-gold) Greek Priest vestment - rayon brocade S4 (white-gold)

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Assemble Your Incentive Travel Strategy With These 5 Questions

Jill Anonson
Jill Anonson

Incentive travel participant tracking her progress toward her incentive travel trip online

Creating an incentive travel program is a bit like putting together flat-pack furniture. There’s a puzzling array of bits and pieces that all fit together—somehow.

If you ignore the assembly instructions, you’ll probably end up with a semi-functional piece of furniture at the end of a frustrating, patience-testing afternoon.

But, if you pay close attention to the instructions before you barge ahead, you’ll find an actionable, step-by-step strategy that points toward bookshelf bliss (or nightstand nirvana).

The secret’s in the strategy—the planning you do ahead of time and the processes you stick to throughout make things more efficient and more successful.

If you’ve been running an incentive travel program for a while, you’ve probably seen success. But, with a forward-thinking strategy at the heart of every move you make, you’ll get a roadmap to greater success at all stages of your program.

To create that strategy, start with asking yourself these five key questions:

Question 1: What incremental growth did your incentive travel trip attendees contribute toward your business?

If a consistent group of people attends your incentive travel trip each year, chances are high that you’re not pushing them hard enough. Incentive travel isn’t much of an incentive when it’s a given that the same participants will make the cut.

At its heart, your incentive travel trip creates ROI for your company. And if your attendees aren’t creating that incremental growth—and if they don’t have to bust down walls to make it on your incentive travel trip—it’s not much more than a perk for top performers.

If your participants haven’t been adding incremental growth to your company, then taking a deep dive into your program strategy is imperative.

Question 2: How do sales growth and relationship building tie into your incentive’s objectives?

Incentive travel is not just a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. While it is an impressive reward, it’s also an incredible opportunity: when you get all of your top players together at the same time in a new environment, it’s time to ask them questions and have them share stories of how they achieved success.

More than that, incorporate networking opportunities and relationship-building activities into your incentive travel strategy. When you infuse methods of obtaining open feedback on company issues, you get insight into what your top players think of your company’s trajectory.

Keep an open ear to what your attendees say and find actionable, powerful truth.

Question 3: How do you maximize engagement throughout the earning period to ensure participants stay in the right mindset?

An incentive travel trip that happens 15 months after it is announced can seem a long way away to participants. What’s the best way of keeping them engaged and keeping the program front-of-mind? Continual, action-inspiring communications.

If you’re building a powerful incentive travel program, you can’t use a “set it and forget it” approach to communications strategy. One burst of communications—regardless of medium—at the beginning of the earning period will not yield prolonged engagement.

To keep momentum throughout the earning period—and to keep incentive travel participants engaged with your event after they’ve gone home—powerful communications are an important part of any incentive strategy.

More than that, a cross-media approach is necessary: just because your tech-centric millennials prefer to receive information via email or social media doesn’t mean you should exclusively use those formats. A mixed digital and print approach is the best way to get the sustained impact you need.

Question 4: How does your event complement or contradict other initiatives with your organization?

If your company offers wellbeing, sales incentives or other programs outside of incentive travel, they can piggyback off of each other to build into a huge ROI powerhouse.

Your incentive travel trip must fall in line with the branding of the other incentives you offer. You need to give your incentive travel trip a unique flavor that your participants can’t resist.

Question 5: How can you capitalize on the people who didn’t make it on the trip to help your program grow in the future?

The people who didn’t make it on your incentive travel trip may even be more important than the ones who did go.

Why? Because they see the photos and the Facebook posts—and they hear the cool stories from attendees. They don’t want to miss out.

This feeling—FOMO, short for “Fear of Missing Out”—is precisely what you want the people who aren’t attending your event to feel. When they see what an excellent time their coworkers are having on your incentive travel trip, they want to be part of it, and they’ll stop at nothing to be a part of it next year.

FOMO makes your attendees feel really good about earning their participation in your incentive travel trip, and it builds momentum in those who didn’t quite make the cut. It’s a win-win.

With a dynamic strategy at the heart of your incentive travel program, you’ll be able to use your program as a tool that truly gets more out of your people rather than sticking to the status quo.

Don’t just reward those who made the cut. Push those that didn’t quite make it in a strategic way and accelerate past your company objectives.

Jill Anonson

Jill Anonson

Jill Anonson has over 20 years of diverse experience in event management, incentive travel and sales strategy, and serves as the Events Strategy Advisor at ITA Group. Focused on continuous improvement and challenging standards, she consults clients and team members with impactful strategies and innovative ideas that deliver successful business outcomes. She is a Certified Engagement Practioner, and certified through Pragmatic Marketing.


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Accubanker D500 Counterfeit Detector

by AccuBanker
2 reviews
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  • Reduces Losses from Counterfeit Money
  • Immediate Banknote Verification
  • Accepts any US dollar denomination
  • Multi Counterfeit Detection Technology (Illustrations/Infared/Magnetic)
  • Automatic Loading
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  • Easy to use Software
  • Upgradeable Three year manufacturers warranty included

Product Description

Compact, fast and reliable

The Accubanker D500 immediately verifies the authenticity of US currency and its denomination. Extremely user friendly and accurate. An audible and visual warning alerts you when a suspicious bill is detected. It is also compatible with and detects the authenticity of new one hundred dollar bills.

Used in many industries

Recommended for places like banks, movie theaters, retailers, chain stores, supermarkets, and anywhere else that deals with medium to high amounts of cash regularly. This counterfeit detector helps to detect the authenticity of US currency on the spot.

Multi Featured Counterfeit Detection

The D500 uses multiple features to check currencies authenticity. The technology it uses to check bills include- infrared, magnetic and illustrations. To use it simply insert a bill into the machine and it will notify you if your bill appears to be counterfeit.

The D500 also displays the value of bills used with it, to give extra security against fake bills. This feature allows users to both authenticate the bill and check that the value it shows is the same as on the bill.


text:
The big con the Banking Royal Commission entirely missed

By on
The big con the Banking Royal Commission entirely missed

Opinion: How did a huge online fraud liability shift to merchants escape scrutiny?

When the banking Royal Commission final report drops in shortly after this piece hits the web there will be acres for copy about greed, governance failures and a corporate culture in financial services that has arguably resulted in regulatory capture.

There will be buckets of blame tipped from great heights, the predictable ‘swift and comprehensive response’ from the federal government and a great collective atonement for the multiplicity of sins uncovered.

As the late Northern Irish comedian Dave Allen once beautifully put it, there will be "a great wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Yet for all of the high drama on the witness stand and heart wrenching case studies with damning revelations, at iTnews we’re betting one of the prize rocks of banks behaving badly will be left unturned, if only for reasons of expediency and limited resourcing:

That rock is what's really happening in Australia with online credit card fraud and who really pays.

The short answer is not the banks – and in 2019 in an economy when most payments have been digitised, or soon will be, that just shouldn’t pass regulatory muster and will once again be left the Reserve Bank of Australia to try and clean up.

The situation as it currently stands looks like this:

Merchants (shops or businesses who sell stuff online) buy payment processing services from banks or authorised payments processors.

Banks, in conjunction with big card schemes Mastercard and Visa, issue consumers with credit cards or debit cards (that ride on the same rails as credit).

Along the way, thanks to historically clunky and difficult security, card numbers get stolen, cloned, compromised and are used to make fraudulent transactions.

And then, after paying the bank for a payment facility that is supposed to be able to weed out a compromised card, fraudulent transactions are put through with the cost of the loss passed through to the merchant rather than absorbed by a bank or a card scheme.

Put simply, as a business you pay a bank for a service to keep your funds and transactions secure, you get ripped-off because they have dud security and you have to foot the bill.

It’s not hard to see what’s wrong with the picture.

It’s not a new problem either which, along with the fact banks and card schemes go out of their way to make it as hard to understand as possible, is one of reason’s it’s easy to miss.

At the moment online card fraud in Australia, dubbed ‘card not present fraud’ racks-up close to $500 million a year in losses. It's a big bill and it's getting better.

Consumers are indemnified, so banks instead sheet the losses back to the businesses who got robbed. And they do it with the full blessing of the card schemes who make billions each year taking a clip out of the transactions.

Ever seen a credit card scheme come out and say banks should cop the loss and indemnify merchants? Me neither.

Aside from the headline fraud volumes – which will be understated because not all merchants will bother reporting the losses because they know they will unlikely to ever see the money – it’s impossible to get a reliable figure on what, if anything the banks are copping rather than passing through.

The reason banks are allowed to do this pea and cup trick is largely historical rather than malevolent. In the early days of the web, and we’re talking the turn of the millennium, most online transactions were risky. Think pills, risqué content and poker.

Online credit card transactions were essentially treated like mail order transactions: if the merchant had dodgy customers, they could wear the risk.

Two decades alter and the same regulatory code applies, even though the economy has flipped from bricks and mortar ‘card present’ to online ‘card not present’. It’s Amazon, it’s Qantas, it’s most things you buy. The economy flipped but the rules didn't.

Now because payment card security is hard, complex and sometimes eye-wateringly dull it successfully resists change that should have happened 10 years ago. And it’s completely opaque.

Had there been time, Royal Commissioner Kenneth Hayne would have done well to put some of the thousands of businesses dudded by a bank payments service that let a bad card number go through.

It would go something like this:

Counsel Assisting: “You believed that because you paid the bank a monthly fee and proportion of the transaction the payments made to you would be legitimate and not counterfeit.”

Shopkeeper: “Yes, in the same way that they guarantee over the counter transactions”.

Counsel Assisting: “So you applied to get the money back and what happened?”

Shopkeeper: “They just refused and then said I had to upgrade my payment terminal at an extra cost.”

Counsel Assisting: “Did you ask if that would indemnify you?”

Shopkeeper:  “Yes, they said it would depend on the circumstances.”

The real problem for the community is that when regulators continue to allow banks to pass through losses to merchants it removes the incentive for them to fix the problem. It's not their problem.

Because merchants are at the mercy of banks, an abusive cycle takes hold where fraud losses are systemically obfuscated and buried by foisting them on those who can’t fight back.

With the exception of mortgages, many of the atrocities the Banking Royal Commission uncovered were not core banking: insurance, wealth management, fees for no service etc.

Payments and everyday card transactions are at the very core of banking.

The decision not to probe card fraud is a significant omission and a key opportunity for positive systemic reform for the public good lost.

And it will make the RBA’s job of lancing the boil and cleaning up the mess that much harder.

In the interim systemic trust will continue to be eroded, one bad transaction at a time.

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1. ITV Report

Woman attacked and bundled into boot of her own car

The 58-year-old woman suffered facial injuries after being attacked. Credit: PA

A 58-year-old woman is recovering after being attacked and bundled into the boot of her own car.

She was assaulted and kidnapped at knife-point after she parked her black BMW 1 Series in Scott Close, Kidmore End, south Oxfordshire, between 6.30pm and 7pm on Tuesday.

Police have released a photograph showing the facial injuries suffered by the woman, whose identity has not been released.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Two men approached the woman, before attacking her and bundling her into the boot of her own vehicle.

"The offenders drove the vehicle to a number of unknown locations, before stopping at Tanners Lane near Chalkhouse Green where they physically assaulted the victim."

Thames Valley Police said they were 'keeping an open mind' about a possible motive. Credit: PA

Police added: "“During the incident the victim sustained injuries to her head, torso and her hands. Eventually the offenders fled the scene.

"The victim managed to free herself from the boot of the vehicle and sought help from a member of the public, who called police."

The spokesman said officers were "keeping an open mind" about a possible motive and whether the victim was known to the attackers.

Both men are described as black, one was broad-shouldered and possibly in his 20s.

They had a large black-handled knife.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Stone said: "These are extremely serious offences which are being extensively investigated by Thames Valley Police.

"Residents will see an increased police presence in the area, with a scene watch in Scott Close.

"Our investigation has started in earnest, the victim’s vehicle has been recovered, we are carrying out forensic examinations, conducting house-to-house inquiries, and are obtaining and reviewing CCTV.

"The victim continues to receive treatment in hospital for her injuries and we are working with her and her family to progress the investigation, and ensure she receives the support needed.

"Someone, somewhere will have information about these offences and I am appealing to those people to search their conscience, consider the injuries to the victim, and do the right thing by coming forward."


text:
1. ITV Report

House where Exeter triple killer claimed first victim sells below asking price

The property was sold for less than its asking price. Credit: ITV News West Country

The house in Exeter where triple killer Alexander Lewis-Ranwell claimed his first victim has sold for less than its asking price.

The dilapidated terraced house in Bonhay Road has been bought by investors for £138,000 - which is £22,000 less than the asking price.

The property was previously home to pensioner Anthony Payne, who was killed in February earlier this year by Lewis-Ranwell.

The 28-year-old, a paranoid schizophrenic who mistakenly believed Mr Payne was a paedophile, killed the pensioner in his bedroom using a hammer.

Alexander Lewis-Ranwell.

Mr Payne’s body was discovered on February 11 and his house subsequently became the centre of a murder investigation.

It was cordoned off by police for several weeks and wooden boards were put over the windows and doors.

In August, the three-bedroom property was put up for sale for £160,000 by estate agents Watts & Sons.

Prospective buyers made offers through a sealed bid process and the agents, now called Diamond Estate Agents, have confirmed it was sold for £138,000.

Police cordoned off the property in Bonhay Road following Mr Payne's death. Credit: ITV News West Country

The agents revealed the house - which has remained empty since Mr Payne’s death - had been bought by investors who were intending to refurbish it.

All the people who looked at the house were investors. It is a major project.

– Diamond Estate Agents

Following Mr Payne’s murder, Lewis-Ranwell exited the property via the back garden and walked to Cowick Lane, where he claimed his next victims.

He entered a detached property belonging to twins Dick and Roger Carter, aged 84, and killed them both using a spade.

During a subsequent trial at Exeter Crown Court, Lewis-Ranwell admitted killing the three elderly men but was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

He has been placed under the care of doctors at Broadmoor High Security Hospital and will not be let out until it is safe to do so.


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Esla Sam leaves the court on Thursday after testifying on behalf of the petitioner Benjamin “Ben” Exeter on Wednesday. (iWN photo)

Lawyers for the government, on Wednesday, successfully argued for the removal of segments of the testimony of Elsa Sam, a witness for the opposition in the Central Leeward petition.

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes had made an application that certain statements in the witness statement of Elsa Sam be expunged from the record.

Mendes had based his application on the admissibility of the statement, arguing that the matters were addressed by Justice Esco Henry in a decision delivered on Nov. 18, 2018.

Lead counsel for the petitioner, Stanley “Stalky” John, QC, had resisted the application saying that Mendes was inviting the court to review the decision of another high court judge.

Lead lawyer for the petitioners, Stanley “Stalky” John. (iWN photo)

Before making his decision, acting High Court Judge Justice Stanley John rose for 30 minutes to consider the lawyers’ submissions.

In his ruling, Justice John said he had looked at Justice Henry’s ruling that impugned statements are admissible.

Justice John further noted that in her final order, Justice Henry does not mention the statement referred to by Mendes.

The judge said the slip rule — which permits the correction of any accidental slip or omission in judgments or orders — was a procedure open to the respondent but it is too late for them to pursue that course.

He said he was also not persuaded to rely on, at that stage, the provisions of rule 420 of the Supreme Court, as Mendes argued.

However, the judge was persuaded by the arguments of Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan, another lawyer for the government, who cited an election petition case in Antigua and Barbuda involving Jacqui Quinn-Leandro and Dean Jonas, et al.

Justice John he said he had found the learning there instructive and would allow the application and expunge paragraph 13 and 14.

In those paragraphs, Sam, who was a poling agent for Exeter at polling station at polling station CLA 1, located at the Barrouallie Resource Centre, said:

“When the voter returned, Ms Jeffers would then stamp the ballot paper and write something on it.

“I was not sitting close enough to Ms Jeffers to see exactly what she wrote on the ballot paper. I could however see that she was writing on it.”

The judge said that in making the order he was in no way altering or attempting to alter the judgement of Justice Henry. “

At this point, the judge asked for Sam to be called to testify.

The judge was persuaded by the argument of Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan. (iWN photo)

However, Mendes rose and said he was embarrassed to bring another such instance to the attention of the court.

He said it was drawn to his attention just before the judge had risen about an half hour earlier.

Mendes asked the court to also excise sections of paragraph 10 of Sam’s witness statement.

In that paragraph, Sam said:

“I observed the Presiding Officer — upon my returning my marked and folded ballot to her – lift the fold of the ballot at the right hand side and stamp it and sign it. I do not recall whether she signed and stamped on the counterfoil or on the ballot. … She pulled the flap up at least an inch high toward herself. It appeared to be opened wide enough that she could see for whom I had voted. I told myself that seeing that as I was an agent of the NDP she ought to have known how I would have voted and as such her action was strange.”

Mendes, citing Justice Henry’s judgment asked the court to excise from “She pulled the flap up” onwards.

Mendes said that while the judge had ruled that the last two sentences are inadmissible, her order did not reflect that.

Counsel John also resisted that application saying that like the last application, Mendes was relying on the order that Justice Henry made.

He said that that varying the judge’s ruling is the basis on which Mendes is asking the court to expunge sections of Sam’s evidence.

The lawyer was saying that if Justice John sees it fit to interfere with the judgment of Justice Henry, when the judge interrupted him and said he was not doing so.

“Are you inviting me, Mr. John to review the order I just made?” the judge asked.

Counsel john responded, “M’Lud, since your lordship is being asked to review order of the court–”

Justice John again asked, “Are you inviting me to review the order that I just made?”

Acting High Court judge Justice Stanley refused to review his ruling. (iWN photo)

“Yes, m’lud,” counsel John responded.

“I am not going to do that,” the judge said.

Counsel John said:

“But your lordship has just reviewed the order of this very court in relation to the application made by my learned friend.”

“I am not reviewing the ruling that I just made. What I am dealing with at the moment is another application and I am prepared to hear your arguments on that,” the judge said.

Counsel John then told the court that that is the basis on which he is making the submissions.

“But it so happens that the bases on which both applications were made are the same,” he said.

He further told the court that since the judge has made a determination not to review his decision it “seems to me that it would be an exercise in futility because your lordship is likely to conclude that in reviewing, or hearing my submissions in relation to this more recent application, you would be reviewing the order that you made”.

The judge again granted Mendes’ application.

The cross examination of Sam then commenced.


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March 2002

IZA DP No. 457: Health and Work of the Elderly: Subjective Health Measures, Reporting Errors and the Endogenous Relationship between Health and Work

published as: 'Health and work of the elderly: subjective health measures, reporting errors and endogeneity in the relationship between health and work' in: Journal of Applied Econometrics, 2009, 24 (6), 1024 - 1046

This paper aims to explore the interrelation between health and work decisions of elderly workers, taking the various ways in which health and work can influence each other explicitly into account. For this, two issues are of relevance. Self-assessed health measures are usually at hand in empirical analyses and research indicates that these may be endogenous, state dependent, reporting behaviour. Furthermore, even if an objective health measure is used, it is not likely to be strictly exogenous to labour market status or labour income. Health and labour market variables are correlated because of unobserved individual-specific characteristics (e.g., investments in human capital and health capital) Moreover, one’s labour market status is expected to have a (reverse) causal effect on health. A solution to the ‘Health and Retirement Nexus’ requires an integrated model for work decisions, health production and health reporting mechanisms. We formulate such a model and estimate it on a longitudinal dataset of Dutch elderly.


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About the Summit

What is the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit?

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS/Summit) is dedicated to addressing and resolving adult and influenza immunization issues and improving the use of vaccines recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. NAIIS consists of over 700 partners, representing more than 140 public and private organizations. Summit participants include a wide range of professionals from the healthcare industry, public health and private medical sectors, vaccine manufacturers and distributors, consumers, and others interested in preventing illness, disability, and deaths through the use of recommended vaccines. Broad-based leadership of NAIIS is conducted through the members of the Summit Organizing Committee (SOC).

The financial matters of NAIIS are administered by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC), a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. On behalf of NAIIS, IAC currently receives financial support from GlaxoSmithKline, Health Industry Distributors Association, Merck & Co., Pfizer, Inc., Sanofi Pasteur, and Walgreens. Donations from individuals wishing to support the activities of the Summit also are accepted. Receipt of funding does not influence the activities of the Summit, which are coordinated separately by the SOC.


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TUPELO, Miss. — Faced with a demand for more flights from Tupelo to Nashville, SeaPort Airlines is considering moving some Memphis flights to the Nashville route.

"Demand is running 10-to-1 with Nashville over Memphis, even though we don't even have a three-to-one frequency advantage in flights," SeaPort president Rob McKinney told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (

Portland, Oregon-based SeaPort began subsidized air service in late October in Tupelo, providing 18 round-trip flights per week to Nashville and 12 round-trip flights per week to Memphis.

McKinney and SeaPort executive vice president Tim Sieber said they will talk with Tupelo Regional executive director Josh Abramson soon to look at the possibilities of switching more flights to Nashville.

The airline held a reception Thursday at the Tupelo Regional Airport to meet with business and community leaders.

SeaPort is getting an annual $2.5 million subsidy through the federal Essential Air Service program, and one of the requirements is to average 10 passengers a day.

The airline flew one of its brand new Cessna's into Tupelo's airport. It is one of three the air carrier is operating out of Tupelo.

The figures for Tupelo haven't been revealed after the first six weeks of service, but Sieber said things are "going well.

"We've had a few hiccups, but the people who we've talked to, I think we've done a good job taking care of the issues. It is a different experience from the regional jets or the Saabs that people have been used to in the past, but it seems like the community has really started to embrace us," he said.

Read or Share this story:


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Posted on

Advice to Young Females

“I could do very well without you, if you were married to a man of such good estate as Mr Crawford. And you must be aware, Fanny, that it is every young woman’s duty to accept such a very unexceptionable offer as this.”

This was almost the only rule of conduct, the only piece of advice, which Fanny had ever received from her aunt in the course of eight years and a half.

It silenced her.

Mansfield Park

Jane Austen never wrote a manual of ladylike advice- though her letters to her neices are full of an Aunt’s wisdom. If she had, it might have read something like this excerpt from a anonymous text of 1833. Of course, one can only imagine how much fun Jane, who could “not sit seriously down to write a serious romance under any other motive than to save [her] life” would have had with it.

I begin my advice to young females on this subject, by suggesting a caution against forming this connection prematurely. I advise you, as you value your prospects of happiness for life, that you leave all matrimonial arrangements to a period subsequent to the completion of your education.

Another evil which you should avoid is that of forming this relation without due deliberation. Bear in mind that the decision which you form on this subject is to affect vitally your interests in life and at least that of one other individual.

Of great importance is the character of the man with whom you are to be united.

  1. Robert Ferrars
    Do not marry a fop. There is a mark upon him, an affected elegance of manner, a studied particularity of dress and usually a singular vanity of mind.
  2. Do not marry a miser. Such a man may be very rich, but you could expect from his riches little else than misery.
  3. Mr. Wickham
    Do not marry a spendthrift. For no degree of wealth can secure such a man from the degredation of poverty.
  4. Do not marry a man whose age is greatly disproportionate to your own. I am constrained to say that such connections present, at least to my own eye a violation of good taste, and seem contrary to the dictates of nature.
  5. Willoughby
    Do not marry a man who is not industrious. The effect is very apt to be, that he abuses his talents, and strancts a hanit of living to little purpose, but that of self gratification.
  6. Do not marry a man of violent temper. The absence of an affectionate and amiable disposition is sure to render, in no small degree, a delicate female unhappy.

William Collins: Pride and Prejudice
If a gentleman addresses you on the subject of marriage, it is proper that you make his proposal a subject of immediate consideration.

Mr. Darcy
If it be that you decline his proposals, inform him in a manner which will least wound his sensibility, and let the secret of his having addressed you never pass your lips.

If the result be that you accept his proposals, modestly and affectionately inform him of it, and consider yourself sacredly bound to become his wife.

Reprinted from The Daughter’s Own Book; or, Practical Hints From a Father to His Daughter.; Boston: Lilly, Wait, Colman, and Holden, 1833; Anonymous. Reprinted with kind permission from Old Sturbridge Village.

Enjoyed this article? Browse our book shop at


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Chocolate Swirl Meringues | ad

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more details!*

  Individual Chocolate Swirl Meringues, perfect for an Easy Dessert!

This post has been sponsored by Bacofoil® – all opinions and words are my own.

So when I am thinking about making a dessert, I always want something chocolate themed. I won’t lie, I probably do eat too much Chocolate, but that’s me. Is it actually possible to eat too much chocolate?! Who knows… but I realise not everyone actually likes chocolate  (my Dad). I know… the shock and the horror… but they don’t. Which is completely fair enough.

However, when I am then trying to create a dessert to satisfy all cravings, it can get really very difficult!  I love making a dessert for when my Fiancé (lol yes I’m now engaged WOOO) and myself go round my parents for dinner as my Mum usually makes a DELICIOUS Dinner, and making dessert is the least I can do. As my Dad, however, is the one to not be the biggest fan of chocolate, I do struggle.

So, as I wanted to have something chocolate themed, but make sure my dad would accept it, I thought something with a hint of it would be best. How about one teaspoon of chocolate per dessert?! Yes, I think so. These beauties were born. The BEST thing about making Meringue is it is such a crowd pleaser, and it’s easy to serve them up how you prefer.

Add on some whipped cream, some fruit, some freeze dried fruits, etc etc. There are so many combinations of delicious toppings you can put onto a meringue its delightful. This idea partly came from going to a wedding fair recently at the venue my Fiancé and I have booked, where they had a ‘Create your own Pavlova’ station and I LOVED it. It was amazing.

Some people are a little scared of making meringue, but it is honestly a lot easier if you have a super clean bowl, a clean whisk, and egg whites with absolutely no egg yolk in. This sounds a bit much already, but make sure you wipe your bowl clean (sometimes I rub a bit of lemon around to clean it, and then wipe down), make sure whatever whisk you use is super clean, and carefully separate your egg whites into a different bowl so that if you make a mistake, you can easily rectify the situation.

Another thing that helps is if you have a good surface to bake the Meringues on to. There have been so many times when I have baked a perfect meringue, but it has stuck to the tray or baking paper. This is where the wonderful sponsorship of this post comes in – The Bacofoil® Non-Stick Baking Paper. Quite often something like Meringue can get a little bit stuck after baking, but using this delightful Bacofoil® paper is insane, as it has a unique textured surface to purposely help prevent any sticking issues.

The Bacofoil® Non-Stick Baking Paper has a dimpled surface, which looks like lots of little tiny bumps, and it makes it a lot easier to use compared to your standard non-stick baking parchment.
– It’s non-stick on both sides, so you don’t have to grease it
– Your bakes won’t break up when removing them from the paper
– It’s Hassle Free – no trying to wash up nasty baking/cooking marks afterwards
– It’s ideal for all baking and cooking

You can see from the images the little dimples on the surface of the paper, and how easy it is to use. After a really easy bake and very little washing up, you can enjoy your dessert. The delightful thing about using this recipe is even though yes it does have chocolate in, you only use 1tsp per Chocolate Swirl Meringue, so it was enough to satisfy my cravings, but not enough for my Dad to be put off.

As I used Dark Chocolate, it helped to make a relatively savoury swirl in comparison because Dark chocolate is more bitter compared to Milk Chocolate, and then when you top with the Cream and Fruits, it’s delicious. These Chocolate Swirl Meringues are the perfect individual dessert that you can make for a crowd, and they’re so easy to make! Enjoy! x

You can check out more information on the amazing Bacofoil® Non-Stick Baking Paper at!

Chocolate Swirl Meringues!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Cooling Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins

 Individual Chocolate Swirl Meringues, perfect for an Easy Dessert!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Meringue
Keyword: Chocolate
Servings: 10 Meringues
Calories: 168 kcal
Author: Jane's Patisserie
  1. Preheat your oven to 120C/100C Fan, and line 2 Large Trays with your Bacofoil® Non-Stick Baking Paper and leave to the side.

  2. Make sure your bowl, and Whisk are nice and squeaky clean. I used my Stand Mixer with the Whisk Attachment.

  3. Add in your Egg Whites, making sure there is no egg yolk.

  4. Whip the Egg Whites up to stiff peaks, and start adding in the sugar 1tsp at a time. It may take a good few minutes to get all the sugar in, but its worth it. Don't pour it all in at once.

  5. Once all of the Sugar has been whisked in, add in the White Wine Vinegar and whisk again for about 2-3 more minutes.

  6. Whilst it's whisking for the 2-3 more minutes, melt your Dark Chocolate carefully till smooth.

  7. Dollop onto the Trays your Meringues. I used a heaped tablespoon each to make 10 Meringues, and then split any leftover between the 10.

  8. Add on 1 Teaspoon of melted chocolate per Meringue, and swirl it in slightly whilst shaping the Meringues into a good shape.

  9. Sprinkle on some Freeze Dried Raspberries and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes (or until the meringues feel crispy (hard) on the outside)

  10. Once baked, leave the Meringues to cool in the oven with the door shut for 30 minutes, and then remove from the oven and leave to cool fully.

  11. Serve your Meringues with whipped cream, fruit, or anything you wish! Enjoy!

Recipe Notes
  • These Meringues will last in an airtight container for 1 month on their own at room temperature.
  • I usually eat them within 2-3 days however.
  • You can use Milk Chocolate if you prefer, but I love the Dark Chocolate.
  • The Freeze Dried Raspberries are optional.
  • This post was sponsored by Bacofoil® - all views and words are my own.
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Swirl Meringues!
Amount Per Serving
Calories 168 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Sodium 24mg1%
Potassium 110mg3%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 2g4%
Calcium 9mg1%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Find my other Recipes on my Recipes Page!

You can find me on:

J x

© Jane’s Patisserie. All images & content are copyright protected. Do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words and credit me, or link back to this post for the recipe.

    1. Hey! No, the baking time would still be the same, as it’s the amount of time which takes to bake that size meringue. Halving the recipe would make less meringues! You can definitely halve it though!

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1009 Kelly Avenue
    Joliet, IL 60435

    • STATUS: Closed
    • MLS #: 10481716
    Off Market

    This property is no longer on the market or has been removed.

    1009 Kelly Avenue Joliet, IL 60435

    • Status: Closed
    • MLS #: 10481716

    © 2020 Midwest Real Estate Data LLC. All rights reserved. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by MTP, MRED or Janet Jurich | RE/MAX Rising. Based on information submitted to the MRED as of 2020-01-17T11:51:50.84 UTC. All data is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MRED. MRED supplied Open House information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information. Some properties which appear for sale on this website may subsequently have sold and may no longer be available. NOTICE: Many homes contain recording devices, and buyers should be aware they may be recorded during a showing.

    Digital Millennium Copyright Act


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Buddhism in Japan   仏教

Date of publication :

Muro-ji temple in fall

The 6 schools of Japanese Buddhism

Religion in Japan is often a subject of curiosity for other cultures, because of the peaceful coexistence of Shintoism and Buddhism in Japanese society. Indeed, if we observe 75% of Japanese Buddhist practices, 90% of them say they also practice Shintoism, so in reality the vast majority actually practice two religions at the same time.

Buddhism is one of the two main religions in Japan. It was introduced to the archipelago from the fifth century AD, and developed considerably over the centuries, until becoming a major part of Japanese society. Today, it coexists in Japan alongside Shintoism - an animist religion - and has different schools born of various currents over time.

The beginnings of Buddhism in Japan

Buddhism was introduced to Japan by China, through contact between the different territories of the Far East because of the Silk Road. However, its official introduction is dated as 552 AD, when King Seong of Baekje (now South Korea) sent Buddhist missionaries with Buddhist images and sutras to Emperor Kinmei with the purpose of introducing Buddhism to Japan.

Read: A simplified history of Japan

In less than two centuries, during the Asuka and Nara eras, Buddhism developed considerably in Japan, thanks to its adoption by powerful clans: in 627, there were already nearly 50 Buddhist temples in Japan, as well as more than 800 monks and 700 nuns. By the Nara period (710-794), six different schools of Buddhism had already been founded in Japan: rather than separate religious currents, they could be identified as different groups of thought, settled in different temples. It was at this time that the famous Asuka-dera and Todai-ji temples were erected in Nara.

At that time, the Buddhist temples were places of instruction and education, schools really, and much more influential than today. The religion they taught then was a mixture of Buddhist and Taoist practices, with shamanic and indigenous elements. At the end of the Nara era, two new schools were born in Japan, associated with esoteric Buddhism: Shingon and Tendai, introduced respectively by the monks Kukai (better known as Kobo Daishi) and Saicho. While the basic schools of the Nara era have disappeared, giving way to other developments of Buddhist thought, these two schools of esoteric Buddhism are still around today.

Read also : Aoba matsuri, a festival for Kukai

Asuka-dear was build in the same era as Todai-ji, in the 8th century.

The Golden Temple or Kinkakuji, one of the jewels of Kyoto.

The Golden Pavilion, or Kinkakuji, one of the jewels of Kyoto.

The 6 schools of Japanese Buddhism today

Japanese Buddhism has undergone many changes since the Nara era, and the six schools that originally existed have now disappeared. By chance, the number of schools that survive today is also 6. It was during the Kamakura era (1185-1333) that the other schools of Buddhism that Japan has today developed. They are:

  • Tendai: founded in 822 by Saicho, it is the oldest school that persists today, and the most widespread. This branch of Buddhism reveres the Lotus Sutra, and is distinguished from its Chinese counterpart (Tien Tai) by its mysticism and esoteric aspects.
  • Shingon: founded by the monk Kukai in 835, this school is rival of the previous one. The system of Shingon Buddhism is Tantric. It teaches that through the repetition of mantras, meditation and ritual gestures, one can access the power of Buddhas and Boddisatvas.
  • Jodo, the school of "Pure Land" Buddhism: this school reveres the sutra of the Pure Land and preaches devotion to Buddha Amida. One can only achieve rebirth within the Pure Land this way, that is, the paradise where the Buddha resides. This school has become one of the most widespread forms of Buddhism in Japan.
  • Jodo-Shinshu, or the True School of the Pure Land: this sect goes further than the previous one, and teaches that humility and faith, in the love of Buddha Amida, are already present in the hearts of believers. In fact, Amida saves souls without pre-requisites. That is to say, the faith and the good deeds accomplished come spontaneously from Buddha Amida, who does not need any other proof to grant salvation.
  • Nichiren: Named after its founder, this school reveres the Lotus sutra and teaches that the repetition of this sutra is enough to reach paradise.
  • Zen: Zen includes different schools, but traditionally it is associated with the Rinzai sect, encouraged by Eisai. It relies on the authority of traditional Buddhist scriptures and the repetition of koan, a form of meditative phrase, as a means of transcending linear terrestrial thinking. The Soto sect also supports the authority and validity of the scriptures, but relies only on silent meditation, not on the koan.

For further reading :

  • Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines: what's the difference?

Comments Read comments from our travellers


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Business / Corporate

Oasis hedge fund boss bets on Japan's professional gaming scene

by Yuji Nakamura and Takako Taniguchi

Competitive gaming in Japan has found a champion: hedge fund boss Seth Fischer.

The chief investment officer of Hong Kong-based Oasis Management Co., which owns more than $1 billion in Japanese securities, said esports is now among his top five investment themes for Japan. He has started buying stocks of game publishers like Capcom Co. and Square Enix Holdings Co., looking to cash in as the country that practically invented video games begins a long-delayed embrace of professional gaming.

Fischer is among a few early believers that competitive gaming can become big business in Japan.

Strict anti-gambling laws had prevented paid competitions for years, but the industry’s move this month to issue professional gamer licenses is allowing them to sidestep the regulations.

Fischer says that lays the groundwork for publishers to grow audiences, sell more games and begin generating new revenue from broadcasting rights and advertising.

“I own Capcom today on the back of esports, and it’s my biggest bet on esports in Japan. I have also been buying Square Enix recently,” Fischer said in an interview. “The numbers speak for themselves and the viewership speaks for itself. This is both real and significant.”

Worldwide esports revenue, including media rights, advertising, ticket sales and merchandising, will reach about $5 billion annually by 2020, almost as much as the world’s biggest soccer league today, according to market researcher Activate. The total audience for competitive gaming will grow to 557 million people by 2021 from 380 million this year, according to researcher Newzoo.

That’s beginning to translate into real earnings for global companies. U.S. publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. launched a 12-team league for science-fantasy shooter “Overwatch,” selling team franchises at $20 million a piece. France’s Ubisoft Entertainment SA stands to create “lots of revenue” from esports titles including “Rainbow Six Siege,” CEO Yves Guillemot told investors on a conference call this month.

But in Japan, that wasn’t possible due to unique laws that prevent cash prizes in competitions, making it illegal to hold the kind of large, paid tournaments that attract big audiences.

The industry’s solution, unveiled this month, is to issue licenses to exempt professional video game players from the laws, similar to Japan’s existing approach to professional golf, baseball and tennis.

“The legal changes make it possible for more people to become engaged and for it to become a bigger phenomenon,” said Fischer, who has asked some of his analysts to win licenses as part of their research. “The demographic for that in Japan is big.”

Fisher is making his call very early. Only 46 professional gaming licenses were doled out at the inaugural competition and it may be years before esports reaches critical mass.

“The question is whether Japan can adopt this culture of watching esports and enjoying it,” said Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute. “The pillar for commercialization, both here and overseas, is secondary usage like broadcasting rights. That’s why the real key is if society accepts watching esports like they do now with baseball.”

Two weeks ago, game companies including Sony Corp. and Konami Holdings Corp. paid out about $260,000 in total prize money at the industry’s first official esports tournament, attracting 72,000 visitors and 5.1 million viewers online, according to data from event organizers.

The following week, Capcom announced it was launching a domestic esports business division. Fischer said that’s just the beginning and the market has yet to recognize the trend in Japan.

“Japan esports names are much cheaper than those in the States,” said Fischer. The future potential “is not priced in Japan.”

Fischer, an activist investor, made a name for himself by challenging Japanese companies to improve corporate governance and give more money back to shareholders, including a recent stake in GMO Internet Inc.

In 2013, he accumulated a position in Nintendo Co. and then prodded management to begin releasing games for smartphones, which it eventually did.

Nintendo, Capcom and Square Enix declined to comment.

He says Nintendo can also benefit from competitive gaming by encouraging spectators to bring Switch consoles to esports arenas to use them as social and interactive tools, which he says would boost sales of the device.

The company already hosts esports events globally for games like “Super Smash Brothers” and “Splatoon 2,” but it does not pay cash prizes, saying that would clash with its family-friendly approach.

“Nintendo should be thinking about this much more aggressively than just as a family event,” said Fischer. “That’s how you get massive potential advertising, massive potential in-game sales, and possibly sell multiple Switches per household.”

He says not all of Japan’s publishers will benefit and that Oasis conducts social media surveys and tracks viewer metrics to determine the winners. While he doesn’t expect esports to send stocks surging in the near-term, he says it will become a “significant” earnings driver in the next several years.

“I’m a little bit out there on that. When I sit down with the analysts, they’re not getting the full guidance from the companies yet, and they’re not talking about it that much,” he said . “But this is how you drive real returns: by having a differentiated view and not being in the consensus.”


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Texas Stock Images: Texas Images By Location: Independence Creek Preserve Images

About Independence Creek Preserve Images

This gallery contains images from the Nature Conservancy's Independence Creek Preserve, located in Terrell County in the Semiarid Edwards Plateau region of West Texas.

Prints and Licensing

For more information regarding licensing images or purchasing photos as prints click here. If you have a specific inquiry please feel free to contact me using the website's contact form here.


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Skip to main content

A photo of JCCC student presenting a poster on the program

While the guidelines of your specific service-learning project will be outlined in your course by your instructor, below are the guidelines all JCCC students completing service learning must abide by. Keep in mind that your service must be done at a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Make sure to read the following guidelines before beginning your service.

1. You may not select projects at community sites where you are already employed; nor should you choose sites where you would report to family members or provide service to family members.

2. JCCC Service-Learning students are not permitted to do independent, unsupervised projects for individuals in their homes.

3. Contact the Community agency/ site for your service hours:

A. Start this process early in the semester (by the second week of class).
B. Contact the agency to arrange an interview or meeting with their volunteer coordinator to discuss how you can meet your course objective there. Don’t just show up.
C. During your initial interview or discussion with the agency volunteer coordinator, find out about the agency mission, needs, description of volunteer positions available and expectations or requirements regarding scheduling, training, length of commitment. Identify yourself as a JCCC service-learning student so that the agency better understands your learning goals.

4. In case of an unexpected scheduling conflict or emergency, notify the agency contact person as soon as possible. Don’t be a no-show.

5. If you must quit your service-learning project before your commitment is complete, be sure to contact your supervisor and explain.

6. You are expected to adhere to the JCCC Student Code of Conduct while completing service-learning assignments at community sites and remember that you are a representative of the college.

7. You are not allowed to plan activities with service recipients beyond the assigned tasks, location and supervision of your chosen community agency or organization for the duration of your service project.

8. You may not transport service recipients in their own vehicles. Although discouraged by the JCCC Service-Learning program, any driving for an agency should be done using agency vehicles.

9. Maintain the confidentiality of the people you meet during your service-learning project.

10. Papers written in the course of class assignments are not to be published or used outside the campus community, so as not to infringe upon "human subject research" restrictions and guidelines as described/defined/articulated institutionally or federally. To take photographs or videos, you must have written permission by all subjects or their guardians, and by the agency.

The restrictions listed above are intended to protect you, as a volunteer, from some potential risks involving injury to you or your liability in injury to others, accusations of misconduct, impropriety or dishonesty which might be difficult to prove or disprove in the absence of supervisors or co-workers.

If you have specific questions or problems, contact your instructor or email the Community Based Learning office.


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30 Mar 2017
Custom designed front of a holiday card.

Custom Cards

Did you know I make custom holiday cards, graduation cards etc.  Check out my new page that shows some of the products I have available for purchase.

If you hire John Whitehead Images to shoot your portrait, I will design the card for free.  All you have to pay for are the cards!  If I don’t have a card you like, I will inquire and make or get something that fits your needs.

The page also has information on the most commonly ordered items.  Not sure what a print wrap is, then check out the new products page for more information.

29 Mar 2017
Exploring Life Happily Blog

E.xploring L.ife H.appily Blog

Blogs, SEO and social media are great ways to advertise or express yourself in this day and age.  I teach college photography and 99.9% of all my students lack basic computer knowledge, or any clue of blogs, SEO (search engine optimization) and the use of social media.

I love to make things and started a site called Metal Design.  I make custom furniture, jewelry and a variety of other stuff.  Because I understand blogs and SEO,  I get calls all the time from companies needing metal fabrication.  Some of the work is over my skill set, or I just don’t have the time.  Most work I accept is because it is something I will enjoy.  Metal Design is more of a hobby than a job.  It is something I want to enjoy.  The reason I get so many calls is because my site is the one getting found on searches.  Most metal fabricators in the area do not have a website or know anything about getting found on internet searches.  Just one example of the power of SEO

I photographed someone from India who was working in IT in this country.  I asked him when they start teaching computer programming in school.  He said in 5th grade!  My daughter is in 8th grade and knows nothing about the subject.  However, she can tell you about the war of 1812.  Not sure how that is going to help her in the future.

The real point of this blog is to promote my niece who started her own blog titled, “E.xploring L.ife H.appily”  Personally, I don’t enjoy writing and partly because I am not that great at it.  Take time, click the link and check out Ellie’s blog.

P.S. Backlinks and links within a post to your own blog are great for website analytics.

20 Mar 2017

What a Photographer Needs to Know to Shoot a Website

Image Ratios

Getting hired to shoot images for a website is pretty common now.  A lot of small businesses decide to manage their own sites.  This is not a big issue, as long as you have your template or site available before the shoot.  A photographer really needs to know what size image needs to be in pixels before they shoot.  This helps the photographer shoot each image in the correct ratio and avoids important information getting cropped.  Not knowing image sizes or ratios can result in re-shoots and extra costs.   It also benefits the client because I can size all images for the client and make them ready to use.

A quick note for clients.  Color Management is very important for photography.  It ensures color to be true to a viewer.  Most photographers use the color space Adobe RGB or Adobe 1998.  Any image used on the internet should be in sRGB.  Make sure your photographer or webmaster converts files to the correct color space.

Below, I will post a new page I am devoting to Website Information.  I show examples of how image ratios can affect your photograph.

Info for Websites